Ch 3 Research

Down deep in the earth, in a secret cavern, a pearl white and midnight blue Dragon was curled up on its little horde nest, its head buried under the wings wrapped around the body next to its belly and tried to ignore the fire burning in its head. No thought could be given about the dwarf without rage pouring from the inferno and she only wrapped her wings closer around her with a whimper. What had she done wrong? Was she supposed to remain ever alone, hiding from every being alive?

The fire calmed down at her thought, soothing her somewhat and the roaring receded. Why was there so much fire, she couldn't even get a spark or puff of smoke to come out when she was in dragon form. The information rattling around in her head said dragons breathe fire, or if they didn't they were wingless. She was neither. As she calmed from being mentally attacked, her muscled relaxed and she fell asleep. For days.

Hundreds of feet above where she slept, Thorin was going through every book in Erebor's library trying to find any information on dragons. That was, when his father wasn't dragging him away to see to royal matters. Thousands of pages and hundreds of books took up resident in the large room and yet, he found nothing. There was only one book that held decent information and it told of fire-breathers that lived in mountains and caves, seeking out treasure and destroying anything in its path that might take the gold and gems it sought. The book was thrown away in disgust, falling to the ground where Thorin glared at it. That wasn't his Lapis.

His. When had she become his? And how? He fell back into the chair behind him and crossed his arms, still glaring at the book. Where was she living in the mountain? He searched all the levels he could, by walkway and ropes, and still found no unexplained openings where she could be. It was almost three weeks later and Thorin yearned to see her again, to know why she had run away, and why she looked to be in pain. A Dragon who said someone had named her Lapis, a beautiful name and the namesake gem matched her hair color. Who had named her? There had to be a record somewhere of a shifting dragon since one had come to live under the mountain. Maybe Dale had something that could be useful. It wouldn't be hard for him to go, maybe not mention it to his grandfather, but dwarves went to trade goods all the time with the people of Dale and his father went occasionally. So yeah, why not? Tomorrow, he would go with the tradesmen to Dale and see their library and records.

Bright and early the next morning, Thorin snuck down to the entrance and joined the group of dwarves heading out with their wagons. The few dwarrow next to him noticed his presence and looked at him in question to which he merely smiled and looked ahead. He was young for a dwarf to be wandering around be himself, especially being a Prince, but they wouldn't say anything. It was a small trek to the city and he separated from the group before they reached the town square and to the building his father had pointed out to him some years ago when Thrain had taken him on a visit. The city folk ignore him for the most part, a few glances were thrown his way out of curiosity, but no one tried to stop him.

At the top of the steps, Thorin was greeted by an older gentleman in scholar robes. While he wasn't blocking the way, he stopped and waited for the man to speak since this wasn't his city.

"Prince Thorin, what can I do for you?"

Thorin frowned, "How do you know me?"

"Our cities are closely tied, your Majesty, a fair amount of people here know who you and your family look like. Now, what can I do for you?"

After a moments hesitation, he replied. "I was looking for more information about dragons, there wasn't a lot of information in Erebor."

"Dragons?"

"Yes."

"If you don't mind me asking, why?"

"Do I need a reason?"

A hand came up to stroke the short gray beard. "No, but it isn't a regular or popular topic. Is it educational or preparing for something?"

"Is there a difference?"

"Of course. We have books, not a lot of details mind you, just don't hold onto any hope for something you are looking for. Dragons are a secret and dangerous race of creatures, what little we know was gathered over the ages."

"Thank you for your concern, may I enter now." Thorin didn't so much ask as he did demand and stared at the old scholar until he stood aside and gestured for Thorin to enter before him. He was led down a hall and into a vast, windowed room filled with books, scrolls and maps. "How do you have so much, Dale isn't an old city."

"Some is our history, town regulations, then history of Middle Earth, the Valar... a lot of what you see here was brought either as a gift orcontribution by those who have lived here."

Thorin nodded and looked around. "Is it all together or am I just to read everything in here?"

A smile appeared on the wrinkled face. "We actually have an organized system, created about 50 years ago, by my predecessor." He walked over to a large cabinet and opened one of the drawers, fingering through the files. "A list of books pertaining to the subject, dragons. They should be in the same area, mostly. Good luck, Your Maesty. Should you need me, my name is Bede."

"Do you have a title?" Thorin asked while he looked over the list.

"Of sorts, but I prefer my name most times."

That was all the answer he received and was left alone with his task.

The day wore on and Thorin was only partway through the books by midafternoon. So far, he had found very little. The only difference in information from Erebor was one of these books had a history of older dragons. He scrubbed his face with his fingers, pressing the heels of his hands against his eyes. This as like a study session with Balin or his father on dwarf traditions and history. His stomach rumbled, telling him he hadn't had food yet today.

"Sir Bede." A moment later, the scholar stepped into the room. "Is there somewhere I can buy some food?"

"There is a pub down the lane, however it is growing late and your tradesmen will be leaving soon. Perhaps you should leave for the day." Seeing the look the young dwarf cast around him at the books, he sighed. "I will leave your research here for a week and if you don't return by then, you will have to start over."

"I would greatly appreciate it," Thorin murmured. He stood and stretched from sitting down for hours.

"If you would tell me what you are looking for exactly, I could help narrow your search." Bede offered.

He hesitated, looking up at the man. He didn't want to be questioned by his father or grandfather why he was looking into such a subject. "I was looking for more history and if they had the ability to shift into a person like you or I."

Bede squinted and his mouth pinched in thought. "Dragons are a great and powerful race of creatures, not much is known about them since they tend to kill rather then answer questions. How did such a question come to you?"

Thorin shrugged, thinking for a moment. "We know of them but no one has seen one in hundreds of years that I could find. I thought maybe there was a reason, like they could blend in."

"An interesting thought, but to my recollection, no such information lays in these books. People have assumed dragons have simply died out with only one or two left in the world."

He slumped into the chair, looking at the books before him in frustration. If no one knew if dragons could shift, what of his Lapis?

"However..."

Thorins head jerked up at the word. "What?"

"There was a story my grandmother would tell me when I was a boy, about when her and her brother were children and they found a female dragon. Said it could turn into the most beautiful person she had ever seen. But no one ever took the story seriously since her brother denied it ever happening and besides, there has been no appearance of a dragon here ever."

Now he was really curious, his heart jumping into his throat. "How was it so beautiful?" Thorin asked, trying to keep his voice even.

"She said it transformed into a girl with the palest skin that could rival snow, eyes like gold, and hair the color of a blue gem."

"A blue gem?" His heart slipped a beat at the description.

"Yes, said that was how she named it. Insisted that it was almost the same color as a Lapis stone."

Thorins swore his heart was in his throat in that moment. Someone else had seen his dragon before, and by the sounds of it, a very long time ago. If he was to go by what the scholar said, that there was no information and only a tall tale, he was on his own to try and figure out his lovely dragon. "I'll try and be back by the end of a week, thank you for your help."

"My pleasure, have a good evening, Your Majesty."

"You as well."

The two have each other parting gestures and Thorin met up with the wagons at the front gate, a few more noticing him than the morning. He didn't notice them though, so lost in his thoughts that his feet automatically took him home and was surprised when he was ushered across the bridge.

also another chapter up. Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments, please continue leaving reviews, I love them very much. Thanks.