The Last One

Chapter 27

Rain poured in large drops from the skies leaving the company drenched. It had been raining for some time now, and appeared to have no intentions of stopping anytime soon.

"Here, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori grumbled. 

Ruive smirked for under her hood, her gold hair now a light brown and matted to her forehead. Gandalf and Ruive appeared to be the only ones unphased by the down pour. She love everything about the rain; the sound, the smell, the taste, and the green grass that it leaves behind.

"It is raining, Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard." Gandalf countered, rolling his eyes at the dwarf.

There was a pause before Bilbo decided to speak up. 

"Are there any?"

"What?" Gandalf asked.

"Other wizards?" Bilbo clarified, squinting through the rain and his hair.

"There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman, the White. Then there are the two Blue Wizards; you know, I've quite forgotten their names." Gandalf began.

"Alatar and Pallando." Ruive called from behind Bilbo. 

Gandalf nodded silently thanking her for reminding him.

"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo questioned looking at Gandalf expectantly.

"Well, that would be Radagast, the Brown." Gandalf replied. 

Ruive smiled thinking of the peculiar wizard, she had met him a few times travelling with Arathorn.

"Is he a great Wizard or is he...more like you?" Bilbo asked. 

Ruive snickered, disguising it with a cough.

Gandalf glanced to the right slightly hearing Ruive "coughing". 

"I think he's a very great wizard, in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the East, and a good thing too, for always Evil will look to find a foothold in this world."

The rain had finally stopped, much to the relief of the dwarves and their clothes had dried up in no time. The company reached a clearing with the ruins of an abandoned farm house. Ruive grew uneasy, something not too friendly was nearby she could feel it.

"We'll camp here for the night. Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them." Thorin ordered, crushing Ruive's hopes that they might move on.

"A farmer and his family used to live here." Gandalf sighed inspecting the posts still standing. 

Ruive came up beside him inspecting the ruins herself for any signs of what might have done this. There was a foul stench on the wood, but it was to faint for her to identify.

"Oin, Gloin." Thorin called.

"Aye?"

"Get a fire going." Thorin began giving orders to each of the company. 

Gandalf looked to Ruive who shook her head silently saying they should not stay here.

"I think it would be wiser to move on. We could make for the Hidden Valley." Gandalf suggested.

Though the chances were slim, she hoped Thorin would opt for the Hidden Valley. It had been a while since she last traveled through Rivendel and she would like to visit again, maybe Arathorn was there with Aragorn?