The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Lonely Star -- Chapter 4

piosenniel · 12-06-2002, 03:53 PM

Pio sat on the helm deck, watching Daisy take her turn at the Wheel. Late summer and still the days were hot. She fanned herself with the small tray her tepid tea had come on, and tried to focus on the chart spread on her knees. The sail billowed in the west wind, and the Star moved quickly through the waters of the seas, cleaving the waves in its hurry to bring its cargo to their new home.

She was in two minds about their progress. The first, her practical, orderly approach, chafed at the thought that this journey, now three weeks long, should only have taken a week and a half had the winds been always with them and no stops taken for pleasure. There had been only one or two days when they were becalmed, and even tacking should have brought them sooner than this to the entrance of the great bay, Belfalas.

In her other thoughts, though, lay the desire for this journey to never end. And in her wilder reasonings, she dreamt of seizing the wheel at night as the others lay sleeping and sailing the Star far to the south, or even back to Tol Meneltarma. Already she missed the droll humour, the pointed barbs of Angara. She longed to hold Shell and Coral once again and hear their childish chatterings, feel their little arms about her neck, the sweet smell of them. She gazed at Daisy and sighed, not wanting to say good-bye to her forever.

And Cami . . . she feared the Hobbit did not understand why she had put on the armour of Elven aloofness, avoiding as she could any chance meetings. Life, she knew, would soon push them down their separate paths, and new friends and loved ones and fresh places would fill their days and their dreams . . . almost, but not quite. Shaking her head at these shadowed thoughts, she almost missed the cry from Daisy.

‘Pio!’ she said, pointing excitedly. ‘Look! Land!’

The Elf stood, shading her eyes against the glare of the sun, and looked west. The growing shape of Ras Morthil, the Cape of Andrast, held her gaze to the north. Mithadan had come up to stand beside her, and then gave directions to Daisy. Soon they would anchor, when Mithadan had reached the position he desired. Then he and the Star would enter the bay, sailing up The Great River to Minas Anor to secure the needed ships.

12-06-2002, 03:53 PM	#10
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Pio sat on the helm deck, watching Daisy take her turn at the Wheel. Late summer and still the days were hot. She fanned herself with the small tray her tepid tea had come on, and tried to focus on the chart spread on her knees. The sail billowed in the west wind, and the Star moved quickly through the waters of the seas, cleaving the waves in its hurry to bring its cargo to their new home. She was in two minds about their progress. The first, her practical, orderly approach, chafed at the thought that this journey, now three weeks long, should only have taken a week and a half had the winds been always with them and no stops taken for pleasure. There had been only one or two days when they were becalmed, and even tacking should have brought them sooner than this to the entrance of the great bay, Belfalas. In her other thoughts, though, lay the desire for this journey to never end. And in her wilder reasonings, she dreamt of seizing the wheel at night as the others lay sleeping and sailing the Star far to the south, or even back to Tol Meneltarma. Already she missed the droll humour, the pointed barbs of Angara. She longed to hold Shell and Coral once again and hear their childish chatterings, feel their little arms about her neck, the sweet smell of them. She gazed at Daisy and sighed, not wanting to say good-bye to her forever. And Cami . . . she feared the Hobbit did not understand why she had put on the armour of Elven aloofness, avoiding as she could any chance meetings. Life, she knew, would soon push them down their separate paths, and new friends and loved ones and fresh places would fill their days and their dreams . . . almost, but not quite. Shaking her head at these shadowed thoughts, she almost missed the cry from Daisy. ‘Pio!’ she said, pointing excitedly. ‘Look! Land!’ The Elf stood, shading her eyes against the glare of the sun, and looked west. The growing shape of Ras Morthil, the Cape of Andrast, held her gaze to the north. Mithadan had come up to stand beside her, and then gave directions to Daisy. Soon they would anchor, when Mithadan had reached the position he desired. Then he and the Star would enter the bay, sailing up The Great River to Minas Anor to secure the needed ships. __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.