Bird presented two gifts after the ceremony. She had searched the waters far and wide around the sunken island, and with the help of Levanto had found in an old shipwreck a pair of matched loving cups, encrusted with jewels set in a deep red gold. They could have been fit for the halls of Gondolin themselves.
The other gift was to the Hobbrims. With the permission of Levanto. Bird had released the sea-cows back into the waters around the island. They both thought that the "herd" would give the Hobbrims a good start, and give them some familiar nourishment until they discovered the rich bounty of their ocean home. Soon the Hobbrim children were all petting Bubbles, Blossom, and Buttercup, and offering rides to the bolder Hobbit children. The sea-cows seemed very happy with their new home.
With a flourish of their instruments, the Elven musicians started the celebration of the marriage of Piosenniel and Mithadan. Birdie was delighted to hear that the Elves were capable of more than soft, melancholy dirges based on long-ago memories, and soon their lively airs had the feet of everyone on the island moving along.
But the Hobbits and Hobbrims were adding their own melodies as well. The children had brought back a varied selection of natural materials, and soon Bird and Kali had helped them construct log drums, rattles made of strung-together shells, and slap sticks made from the branches of the elderberry tree.
Bird had also constructed a "bullroarer" from some rope and a piece of flotsam, and Gamba was soon whirling it over his head and making the most astounding varieties of noises. Kali had brought a conch shell, of course, and with his cheek puffing, was blowing a a low, thumping rhythm that would not be duplicated on Middle-earth until the 7th age invention of the tuba. And Bird was blowing a trilling counter-melody on a simple 5-hole wood flute, intertwining her sound with the silver pipes of the Elves.
Then, amidst the music, The Grey Peddler sent a stream of fiery stars and flowers into the air, to the delight of everyone. And so everyone on the island, (even Angara) was dancing upon the sands, lit by the stars, the candles, and the falling colors of the Wizard's craft.
Pio and Mith, of course, stayed for as long as courtesy demanded, then quietly retreated to the "Lonely Star" for their own celebration. But the rest of the revelers could still be faintly heard on the ship, rejoicing until the sun rose again.
[ November 26, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]
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