[piosenniel]

By all means!’ said Pio to Derufin, as she positioned the plate between them. ‘You had better pay attention, though, I am still quite ravenous.’ She tucked into her half of the plate with a relish and soon was stretched back in the chair, her feet on another, almost purring with contentment. Derufin laughed at this image of her, and went on eating his half the food in more civil manner.

A young Hobbit, one Carie by name, came up and asked if she might play some music. ‘Oh, please do. And make it dancing music if you can. We need to shake off the sleepiness that follows so much good food and drink.’

Amaranthas banged her cane on the floor in complete agreement. ‘Get out there you young sprout!’ she said, pushing Carie toward the cleared off dance area with her cane. ‘Play us some music I can keep time to with my feet!’ She turned to Pio and confided, ‘I was quite the dancer in my younger days, you know.’ Pio winked at her and nodded her head. ‘I should think you were!’

The music began, and Pio watched the guests take the floor - in twos and threes and even by themselves if the mood struck them. Across the room, near the bar, she spied Cami, looking puzzled and a little lost. ‘That cannot be her reaction to such wondrous news.’ thought Pio.

She excused herself, leaving Derufin to the able company of Amaranthas, and walked to where her friend stood. Hooking her arm through Cami’s she herded her through the kitchen and out the back door for a breath of cool night air. The stars were shining brightly in the new year’s sky.

‘Look, Cami!’ She pointed toward the star that hung low on the western horizon.’ Eärendil rides the oceans of the night.’ She pulled the woman close to her, keeping her warm. ‘Did I let you read the letter that Mithadan sent me? I cannot remember if I had. It has been so busy here of late.’ She shared the contents of it with her, telling her that she had written back to him, urging him to come.

‘It will be six months until the babies are born. And it will take just a little less than that for him to receive the letter and then ride here. I cannot wait to have him near again. It has been too long.’

She heard a small sniffle and saw the hasty hand that reached to brush away the stray tear. ‘You miss him, don’t you?’ she said softly. ‘Your Beren . . . And you have the right of that, I think.’ She felt the small woman stiffen beside her.

‘You are much in my thoughts these days, dear friend. I drink in your spirit as I can, knowing that all too soon you will be called away to your task. And I will have a final parting from you. I would replace my sorrow with some joyful memory of you at the last.' She studied her friend’s face in the pale, silvered light of the stars.

‘There is hope, adaneth. Where there is love, there is hope. It was a lesson I learned well.’ Silence stretched out between them.

The door to the yard opened suddenly and the light and sounds of the party poured out from within. Derufin called to Pio. ‘Bilbo and Frodo wish to see you for a moment. Shall I tell them you will come?’

She said ‘yes’ to him. And walked slowly in with Cami beside her. ‘Come with me. she said, smiling at Cami and taking her arm once again. ‘Let us go see what the dear Hobbits want . . .’

[ January 16, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]