[piosenniel]

'Hmmmph!', came the muffled voice from her purse as the elf made her way to the dock. 'That was a pointless trip. You didn't even get to meet Aragorn!' Angara poked her snout out from under cover for a breath of fresh sea air.

'I only wanted to see him, & how he fared now that he's come into his own. The less we make entanglements in his Age, the better things will be I think.' She gently pushed the dragon's snout back under cover and nodded at a passerby who looked askance at her as if she'd gone slightly mad.

They reached the ship at last. Angara hopped out once they came on deck and stretched her wings while Pio went below to change her clothes.

Once more in comfortable breeches, a soft shirt, and barefooted, the elf seated herself on the deck and called Angara to her. The day was warm, and she wished for a breeze to bring some relief. Taking a small notebook left behind by Child, she fanned herself lazily.

'Angara,' she said, after a comfortable period of silence, 'I have a problem that only you may be able to help solve.'

The dragon looked up, in interest.

'I fear this quest is as becalmed as any ship on such a windless day. Will you help to move it onward?'

'And what is it you need from me, elf?'

'For myself, nothing, but for the sake of the other companions who seek to aid the hobrim, we need your riddles.'

The dragon eyed her. 'Can you not speak plainly to them, Pio?'

'You know I can't! They must find their own answers, in their own way.'

'Then, yes, I will help them.' said Angara, turning the riddles over in her mind.

Pio looked toward the West where Tuor's ship lay anchored.

Will you not aid them, Idril? she thought.

When they have found the right questions, Pio, then let them come to me.

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]