LOTR: Shire Dragons - Pippin Took FF

Chapter 32

With every step upon the rugged path, the party drew closer to their destination. The darkening clouds above them surged and pulsated with a black aura, and the air grew denser by the second. The ground shook under every footfall of the silver dragon that walked beside them, which caused Mallyra's heart to race. Something that did not go unnoticed.

"Do not worry yourself, Miss Flintwater." Aiwendil said calmly, as he strode beside her. "You're nearly at your journeys end, and all should be as it was once we've defeated the dragon Vasuka." Mallyra sighed hard, fiddling with the end of Pippin's scarf, which was still slung around her neck.

"But how do you know we will defeat him? How can you be so sure?" She asked, looking up at the golden haired elf. He smiled towards her, his amber eyes glinting slightly.

"It will be as it was. That is what I have forseen.. but I must warn you, something is going to happen. I know not what it is yet, but it is something that I had not originally predicted." He continued. Mallyra felt the sting of bile in the back of her throat, and then looked forward once more. Pippin had been walking behind them the whole time, and was now increasingly concerned by what the elf had said. Merry placed a hand of his friend's shoulder, as he had noticed his growing concern.

"It will be fine, you'll see. Everything will work out the way it's meant to." The blonde hobbit smiled. Pippin returned the smile, but it was only for a second.

"It just don't want to see her get hurt.. or worse.." he whispered, fighting back salty tears. At that moment, the loud and trembling footfalls of the dragon stopped, and the party simultaneously looked up to the silver dragon in surprise.

"What is wrong Uryté?" Frodo asked, himself coming to a halt. The dragon's purple eyes fell upon all of the hobbits,

"We are being watched. Do not panic, as it's only two individuals who see us. They're dwarves, from the Iron hills." She said softly. "They will not harm us." She continued to walk again, but it was easy to see her caution, as her body language had changed in an incredibly subtle way. Aiwendil held his sword's hilt, as it hung by his side, he himself showing slight signs of precaution.

"We know that you are watching us, Dwarven folk. We mean not to intrude on your land, and will have passed through shortly. We mean you no harm." Aiwendil shouted to the surrounding cliff faces. Sure enough, two figures popped up from behind a jagged rock. They were unmistakably dwarves, with their visible stocky figures, and long beards. The two figures took tentative steps towards the party at first, before laying down their arms and striding towards them in the last few paces. Mallyra felt her gaze fall upon the dwarves, with an odd feeling of disgruntled curiosity behind it. She had never seen a dwarf before, but the two before her suited the descriptions which she'd pieced together from different texts she'd read. The dwarf to the left had hair of a golden orange in colour, that tinged red at the ends. The taller one to the right had black hair that was braided into his beard, which faded to grey towards his mouth. They both wore a robe which looked almost metallic, with a deep grey finish to it. Beneath that was leather shirts and trousers of a deep red colour.

"You'll have to excuse our caution friends, for it is not everyday we see.." The taller one spoke, his words catching in his throat. Uryté nodded towards them, acknowledging the fear that her presence brought with her. The dwarf coughed, before he continued. "My name is Odgar, and this is my sister, Scarlette." Pippin spluttered a small laugh, drawing the attention of most of the figures present. After an awkward moment, he turned to Mallyra and whispered in her ear,

"She's got a beard. I couldn't help it I thought she was a man." His honesty caught Mallyra off guard and caused her too to stifle a laugh behind her hand. Their laughter was silenced by an icy glare from Merry.

"What brings you and your party so far North?" Odgar questioned, trying to avoid looking at the dragon. Aiwendil fiddled with the hilt of his sword,

"We're looking for a certain spot within this mountain range. Perhaps you know of it? Akus point?" He questioned. Odgar thought for a moment, before his sister piped up.

"I've heard of that yes, but around here it's known as dragon's baine." She answered in a rough yet feminine voice. Aiwendil nodded, looking up at Uryté. "It's just a little father up North, you can't miss it as the ground fades to black the closer you get." Scarlette continued.

"Well doesn't that sound inviting." Merry scoffed.

"I should warn you though," Odgar said hesitantly, "strange things happen up there.. dark things. The elders put it down to a trapped spirit in the land." His hand gestured towards the earth beneath their feet. Pippin shuddered.

"We know of what lies up there, don't worry. We're thoroughly prepared for what lies ahead." Aiwendil smiled at the dwarves.

"We are?!" Mallyra squeaked. Her face almost pale.  Her attention turned to the ground, as she fiddled with the end of Pippin's scarf. Her mind began to wander, so much so that she missed the rest of the conversation with the two dwarves. Before she knew it, the party was on the move again, and the two Dwarven folk had disappeared from sight.

The further they walked, the more Sam realised that the female dwarf had been right. The higher they climbed, the once rusted colour of the earth began to become singed with black. The clouds above them bulged and pulsated, the odd crack of lighting splintered across the sky.

"It's Vasuka's presence. We must be close." Aiwendil said calmly, not removing his gaze from the road ahead. Pippin shifted an uncomfortable weight from his shoulders,

"What do you mean? How could he do that?" He asked, a sour taste in his mouth. Mallyra reached into her satchel, pulling out the book. Flipping through the pages, she stopped on one containing an image of a monstrous reptilian figure. Taking a deep breath, she began to read aloud to Pippin.

"Black dragons are the very essence of evil, darkness is drawn to them like a moth to a flame. Dwelling in swamp lands and caves, Black dragons seek territory which mimics their appearance; notoriously dark and decomposing, as well as somewhere that will give them the advantage of an ambush on prey."

Pippin stared forward.

"We're the prey, aren't we?"