[Mithadan]

In the hall outside the common room, Mithadan took a deep breath. He had spoken to both Rose and Khelek and they had accepted his apologies. Now all that remained
was to speak with Piosenniel. Then he could get on with the task at hand.
He stopped at the gangway down to the crews' quarters and looked down the stairs to the deck below. He set his foot on the first step, then paused. Shaking his head, he turned and made his way back up to the main
deck. He took a deep breath of the night air, and looked up at the stars glowing gently above. Then he realised he was not alone. He stepped quietly toward the figure sitting by the rail.

"Mithadan," said Piosenniel in a soft voice without turning. "You should take lessons from our Hobbit friends. You walk as loudly as a horse on cobblestones."

He laughed, then silenced himself when he saw the sleeping Daisy resting at Piosenniel's side. "I did not see you here," he whispered. "I did not mean to interrupt."

She carefully lifted the sleeping Hobbit from her lap and stood, stretching a bit as she rose. The two moved from the tired Halfling and leaned on the rail a few feet away.

"Levanto is on his way back to the caverns," she said. "We will know the usual number of the guards and where they patrol tomorrow. Then we will be able to plan our
approach."

"Yes," he replied. "And if I do not drive the others to distraction, we can begin working together towards the rescue of the Hobbits. I am sorry about my behavior earlier. It was uncalled for."

"You are troubled by something and it is not just our proximity to Numenor," Pio replied, turning towards the Man. It was not a question.

Mithadan sighed heavily. "I am troubled by many things," he reponded. "Before he left, Levanto told me to make sure you are safe this time."

Piosenniel laughed. "I am quite capable of taking care of myself. Levanto should know that!"

Mithadan closed his eyes for a moment. "That's what I thought...in Gondolin."

"That Piosenniel was rash and impulsive," she
retorted. "She would have leaped into a pit full of snakes if there was a profit to be made. I have grown a bit since then." She looked at the Man with a sad smile. "I am not that Elf now. The Halls of Mandos
teach patience and wisdom, if one will learn
them...though Tule seemed to have forgotten those lessons."

"Why did you take the guise of Tule?" asked Mithadan. "To avoid inflicting the further sorrow of good-byes upon us?"

She leaned back against the rail and looked out upon the endless motion of the seas. Under the stars the waves seemed to sparkle like a faceted gem. "And upon myself. We Elves bear enough sorrow upon our brows. I
thought to avoid more. But I was wrong. By playing the part of Tule, I avoided that which was most important; the love of my friends."

They stood silently together for a long time. Behind them, Daisy stirred and rolled over. The stars burned ever on overhead and the waves lapped gently against the ship; a gentle but restless rhythm. At length,
Mithadan stirred and turned towards Piosenniel. With a slight smile he reached out and touched her curly hair. "This will, I trust, grow out?" he said. "It is the last remaining vestige of Tule."

"You would have him gone entirely then?" Piosenniel answered. "You would have only Piosenniel remain?"

"I would," he responded. "I would have only
Piosenniel." And with that, he pulled her close and kissed her. From behind them, unnoticed and unheard, there came a quiet gasp from Daisy.