[piosenniel]

Daisy was nervous as the time grew near for her to go. This was her time to show she could be counted on, and she wondered if she were up to it. She packed the last of the necessaries she thought she might need in an old worn bag - another old dress, made to look well worn, a torn and stained cloak, and a dilapidated looking comb. The knife that Bird had given her she slipped into the waistband of her skirt, hidden by the overhang of a tattered vest. She longed to take the sword that Pio had given her, but she dared not. She must look and be the very image of one of the prisoned hobbits.

Her stomach grumbled loudly, protesting that she hadn't eaten anything all day. Daisy gave herself one last look in the mirror, and hurried out the door to find some lunch. 'Can't be fainting from hunger!', she said to herself. 'Who knows when I might get some decent food to eat again.'

The familiar smell of stew met her as she entered the galley. Dipping a bowlful from the simmering pot, she sat at one of the tables and dug in.

Pio was just entering the room, when she saw the Hobbit tucking into her meal. She laughed, drawing the girl's attention to her, loaded spoon halfway to her mouth. 'Must be especially good today!' she said, pointing at the near empty bowl. 'Or are you stocking up because you think this might be your last good meal in Middle-earth!'

Daisy blushed, then laughed, herself. 'Come sit with me!' she said. 'I wanted to see you before I went and talk to you.' 'And I with you.' returned the Elf, seating herself across from her. She poured herself a cup of tea and stirred a generous spoon of honey into it.

The hobbit had finished her stew, and now sat and fidgeted in her chair, not sure where to begin. Pio waited, letting her work out where she wanted to start in her own time.

'I'm scared, Pio!' is how she began. 'I've tried to think what you might do if you were me, but I just don't feel I can do this the way it needs to be done. You should have sent Rose. She's braver and smarter than I am, and wouldn't disappoint you.' Tears welled in Daisy's eyes, and Pio came round and drew a chair next to her. She pulled the now sobbing Hobbit close and let her bring out her fears. 'I could never forgive myself if I did something wrong that would hurt all you here on the Star!

Pio let the tears stop of their own accord, then took the hem of her cloak and wiped the hobbit's face and nose. She turned the girl's face up to hers, and regarded her closely. 'There are many parts that must be accomplished as we bring this venture to its close. Some are great and some are small, but each is necessary to the task at hand. This is your part, Daisy. And we chose you because we have all the faith in you that you will accomplish what is set for you to do. Let that be your focus, and do not worry about the larger aspects of this business. Leave that to others whose task it is to do them. Can you do that for us?'

Daisy nodded her head, reluctantly. 'You'll be my eyes and ears.' said Pio. 'You will help us to get in and out of the caverns safely with your information. I, and all the ones I love, will be kept from harm because you do this for us.' She pushed the curls back from Daisy's face and kissed her brow. 'You are a brave young woman, Daisy, and I have grown to love you. You could never disappoint me.'

They sat close, in silence, for a while, until one of the hobbrim young entered the galley, hoping for a snack. Then Pio smiled at Daisy and asked her to go find Bird. She wanted to talk with both of them before they left, to let them know what Levanto had told her.

Daisy ran from the room to find Bird, and Pio turned her attention to the expectant hobbrim and the serious business of the snack.

[ October 03, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]