The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Lonely Star -- Chapter 4

piosenniel · 09-25-2002, 04:39 AM

It was late evening and thirty hobbrim had been fed and found places they could bed down in later. Now they had gathered with the Star's crew on deck to sit and talk and tell each other their stories. Pio made her excuses and withdrew from the group, saying she would relieve Veritas of the watch, and send her down to them.

She walked slowly to the bow, where Veritas stood watching the waters to the north. Pio could hear her humming an old song, softly, as she swept her head in an arc from west to east and then slowly returned to center. 'I've always loved that song!' said Pio. She sang the first verse of it in a clear voice, joined by Veritas for the remaining. Their voices wove together an image of such light and loveliness that it flowed over the Star like a gentle stream and washed away the shadow and the darkness, if only for a moment.

'Perhaps we should not have done that, Veritas. It might not be wise to raise Elven voices in this dark time.' Veritas agreed reluctantly, loathing the thought of having to hide what was beautiful. Pio sent her to the circle of hobbrim and crew, while she assumed her place. The waters before her were empty of any threat, and she turned her thoughts to other matters, for the moment.

She sensed, rather than heard the dragon land lightly behind her. 'I see you have regained your strength , somewhat, Angara. Do you come now to apologize?' She faced the approaching dragon.

'And what have I to apologize for?' returned the Wyrm. 'It was that Man who drew the attention of Gorthaur, not I.'

'You forget, I "heard" all you said. And it was you who drew the dark mind to us.' Pio shuddered at the remembrance of his foul touch. 'You and your insufferable pride that endangered us.'

She advanced upon the dragon. 'The hour grows near, Angara, when friends will rely on one another to keep each other safe and whole. I had thought I would be able to do this with you at my side. And now I do not know that I can trust you.'

The dragon looked down and would not meet the Elf's eyes.

'I miss you, my old friend.' spoke Pio, kneeling down close to Angara's head. 'I need you now by my side.' The dragon looked up and saw hope mirrored in Pio's eyes.

She wondered at it, as the Elf touched her forehead to hers and opened her mind briefly. Angara's mind reeled at the contact, as the images of such grace and light reached out to her. She staggered back, breaking the contact, and sought to steady her breathing.

She saw Pio smiling gently at her. 'You have not told . . .?' asked Angara. The elf shook her head 'no'.

'I cannot. I must see this last thing done. Will you help me?'

The dragon sighed, and she came forward, to place her head in the Elf's lap.

'So be it, Piosenniel. As I can, I will.'

'I can ask no more, my friend.'

[ September 25, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

09-25-2002, 04:39 AM	#74
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	It was late evening and thirty hobbrim had been fed and found places they could bed down in later. Now they had gathered with the Star's crew on deck to sit and talk and tell each other their stories. Pio made her excuses and withdrew from the group, saying she would relieve Veritas of the watch, and send her down to them. She walked slowly to the bow, where Veritas stood watching the waters to the north. Pio could hear her humming an old song, softly, as she swept her head in an arc from west to east and then slowly returned to center. 'I've always loved that song!' said Pio. She sang the first verse of it in a clear voice, joined by Veritas for the remaining. Their voices wove together an image of such light and loveliness that it flowed over the Star like a gentle stream and washed away the shadow and the darkness, if only for a moment. 'Perhaps we should not have done that, Veritas. It might not be wise to raise Elven voices in this dark time.' Veritas agreed reluctantly, loathing the thought of having to hide what was beautiful. Pio sent her to the circle of hobbrim and crew, while she assumed her place. The waters before her were empty of any threat, and she turned her thoughts to other matters, for the moment. She sensed, rather than heard the dragon land lightly behind her. 'I see you have regained your strength , somewhat, Angara. Do you come now to apologize?' She faced the approaching dragon. 'And what have I to apologize for?' returned the Wyrm. 'It was that Man who drew the attention of Gorthaur, not I.' 'You forget, I "heard" all you said. And it was you who drew the dark mind to us.' Pio shuddered at the remembrance of his foul touch. 'You and your insufferable pride that endangered us.' She advanced upon the dragon. 'The hour grows near, Angara, when friends will rely on one another to keep each other safe and whole. I had thought I would be able to do this with you at my side. And now I do not know that I can trust you.' The dragon looked down and would not meet the Elf's eyes. 'I miss you, my old friend.' spoke Pio, kneeling down close to Angara's head. 'I need you now by my side.' The dragon looked up and saw hope mirrored in Pio's eyes. She wondered at it, as the Elf touched her forehead to hers and opened her mind briefly. Angara's mind reeled at the contact, as the images of such grace and light reached out to her. She staggered back, breaking the contact, and sought to steady her breathing. She saw Pio smiling gently at her. 'You have not told . . .?' asked Angara. The elf shook her head 'no'. 'I cannot. I must see this last thing done. Will you help me?' The dragon sighed, and she came forward, to place her head in the Elf's lap. 'So be it, Piosenniel. As I can, I will.' 'I can ask no more, my friend.' [ September 25, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.