Taradan awoke, feeling the warmth of the sun on his face and seeing its light through closed lids. He felt refreshed and calm, content for the moment to lie quietly, listening to the birds singing. Gradually he realized that the murmuring sound he heard was that of voices conversing somewhere near him. With reluctant curiosity, he opened his eyes and lifted his head, turning in the direction of the speakers. A flash of pain caused him to gasp and drop back to his resting place.
Andros heard the faint intake of breath and saw the slight motion of the wounded man. Quickly he came to his side. “Careful!” his friendly voice admonished, “you should not move in haste yet.”
Taradan looked up, seeing a man whose merry eyes belied the aged appearance of his weathered face. “Who are you? Why am I here? What has happened? Where are my friends?”
“So many questions at once,” laughed Andros, “I will endeavour to answer them one at a time. My name is Andros; my companion and I found you, fleeing from the fire, gravely wounded, exhausted beyond your strength and nigh unto death. Your comrades have been scattered after fighting their enemies, but there is hope that some of their number have escaped alive. I spoke to Thenamir; he will seek to find them and lead them on. One of my people has joined him and will aid in the mission you have set out to accomplish. Indeed, I was sent to your assistance after an unmounted horse came to our camp. I will abide with you and we shall join the others when you are able to do so.”
“There was another man here,” Taradan spoke uncertainly, “or was it a dream that I recall?”
“Nay,” Andros answered, “yet my travelling companion is preparing to leave, for he must continue his journey on a mission of his own. He it was that healed you, being skilled in that craft.”
The face Taradan remembered came into his sight, and again a smile warmed his heart. “I am glad to see that you are now awake, for I was loath to leave without speaking with you. Your life has been spared, though you will still need time to recover your strength. You may yet feel pain; heed the warning it gives you and be patient. I foresee that you will yet have a part to play in the story you have been caught up in.” With these words, he grasped Taradan’s hand firmly and gently, gripped Andros’ shoulder in farewell, and disappeared silently into the woods.
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth.. .'
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