Disclaimer: See chapter 1
I'm s'rry fo' 'ny mi'takes! (I felt like being weird today ;)
It was an argument that had lasted most of the morning. 'Ro blatantly refused to go anywhere near Imladris, even though Rubah Foxson kept pointing out that if they did, they would reach the mountains faster. He still hadn't revealed why they were going to the mountains; though, a fact that irritated 'Ro to the extreme. Eventually, 'Ro and Rubah compromised and they were currently skirting around the valley.
Rubah suddenly froze and he inhaled sharply. 'Ro was about to ask about was going on when he heard it. The sharp clip the hoves of a horse made at a gallop. Yanking the still Rubah by his elbow off the path and into the surrounding forest, he peered out through the branches at the approaching rider. He saw the deep purple eyes and the laughter lines around them, the bushy eyebrows that stuck out beyond the brim of a wide grey hat, and long robes before the rider on the pure white horse sped by and was gone.
"Mithrandir..." He murmured under his breath, yet somehow Rubah heard him and his head snapped up.
"So that was Tharkûn." He whispered. 'Ro turned to look at him.
"Who?" Rubah seemed flustered.
"I-I... I didn't say anything." 'Ro knew he was lying.
"Tharkûn...Tharkûn...Tharkûn..." He mumbled, trying to remember where he had heard that before. He knew that Tharkûn was another name for Mithrandir, but who was it exactly that called him that? Rubah had his eyes squeezed shut and was pleading to the Valar that 'Ro didn't remember. "The dwarves..." Of course, as always, the Valar hated him. He rounded on Rubah.
"Why do you know the dwarvish name for Mithrandir?" Rubah sighed.
"I knew some dwarves well."
"Well?" 'Ro asked with eyebrows raised. "I'd say quite well if you recognized Mithrandir by their name for him. And what do you mean by you knew them?" Rubah sighed again. One of his secrets was coming to light, one he wasn't sure he wanted 'Ro to know just yet. Too late now. He drew in a deep breath and spoke the rousing battle cry he had been taught, albeit quieter than usual.
"Du-bekâr, ai-rusê! Khazâd ai-mênu!" Ro's jaw hit the woodland floor.
"You-you...You speak Dwarvish!"
"Khazad."
"What?"
"Calling it 'Dwarvish' is insulting. You wouldn't want Sindarin to be called 'Elvish', would you? Well, the correct name for 'Dwarvish' is Khazad." 'Ro nodded stupidly and Rubah laughed. 'Ro blinked.
"Why did you know the dwarves?"
"I ended up saving one of their high-lords when I came across the dwarves in the middle of a fierce battle with orcs. I was wounded in the process and they took me into their home to help me. Miriam was still alive at the time and came with them and an unconscious me. When I awoke, they were felt greatly indebted to us, even though we argued that they owed us nothing. They took us their culture and their language and we stayed there for multiple years before we decided to move on." Rubah hated that he was partially lying, but he wasn't ready to trust 'Ro with his best and most complex secret- at least, not yet.
Author's Note:
Sorry, this chapter is so short! This was mostly just a filler and a little more about Rubah's past. Don't worry, you're going to be learning what lies Rubah is telling, what his biggest secret his, and why he calls his mother Naneth! I'll try and update soon!
Fun Fact:
The reason this chapter is called 'The Istari Called Staff-Man' is because, in Khazad 'Tharkûn' means 'Staff-man'!
Review? They keep me motivated!