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

piosenniel · 01-13-2003, 10:25 AM

‘Mired in sadness. Now there’s a phrase that fits him well, doesn’t it.’ Bird said nothing at Holly’s words, only glancing up briefly to take in the reaction of the two women who sat with them. The Hobbit pulled a thin, glowing twig from the rim of the fire and lit her pipe, drawing deep on the soothing smoke.

‘Mired . . . and struggling.’ murmured Holly, her words following the exhaled smoke upwards into the heat of the small fire, disappearing into the brightening light of day. ‘Now that is something I would not expect of one of the Firstborn.’ She rubbed along the edge of her jaw with her pipe stem, lost in thought. ‘Struggling, and pushing himself all the deeper into the sucking mire.’

Bird snorted at this image, adding her own comments. ‘Like some dumb sheep gone astray from the herd.’ Holly nudged her, a gentle reminder that they were in politer company at present, though her thoughts had drifted to a similar image. A rueful laugh escaped her and she shook her head to clear away the jarring image of the Elf in quicksand, his struggles availing him naught. Sword at the ready, he fended off each hand raised out to offer him a small step up. A long slow death of what little spirit was left him was all she could see should he continue in such a way.

‘Now that is a sure waste of life’s gifts.’ she spoke to no one in particular, her face touched with a little sadness.

Holly relit her pipe, and looked up at Andreth. ‘If you are going in by the main entrance, with the other of the companions, then I will say we will be parting company.’ She nodded at Bethberry and continued. ‘Bird and I, with Volondil and Olo, are going round back to where the herb gardens will probably be, as will Bethberry. Her concern is with the plants she may find there. Mine is with finding a rear entrance, probably through the kitchen which should be near the garden.’

She put her hand inside her vest and withdrew the map. ‘I have a map here, though I do not know how accurate it is.’ She spread it on the ground for the others to look at. ‘See here where I drew in those descriptions that Gandalf read from your book.’ Her finger traced the path through the east gate to the inner courtyard and south to the stables. ‘This gives us a crude orientation to where the main entrance of the keep must be.’ Her finger swept the blank area to the west and north of the castle. ‘This is the blank we need to fill in. Somewhere here is the garden and some small entrance where we can enter in, while the residents of the castle are preoccupied with the fanfare of their other guests.’

Holly looked up from the map, regarding intently the red haired woman, now crouched down opposite her. Andreth’s fingers traced the crude outlines of the castle, and drew in toward the center of it, as if seeking its heart. Gently picking the map up from the ground, the Hobbit broke the woman’s wool-gathering. Holly refolded the map and stored it safely in her vest.

‘If you wish, you may come with us, Andreth. We would welcome another set of hands, eyes, and ears.’

*********************************************

Child's post

Andreth glanced cautiously about the campsite, and then scooted closer to Holly. The girl leaned over and whispered something into the hobbit's ear, which no one else could hear. Holly looked up and smiled and nodded in agreement.

[ January 14, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

01-13-2003, 10:25 AM	#267
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	‘Mired in sadness. Now there’s a phrase that fits him well, doesn’t it.’ Bird said nothing at Holly’s words, only glancing up briefly to take in the reaction of the two women who sat with them. The Hobbit pulled a thin, glowing twig from the rim of the fire and lit her pipe, drawing deep on the soothing smoke. ‘Mired . . . and struggling.’ murmured Holly, her words following the exhaled smoke upwards into the heat of the small fire, disappearing into the brightening light of day. ‘Now that is something I would not expect of one of the Firstborn.’ She rubbed along the edge of her jaw with her pipe stem, lost in thought. ‘Struggling, and pushing himself all the deeper into the sucking mire.’ Bird snorted at this image, adding her own comments. ‘Like some dumb sheep gone astray from the herd.’ Holly nudged her, a gentle reminder that they were in politer company at present, though her thoughts had drifted to a similar image. A rueful laugh escaped her and she shook her head to clear away the jarring image of the Elf in quicksand, his struggles availing him naught. Sword at the ready, he fended off each hand raised out to offer him a small step up. A long slow death of what little spirit was left him was all she could see should he continue in such a way. ‘Now that is a sure waste of life’s gifts.’ she spoke to no one in particular, her face touched with a little sadness. Holly relit her pipe, and looked up at Andreth. ‘If you are going in by the main entrance, with the other of the companions, then I will say we will be parting company.’ She nodded at Bethberry and continued. ‘Bird and I, with Volondil and Olo, are going round back to where the herb gardens will probably be, as will Bethberry. Her concern is with the plants she may find there. Mine is with finding a rear entrance, probably through the kitchen which should be near the garden.’ She put her hand inside her vest and withdrew the map. ‘I have a map here, though I do not know how accurate it is.’ She spread it on the ground for the others to look at. ‘See here where I drew in those descriptions that Gandalf read from your book.’ Her finger traced the path through the east gate to the inner courtyard and south to the stables. ‘This gives us a crude orientation to where the main entrance of the keep must be.’ Her finger swept the blank area to the west and north of the castle. ‘This is the blank we need to fill in. Somewhere here is the garden and some small entrance where we can enter in, while the residents of the castle are preoccupied with the fanfare of their other guests.’ Holly looked up from the map, regarding intently the red haired woman, now crouched down opposite her. Andreth’s fingers traced the crude outlines of the castle, and drew in toward the center of it, as if seeking its heart. Gently picking the map up from the ground, the Hobbit broke the woman’s wool-gathering. Holly refolded the map and stored it safely in her vest. ‘If you wish, you may come with us, Andreth. We would welcome another set of hands, eyes, and ears.’ ******************************************* Child's post** Andreth glanced cautiously about the campsite, and then scooted closer to Holly. The girl leaned over and whispered something into the hobbit's ear, which no one else could hear. Holly looked up and smiled and nodded in agreement. [ January 14, 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.