Title: To Mend What Has Been Broken
Sequel to: By Some Evil Spell and Exiled
Author: Elizabeth Goode
Disclaimer: I have never made money from any sort of fanfiction whatsoever and am more than unlikely to ever benefit financially from such endeavors in the foreseeable future. So, no actual rangers or elves have been harmed in the making of this work of fanfiction. So there.

Part II

While dinner was being served, Elladan, Elrohir, Estel, and Legolas were on the edge of their seats in anticipation of Gandalf's quest. The twins fidgeted in their seats like elflings, and even the ever-graceful Prince of Mirkwood seemed to bounce with excitement. Estel's patience was clearly wearing thin, and just when the young human appeared that he would surely burst if something was not said soon, the wizard began to speak.

"All right, all right. I suppose it would be cruel to make you wait until after the meal." Gandalf's blue eyes twinkled merrily.

"Tell us, please, Mithrandir?" Elladan pleaded.

"Very well. I would have the four of you travel to Ithilien. It is subject to the rule of Gondor, but it's nearness to Mordor has emptied it of most of its inhabitants. You are going there to seek out and retrieve an old friend of mine, who is far too stubborn for his own good. As you well know, the forces of darkness are not defeated. They seek to regain a foothold outside of Mordor, and do not choose their victims at random."

At this, Estel rubbed his stiff shoulder unconsciously, and Legolas cast a worried glance in his direction.

"Who is your friend we are to retrieve, Mithrandir?" Elrohir inquired. "Surely we are not to arrive in Ithilien and begin shouting that we are come to retrieve to Rivendell the friend of Gandalf the Gray?"

Gandalf laughed. "If you did, the old fool would likely bolt and end up floating in some stagnant bog in Mordor before he stopped."

Estel frowned. "So, we're kidnapping him? If he doesn't want to go, why are we to force him?"

"Because, young Ranger. Just because."

"Gandalf!" Estel was almost whining with curiosity, and his elven family had to suppress the urge to laugh at the memory he evoked of a dangerously curious human child, who endlessly asked, "Why?"

At the tone of Estel's voice, Gandalf laughed again. "Peace, Estel. I did not intend to torture your curious nature with vague ambiguities. It is just that once I began, I found that I was rather enjoying myself."

Estel smiled. He had long ago learned to bear teasing with good humor, having grown up with Elladan and Elrohir, and in turn had learned from the masters the art of cracking wise. "There must indeed exist a course taught in vague ambiguities in wizard school, and surely you were at the very head of your class!"

Gandalf smiled, shaking his head and resting a hand upon Estel's wounded shoulder. "I knew there was a reason that I liked you so much, Estel Elrondion. A sharp tongue to match a sharp wit."

The hand on his shoulder was firm but gentle, and Estel suddenly felt a pleasant, tingling warmth in the stiffest, tightest place. The muscles relaxed considerably. He knew that Gandalf had done something, but the relief was so great that he sighed aloud, rotating the ailing joint.

"Castagath is his name. He is a stubborn man, my friend Castagath. When last I saw him, he dwelled in a cavern –"

Legolas let out a groan. "We are to kidnap an unwilling man from a cave? Why not let him remain?"

Gandalf sighed. "I would explain, Prince of Mirkwood, if you would refrain from interrupting!"

The wizard took a drink of wine from his goblet and continued. "Castagath was once a soldier of Gondor. He was trained as a healer in the Houses of Healing, and during one of the many skirmishes along Gondor's border with Mordor, he became separated from his company after he was sent ahead with some others to scout the nearby caves and set up a camp for the wounded. The attack came in his absence, and he lost his brother, father, and uncle that day. Castagath felt their loss deeply, as he had already lost a young wife and child to disease in the White City. He remained when the others had left. Many a gravely wounded soldier of Gondor has been left at the mouth of Castagath's caverns over the years, and a surprising number of them have eventually made their way back to Gondor. I met him for the first time only five years after he established himself in the caverns. I had heard of him in Gondor and wanted to meet the man for myself. I expected to meet a pasty-skinned cave dwelling hermit, but instead found an excellent healer, a brilliant mind, and a rock-hewn dwelling as inviting as the finest hobbit-hole in the Shire. Over the years, I have visited with the man on my travels, and have even brought him a few patients." Gandalf paused, a sad expressions crossing his face. "Castagath is stubborn. He has heard the distant orc-drums and the sounds of hammering from deep within the caverns for several years. He truly believes that he will be dead long before any creature of Mordor could emerge. He is an old man now, and I wish for his safety. Also, I believe that both he and Elrond would benefit from a meeting. He is needed here in Rivendell to exchange knowledge and train others in what he knows. It is said in Ithilien, by those hardy enough to have stayed, that Castagath's Mountain is the first omen that flight is necessary. They say, when the mountain falls, it is time to leave once-fair Ithilien for the safety of Gondor's walls. Castagath has refused to leave even when I explained the danger. If he will not leave at the request of an old friend, then perhaps an invitation from Elrond Half-Elven to Rivendell, hand-delivered by the sons of Elrond and the Prince of Mirkwood would do the trick. The stubborn old goat does have a fascination with Elves."

Elrond was the first to speak after Gandalf's tale. "I would very much like to meet this man."