For hundreds of years, Vesper was patiently waiting for the time she can revealed herself. Valar has plans with her and then she will be free to see her lover again.
She kept a low profile. She traveled throughout Middle-earth, living off of selling medicines and herbs, sometimes healing someone or saving people from bandits, orcs, and wildlife. Thanks to her magic, she could change her appearance. A small spell allowed her to change her hair color and use glamour to appear older, and no one could recognize her. She rarely gave her true name and mostly referred to herself as a 'traveler' or 'medicine maker'.
Also, she discovered she had a burning day every ten years. A month before the day she rapidly ages in both her human and phoenix forms. Then she burns and is reborn as a small girl around eight years of age. In the next month she grows to her adult form and the cycle repeats itself. The worst part was that it was painful as hell.
One time when she was nearing the end of the circle Valar spoke to her. They send her to Redhorn Pass. She was confusedly making slow circles in her phoenix form watching out for any distance. Then she heard a scream. Looking down she saw an elven maiden running away from a group of orcs.
Without a thought, she landed on the maiden's shoulder and fire-traveled away. Her destination was Rivendell, as it was the first place with elves that came to her mind.
She appeared at the borders, where she had collapsed. Last thing she remembered was spontaneous change back into her human form and maiden's yell of surprise.
Celebrían was running from orcs. They attacked her on her way to Lothlórien. Her escorts were killed and she's the only one alive. A fear is racing through her body making her run faster and faster.
Suddenly she feels weight on her shoulder. Her heart stopped. 'Did they caught me? What will happen now?'
Red and golden feathers creeped into her range of sight. It is not orc or any creature she had met before. Then fire engulf her. She felt dizzy, fire was dancing around her and on her skin, yet it didn't burn. It felt like hours but were only seconds in reality before the fire died down.
She saw a river that is a borderline of her husband's domain. She's home. She's safe. But how?
The weight shifts and what seems like a large bird falls to the ground before her. The bird is coloured like flames, but somehow, the colours are dull. The bird is old and tired.
Then the bird caught the flame. Celebrían panics, but calms down when the fire disappears. However, she is left puzzled when it revealed an old woman instead of the bird.
She was dress in white tunic, brown leather pants and boots and something what had to be green skirt at some point. Large corset like leather belt was tied around her waist and she also has worn leather gauntlets. There was a bag attached to the belt and a staff lied beside her. The staff was wooden and crooked. It was as tall as the woman and had a moon made from unknown white material tied to the head by black leather straps, some talismans and trinkets hung from it too. She had pendant hanging around her neck, it had rune of protection on it. Her hair were black but had gray running through it. Her face was aristocratic, like Men's noblewoman, and had wrinkles. She was unconscious. There was something else. A feeling of power and magic, like an Istari, like a Maia.
Celebrían could only stare until she heard horses. She looked up and saw her sons in full armour on horseback.
Vesper woke up the next day in a soft bed. There were voices and sounds of movement around her. Quickly, she jumped out of the bed and her staff was summoned into her hands. She was ready to protect herself if necessary.
She was confused to see elven healers. She lowered her staff and wanted to speak, but a sharp pain stopped her. She fell to her knees. In attempt no to cry out loud she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. It had been a really bad idea to push herself to save the she-elf.
'What the hell have you been thinking?' Her mind scolded. 'Or better yet, were you thinking?'
She felt gentle hands helping her stand and sit back on the bed. They pushed her down and she didn't resist.
Lord Elrond and some of his healers were in the room when their guest woke up.
She was a mystery. A Maia, no doubt. She held power similar to Istari's, yet different. She can turn into a fiery bird. And most importantly she saved his wife from orcs.
A Maia, a skinchanger and an Istari. What an interesting guest and patient he has.
He heard the rustling of fabric behind him. He spun around to see his patient standing there in a defensive position with a staff in hand. There was a spark of recognition in her eyes and she relaxed her stance. She opened her mouth to speak but then collapsed onto her knees.
She was clearly in pain. Elrond watched as her hair turned grayer and her skin became more wrinkled. She aged by decades in mere seconds. He saw blood coming from her mouth and rushed to her side. He gently helped her stand up and sit down on the bed. Then he made her lie down. She obeyed, still in pain. He examined her, but there was nothing wrong with her. If she hadn't just aged decades in a few seconds, he would have said she was in perfect health, just exhausted.
When the pain gone away she opened her eyes and looked straight at him.
"Are you worried about my aging process?" she asked.
"Yes. You age too fast, this can't be natural," he said worry in his eyes.
"Yet, it is perfectly natural for me," she answered smiling.
"How? How can it be natural?"
"Is the maiden safe?"
Elrond was searching her eyes for any malicious internet, but found none.
"She is here and safe. In shock but will be alright. However, I want to know the name of the Maia who saved my wife." Elrond smiled.
Her eyes flickered to his silver circlet briefly.
"Lord Elrond, I presume," she said.
"Yes," he answered.
Her face was expressionless. "Why do you think I am a Maia?"
"Elves can see more then most. You are Maia and Istari, yet, I have not heard of you. Why is that?"
"Lord Elrond has a connection with the Valar. He should know when to keep secret and not to ask questions that may endanger him and his," the Maia closed her eyes.
"That indeed is true. But they have not told me to not ask, only to not talk about you. My people know not to say anything about your existence."
Elrond patiently waited for the Maia to respond.
"You don't need to worry about me. I am a phoenix, an immortal bird made out of fire. My burning day is near. I will die in fire only to be reborn from my ashes. It is a circle of life and death I cannot escape," she opened her eyes. "You cannot do everything. If you try to help me you will only hurt me and make me suffer more than I already do."
"Can't I do anything to ease your pain?"
"No. I would turn to my phoenix form, as it is easier to bear the pain, but I have spent my energy on saving your wife," she closed her eyes again and her face scrunched up in pain.
Elrond could only sit and watch as she aged. When her face relaxed he asked. "How long until the day?"
"No more than three days."
There was a silent for a while.
"My wife wants to see you. Do you think you are well enough to have a visitor?" Elrond asked.
Vesper smiled. "That would be nice."
"I'll go get her," he stood and was about to leave when he asked. "What do people call you, Istari?"
"I was given name Vesper the Witch," she answered softly.
Vesper was laying in soft bed listening to birds singing. Her whole body ached, like it was on fire. She closed her eyes and tried to think about Sirius, Remus and Harry, her pups.
A small smile appeared on her lips as she remembered the pranks Marauders pulled off at Hogwarts. How angry she was with them when she found out about the bullying they done to the Slytherin boy. They couldn't sit down without making a whine of pain for a month after she was done with them.
She remembered how Harry beamed every time he did something right. The awe and love for magic always sparkled in his eyes.
She heard the door open and soft footsteps coming in. Vesper didn't move, just listened. Someone sat down on a chair next to her bed.
Vesper opened her eyes and looked at her visitor. It was Lady Celebrían.
"Good afternoon," she greeted.
"Good afternoon," Vesper replied.
"How are you feeling?"
"Good. How about you, Lady Celebrían?"
"I will be alright thanks to you, Curuni ."
'Curuni, witch, fitting name,' Vesper thought amusedly. "There is no need to thank me. I should be thanking you for letting me to stay here and go through my burning day."
"No, you have saved my life. Letting you stay is the smallest thing I can do to repay you."
"...thank you." Vesper leaned her head back on the pillow. "Lady Celebrían, please, drop the formalities, just call me Vesper."
Celebrían smiled. "Then call me Celebrían."
Vesper smiled back at her.
After a while of comfortable silence Vesper was getting restless. She was never the one to sit around and do nothing, even when she knew she needed a rest. In the end she sit up and turned to Celebrían, who seemed alarmed at her action.
"I am sorry Celebrían, but could you show me around the garden? I was never someone who can sit for too long and do nothing."
Celebrían still concerned agreed. Slowly they made their way to the gardens. Vesper had to lean on Celebrían. The Lady of the house guided the witch to a bench next to a fountain. They sit there for some time chatting about everything and nothing.
It was surprising that they both have raised mischief makes. They recall many stories and laugh at their antics. Celebrían was confused about the magic and Hogwarts, so Vesper told her that she was made into a Maia after her death in another world. Celebrían actually gaped at her then a mischievous spark entered her eyes and she smiled a knowing smile. Vesper only raised an eyebrow and let it go.
Another common ground was a sweet and kind daughter. Lily may not be Vesper's daughter but she was as good as one. There was another surprise when Vesper learned that Arwen's name means Evening star. Vesper in Old English means Evening star as well.
They were interrupted only when enraged Elrond came to them and all but dragged Vesper back to her room.
As Vesper predicted she had her burning day three days after she woke up. For some reason elves couldn't keep their hand to themselves. They always wanted to hug her and play with her like she was a child. Vesper never had what could be described as a happy childhood, being a bastard daughter of Arcturus Black, although a legitimate one, wasn't a good thing. The sudden affection from the elves was overwhelming and downright scary for her. In desperate attempt to get away she locked herself in her room only letting Elrond's family to see her.
They were immensely disappointed when she grew up in only a month but Vesper couldn't be any happier. She gave her good bye and left the Rivendell.
After the incidence Vesper sometimes spend her burning day there. Dispute the clinginess of most of the elves she enjoyed her stays there. The peaceful atmosphere of Rivendell makes her calm and it soothes the pain of burning days.