Harry walked out to the festival field after grabbing a quick breakfast of bread and cheese. He admired the new clothes he was wearing, although the hobbits insisted on making everything a shade of green. Elinor said it was because of his eyes. That color was not known among hobbits and, for them, it was his most striking feature. The Grand Dame apologized for the lack of shoes, but that was one skill that had never been needed in The Mark.
He rubbed the grass with his feet, in amusement, looking back at the House of The Took. Harry had dared to ask the old hobbit why he did not live in a hole, like the others. The Took waved his hands to indicate his children and grandchildren, cousins and nephews and nieces. Then he smiled and said, "Because there are no mountains in The Mark."
Harry was remembering the laughter that followed when he heard the sound of a horn. He knew at once that something had happened, something serious. To confirm his suspicions, other horns began to sound and the field was quickly crowded with hobbits, arming themselves with pikes, stored in nearby sheds. Harry walked to The Took when he appeared and asked what he could do, and was told to wait until they knew what the problem was. He stood by, and shortly a messenger came running up shouting about giant spiders swarming out of the forest.
"I've dealt with them before," Harry said, remembering his second year at school. "Fortunately, I had the option of running at that time. They will be organized."
"I've seen them," the messenger said, "they aren't organized at all. They're even running over each other."
"Then something has panicked them," another hobbit said. "It will give us a better chance in battle."
Orders were given and the lines of troops began marching toward the forest. Other hobbits, singly or in groups, were swelling the numbers. The hobbits, faced with a fight, were prepared to make one. They remembered their history. Meanwhile, Harry mulled over the question of what could cause the spiders to panic, if that was true. His unspoken fear was of what they would find if they survived the assault.
The Took ordered the lines to stretch out, once the spiders were spotted. He made sure that the pikemen would stand across the entire path the spiders would take, and possibly flank them. He quickly gave orders for the line of archers to fire.
The leading Attercops fell under the sudden hale of arrows. They faltered, giving those few hobbits fleeing their advance time to escape. Harry took out his wand and began to cast simple but effective fire spells, one after the other, killing dozens of spiders. He was relieved to see Hermione had joined them and, from her position, was following his lead. Even the archers, well supplied were taking their toll. Hundreds of spiders were dead, but thousands still swarmed.
Then they met the lines of pikemen. The first spiders were impaled, but their brothers crawled over the dead bodies, and hobbits began to fall. A second line of pikemen rushed forward. The swarm was briefly repelled but fell forward again. The third line advanced while the others reformed, but losses were mounting. The only advantage the hobbits had was that the enemy was too numerous, and more often than not, they got in each others way.
There was a pause, as though someone had called for a break, then another rush forward. The largest spiders had organized themselves and launched as a group at a section of the line. Harry watched as dozens of hobbits fell. More were forced to scatter, and the line was breached. Archers stood in the way, firing volley after volley, then threw down their bows, and grabbed pikes. On either side, hobbits ran to help and a new line was formed. Suddenly, the pikemen shouted, and the spiders were thrown back.
Then it struck Harry. He had been using fire spells. He turned to the nearest hobbit of rank, the Lord of the Western March as it turned out. They hammered out the idea. Oil for the lamps were fetched from any and every home and business, even drums of oil from the Took household. Hasty torches were made from anything, sticks and broken pike handles, rags and cloth. Harry even tossed his new cape to be used.
As quickly as hobbits could run, and that was quick indeed, the grasses of the field were set on fire. Soon a wall of flame separated the hobbits from the predators. The Took ordered those who could be spared to begin spreading the fire to encircle the swarm.
As hobbits tended to the fire, and kept what few spiders who tried to flee from escaping, Harry went to seek out Hermione. She was casting curses on the wounded, causing them to petrify. She explained to him that antidotes to the spiders' poison were being prepared. The spell she was casting would freeze the victims as they were, and the spell could be cancelled when the medicines were ready. Harry quickly joined in, and found himself as busy as when he was fighting.
Harry helped as wounded were carried to the makeshift hospital. He was amazed at the capacity of what hobbits could do. Hermione had told a few of the hobbits how to make the potions, but dozens were already involved in the preparations. Antidotes were given to the mild cases already, while the salves and sleeping droughts were prepared for the more serious cases. At one point he ran into Frodo, who was as dirty and tired as he was.
"You look a fright, Harry," the Hobbit said, "No one will think you're a wizard, now."
It was a poor joke, but Harry laughed anyway. It was a relief. "And what have you been doing?" he asked in return.
Frodo smiled, touching the chain around his neck, and said, "Everything I could." Frodo never said anything else about what he had done that day, although there were stories of spiders dropping dead of wounds, and no one was near them.
Night had fallen when the Lord of the Western March, One Pergrine (no surprise) Boffin, asked Harry for one last favor. He held out a cup of tea to the young wizard, then poured the sleeping potion into it. Peregrine Boffin then pointed out Hermione. While Harry had rested whenever he could, Hermione had not, and had pushed herself to the brink. Harry approached, thinking of how to talk her into drinking the tea, but he needn't have bothered. He held out the cup, and she took it and drank most of it in one gulp.
Handing the cup back to him, Hermione turned to a nearby Hobbit, asking, "What else needs to be done." From the hobbit's reaction, this was not the first time she had asked the question. Then she said, "I feel so tired," and Harry helped her sit down. She fell asleep leaning against him.
"Thank You," the hobbit said, "We could not get her to stop."
*
Hermione loved the new clothes, although she felt like she was being dressed for a Renaissance Fair. The lack of shoes worried her, especially with winter coming, but the Mark was unseasonably warm. Harry was also going barefoot. Neither of them had thought to wear shoes that would hold up to their ten-day forced march, not that they had a chance to plan.
Hermione made a mental note of the date, November 8, and went to find Harry. She walked out of her room into the garden. The Took had given her a room leading directly to the outside, for which she was grateful. One day of walking down five foot high hallways was more than enough for her. Then she heard it. A horn, sounding in the distance, from the direction of the forest. Another horn sounded, much closer, and then someone began ringing a bell, somewhere in the large compound the Took called his house.
She went to the festival field to see hobbits lining up in ranks of pikemen (pikehobbits?). Faramir ran by her, flashing a grin, with a bow in his hand and a quiver of arrows on his back. Frodo joined her, and answered the question she was about to ask.
"Every hobbit in the Mark has read the Red Book. They know what can happen if they are unprepared. They don't like it, but they make sure they are ready. And now they need to be."
"Is it an attack?" Hermione asked, "Who?" But Frodo only shrugged.
"Spiders," a runner shouted, "Giant Spiders. They're swarming out of the forest, all along the BuckPort Trail."
Hermione and Frodo followed one of the marching units. Her calm veneer almost shattered when she caught snatches of conversation from the hobbits. They were talking about her, as a good luck charm. Frodo gave her a supportive smile, but she noticed his hand on his dagger. His knuckles were white.
The hobbits mounted the crest of the hill and looked out over the farmland. Swarms of spiders, some as big as she, were racing across the fields, with handfuls of hobbits fleeing before them. Hermione cringed, as she saw a pair of them fall to the attackers.
Arrows began flying through the air. The first spiders fell. Hermione saw a jet of fire fly into the swarm, then a second one. She looked down the line and saw Harry, wand drawn, casting fire spells as quickly as he could. She pulled out her wand and began doing the same. The attackers were slowed, not by much, but enough to let the fleeing hobbits reach the front line. To her surprise and admiration, those without children grabbed pikes and joined the ranks.
The spiders, despite the losses from the archers, made contact with the pikes. The first spiders died, but those behind them kept coming. Each of the three lines of pikemen would charge forward in turn, letting the others reform. It was effective at holding back the spiders but the hobbits were still losing ground. Hermione could not get any clear shots and looked for a high spot. She was one of the first to spot the surge.
Fifty yards to her right, the line was breaking. The largest spiders had massed, and crashed into the front ranks. The hobbits began to retreat but the spiders overwhelmed them, and breached the line. Hermione ran forward, shouting spells to help the hobbits get clear.
As though it were planned, the advancing spiders made for the line of archers, who kept shooting until the last arrow. The archers then dropped their bows, and picked up pikes they had with them. They formed the start of a new line.
Hermione found herself in the front of a reformed line of defense. The pikemen around her shouted taunts at the spiders, while they slowly retreated from the advancing host. She spotted a small figure at her side. Faramir had grabbed a pike as long as she was, and had joined the fight again.
"When do the heroes come?" he asked as a joke during the brief respite.
"The heroes are already here?" Hermione asked, not really thinking, and she quickly forgot what she had said. The spiders were massed in front of them, and began to attack again. Hermione shouted spells as quickly as she could, and the hobbits around her shouted as one as they joined in the fighting.
A spidery leg knocked Hermione's wand away. She turned in time to see Faramir jump between her and the spider, to be impaled on the pincers of the attacker. It threw the limp body away, as someone thrust her wand back into Hermione's hand. In a flash, she shouted, "Avada Kedavra," and the huge spider fell dead. Around her, hobbits began shouting a cheer, and rushed forward, casting back the attackers.
Suddenly, fire began to spread across the line. Harry and one of the hobbit Commanders had a plan. They were setting fire to the grass and anything in front of them that would burn. In minutes, a wall of fire was being built in front of the spiders up and down the line. Then Harry started to set fire to the grass and trees behind the spiders. Hermione joined him, as well as the few remaining archers, shooting flames and flaming arrows into the air. Hobbits with torches ran and filled in the gaps.
After that, it was only a matter of time. The spiders could not advance or retreat from the fire which literally surrounded acres of land. The hobbits kept the fires advancing, and the end to the plague was finally reached.
As soon as she wasn't needed, Hermione tried to rest, but when she turned away, she saw the wounded, many slowly dying from poisoned bites. She called some hobbits together and sent them to gather various plants and herbs, carefully describing them. She then walked through the field of dying, casting the petrifying curse on everyone who was seriously injured. Harry saw what she was doing, and after a quick explanation started doing the same.
As more and more hands were freed from the battle, the stone hard bodies were moved to an open area away from the carnage. Carts carried the wounded in from the furthest part of the battlefield, and Hermione, near exhaustion, cast spell after spell, pausing to describe the remedies she needed and in what proportions the ingredients should be mixed. She found herself thanking Professor Snape for being so thorough, when she had dared to ask about healing potions.
Everything was ready, and Hermione began the long process of unfreezing the wounded, who would then be treated. At one point, she recognized Elinor Took, a pike still in her hands. Four dead spiders lay in front of her. One of the servants said she was hurt after attacking the spiders with a pike, while her servants evacuated a farmhouse about to be overrun. She was saved from death by a sudden rush of pikemen to that spot.
Occasionally, someone would hand her a bread roll or something to drink. She always took it, knowing it would keep her going. It had been dark for some time when Hermione found no injured around her, and she asked who was next. Someone said there were no more. Everyone was accounted for. Harry came up to her, handing her a cup of hot tea, which she drank. She kept looking around for something to do, then slowly sat down on the ground. A short while later she closed her eyes, and began snoring. Harry took the remainder of the drugged tea, and poured it out. The Healer needed healing now, in the form of rest.
*
Harry awoke the next morning to find it was almost dusk. He asked about Hermione, and was told she was still asleep and would sleep through the night. Going to the makeshift kitchen on the festival field, he got himself some dinner and joined in the conversations around him while he ate. Several hobbits congratulated him on his efforts of the previous day, and then returned to the main topic, Hermione. Harry listened to the tales about her while he ate
They talked about how she marched with the troops, and following the wizard's (Harry's) lead, cast flaming spells at the Spiders. Then the line was breached, and she ran to close the gap, spreading death among the Attercops as she went. It was there, in the newly formed line that someone dared to ask when the heroes of legend would arrive to save the day. And Hermione said....No, Not Hermione, The Lady Elvellon said, "The heroes are already here."
Every hobbit in the field kitchen stood a little taller on hearing that. Then they talked about the healing. The dead and missing where listed in the dozens, but the wounded had numbered in the hundreds, some said more than a thousand. The Lady stayed until the last had been attended too. Any hobbit could name at least a dozen who were alive because of her.
Harry thought about it. He had done most of the same things as far as the fighting was concerned. He even brought up the idea of the fire, which ended the battle decisively. Hermione and her healing had topped anything he had done. Killing was easy, Harry found, if you didn't care about who or what you were killing. But to Heal, to steal from death, is never as easy. For the rest of his time in the Mark, Harry would always be known as the Friend of The Lady.
*
Hermione woke up to find the sun already climbing the sky. Her last memories were of laying down to sleep in a muddy field. Now, she was lying in her bed, and she was clean. Rising slowly, she dressed in the new clothes laid out for her. With them were a pair of boots, clearly hand made, which fit perfectly. Dressed and ready for breakfast, she stepped out into the garden. Several hobbits looked up immediately, and bowed. She gave them a polite, if confused, curtsy, as two of the hobbits ran off in front of her. She followed the path to the festival field, with hobbits stopping to bow to her as she passed.
Embarrassed more than anything, she walked quickly to Harry when she spotted him, trying to smile. Harry saw her approach, and did the unthinkable. He bowed to her as deeply as the hobbits, saying, "It is my hope that my Lady slept well."
Hermione stopped dead in her tracks. She was surrounded by a sea of hobbits, all looking at her like a favorite pet. "Harry," she asked, "What is going on?"
"Well, let me see," said Harry as he led her to a table. "Two days ago, we had a terrible battle, do you remember that. It seems that you did more than your part. You've become a legend to everyone. They will tell their children and grandchildren about you. One couple, their daughter Hermione was born last night."
As she ate, Harry began to recount the tales about her. He was quickly, and politely interrupted by others 'who were there' and 'knew the truth.' They regaled her with stories about herself. The Lady standing in the line. The Lady racing into the breach. The Lady who healed an army.
When she could finally excuse herself, she found Elinor waiting for her.
"I have a cart waiting, if you would care to ride with me."
It was a request that could not be refused. Hermione climbed in the back of the cart with the Grand Dame, and the drover began leading the ponies down the road.
"Just ahead is the graveyard where everyone was buried. The spiders did not kill many, considering how many they bit. There are barely three dozen graves."
"So few?" asked Hermione, "but I saw dozens fall when the line was breached."
"The spiders do not bite deep, but they poison their victims," Elinor told her, "A poison that paralyzes quickly, then kills slowly. Don't you remember, you are the one who told us."
"I am sorry," Hermione said, "everything is still blurry in my mind."
"You did many a great thing that day," Elinor said soothingly, "In time, you will sort it all out. As I was saying, the poison kills slowly and, thankfully, you knew how to prepare the antidote. And you and your companion helped keep many alive until they could be treated. We are so grateful to you, but we did not know how to express out thanks."
"What are those?" Hermione asked as she noticed small bushes, freshly planted every ten feet, along one side of the road,
"Roses, mostly. And any flowering shrub that someone likes," Elinor said. "I don't know who started it, but shortly after the first burial, someone planted the first bush. He said he did it because he was still alive, and showed his scars from where the spiders had bitten him. Not long afterward, a second bush was planted. Now, everyone who was wounded and has not done so, is trying to find something to plant."
Hermione watched as they passed bush after bush, for over a mile. She finally had to ask, "How many were wounded?"
"Over four thousand hobbits fought, and more than one fourth of them had injuries," Elinor replied, "And all but a few survived them because of you, Hermione. Do you understand? Each rose bush represents a life you saved."
The cart stopped and the drover helped the Grand Dame down. Hermione looked in surprise to see Faramir standing next to a recently planted bush, with another one in his hands. There was a gap that it was intended for, and Hermione saw others, ahead planting bushes of their own.
"GranGran," Faramir said, "I saved you a place next to mine, so we could be together."
Hermione had to look away. She was overwhelmed by what she had done. She cried for no reason and could not stop.
*
"My Lady," Faramir said in greeting, when Hermione came out of her room. Her eyes were still red from her crying fit, but she could now bear to look at all of the grateful eyes.
"My thanks for waiting to attend me, Young Sir," Hermione said, returning to her flowery prose.
"A boon, My Lady," Famamir asked, nervously.
"If it is within my power, Faramir, it is yours."
Faramir knelt on one knee drawing his sword, which was little more than a dagger. He held it by the blade, hilt up, and said, "By your leave, Lady Elvellon, I would swear myself as your protector, now and forever."
Impressed by his sincerity, Hermione smiled. She gave him a deep curtsy, while she thought of what to say. "Thy gift honors me greatly, Meldir. I am grateful, now and forever."
Faramir looked up and smiled as she clasped her hand around the hilt, taking his sword. She then held it out for him, so that he might take it back.
As he escorted her to dinner, again in the festival field, Hermione noticed as he gave a smile of victory to a young girl his age. The smile was returned, and a very happy hobbit brought Hermione to her table.
"And how is My Lady Elvellon today," Harry asked.
"Everyone has been calling me that," Hermione said, "Have they forgotten my name?"
"Candella Proudfoot hasn't," Frodo said, "Her daughter, Hermione, is thriving at the grand age of one day."
"Tansy Boffin over in the West March, says they're naming their girl Hermione as well," Faramir added, "Herman if it's a boy."
Hermione blushed at that statement. "We had best depart soon, Harry, or everyone will be named after me."
After a pause, Hermione asked Harry a serious question, about the boots.
"The centaurs made them," Harry explained, "They are also trying to make it up to the hobbits for the trouble they caused."
"What trouble?"
"Remember when the centaurs came out to fight the ministry agents and the dementors. Apparently, someone, we can guess who, talked the giant spiders into attacking. The centaurs had an easy time handling the spiders, and after the ministry backed off, they decided to get rid of the spiders once and for all. The centaurs chased them all the way into the Mark."
"They didn't know about the hobbits," Hermione said in understanding. "Then we are to blame for the battle."
"No My Lady, you are not," The Took said, standing up at the head of the table, "All you did was to cause it to happen now, when you were here to help us. That is much better than sometime in the future, when you will not be here."
Loud cheers from everyone echoed through the field. Hermione would remain a hero, regardless.
*
It was morning, and Hermione was dressing in her riding clothes. Radagast had returned quietly after dinner, and gathered Harry and Frodo into her room to discuss affairs. Faramir was there as well. He discovered the meeting, and demanded to be a part of it.
The centaurs, it was explained, had no knowledge of the Mark, and had driven the spiders in front of them while they continually depleted their ranks. The giant spiders had become vast in numbers, but were no match for the organized centaurs. Radagast rushed to them, and quickly told them of the situation, and the matter was soon remedied. The spiders were corralled in time, except for one small group. (That phrase made Hermione cringe.) The hobbits, to the delight of everyone, handled that problem.
The centaurs had offered anything to make amends, and The Took made his demands. They had to swear eternal friendship with the hobbits, and were warned not to hesitate to ask for help if they should need it. They were also ordered to help the travelers as best they could. Provisions and transportation were promised, and boots were made for Harry and Hermione.
*
Faramir helped his Lady pack her clothes in the travel bags, and helped carry them outside. The centaurs were standing in the field with three horses. Her travel bags were placed on one of the horses, and Hermione sighed. "They would have to give me a White horse."
"It's a pack horse," Harry said, "We'll be walking again."
"This fulfills our bargain," a centaur said irritably "now we are done with our fetching."
"I apologize for causing you problems," Hermione added with equal irritation.
The centaur rubbed his brown beard and said, "We do not object to helping you. We object to the lack of dignity involved."
Hermione was incensed. The centaurs had offered to make amends, and now this one was complaining about it. She glanced at Harry and saw that everyone was watching her. Then she lost her temper, and smiled at the centaur.
"Please, Sir, it was not our wish to demean you and your kind. It would be best, then, if we took none of thy gifts, least we give unwanted offense. You may take back these horses, they will not be needed." The centaur stared at her, and she turned away from him. "Faramir, you have sworn to aid me in my need. Please help me remove these boots. They hurt my feet."
Faramir knelt to help, when another centaur came racing up. "Please wait, Lady Elvellon. Bren did not understand."
As the centaurs walked off to argue, Harry leaned forward and whispered, "Hermione, you've done it again. One more story about the Great Lady."
"Harry, you know how obnoxious they can be. I just wanted to give them a taste of their own medicine. Why don't they just walk off like they're supposed to?"
"That one that asked you to wait, I know him. His name is Firenze. He's the one the carried me out of the Forbidden Forest that time in our first year."
Bren came back, abashed. "I apologize, Lady Elvellon," the centaur said loudly. "We have dealt with men recently, in a much different and difficult manner. I had not known that you are ones we had helped that day. My ignorance is my shame."
"These are hard times," Hermione said, "and tempers flare too easily. It is I who bear the shame for provoking you. I ask thy forgiveness." She concluded with a curtsy to the centaur.
Harry was impressed. Hermione was getting very good at her fancy words. He was willing to bet she was also having a wonderful time being the center of attention. He was started to say something to her, when someone called his name.
"Harry Potter," Firenze said, "we come together far from home. You have grown since we last met."
"It's good to see you, too, Firenze," Harry replied, "I guess we're still causing problems for you."
Firenze laughed, "That is an understatement. All the world of magic is shaking from what you had done that day, fleeing into the woods. This world will never be the same again. The times that the stars have foretold have come upon us."
"Do you remember Hermione?" Harry asked, sending gasps went through the crowd of hobbits. He had added another chapter to the stories they would tell.
"I do," Firenze said, with a grin, "She has grown as well. But to the business at hand, we must ask that you delay your travels for one more day. Tomorrow, we shall see that you travel as fast as you need to. The stars tell us that you will have need."
*
"Lady Elvellon," the centaur said, bowing, "The mare is Dineth. We give her to you, as well as her mate, gray-haired Daer. They are elvish steeds, left to our care."
"The Bride and the Groom," mused Hermione out loud, a remark that impressed the centaur, who hastily continued his speech.
"These two," he said, displaying two off-white ponies, "are their children, not yet named. They are strong enough for your small friends to ride. Please honor us, and accept these gifts with our gratitude."
It's Showtime again, thought Hermione. "You are mistaken, Sir. It is you who honor us with such presents. They place upon me a value greater than my worth. I must accept out of need, and forever shall I remain in thy debt, for this kind gift."
"Thank you for the kind words," the centaur said.
"And meant, Sir," Hermione said "You have aided us greatly."
"Then we ride," said Radagast from the back of another horse, brown of course.
Hermione mounted Dineth bareback, but without any problems. It was almost as if sitting in a chair. She was also willing to bet that the ride was smoother than a unicorn. Harry mounted Daer, and rode up to her, With Frodo riding up on the other side.
"What are you doing?" shouted The Took, and Hermione turned around to find Faramir riding the other pony.
"Hermione?" Harry asked, "What's going on?"
"Harry, Faramir asked me yesterday to accept him as my protector."
"Please don't tell me you said yes," Frodo said, "He's a nice boy, but he'll never stay behind. I know the type." Frodo looked up, and seeing Hermione's face. added "I'll get rid of him, nicely."
Frodo rode over to where Faramir was arguing with his relatives, and interrupted him. "Listen to me, boy and listen well," the Hobbit said. "I know all about your oath to the Lady Elvellon, to be her protector and all that. What you fail to realize is that she is helping me, on MY quest. Nobody joins my quest without my permission, and I don't recall you asking."
Frodo counted the seconds, while The Took considered the situation.
"Mr. Baggins," The Took said, "I appreciate your honesty but I know this boy too well. He'll run off and follow you unless we tie him down. If you could ask the Lady to talk to him..."
"Grandfather Peregrin, No," objected Faramir, "I can help, really. You said I get in the way all the time, but if I didn't get in the way during the battle, the spider would have gotten the Lady, instead of me. Please, Mr. Frodo? You might need someone like me."
Frodo frowned at Faramir's little speech. He hadn't known how Faramir was injured but he should have guessed. "Is Your mother a Brandybuck by any chance?"
"Yes sir," Faramir said, in wonder. "How did you know?"
"I can see it in you," Frodo said with a smile, "Come on, we have a lot of riding to do."
*
"My lady," Faramir asked when they were well away from The Mark, "Where are we going."
"I have no idea," Hermione answered.
"Then, how will we know when we get there?"
"That's easy," Harry answered. "When we have no other choice except certain death, then we're there."
Faramir looked around, but everyone looked serious. "Excuse me, Radagast. He is joking, isn't he?"
"Hopefully, he is," Radagast said.
Hermione called to Faramir, and told him. "Remember, young sir. You may leave at any time. You do not have to remain."
"I know, My Lady. I only want to know what to expect."
"That's easy to explain, Faramir," Harry said. "Remember the day of the battle, just before the first horn sounded? That is what this trip will be like. Except sometimes there won't be a horn to sound the warning."
"And sometimes the warning might be elsewhere," said a voice from behind. Bren trotted up to the small party and said, "It was decided, you should have someone with you who can read the stars. I came because I need to repay a debt."
"Bren, you have no debts to me, if that is what you mean," Hermione told him.
"Not to you, perhaps," Bren said, "but to myself. Also, I have always wanted to meet the elves."
"Elves?" asked Faramir, his eyes lighting up.
"Elves," Radagast told him, adding with a grin, "Did I forget to tell you about that?"