Chapter 16: A Necromancer
Radagast and Folina brought Gandalf and Selindra aside to talk with them. Varder joined them too out of concern. "The Greenwood is sick, Gandalf. A darkness has fallen over it." Radagast said. "He's right. Nothing grows anymore. At least nothing good. The air is foul decay." Folina said. "But worst are the webs." Radagast said. "Webs? What do you mean?" Gandalf asked. "Spiders, Gandalf. Giant ones." Radagast said. "How giant?" Selindra asked. "As big as your Dwarf friends." Folina said. "But how could spiders grow that big?" Varder asked. "Some kind of spawn of Ungoliant, or I'm not a Wizard." Radagast said. "We followed their trail. They came from Dol Guldur." Folina said. Gandalf and Selindra grew concerned when Folina mentioned that name while Varder was confused. "Dol Guldur? But the old fortress was abandoned." Gandalf said. "No, Gandalf. It is not." Radagast said.
[Flashback]
After arriving at Dol Guldur, Radagast and Folina entered at their own risk, staffs ready. "A dark power dwells in there. Such as we have never felt before." "Yes. It is the shadow of an ancient horror." As the 2 Wizards attempted to continue, a statue of a robed figure clutched its grip on its sword. Radagast and Folina sensed this and turned to face the statue. "One that can summon the spirits of the dead." Just then, a ghost appeared from a broken statue behind them and prepared to stab Radagast with a blade. Folina saw this. "Radagast!" She cried. Radagast looked up as the ghost attacked, but he blocked him with his staff and broke away. The ghost continued to attack, but Radagast and Folina fended him off with their staffs. The ghost disappeared into the ground as they forced him down, leaving behind his blade. "We saw him, Gandalf. From out of the darkness." Radagast and Folina looked down an old hallway as a shadow figure appeared. "A Necromancer has come." "Radagast. Folina." The shadow whispered before screeching.
Radagast and Folina hurried back to their rabbit sled as a cauldron of giant bats flew out from Dol Guldur. "Quick! Quick, quick! Quick, quick!" Radagast called as one of the rabbits tapped his foot, alerting the others. They took off just as Radagast and Folina nearly reached them. "Wait for us!" Folina cried. They managed to hop onto the sled as the bats continued to fly after them. One of them nearly grabbed Folina, but Radagast swatted it off her with his staff. The bats screeched as they continued the chase.
[Flashback End]
Radagast and Folina jolted back to reality out of fear from the memory. "Sorry." Radagast said. "We were just frightened." Folina said. "Try a little Old Toby. It'll help settle your nerves." Gandalf said as he cleaned the inhaling end of his pipe. "He's right. It's helped calm my nerves a lot." Selindra said as she cleaned her pipe with her vest. Radagast and Folina each took a deep inhale from the pipe-weed. "And out." Gandalf said. Radagast and Folina exhaled out through their noses and their ears. Selindra laughed at that while Varder looked disturbed. "Now, a Necromancer. Are you sure?" Gandalf asked. Radagast reached into his robe and pulled out something wrapped in cloth. "What is that?" Varder asked. Gandalf took it and unwrapped it. Selindra gasped as it was revealed. "That is not from the world of the living." Radagast said. Selindra slowly reached out to the object. But as her finger touched it, an eye of fire flashed into her mind. She gasped as she jolted her hand back. "What can this mean, Gandalf?" She asked. But before he could answer, a howl was heard in the distance.
The Dwarves and Hobbits heard it too. "What was that?" Belinda asked. "Was that a wolf? Are there wolves out there?" Bilbo asked. "Wolves? No, that is not a wolf." Bofur said. "That is something much worse." Mori said. Just then, a Warg appeared on the hill, charged down and pounced on Dori. But Thorin slashed the Warg's neck, killing it. But then, another appeared and prepared to pounce Thorin. Kili shot it with an arrow, causing it to stumble. Dwalin finished it by slamming his hammer in its skull just as Gandalf, Selindra, Varder, Radagast and Folina rejoined the company. "Warg scouts. Which means an Orc pack is not far behind." Thorin said. "Orc pack?" Bilbo asked. "That doesn't sound good." Belinda said. "It's not." Tharia said. "Who did you tell about your quest beyond your kin?" Gandalf asked. "No one." Thorin said. "Who did you tell?!" Gandalf demanded. "No one, I swear!" Thorin exclaimed. "What in Durin's name is going on?" Tharia asked. "You're being hunted." Gandalf said. Bilbo and Belinda got worried from that. "We have to get out of here." Dwalin said. "We can't! We have no ponies. They bolted." Ori said as he, Qili and Bifur came back. "They must've gotten spooked by the howl." Qili said. "What do we do?" Belinda asked. "We'll draw them off." Radagast said. "That will give you time to escape." Folina said. "These are Gundabad Wargs. They will outrun you." Gandalf said. "These are Rhosgobel rabbits." Radagast said. That got Selindra's attention. "Those are the fastest breed of rabbits in Middle Earth." She said. "Yes. We'd like to see them try." Folina said.