One Not-So-Grey Wizard

[whiterider]

You approach me again with little more direction than you had years before! Am I to welcome you? To thank you? I am an old man and time is precious to me.

[A very convincing frown!]

What do you mean "you do not buy it"? Shouldn't my appearance speak for itself?

Comments

[pipeweed]

...should it?

[whiterider]

[A mysterious look is your initial answer, little Hobbit.]

It should and it shouldn't.

[pipeweed]

But which is it, really?

[whiterider]

It's both.

[pipeweed]

It can't be both, Gandalf.

[ but since they are gandalf's words... ]

...can it?

[whiterider]

Actually...

[It can.]

I have earned my old age; I can say that much.

[pipeweed]

But you're not that old, not yet. Why, I can still remember our journey as though it was yesterday!

[whiterider]

I do not think you would believe my age when we first met.

[onewhodares]

Gandalf.

Does your appearance herald as much trouble as last time?

[whiterider]

Who can say? The world will do as it will and I am but a follower. [Yeah right.]

[onewhodares]

[Uh-huh. He should have guessed he'd get a non-answer. This was Gandalf after all. Thorin continues to look unconvinced. Or maybe that's just his face.]

I doubt the world would agree with such a statement.

[whiterider]

[He is the King of non-answers. Or maybe he just likes to see people's reactions.

A small, impish smile follows that statement.]

I have changed since we last met.

[onewhodares]

[Now he knows you're up to something, Mr. Wizard.]

I fail to see anything of significance.

[The same quiet troublemaker of a wizard as he remembered approaching him in the Prancing Pony in Bree. Though now he's curious as to what has changed.]

[whiterider]

You knew Gandalf the Grey; I am now Gandalf the White. The Valar returned me to Arda after I defeated a Balrog.

[KINDA SIGNIFICANT, DWARF BRO.]

[onewhodares]

[Thorin's reaction is visible to THAT bit of news, he looks surprised and shaken to hear such a thing.]

...Durin's Bane....

[He does not want to imagine how such a fight was won.]

You are more a warrior than most would believe.

[whiterider]

I do not like for it to be well-known. [He softens and leans against his white staff.] The Balrog sought to kill and devour my friends. I could not let it be so; I could not let it live.

[onewhodares]

It beat back so many dwarves...

And yet you bested it. [Gandalf gets so much respect for that.] It would be foolish of me to assume it was easy even for you.

[whiterider]

It was...not. He and I are more alike than not except in our loyalties. [They are nearly the same age.]

[onewhodares]

To what do you keep yourself now, Gandalf the White?

[whiterider]

The destruction of Sauron if you must know - then I will travel home.

[onewhodares]

A worthy cause. [Finally a smirk.] Child's play after defeating the Balrog singlehanded.

[whiterider]

I wish it were so. As I said, the Balrog and I were well-matched. Sauron places many forces between himself and his Enemies.

[onewhodares]

[Scowl] As all do who are evil and cowardly. [Wouldn't Thorin love to give Sauron a taste of his own medicine for what he's done to Middle Earth.]

It is bad enough that I have to share a mind with the worm. [He spits out the name with distaste. His mun also has a Smaug muse and keeps them well apart.]

[whiterider]

The worm...? Smaug? [Such memories.] He should be humbled by news of his death, though I doubt it very much.

As for you, my dear Thorin, I wish you could accompany us into battle.

[onewhodares]

[Good times...and Smaug's ego is too big for it to have deflated much from his experience.]

As do I. But I fear it cannot be so. I am certain you will give Sauron our best greeting from the line of Durin? [Right in his big eye.]

[whiterider]

I shall do my best to see his tower fall. [Crumbling in on itself.] Gimli, son of Glóin will be present.

[onewhodares]

[Ah, young Gimli.]

He'll do his father proud, I'm sure.

[whiterider]

He already has and then some. With his axe, he is deadly and fearless even amongst droves of Orcs.

[onewhodares]

[Thorin's pretty proud to hear about that.]

Ha! Certain to make up for us leaving him behind on our quest.

[whiterider]

He is part of the Fellowship of the Ring. It is his duty to travel in secret to Mordor to see Sauron's Ring destroyed.

[And guess who accompanies him.]

[onewhodares]

[He couldn't guess. Surely not.]

The One Ring? It was lost a long time ago.

[whiterider]

It has been found in the possession of a Hobbit no less. [Sound familiar?]

[onewhodares]

[Eyes. Narrow.]

A particularly resilient Hobbit?

[whiterider]

His nephew in fact, though the Ring was in said resilient Hobbit's possession for much longer.

[onewhodares]

[Of all the dangerous things to pick up. Seriously, Bilbo.]

Is there no end of the trouble Hobbits can get themselves into?

[whiterider]

I fear not, though in this case, it was fortunate he came across it. [Hobbits are far less ambitious creatures.]

[onewhodares]

Fortunate is not the word I would think of.

How fares the burglar?

[whiterider]

Fortunate for Arda; not fortunate for Bilbo or Frodo.

He is much aged. Amongst the Elves he will reside until the war ends.

[onewhodares]

[While Thorin still had his reservations about Elves, he knew how much Bilbo liked Rivendell.]

With his books and chair by the fire, no doubt.

[whiterider]

Lord Elrond will see he has plenty to read. [There is an affectionate smile at the description.] The Ring has...taken a toll on him. He will need a long rest to heal.

[onewhodares]

[Thorin seems worried to hear that. While he misjudged Bilbo at first, sometimes it seemed the Hobbit was resilient to the end. He does not answer but remains thoughtful.]

[whiterider]

I promise I will keep him company. The Elves may afford him a special gift should the war be won.