Radagast's Rabid Badger

On the Road from Gondor to Osgiliath

Early afternoon, April 5th , TA 3019

The small group that would represent the White Council at the upcoming peace conference rode together from Minas Tirith to Osgiliath.

The cease fire talks would take place in Osgiliath, at the center of theGreatBridgeover the River Anduin. This was chosen for being a politically neutral location, betweenWest Osgiliath, still controlled by Gondor, andEast Osgiliath, recently occupied by Mordor.

The group included three Istari, Pallando, Saruman, and Radagast, as well as Elrond Peredhel.

Radagast was the first to notice the sick animal. It was a rabid badger, crazed and in agony, and very dangerous. Even healthy badgers are dangerous, but a badger with rabies, not in its right mind and mad from thirst, is something no one ought to get anywhere near. The others spurred their horses to get away from it as quickly as possible. But Radagast pulled up and dismounted. He approached it cautiously.

"Oh, the poor thing!" he said gently. "We have to try to help it."

He drew closer to the suffering animal. He sat down beside it and placed a hand on its haunches, to offer it what comfort he could. Surprisingly, the animal did not bite him. Instead, it seemed to relax somewhat under his hand.

Radagast was a healer, and he had a great gift. He sat with the dying animal for close to an hour. The others waited for him, watching from a safe distance. There was never any real hope. The animal died in agony and terrible thirst, but its suffering was less than it might have been, due to Radagast's gentle kindness.

Saruman regarded Radagast with contempt. "You put yourself in great danger, and for what? The worthless animal died anyway."

"I just feel that when a creature deserves your compassion the least, that's when they need it the most." said Radagast.