[Dictated]

[treeshepherd]

  [There is a sound halfway between the creak of ancient wood and a sigh.]

Hrooom.

The trees are young, here.  They sing to me, but they do not know much of this world.  Hoom, they remind me of groves I knew long ago.  Ah, the willows of Tasarinan in the Spring.  They were lovely when I walked among them.

Hm, but this is no time for an old Ent's memories.  Come.  Tell me what news you have of this world.

Comments

[treeshepherd]

My love is for the trees most of all. And for a tree all seasons have their appeal. Winter is the season of dreaming.

But you care for flowers, young creature?

[3_butterflies]

A-huh! Flowers, trees, I love them all.

[treeshepherd]

Good, good. They need someone to care for them, as well. [There is a certain amount of sadness in his voice as he says this.]

[3_butterflies]

[and she sounds sad in turn.]

I used to do that back home... But it looks like they don't need my help here.

[treeshepherd]

All plants need tending, whether they are wild or cultivated.

[3_butterflies]

Really...? I thought they took care of themselves, like everything else here.

[treeshepherd]

I am a shepherd to the trees. We Ents, we came to love and tend the wild places of the world best.

[3_butterflies]

[Imagining an actual shepherd, sheep and all.]

That sounds really nice... Maybe the floral life will be much better and happier now that you're here.

[treeshepherd]

[And his answer comes with some heaviness.]

If the Entwives could be here. We Ents, we came to love the wilderness. We loved what grew with no guiding hand. But the Entwives, they loved the flowers and fruitbearing things. Everything that grew in gardens.

[3_butterflies]

[w-w-why is that all in the past tense...]

Oh, so it's two different things... I guess I can understand that. I've never heard of these terms before... they're very interesting.

[treeshepherd]

[He makes a sound like the creaking of ancient branches and trails off into his thoughts.]

[3_butterflies]

... Did I say something wrong? Oh, I'm sorry... I probably shouldn't have said anything...

[treeshepherd]

[He wakes back up with a start.]

Hrum, must have drifted off there. What were we talking about?

[3_butterflies]

Um... About who takes cares of plant life? You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to...

[treeshepherd]

Hoom, I find myself quite enjoying talking to you. Reminds me of when we still had Entings around. Long time ago, that was. Even as we Ents calculate time.

[3_butterflies]

[Yaaay.]

Oh... o-okay! Maybe one of those Entings will come here someday... This place can bring around anything.

[treeshepherd]

No. There will never again be any entings. We lost the Entwives, you see. Lost them and cannot find them.

[3_butterflies]

O-Oh... I'm sorry...

[treeshepherd]

It happened a long time ago. And perhaps we may yet find them one day.

[3_butterflies]

Um, well... I hope you do, mister. I really do.