Prologue: Unexpected arrival

The river Bruinen finally flowed peacefully after the disturbance of the Ringwraiths. And in the house of Elrond, Gandalf pondered the meaning of this latest arrival. The grey smoke from his pipe contrasted sharply with the beautiful white room he sat in. The sun was dawning above the Misty Mountains, chasing away nights darkness, but the wizard had not slept in all the night.

"Two within three days, what can this possibly mean?" He asked himself. He had been sent as steward of Middle Earth, with the knowledge of all races, and for mission to protect it, yet he had no foreseen this turn of events.

The young girl still lay sleeping on the elven bed, her long brown hair a mess. Gandalf would wait until she awoke before drawing conclusions, but of what he remembered before he had left the Western Shores, there was only one explanation: the Blue Istari had arrived to these shores.

XXX

Elrond walked in circles in the Evening Hall. Gandalf would not speak his mind, but he could feel the Eye of Sauron fixed upon his home, Imladris. The first stranger had gone mad and escaped, dodging the arrows of the elven archers. Now the scouts he had send to capture him had returned empty handed, but with evil tidings. The stranger had gone towards the East, over the mountains, following the Anduin River. His trail left no doubt as to where he was headed: the dark land of Mordor. "Where the Shadows lie", he whispered. Even in the regal halls of Imladris, some things were never mentioned.

The half-elf had enough on his mind, with four hobbits, the one ring, and another stranger under his roof. But now Gandalf had locked himself in the girl's room, and would speak to no one. Bilbo had returned once more, as if the pieces of a puzzle were being put together in the very valley.

Evil stirred in Mordor, what were once rumors was now fact: Sauron was gaining strength once again, and Saruman had joined him for an allegiance of the two towers, Orthanc and Barad-Dur.. The future looked black, yet it was not really his concern. His people were leaving this land; his daughter would depart as soon as he could convince her. War was upon the world, even if it was not ready for it. It was not time to dawdle. Yet within him he knew that his duty to Middle Earth went further.

XXX

The girl opened her eyes, starring at the white celling and observing every curve of the seen depected on it: Beren and Luthien's first encounter. She smiled as it was something familiar, a little piece of story she had taken to her heart.

"Where am I?"

"Ahh, you're finally awake. You are in Rivendell, and it is XXX by Shire Reconing". Gandalf's grave voice resounded well in the elven room.

The girl didn't seem surprised at the news, instead she just whispered: "So it is true, then? I am in Middle Earth."

"So you are not from here?"

"I am from… another world."

The silence between them grew heavy. Gandalf was not sure whether to let this confirm his thoughts or continue the questioning. He decided to give her some information as a test.

"The council will take place in two days, would you like to be present?"

"The secret council of Elrond?"

That was enough for Gandalf. This girl was indeed gifted with foresight, if not other powers as well. She was a blue wizard. Being a woman was not an obstacle in the magic world, but she was incredibly young. Would the Valars really send someone so young, or was he still mistaken? He chewed on his pipe before rising, an old man with many burdens on his shoulders.

"You will come to the meeting, but will only watch without speaking. Then Elrond and I will see you after it, in the Hall of the Sword." Gandalf stood and headed towards the door, his grey mantle floating behind him, and soon the sound of his staff on the marble floor faded away.

The girl didn't need much time to understand the true meaning of the words. She sat up and carefully, like a kitten who for the first time stands before grass, she touched the floor with her feet. The marble felt cold, but she moved along the room anyways. Today, she smiled, is a dream come true.

Middle Earth had always been her real environment. Had she not dreamed of one day of standing on the seventh level of the city of the White City, overlooking the Pellenor Fields, of listening to the tales of elves within the halls of Rivendel, of ridding besides the Rohirrim?