Hi to everyone again… a couple of things that I didn't mention in the last chapter:
When Lenore tells to the dragon "You know? I think that the psychiatrist prescribed me more drugs than what I really needed" is not a simple statement of that she's losing her senses but talks about her past.
In later chapters, it will be told how the dragon and she met and how and why the dragon chose to share the heart with her. Also, is in some way related to her saying about psychiatrist and drugs.
The Edda is a Viking book that talks about almost everything about the mythology and all the stuff about this culture. It is said that Tolkien being a scholar of medieval literature and Viking culture, used the Edda as an inspiration for his works.
And well, this is of this chapter… the name that I chose for this chapter is the name of a Led Zeppelin's song named "The Battle of Evermore" and which actually, Robert Plant wrote after reading "The Lord of the Rings" so, the lyric definitely gives clues about what's going to happen. Though the song was written in the '70s, the version that I used is the one that Robert Plant and Jimmy Page made in 1995 in their concert "No quarter".
Ah! I was forgetting… I don't own that song (obviously) but I gave to my OC the "honor" of has written that song in the story because without it, well… there's no plot, but again… I don't own the song "The Battle of Evermore".
Also I want to give special thanks to Celridel for her help in the drafting.
Now after having clarified this important matter… here we go.
Hope you enjoy it, thanks a lot for reading and again… I'll appreciate your reviews.
Chapter 2: "The Battle of Evermore"
Rivendell was indeed a very beautiful place, and though Lenore appreciated it deeply, it could compare nothing to the beauty of the Asgard. Thanks to the fact she had shared her heart with the dragon, she had been able to see this city of Asgard, (the city where the Aesir lived) and though the Elves were skilled craftmen, this was nothing compared to the Asgard.
It maybe has to do because the Aesir were almost divine beings, for they are the divine wizards of the Vanyr. (the 9 most important and powerful Viking gods).
However, even the dragon had to admit that Rivendell was beautiful, with it's gardens and fountains, and marble pillars, and the soft light that seemed to fill the place.
It was full of light, and though seemed that the state in this Middle-Earth wasn't good at all if Gandalf spoke the truth, in Rivendell still it could be breathed an air of peace.
All the elves looked at them, some astonished or distrustful and some, in a way, scared.
It was too easy to be frightened. The dragon was imposing and terrifying. It's deep black scales reflected the light in some strange glitter of an unknown and yet beautiful light.
Gandalf lead to a large garden, where the dragon could be "comfortable", considering its size.
"Wait here." he said. "I am going to tell Lord Elrond of your coming." he said
Lenore and the dragon were left in the garden, still surrounded by the archers that had stayed with them ever since the forest.
"Well. What do you think they are going to do?" Lenore asked the dragon. "This Gandalf said that they wanted to know the song that I wrote about a year ago"
The dragon grunted.
"Yes, yes, yes. After we do that, we can take our leave. I mean, they seem to be scared of us and I don't understand why. After all you, the dragons, and the elves have good relationships, have you not?"
The dragon nodded but also made some low sounds like an answer.
"You're right." sighed Lenore, looking to the Elves that were watching them.
"How old do you think they are?" she suddenly asked to the dragon
He shook his tail, the scales rattling, and growled.
"You think so? Strange, they look young and not to mention…..beautiful"
The dragon snorted, rather amused.
"Hey! It's the truth! Do you think that they're like the elves of the Edda?"
The dragon shook its head.
"I thought so."
Meanwhile, Gandalf had found Lord Elrond.
"Gandalf." said the Elf-Lord. "You surprised me when Arwen said that you suddenly left to the woods without saying any word"
"I do not apologize. It was urgent for me to be in the woods as soon as possible."
"Why?"
"Do you recall, that I've been asking to the Válar their help against this terrible and common foe for all the races of Middle-Earth?" asked Gandalf, looking sarcastic.
"Yes, especially because now the dragons are his allies. Did the Válar answer you?" the elf asked hopefully
"Indeed, but not exactly in the way we would expect. At least not in a way that many would think of."
"What do you mean?"
"They sent a woman from another realm where Middle-Earth is just only a kind of fantasy written in an ancient book."
"A woman from another realm who doesn't know anything about Middle-Earth?" repeated Lord Elrond skeptically. "And what can this woman do to aid us?"
"This is not a common woman, Lord Elrond. This woman had a dream a long time ago, that dream was the inspiration for a song that has several clues about our future and what can we do to defeat this foe."
The dark-haired Elf looked thoughtful. Maybe the knowledge of this woman would be helpful.
"Not to mention that she shares a heart with a dragon." added Gandalf, almost as an afterthought. His eyes sparkled like coals under the bushy eyebrows.
Lord Elrond jerked, spinning towards the wizard.
"What did you say?!"
"Exactly what you have heard. She shares a heart with a dragon and considering the lately situation with the dragons, she and her dragon can be very helpful."
Though elves were known to keep in check all feelings, Lord Elrond could not contain not only his astonishment, but also his worry.
Lately, thanks to the Dark Lord of Mordor and Saruman, these dragons had been attacking men, dwarves and elves, and they have been the responsible along with the orcs, of many tragedies among these races.
It was almost impossible to defeat them. These dragons were strong and powerful, bold and ruthless, cruel if led by Orcs. They attacked in pairs, and it was nearly certain to fight them. Who could resist against the power of fire, ice and venom, mighty strength and terrible teeth.
"Are they here?" he asked, worry in his tone.
"Yes, they are." the wizard replied calmly.
"Why did you bring them here, Gandalf! You know what the dragons have done to all of us lately!"
"This dragon is different. It shares a heart with the woman of whom I talked to you about."
"That doesn't mean anything, Mithrandir. That woman can be also be poisoned in her mind and heart thanks to that dragon."
"I will disagree with you. They could have killed me with a simple ball of fire and flee before your archers could do anything but they did not. Instead they came here."
"For spying." snorted Elrond.
"I had to convince them." retorted Gandalf.
Lord Elrond looked to the old wizard, rather surprised.
"They did not?" he asked uncertainly.
Gandalf nodded.
"And what made them change their mind?"
"When I told them about the song."
"The one you said that she wrote using a dream as inspiration?"
"Yes. I believe that that song has many clues of what we have to do and what will happen, even if she doesn't know anything about us."
Lord Elrond thought for a couple of minutes.
"Very well then. Take me where they are. I want to meet them before they do with the other races."
Gandalf nodded and together they went towards the garden where the dragon and the woman were still talking. However, the two had fine hearing and they heard the coming of the wizard and even of the elf. They stopped, and turned towards the two.
Lord Elrond was a brave warrior. He had been among the council that had thrown down Sauron at Dol Guldor, and yet he stepped back.
"A black dragon?!" he asked the Wizard in astonishment, slipping into Elvish. "Do you not know Gandalf, what kind of dragon is a black one?"
"I know, but trust me, my lord. This dragon is different." he answered in the same language "If I may introduce you?"
Lord Elrond had no pleasure in the idea, but now there was no way back, for if the dragon or the woman felt offended who knows what would happen? After all, dragons could be very explosive in nature.
"You know? I think that they don't like us." said Lenore to the dragon
It only snorted, displeased, making the woman chuckle.
"You and your irony." she muttered.
In that moment, Gandalf approached them, followed by the ruler of Rivendell.
"Lenore and your dragon, may I introduce you Lord Elrond?" he said
The dragon and she looked each other for a moment.
"Mmmm… nice to meet you" she said finally, offering her hand towards the Elf.
The elf glanced at her hand in surprise, then looked at her face.
"Mae Govannen." he answered coolly, bowing slightly, his right hand on his heart.
Lenore looked to Gandalf inquisitively.
"He's greeting you. That is the Elven way." explained the wizard
"Oh! Well… Mae Govannen" she said, while imitating the Elf's action.
Lord Elrond looked from the dragon to the woman alternately as if looking a clue that would show him that indeed that woman shared the heart with that dragon.
Gandalf seemed to understand what his friend was looking for he told him in Elvish.
"Look at their eyes."
Lord Elrond watched carefully at the eyes of Lenore and then the dragon, and saw nothing, except displeasure at being scrutinized.
"I don't see anything." he answered to the wizard in the same language.
"You'll see when they look at each other. They are able to speak as we are, to converse from mind to mind."
Lord Elrond sighed. It was so difficult to believe. Black dragons were among the evilest, and now one of them was here in Rivendell.
"Are you sure?" he asked, still in the language of the elves
"Completely, my lord."
Meanwhile, the woman and the dragon had noticed that and felt uncomfortable.
"Hey! What do you think they're talking about?" asked Lenore.
The dragon shook its head.
"That's a shame! For it would be great that we know what they're saying about us. You know? I think that we should learn their language, seems that it'll be necessary"
The dragon nodded.
"Of what are you talking about?" asked Lord Elrond suddenly, noticing them.
For a second Lenore and the dragon looked to each other and for a moment the elf could almost swear that the eyes of both were almost the same but they changed so quickly, he was not sure.
"We were talking about your rude behavior." she answered, tossing back her black hair. "You know, it's not nice that you exclude people from a conversation in front of them."
"Well, you were talking in a language that I'm sure that not even Gandalf knows." retorted Elrond, frowning.
"Oh, come on! It is the language of the dragons, Lord Elrond, and I know it because I share a heart with this dragon, so I'm so sorry if you don't." she returned, annoyed.
The Elf looked surprised by her answer, but Lenore continued.
"Listen guys, we came here because according to Gandalf you need to know a song that I wrote about a year ago, I see that all of you Elves don't trust in us, so… let's make a deal: What about if we show the infamous song you need soooo much…..and then we'll go, free."
Both Elf and Wizard glanced at each other. This pair obviously had no inclination to be involved in the problem that was Middle Earth.
"Alright then. Follow me." said Lord Elrond finally.
He and the wizard walked to the chamber where the other members were already waiting, followed by the dragon and Lenore.
"Please, be patient with all of them. They do not love dragons and they will not trust you, for you share a heart with one of them." Gandalf told to the dragon and the woman before they entered
"Jeez man! What is it with all of you who are freaking out. We don't know the reason, you should tell that to them. But don't worry, we won't attack IF they don't attack us. Cross-heart promise." she added while making the typical sign of that kind of promise
Gandalf frowned, a little surprised, having never heard such a thing as a "cross-heart promise" but he caught the main meaning of her words and that was the only need he had.
She and the dragon entered in a large chamber where on chairs that formed a circle where sitting different persons of different races. Yet, conjoinedly, when they saw the dragon immediately stood up and were ready for a fight.
"Stop! They have been brought by Gandalf, for he says that the Válar sent them to help us." said Lord Elrond
"A woman and a dragon?" incredulously asked a man of short stature with long and matted brown beard and mustache, holding an axe.
"I agree with the dwarf." answered a tall man, reddish hair at his shoulder length, white skin and blue eyes. He wore fine clothes that showed that surely, he was of a high social class, maybe of the nobility. He was also armed with a sword
"What can a woman do? She should not even be here."
Lenore frowned angrily, while the dragon made a low growl.
"Hey guys!" She snapped indignantly. "What makes you think that a woman can't do anything? There you are, scared from my dragon."
The man paled and was going to answer, but a blonde Elf interrupted. His bow wast the ready and aimed at the dragon's chest.
"There's a reason, my lady. Dragons kill and destroy, they have no mercy and I wonder why are you next to it and being so calm being so close to that monster."
The dragon growled this time louder while Lenore gasped.
"Hey, be careful with your words, Elf! My dragon is not a monster!" she said angrily "You know nothing about it!"
"I only know what I really need to know: it's very presence is a menace." shot back the Elf.
"Not at all." intervened Gandalf "The dragon is no menace. Indeed, Master WoodElf, it could be our savior. This dragon and woman share a heart."
An exclamation was heard from all the present but Lord Elrond and Gandalf.
"Impossible!"
"Now, if you will kindly let me introduce to Lenore and her dragon." continued the wizard, not caring about the astonished faces of the present. "Lenore, this is Strider, Frodo Baggins, Legolas Greenleaf, Boromir, Gimli son of Gloin, and you two already have met to Lord Elrond.
Lenore and the dragon looked carefully to all the people to who were introduced.
The man called Strider looked in his thirties, brown hair at his shoulder length, clear skin, brown eyes and though he, at first sight, seemed to be a common man, his features showed that he definitely was more than what met the eye.
Frodo Baggins could have mistaken as a child because his short stature and young face but looking at him carefully, it was a young man, in his twenties with short curly brown hair, clear skin and bright blue eyes. He seemed terrified because the dragon but at the same time fascinated. What it was strange of this person was that he didn't wear shoes but his bare hairy feet.
About Legolas Greenleaf he could be described as someone very handsome (even against Lenore's will she had to admit it). He was tall, slim, and he didn't seem at all weak but the opposite. Clear flawless skin that was surrounded by a soft aura, eyes that were unique because the blue that was odd but beautiful, manly features that showed kingly blood, long silver blond hair and as all elves, pointed ears. He was the one who menaced the dragon with his bow.
Boromir, a man of Gondor who was of the nobility, bold and not exactly polite but good-hearted.
And finally, Gimli who had a strong Scotish accent and despite his short stature, he was a good warrior.
All of them represented all the races of the Middle-Earth, men, elves and dwarves, and hobbits, and were reunited in that secret council that had been gathered against Sauron.
At the same time that Lenore and the dragon looked all of them carefully, they looked at her and the dragon scrupulously.
Lenore was a tall, thin and slim woman. Long, straight and black hair (black as the night) that contrasted with her alabaster skin, her features beautiful and though all of them had seen more beautiful women, the difference between them and she was that she showed to be a woman of strong character, determined but also kind. Her eyes were green as emerald and her lips as soft pink.
She was wearing black jeans and a black shirt of Aeropostale, black tennis.
Her dressing was really different and her features and expression showed that she wasn't from Middle-Earth, but what truly made her different was the fact that she was standing next to a black dragon, and she shared a heart with THAT dragon.
This dragon was a beautiful one of his species.
Around eigh feet tall and around almost nine feet long, its body was well proportioned, long neck, the finely-formed head that was typical of a dragon, four claws and long tail. Its wings were wide and that had a slight reminiscence of a vampire's wing and in the top and in the end had small claws.
Its eyes were large and were slightly reminiscent of a reptile, thanks to its orbs that when it was angry or apprehensive, narrowed; while if it was calm or talking with Lenore they were wide. His pupils were black but the rest of the eye were a beautiful deep blue.
But maybe the most beautiful part of this dragon was its scales that were as black as the blackest night but that if the light shone in some way, it sparkled with soft black-blue glitters.
In a few words, that dragon was a beautiful, imposing and elegant in its figure.
"This woman and her dragon has been sent by the Válar in order to help us, or so Mithrandir says." said Lord Elrond finally.
"How so?" asked Strider
"This woman had a dream a long time ago. That dream was her inspiration for writing a song, wasn't it?" he ended, asking to Lenore
She nodded. "Yes."
"And of this song?" asked Boromir dubiously.
"It talks about our future, and all this peril in which Middle-Earth now is." answered Gandalf
"So your idea, Mithrandir, is to know the future so we know what to do?" asked Legolas
"It is. Besides she can help us with this the dragons."
The dwarf Gimli snorted.
"Do you really believe that they're going to help us? It's a dragon and the lassie shares her heart with it! Who do you believe she's going to help!" he said
The wizard was going to answer when a female voice stopped him.
"Hey! Hold your horses! My dragon and I came only because you need to know this song, never because we're going to help you with your business with the dragons. The thing is that we will sing you the song and then we take our leave." said Lenore sternly. "That's all." s
The wizard sighed. Better get at least one thing and then the other.
"Alright. Then start" he said
"Mmm… doesn't matter if there's no music?" she asked suddenly shy.
"Do not worry for that. Just have it very clearly in your mind and we'll be able to listen. I will use magic for that"
Lenore and the dragon looked at each other for a while as if they're hesitating.
"I need you to be the second voice." she murmured to the dragon
It snorted, displeased.
"Yes I know; dragons don't use another language but their own unless it's necessary. But trust me, this time, is REALLY necessary"
The dragon looked at her, not completely convinced.
"C'mon! The sooner we end, the sooner we go."
Meanwhile, the members of the council were looking at them intently. Lord Elrond and Gandalf most of all, searching for the change in the
eyes.
Finally, after a moment, the dragon agreed and Lenore cleared her throat so everyone paid attention to them.
"Well… the name of the song that you want to know so badly is The Battle of Evermore, and as Gandalf said: I wrote it after having a strange dream over and over. So… let's begin" said Lenore
She and the dragon focused and after a couple of seconds, a strange music started to sound. After what seemed to be a short introduction of the song, Lenore started to sing:
"The Queen of Light took her bow
And then she turned to go.
The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom
And walked in the night alone…
Oh! Dance in the dark night…
The Dark Lord rides in force tonight
And time will tell us all…
Oh! Throw your ploe and hoe…
Side by side we wait the Might,
The Darkest of them all…
Ah!
I hear the horses thunder down the valley below,
I'm waiting for the angels of Avalon,
Waiting for the eastern glow.
The apples of the valley hold the seeds of happiness,
The ground is rich of tender care
Which they do not forget…
Ah!
The apples turn from brown to black,
The tyrant face is red…
Oh! War is the common cry…
The sky is filled with good and bad
That mortals never know…
Ah!
Oh well! The night is long, the beads of time pass slow
Tired eyes on the sunrise, waiting for the eastern glow.
The pain of woe cannot exceed the woe of aftermath,
The drums will shake the castle's walls,
The Ringwraiths ride in black…
Oh! Sing as you raise your bow…
No comfort has the fire at night
That lights the face so cold…
Oh! Dance in the dark night…
The magic runes are written in gold
To bring the balance back…
Ah! (Bring it back)
At last the Sun is shining
The clouds of blue rolled by
With flames of the dragon of darkness
Sunlight blinds his Eye.
The rest of the song was a play of two voices that fitted very well.
When Lenore and the dragon finished, they were even in a good mood. Lenore loved to sing and she was pretty good, and she had taught the art of music to the dragon.
"Well, there is it. What do you think about it?" she asked.
None of the members of the council answered. They only watched them in disbelief.
"Hey, guys! I guess that's not the kind of music you listen or play but I think is not so bad!" Lenore said, offended "You have nothing to say?"
"It can't be!" Answered Gandalf.
N/A: As always, when Lenore talks to the dragon is always in the strange and unknown language that only the dragons and the ones who share the heart with them knows.
N/A: In the next chapter, we will know why the astonishment of the members of the council because don't think that is only because of the lyric.
Again, thank you so much for reading... all reviews are welcome.
