The sun was bright, bouncing back off the snow and nearly blinding any who was walking by. Gandalf didn't mind it in the slightest. He nearly blended into the snow, his white beard and jacket just as clear and bright. He was wearing a small smile as he strolled through the park, enjoying the direct sunlight for the first time in many weeks.

He regretted being hospitalized for such a long time; so many things had happened during his stay. One of his employees and joined him in the hospital, though Boromir was still in such a condition that he had yet to wake up. The opening of the café was something that Gandalf had argued long and hard to go to, and yet all he got to see where the pictures that Radagast had taken for him; often out of focus or tilted on odd angles.

Though it was only his second day out of the hospital, and the doctors had told him that he was better off staying indoors for at least a week after his released, Gandalf had decided to go for a stroll anyways. There was no harm done by a bit of fresh air, and the attacks of students, growing more and more frequent as the days went on, only happened at night. He would be perfectly safe in the public park, where there were many witnesses and very few places to hide a body.

Gandalf stopped at a newspaper vender, and paid for a newspaper before he even looked at the title page. He always thought that if he wanted to know the news, he would pay for it regardless. The man running the stall gave him a small nod as Gandalf picked up his bundled-up paper and made for a bench with a relatively small amount of snow left on it.

After sitting down and using the housing advertisements to keep his behind from getting wet, Gandalf finally looked at the front of the newspaper. He was greeted by a large, ugly title, and a picture of a rather unhappy looking man.

COLLEGE STUDENT FOUND MURDERED IN AN ALLEY WAY, POLICE STILL INVESTIGATING

By Estella Bolger

On March 3rd, the body of local college student Lurtz Uruk (25 years), was found in the alley between the public library and the public swimming pool. Though the cause of death is not certain, it is believed that Uruk had bleed to death through the seven stab wounds on his chest. Local police are investigating the murder, though they have yet to find a lead on the murder.

Sergeant Grima Wormtongue is leading the investigation on the student's murder, and says, "We are having a difficult time finding evidence, but we do have a couple of suspects in mind."

Sergeant Wormtongue had no more comments on the manner of Uruk's death.

Uruk previously had a criminal record for stealing on multiple occasions. Uruk was to be in court on the 18th due to a cause of attempted first degree murder. This murder may be linked to his court sentence and his past criminal record.

A memorial for Uruk will be held on the 11th of March at the Mordor College Athletics' building.

Gandalf stared at the picture of the boy; he recognized the name from when Merry explained the situation that he and Pippin had been put in. He also knew that the court sentence was for Eomer, the man who had saved the two employees from getting murdered. Gandalf did not like the outcome of this; it seemed as though Eomer would be linked as the murder, or that his sister would be.

Gandalf folded up the newspaper and tucked it under his arm. He had to go visit Saruman and speak to him about this. There were just too many accidents and attacks happening around the university campus for them not to be purposefully targeted.

He strode across the park with purpose; he wasn't too far away from Saruman's home, and he was sure that Saruman would not mind him dropping in. He never did; in fact, Saruman always seemed to know when and why Gandalf was visiting. Gandalf recycled the paper in the nearest bin (Radagast always chewed off his ear, rambling about how recycling was better [but still not incredibly good] for the environment), and then turned down the street to Saruman's place.

All of the facts were spinning in his mind. He could not help but think of the new mayoral campaign for a certain Sauron Morgoth, and then reached into the pocket of his coat, pulling out the card that Saruman had dropped off for him. The name was exactly the same. Gandalf's brows furrowed, and he stopped in his tracks.

A horrible feeling twisted his gut, and he turned to sit on the nearest bench. Saruman had said that Sauron was interested in buying the café when it was damaged. Sauron already owned quite a large section of the city, that most simply referred to as Mordor. It was where his factory was situated, and where most of the workers of his factory lived. The man had quite a bit of power over the city already. Now, he was running for mayor. If he won, the only thing from keeping him from having complete power over the entire city was the university.

The university had plenty of land to itself, and plenty of money to spend developing it. Gandalf began to think about the attacks; exempting Lurtz's death, the victims were all students of the university. Even Lurtz's body, and possibly his murder, had occurred on campus. It was definitely bringing down the reputation of the university, according to Treebeard, enrolment rates had already dropped.

It was already looking bleak for the university, and Gandalf began to see the entire plan. With the university in debt, Sauron would purchase it with his vast expanse of wealth, and thus gain control of the entire city.

Though this was a rather grim prospect, Gandalf could only think of the fact that Saruman of all people had suggested that he go and call Sauron to purchase his café. The betrayal hit him quite hard, as he stood on shaky legs, and turned to make his way back home.

He was stopped by two students, wearing dark clothes, their hoods pulled up. Part of Gandalf thought that perhaps they were just cold, though he seriously doubted it. Gandalf knew that they were sent to put him in the hospital again, or permanently get him out of the way.

"How may I assist you, boys?" Gandalf asked, a small smile on his face. The two boys looked somewhat taken aback of Gandalf's gentle, kind tone, but they did not seem to be swayed. With one flick of their arm, Gandalf could see a small knife from under their sleeve. "Now, I don't believe that is necessary."

"He told us to get you out of the way, so we're going to get you out of the way," one of them snarled in a low voice. Gandalf had a distinct feeling that he meant Saruman. The one with the knife charged at Gandalf. He easily side-stepped him and whacked him down with his satchel. The other one stared at Gandalf for a couple of minutes before he, too, ran at the elderly man.

Gandalf caught his hand, and easily twisted it behind the boy's head. His tone of voice was incredibly calm as he said, "You should not underestimate old men, especially if they are veterans from old wars."

The boy twisted his hand out of Gandalf's grasp, and stared at his unconscious friend for a couple of moments before he bolted. Gandalf looked at the boy, thinking that perhaps he hit them too hard on the head.

He took his knife, walked to the nearest garbage can and tossed it (Radagast could not complain; knives were definitely not recyclable), and then sat next to the boy until he regained consciousness.

The boy looked startled at Gandalf, before he said, "Are you going to call the police?"

Gandalf shook his head, "No, I am going to take you out to coffee, and we are going to have a little talk."

There was no way that the boy would be able to refuse as he stared at Gandalf's expression. I suppose he'd rather this than a trip to the police station, Gandalf mused, as he helped the boy to his feet and led him to the nearest café.

The boy took off his hood when they were inside, and Gandalf saw that he was of Harad decent. It was most likely that his parents worked at Sauron's factory. Gandalf sat them down away from the window, due to the fact that the boy was constantly glancing over his shoulder at it, and then ordered for them.

Once Gandalf's coffee, and the boy's hot chocolate arrived, Gandalf said, "Now, I want to ask you what you meant by getting me out of the way."

The boy took a tentative sip of his drink, before he said, "I needed the money. I work at the factory, and I didn't get enough hours to afford my rent. I'm sorry… I needed the money."

"I understand," Gandalf nodded, before he gave the boy a small smile, "Next time you need money, come to me. I will be very willing to give you some. As an old retired man who runs a café that is now back in business and is doing quite well, I do believe I can spare some."

The boy looked incredibly relieved, before he muttered, "You won't call the police?"

"As long as you don't do it again," Gandalf told him, a small smile on his face. "Can you tell me who hired you to kill me?"

The boy shook his head furiously, "They'll kill me."

Gandalf nodded. "Do you have family?"

"Not in the city."

Gandalf smiled, "What would you think of staying with my husband and I for now? You could even work at the café I run."

The boy furrowed his brows, looking down at the hot chocolate in his hands for a couple of moments before he seemed to come to a conclusion. Gandalf had come to the very same one: the boy would be safer in a stranger's house than he would be alone.

The boy took a lengthily gulp of his drink, before he said, "Sure."

"Good. You and I have a bit more talking to do, if you don't mind," Gandalf said.

The boy's expression seemed considerably brighter as he said, "I wouldn't mind at all."

Thanks to Revolutionary Star, kittlekat, lotrharrypotter3, BrightWatcher, LadyVanya, NTSFroes, LoTR-HP-PJ, Wanderingidealism, tommyginger, BoricuaPinkRanger, Polka-dot Pippin, and MoonLight1300 for reviewing! Thanks to CrimeDramaNerdGirl, MissTigerLover99, Moonlit Night 199, Blossom Hunt, and TheWargOfArda for favouriting/subscribing.

Hello dearest readers! If you are looking for something else to read, I highly recommend the fanfiction called Heart in Hand by Adanwen. I beta it, and she writes it, and I think it's quite brilliant. If you're bored, go have a look.

I got new fish; they are healthy and beautiful. Persephone is pregnant, and Hades is quite beautiful for a god of death.

Next chapter, look forward to some Thranduil.