Minuialwen sat perched on the highest branch of the oak tree that was her home. Her shining transparent wings flapped gently in the soft breeze and she sat thinking. The white wizard had summoned Father this morning. A young halfling had been found in the woods, two of them actually. Of course, he had not stayed long enough to explain to her what a halfling was. Not many creatures came to the forest. Thanks to the wailing of the Ents, the forest had been considered haunted. She rarely saw anybody besides her own faerie people, the Ents, Orcs, and of course the White Wizard himself, though she had only had the great honor of meeting him once before. She heard shouting from a distance, and was confused. It did not sound like any of her people, nor any animal, and the shouting was anguished, like the hearts of the people making this noise were incredibly sad, standing, she climbed higher and took flight. Her thin but strong winds allowed her to glide and cut through the wind. She landed at the very edge of the forest and got behind a tree. She couldn't believe what she saw. It was a man, an elf, and a dwarf. The elf was blonde haired and blue eyed, very tall with a narrow face. The man was rugged, with a short beard and piercing blue eyes. He was crying a fingering a small dagger holder. The dwarf was standing next to the elf. He had bushy hair all over him, so you could barely see his face. Both also looked as if they were crying, and the elf was singing a song of lamentation quite similar to the one her own people sang when lying to rest their dead. Suddenly the man looked up. He crawled over to a patch of dirt and smoothed hi s hands over it.
"Two hobbits lay here," he said quietly. The elf and the dwarf looked on with hopeful faces.
"They were bound." The men went on to describe how these hobbits managed to free themselves and were followed into the woods. She was amazed at how a mere mortal would be able to know this, and suddenly she thought about something. The Orc burning had taken place last night, judging by how fresh the bodies were. The halflings had been found in the forest last night. Maybe she could help them. She stepped from the safety of the trees and approached them. The elf set the arrow into his bow and lifted it to her chest. She had no doubt that he was a dead shot and she would have no chance against his skillful archery should he decide that he could not trust her. The dwarf lifted his axe and crouched into a defensive position. The man drew a sword and pointed it at her. Apparently they have heard of Tol Rhunmet's more mysterious inhabitants. Minuialwen drew her bone handled dagger, vine bindings, and ruby amulet, and laid them on the ground in front of her to show that she meant no harm. They lowered their weapons, but did not sheath them completely. Minuialwen took that to mean she was allowed to speak.
"The great White Wizard has found these hobbits of which you speak. They are being cared for by Treebeard," she said, smiling serenely. She was shocked when they became enraged and once again pointed their weapons, drawing closer to her.
"What are you playing at wench?" the dwarf snarled. Wench? Were they talking to her? Did they not want to find their friends? Minuialwen was confused and becoming increasingly frightened. The elf stopped in front of her. She was tiny, even for her people. This elf was well over six feet, while she was only a mere 4'3, and he towered over her. She cowered under his shadow and rushed to pick up her things so that she would have a chance at defending herself, but the elf had kicked them off to the side. If she moved he would shoot her.
"Where are our friends? What have you done to them?" he yelled. She started to cry. Surely her people would hear and would come to her aid. She just had to stall them.
"I was trying to tell you but you wouldn't let me."
The elf glared at her. "No, you told us that they were with Saruman. You did not tell us where they were," he snapped. Minuialwen looked around her for help, but saw none.
"I will lead you there if you wish. I do not know exactly where he is, so we will have to stop at the keep to find their location," she said, her voice shaking. She would tell them anything if they left her alone. The man spoke to the elf in Elvish, telling him to back away and let me lead them.
"I assume that you cannot fly like I can, so it will take us two days to reach the keep on foot," she continued.
"The blasted wizard will have killed the poor hobbits by then," the dwarf yelled angrily. She could feel her face heat up. The White Wizard would harm nobody except for the nasty Orcs that came to rip up the forest that had been her home for so long! How dare this ignorant creature say anything otherwise?
"He would never harm the halflings! The White Wizard is good and powerful and would be hurt that you think such nonsense!" she cried.
"Well since you are such a loyal servant of his, it only makes sense that we should take your word for it," the dwarf hissed sarcastically. Minuialwen was indignant.
"Do you want to find your friends or not? Then put away your weapons and follow me. She put back on her amulet and sheathed the dagger. She put the bindings in a pouch that she carried at her side. Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she pulled her small wooden flute from her pouch and led the group into the woods.