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

Child of the 7th Age · 09-26-2002, 12:53 PM

As Cami left the galley after breakfast, she was thinking about Piosenniel and how she might persuade her friend to take better care of herself. Then she caught a glimpse of Kali and Daisy wandering about the corridor hand-in-hand. Coming even with the pair, she nodded a brief good morning, only to have the two shyly part.

Secrets! Wherever Cami turned, she encountered yet another secret curiously concealed within the Star. So many things in life appeared perfectly flat and transparent in the bright light of day. Yet, when they were encountered in the shadows of evening, a sudden and unexpected flame darted forth.

Piosenniel's behavior and the wise woman's probing question certainly fell within that category. Stranger still was the presence of the hobbrim on the Star, the "hidden hobbits" whom Andreth had so curiously described. Yet, of all these wonders seen in Arda, none seemed more puzzling to Cami than how Angara was responding to the hobbrim.

It would not be correct to state that the wyrm totally transformed her personality overnight. She continued to moan at length about Mithadan's supposed deficiencies, and 'borrowed' great piles of Cami's books with little intention of returning them. When her duties with the hobbrim ended by late afternoon, she lay indolently draped over the masthead, studiously ignoring everyone's cries for help with shipboard duties.

Still, the Angara who turned up in the morning to supervise the youngsters in their chores did seem like a different beast. On one occasion, Cami stumbled upon her rocking a small baby in a cradle. She and the hobbrim mother had improvised the contraption out of an old wicker basket with cords attached to the upper beams of the hull. Another time, Cami glimpsed Angara offering dragon-back rides to the children, flying slowly in circles around the ship. Cami quickly put an end to this activity, reminding the wyrm that she still lay under the watchful gaze of Gorthaur.

Cami hated to admit it, but she was becoming increasingly suspicious over this blossoming of maternal instincts in one who'd never shone the slightest indication of it before. She decided to wait until Ancalimon took the helm later that day and ask him about the wyrm's behavior.

[ September 27, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

09-26-2002, 12:53 PM	#83
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	As Cami left the galley after breakfast, she was thinking about Piosenniel and how she might persuade her friend to take better care of herself. Then she caught a glimpse of Kali and Daisy wandering about the corridor hand-in-hand. Coming even with the pair, she nodded a brief good morning, only to have the two shyly part. Secrets! Wherever Cami turned, she encountered yet another secret curiously concealed within the Star. So many things in life appeared perfectly flat and transparent in the bright light of day. Yet, when they were encountered in the shadows of evening, a sudden and unexpected flame darted forth. Piosenniel's behavior and the wise woman's probing question certainly fell within that category. Stranger still was the presence of the hobbrim on the Star, the "hidden hobbits" whom Andreth had so curiously described. Yet, of all these wonders seen in Arda, none seemed more puzzling to Cami than how Angara was responding to the hobbrim. It would not be correct to state that the wyrm totally transformed her personality overnight. She continued to moan at length about Mithadan's supposed deficiencies, and 'borrowed' great piles of Cami's books with little intention of returning them. When her duties with the hobbrim ended by late afternoon, she lay indolently draped over the masthead, studiously ignoring everyone's cries for help with shipboard duties. Still, the Angara who turned up in the morning to supervise the youngsters in their chores did seem like a different beast. On one occasion, Cami stumbled upon her rocking a small baby in a cradle. She and the hobbrim mother had improvised the contraption out of an old wicker basket with cords attached to the upper beams of the hull. Another time, Cami glimpsed Angara offering dragon-back rides to the children, flying slowly in circles around the ship. Cami quickly put an end to this activity, reminding the wyrm that she still lay under the watchful gaze of Gorthaur. Cami hated to admit it, but she was becoming increasingly suspicious over this blossoming of maternal instincts in one who'd never shone the slightest indication of it before. She decided to wait until Ancalimon took the helm later that day and ask him about the wyrm's behavior. [ September 27, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.