Disclaimer- Middle-Earth and all its creatures belong to Tolkien, Agnes belongs to T. Pratchett, my story belongs to me.
AN: I'll be spending next week in South Carolina, probably without internet access. I'll try and keep writing, and will upload stuff when I get back.
To the surly mermaid- don't worry, I promise not to abandon this story. I update very sporadically, but I won't abandon.
Agnes and the Elves
Chapter 7 –Witchcraft
Explaining Perdita would have been relatively easy (except for the part where everyone thought Agnes was crazy), except for one slight snag.
"Agnes," Gandalf interrupted, "You've mentioned this 'witchcraft' several times, but we have never heard of it. What kind of skill is it?"
No witchcraft?! Agnes gaped at Gandalf. How could there be no witchcraft, especially when this man was clearly a wizard?!?! "Wha- What do you mean you have never heard of witchcraft?!" she spluttered, "You are a wizard! What do you call women who do magic?!"
Gandalf translated for Elrond, then shared an uneasy glance with him. "By magic, you are referring to seeing people's thoughts, correct? I know of no Men who can clearly do this."
"But… you can do magic. I can feel it in you! Aren't you a wizard?"
Gandalf paused at this, considering. Agnes could feel his thoughts brushing against hers. "I think the answer to that is both yes and no." he said slowly. Glóin was hurridly translating for Elrond and Glorfindel now, while Gimli sat quietly and watched.
Agnes looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"In this world I am called a wizard, yes." Gandalf explained. "But I don't think I am like the wizards you picture in your mind."
He's not fat enough, that's for sure. Perdita commented.
Shut up, you're giving me enough trouble already!
Aw, can't I talk to the nice wizard?
No!
Gandalf frowned, sensing the interplay between Agnes and Perdita but not the meaning. "I think before you attempt to… explain Perdita you should explain 'witches' to us." Elrond, hearing Glóin's translation, nodded.
Agnes began simply. In isolated villages, witches were the healers. They brought people into the world, cared for them, watched over them (sometimes threatening with a big stick), and laid out the dead. That was easy enough to explain. When Agnes said that a witch's other duty was protecting the land all of them, elves dwarves and wizard alike, looked skeptical. Elrond demanded to know how one old lady defended anything.
They want an explanation? Fine. Agnes walked to the table and pointed at a quill lying next to some papers. "May I see that?" she asked sweetly.
Wait a pause for Glóin to translate, then Elrond nodded. Agnes picked up the quill and let it lie flat on her palm, and concentrated. She'd only seen Granny do it once (and Nanny had not been pleased about the loss of her hat), but the principle was fairly simple. At the last second Agnes remembered about Headology, and added some sound effects.
BANG! The feather exploded impressively. All five of the questioners/observers rocked back in their chairs, startled by the noise and flying bits of feather zinging around the room. Perdita roared with laughter at the expressions on their faces. Clearly they magic they knew dwelt more in the subtle.
Elrond snapped something at Gandalf, who spoke to Agnes. "Lord Elrond… requests that you explain this more clearly."
Despite herself, Agnes grinned. "Requests?"
Gandalf ignored her comment. "Explain your magic to us Agnes, please."
What is magic?
'Older witches hardly put words to it at all, but may suspect that… all you needed to do was twist…'
All it really took was an inclination and a certainty that could bend iron. It was one of the reasons why the Fairy Folk and witches had never gotten along.
Agnes explained as best she could. She explained how the Disc had a very strong magical field, how people born with an inclination could learn to affect it. The explaination took some time, as Agnes was interrupted almost constantly by questions.
Finally, Elrond seemed satisfied. "And your magical… inclination is what gave Perdita life?"
"No, my abilities gave Perdita shape. When I named her I gave her life."
The questioners nodded. They knew about the power of names. "Is there anything else?"
Agnes thought for a moment, and then shrugged. "There is more I can show you, if you will give me my broomstick and come outside."
Oh! Are we going to escape?
Agnes looked at Elrond while Glóin translated. No. I have a feeling these may be the only people who can help us.
Then why show them the broomstick? It will just make them more suspicious.
No, it will show them that I am not lying. The wizard knows about the circles, I can feel it. If he believes enough of my story he may be convinced to help me get home.
That sounds like twisty logic if I ever heard it.
He is a wizard, they like twisty logic.
A point, Perdita conceded, a point. Let me talk to him!
Elrond, Glorfindel, and Gandalf had started arguing, presumably about letting Agnes do something wonky with the broom. No Perdita, it's my body, remember?
Yeah, whatever. It's not like you're doing much with it.
Shut up.
Gandalf finally turned back to Agnes. "We will go to a courtyard and you can show us your broom." He seemed doubtful, but then again he had no idea what a broomstick could do.
Glorfindel led the way to a courtyard that was enclosed one all sides, but still open to the sky. On the way he spoke to a passing elf and sent him on an errand. Right as they arrived at the courtyard, the elf came hurrying up with Agnes' broomstick in hand.
There were people already in the courtyard when they arrived, elves and two small children with dark curly hair. Elrond entered into another debate with Gandalf, gesturing at the spectators, apparently wanting them to leave. Gandalf appeared to win though, and no one was sent away.
Gandalf turned to Agnes. "Show us what it is that needs to be shown."
Agnes stepped into a clear space nervously. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
Too bad! Perdita said, not sounding sympathetic at all. At least your broom starts right away, unlike Granny's.
Agnes took a breath and mounted her broom. Before anyone could ask her why she looked so ridiculous, Agnes started the magic and took off, circling the courtyard just above the heads of the tallest elves.
There were shouts of alarm and surprise, and exclamations of delight from the children. Glorfindel reached for his bow, but Elrond grabbed his arm and shook his head. Agnes noticed this and landed near them, deciding not to push her luck. When she landed she remembered what else was different between these elves and the Fairy Folk: This elves didn't smell worse than a wet goat, they smelled clean and possibly flower-scented.
It's not like I'm still confused about that anymore. I already know these are not the same elves.
Gandalf came up to Agnes. Behind him, she could see the two children talking excitedly to Gimli. "Is that representative of the magic you were trying to explain to use?"
Agnes wanted to say no, there was so much more than that. There were the parts that took place only in the mind. How to show the dying the way, how she went to the sick almost every day and helped them, even if they distrusted or were frightened of her. All of that was more what a witch was than exploding feathers or flying on broomsticks.
Agnes opened her mouth to say all that, then looked into Gandalf's eyes, and nodded instead. He knew all that already. Those were the things he knew you weren't supposed to talk about.
Gimli came up and stood next to Gandalf, looking at him apologetically, and pointed behind him at the children who had been talking to him. "Merry and Pippin want to know if they can ride on Agnes' broom."
Gandalf looked as if he wanted to roll his eyes. As he turned to tell the children off, Agnes noticed their extremely large, hairy feet.
That's very odd…
AN- Ack! I just realized that I forgot to mention that Agnes' broom came with her through the stones, how dumb of me. When I stop being so lazy, I will go back and fix it, I promise.
