417 – I Am a Rock

Alan, would you like to take us to our first reading of the day?

I will.

We're gonna start out with The Faithful Stone, and I am so excited to read part of this.

"On a time there was a Drûg named Aghân, well-known as a leech.

He had a great friendship with Barâch, a forester of the Folk, who lived in a house in the woods two miles or more from the nearest village.

The dwellings of Aghân's family were nearer, and he spent most of his time with Barâch and his wife, and was much loved by their children.

There came a time of trouble, for a number of daring Orcs had secretly entered the woods nearby, and were scattered in twos and threes waylaying any that went abroad alone, and at night attacking houses far from neighbors.

The household of Barâch were not much afraid, for Aghân stayed with them at night and kept watch outside.

But one morning he came to Barâch and said, 'Friend, I have ill news from my kin, and I fear I must leave you awhile.

My brother has been wounded, and he lies now in pain and calls for me, since I have skill in treating Orc-wounds.

I will return as soon as I may.' Barâch was greatly troubled, and his wife and children wept; but Aghân said: 'I will do what I can.

I have had a watch-stone brought here and set near your house.' Barâch went out with Aghân and looked at the watch-stone.

It was large and heavy and sat under some bushes not far from his doors.

Aghân laid his hand upon it, and after a silence said, 'See, I have left with it some of my powers.

May it keep you from harm!' Nothing untoward happened for two nights; but on the third night Barâch heard the shrill warning-call of the Drûgs, or dreamed that he heard it, for it roused no one else.

Leaving his bed he took his bow from the wall and went to a narrow window, and he saw two Orcs setting fuel against his house and preparing to kindle it.

Then Barâch was shaken with fear, for marauding Orcs carried with them brimstone or some other devilish stuff that was quickly inflamed and not quenched with water.

Recovering himself he bent his bow; but at that moment, just as the flames leapt up, he saw a Drûg come running up behind the Orcs.

One he felled with a blow of his fist, and the other fled.

Then he plunged barefoot into the fire, scattering the burning fuel and stamping on the Orc-flames that ran along the ground.

Barâch made for the doors, but when he had unbarred them and sprang out, the Drûg had disappeared.

There was no sign of the smitten Orc, the fire was dead, and there remained only a smoke and a stench."

All right, we begin today's, uh, second-half look at the chapter on the Druedain with one of their, uh, tales of marvel mentioned at the end of last week, The Faithful Stone.

Different than Marvel tales, I would imagine.

I mean, I don't think there's any crossover between the Marvel Universe and this one, no?