Hello world!

As always, thanks for reading this story… I really hope you're enjoying it.

In the last chapter, the song "The Battle of Evermore" was again mentioned, though Gandalf never said what had he understood of it, in this chapter it'll be said the meaning of two clues (or kind of).

As you could see, the dragon is now welcomed among the members of theFellowship of the Ringand though he doesn't trust completely in most of them, he definitely appreciates them and is willing to help them.

About the relation between Legolas and Lenore… well, as you could see, the elf was (as we say in my country) "frendsoneado".

Lenore is obviously foolishly naïve but in later chapters it'll be revealed why.

Anyways, that was a hint of something romantic. However, it'll be in Lothlórien where things really will start to change but as you may understand, things can't completely change until Legolas settle down his issue against dragons and that'll be in Lothlórien. Again I ask your patience… as Gandalf said: "Patience is a virtue".

As always, I want to give special thanks to Celridel for her help in my drafting as well as for her excellent ideas.

By the way, in this chapter a deep relationship will start to develop but don't think the kind of a romantic one but a close friendship.

I'm glad that there had been readers and to all I thanks a lot, but I'd appreciate your reviws even more.

Now… here we go again…

Chapter 6: "You are not alone"

"Wow! I've never seen something so marvelous! I think only Petra can be compared to it!

Aragorn turned and saw that Lenore was looking to the walls and "roof" of the Mine, absolutely amazed.
The walls were beartifully made, carved in such loely designs it was indeed a marvel.

"I couldn't even imagine that dwarves could do such things!" said Lenore to Gimli.

The dwarf smiled, proud that his race could have made so wonderful a place.

"Indeed, lass. We are well known because our carving and for our mining." he said. "In ancient times it was my kind who taught to men the art of such things."

"Really? That's awesome. In the Edda also is told that dwarves and Nibelung are masters of that, but the carving are exquisite."

"Well, now you know something wonderful about dwarves. Something Elves are not able to do."

The Elf turned towards the dwarf. "Indeed, Master Gimli. But we do not stay in our holes like rats."

Lenore sighed as she listened to the two bicker. She could not understand the enmity between the two races.

They went along. Lenore stayed as close to the light as possible to admire the carvings.

"You like it?" asked Gimli from behind her.

"Yes, they're wonderful!" she exclaimed, smiling

"Indeed."

There was a moment of silence.

"I have a question for you." said Gimli after a moment

"I'm listening." returned Lenore, putting a hand on the smooth wall.

"What is this thing that you said… Petra?"

"Ah! It's a very ancient city from my realm. It's in a desert."

The dwarf frowned.

"You've seen a such a thing before in a desert?"

"Yes. Petra has a carved palace in a mountain. It's magnificent."

Gimli looked surprised, or so Lenore thought in the faint light. A palace carved in a mountain wasn't something that you could see in Middle Earth.

"And who did such things? Dwarves?" he asked.

Lenore chuckled. "No, in my realm there are no dwarves. Actually you're the very first one that I've seen. Petra was carved by men, and they would pretty good at it."

"They had fine taste then. I never understood why one would want to live in a forest."

The elf just ignored him. She looked back and their eyes met for a brief moment, but then Legolas looked away.

Lenore sighed. Legolas was so difficult to understand! And not only difficult, but annoying. If the Elves of Lothlorien were like this, she was in a nightmare.

"And what happened to them?"

"Mmm?" she asked, completely distracted.

"What happened to them?" repeated Gimli.

"With them?" said Lenore absently. "Ah! You mean about the inhabitants of Petra?"

"Aye. You talked about them as if they had disappeared."

"Well, that is because they actually they did. Their kingdom was very powerful, and yet it was destroyed. The city was burned to the ground, and all the inhabtants slain or enslaved. That kingdom was never built again, and it is completely deserted now."

"That is a shame! And what was the name of that kingdom?"

"I think, if my memory doesn't betray me, it is named in some places as Edom."

"And who destroyed them?"

"I think that Assyria,but to be honest, I don't rember very well."

She chuckled.

"Gimli, you definitely had showed me that I need to study history again. I think that's something that I'll do when my dragon and I go back."

"Do you both really need too?" asked a smallvoice behind them.

Lenore turned. It was Frodo.

"Well, obviously. We don't belong here. We're needed for something, and when it's done we're going home."

"You are truly needed." said Gimli

Lenore was silent for a moment.

"Thanks for the compliment, we don't belong here. Right, pal?" she added to the dragon.

He didn't answer at least aloud.

"But we will miss you, both of you." said Pippin sadly.

Lenore turned to the hobbit and was going to answer when she saw that Boromir was staring at her.

"What?" she asked, a bit uncomfortable.

"What did your dragon say?" he retorted.

"Nothing." sighed Lenore.

"But he told you something."

Lenore smiled incredulously.

"And what makes you think so?" she asked, a little worried inside.

"Your eyes changed for a moment. Didn't they not, Aragorn?"

The Ranger did not answer."

Lenore moved up to Gandalf's side. Legolas was watching her closely.

Lenore frowned a little. What could the elf be thinking? Surely he was pleased that she was going back. After all, he couldn't stand her.

Gandalf had immediately noted the change of mood of Lenore.

"What is it?" he asked softly.

"Nothing." she answered, staring at the ground.

"You're not good at lying, Lenore." he said abruptly.

"I'm not trying to hide that. I just don't want to tell you, that's all."

"Though this place as evil in it, it has beauty as well." he said, changing the subject.

"Yes. The carvings that made the dwarves are awesome."

"Indeed. The place well cared for, and these walls are a testimony. Let me risk a little more light." he said suddenly, holding up his staff. "Behold the great realm and dwarf city of the Dwarrowdelf!"

A huge cavern was revealed, filled with ornate colums stretching as far as the eye could see.

Sam gasped. "There's an eyeopener and no mistake.

Lenore was suddenly pushed to one side as Gimli dashed forward. An oblong rock stood in the center of the room. Gimli knelt in front of it.
"No. No. No."

Gandalf stepped forward, placing a hand on Gimli's shoulder.
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria."

Gimli groaned. Gandalf removed his hat in honor as he spoke. " He is dead then. It is as I feared."
He looked around, and Lenore saw him kneel, and take from a skeletal hand an old, dusty book.

Legolas glanced at the skeleton, and then whispered to Aragorn. "We must move on. We cannot linger here."

The ranger made no sign.

Gandalf began to read out loud. "They have taken the Bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums. Drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming."

Lenore jerked her head upright, her eyes almost the same as her dragons.

"That's it." she said, snapping her fingers.

"What is it, Lenore?" asked Aragorn softly.

She turned to them. "The song talks about this. 'The ground is rich from tender care which they do not forget.'This is what it means. It happened as the inhabitants of Petra. The city was destroyed and whoever that goes over there never forget the carved palace there because in its time, Petra was rich with the care that the people had for the city."

A sudden crash was heard behind them. Lenore jumped, as the skeleton Pippin had touched bounced down the well, the chains trailed behind.

Echoes reverberated throughout the whole mine.

Gandalf snapped the book shut. "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity!"

As Gandalf turned away, a single drumbeat was heard. Lenore cringed. Louder and faster they echoed.

"Drums! Drums in the deep!" shouted Gandalf. "Fool that I was! Now we are trapped, just like those poor wretches!"

"We cannot get out!" cried Aragorn.

"Mister Frodo! Your sword!" exclaimed Sam.

Frodo drew his sword. It shone with an aura of soft blue. This was an Elven blade that gleamed whenever Orc or Goblin drew near.

A screech was heard. The drumbeats throbbed and rolled. Doom! Doom!

"Orcs!" cried Legolas.

Two arrows whistled past Boromir's head.

Aragorn pushed the hobbits towards the wizard. "Get back! Stay close to Gandalf!

Boromir pulled the last door shut. Gandalf drew his sword and the hobits followed. Lenore took a deep breath. "I have no weapon. How marvelous." she sighed.

Gimli leapt on Balin's tomb. "Let them come! There's one dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!"

Lenore turned to her dragon. He had told her to be next to Gandalf.

"No thanks." she replied. "You and I share a heart. We'll just fight as a team, alright?"

"You should get back, Lenore." said Aragorn quietly, his sword drawn.

Legolas strung an arrow to his bow, indictating with his head to the rear. Lenore glowered at him

"No. I'll fight with you."

"Really?" snorted the Elf. "Have you ever been in a battle."

"Umm…..no. But there's always a first time, right?"

"Don't you see, woman. This is not a play-act. This is something that will get you killed." said Boromir.

"I can fight." retorted Lenore.

"With what?" asked the Elf sardonically.

Lenore smiled nervously at him. "Working on that."

She leapt back as the door quivered.

"They have a Cave Troll!" shouted Boromir.

"How bad is that?" whispered Lenore to her dragon. The dragon snorted.

The door fell to the ground, Orcs spreading over the place. Lenore had picked up on of the weapons that littered the floor, and she stood awkwardly, gripping the handle of the sword tight.
Legolas shook his head.

Indeed, there was always something new in this life even if you were immortal.

The black dragon roared, spitting fire.


The battle began.

The two men and the Elf fought like the experienced warriors they were, ducking, sliding, at one with their weapons in a fluid grace that awed Lenore, when she had the time to look.

She stayed near the dragon, trying to avoid the Orcs.

She ducked a sweeping blow for an Orc, squeaking, and stepped back, and back again with each attack, working herself into a corner.

She saw that, and parried the blow, clumsily but she lived. She leapt back, their swords clashing, and then slashed at his neck, wincing at the black blood that sprayed.

She looked up. A gigantic beast entered . This must be a cave troll. It roared, bashing the walls with it's huge fists. A broken chain hung from it's neck.

It turned to the hobbits, forcing the wizard away with a swing of it's great club, and Legolas's arrows did nothing to stop the beast.

Frodo had been pushed away from his companions. He was seized by the troll.

Lenore screamed, swinging her sword in an arc of desperation.

It was to late. The troll's sake had pierced Frodo, like an insect on a pin. The hobbit dropped to the ground.

Lenore ran towards the hobbit, ignoring the cave troll that towered over her. It raised its club. Lenore glanced at up, and then covered her head.

There was nothing, no pain, and there was fire, and the troll fell. She looked towards the dragon.

"Thanks." she whispered.

Sam dashed towards Frodo.

"Frodo! Mister Frodo!" he cried, tears staining his face.

Frodo took a deep breath, and opened his eyes, grimacing.

Sam gave a cry of joy. "He's alive!"

"That blow would have skewered a wild boar." said Aragorn in amazement.

"There is more to this hobbit than meets the eye." said Gandalf.

Frodo nodded at the wizard, parting his shirt to reveal a beautiful coat of mail.

"Mithril! You are full of surprises, Master Baggins!" said Gimli.

Gandalf looked back. Screeches sounded and the drums beat faster.

"To the bridge of Khazadum!" he cried.

Lenore helped the hobbit to his feet, and they ran. Orcs swarmed behind them, and finally they were forced to stop.

A great roar was heard from an archway, which glowered with a hellish fire in the blackness. The very orcs screamed and scattered.

Boromir looked up. "What is this new devilment?!"

Gandalf closed his eyes. "It is a Balrog, a demon of the ancient world. It is beyond any of you! Run!"

Lenore and her dragon looked to each other. They knew what a Balrog was.

"Not good!" she squealed.

They raced forward, weaving among the columns and stumbling down flights of stairs. Every step that the Balrog took, if indeed it walked and did not fly, caused the Mines to crash and crumbels down.

Gandalf had turned to Aragorn.

"Lead them on! THe Bridge is near! And remember your promise!"

"I swear by my honor that I will."

Gandalf nodded. "I know that you will. Now go!"

They ran forward again. It was Boromir who almost fell. A deep chasm loomed before them, bottomless, as if the earth in that place had been rent in two.

A narrow bridge spanned the length, railess.

"Over the Bridge! Fly!" shouted Gandalf. The flames grew higher.

They ran past Gandalf, who turned towards the growing flames. From the midst of the fire a great creature rose, winged and horned.

It turned on them with great strides, as by one the one the Fellowship crossed the narrow bridge. Lenore struggled on it, not daring to look into the emptiness below her.

"You shall not pass!" cried Gandalf, standing before the bridge. He raised his staff.

The Balrog stretched it's wings, rising up to a mighty shadow. The wizard stood before it, small, and white.
"I am Servant of the Secret Fire. Wielder of the Flame of Anor! Go back to the blackness from whence you came!"

The Balrog drew a glaming sword, holding it high.

"The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Uden!" shouted the Wizard, raising his staff.

The Balrog brings his sword down upon Gandalf. Lenore screamed. The wizard held up his staff. There was a crash as if of thunder and a great flash of light, and the Balrog's sword fell.

"Go back to the shadow!"

The Balrog put a foot on the bridge, wielding a great fiery whip.

"You shall not pass!" cried Gandalf once more. He raised his staff above his head and brought it down upon the bridge.

It collapsed before the Balrog's feet, and the demon fell into the chasm. Gandalf turned away, leaning on his staff. But as he did so, the end of the Balrog's whip snaked up and curled around his ankle, dragging him down.

His fingers grasped at the edge of bridge. He looked up, and cried. "Fly you fools!" and fell.

Frodo screamed, struggling against Boromir's grip.

And then they ran. No orc dared to with stay Aragorn in his fury. They ran to the doorway through which light streamed and through, collapsing on the rocks. The dragon wrapped Lenore in his black wings.


Finally, they managed to get out of that deadly place running as fast as possible until they reached a platform in the middle of the mountain, barely breathing.

"Legolas! Get them up!" snapped Aragorn, wiping his sword.

Boromir looked up, tears in his eyes. "Give them a moment! For pities sake!"

Aragorn snorted. "By nightfall this hills will be swarming with orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up!"

He took Sam's hand. "Come, on your feet."

Frodo turned away, tears rolling down his face.

Aragorn turned to Lenore who was crying with her face buried in the broad shoulder of her dragon while this one wrapped her with one wing as a tender hug as his head rubbed hers in attempt of comfort her.

"Come, Lenore, we have no time to waste" he hurried her

Lenore turned to him with her eyes full of tears. She sniffed a couple of times.

"You said that by night there would be orcs here?" she asked

"Aye, that's why we must hurry up. Stop crying and let's go. There'll be time for mourning Gandalf"

Lenore breathed deeply.

Those words were in some way cruel, but she knew that he was just acting with sense and in order to save everyone.

She turned to look at her dragon while their eyes changed to be almost identical.

Suddenly the Black Dragon snorted and shook his head determinately, but Lenore caressed his head and spoke in the strange language.

Again the dragon snorted but this time wasn't so determinate, finally seemed that Lenore managed to convince him of whatever she wanted.

"Look, soon will be night and we must walk a great distance so… my dragon and I will take you a ride"

Everyone, starting with Aragorn looked at them in disbelief.

"So, this is what you're going to do. Gimli and the hobbits will go on the spine of my dragon. Legolas and Boromir hanging on the rear claws, and Aragorn and me hanging on the front claws"

"Hanging?" repeated Legolas

"Yes, you'll go hanging" snapped Lenore "that's the only way my dragon will accept to take you so thanks to your famous Válar that he's allowing him after the way you've been treating us!"

The elf was going to answer but Aragorn stopped him. That wasn't the time of discussing and after all, the woman and the Black Dragon were right.

"Alright. Then do what Lenore says" Aragorn said

"Is not dangerous that he flies, lassie?" asked Gimli while sitting on the spine of the Black Dragon

"The dwarf is right. Another dragon could see him" said Boromir

"No, because he will overfly" answered Lenore

"Hurry up" said Aragorn


It would have been a grueling journey over the rocky hills if the dragon hadn't take them.
When twilight came, they crossed a silver stream, entering woodlands where Aragorn told to Lenore that it was necessary that the Black Dragon landed so the rest of the journey were by walking.

It was a wood were elves lived and the Black Dragon needed to rest.

Though the last one wasn't too much necessary due the Black Dragon was very strong.

So the Black Dragon landed and everyone got off the Black Dragon and the rest of the journey they walked.

Lenore was no Elf, but she appreciated the beauty of Nature well enough. The trees above them rustled. The bark was silver in the moonlight, and the stream sang.

"So this is Lothlorien." She whispered to her dragon.

It nodded softly, glancing around.

Aragorn stopped under a great spreading tree, glancing up.

"Tonight we will light no fire. Take some rest, we will continue tomorrow morning."

"I'm not hungry." mumbled Merry, curling up in the leaves.

"Neither am I." Whispered Pippin, hugging his knees.

Aragorn arched an eyebrow, sadly surprised.

Gimli looked around uneasily. "Stay close young hobbits. They say there's a great sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell..."

Lenore looked over at the dwarf. The hobbit was glancing around him, as if looking for someone.

"..and are never seen again." Finished Gimli.

"Mister Frodo ?" Asked Sam anxiously.

"Well! Here's one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily! I have the eyes of a hawk, and ears of a fox!" Snorted Gimli.

Lenore jumped to her feet. Two arrows appeared in front of Gimli's face as two slender figures stepped elegantly out of the shadows.

Lenore swallowed. They were surrounded by Elves. Legolas had drawn his own bow in response.

Aragorn held his hand up in peace.

A blond Elf stepped forward. "The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark."

Gimli growls.

"Hey, who are you?" Interjected Lenore stepping forward.

He ignored her and turned to Legolas, beginning to speak rapidly in Elvish.

Lenore scowled and crossed her arms.

The Elf turned to Aragorn, who bowed and said. "Haldir."

Gimli snorted. "So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can also understand!"

Lenore agreed with him fervently.

Haldir glanced at the dwarf. "We have not had dealings with the dwarves, since the dark days."

"And do you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul!"

Aragorn grabbed Gimli's shoulder. "That! That was not so courteous!

Haldir turned to look at Frodo. "You bring great evil with you. You can go no further!"

Aragorn began to talk urgently.

Lenore sidled up to Legolas. "What are they saying?" She whispered.

The Elf replied emotionlessly, with out looking at her. "Aragorn is asking Haldir for his help."

"And what does blondey say to that?"

"Haldir says he will house us for one night in a flet."

"Dragon and all?"

Legolas gave an mirthless smile. "He says as long as we keep an eye upon the dwarf and the dragon, it will be well."

Lenore nodded, placing on hand on the dragon's head.

At last the talking was done. Haldir raised his hand and a rope ladder was cast down. The hobbits followed him, and the ladder was taken up.

From two other tree of great width other ladders was cast down.

Lenore went up one ladder. The rope was light, silky to the hand, and yet comfortingly strong. She was surprised that only Aragorn came up.

Apparently Legolas preferred the company of a dwarf and a man in the other flet then her.

She scowled, and looked up, where the dragon perched in the tree, just above her. His deep blue were closed, but he did not sleep.

She then looked around. A flet apprently was just a platform with no rails. A perfect place to sleep. The hobbits would love it, she though sarcastically as she rolled out her blanket.

Aragorn noticed the woman curled in a ball, she was shaking, and occasional whimpers told him she was not sleeping But a soft crying told him that she wasn't sleeping at all.

He put a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright, Lenore?" he asked softly.

She sat up, still curled in her blanket, and looked up at the Ranger with teary eyes.

"How can I be?" she whispered. "A great friend of us had died in front of our very eyes...and we couldn't do anything to save him."

"Gandalf was indeed a great friend but there was nothing we could do."

"You don't understand at all, Aragorn. Gandalf was the only one who always believed in us, in my dragon and me, and even when all of you rejected us."

She swallowed, glancing up at the dragon who was watching them.

She choked for a minute, struggling for words. Aragorn waited patiently until she could speak.

"Now almost all of you are our friends and all of you accept us but still...not like Gandalf.

I mean, the hobbots trust in us and they like to talk with us but they're like kids,and Frodo has such a great burden on him that is he who needs help rather than us."

She paused.

"Gimli and Boromir are good companion. They're good hearted and though they're not exactly the personification of the politeness, we know that we can trust in them but… is not the same"

Lenore sadly chuckled.

"Boromir called me naïveand never told me why, he rather laughed at me."

She again paused.

"And Legolas?" asked Aragorn softly.

The black dragon softly snorted. Lenore laughed bitterly.

"Legolas? I don't know what's wrong with that guy. He's indeed nice to every one else and has good manners and all the stuff but he's so difficult and annoying. He pushes me away, and I don't even know that he's trustworthy. He's a stranger to me."

"There is a cause for Legolas's coldness..."

"Yes, Gandalf told me so. But that's not a good enough reason for this. Whatever have happened to him in the past is not our fault at all."

"Then, try to understand. Legolas is a great friend and you can trust in him no matter what."

"You say that because he's your friend and because he had never pushed you away!" Snapped Lenore.

Aragorn nodded slowly.

"I admit that. I really wish that you and your dragon would give him a chance. He is one in whom you can trust your life and your honor."

Lenore looked up at the dragon.

"We'll see." she said shortly

There was a moment of silence.

"And what about me?" asked Aragorn after a while.

"About you?" she repeated.

"Yes. You have told me what do you think about all the Fellowship but me. What do you think about me?"

Lenore thought for a moment.

"I… We… Both believe that you're a very capable man. Brave, intelligent and with honor."

Aragorn nodded slowly,rembering what Gandalf had told him:

"You want me to be their friend?

"That would be something very wise."

Then he remembered how the dragon and even Lenore, had fought side by side with them in that chamber against the orcs, and how the dragon had killed that cave troll that no one could defeat.

"I'm more than grateful for your opinion about me." he said quietly. "But I want to tell you that you're mistaken."

"Mistaken?" she repeated.

"Indeed, Lenore. Because maybe Gandalf is no longer here. It was he told me to watch over you. For the longest time I did not trust you… but now I want to be your friend and I wish that you trust on me as I do on you."

Lenore and her dragon looked at him in disbelief and then to each other.

Without any warning Lenore hugged him tightly.

"Lenore…" he gasped.

The woman immediately released him.

"Sorry." she muttered.

Aragorn caught his breath, smiled and then hugged her.

"Do not fear Lenore, for I shall protect you with my life. I swear by my honor that I'll always be there for you."

"Thank you so much!" she answered crying.

Aragorn smiled but suddenly he felt that the half of his face was completely wet.

It had been the dragon who had licked him, gratefully.

After the moment of astonishment, he smiled.

"Rest both of you." he said standing up. "Tomorrow will be a long journey for we shall go to meet the Lady of Light and the Lord of Silver."

Lenore nodded and lay down, the dragon curled about her, and soon both were sleeping peacefully.

The fact of knowing that a man like Aragorn would be there always for them helped a lot and comforted them.


Aragorn went down the rope ladder and to e next tree, where Legolas was standing.

The elf outside seemed to be calmer but inside of him there was a turmoil of emotions.

"What is bothering you, my friend?" Aragorn asked him in elvish.

Legolas didn't answer for a while.

"Gandalf's death."

"That is a great grief to us all, but I believe that that's not the only reason."

Legolas turned to him with a small frown.

"What do you mean?" he asked

"You know perfectly what do I mean. You have an excellent hearing Legolas. I know ou listened to what Lenore said of us, most of all you."

"It matters not to me." answered the Elf, looking away

"Really? Because I believe otherwise, my friend".

Legolas didn't answer.

He had never imagined how lonely it must have been for Lenore and her dragon.

"You should at least try to make a truce with them, with her. And try to at least don't push her away." continued Aragorn. "We all owe them our lives for at least once. You surely listend to how much you hurt her. Try to be more… if not friendly, but gentle. I know what happened to you in the past. We must be united for this quest to have any hope."

Legolas didn't answer.

"Have a good night, my friend" said Aragorn after a moment and he left to the Elf in his own thoughts.

Legolas realized that he had been very unfair with her after the conversation they had before the Mines.

Legolas decided to change his attitude and the very first thing he would do, would be protect her and the dragon… especially Lenore, even if that meant giving his own life.

He vowed to himself, taking to the Válar as witnesses that he would protect, help and always be there for Lenore.