Another week, another update and we're finally at Robb's conversation with Galadriel! Meaning: my guy at last gets some answers and there's gratuitous foreshadowing.

Also! Thank you guys sm for 2k reads and over a hundred votes!! :D

As always, feel free to comment and/or scream at me about the stuff I write or—now that the first few eps are out—the Rings of Power show!

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Robb found Galadriel standing near a shallow pool, looking aimlessly into the distance.

Sure she had already noticed him, he silently came to stand by her side and waited for her to start the conversation.

When Galadriel finally looked at him, there was a smile on her face.
"Good morning, Robb Stark."

Robb sketched a light bow. "Lady Galadriel."

Her smile widened and she turned around to start walking along the pool's edge. Galadriel's hand lightly brushed Robb's arm as she glided past him.

"Come," her deep voice whispered in his head.

Robb followed, holding his arm out for Galadriel to rest hers on, as was proper. After a few more moments of silence, she spoke up again.

"I have seen your coming, Robb Stark."

With what was almost a wince, Robb said, "Just Robb is fine, my lady. My last name carries no importance here."

Galadriel hummed in a way that made it clear she did not agree entirely.

"Your name is your family. It makes you who you are." She left no time for Robb to comment. "I have seen  little of your past and less of your future, Robb, but I know the Valar sent you."

Robb inclined his head. "They did."

"What task did they give you?"

And so Robb told her everything he had told Gandalf and the rest of the Fellowship while they walked around the pool. About his death, even if it was an abridged, played down version. About the Valar's instructions to find and help Olórin—Gandalf, as it had turned out—and bring hope back to the throne of Gondor.

The latter seemed to amuse Galadriel, making hers just as strange of a reaction as Gandalf, Legolas and Aragorn's knowing glances had been.

"What does it mean?" he asked. "What must I do?"

Galadriel chuckled. "Hope is not as abstract as it may seem, Robb. Hope is a person. The Valar seem to think that Gondor must have a king if Sauron is to be defeated."

Gondor did not have a king? That was the first Robb had heard of that, and he was not happy about it. It complicated matters immensely.
Now he had to find a king as well, on top of everything else? Robb sighed.

"Do not worry. He is closer than you think and, I would wager, not too hard to convince."

With furrowed brows, Robb asked, "This is another riddle, isn't it? Just like the one at the Gates of Moria."
Galadriel smiled widely, tugging him slightly to the right, away from the pool and deeper into the woods.

"You know, this would be much easier if I knew your language," Robb grumbled. "You clearly know whom they meant, my lady, why can't you tell me?"

"This is your task, Robb, " Galadriel replied, shaking her head. "You must fulfill it. The Valar… are not too fond of me. I was proud once, and disregarded their wisdom and their ways. If I can obey their will in this, I shall not attempt to do otherwise."

He sighed, but the sigh was one of acceptance.

"The Valar called me… something else. Not by my name. Could you translate that for me?" Robb asked carefully.

Galadriel tilted her head. "Perhaps. What was it?"

"I may not remember correctly, I had just died, after all–" Galadriel's lips twitched, telling Robb his joke had landed– "but it was something along the lines of Vinyaro? Vinyarco?"

Galadriel was silent for a few seconds. Then—

Robb's eyes lit up. "Yes, that was it!"

"It means young wolf. Do you know why this name was given to you?"

"Aye. It was a… nickname for me in my world. The symbol of House Stark is a direwolf. As the new Head of House Stark after my father's death, they called me The Young Wolf." Robb cracked a smile. "The fact that Grey Wind was always by my side probably reinforced that."

Galadriel raised an eyebrow. "Grey Wind?"

Robb nodded. "My direwolf. Every one of my siblings has— had one. We found them as pups by their mother's corpse. Raised them. Grey Wind has become my most trusted friend and companion, both in battle and outside of it."

Galadriel said nothing and Robb suddenly remembered the history of wolves in Middle-Earth. He wanted to smack himself. How could he have forgotten that?

"I sent him away on Haldir's request, my lady," Robb added quickly. "I am aware of this world's past with wolves. He is no danger to you. Neither of us are connected to Sauron, that I promise you."

Galadriel hummed thoughtfully, letting her free hand graze the leaves of a bush.
"No, I sense no evil in you," she replied after a moment. "Only pain."

He grimaced.

"But tell me, Robb, how do you communicate with your wolf? How does he listen to you?"

Robb contemplated this for a few seconds. He was not entirely sure. Did they just know each other well, able to subconsciously read the other's body language? But no, that did not explain how Robb was able to call Grey Wind from miles away without ever even opening his mouth, nor that one time where Grey Wind had found that secret goat track and Robb had just… known. It also left the wolf dreams unjustified.

"We have a… mental connection, I think. Have had it from the beginning. I have dreams where I inhabit his body, sometimes even control it."

"There are… very few even among the Ainur with this ability," Galadriel said slowly.

Robb frowned. Realizing his confusion, she was quick to explain.
"The Ainur are the first beings created by Eru Ilúvatar; the Valar and the Maiar—Sauron is a Maia, and so was Gandalf."

Seeing Robb's understanding nod, she continued. "It is a rare gift here in Arda. In mortals, it is unheard of."
Galadriel turned her inquisitive gaze upon him.
"Is it more common in your world?"

Robb sighed. "There are… stories. But I have never met anyone who could actually do it, no one who could fully inhabit an animal, asleep or waking."

He paused, turning the matter over in his mind. "Perhaps… my siblings could do it— could have done it. I never had the chance to speak to them about it, or, well… I thought my youngest brothers too young to ask."

They walked on in silence for several minutes. The woods became lighter until Robb could see a small clearing in the distance, and people in that clearing. He thought he could even make out Aragorn and Legolas—they seemed to be sparring.

"Should you wish to truly learn to control your gift—" Galadriel spoke up, recapturing Robb's attention— "you must strive to clear your mind. Seek the bond between you and your wolf. Follow it."

Back in his own world, not too long ago, Robb had been reluctant to embrace his ability. He had even gone so far as to snap at his Mother once when she had told him to behave as the wolf would, vehemently rejecting the idea, as though that had been what she had meant.

Later, though… Well, he no longer saw only the negatives. And now, in this new world with Grey Wind as the only company he truly knew—the idea had merit. It was enticing, even.

"I shall think about it," Robb said out loud, but he already knew which way his decision would fall.
Going by Galadriel's smile, she knew it too.

They were now only a few meters away from the clearing.

"I have one other piece of advice."

Robb blinked, turning his head to look at Galadriel.

"What is it?"

"You carry a weight with you which no one should have to bear."

Robb sighed and closed his eyes. Why did everyone insist on talking about this today? Could they not see he was best off thinking about other matters? Forgetting the past and concentrating on current issues?

Galadriel stopped and turned her body fully toward him, taking his hand between both of hers.

"Pushing your memories away will not help you. Not for long. It only leaves them raw in your mind, ready for whoever comes looking to use them against you—Saruman, perhaps, if you are lucky. Sauron, if you are not."

Robb bit his lip.

"Heed my counsel on this, Robb. If not for your own sake, then for that of your quest. For your companions' sake." Galadriel raised one hand to cup his cheek. "Please."

Robb longed to break her gaze, but found he could not. He blinked several times in the vain hope to hide his tears from her.

"I— fine," he said finally, taking a quick step back and wiping his face. The spell was broken. "Alright."

Galadriel's shoulders lowered, as if a great burden had been lifted from them.

"Thank you."

Robb did not answer.

"If you do not wish to involve your companions, find Thanarwë. They are our envinyatar sámaron — our mind healer. Whatever you tell them, they shall keep it secret. They will cast no judgment. You have my word."

With one last sad smile, Galadriel took her leave.

Robb remained at the edge of the clearing in silence. He stayed there, deep in thought, until his name was called.

Ripped from his contemplations, Robb raised his head. There was Aragorn with a grin on his face and a sword in his hand, making his way across the clearing over to Robb. Legolas stood a few meters behind him, an equally friendly expression on his face.

"What do you think of a sparring session, young one?" Aragorn called.

The corners of Robb's mouth twitched at the address. It seemed Aragorn had internalized Robb's age and intended to rib him about it. Robb slowly unfolded his arms from where they had been tightly crossed over his chest.

"Aye, that sounds like a good idea," he replied.

"Excellent!"