[The Sixth Wizard]

<puff> <pant>

A visitor in light green dressing strode up the path. He leaned on a seemingly ordinary staff, yet you had to avert your eyes as you looked at for too long.
There was an Inn ahead, with a picture of a Green Dragon over the front door. A party was going on in the front lawn. The visitor was tired after his long absence and needed rest. Brushing away a group of hobbit children he made it to the door, where a beggar pulled his arm. The old man looked up at the visitor blindly.
The visitor bent down slowly and clasped his arm.
"Who's that then, eh?" mumbled the blind beggar.
"What is your name, brethren?"
"Ah, he he *cough*, my name might be Jon the Blind, it might."
"Be at peace, Jon," said the green stranger.
Jon stared up, or turned his head up, and it seemed that there was a light returning to the world and his eyes, though it was night.
"Who - Who are you?"
"The Sixth Wizard," stated the stranger simply. "Let us enter this building."

The inside of the building was warm, some people chatted around the place, and a barmaid, a hobbit, addressed them.
"How may I help you?" she said.
"A warm bed and some ale for this poor soul," answered The Wizard.
"Certainly sir," she said happily. "And your name?"
"I think I'll keep that information to myself, thank you."
Jon was baffled. Why had this stranger told him his name and not to the barmaid? Did he hold him in greater trust?
"Okay sir," continued the barmaid. "Welcome to the Green Dragon Inn! I'm Ruby, and I'll show you to your room."
The Wizard payed her with some of the money from his purse. Ruby walked them through a long hall to a room for the travellers...

The bed of the room was warm and soft. As Jon got in, he asked the Wizard, "Who are you? Where did you come from? And why have all the other wizards gone over the sea?"
"Patience my good man. I have forgotten my name, held for years under the torment of Sauron in Barad-dur. Here let me tell you..."

It all started the day I was sent from Aman. Curunir was sent first, the one called Saruman, and then Mithrandir and Pallando I believe, though maybe my memory has grown thin? I was sent with Radagast, anyway. Gandalf, Mithrandir, was really for the elves. Curunir was for Men. Pallando and Alatar were from the Sea, Radagast for the animals. But I was to be for the trees.

I was kept a secret from others, to be our secret weapon when the time came. Not even Galadriel knew of me. First I dwelt with the Ents, searching for their Entwives. But then I was taken.

Shot, grievously wounded, as I slept. Uruks drugged me and took me to their Mordor.

In the Dark Lord's Tower I found nothing. Nothing but pain. A day lasted a century, a night millenia. The other wizards did nothing, thinking I had gone to the East and never returned, like Alatar and Pallando, strayed from my path. But the Path was clear. All else grew dark, Sauron took great delight in destroying my memories of myself, and leaving those of others open. I had almost given up hope.

Then something happened. The Tower's foundations rumbled. Maybe, just maybe the Ring had been destroyed?

All was confusion. I was forgotten. Using the last of my power I managed to escape the ruin. But it was over. Sauron was finished.

"And I made my way back, stopping at the Ents of course. Their draughts have been what has restored me to health, though my power is all lost. I only now can bring relief to the sick, or restore, never fight. It is sad. Who will protect the trees? The Ents dwindle, Mithrandir travels oversea. I stay, but I can but hinder the trees Doom. It is the way of things in Arda Marred."

"But why do you trust me?" asked Jon.
"I see it in your eyes and heart. You must believe in these things."

Jon stared out of the window deep in thought.