The Gathering-In, or The Quest of the 24 Messengers.

[piosenniel]

'He talked to me!', cried the young Ranger, rushing in upon the hobbit and the man.

The crow cocked his head and fixed her with one beady black eye. 'Better than being skewered by an arrow, my impetuous young friend!' came the reply. 'Thank Manwë and his breezes that you are such a poor shot, else I might not have made it with my tidings.'

He returned his attention to the Ranger Eärendur. 'I fly at the bidding of the one in grey. There are a number of the holbytlan taking refuge in The Narrows of the Forest in Mirkwood. They are making for the Langflood, and by all appearances mean to travel south on it. He is concerned as there have been dark stirrings of late in Dol Guldur, and wishes that the holbytlan come not to the attention of the Necromancer.'

Eärendur frowned at the crow's words. 'Will he be able to persuade them to stay hidden until we can come to them?' He paused in thought. 'I can start for there immediately, passing word to the others as I go. Down the river will be our swiftest route, I think.'

The crow nodded his head at the Ranger's plan.

Perry cleared his throat and looked inquiringly at Eärendur. 'Oh, my pardon!' returned the man. 'This is Camlost, a friend and ally.' The bird bent his head to the halfling Ranger and his apprentice.

'And this is Perry, one of the halfling Rangers, a trusted friend.' continued Eärendur. He pointed toward the younger hobbit and grinned. 'And now allow me to introduce you to his doughty apprentice, Rose of the Wayward Aim.'

Rose's cheeks turned crimson but she held her ground and bowed back to Camlost.

[ September 06, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]