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

mark12_30 · 10-14-2002, 05:12 AM

During dinner, Gamba made an announcement, and after dinner, the hobbits gathered in the main cave.

Esta stood with two new candles. One she carefully stuck on the rock wall; the other was in a candleholder which she held.

"The Game, " announced Gamba, "is called Candlestones. The goal is to put out the flame without disturbing the candle. Knocking over the candle puts you in last place. The competition will be held in heats; top five advance to an increase in distance. The rest compete again to determine final standing; the last twenty and top twenty compete yet again.

"And that's because the last ten competitors get kitchen duty-- five to wash, five to cook." Everyone laughed, and there was scattered applause. The kitchen workers looked hopeful, thinking that they might get a chance to move out of the kitchen for a day at least.

Gamba continued. "The top ten competitors win nothing but the glory of having done well. "

General applause.

"But the grand prize... " said Gamba, and paused for dramatic effect, looking at Esta, holding the candle. He sparkled with mischief, lightly juggling the stone in his hand.

The guards had gathered closer, amused and intrigued by all of this. They were listening. All eyes had been on Gamba, and everyone could see who Gamba was looking at, and so now all eyes were on Esta. Esta looked at him, puzzled; he had not mentioned this. He smiled impishly at her, and her stomach sank. He wouldn't. He wouldn't dare.

"The grand prize, " Gamba repeated, with a flourish, "is a kiss from Elder Tura's lovely daughter, Esta."

The place erupted in a general roar of approval and applause, with numerous catcalls and hoots of laughter. Esta blushed furiously, but there was no way to back out of it without making a fool of Gamba-- and that she would not do. Without looking at the guards she turned towards the crowd, drew herself up to her full height, smiled, and with an exaggerated flourish that echoed Gamba's, curtseyed like her grandmother had taught her to. The applause crescendoed, and she enjoyed it for several moments, and then nodded, and stepped back.

Her blush was lovely, Gamba thought, wondering if she was going to kill him outright.

"Round One is at thirty feet, " Gamba announced, and walked over to Esta, to get out and set up more candles. She smiled at him, and said through clenched teeth, "And what if you don't win?"

"I won't lose, " replied Gamba coolly.

"Rascal, " smiled Esta, and laughed in spite of herself.

Azraph stepped forward. "I have a question, " she said, and a hush fell.

"Yes?" Gamba replied.

"What if the champion is a girl?" she said, putting one hand on her hip, and with the other hefting an egg-sized rock.

"Well then, " Gamba replied, thinking he should have been prepared for that question, "in that case, you get to claim your kiss from anybody you want."

The laughter and applause was still louder this time. Gamba smiled, thinking he knew who Azraph would choose. He wondered if she would, indeed, beat him.

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

Gamba did not, in fact, lose that night, or the next, or the next. Flushed with victory, each night's kiss lasted a little longer.

His main competition was from Corby, a smith with a very strong arm; from Mika and Kima, the twins; -- and from Azraph. She was indeed formidable. But there were numerous other hobbits who posed a very real threat, and Esta had plenty of time to practice looking cool under pressure.

Meanwhile, the accuracy of the stonethrowing increased steadily. The guards took to betting. Everyone's goal became to de-throne Gamba, and some of the guards adopted other throwers and tried to train them on the side. Not that the men had anything to offer the hobbits in terms of marksmanship, but the hobbits let them think that they did, for the additional training time.

Nor were the guards surprised to see hobbits practicing in all the corridors. Bored guards began setting up mini-competitions to pass the afternoon. Stockpiles of egg-sized rocks soon became a commonplace item all over the tunnels.

Gamba found a smooth rock that he particularly liked, and took to carrying it everywhere, and calling it his lucky rock. He let nobody handle it, and always used it in the final round.

[ October 14, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

10-14-2002, 05:12 AM	#215
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	During dinner, Gamba made an announcement, and after dinner, the hobbits gathered in the main cave. Esta stood with two new candles. One she carefully stuck on the rock wall; the other was in a candleholder which she held. "The Game, " announced Gamba, "is called Candlestones. The goal is to put out the flame without disturbing the candle. Knocking over the candle puts you in last place. The competition will be held in heats; top five advance to an increase in distance. The rest compete again to determine final standing; the last twenty and top twenty compete yet again. "And that's because the last ten competitors get kitchen duty-- five to wash, five to cook." Everyone laughed, and there was scattered applause. The kitchen workers looked hopeful, thinking that they might get a chance to move out of the kitchen for a day at least. Gamba continued. "The top ten competitors win nothing but the glory of having done well. " General applause. "But the grand prize... " said Gamba, and paused for dramatic effect, looking at Esta, holding the candle. He sparkled with mischief, lightly juggling the stone in his hand. The guards had gathered closer, amused and intrigued by all of this. They were listening. All eyes had been on Gamba, and everyone could see who Gamba was looking at, and so now all eyes were on Esta. Esta looked at him, puzzled; he had not mentioned this. He smiled impishly at her, and her stomach sank. He wouldn't. He wouldn't dare. "The grand prize, " Gamba repeated, with a flourish, "is a kiss from Elder Tura's lovely daughter, Esta." The place erupted in a general roar of approval and applause, with numerous catcalls and hoots of laughter. Esta blushed furiously, but there was no way to back out of it without making a fool of Gamba-- and that she would not do. Without looking at the guards she turned towards the crowd, drew herself up to her full height, smiled, and with an exaggerated flourish that echoed Gamba's, curtseyed like her grandmother had taught her to. The applause crescendoed, and she enjoyed it for several moments, and then nodded, and stepped back. Her blush was lovely, Gamba thought, wondering if she was going to kill him outright. "Round One is at thirty feet, " Gamba announced, and walked over to Esta, to get out and set up more candles. She smiled at him, and said through clenched teeth, "And what if you don't win?" "I won't lose, " replied Gamba coolly. "Rascal, " smiled Esta, and laughed in spite of herself. Azraph stepped forward. "I have a question, " she said, and a hush fell. "Yes?" Gamba replied. "What if the champion is a girl?" she said, putting one hand on her hip, and with the other hefting an egg-sized rock. "Well then, " Gamba replied, thinking he should have been prepared for that question, "in that case, you get to claim your kiss from anybody you want." The laughter and applause was still louder this time. Gamba smiled, thinking he knew who Azraph would choose. He wondered if she would, indeed, beat him. ***************** Gamba did not, in fact, lose that night, or the next, or the next. Flushed with victory, each night's kiss lasted a little longer. His main competition was from Corby, a smith with a very strong arm; from Mika and Kima, the twins; -- and from Azraph. She was indeed formidable. But there were numerous other hobbits who posed a very real threat, and Esta had plenty of time to practice looking cool under pressure. Meanwhile, the accuracy of the stonethrowing increased steadily. The guards took to betting. Everyone's goal became to de-throne Gamba, and some of the guards adopted other throwers and tried to train them on the side. Not that the men had anything to offer the hobbits in terms of marksmanship, but the hobbits let them think that they did, for the additional training time. Nor were the guards surprised to see hobbits practicing in all the corridors. Bored guards began setting up mini-competitions to pass the afternoon. Stockpiles of egg-sized rocks soon became a commonplace item all over the tunnels. Gamba found a smooth rock that he particularly liked, and took to carrying it everywhere, and calling it his lucky rock. He let nobody handle it, and always used it in the final round. [ October 14, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.