[piosenniel]

Child's post

1 Cermie

Maura sat at one of the tables in the rear courtyard of the Inn, as he struggled to explain to his sister Zira and her husband Ban why he would not be returning to their home on Tol Fuin. It was the first time that he’d talked to them about the decision he and Cami had made.

His announcement did not come as a total surprise. For some time, Zira had suspected that her brother would not agree to separate from Cami again. The situation had become more complicated than when they’d first given their word to Ancalimon in the prison camps of Dorthonion. Cami’s pregnancy, coupled with Maura’s continuing affection for Rose, and his growing friendship with the boys, had placed the hobbit in the uncomfortable position of feeling that he was shirking his responsibilities both as a husband and father. All the fine words of the Istari about rips in the fabric of time and the need for sacrifice paled before the reality of little eyes looking up to him and asking for help .

Zira knew that Lindo could easily serve as Loremaster and Bard for the Tol Fuin community. Indeed, the younger hobbit possessed a gift of song that went far beyond her brother’s. Their neighbors on Tol Fuin had settled into a quiet, peaceful existence. The hobbits’ lives centered on the rearing of crops and a firm determination to pass on their lore and values to their children. Since the sinking of Beleriand, they had not faced serious outside threats other than the normal hazards of living in Arda, a world where shadows could sometimes lurk on even the brightest days. But she also knew that many on the isle would miss Maura's gentle ways as a teacher and storyteller and friend to Ancalimon. And none would mourn his absence more profoundly than she would, since they’d always been so close.

Looking over at her brother, she placed her hand on top of his, and asked, “Are you sure about this? Sure that this is the right thing to do?”

He shook his head and shrugged, “Sure? I’m not sure about anything. But it’s against my whole nature to walk away from those children and pretend they don’t existence. Cami has provided a home for the boys, but it hasn’t been easy. She’s given and given of her heart and labor, yet they still pull away. There are things in the boys’ past I don’t understand. There may always be problems, yet Gamba definitely feels more comfortable with me as a man than he does with his mother. Even Cami understands that.”

“But that’s not all. There’s a baby on the way. I’m responsible for a new life. I just can’t believe that the powers over Arda want me to forget that.”

Zira looked into her brother’s eyes. She saw uncertainty, but she also glimpsed a grim determination on his part to see the situation through to the end, whatever the cost. She stared intently at him and responded, “If you’ve weighed everything and still feel this is right, you must follow that path, even if it leads you away from me.” The brother and sister embraced and then sat talking quietly of their childhood and things they remembered from days gone by.


********************************************


Cami had returned to the burrow, after belatedly remembering to give the treasured flask to her friend. She now sat alone near the window, thinking how hard it must be for Maura to speak with his sister and tell her that they might never meet in this life again. The afternoon sun sank low, as she stared blankly across the pond. On her lap lay a darning needle and thread, and one of her husband's shirts she'd been trying to patch. She pushed aside her worries to focus on the immediate task. Her needle flicked quickly in and out until the hole got smaller and disappeared. Then she held the shirt up to the fading sunlight still filtering through the window to make certain it was properly mended.

Just then, she heard a loud, insistent knock. Rising from her seat and unlatching the door, she discovered Bilbo and Frodo waiting outside. Bilbo tipped his hat and wished her a pleasant evening, inquiring if Maura was in. Frodo explained that they intended to visit Bag-end tomorrow and speak with Sam about the celebration planned to welcome Pio's twins. They had wondered if Maura might want to join them.

“For certain,” Cami responded. “And not just him. I need to speak with Miz Rose about the plans for our handfasting.”

After settling on arrangements to meet at the Gamgees, she insisted they stay for tea. Bilbo looked older and more tired than Cami had remembered from before. She set him gently down on the most comfortable chair in the burrow, and placed a warm pot of honeyed tea and scones between the three of them.

As weary as he was, Bilbo could not resist several good-natured jabs at Cami, "So you’re finally going to do it. We were about to place bets on whether you intended to go through with any of this. It's taken you long enough to get around to a public exchange of vows. I kept thinking we'd come all this way from Tol Eressea for nothing."

Cami smothered a laugh and assured Bilbo that she intended to go through with her bargain, or at least this part of it. Bilbo said nothing for a moment, but then shot back with another barb, "So you pick and choose which promises you keep? Frodo's told me of your decision." He shook his head, "It's your choice, of course. I had hoped that Gandalf or Lorien could have done more to help the two of you. But I'm honestly not comfortable with what you’re proposing. Maybe if I was still in the Shire, I'd feel differently. But I've been in the West long enough to know better. This just won’t work."

"Promise me one thing. Just one. Promise me you'll speak with Lorien before acting."

Bilbo's eyes were so insistent and his demeanor so concerned that Cami found it hard to shrug off the request. Before the two hobbits finished their tea and left the burrow, she had agreed to hunt down Lorien and speak with him about their future plans.

[ May 09, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]