A/N: Thanks to everyone who has read this so far, and to Silcawen Uvanimor-dreamingfifi for the review. I've added a footnote to explain some of the Silmarillion-based information, but please let me know if anything isn't clear enough.
Chapter 2
As Rian left the hall to go home, she spotted Gandalf lingering nearby. He'd slipped away while the others went to the armory. "It's good to see you, Elewen," he said softly, after glancing around to be sure no one would overhear them. He smiled softly at her. They had known each other for longer than anyone else there, even Legolas, could imagine. He spoke softly, knowing that she would hear clearly even if he were to whisper.
With a nod of his head, he led her around the side of a building into a back alley. She was grateful for his discretion. It would look strange if she were seen talking to him. They stood close enough together so both could hear clearly without raising their voices above a whisper.
"And you, Mithrandir, though that name hardly fits anymore. We have called you Grey Pilgrim for many years, and now you come to us in white. There must be quite a story behind all of this." Rian waited for him to elaborate.
"Yes. It is quite a story. Unfortunately, I have only a moment, but I'll tell you what I can. You've remained in Middle Earth long enough to have a right to know what's happening. I believe you've heard about Saruman's betrayal?" Rian nodded, and he continued, face solemn. "The One Ring has been found, and the Ringbearer is attempting to take it to Mount Doom to destroy it. I fear for him. It is a difficult task, and Sauron has grown strong. He is amassing an army to destroy Middle Earth." Gandalf sighed heavily.
"You feel responsible for this Ringbearer." Rian could see the weariness and worry in his eyes.
"You are as perceptive as ever." Gandalf smiled briefly. "Yes, he is a Hobbit, and no older than these people think you."
"A Hobbit?" Rian was surprised, but waited for him to continue. They had little time, and he would tell her what he thought was most important if she didn't interrupt him.
"Yes. I wish I had more time, but it is a long story." He sighed again, and Rian was amazed at how tired he seemed. She'd never seen him this weary.
"It's all right. What happened that you've changed your color?" Gandalf glanced away. "Would you rather I didn't ask?" Rian realized from the look on his face that she'd brought up a sensitive subject.
"You may ask, but I fear I don't have time to tell the story now. Perhaps another time. It isn't critical to the matter at hand." Again, the wizard smiled briefly, but there was no humor in the expression. "We are to ride against Isengard shortly. Éowyn will lead the people to Dunharrow."
"She is capable of leading them."
"Yes, but I'm glad you'll be there, too."
"To them, I'm nothing more than an old healer."
Gandalf chuckled. "I know. I was afraid Legolas would give away your secret at dinner just now. I'm glad Aragorn spoke to him."
"He wasn't that obvious, but I am also glad that Aragorn told him who I was. I couldn't have spoken to him without privacy, and since you're in a hurry, that would have been difficult. Thank you for telling me about all of this."
"Of course. I ought to return before I am missed." With that, the wizard slipped off to rejoin his companions, and Rian returned home, pondering everything he'd told her. Hopefully she'd get a chance to hear the whole story some day. By the sound of it, the world stood in a very precarious position. The journey to destroy the Ring would be dangerous, even if the bearer was willing to destroy it when the time came. If Sauron regained the One Ring, the world would fall into darkness, and there would be little one healer could do to fight it. On the other hand, if Sauron fell, the remaining Elves would leave Middle Earth, and it would be a lonely place for any who remained, and she didn't feel ready to go to Valinor yet. Elewen had rarely spent much time among her kinspeople, but it would be a very lonely life in Middle Earth if all the other Elves left.
Elewen had spent many years among Men. She was able to appear as one of them, and Rian was the latest of many names she'd used to conceal her identity. For some reason, she'd always felt drawn to help them, especially after the line of Kings disappeared. It made Aragorn's appearance even more significant. She'd met him as a boy in Rivendell, but hadn't thought much of it. After all, he would have probably followed the same pattern as the rest of his line and married and produced an heir to perpetuate the cycle. After she'd heard news of his engagement to Arwen, Elewen had realized that he would either restore his family or else it would die with him, because Elrond would not allow them to marry until Aragorn took the throne of Gondor.
A king on the throne in Minas Tirith would be a good thing for Men, but they all had to survive the coming storm, and with Sauron on the move as he seemed to be. Whatever was coming, it was bigger than anything since Morgoth was chained by the Valar.* Indeed, the very feeling of Middle Earth reminded Elewen of those days. There was an aura of danger but also hope to it. Morgoth had been chained and removed from ever threatening Middle Earth, but it remained to be seen whether the same could be done to Sauron.
Sighing, Rian turned toward home. People on the streets told her about the events of the day, each one telling a slightly different story, but all warning her to get ready to leave for Dunharrow. Eventually, she had to brush them off to get home to do so. She didn't like to be rude, but every housewife on the way assumed she hadn't heard because she lived on the fringes of Rohirrim society, even though news usually came to her quickly. When Rian finally got home, she set to packing.
Rian was in her room packing her few personal things when Christa came in. "What's that stuff, Rian?" She pointed to the brightly colored bundle of fabric Rian was holding.
"Old things, Christa. Just old things." She tied the bundle with cord, hoping the girl wouldn't press the issue. Christa knew that, like many of the women of Rohan, she kept a sword, but Rian didn't want her to see this one. The sword that was hidden in the bundle of clothes was one she had brought from Valinor, and the elegant workmanship and rich fabric hiding it would raise more questions than answers. She hoped Christa wouldn't make the connection between this long bundle and the other sword that she would wear on her belt on the journey to Dunharrow.
"Are your things packed?" It was an abrupt subject change, and Christa would be hurt by her evasiveness, but Rian needed to change the subject before the girl asked too many questions. Even with her trusted students, Rian had to be careful. Their awe over Legolas reinforced Rian's reasons for keeping her Elven heritage hidden from them, as well as the renewed whispers about an Elven sorceress in Lothlórien. The whispers about Galadriel irritated her to no end, but there was little she could do about it. She could hardly admit she had helped raise the Elf they considered a sorceress. It was typical of the Rohirrim to react with distrust toward outsiders, especially Elves, but Rian had known Galadriel since the other Elf was just a child, and it often difficult to bite her tongue and reply politely to their superstitious comments.
"Yes, but what about the garden?"
"We should be back after the trouble is over. Even if it's ruined by then, I have seeds for everything. Many of these herbs don't grow in this part of Middle Earth, but I grew them from seeds originally, and I still have seeds for everything. Be sure you have plenty of salves for aches, cuts, and bruises ready for the trip, and not buried in the bottom of some bag where you can't find them." Christa had never been out of Edoras longer than a day, and she didn't yet realize how difficult this type of journey could be. Even though it was a short journey from Edoras to Dunharrow, with children and old men and women, it would be a slow one.
"Oh! I suppose that makes sense."
"Why don't you go rearrange your things so you can get at them." Rian prompted her student gently, hoping not to embarrass her too badly. Christa nodded and hurried off to repack, leaving Rian in peace to finish packing things Christa shouldn't see.
* Morgoth was the original evil force in Middle Earth. Sauron was one of his chief servants. After Morgoth deceived the Númenoreans, he was cast out beyond reach of Middle Earth to await judgement, but Sauron remained behind, which is why at the time of the war of the ring, that Sauron is the chief evil force in Middle Earth.