Chapter Five: The Grey Pilgrim:

Severus found a clean pool the next day and decided to bathe. He threw off his raiment such as it was and found the waters to be healing and healthful to him. Once done he sat on the bank and let the sun dry him and took out some twine from his trouser pocket. He was going to be a new man and so he tied back his long back hair and let the sun give him a bit of color before he dressed and walked back to the chambers where the hobbits where. He insisted on helping out and brought casks and barrels of foodstuffs and other things down to the larger chamber and set them up. There was food in most of them, apples, cheese, nuts, crackers, dried meat, dried fish and he even found a few good loaves of bread and two barrels of beer. He found a table and chairs and helped set all this up as there were guests expected.

Soon enough there was the sound of horse hoofs and Gandalf clad in grey cloak and wide brimmed hat with white hair and beard came up and barked out orders to them. Yes even him though he fixed Severus would a stern look that got Severus to lower his eyes and bow to him. Then he was off and Severus continued to work and ready the space. He looked out when there were more horses that came up and saw there was a man an elf and a dwarf there. He set about cooking for them and soon enough they came into the chamber to see him hard at work. The man was taller than him with long brown hair flecked with grey and a short beard. He was clad in armor over his travel stained raiment. The elf had blond hair and was clad in green, the dwarf in full armor. Severus knew the elf at once, Legolas who nodded as Severus bowed to him.

"So you are the prisoner of Merry and Pippin, how did they gain you?" The dwarf asked.

"I was a prisoner of Saruman, I escaped and came here, Galadriel bid me do to so." Severus said at the look from the tall man "I faced judgment."

"I see, well not many do." Aragon said knowing what that meant. "You survived."
"He passed." Legolas said in Quenya, "or he would not be here."

"Who is he exactly can those here know?" Aragon asked.

"No, not yet." Legolas said then to those there, "this man is on our side, this I know."

Severus insisted on waiting on them until Aragon ordered him to sit with them. He ate well and when Legolas handed him lembas he ate it without question and with full trust. Gimi did not like him but Severus understood that, he would try to gain this dwarf's trust if he could. Gimi was seeing how Severus deferred to Legolas and how Legolas seemed at ease with him around. Gimi was not one to let things go, he was a dwarf and wanted to know just why Legolas trusted someone who was a stranger to him and why Aragon seemed to trust him as well.

"You said that he went through judgment." Gimi asked, "does that mean what I think it does?"

"What do you think it means?" Legolas asked.
"The judgment of souls." Pippin said.
"We learn of that, oh, oh!" Merry said, "well if he passed he is alright then."

"I did pass, I would rather not go through that again." Severus said, "it is said do not meddle in the affairs of wizards but I think it should really be do not anger the high elf lords and ladies."

"This is why I don't like elves, always doing things." Gimi growled, "but if he has passed then he is alright in my books for now, I need to see how he fights."

"I happen to like elves." Severus said a bit coldly. "The lady Galadriel is the fairest lady I have ever seen."

"I see I do not need to go for my ax." Gimi said.

"I see you could use healing." Aragon said to Severus.

"I heal fast." Severus said, "I am well enough."
"We shall see about that." Aragon said.

Once the meal was done Aragon took some leaves from a pouch and boiled some water. Severus did not know what he was doing, but when he tossed the leaves into the water Severus felt lighter, freer. He was bid to come over and to remove his shirt. This he was loath to do, he had bathed alone and did not want others to see what Saruman had done to him. He had been unclothed already even if it was in another realm of sorts and this should not bother him but it did. Legolas stayed while Gimi went out to see the lay of the land. Severus flinched as Legolas walked over and handed him a vial. Severus looked at him startled and took it, Legolas was ancient, wise though he looked younger than he did. He drank the vial and turned to Aragon.

"I mean you no harm, I can take the pain away." Aragon said.

"He can, he saved Frodo until Elrond fully healed him." Pippin said.

"He can help you." Merry said.

"I served a dark lord at one time, I did bare his mark." Severus said.

"And yet you can now eat elfish way bread." Aragon said, "it seems you wish to do what is right."

"I do, I swear off the darkness." Severus replied.

"You did not harm my friends even though you could." Aragon said.

"How could I harm such kind people?" Severus said. "Who would ever want to harm a hobbit?"

"If you can eat lembas and take the waters of Lothlorien then you are not evil." Aragon said, "you will need to speak to Gandalf, that should be fun."

Severus listened to this and felt fear, but at least he would be healed now. Severus removed what was left of his shirt and knelt. He did his best not to flinch, but being in the service of Voldemort left him a bit wary and skittish. Aragon gently bathed his back and the pain was gone. Legolas gave him another vial and Severus drank that down, he felt a child before Legolas and still felt a bit of fear in his presence. Severus drew his shirt back on just as Gandalf came in the room. He sat and ate well and drank beer for a time and when done he rose and had Severus follow him out. He led him up to the top of the wall and took a seat. He took out a pipe, then some pipe-weed and in short order had a pipe going. Severus stood before him.

"Sit." Gandalf said.

"Yes sir." Severus said doing just that.

"Saruman was my friend for many, many years. It was I who said he was most fit to lead the council and he was, he was the most wise of us all, that I knew. But he allowed the darkness in and now he is a prisoner of his own tower." Gandalf said, "you are Severus son of Tobias of house Snape."

"I am, I am a wicked evil man, I have no right to be here." Severus said. "What I have done, what I allowed to be done."

"There used to be trees here, there will be again." Gandalf said.

"I joined Voldemort before I left school, I knew what he was I did not care, I wanted power, glory and this caused me to be a traitor and get my best friend killed, her child orphaned and left in the care of cruel relations." Severus said.

"I heard you passed judgment." Gandalf said, "I was rather busy to be there."

"Then you know I would rather die than betray anyone ever again, please allow me a chance to prove that!" Severus said, "please."

"Tell me of the judgment, leave nothing out." Gandalf said, "if you are to serve I must know what was done and how you responded."

Severus knew this was a test, he felt dizzy, he knew most saw a kindly old man but he saw a power he did not want to upset. He spoke and told him everything and when done Gandalf sat smoking away and looked over at him. He took in the rags he now wore and saw that he had the light of elves in him. Now this was not an evil man, he had been but he was very much redeemable because he wanted to be redeemed and wanted to do what was right. The judgment as harsh as it must seem to Severus was needed, Galadriel was not one to trifle with as it was she who would have called the judgment on him. Severus was getting fearful, he thought Gandalf wished to harm him and he fell to his knees before him.

"My lord Gandalf, I only wish to serve." Severus said in desperation.

"Good, good, Aragon will need your help, and you will go with him, pass the test set with him and you will find what you seek in this world." Gandalf said, "Galadriel had things made for you, the clothing you have is of another world, you must cast that aside and wear raiment fit for your station. She has a spot in her heart for you, do not betray her."

"I could never, I would rather be fully destroyed than do such an evil thing!" Severus replied. "I did not go through judgment to betray her."

Gandalf threw aside his cloak to show a pouch and the white robes under the grey cloak. He removed a package and handed it to Severus who found well made clothing inside. He found a tunic of green and grey trousers and boots and a grey cloak as well. He went to change and found the clothing fit him perfectly from the linen under clothing and shirt to the tunic and trousers. Everything even the boots were made to fit him. He finished dressing and walked out to find Gandalf had another gift for him, a mail shirt that he helped Severus into and Severus put on a surcoat and a sword on a belt with gems on it over all. He walked up to Aragon and bowed before him. He looked every bit the princeling he was.

"You look very much the part of the princeling now." Aragon said.

"That title had no value in my word, does it here?" Severus asked, he was a true prince from his mother's side though that title had no wealth or lands to it, "I have nothing to my name."

"Not all kings or princes do, you will go where I go?" Aragon asked.

"Yes, I swear it." Severus said.

"Then enter my service, now is the time to kneel." Aragon said.

Severus looked at him in shock, this was a king? This man who dressed as a wanderer, who willingly healed him was a king? He would follow him and he knelt and made the pledge, and something stirred in his heart, he would follow this king who had not claimed his throne. He would serve him even if he had to go through the gates of hell to do so. He added to the vow, that he would be struck dead before he ever betrayed him. He might have even shed tears though he was not one who ever would admit that. He rose and felt a great love for this king before him. He was bid to stay back and wait while Aragon went speak to Saruman with Gandalf.

"I trust you but you have had enough of Saruman I am sure." Aragon said.

"Yes, I have." Severus said, "I will stay here."

"Good, we will deal with him and come back and ride out, you can ride a horse?" Aragon asked.

"Yes, well enough." Severus replied.

"Good, we ride once we get back."

Severus bowed and filled the satchel given him with food and other things he would need. He wanted no more of Saruman but perhaps his ending up as his prisoner and the torture he endured what exactly what he deserved before he moved on in this life. He spent time reflecting on his past mistakes and why would Lily forgive him as she had done? He did not deserve that and she was not even as upset at him for how he treated her son. Then again if he had known how Petunia had raised him, well she would be dead right now. Still he had this world to focus on and help save, for was that not the best way for him to redeem himself?

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Severus just passed the first test here after judgment now he has more to go. Still he regrets what he has done in the past and wishes to do what he needs to in order to redeem himself. Gandalf here after Moria is far more powerful and he would see right through Severus if he was lying which he is not.

Anyway, do review please!