Chapter 10: An Awkward Dinner and Explanations

Gandalf and the recently rediscovered blue wizard walked in silence. They came to the dining room rather quickly. Cassandra could hear Nori grumbling about the lack of meat inside. Gandalf placed a supportive hand on her shoulder and guided her inside. When they entered the music stopped and everyone in the hall turned to look at them. Elrond smiled at them and gestured with his hand that they would sit by his side.

Once the two wizards were seated the elf lord gestured for the music to begin again. Cassandra saw that the Company of Thorin looked at her confused. "Long has it been since you disappeared. Your presence has been missed greatly gentle one," Elrond said looking at her. Seeing the lost look in her eyes the elf lord patted her hand. "Your memories of your past here will return given time. Until then focus on the here and now."

The Company gave her questioning looks, but chose not to make a scene in front of the elves. Cassandra dreaded the inevitable encounter with them after dinner. The tension in the air caused her to lose what little appetite she had. It was only the desire to not offend their host that allowed her to eat what minuscule amount she was able to stomach.

After dinner had finished Elrond had wanted an elf to show them to their rooms. Thorin still not fully trusting the elf lord insisted on only one room for the whole company to share. Elrond relented to this "request," if only to keep what little peace there was between their two races.

As soon as the room was prepared the Company headed towards there. Cassandra looked at Gandalf briefly and seeing that he wished to stay and converse more with Elrond, she took a deep breath and followed her companions. Bilbo seeming to want to offer his support patted her arm and remained at her side throughout the long walk.

When they entered the room the dwarfs having arrived before them stared at her. "What was that about lass?" Dwalin asking the question that all of them wanting to know.

"It's a long story, one that even I do not know all of it, yet," she hedged.

Thorin, however, would not be satisfied until he knew everything. He spoke not a word, but the look he sent her clearly said he wanted answers. Cassandra slowly sat down near the fire they had built and putting her bag besides her trying to gather her thoughts.

"Back when I appeared in Bag-End I had thought that my being there was a mistake, an accident that was never suppose to happen. I was raised in a world were magic simply does not exist, where it can only be found in works of fiction," Cassandra paused briefly.

"When this journey began I thought I understood the weight of this journey, but after the incident with the trolls I realized just how this whole situation was more dangerous than I had originally thought."

"Then Gandalf gave me those fans and I swore when those Orcs attacked I could feel them talking to me," she said, "Today when Gandalf took me aside he asked me what I knew about the Order of Wizards. I answered him and he nodded. Then Gandalf told me a story about his colleague, one of the blue wizards."

Cassandra paused to take a calming breath, "Afterwards he told me that the fans that he gave me once belonged to her. Gandalf explained that like his staff that the fans were in tuned to her spirit and as a result they would work for no other, but her."

"You're a wizard," Kili stated.

"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" Fili asked.

"This might sound a bit of a stretch to believe, but I did not know until Gandalf told me. To be quite honest I really don't remember anything about that life," she answered.

Author's Note: Once again I want to thank you for waiting so patiently for this update. I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Goodbye until next time.