Chapter Two
Ten Years Later on Middle Earth
Raumoquildeo moved through the darkened forest quietly. His papa and atar had taught him to move as the Eldalie did and he did his best to put their careful teaching to good use. The map stowed in his pack labeled this as Fangorn Forest. He was just going to try and get through it without dwelling on the ever growing list of names he'd like to give it instead, names he thought might be more descriptive.
His papa had received an urgent letter via a very large eagle from Olorin, who was apparent known in these lands as Gandalf. The letter had spoken of his possibly having found the One Ring and bid either Alatar or Pallando to come as quickly as possible to Rivendell, home of the Elven Lord Elrond. Alatar and Pallando, however, had their hands quite full suppressing armies and necromancers from rising up to join Sauron. Neither of them could be spared, they were stretched thin enough as it was. Instead they had sent him, their son, to take a place amongst the others seeking to defend Middle Earth.
Raumoquildeo was sure they believed the time had come for him to fulfill the prophecy that had brought him, a man with the powers of an Istar, to Middle Earth. Raumoquildeo was no so eager to fulfill the prophecy however. He wasn't ready to leave home forever and that blasted thing said he would have to go somewhere else to save his own people, whoever they were, which would no doubt require leaving Middle Earth. This place was his home, though not, he allowed himself mentally, this blasted forest he was currently walking through.
His objections had been overruled, his parents had stood firm and here he was, sliding through a dark forest on his way to Rivendell. At least the eagle had brought him to the banks of the river Anduin. It had threatened to leave him on the shore of the Sea of Rhur but a threat of retaliation from a trained wizard was enough to bring the mighty bird to its senses. It was proud, not stupid.
Raumoquildeo was headed for the Gap of Rohan since, to the best of his papa's knowledge, Moria was still abandoned and definitely not the safest place to try venturing through alone no matter who you were. He had contemplated heading for the pass somewhere near Carrack but remembered hearing something about goblins having taken over that part of the Misty Mountains. All in all the Gap seemed like his best bet even if it meant he was going out of his way.
Lady Luck, however, was not travelling with Raumoquildeo, especially not as he passed by Isengard. His presence was felt by Curumo who sent some wolves to herd Raumoquildeo to him. Curumo was not happy to see that the Ithryn Luin had trained another, a human at that. Curumo banished Raumoquildeo to the top of the tower of Orthanc, a cold, inhospitable place, to wait while he, Curumo, decided what to do about such treachery. Curumo did not know, however, that Raumoquildeo had developed his abilities to commune with nature and the beasts of it. Using this talent, and his own innate talent as an Istar with the power to change the shape of things Raumoquildeo was able to fashion himself a sling harness that lifted him with only the strength of four sparrows. The sweet birds conveyed him past the Misty Mountains and, with his most grateful thanks, deposited him on the Old South Road. It was while heading along the road that he encountered a party of men also headed north.
Translations:
Eldalie: Elven-folk
Olorin: Gandalf's original name in Valinor; Quenya meaning dream or vision of the mind; also spelt Olorion
Curumo: Saruman's original name in Valinor; Quenya meaning cunning; Curunir in Sindarin, Saruman in Common Tongue