Chapter 4 - Wizards and Adventure

ERUANNA POV

It has been two hundred years since I've been home, traveling on the road. Don't get me wrong, I love my Ada, and my siblings, Rivendell, but being out on the road, traveling to place to place has become my home, my place of belonging.

I've been to Bree to Lothlórien to the Iron Hills to Gondor.

And in all places I've gone, I might not have been welcomed well - Erebor - but I have helped where help was needed in every place, be it either hunting or healing the sick, and that is where my name has come out in legend, even though I've told people countless times I'm not of the Istari, they refer to me as such.

I am now known as Eruanna the Green, the Healing Lady, the Huntress.

What can you do though? It seems that the more you deny something, the more persistent others are in naming you.

I sighed, collapsing in my seat at in the corner of the Prancing Pony, the shadows of the bar hiding me in plain sight, the dark green of my cloak blending me more in my surroundings.

I ordered some food and drink from the barmaid and leaned back, waiting for her to return. She did so, and I dug in, my stomach immediately appreciative of the warm, fresh food, instead of the Lembas bread I eat on the road.

Suddenly, a gray cloaked figure sat across from me.

My blue eyes snapped up, meeting his gray ones.

I knew whom the man was, of course, from stories my father and other elves had told me, but I've never had the honor to meet him.

"Gandalf the Gray, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"You've heard of me?" The Istari said leaning forward towards me.

I nodded. "Yes, from my father."

"Ah, good, then I am glad I don't have to introduce myself. You are the one the people call Eruanna the Green, correct?"

I groaned inwardly and sighed. "Yes, yes I am… you have also not yet answered my question. Why have you sought me out?"

"I am going on an adventure and would like you to accompany me and fourteen others."

"An adventure? To where?"

He didn't answer my question. "If you are interested, meet me at Bag End in the Shire in a week's, you'll know which one by the mark on the door. Good evening, Lady Eruanna."

And just like that, he was gone before I could say anything else. I groaned loudly, sitting back in my seat. The barmaid came over when I waved for her.

"Get me another drink, please, will you? I'm going to need it."

And that was how I was invited on an unexpected journey.