Forgotten Hope
Oft hope is born, when all is forlorn (Return of the King, p. 169)
A/N: This story is somewhat Silmarillion based, but I will try to make it understandable for all readers. It is based on the books rather than the movies. Italics indicate Sindarin.
I plan to update at least once a week (possibly more frequent). Constructive criticism and reviews are appreciated. Please let me know if you see any typos, grammatical errors, etc.
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot are the author's. The rest is based on the work of J. R. R. Tolkein. I am making no money from this project.
Please let me know what you think of this story! Enjoy!
Chapter 1
"Mistress Rian!"
Rian straightened from where she was working in her herb garden. She looked up to see her two students running towards her.
"What is it?"
"There are visitors!"
"Really?" Visitors to Edoras were uncommon in these troubled days, but occasionally Rohirrim from other settlements did visit, and it really wasn't something to get excited over.
"Yes, and one of them is an Elf!" Christa blurted excitedly.
"An Elf?" That was odd. Rian was the only Elf in Rohan, and none of the humans knew what she really was. She had learned long ago to "mask" her presence so she looked to them like another human. To them, she looked like another nondescript fifty-something woman. "I wonder why an Elf is here…"
"There's also a Dwarf and Man who looks like…" Young Christa faltered, searching for the right word.
"He reminded me of a king." Elena finished for her. At nineteen, Elena was a couple years older and at least marginally more mature than fifteen year old Christa. Still, their antics often amused Rian.
"And Gandalf is here." Elena finished. Rian glanced up sharply.
"He rarely brings good tidings." That was how the people of Rohan perceived the wizard. Rian had known him for ages, but these people thought her a fifty-something healer who had never left Rohan, so she couldn't reveal that she knew more about the wizard than that.
"Be that as it may, he seems to have healed the King." Elena said calmly, having finally caught her breath. "And Théoden has exiled Gríma."
Deep inside, Rian wanted to rejoice. "It's about time. I have grown sick of always watching over my shoulder for him." Gríma had always had an eye on her two students, as well as the Lady Éowyn. The king's counselor had realized that she had some power beyond what was natural for Men, and for that reason he had left them alone. Rian was simply grateful he had never realized what she truly was. Her work as a healer would be very difficult if the people she was helping knew she was an Elf. She preferred anonymity, which allowed her to work among them without hindrance. The culture of Rohan was naturally suspicious of outsiders, whether Men or others. It had taken years before she was accepted when she first came. There was also an aura of mystery and awe of Elves in the common people. If they had known who she really was, she would never be able to go among them and do her healing work, and especially not teach students.
"They accused him of being a spy for Saruman!" Christa blurted.
"Saruman? Why would the White Wizard spy on us?"
"I don't know. That's just what I overheard."
"So you were eavesdropping."
"I was just in the right place at the right time."
"I'm sure you were. Now that you've told me about your adventures for the day, so why don't you help me dry these herbs." Rian's tone allowed no argument. It wasn't a question.
Both girls groaned, but they quickly got aprons and settled to the task. They were both orphans with no other benefactor, and they were grateful to Rian. Without her, they would have starved, and even now neither had many prospects for marriage. While healing was a respectable profession for a woman, it was unlikely that any man would ever seek either girl's hand. Besides that, neither of them minded the work much. Their complaints were just for show.
As she set up the drying rack, Christa called over, "Aren't you going to go and at least see them, Mistress?"
"Why should I?"
"It may be your only chance to see an Elf." Rian snorted. They had no idea.
"Seriously, you should at least go over there," Elena said from where she was chopping the herbs for drying.
"Maybe I will later."
"We can handle this. You've been working on it all morning. Give your back a rest and let us finish here," Elena finished.
"Oh, all right. I'll be back in a few hours." With that, Rian went inside and removed her apron, then brushed her hair.
At the hall, Rian first ran into Éowyn, who was getting a meal ready for the visitors. She and Éowyn had a casual friendship, but they had never been close. While the women shared the bond of being just outside their culture, Rian was counted among the common people, while Éowyn was nobility. Their friendship was hindered, even more than this, by the fact that Rian avoided becoming close to many people. Close friends would expect her to confide in them, and she carried too many secrets to risk that. As far as Éowyn was concerned, Rian was only a simple healer who was just scraping by. Éowyn had been grateful when Rian took in Christa and Elena. After all, it kept them from prostitution.
"Éowyn!" Rian called a greeting.
"Hello, Rian."
"I heard there was some excitement this morning."
"Yes. There are visitors, and the King has been restored. Gandalf came this morning with several companions, and he healed my uncle. Wormtongue is gone, and it's like the days before he came." Éowyn's eyes were shining with hope—hope that had been absent for many years.
"That's what the girls told me. At least we can say that Gandalf does more than bring ill news. I wonder if I might be able to help you with the meal. The girls are drying herbs, and there's not a lot for me to do there." Even though she tried to fit in, Rian couldn't pass up the opportunity to defend her old friend. Gandalf had always been good to her.
"If you wish. I don't need help, but I won't turn it away."
"I'd like a chance to see the visitors. It isn't often that such a group visits Edoras.
To see an Elf and a Dwarf is quite an opportunity."
Éowyn nodded. It really wasn't like the healer to be extremely curious, even of strange events, but most of Edoras was trying to get a glimpse of the visitors, and she didn't mind an extra set of hands, especially since, unlike the rest of the community, Rian wasn't the type to fall all over herself at the sight of strange visitors.
Rian breathed a sigh of relief. For Gandalf and Aragorn to be here, for that was surely who the royal Man was, something major must be happening. She knew the line of Isildur remained, something hidden from other Men, but for Gandalf and whoever the Elf and Dwarf were to be with him was a sign that whatever was happening was of the utmost importance. Additionally, the inference of Saruman's betrayal was bothering her, and she hoped to have an opportunity to talk to Gandalf.
Rian entered the hall and hesitated for a moment when she caught sight of Aragorn, for indeed that is who the Man was. She helped Éowyn serve the meal and immediately felt three sets of eyes on her. Of the four visitors, only the Dwarf was oblivious to her true identity. As she set a plate before Aragorn, he caught her eye.
"It is good to see you again, my lady." Rian smiled inwardly at his tact. He knew she probably wasn't using her own name, and wouldn't risk revealing her by not knowing the name she used here in Edoras.
"And you, my lord. Is it true that Saruman has betrayed us?"
"Yes, it is." Before he could continue, Aragorn noticed Legolas watching her. "This is Legolas from Mirkwood. Legolas, Elewen has chosen to live among Men for many years. She hides herself so they will not realize she is an Elf."
Legolas nodded. "Forgive me, lady. I did not expect to see another Elf here."
Rian kept her face blank, as if she hadn't understood the Sindarin conversation. "If you will excuse me, my lord?" Aragorn nodded, and she was able to slip away.
The rest of the meal went uneventfully, then Théoden took the visitors to the armory to give them whatever armor they would take. Her excuse to be there gone, Rian slipped out of the hall to go home.