The Owl

After being introduced to Elledan and Elrohir, Prisca's ankle was seen to and wrapped in a bandage. Then the two travelers were shown to their rooms. Prisca and Claire had their own individual rooms in Rivendell and Claire had to admit that a break from the neverending stream of questions was nice. They had arrived in Rivendell just after noon, but that didn't stop Claire from falling asleep as soon as she layed down on her bed.

A few hours later there came a soft knock on the door. An elf handed her a note. Upon opening it, Claire found that it was a summons. It said that she was to speak with the Owl tomorrow night at 9pm on the northern terrace.

"Well that's convenient," Claire muttered to herself.

By then the air was warm with the afternoon sun and Claire fancied a walk like she used to take in the old days. After changing out of her traveling clothes and into a fresh dress she found hanging in the closet of her room, she ventured out. She had hoped to find Elrain, but instead found Prisca. The hobbit was sitting on a bench staring out at the waterfalls. She too wore a new dress that the elves had quickly modified for her. The silver flower was pinned neatly on the right side of her dress collar. The only thing that seemed out of the ordinary was her foot which was wrapped in a heavy cloth bandage.

Claire sat down next to Prisca and joined her in staring out at the valley below.

"You look nice," Prisca remarked.

"Thanks. So do you. How's your foot?"

The hobbit continued to stare into the distance. "It's fine," she said flatly.

Claire could tell that the elephant in the room had to be addressed, so she took the initiative.

"I suppose you are wondering what happened back there? I was going to tell you eventually, but I thought that explaining my Realm Jumper powers needed to be one of the last things I addressed." The hobbit remained silent. "However, I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier," Claire added.

"I'm not mad," Prisca said. "I'm just disappointed that I was so pathetic."

"Pathetic?" Claire exclaimed. "What makes you think that?"

The hobbit rubbed her hands absentmindedly. "Ever since I first read the Red Book, I wanted to be the hero of my own story. To have a...a destiny. Like Luke Skywalker being destined to be a Jedi. To have a purpose. But I'm just a hobbit who can't even run across a riverbed without getting my foot caught."

"I think you are being too hard on yourself," Claire said trying to comfort her.

"Well, when you leave on your mission, just promise me one thing."

"What's that?"

"Don't forget me."

Claire gave her a puzzled look. "Why would I forget you?"

Prisca shrugged. "You're a Realm Jumper and a rather important person…"

"I'm not famous, Prisca," Claire said. "And I'll never forget you. I can honestly say you are one of the best friends I've had in all of Middle-earth."

"Really?" The hobbit looked up at her and at that moment Claire hated that they would have to go their separate ways. She had never experienced this kind of reciprocated friendship before.

"Really," Claire said.

That evening after Prisca had long gone to bed, Elrain and Claire sat in the garden near the guest house drinking tea. There were lanterns glowing in the trees and the distant sound of the elves singing made the scene all the more ethereal. Yet the subject matter that Elrain relayed was less than magical.

"I suppose I should tell you about what has been going on with the other Realm Jumpers," Elrain said setting down her tea. Her black brows were drawn together in a grave expression. "There is an Abberator on the loose."

"An Abberator?" Claire questioned as she sipped her tea.

"A rogue Realm Jumper," Elrain clarified. "Someone who is traveling between realms with ill intent. He is...well he is one of the most formidable enemies any of us have ever encountered. I haven't actually met him. Very few have and lived to tell the tale. He takes great pleasure in killing Realm Jumpers."

"That's terrible!"

"Not as terrible as you might think. Remember how I told you that Realm Jumpers can cheat death? Well that has been quite the advantage in dealing with this fellow. There's really no limit to how many times the same Jumper can face him and be killed. Unless they use the Ravenholm option of course. Some have gone to that extreme."

"The what?" Claire said. "What's the Raven-home option?"

Elrain sighed. "Oh I haven't told you about that have I? I apologize. Let me back up. You see, since you and I last met, I have found out more information on how the 'return from death' works for Realm Jumpers. I knew very little about it the last time we spoke. If you remember, I said that if you are killed in a world that is not your home world, you can come back."

"Yeah and you have to change your name right?" Claire said.

"Yes. Good, you remember that much. Well, to return to the world that you died in, you must wait 40 of that world's days. You cannot return before that time. So it has been a problem in that if a Jumper had his eyes on the Abberator and was killed, he couldn't return until 40 days later and by then the Abberator would be gone. That's why many of the Realm Jumpers have started traveling in pairs so that if one is killed, the other can continue to track the rogue."

Elrain paused and sipped her tea. "Millennia ago, there was a very eccentric Realm Jumper by the name of Ravenholm. The story goes that he was in a dire situation and was killed while on mission. He went back 40 days later, but was killed again. He was so desperate that he implored Eru to let him return earlier than 40 days. To his surprise, his wish was granted with some caveats. He could return to moments after his death, but he would only have 3 days to fix things. And then after that, he had to leave and never return to that world ever again."

"Like never ever," Claire asked.

"Never ever," Elrain repeated. "A small price to pay if the entire world is at stake. It is also said that Realm Jumpers who use the Ravenholm option are granted enhanced abilities. I haven't witnessed this first hand, but I suppose that makes it especially useful in emergencies, yet still costly. Anyway, when Ravenholm's request was answered, word spread and Eru granted this option to all Realm Jumpers. It's a risky play, but I have been told that it has been used in the past under certain circumstances."

Elrain set down her cup of tea and added, "There is one additional caveat to the Ravenholm option."

"And what is that," Claire asked.

"The Ravenholm option can only be used when a Realm Jumper has died twice in the same world just like the original Ravenholm did. It's beside the point, but that explains what that is. That just shows how dire the situation is getting, that people are resorting to such extremes to catch the Aberrator."

"So what does the Abberator have to do with your mission," Clarie asked.

Elrain looked up at the stars for a moment and sighed. At last she said, "I am here to see the Owl as well. I was told to speak to her before my next mission. I'm going to be assigned to pursuing the Abberator until he is caught."

They were both silent for a moment.

"Sounds dangerous," Claire said looking down at her tea cup. "How long will that take?"

"Eru only knows," Elrain said. "Before I came here, I got word that the Abberator had destroyed an entire world."

"What?" Claire said sitting up straighter. "Did he use a realm spell like the Deplorable Word?"

"He must have," Elrain said turning to Claire, her eyes filled with concern. "The world was called Lylara. I had been there before in its very early days. Details are not yet known as to how or why he did it. I have a few friends looking into that."

"Do you think this guy might come to Middle-earth," Claire asked. "Or even…"

Elrain looked at Claire knowingly. "Or even your own world. It's a possibility. But that is why I have been specially assigned to track him. Before Lylara was destroyed the Realm Jumpers were just keeping an eye out for him. But things have gotten out of hand. Horrifically so."

Elrain leaned back in her chair. She made a tepee with her fingers and said lightly, "So that's why I'm here."

"Well," Claire said. "I never imagined it was so serious."

"Claeo, when intervention from another realm is needed, it's always serious."

The next night Claire was getting ready to meet the Owl. In addition to this, she would be meeting her apprentice for the first time and that thought filled her with a mixture of excitement and dread. Would a person of "immense power and nobility" even take instruction from her? She examined her young face in the mirror. Claire was now 15, but she felt older. She wondered if it was because she had spent an extra year of her life in Middle-earth, but had not aged in her own world.

After brushing her hair and straightened her dress, Claire walked from the guest house to the main building of Rivendell. The moon was high in the sky and the fast moving waterfalls glowed with the blue light of evening. The breath-taking sight encouraged her and she quickened her steps.

The Northern Terrace was a wide balcony that was open to the night sky. When Claire arrived, she found the Owl standing at the edge of the terrace framed by the beautiful vista of waterfalls and mountains behind her. The white dress she wore glowed in the moonlight and her white metal mask subtly reflected the light of the stars. Standing next to her was Elledan, one of the sons of Elrond. He was dressed in robes similar to his father, yet newer and more conventional.

Claire stepped closer to the two of them. Then Elledan spoke.

"Thank you for coming, Venë Faeur," he said. "Your presence is appreciated. The Owl thanks you for your timeliness."

Claire eyed the woman in white suspiciously. "With all due respect," she said. "Can the Owl not welcome me herself?"

"I speak for the Owl," Elledan said with polite firmness. "She -"

The Owl raised a gloved hand and Elledan fell silent. Who was this woman that she could order a son of Elrond around like this? The Owl turned her masked face towards Claire.

"If the young woman wishes me to speak, I shall." Her voice was low and distorted by the mask over her face. "I think that she can better comprehend my words than most."

Elledan bowed in acknowledgement and remained silent.

"I know why you have come Venë Faeur," the Owl said slowly. The cold gaze of the birdlike mask gave Claire a shiver as she spoke. "You seek direction for your journey and to know who your apprentice shall be."

"Yes, my Lady," Claire said politely. "I was told that you would tell me where to go from here."

The Owl nodded. "You must journey to Minas Tirith. Seek the one who calls to you."

There was a long pause. Claire blinked and then asked hesitantly, "Um...is that it? What..what am I supposed to do in Minas Tirith exactly?"

The Owl stared at her. Claire thought she heard the woman chuckle softly.

"You shall see in time," she said.

Good grief! Was that the answer to every question on this trip. Claire almost spoke her mind, but was interrupted by the upraised hand of the Owl.

"Are you ready to meet your apprentice?"

Claire's disposition brightened. "Yes. Yes I am."

The Owl's white gloved hand stretched out slowly and pointed behind Claire. The young girl turned and what she saw left her speechless.

There stood Prisca Baggins leaning on a small crutch the elves had given her. The hobbit was gazing in wide-eyed awe past Claire at the Owl. In Prisca's hand was a note much like the summons Claire had received.

"No," Claire uttered softly. "That can't be."

Prisca hobbled up next to Claire and curtsied to the Owl. Apparently the bandages on her ankle were more like a cast than anything else which allowed her to walk along very gently with the use of a small crutch. The woman in white gave a small bow in return.

"Thank you for coming Prisca," the woman said.

"Thank you m'lady," the hobbit replied. She glanced up at Claire who was still staring at her in confusion. There had to be some kind of mistake. She was Claire's apprentice? Claire had suspected it, but had wrote it off as ridiculous wishful thinking. Prisca simply didn't fit the description.

"If I may ask," Prisca said. "Why am I here? I received this note, but I don't know what this is all for."

Elledan glanced at the Owl as she stepped closer to the hobbit. Looking down at Prisca with her cold metallic gaze she said, "You Prisca Baggins are here because you are more than you appear to be."

The hobbit stared up at her puzzled.

"You are a Realm Jumper."

Claire was beside herself. This definitely had to be a mistake. She started to interject, but the Owl continued speaking. The hobbit in front of her took her words in with a wide-eyed expression of utter wonder.

"You are to be the Venë Faeur's apprentice. Your task is to learn from her. She shall teach you what it means to be a Realm Jumper as you both make your way to Minas Tirith. May you learn to know the grace and power of Eru and thus fulfill your destiny."

Claire couldn't stand it any longer.

"Now hold on a minute -"

She was cut off by a sudden squeal of delight that emanated from the hobbit's throat. Prisca's hands were balled under her chin in excitement as she softly gasped, "I have a destiny?"

Now the Owl laughed loud enough for them both to hear.

"Indeed you do, little one," the Owl said. "But the road ahead will not be easy. You must pass through much darkness to reach your ultimate purpose."

Prisca looked as if she might burst with excitement.

"How do you know?" Claire finally interjected. "How do you know she's my apprentice?"

The Owl pointed at the silver pin on Prisca's dress collar. "Eru revealed to me the one who was to be the apprentice of the Venë Faeur. She who bears the silver six petaled flower is destined for that purpose."

The woman turned away from Prisca and Claire. Apparently she was done talking to them.

"That is all the Owl has to relay to you," Elledan said. "Go in peace."

Claire and Prisca began to walk back to the guest house. Prisca didn't stop talking until they at last went to their individual rooms. She was so excited, she could hardly form a coherent sentence. Claire had faked some enthusiasm, but the shock of the whole encounter with the Owl and the things she had said still bewildered her.