[piosenniel]

'Now that I have your attention, Mithadan - what thoughts trouble you?' Pio threw the pillow to the head of the bed, and sat down beside him. He looked at her and smiled, but said nothing. 'I'll leave your thoughts to you to mull over, then.' she said. 'But, if you wish, I would be glad for you to share them with me.'

She stood up and pulled on her boots. 'I'm going up to the helm to relieve whoever is on watch. Come with me! I know I could use some fresh air and a look at the waters and the stars.' She threw her cloak about her shoulders. Then took his hand and drew him toward the door.

Pio shut the door firmly as they exited. A few stray feathers drifted into the hallway. She grinned at Mithadan and shook her head. 'Let's sleep in your room, tonight. We can herd feathers tomorrow!' she proposed, as they walked down the gangway, heading to the stairs.

They had almost reached the stairs, when Pio saw Cami sitting at a table in the galley. She urged him to go on up without her, telling him that she wished to speak with the hobbit for a few moments.

Cami sat looking into her cup of tea lost in thought. Pio sat across from her, and drew her attention. She added her own requests that Cami keep herself and Rose safe, and that they hurry quickly to the first ship so that Pio might see that they were safe and let Mithadan know.

The hobbit looked at her questioningly. Pio shrugged. 'I promised I would stay on the ship. That was our compromise for my going. I intend to keep that promise.'

Cami looked at her closely. 'Something has changed between you two.' stated the all too perceptive hobbit. 'There is a calmer, more settled air between you now. An easier, and yet stronger bond. You begin to pull together as you handle the tasks that come before you.' She took the Pio's hand in her own, 'It's good to see this. It will make our parting from each other easier.' She patted the Elf's belly, and they both smiled.

Pio looked at her friend, and tears threatened at the corners of her eyes. She sighed and blinked them back. 'I'm missing you already.' she said, and looked away.

When she had regained control of herself, she talked to the hobbit about all she had seen and heard in the caverns. Cami asked her many questions, wanting to keep each detail straight in her mind.

'I do have one last area I need to talk with you about.' said Pio. She told Cami how the hobbits had asked how they would get those who could not swim well through the water to the ships. And she told her how she had assured them in vague terms how that part of the plan was already taken care of by those on the Star.

'What they do not know is that it will be hobbrim who will guard and escort them as they travel through the water on the air bladders. I need you to prepare them for this. We cannot have them frightened of those who mean to help them!'

Cami agreed and said that she would share this with the Elders first, to see how best to approach it to the general population. The hobbit stood and said she must go talk to Rose, now, and said she would see Pio tomorrow.

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Veritas had gone below, and Mithadan now stood watch. Pio joined him, and leaned on the rail, looking far over the waves to the isle. 'Andor, the Land of Gift.' she murmured. 'What once was fair, now falls into Shadow.' She thought of the King' ships as they neared Tol Eressëa.

Evening had moved into night, and now above, the stars hung bright in the sky. A soft breeze blew from the west. The Elf and Man spoke softly about Gorthaur's ship upriver, and how they might best approach it.

'Levanto must come with us, so that the Elders will be alerted of our coming. I suppose we will take Cami and Rose up river in a skiff. They will have to wait just south of the ship until we have taken care of the crew on board it. Then we can anchor it near the caverns and walk in as we said. What do you plan to do with it once we go back to the Star? Scuttle it?'

Pio listened as he outlined his plans, nodding her assent. She looked back over the water to Númenor, and drummed her fingers on the railing.

'I do have one question that has weighed on my mind of late. I wondered if you might shed some light on it.'

'What is it, Pio?' he said, turning toward her.

'We are so few, against so many. What hope do you see that we can accomplish that which is set before us?'

[ October 17, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]