[piosenniel]

Angara dropped a flask of miruvor at Pio's feet.

'Thank you! There are too many things to be done today and too little sleep to fuel me.' She poured a little of the liquid into the flask cap and sipped at it.

'So, what do you and your new little charge have planned this day?' The dragon perched on the railing, looking out to sea. 'Any more *diversions* in store for the crew?'

'Now that was a fiasco, wasn't it!?' sighed the elf. 'No, I think we'd better get down to the business of finding Beleriand and getting prepared to actualy be there.'

'How much do you think the rest of the crew knows about the 1st Age or Beleriand?' asked the dragon.

'Not much, I think. Mithadan, perhaps some, and Child, from her studies. But even for them it's dusty ancient history at best, or the stuff of myth and story. What do you think of having Child do a brief course on the history of Beleriand - hitting the high points, say: Where the major settlements of the Elves were, the Wars, the major players. I can loan her a map or two. Perhaps Mithadan would agree to point out a few strategic areas we will be concentrating on for our time jumps.'

'Might work, but remind Child that the lectures can't be too long or too detailed, or she'll lose her audience.'

Pio took another small sip of miruvor and resealed the flask. She slipped it in her pocket and made to go downstairs to wake Daisy, when the dragon spoke once more.

'One other thing, elf. Perhaps you should speak with Khelek about his knowledge of the Sunken Lands. I heard him humming to himself the other day. A song not heard for ages - from Beleriand.'