Note: First and foremost, Thanks once again for the reviews, favs and follows for this story. I greatly appreciate it. I have named Everly's mare Ashka (which in India it means hope) and I think it will fit her nicely. And yes, even ten years later Gandalf still calls Everly child...for now. I hope you like this chapter. More to come and now the real adventure begins. Oh and at the end of this chapter is a sneak peak of a future chapter.

Reviews are great and wonderful; flames are not tolerated.

Chapter Three: Tell Me The Story

Everly stared out the make shift window watching as Ashka grazed near by. She was restless from the lack of sleep. She was achy and stiff. Her head pounded something fierce. She felt weak and sometimes she became dizzy. It took so much out of her; the concentration and dedication to keep herself from falling apart and letting it control her.

She hid the yawn with the back of her hand.

"When was the last time you slept, child?" Gandalf asked, studying her and watching her fight the sleep.

Everly pulled away from the mare and turned and looked at Gandalf. "A few days maybe." She sighed softly. "Every time I close my eyes I see it staring back at me. I can feel it becoming stronger...it wants..."

Gandalf nodded his head. Placing his pipe down he stood to his feet and walked to her. "It will feel that way for some time to come. You're now learning to control it. This will be the first real night it doesn't consume you."

"It makes me so tired trying, Gandalf. I just want to give in. I feel so drained."

He placed his hand on her shoulder. He was much taller then her, she tilted her head back to look up at him. Their eyes met. "You've come so far these 5 years since it was discovered for you to give up fighting. You are stronger then you give yourself and I know you very well that you don't want to let it take over."

"This will pass in the coming days. You have to want it. You are one with it, not the other way around."

Everly leaned into him. It was much harder then the old wizard thinks it is. It was stronger then her in more ways then she ever knew. There was very little to hang on too. "It's because of him is it not?" She asked him after a moment of silence. "It's because of him this fire burns through my veins."

"I'm afraid so. Not only does your mother's elf blood flows through you, but also your father's therian blood."

It was more to process that Everly felt the two tears slide down her cheeks. "Gandalf, what if..."

But the old man didn't allow her to speak what her mind wanted her too. "Now is not the time to weep, child. You're restless and I think that you should lay down. It weighs heavily in your eyes."

She wanted to protest to him but she didn't have an arguement bone in her body at that moment. She was extremely tired that it took much effort to keep her eyes open, it was a task of her own. It was difficult to fall asleep when every time that she closed her eyes the fire she saw would devour her. It never let up once as the outline of the vicious beast stared back at her with its dangerous red eyes.

It scared her so much each time she saw the flaming creature knowing that was the very thing that dwell deep inside her.

Gandalf ushered her to the far side of the room. "I will be close if you need me." He said, nodding to the chair. "Sleep now."

Everly was grateful as she laid down on the uncomfortable bed even that couldn't keep her away. She pulled the blanket up to her chin, her clothing protecting her skin from the scratchy fabric.

Gandalf smiled to her before returning to his chair where his pipe awaited.

"Gandalf?" Everly called to him, groggily with sleep lingering in her voice. "Tell me the story again?"

"I've told you it a hundred times." He told her, taking a puff from his pipe. He kept himself from looking at her because when she did ask for the story and he told her she heard it before and nothing's changed, she would give him that look. A look he could not resist.

"I know you have. But I like hearing it. It's a wonderful story to hear." She felt the smile tug at her lips. She enjoyed it greatly hearing about when he found her because she knew that if he didn't the life that she has now would not exist. She would be no more. "Please Gandalf, please tell me the story."

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "You are the first I know that must be told the same over and over until your heart is content." He grumbled, with the pipe stick in his mouth. "Why do you insist to hear a story that is from the past? Nothing can be changed."

Everly frowned. "Because..." She started. "Because it reminds me of how thankful I am, how grateful I am that you saved me."

It was enough to make his heart ache. She's told him that before, the times he had asked her why she wanted to hear the same story again and it was the same answer. "Alright child, you will get your wish granted." He told her, as he looked at her. "Though I suggest that you don't ask again for...at least a month."

"You have my word, Gandalf." She laughed softly, watching the wizard move his chair closer to her bed side. She was quick to settle down under the blankets and waited for him to start.

Gandalf sighed softly, placing his pipe off to the side for a later time. "I was on my way back from visiting a dear friend of mine I had not seen in some time. It was like old times and I wish to see him again. He was kind to let me borrow his horse to make my travel easier, though he told me to return the mare the next time I was close. She would know her way home. She was a beautiful mare with her white coat. Her name was displeasing and I think she knew it too-Doris the horse and she was the most stubborn mare I ever came across."

Everly hardly contained her laughter bubbling up through her throat. It was a the first time in a very long time she had a good laugh. "Doris?"

Gandalf nodded, her laughter was music to his ears. He glanced over at her and chuckled, her look of confusion but amusement to the name. "I thought the very same thing, but I didn't question his reason for naming her something that was not suitable for her."

It never got old to hear the part about the name of the mare because it still made her laugh. "Did you ever tell your friend the mare didn't like her name?" She asked after a moment to make sure she wouldn't laugh again.

He shook his head. "I could not very well tell him his mare was stubborn as a mule let alone she was displeased with her name." He cleared his throat shaking the laughter from his tone before he continued.

"We rode for 2 nights only to stop for a few times for water and to feed the mare when Doris the horse came to a halt. No matter how hard I tried to coax the animal she did not budge. I thought maybe I pushed her too far but that was not the case. Doris the horse has a wandering habit, if I knew it before hand I would suggested a new horse."

Everly closed her eyes listening to the distraught sound in his voice about how Doris the horse wanted to leave the trail Gandalf and her were on. It made her smile, the images inside her head.

She had very little memory; vaguely remembered that night after she escaped her fathers attempt to kill her. There was only the pounding against her skull and the thick blackness that left her numb. There was only the pain.

"I did not understand at first why Doris the horse acted the way she did when she wandered from the trail before I would only have to turn her back and we would go on our way. Nothing worked. I pulled her myself but she would pull back." His eyes narrowed slightly with frustration recalling the memory from ten years ago. "I had asked her what she wanted, why did she give such a hard time when we would reach my destination by night fall. She was not spooked or hurt. She was a strong mare so she was not tired. I approached her calmly and soothed her when I saw the look something was wrong in her eyes. She nudged me in my shoulder until I got that she wanted me to look."

Gandalf turned his head and looked at her. She laid there still as her breathing was soft to the rhythm of her heart beat. It was fortunate that he came along when he did. He did not know how long she was laying there. Her looks were fragile and cold. She was covered in mud and leaves, barely hanging on. He was about to end his story when she had fallen asleep until she opened her eyes.

"Please don't stop." She whispered loud enough for him to hear. "I'm listening. I'm trying to picture it in my head but I'm not having much luck."

"As you wish." He sighed softly passing a hand through his gray hair and continued. "Doris the horse knew you were there, that is why she did not want to leave. It did take for me to see what she saw some time. You were covered with mud."

There was a sense of sadness that reached his eyes. He thought the worst when he saw her laying there so still; not a sound or weep. He couldn't even tell if she was breathing. "You were so cold to the touch but yet I could feel the fire burning. I did not know where you had come from when there was miles to the nearest city. I wrapped you in my blanket and carried you to Doris the horse where we made haste to the city where you were cared for until you woke three days later."

"I remember waking up with such a head ache and finding that lump on my head." Everly muttered; blinking her eyes a few times, Gandalf was now a blurry blob. She closed her eyes no longer able to keep them open. She smiled warily.

"You were bless with strong lungs." He reminded her.

"I was frightened. I've never seen others before." She rolled onto her side, tucking the blanket under her arm. "I was afraid of your beard..."

She sighed contently, her mind drew blanks leaving nothing behind to disturb her. For once, Everly felt as though she could sleep without worrying about being haunted by the images she blocked.

"Gandalf..."

"Go to sleep, child..." His words faded out.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Sneak Peak:

"Gandalf, whats a burger?" Everly asked the wizard as she followed him.

He stopped in mid step and turned to her. "Burger?" He looked at her confused.

"Yes a burger. Is that not what the dwarves called Bilbo?"

He scrolled her for ease dropping but had a hard time hiding the smile that came upon him. "No child, Bilbo is not a burger, he's a burglar."

"Ohhhh that makes more sense now."