The Lonely Star -- Chapter 4

[Rose Cotton]

What Azraph said struck Azra hard. It wasn't that she was afraid she'd steal away Phura but the horror that she might never feel at home. Would she forever be just a legend. A person born from tales? Were Nitir and Daisy the only ones that would think of her as a real person? Of course there were the others on the Lonely Star who knew but it wasn't the same. No longer hungry, Azra left.

Unfortunatly, Azra was so deep in her thoughts that she took a wrong turn and found herself lost. She didn't fret about this though. Instead she aloud her curiosity get the better of her and she started to explore the tunnels. Perhaps, if she was lucky, she'd find her way back to a familiar place by morning.

[mark12_30]

ooc

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[piosenniel]

Pio went looking to find Ancalimon. She had several things she needed to ask of him, and a few questions answered. Search high and low as she did,though, she could find him nowhere. She was down in the hold, thinking to find him there, when she ran into the two hobbrim children, Coral and Shell. They smiled prettily at her, and held their hands behind their backs.

Their smiles were disarming, and Pio smiled back at them. 'What are you two young ladies doing down here?' she asked, tousling Coral's hair, and all the while trying to see what they had hidden behind them. 'Nothing Pio!' they chimed in chorus, their brown eyes looking at her with innocence and a certain spark of impish delight.

The Elf crouched down on their level, and looked at them quite seriously. 'Now tell me true, you two. What are you doing down here?'

Coral looked at Shell, who shrugged her shoulders, and said 'Practicing, Pio!'

Pio shook her head. This was like trying to undo a very tangled knot. She arched her eyebrows at the two and asked once again. 'Practicing what?' 'What Ms. Birdie taught us, Pio.' cried Shell. 'This!' said Coral holding out her hand.

Pio gasped in surprise, and then laughed and hugged the two girls. 'No need to find Ancalimon now.' she thought to herself. 'Did you do this yourself?' 'Oh, yes, and we have some more!' Coral's smile turned to a scowl as Shell slapped her for telling their secret.

'Can you show me what you have?' The girls led her to a small area hidden behind some piled up crates. Pio clapped her hands in delight! 'And you say you made these. Can you show me how?'

Once she told them what she meant to do, she found them willing teachers, though quite exacting taskmasters for certain critical steps in the process. But when they were done, they patted her on the back, and said. 'Nice work!'

She then had them gather the materials she needed - a number of empty clay jars with narrow necks, some of medium size and some smaller. Grease, tar, pitch, a little sulphur, some resin, and lampoil were placed in that order in the jars. The jars were sealed with wax, and one of the girl's small incendiary devices secured to the neck of the bottle with a wrapping of string. By the time they were finished, they had ten of the larger devices, and twenty smaller, handsized ones.

When they had put away all their extra materials, she kissed them each on their cheek, and thanked them. 'This will be a great help to us when we go into the caverns.' she told them. 'You have done your part well!'

Then she threw an old blanket over the work table, and went back up to the deck.

[ October 27, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami had gone to the main cavern to watch a few rounds of Candlestones. Despite the lively scene, she'd found her attention wandering. Maybe it was because so few folk were known to her. Families cheered heartily for one favorite or another. Cami had trouble remembering the names, and couldn't keep them straight in her head.

She noticed Gamba competing. He was doing well. The boy had a definite knack for standing out in a crowd. That could be a tremendous asset once he got out of here. In the confines of the tombs, however, Cami was less certain.

Rose had roamed off on her own. Cami hoped she'd be cautious, and find her way back in a reasonable amount of time. But exactly what did reasonable mean? Her own idea and Rose's probably weren't the same. She told herself to stop worrying so much, and set her mind on other things.

In any case, Cami understood the girl's compulsion to escape. She herself felt trapped. She wanted to run across a meadow with tall flowers or stare up into the sky and count the stars. How dreary the caverns were. Rocks and earth and darkness. How had Daisy stood it so long? Hobbits had mentioned that the weather in the caves stayed pretty much the same all year long. Dank and cool and shadowed, without a single breeze. Cami missed sunlight and trees and the sound of wind beating against a window. Even a good hard freeze would be better than this.

She decided to copy Rose's example, and try a little walk. Without knowing how or why, her footsteps led her towards the place where the river met the entrance of the cave. This was where they'd come last night. She remembered one of the younger boys telling her it was possible to swim in these waters. Few guards visited the area, and those that did sometimes turned a blind eye.

Cami glanced right, then left, but no one was there. She sat down on a large boulder which overlooked the edge of the water. First the socks came off, then her outer skirt, and the small vest that she wore. She slipped her feet into the water. It was definitely cold. But after the sameness of the tombs, it felt like a cool breeze on a hot day.

She slid off the rock into the river and began paddling about. Her first thought had been to stay in the shallows, and clean off some of the grime of the tombs. But she found herself swimming, seriously swimming, down the river in the direction of the current. Despite Piosenniel's insistence on air bladders, Cami had been swimming since she was a child, and had a sure, steady stroke. She flipped over onto her back and kept swimming on.

Then, suddenly, without warning, she came to the end of the cave. The abrupt disappearance of the cliff overhang was not what she expected. One more good kick and she was lying on her back in the water staring up at the stars. How incredibly beautiful they looked tonight! What enormous goodness they seemed to hold in the middle of this desolate place!

Cami felt content. She could have stayed like this for hours on end. Under the canopy of stars, she was a person, not a prisoner, not even a legend. Just Cami! And she thought with malicious delight, that no old hag could have done that swim.

But she could not stay out here too long. A few moments more and she resigned herself to paddling back, this time swimming on her side. By the time she reached the edge of the shore, she was tired and winded. But it was a good feeling. She shook herself off, and slipped on her outer garments.

As she was about to clamber down from the boulder, her heart fell to her knees. A tall spectre in grey stood just a few feet away. How could she have missed him? For an instant, Cami thought that her doom had been sealed. And she suddenly found herself less willing to meet her end than she had imagined last night. The figure came striding up and extended a hand to help pull her off the rock. His hood fell back. He grinned almost impishly and asked, "Enjoy your swim?"

Cami's eyes grew wide, "Ancalimon," she spluttered. "How did you get here?"

"This isn't the first time I've visited hobbits in prison, but I hope it will be the last. And I imagine I got here the same way you did. I came on one of the skiffs."

Cami was about to ask whether Mithadan had given permission, but stopped herself. What a ridiculous question! One of Nienna's retainers would scarcely need permission from either a Man or an Elf. If Ancalimon chose to take a skiff and sail it up the Siril, that was his own business.

The peddler continued, "I need to see Loremaster tonight. We have things to discuss."

"He knows you?" Cami's eyes were wide with surprise.

"We met only once, many years ago, before the rescue of the Stoors. That time I was dealing with the hobbit wise woman. Loremaster was just a young lad. In fact he was her student. But I can't imagine that he'll have forgotten what happened."

Ancalimon chuckled. Cami found it hard to imagine Loremaster getting into any trouble. But, from Ancalimon's tone and face, it sounded like a bit of mischief. Well, why not? Many of the hobbits seemed to regard her as a solemn legend. If they could see her past, they wouldn't believe all the mistakes and nonsense she'd gotten into one time or another.

"Are you going to talk to him about the things you told Rose and myself?"

"Yes, and other matters as well. That reminds me. Tomorrow the two of you will need to explain how the hobbrim will be helping those swimming in the river. Don't get into details. That comes later. Just let the hobbits know there are friends who live in the Sea who've come to help."

He slipped off his grey robe to reveal the garments of a merchant of Numenor. The guards were used to seeing such tradesmen and would not question his presence.

"There was one other reason I decided to pick this night for a visit. I have some stern words for a hobbit who was so distraught last night that she was broadcasting her feelings over half of Numenor."

Cami squirmed and looked uncomfortable.

The Man....," she blurted out. She was about to launch a lengthy explanation on the rescue of the Faithful, and the injustice of the world, when she was stopped by a firm hand on her shoulder.

"Enough! Cami, sometimes you think too much. And there are very few hobbits I would ever say that to. Know one thing. You have made the right decision. However hard it may be for you, do not remake it a hundred times in your head."

"It is not your place to judge the hearts of others, and the decisions they make. Leave the Man be! He is doing his best. The decisions Mithadan makes come from the mercy in his heart. You may be surprised to find that you will thank him someday. In any case, worry about your own path, and let wiser heads safeguard the fabric of time."

"Alright, alright, I'll try," she sighed.

"And there's something else." Ancalimon continued. Cami tried to slink down and make herself smaller, since she assumed this could not be good. "In the rescue, the youngest children will be going out in protected groups. There will be a number of such groups, who'll have to be led down to the river where the hobbrim will help them through the waters. You are to walk with the children, and if necessary fight for them. Make sure that every one gets through."

She thought a minute and asked, "Every one?"

He shook his head yes.

"But shouldn't I be in the Locks? What about Daisy? What about the other prisoners there?"

"They'll be fine. That is for others to do. It's your job to be with the children just as you were in Beleriand."

Cami laughed and shook her head, "To tell the truth, I find that easier. They're the only ones who look at me and see a plain, simple hobbit instead of a mysterious legend from ages past."

Then Cami spoke again. "Do you think if we finally get to the Third Age that the hobbits will stop treating me like a stick figure from the past? I hope so! I want to have friends and a life. And I think it's even harder on Rose. She's not the type to see herself as a legend." Cami waited for an answer.

Ancalimon looked her straight in the eye, and smiled, but said nothing.

More mysteries, always more mysteries, she thought.

They had finally reached the alcove where Loremaster slept. Ancalimon gave her a hug, and said he'd see her during the rescue. He turned to go about his business. Cami started to hunt for her own sleeping spot, when a voice boomed out after her, "And no more nonsense Mistress Goodchilde!"

Wearily, she agreed.

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[mark12_30]

When the top ten spots that night were determined in Candlestones, the number one position was held, not by Gamba, but by Corby.
The applause was thunderous, and Corby stepped forward for a bow. Gamba stepped quickly to his side, and quietly challenged him again.
His challenge held no mystery, and with a broad smile, Corby glanced at his wife, who nodded. They stepped up to the line, and threw again.

Corby won again.

"Two out of three, " replied Gamba, undeterred.

Corby won the next round.

"Three out of--"

"All right, " Corby snorted, waving down the general laughter. "One more round. Everyone knows who won first place tonight in the real competition."

"Aye, that's right, " called several hobbits. "Humor the lad. You're all right, Corby."

Ears burning, Gamba took his place at the line, and cleanly missed. There was general laughter, but Corby stepped up to the line. He carefully met Esta's gaze, and then his own wife's gaze, and then coolly snapped the candle exactly in half. Gasps mixed with the laughter and the clapping, and some shook their heads. Several guards were indignant. But most of the older hobbits smiled.

Corby slapped the furiously blushing Gamba on the shoulder, saying, "Now can I go home to my family and get some sleep?" There was more general laughter, and the place broke up, with the guards settling their bets and bickering about whether the final challenges should be included in the monetary settlements.

Gamba, stung with shame, melted into the shadows and sat down fuming with his back against the wall. Esta gathered the candles and stored them for the next night, and watched him patiently for a while. The guards went back to their various posts, and the hobbits went to their sleeping spaces or snuck off to the mines to sharpen cheekpeices and visors. The main cavern went dark.

Esta quietly walked over to Gamba, sat down beside him, lifted his chin, and took his hands. "Thank you, " she said softly.

He buried his face in her neck for a moment. "I wasn't supposed to lose."

"I don't care about the game, " she replied. "But I don't think he wanted to kiss me, nor to make his wife watch him kiss me, either. Thanks for giving both of us a way out of that."

"I never should have put you through this in the first place, " Gamba replied, miserable.

She didn't disagree, but she held him in the shadows.

The main cave had been silent and empty for quite some time, before they heard approaching soldiers. They looked up, watching helplessly as an older couple was quietly escorted out at swordpoint. Esta and Gamba embraced again, sadly, hiding their faces from the thought of where they were going.

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[mark12_30]

As Nitir joined Azraph's family, she found Azraph sitting up, waiting.

"Nitir, where is Azra? Is she all right?"

"Oh, I'm sure she's fine, " Nitir replied, and started getting ready for sleep. A shadow crossed the entrance to the alcove, and Phura 's voice whispered, "Nitir! Isn't Azra with you?"

"No, " she sighed, "I'm not sure where she is. Exploring, I expect."

Phura's hand went to his brow. "Exploring. Great, that's just great. And exactly what--" and then he paused, and turned to Azraph. "You two are so alike. If you were her, where would you have gone?"

"You're far too worried, " Nitir soothed them, "She can take care of herself."

Phura obviously did not share Nitir's confidence, and waited for Azraph's response.

A slow smile crossed Azraph's face. "The Smithy, " she said, "or the mines. If not there-- then the old tombs." Azraph got up, smoothed her ragged dress and shook back her hair, and held out her hand to Phura. They melted into the shadows.

Nitir shook her head, and lay wearily down.

Phura and Azraph searched the Smithy, and the mines, and finally went through the tombs, but saw no sign of Azra.

Azra watched them go past from her hiding place, and wondered why they were out so late.

They went to the water's edge, but they did not find her there, either.

"You've got to get some sleep, " Phura finally told Azraph.

"I'm too worried, " she replied. They returned to Azraph's family alcove, and found that Nitir had gone. They sat waiting for her return. Azraph fell asleep leaning against the cave wall, and Phura sat and watched her. He was tempted to move her; but he had never touched her beyond holding or kissing her hands, and he did not dare now. Finally he woke her, and she went to her place and lay down, and he sat in the doorway and waited.

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Birdland]

"Dratted, wooly-footed, scatter-brained, little minx, I'll sing her a song she won't forget. Wondering off in these burrows without so much as a "by-your-leave". Get herself thrown in the Locks, she will, and it would serve her right. Rose! Rosie! Where are you? NEEK-BREEK!"

Two guards came creeping down the corridors. "You should be keeping your eyes open for more than insects, Hanos. Morgauth been on tenderhooks for the last week or more, and it isn't over a Neekerbreeker, I've heard."

"You hear too much," Hanos muttered. "It came from right over here. I'll get that little creeper this time, before that 'Neek-Breek' burst my ears. There!" Hamos swung a cudgel against the wall of the tunnel, which promptly broke with a thud and a crack.

His companion laughed and sneered, "That'll come out of your wages, mighty hunter. Did you get 'em?"

Hamos studied the broken pieces of the cudgel. "Not this time. I'll have one of those tunnel-rats make me another club. C'mon."

After the guards had passed, Birdie crawled out of the crack of the wall and continued her search - silently, this time.

[Mithadan]

Piosenniel, still smiling over the Hobbrim's handiwork, returned to the main deck. There she found Mithadan speaking with Khelek and Veritas.

"What shall we do with the Numenorean vessel?" asked Veritas.

"We may have use for it," replied Mithadan. "But in the interim, search it for weapons; knives, spears, harpoons, swords, axes. We have need of spears. There are two in the armoury and two harpoons stored below. We still have a handful of knives which are unspoken for. They should be crafted into spears as should the two stabbing swords in the armoury. There are two battle axes as well, but we have two wood axes on board which can be sharpened and made into weapons. Can you both work on this during the next two days?"

"I thought we were to rely upon stealth," commented Khelek. "And wouldn't it be best to simply scuttle the Numenorean ship?"

"We will act in secret as long as we can," answered the Man. "But at some point, the alarm will go up. Then we must hold the four entrance tunnels against any guards responding to the alarm. With the exception of the Locks tunnel, they are narrow so that only two or three may stand abreast in them. The best weapons to hold them will be spears for those standing in the opening and axes for those standing to the sides. We cannot rely upon your kindred from the West to have divined what weapons we need; we must have what we need ready if possible. Ask among the Hobbrim. They may have some sturdy blades available."

Piosenniel nodded approvingly. Then she scanned the deck. "There is a skiff missing," she commented. "What?" cried Mithadan, as he counted the small boats.

"Ancalimon cannot be found either," said Piosenniel. Mithadan relaxed upon hearing this. "I would guess that he has gone to the tombs to be among the Hobbits," he responded. "I trust him not to reveal himself."

"What about the ship?" repeated Khelek. "I would feel better if it were gone."

"As I said," answered Mithadan. "I feel we will have use for it. If it makes you feel better, once it is searched, we can move it away to the South and anchor it."

Khelek looked dubious but nodded...

[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami awoke in the middle of the night and glanced towards the place where Rose should be. Still no Rose! If she wasn't back by dawn, the guards might go searching and throw her into the Locks. The crew of the Star didn't need that! Cami sighed and wished she'd paid more attention when Bird had come by earlier.

She suddenly heard a sad 'neeker-breek' near the entrance to the alcove. A moment later, Bird perched on Cami's collar and shared her disapointing news. She hadn't found Rose. There were few people wandering about at such a late hour. She'd barely managed to search beyond the central cavern.

Cami sat up and yawned. "Alright, alright. You don't need to ask. I'm coming."

The two began at the far end of the camp, checking the Locks and the smithy with no success. Then they pushed their way into the old tombs. A strange place to be in the middle of the night! They searched four or five chambers, and were about to leave, when Bird heard a tiny scratching sound from the end of the passageway.

It was one of the oldest sections in the tombs, where Mithadan had knelt to honor Elros. There sat Rose! She was on the floor of the chamber, her back leaning against a marble stone, her eyes intently focused on something in her lap. Cami peered at her. She could see that Rose's pen was scratching across a piece of vellum torn out of Idril's Daybook.

Cami stared, and stared again. She had expected to find Rose exploring or swimming or getting into trouble. But sitting in a secluded corner and writing? That was strange indeed.

Bird had threatened to do physical damage to the missing hobbit when she was found. But she too was puzzled. "What are you doing?" Her voice was insistent.

"I'm adding a page to our journal," Rose intoned and went right on scribbling.

Cami was curious, and asked the girl to explain.

"I've found something. Something important. Oh, Cami, you're going to be so proud of me. I figured it out on my own. Just like you've been telling me to do." Rose's face glowed with youthful pride.

"I know where we're going, and it's not what you think. The hobbits, I mean. All along, you told me we'd end up in the middle of the Third Age. But I don't think that's right." She turned towards Cami and brightened.

"Go on," Cami encouraged her.

"I was sitting next to all these old stones and runes, when I started remembering the clues we discovered. The things we found out when we first came on the Star. The riddles, and the pictures, and dreams. And something hit me."

"Bird, do you remember that place underwater that you and Kali discovered? Before it collapsed, you brought up a stone picture of Ancalimon. That little hobbit house was at the base of Minas Anor, on the very first level of the city. Then, I remembered what Cami told me. How the Men of Numenor sailed up the Anduin, and built the fortress of Anarion just one year after the flood."

"And I wondered, how could there be a hobbit house on the bottom level of the city with a picture of Ancalimon unless there were hobbits living there soon after the flood?"

Cami's eyes grew wider as she listened to Rose. She searched her memory to recall what Ancalimon had said to them. Now that she thought about it, he hadn't mentioned the Third Age. He'd only spoken about hobbits and hobbrim, and the choice they would have.

She assumed they'd be going to the Third Age, because that was the earliest recorded history. But that assumption could be wrong. The Star would never have come to Beleriand or Numenor if they'd only looked at written records.

"Rose, you may be on to something, but we won't know for sure until Ancalimon sets course."

She hugged the girl. "I'm proud of you for putting all this together. There's one more piece of evidence to support what you're saying. Remember the stone relief of the ship and the hobbrim you and Bird found on your tour of the city? That crumbling wall looked older than the Third Age too."

"If if I had to guess now, I'd say we're probably heading somewhere along the Anduin at the time when Anarion arises and also the kingdom of Gondor. That is, if we can fight our way out of this place!"

One thing still puzzled Cami. She was troubled by that house in Minas Anor. As far as she knew, except for Gondolin, her people had never lived in big cities. In forests, on river banks, and by wide green fields. Even in towns like Bree. But never at the heart of a great kingdom. What were they doing there?

When they'd first found the clues in Minas Anor, she hadn't thought twice. They'd been focused on gathering information that would tell them where to go. But looking back on it, she did have questions. A hobbit house in an ancient Fortress-City was a strange thing. But she said nothing to Rose about her doubts.

The two hobbits hugged, and walked back towards Azraph's family. Cami was so pleased with Rose and her discovery that she made Bird promise not to punish the girl.

Bird shook her head and waved an antenna in the air. "Hobbits!" she retorted, with a snort.

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

Pio went below with Veritas to find the weapons they would make into spears. There were four long and two throwing knives, and the two shorter bladed, stabbing swords. They would bind these to the some of the staves they had also gathered, and sharpen the remaining four of the staves to sharp points.

Khelek had been sent to fetch a roll of rawhide stored in another section of the hold. This he soaked in a pail of warm water until it was soft and cut it into long thin strips.

They brought all this to the deck and Pio set the two to sharpening the blades to a razor sharp edge and point. Khelek, then, took each blade and bound it securely to a stave with the wet strips of rawhide, leaving them in the sun to dry to a tight, hard binding.

Last, they sharpened to a fine edge each of the spears, harpoons, battle axes, and wood axes. When they were done, there were sixteen sturdy spears, and four deadly sharp axes.

Mithadan had come up to inspect their efforts, and helped them store the stockpile of weapons in a secure area of the deck.

It was evening by the time all had been put away, and hunger drove them all down to the galley to forage for their suppers. Pio took Mithadan aside once they had gone below, and brought him to the area where she and the two hobbrim girls had been working earlier.

She explained what the devices would do. The smaller ones could be lit by a candle to their attached incendiary device and thrown at approaching troops to burst at their feet. The substances inside were highly flammable when exposed to the fire of the small incendiary and air. The sticky goo would spatter in a widely dispersed pattern and cling to anything it touched, including skin. It was very difficult to put out, and was known to burn at a high temperature for a long time.

The larger devices could be lit and several thrown across a passage way to form a wide, white hot firewall, as the oil carried the flames outward from the initial point of contact.

If he wished, arrows could also be dipped in this substance and once lit, fired at desired targets.

'Do you wish us to make more? Or do you think this will be enough?' she asked.

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

That night, Pio joined Khelek and Veritas in Khelek's room. She wanted to speak with them before the urgent press of battle preparation began. Khelek sat cleaning his sword and testing it's edge, while Pio quickly cleaned her mithril shirt of the remains of her most recent encounter and then looked to her own blade.

'What will you be doing once this is all done?' asked Veritas. She had cleaned Pio's knives and was now holding one up to the light, checking it's edges for knicks and burrs.

Pio looked toward Khelek, who had raised his head, considering the question. She saw an unmistakable longing in his eyes before he bent his head once more over his blade, polishing the already gleaming metal.

'What of you?' asked Pio, nodding back at Veritas.

'I do not know.' Veritas replied. 'I have grown weary of late, and can not see what more this world can hold for me.

'Nor can I.' came Khelek's quick reply.

Pio put down her sword, and spoke softly to them. 'I have been thinking on this. I wonder if you both might allow me to do something on your behalf.' Khelek looked at her questioningly.

'When I came to you as Tulë,' she went on, 'it was my intention to return to the West with the other Elves when all this was finished.' She looked down at the blade which lay across her crossed legs. 'Now my path lies in another direction, and that choice is closed to me.' She looked up, taking them both in. 'But it is not closed to you. And if you will, I shall speak with Idril and she will bear you back with her when she departs.'

Neither of the other two spoke, each lost in thought of what was offered.

'There is no need to answer now.' she told them. 'Think on it. Then come to me in private and tell me your decision.'

Pio gathered her shirt and weapons and took them back to her room. Once resheathed in her baldric, she hung them on a peg near her helmet. She looked about her. There were still feathers everywhere; there had been no time to clear them away.

'Happier times.' she thought to herself, and laughed. 'Perhaps we'll see them again.'

She closed the door firmly behind her as she left, leaving the weapons and the feathers to keep each other company.

[ October 26, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[mark12_30]

Nitir and Azra returned to Azraph's alcove, and stumbled across a form sprawled in the opening to the doorway. Phura gasped and sat up, and then sighed. "Is she all right?"

"She's fine, " Nitir murmured.

"Goodnight then, " he replied wearily, and faded from view.

Azra blinked. "Was he worried?"

Azraph rolled over, sat up, and unceremoniously smacked Azra across her backside, and rolled over and went back to sleep.

Nitir got ready to sleep, but Bird couldn't resist, and hopped up to Azra's shoulder and hissed, "You could say that they were concerned."

[piosenniel]

OOC: morning of 21 Cermië

Angara flew down to where the Elf sat on the stern ‘Should you not be resting?’ she asked her. ‘It’s nearly dawn and you’ve kept me awake most of the night with your restless movements.’ She plopped herself down in Pio’s lap, her head raised, golden eyes regarding her friend’s face.

‘I’m simply not tired, Dragon. My mind is too restless and I fear that it reflects itself in the restlessness of my body. She scratched Angara absentmindedly on the bony plate between her eyes, and the dragon settled her head on Pio’s thigh. ‘I think I have fairly well sorted out what needs to happen during the rescue. And the sequencing for it, too. A big picture, of it, so to speak. But it is the sticking in of all the little details that has me worried.’ She sighed and shifted her legs under the weight of the dragon. ‘It is like trying to hold onto a slippery eel with one hand, almost impossible. And if not done right, the eel may turn round and bite you as it escapes your grasp.’

‘You worry too much!' humphed Angara. ‘Did you not tell me that Ulmo said the rescue would be successful if you were at the forefront? And did he not say you would come to no harm?’ She nudged Pio’s hand with her snout to encourage further scratching. ‘And besides, I will be there at your side, and watch out for everyone else.’ The dragon flicked her tail agreeably as the scratching resumed.

‘What an ego you have, Old One!’ laughed the Elf. ‘Yes,’ said Angara, fixing her with one eye, ‘almost as big as yours!’

‘I worry about the Hobbits as they flee from the caverns to the ships. Perhaps you should think about being there with them, defending them from the guards as they make their exit.’ Pio moved Angara off her lap and stretched out her numb legs. Angara moved her head back on the Elf’s comfortable thigh.

‘You don’t give the Hobbits enough credit for figuring out their own means of defense, Elf. I am certain they will rise to the occasion in their own fashion, and besides, the Telerin can be there to cover them with their bows. Just stick to what you need to do, and try not to go off on any of your harebrained ideas.’

‘I suppose you are right.’ returned Pio, snorting at this last characterization of her self.

The sun crept up over the eastern horizon. The moon and stars fled, and it looked to be the dawning of a beautiful day.

Pio heard giggling behind her, and turned to see the two Hobbrim girls standing there, a plate of fruit and bread in Coral’s hand and a cup of hot tea held by Shell. ‘What are you doing up so early?’ she asked them. ‘We’ve been up for a long time!’ came the chorused voices. They came round to stand in front of her and offered he the food and drink. ‘We saw you sitting up here with Angara, and thought you might like something to eat.’

She accepted the offering gratefully, and sat it down next to her. ‘I had hoped to see you two today, and thank you again for your help yesterday. I have figured out exactly where I will use our devices. They will be of great help to us.’ She drew them both down onto her lap and hugged them close. Angara humphed as her head was displaced, but Shell turned round and pulled her up between them.

Coral looked up at the Elf and chewed the inside of her lip, a tiny frown on her face. ‘We want to be there, Pio. To see what will happen!’ ‘Yes,’ chimed in Shell, ‘we want to see you slash those awful Men with your sword and kill them. Lots of them!’

She hugged them tight again. ‘Oh my little ones, you can’t be there. Your place is here - to defend the Star should it come to that. If you were there, you would be one more thing for me to worry about. Keeping you safe might cost me the ability to keep others safe. You would not want that, would you?’ ‘No.’ came their half-hearted reply. ‘But at least tell us about how you will kill those bad men.’ said Shell once again.

Pio’s face was grave as she answered them. ‘I do not relish the thought of killing anyone. It is a sad thing to take life, and the thought of it sickens me. Some of those I will kill tomorrow will not be much older than your brother, Coral. And many others will have wives and babies and perhaps even little girls like you at home.’ She looked away from their now solemn faces for a moment. ‘But it is a necessary thing that I will do. And I will do it as well and swiftly as I may.’ They wrapped their arms around her and hugged her back tightly.

They leaned back against her while she ate and drank what they had brought. She laid the plate and mug aside when she had finished and pointed to a place low in the sky. Their curious eyes followed the direction of her finger.

‘Look!’ she said. ‘The evening star still hangs on the horizon. Is that not a wondrous thing to see?’

[ October 26, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[ October 27, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Loremaster caught Cami's eye at breakfast and beckoned her towards the passage indicating that she should follow. They quickly left the main cavern and made their way to a half-hidden nook outside the tombs. Here they could speak without guards hanging on every word.

"Ancalimon returned to the Star before dawn," Loremaster noted quietly. "I've asked Azra to come with me today. She and I will tell the hobbits about the river rescue and how the hobbrim will help them in the water."

"Do you have something I can do?" Cami asked.

Loremaster nodded. "For the next two days, I want you to work with the young children. Get to know them, so they'll feel comfortable with you. They need to learn to trust you and follow your orders during the rescue."

"It's not going to be easy," he continued. "Most of their parents will have gone off to fight. They'll probably be frightened. Some of them have no family left. They're orphans who've banded together in small groups to survive."

"Like the five boys Gamba and Phura take care of?"

He nodded towards Cami. "Yes. Some have been adopted by children barely a few years older than themselves. Others have been lucky to join families with real parents. We've tried to take care of them as best we could"

"How will the children get through the caves to the river?" It was one thing to talk strategy with Piosenniel and Mithadan on the Star. It was another to be sitting in the tombs, and actually plan how children of so many different ages could be conveyed to safety with guards on all sides. There were so many things that could go wrong.

Loremaster explained. "I'll be assembling and organizing the groups which will run the gauntlet."

Cami immediately interrupted, "Run the gauntlet? What's that?"

"Sorry. I keep forgetting you're from outside. We have our own words to describe the rescue," he laughed. "It means getting from the caverns down to the mouth of the river as fast as you can."

"We've even had games for the younger ones. The guards think they're childish play. But they're practice for the real thing."

He stopped a moment to assemble his thoughts. "I'll be organizing the groups, deciding who goes out and when. Those who are escorted to the river include the children, the ill or infirm, and mothers with young babies."

"What about the older hobbits, who aren't sick but who would have trouble racing through the caves at breakneck speed?"

Loremaster shook his head and sighed. "I'm afraid we have few of those left. So few that the children would probably have been the next to go to Gorthaur's temple. Some of the older hobbits will be escorted in groups. But there are some," and here Loremaster couldn't resist a smile, "who insist on being included among the fighting men and women."

"As far as your own duties, you'll deal only with the children."

Cami nodded, then inquired how many children would be running the gauntlet.

"If you include the mothers with babies, we'll have 14 to 15 groups, with about 15 or 16 children in each one."

"And the escorts?"

"That's where you come in. There'll be five escorts, fully armed. Each group will have an five escorts to get down to the river. Then the escorts come running back for the next group. Once you get everyone safely to the mouth of the river, you're free to board the ships yourself, or to stay and reinforce the fighters."

Then he added, "We're hoping to run the groups through the main corridor as quickly as we can. But we could encounter problems. Sometimes, we may need to send a single escort through with one or two children. We may have stragglers at the end, or the corridors might be so congested we can't push groups through. It's also possible there'll be times we rely more on deception and hiding than speed."

At this point, Loremaster handed Cami a large sling made of cloth.

"What's this?" she asked. She squinted down at the contraption. "I understand. For the littlest ones who'll have trouble making it by themselves." She threw the sling over her neck and tightened it to see how it fit.

"It's not going to be easy fighting with this on." Then she asked in an even voice, "What if some of the escorts are killed?"

"Then we'll send others to help," Loremaster responded. "Getting the children out is a must. They are the heart and soul of our people. If no one else makes it out of here, the children will."

"Like Beleriand?" Cami whispered, thinking and remembering.

Loremaster loked at her with gentle grey eyes and said yes.

"Anyway, we hope you'll be doing more running and escorting than fighting, but, yes, you may have to fight, sling or not."

"And Cami, there's one more thing. Ancalimon was insistent about this. He said you were to be in charge of counting the noses of the children who made it through so we'd know with certainty we had everyone out. Just in case."

"I must tell you truthfully. I thought one of the others should do that. You don't know these children as well as we do. But Ancalimon wouldn't hear of it. He said you could learn their faces and names in the next two days. Plus the others would help you. He was absolutely certain."

"And how many of them are there? The children, I mean." Cami countered.

"A total of 225."

Cami sat and thought a minute. So many children. Why would Ancalimon ask her to do this? Out loud, she said calmly, "If he believes I can do this, then I can."

"Good. And the other four escorts will help you. Starting right now, we're keeping the children together in one area of the caves. That's so we can move them out quickly on the night of the rescue. You'll be living with them day and night until they get out of the tombs. The guards won't pay much attention how we handle the young ones, as long as they get their work out of us. We are going to have the mothers come after dinner to tend the babies and spend the night. That way they'll be there when the rescue starts."

"It looks as if we're here." Loremaster pushed the door open. Cami gazed in amazement. She was greeted with the sight of well over two hundred children, ranging from tiny infants to about ten-years old. They were running and laughing in a state of disarray. Not a single guard was to be seen in the room. They obviously didn't consider it necessary to watch the children, as long as they kept out of the way of any serious work to be done.

She was suddenly surrounded by a swarm of little bodies, "Loremaster, Miss Cami," they squealed in delight. Miss Cami, however, could think of but one thing. How will I ever learn the faces of so many children in just two days?

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami walked into the room and smiled. The familiar bedlam of youngsters surrounded her. Even in these bleak surroundings, and with the uncertainty of the rescue, she could sense the childrens' warmth. She had't felt this hopeful since the night of stars and light when she’d left Tol Fuin.

Cami had been bitterly aware of her grief for Maura in recent months. His memory and essence hung over her like a specter, poignant and compelling. But there was something else she’d lost. Something precious she and Maura had shared. It was the children’s presence and affection in the Workhouse, which had first linked them.

How many times had they sat beside a child’s bed and worried whether the fever would break? How many times had they wept when a small body was laid into a grave? They hadn’t even spoken of their own feelings for each other. They didn’t have to. Their shared love for these little ones had bound their hearts together. These children looked and felt little different from those she’d rocked and hugged and grieved for in Dorthonion.

Somehow, on the Star, with her hectic plans and worries, all that had been forgotten. She’d been too busy to pay attention to the hobbrim youngsters when they came aboard. She’d left that task to Angara. Maybe something inside her wasn’t ready yet. But now, in the tombs, this place of terrible urgency, Cami felt their need and her own depth of caring.

A little blonde thing, one of the orphans, toddled up to her. The child couldn’t have been more than two. She clambered onto Cami’s skirts and snuggled close. “Snowdrop, my name is Snowdrop,” the girl lisped. Cami wondered what brave parents had chosen such a hopeful name in a place where snow never fell. She buried the child’s golden curls into her body and kissed the tiny blond head.

“Please,” she implored, “All these snow hobbits, and no snow. Let them see snowflakes someday. And, if I can, I want to be there too.” It was the first time for months that she'd felt a fierce hunger to survive, to push beyond the tombs and scratch out a life that held some meaning.

Cami glanced about the room. Many of the little ones looked happy and content, oblivious to their surroundings. They had pushed all the pain to the back of their minds. Scampering through the caverns, they played games and tricks on each other. They thronged about Cami’s skirts, tugging for her attention, laughing and hiding when she turned to kiss them. They were a joy.

But as Cami looked about, she saw others who did not look happy. One girl had her arms wrapped tightly about her legs. Her neck was bent over, her head buried deep within her knees. Another sat looking with blank, sad eyes. One boy, barely eight, stood by the wall, crying. Such sadness!

But, here in the tombs, Cami could do little to help. She and the other hobbits had to figure out a way to get the children through to the river. Tonight, the Elven ships would come and join the Star. Beyond lay freedom and a new home. Cami sat quietly in the chamber, one child on her lap, another crawling at her feet. She began thinking of all they needed to do to win safe passage for these little ones far beyond the caves.

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

(21 Cermië day)

Pio posted Khelek and Veritas to alternate the watch for the arrival of the Teleri. The Elven ships would make a southern approach to the Star, avoiding any contact with Númenorean ships sailing the western waters. She had asked that the Númenorean vessel they had commandeered not be anchored far south of their present position, as it would make the Telerin captains wary of approach. She dared not use osanwë to contact them.

Coral and Shell were sent to bring the Hobbrim to the deck. They drilled one last time before the rescue tomorrow evening, then stowed their weapons and the air bladders in a place on the deck that would be easily accessible to them. They gathered round her for final instructions.

All the Hobbrim would be on the first ship with her, she instructed them. They would enter the water immediately upon arrival. She pinned up a large map detailing the final position of the Elven ships, where the Hobbrim needed to deploy themselves to be most effective, and the point where the Hobbits would enter the water from the caverns. The faces of the Hobbrim were serious as they took in this information and the grim reality which would soon be upon them. A few minor questions on detail were asked and discussed to the satisfaction of the questioner. She told them that once the caverns were cleared and all hobbits were on board they must quickly get back on the ships, too, as she would shift them immediately following this.

One young Hobbrim asked how they would know the caverns had been cleared, their job done. 'You will look for Mithadan or me to enter the water. I will be the last one out. Then all that is left will be the dragons to do the final cleansing. When they have come back to the ship, I will shift us immediately. There must be no one off ship at this time.'

They dispersed after this discussion, the Hobbrim to lunch, and the Elf to find Levanto.

It was cool in the water, the motion of the waves enjoyable. She found him a short way from the Star, floating, and seemingly asleep. She paused for a moment, watching his form rock slowly up and down.

'I know you are there, Pio.' he said, opening one eye to look at her. He flipped over and dove beneath the water, resurfacing quickly beside her. They spoke at length of what he would do during the course of the rescue. She repeated her instructions that he must be on board when she arrived back at the first ship.

'I will wait for you in the water.' he told her. 'I wish to make sure you stay safe. We will swim back together.'

'As you wish.' she told him. 'Though I see no reason to worry for my safety.' She looked toward the south. 'There is something you can do for me now, if you will. I have set a watch for the Teleri. Would you swim out a little ways southward, to see if you might see them; then bring me news of their arrival?'

'As you wish, Pio.' He smiled at her and dove beneath the waters, heading south.

(21 Cermië late evening - the Teleri arrive)

It was just after sunset when Veritas came running to find Pio. Levanto had returned, saying that the Telerin ships were only a short distance now from the Star. Pio came quickly to the deck. She could just make out small dark forms heading north toward the ship's position.

Mithadan joined her at the rail. Word had spread of the elven ships' nearing arrival and all the crew had now come up to watch for them.

They were swift on the water. Graceful white craft that flew over the waves like great birds. There were twenty of them, as had been promised. Leading them was Tuor's ship, and Idril stood at the bow.

The Elven captains brought their vessels as near to the Star as possible and dropped anchor. A small skiff set sail from each ship, bringing it's captain to the Star. When all had come aboard, including Tuor and Idril, Mithadan and Pio greeted them warmly, then led them to a place cleared on the deck for them, that they might speak briefly of the plans for the rescue tomorrow night.

Each Elven captain had brought two additional crew members with him. Master bowmen - one to stay on the ship for defense and one to assist in the actual rescue process. Tuor had brought ten Noldor warriors with him, and spoke with Mithadan about where they might be best deployed.

Pio went round to each of the elven captains and introduced herself. She outlined her plans for the time shift to them, underscoring her need to be able to link with all of them easily. There was some scepticism among them concerning her ability to accomplish this, But Idril assured them of her capability. Pio told them all that she would visit them early in the morning, and form a brief link with each of them, so that they might get an impression of her when she reached to them. When she was done, she bade them goodnight, and left them to speak further with Mithadan.

She was tired, and went below to go to Mithadan's cabin. She had just gone in, and pulled off her boots, when there came a soft knock at the door. 'Come.' she called.

It was Idril who entered. She regarded Pio with great tenderness, and then came near to embrace her. She asked no questions, saying only, 'Your Mother would be so happy, Piosenniel, as am I.'

Pio smiled, and returned the embrace. For a long while they sat on the bed together, talking and laughing as if no grim thing would intrude tomorrow upon this happiness. Then Tuor called to Idril, that they should go back to their ship. Pio called out that she would see them both tomorrow, then lay down to sleep, and did not awaken when Mithadan, at last, came to his rest.

Mithadan's Post:

He did not sleep long; he could not. He awoke before the dawn and climbed quietly out of his bed. Smiling briefly at the still sleeping figure of Piosenniel, he dressed and took up his sword and a sharpening stone and slipped out the door.

Mithadan walked up the gangway to the main deck and stood for a moment, looking at the stars. Then he seated himself upon a barrel and began working on his blade. Yet even as he sharpened, his thoughts wandered to the north and the caverns beneath Meneltarma.

Snick, snick, snick. They entered the caverns and proceeded up the perimeter tunnels to the Locks. They freed the Hobbits and then passed through the door in the guards' alcove and freed the Men. Ushering the prisoners along, they proceeded back down the Locks Tunnel. Suddenly, from behind them came shouts. The escape of the Men had been discovered and guards had rushed through the alcove door and came behind them in the tunnel. Roused by the shouts, guards from the main cave assailed them from the mouth of the tunnel... He shook his head. They must bar the alcove door. Perhaps a desk and other furniture pushed into place and set afire with burning pitch...

Snick, snick, snick. They exit the Locks tunnel, sending the prisoners forward with escorts toward the River Tunnel. To the southeast, shouts were heard. The Guards' Quarters tunnel had been overrun and the 4 Elves who had guarded it had been slain. Their exit had now been cut off... He shuddered. The Guards' Quarters Tunnel was broader than the Western exits. Three Elves with spears should be posted there, accompanied by two Elves with swords or axes to the side, and bowmen behind...

Snick, snick, snick. The Main Tunnel had degenerated into a melee. Retreating at last from the Locks Tunnel, they attempted to slip to the side into the shadows as they moved toward the Western exits. A group of guards cuts them off. Pio is assailed by two swordsmen. He moved to help her and struck one down. She slew the second and continued on. He turned to guard the rear only to see a sword slice towards his face... He stopped sharpening his blade, and dropped his head to his hands. They could not plan for all ends. They could only do their best and trust to the assistance of fate and luck...

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

[mark12_30]

Sharon's Post

Cami yawned and stretched. It was almost dinner time. Her day had been long and tiring. But more importantly, they'd accomplished many things.

She'd suggested the hobbits be assigned to their groups ahead of time. Each group was called by a special name, something the littlest ones could easily remember. The youngsters spent a portion of the day playing together in the squads, getting to know each other well. Cami invented several games to help the children assemble quickly and learn to listen for directions. The Rabbits, the Ponies, the Mice, and the Crows all vied for honors and applause.

Loremaster had tried to anticipate anything that could go wrong. Older children were to hold the hands of the younger. Mothers with babies acted as squad leaders, counting noses to make sure no one was left behind. Cami even managed to enlist two twelve-year old girls who'd been reluctant to join a killing platoon, but still wanted to help. They would run messages for the escorts, and make sure none of the youngsters straggled too far behind.

The other escorts had warmly welcomed Cami. Three were large and burly hobbits who were reputed to be the best fighters in the prison. If there was a way to get the children to the river, the trio of Bungo, Fulco, and Milo would surely find it, ramming through the hallways with spears and axes.

Loremaster had spoken the truth to her. The protection of the children came before everything else. Whatever the cost, the hobbits had vowed to bring the littlest ones to the safety of the Elven ships.

Cami was gradually getting to know the names and faces of many of her charges. But she alone could not do it. She would rely heavily on the others who'd been here so much longer, especially the young girls who seemed to know the name and family history of each child.

And there was one other decidedly bright spot. The fifth escort had turned out to be Esta, the lively girl whom Gamba so adored. She had been working with the children for some time. She had a voice as beautiful as a songbird, and could calm the most upset or terrified child. Cami was convinced that the youngsters, young and old, would listen and obey her, even in the tumult of the rescue.

Cami had thought to go with Esta to see the Candlestones competition, but her body felt as if she couldn't go on. It wasn't a bad feeling, just a tired one. Cami smiled as the young girl danced about the room, bringing peals of laughter to even the saddest youngsters. She gave Esta a hug and told her to be off to dinner and the games. She could go back to her family's alcove to stay the night and return first thing in the morning.

One of the men promised to bring back Cami something to eat. She'd relax in the room and wait with the children. Just as Esta left, the girl flashed a bright smile at Cami and whispered, "Tomorrow, the ships will come, and I will be free."

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[mark12_30]

That night, the contest came down to Gamba and Azraph. Gamba's lucky rock availed him little, and to his chagrin, Azraph's skill availed her much.

Azraph danced gleefully around the remaining lit candle, still held by Esta. Laughing, Esta put it down, carefully, and they joined hands, and danced a little more.

Gamba laughed, grimly determined this time not to show his disappointment about losing, and relieved for Esta's sake that he had lost to a girl. Phura smiled; if Gamba's laugh was a little forced and sharp, Phura could forgive him for it. Azraph was radiant, and Phura was very proud of her.

Azraph came to meet Gamba, who congratulated her heartily, and shook her hand and placed a kiss on her cheek. Suddenly Phura paled.

The champion's kiss.

Azraph looked at Phura, and saw that the blood was drained completely from him and he was wide-eyed. He wasn't prepared. Had he not believed that she would win? she wondered, and then realized, that wasn't the point. His modesty was too strong for a kiss in front of hundreds of carousing hobbits and a guard of leering men.

She walked back behind the candle, and raised her hands. A hush fell immediately. "At last, I celebrate victory, " she crowed, and a thunderous roar went up. Several hobbits began a chant of "Phu-ra, Phu-ra, " but she waved her hands and silence fell again. "For tonight, like the ten finalists, I choose to be content with having proven my skill." A murmur of surprise went around, but one look at Phura, and her reason became clear. Many nodded. Some of the guards laughed, but a few remained silent. Phura began blushing furiously.

"However, " she continued, "I do claim one other compensation. I want your lucky rock, " she said, extending her hand to Gamba.

A roar of laughter went up, and the attention shifted to Gamba, and Phura breathed a sigh of relief. Gamba relinquished the rock.

The guards began settling their accounts, joking and laughing, and praising Azraph's marksmanship, and Gamba's defeat. One of the soldiers that had been sitting in the rear stood, and pulled his cloak tighter around him, and walked out. Those sitting around him wondered why Captain Tarkil had come down and never placed a single bet, but they shrugged it off.

[mark12_30]

Mithadan's post:

Even before breakfast, Mithadan met with the Elven captains and warriors. Several of the Teleri were called upon to copy the maps which had been prepared by Piosenniel of the caverns and tunnels beneath Meneltarma. Names were filled in on the maps to indicate which warriors and archers would be placed at the various key points.

Three of the Noldor would be stationed with spears at the Guards' Quarters tunnel to the east. They would be accompanied by two Elves with axes and two bowmen to protect the Main Cavern from attack through that critical tunnel. Six Teleri armed with bows would wait at the River Tunnel to cover the escaping Hobbits.

The Graveyard and Front Prison Entrance Tunnels would each be manned by two Noldor bearing spears, accompanied by two other warriors with axes or swords and two bowmen. Mithadan and Piosenniel would assail the Locks with their rear protected by bowmen and two swordsmen. This left the Hobbits' quarters and the Main Cavern to be secured by the Halflings with such additional aid as could be spared from the tunnels.

Altogether, the rescuers were spread very thin and would have to rely heavily upon the zeal and anger of the Hobbits for the plan to work. Several of the Elves murmured in concern about this aspect of the plan. As a result several additional Teleri volunteers were found to assist the Hobbits with their long knives and throwing weapons.

After this meeting, Mithadan and Piosenniel ate breakfast together in silence. At first, neither could meet the others' eyes. On this day their fates would be determined and Ulmo's prophecy bound or unwound and neither could predict how matters would proceed. But halfway though the meal, Mithadan put down his fork and knife and seized Piosenniel's hands in his. He kissed her fingertips, then reached out to caress her face. No words were exchanged; none were needed. Piosenniel kissed his palm and then their eyes met at last and each nodded, understanding fully the emotions and concerns of the other. Then they returned to their meals and the duties of the day.

[ October 29, 2002: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

[mark12_30]

After everyone had dispersed, Gamba gave Esta a wry, disappointed look. "No kiss again tonight."

She returned the wry look, but hers ended in a delightful smile and a conspiratory whisper. "Take me swimming."

"Now? Tonight?"

"Show me the stars."

She took his hand, and led him toward the tunnel, Gamba's heart racing out of control. They walked hand in hand down to the waters' edge, jumping in fully clothed.

They swam down the long dark tunnel side by side. Gamba felt the grime of the caves rinsing off of him, and then they came out under the starry vault. Esta gasped, he pushed her gently to the shallows, and for a while they just stared.

She climbed up onto the grassy bank, feeling the moist dirt and live greenery with her hands in wonder. Then she sat down, and beckoned him; he followed as if in a dream, and sat down beside her. She shifted, leaning back towards his lap, and lay in his arms, gazing up at the sky.

He gazed down at her, studying her in the starlight; her skin was now quite clean, and glistening, stark lily-white against her dark hair that was swept straight back from her face. Her deep brown eyes reflected the starlight. He thought that he had never seen anyone or anything so beautiful, and then he smiled at his own sappiness. Part of him wanted this moment to last forever; and the other part replied, Don't be an idiot; freedom comes tomorrow night.

He tore his gaze from her long enough to look down the river, and wondered how close the ships would get, and what it would be like to be on one. Then his eyes returned to Esta lying in his arms; and he simply watched her breathe.

She lay peacefully for a while, and then stirred and sat up. "We should go back, " she said. "We'll see the stars again."

They returned to the water and swam back into the caves.

[mark12_30]

reserved for anybody

[mark12_30]

Gamba and Esta paused, dripping, by the study. The Study Guard was nearby, but he studiously looked straight ahead.

"Aren't you going to walk me all the way to Elder Tura's alcove?"

"Yes, " Gamba replied, "But I'm going to kiss you here, not there."

She smiled, and returned his kiss, and the ones that followed it; Gamba was tempted to hold her all night. He finally let go of her, and they walked towards Elder Tura's alcove.

He said goodnight to her ouside the alcove, wondering why it was so quiet within. As he walked away, he heard the ring of steel. He thought, Tuka, be careful; you shouldn't be sharpening blades here.

Then he heard Tuka's voice, and he jumped and turned; Tuka was angry, and voices were hushing him.

The selection.

Who was it?

He saw the guards on their way out of the main cave, and then he saw who they were escorting.

It was Esta.

[mark12_30]

reserved for anybody

[mark12_30]

Even as he realised who they had taken, Esta and the guards were gone. Gamba drew breath to cry out, but a large hand clamped over his mouth, and a sword was at his throat. "Don't be stupid. She's gone and there's nothing you can do."

It was the Study Guard.

Tuka had no such constraint, and he came barreling out to find Gamba. "This is your fault," Tuka raged. "You drew attention to her! They never would have chosen her if you had left her alone! You did this to her!"

Elder Tura came out and tried to subdue Tuka, but only succeeded when the Guard pointed his blade at Tuka. Azraph came timidly out, weeping, and Phura emerged from the study, as did Loremaster. Nobody else came out, although many eyes peered around the corners.

The Guard waved his blade at Azraph and Elder Tura. "Back to your beds. It's over." And then he hustled Tuka, Gamba, Phura, and Loremaster back to the study. Tuka numbly wondered why he was included.

The Guard made a show of waving his sword at the hobbits, and they submitted, and he lectured them quietly. "It's over, " he repeated softly. "There's nothing you can do. She'll be dead by sunrise."

"You know what happens?" Gamba asked, in a small frightened voice.

"Yes. And you don't want to know. Better to get there when she's dead, than anytime after the torture has begun."

"I could die with her, " Gamba replied, working up some defiance although he was shaking with terror, and the guard nodded wryly.

"No, Gamba, " said Phura, but dared say no more.

But the Guard gave Gamba's reply some more thought. In a couple of days, the inhabitants of the caves were going to be exterminated anyway. The boy could stay here and be trapped like a rat and die ignominously, or he could die fighting for his doomed girl. The guard nodded again, thoughtfully, knowing which way he would choose for himself, and looked at the little hobbit. "Do you mean to try?"

"Where do I go?" replied Gamba, still shaking like a leaf.

"You'll need to steal a horse, " he said. "Go out the side tunnel, past the graveyards, and bear left; and when you get to the pens, steal the reddish brown horse with the white face. He knows the way; he'll take you there. Mind that you turn him loose before you get to the temple. From there you're on your own."

"I'm coming, " said Tuka, looking at Phura.

Phura swallowed hard, and reminded himself that this was Esta, and how he would feel if it was Azraph; and despite being badly shaken, he replied, "We need you both. But now that you know what to do, you can't fail to go."

Both Tuka and Gamba looked Phura in the eye, and understood; neither of them were to throw their lives away; they were to return, and help with the escape tomorrow.

The Guard returned to his post, sheathed his sword, and looked straight ahead. Two shadows slipped out of the study, and melted around the edge of the main cave, and disappeared.

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[mark12_30]

They found the horse pens quickly, but there was a problem; the guard was fully alert, and meandering around among the horses. There was no way to steal a horse without him noticing. Tuka and Gamba looked at each other, puzzled, and then with a shrug, Gamba straightened his back and marched up to the guard on duty and brazenly announced to the guard that he had directions to take the white-faced horse and go to the temple. Tuka followed him hesitantly.

The guard looked at the two of them and gave a bitingly ironic laugh. Four hobbit sacrifices today, not two, he guessed, and waved them on. The horse was old, and steady, and gentle. The Guard got some amusement out of watching them clamber bareback and bridle-less aboard the large horse by chinning themselves on his mane and sliding to his back. Then the horse swung onto the path, and broke into a steady canter with Gamba hanging grimly onto the mane and Tuka behind him. The guard, shaking his head at the hobbits' stupidity, closed the gate after them.

The horse cantered steadily, but slowly, halfway to the temple, and then broke into a trot; feeling the hobbits bounce uncontrollably on his back, he sensibly slowed to a walk. They succeeded in getting him back to a canter twice, but after that he walked again. They were close enough. They slid off, and the horse wandered away, and they turned toward the huge, circular temple. It stood five hundred feet tall, and they would have been amazed at it. But they heard a scream, and then another, and they did not stop to look at the temple, but ran towards it.

They slipped inside the door, ran through the fifty foot tunnel and into the temple, stepping quickly to one side of the door. They were unmolested and unnoticed, for all eyes were on the four bound and screaming sacrifices. No one paid the doorway any attention. The other hobbit, Banin, was one of the stout blacksmiths, and a favorite with Tuka's younger siblings; Banin and Esta were already bloody. Gamba's mind was replaying the words of the guard over and over again: Better to get there when she's dead than anytime after the torture has begun.

They could see that the torture had started with a cruel, slowly fatal stroke. They would slowly die even if nothing more happened to them. Gamba and Tuka were already too late.

But the tormentors did not leave the victims alone, and their suffering was protracted and horrible. Gamba and Tuka would long be haunted in dreams and in waking by the blood and the screaming and the unimaginable cruelty. They waited for the hobbits to die, refusing to leave, honoring them and wishing that they could somehow comfort them by their presence. When Esta finally died, and then Banin shortly afterwards, they did not move at first, but then Tuka came to his senses, and pulled Gamba after him, stumbling unnoticed and unmolested back through the tunnel and outside. Apparently, no guards were deemed necessary during these ceremonies.

The sky in the east was starting to grow less black. They crawled, numb, into a hiding place and sat, sometimes staring, sometimes weeping, for half an hour. And then they got up, and began walking back towards the prison. Out of the gloom, the faithful old horse snorted, and walked towards them, and nuzzled them. They pushed and pulled it towards a rock, and clambered on, and the horse walked slowly back to the pen by the prison. The boys' minds were still filled with, and overwhelmed by, the horrors they had seen, and forgot that the horse was supposed to be turned loose instead of returned to the pen. Before they realized it, the horse had arrived at the pen, and stopped.

There was a different guard at the pen when they arrived. The guard stared as they slid off, and he put the horse into the pen. The boys went back into the cave. And the guard watched them go, and took careful note of whose horse they had ridden.

(OOC: it is now morning of 22 Cermie before Dawn.)

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[mark12_30]

Gamba straggled in before breakfast, and Phura took one look at him and took him in his arms, and together they wept. Gamba could not eat, but went to the food line to collect extra food for the prisoners. Many hands stroked his shoulders and ruffled his hair, and he drank the support, and then headed up to the Locks.

Tuka could not eat either; instead of going through the breakfast line, he went out to the graveyards and sat and watched as the last shovelfuls were piled on the two hobbit graves. He went to the men, and they pointed. "Male; female." Not even their names, Tuka thought. He stood by Esta's grave, unable to weep, numb with the horror still.

The other gravediggers began their work, and Tuka listlessly took up his pick and started to swing it; he progressed fairly well, and escaped the whip for the first part of the day.

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Sharon's post

That morning, Cami was expecting the arrival of Esta who'd promised to pick up breakfast and bring it along with her. The five young boys--Maura, Ban, Asta, Roka, and even Kesha--had spent the night in the children's room when Gamba and Phura had failed to come back. Now, they waited eagerly, thinking they'd see one or both brothers before the start of the day.

But as the minutes went by, none of the three appeared. Cami began to fret, wondering if something had happened to the rescue plans that had detained them all. Her answer soon came in the person of Azraph. The young woman was crying. She stood in the doorway, barely able to talk.

Cami went outside to speak with her. Slowly, the tangled tale came out. With halting words, Azraph told of Esta's torture and death. For a moment, Cami felt the world spin round. Not this, not her. It could not be. They were so close to the rescue. Why now? Why not one day later, so they could have done something to help?

Azraph excused herself to return to her family. Cami gave the young woman a hug and whispered her sorrow and regrets. Before Cami turned back to other duties, Loremaster came into the room, "We can not hide this from the children." he sighed. "It is all over the caverns. The grieving runs deep. Until now, the younger ones were spared from the temple. That is no longer true. People mourn for Este, and they are afraid."

"But what can I tell the children?"

"Tell them what happened in simple words, but tell them with gentleness and love."

She nodded and wondered where the words would come from. She felt no gentleness or love, only anger and grief. But despair would lead nowhere. Whether Esta lived, whether Cami herself survived, these children deserved life and hope.

She spoke first with Gamba's five adopted boys. Kesha insisted on going to see the place where Esta's body was. Cami promised she would take them, after speaking with the other children. There was so much death here, worse than Beleriand. She could find no reason to refuse their request. And she herself wanted to go to the grave. The girl had been such a joyous gift. The five boys pulled apart from the others, sitting by the doorway, waiting for Mistress Cami to come with them.

Cami fought for words to honor Este and explain things in a simple way. She told the children that their friend would not return again. The guards had hurt Esta so badly that she had died. She had loved them very much. They could cry and be sad, but they mustn't forget her love or caring. Not now, not later. Those good things must live in their hearts.

What else could she say? The children were too little, too fragile, to be told the whole truth. But neither could she lie to them.

A moment later, Loremaster returned to be with the children. Some of the older ones were crying. They looked afraid. The youngest had heard the words, but did not understand them. But even they could feel the sadness in the room. Loremaster set two of the little ones on his lap, and began to rock them as Cami and her boys made their sad passage out the door.

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[mark12_30]

When Gamba was finished serving breafast and sweeping straw up at the Locks, he came out to the graveyard, and the guards watched him come, and said nothing. They had all heard, from the evening-shift, of the games, and the champion, and the candleholder, and her final fate.

Gamba came to Tuka, who rested the pick for a moment, and he said, "You were right. It was my fault, Tuka. I did do this to her."

Tuka watched him, not saying anything, and the silence was like lead between them.

Gamba turned, taking in the sight. Graves, graves, graves. "Which grave?" Gamba asked, and Tuka pointed. He walked over to Esta's grave, and looked down at it, and saw that the soil was still moist. Tuka resumed swinging his pick, joining the others. Three picks, three shovels. The sounds they made echoed in Gamba's soul and pulsed in his blood. He knelt, and bent forward, grasping handfuls of the soil, and pressing his forehead into the earth that covered the grave.

Out of time with the swinging picks and shovels, a lullaby unbidden echoed in his mind.

Beneath the stars, beneath the earth,
Your lovely form lies sleeping;
Your face so sweet, your limbs so fair,
Your heart, where mine is beating...

[mark12_30]

Sharon's Post

Gamba turned to walk away. His head was down. His eyes saw little. But, beyond the field of death, came another figure in grey. A woman who looked old and tired beyond her years. Beside her was a small band of children.

Maura was strapped in a sling on her body. Ban held tightly to her hand. Roka and Asta walked together, arms wound about each other's waist. Kesha, the eldest, went first. He clutched a bedraggled sprig of flowers which they'd found near the edge of the field in a tiny patch where shovels had not yet dug.

The woman fell on her knees before the soft brown earth. She stared into the distance, seeing nothing beyond her own grief and images of children who'd once been slain before her eyes. Kesha bent down to lay his few yellow buds at the foot of the grave.

They were so silent. Gamba would never even have heard them, but for Maura's wailing. The toddler would not be consoled by Cami. He cried out with childlike fierceness, "Gamba, Gamba, come back."

Gamba turned dead eyes to the children. "Why are you here?" He sounded harsh and frightened. There were no tears in his eyes.

Kesha spoke first, "We want to honor her. She was our friend. And we love you."

Gamba's eyes did not soften.

Cami tried to explain, "The children's room weeps today. They all remember the lilt of her voice and her gentleness. Every one of them wanted to come. We couldn't do that. But those closest to you, I would not stop. Nor did I want to."

Cami hesitated and began to cry. There was pain in her voice. "I am truly sorry this has happened. That we could not have come sooner and stopped all this." Her words trailed off.

Gamba's eyes softened slightly. He said nothing, but a single tear ran down his cheek. He went over to kiss each of the boys, then turned and walked away. The sound of Maura's wailing followed him as he made his way from the field.

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[mark12_30]

Gamba straggled back up to the Locks, where Anee eyed him nervously as he served lunch. "Are you all right?" she asked him, and he shook his head, and could not speak much; but he managed to tell her, "They took Esta last night."

"I'm sorry, " she said, and she spoke some words of comfort. She pressed Gamba's hand, and said, "Can you still work?"

He know she meant, on the escape, and he nodded, numbly. "Yes." He patted the two little children on their head, and rubbed their shoulders.

But Anee had a point, and he finished his chores and then went back to Gammer Pansy's cell, and just stared at her. She was shivering, and rheumy-eyed, and she squinted, wondering why he was there; she had her water and her lunch.

He willed himself to think of her, and filled his eyes with her. She could be my mom, he thought. Mom might be like her if she had lived.

And there were the boys; Kesha, Asta, Roka, Ban, Maura. Grimly he lectured himself, to remember everything and do what he had to do.

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reserved for anybody

[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami

[piosenniel]

Sunlight poured in like thick honey, bright and sweet, filling the room. It called her up from darker visions of smoke and blood and screaming. She sat up in the bed, hugging herself to drive away the chill of those desperate dreams. Her eyes accustomed themselves to the light, taking in the comforting ordinariness of her surroundings. A small laugh escaped her.

They were neither of them given to tidiness. Books and charts lay piled in discrete, accessible heaps on the desk and chairs, overflowing here and there to the floor when researched topics required the obscure footnote of some minor text. Slender ribbon slips of paper fluttered from between the pages of many of the books and journals like small banners noting important finds, the hurried script of Man or Elf their scrawled insignias. Maps and charts were pinned randomly to the available wall space, their surfaces dotted with notations. A few ink sketchings of Daisy, and the Star were pinned near the porthole, and a lone detailed study of Mithadan’s hands she had done one night as he lay sleeping.

Pio’s shirt, cast off for sleep, hung precariously from the footboard of the bed, threatening to slide off and join the leggings piled on her boots. Reassured by the presence of this familiar clutter, she yawned and stretched, unwinding her self from the entanglements of the bedclothes, and got up to face the day.

She was in the galley, rummaging for some dried fruit, and sipping on a mug of tea, when Kali came in. He greeted her, and motioned her to come sit with him as he ate his breakfast. ‘I am glad to see you, Kali.’ she said, as she sat down by him. ‘I had wanted to speak with you before the rescue got underway tonight.’ He looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to continue.

Pio spoke to him of their plan to free Daisy from the Locks. At the mention of her name, his eyes blazed. The Elf put her hand on his arm, and told him that he was to come with her and Mithadan for this part of the rescue effort. The Hobbrim’s eyes filled with hope and eager purpose. She admonished him, to keep his head about him, to be steady, and to follow the direction of her and Mithadan during this time.

‘It will be a short, fierce encounter, Kali. And you will fear for the safety of your loved one, as will I. But you must follow our lead, so that we may operate as an effective team to bring her and the others to safety. Can you do this?’ The Hobbrim looked at her steadily, and said clearly that he could. She took him to her room, then, and gave him the short sword that had been her birthday present to Daisy. ‘Give this to her, when we have freed her. You will find her an apt bladesman as she fights by your side, a welcome companion and defender.’ She smiled to see his face flush at the thought of himself and Daisy fighting side by side. Then she kissed his brow to drive away, for one brief moment, the darker thoughts of danger. She left him to go about his business, saying that she would see him this evening on the lead ship.

Angara was next on her list of people to see. She found her on the deck entertaining the smaller Hobbrim with a game of hide-and-seek. They protested when Pio took the dragon from them, but she promised she would soon return her to them. She led the dragon below to where she had stored the clay devices she and the Hobbrim girls had made.

‘What is all this?’ asked Angara? ‘Have you taken up some strange new hobby involving pottery and firecrackers?’ Pio explained the purpose of the devices while the dragon nodded her head in growing appreciation. ‘I had not heard of these before. What do you call them?’ she inquired when Pio had finished. The Elf smiled at her flatteringly. ‘Dragon-fire.’ she responded. ‘A good name is it not?’

‘An excellent name!’ said Angara. ‘But I am still unclear why you have called me down here.’ Pio explained that she would distribute the smaller jars to the Elves who would come into the caverns, keeping some for herself. ‘But I need you to carry these larger jars to the Locks area for me. Once in place and lit, they will provide a smoky firewall to effectively slow the advance of the guards on us as we retreat from the area. ‘And how am I to carry them for you?’ Angara asked further.

‘We can help you figure that out!’ came the voices from behind them as the Elf and dragon pondered the problem. ‘We know where the fish net is kept, and the extra rope, if that would help.’ The two of them turned to see Coral and Shell now standing behind them.

Angara looked at the two girls, and smiled a toothy dragon smile. ‘Leave us to this problem, Pio. I believe my two able assistants and I can come up with something appropriate to the task.’ The Elf gave the girls an appreciative smile and left them to the supervision of the dragon, smiling. ‘She thinks she will supervise them!’ she thought to herself , laughing. ‘I wish I could see her reaction when faced with their firm ideas on just how a thing should be done.’

Pio’s last visits were to the Elven captains. They had all gathered on Tuor’s ship, for which she thanked them. She asked if they had any questions about the plan that Mithadan had presented to them in brief last night. They told her ‘no’, that their roles seemed clear to them, and that they had determined the order of their ships for advancing upriver.

The lead ship would be captained by Fallinelë, and he stepped forth to greet her. They spoke briefly in Telerin. She said how grateful she was that one such as he would bear her and her companions in the forefront of the battle. Then she went to each of them, touching them one by one on the arm as she made a brief mental connection to them.

She smiled when she had finished, refreshed by the brightness of their thoughts. ‘Beautiful to behold are the foam-borne flowers of the Lindar!’ she exclaimed. In turn, they bowed to her, then took their departure, each to his own ship to finish what preparations might be left.

Pio stayed a while, speaking with Idril and Tuor. She asked that Tuor keep his ship by the Star, and that Idril stand ready for her when she closed the link to time shift – that she would rely on her to give the signal to Veritas, should that be needed. They wanted to know all that had happened since last they had seen her. Long ago, that seemed to her, when she had been Tulë, returning to aid the companions on the Star. They listened quietly as she told the story of herself and of Mithadan and their growing affection for each other.

Idril took her hands in hers, ‘But that is not all there is to this, Piosenniel? And affection is a pale word for what I see in you.’ ‘Love, then, if you will.’ said Pio. ‘We have joined our courses, and I have made my choice for him.’ ‘But where are your rings, Pio?’ asked Tuor taking her hand. ‘I see none here, nor did I see one on Mithadan when we spoke last night.’

‘Ever the traditionalist, Tuor!’ she laughed. ‘We have had no time for the exchanging of rings as yet. And I fear it may have to wait until I can have one made for him.’ Idril gazed at her, eyebrows arched in further question. Tuor looked between the two, a puzzled expression on his face.

‘Relent, Pio.’ spoke Idril. ‘Confirm what I suspect.’ Pio laughed. ‘As you wish!’
She took both their hands and laid them on her belly, briefly. Looks of delight filled their faces, and they kissed her on her cheeks when she broke the contact. She relished the brief time she spent talking with them. It dispelled the thoughts of that dark, grim time that would soon follow. When she rose to leave, Tuor bade her stay a moment, then pulled Idril aside and spoke quietly with her. She saw Idril nod her head in agreement, then both came and embraced her. Tuor took her hand and placed something in it.

His gold ring lay there on her palm. ‘You cannot give me this!’ she cried. ‘This is yours, from Idril.’ ‘It is our wish to do so, Piosenniel.’ said Idril. ‘Our gift to you, and so to him.’

‘Thank you, then!’ she said simply, and embraced them each. ‘For all you have ever done for me. And for this gift. I will cherish it.’ She tucked it securely into the small pouch at her belt, and bade them farewell, saying she must now return to the Star.

Her light mood darkened as she approached the ship, thinking of the shadowed time that lay ahead.

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Birdland]

It took up to an hour for Birdie to make it to the river in insect form, but once she entered the water and changed to dolphin shape, it took less than half that time to reach the sea.

She swam blindly, not caring where she was going or how far from the filthy, doomed caverns she could get. She just swam, hoping that the motions of the waves and her own body would return some feeling to her heart and mind. It wasn’t working though. She still remained numb.

She hadn’t called for Levanto, certainly hadn’t sought him out, but suddenly he was there, swimming beside her and keeping pace effortlessly. Insanely, the only question Bird had about this was how had he always managed to tell her from every other dolphin in the sea? Could he tell one dolphin “real” dolphin from another as well?

“Birdie, stop.” he said, but she just kept flying, swooping over mountains, chasms, broad meadows of coral and sea fan, all dappled by a moon that was never full down here, but broken and scattered.

“Aewdor!” he shouted, swimming in front of the skinchanger. She finally stopped and strangely, morphed into the form of a woman, treading water and struggling to keep her head above the waves. Levanto reached out and held her at the shoulders to keep her afloat.

“I won’t go back there. I won’t.” Bird’s teeth started to chatter from the cold water, and she tried to push the Mer-Man away.

“You have to, Birdie. You can’t just leave. Not now. What is wrong with you? Are you going to just leave behind everyone there? Swim off and just turn your back? What is wrong with you?” he repeated.

She laughed, but it came out oddly, choked through her chattering teeth. Levanto flinched at the sound of it. “I already turned my back. Again and again. I did nothing.” Bird choked again and her whole body began to shake, but it was not from the cold. “She died, Levanto. I knew her name, and she died, and I didn’t do anything. I knew all their names, and I didn’t do anything!“ She was racked with sobbing by now, and if Levanto had not been there to hold her up, she would have curled up and sank. “I didn’t do anything, and I knew!”

Levanto wrapped his arms around her, wishing that there was some bit of land, or a boat, anything to take Birdie out of the sea. She was not even trying to support herself. He floated on the surface, laying back and pillowing her head on his shoulder.

“I know. But it’s only one more day. You have to be there. Then you can stop it. The Halflings need you.”

“Why did they let it happen, Levanto? Day after day, they just walked away with the guards and let it happen to them. And I let it happen, too.” Then Birdie said something in a low voice, and Levanto felt a chill that didn’t come from the water. “My own people would not have done so.” said Birdie. “My own people knew what to do when no hope is left. They would not have left it to others to do it for them.”

“No, Bird!“ He sat up and shook her roughly. “That is not the way. The Halfling were promised hope, and they believed, and waited. For sixty years they waited, and they were right to. And you’re a part of that hope. When your own hope is gone, you may do what you like, but you will not turn your back on the Halflings now! Not now!“ Bird stared with wide, frozen eyes at the furious Mer-Man.

“I‘m sorry that you had to watch those people die, knowing and not being able to do anything to help them, but their deaths will mean nothing if you don’t go back and finish this. Perhaps they died, but their people will live on, and they know that that is the only thing that is important. I can only hope that your own people realized the same.”

Bird was still silent, and in silence she changed back to her dolphin form and turned back towards the cursed island of Numenor. And in silence Levanto turned and followed her.

Halfway back Bird said to the Mer-Man, without looking at him, “Levanto, how did you know?”

“Know what?”

“You know. About saying my name in Elvish.”

Levanto sighed “I didn’t. I suppose it was but a lucky guess.”

They swam on. Then Levanto said “Of course, I will mention it to no one.“

[Child of the 7th Age]

The children's room was a quiet place that day. There were many tears for Esta, mixed with real fears about what might happen later that night. Parents came in and out throughout the morning, tightly hugging their children and wondering if they'd see them again.

A death like this would be difficult anytime. But, on the eve of the rescue, it was nearly unbearable. Esta's loss dragged at their hearts. It took away strength and resolve. The hobbits had spent months watching their old ones disappear, one-by-one. They could only imagine what happened to them, since they'd never been to the temple or seen the brutal ceremonies. Now they knew with horrible certainty. The injustice of Esta's death, one so young and full of promise, hit them to the core.

As Cami walked around the room, she was shocked to find a small group of hobbits arguing that there was little reason to fight on. They shook their heads and said it was impossible to win against such an enemy. Elven ships or not, our own numbers are few, they argued. Better to go along with the guards and eek out what few days or weeks remain to us.

For a moment, Cami thought to have Loremaster respond, or to speak out herself against such words of despair. But, before she could open her mouth, a small boy stood at the front and confronted the men. Kesha, all of eleven years, barely tall enough to qualify for duty on a killing squad, stared at them in disbelief.

"Do what you want. I do not believe things are hopeless. My heart grieves for Esta. She was like a sister to me. And I knew her better than you did. She would not have given up."

Cami felt anger and shame flood her heart. "The boy is right," she said. "The last words Esta spoke to me were filled with hope. She dreamed of today, when the Elven ships would carry her to freedom. The girl was not afraid to fight or to die. She was only afraid of not trying. You shame her memory by your words."

"Are you not afraid?" the hobbit challenged Cami. "They are many and well armed. We are small and few."

Anger reared up in her. "Afraid? Yes, I'm afraid, but that doesn't mean I'll stop trying. You've been imprisoned so long, you've forgotten what it's like to dream. You don't need any guards. You put up the bars...."

At that precise instant, two guards burst into the chamber. They looked about at the number of men and women gathered there and demanded, "Go back to your work, or you will all end up in the Locks."

The hobbits did not protest. They began to leave the room. Among themselves, however, there was much talk of Cami's words, and what she'd meant to say before the guards came in.

After the adults had filed out of the room, one of the guards turned to Cami, "You are in charge of these rats." He pointed at the chidren. She nodded yes. "If this happens one more time, with hobbits gathering here instead of working, you will see the temple yourself. Do you understand me?" He cuffed her across the face.

She looked him in the eye and said, "I understand you very well." Too well, she thought.

[Child of the 7th Age]

OOC -- This is real tricky to get the chronology straight when little things like work and life force all of us (including myself) to be on at different times.

My own order of posts go like this (game time):

4pm Gamba visits the children
8:30 pm Helen's Candlestones -- will paste
10:30 pm Sharon's continuation of candlestones
11 pm Helen's seizing of Gamba -- will paste
11:30 - midnight Sharon's post on completion of candlestones
Presumably Bird would then pop in about that time and the rescue go forward.


This is for 4p.m., Gamba visits the children.

Pat--Put your next post after this. Whatever it is, I will try to adopt to the chronology. I can use this single space to put in everything I have up to midight or list them after you and others as needed.

If I wake up later in the night, which is a definite possibility since I feel lousy, I'll check what you or Bird have put up, and try to adapt with markers for my stuff.

Sharon

---------------------------------------------

After the guard's abrupt departure, Cami berated herself for having been so careless. She should never have allowed such a large group to gather with the children. They'd all have to be more cautious the rest of the day to preserve an outward appearance of normal routine. The worst thing they could do was to arouse suspicion.

All afternoon, she let parents visit their children, but never more than a few at a time. Every now and again, the guard would pop his head in to check on activity in the room. Seeing nothing unusual, he'd leave and go back to his regular rounds of the caves. Every time that happened, Cami muttered under her breath. She hoped, by that evening, the guards would return to their usual patrol and let them alone. Already, in the distant corner of the room, and elsewhere throughout the cave, weapons had been carefully stashed, and were even strapped underneath shirts and breeches and skirts.

At one point, she'd heard several guards ask whether there would be a round of Candestones that night. Cami hoped so. Although the tragedy of Esta's death weighed heavily on everyone's minds, that was the one activity which could keep the guards amused. Their attention would be focused on the main cavern and away from the exits and corridors where the first signs of the rescue would appear.

Late that afternoon, Gamba stopped by to see the children after he finished his work in the Locks. Hanging on to his hands were the two little ones, Lilly and her brother, whom Daisy had befriended when she'd first been put in prison. Gamba handed them over to Cami and explained they'd be staying with her for the rescue.

"How did you manage this?" Cami asked in surprise.

He shrugged and responded. "Nothing to do with me. The guards got tired of feeding them. Plus, the prisoners had started to like them. It's the one thing they try to prevent, those kind of close ties. They know it can lead to trouble. I found the two of them roaming around the cave."

Cami smiled and thought this was their first piece of good fortune. They'd need many others if they were to make it through the night alive.

For the rest of the afternoon, Gamba stayed with his children. He sat quietly holding Maura. Ban and Asta played by his side. Roka even fell asleep with his head cradled against Gamba's knee.

The grieving boy said little to Cami. Once or twice, she went over and sat with him. She'd patted him on the shoulder, and ran her hand through his curls. The first time, he'd pulled away; the second he hadn't.

Cami was bringing the children down for dinner. After that, they'd return the youngsters to the room and have them sleep a few hours. The rest would help later that night.

Gamba agreed to follow along to dinner. He wanted to see his brother. Cami knew she'd have to stay on for the games if they decided to run them. That prospect was not appealing, but she had little choice. She suspected Gamba would return with the children.

Just as they were about to leave, Rose dropped by the room. She pulled Cami aside and whispered in her ear, "I'm the one who's replacing Esta as the fifth children's escort."

Cami squeezed Rose's hand and promised to talk later. Then she asked whether she'd heard anything from Bird. "No," replied Rose, "I've no idea where she is. Do you?"

Cami shook her head no. That worried her, but there was nothng that could be done right now. They lined up the children and headed off for dinner, with Gambi dragging along in back with his own sad brood.

[ October 29, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

Mithadan's Post:

As the time neared for departure to the North, Mithadan sought out Tuor. They spoke briefly about the rescue plan, then a silence fell between them. At length, Tuor spoke.

"Unless I am mistaken, some shadow of doom lies over you and you fear the outcome of this night. I have perceived the same shadow upon Piosenniel, though she buries it deep within herself."

Almost, Mithadan spoke to him of Ulmo's prophecy. Instead, he said, "Tuor, the responsibility of the rescue, its planning and all the lives at stake rests with Pio and myself. It would be foolish not to fear this night."

Tuor nodded dubiously after a sharp glance at Mithadan, who continued, "Forgive me if I speak not fully on these matters, for the weight of my concerns weighs heavily upon me. But if you would assist me, I beg your aid on one matter." Tuor nodded. "Tuor, I would have the Numenorean vessel which Pio and I captured brought with us to the caves. In the third or fourth spot if possible. I...hope that we will have need of it."

Tuor promised his assistance and went forth to locate a crew for the small vessel...

[ October 29, 2002: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

[ October 29, 2002: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

[piosenniel]

Pio felt the press of time once she returned to the Star. They must leave soon in order to make it to the caverns by the hour Mithadan had set for their arrival. She went quickly down to her room and put on her mithril shirt beneath her tunic. Two throwing knives were hidden in her boot tops. Her sword, two long knives, and four additional throwing knives were sheathed in her baldric, and she slung it over her shoulder, securing it round her waist with a twice looped belt. She grabbed her helmet and ran back to the deck.

Kali had organized the Hobbrim, who were now busy ferrying their weapons and the air bladders to the first ship in several of the skiffs. Ancalimon had already gone over, as had Angara with the dragon-fire. The ten Noldor warriors were now on board, as were twenty of the Telerin bowmen. Mithadan was also there, and looked to be in deep conversation with Fallinelë, the captain of the ship.

Pio spoke briefly with Veritas, then gave a fierce hug to Coral and Shell, who had come to see her off. Andril came forward and took the two girls by their hands to keep them back, ere they leaped down to the water to follow after the Elf. Pio smiled at them as they stood looking over the railing, and they waved furiously back at her. Then Pio turned toward Khelek, who was already in the skiff, and bade him cast off. They made for the first ship in silence.

It was midmorning, early, when Fallinelë led the long, graceful line of ships northward to the Siril. Their white sails were filled with a fair wind, and their gleaming prows cleaved the water without hindrance. Pio stood at the bow, keeping her eyes ever toward the north, as the waves bore them along at a swift pace.

Mithadan's Post:

As the Telerin fleet proceeded North, tendrils of vapour, almost like steams from a boiling kettle, rose from the sea both around the ships as well as ahead of them. Soon the fleet and the coastline to the North were obscured by a thick fog. The ships passed through the mists unseen, like ghostly shapes moving through wadded cotton.

Mithadan smiled and looked down at the sea beneath the prow of the Telerin ship on which he rode. "Thank you," he said quietly...

[ October 29, 2002: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

[ October 30, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]