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Child of the 7th Age · 12-12-2002, 08:36 AM

The embers of the fire were just dying down. Andreth lay in her bed tossing about, kickng and squirming, unable to rest with all the confusing events of the day. She peered around in the darkness. It looked as if everyone was sleeping.

She crept silently out of her bedding and went over to her pack. Her fingers reached inside until she came to what she was seeking. Slowly, she drew the book out and placed it on her lap. It had been passed down in her family from grandparent to parent to child, for so many years that Andreth could not count them all.

Some pages were new and shiny, as if the book had just been written, but many others had faded away or torn so that the letters could scarcely be deciphered. What if an Orc does come and get me? she thought. It is important this this should go with me, wherever I go. She would need to keep it with her, day and night.

Andreth took a spare dress from her pack and stripped out the inside layer from the skirt. She decided to bind it around her waist, tucking the small volume under her wide belt so that no one else could see.

Perhaps I'm being silly to pay so much attention to something I can't even read. But somehow I feel this may be important. I expect Gandalf would be able to decipher these words and pictures, or that Elf with the sour face.

Andreth squirmed at the thought of Nardol. He carried burdens in his soul. That much was clear to her. But it was also evident that he made sure to dump these burdens onto the heads of everyone who surrounded him. His remark to Holly was inexcusable. Not an easy person to be around.

And what would he do if he saw this book, and realized who she was. Andreth's heart sank. He would probably not approve of her or her family. How ironic! She'd spent her whole life fighting off the disapproval of her neighbors in Bree, who assumed her folks were crazy. She'd thought that problem sprang only from the minds of Men who were too narrow to understand anything bigger than themselves. Now she was beginning to wonder if she'd been wrong. Perhaps, it wasn't only Men who were unable to see anything beyond the end of their own noses. Perhaps some Elves had that problem too.

She tucked the book underneath her belt and lay down to sleep. Andreth gave one final furtive glance around the campfire, and thought she saw one pair of eyes glinting out towards her. She couldn't be certain. She'd best be more careful next time.

[ December 12, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

12-12-2002, 08:36 AM	#135
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	The embers of the fire were just dying down. Andreth lay in her bed tossing about, kickng and squirming, unable to rest with all the confusing events of the day. She peered around in the darkness. It looked as if everyone was sleeping. She crept silently out of her bedding and went over to her pack. Her fingers reached inside until she came to what she was seeking. Slowly, she drew the book out and placed it on her lap. It had been passed down in her family from grandparent to parent to child, for so many years that Andreth could not count them all. Some pages were new and shiny, as if the book had just been written, but many others had faded away or torn so that the letters could scarcely be deciphered. What if an Orc does come and get me? she thought. It is important this this should go with me, wherever I go. She would need to keep it with her, day and night. Andreth took a spare dress from her pack and stripped out the inside layer from the skirt. She decided to bind it around her waist, tucking the small volume under her wide belt so that no one else could see. Perhaps I'm being silly to pay so much attention to something I can't even read. But somehow I feel this may be important. I expect Gandalf would be able to decipher these words and pictures, or that Elf with the sour face. Andreth squirmed at the thought of Nardol. He carried burdens in his soul. That much was clear to her. But it was also evident that he made sure to dump these burdens onto the heads of everyone who surrounded him. His remark to Holly was inexcusable. Not an easy person to be around. And what would he do if he saw this book, and realized who she was. Andreth's heart sank. He would probably not approve of her or her family. How ironic! She'd spent her whole life fighting off the disapproval of her neighbors in Bree, who assumed her folks were crazy. She'd thought that problem sprang only from the minds of Men who were too narrow to understand anything bigger than themselves. Now she was beginning to wonder if she'd been wrong. Perhaps, it wasn't only Men who were unable to see anything beyond the end of their own noses. Perhaps some Elves had that problem too. She tucked the book underneath her belt and lay down to sleep. Andreth gave one final furtive glance around the campfire, and thought she saw one pair of eyes glinting out towards her. She couldn't be certain. She'd best be more careful next time. [ December 12, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.