[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami gazed intently into the darkness, and saw the shadowy image of Piosenniel partially submerged in the river. Mithadan was just finishing his preparations and had begun to lower himself toward the waters. Cami leaned over the railing to whisper a farewell to them both.

"Good luck. Do what must be done, but take care how you do it. Keep yourself as safe as you can."

Piosenniel said nothing, but raised her hand briefly in acknowledgment, disappearing quickly under the dark waters. Mithadan soon followed. The two looked like water beasts swimming through the weeds. It was difficult to distinguish their shadowy forms from the hazy vegetation of the river.

Rose whispered ugently, "But where are they going?"

Cami shook her head and placed her finger on her lips, "Sh.... It's not the time to raise this." The older woman was aware of the presence of Sauron's vessel along the banks of the Siril, and had surmised that their mission might be connected with that.

There was only a small ray of moonlight shining down from the sky. Shadows and night-time clouds otherwise obscured the stars. This morning, Cami had regretted the sullen grey blanket over the Star. Now, it seemed more like a protective cover that afforded the Man and Elf some measure of protection.

With the departure of Mithadan and Piosenniel, the two hobbits sat quietly for a time. They could hear the soft whirring of an insect, and a few frogs croaking out a meager song. Other than that, blackness and silence reigned over all. Cami glanced this way and that, trying to make certain that no strange boats would eek out their hiding place and surprse them. Her fingers clenched tightly around her bow. But all lay quiet, and no intruders could be seen.

"When will they be back?" Rose finally broke the spell with a question.

"I'm not sure. I don't think it will be long. We're supposed to meet with the hobbits tonight."

But the moments crept forward, one-by-one, until they began to pile up, with no reappearance of the Elf or Man. Rose had nodded off to sleep once more, snuggled tightly against Cami's skirts. The older woman worried something unknown had occurred. She strained her ears for some hint of warning or reassurance, but neither could be heard.

[ October 22, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]