[piosenniel]

Pio stepped back from the circle of Mithadan's arms, and regarded him gravely. She brushed a stray lock of silvered hair from his face. Her fingers gently traced the curve of his jawline, coming to rest on the lips that had claimed her own. The sea pooled in the deep grey of his eyes as he held her in his gaze.

Moonlight and starlight shone upon him. Then did he appear to her more than any other Man, but rather as one who has come from the West, an Elf-lord come over the Sea. She smiled, and pushed that image from her mind. 'Nay! Naught but a man. It is Mithadan who stands before me.'

She reached softly for his mind. 'He loves me!' she thought in wonderment.

He held his hands out to her, and she placed her own within.

'Indeed, have I claimed your lips, Piosenniel!' he said, smiling gently at her.
Now shall I claim your heart?

Now by those words was her choice made and her doom appointed.

Mithadan! She stepped back into the circle of his arms, and he claimed her.

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

Daisy now stood as still as a stone, watching the Man and Elf who stood before her. She could barely breathe for the beauty of it.

She took a deep breath and pulled her wits together. 'I have to tell someone!' she thought to herself. She ran downstairs, and found Cami and Rose sitting in the galley, having tea. She was so excited and her thoughts so jumbled that she couldn't think what to say when she stood before them.

'Sit down, Daisy!' came the firm voice of Cami. Daisy plopped down in a chair, fidgeting. 'Now slowly, one thing at a time.' said Cami, looking over the rim of her mug. 'What has got you so excited?'

Daisy's face turned red with the thought of what she'd seen. She blurted it out. 'It's Mithadan! He's up there kissing Lady Pio!' She took a big gulp of air and then went on. 'And she's kissed him back!'

[ September 18, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]