The Wind Fell Silent

1. A Quest At Hand

Arenna sat in the flickering firelight, repeatedly braiding and unbraiding a piece of string; her dark green eyes were set on the dancing flames, though her thoughts were elsewhere. On the girl's shoulder there lay Dishna, Arenna's feyanim *EXPLANATION FOR FEYANIM DOWN BELOW*, who took the form of a squirrel. There was a sudden rustle in the bushes that surrounded their small campsite, and she jumped, gripping the hilt of a sinister looking dagger. The bushes rustled further as Dishna berated Arenna for leaving her bow so far out of reach. Arenna stood, bracing herself for the imminent attack but instead was greeted with a familiar face. Arenna paused in disbelief,

"Gandalf" she exhaled with a relieved smile.

"Arenna, Dishna" the aged wizard rumbled happily as the old friends embraced.

"It has been a rather long time since last we met." Arenna said, her thick accent distorting the words ever so slightly.

"Oh, I would hardly say that two years is 'a rather long time', at least not for one as old as I", Gandalf said with an amused chuckle. The pair sat down on an old log near the fire as Dishna took the form of a large wolf (by far her favorite form).

"Is there a purpose to this meeting? What am I saying, there is always a purpose with you", Arenna said with a smile, "How can I help?"

Gandalf straightened up and looked the young sprite in the eye before saying, "I am embarking on an adventure", Arenna's eyebrows raised at this. "Thorin Oakenshield will be the leader of a company of thirteen dwarves, hopefully a hobbit, and with any luck a forest sprite", Gandalf continued.

"And what is the purpose of this 'adventure', may I ask?" Arenna questioned.

"To reclaim Erebor and slay the dragon that took it so long ago", was Gandalf's reply.

"And this involves me because...?" Arenna further inquired.

"I was hoping that you would aid the dwarves of Erebor, their quest has more depending on it than it seems" said Gandalf implicatively. "Smaug has sat in that mountain for far too long Arenna, his evil festers with each day; and as is the nature of the world, evil attracts evil. That dragon's rancor has, I fear, drawn the attention of a greater malevolence", Gandalf said. "If our enemies were to form an alliance, we would be doomed."

"What enemy Gandalf?" Arenna asked, though she knew the answer. "You are not suggesting-", she stopped herself.

"That is exactly what I am suggesting!" Gandalf replied as his eyebrows knit together. "A great evil lies upon this land Arenna. Orcs, goblins, trolls and a host of foul creatures terrorize Middle Earth. The earth is dying, the Greenwood of old is now being referred to as Mirkwood for heaven sake!"

"What of the wood elves?" Arenna interrupted. "I would not think that their power could be so easily thrust into shadow."

"That is what I am trying to tell you Arenna!" Gandalf exclaimed exasperatedly. "I fear that our enemy has somehow found a way to return. Erebor and that dragon interest him far too much." Gandalf paused, "Will you aid the dwarves in their quest?"

Arenna once again stared into the fire for a long moment. Gandalf continued, "Arenna you have a duty to the land, the Earth is being poisoned-" Arenna raised her hand to silence the wizard. "You do not have to remind me of my duty Gandalf", she stopped for a moment, "I will aid the dwarves."

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Arenna set out for Hobbiton the very next day, swiftly mounting Dishna, who had taken the form of a pony.

"Where are we to go once we reach the Shire?" Arenna asked Gandalf from atop Dishna.

"The house of Mr. Bilbo Baggins, look for the rune we discussed, I will mark his door with it." Gandalf paused before laughing heartily, "Or follow the sound of merry dwarves", he chuckled before mounting his own horse. Arenna watched the old man with an amused expression on her face. "Be well my friend!!" she called out to him as he disappeared into the forest.

Arenna and Dishna rode in silence for a long while before Arenna heard Dishna's familiar voice echo through her consciousness, "This is rather exciting, don't you agree?" Dishna spoke in their native tongue, as was customary between the two.

"Yes, I do." Arenna was silent for a moment. "I think we are right to aid Thorin Oakenshield as great injustice has been done to his people."

Dishna paused for a moment before saying, "The news that Gandalf brings of Mirkwood troubles me greatly Renn, if the enemy has returned...", Dishna trailed off.

"Yes, I am troubled as well. We must send word home, call for help from the Elders. If the Dark One has returned, we cannot heal the damage that he inflicts on the earth by ourselves."

Dishna chuckled, "I hardly think one young sprite and her feyanim can face Sauron alone."

"Then it is decided, we will depart once we reach the Shire. You will travel home and I shall accompany the dwarves", Arenna sighed as they reached the edge of the forest.

"Do you honestly think that our people will come to the aid of Middle Earth? They fled these lands because of Morgoth, why do you think that they would come to defend them from Sauron? They have forgotten these lands, and they will cower away from the evil that haunts them." Dishna huffed before Arenna interrupted her.

"Peace Dishna!" she paused, "You insult our people. They have never shied away from a fight because of cowardice!"

Dishna waited before muttering, "They did it before."

"You know as well as I that it was not cowardice that caused our ancestors to flee Middle Earth. Our people would gladly perish before we let shadow consume any land."

"We shall see" said Dishna.

Author's Note A feyanim is part of a sprite's soul, they take the form of animals. Feyanims can shift forms, and speak telapathically with their sprites. Feyanims can be seperate from their sprites, and often depart to carry messages or run arrands.