The Dark Dragon of Middle Earth

Feelings Shown Through Song

I reach his side, but he has yet to register my presence. When we reach a bench, he sits down. I continue walking to the gazebo looking at the moon. I close my eyes, and let my wings out. They've been itching ever since I was telling the young ones my stories. I flap them a little to work out the stiffness. When I feel no more knots, I let them down.

I jump when I feel a rough hand on one of my wings. Snapping my eyes open, I grab it and slam the person against a pillar. A beam of moonlight shines on his face, and I see Thorin. I release him, and back up. I hug myself to try to keep my embarrassment from showing.

Thorin gets up slowly, and holds his hands up. "My apologies. I didn't think to how you would react", he says quietly. I nod while blushing. He's so cute when he's embarrassed.

"That's all right. I'm sorry if I ruined your deep thinking. My wings get cramped if I don't shift sometimes." He nods his head in understanding, and stands at my side, looking at the moon, too. "Also, I want to apologize for not telling you my identity sooner. I just wanted to become a trusted member first. But if you asked, I would have told you." Thorin looks at me, and I nod. He frowns, and looks away. He's silent for a while longer, but when he speaks again, he seems hesitant.

"If I may ask you, and you don't h-have to answer. But if you can give me an idea, of maybe....... your age.....". I look at him with wide eyes.

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3rd POV

Elanor looks at the embarrassed male dwarf. Does he think she may not be old enough? Or is he trying to figure out just how old she is?

Thorin is sweating heavily from this tension. Oh, Mahal! WHAT. HAS. HE. DONE?!?! Now she might be too offended to ask. "Forgive me, my Lady. I'll just leave now. Good night."

Before Thorin gets too far, Elanor starts laughing. Thorin stops and turns around shocked. Elanor is laughing hard, and is visibly shaking. Thorin turns red with embarrassment, but crosses his arms and waits for the elleth to stop.

When Elanor stops, she's gasping for breath and leaning against the railing for support. Her wings are fluttering behind her, her golden eyes shining with amusement. She composes herself quickly, and answers his question. "If you must know, young King, I'm over 7,000 years old." Thorin's face is priceless. His jaw seems to reach the floor, same with his young nephews. The brothers look at the young elves, and they watch the three nod their heads in synchronization. Their eyes widen when they look at each other, then look at the couple.

Thorin regains himself, but his eyes are still wide. Elanor's face has an amused grin on her face, and tears still in her eyes. Thorin walks back to the bench, and sits heavily. He has his head in his hands with his elbows on his knees. Elanor sits next to him after putting her wings away in her back. She sits patiently, watching the little bugs with lights fly around the dark garden. Lighting the water, the flowers, and bushes all around. She doesn't notice Thorin watching her, mostly her eyes. Ever since Thorin first saw her eyes, any piece of gold from his home paled in comparison to their light and color.

Thinking of his home, Thorin has a scowl on his face again. He looks forward, knowing the golden-eyed elleth is looking at his face.

"Thorin, what is wrong? You can trust me." Thorin opens his mouth, then closes it. He grits his teeth before he answers.

"I fear we may not make it in time before Durin's Day, when the last sun of summer sets. That anything can go wrong. That any one of my company will not make it. I fear for my nephews' lives. I am hesitant about the halfling. I fear my own feelings about this trip. I fear that the dragon is dead, and that there's nothing to stop anything from taking my peoples' rights. I fear the dragon may still be there. But most of all, I fear of becoming my grandfather. I hate also feeling these fears. I hate that I feel like I won't be good enough to lead my people until I reclaim what's ours by right! I just want to make sure my people stay safe and never go through what we had to. I wish things were different, that the dragon never came. And that my grandfather never succumbed to the dragon sickness. I wish our people had normal lives, and that I sat at the throne after my father."