Aspects of Aragorn 6 "The Wizard's Pupil" part 1

[inzilbeth]

This chapter tells of Aragorn's first meeting with Gandalf  from Gandalf's POV. The next chapter, "Chieftain of the Dunedain," tells  the story from Aragorn's perspective.

Disclaimer: No profit will be made from these stories. All quotes from the works of J.R.R.Tolkien are reproduced here without the permission of The Tolkien Estate or New Line Cinema. No copyright infringement is intended.

 

To Cairstiona and Estelcontar I offer my most grateful thanks for their ongoing encouragement and support.

 

And thanks to Cairstiona for the beta.

 

 

 

Chapter 6  part 1                           “The Wizard's Pupil”

 

 

   III 2956  Aragorn meets Gandalf and their friendship begins.

 

   The Tale of Years, Appendix B, Return of the King

 

 

   Gandalf found the hospitality of the Last Homely House did not disappoint. He was reclining in an extremely comfortable chair in the Hall of Fire, enjoying the delights of elven music, following a feast the like of which he had not had in a very long while. As he sat back and relaxed, he considered the only short coming on the part of his hosts was their dislike of pipeweed. He really would like to indulge in some of that quite remarkable Longbottom he acquired on his way here from the Rangers at Tharbad. He wondered if anyone would mind if he lit his pipe and indulged in a discreet smoke. Perhaps no one would even notice; the room was very crowded and quite dark, the only light coming from the enormous fire.

 

   However it was then that he spotted Elrond rise from his chair and walk towards him.

 

   ‘Ah well, another time perhaps,’ he thought.

 

   “Gandalf, I wonder if I might have a word with you before you retire for the night,” said Elrond, stooping low so that he practically whispered into the wizard’s ear.

 

   “Of course, my friend,” Gandalf replied. “I expected there to be something of importance awaiting me upon my return to Eriador. Shall we go now? I must confess to beginning to feel a little drowsy following that very agreeable Dorwinion.”

 

   Elrond smiled. “Do they not have such vintages in Gondor, or is the Steward not forthcoming with them?”

 

   “That depends upon which Steward you are referring to,” said Gandalf. “Turgon always showed me lavish hospitality, but then he did not have the cares that his son Ecthelion has inherited.”

 

   “Come, Gandalf,” said Elrond, “let us continue this conversation in my study.”

 

   Gandalf allowed himself to be helped to his feet; he was rather stiff after so many hours in the saddle. He had arrived at Rivendell late in the afternoon after a long journey from the South and, in truth, all he wanted now was to collapse into bed. He dutifully followed Elrond to his private rooms where he was pleased to see another roaring fire awaiting them.

 

   “I would offer you some more Dorwinion,” said Elrond, as he closed the door behind them. “However I do want your full attention for what I have to say, so forgive me if I offer you nothing more intoxicating than a glass of water.”

 

   “The pure water of the Bruinen is always most welcome.”

 

   “Good,” said Elrond, handing him a glass and settling himself down on the opposite side of the fire from his old friend. “Now tell me more of the new Steward of Gondor. Sauron openly declaring himself in Mordor just two years before he took office must be a major trial for him.”

 

   “It is,” said Gandalf, between sips of his drink, “but Ecthelion is proving to be a wise leader and open to counsel. He is working hard to strengthen Gondor’s defences and encouraging all men of fighting age to enter his service. But I fear for Gondor, Elrond, as I fear for all Middle-earth. Now that Sauron has completed his fortress, all his evil designs will start to fall into place. Gondor is already feeling the presence of her new neighbour. There is still much to be done there, but I have been away from the North for too long. It was time I returned, at least for a while”

 

   Gandalf paused, putting down his glass. He really could have done with that pipeweed.

   “I return now mainly to seek news of the Dunedain,” he continued, “and to do what I can to prepare them for the coming darkness. I have had no real word of them for nearly fifteen years. Arathorn had been slain some ten years then, I seem to remember, and Arador only three before that. Goodness knows who leads them now; they were, of course, as tight lipped as ever over any questions about an heir. I wish I could have spared more time for them when I last returned for the meeting of the White Council, but Gondor was very much my main concern then. Tell me, Elrond, how do they fare? In spite of all my other cares, they have been much on my mind.”

 

   “The answer I think, Gandalf, in short, is not well and yet better than they did,” said Elrond. “It was in fact of the Dunedain that I wished to speak to you and specifically of one young Dunadan in particular.”

 

   “Ah!” said Gandalf, giving Elrond a knowing smile, “Isildur’s Heir, I presume.”

 

  “Yes, Isildur’s Heir,” said Elrond, betraying a hint of annoyance in his voice at the wizard’s easy assumption. “I might have known it would be impossible to conceal his existence from you, and I hope you forgive me for trying, but I did not want it known to all those dwarves you brought here that time that there was a Man child living in this house. How did you guess?”

 

   “Oh, that was the easy part,” chuckled Gandalf. “School books left in the library, wooden soldiers obviously pushed in a hurry into the most unlikely places. And of course the fact that no one would speak of the state of affairs among the Dunedain. No, Elrond, my friend, I do not blame you for keeping him secret, even from me; they can ill afford to attract the attentions of Sauron, let alone lose another Chieftain.”

 

   He paused for a moment as he considered this news. “He must have been very young coming to live here,” he said. “Arathorn had only been married a few years when he died, had he not?”

 

   “Yes, his son was little more that a baby,” replied Elrond. “He was just two years old. His mother came with him, of course. In fact you met her tonight – the Lady Gilraen, a brave and noble woman if ever there was one.”

 

   “Ah yes, of course,” said Gandalf. “I noticed her immediately. And her son; is he here also?”

 

   “No, he has been gone some five years now,” said Elrond. “I have not seen him since he left this house, but Elladan and Elrohir still ride with the Dunedain, and more than ever now that Estel has joined them.”

 

   “Estel?” asked Gandalf. “What became of the royal prefix?”

 

   “It remains, fear not,” said Elrond. “He true name is Aragorn, but when we hid his identify from the world outside, we also hid it from him. He was twenty years old before he knew who he really was. In all those years he was simply called Estel, Hope, for do not doubt, Gandalf, Hope is what he will have to be for his people. I see a long and difficult road ahead of him, although much of my foresight fails me where he is concerned. And yet of one thing I am certain; this Age will end in his lifetime. It will fall to him to either restore the fortunes of his house or see it descend into a darkness from which it may never recover.”

 

   “You are sure of this?” asked Gandalf. “And does he know this?”

 

   “I am as sure as I can be given the ill chances that plague the lives of Men and their freedom to make their own choices. Estel knows there is a great expectation upon him, but it is still too remote to be a burden to him. We have trained him and prepared him in every way we can, Gandalf, but it will not be enough. He still needs someone to guide him and teach him about all of Middle-earth, all its peoples and customs, not just the lore and skills that he has learned here.”

 

   Elrond looked Gandalf in the eye and hoped his voice did not sound too pleading when he asked his next question.

 

   “Please, my friend, will you find him and be that guide for him?”

 

   “Of course, of course I will. It will be a pleasure,” said Gandalf without any hesitation. “But tell me more about him first.”

 

   Elrond smiled his gratitude. “Thank you, Gandalf. You have greatly eased my mind. You will like him I think. He is an eager pupil and learns quickly. Elladan and Elrohir have taught him all they can of war and hunting, and he is well versed in the lore of Elves and Men. He has grown strong and fair and there is a light in his eyes that speaks of his inner nobility. He is patient and good-hearted and listens to counsel. Truly you will like him.” As Elrond spoke, Gandalf noticed the warmth in his voice and he smiled to himself.

 

   “I am pleased to hear it if I am to spend so much time in his company,” said Gandalf with a grin. “But I fear, Elrond, you have not told me everything, have you?”

 

   Elrond looked at the wizard quizzically.

 

   “We have known each other for nearly two thousand years, my dear friend,” said Gandalf gently. “You can not hope to hide some things from me. You have not mentioned for instance how much you love this boy, have you?”

 

   Elrond sighed and smiled at Gandalf.

 

   “You are right, Estel is as a son to me. He may not be a child of my body, but he is a child of my heart. Elladan and Elrohir both call him brother.” Then he laughed suddenly: “We none of us realized the peril we were all in when he came to live with us. I have fostered fourteen heirs of my brother’s line before him, starting with Arahael. I have been fond of most of them, but, I confess, this is the only one that I have taken as my own.”

 

   Then he grew serious: “This one is different Gandalf. Of all the Heir’s of Isildur, he is the most like to Elendil himself. I see greatness within him even though he is still very young.”

 

   “Now you do have me intrigued,” said Gandalf. “I will make him my top priority. I take it he has gone to live with his people.”

 

   “Yes, he has,” said Elrond. “When he left here he went to take up his duties as Chieftain. I hear that he has settled into his new life remarkably well, though I confess to having been concerned for him at first. It was all quite a shock for him to discover who he really is. Also,” he added with a grin, “a lonely camp fire on a winter’s night is a far cry from the comfort of Imladris.”

 

   Gandalf laughed and then he found himself yawning. His long ride was catching up with him and he felt sleep would soon overwhelm him. He made his excuses to Elrond and eagerly sought the room that was always made available to him on his visits to Rivendell. But as he made his way down the corridors, he was surprised to find a great weight had been lifted from him suddenly.

 

   ‘So an heir of Isildur still lives,’ he thought to himself. ‘Well, well, that would certainly give the Dark Lord something to think about, should he get to hear of it. And Elrond named him Hope at that.’ He was going to enjoy meeting this young man very much indeed.

Comments

[calen-greenleaf.livejournal.com]

Most people hold to the belief that Gandalf met Estel when the latter was only a child...

But I also find your interpretation interesting, too. It's plausible, and even fitting.

Liked this part. Elrond-and-Gandalf conversations are always intriguing.

~Cal

Going to read the next section now...

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Gosh really, you do amaze me. The quote at the beginning from the Tale of Years is the only reference to their meeting I have ever found but I'm fascinated to know if there is more somewhere.

I'm glad you liked the conversations; I admit they were fun to write!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I loved the idea og Elrond telling Gandalf to befriend Aragorn,it seems very plausible

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Thanks Linda, I felt Elrond would continue to worry over Estel, as a father would do, for all of his years in the Wild and who better to guide him than Gandalf.