Radagast was no swordsman. He used his staff to fight hand to hand as peasant men might do. He had rarely any need to fight but found it came to him naturally enough when such a need arose. He had sent a flare into the sky. A skill he thought he had long forgotten hoping to scare away their attackers and perhaps alert his friends close by to their plight. All it had done was illuminate the company and show them to e almost all missing. By his side were only Rothalle and Faye. All others had vanished into the night. The very thing he had warned them not to.
The Barrow-wights surrounded them. Rothalle wielded her own blade with deft precision. Heads and limbs were parted from bodies in an arc about her. Faye carried no weapon and found herself scratching in the earth for stones with which to pelt their advisaries. When they came to close for that and made to grab at her she kicked and punched, slapped and sratched with all her might. Radagast weilded his staff above her head, attempting to protect her.
The glow from the flare was fading. They would soon be over run. Faye had already been pulled away twice. Radagast grabbed her about the waist and yanked her free.
"Behind me for goodness sake," he snapped and shoved her between Rothalle and himself.
Rothalle grew weary from the constant onslaught. Her arms swung lower. Her hacks less powerful. The creatures almost had them.
Radagast shouted out, "Get thee to the world's end!" From somewhere in his ancient knowledge an incantation came to him. Slowly he began to recite.
A barrow-wight struck Rothalle. A cut in her sword arm opened up. The blade cut through cloak, sleve and flesh. She shrieked and fell back against Radagast. He continued to chant. The wights pawed at the hem of his gown. They began to tug at Rothalle who clung to his belt with her good hand. The other hung limp but still clasped her sword. Faye had one arm about Radagast's waist and held onto Rothalle's shoulder with the other, trying to keep hold as they tried to pull her away. Her own cloak was being yanked at from behind. Still Radagast chanted. Suddenly he stopped.
"It's no good my children. I cannot remember how it ends. We are lost. All is lost. I have failed you all."
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Auriel
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