Leaving Home

The Fog Approaches

Archdruid Fitheach stood at the northern edge of Tai and worriedly watched the strange fog approaching from the sea. She had never seen anything like it before and though it was a long way off, it seemed to be heading straight for them. Suddenly the lead undine shot up from the sea at her feet and called out: “Lady, the lands are in in danger; you must flee!” Fit looked down at the small creature confused, “In danger, how are we in danger?” 

The undine looked unusually solemn: “That fog is sent from the shadow; it will overtake all of the remaining lands and Taibreamh’s protections will not hold against it. This land has always had magical powers against the Dark but they have grown old and slowly faded. They are no longer strong enough to stand against that which destroyed the River Lands.

The Undine Gives Warning

Fitheach regarded her small ally seriously: “How long do we have before it strikes?” The undine considered thoughtfully and replied: “My sisters in the ocean say it will be some days, perhaps a week but no more than that. You must all leave quickly.” “Leave, yes but where can we go that will be safe?” Fit countered. The undine replied: "The Shire will be taken, but there is safety for some far overland to Bree.” “And Lothloriel will stand against the dark forever, but none may go there without permission.” “It will accept you and your elven companions, but not Lord Can.”

Fit turned and ran back towards home. “I must warn Fiesty and her people and tell the elves, humans and dwarves here to flee. And I must find Can.” Passing through the grove she stopped by the scrying basin and immediately saw great fissures appearing in the ground and pouring out more of the foglike smoke. She could not tell whether they were in Taibreamh or elsewhere in the lands but they hastened her steps.

The Scrying Basin Foretells Destruction

Back at her desk, Fit wrote out a quick note to Fiesty and called for one of her ravens.

“My dear sister, The undines have warned that disaster will overtake our lands and we must all flee or die. A noxious fog approaches from the Shadow. Can has gone to tell the dwarves and the few humans that remain here; they will set sail for the Shire in a day or two. Over mountain to Bree is said to be a safe refuge. I am working with the elves remaining here, but as soon as I see them safely gone I will come to meet you and Can and we will decide what we should do. Stay safe.”

Fit tied the note securely to the raven’s leg and held it closely for a minute. “Fly my friend and deliver that only to Archdruid Fiesty. Wait there for me. Vanya Sulie.”

Two days later, Fitheach watched the ships pull slowly away from the dock; one turned towards the Shire with Can waving from the stern. It was heavily laden with the few humans and dwarves and as much of their possessions as they could load. Farm animals looked out from odd places giving it the look of the legendary ark.

The Dock at Taibreamh

The other ship carried the elves and many of the wild creatures from Taibreamh off to safety in Lothloriel. “May the Valar protect them”, Fit intoned as she watched her friends waving sadly as the ship drew away. They had pressed her to join them, but she could not stay in a land where Can was forbidden. Where would the druids and Can go? Over the mountains with humans, dwarves and hobbits? As she turned to load her own small boat for the voyage to the Shire, Fit felt a great longing for a home. Taibreamh had been the first place she had ever felt at home and now it would be soon gone. “There must be a home for us out there, free of the shadow, she dreamed briefly. Where does it lie and how will we find it?”