Pallando and Alatar
By Cathelm
Chapter 2
The ship steadily makes its way up the river. The five wizards are crowded at the very front of the grand vessel, itching for a sight of the new land. The sun rises as the place of their landing becomes ever closer.
"Look at us," Saruman said, interrupting the silence. "Standing here, just waiting to land like children waiting for a party. Why, we could be."
Alatar gave a cry of delight. "There it is! I see it!"
They all strained their eyes to catch a glimpse of the place where they would first set their feet upon middle earth. Sure enough, there it was: A decent sized dock, well built, with a path leading up to a house. It was, in itself, not more than a cottage, yet it was a pleasant sight. With its pure white walls and perfect round windows, they could see why anyone would want to live there, if only to be by the sea. Or to get off of it, as the wizards were then thinking.
As noon arrived, so did they. The five nearly jumped off the sides off the ship as it reached the dock. Fighting to keep their balance, as they were not accustomed to the unmoving land, they made their way towards the house. A tall, solemn figure with pointed ears was standing in the doorway.
"Welcome, travelers. I have long awaited your coming. I am Cirdan the shipwright, of the race of elves, and my duty is to greet and send off ships. Please come in. Although you are very much welcome here, my home is not large enough to house five grand wizards such as yourself. Now come. We have much to do, and very little time."
The five followed Cirdan into the cottage, each carrying his staff, in order of their importance. Saruman strode in, with much dignity. After him came Pallando and Alatar, then Radagast, then Gandalf. They sat around the table, with the greatest wizard seated next to the elf, and so on.
Cirdan rolled out a large scroll. On it was a map, obviously of Middle Earth. Immediately, Radagast was all over it, examining every green mark he saw.
"Just look at all these forests! Cirdan, do you know what type of creatures live in these? Any unusual beasts? New streams? Old trees? Do you know."
"Radagast, enough!" Saruman commanded. He knew the land-loving wizard well enough to tell when he got out of hand. "Wait your turn. It will come soon enough. Now Cirdan, where are the most powerful cities? I need a place where I can set up a stronghold."
"Of course. Here in the south is Minas Tirith. They might not have the place you're looking for, but if you go a bit north."
The other four patiently waited as the greater wizard planned out where he was going. As Saruman stood up to head out the door, Cirdan stood to speak a few last words.
"I have a gift for you. All of you," He added, nodding at the lesser wizards. Opening a door, he pulled out five long robes. "These were sent ahead of you by the Valar. This white one is for you, Saruman, as a symbol of your power. May good fortune go with you."
With only a nod, Saruman took the robe and strode out the door.
Radagast was just opening his mouth to speak, but he closed it again Cirdan turned towards Pallando and Alatar with a serious look on his face.
"As for you two. Do you know where you want to go?"
The two exchanged uncertain glances. "We have not yet decided, sir," Pallando admitted.
The elf was quiet for a while, deep in thought. Alatar felt as if the silence would never end. He squirmed with anticipation, for the shipwright's actions were putting him in unease.
"Your path is not clear to me," Cirdan said, slowly as if he had to think out each word. "The only advice I have for you is to go to Lothlorien, to seek the council of Galadriel. Go through the mountains by way of Moria, the dwarf city." He pointed to the map. "Due east of it is the forest of Lorien. If the elves that are guarding it give you any trouble, tell them that that you have been sent by Cirdan the shipwright, and you wish to speak to the Lady of the Wood."
Alatar glanced warily at Pallando. This was not quite what they had expected from the solemn elf. "We are the ones that are supposed to be giving instruction, not him to us," he thought.
Pallando caught his friend's eye and shook his head. Cirdan meant well; they had, of course, not known where they were going either.
"If that is what you have to say," Pallando replied carefully, "then it seems as good a course as any. We shall be going. Thank you for your hospitality."
The two wizards rose with Cirdan, who handed them two pale blue robes.
"Ah blue. I always did like that color." The muttered remark from Pallando was followed by a silencing shove from the other, now blue, wizard. Now was not the time for jokes. A quick glance back at Radagast and Gandalf told the two that the other wizards were just as puzzled as they were.
"May good fortune go with you."
As Saruman had done, they simply nodded and walked out the door, with staffs in hand.
"You will need it," Cirdan whispered as they walked out of sight.
Chapter 2
The ship steadily makes its way up the river. The five wizards are crowded at the very front of the grand vessel, itching for a sight of the new land. The sun rises as the place of their landing becomes ever closer.
"Look at us," Saruman said, interrupting the silence. "Standing here, just waiting to land like children waiting for a party. Why, we could be."
Alatar gave a cry of delight. "There it is! I see it!"
They all strained their eyes to catch a glimpse of the place where they would first set their feet upon middle earth. Sure enough, there it was: A decent sized dock, well built, with a path leading up to a house. It was, in itself, not more than a cottage, yet it was a pleasant sight. With its pure white walls and perfect round windows, they could see why anyone would want to live there, if only to be by the sea. Or to get off of it, as the wizards were then thinking.
As noon arrived, so did they. The five nearly jumped off the sides off the ship as it reached the dock. Fighting to keep their balance, as they were not accustomed to the unmoving land, they made their way towards the house. A tall, solemn figure with pointed ears was standing in the doorway.
"Welcome, travelers. I have long awaited your coming. I am Cirdan the shipwright, of the race of elves, and my duty is to greet and send off ships. Please come in. Although you are very much welcome here, my home is not large enough to house five grand wizards such as yourself. Now come. We have much to do, and very little time."
The five followed Cirdan into the cottage, each carrying his staff, in order of their importance. Saruman strode in, with much dignity. After him came Pallando and Alatar, then Radagast, then Gandalf. They sat around the table, with the greatest wizard seated next to the elf, and so on.
Cirdan rolled out a large scroll. On it was a map, obviously of Middle Earth. Immediately, Radagast was all over it, examining every green mark he saw.
"Just look at all these forests! Cirdan, do you know what type of creatures live in these? Any unusual beasts? New streams? Old trees? Do you know."
"Radagast, enough!" Saruman commanded. He knew the land-loving wizard well enough to tell when he got out of hand. "Wait your turn. It will come soon enough. Now Cirdan, where are the most powerful cities? I need a place where I can set up a stronghold."
"Of course. Here in the south is Minas Tirith. They might not have the place you're looking for, but if you go a bit north."
The other four patiently waited as the greater wizard planned out where he was going. As Saruman stood up to head out the door, Cirdan stood to speak a few last words.
"I have a gift for you. All of you," He added, nodding at the lesser wizards. Opening a door, he pulled out five long robes. "These were sent ahead of you by the Valar. This white one is for you, Saruman, as a symbol of your power. May good fortune go with you."
With only a nod, Saruman took the robe and strode out the door.
Radagast was just opening his mouth to speak, but he closed it again Cirdan turned towards Pallando and Alatar with a serious look on his face.
"As for you two. Do you know where you want to go?"
The two exchanged uncertain glances. "We have not yet decided, sir," Pallando admitted.
The elf was quiet for a while, deep in thought. Alatar felt as if the silence would never end. He squirmed with anticipation, for the shipwright's actions were putting him in unease.
"Your path is not clear to me," Cirdan said, slowly as if he had to think out each word. "The only advice I have for you is to go to Lothlorien, to seek the council of Galadriel. Go through the mountains by way of Moria, the dwarf city." He pointed to the map. "Due east of it is the forest of Lorien. If the elves that are guarding it give you any trouble, tell them that that you have been sent by Cirdan the shipwright, and you wish to speak to the Lady of the Wood."
Alatar glanced warily at Pallando. This was not quite what they had expected from the solemn elf. "We are the ones that are supposed to be giving instruction, not him to us," he thought.
Pallando caught his friend's eye and shook his head. Cirdan meant well; they had, of course, not known where they were going either.
"If that is what you have to say," Pallando replied carefully, "then it seems as good a course as any. We shall be going. Thank you for your hospitality."
The two wizards rose with Cirdan, who handed them two pale blue robes.
"Ah blue. I always did like that color." The muttered remark from Pallando was followed by a silencing shove from the other, now blue, wizard. Now was not the time for jokes. A quick glance back at Radagast and Gandalf told the two that the other wizards were just as puzzled as they were.
"May good fortune go with you."
As Saruman had done, they simply nodded and walked out the door, with staffs in hand.
"You will need it," Cirdan whispered as they walked out of sight.
