The Dunedain Chieftain brings another fosterling to Imladris and Legolas brings a bear. The elves of Imladris encounter their first Skinchanger.

The Skinchanger

Imladris, Yavie, T.A. 2437

Dear Journal

It never ceases to amaze me how fast the Secondborn grow up and then grow old. Arahad brought his firstborn son to Imladris to be fostered this fall. Aragost is a bright, inquisitive youngster who keeps getting into stuff. Lord Elrond claims the lad puts him in mind of his long-gone brother Elros. Well, to be honest, all I see is a dark-haired, grey-eyed bundle of trouble for me. Arahad still bears the facial scar from his boyish mishap with his cousins and has collected more since through ranger-ing. Seriously, this fighting orcs and wargs stuff is risky business. Still, Arahad's rugged looks did not deter his lady from wedding him.

Remember the two cousins who stayed with Arahad during this fostering at Imladris? Hador passed on a couple years back – mountain troll attack – and left behind a wife and twin boys. Huor is now a grandfather after his daughter bore her first child in Bree two months ago. He did lose an eye and a hand along the way but he is doing fine otherwise as a captain of the Dunedain.

Our twin lords are sulking as Lord Elrond has put his foot down about them going off to fight Corsairs down south. He could not do anything about Maglor though. Seriously, there are more than enough trolls, orcs and wargs to keep both you and Glorfindel occupied up North. It is the Feanorion's own business if he feels like taking a scenic stroll through Umbar and Far Harad.

For me, I have no intention of prematurely terminating my immortal life in some hare-brained adventure when I have all the homely comforts and entertainments of Imladris to look forward to. I believe Lindir will be singing some new Silvan-influenced ballads in preparation for Prince Legolas' visit. We are expecting our guest soon. Understand from Elrohir that King Thranduil does engage in trade with the humans living near Mirkwood - mostly wine. Seriously, the Elf-king doth like his wine too much. It is fine for an elf to enjoy a tipple or two but still…

What? How did Aragost get into the wine keg? (Ink blot) Really, aren't you Dunedain supposed to keep an eye on him?

(Figwit rushes to fish a very drunk and giggly boy out of the open wine keg amidst laughter from his father and very amused kinsmen.)

Imladris, Quelle, T.A. 2437

Dear Journal

Prince Legolas strolled in with a mortal guest as soon as Arahad and his men rode off for home before the snows. Legolas chanced on Boer the hunter in the mountains with a badly infected arm and took him to Elrond for treatment. Really, the prince is too kind, even to strangers. One might never know if a helpless-looking mortal would conk you over the head than look at you. At least Boer had some pelts in his pack he used to pay for the treatment. Lord Elrond cleaned out his wounds and gave him a medicinal tincture for the fever.

We did not expect our patient to change into a bear and go snuffling about the grounds though. It created quite a stir. Lady Celebrian and Arwen were confined to their rooms for their safety. Erestor, the wimp, fainted straight away when he looked up from his books and saw a bear peering into his window. Despite what Lindir says, I definitely did not wet myself with fear. It was his bladder that gave in the hallway. Our captain and the twins had partaken heavily of the Dorwinion at dinner and were convinced they did not really see a bear traipsing through the orangery with little Aragost on his back. Seeing said bear picking late oranges off the branches and juggling them for Aragost did not help either.

Elrond nearly threw a fit on discovering the door of his House of Healing ajar and his patient missing. When he saw the bear batting at Aragost with his large paws, Lord Elrond seized an axe and almost smashed it into the bear's skull before Legolas stopped him from making an awful mistake.

It appears that our guest Boer is a skinchanger – a man who can take on the form of a bear. The herbal tincture Elrond administered seemed to have triggered an unforeseen transformation, which would hopefully wear off as the drug leaves his body. Legolas also confessed that he had been responsible for Boer's injury after shooting him when he was in the guise of a bear. Being no healer, Legolas' clumsy attempts to treat the wound only brought about an infection.

Boer the bear seems harmless enough. He allowed little Aragost to climb all over him, definitely more patient than some elves, until the little one fell asleep. Boer is a giant for a man, taller than Fin even and had found the cot in his ward too small and flimsy once he was in his bear-form. Hence he had taken himself into the gardens.

Morning found Boer back in his man-form and very apologetic about startling the household. Lord Elrond invited him to stay till spring – so that he might heal up properly before leaving Imladris. Methinks Elrond would have an entire thesis on skinchangers by then as an addition to his vast library on the fauna of Middle-earth. Personally, I will not mind an extra pair of hands or paws babysitting Aragost. I am way too old to be keeping young ones out of trouble.

Author's Notes:

The twins and Glorfindel must think they were really drunk. ;)

Boer is probably an ancestor of Beorn. Elrond definitely has a motive behind his invitation to Boer to stay till spring.