Hiding is the one thing that Vienna was good at. It was the one thing she did better than anyone else she knew. It was also why people paid her a lot of gold to do their dirty work. Also, the status of Ranger fit her better than any other she had been given. She enjoyed ripping out throats and stalking villains in the night. The titles of a soldier and a war hero were long gone to her at this point and she found no shame in that. Well, maybe a little shame. That was until she received a very unexpected letter from an old friend.

Dear Vienna,

I know that it had been many long years since I have reached out to you. I also know that you owe me a debt. I would like to cash in a favor; you know the one I speak of. So please, dear friend, meet me at the Prancing Pony in Bree the eve after next. I'll explain everything to you when I arrive there. I promise you will not regret it.

-Mithrandir

Vienna stared at the letter. She was partially terrified and partially impressed that he would blackmail her so blatantly. Must be important, she thought. She bit her lip and glanced out a nearby window; a sick, constricted feeling settling in her stomach. There was a reason she had hidden herself away from those with power, and she did not take kindly to a friend attempting to manipulate her. She had disappeared into the world not wanting to be bothered, Gandalf knew that. And yet, here he was, bothering her. You could at least see what he wants, her mind suggested. And then promptly put him in his place. She chuckled to herself. As a child, Vienna had quickly learned that it was best to keep to yourself, it was safer that way. But no matter how hard she tried, Vienna certainly had a habit of getting thrust into other people's problems. She folded the letter and hid it in her rucksack on the side of her horse. Glancing around the street she chuckled again. I guess it's really convenient that I'm already here, she thought as her eyes landed on the sign for the Prancing Pony.

Vienna made her way down the dirt path. She had sat on the idea of meeting Gandalf for many hours before, at last deciding that she needed to hear him out before she told him no. There was no way that she could help him, but she could at least hear his request. Maybe it was rude of me to give him hope and then to take it away, she thought with a chuckle, almost as rude as blackmail. Oh, how did she love irony.

The night had fallen quickly on this evening and the rain began. The deluge that fell was heavy and left a weary feeling in her chest as Vienna found herself outside the pub once more.

The whispers started the minute she stepped inside. To the pub goers, she was a familiar face and yet a complete mystery. A masked rider from the north. No one knew what she looked like, her age or even her gender. She remained unknown to them for many reasons. Keeping her anonymity close to her chest allowed her to go through her daily life helping helping people when she deemed it necessary without all the hussle and bussle of gossip.

With only her eyes visible beneath her hood and above her mask, she ignored the whispers as her eyes landed on the person she had been there for. Vienna crossed the room, noting that many sets of eyes followed her. As she arrived at Gandalf's table, he rose and came around the table to greet her.

"Couldn't have chosen a more private meeting place?" She offered a gloved hand out to him and he shook it. "You happen to not be the only person I am meeting here tonight," he stated as they sat.

"I knew you would come." His voice was laced with a sense of pride.

"And how is that, I might ask?" Vienna countered. She wasn't going to let his words give her hope. There was no hope for her, not after all this time. Once a failure, always a failure.

"Amarelle Datoris. No longer will you hide away from the light. You know why I came in search of you. You can no longer hide from the world. From who you are. The things you have done are terrible, but not unforgivable. And I'm sure they would agree." His use of her birth name emphasized his seriousness and although his words were touching, she knew there had to be something more to this. Vienna looked from the ground up to him and scoffed when she figured it out. She completely ignored his mention of them. That was not up for discussion now. The prospects of destiny and self purpose were no longer part of her life.

"Now, why is Gandalf the Grey hiring a Ranger to do his dirty work?" she taunted, eyeing him closely. She could tell she hit the nail on the head when his demeanor became less authoritative and more communicative. "What do you want from me?"

He looked serious, slightly bothered that she saw through his words. Gandalf's face grew dark and he scanned the room, his eyes finally landing on a Dwarf sitting by himself across the Prancing Pony. Vienna followed his gaze, not recognizing the Dwarf at first. She looked back at Gandalf puzzled.

Vienna's eyes wandered back to the dwarf who was eating and drinking without any real knowledge that they were observing him. "I need you to keep him alive."

"Why?" She asked quickly, her anxieties building with every moment she sat with Gandalf.

"That is for me to know and for you to find out, if you accept my request." His words were cautious as he eyed her. He could tell that she was willing to bolt out of the pub with any wrong word.

Vienna squinted at him and began to weigh the options. She came here with the intentions of denying his request, but now that she sat here with the opportunity of redemption in front of her, she was intrigued. It was like dangling a bone in front of a dog's snout. The temptation was palpable. She knew she could help him. It isn't like I'm doing better things with my time?...but what if it happens again? What if fail? She pushed the thought from her mind and looked into his eyes. Vienna took a deep breath before replying.

"If I accept, what do you need me to do?" She asked. He caught her eye and smiled. He knew she wasn't one to turn down a challenge, it went against her nature.
"I only ask that you come to a meeting the fifth eve from tonight, over in the Shire," he simply replied.

"No." she started suddenly. If she was going to help, she was going to do it on her terms. "No meetings, I will not be in a group. You want me to keep him alive…." She paused, glancing at the Dwarf across the pub. Her sudden moment caught his attention and he met her eyes, "...then I will be doing it on my own terms," She finished and dropped connection with the Dwarf. He looked vaguely familiar in the most unsettling way. Dark hair, regal airs, and killer blue eyes.

"Fine, have it your way. But the information given at the meeting will be highly important and incredibly secretive. Make sure you are with in hearing distance." He stated flatly, noting the eye contact she had previously been holding.

"I'll be there," Vienna stood, about to take her leave, but she stopped. "Do not tell them I am accompanying them. If that is who I think it is, he will not like being followed. Oh, and if you blackmail me again, I will fucking bury you," she threatened with a smile.