[piosenniel]

Pio covered her face with her hands and sat down hard on the bed, her shoulders shook. Cami, concerned, that she had pushed her friend over the ragged edge she balanced on, came close, thinking to comfort her as she cried.

But Pio's reaction, was not what she expected. The insufferable Elf was laughing! She had fallen backwards now on the bed, howling in laughter, tears streaming down her cheeks. The hobbit stood there, looking at the hysterical Elf before her, and shook her head.

A few moments later, Pio collected her wits and sat up to face her friend. She wiped the tears from her face, saying, 'Thank you!' The elf sighed deeply, a long luxuriant sigh as she felt the tension of the past days leave her body. She stretched, pushing the last of it from her shoulders. Pio took Cami's hand and drew her down to sit next to her on the bed.

'I really do mean that "thank-you"', she said seriously. 'These past few days have found me trying to knot too many ends together, and your plain speech has brought me to my senses. Or such senses as this poor Elf might have' Her eyes twinkled, and a laugh of genuine relief came from her. 'I have long been accustomed to proceeding as I think best, to keeping my own counsel.' she went on again in a serious tone. 'And even after the lessons of Gondolin, I have found it hard not to take action as I see fit.' She glanced away from her friend, as memories of that time came back to her.

'I cannot do that anymore! There is not enough of me to handle everything. I am stretched too thin.' She put her forehead to Cami's and closing her eyes, said, quietly, 'Will you help me?'

Now it was Cami's turn to laugh, though a single tear escaped her. 'Of course, I will! We'll all help you. You have only to ask.'

'And who will school me to this asking? Old habits die hard for me, I have had them for so long now.' 'I will!', said Cami, 'as will the others as soon as I have spoken with them.' She looked closely at her friend. 'That is alright with you, isn't it? That I spread the word?' A look of concern crossed her face. 'You have informed the father, have you not?'

Pio laughed again. 'Yes, that is one thing I have managed to do right today! And yes, please let the others know. I don't relish the thought of getting up at dinner and making a general announcement of it!' She looked at her friend and chuckled. 'And about Bird, perhaps we had better broach this idea of yours gently to her. She may have other plans you know. Though, the idea of Auntie Birdie appeals to me greatly!'

They sat in silence for a while, relishing the comfort that close friendship brings. Cami stood up from the bed first. 'Let's go get you something proper to eat and drink, and then go on deck to enjoy the sun. We'll see how Ancalimon is getting on with the hobbrim children that swarm about him!'

A shadow passed over Pio's face and her brow furrowed at the mention of Ancalimon. 'Now what are you thinking?' asked Cami, noting the change in the Elf's demeanor. 'Tell me that I might help you.'

'It was something that Ancalimon spoke about with me, earlier in the day. I don't know how you can help me with it.'

'That is my decision, not yours, Pio. Now tell me.'

Pio told her of how she had let Mithadan 'know' his son and daughter when she had told him of them. How she thought that so brief a sensing of them would do no harm. But now she feared otherwise. Ancalimon had been conerned that the attention of Gorthaur might be drawn their way because of it. She put her hand protecively against her belly.

'It frightens me that he may come to sense them, and then us. And I cannot see what I might do about it.'

[ September 28, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]