[piosenniel]

Pio rubbed her arm where Bird had slapped her. 'By the One Bird, I'm glad I'm not someone you don't like - my arm has gone numb!' She grinned and flexed her fingers for effect. 'And as to your question - "Thus spoke Mandos: Elf, this is thy doom - It is the duty of the First Born to ever mystify and irritate the lesser born!"' She ducked as she saw Bird come at her, but it was only another hug, which she returned in kind.

'Come help us get the food ready, Bird. You can slice some searooms and we'll have them and some of the sea herbs scarambled with eggs. Daisy, you get a dozen or so guillemot eggs from the hold and beat then frothy with some of the seacow milk. Rose you get the skillet ready and toast some bread.' She made a mug of tea and walked toward the door of the galley. 'Wake the others when all is ready - Veritas, Child, Kali, and Mithadan. I have two more things I must take care of. Please don't wait breakfast on me. I do not know how long it will take.'

Daisy's face clouded up and Rose opened her mouth in protest. She stayed them with a look. 'This is something private. I will come back.'

She strode out the door and up to the deck. He stood there looking toward the West, the longing cries of seabirds echoing the ever present longing in his heart. She came quietly and stood behind him.

'Your tea, Khelek. And lightly made.' He turned, and regarded her with cool eyes, cool now where just a fleeting moment before she had seen the bright spark of yearning.

She held the mug out to him. As his fingers grazed hers in the taking of it, she sent him a vivid memory of the light and music of Aman. 'Drink, young one.' she said curving his hands firmly around the mug. 'Then come to breakfast. There are still some things to be put in place before we go to Númenor.'

His eyes followed her as she walked to the railing and stripped down to her small clothes.

She leapt from the railing, and the waves rose up to meet her.

[ September 09, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]