Tunaraz woke in a place where all colours were more bright. Not necessairily because it was a hot midsummer's day. He held his fingers over his eyes to give them some shade from the light. His breating was deep and he could not help but notice that it was easier than it had been in recent years. In fact, everything felt less stiff and worrisome. He was amidst a cornfield and poppies bloomed openly around his feet. Were was he? It felt like home.
Briskly like a young stag he jumped forward and heard a muffled yell, "Oi!" Tunaraz' eyes widened and peered down. There lay an old man who slowly got on his feet. He held up a staff of birchwood, green twigs were growing on it, "Ho there! Am I looking for you?"
Tunaraz simply stared dumbfounded at the strange one, "What are you looking for then?" The old one's eyes flared up with excitement and suddenly he sat down again, "Please, tell me a story!" Tunaraz' patience was already thinning.., "I have no want nor the time for similar things. I ..", the memory of his last moments before his wakening sprang up his mind, "The goblins , the crawlers.." The old on looked up and saw something in the man before him, he clapped his hands together, their skin seemed like bark of an oak. It looked that old and tough. "Mighty showing that! Certainly worth the watch! Leading those poor men against those odds! Haha!" Tunaraz scratched through his hair, "What? .. How..? What is happening here old man?" It was the old one's turn to stare now, he then rose a finger, "I am presenting you a gift for your efforts!", the old one then rolled his shoulders and the breaking of something could be heard beneath his woolen tunic. "You will soon be leaving again! I hope that you regain your patience as your age settles on you once more!" Tunaraz did not understand.."What?" He took a look at his hands and he could not believe his own eyes. He had the clothing of a hunter, the same shoes whom in fact were his first pair, back when he was.. maybe seventeen summers? His arms were not his own either, despite the old scars all over. They were too young, youthfull even. "And here will be your gift.", said the old man, whom at this point did so absent of mind, staring away like someone that should be someplace.
A tap or two with the staff on the ground and a voice came, one of a woman. He turned around and he suddenly felt weak in the knees, he dropped to them. The old one was gone, but the vision that appeared in it's stead was something even stranger. Tall and full of greatness was her stature, he could not believe it, but there she was, "Yes it is me.", the voice spoke, "There is little time, we must speak quickly.." Her tone was not soft, but despite it all there he felt great joy! His hands wanted to grab hers, but it was not possible, "Our son is returning." He blinked, "He needs help, do something if you can and when we will meet here again, let us go knowing that he dwells to leave your name on the middle-earth. I know there has been much pain you have gotten.. and caused because of my passing. It must end. Go save our son in the mountains of mist!", there was cold command in her tone now and he could not help but feel a deep shame, he nodded quietly not sure what to think at the moment. Her tone softened, "I shall wait for you, do not be in too much haste to see me again." He managed to open his dried up mouth, "I do not know if this is real but.." "..I am also happy to see you again...and...we will talk about that other woman and son you have." They both smiled knowingly. Then all went dark and the dream was gone.
He woke up on a bed of straw. His legs and arms felt stiff, his eyes were less keen and the wound that he had received was aching without mercy. "Ho! Awake then?", the raw voice of Ulfrid asked. "Hrmpf... more than ever.", he said weakly and growling like an old bear that had been pestered out of hibernation. The last memories of his dream starting to fade away aside for a single matter now. "We made it then.", he concluded as he looked around at the tents turned into hospices. "Barely. Many will not see the fall of the evening, but there is also better news.", his battle-friend pointed to the other side of his bed. A colossal man stood there, taller and broader than any other and not by a little bit. He glanced down and spoke roughly, " I have been sent to guard the lands against the encroaching goblins and wargs and I heard battle-clamour in the distance." "With thankfulness the help is accepted, many may yet live now were they otherwise would've fallen." "Grrm.. I shall accompany you and yours. You seem far from quitting in waging war." Tunaraz closed the eyes, "No, however..I would gladly see your strength at our side.. I have a request." Great eyebrows frowned, "Speak then!!"
Tunaraz pointed in the direction of the mountains, "A great warrior comes from the mountains, together with many companions. Butcher of many enemies that want to claim the woods. Seek this group and direct them to us. Danger lies there at every corner and your might may see them through, and find a use during your search. Come back and join us if you will if that is of your choosing. That is my request." The man growled terribly, "And how do I recognise this warrior were so many now leave their homes, looking for leaders to guide them?" Tunaraz would have spoken but he had fallen back asleep, the effort he had used to speak was greater than he allowed to let be seen.
Ulfrid scratched his chin, he seemed a bit confused at first, but then he may know the answer. For a group once set out to the mountains to gather warriors from far away lands., "One of them would have red hair like the fire in an oven and be named Wunjo" "This is the great warrior?" Ulfrid allowed himself a cheeky grin and shook his head with his teeth set on eachother, "He set out with a few, in the days when this oncoming war was no more than whispers and rumours that hardly seemed worth bothering with. He may have been more wise then than I had expected him to be.. maybe, for here we are hoping he is in fact returning with succes from what then seemed to be a senseless fool's errand!" The enormous man's brown eyes looked at Tunaraz.. "It is a son of him and he alone may bring such a great warrior. Whomever may be meant by it." "GRRrrmff.., I shall try to find this great warrior then if it would give heart to those that risk their lives here. Call it, out of good will."
Ulfrid scratched his neck as he saw the huge figure stoop forward and lumber out of the tent, "The Bjom-folk, Crawlers, goblins, easterlings, old prophecies from that soothsaying fool at home coming to be true... All that is missing now is Bema himself coming out of the heavens." Then he looked up at the rainy sky and a thunderclap rumbled there.
