[THE Ka]

Radagast had stood quietly near Gandalf and the others as Saruman gave his leave, and news from the East. In all his long years amoung the other Istari, especially that of Curunir, he hadn't seen his pride so washed away with worry.

'Tis a bad tiding to see a spirit such as his so blurred with worry and frustration, and so grey in the face. Seems more fitting for a servant of Mandos than the strongwilled Aule. I only hope that we may continue on to see the fruits of our long labor... and sometimes I wish I'd been a bear, not an old man. Well, maybe I should stop spending too much time around Curunir the mirthless and more time with Olorin. I never can doubt the hope he learned from Nianna. Always a beautiful gift.

He never was much for speaking, and didn't feel surprised that many in the company either ignored him or just didn't know much of him. Like Gandalf's beloved Hobbits, he just never got out that often. The duties, however invisible to the world of other beings, that he was given with the wild had always been his primary concern, even if others and some of the Valar themselves doubted Yavanna's reasoning to ever send him to Arda. Now though, with some influence of Gandalf, the pressing matter of the Enemy had encroached more to both the wild and his duties, and the time had come for him to be a little more open with other beings of Arda.

He respected Ugluk's membership in the company, because he respected the wisdom of Saruman, which wasn't always agreed by others in the company though Radagast understood silently why this was so. He was wary of the firery words Ugluk began with though, knowing that it would only stir up the temperment of others, and thus their judgement. Before he could council calmly on this, Tom Bombadil called out to him and Gandalf as he was singing on towards the mountains.

With a merry smile he soaked in Tom's tune, and batted away other's annoyance or just plain confusion over them.

" Do not trouble yourself too much over Tom's rhymes, they speak no malice or jest. You must remember that however confusing or silly he may seem, Iarwain walked under the first trees and sang to the infant streams and now mighty rivers we live with. He has wisdom in those unburdened songs. As but a humble servant to Yavanna, I can only marvel and respect him."

With a renewed gaze, he bounded calmly on to catch up with Bombadil to hear his request, even if he knew Gandalf would give scold him for 'not appearing properly burdened with years as you should' later on. He chuckled a little at this, and greeted a few of the sparse birds of Hollin who came to join him. Tom was singing off in the distance, and held in his hand a familiar sight to Radagast.

"Ah! Well, he may think them cheery, but a good find indeed. If ever one of us is taken by the bite of spiders..."

Though, such a thought made him reflect on the dangers ahead, as the ones he knew from Mirkwood as well.

... And I hope indeed that we may have strength enough between all of our company to prevent such a thing.