[piosenniel]

Pio leaned toward the elderly Hobbit and put her arm on his. ‘I ask your forgiveness for this, but I know what you are speaking about already.’ She saw the look of confused surprise in his eyes. There was a sharp intake of breath, and Pio turned her head to see Frodo looking at her, his brow furrowed. She heard the unasked question.

‘I have not spoken with Ancalimon, that is Gandalf, if that is what you wish to know.’ Their eyes narrowed as they considered how she might know what they had come to speak about with her. ‘I know who you are, as Cami has spoken fondly of you both many times to me. I know that she cherishes you, Bilbo, as her old friend and teacher, the one who encouraged her to satisfy her curiosity about the hobbits and their history.’ She looked at him steadily.

‘She is very dear to me. And despite my knowledge that you are friends, I have seen this evening looks of confusion and sadness pass over her face which I would not have there. My mind reached out when first I saw you speak with her tonight and saw that something troubled her. I sifted through your words to her as you spoke them, looking at the current which ran beneath.’

‘I understand that Maura and Lindo are to come to the Inn just before the birth of my babies. That will be six months from now, Midsummer’s Day. How can you assure her that this will happen? What sign will you give her that what you say is true. That if she trusts in her hope, then it will be fulfilled.’

‘And how do you know this hope fulfilled will not be bittersweet, both for her and for Maura. Have you considered this. Her pain at their separation was great, her suffering long. Her heart, I think, has healed now and she holds him close in it. How can you know the pain this time will not be too great, that her heart will not break with it.'

'To marry your beloved, knowing that time will grant you only a few brief weeks, that is a two edged sword that cuts deep and grievously.’

She leaned back from him, her face grave. ‘I have lived a long time, Bilbo, through many ages of Men and Hobbits. And once, long ago it now seems, my fëa crossed to the West in death and lingered in the Halls of Mandos until I, too, was called back to be with those I loved, to give them hope for a brief while that they might finish the task set them. And then to return when my part was done to the West, while they went on with their lives.’

‘The bonds of love, Bilbo proved too strong. I fear it will be the same for Maura and Cami. Their love for one another ran deep and it has been made stronger, as least for Cami’s part, as time has passed. I fear the choice you ask her to make will, in the end, not be possible. What assurances can you give me that my fears are groundless?

Bilbo shook his head, and took the Elf’s hands in his. ‘We cannot give you reassurance Piosenniel. You ask the very questions we thought to ask you. We only know that Maura has been granted the opportunity to be with Cami one last time, and we know he cannot stay with her forever. They each have their tasks to accomplish within the circles of this world, and in their own times.’

‘Maura believes that he can do this, and we have no reason to doubt him. He is a truthful and well thought man. And he is kind, too, and would never consider this if he knew that Cami could not bear it.’

Frodo spoke up in a gentle voice. ‘That is what we wished to know, Piosenniel. Do you think Cami can do this, that she is strong enough to make this decision and follow it through to the end? Maura’s decision to come, and the decision to allow him to do it, hinges on the answer to this question.’

Pio considered the question carefully. Her words were measured and thoughtful as she spoke them. ‘I have learned not to make judgments of this sort for Cami. She has grown much since last you saw her, Bilbo, and to my mind she has truly come into her own.’ She looked then at Frodo, who regarded her calmly with his clear eyes. ‘I will be here, if you wish, to offer my support when you present this to her, but it is she, alone, who will have to answer that question for you.’

[ January 17, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]