His Corrupted Mind [Witch-King x OC]

Chapter V : A Connection of Secrets

"Some secrets are meant to be known; but once known you can never forget them." -Pseudonymous Bosch

Gandalf chuckled as he stood a little straighter with the help of his staff as he said, "You must have been very deep in your mind to not see what is in front of you." Inconnu straightened as well.

"I deeply apologize, and yes I was a bit lost within my mind."

Gandalf smiled kindly. "Apology accepted, though it is a little unnecessary. I too was lost in my thoughts as well." At this Inconnu smiled widely, and then her eyes widened noticeably when he asked, "What brings the Huntress of the North to Minas Tirith?"

Inconnu's tone was disbelieving when she replied, "You know me?"

Gandalf chuckled. "I know of you, much like in the way you of myself I presume. Through reputation and rumor." She nodded, and he asked again, "What does bring you here to Minas Tirith?" Inconnu's smile faded a little.

"To deliver the news of Osgiliath's fall to the Nazgûl."

Gandalf's aged features furrowed, his worry plain for all to see. "The Nazgûl, truly?" Inconnu gave a solemn nod, and the grey wizard sighed. "It seems that the Dark Lord has made his second move. First Dol Guldur, then Minas Ithil, and now Osgiliath. I fear to think of where his eye will turn to next."

"He has taken Dol Guldur?" Inconnu asked. "I have heard of a necromancer that resided there briefly a little over sixty years ago, but that threat was quickly vanquished."

"Not vanquished, but banished. The necromancer was revealed as Sauron himself, and it was the Lady Galadriel of Loríen who sent him running back to Mordor. It was fifty years ago that he sent three of the Nazgûl to reoccupy the ruins and in that same year announced his return."

Inconnu was silent, eyes closed as she sifted through a particular set of memories before opening her gaze to meet Gandalf's and replying with, "I remember a change during the time you speak of. It was not a physical change like the one upon Mirkwood, but a change I cannot find the right words to describe but the closest I could get is that a shadow came, a shadow left, and then it returned in an instant."

Gandalf gave a nod. "You would not be the only one to describe it as such. If you don't mind my asking, why were you in Osgiliath? I suspect not for the battle that had happened." Inconnu's gaze saddened.

"Visiting my mother's grave. Since I spend so long traveling and hunting deep within the Misty Mountains, I visit when I am able to resist the urge to hunt. She may have not been the best mother, but she was mine and she deserves that respect."

The grey wizard put a hand on her shoulder in comfort. "I am glad to witness a sign of your honor for myself. You are a rare woman and a worthy hunter." This brought a more proud smile to her features. A thought then struck Inconnu and she asked him, "How come you are in Minas Tirith? Something must have drawn you here as something drew myself here."

"Oh," Gandalf gave a quick smile and gestured to a scroll laid out on the table behind him, "Just doing a bit of research on something I came across recently." It was a very old looking scroll, a deep yellow and its edges very worn and cracked. Inconnu could tell that it was very important to whatever Gandalf was doing.

"I should leave you to your research then, and I should retire for the night." She bowed her head deeply in respect for the grey wizard, but before she could turn around and leave he asked, "What really brought you here to this part of the library?" At this, Inconnu paused and replied slowly, "I don't really know, as I was really just wandering and my feet took me here."