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piosenniel · 01-15-2004, 04:18 PM

Mark 12_30's post

Her father entered, and she looked up from her worktable, wreathed in smoke from her little forge-fire in the kiln-like firepit not far from her side. He waved a sealed letter, eyes sparkling. "Letter for you, Lîs. From Balin." Her father put the letter on the table, but his bushy eyebrows stuck out at her, and he fidgeted as he waited.

She sighed, knowing that her father was hoping it was a marriage proposal. She was on a nodding aquaintance only with Balin, and her father always jumped to ridiculous conclusions. He was worse than mother.

"I'll get to it in a minute, father." She bent once again over her work-- a delicate bracelet, commissioned by one of Thranduil's courtiers for his fiancee. The opal she had been setting had cracked from the heat, and now she was preparing another one. She hated setting opals, but so did everyone else, and the work commanded a high price.

Her father fidgeted and fussed, bustling about, and finally snorted. "Have pity on your father's grey beard. Open the letter, Lîs-lassie, before I burst with curiosity!"

"Father, I don't know why Balin would be writing to me, but I assure you, it's not for the reasons you are guessing." She continued working, worried about the opal, and her father fidgeted some more until she said, "Please open it, Father, and read it to me."

He pounced on the letter, and devoured it silently. Surprise, disappointment, pride, hope, and glee washed over his face by turns.

"What does it say, father?"

"Lîs-lassie, you've been invited to rebuild Moria," he said. "They're putting together an expedition with Dain's permission. Risky business. Well, he won't go without a good group of fellows. You'll have the pick of the lot, my girl. I imagine he'll be bringing the best in the kingdom. Of course, they'll all be quite interested in you. Wonderful opportunity. You'll--"

"Father, please, " Lîs said mildly. "Would you like to write back to him, and tell him I accept?"

She could see that her father was torn between hope and sorrow, and she looked him in the eye, and measured the moment.

"I'll go, father, " she said, quietly. "But not because of the other dwarves. I will go to find and fashion the Truesilver."

He nodded. "All right, girl. I'll write the letter, Lîs-lassie, and proudly too," he said.

"Thank you, father," she said, and with tightened lips and troubled eyes returned to the bracelet. This time the opal did not crack.

01-15-2004, 04:18 PM	#12
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Mark 12_30's post Her father entered, and she looked up from her worktable, wreathed in smoke from her little forge-fire in the kiln-like firepit not far from her side. He waved a sealed letter, eyes sparkling. "Letter for you, Lîs. From Balin." Her father put the letter on the table, but his bushy eyebrows stuck out at her, and he fidgeted as he waited. She sighed, knowing that her father was hoping it was a marriage proposal. She was on a nodding aquaintance only with Balin, and her father always jumped to ridiculous conclusions. He was worse than mother. "I'll get to it in a minute, father." She bent once again over her work-- a delicate bracelet, commissioned by one of Thranduil's courtiers for his fiancee. The opal she had been setting had cracked from the heat, and now she was preparing another one. She hated setting opals, but so did everyone else, and the work commanded a high price. Her father fidgeted and fussed, bustling about, and finally snorted. "Have pity on your father's grey beard. Open the letter, Lîs-lassie, before I burst with curiosity!" "Father, I don't know why Balin would be writing to me, but I assure you, it's not for the reasons you are guessing." She continued working, worried about the opal, and her father fidgeted some more until she said, "Please open it, Father, and read it to me." He pounced on the letter, and devoured it silently. Surprise, disappointment, pride, hope, and glee washed over his face by turns. "What does it say, father?" "Lîs-lassie, you've been invited to rebuild Moria," he said. "They're putting together an expedition with Dain's permission. Risky business. Well, he won't go without a good group of fellows. You'll have the pick of the lot, my girl. I imagine he'll be bringing the best in the kingdom. Of course, they'll all be quite interested in you. Wonderful opportunity. You'll--" "Father, please, " Lîs said mildly. "Would you like to write back to him, and tell him I accept?" She could see that her father was torn between hope and sorrow, and she looked him in the eye, and measured the moment. "I'll go, father, " she said, quietly. "But not because of the other dwarves. I will go to find and fashion the Truesilver." He nodded. "All right, girl. I'll write the letter, Lîs-lassie, and proudly too," he said. "Thank you, father," she said, and with tightened lips and troubled eyes returned to the bracelet. This time the opal did not crack. __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.