[Hathalas Ashen-Shield]

Hathalas woke silently and reluctantly to find an elf healer he had known for quite some time applying a strong smelling cream to his bandaged back. The bed beside him had appeared to be used. "Burzdol must already be enjoying the pleasures and beauties of Rivendell" he thought. Hathalas sighed and asked some questions and talked to the healer for some time, asking about the rest of his company and how they were. Then the maiden left and let his mind wander, wondering how Bali and the rest of the company were doing, and how he could repay the group for saving his life.

It still appeared clouded in mystery before him. Where were they headed, and why? Why do dwarves, elves, men and a hobbit travel together, despite their immense differences. Why did it seem danger followed them wherever they go? The pondering made Hathalas' head hurt, and sleep overtook him once again and he relaxed on the soft feather beds of Imladris. In his dreams he saw an eagle, a large, golden eagle, soaring across dark skies, wind trailing behind it, following it wherever it went, as if the eagle was bent on leading it to some destination. Ahead, a tall, threatening mountain, whose top was imbeaded in dark clouds, blankets of snow amidst it. The strong wind battering against its hard stone, no visible tree, bird or blade of grass in sight. The eagle landed on the mountain, and turned into a proud deer, wind still trailing behind it. The deer climbed one of the passes of the mountain, when suddenly, a dark pit loomed out behind the deer, and the wind turned to water, and it fell into the dark nothingless below. Then Hathalas awoke and thought for a good hour or two about the curious dream…