Please- review? okay, next chapter up! It might take me a while to have chapter nine up but it will come... Anyway, on with it!

MiaraElerina: yep, responsibilities... Ummm... Not giving away-? I hope you do! I've started writing it, so I think it will come out within the next few days. Or maybe in one to two weeks cause my exams finish then. I may or may not include you... It depends. Anyway, here's the next update!

Chapter 8

"One, say goodbye to the rest of the company. Check. Two, go talk with Mithrandir. On my way." I shoved my list of things to do into a tiny pocket I had sewn into my dress and hurried off. Wizards were hard to find, you know.

I finally found Gandalf in a quiet, shadowy nook that was private. I stood in the shadows until he decided to address me. He took a long draw from his pipe and made the smoke the shape of a Phoenix. I smiled and turned it into a flaming one as it curled around the pipe and then disappeared into a puff of smoke with the flick of my hand.

"I see you have found me, then. You must be a powerful being indeed, if you can find a wizard's favorite haunts." I grinned, but then smothered it and moved closer. My eyes glowed brightly, then returned to my normal amber.

"Oh, you know, I'm just a Phoenix that happens to be the daughter of a dragon AND of the elven King of Mirkwood." I waved my hand dismissively, and he chuckled.

"Did you wish to speak to me, Godfather?" I placed my hand on the sleeve of his grey robe.

"I did, if you have time, my dear." He replied, patting my hand. "The book you had, the one from which your Father received the binding token, the red stone: do you have it?"

"Yes." I replied, slightly confused. "It is in my room, in Mirkwood."

"Read it. It has something in it of great value. A token that you will need the time of a lifespan of a mortal to find the right one to give it to. I can sense it." He took a thoughtful draw from his pipe. "There are things about you that you now know that others do not, isn't there." It was not quite a question. It was a clarifying statement.

I hesitated, but I trusted him with my life. "Yes. There are." My voice was quiet and low.

"Hm. Good. I need you to do this for me, Naryl. Tell me, have you ever killed a spider with your powers?"

I nodded and told him. "Yes. When I first entered Mirkwood to seek refuge with Toron, I placed my hand on the bark of a tree, and a spider fell from it, shrieking, and died." I replied, growing confused.

"Did you understand it?"

"Yes. It said that it- burned."

"You know what this means, do you not?"

I took a shuddering breath. "I do." It was a whisper.

He placed his hand on mine where it clutched his robe. "It is a gift, Naryl, to be able to see into the shadow realm, where the ones who are neither living nor dead wander. I need you to keep an eye out for me. If you see anything that merits concern, you must tell me."

My head snapped up and my eyes blazed. "You know something. I knew it ever since I helped you in Dol Guldur. You know what the shadow was. You know who the Necromancer is, don't you. You know. I know. Yes, I know that he has come back. I have been seeing its shadow growing in Mirkwood ever since then. I am concerned, Mithrandir. You know just as well as I do that I am a guardian of middle earth as you are, specifically here in the East." I hissed, turning away.

"The shadow concerns me." I whispered.

He did not answer for a while. Then, "Yes. I must go to Gondor. My answers lie there. Will you do this for me, Naryl?"

"Yes. I will not speak of it out of your presence." I turned to leave.

"Be safe, Narylfiel, daughter of fire."

I smiled softly. "Take care, Gandalf the Grey, Istari." I slipped away and left him there, thoughtfully puffing on his pipe, eyebrows drawn together. It didn't occur to me until I was already far far away that that encounter had been rather- well, wizard-like, including the odd farewell.

...

I took the list out of my pocket and checked off the second item. "Next- Saph, do keep up, will you?- go find Father and leave." My lip curled thoughtfully. "No, I am forgetting something." I murmured, looking down at Saphira. I picked her up.

"Can you think of something we haven't done yet, Saph?" I asked, petting her fur. She shook her head and yawned, stretching and cuddling into my dress. I started along again, petting her soft fur absently and thinking hard.

"Well- oh, yes, I need to go find Kili and Fili. I haven't said good bye to them yet." I headed off, still petting Saph. I still couldn't believe she purred. She PURRED. She's a wolf!

I finally made it to their quarters. "Nadadith? (Khuzdul for little brother) are you here?" I poked my head in, to see both Kili and Fili look up from their desks and immediately motion me in, faces lighting up.

"Naryl!" Kili exclaimed with a laugh. "How may we be of service?" He asked seriously, with a suppressed twinkle in his eye. I grinned.

"In no way except to give me a farewell." I replied, sobering.

"Ohhhh. Do you really have to go now?" He asked, giving me the puppy dog look.

"Kili, Gîl, that look doesn't work on me- alright, not much, anyway. I have to leave before Adar decides to kill someone." I said dryly.

He sighed and then suddenly frowned. "What does gîl mean?" I grinned.

"Better study Sindarian, gîl." I replied, hugging him. I breathed in the smell of his hair for a moment. He always smelled of the woods, with a hint of wet fur and rain. A nice smell really. I turned and hugged Fili. He always smelled of sunshine and open plains, the smell of heather and bracken. He hugged me back.

"Be safe, Nadadith." I smiled at Fee. He smiled back and I paused and looked at them for a moment, standing there smiling. A thoughtful and wistful look crossed my face. They deserved happiness, the both of them. I smiled and nodded. Yes, I would try to find their Ones. I just knew I would know them when I saw them. Humming "Misty Mountains Cold" under my breath, I left, leaving them there to puzzle out my expression.

...

Father and I landed at the gates of Mirkwood. We had decided to fly to save time. Father still had the power to summon his dragon wings, you know, just smaller.

I hurried through the halls and dropped my bag off at my door, flying through the halls to the throne room. I landed in front of the doors.

"My princess." The guards bowed.

"Findécano. Did he get my message?"

"Yes, my lady. He calmed somewhat and is waiting for you." I nodded as they cracked the door open.

I walked in silently to the stairs- and froze. Shimmering, luminous beings were everywhere, floating above the ground. I swallowed and went up.

"Adar?" I asked softly.

He spun around and seemed relieved to see me. "Mîn yeldë." He murmured, hugging me tightly.

"I came when I heard that you were disturbed." I said worriedly.

He sighed and drew fingers through his hair. "I do not know what to do with these watchers." He said, gesturing to the room.

"You can speak with them?" I asked wonderingly. I looked around at them and they seemed to look like elves.

"Ye- wait. You can see them?" He turned to me with narrow eyes. I sighed and rubbed mine. Time for him to know.

"Yes." I replied wearily. "I am granted the ability to be able to see and speak with those who are neither living nor dead." I turned to the beings and they immediately seemed to be interested in me. So. They were neither living nor dead.

"You are blessed of the Eru." One of the beings came close to me. I nodded and curtsied. She shook her head. "I am no one to curtsy to. I am but a lowly elf. We watchers went to the Grey Havens, but we were not happy, because our hearts lie in Arda. Therefore, we have come back, and are neither here nor there."

I nodded. "What- what would you wish us to do?"

"Only to give us permission to live here in your halls." I blinked, then turned back to Adar.

"Adar? Surely you can grant them that?" I said, baffled. "And this is not what has made you so anxious." My gaze became sharp.

He replied with a hold-your-tongue look. "If that us all that they want, then they are granted it freely." He turned back to brooding.

I turned to them with a sigh. "Forgive him. He is troubled. I wish you all happiness as you live here with us." I smiled. They bowed and began to float down the hallways, through doors and into different halls.

One of them came up to me. "I wish to serve you." She said shyly. "My name is Erillin."

I looked at her and replied, "But- I have no need of help." I said, confused. She smiled.

"Then please, will you allow me to be your friend? To be with you and help you if I can?"

I smiled back. "Thank you. Yes, I think I will like that very much." I stepped forwards and gave her a hug. They were solid beings, but could pass through things if they chose to.

I nodded towards Adar. "My room is the princess' room down the hallway on the left." I whispered. She nodded in return and left. I turned back to Adar, gliding next to his side and halting his pacing with my hand on his arm. He smiled at me briefly.

"Adar. Tell me what is wrong." I begged.

He turned to me with a wearied look. "The shadow on the woods grows deeper." He hissed. "Things unseen prowl these woods. They all originate from that old fort that lies beyond our borders. The battle has not rid them of all of the orcs that still cower there. I know not what to do." My eyes darkened as he returned to pacing.

So. Sauron grows stronger. I whipped around and my foot tapped the ground as I thought. If only the ring could be found. If only it could be destroyed.

"I cannot help you now." My voice was clipped and sharp. "I have only an inkling of what is going on and I will not voice my fears until I know it is not false thinking. This is not the doing of anything new." My voice was dark at the last sentence.

"You know something. I would have you tell me." His tone was also dark.

"Adar, did you not hear what I have said? I will not voice my concern because I know not for sure if they are not just the fears of a cowering child! I will say nothing. I will keep my eyes open." I turned to leave when he grabbed my arm.

"What makes you think you can figure this out if I, with all of my years, have not?" He asked sourly, clouds darkening his face.

"You are not a guardian of middle earth. You are not the guardian of the East. If you, with all of your wisdom and years, cannot read the obvious signs, then what makes you think we can?" I retorted sharply.

He drew away, obviously shocked by my admission. "You-"

"Yes." I replied coldly. "I have been in the shadows, hoping that things would stay well here in the East. I have been watching over your kingdom because of my love for you. It is my duty even more than you to ensure that my people remain safe."

He said nothing as I left, dress swishing and the doors slamming shut behind me as I stalked to my room. Fire erupted at every step I took, and as I entered my room, i immediately headed for the book. Time to see what Mithrandir was talking about.

Maybe Adar would rethink his words and consider what I have said, while I cool off my anger. Eru help me if this did not go well.

"Princess?"

I looked up and managed a smile at the watcher.

"Yes, Erillin, I am fine."

"I take it things did not go well."

I slammed the book on the table and released my frustrations. "Does he really think I will stand by or be shoved aside when my people are in danger? Does he really think so little of me? He says he sends me away to protect me, but it seems of late that he does it to keep me out of business that I have every right to be in! As guardian of the East, it is my duty to know what is going on!" I slumped into my chair and sighed, spent.

"I'm sorry Erillin. Things have not been easy for me."

She placed her hand on my arm. "I am sure. Now, what may I help you with?"

I laughed merrily. "Why don't I tell you my story? Maybe I might be able to stun you." And so we sat down, and I began weaving my tale of being the daughter of a dragon. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

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