Bird had learned long ago that there a blessing in being regarded as nothing but a dumb animal. No one asked for your opinion. Playing the role of a beast meant keeping your mouth shut, which allowed one the time to think about the words and actions of all others around you. You were the perfect objective observer of history.
Even when some few folk recognized you for your true self, appearance went a long way towards forgetfulness. When Bird remained silent in her jackdaw form, even those who knew her to be “human” would speak freely their innermost thoughts and feelings. The most belittling doubts and fears, the most vainglorious ambitions, would come forth.
And as the skin-changer had watched silently the story of the Halfling prisoners of Dorthonian, the parting of Maura and Niter, and the Songs of Lindo past down to another generation, a great sad question had grown in her heart. “Where had it all gone?” Why was it that the these scenes; as sad, glorious and brave as any accomplished by the other races of Middle-Earth, were lost in the mists of Time?
Which eventually lead to Bird to ponder the Gifts of Eru. She knew that to the First-Born were blessed with Immortality. And with it came the burden of Endless Knowledge. The Elf-Folk remembered all that happened to them since the beginning of Time. And if there was any doubt about When or Why, then one did not have to rely on dusty records or the fading memories of the aged. One could still go directly to the source. Of all the Races of Middle Earth, the Elves still had people who had lived through it all, and presumedly would continue to live, right through to The Very End. And then what? Bird suspected that there would be some few of their kind who would continue to live on, to continue to be witness to ages and deeds that have little to do with their own history. Elves were both blessed and cursed with being the Rememberers.
As for Men and Dwarves? Though Eru had given them the gift of “Death”, she knew that these races would battle mightily to overcome it. They would leave their mark, whether in cities of stones, crumbling records of parchment, paper, and clay, or the songs and tales drummed into the heads of each succeeding generations. Through sheer willpower and stubborness, the races of Men would also have their Rememberers.
So what gift was left to the Halflings? What do you give to the last of the Free People (and Bird had no doubt that Halflings were counted among the Free People, just as Skin-Changers were) who were created in an image so small, with no desire for glory or great ambitions? A race so small that most others saw them as little more than animals, if they saw them at all?
Forgetfulness. That was the Gift that Eru had given the Halflings. Forget all that has happened to you down through the ages. Forget the suffering and persecutions of the First Age. Forget the Choices asked of you in the Second. Forget the Wandering Years of the Third Age, the clinging to life on the edges, when you were hunted like animals and snatched whatever small piece of Arda you could find, until the deeds of the Big Folk swept you away. Forget in a pint, in a dance, in laughter, in your children, all the hardships and tears that had been borne through the Ages.
And when some few of you that are needed to step forward and play the role that the Song of Eru has cast you in, when the knowledge of the Fate of Eä too much to bear? Your reward will be Forgetfulness.
“Forget” Said Eru to the first of the Halflings that stood before Him. And they thanked him and went on their way. And Eru smiled, his Work to see.
Bird wished she could discuss these thoughts with Child, as she tucked her head under her wing to try to sleep. But she knew she would forget all these thoughts by morning.
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