[mark12_30]

Pat,

This is really Sharon, not Helen. (Te He) Actually, I made a mistake. I meant to be Sharon.

We have a problem. You and I posted at the same time on the same topic. Mine was on the discussion thread, waiting for pasting. (I deleted it since then, in favor of the one below). I desperately need to insert my post in the middle of yours. I have given a suggested revision below which can be cut and pasted. My post and yours would clash unless they're merged together, which they easily can be. The revision involved erasing just a few sentences of yours and inserting my own post in the middle.

BTW, this can go in the same slot where yours is now.

The problem is that my post is central to Cami's character and who she becomes in the course of the story. She starts as a nanny teaching small children, with memories of her teacher Bilbo in her head. She is afraid to go beyond that, and has avoided even returning to her own people, living in the world of men,where she can shut herself off.

Her challenge is to grow beyond what Bilbo has taught her. He, after all, is a male, and well-to-do. She has to find her own path.

She finds it in two ways. She develops an emotional attachment to a man, which unfortunately she must sacrifice. She is absolutely loyal and carries out what she had promised to do. Emotionally, she is not going to find anyone else. But she still has to find a way to live with some meaning and dignity. She will be going to the late Second Age, when there are still a number of Elves about. She has no husband to support her.

Her role has to be that of wise-woman. She must have healing and osanwe skills as well as what little lore has been left to the hobbits. She has to rise above herself.

More importantly, Cami must learn to believe in herself, which she freqently does not. This post is key to all this, and points the way she will go. At the end of the story, Cami will choose a name that reflects her new status. This is an option which Ancalamon will give her.

Oh, yes, Rose is semi-comatose. Would she thrash about or lie still? Would she have been able to swallow the elixir? I defer to you here as I am no nurse. Please change or keep as you see fit in that aspect in the early part of the post. I have revised the initial accident to reflect a head injury as well as a spear in the side. (BTW, Andril does know osanwe from the previous story line.)

Let me know if this is alright.
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Pio's post:

Once the shift in time had been made, then Idril answered Ancalimon’s call to come and tend to Rose. He worried about the wound from the spear, but more so he worried about the blow she had taken to the head.

She had seen Rose several times now, and today was pleased to find her looking less pale than before, though Cami and Andril, had been sitting with her, said Rose had not opened her eyes or responded to their voices in any way. Idril sat on the bed next to Rose, and opened her healer’s chest to take what she needed from it.

She spoke softly to Rose as she moved through the motions of her care. The Hobbit was pale, her heart and breathing still rapid from the blood loss she had suffered. She slipped in and out of consciousness, moaning softly when the pain assailed her.

The wound itself was grievous. It was deep, penetrating to the bone of the ribcage, cracking the rib which had stopped it. She had cleaned out the gash, and now packed it with healing unguents. Soft, absorbent dressings were laid over it, and a clean band of linen bound round the Hobbit’s chest.

‘Come help me!’ she called to Cami and Andril, who had watched how she worked with the wound. ‘We must prop her up a little so that she can breathe properly.’ Andril and Cami gently raised Rose up, as Idril tucked pillows and rolled blankets behind her for support.

Rose moaned as they moved her, and Idril gave her a few drops of the honey-colored elixir to ease the pain. The Hobbit’s lips moved greedily toward the sweet liquid and would have more, but Idril eased her head back against the pillow with her hand, saying, ‘No more, little warrior! That is enough for someone your size.’

Sharon's post

Then Idril explained to the women how the mind sometimes shut down after a grievous injury. Often it awoke naturally, but sometimes it could not. This seemed to have happened to Rose. They would try and help her.

"First, you must join with me. Otherwise, you will not be able to understand what I do to help Rose."

Andril concentrated, carefully focusing her mind until the link was established. Cami sat back and blurted out, "I'm not sure I can do that."

Idril looked sternly at her. Then she spoke in a firm, if kindly, manner, "I have been told otherwise by Piosenniel and Ancalimon. This is your friend. If she responds to anyone at all, it is most likely to be you. We need you in this link."

Cami sat down and took Rose's hand in hers. Somehow, a physical touch made it much easier. She tried to do what she'd done the night of the rescue. Only this time her focus was on both Rose and Idril. Her mind jogged. It was almost as if a portal was suddenly thrust open to reveal something that had been there all along, only cleverly hidden from view.

Good, you have not only linked with me, but also the girl.

Then Idril turned her attention to Rose and spoke to her,Come back little warrior! We await you.

For an instant, Cami thought Idril was talking to her the way she would with a friend, but then she realized the words were coming through her head instead.

I will move in and try to wake her. Andril, Cami, watch what I do. Cami, if she responds, she will probably come to you, since she knows you as a friend. Do not thrust her aside. Speak with her first with your own thoughts, and then try bringing her outside with words. The whole idea is to open her up to the outside again.

The Elf leaned over Rose. Her face, with its shining light, spoke of a goodness and beauty that went beyond the things of this world. She caressed the girl's mind, only with thoughts and feelings instead of physical touch. This went on for several moments and still Rose slept. But slowly very slowly, there was movement. First the movement of thoughts, and then the tentative glimmerings of a body reawakening.Almost instinctively, Cami began to talk. Only this time it was inside, not outside.

Rose, are you here? It's Cami. I'm worried about you. Are you alright?

The woman sensed a tiny response from her friend. She went inside Rose's mind and did something very close to gently shaking her, that is, if such thoughts could be translated into physical movement. Cami prodded again.

Rose, is that you? Wake up. I need you back.

The girl looked at her friend and peered quizzically. How did you get in here?

Never mind that now. We both need to get out. Cami gently pulled Rose and herself through to the other side, and continued talking, only now out loud.

Suddenly Rose blurted back, "I told you we'd make it alright. I promised we'd get through together, and we did."

"We certainly did," A tear slipped down Cami's cheek. She brushed it aside, and sternly told herself not to start weeping.

The girl lay back on her pillow exhausted. She closed her eyes to sleep, but this time it was a sleep of grace and healing.

Idril showed Cami how she could clean the wound and replace the bandage for her friend. "Now we must let her sleep. She will be fine. She is young and strong. More and more her spirit will fight to come back, but the healing will take time."

Relief flooded over Cami's face. Now she turned to ask about Mithadan. Idril answered, "I am hopeful. But his wound still festers, and he has not yet spoken. Piosenniel guards over him like a mother hawk with her brood, and will not let any other tend to his needs. Still, it is early. We may see improvement in the next day or two."

Then, Idril made Cami promise that she would spend time with Andril as she made her rounds among the ill and injured hobbits. "It is important that you learn the arts of a healer. Your people will need it. You have skill in this, Cami. Even I can see that in what you have done for Rose."

Pio's post:

Before leaving the room, the Elf had opened her wooden chest and was putting back the herbs, unguent, and elixir she had used, when Andril put a hand on her arm. ‘Yes?’ she asked, looking closely at the Hobbrim

‘If you would, Lady Idril,’ said the woman, ‘Cami and I are very much interested in the numerous medicinal supplies you carry in that chest of yours. I have never seen so many before! It would be wonderful to have such at hand when need called.

’Idril looked from one to the other, appraisingly. ‘Ancalimon and Piosenniel have spoken with me about your need for such. She would have spoken to you about this herself, but Mithadan is much on her mind these days. It was to be her gift to each of you before you went your separate ways.’ She took out the layers of trays within the chest and arranged them on the rug. She showed them all her assortment, giving a brief description of what each was used for.

‘What are these?’ asked Cami, noting that in each discrete section of the tray there was always a small envelope tucked beneath the herbs themselves.

Idril pull one from beneath the leaves piled on it and opened it, shaking the contents onto the palm of her hand. ‘These are my most precious treasure – the seeds from which each herb springs.’ She carefully returned the seeds to their envelope. ‘You will each receive some of each of these seeds so that you also may continue to renew your stock of herbs.’

Idril placed the trays back into the chest and left it open for the moment. ‘There is one thing which you will need to do before you take the chests I will prepare for you.’ ‘Anything!’ cried Cami, overwhelmed at the generosity of the gift.

‘There is my note book of herbal lore and usage that will need to be copied.’ She pulled out a fair sized notebook bound in well worn leather, filled with drawings, histories and recipes for each herb. ‘If you can come for a short period of time each day until we leave, you can get this copied and we can discuss any questions you have as you go along.’ She placed the notebook carefully on the top tray of the chest and closed the chest lid securely.

‘Can you do this?’ she asked, turning back to face them.

Sharon's post:

Andril nodded her head and gracefully bowed. "Your gift is most welcome. It will be a joy to do as you have asked. I will come each morning to copy the notebooks and learn more of these things. The hobbrim on Meneltarma will bless you for this gift."

Andril prepared to go, but first came up to Cami to remind her. "Don't forget. You promised to come tomorrow. We will meet with Lady Idril first. Then you'll come along with me when I visit those hobbits and hobbrim who still need the services of a healer. I'm afraid we have many of those, though I hope to see their numbers lessen." Cami weakly nodded. Then Andril curtsied again to Lady Idril, and left.

The room was filled with an awkward silence, until the Elf addressed the woman again, "And you, Cami, what do you say to me? Can you do this?"

Cami sighed, and wondered what to say. Just how much of the truth should come out of her mouth? This was a great Lady, and she would surely not want to hear her concerns. Perhaps, a polite 'thank you' would do.

But, before she could get her words out, the Elf spoke again, "Cami, what is wrong? You are not one to have trouble expressing your views."

Cami struggled for words to explain, "Lady Idril, this is truly one of the most wonderful gifts anyone has ever given me, especially because it is not just for me, but also for my people. Your generosity touches my heart."

"It is only that....that all of this is happening very fast. I never thought of myself as a healer or master of lore. I grew up in a family of simple Harfoot farmers who struggled to make its way. Before this voyage, I lived in a household of Men and took care of small children. No one thought me wise or learned. If I wanted to know things, I went to the great archives in the city and looked into ancient books. But I kept it to myself. No one came to me for wisdom or looked into my eyes and asked me to bring healing to them."

"I would like to do these things for my people, but I do not know if I can. I am not like Maura or Andril or Loremaster. They are from ancient, respected families. My family's only distinction was sowing and harvesting crops. Mithadan has noble lines of ancestry which go back to King Elros, and Piosenniel is an Elf with all that such a wonderful title implies, but I am just a nobody...."

Cami stopped. As usual, she'd opened her mouth and said a bit more than she had intended to.

A smile played on Idril's mouth. "So that's it."

"You will have to admit that most of those whose names appear in the Lore from the First and Second Age have a more illustrious lineage than mine. Sometimes, I think I have banged into the wrong tale by mistake, and someone will be chasing me out quite soon."

Idril cut in, "Ancalimon warned me that you could be headstrong. He was certainly right on that account. Cami, I can tell you. Neither Ancalimon or I would be offering you these things if we did not feel you had the personal gifts to do a good job and a heart that was inclined to goodness. You must stop doubting yourself."

"And, if the lore of the First and Second Age fails to record the brave deeds of those from simple, humble families, then perhaps the mistake lies in those who do the recording and not in the actions of those good folk. Surely, you must have learned that from Numenor. With all their great monuments and long bloodlines, most of them miserably failed to understand right from wrong. That is what makes the difference Cami, that knowing and understanding, that rightness of the heart, not who your ancestors were!"

"Now, I ask again, will you do this thing both for your own knowledge and for the benefit of your people? Tell me yes or no."

Cami knelt down in front of the great Lady, and looked up into her eye and said, "With every bone in my body, with every inch of my will, I will try to go your great gift justice."

[ November 05, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]