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

Birdland · 10-02-2002, 11:54 PM

"But are you sure that you want to do this?"

"Of course I am! I want to do this. This is my chance to really do something on this voyage. Why? Are you afraid?"

Bird stepped into the cabin and sat down on Daisy's bunk. "Of course I'm afraid! This is not some lock-hole that your Bounders use to keep a tipsy Hobbit in until he's sobered up. This is a real prison, Daisy, run by Men."

"I'll be in disquise. But you will just be another Halfling among many, and if things go wrong there you will suffer and die with the rest of them. I even wonder if you are prepared for what you will see there?"

Daisy looked up from her packing. Suddenly, it seemed to the Skinchanger that the troublesome Hobbit lass aged ten years before her eyes. "No, I'm not sure what I will see there, though I can image that it will be bad. Worse than anything I've seen.

"But Birdie, I can't help but wonder if this is the reason I stowed away on the Lonely Star in the first place. That this is the reason that I'm here. You've all done so much for Kali and the Hobbrims. I just guess it's my turn, now. Can you understand that?"

"I suppose I do, Daisy. I've puzzled myself over why you turned up in this cabin. Your reason sounds as good as any." Birdie laughed at the affronted look of the Hobbit maid. "Well, you can't say that you didn't notice my "reservations", now can you? But I guess you've grown into your role, and now is as good a time as any to show what you have learned. And if things go wrong, you and I will be no safer on this ship than we'll be in the prison, I suspect."

Daisy had no answer for this, so she turned and tied up her bundle and slung it over her shoulder. "Well, I'm ready. When do we set out?"

"As soon as they tell us to. But here," Bird reached out and took the bundle off of Daisy's shoulder and slung it on the bunk. "I can lighten your load, some. Nothing you have in that pack will match what those poor folk are wearing in that prison. You'll have to dress for your part when you get there. The only thing you'll need is this." Bird held out a small, but keen Elven dagger in a buckled sheath. "Go on. Take it. I can carry no weapon in Dolphin or Neekerbreeker form, so you'll have to carry this for both of us."

Daisy took the small dagger, and studied the buckles. "Where do I wear this?"

"Anywhere you can hide it. You'll figure that out when we arrive."

The Hobbit pulled the dagger from it's sheath, and ran a finger over the shining steel. "Bird?"

"What now?"

"When we get there. You won't...well...fly away or anything...will you?"

Bird whirled around, ready to give the child a "piece of her mind". Then she saw the look on the girl's face as she gazed at the dagger. Bird walked over and placed both her hands on Daisy's shoulders.

"No, Daisy. Once we get there, I'm not going anywhere. Least not until we all are going."

10-02-2002, 11:54 PM	#109
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	"But are you sure that you want to do this?" "Of course I am! I want to do this. This is my chance to really do something on this voyage. Why? Are you afraid?" Bird stepped into the cabin and sat down on Daisy's bunk. "Of course I'm afraid! This is not some lock-hole that your Bounders use to keep a tipsy Hobbit in until he's sobered up. This is a real prison, Daisy, run by Men." "I'll be in disquise. But you will just be another Halfling among many, and if things go wrong there you will suffer and die with the rest of them. I even wonder if you are prepared for what you will see there?" Daisy looked up from her packing. Suddenly, it seemed to the Skinchanger that the troublesome Hobbit lass aged ten years before her eyes. "No, I'm not sure what I will see there, though I can image that it will be bad. Worse than anything I've seen. "But Birdie, I can't help but wonder if this is the reason I stowed away on the Lonely Star in the first place. That this is the reason that I'm here. You've all done so much for Kali and the Hobbrims. I just guess it's my turn, now. Can you understand that?" "I suppose I do, Daisy. I've puzzled myself over why you turned up in this cabin. Your reason sounds as good as any." Birdie laughed at the affronted look of the Hobbit maid. "Well, you can't say that you didn't notice my "reservations", now can you? But I guess you've grown into your role, and now is as good a time as any to show what you have learned. And if things go wrong, you and I will be no safer on this ship than we'll be in the prison, I suspect." Daisy had no answer for this, so she turned and tied up her bundle and slung it over her shoulder. "Well, I'm ready. When do we set out?" "As soon as they tell us to. But here," Bird reached out and took the bundle off of Daisy's shoulder and slung it on the bunk. "I can lighten your load, some. Nothing you have in that pack will match what those poor folk are wearing in that prison. You'll have to dress for your part when you get there. The only thing you'll need is this." Bird held out a small, but keen Elven dagger in a buckled sheath. "Go on. Take it. I can carry no weapon in Dolphin or Neekerbreeker form, so you'll have to carry this for both of us." Daisy took the small dagger, and studied the buckles. "Where do I wear this?" "Anywhere you can hide it. You'll figure that out when we arrive." The Hobbit pulled the dagger from it's sheath, and ran a finger over the shining steel. "Bird?" "What now?" "When we get there. You won't...well...fly away or anything...will you?" Bird whirled around, ready to give the child a "piece of her mind". Then she saw the look on the girl's face as she gazed at the dagger. Bird walked over and placed both her hands on Daisy's shoulders. "No, Daisy. Once we get there, I'm not going anywhere. Least not until we all are going."