On the Care and Feeding of Unexpected Visitors
Diamond wrote in her journal. I cannot express to the others how distressed I was to hear that the stranger we encountered on the edges of Mirkwood forest had a Nazgul's ring. The other stranger, the Maia that appeared to help us, said that Isildur's Bane had returned, but that simply cannot be. Perhaps some other evil Maia has created his own ring of power in the hopes of following in Sauron's footsteps, but this thing cannot be Isildur's Bane, for that accursed ring was utterly destroyed.
Perhaps this great evil thinks to spread despair throughout Middle Earth by assuming the name of Isildur's Bane. If that is it's plan, it will not succeed. We hobbits destroyed the One Ring once and we will destroy this new evil, if needs be. Men and Elves may fall to it, but not the Shire.
In them meantime though, how can I help this poor man, Joxer? Iolaus says that he is a good-hearted man, though not a good warrior. How strange to think that in any land, a would would be made to think lesser of himself for not fighting! That is the very opposite of life in the Shire. We hobbits know that true strength and courage and honor are found through living a simple life well, not in a life of so-called 'glory' and warfare. How strange Men can be some times!
I think that the very best thing that I could do for Joxer is to get him to Rivendell as quickly as I can. Surely he will find solace and healing there! If we go at the utmost haste, it will take us several days of journeying through Mirkwood. I wonder if the other stranger, shaman_x can speed our journey? He seems to be a Maia, or even one of the Valar. I was so delighted to see him appear! If in truth, Middle Earth is threatened by some great evil again, it is heartening to know that the Valar still watch over us.
Perhaps this great evil thinks to spread despair throughout Middle Earth by assuming the name of Isildur's Bane. If that is it's plan, it will not succeed. We hobbits destroyed the One Ring once and we will destroy this new evil, if needs be. Men and Elves may fall to it, but not the Shire.
In them meantime though, how can I help this poor man, Joxer? Iolaus says that he is a good-hearted man, though not a good warrior. How strange to think that in any land, a would would be made to think lesser of himself for not fighting! That is the very opposite of life in the Shire. We hobbits know that true strength and courage and honor are found through living a simple life well, not in a life of so-called 'glory' and warfare. How strange Men can be some times!
I think that the very best thing that I could do for Joxer is to get him to Rivendell as quickly as I can. Surely he will find solace and healing there! If we go at the utmost haste, it will take us several days of journeying through Mirkwood. I wonder if the other stranger, shaman_x can speed our journey? He seems to be a Maia, or even one of the Valar. I was so delighted to see him appear! If in truth, Middle Earth is threatened by some great evil again, it is heartening to know that the Valar still watch over us.