The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - On Patrol (Continued from Let's Go to the Prancing Pony)

piosenniel · 07-25-2002, 12:56 AM

Holly had borrowed one of the hourglass timers from the cook. It was one of the bigger ones, and ran for about 20 minutes each turning.

'Alright, Bird.' she said, you've got two turnings of the glass here to sleep, then I'll wake you briefly to check on you.'

Bird settled back on the pillows and drifted off into a doze. Holly turned the lamp up on the table next to her, and opened the window as wide as it would go for the fresh, cool breeze to help keep her awake.

Curling up in the big chair, next to the table, she pulled a book toward her that Bethberry had obviously been looking at before this whole incident had started. It was a scholarly tome, The Herbalist Compaendium, and it appeared much read by her as the pages fell open easily and there were numerous pencilling ins of detailed notes on specific cases. Unfortunately after several paragraphs, her head nodding, Holly realized this was not the type of reading to keep her awake.

She got up and stretched, then looked about the room for some scrap papers and a pen.

She stood and walked about the room, doing quick sketches of the sleeping Bird. Every forty minutes, for 4 hours she woke her friend, assessed her level of orientation, then helped her assume a new position on the bed. Each position had an artfully draped quilt covering the sleeping form, and each each new posing was skillfully rendered onto a piece of the paper.

When Bethberry came to the room for her shift, she found twelve drawings pinned on her walls, and a yawning hobbit with inkstained fingers just turning her friend over for the last time.

Holly stumbled back to her room,fell on her bed, and dropped off to sleep in an instant.

07-25-2002, 12:56 AM	#274
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Holly had borrowed one of the hourglass timers from the cook. It was one of the bigger ones, and ran for about 20 minutes each turning. 'Alright, Bird.' she said, you've got two turnings of the glass here to sleep, then I'll wake you briefly to check on you.' Bird settled back on the pillows and drifted off into a doze. Holly turned the lamp up on the table next to her, and opened the window as wide as it would go for the fresh, cool breeze to help keep her awake. Curling up in the big chair, next to the table, she pulled a book toward her that Bethberry had obviously been looking at before this whole incident had started. It was a scholarly tome, The Herbalist Compaendium, and it appeared much read by her as the pages fell open easily and there were numerous pencilling ins of detailed notes on specific cases. Unfortunately after several paragraphs, her head nodding, Holly realized this was not the type of reading to keep her awake. She got up and stretched, then looked about the room for some scrap papers and a pen. She stood and walked about the room, doing quick sketches of the sleeping Bird. Every forty minutes, for 4 hours she woke her friend, assessed her level of orientation, then helped her assume a new position on the bed. Each position had an artfully draped quilt covering the sleeping form, and each each new posing was skillfully rendered onto a piece of the paper. When Bethberry came to the room for her shift, she found twelve drawings pinned on her walls, and a yawning hobbit with inkstained fingers just turning her friend over for the last time. Holly stumbled back to her room,fell on her bed, and dropped off to sleep in an instant. __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.