[piosenniel]

Mithadan had left Pio sleeping in the cabin, and had gone to the galley for something to eat and drink. Several minutes of dedicated searching had found enough dried fruit for a light snack, and a small, dusty bottle of unopened red wine. ‘How did we miss this one?’ he wondered to himself, as he uncorked it carefully and decanted it into a clean, wide mouthed bottle. He piled an assortment of fruits on a small plate and taking the bottle and a goblet in the other, he went up on deck.

He sat at the bow, his long legs propped on the railing, and looked out over the sea. To the east, where they would soon be bound. The occasional seabird flew low over the ship, and Mithadan threw small pieces of fruit to them, delighting in their loud insistence on this treat. He sipped at his wine in a contented manner. Affairs in his world were proceeding as they should, he thought to himself. He smiled as he thought of Piosenniel, and how pleasant it seemed to have things smoothed out between them.

He was drawn from his reverie by the sound of a voice hailing him from the opposite side of the ship. ‘Tuor!’ he cried, striding to where he stood in the skiff. ‘Come aboard, of course!’ He stood back as Tuor clambered on deck. ‘Delighted to see you!’ he greeted him.

‘I hope you continue to think so, after I speak to you about Idril and her desires for what she thinks should happen at this upcoming party.’ He sighed and sat down in a chair near Mithadan, who then excused himself to retrieve another goblet. Mithadan poured each of them some wine, and offered some fruit to Tuor. They sat in a companionable silence for some time, looking out over the waters.

‘Perhaps you had just better tell me straight out what it is that Idril wants of me.’ Mithadan said, after several attempts by Tuor to broach the subject. Tuor sat his wine down on the low barrel head between them, and went through Idril’s desires concerning the ceremony, and her hope that Mithadan could talk Piosenniel into agreeing to do all this.

Mithadan frowned and rubbed his forehead. ‘Her request places me in a very uncomfortable position. Can she not work this out with Pio herself? For my part, I will be happy to accommodate Idril. But surely she does not think I can order Pio to comply?’

Pio had come up quietly behind the two, and now put her hand on Mithadan’s shoulder. ‘And what is it you are to order me to comply with?’ she asked, looking from Mithadan to Tuor and back again. She sat on the railing and looked at both of them, noting that Tuor seemed somewhat ill at ease. She laughed, breaking the tension. ‘I see.’ she said, looking closely at Tuor. ‘Tell me, what does Idril want of me?’

She heard him out with a serious face, listening to all he had to say without interruption. Then she knelt before him and took both of his hands in hers. ‘Tell Idril I will do this for her.’ she said, smiling at him. ‘And thank her for wishing to do this for me.’ She kissed him lightly on his cheek. ‘Thank you also, Tuor, for all you have done for us. Tell Idril I will come to her tomorrow, and she can show me what she wishes me to do.’

Tuor took his leave of them, relieved that things had gone so well. Arriving at his ship, he was met by Idril, who asked with some hesitation just how it had gone with Piosenniel.

‘You can cross me off the list, my dear!' he replied, beaming. 'She’s agreed to do what you want!’

[ November 25, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]