The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Child of the 7th Age · 02-03-2003, 02:33 PM

Pio's Post

‘The problem is, Cami, I do believe you.’

Pio rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes for a moment against the dim light of the pantry. Her face had gone pale, and she eased herself down onto the top of a large pickle barrel. When Cami, concerned at her appearance, asked if there were something wrong, she shook her head ‘no’.

‘Unless, of course,’ came the quiet voice of the Elf, ‘you consider the visit of one of the Fëanturi to be “something wrong”.’

She looked at Cami, and shook her head again, though this time the seriousness of her expression was relieved by a brief smile. ‘You and Mithadan have always been true dreamers, close to the hearts of the Valar. I thought I had done with that once we finished the task they had set for us on the Lonely Star. That there would be no more dreams and portents to trouble us. But now one of the Valar comes poking his nose into the affairs of those across the Sundered Sea, and here you are asking me to make up a bed for him as if he were some welcome guest.’

‘You know my opinion of them. They keep their own council; their ends are their own. They care but little for the Firstborn, except as they meet their needs, and less for those who came after.’ Her expression grew grave as she sorted through the many years of her life. ‘Trouble, of one sort or another, always follows them when they step beyond the concerns and boundaries of Aman. And in this world, shadow always follows light.’

She heard the Hobbit gasp as she spoke these words. And she recalled that Cami and Mithadan had always had a certain kind of faith when it came to the Valar and the West. Pio tempered her words, saying, ‘I think this may be different, though. Look what good has already come of it. You are here – my dear friend I thought never to see again; and soon you will be reunited with your dear teacher Bilbo, and with Frodo. These are good things, no?!’

Pio stood up and straightened her apron over her growing girth. ‘Let us finish with breakfast, and then we will see to getting rooms ready for the visitors. Three you say.’ She had just stepped to the door of the pantry, her mind already sorting through the details of the accommodations, when she felt a hesitant tug at her tunic. Cami stood there, a perplexed look on her face.

‘You never told me who that other visitor was, Pio. One of the Fëanturi, you said. But I don’t know them. Who will it be.’

Pio crouched down to be at eye level with the Hobbit, and took her hands in hers. ‘Do you remember when I was slain in Gondolin?’ Cami shook her head ‘yes’, the memory of those terrible times brought fresh to her mind. ‘My fëa was summoned at death to the Halls of Mandos on the western borders of Valinor. The keeper of those Halls is Námo, one of the Fëanturi, Masters of Spirits. He is also called the Doomsman of the Valar. There also, I met his sister, Nienna – a name I think you might already know, do you not? She dwells west of West, near the Door of Night, her windows looking out beyond the walls of the world. It is to her whom all those in Mandos cry. And to their spirits she gives strength and turns their sorrow into wisdom.’ Pio’s gaze moved beyond the face of the Hobbit before her, as if she saw these things once again.

Recalled from her reverie by the touch of Cami’s hand on her cheek, she continued on. ‘It is the last one of these siblings who will visit you. He is the other Fëanturi, and is called Irmo, the Master of Desire, the master of visions and dreams. His dwelling is Lórien, the Gardens of Dreams, and often he is known by that name.’

She stood up and led Cami back out to the kitchen. ‘I wonder why Irmo is to come with them. Though, of the three, he would be the most welcome.’ She smiled to herself, remembering the beauty and grace of his gardens. ‘They reminded me of Gondolin – the fountains in his gardens, I mean. They are lovely beyond words, and often the Valar come there to draw refreshment from them. And from Lórien, to find repose and the easing of the burdens of Arda.’

They hurried through their morning duties, then went to freshen the three best rooms. Pio left Cami to sort out the details of the dinner party. The Hobbit was in a very happy mood, and sailed through the day with a smile on her face.

Pio was inclined to a more reflective state of mind. And while she was exceedingly happy that her friend was to have a chance to see Bilbo once again, she was already planning how she could spend the least amount of time possible in the presence of the Vala.

[ February 04, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

02-03-2003, 02:33 PM	#12
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Pio's Post ‘The problem is, Cami, I do believe you.’ Pio rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes for a moment against the dim light of the pantry. Her face had gone pale, and she eased herself down onto the top of a large pickle barrel. When Cami, concerned at her appearance, asked if there were something wrong, she shook her head ‘no’. ‘Unless, of course,’ came the quiet voice of the Elf, ‘you consider the visit of one of the Fëanturi to be “something wrong”.’ She looked at Cami, and shook her head again, though this time the seriousness of her expression was relieved by a brief smile. ‘You and Mithadan have always been true dreamers, close to the hearts of the Valar. I thought I had done with that once we finished the task they had set for us on the Lonely Star. That there would be no more dreams and portents to trouble us. But now one of the Valar comes poking his nose into the affairs of those across the Sundered Sea, and here you are asking me to make up a bed for him as if he were some welcome guest.’ ‘You know my opinion of them. They keep their own council; their ends are their own. They care but little for the Firstborn, except as they meet their needs, and less for those who came after.’ Her expression grew grave as she sorted through the many years of her life. ‘Trouble, of one sort or another, always follows them when they step beyond the concerns and boundaries of Aman. And in this world, shadow always follows light.’ She heard the Hobbit gasp as she spoke these words. And she recalled that Cami and Mithadan had always had a certain kind of faith when it came to the Valar and the West. Pio tempered her words, saying, ‘I think this may be different, though. Look what good has already come of it. You are here – my dear friend I thought never to see again; and soon you will be reunited with your dear teacher Bilbo, and with Frodo. These are good things, no?!’ Pio stood up and straightened her apron over her growing girth. ‘Let us finish with breakfast, and then we will see to getting rooms ready for the visitors. Three you say.’ She had just stepped to the door of the pantry, her mind already sorting through the details of the accommodations, when she felt a hesitant tug at her tunic. Cami stood there, a perplexed look on her face. ‘You never told me who that other visitor was, Pio. One of the Fëanturi, you said. But I don’t know them. Who will it be.’ Pio crouched down to be at eye level with the Hobbit, and took her hands in hers. ‘Do you remember when I was slain in Gondolin?’ Cami shook her head ‘yes’, the memory of those terrible times brought fresh to her mind. ‘My fëa was summoned at death to the Halls of Mandos on the western borders of Valinor. The keeper of those Halls is Námo, one of the Fëanturi, Masters of Spirits. He is also called the Doomsman of the Valar. There also, I met his sister, Nienna – a name I think you might already know, do you not? She dwells west of West, near the Door of Night, her windows looking out beyond the walls of the world. It is to her whom all those in Mandos cry. And to their spirits she gives strength and turns their sorrow into wisdom.’ Pio’s gaze moved beyond the face of the Hobbit before her, as if she saw these things once again. Recalled from her reverie by the touch of Cami’s hand on her cheek, she continued on. ‘It is the last one of these siblings who will visit you. He is the other Fëanturi, and is called Irmo, the Master of Desire, the master of visions and dreams. His dwelling is Lórien, the Gardens of Dreams, and often he is known by that name.’ She stood up and led Cami back out to the kitchen. ‘I wonder why Irmo is to come with them. Though, of the three, he would be the most welcome.’ She smiled to herself, remembering the beauty and grace of his gardens. ‘They reminded me of Gondolin – the fountains in his gardens, I mean. They are lovely beyond words, and often the Valar come there to draw refreshment from them. And from Lórien, to find repose and the easing of the burdens of Arda.’ They hurried through their morning duties, then went to freshen the three best rooms. Pio left Cami to sort out the details of the dinner party. The Hobbit was in a very happy mood, and sailed through the day with a smile on her face. Pio was inclined to a more reflective state of mind. And while she was exceedingly happy that her friend was to have a chance to see Bilbo once again, she was already planning how she could spend the least amount of time possible in the presence of the Vala. [ February 04, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.