Now is Not the Time

The World is Changing

"Do not despair Gandalf" Elrond said, looking at Gandalf's sad state. "If all that you have told me is true, he will live to see another day, for now he must rest and regain his strength", Elrond gripped Gandalf by the shoulder, his gaze now assuring Gandalf of hope.

"Is there hope then?" Gandalf asked, his expression sombre.

Elrond gave a wry smile and said " There is always hope, my dear friend".

Elrond then removed his hand from Gandalf's shoulder and said, "Well I must admit that I have been taken by surprise at the resistance the hobbit has been showing against the wound, if an ordinary man would have been in his place, by now he would have been beyond our reach".

At that comment Gandalf gave a small smile and said, "The Periannath are creatures of surprising nature aren't they?".

"Indeed, they are", Elrond replied and got up from his seat and walked towards the window. He seemed to observed in his thoughts and narrowed his eyes often. Gandalf watched the Elf with amusement.

Elrond swiftly turned his back to the window and faced Gandalf and said. "Even if Frodo will heal from this wound am afraid he will forever bear its pain".

Gandalf looked into Elrond's wise eyes and simply said, "I know". Gandalf looked as if he wanted to speak some more, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Enter", Elrond said looking up from Gandalf, his head now towards the door. The door opened to reveal a servant who bowed at both Elrond and Gandalf before he spoke. "My lord, Luinfaron has arrived and requests your audience".

"Very well, I will be waiting for him", Elrond said and nodded at the servant who bowed once again before closing the door and leaving.

"Luinfaron?", Gandalf asked raising his eyebrows, "Who is this new mystery?".

"Ah I forget that it has been a while since you were in Rivendell, Gandalf". Elrond said smiling. "The new mystery, as you refer to is none other than Baranhen himself!".

"Ah... Baranhen...", Gandalf's tone wistful. "But pray tell me why the name Blue Hunter?" he asked, curiosity clear in his eyes.

"Well why don't you see for yourself my dear friend?", Elrond replied, obvious of Gandalf's curiosity.

Before Gandalf could reply, another knock sounded on the door and once Elrond had given permission to enter, the door opened to reveal a figure, cloaked and hooded in the darkest blue with his cloak covering his entire body. It would have been clear to anyone that he had just returned from a journey for his clothes were ragged and cloaked with mud. Gandalf couldn't see his face clearly, for his head was covered by the hood and his lower face was masked, revealing only a pair of sickly yellow eyes to anyone who laid his eyes upon him.

"My Lord Elrond", Baranhen said, his voice raspy and close to a snarl while bowing low in respect.

"Welcome home, my child" Elrond said his gaze showing pride at the person before him. "What is it that requests you of my presence when you have hardly stepped your foot in here?".

"As requested by you my lord, I scouted the immediate perimeter of Imladris and am pleased to report there is no sign of the Black Riders. However you may have to send another scout party beyond the Ford", Baranhen replied in his deep rough voice, which was a hiss when he named the Ringwraiths.

And he fell silent.

Elrond looked at him his gaze piercing the man before him. Holding his head high, in a gentle voice, the elf-lord spoke "Is there something else you wish to tell me?".

"Yes My Lord", replied the cloaked man, his tone uncertain.

"Speak your heart Baranhen", Elrond urged him gently.

And Baranhen did speak his heart, but he was uncomfortable, for his pale eyes darted to and fro and his demeanour was stiff. In his raspy voice Baranhen, the Blue Hunter of Rivendell began to speak.

"I did what you asked of me, I searched for any sign of the servants of the Dark Lord and found none. My heart was light and free as I galloped my way home upon my steed Roithil. But as I neared the Last Homely House, fear tugged me and darkness grew in my heart. Never have I felt this way before when I made my way towards the fair land of Imladris, which now I call my home. Evil is here, I can feel it, my heart grows heavy and I do not like it. But I cannot bring it to tell myself that evil has penetrated into Rivendell".

Baranhen stopped and looked directly at Elrond. Gandalf looked troubled at this point.

"Is this something to do with the Halflings?" Baranhen asked, his tone uncertain.

Elrond sighed and closed his eyes, he should have realised that Baranhen would be able to sense evil more strongly than anyone else in his household. He opened his eyes to see that Baranhen was stiff as ever - as if he was waiting for a reason to flee.

"You speak the truth Baranhen, evil indeed had entered my threshold." Baranhen's eyes flashed angrily at this.

"How?..." began Baranhen, but Elrond cut him off. "The evil we speak of is not something ordinary Baranhen", then casting a glance at Gandalf, Elrond continued "You must prepare yourself for what I am about to say" his voice determined and stern.

Baranhen nodded, his eyes steeling.

Elrond then spoke, "The One Ring is here, the hobbit Frodo Baggins who arrived here earlier today injured, carries it."

Baranhen's eyes widened at that and looked at Elrond with panicked yet pale eyes.

"But how?...The One Ring? It has been found? That is why the Black Riders where pursuing him..." his harsh voice lowering to a hiss and he once again fell silent.

After a moment in which Baranhen composed himself he asked one single question, "How?"

"That is a long tale my child, and you will hear it soon enough I assure you that" Elrond replied his gaze now softening as he looked at the state of Baranhen's clothes.

"Rest now, for your journey was long and your weary" Elrond said.

Baranhen as if in a daze nodded, deep in his thoughts. However before leaving he bowed once again before Elrond "Good Night My Lord" and nodding towards Gandalf, he greeted him, "Mithrandir, it is good to see you again".

Gandalf chuckled and replied "The pleasure's all mine, my dear lad".

Nodding once again Baranhen left the room, his blue cloak swishing into darkness.

"Baranhen is as stiff and uncertain as ever", Gandalf observed.

"So he is, ever since he first stepped foot here so many years ago" Elrond replied his voice grave.

"He you say..." and Gandalf's voice trailed into silence. Then speaking louder, "I still don't see why you have been referring to him as Luinfaron,..he is cloaked in blue – yes, but hunter?"

"Baranhen has become skilled my friend, more than you can imagine" Elrond replied with pride in his voice. The elf-lord then once again sat opposite Gandalf, his conduct calm. "He patrols the borders of Rivendell and has helped defending it many times. He even joined Aragorn in his ventures along with the Rangers of the North".

"One would think anyone like him would be content to stay within the protected boundaries of Imladris". Gandalf said his bushy eyes burrowing.

"He doesn't belong here Gandalf", Elrond said, his voice stressed. "He doesn't like it being enclosed within these walls. The darkness within him frustrates him and he releases his anger and helplessness by galloping through the trees and perfecting his knife-play".

Suddenly Gandalf spoke, "She has died out of him, hasn't she?"

Elrond looked at him mournfully, "Yes she has,... it is as if Baranhen never knew her".

"There is still hope my friend", Gandalf said a sympathetic smile in his lips.

Elrond sighed and said, "So little hope".

Gandalf pondered over whatever Elrond had said him contemplating, before long he spoke. "He senses the evil of the ring,... what do you make of it?".

Elrond looked long at Gandalf and then replied, "Darkness has forever shadowed his mind and heart, it makes sense that he can feel something which relates to him".

Gandalf looked at the fireplace, its flames dancing in his eyes, "The fate of the One Ring shall change our lives forever".

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Luinfaron – Blue Hunter

Baranhen – Yellow eye

Roithil – Moon Horse

A/N: R n R ppl,...reviews help decide the course of the story and thanx to summersidefolly and antiheld I have edited this chapter and corrected any mistakes. You both have my thanks :)

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