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piosenniel · 01-12-2003, 11:56 AM

Pio excused herself for a moment as Bali approached her and asked his question. She listened with amusement to his request. ‘My good Sir,’ she replied, ‘you are speaking to the Innkeeper at this very moment!’ His cheeks turned a little pink, an interesting color to see on a Dwarf’s face. ‘And yes, we do have a room for you. A special tonight, it will cost you but a couple of coppers. The Innkeeper is feeling generous tonight.’ The coins were exchanged, and the Elf called one of the servers to the table to show Bali his room.

Her eye caught the small figure of Nárello drowsing at the counter. His body, relaxed in sleep, leaned precipitously to one side. One more sigh as he dreamed and he would topple from the chair. ‘Again, you must excuse me.’ she said to Tarondo and Luinien.

She approached the sleeping child and laid her hand on his shoulder, thinking to wake him. He murmured a few words, and laughed softly, his body moving as if toward something offered. It was then that he lost his perch on the stool and would have slumped to the floor, had not the Elf caught him.

Cradling his small form against her, she carried him to her room behind the bar. ‘You are so light, little one.’ she whispered to his sleeping face. It brought a remembrance back to her of holding Shell in her arms in much this same way. She smiled at this thought, as she laid him on the small couch before the fireplace, and drew her cloak, carelessly tossed along the back of it, over him. Pio knelt down by him, and brushed a stray lock of sandy hair from his forehead. ‘Sleep well, sweeting. Let your dreamings be light.’

She lit a small candle lantern and drew down its hood to shield the bright light, leaving it for him should he waken. Closing the door softly behind her, she returned to her guests.

***

‘There was a certain fondness in your voice when you mentioned your Father, Luinien.’ And a certain sadness, too, I think., she added to herself. Pio had brought a pot of sweet-spice tea, and busied herself pouring out three cups of it. Her cup filled, she took a sip, watching the two as they raised their own to their lips. A few moments of easy silence passed. ‘Might I ask who your Father is?’ she said, setting her cup back on the table. ‘Does he wait for his children to come home to him?’

[ January 12, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

01-12-2003, 11:56 AM	#15
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Pio excused herself for a moment as Bali approached her and asked his question. She listened with amusement to his request. ‘My good Sir,’ she replied, ‘you are speaking to the Innkeeper at this very moment!’ His cheeks turned a little pink, an interesting color to see on a Dwarf’s face. ‘And yes, we do have a room for you. A special tonight, it will cost you but a couple of coppers. The Innkeeper is feeling generous tonight.’ The coins were exchanged, and the Elf called one of the servers to the table to show Bali his room. Her eye caught the small figure of Nárello drowsing at the counter. His body, relaxed in sleep, leaned precipitously to one side. One more sigh as he dreamed and he would topple from the chair. ‘Again, you must excuse me.’ she said to Tarondo and Luinien. She approached the sleeping child and laid her hand on his shoulder, thinking to wake him. He murmured a few words, and laughed softly, his body moving as if toward something offered. It was then that he lost his perch on the stool and would have slumped to the floor, had not the Elf caught him. Cradling his small form against her, she carried him to her room behind the bar. ‘You are so light, little one.’ she whispered to his sleeping face. It brought a remembrance back to her of holding Shell in her arms in much this same way. She smiled at this thought, as she laid him on the small couch before the fireplace, and drew her cloak, carelessly tossed along the back of it, over him. Pio knelt down by him, and brushed a stray lock of sandy hair from his forehead. ‘Sleep well, sweeting. Let your dreamings be light.’ She lit a small candle lantern and drew down its hood to shield the bright light, leaving it for him should he waken. Closing the door softly behind her, she returned to her guests. *** ‘There was a certain fondness in your voice when you mentioned your Father, Luinien.’ And a certain sadness, too, I think., she added to herself. Pio had brought a pot of sweet-spice tea, and busied herself pouring out three cups of it. Her cup filled, she took a sip, watching the two as they raised their own to their lips. A few moments of easy silence passed. ‘Might I ask who your Father is?’ she said, setting her cup back on the table. ‘Does he wait for his children to come home to him?’ [ January 12, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.