Eowyn could not find a comfortable position on nature's floor. In the past, it would not at all have been difficult, but now she was nearly seven months pregnant and spoiled by down mattresses. She sighed and stared at the stars. "Iluvatar," she whispered in the water's tongue, "protect my family."

Soon, sleep overcame her.

Eowyn slowly opened her eyes to find herself laying in some sort of shack. The slow buzz of a potter's wheel reached her ears, and when she sat up, she saw the potter himself. He was like no other. "Eru," she gasped, bowing.

Iluvatar smiled. "Come close, child. See my creation."

Eowyn stepped carefully – reverently – toward the wheel to see what distinctly looked like a healthy baby boy, curled up inside his mother's womb.

"This is your son, but remember that he is mine, too. I watch out for my children. Even now, I am sending you a helper for the future."

"Milord?" Eowyn asked hesitantly. "Are all beings your children?"

Iluvatar gently turned her to face him. "Yes, child."

"Even the orcs and spiders?"

"Even they, though they have greatly lost their way. My deepest wish is that all my children might find the way back to me."

Eowyn woke then and looked beside her to see Legolas still asleep. She glanced across the fire and saw that Gimli still snored on and Ruin had wandered away, presumably on watch. A mewling came from the river bank. "Legolas."

Legolas startled awake. "What is it?"

"I think there's a baby in the rushes."

"Why would – " Legolas stood up to check. "Where are my father and Nilgon?" He glanced around twice before moving to the water's edge. "Oh." Eowyn heard him say. "It's not exactly a baby…"

"Legolas?"

"Ouch! It bit me!"

Gimli jumped to his feet, blinking sleep from weary eyes. "What? Who?"

"Legolas?" Eowyn called.

"I'm fine. It's some sort of hatchling. Come see, it won't let me carry it."

Eowyn rolled on her side and rose with much effort. She walked to where Legolas squatted in the rushes, Gimli close behind. "Oh."

It was a strange little creature, about the length of a forearm. It stood on webbed hind feet and waved two dolphin-like flippers about, which were tipped with one tiny claw each. Its head was rather collie-ish, though – like the rest of its body – it was covered in blue, green, and gray iridescent scales. Its tale was like an otter's, and its body was long, and its teeth were like needles. Just behind it lay the remains of a mossy green shell.

"Oh," Eowyn said again.

Legolas watched carefully as she reached down to touch the thing. To his surprise, it snuggled against her hand. "Eowyn?"

"It's okay. Her name is Mirduin, and she's a river dragon hatchling." Eowyn smiled with joy as Mirduin clambered onto her shoulder and draped around her neck. "Eru keeps his promises."

Legolas and Gimli shared a look just as Nilgon and Thranduil ran up. "What happened?" the Elvenking asked.

Nilgon's hands reached for his twins swords. "We heard Legolas' scream."

"I did not scream." Legolas tried to glare condescendingly.

"No," Gimli agreed. "You yelped. Where's Ruin?"

"Here." A dripping Flamekeeper pulled herself out of the river. "Eagan sent an orc pack to Minas Tirith that passed on the other side of the river last night. We need to move."

Thranduil looked to Nilgon. "Are you sure – "

"Yes."

"Legolas?"

"I have to."

"And the spiders?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. There's not much we can do beforehand anyway."