The Dragon (Book Five in the Aerlinniel's Secret Series)

Chapter 16: The Kingdom of Erebor

I dedicate this chapter to lotrfan901! She has been helping me so much and I am so thankful for her! :) Love you mellon nîn! <3

Aerlinniel POV

As I sit feeling sorry for all of the people in Laketown, and hoping that those I care about are alright, I feel a hand on my shoulder. It took me a moment to realize it was Bilbo.

"Are you all right, Aerlinniel?" Bilbo asks me softly.

"To be honest, I do not know." I tell him.

"Here, come with me. I know something that will make you happy." He says and I stand up and follow him, wondering where he could be taking me.

After a few moments of walking, I hear two familiar heartbeats. A big smile comes across my face.

"Mallory? Imryll?" I say.

"Aerlinniel!" They both shout at the same time and I am engulfed in a big hug from both of them.

"We did not know what happened to you. We tried looking for you and when we did not find you we thought that maybe you had escaped and went to the mountain." Mallory tells me.

And Imryll adds, "But when we found the Dwarves and Bilbo, you weren't there."

"What happened?" Mallory questions.

I give a sign and explain, "After I was hit on the back of the head and passed out, I woke up not knowing where I was. I tried listening for your heartbeats, but I did not hear either of yours. I felt along the walls and noticed that I was in a cell. I was there for a while when all of the sudden I heard someone say my name. It was Legolas."

Mallory gasps, "Legolas found you?"

"Yes, he did." I smile. "And he got the keys and got me out of there. He wanted me to go with him, but I told them that I could not. And before I left, I--"

"You what?" Imryll questions.

"I-- I kissed him on the cheek." I say quietly.

"You did?" Mallory asks and I nod my head. "And what did he do?"

"I do not know, I ran off right after I did for I was afraid of what his reaction would be." I tell her truthfully.

"I would bet that he was honored to have the Lady Aerlinniel kiss his cheek." Imryll says and I give a small laugh.

"Yeah, I don't know. I cannot believe I even did that in the first place."

"I will say, it was very bold. I am very proud of you for doing that. I feel like you and Legolas are meant for each other." Mallory tells me.

"Love is one of the most important things in the world. And it doesn't matter who it is, if two people truly love each other, then they deserve to be together." Imryll says, there is something in her voice I just cannot place what.

"Do you know something that we don't?" Mallory asks.

"Uh, yes actually. So, Aerlinniel, you know how you had me go look for the Dwarves when we were in the Woodland-Realm?"

"Yes, what about it?" I question.

"Well, when I found them an Elleth with red hair--" She starts to explain but I interrupt.