The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Lonely Star -- Chapter 4

piosenniel · 11-01-2002, 02:24 PM

Pio heard the cheer go up as time shifted. The clear, calm waters of the sea cradled them safely in her waves. When she turned, she saw they were just off the coastline. There lay the new island, like a small star. The surf rolled gently up to the beaches, and already life had come back to grace the land.

It was the birds which brought back a sudden memory of Númenor before the days of evil and of shadow. Seabirds rose up from the shore and wheeled and turned high above them in the clear air, crying out in welcome and in gladness. So had it been in gentler days, when ships drew near to Andor. She shaded her eyes and saw a flock of kirinki, small scarlet dots against the white sands, flying low. Their soft, piping voices echoed the song of the seabirds.

Further in, on the low lying slopes of Meneltarma, she saw the fragrant shrubs and flowers that clung to them. ‘Nísinen!’ she remembered, smiling now. And here, and there, dotting the slopes were scatterings of saplings – the evergreens and fragrant trees that had once been gifts from the West.

She rubbed her forehead, and breathed deeply. ‘We are safe!’ she murmured to herself, allowing some hope to ease its way back into her heart. Her hand strayed to her belly, cradling the new life there as she looked once more at the new life before her. ‘All safe!’

Daisy had turned from Mithadan to watch Pio as the ships shifted. She, too, took up the cheer as they came to rest in the waters off the new island. Joy became horror when she turned back to smile at Mithadan.

He lay still as death on the deck, and there was blood about him. She knelt beside him, but he would not rouse as she shook him. Her shouts for help went unheard in the general clamor of excitement. She pulled at the cloak of a nearby Elf, and bade him stay with the fallen Man while she went to find Pio. By then several had gathered at his side and sought to rouse him.

The Hobbit ran to the bow, where Pio stood lost in thought, gazing at the land. She clasped Pio by her right hand and pulled her from her reverie. ‘You must come! And quickly!’ stammered the frightened girl. ‘It is Mithadan!’

Pio could get nothing further from Daisy as they made their way at great speed through the crowded deck. As they approached the place where Mithadan lay, the throng parted more easily for them, and an uneasy silence greeted her as people stood back to let her through, their eyes averted.

She was frightened now. And as the last of the crowd which ringed him opened up, she beheld his still figure, the deathly paleness of his face. She gasped, and knelt down beside him, taking his cold, limp hand in hers. Tears spilled from her eyes, mingling with his blood on the deck.

‘No!’ she cried. ‘I cannot lose you now!’

Mithadan! she called out, her mind seeking his.

No answer came.

[ November 05, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

11-01-2002, 02:24 PM	#353
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Pio heard the cheer go up as time shifted. The clear, calm waters of the sea cradled them safely in her waves. When she turned, she saw they were just off the coastline. There lay the new island, like a small star. The surf rolled gently up to the beaches, and already life had come back to grace the land. It was the birds which brought back a sudden memory of Númenor before the days of evil and of shadow. Seabirds rose up from the shore and wheeled and turned high above them in the clear air, crying out in welcome and in gladness. So had it been in gentler days, when ships drew near to Andor. She shaded her eyes and saw a flock of kirinki, small scarlet dots against the white sands, flying low. Their soft, piping voices echoed the song of the seabirds. Further in, on the low lying slopes of Meneltarma, she saw the fragrant shrubs and flowers that clung to them. ‘Nísinen!’ she remembered, smiling now. And here, and there, dotting the slopes were scatterings of saplings – the evergreens and fragrant trees that had once been gifts from the West. She rubbed her forehead, and breathed deeply. ‘We are safe!’ she murmured to herself, allowing some hope to ease its way back into her heart. Her hand strayed to her belly, cradling the new life there as she looked once more at the new life before her. ‘All safe!’ Daisy had turned from Mithadan to watch Pio as the ships shifted. She, too, took up the cheer as they came to rest in the waters off the new island. Joy became horror when she turned back to smile at Mithadan. He lay still as death on the deck, and there was blood about him. She knelt beside him, but he would not rouse as she shook him. Her shouts for help went unheard in the general clamor of excitement. She pulled at the cloak of a nearby Elf, and bade him stay with the fallen Man while she went to find Pio. By then several had gathered at his side and sought to rouse him. The Hobbit ran to the bow, where Pio stood lost in thought, gazing at the land. She clasped Pio by her right hand and pulled her from her reverie. ‘You must come! And quickly!’ stammered the frightened girl. ‘It is Mithadan!’ Pio could get nothing further from Daisy as they made their way at great speed through the crowded deck. As they approached the place where Mithadan lay, the throng parted more easily for them, and an uneasy silence greeted her as people stood back to let her through, their eyes averted. She was frightened now. And as the last of the crowd which ringed him opened up, she beheld his still figure, the deathly paleness of his face. She gasped, and knelt down beside him, taking his cold, limp hand in hers. Tears spilled from her eyes, mingling with his blood on the deck. ‘No!’ she cried. ‘I cannot lose you now!’ Mithadan! she called out, her mind seeking his. No answer came. [ November 05, 2002: 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.