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The prow was carved in the form of a seabird and the sails were as wings, catching within them the eastern wind and hurrying him over the waves. A green country appeared and he could see upon it, hidden in a small vale, his hunting lodge exactly as he had imagined it all his life. He walked through each of the five rooms, and moved out onto the porch where a woman awaited him with his pipe. He smiled, and was happy. The singing that had brought him here filled the air like sunshine, and though he could not understand the language, he sang in unison.
The first thing Snaveling saw when he opened his eyes was the rat-faced gaze of Tobias Hornblower. The hobbit let out a yelp of surprise and called over to someone Snaveling could not see, “He’s awake!” It took an effort but he was able to turn his head toward Galadel where she was brewing some herbs in a small pot of steaming water. It was the scent that had recalled him to life. He had never smelt anything like it before, but somehow, it reminded him of home. No, not of home. . .of somewhere else. . .I was just there. . ., but the vision had faded once more and he could recall nothing of it. Instead there arose before his eye the image of a purse of gold…
Galadel turned about in alarm and met his eyes, and this seemed to quell the fires that had begun to burn beneath his skin. Snaveling winced, but was able to endure the pain, which quickly faded once more – but it did not go away. Galadel moved toward him, and for a moment it looked as though she were surrounded by a white light in the form of a veil. Before he could stop himself, Snaveling nodded his head in token of respect and muttered “My Lady!” Galadel smiled serenely at him as she knelt at his side.
“Do not be alarmed,” she said to Tobias. “He has found his way back – this time. But I do not know if he will be so lucky should this happen again.” She turned her eyes on Snaveling and her expression was one of stern pity.
“What,” Snaveling stammered, “what is happening to me? How can I make it stop?”
“You ask the wrong person the right question – it is a beginning.” The Man looked at her in bewilderment, but something in Galadel’s words stirred his mind toward Roa, and what he had done to her in the cellar. He pushed that memory from his mind. Galadel sighed and stood up. “I believe it is safe for me to leave you for a while. There are matters I need to discuss with Roa and Valthalion. For the time being I shall leave you in the capable hands of Master Hornblower.”
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