The Promise

The Promise Part 1

It was nice being back in Imladris. Though you liked traveling, you really felt at home here, though you knew that feeling would not last. You were a ranger after all and one of the last of the Dúnedain, well you say last, you knew all about Estel who will have his own destinty, but that's another story.

You had always worked alone and it was how you liked it. Keeping your eyes on anything that looked suspicious. Most of the time there was no trouble but lately, a growing feeling was slowly appearing to you.

This feeling told you that something bad was just around the corner and you hated this feeling with a passion. As you walked to your room in Imladris, you heard footsteps from behind you. Turning around, your eyes went wide, before you smiled at what you saw before you.

"Gandalf."

Gandalf the Grey had been a friend of yours for a long time. You were not at all surprised to see him here, in fact he had a habit of appearing when you least expected it.

"Helena, just the person I was searching for."

You raised an eyebrow, other than Lord Elrond and of course Gandalf, no one calls you 'Helena'. For a long time, everyone shortened your name to just 'Lena'. At first that did annoy you but as time went on, you grew to like your nickname.

"I never broke it!"

"Broke what?" asked the amused wizard.

"Whatever it is, you are searching me for."

You saw the twinkle in Gandalf's blue eyes before he chuckled softly to himself.

"I'm glad to hear it," He mused, before stepping closer to you "I need your help, young lady."

Your eyed him with sudden suspicion, you had a feeling this was big.

"I would like you to keep an eye on thirteen dwarves and a hobbit for a little while."

"Why?" I finally asked him, knowing you would not like the answer to that.

"Because I am needed here. Please Helena, just until I can reach you."

You looked at him wide eyed. You had thought that you would be keeping an eye on this dwarves here in Imladris, but the way he had sounded, it seemed that these dwarves were about to leave this enchanting place.

"Reach you?"

Gandalf then lowered his voice and informed you of what thirteen dwarves and a hobbit were really doing here in the first place. It seemed the leader, Thorin Oakenshield, was going on a quest to reclaim his home Erebor.

You had heard the tale of that mountain, who hadn't? That a dragon had caused mass destruction on everything he touched before taking the mountain as his own. As Gandalf goes on, you realise this is a suicide mission. No one could kill a dragon that easily. It was impossible.

"Why do you need me?" You asked Gandalf when he had finished his story "I am not like you. I can not use magic."

"No, but you do travel a lot and have seen many things. Thorin's directions are a lot to be desired."

You just raised your eyebrow at that remark then said,

"I do not think the leader and his men would appreciate my sudden appearance."

Gandalf had the gall to smile back at you.

"Do not mind that. Thorin will soon realise that you are quite capable of taking care of yourself. No, you will ease my mind if you accept this offer."