Radagast tried hard to read her face in the failing light. Frantically she waved her arms in desperate movements. Still no sound came from her mouth.
"Oh my dear, dear child. We must leave this place." Radagast engulfed her in his arm and moved with surprising speed toward the others, half carrying half dragging Calentoliel under his arm.
The others stood back to back their weapons pointed outward, corralled against whatever had taken Cal. Radagast had strided off into they knew not what trouble but was amongst them once more. Mattius was with them not. Calentoliel whimpered in distress at his side.
"To the edge of the Barrows and make haste," Radagast shouted sharply. He was usually such a vague soul that his sudden focus suprised them all. Mattius staggered, dazed before them. There was no sword at his side but no one noticed in the upheaval. "Take hold of the hobbit Mattius, we must not leave him here."
They ran, stumbled, leapt or trotted toward the altered greyness that signified the edge of the forest. The grass was wet and soon they were all sliding together down the slope that led away from the dark canopy of the trees.
Rothalle's stallion who had remained waiting for them, cropping the turf peacefully was disturbed by the nature of their arrival and bolted into the mist that seemed to enclose about them. Rothalle called after him but to no avail.
They finally halted, all within a few feet of each other at the slope's foot. Radagast still had his long bony arm swathed about the the wheezing Calentoliel. Mattius had dragged the old hobbit free of the wood by the very hood of his cloak despite being barely able to stand himself. Rothalle was already upon her feet, calling for her mount. Faye and Endereth had landed close to each other. None had fallen on their swords and that in itself was a mercy.
Mattius assisted Olo in dusting himself down and turned to the wizard, who he could hardly make out in the heavy gloom. "We should climb back up to the fire and wait till morning," he wheezed.
"I am inclined to agree with you Man Elf but I see no sign of the fire's glow from here. The mist gathers close around us and we have no way of telling how far we have fallen. We could wander for enternity and never reach the fire again."
"I think you'd find we'd only wander till morning," Faye pointed out.
"I have said what I have said Mistress Took. We are in danger with every step or turn we make. Gather close all of you. Your lives may yet depend upon your neighbours as well as your own keen wit. Remember, my knowledge lies in living creatures, there are no living creatures here."
They did as they were bid and drew as close to each other as possible. Sat back against back in a rough defensive circle, facing outward into the blackness, staring until eyes became sore, trying to see what may come upon them. No one person kept watch and therefore no one person could stay awake as the night drew on.
[ October 29, 2002: Message edited by: Auriel Haevasawen ]
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Auriel
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