In the Shadow of the Star: Part 2

[piosenniel]

It was twenty miles from the southern border of Ferny’s plantation to Andrath where the Greenway climbed through the long divide of the South Downs and made its way to The Great East Road. The ponies the Hobbits had brought with them were already tired from their hastened journey from the Shire to Ferny’s place, and their pace was slow. Merimac still led the way for the little group that had rescued the children with Fosco held close, drowsing now against his chest. And Pio plodded along at the end of the weary line, starting to feel a certain drowsiness herself.

At the top of the Downs she called a brief halt. There was a small, clear stream nearby, and the party refreshed themselves with its cold, sweet waters, slaking their thirst from the long ride and washing their faces of the soot and grime that had drifted their way as the fields burned. Cami knelt at the stream’s side and scrubbed her hands in the frigid waters, rubbing them until they were red, and nearly raw. Shifty’s blood had come off in the first washing, but still they felt unclean. It was not until Pio sent Ruby to lead her back to the group that she looked up from her hands remembering where she was.

A short rest later, a small snack from their meager supply of food to hold back the pangs of hunger, and they were mounting up once again, heading down to the Greenway. It was midmorning when they found the clearing where they would await Mithadan and the other Shire folk.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Frodo-lad was the first to see the others as they rode in, their mounts moving slowly down from the hilly uplands in a long straggly line. He gave an excited shout, and stood pointing to where the first of the ponies had picked its way down to the grasslands where the clearing lay. ‘It’s my Da!’ he cried, mounting up on his pony, and heading at as fast a pace as the pony could muster, urged on by the nudging of the young lad’s heels against his flanks.

Soon they had ridden in together and dismounted, Frodo-lad grinning from ear to ear as Sam ruffled his hair. Others from the group that had ridden with Pio came running to hold the reins of the arriving horses as their riders climbed down wearily from their saddles. Greetings, and hugs, and questions flew, each group wanting to know how the other fared and what had gone on with them.

Mithadan was the last to ride in. He paused for a moment at the edge of the clearing, his eyes searching through the throng for the ones he sought. Pio stood up from where she sat, the babies in her arms, and watched him as he walked toward her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

‘Look, Father!’ Frodo-lad and Sam stood a little apart from the others, content in each others company, when they boy caught sight of Mithadan, pointing him out as he made his way to his family. Sam chuckled a bit, catching young Frodo by surprise. ‘Why are you laughing?’ he asked his father, a frown on his face.

‘It’s not like the old stories is it, son?’ he said watching the dusty, begrimed Man walk toward the Elf in her wayworn garb. ‘He would have been clad in some shining raiment, his face clean and handsome, his grey eyes flashing as he gazed on her. He would have move toward her with a certain measure of grace in his step.’ Sam’s eyes took in the Elf, and smiled again. ‘And she would be beautiful and fair, her shining hair bound back by some Elven fillet. Clothed in a gown of silver and white, she would have smiled at him, her eyes filled with a clear light, her laughter filling the air like music as he took her in his arms.’

Frodo-lad watched as Mithadan drew near to Piosenniel. Her eyes were on him, and he smiled at her, murmuring some words, then bent and kissed her lightly on the brow. His hand came up to trace the line of her jaw, then dropped to touch each of his children on their cheeks. Their little mouths turned toward his touch, seeking the source of it. He laughed in delight as their grey eyes met his, and he nestled them in his arms, speaking softly to them.

Sam pulled his son in closer against his side. ‘Old stories aside, this turned out just the way it should don’t you think, son?’

Before the boy could give an answer one way or the other, the sound of a horse galloping in at a quick pace caught their attention, and for a moment Sam’s hand went to his blade, thinking that someone might have followed them, meaning to get revenge.

His fears were laid to rest as Bird rode into view, her dark hair flying as Stoatie’s horse took the bit in his teeth and made for the sweet grass of the clearing. She slid off her unruly mount when he came to a halt, and laying her eyes on the happy family strode over to greet them.

‘So, these are the offspring, eh?’ she said, scooping the girl from her father’s arm. ‘Got a name yet, kid?’ Bird asked, looking close at the baby’s face with a critical eye. Her nose crinkled, and she drew back her head, handing the baby to Pio.

‘Here, uhm, Mom. You take her – I think she’s sprung a leak . . .’