[Child of the 7th Age]

The sun rose fair and golden, as the Star sailed north up the Anduin, with its flotilla clinging close behind. Most of the hobbits had risen early and stood on deck beside the railing, watching as the vessel cut its course up river, slowly approaching the western bank.

Just behind them, to their left, they could see the bright waters of the Entwash splashing down across fertile plains to join up with the Great River. The misty outline of the Rauros Falls loomed ahead, its voice thundering from peak to peak. The sound was so loud and insistent that little Maura covered his ears. Tall cliffs veered upward on either side, with the solitary isle of Tol Brandir standing like a sentinel in the middle, surrounded by churning waters that roared down towards the great falls.

On the left bank stood Amon Lhaw, and on the right, Amon Hen, the ancient Seats of Hearing and Seeing. The North Stair, the only direct access to the cliffs for portage, could barely be seen with all the spray and mist that spewed out from the rushing waters.

Cami and Rose stood next to Gamba, with Phura and the boys clustered behind. Cami tried to explain as much as she could. Every now and then Piosenniel or Bird would cut in and point out something that she hadn't known before. Mithadan stood by himself at the helm of the ship, guiding the Star towards the western bank of the River, to a safe spot just beneath the basin of the falls.

With the exception of the Star and the three ships that would be going forward into the Fouth Age, the others were to unload their hobbit cargo and return immediately to Minas Anor. Word of the strange visitors would undoubtedly reach the streets of the City. But, by then, the hobbits should be on their way north, only a distant rumor to the Men who ruled the Kingdom of Gondor.

It was Cami who first saw the party awaiting them on the river bank, and tugged at Gamba's arm to get his attention. There seemed to be a small group of Elves looking up in the direction of the Star, all clad in green and brown, with bows slung over their backs.

Piosenniel leaned over and whispered to her, "Silvan elves from Greenwood, sent by King Thranduil, I believe."

"And, look there, Cami," she whispered, pointing to a tall figure, with a fair and noble face, "His son Legolas leads the group."

But, who is that? Pio wondered, straining her eyes towards the tallest member of the party. Yes, he did look familiar, although he was not one whom she had expected to see.

A single tall fellow walked in the midst of the Elves whom Cami took to be a wizard of some sort. For one moment, the woman's heart soared as she thought to greet Gandalf again, as he had promised her on the isle of Meneltarma. But a second look caused her to start, for this was definitely not Gandalf.

Instead of robes of grey, the tall wizard was decked in simple attire of brown, so that he almost blended into the earth and trees. His shoulders were slightly stooped, and the parts of his body did not quite seem to fit together, at least in any organized way. Nor did he have Gandalf's air of certainty and command, or the hint of strength that lay underneath. There was no sword at his side, only a thick wood cudgel. His hand grasped a crooked brown staff that looked to be little more than a walking stick that had been wrenched off a neighboring tree. Yet there was an air of goodness and decency about him that transcended his haphazard appearance.

Still, Cami was puzzled. This was not what she'd been expecting. Altogether, this wizard posed a strange sight. Only in his eyes, deep brown and filled with a hint of some distant light, was there any indication that he might be something more than his simple robes and crooked stick suggested.

Rose leaned over to her friend and whispered, "Cami, did Gandalf say anything of that tall fellow, the one dressed in brown?"

"No, I've no idea who he is," she replied, her voice a bit hestitent. "I've neither seen or heard of him before."

Mithadan called down from the helm, "This is as close as I can safely bring the Star. Set the skiffs down over the side, and start offloading the hobbits. The other ships will need to do the same. I expect we'll all be spending the night here."

We are here, Cami thought, her relief mingled with concern. She climbed down the ladder and slipped into the skiff, with Rose at her side, as they headed towards the shore and the party awaiting there.

[ December 30, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]