The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Castle Maladil

piosenniel · 01-05-2003, 03:53 AM

Holly rubbed the sleep from her eyes and groaned as she turned over once again. Her bed was uncomfortable, rocks seemed to sprout like onions beneath her, and a bone chilling cold had crept up from the ground and gnawed its way into the marrow of her bones. 'Olo! Are you awake?' Her only answer was the soft, regular snoring from across the fire. Nothing to do but get up.

She dug down deep beneath her blankets, fishing for the sweater and vest she had stuffed in with her to keep them warm. Hastily pulling on the extra garments, she crawled reluctantly from her bed roll.

A handful of wood shavings, followed by a small pile of kindling, and Holly bent to the embers of the fire, blowing them into a bouquet of small red and yellow flames. She huddled there for a few moments, a blanket drawn round her shoulders, hands and face drinking in the warmth. Taking the pot of water they had left for breakfast tea, she placed it on the grate over the small fire, and dug through her small pack for the canister of tea.

The rustle of leaves from above told her that Bird had returned. ‘Yes, I’m awake now, Bird. Come down and sit with me.’ A soft whirr of feathered wings passed by her ear as the jackdaw sought to land beside her friend. Then the figure of the small woman sat hunched beside Holly, knees drawn up beneath her chin and held close within the circle of her arms. She stared intently at the fire, its flames dancing across the mirrors of her dark eyes. The Hobbit reached behind her and grabbed another blanket to place round the tiny form beside her.

Holly busied herself with the heated water and the making of tea. She poured a steaming mug of fragrant sweet spice and handed it to Bird, then poured a mug for herself. A comfortable silence enveloped them. Only the sound of the fire crackling and popping as more wood was added to it broke the quiet spell.

Bird sighed and moved restlessly within the tent of the blanket. Holly cringed, fearing what she might say. She placed her hand on Bird’s arm, feeling the tension running through her. Holly spoke softly, before Bird had said a word. ‘Don’t go, Bird. Don’t fly away this time. We can talk this through.’ She gazed at her friend’s profile, the expression a jumble of unresolve and sadness. ‘Stay, won’t you?’

She turned her drawn face to the Hobbit. ‘And what if I should stay. How will it be different from all the other times?’ She laughed, a harsh, short sound.

[ January 07, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

01-05-2003, 03:53 AM	#232
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Holly rubbed the sleep from her eyes and groaned as she turned over once again. Her bed was uncomfortable, rocks seemed to sprout like onions beneath her, and a bone chilling cold had crept up from the ground and gnawed its way into the marrow of her bones. 'Olo! Are you awake?' Her only answer was the soft, regular snoring from across the fire. Nothing to do but get up. She dug down deep beneath her blankets, fishing for the sweater and vest she had stuffed in with her to keep them warm. Hastily pulling on the extra garments, she crawled reluctantly from her bed roll. A handful of wood shavings, followed by a small pile of kindling, and Holly bent to the embers of the fire, blowing them into a bouquet of small red and yellow flames. She huddled there for a few moments, a blanket drawn round her shoulders, hands and face drinking in the warmth. Taking the pot of water they had left for breakfast tea, she placed it on the grate over the small fire, and dug through her small pack for the canister of tea. The rustle of leaves from above told her that Bird had returned. ‘Yes, I’m awake now, Bird. Come down and sit with me.’ A soft whirr of feathered wings passed by her ear as the jackdaw sought to land beside her friend. Then the figure of the small woman sat hunched beside Holly, knees drawn up beneath her chin and held close within the circle of her arms. She stared intently at the fire, its flames dancing across the mirrors of her dark eyes. The Hobbit reached behind her and grabbed another blanket to place round the tiny form beside her. Holly busied herself with the heated water and the making of tea. She poured a steaming mug of fragrant sweet spice and handed it to Bird, then poured a mug for herself. A comfortable silence enveloped them. Only the sound of the fire crackling and popping as more wood was added to it broke the quiet spell. Bird sighed and moved restlessly within the tent of the blanket. Holly cringed, fearing what she might say. She placed her hand on Bird’s arm, feeling the tension running through her. Holly spoke softly, before Bird had said a word. ‘Don’t go, Bird. Don’t fly away this time. We can talk this through.’ She gazed at her friend’s profile, the expression a jumble of unresolve and sadness. ‘Stay, won’t you?’ She turned her drawn face to the Hobbit. ‘And what if I should stay. How will it be different from all the other times?’ She laughed, a harsh, short sound. [ January 07, 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.