Chapter 2

Adariel could hear people talking and the sound of footsteps. The girl was aware that she was on a soft mattress. Touching the sheets that covered her body, she found they were softer than the ones at home. The air smelled clean and faintly like herbs but her home smelled musty. Where am I? She faintly remembered someone lowering her onto the bed. Curiosity told her to look about her. A panic came over her when she tried to open her eyes but could not. Am I blind? Then she remembered that Uncle had beaten her again. The small girl tried to move but was met with protests from her bruised body. The injured child let out a moan and returned to her former position.

She heard a man's voice that she did not know telling her to be still. For some reason, it brought back the memory of her escape attempt and her mad run through the streets. She whimpered as she remembered Uncle's blows and his blind fury.

"Shh," the voice whispered softly.

Adariel remembered the old man who had saved her from Uncle. While she had lain unconscious, his face had run through her mind. Wanting to thank him, she wished she would get better so she could find him again. She did not want to return to her uncle's care. Hoping she would be able to find the old man, the girl prayed that he would not make her go back to Uncle. She then fell into a deep sleep.

Gandalf looked down at the young girl lying on the bed. Her face was swollen and turning purple despite the salves that the healers had applied. She had a broken rib but no other bones were fractured. Anyone who would harm an innocent child disgusted him; he would not allow her to go back to that vile man.

When the child had called out to him, the only thing he could have done was to help her. After having a word with the man, he had run away like the coward he was. No, he could not leave her with that man, but neither could the wizard bring her with him. He was too busy to have a child tagging after him. She would only be a distraction, and besides, he knew next to nothing of raising a child. He would have to find her a good family here in Minas Tirith, one that would not beat her half to death.

After the man had run away, he had walked over to the poor thing and checked her condition. Then he had carried her to the nearest house of healing, where they both currently were. He had come and gone throughout the day, alternating between checking on the girl and his task. As he looked down at the sleeping child, he felt for her and whispered a small blessing, wishing for her to get well. He saw her stir slightly and, as she tried to move, heard a small moan.

"Be still," he said softly to her. She was not ready to move and needed to rest. A few moments later, he heard a small whimper from her direction. "Shh…" he whispered and she sunk back into the bed with a sigh, her only movement the rising and falling of her breath.

This was taking too much time. He had to go see Aragorn about the hunt for Gollum soon. The wizard did not know how long it would take to meet up with the ranger; all he knew was that he was somewhere in Rhovanion. Gandalf also had to visit Frodo sometime. It had been almost a year since he had last visited the Shire and he meant to keep an eye on things there. Dark times were drawing near and he had more than a suspicion that Bilbo's ring might be more dangerous than he had originally thought. The old man was growing tired of all these worrisome thoughts though he knew that they would only pile up more in the years ahead.

Looking out the window, Mithrandir realized that it was growing late, for the first stars were appearing. He would leave soon and return tomorrow to check on the girl. Hopefully she would be able to talk tomorrow. Talking with children usually lightens the heart, though she might not feel like telling him stories that would make him smile or even laugh. Blowing out the candles on the bedside table, he rose and left the room silently, so as not to disturb the child.

"Honey, wake up, you have to eat something if you want to get better," a soft female voice said somewhere above the girl. Waking up from a dreamless sleep, Adariel could smell vegetable broth and fresh bread mixed with the constant herbal scents of the house of healing. She tried to open her eyes once again and was startled to be able to open them a crack. The light flooding into her pupils made her close it again for a couple seconds before attempting to look around. Once the world around her came as well into focus as was possible through the slits she could open her eyes, she looked at the face of the healer's apprentice.

She was a young woman with wisps of brown hair falling out of the braid going down her back. Her soft hazel eyes were set in a tanned face with rosebud lips but a slightly hooked nose that made her look pretty rather than beautiful. She wore a half smile upon her face as she told Adariel how glad she was to see her awake and helped her to sit up. The child winced as her bruised rib cage and broken bone complained but was surprised that the pain was not worse. Though she did not remember it at the time, but the healers possessed herbs to take away the pain temporarily and had used some of these on her.

"You took quite a bruising there. But not to worry, we'll have you running with the other children in no time. Now you need to drink your soup. Can you lift the spoon?" Adariel nodded and took the spoon. Her arms had mostly escaped Uncle's rough punishment as he had aimed more for her face and upper body than her limbs. As she slowly raised the spoon to her lips, the child realized just how hungry she was and shoved it unceremoniously into her mouth. She was delighted to find that the soup was a thick and warm broth. She ate the rest quickly while the apprentice tidied the room and talked to her in a voice that was more suited to an infant. Adariel would have normally rolled her eyes, she was six! But she was too happy to be embarrassed. The soup was too good!

When the soup dwindled to a small pool at the bottom, Adariel lifted the bowl to her lips and drank the rest, tilting her head back slightly as she gulped it all down. Placing the now empty bowl on the table beside her bed, she smiled and belched contentedly. The apprentice had left to attend to another patient when she saw that Adariel could drink the soup by herself. Looking out the window on her right, she could see a couple of domed roofs peeking over the vine covered wall. Everything was white as usual, but there was a small herb garden just outside the room that explained the particularly strong scents, even for a house of healing. In the room were two other beds, though both were unoccupied with their stained grey blankets folded neatly over the white sheets. The child sighed, stomach full and contented, bruises numbed by pain-relieving potions. Lying back down she closed her eyes for a short nap.

Gandalf opened the door to the room quietly so as not to awaken the girl. Stepping through the doorframe, his gaze fell immediately upon the only occupied bed. A young girl with a bruised face was sitting in it, staring out the window as the daylight faded. When he cleared his throat, she snapped back to this world and stared at him with a slightly startled expression that looked almost comical with her swollen eye. She smiled when she recognized him and said quietly, "Hullo," though her voice cracked from misuse.

"Well, it's good to see you awake, I have heard that you are healing up nicely," he said, skipping the greeting. He smiled to see that the swelling had gone down though she still sported two black eyes. It didn't seem to be causing her any pain at the moment though it was probably at least partly because of the pain-numbing herbs the healers gave her. No child should go through such ordeals.

"Well I don't hurt as much and the healers are really nice," she said sloppily around her swollen lip and bruised face. Her face lighted up as if she remembered something and said excitedly, "Thank you for saving me." Looking slightly puzzled for a moment, she asked, "Do you know what the words I cried out were? I remember saying something but not what I said."

Gandalf thought back a couple days before when he heard her cry out his name here in Gondor. Had she really not known his name and called it out anyways? "You caught my attention by crying out my name, Mithrandir. Have you heard it before?"

"No, but I think that's what I said. I don't know where I'd have heard it before. It just came out of my mouth."

"Well the important thing is that you are healing. How are you feeling?" he asked as he walked over to the wooden chair beside her bed and sat down.

"I'm alright. The healers make me drink something so it doesn't hurt. They're nice and all, but I want to go outside," she paused and added, "At least Uncle can't get me here."

Guessing this 'Uncle' was the one who had beaten her; he stayed quiet for a few moments. This was not the sort of topic you pursued unless necessary. When she didn't say anything more, he opened his mouth to change the topic, but closed it when she added, "That was the worst he's ever hurt me. Mithrandir, he may be the only family I've got, but you can't make me go back to him!"

"I have no intention whatsoever of placing you back in his care. Not after I had to carry you here unconscious. Don't worry; you will not have to see him again."

Her face lit up as she exclaimed, "Really?" He nodded and a smile of utmost joy spread across her face around the bruises before she winced and stopped smiling. They sat there in silence for a few moments, both looking at the window. The quiet was broken when the child said, "My name's Adariel."

"Well, it is nice to meet you Adariel. It's getting late. You had best get to sleep."

Mithrandir rose to fix her pillow as she lay down. The healer's apprentice had come in to light the candles while they were talking. The old man blew a few out so the girl could get to sleep easier but when he turned back to her, however, her eyes were already closed and she was breathing slowly. On his way out he shut the door just a crack and smiled at the sight of the child sleeping there so peacefully. Such reminders of the innocence in the world were always refreshing to the weary soul of the Grey Pilgrim.

Thanks for all the reviews! I have finally finished this chapter. More soon hopefully!