Wizards Return
For the next two years' things continued as they always had in the Shire. With the hobbits that lived there living in peace and ignorance of the outside world. Even with three outsiders living near the border of Hobbiton, with the youngest always finding her way up to Bag End to visit the hobbit by the name of Bilbo Baggins. All because if the one who the hobbits knew to be an elf who seemed to grow in beauty with each passing day, something true to those of her race. However, there was always something different about this young elf. She could at times be found playing with young hobbits when Bilbo was busy, sitting with the older hobbit as he weaved a world of fascinating stories, or at night sitting in one of the fields watching the stars at night.
It was not until early summer after her birthday that things hinted of change, more so when there were whispers from the hobbits that there were more outsiders spotted near the border of the Shire. Elves. Tinu had wished to go see them since she had never met another elf besides her mother. However, both of her parents had made her start wearing a cloak when out in the open to hide her appearance, something that led to the parents of the younger hobbits being skeptical of letting her near their children. All due to rumors that the elves at the border were armed as though ready for a battle or full on war. However, when Bilbo noticed that the young hobbits not being allowed to play with the young elf, he had spoken to some of the parents and convinced them that things would be fine if they allowed their children to play with her. That she was of no threat to the young hobbits.
Tinu woke early in the morning, earlier than either of her parents as she rushed to get out of bed and get into slightly loose fitting patch work tunic that had short sleeves that fell to just before her elbows. She quickly pulled on her pants that like her tunic were patch work but fell down to her ankles where her worn boots came up half way to her knees. 'I hope Bilbo has more lessons for today!' she thought anxiously as she stood before a mirror as she looked at her appearance in the mirror to see that she had long grown out blonde almost white hair that easily reached her waist and fell about her pale face that was the same structure as her mother's but there was nothing of her father there due to how he had dark hair and dark eyes where Tinu had light hair and her mother's green eyes. 'Wonder why I have no features from my father…' she thought to herself before shrugging it off as she grabbed some tattered cloth that had been fashioned by her mother into a cloak for the girl.
Once she had finished situating the cloak she left her room and left the small make shift home that her and her parents lived in as the mist hanging around the forest made her feel even more at home. 'I know I am an elf, but why is it that I feel happiest when I am in the sunlight or even more so in the starlight?' Tinu thought to herself for a brief second before looking back at the entrance to the makeshift home as she smiled before she faced back forward and drew up her hood before she set off.
'Why is it I am not allowed to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin?' she thought as she walked only to stop and hold out her hand allowing some sun to kiss at her soft flesh. 'I want nothing more than to know more of the world, and yet mother and father insist that I be kept in a bubble.' She thought to herself only to soon shake her head letting her hand fall back to her side as her smile returned before she picked up her pace to head to where a certain hobbit lived.
It did not take long for her to get to Bag End, where Bilbo Baggins lived. As she neared she passed several other hobbits that she smiled at and greeted but some of the younger ones ran up to her and even followed her wanting her to play as she approached Bag End. "I am sorry but I cannot play right now, but I will soon, I promise." Tinu said in her soft almost song like voice as she patted the heads of two of the closest hobbits as their eyes seemed to light up at her promise before they departed as she heard a laughing voice not too far past the gate.
"Ever the popular one with the kids, Tinu." Came the kind voice of Bilbo as Tinu looked toward him and could not help but smile since in her eyes Bilbo was the only one who did not seem to be hiding things from her. "Well come in, I just finished fixing some breakfast and tea." Bilbo said as he turned and headed toward the round green door with the brass knob in the center. As he went inside Tinu glanced at the retreating hobbit children before she opened the gate and went through before letting it close behind her as she followed Bilbo up the small path to the round door and inside where she closed it behind herself as she heard another voice toward the dining room.
"You have other company, Bilbo?" Tinu asked as she kept her hood up almost expected that his company was another hobbit but that was disproven when Bilbo called saying that it was aright that it was just an old friend who had come by. "Should I come back later then?" she asked she was ready to turn but Bilbo came back only to take her pale right hand in his own.
"Nonsense. My friend was actually telling me that he would like to meet you, young Tinu." Bilbo said beaming at her in a way that made it impossible for her to refuse.
"He said he wants to meet me?" she asked a bit confused due to how from what she knew she was just a common or low birth half human half elf; so why would anyone want to meet her?
"Yes, now come. We must not keep him waiting." Bilbo said as he released Tinu's hand and turned only to head back toward the dining room as she followed behind him, having to duck to avoid some things that would have otherwise smacked her in the face. Though as she rounded a corner to turn into the dining area she saw an older looking man with grey hair and a grey beard sitting there. He seemed like he would easily stand taller than her even though he was sitting at the moment as she saw to the side that there was what looked like a staff and a grey pointed hat that matched with the robe he was wearing.
"Why not remove that cloak, child?" the older male said as he smiled at her in a way that made Tinu feel that he knew something about her that she did not. Though at the same time she felt obligated to do so as she reached up and undid the button that held the cloak by her collar bone as she slid it off to reveal herself to the man as he smiled even more so. "It has been a long time, Tinu." He said which led to Tinu giving him a confused look.
"I am sorry, but I have never met you before, so how could you know me?" she asked due to how sure her memory before her accident was a blur and mix of shadowed images but her parents said in time she would remember them.
"I know you because I was with your mother and guardian when they fled to the Shire with you when you were still only a small child nine years ago." He said as he noted the look of confusion in Tinu's green eyes. "I am Gandalf, the Grey." He said but the look of confusion hinted that it was as he had thought. "Come here, sit beside me." He said as Tinu stepped forward not knowing why but she felt she could trust him as she soon lowered herself to the chair that was beside the older man as he looked at her with blue eyes that hand a hint of grey to them. "You are the image of your father but I also see your mother in you, especially your eyes." He said with a smile on his lips from what she could tell.
"How is it that I look like my father when he has dark hair and dark eyes?" Tinu asked as the smile on Gandalf's face fell ever so slightly.
"You really do not remember, do you?" he asked as Tinu's expression said it all. "Bilbo, you best make some more tea, because this may take a while and I have a feeling by the end of what I need to say, young Tinu will need some tea to calm her nerves." He said as Bilbo nodded before heading to the kitchen to put another kettle on so as to have it ready when the other one was gone. Though while Bilbo had gone to busying himself to do as his friend and guest had requested, Gandalf kept his eyes on Tinu who shifted ever so slightly feeling as though Gandalf was looking through her very soul searching for something. Though after several moments, Gandalf spoke. "Tinu, what do you know of what led to you being here in the Shire, so far from any known domain of the elves?" he asked as Tinu looked down at the table thinking on it for a few moments even though she could still feel the searching gaze of Gandalf on her.
"My mother said it was because of how I am a half elf, half human that it was best I grew up away from both influences since the world of men is full of greed, where the elves are the opposite typically. So both her and my father wished for me to grow up in the sanctuary of Middle Earth." She said as she looked up only for Gandalf to shake his head ever so slightly.
"They have hidden the truth from you this whole time, though I do not see how they could since you were old enough to remember unless something happened after that night." He said in a low tone as Tinu gave him a confused look. "You were not brought here for the reasons that your parents have led you to believe, but because your life is in danger." He said as Tinu's green eyes widened in shock at hearing Gandalf say such things.
Before Tinu could speak up, Bilbo did so as he sat down some cups in front of his guests and one for himself. "It was not difficult since Tinu did suffer a severe injury to the head when she was only twelve. I found her on the shore bleeding from a wound to her shoulder and from her head. When she did regain consciousness she admitted she had no idea who she was and did not know until her mother and Strider came to get her." Bilbo said only for Tinu to look at him in pure confusion.
"But then why do I not remember even falling? I just…" she said as part of her did not want to admit that it was possible, what they were saying.
"You just do not know for certain anymore. You know that you and your mother are the only elves anywhere near the Shire since they typically do not come any further west than Rivendell. A place you once spent some time." Gandalf said as the kettle began to whistle prompting Bilbo to rush back to the kitchen. "Though little about that matters since the time has come and I have come back to bring you with me back to Rivendell." The old wizard said as Tinu stood abruptly and shook her head.
"I am not going anywhere! The Shire is my home!" Tinu cried as she turned and rushed from Bag End, not even opening the gate as she jumped over it, ignoring Bilbo yelling after her. She kept running until she got home and proceeded to go straight to her room and lock herself in ignoring her parents as they tried to ask what was wrong. That is until she heard a familiar pair of voices from the next room a few hours later.
"Gandalf!" the voice of the one she believed to be her father said in shock yet with a hint of relief in it as Tinu inched closer to her door and sat down at the base so she could easily listen with her heightened hearing without being in the room.
"Strider, Tauriel." Gandalf said in greeting before there was a pause during which Tinu assumed they had sat down to talk. "I am afraid the time has come. Tinu must come with me to Rivendell to help her start to come into her own." Gandalf said as there was a soft sound that Tinu was sure was from her mother. "You always knew this day would come, because of how Tinu is not a regular elf and as such she needs to be back among other elves, the sooner the better." Gandalf said as the voice of Bilbo met Tinu's ears next.
"She won't be going with just Gandalf, since he has told me the general of what is going on, so I will be going to help insure that little Tinu remains safe." He said as Tinu bunched up slightly all due to how from the way they were talking, there was some danger awaiting her.
"But, no attempts have been made since she was twelve, three years ago." Tauriel said as she did not want to lose her daughter again. "She has been safe and able to live happily with how the burden of the past was lifted from her even though by that terrible accident." She said as Tinu quietly shifted and stood only to silently open her door and slip out so she was at the edge of the room in seconds listening. "Something I know her father would have wanted, for her to not remember how her own grandfather imprisoned her and even broke apart our family. Or how he still hunted her and had one of his own men try to kill her." Tauriel said before there was an odd sound as green eyes met tear filled gleaming green eyes. "Tinu!" Tauriel said as she had thought the sound she heard before was just Tinu in her room, not that she had been right around the corner.
Before Tauriel could even stand up, Tinu bolted for the door, not even bothering to grab her cloak, as she ran out into the cool evening. She kept running as she felt beyond betrayed, hurt and confused. The words her mother had said kept echoing in her mind as she ran, not even paying any mind that low hanging branches were scrapping and cutting at her as she continued to run, that is until she tripped over a root and went falling to the ground as she lay flat on her stomach with her face covered in dirt due to her having fallen face first.
"Something I know her father would have wanted, for her to not remember how her own grandfather imprisoned her and even broke apart our family. Or how he still hunted her and had one of his own men try to kill her."
Tinu shifted curling into a ball on her side as tears streamed down from her eyes as she cried silently all due to how she was feeling confused and betrayed. 'Why did they keep the truth from me?' she thought to herself as she closed her eyes as tears continued to fall down her face. 'Why…' she heard footsteps approaching but she remained where she was. 'I want…to remember…' she thought as she felt something being placed over her as she weakly opened her green eyes that seemed to gleam due to her tears as she saw that it was Bilbo.
"I know you are confused right now, but you know that everyone did what they thought was best." He said as Tinu shifted so that she was sitting up as she shook her head at him only causing Bilbo to frown.
"They lied to me." She said in a hurt voice as Bilbo fished out a handkerchief and proceeded to reach out to Tinu and wipe some of the dirt away from her face as well as some of her tears.
"But they had good reason to. Even if your past was full of dark times, your mother wanted you to not be burdened by such a past." Bilbo said as Tinu looked toward him with a hurt look on her face. "I do not know what the details are, only that you are a sweet young woman and I wish to assist in getting you to the elven haven of Rivendell." Bilbo said as he smiled at Tinu only for her to reach out and hug him as he returned the hug. He knew full well that he wanted to help the young elf find out the truth of herself.
/
Back at the small home Gandalf and Strider had calmed Tauriel in her worry only for Gandalf to speak in a grim tone. "Even with past events, darkness still has a firm grip on the land of Mirkwood and on the king. That and in the last few months' rumors have spread that he knows his sons daughter survived the assassination attempt three years ago." Gandalf said as Tauriel and even Strider had worried looks on their faces. "If we do not move fast, the king of Mirkwood will send his full forces to the Shire and not stop until he has her and personally sees to her execution, or keeps her as his personal prisoner again." Gandalf said as without any hesitation Tauriel spoke.
"You must leave right away, at sunset tonight. I will at least stay and try to insure if any trail is left for any advance forces to follow that they do not follow the one leading to Rivendell." Tauriel said as she was full determined to insure her child remained safe.
"I will assist in that, since that is an area I am experienced in, and I did promise my friend I would keep you and Tinu safe in his absence." Strider said as Gandalf nodded.
"Tauriel, gather anything you think your daughter will need, and I will go find where she and Bilbo went." He said as he left, leaving it to Tauriel and Strider to prepare. Though it did not take long as he soon found Tinu sitting alongside Bilbo as he felt a pang of sadness since he knew as a small child she had told him her wish to meet him, and it seemed she no longer even remembered uttering such a wish. "Tinu, Bilbo." Gandalf said as he approached getting the full attention of the two. "We need to prepare to leave since we are heading to Rivendell as soon as the light begins to fade." He said noticing the sad expression on Tinu's face but before he could say anything Bilbo spoke up.
"Gandalf," he said drawing the wizard's attention. "If it would be alright, I wish to go as well to help get Tinu to Rivendell." He said as Gandalf thought for a second before nodding, something that brought a look of relief to Tinu's face.
A/N: I am sorry it took over two months to get this chapter up! I am hoping to be able to update again soon since I think I have a fairly good schedule worked out for my writing except when I get busy with work and other things. Now I would like to thank everyone who is reading this story and those who have added it to their favorites and followed it. Though I want to thank those who reviewed the last chapter. Three separate Guests (one under the name Hi), Soccer16star2015, Myra K Kuran, and 2000Aerobars. I really appreciate your reviews and feedback on the chapter, as well as any who have reviewed other chapters of this story. I hope this chapter was up to expectations and that everyone enjoys it since things are going to start picking up more with the next chapter. Until the next chapter!
