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

mark12_30 · 10-08-2002, 09:00 AM

Having summarily excused himself from studying, much to Loremaster's astonishment, and taken the five children with him, Phura sat by the water's edge, as Gamba so often did, tossing in stones as he sang in a melancholy voice. The children brought him stones when he ran out. He wondered how many stones there were at the bottom of the river, and how many hobbits had sat and sang there through the years of imprisonment.

Now that the years of imprisonment were finally drawing to a close, he felt torn in half. He knew that something awaited him beyond the cave, far away out to sea; a restless longing that called to him, pulled at him, gave him a heartache that nothing could ease.

And he knew that his brother did not share it.

He was afraid, too, that Azraph would not share it; that the two people that he would most rather not part from, would be torn from him, and that he would go on alone, without Gamba, without Azraph.

He had spoken with Loremaster about it again and again, hoping that the old man would find wisdom enough to heal the heartache that tore at him. But the old man gently shook his head, and replied softly that one should not argue with destiny. Nor could either of them bear to discuss it with Gamba; the idea seemed to give Loremaster as much sadness as it did Phura, and Phura didn't know why.

So Phura was left with hunger and fear, side by side; oddly, he was afraid of the hunger when he felt it, but missed the hunger when he thrust it aside.

Suddenly he stood, and jumped in the water.

There were lots and lots of rocks and pebbles on the stony bottom, and he gathered handfuls of them, and brought them to the shore. Not knowing why, he began making a pile of them. The pile grew, and the children started playing with the pebbles. Kesha waved at the pile. "What's it for?"

"I don't know, " Phura said. And Kesha jumped in too. "Hey!" Phura said, reaching for him, but Kesha, after some preliminary spluttering, took to the water easily and naturally.

Soon the other four wanted to come in too. Phura gave them each a quick bath, and put them back up; little Maura stayed in the longest, in Phura's arms, before he went back up on the wall. But Kesha stayed in with Phura, and the pile of stones grew and grew.

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

10-08-2002, 09:00 AM	#156
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	Having summarily excused himself from studying, much to Loremaster's astonishment, and taken the five children with him, Phura sat by the water's edge, as Gamba so often did, tossing in stones as he sang in a melancholy voice. The children brought him stones when he ran out. He wondered how many stones there were at the bottom of the river, and how many hobbits had sat and sang there through the years of imprisonment. Now that the years of imprisonment were finally drawing to a close, he felt torn in half. He knew that something awaited him beyond the cave, far away out to sea; a restless longing that called to him, pulled at him, gave him a heartache that nothing could ease. And he knew that his brother did not share it. He was afraid, too, that Azraph would not share it; that the two people that he would most rather not part from, would be torn from him, and that he would go on alone, without Gamba, without Azraph. He had spoken with Loremaster about it again and again, hoping that the old man would find wisdom enough to heal the heartache that tore at him. But the old man gently shook his head, and replied softly that one should not argue with destiny. Nor could either of them bear to discuss it with Gamba; the idea seemed to give Loremaster as much sadness as it did Phura, and Phura didn't know why. So Phura was left with hunger and fear, side by side; oddly, he was afraid of the hunger when he felt it, but missed the hunger when he thrust it aside. Suddenly he stood, and jumped in the water. There were lots and lots of rocks and pebbles on the stony bottom, and he gathered handfuls of them, and brought them to the shore. Not knowing why, he began making a pile of them. The pile grew, and the children started playing with the pebbles. Kesha waved at the pile. "What's it for?" "I don't know, " Phura said. And Kesha jumped in too. "Hey!" Phura said, reaching for him, but Kesha, after some preliminary spluttering, took to the water easily and naturally. Soon the other four wanted to come in too. Phura gave them each a quick bath, and put them back up; little Maura stayed in the longest, in Phura's arms, before he went back up on the wall. But Kesha stayed in with Phura, and the pile of stones grew and grew. [ October 08, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.