At dawn, Rhosgobel’s warded hedge burns with a soft, steady shimmer. Tuiwen stands within the russet boundary, her shoulder bound and her strength returning. In Radagast’s hands, the contained heartstone gives one faint pulse.
Radagast the Brown
The stone remembers Saruman’s mark. Not rumor, not suspicion. A memory bound in crystal, strong enough for the White Council to witness.
Radagast raises the heartstone above a shallow basin. Pale images gather in its depths: Saruman beside the tracking beacon, the hidden paths, the hunters closing around Tuiwen.
Radagast the Brown
I can send this truth to Isengard, but the sending will also reveal that you survived. Saruman will know who broke his net.
The heartstone trembles between his palms. Beyond the hedge, the forest remains dark, yet no hunter crosses the glowing ward. Tuiwen’s corruption has receded, but a thin shadow still marks her skin like old ink.
Radagast the Brown
You carried the warning across Mirkwood. Now choose what the warning becomes. Silence may preserve the Council’s safety for a little while. Truth may save it, if they believe what they see.
The basin waits before Tuiwen. Within it, Saruman’s betrayal is clear, and the path to the White Council lies open through light and memory. Radagast lowers his hands, leaving the final invocation to her.
“"Saruman is the last one we should tell. Let us report to Gandalf instead. He will know what to do. Also, I must inform my father. He worries about me. Perhaps one of your birds could bring him a message?"”
SUCCESS (Superb Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Tuiwen
Saruman is the last one we should tell. Send the truth to Gandalf instead. He will know what must be done. And please send word to my father. He will be worrying. Perhaps one of your birds can carry it.
The heartstone steadies above the basin. Its pale memories turn from the black tower toward a clear, silver road westward.
Radagast the Brown
Yes. Gandalf will hear this before the Council can be clouded by Saruman's voice. Your father will hear of your survival before nightfall.
Radagast cups one hand over the basin and guides the stone's light into a narrow thread. The memory of the beacon, the hidden paths, and Saruman's betrayal folds safely within it.
Radagast the Brown
One message will fly west on light. Another will cross the boughs on living wings. Thranduil shall know you carried his warning through the darkness and returned.
From the russet hedge, a small brown bird accepts the marked bark strip in its beak. Radagast releases the first silver thread toward Gandalf, then watches the bird rise toward the eastern forest.
Radagast the Brown
Rest now, Tuiwen. The truth is no longer trapped in the stone, and neither are you.
The heartstone dims to a quiet ember. Beneath the dawn, Rhosgobel holds its peace, while two messages carry the hard-won truth toward those who can guard it.
The silver thread vanished westward, while the brown bird rose east with its tiny burden.
Tuiwen
Let the truth outrun me. I will have to do the same.
Radagast the Brown
Then go gently, child. Not unseen, perhaps, but no longer alone.
The heartstone dimmed in Tuiwen's hands, emptied of its secret.
Dawn settled over the wild, pale and watchful. Saruman's treachery now traveled toward the White Council, while word of Tuiwen's survival flew east to Thranduil. Her corruption remained a wound, but the truth was free, and Radagast's blessing went with her into the morning.