It was to Rothalle, his longest known companion in this journey that Radagast headed.
"How fairs our halfling charge my shadow sister?" He asked of her.
"Fair to middling Radagast. Is there anything you can do to help?" she asked of him in return.
He knelt down in the snow at the side of the hobbit girl, wrapped in a blanket sacrificed by Borin before they left his cave. Tenderly the old wizard brushed her long curls away from her face and inspected it. He placed his hand upon her brow like a mother with a sickly infant and sighed deeply. "The warmth of the sun and the company of elves will do her much good. Come daughter of the Shire, nymph of the Brandywine. I feel your strength grows in our care. She will survive Rothalle with naught but our protection to assist her."
He rose to his feet making a great show of heaving and creaking till he was upright once more. He looked at those assembled eating a little bread and dried meat from their packs and taking it in turns to sip from the canteen that Mattius passed around. Radagast decided to pass on his feelings about the hobbitess' progress to their young leader.
Mattius was glad to hear the wizard's prognosis and like Rothalle asked why the wizard was unable to help himself. Radagast sighed at the question being asked of him again. "So many questions you all ask of me. I no not the answers, why do you think I wander hither with you? I seek answers to riddles, puzzles and paradoxes. I need to set my mind at rest. A thousand things trouble me and I will not cross the sea until they are solved. All beasts must be in their order before I leave these shores and all I know at present is that the key to all is in the hands of children." He made a sound of patience lost and began to stomp down the hill. "Come on Mattius, Man-Elf lead your fellows. You have a destiny to fill, as have we all."
They were forced to bundle themselves after him at some speed to keep up. Ender assisted Rothalle with the unconcious hobbit back into the saddle who brought of the rear of the westerly travelling line.
[ September 16, 2002: Message edited by: Auriel Haevasawen ]
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Auriel
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