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

Child of the 7th Age · 10-11-2002, 02:34 PM

Cami sat on deck staring at the endless waves that slapped against the hull of the Star. Usually these brought comfort and consolation. Today this was not the case.

Each wave seemed like a giant hill separating her from where she wanted to be. Here on the Star, she could do nothing, nothing, to help her people. She wished a hundred times that she had skill in arms and swordplay. But young hobbit girls brought up in the Shire in her day were unlikely to have been taught such things. It was true that she was a good hand with the bow, but in the close quarters of the tombs this hardly seemed helpful.

She envied Rose and Daisy their youth and quick hands. At least then, she could have stood in the front line of those advancing and actually accomplished something. A few days ago, it didn't seem to matter, but now everything had changed.

The Elf had asked Cami to her room and told her about Daisy and selection lists. Cami listened in horror as she heard how hobbits and men were sacrificed day after day at the top of the Mount. For several hours, she had sat and cried at the image of Daisy held captive and the cruelty of the guards. Finally, she had stopped crying and tried to think her way through the problem.

She wanted to help, but what could she possibly do? She thought of speaking with Ancalimon, but this was something important for her to figure out on her own. Maybe the figuring out was almost as important as the doing.

Then it came to her. It was so simple that she'd had trouble seeing it before. She wasn't sure how to do it, but she was certain what should be done. She'd talk with Rose and together they'd go ask Mithadan or Piosenniel and see if anything could be arranged. Cami went below deck to hunt for Rose.

Before finding Rose, she came upon a group of hobbrim standing with Andril and crying. The wise woman came up to her and said, "We have spoken among ourselves. We will leave our children to wait on the Star, but the adults and the older youth want to be allowed to go with the landing party and fight." The request did not surprise Cami. She promised that they would go together to find out what could be done.

[ October 11, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

10-11-2002, 02:34 PM	#192
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Cami sat on deck staring at the endless waves that slapped against the hull of the Star. Usually these brought comfort and consolation. Today this was not the case. Each wave seemed like a giant hill separating her from where she wanted to be. Here on the Star, she could do nothing, nothing, to help her people. She wished a hundred times that she had skill in arms and swordplay. But young hobbit girls brought up in the Shire in her day were unlikely to have been taught such things. It was true that she was a good hand with the bow, but in the close quarters of the tombs this hardly seemed helpful. She envied Rose and Daisy their youth and quick hands. At least then, she could have stood in the front line of those advancing and actually accomplished something. A few days ago, it didn't seem to matter, but now everything had changed. The Elf had asked Cami to her room and told her about Daisy and selection lists. Cami listened in horror as she heard how hobbits and men were sacrificed day after day at the top of the Mount. For several hours, she had sat and cried at the image of Daisy held captive and the cruelty of the guards. Finally, she had stopped crying and tried to think her way through the problem. She wanted to help, but what could she possibly do? She thought of speaking with Ancalimon, but this was something important for her to figure out on her own. Maybe the figuring out was almost as important as the doing. Then it came to her. It was so simple that she'd had trouble seeing it before. She wasn't sure how to do it, but she was certain what should be done. She'd talk with Rose and together they'd go ask Mithadan or Piosenniel and see if anything could be arranged. Cami went below deck to hunt for Rose. Before finding Rose, she came upon a group of hobbrim standing with Andril and crying. The wise woman came up to her and said, "We have spoken among ourselves. We will leave our children to wait on the Star, but the adults and the older youth want to be allowed to go with the landing party and fight." The request did not surprise Cami. She promised that they would go together to find out what could be done. [ October 11, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.