Gender: 2
Race: Istar, Second Wave
Height: 5 feet, 6 inches
Age: Ageless but chooses to look 25 years old
Family: Radagast is Bellemaine's brother
Animals: Gintel, a bay mare (threads 1 and 2); Merril the firedrake (thread 2)
Weapons: Wizard staff, elven knife, and Dwarven betrothal axe (see thread 2 for the story behind the axe!)

Personality: Somewhat of a grump; "a fussy old healer," just as Gandalf was a fussy old conjurer. Very dry sense of humor. Prefers to stop trouble before it starts, but is adept at patching up *most* situations. Has worked as a Healer in Minas Tirith's Houses of Healing for many years, and is skilled as an herbalist. Loves to putter around a kitchen and bake, honeycake being her specialty. Totally reliable, and one in whom many confide. In thread 1 she is unattached; in thread 2 she is partnered with Gandalf.

Appearance: Dark brown eyes, fair complexion, hair the color of dark honey worn pulled back. In mortal terms looks to be about 25. Dresses as a mortal woman would, in simple dresses and aprons, the better to move around unnoticed. When riding a horse, wears a Healer's tunic and tabard over britches. Does not call attention to herself and normally does not announce herself as one of the Istari. Just as the Istari before her, she is forbidden to use special powers in Arda. (see http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/papers/Istari.htm )

History:

After the end of the War of the Rings, the work of the First Wave of Istari (of whom Gandalf was a member) was finished. While the great evil of the Ruling Ring was vanquished from Middle Earth, lesser evils abounded, bringing hardship into the Age of Men. The Valar asked the will of Iluvatar in the matter, and as a result, a second wave of Istari were sent to Arda in two major groups, the Green and the Gold. They were much more numerous, and many took female form. Their purpose was to quietly combat smaller evils by assisting the Secondborn and other free peoples in any and all aspects of their post-war survival.

Bellemaine is one of the Second Wave Istari. She studied with Irmo Lorien, Este the Gentle, Yavanna Kementari, and Nienna. Her color is green. She is known among the residents of Minas Tirith as a healer, an herbalist, and a problem-solverand goes by the name Bellemaine, or Belle. Among the other Istari she is called Elemáinie Greenwave. Gandalf mentored her for a short while before his departure from Middle Earth. In thread 1, Bellemaine works as a Healer for Arnaud Goldwave, another Second Wave Istar, who is the Warden of the Houses of Healing. She respects Arnaud highly for his knowledge and his position, but to his dismay, she will not acknowledge the affection he holds for her. In thread 2, Belle is also a Healer working in the Houses.

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