(Drakenia POV)

As I ran back to the cries of the hobbits, I thought about what had happened.

"Why did I ever think that telling him had been a good idea? I should've known that he would go ballistic on me. I should've refused to show him, Let him help me and then fly off. I should-" My thoughts were cut off by four little hobbits knocking me over.

"Ouch! Pippin! Merry! Get off me! Frodo! Stop tugging my hair! Sam!" he looked at me with wide eyes, as I yelled at him over the chaos that had ensued my tackle "Stop poking and prodding me for injuries!" I yelled.

They all, of course, ignored me. Soon enough, I was laughing along with them. I pulled myself up off the ground and looked up at the sky. I would be dark soon.

I held my hands up. "All right. All right!" Every hobbit looked to me. "Come on. We must get to the forest before dark."

Frodo and Sam both nodded. I pulled Merry and Pippin off the ground and dragged them along behind me, ignoring their complaints of hurt feet and hunger.

About 3 hours later...

(Drakenia POV)

We had arrived in the forest a few minutes ago, each of us grumbling about something along the way. I was just annoyed that I wouldn't get to do my nightly flight tonight.

I was lost in my own little dream world when I heard a slight rustle off to the left.

Without a moment's hesitation, I leapt upward and landed silently in the branches above. Not a second later, A party of Elves burst into the open, training their arrows on each of the Fellowship.

"The dwarf breaths so loudly, we could have shot him in the dark." A blonde Elf said from the front of the party. Aragorn looked around and saw me, I motioned for silence. He nodded.

The Elves were looking about, I could safely assume for me.

"Where is that other of your party?" The Elf leader asked, genuinely confused.

"What other?" Aragorn answered swiftly. Without warning, I leapt from my tree, landing squarely on the shoulders of two unaware Elves. The collapsed under my sudden weight, and I moved behind the one leader. I took a great sniff of him, recognizing him to be Haldir.

I put my blade against his neck. "I would not move if I were you." I snarled. He stiffened.

Aragorn moved forward. "Take us to Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel." He commanded.

We moved along slowly. I was surrounded by Elves. As if I'd actually have killed Haldir. Nope, I may have a grudge against him, but i wouldn't have.

We reached the Circle (as I called it). I kind of zoned out while the lord and his lady spoke to us. All too soon, we were moving again. We reached where we were to camp for the night.

We heard the songs of the Elves. I let a single tear drip from my eye. I rarely cried, as the tears of dragons are precious gems.

"What are they saying?" one of the hobbits asked.

Legolas smiled sadly. "I have not the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near."

Pippin sang what he thought should be the next verse of Gandalf's song. Then everyone turned to me.

"What?" I asked, although I already knew what was happening.

Pippin continued to look at me. Then all the hobbits looked at me.

I sighed. Sam looked at me woefully, and I gave in.

"Fine. Not much though. Alright?" I replied to their gazes.

I took a deep breath and began to sing.

I looked around at everyone's faces when I had finished.

Legolas' voice was thick with uncried tears. "Who taught you that?"

"No one. I have always sung." I answered. Singing had become a haven for me from the troubles of the world long ago.

"Sing us another one." Merry pleaded. I nodded, beginning to sing once more.

Another tear slipped down my cheek, landing in the palm of my hand. It clinked against the other already in my palm. I looked around again. Everyone was crying in some way or another. Even Gimli was letting a few tears slip down his face.

I cleared my throat, and then let one single tear trickle down my face. This one, unlike the other two, was a diamond.

This gave me an idea. Everyone needed to sleep tonight, so I would be doing them a favor.

"Come, hobbits, and I'll sing you a lullaby." I called to the slumped figures around the clearing. They nodded and got up from their places to lay in their beds.

I cleared my throat an began to sing a lullaby. I stopped at the end and turned to find Lady Galadriel listening in.

I bowed hurriedly. She laughed.

"Don't bow to me, Dragon child." She spoke with a voice soft as the softest fern in summer.

I nodded. "If I may ask, what are you doing here?"

"I am here to see if any of the Fellowship needed anything, if they needed something to help them sleep." She gestured around the clearing to the sleeping forms of my companions. "But, I see they are in good hands."

"I wanted to relieve their pain, what better way to do that than through song?"

Galadriel nodded. "I must go now. I sense Frodo will come to see me in a while."

I nodded. "Wait!" She turned back to me. "I was just wondering if you would let me go out for a bit?" That in fact was not what I had been wondering, but I was a bit embarrassed about the real thought.

She nodded, smiling slightly. As though she knew what I had been truly wondering.

"Remember that not even Elves live forever, if you have something to say, say it now." She said wisely.

I stopped short. "Well, I actually was wondering...is there any hope for any of us?"

She nodded. "The fate of the Fellowship lies on the edge of a knife. Stray from the path, and it will fail."

I nodded my thanks, and shifted. I knew I could trust her. I blasted my way through the trees, reveling in how the moonlight shimmered off my scales.

I looked over my shoulder, and was surprised to see Legolas standing in the clearing, watching me. I blinked and angled myself for a landing in the clearing. I needed to talk to him, and he was relaxed now so: what better time to do it?

I landed, my scarlet scales glistening almost blue in the moonlight.

I shifted back to my normal self, knowing that I was not going to fly tonight after all.

"We need to talk." Legolas said, the sound of his voice making me cringe. He had a beautiful voice, soft and smooth, but underneath all that was an edge. A sharp edge. Like a blade.

I nodded, wishing I could just go flying. He seemed to notice how antsy and uncomfortable I was, looking at me with those eagle-eyes. He laughed as I fidgeted some more.

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked, hoping it would not be what it seemed.

"You are a danger to all of us." His voice darkened. "You should not be here, it is not safe for any of us."

I growled in response. "Legolas, everyone trusts me. Everyone except you. Even Lord Elrond trusted me enough to let me come." He glared at me as I continued. "If we cannot have trust, the Fellowship will fail. I trust you. I do. But you do not trust me, and that is the problem."

"Yes, but it would be-" He was cut off by the dawn, signalling the awakening of the rest of the Fellowship.

I smirked, knowing I had avoided him for the moment. Today, we sailed.

We met by the shore, after all of us had changed. I had decided that I needed the best of protection, so I had asked for my armor to be brought back to me.

I breathed a sigh of relief, I liked the feel of light armor fitted to me. It felt almost like my own scales. We waited as Lady Gladriel presented each of us with her own gift.

To Merry and Pippin, she gave daggers. Easily dangerous.

To Sam, Elvish rope. I tried hard not to shudder at this.

To Frodo, a globe of light from the Evenstar. The prized light of the Elves. Can't really say I'm impressed, but I can't do anything about that, can I?

To Legolas, a new Lothlorien bow. He looked like he was gonna explode with happiness. My only thoughts were of how much more dangerous he was now.

To Boromir was given a new golden belt. I didn't think this was a good idea, but I guess Galadriel is the wisest...

To Gimli...well he was not presented with a gift formally, though I did get a glimpse of Galadriel gently pulling out a few strands of her hair.

To Aragorn was given nothing, as the Elves had nothing greater to give than the pendant he wore around his neck. I smiled, for I knew how much it meant to the Elves to give away their pendant. Their life. The thing that made them different.

I smiled brightly at Lady Galadriel as she neared me. She stopped in front of me, questioning me with her eyes. I gave a slight nod.

"And what would a-" She cut herself off, looking around at the others. "I would speak to Draken alone." She decided aloud.

Aragorn nodded and steered the others away. Galadriel turned back to me.

"And what would a dragon desire from the Elves?" She asked softly.

I thought for a moment. Wondering if what I was about to do was the right choice. I could have anything! Why should I choose what I had chosen?

Finally, I came to a decision. "If it is possible, I would like to establish a connection with you, to learn from your magic and wisdom. If it also is possible, I wish for you to give me an enhancement to my already existing control." I said nervously.

She looked at me for a little while, pondering something. Finally she spoke. "You have not offended me, only surprised me. Why would you ask for this, when you could be free? All you truly desire is freedom, so you ask for this? I do not mean to pry, but I wish to know why you have chosen this as your gift."

I let out a mental sigh of relief. "I want this gift because I'm already in over my head. I want to keep those I care about safe. I can't do that if I'm flying away. I will find another way to be free at the end of this war."

She nodded. "Well, I am proud of you. I am able to do this enhancement, if you do not mind glowing a slight amount for a while afterwards."

I nodded, greatly relieved I would be able to better protect those I love.

I walked out to the boats a few minutes later, stumbling slightly. I still felt a bit woozy from the amount of power running through my veins. The hobbits, well, Sam jumped out of the boat he was in and ran over to me.

"Miss! Miss! Are you alright?" He cried worriedly.

"Indeed. I am fine, just a bit dizzy."

Everyone looked at me curiously, but I ignored them and looked to Aragorn for conformation. He nodded. I smiled. This would be fun.

A few minutes later...

I stood on the bank of the river, looking at the boats. One was sloshing a bit from side to side. That was the one with Gimli in it. He wanted to come back and pummel me for not getting in the boat. Worried for my safety. How cute.

I turned and walked up the shore, looking at the boats who were following alongside me. By now, everyone knew I had magic, so I decided I could shift every once-in-a-while. Pass it off as magic. If Gandalf could talk to the great Eagles via moth, I could shift into a dragon via magic.

I began to run as the boats sped up a bit, hitting the current. I looked over at Aragorn, who nodded in reply. I neared the edge of the cliff, taking a deep breath. I leapt off the edge and fell. I flipped, sending off a burst of red energy as I did so. As I sent off that red energy, I shifted.

I let out a roar, letting it echo off the cliffside. I let my wings skim along the edges of the water now, sending up a spray. I lifted my wings, spiraling up into the clouds.

I ignored the terrified shrieks of the others as I angled myself in for a landing in the water. I slid gracefully into it, although I did send up a pit of water into the air.

I floated alongside the boats, my wings folded up, my taloned feet paddling gently in the deep water.

When we began to near shallower water and a more narrow straight, I unfolded my wings and heaved myself out of the water and into the sky. I veered around back toward the boats, shifted, and then landed gracefully in a crouch in Legolas' boat, as it was the least crowded.

We sailed along for a bit longer, me in a daze. I was oblivious to everyone and everything. Until I smelled something, that is. Elvish senses may be stronger that humans, but Dragonish senses are even sharper. I glanced over at the shore, noticing a bit of movement. I thought it might be orcs, and I tensed, grabbing my throwing dagger out of its sheath. I held it loosely, ready to fling it.

Legolas looked over to where I looked, and not being able to see anthing or smell or hear anything, watched me closely.

I realized it was only Gholum. I relaxed, but did not put my dagger away.

Hours later...

(Drakenia POV)

I looked out at the water as the others dragged the boats onshore. It was already noon at least, and we were going to need to stay the night.

Legolas sauntered over to me, pulling me aside.

My heart pounded as he placed a hand over my left shoulder. I didn't know if it was because he had realized I had been favoring that shoulder, or if he had found out somehow about my mark.

I figured he had just noticed that I was favoring that shoulder.

"Are you hurt?" He asked as I flinched. I shook my head. His eyes narrowed. "You are hurt. How long has it been like this?"

I averted my eyes before I answered. "Ever since the avalanche."

Before I could say anything, he had grabbed me and turned me around. I began to protest, but was silenced by a loud yelp of pain as he pushed down gently on my shoulder blade.

He sighed. "I can't get to it like this, you need to go change before I can do anything for it."

I nodded in understanding. "Give me two minutes." He nodded, but I was already running toward the forest. I reached a clearing and shifted form, wincing now at the pain of my shoulder. I shifted back, concentrating on what I wanted to appear in.

I walked back to the camp minutes later in more comfortable clothes.

Legolas immediately spotted me and walked over. I tried to avoid him, knowing that his "concern" was also a cover for his curiosity.

I snarled under my breath as he cut me off. He lead me over to a tree stump and asked me to sit.

"No." I growled.

"Why not? It would be better for both of us if you sat."

"I don't want to. I would rather remain standing."

He shrugged, and twirled me so that my back was to him. I could picture the concerned look on his face as he began poking and prodding the area around my shoulder blade, earning little yelps and hisses here and there.

"Ouch!" I hissed, as hi finally reached the point all the pain was coming from. I pulled away from him, only to then be yanked gently back. He held me fast as I struggled against him.

"Hold still, you happen to have a bit of rock embedded in your shoulder." I stiffened.

"What?!" I struggled harder against him. Next thing I knew he had called for Aragorn to aid him in restraining me.

He held me, now facing him, tight to his chest to keep me still as Aragorn eased the 'rock' out.

"There, all done." Legolas said releasing me after a moment.

"Let me see it." I said in a dangerously low voice. He handed me the 'rock'.

I paled. "No." I whispered. "It can't be. It was destroyed long ago." I turned and ran toward the treeline, ignoring Legolas' panicked shouts.

Aragorn had noticed that Frodo and Boromir had gone away from the camp, and had gone to look for them. I was interrupted in my sprint for the trees by Legolas tackling me to the ground. He rolled me behind a bush and pinned me to the ground.

"Get off me! I have to-" I was cut off by him clapping his hand over my mouth. He pointed over to the left of the bush. I wiggled a little, to show him that I still couldn't move, and then was released.

I silently moved to a crouch and stalked over to the edge of the bush. I looked around the edge and almost gasped. I caught myself in time, but only barely.

Legolas pulled me up by the arm as soon as the whole orc company had moved past. I was still stunned as he dragged me along in the direction Aragorn had departed.

I regained my senses, shifted, and grabbed Legolas in my talons. I headed in the direction of a large, looming structure. Ruins of a once-great castle, I thought.

"There!" Legolas shouted over the wind. I angled myself downward and dropped him just outside the ruins. Hearing a horn, I did not stay to fight, I whirled and flew toward the sound of Boromir's horn.

I landed and shifted just outside the forest area that Boromir was in. I ran toward him, fear sparking the adrenaline in my veins to life.

I killed orc after orc after orc to get to the hobbits' sides. Boromir fell to the ground, an arrow sunk deep in his chest.

My steps faltered.

"Boromir!" I shouted in a panic.

"No! Draken run!" the hobbits cried. I took one look at Pippin, turned my gaze to Merry and knew there was no way for me to turn back.

I continued. I made it just before the second arrow hit. I ran toward Boromir, but it was too late. He had fallen, but I should have known better than to underestimate him. He pulled himself back to his feet and kept on fighting.

A dagger flew toward out of nowhere and struck my shoulder. I cried out in pain.

I fell to my knees as Aragorn appeared in the nick of time. I kind of passed out. I vaguely felt myself being roughly hauled into someone's arms and dragged off. I looked up, thinking in my shock that I would see Legolas, instead I saw the ugly face of an orc.

With my last bit of strength, I yanked off my dragon charm -the one around my neck- and hung it on a branch, smeared with blood. Then I sent a small burst of gold off into the trees, as a messenger.

The last thing I heard before I passed into the realm of unconsciousness was Legolas' shout to me. Then everything went black.