The Shadow Hunter

Chapter 05: A Wizard's Friend

- T.A.1000 -

Gandalf continuously wondered why he liked inhaling the pipe he was holding, and blowing the air with a smoke ship he conjured from his mouth. It delighted him he supposed, though Saruman found it very strange and disgusting. However, the habit proved satisfying when he was venturing deep in the woods of Imladris. He had just arrived in Middle Earth along with the other Istaris a few months back and the wizards started to disperse not long ago. Saruman, Allatar, and Pallando ventured to the east, whilst he himself decided to follow Cirdan’s suggestion to go to Rivendell. He would find great knowledge there, he was told, but he didn’t expect to find the beauty of the forest so endearing. The forest was quieter than he had expected, knowing that evil must had threatened the valley continuously after Sauron had fallen,

The tranquillity of the forest was disturbed immediately when suddenly, three figures leapt from the trees with a loud rustle and vague thump. Gandalf stepped back, slightly threatened by the new presence of these mysterious beings. Despite their forms not of the Orc kind, Gandalf was still suspicious, and raised his staff in defence. They were wearing brown cloaks with quivers slung over their shoulders. One of them wore darker clothing compared to the others.

“What is an old man doing in these parts of the forest?” one of them asked. Gandalf observed them carefully. Though they didn’t raise their weapons to him, they were clearly cautious of his staff.

“I am one of the Istari, Gandalf the Grey. I have travelled here to seek the wisdom of Lord Elrond,” Gandalf explained honestly. “I believe he has received a message from Cirdan the Shipwright?”

The rangers looked at each other with their invisible eyes. They seemed doubtful of the old man’s words.

“He might be lying,” the one with the darker clothing said. “But an old man with a pointy hat is already strange enough. I have heard that the wizards are strange as well.”

“Well, he seems honest to me,” another said. The three of them then looked at Gandalf, up and down simultaneously.

“I am a wizard, and a queer one I should tell you. Who else walks with a staff as a walking stick?” Gandalf remarked, slightly amused by the method of their identification. The three stood quiet after his comment.

After a long moment of silence, one of them pulled their hood down, revealing a fair face of Elven signature. “Farewell then, Gandalf the Grey. We shall escort you to Rivendell. However, if your words are false, you shall suffer your own consequences.”

He directed the others to reveal their faces as well. Slowly the rangers revealed their appearances. They were long-haired elleths, one with a waxy oak hair and another with a straight black hair. Gandalf flinched when he saw the eyes of the dark-haired elleth, silver like the moon and sharp like a blade. The wizard swallowed his anxiety, nervous at how the elleth’s gaze seemed to peer into the depths of his soul.

“Follow us, Master Wizard,” she told him as she turned her back. Gandalf hesitantly followed her steps, being flanked by the other rangers. His eyes were still observing the silver-eyed elleth, somehow fearing that she might attack him in any moment.

“So, if you really are a wizard, can you do magic?” the male asked. Gandalf saw the other ranger throwing a threatening glance at the male, but decided to answer honestly.

“You shall see when your time comes, Master Elf,” Gandalf replied.

“For your information, Gandalf, Lord Elrond has indeed received message from Cirdan,” the other said. “And he told us to watch the borders in case some random old man with a staff enters. We, of course, need to make sure you are really one of the Istari. Years back even this safest Valley has been penetrated by unlikely creatures.”

“I see. You are wise then. I have encountered some on my journey here as well,” Gandalf said. He put out his pipe and put it inside the pocket of his robes. He wondered how the evil creatures could penetrate the watchful eyes of the guards there. Carelessness perhaps, though he doubted such attitude coming from wise races such as the Elves.

“We are here,” the leading elleth said after they had walked for a long time through the forest. They had finally entered Rivendell that shone majestically under the spring sun. Gandalf admired the sight of the golden forests and the waterfall for a moment, pulling off his hat to get a better picture.

“Magnificent isn’t it?” the ellon said as they made their way through a bridge with running water below. “I have lived many years and yet it still fascinates me.”

They finally arrived at the main gate, where a tall, dark-haired ellon was waiting for their arrival.

“Welcome, Gandalf the Grey, to Rivendell,” he greeted with his deep voice. Gandalf bowed to the ellon, realizing from his magnificent presence that he was Lord Elrond the peredhil.

“Lord Elrond, is it not?” Gandalf guessed. Elrond nodded.

“I hope your journey here is well, Gandalf?” Elrond asked him. “Surely your escorts treat you well?”

“Ah, yes, they did, though the lack of speech by this silver-eyed lady is somehow disturbing,” Gandalf remarked whilst he glanced at the said elleth.

“Varilerin is a quiet one,” Elrond explained, “but she, along with Ellain and Ruindoldir, is capable of protecting you even to the deepest abyss.”

“It seems our doubts regarding his identity are false then,” Varilerin said quietly. “Forgive for our harshness, Gandalf.”

“And it is forgiven,” said Gandalf. “Now, Lord Elrond, since I have just arrived in Middle Earth I have so many questions needed answering.”

“And they shall be answered,” Elrond said as he turned to Varilerin. “Varilerin, Ellain, and Ruindoldir, I have another task for you to be done. You shall report to Elladan and Elrohir immediately.”

“Yes, My Lord,” Varilerin answered definitely. “If you’ll excuse me, Gandalf.”

Gandalf watched her turning her back from him and walk away to the corridors. His mind was filled mostly with questions of wisdom, though some space was occupied by the questions regarding the elleth.

“She is quite different from most Elves I’ve seen in the Grey Havens,” Gandalf remarked to Elrond.

“She is quite intriguing, I should tell you. Anything you want to ask me regarding herself, however, should be answered by herself alone.”

Gandalf nodded in understanding, seeing that the mystery of the elleth would remain secretive as long as the said person remained quiet. The said person, however, had acquired many impressions regarding the wizard. Varilerin saw that deep within the old’s man fragile appearance lay a strong power and wisdom, something to be expected from wizards sent from Valinor.

“So, how is your first observations?” Ellain asked the still silent Varilerin. “Surely, your keen wise eyes have caught something. You have the talent to feel something many do not, don’t you?”

“It is not my eyes that are wise first of all,” Varilerin responded in a rather not interested voice, “But I can tell that he is excellent in hiding his true powers. I’ve heard rumours of however they can be, but I cannot see authority and strength from his humble appearance. However, I can feel that his presence is stronger than mere Men. There is an inner strength emanating from his soul.”

“That’s very meaningful,” Ruindoldir remarked. “Though I wonder why he comes alone and without the accompaniment of the other four…”

“Maybe they are just more interested in other places besides Rivendell,” Ellain added. “Lothlorien is another choice.”

“Speaking of Lothlorien…..” Ruindoldir muttered to Ellain quietly, glancing briefly to Varilerin. Varilerin didn’t respond, only focusing on the path they must take to reach the courtyard where Elladan and Elrohir were, presumably, training with each other like usual. She quietly sent a threatening aura to her friends, warning them not to talk about her separation with Arwen, something that had occurred for hundreds of years.

Varilerin in fact, had not met Arwen properly ever since she departed to Lothlorien. In the same year, after a full year working as a ranger guarding the boarders, Varilerin’s skills had been deemed excellent by Glorfindel and Elrond. She was immediately sent to farther areas around the valley shortly after Arwen’s departure. She followed orders as instructed, but didn’t realize that the burdening tasks would cause her to miss Arwen’s rare visits to Rivendell. It slightly disappointed her, but hearing the rumours that Arwen had grown into the Undomiel, the Evenstar of their people, was already enough joy for Varilerin.

“I hope Arwen is well, that’s all,” Varilerin said shortly. “Ah, there they are.”

They finally entered a stone courtyard with trees growing lushly at the sides. In its centre were the two identical sons of Elrond, sparring together with their swords under the sun.

“My Lords, we have come to report to you,” Ruindoldir said, breaking their combat in surprise. One of them jolted so badly that he threw his sword to the tree, barely missing the shoulder of his brother.

“Elladan!” Elrohir exclaimed in horror when he saw that a sword had just flew past his shoulder.

“Why should you people arrive unnoticed?” Elrohir protested to the rangers once he realized what he had done. “I could have killed my own brother!”

“But you didn’t,” Varilerin said plainly. Ruindoldir chuckled alongside Ellain, amused at how their friendship with the stealthy elleth had caused them to become silent in ever action they made, and surprise many in every way.

Elrohir scowled as he pulled his weapon from the tree with a swift pull. “I should have sent you to a deadly mission next time.”

But this time, you are going to be an escort,” Elladan interrupted, trying to calm his brother’s annoyance despite himself almost dying from the flying sword. “We need to go to Greenwood, or Mirkwood as it is recently called, as an ambassador. We have some matters to discuss there with King Thranduil…”

“You’re asking us to escort you there?” Ellain guessed, however, judging from their faces she realized her deduction was incorrect.

“This ought to excite Varilerin,” Elrohir said with a naughty smile brewing on his face. “Arwen is returning to Rivendell.”

The two brothers enjoyed how Varilerin reacted to the information. Her eyes widened in a split second. “Lady Arwen is returning to Rivendell and we’re going to be her escort?” Varilerin asked, trying to hide her excitement.

Elladan and Elrohir nodded simultaneously. “You three will lead a squad of rangers to guard her home. You will be departing tomorrow morning, when the sun rises.”

“It is a good news then!” Ellain remarked in Varilerin’s stead. “We have not seen her for decades and now she’s returning! What’s the occasion?”

“Well, nothing particular. Maybe she’s bored, we don’t know. We haven’t seen her for years either,” Elladan explained. “Well, will you accept this mission?”

“Of course, My Lord,” Varilerin responded calmly with a small smile. “We shall escort Lady Arwen safely home.”

“Good. She’ll be happy to see you as well,” Elrohir informed her, revealing their true intentions of sending Varilerin as their sister’s guards.

“Yes, I believe she will,” Elladan said as he watched Varilerin blossoming with anticipation. “Now, I think we should be greeting the wizard guest, shouldn’t we, Elrohir?”

“Yes, brother!” Elladan said as he stormed away with his brother. Varilerin felt the hidden stares of Ellain and Elrohir directed her.

“Should we go back to the forest now?” Varilerin asked the two, who were more superior than her. They immediately shook their heads as they smirked gleefully.

“No, My Friend. Since tomorrow we’ll be departing I think we should get some rest, shouldn’t we?” Ellain said. “Now, we also have a wizard to welcome.”

“See you later,” Ruindoldir said, knowing that Varilerin wouldn’t follow them to the hall. She nodded in agreement and watched her friends disappearing into the corridors. She was alone once more, but now her heart was not as cold as it had been for hundreds of years.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Gandalf still wondered how Elves’ minds work. Every single question he had in mind was answered by Elrond surely and accurately, all in just a mere day. It seemed that his journey to Rivendell was not in vain after all, and he wondered what Saruman would say about his newly-gained knowledge when they meet once more.

Elrond allowed the wizard to use his library as he wished and, although he was tired after long hours of gaining knowledge, he couldn’t stop himself from entering the gigantic book-filled room.

It appears he was not alone.

A dark figure loomed in the corner of the room, alarming Gandalf immediately when he entered the library. The light of the moon seeped from the windows, allowing a better view of the figure standing in front of him.

“Gandalf, it is surprising to find you here at this time,” the figure said as light revealed her face. Varilerin looked at him with the same silver eyes that shone under the moon. As if Gandalf had never seen her before, he was amazed at how mystical she looked under the night. Her tall figure seemed to overshadow Gandalf’s body. He could not see her black hair under the darkness, though it was clear that it fell down to her waist.

“Lady Varilerin,” Gandalf greeted with a heave of air. Varilerin closed the book she was holding and put it on a desk nearby.

“Do not call me Lady, Gandalf, for I am far from one,” she said, directing her eyes to her garment. Gandalf nodded and smiled.

“I understand then, Varilerin. I am here to search for more wisdom,” Gandalf told her honestly as he brushed the covers of the books. “Though I think a guide would be useful, judging by the parameters of this library.”

“Then you have found quite a suitable guide,” Varilerin said as he approached Gandalf.

“Are you?” Gandalf asked with a chuckle. “I have heard many things about you from Lord Elrond, though I doubt he mentioned that you love books.”

“But I love this library. It is one of the few rooms in Rivendell I would visit,” Varilerin explained with a flat tone. “Forests are more of my thing after all, but I think I will be enough to guide you here.”

“The rumours say that you are quite not social person…. But I guess they are wrong,” Gandalf remarked, causing the elleth to smirk. Gandalf took a random book from the cupboard and pretended to read it to avoid her eyes. She observed him carefully, seeing deep wisdom within his frail physical form.

“Tell me, Gandalf, do wizards sleep?” she asked.

“Well, we do sleep, though with our eyes open and not quite often…” Gandalf mumbled as he flipped the pages of the book with sudden interest. “I assume you have troubles in gaining rest as well?”

“I am known to be hard working,” Varilerin answered honestly. “I sometimes… forget how to sleep. Night seems to become an alarming time in which my sight cannot be closed. Maybe I have delved in the forest too long…”

Gandalf noticed her smiling sadly as she stared through the window, to the trees blocking the light of the moon. With a single expression, Gandalf’s wisdom could comprehend the mysteries revolving the elleth. He had seen such eyes before, the eyes that craved for companionship, yet somehow avoiding it.

“Are you lonely, Varilerin?” Gandalf asked her. She didn’t answer, her face still straight and remained unchanged because the Elven blood flowing through her.

“No, not at all,” Varilerin answered hesitantly as she took a deep breath. She closed her eyes as if the next words she would utter were like arrows striking her heart. “You see, Gandalf, through this years I have regarded my loneliness… as something benefitting for the people around me. Too many have suffered when I am around them for too long.”

“Why should you think of such?” Gandalf asked with pity.

“You have known so little about me, Gandalf,” Varilerin said to him as she walked past him. “Maybe you’ll understand me deeper as the time goes.”

“How can one understand you when one is not a friend?” Gandalf asked. “Unless I am now a friend to you?”

Varilerin turned to look at him. She pondered for a moment for an answer. “I think you are quiet close to be my friend. Farewell, Gandalf, until our next meeting.”

Varilerin bowed respectfully to Gandalf before she disappeared to the shadows of the forest.

“Interesting indeed,” Gandalf muttered as he watched the sun rose from the depths of the horizon. A new day was beginning for the wizard in Middle Earth, and so for Varilerin.

Little did she know that her journey would change everything in her world.