The Lonely Star -- Chapter 4 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Birdland · 10-04-2002, 10:23 AM

Well! That was a surprise, thought Bird. She eyed the moody, dangerous Man that had won the heart of her equally moody, dangerous friend. She supposed he meant well.

The thing was that the Races, looking at Skinchangers in their outward form, assumed they were of the Race of Men. A smaller "lesser" branch of Men, but Men nontheless.

And this was just not the case. Oh no. Not at all. A Skinchanger living amongst Men was assuming a form, every bit as much a disquise as if he had changed to a horse, or a hawk...or a dragon.

So Skinchangers had traditionally stayed safely on the fringes of the societies of other Races, taking what they needed, and rejecting the rest. Particularly the Race of Men. Especially the Race of Men. For Men had ever coveted and taken what they could from the other people of Middle-earth: the wisdom of the Elves, the skills of the dwarves, the lands of the Halflings. And from Skinchangers? Men would take their very being, seeking a Power that resided nowhere but in the very fea of Skinchangers.

And what was this he had spoke of? That Pio and the coming children "needed" her? Bird had a good idea just what that invitation entailed. A governess. A servant. A faithful family retainer who lived on the fringes of that society every bit as much as a skinchanger lived on the fringes of Man's society. But never taking. Always giving. Birdie shuddered at the thought.

Of course, if asked to speak of these things, Birdie couldn't have put it into such words. She only knew that she could have answered Mithadan as soon as the words were out of his mouth. But she left it for now. There were other things to deal with. And after this was over? Well, Bird had other plans.

She only said to herself: "I'll visit them from time to time. I'll bring presents."

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-04-2002, 10:23 AM	#1
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Well! That was a surprise, thought Bird. She eyed the moody, dangerous Man that had won the heart of her equally moody, dangerous friend. She supposed he meant well. The thing was that the Races, looking at Skinchangers in their outward form, assumed they were of the Race of Men. A smaller "lesser" branch of Men, but Men nontheless. And this was just not the case. Oh no. Not at all. A Skinchanger living amongst Men was assuming a form, every bit as much a disquise as if he had changed to a horse, or a hawk...or a dragon. So Skinchangers had traditionally stayed safely on the fringes of the societies of other Races, taking what they needed, and rejecting the rest. Particularly the Race of Men. Especially the Race of Men. For Men had ever coveted and taken what they could from the other people of Middle-earth: the wisdom of the Elves, the skills of the dwarves, the lands of the Halflings. And from Skinchangers? Men would take their very being, seeking a Power that resided nowhere but in the very fea of Skinchangers. And what was this he had spoke of? That Pio and the coming children "needed" her? Bird had a good idea just what that invitation entailed. A governess. A servant. A faithful family retainer who lived on the fringes of that society every bit as much as a skinchanger lived on the fringes of Man's society. But never taking. Always giving. Birdie shuddered at the thought. Of course, if asked to speak of these things, Birdie couldn't have put it into such words. She only knew that she could have answered Mithadan as soon as the words were out of his mouth. But she left it for now. There were other things to deal with. And after this was over? Well, Bird had other plans. She only said to herself: "I'll visit them from time to time. I'll bring presents."