Hey all, I hope you've enjoyed things thus far, slow as they may seem. I want to thank Iccle Fairy for her kind review. It brightened my day. Also, this chapter may seem a bit abstract or rushed towards the end. I didn't want to overload everyone with scenery and detail before it was necessary. The next chapter is where the adventure truly begins. For a disclaimed see chapter 1. Sit back, relax, and enjoy.

***

She woke to a burning behind her eyelids and knot in her stomach. It was not just the reappearance of sunlight in her life or the lack of proper nourishment. Zeke was dead and now the five were four. Her eyes felt heavy and gritted with salt from her tears. She had cried during the long hours of their ride, as had the others. When the eagles had finally landed she had stumbled off with a mumbled word of thanks and dropped away into a deep sleep right where her feet first touched the ground. Now it seemed to be mid-afternoon and she could here hushed voices nearby.

"You must come with me to Rivendell. There are forces at work here you cannot comprehend. Saruman is but one piece of the puzzle. You will be safe amongst the elves."

"And will they welcome us? We were human Gandalf, humans corrupted by Saruman's magic and our travel to this world. Will they trust us in their homes?" Both men spun around to face her, startled by her sudden appearance. She now saw Kasi, curled under the protective wing of one female eagle. Reiya was nowhere in sight.

"Elrond and his people will see you for the innocent victims you are. Should problems arise I can try to find you other accommodations."

"You won't have time, once you begin journeying with Frodo and his companions." The wizard looked bemused by her comment. "You didn't tell him," her voice held accusation and Ezra suddenly found his bare feet very interesting.

"It never came up. We only discussed what was critical for the escape."

"Everyone coming out alive was critical but that obviously didn't happen."

"I am sorry for your loss Child. Your friend showed great courage and loyalty through his actions."

"There was nothing left to prove on that front. We should explain a few things to you I think, before this goes any farther."

"Ok, good someone who agrees with me," Reiya remarked. Her hair and skin were soaking wet and her clothes, rags though they were, were covered in less grime then they had previously been. "The stream is just down the way behind those boulders," she supplied to Morna's unspoken question.
"What is it you wish to tell me?"

Ezra shifted on his feet unsure how to begin. Reiya rolled her eyes and began combing her hair out with her fingers as she spoke. "You are Gandalf the Grey, a wizard of some repute here in Middle Earth. You once helped a hobbit named Bilbo complete a rather fantastical adventure along with his dwarf pals. Now his nephew Frodo holds the ring of Sauron, a dark lord returning to power after being defeated once before in war centuries ago."

"The last is common knowledge, and perhaps even the first could be overheard if one visits the right people, but how did you know of Frodo and the ring?" Morna took over from here.

"Because in the world we come from Gandalf, you are nothing more than a fairy tale. Middle Earth is a place of fiction where good conquers evil and elves fade so that men might thrive."

The old wizard's face turned stern and suspicious. "You expect me to believe that you do not come from Middle Earth or from this world at all? Even Saruman is not so powerful as to bring about such an occurrence."

"It was Sauron who brought us here, not Saruman." Morna's voice brooked no argument and her eyes flashed a challenge at him. The wizard sighed and found a seat about a small boulder.

"May we please start from the beginning? I seem to have misconceived a great many things." Ezra took over the explanations from there while Morna ran down for a soak in the creek and Reiya woke Kasi. Gandalf's brow never un-creased but his eyes were not so distrusting when Morna returned. Now they were filled with several emotions ranging from pity and respect for them to fear over what Sauron had accomplished.

"What could he possibly hope to achieve by it? How does this serve him?"

"It certainly expands the labor market." Morna's joke made Reiya smile in truth this time but Gandalf simply appeared perplexed. "It gave him the opportunity to find new mages to serve under him. The more servants he has in this world, the more power he is likely to attain. He wanted us broken and molded to his will. Sadly for him it seems the ones who gain magical talents are also the most stubborn. We'd have to be to survive Saruman's hospitality."

"But if it was Sauron who opened this gate between worlds, how is it you were kept in Saruman's keep?"

"Sauron shared the knowledge with Saruman. From what I gathered, after the loss of his ring Sauron could no longer open the gate himself. Too much of his power, his essence, was stored in the ring. To open such a portal you must be grounded. So the task fell to Saruman."

"Are there others?"

"They'd all been killed. If there were other survivors, we'd never have left them down there." Reiya spoke vehemently.

"Now you must come to Rivendell. You're knowledge of Saruman and Sauron's workings could prove useful to all."

"But that wasn't the plan," Kasi finally spoke. Her eyes were red rimmed and she was still covered in blood, bruises, and grime. It was hardest on her in this moment because Kasi was the empath of the group. She could feel their turmoil over Zeke's death. Unlike the others, her ability to block her gift was minimal. Empaths are meant to feel. To cut off that part of herself was to commit a form of suicide. "We agreed to try and find a way to go home. Don't misunderstand," she rushed to assure Gandalf," I am willing to help where I can. But, my home is not in Rivendell. My family is what kept me going this long. Unless we return to Saruman's fortress and deal with the portal one way or another, my family, and all those in my world, is in danger."

"Everyone in this world is also in danger. Evil like Sauron is only one of the possible horrors any person might face. Would your family be proud to hear you place your desires above the needs of millions?" Reiya hissed out a breadth and Morna could not seem to stop her hand. The sound of flesh striking flesh rang out in the little clearing and the eagles all turned to stare. Morna lowered her hand but refused to step back from the wizard's reproachful gaze as she spoke.

"How dare you? Kasi has been through Hell in this place. We all have. You would speak to us of selfishness? What about the king who defeated Sauron in the last war? Wasn't he selfish for keeping the ring? He is the one who put your world in danger. And you and yours would use us for information then leave us alone in a foreign world, uncaring of how we might feel about things. Is that not selfish?" Morna's voice grew louder with every word and she could feel the eagles shifting their wings uncertainly. She was tired and distraught, and her power was getting away from her. Taking a deep breath she stepped back.

"I apologize for my words and will admit my motives revolve around seeing this world safe and not your general happiness. However, regardless of whether you choose to aid me or not I would see you to Rivendell. There you can heal before continuing on your chosen quest."

The four looked at each other and without much effort Morna linked their minds so that they could discuss the issue. Ezra was more than willing to travel with Gandalf to Rivendell. Reiya's curious nature had her keen to go as well. Kasi was indecisive. Her heart and mind screamed the need to return home as fast as she possibly could, yet she could not stand the thought of abandoning those in Middle Earth who might need a healer's aid. Morna thought long and hard before voicing her opinion. The longer they stayed in Middle Earth the less likely it was they would ever see home again. Yet, she heard the truth in Gandalf's words. This world needed all the help it could get. What was a short time amongst the elves if it saved lives?

***

The flight to Rivendell was almost too swift for Morna. With the darkness and rain, she had seen little on her first flight with the eagles. This second allowed her to admire the beauty of the land they flew over. The eagles also took the time to speak with her a bit. In their minds she could see their nests, hidden far away in a mountain range where large speckled eggs were tended by their mates. Part of her longed to see those eggs with her own eyes. To watch the hatchlings as they learned to fly. But if all things went as planned, she'd be gone long before those chicks hatched.

Rivendell was a sight to behold. It appeared so suddenly amidst the woods. Kasi's gentle gasp carried on the wind as they began a lazy descent. The eagles seemed to circle forever growing closer to the ground. When they at last drew near to the balcony of a grand looking palace, the five riders slid free of their seats behind the great birds' necks. Eagles it seemed were not fond of farewells and so they left without much ado. A dark haired elf joined them on the veranda. The circlet about his head made it rather obvious who this new comer was.

"Welcome to Rivendell. I bear grave tidings Gandalf. You must come with me to the side of the hobbit Frodo. Your companions will be well looked after." The wizard's face was trouble as he nodded. He spared the four an apologetic glance.

"I'm afraid we must split ways for a short time. Trust the elves. They will set you to rights." And off he went without a backward glance. Other elves appeared then and escorted the four into the palace proper. They spoke little as they prepared baths, tended wounds, and set out clothes for their guests. The four were brought together once more in a large sitting room where a meal sat waiting for them. They ate in silence, unsure of this place or how they were meant to act. Sleep claimed them soon after, and if the elves found it strange that the four humans slept upon the floor, they said nothing.

The next few days were a bit better. While Gandalf sat at Frodo's bedside, the four were left to wander as they would. Freedom after being in captivity for so long was at once both exhilarating and terrifying. The two comical hobbits, Merry and Pippin, had helped to lessen their unease. The energetic halflings led them on 'secret' sojourns to the kitchen and showed them where the stables were. Morna spent a great deal of her time that second day in the stables. Kasi struck up the courage on the third day to visit the mending Frodo and offer what comfort she could. Elrond had been both amazed and pleased by her talents. They were doing a very good job of feigning normality. Then the meeting came, and their plans for a swift voyage home were once again foiled.