Garinor saw all three visions and his mind was swimming with all the information. He couldn’t begin piecing it together as he strained to return to the Elder’s hut. Each step was like trying to scale a mountain. The first venture through time had ultimately knocked him out. Now, after three such journeys, it was hard for him to believe he was even alive.
He didn’t know if an hour had passed or only ten minutes, but he finally reached Elder Dorin’s door. Without knocking, he pushed it open and crept inside. The wise man sat stoically by a window and stared soundlessly out at the night. Something about his posture made Garinor feel uncomfortable.
Dropping to the ground, Garinor opened his mouth to speak, but Elder Dorin spoke first. “You lost yourself in temptation. You viewed not only the extra scene, but all three. You were impulsive and hasty and you did not think through your actions before you began. These actions, should they continue, could lead you down a perilous road.”
Elder Dorin turned then and his face was lost in a despairing shadow. “I understand you are young still and impatience is bound to sit upon your shoulders, goading you on. However, your life is unlike others of your age. Responsibilities rest upon you and to deal with them you must learn to master yourself in a short and—I admit—unfair amount of time.”
He paused to let these words hit Garinor in full force before continuing, not letting the boy utter a single word. “I am not trying to scold you, Garinor, but to warn you, to guide you, to caution you. You must take care in what you do, for you have an important task in this life. Surely your insights through time gave some hint as to your importance?”
Tears filled his eyes, but Garinor refused to let them fall. He nodded silently, not trusting his voice to speak.
“Good then,” Elder Dorin said. “You have not harmed our friendship, Garinor, for any man faced with a wealth of knowledge would yearn to drink freely of it. I simply wish you to learn self-control. That is all.” He smiled finally. “Peering through the portals of time is draining for anyone and to have done so thrice today, you must ache from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. I would like for you to lay yourself down to sleep for some time now and when you awake, we will talk again. I will then tell you what I must so you can be guided along on your journey. Oh yes,” he nodded at the look on Garinor’s face, “I am still on your side and I am still willing to help you. As I said, the temptation would have been great for any man. Now, set yourself down properly there.” He pointed to a flimsy-looking cot in the corner and insisted Garinor find the strength to carry himself there.
It felt like his bones were made of daggers when he moved. Everything hurt so badly. It wasn’t just an aching, but a series of sharp, shooting pains. He didn’t protest, for Elder Dorin’s words hit had struck him hard, and it was perhaps those very words that made the discomfort seem so unbearable.
Heavily, he brought himself to the cot and managed to drag the thin sheet over himself. Sunlight poured into the room, but he dared not ask a shade to be drawn for him. He closed his eyes and buried his face under his arm, refusing to berate himself for any length of time. Elder Dorin was right; he had given in to temptation, and also, he was in desperate need of rest. Slamming his eyes shut against self-rebuke, Garinor soon fell asleep.