The story is moving along, though there is a lot of background information and description that needs to be included. This part takes place during the Two Towers.

Part 2: Idyll's End and a Wizard's Return

In the years that followed, Hawkmoon took up the moon-crested headband and served as the Eyrie's healer, much as her mother had. Many hatchlings came into the world on her watch, and the Eagle warriors sought her curing when they were injured in the hunt or in defense of the Eyrie. Because of her service to the Eagles, she earned her own blue tattoos. Instead of the single line pattern her mother chose, Hawkmoon wished to be marked with crescent points that followed the line of her prominent cheekbones.

Her reputation spread far, as far as the Eagles' wings traveled. Elves from Lothlorien would on occasion visit to seek her opinion on a difficult case and often she would be called to nearby villages of Men to deliver babies or to diagnose sicknesses that puzzled the local herb wives.

Cahira also made it a habit to range farther and farther from her cliff home in an attempt to comprehend the world around her. If she encountered a puzzle that she could not solve or a question that could not be answered, she would ask wise Freyr, his mate Landraiva, or her nest brother, the swift Gwaihir. The Eagles would do their best to answer those questions, and if they could not, they would fly with the healer upon their back to the place in question.

In those journeys, she met many different beings. She learned how to defend herself from warriors – Human, Dwarven, and Elvin – who could be persuaded to trade a lesson in knife-work or archery in return for a packet of her healing salves or a few bunches of discarded, yet rare Eagle feathers. She travelled through many small towns, and a few larger ones, acquiring leather armor for her chest, legs, and forearms. She realized that she needed to hide her Elvin ears while walking among Men and that it was essential that she wear tunics with high slits up the thighs, so as to be able to run faster. The healer also learned to accept gifts of thanks from honest people, things like small pouches to hang off of her belt, pieces of silver and copper, and even a small moon charm she took to wearing pierced through her left ear. Thus she learned gained a greater understanding of the laws and conduct of the beings around her.

It was on a flight with Gwaihir that her fate began to take shape. He had been tasked by Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien to find the wizard Gandalf. The Eagle had been roaming the skies of Middle Earth for quite some time, searching for the Stormcrow and Gwaihir desired company, so he requested that Cahira join him in the hunt. Gladly, she packed her satchel and extra blankets in preparation for the long flight. One of the places that the Eagle still needed to search was throughout the mountains of Moria. The snow was thick and the air cold, but both were used to the conditions of living at a higher elevation. Hawkmoon hunched closer to the warmth of Gwaihir's back, using her half-Elvin sight to try to pierce the brightness of the sun's reflection upon the snow while the Eagle used his predatory eyes to watch for movement.

Suddenly, Gwaihir let out a shrill, yet triumphant shriek and started plummeting towards what Cahira could discern as a small figure lying still on the snowy peak of Celebdil. She hastily dismounted and unwrapped a blanket from her pack. The healer brushed a thick layer of snow off the figure, revealing the unconscious body of an old man with long white hair and a white beard. She covered him with the blanket and then checked his heartbeat and his breathing, noting that despite his exposure to the elements, the old man seemed healthy.

"Is this the wizard you were looking for?" she asked Gwaihir.

"It is Gandalf," he replied. "We need to bear him to safety in Lothlorien."

Hawkmoon agreed and helped the Eagle lift the unconscious wizard into his claws. She climbed onto his back and he sprang into the air, wings beating to gain altitude and speed as they raced to the home of the Elves.

While under normal circumstances, an Eagle landing directly in Lothlorien would have been exceedingly disrespectful, the dire nature of these conditions allowed for the unusual. Gwaihir's landing was heralded by a harsh screech and buffeting winds from his wings. Some o the Elves hastened from their elegant pavilion homes out of curiosity, while the noble guard of the Lord and Lady drew their weapons and surrounded the Eagle and his passengers.

"Hail, people of my father," called Hawkmoon. "My friend Gwaihir has fulfilled the Lady's request. We have found the wizard Gandalf and he is sorely injured."

One noble guard stepped forward, still brandishing his sword. "The Eagle is welcome, as is news of Gandalf the Grey, but we do not know you, half-elf."

She straightened her spine. "I am the daughter of Princess Ivriniel of Dol Amroth and the Eagle's Eyrie, and Lord Toreindel of Lothlorian. I am a healer and an Eagle-friend."

The guard relaxed his pose and sheathed his weapon. "I knew your father, youngling." He turned to the other guards, "Let them pass. They are on an important mission for our Lady." He beckoned forward two Elvin men with a stretcher between them. "Take the wizard to the Healing House. The Eagle and the half-elf come with me."

He led Gwaihir and Hawkmoon to a pristine and ancient clearing. A stunningly beautiful man was sitting on one of two thrones that appeared to be one with the tree behind it. He smiled kindly at the healer, while saying something in a liquidly musical language to the Eagle, making the being chuckle. He glanced to his right, his face lighting up, and the others' eyes followed. A delicate and breathtaking woman glided towards the other throne, her eyes infinitely wise as they seemed to assess Cahira. The ancient noblewoman saw the half-Elf's father in her slanted grey eyes, slim build, elevated height, and pointed ears, but there was also a great deal of her human mother as evidenced by the healer's dark brown hair, curved lips, and blue tattoos. "Welcome Gwaihir, swiftest of Eagles and Hawkmoon, Healer," said the Elvin woman as she gracefully took her seat. "I am Galadriel and this is my husband Celeborn." She directed her words towards the Eagle first. "Thank you for finding Gandalf for us. He has awakened and is recovering in the House of Healing as we speak."

Gwaihir nodded his great head in respect, "It was my honor, Lady. You and your husband have long been friends to the Eagles."

Galadriel smiled sweetly before gravely circling her head to look at Cahira. "I know you Cahira Hawkmoon. I believe several years ago you attempted to enter this realm without permission."

Cahira narrowed her eyes but maintained a neutral tone. "I only wished to attend my father's funeral. I was turned away at the borders of your realm. Why?"

Surprisingly, Celeborn answered. "You are the illegitimate child of our dear friend, Toreindal of the Hawk. You are also part human. We could not allow you passage into our lands to witness our rites. It would not be proper, not in this dark time. We did, however, fulfill the final wishes of your father. I hope that you are treating his weapons well, though I do not see them with you." He said this with a glint of humor in his ageless eyes.

"They are exquisite weapons, my Lord. I am fortunate in that I have not had great need to use them in defense yet."

A voice rang through the clearing. "I fear you will have need of them far sooner than you would prefer." The Lord and Lady glanced behind the healer and the Eagle, who spun around in shock. The wizard Gandalf was pacing slowly towards them. "I thank you Hawkmoon and Gwaihir for your aid. If you had not found me, I believe that I would have died upon that mountain top."

Galadriel's mouth curved faintly at the Stormcrow. "It is good to see you, old friend. I do believe, however, that you have become quite a bit more than our old friend, Gandalf the Grey."

"I have, dear Lady. I have died, seen the cosmos for all it truly is, and have been sent back to fulfill my role in this war. I am no longer the man that you knew, but so also am I not completely separate from Gandalf Greybeard. I must ask, Lord and Lady. Have you news of Frodo?"

Celeborn sighed and glanced at his wife. She nodded and he responded, "The Ringbearer and Samwise Gamgee have passed beyond my Lady's sight. Of the others, Boromir of Gondor has been slain, the other two Hobbits have been captured, and Aragorn, Prince Legolas, and Gimli are in pursuit. They are in Rohan, headed towards Isengard."

Gandalf's eyes were sad, but his voice was firm. "As much as I wish I could assist Frodo in his quest, I must aid those that I can reach. I will leave at once. Gwaihir, would it be in your power to assist me once again? I would ask you to fly me as to the borders of the Fangorn Forest so that I may intercept what remains of our Fellowship."

The Eagle's beak widened into a predatory grin, "It would not be the first time you have flown with me. I am ready to depart when you wish to."

"Before you leave," interrupted Galadriel, "My husband and I have a gift for you, from the forest itself." She began singing in Elvish, her husband joining her, his deeper voice intertwining with hers. They sang as one, and the forest answered their song. The great tree behind them began to glow and slowly branches lowered themselves, obstructing the thrones in a leafy embrace. The couple continued their chanting, and Cahira could feel something deep inside her responding. Her heart grew lighter and her eyes grew heavy. She could feel her sense of self getting lost in the thrum of magic and in the soul of the forest. The sensation of something slipping away was culminating into something that she could not identify. The song was picking up pace and the power of it was vibrating through the very tree roots. With one final, pure note, the song ended. Celeborn and Galadriel clasped hands, with her leaning against his shoulder. The leafy boughs of the tree withdrew from around the throne, revealing a shining white wooden staff with an entwined knot upon its head piece.

The Lady gripped and staff and moved smoothly to present it to Gandalf. "Every wizard needs a staff, old friend. This is our gift to you."

He took it, his hands sliding up to the head piece to caress the knot. He picked it up and spun it around, testing the weight and length. Satisfied, he set the bottom into the ground and leaned upon it. "This is a fine gift and I give you both my thanks. I must depart now." He moved to mount Gwaihir's back, but paused, looking intently at Cahira. "I understand that you are a very skilled healer."

"I am, sir. I have learned all my mother had to teach me, and I have had years of study and experience."

"Right now, the race of Men is fighting for survival against the darkness of Sauron's hordes. Your skills are desperately needed. If I were to ask you to travel amongst them, using your skills as needed, would you do it?"

"I beg your pardon for being blunt, but I believe that you would prefer me to be closer to the fields of battle, so that I may save more lives with my skills, instead of attending to the small injuries and complaints of the mountain villages, as I have been doing."

The Eagle looked slightly aghast at her disrespect, but Gandalf only chuckled. "That is exactly what I would prefer. I would also request that if I call you to a specific place, that you be there as soon as you possibly can. There is a shortage of proficient healers in the South, and I believe that you will be important in the scheme of things to come."

Cahira bowed her head in respect. 'If you call, I shall answer. That I promise on my healer's band and my father's bow."

"That is all that I can ask. I bid you all farewell." With a sweep of his staff, Gandalf leaped onto Gwaihir and the Eagle launched himself into the air. Cahira shielded her eyes from the dust, as did the Lord and Lady. When the earth settled, the healer bowed to the two rulers. "I have my orders. I thank you both for your hospitality, though I am afraid that I must stay here until another Eagle can be sent for to take me home."

Celeborn and Galadriel looked at each other. Galadriel stood and opened her arms. "You are welcome to take your rest here until it is time for you to leave. Perhaps you might stay in the same tree your father once used."

"If it would suit you," added Celeborn, "You might ask some of the noble guards to tell stories about your father."

Cahira walked away from the clearing, feeling the anger she had once felt towards the Elves for denying her the right to attend her father's funeral lessening, though it was still a part of her. In the time ahead, it will be more important to have a clear mind in order to navigate safely through the conflict to come.