Two weeks are up, so as usual, here is something more to munch on.
CA Productions
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Chapter 13 - Deep Within the Mind
It had been a few hours but eventually every istari gave their reports and findings, telling everyone about their progress in the past hundred years. Everything seemed to be in order, so Gandalf closed the meeting, releasing the wizards to do as they were supposed to by their nature.
Wander.
They rarely visited this part of Outer-Earth, so they used every moment of this little free time from their duties to enjoy what the world offered. Peace and quiet, purity and the busy sounds of nature, that without having to go about and patrol, taking care of their own tasks. They were free to do as they wished.
While Alatar and Pallando left to look at the magical forest in the middle of the elven city, Ragnarök was busy studying the book Hyano gave them, humming and grimacing at places. From what he saw and read, this might be the work of Saruman indeed. Full of unnatural and disgraceful spells, written in the language of man and Black Speech at the same time. He could see from the words themselves that these spells were all meant to do horrible things... And they required one thing he did not have and never wished to acquire...
Dark magic.
This place shall be void of it if he could help it. While he was still reading and trying to find a solution to the problem, attempting to find the spell the orange wizard was suggesting, his mind was elsewhere, remembering the small conversation he stumbled into when he left their Council room, having caught The White wizard having a small debate with Zhia.
-flashback-
"If you would just hear me out..." Ragnarök heard this while made his way out of the magical door they created to exit and enter the old Council room and blinked in surprise, having recognized Gandalf's voice. Frowning at the calm and yet somewhat irritated tone, the brown wizard followed after it. He almost managed to walk right into the conversation but stopped himself just in time, staying behind a corner, while peeking around it, noticing the White wizard speaking to Zhia, the violet wizard. This was no surprise for him... He expected the strict istar to have a private conversation in which he questioned Gandalf's leading skills. He always did that. He just wasn't sure if it was because of his predecessor having been the leader and so considered himself the rightful one or because he felt some kind of responsibility towards the wellbeing of the Order? He did not know that...
"You cannot be serious!" Zhia basically snarled at Gandalf as he leaned in closer, glaring daggers at him, his teeth showing, seething in anger. "She is not only new to this world and has a lot to learn but her behavior needs a good looking into. She speaks to us like we are old buddies! Like we are children who know nothing!" The istar threw his arms up to make a point, then put them onto his waist, continuing his complaint. "She is friends with the darkness, Gandalf! With the darkness! How can you let someone like this join the Order?"
"I have my reasons, Zhia. Besides... are we all not old friends? Since when did we need to address one another differently?" Was the calm reply Ragnarök heard from the White wizard, who clearly did not take these harsh words to heart and kept a cool head, despite what Zhia might be throwing at it. He truly admired this about their wise leader, although he probably should not expect anything less. "Some of the reasons are not my own. She is ready and is to take part in the duties of our Order. Nothing you say will change that."
"We will see about that!" The violet wizard dared, stepping closer to the other, as if threatening him for a moment before realizing what he was doing and shifted his position again to keep a respectable distance between them. "Now I see what this is all about..." He trailed off, his voice slightly lower for some reason. Perhaps he understood that Gandalf was right and he cannot change the content of the announcement, neither can they revoke her place among them. Not so soon. "I tell you what this is about... You have gone soft on her. You spent so much time with her over the years that you would do everything to make her happy. You have grown too blind. Blinded by a fatherly love towards all her mistakes, towards what she has become. A-..."
"That is enough, Zhia." Gandalf interrupted him firmly. The brown wizard understood that this might have hit hard and the violet wizard probably treaded on dangerous ground. Perhaps he should not have gone this far but then again... he was also curious now. Just like everyone else in the Council, they noticed Hyano's odd behavior and wondered just as much why Gandalf was so tolerant towards it. Perhaps there was... something about all that Zhia said true...? How could he think that? Ragnarök scolded himself inwardly and shook his head. Fights among themselves would only cause trouble and they should never question one another. Never. Simply, because there was no reason to... "This has nothing to do with feelings, neither with any kind of love. However, I am not in the mood to discuss this with you. Not right now."
"Then when will that time be, Gandalf? Because no matter where I look and how I look at it... All I see is uncertainty and blindness." Zhia replied, his voice but a whisper, trying to coax an answer from the White wizard.
"Perhaps once you start to see instead of just looking... Maybe you will understand then." Was all Gandalf said before the sound of steps chased the brown wizard away.
-end flashback-
Even today Ragnarök did not understand Gandalf's reply. What was there to see? Unlike Zhia, he could recognize one can walk around and look around completely blind to their surroundings, without looking deeper into it all. Zhia had the habit of looking at everything in an objective manner... The brown wizard, much like the White, saw way beyond what he could look at. His duties required it. After all, one can look at a snarling snake wolf like it was about to attack or see that it was as scared of him as he was of it and back off to soothe its mind. One can see how the trees feel, what the flowers think, what the wind says and how the earth still rumbles under their feet.
Ragnarök knew it all too well.
But this still bothered him. What were they not seeing? He should be able to but he did not. He shared the thoughts of Zhia and saw Hyano not all too fit for the Order just yet. She needs to show some respect, although he could understand her worry and desperation. She was an... interesting character to say the least and was not sure what to think about her just yet.
Thinking he was maybe judging her too much, he decided to set out and see the truth for himself or at the very least clear his mind with a walk around the forest. He grabbed his wizard cap and his staff, then shut the door behind him and took a deep breath of the fresh air around him, then with a big smile on his face, he stepped away from his temporary home. He stopped by a few trees to stroke their barks gently, feeling the life pulsating inside and smiled at the small flowers which turned towards the warm sun to consume what they needed. It seemed like nature was happy around here, which was a nice change of the cold north. Or the rather barren west...
While he walked and observed his handiwork here, he also read the book he was reading before which he took along, not wanting to waste precious time. Hearing something in the distance, however, he looked up and managed to notice a figure walking down a path not far. To his luck, it was actually the one he was looking for.
Hyano was walking back towards the shack; however she took a slight detour back into the forest. Seems like the youngest herder child has finally caught chicken pox. She did not like it one bit either. Hyano couldn't blame her, though. The constant itching had to be horrible. Thankfully that was one thing Hyano was immune to. However, she had told her and her mother that Lilly would have to stay in her room and away from other children until it passed, considering this was a disease that could prove fatal to those with no immunities to it at all, it was best not to risk any of the elven children catching it. Also, Lilly would be more susceptible to any diseases here that were not known of back in Middle-Earth and the same results might be at play. Lilly had, of course, been against this idea but the moment she heard she could possibly kill her friend... she ran and hid in her room and ordered her sister and mother to clean the house before the men got home. She did not want Naril getting sick because of her... or worse. So now, Hyano was searching through the forest for various herbs she could make an anti-itching cream out of for the youngest herder. This proved a little harder than she thought, considering there was a lack of many of the herbs she was used to and an abundance of ones she wasn't used to. She stopped her search when she heard a voice and then raised a brow when she saw a brown robe.
"Huh... wasn't expecting to see you so soon." She admitted honestly, smiling at the new brown wizard, who must have called out for her just now. With all her thoughts going on within her head... it was a miracle she heard it. She thought they would be all going back to where they came from already.
Ragnarök instantly couldn't help but smile, stepping up to her in a rather cheerful manner, clearly awed at the fauna and flora that this place displayed and happy about having ran into her so soon. He expected to having to walk around for a couple of hours but his luck was marvelous today.
"Ah, nice to see you again. The meeting has ended, so for now we are free to wander around. This place is... magnificent. Normally I am the first one around in forests, taking care of them until it can sustain an ecosystem... So I never see it in all its glory." He quickly explained, his brown eyes wandering to the nearest flower, admiring its color and beauty.
Hyano giggled a bit at Ragnarök's reaction. She seemed far more relaxed now that she wasn't under the pressure of the meeting.
"I have to agree. Back in Middle-Earth, I was the one taking care of the ecosystem after Radagast's death, so I got to see many come and go. It was very fascinating. Sadly, it is causing me some trouble at the moment. There are many plants here I don't know and I don't exactly have the time to experiment to find out what does what. I need to make an anti-itching cream for the littlest tree herder to help her through the disease she currently has or she will end up scratching herself and scarring her skin." She said, rubbing the back of her head and sighed in mild annoyance.
"Then you asked just the right person." Ragnarök replied, gesturing to himself with a bright smile. He was the one who took care of all the plants around here when this land was young. Of course, he knew each plant and what they could do. He was... in a way sent here with this knowledge. After all, he needed to know what he was dealing with when helping them grow and spread. Although... the way she said it he wasn't sure why a tree herder would itch and why they would need anything for it... But no matter. "Oh look! That one!" He practically shouted, then quickly hurried over to a blue plant that was growing in the shade of a tree, very tight to it. "You could apply this. Just mash the petals in a bowl, add honey and milk, then put it on the skin. It will also smell good." He nodded, pleased with himself, before frowning. "But why would a tree herder itch?"
The orange wizard smiled as he provided her with a solution. She took the plant and looked it over. She remembered something similar back home but it had very different effects if applied to the skin. When asked about the little tree herder's illness she smiled sheepishly.
"It is a disease called chicken pox. Back home it is common for all children to catch it around her age. It causes little bumps to appear on the skin that itch terribly but if scratched it only makes things worse and if you scratch them open... it causes mild scarring." She explained. "Because their culture and most of the cultures back in Middle-Earth have all had it, the disease is just a mild annoyance all children go through. It has a habit of causing the body's immune system to become weak, though, so I have asked that she stays away from the elves until she gets better. I'm not sure but this disease has proven fatal to many on its first time through a species, so I would rather not see any elves catch it if possible." She added.
This didn't really answer the brown istar's question...
"How can a tree herder get any such sickness? How can they even itch? I have never seen such a thing happen..." He replied, clearly confused about this illness. They were trees... Trees did not have skin diseases."Oh well... This helps mostly on many. The thicker the skin the more needs to be applied too." He shrugged.
Hyano quickly realized why he was so confused and giggled.
"I forgot. You all haven't met the family yet. They aren't like tree herders you are used to. They look a lot like humans actually... but different. It is hard to explain. You would have to meet them for yourself. anyway. I guess a basic summary is their ancestors made a change a long time ago that made their bodies less dependent on magic, so they could continue protecting the trees. If you ever get the time I would very much encourage you to go meet them... though if everything turns out well we will be getting more, so you will meet some anyway." She replied with a smile and started walking. "You want to come to the shack? I'm dying for some good food right now. Two weeks of nothing but mushrooms did nothing for me at all." She said with a laugh.
"Sure. But I think Rosa was from that family, then? I mean Gandalf said the same thing when talking about her family. Astonishing what magic can do to a being, right?" Ragnarök mused as he followed along. Of course, he didn't remember anything being said about the wraith being held there for the moment.
At the mention of Rosa, Hyano nodded, having forgotten for a moment that they indeed met one of their kind already. She was with them on the meeting and Gandalf mentioned he already explained to them what they were. She truly will need some time to get her mind together. Her imprisonment did not do anything good for it as it seemed.
"Yes actually. She is the oldest child of the Razorleaf family. There are three children total and then their parents. Lilly is the one currently sick. Cane is the only boy among the three. Then you have Will and Holly." She said with a smile.
"Fascinating... They began to breed much like humans and elves." The brown wizard mused, a wide smile appearing on his lips as he thought about it. From magical trees to human-like creatures. One could not even tell Rosa was descended from modified tree herders. "I must meet them at once. I would like to take a look at them, just to see the transformation they went through and see just how different yet similar they are to humans and elves." He continued, already making plans in his mind. It was pleasant to finally speak to someone who seemed to have the same interests as him. nature and its creatures were his specialty and his life.
"I am sure they would not mind. I mean, I am sure they are also curio-..." Hyano stopped as she noticed an elf... In a tree... Aiming bow at... At... She couldn't tell. She thought he was one of the guards for the shack but why in Middle-Earth was he in a tree. That was until she looked in the direction where he was aiming at and saw... The shrunken head decoration from Halloween hanging from a different tree. It had several arrows in it at this point but none had damaged the sensor which meant every time something went in front of it, the device would make the eyes glow and let out a heart wrenching scream. Hyano would have been agitated... if it wasn't so damn funny. She did everything she could to hold in her laughter but it wasn't hard to see by the grin on her face that she was fighting a losing battle. It only grew worse as she saw the rest of the chaos.
Ragnarök raised an eyebrow as she stopped in the middle of the sentence and looked at her, then slowly followed the direction she was looking at. At first he wasn't sure what he was seeing but... Just after a few seconds he could swear he was looking at a battlefield. There were countless elven guards scattered around, as Hyano could tell at least three times as many as with what they left the shack. There were still some elves hanging from trees upside down, although in the process of being cut off from their rope traps by their kin. There were some who looked like something was dumped on them. A few had different colors on them, others -no doubt- had even glue in their hair and there was another group that smelled maybe much better than any other but it was so strong and intense that it could hurt anyone's senses. Then there was the other group that stood away, seemingly exiled from the rest. Even from this distance it was clear why. They smelled extremely bad. Rotten even. So, someone had a great deal of fun while the wizard was gone. He sniffed the air, grimacing at the mixed scents and shook his head.
"What in the name of all the holy Valar happened here?" He asked, stepping forward, in front of the orange wizard.
Hyano couldn't help it as she fell onto her knees, laughing so hard her sides hurt. She laughed for a good five minutes before standing again and wiping the tears from her eyes. She then made her way to the shack, not waiting for an answer since she already knew what it was. It may seem heartless to anyone else but she grew up being pranked by this wraith, so to her it all just looked bloody hilarious.
While she seemed to have a good time, the brown wizard couldn't help but only think of a disaster than a funny prank by anyone. He watched as the orange wizard laughed so hard she shed tears, looking at her with a strange look before deciding that this wasn't the time to wonder about such things, maybe the mushrooms have some kind of effect on her after all. How can someone laugh at such a thing? Well, Ragnarök did snicker a little after all but eventually he went to help the elves and ask about what happened.
She watched as the brown istar approached the elf that was still aiming at the decoration and shook her head, however a thought came to Hyano's mind as she got to the door of the shack.
"Ren! I swear to Mordor... If you trashed the shack, I'm blasting you through a wall!" She yelled as she kicked the door open. With the chaos he had created outside she was dreading what he did to the inside of the shack.
The shack... let's say... wasn't in a better shape than her home was when he first arrived there. He made sure to look around in every corner, in every shelf, emptying their content to see what was worth keeping. The shack looked like a tornado swept through it... Scratch that... At least four tornadoes! Everything was on the floor, scattered, even those that looked fragile. Some things were broken, many potions were opened, their content spilled. A bunch of items however were neatly stacked into a corner as his little hoard. Anything that shined, had an unusual form and made interesting noises or was colorful, landed in his stash in the corner.
However... There was no wraith in sight...
Hyano twitched. At least it didn't smell like whatever the Void he dropped on those elves outside.
"... REN, YOU SON OF A WARG, WHERE ARE YOU?!" She yelled, not caring who heard her speak in whatever tongue she was using. At the moment she had bigger problems to worry about like where in all of Outer-Earth the wraith got off to. "Some guards." She grumbled as she made an onceover of the shack again before turning and gasped when she bumped into the chest of none other than the object of her... 'desire'.
He just... stood there, staring at her, tilting his head to the side with confusion and curiosity as if everything was in the perfect order in the whole world.
While she searched around, he managed to come back and sneak in through the door, only to find the orange wizard there.
"No need to shout." He started. "I am right here." He added, then casually as if nothing happened he walked over to his little stash of new items, putting an elven bow into the pile. How he managed to snatch that one was a mystery. All in all, the Nazgul didn't seem to be bothered by the disaster he made and caused, neither was he concerned about the elves and their reaction to all this or her obvious irritation. At first, the elves themselves weren't sure what was causing trouble around them, seeing they didn't see the wraith slip out the door. He wasn't using the door either but found a hidden tunnel just beneath the shack. From there on it was a piece of cake. He kept getting the tools for the traps from the inside of the small house. It seemed to be a nice source as well. He found everything he needed.
Hyano grumbled and gave him an annoyed look before allowing him to do as he pleased.
"Could you have at least left the shack half decent? I like to walk without tripping over a million items." She scolded, but eventually her own mischievous side caused her to smirk. "You really outdid yourself this time, though." She added, not able to help but give the wraith some credit for his work. She then turned and looked outside. "Oi! There are two istari here now! You all can go home now if you would like!" She called, finding that was more than enough reason for Ren's victims to go on home... or in some cases deep into the woods and get cleaned up. She probably should have warned the lot of them before leaving but... Well, this was just too good. She watched as the elves gladly left, all of them disappearing in different direction, a few of them still staying behind, just to be sure. They surely didn't want any more surprises, though.
All Ren did was shrug at her comment, not caring about all the mess at all. He simply sat down and started picking at the items, looking them over now closer, trying to find out what to do with them. He nodded when she complimented though, picking up a strange colored gem.
"They have good senses but I have thousands of years of experience. They didn't know what hit them until it was too late. Pathetic." He shook his head, almost in disappointment at how easy it was to trap the elves, however they eventually found out and surrounded the shack. But even then... the secret tunnel was still not discovered by them. Some long-ears they were...
Ragnarök made his way towards the shack as well. He didn't see the Nazgul walk in, so assumed she was alone, until he reached the door, where he stopped in his tracks, feeling the darkness in the air. His eyes slowly but surely found the... currently not so... frightening being sitting in the corner among some items. The brown wizard took his time to look around, grimacing but at the same time smiling at the mess that was made.
"I presume... Gandalf will have his hands full for a few... weeks..." He chuckled and raised an eyebrow at the modified interior, shaking his head as he looked down at the book that he still held, ready to be read at every moment he could spare.
"Yes, Ren has a habit of collecting anything he likes. I wouldn't let him near your staff if I were you. He's the reason I stopped using one altogether." Hyano admitted with a giggle. She debated on inviting him in but seeing as the shack looked like one couldn't walk two steps, let alone sit... she decided better of it. "How about we just sit outside? I can go on a manhunt for some food later." She said, shaking her head before taking up a seat outside the door.
Hearing this, Ragnarök instantly tightened his hold on his own staff and kept it close to his side, not wanting it stolen from him and also shut the book quickly to put it away into his robe. Although... he might have just doomed it all, since the noise of a book shutting attracted the invisible gaze of the wraith, who met his own.
They had a short staring contest before Ren looked away, sorting through the items again, starting to pack some of it into his cloak. Where it all went, was a mystery. He surely weighted a ton because of all that now.
The brown wizard agreed on what Hyano said and searched for a nice spot to sit at.
"Shouldn't we make our White happy and clean up the mess? I mean... he surely would not be pleased with all this." He shrugged, suggesting that they undo all what the Nazgul did in the shack. "On the other hand..." He continued and opened the book again, seeing the wraith was now occupied. "I think the little work would not do any bad for him. Besides, he knows what belongs where. And as things look right now... that Nazgul is guarding a pile of... treasure. Better not disturb it lest it attacks us."
Hyano snickered.
"He won't attack you so much as look at you strangely before taking the item back and tossing you out of the house anyway." She said with a smile. "Besides, even if you clean it up, he will just make a mess of it again anyway. He is just too curious for his own good and if you make the mistake of adding anything while you clean... he is sure to take that as well simply because it is new." She added, seemingly having gotten used to it. He pulled the same stunt on her house after all... Several times in fact.
"Does he talk?" Came the sudden question from the brown wizard as he started to find an interest in the creature they began to discuss. He was told about them, yes, but he never experienced one before in person. It was like a... living fossil of a previous world! "I was told they shriek and hiss and they might whisper some words but no one truly observed them while they spoke clearly. Then again... peaceful encounters were rare... They surely were not as talk-active when fighting..." He shrugged, before gazing at the shack when he spotted movement.
The wraith found his way out now and after a couple of moments spent locating Hyano, he started making his way towards them, although slowly and silently, before stopping all of a sudden, watching them, then slowly but surely stalked to the right towards the foliage, aiming to sneak up on the wizard holding the book from behind. Out of sight, out of mind. That was his logic.
Hyano noticed this but didn't say anything, letting it go. She had a good idea what he was up to.
"Yes. He does. His native tongue now is Black Speech, however at one point we were having basic conversations in the tongue of man. He would be set on fire fist before ever trying to learn elvish, though." She said, laughing lightly at the very thought. Ren speaking to the elves, let alone in their language? Not likely. "He actually talks quite a bit, sometimes ranting about various things. His favorite being humans. He can't figure them out despite having been one before." She added as she leaned back onto her hands.
Ragnarök chuckled.
"No wonder. Even we cannot understand them, let alone a creature without understanding of life and its properties." He said, trying to keep his gaze away from where the wraith went, only meeting Hyano's gaze briefly to confirm that he didn't mean any harm with this stunt and did not plan to become hostile. "When you met him..." He paused, thinking about the short story she told them at the meeting. "As a wraith I mean... Weren't you feeling that something might be wrong with him? Were you very careful or... just handled him as any other normal stranger? Surely gaining trust didn't come easily. Even if you didn't yet see his kind before, you surely felt the darkness within him..." He said, curious about her past with the Nazgul. For him it was very hard to imagine ever becoming friends with a creature made of pure darkness. It seemed... wrong. He wouldn't feel himself safe.
Hyano thought over the question for a moment before finally replying in the best way she knew how.
"Imagine, if a creature fell in front of you. Not a bird but something big, like a dragon or of that kind. More often than not your first thought is to run but... being a nature istar... a different thought tends to come up first. 'What is wrong and how can I make it better?' That is all I really thought about. Yes, I knew it was a dark creature I was looking at but... back then... and even now I guess... I believed that every creature had good in them, so I honestly didn't care. I just wanted to help him become better like I would any other creature." She replied. She didn't think Zhia could understand quite as well if she told him all this in detail. His grasp on facts was stronger than his grasp on emotions as it seemed. If he was anything like Saruman, then he likely saw them as a burden against better judgment which at times they could be. However, she was certain Ragnarök would get it.
"Dark creatures like Nazgul have nothing good in them." The brown wizard sighed, trying to make sense in all this. Although, he was sure she already noticed this. He could not quite imagine the creature doing a good deed or even talking respectfully. This did not mean he was not curious about it and did not see it as a potential new subject for a couple of research projects he was planning. It could provide valuable data. "Valar knows wha-..." He couldn't finish his sentence though, as in the next moment the book was snatched from his grip, making him gasp and look back but by the time he did, whatever got it was gone.
Ren quickly put some distance between them and sat down next to Hyano tightly as if wanting to be reassured by her support in this deed, before opening the book and started looking it over. He knew it was familiar!
"This is mine!" The Nazgul exclaimed with a hiss, pulling it closer to him as if to prevent the other istar to take it back, who just then noticed where the book went. His reaction was only a smile, though, and a shake of his head. He should have seen that coming.
Hyano snatched the book back from Ren.
"No, it's mine, you jerk! Last I checked, you can't even use anything in this book anyway! Besides, you are already heavy enough as it is!" She scolded him before setting the book to the side casually, then she got up and sat on the Wraith's lap in order to keep him in place, her arms crossing over her robed chest. "Ren, this is an istar. His name is Ragnarök." She introduced him, being polite more out of sake for Ren's own ego than anything. "And Ragnarök, this is Ren." She added, switching back to the language of man for that part before laying her head back against Ren's chest almost by second nature.
The brown istar watched the exchange rather confused. The two seemed to indeed know each other rather well, especially because the wraith seemed to tolerate the harsh words towards his person, seeing his only answer was a huff and a turn of his head in a silent pout and let her take the book from him without as much as fighting her or punishing her for it. If any of them did that, they would be on the Nazgul's hit list, he was sure of that. What he also found interesting was that she actually sat in his lap and this also was tolerated by him. He didn't make a move to remove her and didn't flinch away either, if anything, he even changed his posture just a little to give her more room.
"Interesting..." Ragnarök said as he watched them, stroking his still bare cheek. "Does he really let you do this? The scolding, the sitting, the taking of his property?" He asked, finding this highly... unusual and quite suspicious. This girl might be deeper into the darkness than one thought...
In the mean time Ren also tried to use the opportunity and her distraction to get back what is 'rightfully' his. The book. He slowly extended an armored hand and reached out for it.
"Yes." Hyano answered before noticing his hand. This made her twitch before she actually grabbed both his hands and put them on her lap, holding them in place. "We have been friends for a very long time. To be honest, he is only ever tried to hurt me a handful of times. When we first met he needed my help to get well again, so he allowed me, then I guess after that he felt no real need to hurt me." She explained to him before looking at Ren over her shoulder, then she flicked her hand the book being blown farther away, so it stayed out of his reach. "Ha!" She exclaimed with a grin. She looked like she was actually playing with the wraith at this point, the book becoming the object she was trying to keep away from him. They hadn't really played a good game in a while, so they might as well.
"I wonder why, though..." The brown wizard asked, raising an eyebrow at their antics. The two seemed to behave like close friends than anything else, playing around and teasing each other. For him it didn't seem like a servant-master relationship. They were friends. And according to what he was told and what he was 'born' with, creatures like this would be more primal than anything. Yet here he is, playing with an istar like a sentient being. He didn't seem to be a threat at the moment. Is this truly a Nazgul? On the other hand, he also tried to look at this on a 'wizard level' and explain it in his mind the best way he could. Hyano needed a friend at that time because she felt alone and needed someone at her side to have some company, while the wraith knew survival and tolerated her behavior and words because he viewed her as useful to him, saw the benefit in having her around. Both of them had their own goals with this 'friendship'.
Ren was just as stubborn as her, if not more so. Of course, he wasn't going to give up all too easily like this. And he already knew the weapon against her. The most effective... the most powerful... The true ultimate weapon. He waited for a few moments so she had her attention on her wizard friend before all of a sudden raising his hands from her lap, beginning to tickle her sides.
Hyano was about to reply when her eyes went huge. She tried to resist as best she could, gritting her teeth and gripping her fists but it was no good. Out of nowhere, she burst out laughing and gripped her sides, wiggling in his grip.
"No hahaha not fair! Hahaha! You damn..." She laughed, trying to both get away from his tickling while also not moving from his lap. This proved an impossible task. "Damn it all!" She yelled finally, jumping off of his lap but she wasn't up for more than a few seconds before she tackled him down in what would seem like to anyone else a rough manner but considering the wraith couldn't actually be hurt... it worked out just right for her.
While the wraith was not prepared for the move, he didn't let this distract him from the goal. He tried to push her down, rolling onto his side, then stomach, then started to turn towards the book and began crawling towards it, extending a hand to grasp it.
The brown istar could not do anything else but watch the almost serious looking wrestling. He didn't expect this at all. This was too much for one day... He knew how dangerous his kind is, yet here is Hyano, who is playing around with one as if he was her closest friend on the world. Well... maybe he was. This... scared the brown wizard slightly...
The young woman groaned as he basically flattened her under his weight.
"Heavy... bugger..." She gasped out before sitting up, allowing him to have the stupid book for now. She would get it back later if she really needed it, then noticed the look of the other istar and raised a brow. "What?" She asked, obviously confused. She was so used to her interactions with the wraith that she honestly didn't see anything wrong with them. She probably should but when something becomes habit it is just that. A habit. And half the time those with a bad one don't even notice it.
Ren didn't waste time but as soon as he reached the book he grasped it in a firm grip before sitting up, crossing his legs and started flipping through the pages.
"I see you understand each other rather well..." Ragnarök trailed off, moving his gaze to look at the wraith before returning to watch her. "This is highly strange and I must say... quite dangerous, especially after what we were talking about. Better start keeping some distance now and get used to it... Or else his future destruction will come as a sudden shock." He pointed out, understanding the strong bond they might share for their own reasons but he could not ignore what the Council was thinking. They saw their connection as not beneficial and it needed to be ended quickly.
Hyano sighed as she dusted herself off. She looked to him for a moment, then to Ren.
"Easy for someone to say when they are saying it from the outside looking in." She said more to herself than anyone, then sighed, brushing a hand through her hair mindful of the flowers that had only grown stronger since she got here. "Exactly what would you have me do then?" She inquired raising a brow at the man, although she meant 'you' as in the wizards, the Council. She had seen little worry from the brown wizard... Although he clearly was still not comfortable with Ren around. If they wanted her to make some distance, then they had better have something else for her to do. She had not been willingly separated from Ren... Well... ever. So, this would be rather weird for her.
"It might be simpler than one thinks." Ragnarök nodded, pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts. "You are now a full wizard, which means your work is just beginning within this world. You will probably soon receive your tasks from the Valar themselves and will take on your duty as an istar. That will keep you busy, distracted and will set your priorities elsewhere than playing with the Nazgul." He explained. He was sure she didn't yet truly received any tasks and duties from above, seeing she was but an apprentice until today and didn't feel the tie of the wizards yet. But now that the wise White deemed her worthy to join the Order, the Valar might also listen and give her first task.
"How helpful..." Hyano said sarcastically before remembering something they talked about at the Council. She seemed to debate something over before turning her head towards Ren. "Hey Ren, we need your help." She called to catch his attention. "The humans have finally lost it and are destroying everything back on Middle-Earth. We would like to bring back some more people but we have to open a portal where the dark energy is at its weakest. Do you mind helping us out?" She questioned for the moment, putting her conversation with the brown istar on hold. This was just a little more important.
At first, the Ringwraith did as if he didn't even hear her, not liking the sound of this. Help? Huh? Sure... more like... become their servant now who they expect to do everything without saying any negative words. He knew it they will ask things of him but not this soon. This was even worse than what he imagined. Hmm... There was something though... maybe he could turn this to his advantage.
"What do I get in return?" He asked simply, not even looking at her but kept looking at the page, reading the text. He will not work for free. They could forget that. He was not a pet. However, if they offered something that would catch his attention... then they might talk about this.
Hyano thought for a moment. She had not quite thought ahead enough for that. She considered it for a moment, then smirked before remembering something. She pulled out Rosa's Ipod, remembering she had jacked it from the herder.
"This is more a request from me than anyone, so I guess I will be the one to give something up. I have a little something you might have fun with... That is if you are willing." She said, then walked over put the head set on where his ears should be and pressed play on it, making sure it was music she knew he wouldn't hate and had voices. She knew the fact it was doing this would catch his interest. Even if he didn't like the music itself he would want to know how it worked...
The brown wizard watched the interaction with confusion and a little interest. While he caught what she was trying to do, he was not sure if the wraith would be so extremely easy to sway. He knew them as cunning, wanting an overpay surely.
Ren looked up from the book when something was placed on his head and tilted it to the side, now tuning his hooded head to look at her, noticing the wire. He started focusing on it strongly, following its direction, which led to Hyano's hand, where she held some kind of small device. He didn't know what it was for... until he heard a sudden noise. He almost jumped up in surprise, then looked around, only after a few seconds did he realize that whatever was doing this was on his head. He reached up to grasp it.
"What is it?" He asked, unsure what to think of this thing. It looked... strange... Interesting... But...
"Remember the moving device we rode in and how it could play music? This is a smaller version of what made that. Playing music of different kinds. It holds the voices of music of many different people and places..." She explained with a grin, knowing she had his attention, then snatched both the item and headset back. "But if you don't want it... I guess I can just give it to Gandalf." She said casually as she started to walk away like she was going to go find the White wizard.
Oh... Ren remembered that one. How fast it went and how strange it was to be shielded from the wind like that and moving fast at the same time. Yes... The music was good. But only a few kinds of them. There were some that sounded like sick and dying half-wraiths attempting to shriek at the same time. Many of them. That was rather uncomfortable. But there were some that were decent. This also made him remember the time when Hyano would bring him into that room in their tower, where she would play on an instrument. P... Po... Pu... No... Piano. Yes. That was its name. He was surprised he even remembered that... And actually the device confused him and instantly caught his attention like anything new did in the modern Middle-Earth.
"What?" The wraith asked and watched as she took back the thing. "Why?" He asked, confused and almost shocked at her behavior. So she would go ahead and give it to the White wizard? Some mate she was... "He doesn't need it." He claimed, trying to make an excuse quickly and stop her, finding himself content in just sitting. He was... let's say, too lazy to stand at the moment.
"I am just teasing, Ren." Hyano laughed. "Like I would give Gandalf something meant for you. That is if you are willing to help me. It is nothing hard or anything, you just stand in front of a portal opening and tell us if the dark energy is there or not. Easy as pie, then you are free to do as you please with the rest of your day." She said as she walked back to him with a smile, having fun messing with him. Despite what the wizards had said... it was hard to burst out of her habit of playing and teasing the wraith. She had been doing it for years.
The Ringwraith stared at her long and hard as if wanting to determine if she will keep to her word or not. He never trusted anyone to give him something in return for his deeds after he was done. Anything can happen... They might die, they might lose that thing or simply decide that they want to die so refuse to pay him. So, not saying a word, the wraith reached out towards her, wanting her to give him the device first before he even said anything. He wasn't a fool but expected payment first before he does the job. If she was lucky enough that he will do it. He might be... too lazy.
Hyano was not that nice. She unplugged the headset and handed it to him.
"This stays with me until we're done." She said simply. She knew better than to just give over what he wanted, then he could easily back out if he so chose and he could be a rather big child when he wanted to be, so she would not be surprised if he actually did decide to back out. "Deal?" She asked, raising a brow and waiting for his answer.
The wraith instinctively curled his metal-covered fingers around the item that was given to him and pulled it closer to look at it. It was the part that was put on his head... He tilted his hooded head to the side and looked at it closer, flipping it in his hand before looking up at her and reaching it out towards the wizard.
"I want the other one." He demanded, finding the device itself far more interesting than this simple thing. He could at least tinker with that one. But what will he do with this? Nothing...
Hyano thought this over for a moment, considering to tell the wraith to forget it but then she got a better idea.
"Alright. You can have this as well... If you swear on the Dark Lord himself that you will do it." She said with a smirk. She knew rather well, even though the Dark Lord was nowhere to be seen and hopefully never would be, that Ren would take such a promise just a seriously because of this fact. His almost insane loyalty would push him not to dishonor his Lord's name by not keeping his word. That was the basic idea anyway.
Ren stared at her. He didn't say a word just watched her. Whatever was going through his mind was a mystery. Or if anything was even thought over or if he just went blank. Swear on the Dark Lord? Now this made the situation far more serious. The task seemed to be easy enough... The prize... he didn't yet know if it was worth the effort, though. He hissed and looked at the headset, then averted his invisible gaze to the device in her hand. After a short debate he finally started to nod, not wanting to say it. But at least he agreed. He didn't want to say it... lest his Lord could hear what he just swore upon... His honor in exchange of a petty task given by the wizards and a music-making device...
Hyano gave him a pleased smile before giving him the device, then turned to the other wizard.
"He will help us. Don't push your luck by being rude, though." She said, putting her hands in her pockets. The wrong attitude towards Ren could very well ruin it for them if they showed the same kind of disrespect they did on a regular. She didn't want him to act the way she did or anything but things such as calling Ren 'it' and so on were the type of things that could very well anger the wraith.
"You do not need to tell me twice." Ragnarök spoke up, crossing his arms, having witnessed the interaction between the wraith and the wizard. "I cannot help but point out that as far as I know, wraiths aren't known to politely ask you if they can kill you or chase you around either." He pointed out, then turned his brown gaze towards the book that was by now discarded by Ren in favor of the device he just got.
The Nazgul quickly snatched the Ipod from her hand as soon as it came close and turned his back to all the people around him, being extremely protective of his new toy. He fiddled with it for a little while until he remembered that the headset part was plugged into the device itself to make the music work. However, even then it didn't work... Hmm... He tilted his hooded head to the side and poked it with his finger before remembering the buttons. Usually in the modern world everything started working when one pressed a button or a series of buttons. Many of these seemed to be familiar. The remote he used for the black box for example had similar ones. Fiddling a little longer, the wraith eventually got it working, the screen went on after some furious pressing and the music started playing. Rock. Instantly he regretted his actions and hissed furiously at the dying wraith sound, quickly pressing the button for switching a few times as it that will make it go away sooner. After a few more pushes, he came to something that actually sounded alright for his senses.
"And?" Hyano asked, raising a brow. "Last time I checked, you don't ask before you kill someone period, no matter who you are, so that point is just silly. And wraiths only chase what is of interest and right now that isn't us and I would like to keep it that way. The wraith may not be human anymore but they still hold some of the same values. If nothing else, respect is very important, more so than when they were human. If you cannot respect and show loyalty to those you work with, then you are no good in battle." She said, her training in Moria having taught her that. The orcs were a prime example of this belief. They did not kill each other without thinking, only those that were useless or did not follow rules and even then they were turned into food.
"The problem is that the wraiths rarely do anything else than kill. Once this one sees the opportunity, it might also answer its inner call." Ragnarök pointed out, trying to look at this issue from different angles. Gathering information about both and wraith and her was his priority, either to prove Zhia right or wrong. He hated this tension between them all, so he might as well poke around where he could and while he could "Alright, then another example. It took the book without asking, snatched it right away from me without as much as asking. You call this respect? I didn't even say anything to it, did anything against it and here we are. If it is all about respect, as you put it, then why does it not show any?" He asked, tilting his head a little, raising his eyebrows in expectation.
"Because he recognized the book as being his." The orange wizard said simply with a shrug. "Ren is an extreme hoarder. Anything that catches his eye he keeps it. He has no actual body and he weighs a bloody ton and a half because of all the items he keeps in that cloak of his. I couldn't even tell you where he keeps it all. I also never said he had manners. He respects those that respect him. Also, they rarely do anything besides kill? Seriously? Don't get me wrong, Ren is a killing machine but he does do other things. It's just the only thing that anyone cares about is their killings, so it is no surprise that is all anyone knows about. Whenever anyone has seen a wraith they are usually under orders from Sauron. Of course they will do nothing besides that. It is in their programming. What? Do you think they just sit in a corner waiting on the next order? Please. Ren is far too hyperactive for that. He would go nuts if that was all he was allowed to do." She argued with a shrug.
"Manners and respect go along each other. If it doesn't have manners and doesn't respect anyone, then how does it expect any in return? I would think about that." The brown wizard pointed out once more and sighed, shaking his head. "Look what it did with the elves? They didn't disrespect it either... Yet look what happened. I wouldn't call that respect. It didn't even want to do a single favor just because it would help the people. No, it instantly cared about how it would be of its benefit."
"... It is more because he does not wish to be used... That is what he believes is going to happen and I knew that is how he would feel about the request. You are right, he did want something out of it but I don't know many people who aren't the same way. Even when you are doing something selflessly you are still doing it for that feeling you get when you help someone else." She said, crossing her arms.
"He shows no respect but expects it without question." Ragnarök paused, making sure to keep eye contact. "Tell me the last time he showed respect towards you. Not just a slight one but the one he is expecting from you." He suspected she won't be able to name one occasion, which will only prove his theory which he began to form in his mind. From what he gathered, the two knew each other well. Gandalf told them about her connection to the human version of this wraith. So what if Ren knew she valued him because of that and uses it to keep her on a leash? "All I am saying is that everyone noticed your own strange and unique way of speaking to people. To the wizards of the Order. Now I see you must have learned it from the wraith. He shows no respect either and expects it for nothing, which you are doing a lot yourself." He explained, trying to be as gentle with this as possible. He did not wish to hurt her but he thought he came to the end of his investigations. Now all he needed were confirmations.
Hyano was caught off guard. What in the world? She knew she was confident and was used to joking around with Gandalf, hence why she did not expect such stuck-up people in the Council... or had that changed as well? Istari, of course, weren't rough but that did not stop them from teasing and hitting each other from time to time. The majority of them were men for crying out loud!
"I think I should bring these herbs to the herder family soon." Hyano said, deciding to change the subject. She was not in the mood to go around explaining to this wizard too. Maybe Gandalf will be kind enough to do it for her but somehow she knew she will have to do it on her own. She was a member of the Order now, after all. "The shack also needs to be basically rebuilt from ground up, so I should get started on that too. Maybe we will talk later?" She asked, unsure how to put this. Yes, she was sending him away but unlike with Zhia, she was at least trying to not tell him outright. Ragnarök seemed to be more of an understanding wizard. This did not make his curiosity about her connection with Ren less uncomfortable, though.
The brown wizard seemed to understand it just fine and after a silent nod and a small smile, he turned around and walked away towards the direction they came from. No doubt he will be fleshing out all they talked about in the near future.
Hyano sighed shaking her head once he was gone she rubbed the back of her head. For the love of everything dead and alive istari could be very much high strung, remembering the time at the Council and the jabs of the brow wizard. Bloody Void. She shook her head then turned and went inside to clean up. She found thanks to this, Gandalf would likely be coming home sooner than he planned which would put him in bad mood and having the place look like the Void broke out would likely not help at all.
We hope you enjoyed this new chapter!
Wow, Hyano will have lots of cleaning up to do. But we are sure she will be done in two weeks. Right?
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