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

mark12_30 · 10-05-2002, 08:35 PM

Tuka came in from the mines with a large canvas sack to fetch lunch for himself and nine others. As he filled the tattered sack with four loaves of bread and ten wrinkled apples, Phura approached him with his five kids tagging along.

"New girl, " Tuka muttered, with a glance in Daisy and Anee's direction.

Phura tightened his lips in acknowledgement, and fetched two loaves and six apples for his little brood. "You hear anything?"

Tuka shook his head once. "She's cute enough. Where's she from?"

"She's new. Of course she's cute."

"Looks like they're sitting down, " Tuka muttered, and shouldered his now-full bag. "I'm off. Learn what you can."

Not easy, Phura thought, since Loremaster has forbidden me to ask her any questions; but he headed towards Anee and the new girl anyway, five children tagging dutifully along. Phura pretended not to notice the dagger-like glares Loremaster was sending his way.

Phura softly warned the children not to make any noise or draw attention to the new girl. They said nothing, but sat around her in a circle, and just stared.

Daisy smild uneasily, and Anee tried not to laugh.

Phura sat down on the ground next to Anee, and started handing out bread and apples to his five little charges. "Hi, " he said, nodding at Anee, then Daisy. They nodded back.

But Phura had no idea what to say or do next. He had never met anybody new before except Levanto, and for once, Phura had been too excited about that meeting to really remember what the elders had said to Levanto in greeting. Every other hobbit in these caves had been born there, and grown up knowing everybody else. Phura sat and racked his brain, reviewing songs, and lore, and notes and commentaries. None of that information helped him to introduce himself to a new girl that had come from far away.

The silence grew really painful while Daisy and Anee and the five children munched their lunches, and finally in desperation Phura said, "If you want someone to sing for you, I will. Just ask."

Anee giggled, and Daisy smiled, surprised but pleased. "Thank you," she said, very quietly. "Maybe I will."

Phura looked away, and saw something that suddenly drained all the color from his face. Azraph had just emerged from the lunch line, and with lips pressed together in anger, was sending him an icy stare, lunch sack forgotten in her hand.

"Excuse me." He stood hastily and went to calm her jealousy. The five children trooped after him.

Anee stifled another smile. From within Daisy's collar, a tiny chuckle was heard, and a small insect voice chirped, "Watch your step, Daisy. Not a hobbit boy comes through here without noticing you." And then the Neekerbreeker's soft chuckle continued for several moments more.

Daisy sighed, and bit into her wrinkly apple.

[ October 08, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

10-05-2002, 08:35 PM	#130
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Tuka came in from the mines with a large canvas sack to fetch lunch for himself and nine others. As he filled the tattered sack with four loaves of bread and ten wrinkled apples, Phura approached him with his five kids tagging along. "New girl, " Tuka muttered, with a glance in Daisy and Anee's direction. Phura tightened his lips in acknowledgement, and fetched two loaves and six apples for his little brood. "You hear anything?" Tuka shook his head once. "She's cute enough. Where's she from?" "She's new. Of course she's cute." "Looks like they're sitting down, " Tuka muttered, and shouldered his now-full bag. "I'm off. Learn what you can." Not easy, Phura thought, since Loremaster has forbidden me to ask her any questions; but he headed towards Anee and the new girl anyway, five children tagging dutifully along. Phura pretended not to notice the dagger-like glares Loremaster was sending his way. Phura softly warned the children not to make any noise or draw attention to the new girl. They said nothing, but sat around her in a circle, and just stared. Daisy smild uneasily, and Anee tried not to laugh. Phura sat down on the ground next to Anee, and started handing out bread and apples to his five little charges. "Hi, " he said, nodding at Anee, then Daisy. They nodded back. But Phura had no idea what to say or do next. He had never met anybody new before except Levanto, and for once, Phura had been too excited about that meeting to really remember what the elders had said to Levanto in greeting. Every other hobbit in these caves had been born there, and grown up knowing everybody else. Phura sat and racked his brain, reviewing songs, and lore, and notes and commentaries. None of that information helped him to introduce himself to a new girl that had come from far away. The silence grew really painful while Daisy and Anee and the five children munched their lunches, and finally in desperation Phura said, "If you want someone to sing for you, I will. Just ask." Anee giggled, and Daisy smiled, surprised but pleased. "Thank you," she said, very quietly. "Maybe I will." Phura looked away, and saw something that suddenly drained all the color from his face. Azraph had just emerged from the lunch line, and with lips pressed together in anger, was sending him an icy stare, lunch sack forgotten in her hand. "Excuse me." He stood hastily and went to calm her jealousy. The five children trooped after him. Anee stifled another smile. From within Daisy's collar, a tiny chuckle was heard, and a small insect voice chirped, "Watch your step, Daisy. Not a hobbit boy comes through here without noticing you." And then the Neekerbreeker's soft chuckle continued for several moments more. Daisy sighed, and bit into her wrinkly apple. [ October 08, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.