The Beginnings of Evil

Book Two of the Legends of Shannar

By Priscilla Stafford

Author's Note: Whew, this will be the last chapter concerning the tale of Minnar and Gwendolyn! Sorry it seems like it ends a bit too abruptly. :d But I thought it would be a great place to finish. Hope you like it! Please, please review!

Chapter 5: The Decision of the Council

"You are sure that you are fine?" Gwendolyn asked as Minnar proceeded to get out of bed.

"I was just exhausted and needed to rest." Minnar stretched then looked at the empty stool next to the bed. "Where did Radagast go?"

"Oh, I didn't even notice him leave!"

Minnar shook his head, ashamed. "Neither did I. And for all that he has done for us." He noticed then that his boots were off and quickly scanned the floor looking for them. He stopped when he saw that Gwendolyn had found them and had picked them up.

"Looking for these?" Gwendolyn said with a coy smile on her face.

Minnar took the boots from her and thanked her. He sat on the bed and while putting them on, watched her cross over to the other side of the room to look out the window.

"Tell me what happened that would get you to into the Healing House."

The Eligere knew better than to ignore the question. "Even after battling the Hillmen, I felt that there was still an immediate danger at hand. I... tried to echo a bit further..."

She didn't let him finish as she turned swiftly to look at him. "How could you? You know the danger in that! No wonder you ended up here!"

"Well, if I hadn't, I could have lost my life. I'm not sorry for what I did and there is no real damage." Minnar looked at Gwendolyn now facing outside once more. He was alarmed though to see shoulders shaking a bit. He sat up abruptly and went over to her. "Gwendolyn?"

Minnar became even more alarmed that when looking into her face, he saw tears glistening in her face. A tear escaped and as it made a path down her cheek, Minnar raised a finger to catch it. "Gwendolyn, why are you crying?"

She tried to ignore his eyes but a firm hand on chin prevented her. "You don't know what it was like to see Lothane die."

The Eligere froze. Lothane had died? He gripped Gwendolyn's shoulders. "When?"

"Just minutes after he arrived. He... we just couldn't stop his bleeding. We couldn't even get him to the Healers." The tears were now falling freely and Minnar took her into his arms. He tried to soothe her but he too felt torn inside. Lothane had died and there was nothing he could do about it now. For all his so called powers, he could do nothing to save the life of a friend.

Gwendolyn interrupted his train of thoughts. "But what was worse, it was seeing you arrive in the state you were. I had thought... you looked like you had been..."

Minnar gently rubbed her back to calm her down. "Killed? I'm sorry but I'm not that easy to kill." What she said surprised him though, had she really been that worried about him? "Did I look that terrible?"

He felt her breathe in a small sight. "Enough to make my blood run cold. If you had died..."

The young man waited for her to finish but she didn't. Now maybe wasn't the right time but Minnar wasn't a patient man. He grasped her shoulders to make her meet his eyes. "What if I had died?" He took every detail of her features. Her blonde hair was now freely flowing down her back, giving her an even younger image that in his first impression of her. Her eyes were now sparkling with a hint of the earlier tears and green starlight seemed to dance in her eyes. Then his gaze settled on her lips now set in a defiant line. He smiled, knowing that she was not going to answer his question.

He would do anything to take away that pout from her face and before he knew it, he kissed her. In his mind, he was shocked with himself. He was never one to act so irrationally but he had to admit that he was enjoying the moment.

Minnar felt her stiffen as she pulled back suddenly, cheeks flushed. Minnar had a certain satisfaction that in her embarrassment, she also looked pleased.

"I apologize."

Gwendolyn's eyes widened. "What for?"

"If I surprised you. You were just too irresistible." Minnar saw Gwendolyn silently lift her fingers to touch her lips. Suddenly he was afraid, had he offended her? He would never be able to live with himself if he had.

Before he could speak though, Gwendolyn smiled. "How can I be offended? You are too charming."

Minnar felt his heart skip a beat to know that he was the reason for the most beautiful smile on the lips of this beautiful lady. He extended his arm for her to take. "Shall we go? It's been a long day and I am famished."

Gwendolyn smiled even more, with no hesitation she took the proffered arm and together they left the room.

**********

"So what are we supposed to do? An alliance between Rhudaur and the Hillmen should not go unstopped!" roared Captain Mithirr.

Minnar felt a headache coming on. The afternoon had been peaceful enough, spent in time with the lovely Gwendolyn. But the sun had now set and another council meeting had been called for. This time though, everyone was in an uproar and it was no wonder. Treachery was not something to be taken lightly.

And on top of everything that had happened today, a new revelation was given to everyone by Radagast. To the member's surprise and anger, the seven figures who had shot at the Eligeres had been orcs, and their arrows matched with the one which had killed Lothane. The tips had been coated with poison which had caused poor Lothane's blood to stop clotting, making him literally bleed to death. Emotions would run high on any decision making that night, Lothane had been well liked and loved by all. His death had been a bitter blow to everyone.

Radagast spoke. "This is not just a simple alliance. All the facts lead us to believe the Hillmen could also be in secret alliance with the orcs coming over the mountains into Eriador."

Lord Palannar shook his head. "But that leads us right back to what has been troubling me, who is behind all of this? Orcs do not tend to work together unless under leadership, they would never concede to any kind of alliance outside of their own kind. The same can be said about the Hillmen."

Captain Daelin spoke. "I honestly do not really think that just discussing these matters in a meeting will actually do anything. Immediate action must be taken, and I suggest we send more spies to find out what is going on."

Murmurs of both agreement and disagreement filled the room. But everything changed when Palannar spoke softly. "Maybe it is time to reveal ourselves to the Arthedain and Cardolan." Suddenly the room erupted in what Minnar would call a shouting match. Over the noise he could make out bits and pieces of what people were saying.

"It's about time!"

"They would never accept us..."

"...not enough men on our side, we could use some help..."

But as the time passed, Minnar couldn't help but feel as though nothing was getting accomplished. He tried to put his thoughts into some kind of order. If the choice was put to him, what would he do? He had no idea. He knew as the Eligeres also knew that by reports from Danorath, there were hardly enough of them to fight such an army. Any help from the Arthedain and Cardolan would be eagerly accepted.

On the other hand, would the Dunedain believe them? It was true that the three lands of the split Arnor were at odds with each other, but they would never believe the other to do such a treacherous act as to join with the Hillmen.

And if ever there was to be any sort of alliance between them and the Arthedains and Cardolans, there was an even bigger problem. The origins of the Eligeres would have to be explained. There would be no way that any sort of trust could come from the Duendain. And for a good reason.

Minnar saw Radagast quietly stand up. Amongst the uproar, he wasn't noticed and slipped outside. Minnar decided to join him, he too wouldn't be missed.

When Minnar caught up with the maia, he saw that the older man was staring towards the Southern sky, his robe on and his staff in hand. The Eligere knew before asking that the wizard would be leaving. "Radagast."

As there was no answer, he continued. "Radagast, please tell me what you are thinking."

The silence stretched out so that it was as if there were only the two of them with nothing else existing. Minnar suddenly felt a deep loss in his heart at the thought of the other leaving them. It was important to him what the old man thought, for he himself could not make sense of what was happening.

Radagast faced the younger man, a grim frown on his face. "What am I thinking? I'm thinking that Arnor is on the brink of becoming influenced by darker forces bearing down upon us. Mark my words, this is only the beginning. Arnor is just the beginning, who knows how soon all of Eriador will fall, then Middle Earth will be affected."

The wizard sighed. "It is amazing how blind people can be at these times and then when danger is finally upon them, realization strikes them like lightning. And by then it will be too late." Radagast suddenly gripped the other by the shoulders and Minnar could feel a slight tremble in strong fingers. "Young lad, you and your people have been given a great gift. You are blessed with a peculiar past, but this past will be to your advantage. You know the power and strengths of this darkness, and have learned to use this for the prevention of the spreading of evil. If this advantage be let pushed to the side, all hope will be lost for your people.

"And here is my advice to you for the here and now. Do not let Eriador fall! Once this new evil takes hold of this corner of Middle Earth, it will not be too long before everywhere else will fall.

"But your work must be in secret. You and your people are a secret weapon, if become known to your enemies, they will use the knowledge to crush you in any way they can."

Radagast then stopped short before continuing. "You are also bound to the Ring of power, what is there to prevent evil from using you to find the Ring. My suggestion to you is to remain nonexistent from the eyes of others."

Minnar let the words sink in and at first felt the despair of Radagast's words. A heavy burden this would be for all for this was no easy task. Radagast seemed to sense his mood and relaxed his hold on Minnar's shoulders. "Do not despair Eligere. The road ahead may seem hard and difficult, but what road isn't? You and your people have been destined to play an important role in Middle Earth. I have much faith in you."

The Eligere's despair was now replaced with a strong resolution. He in turn brought his arm to lay on Radagast's forearm. "And what of you? Why do you not stay?"

The wizard smiled and shook his head. "Stay and do what? Be some sort of advisor or even a Consul member? No, I don't think so. My road lies somewhere else."

"And what is your road?"

Radagast paused and contemplated the question. Finally he spoke. "I really do not know. I still must seek the answer to that question. But for now," Radagast stepped back and again faced towards the South, his staff pointing the way, "I think I shall visit the Bay of Belfalas, I have never traveled that far South and I've always heard how beautiful it is. And besides, it seems that the tower of Rhosgobel near Mirkwood at the time isn't a very safe place to be.

"And besides, I have myself a puzzle to ponder." Radagast drew a black stone from out of his robes, about half the size of his fist. "This is the strange mineral found by the Mithlenans. I know of a man with this curious interest in the study of rocks. He lives near Gondor, he could help me solve the riddle of what this is."

Minnar forced himself to appear cheerful. "South it is then."

"But I do believe I shall be back. Someday." Radagast grasped the other by the hand in a firm handshake. "For now I must say farewell."

"Farewell."

And with that, Minnar watched the wizard walk towards the path leading away from the Forgotten Hills. With the wizard went Minnar's confidence. How could the wizard walk out them at a time like this? A time when the world seemed to lose all sense of balance. Minnar could not help but wonder if there ever would be a day when peace will reign in Middle Earth.

Minnar turned at the slight touch on his arm. He saw it was Gwendolyn with a slightly puzzled look on her face. "Minnar, I saw you leave? Are you ok?"

Suddenly Minnar knew that he would do whatever it takes to look out for this special woman. Yes, he knew his first duty was to prevent the spread of evil, forever bound by the promise to destroy the One Ring. But first and foremost, he would fight for the people he loved, this woman he loved.

He blinked, realizing that he had just said in his mind 'this woman he loved'. Could he be really in love with her? He knew the answer in his heart, but in his mind he tried to reason with himself. How can he love someone when maybe the feelings weren't returned? But today seemed like a day to take some chances. "Gwendolyn? Do you love me?"

She looked surprised at the question. "What do you mean do I love you?"

Minnar felt as if his heart would break, he knew he had been a fool. But before what she said could sink in, she continued. "Of course I love you! It's not as if I would let just anybody kiss me!"

The Eligere tried to let the thought register. "You love me?" he said unbelievingly, more to himself than to Gwendolyn.

But she answered anyway and lifted a hand to touch his cheek. "I, Gwendolyn, love you with all of my heart, Eligere Minnar."

Minnar couldn't help himself and bent down to kiss her. This time, there was no resistance and the soft kiss lingered to one full of promise.

At the sound of a person speaking, they drew back at the same moment. "May the Valar bless you both!" They turned to see the distant figure of Radagast looking at them. Minnar put his arm around Gwendolyn's shoulder to which she responded by putting her arm around his waist. Together they waved to the wizard. And together they watched Radagast retreat till they could see him no longer.

**********

From that day on, the Eligeres created a very effective network of couriers and spies to keep an eye on the growing forces of both orcs and Hillmen. Minnar was made Captain of a new group of Eligere Rangers dwelling in the Ettenmoor mountains, the main forces in keeping a watch on the traitorous Rhudarians and their new allies, the Hillmen.

It was not until the year 1308 that the Eligeres actually discovered who led the forces of orcs. Minnar's dream had been a forewarning, the mysterious Witch King led the orcs and the realm North beyond the Ettemoors became to be called Angmar. Only glimpses of the shadowy figure were ever seen, but those glimpses were enough to strike terror into the hearts of all men.

Through all the years, the Eligeres worked in secret, following the advice of Radagast the Brown. Continuing to sabotage and even engage in skirmishes, they were able to confuse the enemy. But it will not be too long before the small forces of Eligeres would be able to hold off the slowly growing forces of evil. For now Arnor would be safe. But it was only the calm before the storm...

**********

Author's Note: Well, here is the last chapter! I hope you liked it! I really loved writing about Minnar and Gwendolyn, and especially Radagast! Please review and tell me what you think!

The next book of the Legends of Shannar will deal with a female main character named Shanell. The story starts in the Third Age year 1362. The realm of Angmar has taken a strong hold over the land above the Ettenmoors.

Shanell will be an interesting character since though she is of the House of Shannar, she does not train to become an Eligere through a terrible tragedy in her youth. But her lack of training proves to be a danger to all Middle Earth as she is cursed because of her lineage, cursed to be forever bound to the Ring.