[mark12_30]

Phura climbed aboard the ship with Kesha and the rest of his squad, looking over his shoulder and checking that Gamba and Azraph were not far behind. Gamba and Azraph were helping Piosenniel.

Once Ancalimon had taken Piosenniel from their care, Gamba and Azraph stood dripping and scanned the deck of the ship looking for Gamba's children, and for Phura and Kesha. They did not see Phura and Kesha anywhere; they had disappeared.

But from Andril's side, the four children saw Gamba first, and came running. "Gamba! Gamba!" cried Maura, and suddenly Gamba found his legs sturdily imprisoned by Asta and Roka. Kesha, however, was not there to knock him over backwards.

So Azraph oblidged, rather gently and carefully lowering the exhausted Gamba to the deck, and the four children piled on top of him with squeals of delight. Gamba's helpless laughter came in exhausted gasps, ringing awkwardly and jarringly through the silent ship as everyone else kept vigil or worried about the fallen Man. There was no Phura there at the moment to plead for or demand mercy on Gamba's behalf, and Azraph forgot until Gamba was quite breathless. For the moment, Gamba forgot everything else and drowned in laughter beneath the four attackers. When the tickling ceased, he picked up Maura, and then with one arm hugged each of the others in turn, kissing their foreheads, and then he lay back down for a moment, blissfully content as Ban, Asta and Roka sat on him happily.

Several elves had looked up, and sad smiles crossed their faces, and some chuckled softly. Their worry over the man did not abate, but they were glad the children could find a moment of joy.

Piosenniel, hearing the laughter, closed her eyes, placed her hand over her belly, and quietly and fiercely spoke to her children, "You will have joy like that. You will find it. You will triumph, and be glad." It was half promise, half command. Then she wiped away a tear, and turned back to Mithadan.

Gamba did not stay down long. "We've got to find Phura, " he said. "I saw him climb up onto this ship. He must be here, with Kesha. Come on, let's look for him." They got up, and began to look for Phura and Kesha among the crowds.

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

Phura sat apart from the crowds, holding the exhausted and sleeping Kesha, huddled among piles of coiled lines and canvas. The other three team members watched over him, concerned. He shivered, and often convulsions shook him that did not come from the cold.

An elf named Adaruin found them, and knelt beside Phura. "Halfling, what ails you? Is the child well?"

Phura's teeth chattered in reply, and Adaruin frowned, and touched his clammy forehead, and probed him for wounds. He found nothing serious. "Are you wounded?" Phura shook his head no; but his eyes were glassy and distant.

Gamba came around the corner, followed by Azraph, and the four children. Phura looked up at them all, but could not speak; he tried to smile but wept instead.

"There you are! Phura? What's wrong? Are you wounded?" Gamba asked, reaching for his brother. Phura shook his head no. Azraph knelt down beside him, but he still could not speak.

Adaruin met their eyes. "Aftermath, " he said. "Some mortals are thus affected by battle. Perhaps grief burdens him, or the memories of fighting and bloodshed. I believe he will recover, but he must be kept warm."

"Warm? " Gamba echoed, putting his arm around his brother protectively. He took another close look at his brother, and then turned to Phura's other three team members. "We'll take care of him, " Gamba abruptly and dismissively told them. They nodded, full of concern, but understanding that Gamba did not want anyone seeing Phura in this weakened state. Knowing better than to argue with him, they left reluctantly.

Adaruin nodded. "Come." He handed Kesha to Gamba, and Adaruin gathered Phura gently into his arms, and stood.

Loremaster saw, and approached them, and he looked up at Adaruin, who held Phura so that Loremaster could see his face. Loremaster nodded. "He is overwhelmed."

Adaruin nodded.

Andril approached, looking like she wanted to speak to Gamba, but she saw Phura, and shook her head. "It will wait."

Loremaster clasped Phura's hand and reached up and felt his brow, and shook his head. "I must continue with the children. You will care for him?"

Adaruin nodded, and reassured Loremaster, who thanked him and reluctantly returned to the skiffs with Andril, where he and Andril were trying to bring children and parents together as best they could.

Adaruin carried Phura into his own room; Gamba, Azraph and the children all followed. Adaruin set Phura down, brought out his woolen great-cloak, and draped it around a corner of his room, and motioned Gamba, and Kesha to sit down on it. They did so, wondering, and then Adaruin carefully placed the shaking Phura in Gamba's arms. Phura lay his head on Gamba's shoulder. Kesha drew close. The four children huddled around them, Maura wondering why Gamba was not holding him. "Come on, " Gamba replied, and Maura clambered up over Phura and nestled against the two of them. Adaruin smiled despite his worry.

"Hold him, and warm him as best you can. I will return with warm food or drink." Adaruin proceeded to firmly wrap all seven of the boys in his cloak; he then fetched a wool tunic, and wrapped Azraph in that, and she sat next to Phura and Gamba and held Phura's hand. He met her gaze, and wordlessly squeezed her hand. Adaruin left.

Phura still shook violently. Azraph drew as close to him as she could, laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him as tightly as she dared.

After what seemed like quite a while, Adaruin returned with two bowls of fish stew. They poured one down Phura's throat, and he swallowed most of it, although his teeth were chattering against the bowl. They passed the other around between the rest of them while Adaruin went to fetch two more bowls. Eventually the inner warmth from the soup took effect, and as the rest of them warmed up, Phura's shaking began to calm down. He gently and quietly wept, and then finally relaxed, and slipped into restless dreams. Surrounded by the other children, Gamba, Kesha and Azraph held Phura 'til dawn.

[ November 04, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]