Artemis and Gandalf had passed the winter storms in a small village where the locals seemed all too pleased to have someone new to talk to and about, Artemis's skills with needle and thread were well sought after and well paid as well and within two weeks she was able to replace all the gold and silver she'd spent prior to meeting Gandalf as well as paying the fee for the Inn rooms they'd rented. Gandalf taught her more about her power and the best ways to use it but after a while he had to admit she had as much control as he himself did even if she chose to use it very infrequently.
They were sitting in her room by the large fireplace while she embroidered a hem for the innkeepers wife when she gave him a glance from under her dark lashes. "So Gandalf, how far do you intend to follow me now that I've mastered my power?"
He puffed on his pipe and considered it. "I don't rightly know. Here we are at a midpoint between Rivendell and Lothlorien and I've good reason to visit both. Lothlorien for the healing of someone I failed and Rivendell for the advice of my friend Lord Elrond."
Artemis tied off a thread and snipped it before smoothing the fabric across her knee. "Will the friend take further ill if you delay?"
He thought about it. "Possibly, though truth be told it is three friends and I did tell their caretakers to take them to Lothlorien."
Artemis chuckled as she took up her needle, now freshly threaded with green thread. "You do like to keep secrets Gandalf. Tell me honestly what benefit does all this hoarding of information serve you?"
He puffed on his pipe again. "I could ask you the same question. It is clear to me that you know more than you tell, even accounting for you not being of this world."
Artemis considered him, her needle still while the fire crackled. "The place I come from is dangerous, especially so to this world. I know things about this world that would shatter it, any action I take here has to be planned and taken so as to not stress whatever cracks I've already made and gods above know whatever damage Tracey is doing without realizing it."
"Just so. I can put equal pressure on the world if I am careless and foolish. We both hold this world in clumsy hands and do our best not to damage it." He replied and she smiled.
"Best we both keep our secrets then."
"Quite. The storms have passed and we can continue as soon as you are ready. Do you still mean to go to Rivendell?" He tapped the ashes out of the bowl of his pipe into the fire place and put the pipe away.
"I do. I intend to leave in the morning. I've almost finished with Mistress Aveida's tunic, a few more hours will have it finished. Will you see to the provisions and a pair of horses?" She took up her sewing again and he watched her fill in the outlines of the bird she'd started.
He stood and nodded careful not to knock into the chandelier that hung from the ceiling, it was troublesome sometimes to be so tall even for a man. "I will. I shall see you at dawn tomorrow."
As he left he heard her start humming and couldn't help the smile. He'd heard Bilbo Baggins hum the same song not too many months ago as they rode back from Erebor to Rivendell.