Journey to Rhosgobel

Wilyador the eagle is getting worse by the day. We must arrive at Rhosgobel, the haven of Radagast the Brown. It is said that wizard has the power to heal such a regal creature, and it is my great hope that he does. We first traveled through the Black Forest where bats attacked us from overhead. They dove and swiped at Wilyador, but Legolas, with his sharp eye and even sharper arrows, was able to drive them off. After three days and two nights, we arrived at Rhosgobel. A bent and stooped man with a long, gray beard met us outside his small cottage. Radagast looked anything but formidable, but he quickly assessed Wilyador and demanded that we once again travel into the wild to find the healing plant Athelas. I did not know the plant, but Strider said that he did, and so we left in search of it. Deep in Mirkwood, we walked until we arrived at the strange mountains of that place. There, a flock of ravens clawed at us, but once again Legolas came to our aid. Amidst the fallen birds, Strider bent and plucked a green plant from the earth. Athelas, he said, and turned to leave. But to our dismay, a giant spider leaped upon the Dúnedain’s back. He cried out, but Gimli clove the beast in two with his wide axe. By the time we returned to Rhosgobel, night had descended upon middle earth. In his home, Radagast sat by a low burning fire. He shook his head as we entered and then held his hands up for all to see. They were covered in blood. Wilyador, the wizard said, succumbed to his wounds while we searched in vain for Athelas. Strider, frustrated, shouted in despair. We had tried our best to save Wilyador, a truly noble creature, but failed. If there is a lesson in this tragedy, it is this: the death of beauty must be challenged even when failure is certain.