Merry sighed, looking nearly as downcast as Pippin. He took a bit of cured meat wrapped in a handkerchief from his pocket and began to chew on it while he related the events. "Well, we already told you about the orcs," here he paused and gave a little shiver, "and Treebeard as well, but you are right, we left a bit of the story out. As Pippin said, Gandalf warned us there would be some trouble and we weren't exactly eager to embrace it so soon. Anyway, we're not to that part of the story. I suppose I had best tell you about when Treebeard took us to gather up the Ents. On the way he told us about something very strange that they had found. He said it would seem like it was found a very long time ago to us Hobbits, but he didn't think it was long ago at all. Anyway, so he took us to this old tree, at least it seemed very old to us, all cracked and wrinkled looking, and he said to the tree in that rumbling voice of his 'Come brother Steadybranch! I have some hobbits who would much like to see your charge.'

"Well we should have guessed it right away, but talking trees, as kind as they are, are not easy to grow used to, so when we saw the trunk begin to quiver and the leaves shake it was still a bit of a shock. After a moment some great eyes opened up and we could see that it was yet another Ent, an oak of some sort with great round clumps of leafs on it's branches. Treebeard introduced us and they spoke for a great while in Entish. If I had not already stood through many conversations with the Ents I would have thought us forgotten! But we weren't, and pretty soon Steadybranch strode over the stones, it took some great running to keep up with him I can assure you, until he came to a little hill by a stream. We could see a sort of cave in the side of the hill, about as tall as we are and nearly eight feet long but only a few feet deep. It was really more of a hole right in the side of the hill. There were great tendrils of moss hanging over the opening and we couldn't see in until Steadybranch moved them. What we saw was quite different then what we expected. The ground was covered in soft leaves, moss and grasses that made a sort of bed. On top of this bed was the elf that you just met, though we didn't know he was an elf at the time. At first I thought he was asleep, but somehow, I still don't know quite how I knew though come to think of it, somehow I knew it wasn't real sleep. His eyes twitched, like someone dreaming, you know? But it was more then just that." He looked at Pippin for help, but he seemed at a loss for words as well. "I guess you could say it just felt wrong. I didn't like it at all. Anyway, Treebeard sang us a song, it was very long and sad and full of mystery. I don't remember it now, but it said something about times of darkness and war, when the sleeping one was found and none could wake him. It seems that Steadybranch stumbled into Lianrei many years ago out in these woods. They could tell that great evil had come over him, they are sure it was from Sauron, and the Ents could do nothing but place him in the cave and keep the wild things from harming his body. They named him Silentone.

"Treebeard thought perhaps we knew something that would help him, for Ents really know very little about the other races. He seemed very disappointed when we could not do anything, but he just said 'Broom boom boom!' like he always does, picked us up again and strode off to the meeting.

"It wasn't until Gandalf came that we thought again of the mysterious man. We asked Treebeared to explain about him, for we thought perhaps a wizard's spell could break the evil grip. At once Gandalf asked to see him so we all set off again. Everyone was in a great hast so it wasn't long before we found Steadybranch and the cave. As soon as Gandalf saw behind the curtain of moss he grew so grim that I was actually afraid. He asked Steadybranch many questions, such as when had they found him, and other such things. Finally after a good deal of thinking Gandalf reached down and put his hand on Lianrei's pale forehead. We watched for a long time while he spoke words in a strange language. Maybe it was elvish, I don't really know, it sounded very dark and harsh. What happened then still makes me feel all queer. Without any warning the man lets out a scream like you never heard before! It was like someone just let the cork out of a bottle and all the pressure just sort of sprayed out all over. I don't know how long it lasted, but I thought it would never stop. Finally his voice caught and at first I thought he was choking, for his eyes were opened wide and he was stiff as a board with all his veins popping out like mad and this gaspy sound coming from his throat. It took a moment for me to realize that he was actually crying, but the tears were so intense that it seemed to strain his entire body. Then Gandalf did something I had never seem before. He reached down and gathered the quivering body in his arms and just let him cry. The sight made tears come to my own eyes. There was our dear Wizard, with his white beard and haggard robes holding that poor young man in his arms as gently as any father. There they stayed for nearly an hour until he was quite nearly sobbed out, and then Gandalf laid him back down again onto the bed of moss and placed a blanket of leaves over the exhausted creature who soon fell asleep. A real sleep that time with no evil to mar the way.

"After that Gandalf took us aside and said that it was time for him to leave. He looked weary and sad, and we didn't want him to go so soon but he insisted. 'He is now to be under your care,' he said, pointing to the cave. 'I have released him from the evil that gripped his mind, but such things are not easily thrown aside. Scars will always remain. I must trust you to keep watch over him until I return. Be warned, there will be much suffering for the fellowship because of this man, but also much healing. Use wisdom. I will come and join you once more as soon as I can.' So he got back up on his horse and rode away. The rest you know. The Ents took Isenguard just as I had told you, and when it was safe and quiet enough Steadybranch brought Silentone here and not long after that you arrived."