Disclaimer
The majority of the characters are indeed the possession of the late great
J.R.R. Tolkien, whose loss is still felt greatly in the world. I claim
nothing but the character Yaviesel as my own and this is just a work of
pleasure I gain nothing more from its words.
Author's Note: Fellow fans, this is my first work in the world of Middle Earth, thusly please be kind to me. However remember that nothing-even words are permanent. If you see a mistake please aid me in kindly pointing it out to me, for I have no claim to the title "Tolkien Scholar"... Yet.
************************************************************
Prologue
A lone figure sat beside the road known as the "greenway". His horse neighed a greeting at the sound of approaching hoof beats. The figure lifted his cowled head to peer at the approaching shadow. As the morning mists parted, recognition flared in the watching eyes. "Gandalf!" He cried to the rider.
The gray-clad wizard pulled his horse to a stop before the brown-robed form that stood and approached the rider. Gandalf looked down upon the figure with puzzlement in his eyes until darkly tanned hands let down the brown hood. "Radagast! You old fool! What are you doing in this part of the world? The need must be dire indeed for you to take to traveling. Why did you not send a messenger to me?"
Radagast had to stop a sigh at the mention of the word messenger. Cursing his need to hide what he truly was from even the wise one before him, he chose his next words with extreme care. "My news is evil." Then he looked about him, as if the hedges might have ears. "Nazgûl," he whispered. "The Nine are abroad again. They have crossed the River secretly and are moving westward. They have taken the guise of riders in black." Taking in the look of absolute dread on his old friends face he added, "Olórin, they seek the shire!"
"Who told you, and who sent you? " Gandalf asked in a panic.
' "Saruman the White," answered Radagast successfully hiding the distaste that name caused him. "And he told me to say that if you feel the need, he will help; but you must seek his aid at once, or it will be too late."
' "I will go to Saruman," Gandalf said.
' "Then you must go now," said Radagast; "for I have wasted time in looking for you, and the days are running short. I was told to find you before Midsummer, and that is now here. Even if you set out from this spot, you will hardly reach him before the Nine discover the land that they seek.
"Stay a moment!" Gandalf said. "We shall need your help, and the help of all things that will give it. Send out messages to all the beasts and birds that are your friends. Tell them to bring news of anything that bears on this matter to Saruman and Gandalf. Let messages be sent to Orthanc."
A flicker of sadness glimmered in Radagast's deep eyes. "I shall do this my brother," He told to Gandalf who had turned to mount his horse. Radagast's hand gave him pause. "Becareful my old friend. Things are never what they seem to be." Radagast allowed some of his true wit to spark in his eyes for a mere moment, but long enough to cause Gandalf to doubt what he previously thought about the diminutive figure in the homespun brown robe. Gandalf gave him an acknowledging nod and beckoned his horse into motion.
Radagast the Brown watched as Gandolf sped off on the road to Isengard. "Forgive me my old friend. You will have all the aid I have to offer," he thought to himself as the rider disappeared over the hill towards the tower Orthanc. "Where can my beloved Yaviesel be?"
Author's Note: Fellow fans, this is my first work in the world of Middle Earth, thusly please be kind to me. However remember that nothing-even words are permanent. If you see a mistake please aid me in kindly pointing it out to me, for I have no claim to the title "Tolkien Scholar"... Yet.
************************************************************
Prologue
A lone figure sat beside the road known as the "greenway". His horse neighed a greeting at the sound of approaching hoof beats. The figure lifted his cowled head to peer at the approaching shadow. As the morning mists parted, recognition flared in the watching eyes. "Gandalf!" He cried to the rider.
The gray-clad wizard pulled his horse to a stop before the brown-robed form that stood and approached the rider. Gandalf looked down upon the figure with puzzlement in his eyes until darkly tanned hands let down the brown hood. "Radagast! You old fool! What are you doing in this part of the world? The need must be dire indeed for you to take to traveling. Why did you not send a messenger to me?"
Radagast had to stop a sigh at the mention of the word messenger. Cursing his need to hide what he truly was from even the wise one before him, he chose his next words with extreme care. "My news is evil." Then he looked about him, as if the hedges might have ears. "Nazgûl," he whispered. "The Nine are abroad again. They have crossed the River secretly and are moving westward. They have taken the guise of riders in black." Taking in the look of absolute dread on his old friends face he added, "Olórin, they seek the shire!"
"Who told you, and who sent you? " Gandalf asked in a panic.
' "Saruman the White," answered Radagast successfully hiding the distaste that name caused him. "And he told me to say that if you feel the need, he will help; but you must seek his aid at once, or it will be too late."
' "I will go to Saruman," Gandalf said.
' "Then you must go now," said Radagast; "for I have wasted time in looking for you, and the days are running short. I was told to find you before Midsummer, and that is now here. Even if you set out from this spot, you will hardly reach him before the Nine discover the land that they seek.
"Stay a moment!" Gandalf said. "We shall need your help, and the help of all things that will give it. Send out messages to all the beasts and birds that are your friends. Tell them to bring news of anything that bears on this matter to Saruman and Gandalf. Let messages be sent to Orthanc."
A flicker of sadness glimmered in Radagast's deep eyes. "I shall do this my brother," He told to Gandalf who had turned to mount his horse. Radagast's hand gave him pause. "Becareful my old friend. Things are never what they seem to be." Radagast allowed some of his true wit to spark in his eyes for a mere moment, but long enough to cause Gandalf to doubt what he previously thought about the diminutive figure in the homespun brown robe. Gandalf gave him an acknowledging nod and beckoned his horse into motion.
Radagast the Brown watched as Gandolf sped off on the road to Isengard. "Forgive me my old friend. You will have all the aid I have to offer," he thought to himself as the rider disappeared over the hill towards the tower Orthanc. "Where can my beloved Yaviesel be?"