Hi to everyone around the world!
In the last chapter, it happened that Lenore and the Black Dragon decided to accompany Frodo and the others to the heroic mission to destroy the One Ring and save Middle-Earth.
As surely as you may have noticed, Lenore and her dragon are (in Lenore's words) the ugly ducklings for all but Gandalf, Frodo and, in a way, Aragorn.
Soooo, let's see how they are doing on a trip where they are not exactly "welcome".
I must add that in this chapter some data on the dragons will be revealed.
By the way, I'm sorry if so far Legolas has not been a main character, but do not worry, at the end of this chapter will play a more important role.
So far nothing has happened "romantic", but do not worry. There will be only that, unlike other stories, in this Legolas and the OC do not get along especially the elf cannot stand the presence of the Black Dragon nor of Lenore. But you know what the saying says: "From hate to love there is only one step."
So, have a little patience and this will begin to change as well, that in the future, will be revealed the reason why Legolas hates dragons so much.
As always, I thank all those who read this story and ... here we go:
Chapter 4: New friends
It had been several hours since they left Rivendell.
The ten walkers and a dragon had been called with the name "The Fellowship of the Ring".
For Lenore that did not make sense, the only important thing was that they achieved their goal, that is: destroy the infamous One Ring, save Middle-Earth and voilà!
Although it sounded simple, both she and the Dragon were sure that this mission would have serious difficulties, especially if there were dragons involved in that disaster.
However, that was only one of the problems, for at least for Lenore and her dragon. Most of the members of the Fellowship feared or distrusted them or, in the worst case, hated them.
They had been walking behind everyone, most of the time talking mentally to each other, in case the others bothered to listen to them.
"Man! This is the worst trip we've ever made!" Lenore sighed. "Aragorn hardly trusts us, and that's only because he has no other choice. Boromir and Gimli think we'll attack them at any moment. All the little guys, except Frodo, are afraid of us and think you're going to eat them. Oh, and Legolas! Man! The elf boy is a hater! Who would think that an elf could be a hater! Do you think he's still angry that we make fun of him? "
The Black Dragon shook his head.
"Well, in that case ... he's being very unfair." pouted Lenore, crossing her arms and tossing back her hair defiantly. "You haven't done anything to him. I mean anything bad. I bet it's that we are new here, that's all."
The Black Dragon shrugged its great shoulder.
"Anyway, I still think he's a hater." sulked Lenore, glaring daggers at the back of the blonde Elf.
She noticed that the others, namely Gandalf, Aragorn, and Frodo, were watching them.
"So Gandalf, it's true they can talk to each other without having to move their lips." Frodo suddenly whispered.
"It is."
"How?" asked Frodo eagerly.
"According to the ancient stories, it is said that a person who shares heart with a dragon are not only united by the heart but also by the mind. They understand and sense the other's emotions."
"And why do their eyes change?" chirped Frodo.
"It's a sign that they share a heart."
"And how does a dragon share his heart with someone? Is there anything special that the person must do to make it happen? Or is the dragon the one who must do something? "
"About that, my dear hobbit, I cannot answer you. The knowledge of dragons is very ancient and almost completely forgotten in Middle-Earth."
"Why?" asked Frodo again.
"There was a time when dragons and other races lived in peace. However, things began to change, people of other races began to fear them and, for that matter, to attack them. The dragons became solitary, and distrustful. Morgoth played on their distrust, and used them against Elves and Men. And the knowledge that the dragons had given to the wizards and a few other fortunate people was destroyed by the dragons themselves."
"And when did that happen?"
"It is said that at the beginning of the Second Age."
Aragorn looked at Gandalf in disbelief. The Second Age was long ago, almost an eternity.
"And before that could all men share their hearts with a dragon?" Asked Frodo
"Not only with men but also with other races, but since the dragons moved away from the other inhabitants of Middle-Earth, all this knowledge became history and, over time, simple tales."
"And why do you think that Black Dragon shares his heart with her?"
"To be honest? I do not know, but why don't you ask the woman herself."
Frodo looked back Lenore, who seemed to be chatting with her dragon, and then to Gandalf.
"Do you think that's a good idea? I-I'm afraid I might irritate them…."
"Nonsense. It's not every day you meet such a person."
Frodo nodded, and walked nervously back to the end of the line.
Aragorn looked about to follow the Ringbearer, but Gandalf stopped him.
"No, leave it. He needs to know them, trust them and make friends with them. After all, they are here for pleasure's sake, but for a fateful quest. They will not hurt him."
Aragorn looked at the hobbit, and then to the wizard.
"Trust me."
Aragorn sighed and kept walking, but kept his senses sharply tuned.
"Mister Frodo, where are you going?" Sam asked.
"I'm going to talk to Lady Lenore, Sam." replied Frodo.
"What?!" chorused Merry and Pippin.
"You're mad." Gimli growled, gripping his axe. "The dragon is a threat and we cannot put our Ringbearer in danger."
"The dwarf is right. Stay away from both. Even the woman isn't trustworthy."
Legolas remained silent, keeping an arrow strung on his bow.
"Let the hobbit talk to them." ordered Gandalf sternly, his eyes like coals under his bushy brows.
The others looked about to argue, but a glance from the wizard stayed them.
Frodo swallowed and approached Lenore.
"Hello Lady Lenore and….hello to your Black Dragon." he said timidly.
The woman and the Black Dragon looked at each other.
"Hello ..." she replied uncertainly. "Mm ... don't take it wrong, but shouldn't you be with Gandalf?"
"I wanted to talk to you, Lady Lenore…and your dragon, of course." he said nervously.
"Oh ..." she replied. "Again, no offense, but I do not think that's a good idea. See the others."
"But I want to know you." Frodo said, with a surprising amount of eagerness.
Lenore and her dragon were surprised.
"Know us?" repeated the woman in disbelief.
"Ah ... yes. You both came at my request, so I want to know all about you….both of you."
Lenore glanced at the dragon.
"Both of us? You're not afraid of my friend?" she asked, looking straight at him.
"Of course I am….a little." He admitted after a moment. "But I really do want to know about both of you."
The Black Dragon growled slightly.
"And people say there's nothing new under the sun ...lies." murmured Lenore to the dragon.
"Alright then Frodo, but on one condition. My name is Lenore, not Lady Lenore." she said, extending her hand.
Frodo smiled.
"Deal." he said, shaking hands
Lenore soon found herself chatting openly.
"Aren't you tired?" asked Frodo after a while.
"No."
"So ... you don't get tired?"
"Nope, at least not easily."
"Are you used to walking for a long time?"
"To be honest, no. I'm used to walking a lot, but never the distance we've walked so far."
"Then why aren't you tired."
"Because of the bond I have. Dragons do not tire easily."
At the beginning of the talk, Frodo had thought to ask her about the dragons and how it was possible for them to share her heart with that Black Dragon, but he soon realized that neither the woman nor the Black Dragon would talk about it.
"Are YOU tired?" Lenore asked after a moment.
"A little." he replied blushing and looking down.
"A little?" she repeated.
"Yes, I'm tired. I'm not used to walking that long and so fast." he replied.
"Mm….I'm sorry." she replied sympathetically.
Suddenly and without warning, the Black Dragon took Frodo's clothes as if he were a puppy.
Frodo squeaked as the rest of the Fellowship turned.
But their alarmed gestures turned into astonishment as the dragon placed Frodo on his back. Lenore chuckled.
"I cannot believe it." muttered Aragorn.
"It's dangerous! You are letting a dragon carry the Ringbearer!" shouted Boromir.
"No." answered Gandalf. "He will be fine. A dragon allows no one to touch it unless he trusts him fully.
"Or maybe for the purpose of kidnapping Frodo." said Legolas coolly, staring at Lenore.
"I do not think so. Lower your bow, Legolas. If the dragon considers that Lenore or Frodo are in danger, he will not hesitate to attack us. Dragons are very protective."
The Elf swallowed, slowly putting his bow down.
"All of you lower your weapons." ordered Gandalf.
"But ..." Gimli protested.
"Do it, or would you prefer to face an angry dragon, Master Dwarf?" retorted Gandalf.
For his part, Frodo was frightened, but he had not gotten off the dragon.
"They ... they ... they will not attack me" he said.
The rest of the Fellowship, except for Gandalf, sighed.
If Frodo trusted them and did not want to leave them, there was nothing to do but be careful and watch.
"As you wish, Frodo." replied Aragorn, trying to ease the tense situation
"Come on, we should continue." Gandalf said as he started walking again.
"Foolish hobbit!" Gimli grunted.
"Hobbit?" asked Lenore. "Excuse me, but what is a hobbit?"
"The hobbits are us." answered Frodo.
"You're a hobbit?"
Frodo nodded.
"And you mean, then, that in this Middle-Earth, there are not only elves, men, dwarves and dragons, but there are also hobbits?"
"Of course." another voice chirped suddenly to her right.
Lenore turned and saw that it was one of the other hobbits, the one with curly hair and brown eyes, who had spoken.
"I'm Merry." he announced.
"And I am Pippin! And that round fellow is Sam!" he added, pointing to the one who stood by the pony.
"Hello." replied Sam nervously.
"Oh! Hello…. Nice to meet you guys. My name is Lenore."
"What is the name of your dragon?" asked Pippin.
"Dragons never tell you their name unless they fully trust you."
"And can we ride him?" Merry asked.
"No."
"But why not? Frodo is riding on him! "
"That's only because my friend wanted it."
"And what if you ordered him to let us ride on him?" said Pippin impatiently. "I'm tired too."
"I'm very sorry, but I never give my friend orders."
"And then how come he does everything you want you to do?" sulked Pippin.
"Yes. And besides, how exactly does one share a heart with a dragon? Does it hurt?" added Merry.
Lenore scowled at them.
"I think you should stop asking them." Frodo said.
"We just want to know." Merry sighed.
"Please, at least let us ride him," Pippin said.
"Are your friends like this...?" Lenore asked Frodo impatiently.
"Always." replied the hobbit
"I'm sorry for the woman." muttered Aragorn.
The wizard chuckled.
"I am as well. It will be necessary that they make them stop."
Meanwhile, the two hobbits had approached the Black Dragon.
A growl made them freeze.
"Enough!" shouted Lenore at last. "Jeez guys! Don't you understand the meaning of a word as simple as NO? "
"It's just that we want to know everything about a dragon." Pippin stammered.
Lenore took a deep breath to calm down.
"Listen my friends, I appreciate your interest, but everything has its time. But right now we have something more important. Let's talk about something else?"
"Like what?" Merry asked timidly.
"Like ... I do not know ... that the sky is blue during the day and at night is black? Or that in the forest there are many types of trees? About the clouds? That the Sun is golden and the Moon is silver? I do not know, there are many issues like that."
"That's obvious." sighed Merry.
"She means you should talk about something that is not important, but rather something that is simple." explained Boromir. "Wise advice, woman."
Lenore scowled at him, and mouthed 'I have a name.' but refrained from saying it out loud.
"Oh, I understand. We can talk about the Shire." Pippin said.
"The Shire?" Lenore repeated.
"It's where we hobbits live. It's a shame we cannot tell you all about that place." he added sadly.
"Why?"
"Because we cannot talk about food."
"Food? And why not?"
"Because food is VERY important." Merry replied.
"Oh! I see…"
Lenore raised her eyebrows. "Well ... I think in that case we can make an exception and talk about the Shire and everything with it."
"Including the food?" asked Pippin excitedly.
"I think it would be a good idea."
"Great!"
Lenore sighed.
That would be a long conversation, but if that was the only way they would avoid other conversations... so be it.
They walked all night, and stopped only when the dawn came.
The hobbits were very tired and, most of all, hungry since Merry and Pippin had been talking about food for hours.
The whole Fellowship, especially Lenore and her dragon, were more than bored,
Towards the greying of the sky they stopped and prepared the camp in a thicket.
And even at this time, Merry and Pippin were still talking about food and cooking.
"Why can't these hobbits keep quiet, even for a few minutes?" murmured Gimli miserably.
"This is the woman's fault," Boromir said. "Gandalf, you cannot ask them to shut up?"
"No."
"Why?" snapped Aragorn, who had reached the end of his patience.
"Because I want to see their reaction." answered the wizard
They sighed.
Lenore had finally snapped. "Ok guys, more than enough to talk about food. Jeez! We have been given a full cooking class! "
"But we're not done!" said Pippin "There's a stew that ..."
The hobbit could not finish because Lenore put her hand over his mouth.
"Don't talk about food anymore, or my dragon might get hungry."
Aragorn and Gandalf smiled.
"Umm….we don't want that." said Pippin, backing away with a nervous giggle.
Lenore and the Black Dragon looked relieved.
There was a moment of sweet silence as everyone began to eat their dinner.
"And what do you have to talk about? Something quite simple and common." Merry said with his mouth full.
Lenore mumbled a curse.
"Come on guys! Let us eat in peace. We were talking all night long!"
"But ... but ... you and your dragon surely know something interesting/"
"Yeah, yeah, like a ... like a story." said Pippin.
Lenore hid her face in the broad shoulder of the Black Dragon.
"What have we done to deserve this?" she moaned
"Surely you know some story-however simple it is." Gimli told her.
Lenore and her dragon looked at each other for a moment.
"Okay." Lenore murmured. "You're in charge of the light and sound effects." she whispered to the dragon, which nodded and sat upright as Lenore rose and cleared her throat.
"People of all races of the Middle-Earth: men, dwarves, hobbits and elves! Get ready to listen to the biggest of the stories...! "
Meanwhile, Gandalf and Aragorn, who were a few meters away from the camp, spoke in Sindarin.
"What do you think of them?" Gandalf asked.
"They are not what we thought they are. The hobbits seem to trust you."
"And you?" replied Gandalf.
Aragorn thought for a moment.
"I do not, at least not much. It is a dragon."
"And yet, the hobbits trust them. Even the Ring bearer."
"The hobbits are naive. This is their first trip outside the Shire. They have never seen anything or know anything outside of their home."
"This Black Dragon and this woman are from another realm. As far as I know, in that ancient book, which is known as Edda, it is described that the dragons are friendly with other races, especially the Elves."
"That is not true!" growled an angry voice.
Aragorn and Gandalf turned and saw that it was Legolas, who, leaving his watch place was approaching them.
Even with the faint glow of the bonfire of the nearby camp, both the Ranger and the wizard could see the anger that shone in those blue eyes.
"My race would never make friends with such beasts." he hissed. "They have killed many of us, destroyed cities and been responsible for countless tragedies! We would never befriend them!"
Though the elf's voice had been in check, Gandalf and Aragorn were well aware that their friend was completely furious.
"I understand that the pain they caused you to make you talk like this, but you cannot judge this dragon and this woman based on your experience." Gandalf replied calmly.
"And why not?"
"Because the Válar have sent them."
"No, it was you who were asking for their help. They let you bring some one. What if you made a mistake?"
Aragorn looked at the elf in amazement.
Legolas would never have said such a thing to Gandalf. Mithrandir was well respected among the Elves.
"In other circumstances, I would consider your opinion, O Prince, but you yourself have heard the song. Nobody knows the things that this woman and her dragon know." The wizard replied. "Therefore, I advise you to put your pain aside and judge them clearly."
Legolas left without a reply.
There was silence.
"I believe that this woman and her dragon were sent, not only for the knowledge that is in their song." said Gandalf after a few minutes.
"What makes you think that?"
"Look."
Aragorn toward the camp.
Gimli, Boromir and the four hobbits were staring in amazement at the depiction of the story that Lenore was telling them with help from her dragon.
Aragorn smiled.
If anyone had seen this s alone, he would never have believed that they were in the middle of a deadly quest.
"She and her dragon can bring joy. They have a good heart." said Gandalf. "And I believe that they, especially Lenore, can bring peace and heal the heart of a certain elf prince that you and I know."
Slowly, through the subsequent nights and with the help of the hobbits, especially Merry and Pippin, though with their endless conversations, Lenore and her dragon had been gradually accepted by the Fellowship.
The only one who did not trust them was Legolas.
This annoyed Lenore to no end, but the dragon took indifferently.
Finally, she decided to talk about them. She walked as quietly as possible to where he was standing guard.
He turned to her, his face masked.
"Hello." she greeted him
The elf was nodded.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"What?" he replied coldly.
"The sunrise." she retorted.
Legolas looked towards the Westward sky, where the first rays of the sun came over the sea, turning the clouds rose-hued.
Seeing that he had not answered her with a single movement of his head, Lenore sighed in annoyance.
"Okay. It looks like you're not exactly in the best mood so I will go straight to the point." Lenore began. "I do not know why you hate us so much. As far as I remember the only bad thing that we have done to you has been to laugh at you, but that is not enough reason for you to hate us."
Legolas glanced at her, and then at the Black Dragon, who lay still, watching every movement of the Elf.
"Do not worry about my friend. He will not attack you." she said.
"How can you consider such ... beast a friend of yours?"
"My friend is not a beast. He is an animal, but he is no common one."
"Of course it is not!" laughed Legolas bitterly. "It is an animal that uses its strength and abilities to kill and destroy everything in its path."
"You're wrong. My friend never attacks unless it is to defend myself or in self-defense."
Legolas was silent.
"So, what happened to you that gives you the right to treat us so?"
For a moment, the elf thought to tell her the truth and with that answer show her as much as possible the hatred he had to dragons and to her.
"It's none of your business." he replied dryly.
Lenore took a deep breath to calm herself.
Decidedly that elf was most arrogant, stubborn and unjust.
"Listen, may the stars or whatever it is even those Válar to whom you respect so much ..." she began to tell him
"Don't you dare talk about the Válar! You don't even believe them, dragon-lover!" Interrupted Legolas angrily.
"Whatever." she replied, shrugging her shoulders indifferently.
The elf had ended up pissing her off, and she had endured more than enough.
"Listen, let it be known that it was we approached to make amends, and it was YOU who did not want to listen to us and have shown us what you are: a hater." she snapped.
"You cannot judge me and my dragon just because my friend is a dragon and especially because he is a Black Dragon because the fact that he is a black one does not mean that he is a wicked."
Lenore paused, and watched the Elf for a minute. "Did you know that the dragon that killed one of the greatest heroes of my realm was a White Dragon?"
She managed to get Legolas to glance at her.
The White Dragons were known for their good hearts.
"Yes, it was a White Dragon." Lenore said. "The White Dragon saw treasure in a cave and decided to stay there to stay with the treasure alone and never share it with anyone.
"A thousand years passed and, under different circumstances, a slave found the treasure and stole a golden cup which made the White Dragon very angry, and in retaliation burned a village of fishermen and killed them all.
"The King of the Geats, Beowulf, knew about this and decided to kill the dragon who, despite being a White Dragon, had become a murderer because it was not the only village that destroyed or were the only murders he committed.
"The White Dragons are supposed to be good, good-hearted guys and even occasionally help other races, but this dragon was different because it became a killer.
Beowulf, to defend his kingdom, fought against the White Dragon and, although he managed to kill it, the White Dragon also killed him. They both died. As you can see, you cannot judge each dragon by its type.
Just Imagine if in everything we followed the same criterion that you use to judge my friend for being a Black Dragon.
"Just in the case of Gandalf, he would also be a bad boy because Saruman, his leader is bad. He's allied himself with that crazy guy called Sauron, who has severe problems with ambition and conquering the world. Then Gandalf is a madman maddened by power and also a bad boy because he is a wizard like that Saruman."
Legolas frowned.
Lenore softly patted his shoulder in a friendly way and smiled gently at him.
"Have a good night, Legolas"
And saying this, she went back to where her Black Dragon was who had been watching the whole conversation.
After a few minutes the girl was sleeping peacefully using one of the paws of the Black Dragon as a pillow and a wing as a blanket.
Legolas looked at them for a few minutes.
Both the woman and Black Dragon looked very peaceful and slept soundly.
Then he turned and looked back at the sunrise. No doubt it was beautiful, as Lenore had said, and he began to think seriously about their conversation.
Maybe and just maybe, it would be a good idea to give them a try.
