Chapter 3

Adariel waited impatiently over the next several days for her bruises and broken rib to heal. Itching to go outside and play, as any other child of six, she sulked all day and stared out the window gloomily most of the time. This glumness was broken only by Mithrandir's daily visits. Some days he came in the morning while others he came at night but Adariel could always be sure that he would come. On his visits they talked about many things. The old man would tell her entertaining stories about faraway lands and she would tell her own stories about her friends and the mischief they would get into. Sometimes they talked about where Adariel wanted to live and with what kind of family. These conversations usually ended in silence on the girl's part.

One day, after such a conversation and awkward silence, Adariel told Mithrandir about her mother. Her mum had been a weaver and made beautiful tapestries and cloth. The girl talked about how she remembered watching her mum hum to the rhythm of the loom as she wove the string in and out and raised the shuttle up and down. This had been her mum's talent though she could never cook very well – she always burned anything she put on the stove.

"But Mum never talked about Papa. He had disappeared or died before I could crawl. I don't even know his name. My mum never told me," she continued. The girl felt comfortable talking to this man though he also intimidated her in that he seemed so very old and wise. She hadn't told this story to very many people though most knew that her mother had died and had been placed in the care of her uncle.

"My mum started to get sick so she couldn't weave anymore. We could have gone to the healers but Mum was sure it would pass. Only it didn't. It got worse and worse until she died," Adariel shuddered as she said this. The memory of her mother's death was a blur but she remembered crying a lot never coming outside for a long time. She didn't even see her mum's funeral. After Uncle had claimed her she had been beaten when she wouldn't stop crying at night and sobbed herself to sleep after he left for the tavern.

"Uncle was my mum's brother and the only one in left in our family. He claimed me, but he goes away all night and comes back all angry and smelly. I only lived with him for a year but I really don't want to go back to him," Adariel trailed off and looked up at Mithrandir. He had said that he would find her a nice home before he left, but she wanted to stay with him. He would never let anyone like Uncle hurt her ever again, he had been the one who rescued her after all.

"I have been looking for a good, kind family for you to go to. I have to leave tomorrow but you are just about healed and I think that you will be able to go to a new home tonight – one where no one will harm you," Mithrandir said reassuringly. Adariel wasn't comforted though, she did not want to go and live with strangers and she would still be in the city. Who knows if Uncle would find her and hurt her again, maybe even kill her? And there would be no old man with a staff to save her. She just nodded though; grown-ups always thought they were right and didn't like it when children contradicted them.

Gandalf led the girl through the streets of the White City as its walls reflected the glow of the setting sun. Shadows were growing longer in the corners and allies, casting shapes that might scare young children but that adults pass by without a glance. Gandalf held his staff in one hand and the child followed behind, clutching his other one. He was taking her to a couple with a girl just a couple years older than Adariel – he forgot her name now – but she seemed to be similar in disposition to a friend that this girl had described while she was healing. The parents were respectable citizens that had much kindness in their hearts and they had enough money to look after another child's needs.

He just hoped the girl would take to the family so he could return to his task without worry. He couldn't have any distractions for the shadow was already growing. Mithrandir just wished he knew the answers to his questions. Well, if Aragorn finds Gollum soon, he might have a few; or he might end up with more questions. Looking to the girl, he smiled. She would start a new life tomorrow and grow up in a caring family that would help her to rise to all she could be. Still, he felt a little depressed at the thought of not seeing Adariel again. Had he really become attached to this child in such a short time? Gandalf almost wished that he could take this child with him, but he knew that he could not offer her what this family could; he could not give her roots. For he was the Grey Pilgrim and not tied to any one place in all of Middle-Earth.

At last they reached the home of Adariel's new family. Like the rest of the city, the walls were made of white stone, but the door was wooden and painted green to match the window boxes on either side of it. The house was attached to other houses on either side and was built up to a height of two stories. In the windows, it could be seen that the lamps had already been lit for the night and a soft glow spilled out onto the street. As Mithrandir stepped into the pool of light just before the door, he knocked on the door using the bottom end of his staff. The girl and the old man waited just a moment before the door was opened by a plump woman with dark brown curls pulled back into a loose braid. Her round face bore a wide grin at the sight of the girl and her hazel eyes seemed to light up with joy as she welcomed them both through the door.

"Hello, this must Adariel, the girl we've heard so much about! My little girl, Saereth, has been so anxious to meet her new little sister. Come, sit, we're just cleaning up the dinner. I'll be with you in a second," the woman said quickly. She clearly was excited to meet her adoptive daughter. Gandalf led Adariel over to the chairs by the fireplace; he realized she had been squeezing his hand ever since the door had opened and had not relieved the pressure by much until she sat across from him and transferred her grip to the chair's arm. Her face was still bruised, but the swelling had come down a lot, though the black eyes would take more time to heal. Her lip was tight and drawn into a stubborn line; a defiant look shone in the girl's dark eyes.

"These are good people, Adariel. They will take care of you and treat you like their own daughter. You know I wouldn't leave you with anyone that would harm you," he said, trying to comfort the girl. He knew that it would take time to adjust to the rhythms of this family's day to day life but she would end up much happier with them than with that uncle of hers or if he were to take her with him on his long journeys. But like any transition or change, this would take some time for the girl to adjust to. She remained silent and did not reply to his attempt to reassure her.

The woman, he remembered her name being Idhreniel from their past meeting, entered the room, drying her hands on her apron. She was followed by her daughter, a miniature and slimmer version of her mother, and a man who could only be her husband. He was a man of average height for the men of Minas Tirith, but was slightly stocky and had a lighter shade of brown hair than his wife and child. The girl, Saereth, was taller than Adariel by a few inches and wore a simple light blue dress that matched the colour of the robe the doll in her right hand wore. The man, he had introduced himself as Innas wore a plain red tunic and brown breeches as well as a friendly smile on his face.

Innas spoke first, "Hello, Mithrandir, I see you have brought us the young girl that is to become our adoptive daughter. Hello child, I am Innas and this is my wife Idhreniel, but I hope that, with time, you will come to call us Father and Mother. This is our daughter, Saereth. I hope you two will become fast friends."

Adariel didn't speak at first until Gandalf nudged her foot slightly. "I'm honoured that you'd take me into your house," she stopped without saying anything more and the old man knew that he wouldn't be able to get anymore out of her for now so he broke the silence with, "She is rather shy at first, but she'll have many stories to tell once she gets to know you."

"Will you stay for some tea while we discuss her future and she gets to know Saereth?" Idhreniel requested.

"I'm sorry, I really hate to give up a cup of tea, but I must be heading out early tomorrow morning. We have already discussed everything that needs be discussed," he said as he rose to go, "I already know that Adariel is in good hands." He did still have to pack his things and get supplies for the journey north to Rhovanion to meet with Aragorn and he would have to stop in Lothlórien for more supplies. At least he would not be distracted by worrying about a girl without a home or a roof over her head. In fact, he would have preferred to leave earlier, but he could not just leave her to be picked up from the House of Healing by her abusive uncle again. It would not sit well with him if he knew he had needlessly abandoned a child to a life like that.

"Wait!" Adariel said as he donned his hat once more and started towards the door, "May I say good-bye?" she asked, looking from the family to Mithrandir frantically. When Idhreniel nodded, Adariel ran up to him and gave him a hug; he had seen tears in her eyes as she had approached him. He quickly hugged her back in comfort before kneeling down to her level and saying, "Do not cry, Adariel. This family will take care of you and help you to become all you can be. Our paths cannot cross but for a brief time and we would have to say goodbye sooner or later. Give this family a chance."

"I don't want you to go. Why can't you stay? Why can't I follow you?" she said, wiping away tears.

"You already know that goodbyes are hard, but all whom you say goodbye to will never forget you as you can never forget them. Now, will you at least try to find a place in this family?" She nodded, wiping away tears.

"Now, I must go see to other things," he said as he pulled himself up with his staff, "Take care. Farewell." He nodded, getting one last look at Adariel before he turned and walked out the door. Gandalf knew the girl was in good hands and that this family would take care of her. Turning his mind to the journey ahead of him, he walked down the street and around the corner until Adariel's house was no longer in sight.