Twig seemed extraordinarily nervous as he turned to face Matau. He must have had experiences much like this in other places he'd been, and with unfavorable outcomes. Matau could understand his unease; he had been in similar situations himself, and knew how nerve-wracking it was to be questioned about your whereabouts. He tried to smile reassuringly.
"I don't know why," he started, "but I feel like there is something very unusual about you." Twig gave no sign of inturrupting, so he continued. "I mean no harm, but I like to know a little more about the people I travel with than I know about you. I have been in situations similar to this, where my companion has proven to be untrustworthy. I do not think this of you; you seem to be someone I can trust."
Twig's unease seemed to diminish slightly, but not much.
"And I hope you feel you can trust me," Matau said. "Though I can understand if you do not; many people have not, though they knew less about me than you do.
"I do not know why you want to go to Fangorn. Myself, I went to learn more about the other forests in this world. And I went to learn about the Ents. Many people foolishly fear them, because of what they did during the War, even the people of Rohan, who were saved by the Ents' assistance. I went to Fangorn to settle my own mind, to disprove the rumors I've heard of the Forest. This I have accomplished.
"You may have a different reason for going. I don't know. I do know that if you mean any harm to Treebeard's folk, you will answer to me. If not, I have no reservations to taking you to the Forest. I only wish to know why you desire to go there."
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The Hitchhiking Ghost
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