Drowsy from food, travel and the warmth of the fire, both Tom and Radagast had slid into sleep on either side of the hearth.
The ear-wrenching shriek had jolted both them and the whole remaining party back to conciousness.
"The Beast?" Radagast stared at his old friend in horror.
"Aye, as is might be." Bombadil replied. He stood up slowly. "Rothalle, are you awake girl?" He asked of the shape that seemed to be sat bolt upright upon the floor.
"Yes."
"You and the hobbitess light every candle in this house and place it at every window." They did not question him but ran to collect candles, first from the long table and then from where their host directed them.
"Can you still cause a little light Radagast?" Tom turned and asked him.
"Aye, that I can do." Radagast replied. "I see what you have in mind old friend. I have heard that ships lost upon the sea may make for a lighthouse and use it to guide them home. We seek to do the same with your abode and make it a lighthouse for those upon the Downs do we not?"
"Yes, indeed." Tom said as he left the room and headed across to the woodstore. Radagast followed. Already candles were burning in each window in one side of the house, letting their homely glow illuminate their close environs.
"Give us a fire Radagast. Light them home." Tom shouted, hurling a pile of sticks on the grass at his feet.
Radagast breathed in deeply. Another un-natural shriek pierced the air. It was matched by the bellow from his mouth. The flames began to rise. Rothalle and the others ran out onto the grass before the house. Undertanding their intend, Faye ran to the woodstore and like Tom gathered armfulls to add to Radagast's bonfire. The flames grew taller still, but brought no harm to those who fed them. They glowed pure and white and lit up the sky in tongues of fire that reached higher than the house roof. All the time Radagast was chanting. Chanting as he had not done in a thousand years. This time he would not fail them. This time.
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Auriel
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