++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Day 6++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Gandalf & Treebeard
Gandalf the Grey broke through the border of Fangorn at a full gallop. His horse's nostrils steamed, and he could feel the lathering sweat coming from the beast's flanks. He couldn't go on driving his animal like this for much longer but he was so close! He could feel the child, feel her life, like a flickering candle flame in a cold, dark room. She was close, so close.
He went on and on, his horse thundering through the brush until a familiar, booming voice cried, "Gandalf!"
He pulled his horse to a stop in front of Wellinghall, the home of the Old Ent of this forest. Upon the ground, on a bed of sweet smelling, soft grass, lay the child from his dreams, her golden hair lank and damp with sweat, her face flushed with fever, her body thin as it burned up what fat and muscle it still had because the burning fever was eating up her body faster than even the Ent Draught could recover her.
"You've come! How did you know to come?" Treebeard cried as Gandalf rushed to the little child burning up upon the grass. She whimpered in her sleep as he took her into his arms.
"I dreamed of her," the Wizard murmured, passing a hand over her face. "By the Valar," he breathed in horror. "She is caught even now. I was nearly too late. She may yet die." To Treebeard he cried, "I must light a fire."
"Do whatever you must to save her," the Ent rumbled, watching as Gandalf set fire to the bed of sweet grass and rushed to gather kindling from the surrounding wood. When the fire was up nice and high, he laid her out on another bed of grass the giant creature had prepared and stripped the child of her sweat-drenched clothes, covering her with his warm, woolen cloak. She coughed weakly, and Gandalf knew true fear. The child was nearing the end of her strength. They had to move quickly.
"I need to make healing tea with some of your Ent Draught. Quickly!"
The Wizard and the Ent worked swiftly, rousing the little girl until she was awake enough to drink the mugs of hyssop and fenugreek tea Gandalf kept placing in her hand to help her cough up the wetness in her lungs. Hours passed, and she drank the tea, and finally she spit up the gobs of wetness in her chest. The wizard held her close to him, warming her as she settled into sweeter, easier breathing, and finally, thank the Valar, she fell into sleep and cuddled into his arms.
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