The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - THE LONELY STAR (Contd. from BD birthday party)

***Mithadan*** · 09-06-2002, 01:53 PM

It was nearly dawn. Mithadan rested in his bunk, but though he was weary as he had never been before, sleep would not come to him. He avoided thought of his vision of the Lonely Isle and Valinor beyond; he would have ample time to review that memory. Instead, he dwelt upon the figure of the Elf above-decks, wrestling with her own desires and motives. He had no doubt that his actions had been the right ones, for the crew and for himself at any rate. But were they correct for Piosenniel? He was not certain what was right for her and doubted that she herself knew. But he was used to making decisions for others and, in this regard, knew two things: the safety and security of the crew were paramount; and once a decision was made it could not be unmade. This did not assuage his feelings of guilt for what he had done and sympathy for Piosenniel.

He understood why Piosenniel had taken the guise of Tule. She had wished anonymity; to be able to aid her friends in their task, then depart without sorrowful farewells. He had stripped her of that anonymity, yet he knew it was a fiction. While the crew might not miss Tule (some may have been glad to bid him farewell), Tule could not pretend that he was not Piosenniel to himself; she alone would have suffered upon her departure. More selflessness. Piosenniel seemed to have no end of that virtue.

She had returned to Middle Earth nearly 2000 years into the Second Age. How long had she resided in the Halls of Mandos? Not long if the stories told of the fates of Elven heroes were true. Yet "not long" held an entirely different meaning for Men and Elves. Nonetheless he had no doubt that she had dwelt for many lives of Men in Valinor before returning to the Mortal Lands. And why had she done so? At the request of Ancalimon? Or to help Kali and her friends? More selflessness? Or perhaps not. Perhaps she had also merely wished to see her friends once more before continuing he endless sojourn in the Undying Lands. Mithadan now more clearly understood the depth of Pio's confusion and dismay.

But there was nothing he could do to help her...except... "Pio, I'm sorry."

[ September 06, 2002: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

09-06-2002, 01:53 PM	#704
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,397	It was nearly dawn. Mithadan rested in his bunk, but though he was weary as he had never been before, sleep would not come to him. He avoided thought of his vision of the Lonely Isle and Valinor beyond; he would have ample time to review that memory. Instead, he dwelt upon the figure of the Elf above-decks, wrestling with her own desires and motives. He had no doubt that his actions had been the right ones, for the crew and for himself at any rate. But were they correct for Piosenniel? He was not certain what was right for her and doubted that she herself knew. But he was used to making decisions for others and, in this regard, knew two things: the safety and security of the crew were paramount; and once a decision was made it could not be unmade. This did not assuage his feelings of guilt for what he had done and sympathy for Piosenniel. He understood why Piosenniel had taken the guise of Tule. She had wished anonymity; to be able to aid her friends in their task, then depart without sorrowful farewells. He had stripped her of that anonymity, yet he knew it was a fiction. While the crew might not miss Tule (some may have been glad to bid him farewell), Tule could not pretend that he was not Piosenniel to himself; she alone would have suffered upon her departure. More selflessness. Piosenniel seemed to have no end of that virtue. She had returned to Middle Earth nearly 2000 years into the Second Age. How long had she resided in the Halls of Mandos? Not long if the stories told of the fates of Elven heroes were true. Yet "not long" held an entirely different meaning for Men and Elves. Nonetheless he had no doubt that she had dwelt for many lives of Men in Valinor before returning to the Mortal Lands. And why had she done so? At the request of Ancalimon? Or to help Kali and her friends? More selflessness? Or perhaps not. Perhaps she had also merely wished to see her friends once more before continuing he endless sojourn in the Undying Lands. Mithadan now more clearly understood the depth of Pio's confusion and dismay. But there was nothing he could do to help her...except... "Pio, I'm sorry." [ September 06, 2002: Message edited by: Mithadan ] __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.