<b>An octa. A strange looking creature indeed, the way it seemed to move like the waves themselves, its tentacle-like arms rolling in and out of the waters, its glistening skin reflecting the evening light. The last time she'd seen something so big she'd been watching the Easterlings steer their mighty mumaks along the roads of Gondor towards Mordor. She shuddered at the thought. They, too, had been capable of great injury to both man and machine. <br/>
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Ellyah's men didn't seem particularly afraid of the giant beast, though the patrolled the deck and keep an eye on it. There focus seemed more the wary watch for the one Ellyah called a dagger tooth. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>I wonder,” she said, turning back to Thorgan, who stared out at the water as he followed her along the railing, “if this creature looks so strange, what does the other look like? I imagine it couldn't be any worse than the dragons of old. You don't suppose it breathes fire, too, do you?”</b><br/><br/><b>Below, Pegawen sat up on her bed, still pale and feeling like someone had punched her in the stomach. The tea Allasea had helped, and listening to her mother tell stories from their home had distracted her from the movement of the ship, so that now she didn't feel quite as ill. “Tell me about the great Anduin. What was it like to travel along it.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Well,” Allasea began, but paused, her head tilted towards the door and Pegawen raised a brow at her.</b><br/><br/>“<b>I'm telling you, it's this room,” a voice whispering from the other side.</b><br/><br/>“<b>No. It's this one, I'm sure of it. Ouch, quit shoving.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>I'm not shoving, you just keep stopping.” There was a thump. “Oh bother.”</b><br/><br/><b>Pegawen covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes twinkling as she watched Allasea march over to the door and yank it open. “What ever are you two doing?”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Oh!” Two pairs of eyes stared up at her from the floor where a bundle had come open, its contents threatening to spill out. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>I told you it was that room,” Pippen declared.</b><br/><br/>“<b>No, that was the room I picked!” Merry jabbed Pippen in the ribs with his elbow as he gathered the edges of the napkin they'd used as a sack. “We heard Miss Pegawen weren't feeling right and … well ...”</b><br/><br/>“<b>We brought her some things that we thought would make her feel better.” Pippen finished, bouncing to his feet as Merry finished closing the bundle and stood with it. <br/>
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Allasea pursed her lips, her face turning bright in an attempt not to laugh at the pair. “It was most kind of you then, and yes she's in here. Why don't you join us and show her what you've brought? It'll be good for her to have some company, I believe, and what better company than a pair of hobbits.”</b><br/><br/><b>They followed her into the room where Pegawen sat waiting. “What a lovely surprise.” She smiled as they rushed to her, the bundle between them.</b><br/><br/>“<b>We heard you were sick ...”</b><br/><br/>“<b>So we brought you some things to...”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Make you feel better, and ..”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Boys, one at a time, please.” Allasea closed the door and returned to her chair next to Pegawen.</b><br/><br/><b>But the two, eager to please their friend, hardly slowed down as they lay the bundle on the bed and opened it to reveal the various delicacies they'd wheedled from the galley cook for her. “See here, this will set you right,” Pippen declared, pulling out a small roll and some jam.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>My gram always said the best thing for bad indigestion is mushrooms.” Merry set out the fungii for her approval.</b><br/><br/>“<b>And this … well, it was just good.” <br/>
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Bits of fish and other goodies came out of the bundle until there was a veritable feast laid out before Pegawen. She looked over their heads at Allasea, her eyes wide with surprise but only got a shrug in response.</b><br/><br/>“<b>And the most amazing thing happened upstairs, while we were getting everything packed for you too!”</b>“<b>Oh?” Pegawen leaned forward, splitting the food up between all of them. “Why don't you tell us about it? Allasea was about to tell me a story, but I believe I'd rather hear your tale.”<br/>
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<b>And anyone looking in would see the pair of hobbits and two hiril sitting around the small room having their own private picnic amidst laughter and smiles.</b></b>