Disclaimer: I do not own Middle-Earth. Though really, three out of four characters in this chapter are entirely my own creation. ^_^

"Oof!"

"You all right?"

"Yeah, just tripped over something."

"What is it?"

"No idea." The three children turned back to see a large, but rather shapeless black lump partly hidden in the brush.

"Poke it," the taller boy of the two urged.

"You poke it," retorted the smaller one.

"Oh, you two are ridiculous," exclaimed the girl. "I will poke it." And she did, jumping back almost immediately.

"What? What?" asked the two boys somewhat anxiously. After all, they were supposed to watch after their sister, and if she'd been hurt they would be in a lot of trouble.

"It… I think…"

"What is it?"

"A body! I think it is a body."

"Is it dead?" asked the younger boy, suddenly fearful. "Maybe orcs killed it!"

"You are being silly. There are no orcs this close to the city."

"Then why is it dead?"

"It is not dead," the girl stated firmly.

"How can you tell?"

"Watch." She pointed, showing her brothers the slight movement of breathing.

"Alright, so it is not dead. So what is it doing in the brush?"

"Dreaming, I think." The girl had walked around to the other side of the body and could now see its face.

"But the brush is all prickly. There are even some thorns there," objected the smaller boy.

"Well, he looks like he is dreaming! Look at his eyes."

"I suppose so," admitted the younger boy after joining his sister.

"Perhaps he got lost. We should wake him and take him back to the city where he will be more comfortable." The oldest boy, having come to this conclusion, leaned over to shake the man awake. Then something odd caught his attention.

"What?" the girl asked, seeing her brother freeze.

"Run quickly, the two of you, and get Adar. He is not dreaming. I think there is something wrong with him." Neither child argued, hearing the intensity in his voice, but ran swiftly away.

Only when they were out of sight did the boy give in to his curiosity. Pushing the man's dark hair aside he stared at the stranger's odd, round ears.