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piosenniel · 04-29-2003, 01:42 PM

Loëndë

It is Loëndë and Isil rides low on the horizon, beloved. Your son and daughter will come today.’

Isil hung barely above the plum tree in the Inn yard just beyond Piosenniel’s window. It was just past midnight and already the babies were moving restlessly, as if feeling the pull of the silvered full moon on them. Rhythmic, like a slow tide easing up on the waiting sand and then retreating, the contractions came and went, spread far apart, gentle still.

Cook had told her this would happen first. And she pulled up some vague memory of other women and their births. But it was too far in the past, and to be honest, she had not paid attention, thinking it would never be her lot to fall in love or have children. ‘Get up and walk a bit when this part comes,’ Cook told her, recalling the births of her own children and their children. ‘Takes your mind off things, and the wee ones tend to drop down quicker if you do.’

Going to her desk, she wrote two notes, folded them in half, and stuck them in the inner pocket of her cloak. She drew the folds of her cloak about her, and went quietly out the door in the Common Room, walking northeast toward The Water and the Bywater Pool. Her steps were unhurried, and she watched the moon glide through the branches of the trees, following along just over her left shoulder as she walked along.

A short space of time brought her to Cami and Maura’s home. The front window was dark, and she could sense the four of them sleeping, snug under their covers. Approaching the front door quietly, she tucked the first of her notes, addressed to Cami, into the crack where the edge of the door met the jamb. ‘Come to the Inn when you get up,’ it said in her hurried script, ‘the twins will be here to greet the world today.’

She walked west, then, and followed The Water to the small ford near Bag End. There she turned her steps north, up the path toward Sam and Rose’s house and just a little beyond and to the east again. Up the path to Amaranthas’ dwelling. Again she left her old friend a note, asking her to come see her later in the day.

04-29-2003, 01:42 PM	#358
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,786	Loëndë It is Loëndë and Isil rides low on the horizon, beloved. Your son and daughter will come today.’ Isil hung barely above the plum tree in the Inn yard just beyond Piosenniel’s window. It was just past midnight and already the babies were moving restlessly, as if feeling the pull of the silvered full moon on them. Rhythmic, like a slow tide easing up on the waiting sand and then retreating, the contractions came and went, spread far apart, gentle still. Cook had told her this would happen first. And she pulled up some vague memory of other women and their births. But it was too far in the past, and to be honest, she had not paid attention, thinking it would never be her lot to fall in love or have children. ‘Get up and walk a bit when this part comes,’ Cook told her, recalling the births of her own children and their children. ‘Takes your mind off things, and the wee ones tend to drop down quicker if you do.’ Going to her desk, she wrote two notes, folded them in half, and stuck them in the inner pocket of her cloak. She drew the folds of her cloak about her, and went quietly out the door in the Common Room, walking northeast toward The Water and the Bywater Pool. Her steps were unhurried, and she watched the moon glide through the branches of the trees, following along just over her left shoulder as she walked along. A short space of time brought her to Cami and Maura’s home. The front window was dark, and she could sense the four of them sleeping, snug under their covers. Approaching the front door quietly, she tucked the first of her notes, addressed to Cami, into the crack where the edge of the door met the jamb. ‘Come to the Inn when you get up,’ it said in her hurried script, ‘the twins will be here to greet the world today.’ She walked west, then, and followed The Water to the small ford near Bag End. There she turned her steps north, up the path toward Sam and Rose’s house and just a little beyond and to the east again. Up the path to Amaranthas’ dwelling. Again she left her old friend a note, asking her to come see her later in the day. __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.