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

mark12_30 · 10-25-2002, 02:07 AM

When the top ten spots that night were determined in Candlestones, the number one position was held, not by Gamba, but by Corby.
The applause was thunderous, and Corby stepped forward for a bow. Gamba stepped quickly to his side, and quietly challenged him again.
His challenge held no mystery, and with a broad smile, Corby glanced at his wife, who nodded. They stepped up to the line, and threw again.

Corby won again.

"Two out of three, " replied Gamba, undeterred.

Corby won the next round.

"Three out of--"

"All right, " Corby snorted, waving down the general laughter. "One more round. Everyone knows who won first place tonight in the real competition."

"Aye, that's right, " called several hobbits. "Humor the lad. You're all right, Corby."

Ears burning, Gamba took his place at the line, and cleanly missed. There was general laughter, but Corby stepped up to the line. He carefully met Esta's gaze, and then his own wife's gaze, and then coolly snapped the candle exactly in half. Gasps mixed with the laughter and the clapping, and some shook their heads. Several guards were indignant. But most of the older hobbits smiled.

Corby slapped the furiously blushing Gamba on the shoulder, saying, "Now can I go home to my family and get some sleep?" There was more general laughter, and the place broke up, with the guards settling their bets and bickering about whether the final challenges should be included in the monetary settlements.

Gamba, stung with shame, melted into the shadows and sat down fuming with his back against the wall. Esta gathered the candles and stored them for the next night, and watched him patiently for a while. The guards went back to their various posts, and the hobbits went to their sleeping spaces or snuck off to the mines to sharpen cheekpeices and visors. The main cavern went dark.

Esta quietly walked over to Gamba, sat down beside him, lifted his chin, and took his hands. "Thank you, " she said softly.

He buried his face in her neck for a moment. "I wasn't supposed to lose."

"I don't care about the game, " she replied. "But I don't think he wanted to kiss me, nor to make his wife watch him kiss me, either. Thanks for giving both of us a way out of that."

"I never should have put you through this in the first place, " Gamba replied, miserable.

She didn't disagree, but she held him in the shadows.

The main cave had been silent and empty for quite some time, before they heard approaching soldiers. They looked up, watching helplessly as an older couple was quietly escorted out at swordpoint. Esta and Gamba embraced again, sadly, hiding their faces from the thought of where they were going.

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

10-25-2002, 02:07 AM	#285
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	When the top ten spots that night were determined in Candlestones, the number one position was held, not by Gamba, but by Corby. The applause was thunderous, and Corby stepped forward for a bow. Gamba stepped quickly to his side, and quietly challenged him again. His challenge held no mystery, and with a broad smile, Corby glanced at his wife, who nodded. They stepped up to the line, and threw again. Corby won again. "Two out of three, " replied Gamba, undeterred. Corby won the next round. "Three out of--" "All right, " Corby snorted, waving down the general laughter. "One more round. Everyone knows who won first place tonight in the real competition." "Aye, that's right, " called several hobbits. "Humor the lad. You're all right, Corby." Ears burning, Gamba took his place at the line, and cleanly missed. There was general laughter, but Corby stepped up to the line. He carefully met Esta's gaze, and then his own wife's gaze, and then coolly snapped the candle exactly in half. Gasps mixed with the laughter and the clapping, and some shook their heads. Several guards were indignant. But most of the older hobbits smiled. Corby slapped the furiously blushing Gamba on the shoulder, saying, "Now can I go home to my family and get some sleep?" There was more general laughter, and the place broke up, with the guards settling their bets and bickering about whether the final challenges should be included in the monetary settlements. Gamba, stung with shame, melted into the shadows and sat down fuming with his back against the wall. Esta gathered the candles and stored them for the next night, and watched him patiently for a while. The guards went back to their various posts, and the hobbits went to their sleeping spaces or snuck off to the mines to sharpen cheekpeices and visors. The main cavern went dark. Esta quietly walked over to Gamba, sat down beside him, lifted his chin, and took his hands. "Thank you, " she said softly. He buried his face in her neck for a moment. "I wasn't supposed to lose." "I don't care about the game, " she replied. "But I don't think he wanted to kiss me, nor to make his wife watch him kiss me, either. Thanks for giving both of us a way out of that." "I never should have put you through this in the first place, " Gamba replied, miserable. She didn't disagree, but she held him in the shadows. The main cave had been silent and empty for quite some time, before they heard approaching soldiers. They looked up, watching helplessly as an older couple was quietly escorted out at swordpoint. Esta and Gamba embraced again, sadly, hiding their faces from the thought of where they were going. [ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.