Chapter II

Gandalf's Catch

Gandalf walked down the path that Elves, an age pass, had carved from the tangled forest. His breathing was heavy as he had walked long, but perseverance drove him on. His long grey robes swished as the light wind blew through them. His tall pointed hat narrowly missed grazing a few overhead branches.

Soon he knew that the peace that encompassed the forest would be nothing but a long forgotten memory. The rumors of Sauron's return to Mordor were indeed without lie and it weighed heavily on his heart that soon he would be deeply involved in a struggle to over throw the dark lord. But that would be later; now he had a few decades of peace.

As he walked through the day filled forest, Gandalf felt a bit of his worries lift. A small smile graced his wise face and the solid staff that he had long had with him tapped on the ground in a steady rhythm.

Birds sang beautiful ballads all around his head, perched high in the trees. His quick pace slowly became less hurried as he began to enjoy the nature around him.

Gandalf finally stopped to rest as an un-named pond came into his view. The water was clean and inviting to the weary wizard. Slowly making his way to its bank, he knelt and reached down to cup some water. But as his arm plunged into the cool water of the pond something un-expectantly grabbed it.

Startled to say the least, Gandalf pulled his arm back, unwillingly bringing the something along with it.

A person was brought to the surface by his quick yank; but began to sink as weak fingers unlatched from his arm. Caring as always, Gandalf reached down into the water and pulled the person up and out of the pond.

Heavy from the water that soaked the person's clothing, Gandalf set his catch down on the grass. Turning the person around, he found that it was a woman.
Soaked long hair, the color of night streaked with delicate silver, stuck to her pale skin. She was a tall woman, Gandalf quickly noticed, tall but delicately built with a very slender waist.

Her clothing was a dark green material that did not flatter her build in the slightest, but had become much more form fitting in its soaked state. Gandalf smiled slightly, thankful that he had paused to drink at the little pond. Evidentially, the woman had fallen into the pond. Whether her heavy robes had not allowed her to surface or if she had not been able to swim, Gandalf did not know.

Pressing a strong hand against her chest, Gandalf felt her heart beat. A sigh escaped his lips as her pale face had caused him worry. An additional check to her weak but nonetheless present pulse, allowed the wizard to smile.

A bird chirped above in a tree. Darkness was beginning to descend on the day. Not knowing what else to do with his recently saved damsel, Gandalf carefully picked her up and into his arms. Although her wet robes made carrying her a burden, Gandalf regained his normal pace easily finding the physical burden much lighter than any other he had every carried.