Chapter 26. Though parting is painful, we are on our way again

As I watch, turning my head back on my neck almost as far as it will go, my Friend the brown wizard probes my shoulder with gentle fingers and nods in satisfaction. That will do quite nicely, my young friend. Just don't get into any more wrestling matches with wolves, if you please...

I snort and ask pertly (sounding much more courageous than I feel), What about foot races?

He purses his lips and affects deep thought. Foot races, now... he says, stroking his beard, and then nods. Such an activity might be preferable, at that. However, I would advise keeping your races to a minimum for the next few days while the healing process is continuing. Even at the risk of disappointing Sceadufæx...

I will try to contain my disappointment to the best of my ability, says my companion, who has been closely watching the wizard's examination, along with the brown one's horse. And so when my Friend steps back, he blunders into their curious noses.

Hi! he cries as if put out, throwing up his hands as if he is severely startled, though all of us know he is merely playing. The horses toss their heads high and roll their eyes in mock alarm, but they stand their ground, for they trust him rather than fear what he might do to them. And then they lower their heads again and push their noses against him, seeking comfort and caresses. Which he seems happy to provide.

Of course I must also have my share of stroking, and so I push forward to join the happy throng.

Though he has but two hands, the brown one soothes with his voice as well and distributes his pats and caresses so deftly that none of us feels neglected whilst the moment lasts.

At last, the brown one leaves off and turns to his horse. A moment, my faithful friend, he says, and receives a nod in response.

He turns to my companion; they gaze eye-to-eye for a long, solemn moment. Then the brown one raises his hand and lightly strokes the great horse's cheek with astonishing gentleness. You must remain strong, he murmurs. Do not lose your head, no matter what may happen...

As my companion tosses his head uneasily at the wizard's words, I find myself wondering if the brown one has some knowledge, some foretelling, of an ordeal that lies in our future? But since he is speaking directly to the great horse, perhaps the ordeal will only come upon my companion after he has escorted me to my destination and departed?

For the brown one turns to me next. You are much thinner than I like to see in any beast, he says with a pat for my neck. But you have used well the time we have had together, with your grazing and resting and rebuilding your strength as you were healing.

Any beast? I venture, rubbing my face on his arm in an attempt to lighten his sombre mood. Even a wolf?

As I had intended, he laughs and shakes a finger at me. Indeed, he says, let even the wolves be fat and roly-poly! For I deem you would have no trouble outrunning them in any races they might instigate, if that were the case!

Roly-poly is a term I have heard my hobbits use after a feast in that marvellous Valley, holding their stomachs and walking unsteadily (though I think the latter has more to do with drinking than eating to excess). I am not sure what a feast is, actually, except that one of them involves satisfied sighs (and the occasional belch into the bargain) and an uneven gait and toothsome treats secreted in pockets, brought to the stables to share with a curious pony or two. (For even when Merrylegs's Old Pet has not come to the stables with them, they have always included him as well as me when handing out the delights they have brought with them from a feast.)

Though I have some trouble imagining affable wolves, I must admit that such would be preferable to the avaricious creatures I have encountered before this point.

Suddenly, overcome by wistfulness, I rest my face against his abdomen. I do not wish to be parted, I whisper.

You would like to come with me? my Friend says gently, rubbing me under my jaw. Indeed, I would find your company welcome! 

He smiles at the thought, then sobers, leaving off his caresses and lifting my chin in his hand to look me in the eye as he adds in a lower tone, But then, I fear, you would never come to be reunited with your beloved Sam again! For our journeys lie along different paths...

Though the thought of never seeing my Sam again is unthinkable, I am truly distressed at parting from this Friend I have learned to love so deeply, even in the brief time we have spent together.

Will I never see you again? I ask, half-closing my eyes in my sorrow and pressing my head against him once more.

The brown wizard chuckles softly. Never is too long a time even for one like myself to contemplate, he says gently. My advice to you, Child, is to go to your Sam, that he may join you in your "for-ever-more". 

I am not sure what this means, though it sounds like a long time to me. But the brown one is still talking... It is always possible that our paths will cross again someday, should you and your Sam wander into the same path I am following for a time...

I nod against his stomach, and then I lift my head away to look him in the eye. So shall I hope, I say.

*** 

The great horse and I stand watching as the brown one mounts his horse and lifts his hand in farewell. Then, without any apparent signal from the Rider, his horse turns and walks away. Within a few steps, he is trotting briskly, and soon they are out of our sight.

My companion and I sigh at the same time, and then we turn our faces towards each other and touch noses.

Ready? the great horse says.

Quite, I reply. There's no time like the present, as my Hobbits seem fond of saying.

As we walk on, my companion says, I have heard something similar from my Rider. I wonder if he learned it from your Hobbits, or if it might have been the other way around...?

Thus, pleasantly conversing under the smiling Sun, we continue our interrupted journey.

***