*Ok here is the next chapter. I hope you guys enjoy!*

Chapter Two: Fresh Fish Spoiled by Nasty Creatures

At about mid-morning I decided that my stomach was going to gnaw its way out of my belly if I didn't feed it soon. Sometimes I hate having a healthy appetite. It makes me feel like a glutton, wanting food almost every thirty minutes. Still, I was proud of myself for getting this far into the morning before I chanced to stop and chomp on some fresh meat.

I spotted the Great River forking out from the western most clusters of mountains. I circled around a bit, gauging whether or not if it would be a stupid idea to land near it. I wasn't an idiot by any means. Lazy, yes… possibly even ignorant, but not stupid. I didn't want to land somewhere and suddenly get attacked by elves or other two legged-folk. I would stay upon the mountain if it weren't for the fact that food was sparse on their craggy surfaces. The best I'd find this far north would be large snow white bears or mountain goats.

And I didn't like felling bears. They were so soft and furry, and that stuff gave me stomach problems. Mountain goats had very little meat on them, so were very unappetizing to most dragons. Unless you were my sister, Alatrasie, who had the strangest cravings when she was pregnant.

Back home we had an outcropping of wild mountain lions and sheep. The sheep were easy hunting, but the lions were more of a challenge. I didn't like hunting lions or sheep, I figured the lions were majestic animals, and had long ago decided that sheep were too stupid to be a challenge. I'd rather hunt Orcs. But they tasted worse than mutton wasting away in the sun after five years of rot.

No… what I wanted was a deer. A freshly felled full grown buck would satisfy me until luncheon. But did I want to risk landing near the river, with the civilizations of two legged-folk so close by?

Huffing a sigh, I circled some more, scanning the whole territory for any sign of elves or humans. Seeing none, I decided to land near the base of the southern-most spire. As I landed, I quickly transformed into my human-elf-like form, not wanting to be killed at the first spotting from two legged-folk. A dragon lived for thousands of years because they used their brains. Those who didn't were easily killed off.

So, when my brothers and I hunted, we usually did it by foot if we were on the borders of our lands. That way we did not draw attention to ourselves, and kept our lands safer. Of course, when hunting Orcs, it was totally different. Those foolish creatures we hunted through our great valleys. The only time they were on the border was near the south east, where it was alright to dwell in the forms of our dragon ancestry, for elves did not dwell there as much as the south west.

My ears perked at the sound of the running falls, right off the face of the mountain. It was a dull roar to my sensitive ears, and yet I relished the calming sound. I quickly made my way to the riverbank, giving up on the prospect of any deer nearby. Of course, my landing would have spooked even the bravest of animals, save for the woodland elves or the possible crazed human.

I wasn't one for fish usually, for I was a picky eater. But a lad had to eat what was given to him, so I set down my pack and withdrew an extendable scythe. I slid it to full extension, hearing it click and snap in place thrice before I knew it was ready to go. This scythe I held dear, since it was the very first weapon I ever crafted by myself.

Dragons are known to be master craftsman, or at least they are known that way to our people, so it was expected of all of the king's children to make some sort of weapon. I made the scythe with my bare hands. The metal that I chose as the scythe blade was a dark metal only formed in the ores of our mountains. It was thick, and would never rust.

I rubbed the long staff of the scythe lovingly before I stood, waded into the cool waters of the Great River, and hunted. Though I hunted, I kept an eye out for dangers. It would not due for a dragon to be off his guard, just because his stomach was growling louder than a fiery roar.

I struck quickly and with precision, coming up empty a few unlucky times. By the time I finally caught a few good sized fish, the sun was beating down more on my back. If I didn't find some shade soon, I'd be burned to a crisp. While in dragon form, I was not vulnerable to the sun's rays. But in my human-elf-like form, I was utterly defenseless to the elements and burned easily. It was bloody annoying, let me tell you.

And of all the things to forget on my journey, I had forgotten to snatch up the sun cream. Salve was good for aches and pains, but did not soothe burns of any kind. I grimaced at the catch, but ignored my revulsion. Survival was a must, and my mission would not be served if I starved myself.

I figured the best way to eat the nasty things was to barbecue them. Literally. However, I had to avoid shifting into my dragon form unless I was going to leave the area permanently.

So, with resignation I set up a small camp in the shade of some large rocks. I have to admit, cooked fish smells way better than it tastes. As I waited for the fish to cook, I looked over the old map my father had given to me that very morning. It gave me a direct route in which to travel, and the best thing for me to do was follow it. As I ate, I suddenly caught sent of something foul. I wrinkled my nose, suddenly very disinterested in my food.

What was that god-awful stench?

I heard something splash at the riverbank not far away from my seclusion. Scowling, I put out the small fire, threw the remains of the fish into the small brush for rodents to feast upon, and crawled over to peer over a great white boulder.

I saw a small group of goblins and Orcs catching fish and devouring them whole. Feeling like I was going to hurl into the nearest bush, I quickly drew my bow and arrows. I could not safely take off with several of those THINGS skulking about.

The Orcs went down easily enough, not knowing what hit them, but the goblins seemed to get the hint and raced off in the other direction, towards Mount Gundabad. Finding myself very much alone, I sighed and went to retrieve my fallen arrows. I would have loved to stay and hunt down the goblins, but I had a mission to follow through. So I let them go.

I knew that without a doubt the goblins would run home, regroup, and come back with reinforcements. So the time to leave was now. Taking a cautious look around, making sure no one was around, I shifted and took off, flapping my large black wings.

Sailing high above the clouds I felt a million times better, not being vulnerable to the sun, and out of sight of the two-legged folk and their small villages. It was going to take me two or three days to reach Rivendell considering a looming storm I was spying in the Misty Mountains to the south.

I made two stops before I reached the great hovering storm right over the spine of the Misty Mountains, managing miraculously not to encounter any more Orcs or goblins. However, as I neared the storm, and the great spires that towered even above the storm clouds, nightfall fell. I knew that I could risk going through the storm and getting lost, or to settle either until morning, or until it passed. I landed atop one great ledge of one of the spires, trampled a bunch of snow, and settled down for the night.

There was no way I was going to go through that huge storm until morning. Besides, the night would give me the much needed energy to tackle it first thing in the morning. I curled up and wrapped my long tail around my body, buried my nose into my front talon like paws. As I rested and waited, snow began to blow up and over me, giving me a nice shield against possible foes. I was eventually practically camouflaged by midnight and did not have to worry about being discovered. However, I was wary, and kept a keen eye on everything around me.

Call me a bit paranoid, but hell, I did not want to become a Goblin Town feast. Yea… that would totally go real well with my father if he found out I was stupider than I looked.

Not a chance, old man.

As I waited and rested, I mulled over my cover story to tell Lord Elrond. It wouldn't be beneficial to just walk to their boundaries and bellow out, "Yo! I need to see Elrond because I'm a dragon and needs to go on the quest of the Ring." Yea, that would go over well.

I needed to keep my lineage secret, and my father had suggested that I go in the guise of a wandering wizard or mage from the north, who had heard about all the races meeting in Rivendell to help destroy the ring. It would be plausible enough, I guess. But what about the Maia, Gandalf? The dragons of Withered Heath knew all about him. He was a very cunning and wise wizard.

Would he see through my disguise if I were to pawn off as a wizard or a mage?

I certainly couldn't pass off as an elf. I probably looked like one in my human-elf-like form, but from what I had heard, most elves knew how to recognize each and every one of their kin. So, it would do well not to pass off as one.

And my pointed ears were too much of a sign that I was NOT a human. As I pondered this, the night went on, and the storm to the south raged on.

By dawn, I was covered in four feet of snow. Luckily for me, I was a dragon and could easily shake off the cold, bright, fluffiness. I stood and shuddered, managing to get every speck of snow off of my scales, except for my mane, which was long and jagged like a frizzled frozen mop. I shook it free of most of the ice and snow, and flapped my wings.

Making a few stretches, I scanned my surroundings. My stomach was growling again, but I figured it could wait until I passed through the storm, which was no closer than it was before, nor was it weakened in strength. I scowled, figuring it was just my luck that I'd have to go through such a blasted thing of nature.

Hoping to make at least the northern most region of the High Pass by that following evening, I took off, wishing I had the time to go around the mammoth snowstorm clouds. But it was inevitable. Even if I had left during the night, I wouldn't have made it through it. It was thick, dangerous, and full of biting winds, ice and snow.

Joy.

Coughing a bit to get my dragon blood going, I headed right into the middle of the storm.

For hours upon LONG, painful, DRAGGING, hours, I struggled through the storm. Though the ice and snow did not harm my scales, or my body in any way, it was maddening trying to breathe and fly at the same time with all of that hitting me.

I briefly thought of what my father would have said to me in this sort of situation.

"You should have taken the time to go around the storm, instead of through it." He would have said.

And right then and there, I knew that was what I should have done. But what's done is done. I had to get through this nasty piece of weather and find shelter, so I could rest and rejuvenate before meeting with the elves in the morning. It was not going to be an easy feat, and I knew that… now.

I swerved as I nearly slammed right into a cliff face. Wonderful. I had had no idea I had been traveling so low to the ground. I tried to lift myself up higher, and managed to stay stable until a huge gust of wind succeeded in flinging me into a rock ledge. I barely connected with it, but I did injure my arm, trying to swerve from it.

Wincing at the sting in my forearm, I roared in frustration. Much good it did me, besides getting a huge mouthful of ice and snow. Getting more upset by the minute, I wondered if I should use my flame. But that would be utterly useless in a snowstorm. It was cold fire… meaning it fried the victim on the inside, but froze them on the outside.

A handy gift if you wanted fried meat iced over for the winter.

And then I was through it! Taking a deep breath of clear air, I didn't watch where I was going. Slamming into another rock face, this time I lost balance and fell.

The last thing I remembered was transforming into my human-elf-form, and landing in the middle of a waterfall.

Darkness surrounded me.

As I drifted through dreams and sleep, I heard soft music being sung nearby. It seemed so soothing, that I wanted to open my eyes and see who was making such lovely music. My homeland always had bards and bands playing, and even I played an instrument similar to a flute. I had brought it with me….

Where was I?

As memories tumbled through my head like boulders on a landslide, I tried to open my eyes. Successfully pulling back the sleep from my mind, I managed to blink in the bright light of morning. I was in a strange, but light and airy room with arches. The bed that I lay on was the softest I had ever felt, and though I wanted to bask in it's warmth, I knew that I needed to find out what was going on.

I heard a soft ray of voices outside the open doorway. Blinking again, I spotted two tall, slender men talking to eachother in a soft and melodious language.

Elvish.

They were elves. The high arched delicate eyebrows… the fey tipped ears… long, silky hair, spoke of their nobleness. Curiously, I tried to sit up, finding that my arm was bound to my chest in a sling. I was bare from the waist up, though that did not really bother me. What bothered me was that my side was bandaged up.

Strange. I never remembered sustaining an injury like that. Then I remembered. It must have been when I smacked into the cliff wall before falling into that waterfall.

I hoped that I had not injured myself too badly, for I needed to be fit for travelling alongside the Fellowship. I guess my awakening had not been unheard by the elves, for both stopped speaking and entered the room.

The one who reached me first was tall, brown haired, dark eyed, and older. He looked about the same age as my father, but who could tell with an elf? My father only had wrinkles on his brow and around his lips, that had been put there from the worries of kingship. And if my father was over ten thousand years old… how old was this elf?

I knew that elves, like dragons, were immortal.

My thoughts were taken away from me as the tall man said softly in Westron, "So, you have awakened, young dragon prince Locien. Welcome to the House of Elrond, in Rivendell. We have been expecting you."

My eyes widened in shock and I must confess that I promptly passed out.

*Poor Locien. I'd do the same thing if I found out my secrets have been revealed for some odd reason. Next chapter will be up shortly.*