𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐒: 𝑺𝑴𝑨𝑼𝑮 | FINISHED

~ch.37; we will meet again, master Baggins

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The eagles then came in with radagast and Beorn on their backs. they killed the remaining orcs and bats. "the battle is won," Thranduil said, and a smile made its way on the men. "the dragon won"
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Thranduil elf king walks about in the old ruin when he suddenly hears footsteps. He looks up to see Legolas approving hum. "I...cannot go back." He says and looks away from his father. Suddenly a shadow looks over them, and Tatsuo is there in front of them. "Hey boys," she says, and a bright light emits around her making her Juan again. Thranduil nodded at her making her dip her head. He then turns to his son, saying, "Where will you go?" Legolas looks at his father signing.

"I do not know." Tatsuo then walks over to them and places a hand on Legolas's shoulder. "I know a place. Go north. Find the Dúnedain. There's a young Ranger amongst them- you should meet him. His father, Arathorn, was a good man. His son might grow to be a great one." Legolas nods and then looks at his father, who's smiling softly. The young elf prince turns his attention to the female shifter. "What is his name?" Thranduil now speaks up as he walks closer to the two.

"He's known in the wild as Strider. His true name you must discover for yourself." the two of them are not at each other, and Legolas turns and walks away. Thranduil calls after him, and Legolas pauses. "Legolas... your mother loved you...more than anyone...more than life." Tatsuo smiled and walked over to Thranduil as Legolas looked back. The two elves make a gesture of departure, then Legolas leaves. Thranduil watches him go sadly, bowing his head in grief. Actual, she-dragon sighs and lays a hand on his shoulder, making him look at her.

"Do not grieve, elf king. He shall return" she smiled and began to walk away, but Thranduil stopped her "where will you go?" Tatsuo sighs and looks back at him. "I will go to the cave of the forgotten mountain. When my help is needed again, I shall emerge as a stranger clad in dragon scales cloak. Send a messenger for me if you ever need me, Thranduil." Tatsuo then vanishes, and the elf king is left alone.

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Bilbo is sitting by himself and staring off into the distance; Gandalf comes to join him. They sit there quietly, thinking. Gandalf begins cleaning out his pipe quite noisily, and Bilbo looks like he's about to object. After a moment's pause, they nod at each other. Tatsuo comes over to them, and they both smile at her "welcome back, my lady," Gandalf says, and then she-dragon chuckles. "Mithrandir, I've told you not to call me that. But anyway, let's go back to the mountain and bid Farrell with our company," she says, and Bilbo and Gandalf nod.

The three walk over to Throin and the rest of the dwarves smiling as they all embrace each other "thank you, Tatsuo. Without you, we wouldn't have won," Throin says and lays a hand on Tatsuo's shoulder. "No, without everyone's help, all this would've been lost. The folk of Durin shall prevail," she says, and all the dwarves cheer.

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Later that day, Bilbo and Tatsuo make themselves ready to leave. Balin walks them out. "There is to be a great feast tonight. Songs will be songs; tales will be told," he says, and Tatsuo laughs. "Thanks for the invitation Balin, son of fundain. But I cannot stay. My place isn't here," she says, and Balin nods. "Well, I think I'll slip quietly away. Will you tell the others I said goodbye?" Bilbo says, making the two look at him. Tatsuo hears something and smiles as she knows immediately who it is. "You can tell them yourself." She says, and Bilbo looks back and smiles as he sees the other dwarves standing behind him. He speaks to all of them.

"If any of you are ever passing Bag End, tea is at four - there's plenty of it. You are welcome anytime." The dwarves smile and bow to him, and he smiles. He begins to turn away, then turns back.  "Eh, don't bother knocking." The dwarves chuckle, some of them wiping away tears. Bilbo, after waving goodbye, walks toward Gandalf, who is waiting with his horse and a pony for Bilbo. Tatsuo didn't need a horse as she transformed herself into an eagle and flew away with them.

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Soon they all arrive at the edge of the Shire, and Bilbo begins to walk with all his things in his arms. "Ah, the borders of the Shire. It is here I must leave you." Gandalf says, and Tatsuo jumps. "I'm afraid me too," she says and reflows her feathers. "Bilbo, any time you may need me to send word or call. I will come," the eagle said and took off, nuzzling Gandalf before she did so and disappeared into the sky. Bilbo and Gandalf are left alone, and Gandalf talks to his old friend, "You don't suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck?" The wizard looks knowingly at the hobbit who had Pemex in his mouth to protest.

"Magic rings should not be used lightly, Bilbo." He says, and Bilbo signs in defeat and Gandalf continues, "Don't take me for a fool - I know you found one in the Goblin tunnels...and I've kept my eye on you ever since." Now that the secret is out, Bilbo smiles. "Well, thank goodness." He then offers his hand to Gandalf to shake. "Farewell, Gandalf." They clasp hands and look each other in the eye.  "Farewell." Bilbo turns and walks away; after a few paces, he stops and turns. "You, uh...you needn't worry about that ring. It fell out of my pocket during the battle. I lost it." He assured the old wizard, but Gandalf knew better and smiled at Bilbo.

"You're a wonderful person, Mister Baggins. And I'm very fond of you. But you're only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all." Bilbo continues walking back to the Shire, and Gandalf goes back the way he came. And so ends this part of the tale but do not worry, dear reader. The dragon shifter will come back, and so will the others in a new adventure that's maybe their biggest yet.

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