[piosenniel]

She heard the soft knock at her door. 'Come!' she called, wondering what was needed now.

Daisy peeked her head in, and smiled. 'It's just me, Pio. I've come to tell you that Levanto has returned and is asking for you.'

'Good news, I hope!' she said, getting up from the chair, and coming to the door. She ruffled the curls on the girl's head, and smiled ar her.

On the way down the hall, they stopped at the man's closed door. Pio rapped lightly, calling clearly. 'Levanto is here, Mithadan. Come hear what report he brings.' She stood for a few moments, waiting for reply, but none came.

'Come, Daisy.' she said to her companion, 'He must have gone above already. He will have to find us.'

Levanto was still in the water when they came on deck. He was too tired, he protested to come on board, and would she please come down to him.

She climbed down to the moored skiff near him and listened as he began the story of his trip upstream.

'Hold! I'm coming down.' came the voice from above. 'I want to hear Levanto's report as well.' Mithadan dropped down to the boat from the rope ladder and sat opposite the elf. His bearing was serious, and he listened closely to all that the mer-man had to say. Pio stopped Levanto many times during his story to review exactly what he had seen and where.

When he had finished, she smiled warmly at him and thanked him for doing this. He told her, then, that he would meet with two of the elders in the coming evening. They would then have more specific information on the guards,their schedules, and how they were armed.

'You must be weary, my sweet friend.' she said to Levanto, placing her hand lightly on his arm. 'Go to your rest now and I will speak with you tomorrow morning before you go back to the caverns.' She stood and made to go up the ladder. 'Can we speak later of what Levanto has told us, Mithadan' I wish to tell Cami and Rose of the two young hobbits, and the Loremaster and the Elders. I think it will bring them some cheer.'

She climbed quickly to the top and disappeared over the railing. Levanto watched as the man's gaze followed her retreating form for a moment then looked far out to sea.

Mithadan, too, thanked Levanto for his report and thought to make his way back up to the deck. Levanto grasped his arm firmly before he could rise from his seat, and regarded him closely before he spoke.

'You will keep her safe this time, Man!'

Then with a small splash, he dropped beneath the water, and was gone.