Green eyes scanned the area momentarily before finding their target. A man clothed in pure white robes, Gandalf the White, a friend that Athear had recently met.
The lithe figure leaped effortlessly down from the strong tree branch she had been perched on, she tossed her waist-long brunette hair casually. It was pulled back into a high ponytail, just the way she liked it. It didn't get in the way so much that way.
Athear walked over to her new friend, he was sitting on a stump and appeared to be deep in thought. Athear took a seat on a nearby rock, not bothering to smooth out the wrinkles on her green dress. She hadn't bothered with such things since leaving Rohan so many years ago.
"What's on your mind, Gandalf?" She asked, watching the wizard curiously. He always seemed to be thinking about something.
"Ah, the question should be 'what isn't on your mind,' for the list would be significantly shorter." Gandalf responded with a chuckle, "But that's beside the point. The point is that I've been meaning to give you something, but I'm not sure if you'll want it or not." He said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a fine silver chain with a feather and a claw on it as pendants. "Do you know what these are?" He asked, offering the necklace to her.
Athear took it and held it carefully in her hands, examining it for a moment before gasping slightly as she realized what they were. "A gryphon feather and claw… Gandalf, why would you want to give me something so valuable?" She asked, awestruck.
"Good, good, you know what it is." The wizard said with a smile, "I've had it for a long time, but I never found anyone who seemed right to give it to, until now." He said, nodding his head. "To use it, one must be very in tune with the earth and all it's creatures, like you are." He said calmly. But his tone changed as he continued, it became suddenly serious with a hint of warning, "But if you accept, you must be careful with it, this necklace becomes a part of you once you start using it. If you're ever separated from it, the consequences could cost you your life." He sighed, his brow furrowing. "I've seen it before… This is why I wasn't sure if you would want it, do you, Athear?"
"But Gandalf, what does it do?" Athear asked, eyeing the necklace suspiciously.
"It will allow you to change into a gryphon and back at will. Do you want it, now that you know the good and the bad of using such a thing?"
Athear thought for a moment before putting the chain around her neck, "Yes, I'll use it in the war against the Ring, I'll take the risk, though I don't know how to use it…"
"That, I cannot tell you. I've never used it, but I'm sure you will figure it out." He said, tone changing once more to a pleasant one. "You are very cleaver."
Athear smiled, fingering the charms of the necklace absentmindedly. "Thanks Gandalf, you're the best." She said before walking off into the forest to find the newly awakened Ent, Treebeard. He had some interesting stories to tell if one was patient enough to listen.