Saphira 13 chapter

She was surrounded by the darkness. There was nothing else: only it and tough shell, keeping her inside. But she knew this was not the time to break it. Not now. How did she know, she couldn't tell. It was a thought… an instinct much older than she.

So she remained inside, all alone. Sometimes she would feel someone outside her small prison. A weak feeling of someone seeking for her. Then she would ask herself: is this one worthy? The answer was always the same. No.

She was sleeping, but at the same time, she was searching. A persistent feeling of need, that she lacked something, haunted her. She couldn't explain it either. But it was important. It had to be.

The desire was very strong, but she waited patiently. Waited for something, she didn't know what exactly.

Then something changed. During all this time inside, she didn't feel anything like this powerful sensation. Stronger than any before. And the answer finally was yes.

It was time.

She knew it with all her being. Someone she lacked and waited for all this time was here. But the shell around her prevented her from reaching it.

She bit it, hit it with all her strength. She wanted to break through. She wanted to reach him. She had never desired anything so much as this.

But the shell didn't think to give up, making her angrier. No one will stop her from reaching him. She promised it to herself and attacked even stronger and more furiously.

Crack. The shell started to break. She hit it another and another time until it finally broke.

She was free.

Air, filled with various scents, hit her lungs. It was uncomfortably cold, making her squeak. She tried to lean against the rough ground, but in the middle of the action, she stumbled back. She squeaked again but didn't surrender.

One more attempt and she was standing, though still a bit trembling. For the first time, she beheld the new world. It was much brighter than the place she was all this time.

Some movement dragged her attention. She turned her head. It was him. The reason of her hatching. Of her.

He slowly stretched his shaking hand towards her. She didn't pull away but gladly accepted it. Now they will be one. From that day to their last. And no one will stop her from being with him. The sensation of his touch was strange yet so familiar, as it happened many times before. Suddenly cold energy rushed through her body and her view blurred...

The sound of quiet birds' chirping and weak sun's rays, pleasantly warming her side, woke up Saphira. Her whole body ached, but most terrible was how she felt inside. She didn't even want to open her eyes. Why would she? Every failure of hers haunted her in the dreams. Beginning with the deaths of Gandalf and the dwarves, probably even the little hobbit perished, and ending of not being able to find her rider. Eragon… the time without him seemed longer than the years of memories given to her by the dragons, longer than the whole eternity. He was right here. The part of him always been inside her, but at the same time, they were the farthest away they ever been.

Saphira just wanted to lay here. For how long she didn't care. No one awaited her out there. She tried to imagine him. His smile. His encouraging words told softly to her. All was gone…

Much to her own surprise, she heard a voice nearby.

"When I heard that dragons sleep long, I believed. But nobody said that they sleep that long."

She opened her eyes, noticing a familiar figure squatting beside a small campfire. Being lost in all her thoughts, she somehow had not heard him or smelled the smoke. Saphira turned her head at another side. The last thing she wished at the moment was to talk.

For a few moments, the only sound was that of soft embers crackling before he spoke again.

"I thought you are going to make some mocking remark about my ignorance regarding the dragons."

Footsteps approached closer to her until she saw him standing before her, holding some kind of pot in his hand.

"But you disappointed me," The elf said to her.

"What do you want?" She asked with some spite in her voice and without lifting her head. Toher frustration the smile remained on the elf's face.

"As I said the last time, I want to travel with you and now I want to help you as well," He pointed at her leg and stretched the pot closer. "You are wounded. This may help."

The scent of the pot's content was very strong and, even if she didn't want to admit it, pleasant.

"If I needed help, I would ask for it," Saphira gritted her teeth and tried to lay on her other side, unluckily stumbling on her wounded leg. She gritted her teeth even more in an attempt to suppress the wail of pain, but she was again unsuccessful.

With her leg still hurting she laid down anew with an even worse mood, and she pretended to be sleeping.

"So you don't need my help?" The elf asked, still with that stupid pot in his hand.

"No."

Saphira expected him to go away or remain where he was, but not for him to laugh, which erupted freely and unfettered like a song.

"I didn't think to meet someone even more stubborn than dwarves. I see I was wrong," He said after calming himself a little.

She didn't know if it was his words or the pain, which didn't even think to lessen, that in the end made her extend her leg to him. The elf didn't say anything; he just walked to her leg and knelt beside it.

"This is Athelas. It won't heal bones immediately, but it will make the ache more endurable and will prevent any infection."

She just blinked to him, giving him permission. The elf worked slowly, but carefully. Every time she flinched, he pulled away his hand, apologizing to her.

Meanwhile, to drag her thoughts, she would look around everywhere except to the side where the dead body of the golden dragon laid. The sun was fusing the remains of the snow, slowly starting its journey down. She had slept all night and half of the next day. The sky was clear and there was no sign of the wind or storm which had raged the day before. Finally, everywhere hovered peace. Except in her heart.

The elf touched the more sensitive spot, making her involuntarily move her leg. She breathed rapidly, swallowing the pain.

"Forgive me. Almost finished," Elf said, continuing.

Whatever he was doing, to her surprise it worked. The ache retreated, leaving behind bothersome itching. She believed that she even might be able to lean on it.

"Here," the elf eventually said, raising up and washing his hands in the grass.

Saphira took a peek at her leg. Some kind of bluish liquid covered it.

"Thanks," She muttered quietly and laid her head down on the ground once more.

"What are you doing?" the elf asked.

Didn't I suffer enough already? She thought bitterly.

"How does it look so?"

"I have a few assumptions, but I will let to say it by yourself."

"Go away," She grumbled.

"No."

Saphira sighed. And everyone just keeps telling me that I have stubbornness problems.

"I am tired."

"Why?" The elf kept asking, much to her annoyance.

"Why what?"

Why I even bothering speaking with you? she wanted to correct him.

"Why are you tired," The elf said simply.

Saphira lifted her head, aiming her furious look at the elf, who paid little mind at her anger.

"Why I am tired?" She laughed for herself, almost maniacally. "In one day I fought one of my kin, a dark lord, and an army of the elves. Also, in the same cursed day, I lost my heart of hearts, the love and reason of my life told me just to wait, and now I am stuck with a super annoying elf. That. Is. Why. I. Am. Tired!" Last part she almost roared in his face.

"But why?" The elf asked once again, making her snort in disbelief and frustration.

"I swear, elf, if this is some kind of your silly games, I am going to pin you to the ground just like I pinned the last one who made me angry," Saphira growled to him, referring to the dead dragon nearby.

The last threat brought some concern to the elf because this time he spoke more carefully.

"No, no games. What I want to know is why you fought them?"

Saphira opened her mouth, but the answer didn't come forth. She rarely lacked words. The elf, using the opportunity, quickly continued.

"You didn't have to fight them. This is not your world and you owe it nothing. You just could turn away and continue the search for your rider. So why?"

"My friends were in need of me," She whispered, before shaking her head. "It doesn't matter now anyway. They are dead," The last word tasted somewhat strangely in her mouth. So she already reconciled with their deaths?

The elf spoke before she could say anything else.

"And how do you know they are truly dead? I left some dwarves with the Lake-town people. The dwarves were greatly worried for you," He said, seeking for her eye contact when she looked away

"Smaug said that…"

It was the elf's turn to snort.

"I trust a dragon's word as much as…" He stopped when Saphira raised an eyebrow at him.

"I mean other dragons' words, not yours. I trust your word," He added quickly, disconcerted.

"I know what you meant," She assured him, looking at the horizon, where in the middle of the lake the burned city's remains still smoldered. "Yet this would be the logical presumption after what happened," She said these words almost emotionlessly.

But it seemed that elf's positivity was unkillable.

"Logic rarely is the case where the dragons, wizards, and dwarves are involved," He smiled before his expression darkened. "Maybe they are wounded or imprisoned by fallen walls. They might need our help!"

What if the elf was right? Maybe there still was hope to find them alive. The thought gave her will to gather her strengths and try to get up. Her muscles after the fighting with nature's powers were exhausted and didn't want to listen to her. At the first time, she tried unsuccessfully to get up with all four legs, but she stumbled back to the ground.

Come on, you can do it. Don't make fun of yourself, She thought before another attempt when the elf interrupted, all this time observing her efforts.

"Need help?" His face was serious, but she could see a smile erupting behind this mask.

"Shut up," Saphira snapped and this time she only intended to sit on her hind legs.

At least this time she managed to do this from the side. Then slowly, little by little she lifted the rear part of her body. She deeply exhaled when once again she stood on four legs.

"Are you alright?" The elf asked with concern, walking towards her.

"Yes, I think," Saphira replied before grinning wolfishly. "But you need to beware of earth, pointy-ears."

Elf frowned.

"Pointy-ears? It is some kind of dragon joke? And why would I need to beware of…" he didn't finish his sentence because Saphira's paw hit his chest, making him fall backward into the snowbank he had made while cleaning the ground for a fireplace. He shook the snow from his head, looking at her with a question and clear confusion on his face.

"That," Saphira leaned her head towards him, almost touching him with her nose. "Is for mocking me."

He gave her a quizzical look before erupting with a hearty laugh. She had not even noticed how she was also smiling.

"I guess I deserved it after all my questions. Am I forgiven?," The elf said while standing, still chuckling from time to time.

She slowly stretched like a cat, avoiding fast movements, checking her muscles' condition. "No, not yet. I will have my revenge later. You can live for now."

Saphira stretched her wings and tried to spread them. There still was some snow on them, so now it was falling down, reflecting the sun. The battle during the storm left her wings the most exhausted of all her body. A distorted expression crossed her face when she has folded her wings away.

"Remind me not to fly today. It might be worse than walking," Saphira muttered, observing all the scars and wounds marking her scales.

I am going to perish if this keeps happening.

She looked… deplorable. As if there was not much left of her previous greatness. Additionally, she felt… older. As if these weeks had been years and years. Maybe she will go crazy in the end. It would make everything much easier. To not care. To not feel.

But dragons were dragons because they never choose an easier way. As far back as Saphira remembered herself, she never had chosen the easy way, nor Eragon… It was one of the things which united them. They would do what is necessary despite the personal cost.

"Shall we go?" the elf asked.

Saphira blinked, looking at the elf who waited for her answer.

"Yes. We… can," She replied, distracted. She recently seemed to get deeply lost in her thoughts. "You lead the way. I am completely lost on where to go."

The elf nodded and began walking at an easy pace. She following him. They both ignored the dead dragon beside them. They came up with the wordless agreement to not mention what happened here, and Saphira was glad of this. Memories of the night were still fresh.

At first, every step required much effort and endurance, but after some time her muscles stirred, letting her move faster. While walking she tried to concentrate on the ground in front of her, every grass stem or stone. Other thoughts were just too depressing.

"We need to find the rest of your dwarves before traveling to the Lonely Mountain. I left them with the Lake-town people. Hopefully, we will find them there," The elf spoke to her.

Saphira just hummed in response, continuing placing her paws.

One of the generals of Nasuada once said that at first, you are going to smell the army of people. Later you will hear it and lastly, you will finally see it. Well, he was right. The scent of someone wet reached her nose, just before she heard screams and voices of humans.

There were hundreds of them, men, women, children, all moving slowly, their glares like the ones who lost everything. Saphira felt guilt. Partly it was her fault what happened to these people. It was her and Smaug's flames which kindled their houses.

The elf was going to walk out from the bushes into the opening towards the moving crowd when she spoke.

"I don't think they are going to be very happy with seeing me. I would better wait here."

An understanding smile appeared on elf's face.

"I will not force you to go there if someone can force a dragon to do something," He said, making her snort at his remark. "But I promise a surprise if you go with me."

"I guess you won't tell me what kind of surprise it is, will you?" Saphira sighed.

"Then it won't be a surprise," He said, the same wide grin curving his lips.

Saphira sighed deeper.

"Someone has to wipe away that stupid smile from your face or the elven kingdom is going to miss their prince," Was her answer before she stepped from the trees' cover.

A few humans saw her immediately, and they started pointing at her and shouting for others.

That must be worth it, she thought before the last thing she expected happened.

They started to applaud her. At first, the clapping was cautious, but more and more people caught what was happening and joined in. Soon she heard only their hands, clapping to each other. From time to time men from the crowd would should "Stormcleaver" to her.

"Stormcleaver?" She asked the elf. According to Glaedr, her mother was called just like this. Vervada Stormcleaver riders of the order called her.

"They gave this name to you after your battle above the lake," His speaking manner made it clear that he already knew about all of it. "They believe that you are the lake's spirit which brought with herself a storm to liberate them from the beast. I heard whispers that you control even lighting."

It was nonsense and yet… someone was glad and thankful for what she did. If she couldn't save their homes, she probably saved their all lives.

"So it was your surprise you were talking about…" She said when a painfully familiar pointy hat showed above the crowd.

Like a ghost from old times, he stepped forward, looking at her behind dense eyebrows, curved staff in his hand. A new scar crossed his forehead.

"You!" Saphira growled at the wizard, making all claps to hush. From his expression, she assumed it wasn't the reaction he hoped to face, but she didn't care. Not paying attention at the pain, she leaped ahead towards him.

"Saphira," He stretched his hands as if to calm her, but she didn't care.

She punched him to the ground, wooden staff dropped from his hand. She heard frightened screams around, but she didn't care.

"You," She repeated in his face, making him flinch. "You are the problem! With your overprotection, you almost killed us all. Come on, say something clever!"

"I…" He was beginning some kind of explanation, but she didn't' care.

"You, you. I was repeating it for some time. Now you will answer some questions," Gandalf just nodded, likely afraid of being interrupted again."Is Bilbo well?" When he nodded again, she asked. "Thorin and others?" Another confirmation.

During all this questioning, she couldn't miss the glint of fear in the wizard's eyes. She a bit leaned back from his face. "My, my. Just yesterday you challenged me and now you are scared of me? You need to make up your mind."

"Saphira I…" Gandalf was going to say something, but she cut him off once more.

"Save your excuses for the dwarves. Oin's death falls not only on my shoulders, but on yours as well," She said with a glint of sadness in her voice.

I failed him.

Saphira shook her head, waving away memories of that night and finally released the wizard from under her paw, offering her head as support for him to stand up, which he gladly accepted.

"Despite how we departed it is still nice to see you alive," Saphira told him, when people started to gather around them, though at a safe and respectful distance.

"You don't know how much I am happy seeing you whole," Wizard replied, gently rubbing her cheek in an apologetic manner. "I expected the worst to happen when I saw him leaving."

"You are used to underestimating me," Saphira said, accepting his touch, closing her eyes.

"I promise I am not going to repeat this mistake again. Ever," He said and Saphira knew he meant it, but despite all these reconciliation speeches, she still could feel some bitterness left between them. Probably they just needed time to heal wounds, made by both of their words. She was willing to do it for their friendship.

"Where are the others?" She asked, breaking the touch and observing all people around them, who looked back at her with respectful fear.

"Thorin remained in Erebor, and so did the others," a shadow crossed the Wizard's face, which soon he hid behind the mask of a smile. "But they are well. There is no need to worry."

She was ready to ask more when multiple shouts rang out and merged into one incomprehensible noise. Saphira and both elf and wizard looked towards it just before a band of dwarves overtook them. They stopped for a moment, looking at her, disbelieving and almost shocked, before running at her.

"We thought that bastard of worm dragged you down with him when the lighting struck," Bofur shouted before hugging her leg tightly, making her hiss in pain. He quickly withdrew, worry in his eyes.

"They will have to try harder to take me down, though this time they were pretty near, I have to admit that. And there is no need to worry about my injuries. They will heal," She assured him.

But some invisible scars will be permanent.

"We are just happy to see you," Kili said, dragging Saphira's attention. Beside him she noticed the same she-elf that she saw back in the town. Only now she paid enough attention to notice his different behavior towards the female elf.

"You should have told me where you had gone, Legolas," She-elf spoke in the Ancient language. Her voice sounded light, as the singsong, very much like the elves spoke in Alagaesia, but both she and Legolas by appearance reminded her more of Eragon than the Alagaesian elves. Especially their more human-like face traits.

"There was no time for it. I was in a hurry," Legolas replied simply, taking a glance at Saphira.

She-elf nodded then referred to Sahira.

"I am afraid we didn't meet properly, dragoness."

"As Legolas said, there was no time for it," She said, sitting on her hind legs, seeing that this conversation was going to take time.

It seemed that she-elf liked her answer.

"Indeed, there wasn't," She grinned, before speaking in common language. "I must admit I saw, like everyone else in our Kingdom, less sense in Legolas' decision to release you and the dwarf. Even less when he decided to go after you. But now I see," the ehe-elf bowed towards her. "I believe others will see that as well when they hear that Saphira Stormcleaver has defeated and made an end of Smaug the Terrible!"

The wave of cheers rippled through the crowd. The dwarves roared the loudest of everyone.

They didn't know that only because of lighting and some factor of luck she was standing here. She just remained here, pretending that she enjoyed all this glory, but feeling empty inside. But they won't understand. None of them. Eragon would. She could tell him how she feels without him, how meaningless all this applause is to her. And he would understand. He always did. But he wasn't here. Maybe Gandalf could see what troubles her, but she didn't want to speak with him about such topics. Not yet.

"Imagine the feast Thorin is going to host in your honor!" Saphira was awoken from her thoughts by Fili's voice. "The halls will be filled with songs and lights once again. There will be enough regales and drinks to fill anyone's belly, even yours, Saphira!"

The crowd cheered again, even louder after mentioning feasts and food.

"It is hard to quench the hunger of the dragon. Don't promise what you might not be able to fulfill," Was Saphira's answer, making them all laugh again.

Gandalf's seriousness during these talks didn't slip past her eyes.

"Talking about Thorin and the Mountain, we should move further," Kili said, looking at the sun, which intended to hide behind the line of horizon soon.

"He is right. We must cross the desolation of Smaug before the sunset. Someone needs to change the name of it now that Smaug is gone," Gandalf muttered, already starting going upwards towards the Lonely mountain.

Saphira raised her aching body, following the way towards the mountain, which now was fully covered under the white surface.

"When you sent me away, what happened in the Mountain?" The curiosity got over her and she asked, both dwarves and wizard. "I saw many bruises on Smaug."

"You dragons are tougher than anyone could realize," Gandalf darkly chuckled. "I brought down the ceiling on his head. But as you could see, it did little damage to that worm. Later I couldn't stop him from flying away to you."

"You know it would have been easier for us to overcome him together," Saphira could see that the wizard was ashamed of his failure, but she couldn't stop herself from pointing it out. She wished so much that it would have been Gandalf who made the end of the golden dragon. But they couldn't understand how much it cost for her to condemn the dragon race by her own. Eragon would…

"I know now, but even the wisest can't see the future or how the events might turn. You, better than anyone, know that staying in the past and wondering what would have been if we made different decisions won't bring any benefit; it will bring only sadness."

"You are right, but looking at mistakes we made in the past can help to avoid mistakes in the future," Saphira said not lowering her glare at him.

"I did apologize, didn't I?" Gandalf said after some time had passed.

"You did," She shortly answered, leaving unspoken words to hang in the air. Gandalf decided to not to prolong this conversation as well.

Saphira caught the look of the child, carried by a man. His curious, small eyes followed her every movement, observing the smallest details. Not every day you see a living dragon. She decided to play a little, mostly to wave away the oppressive mood after her talk with Gandalf. She deeply breathed and loudly snorted with her nose releasing a cloud of black smoke. The child heartily laughed, catching black balls of smoke with his little hands. Saphira grinned at the sight.

"Children like you," a man with a weathered face beside her said. His eyes were like an eagle's; his slight grin looked improper on his strict face. He appeared to her familiar, just like the two girls next to him.

"I saw you somewhere, but I don't recall where," She told him.

"I am not surprised. It was quite dark then," The man replied and pulled out from his quiver one of the black arrows. "Maybe this will help you to remember."

"Oh, our famous bowman," She stated, surprised that she didn't recognize him earlier. "I wasn't sure if you survived that hit."

"I had unfinished business. Couldn't just pass away like this," He shrugged and hugged one of the girls, or as Saphira guessed, one of his daughters. "Though, you solved one of the issues."

Saphira realized she liked the man.

"I tend to solve others' business quite often."

The man offered one of his sad grins.

"I am glad it was solved," He said and looked straight at her for the first time during their conversation. "And thankful. We all owe you."

"I was saving my own life. It just happened that we were on the same side," Saphira replied, saying only half of the truth.

"Maybe for others it would look exactly like this, but I know and saw like everyone else what you did there. I am in your debt for my own and my children lives."

"You can stop repeating it. Dragons here don't know what it means," She didn't want his or other peoples' gratitude for what she did. They wouldn't understand...

"But you are not like the dragons here," The man pushed further.

"Well, just like you," She answered in his statement with a statement. "You alone grabbed a bow and tried to kill the beast, no one else. And people around here respect you. Are you their leader?"

"Not by my own wish," Man this time grimaced slightly, showing his dissatisfaction.

Just like Eragon when someone entrusts him with a leadership.

"They have chosen well, Bowman," She encouraged him.

"Bard. My name is Bard," He corrected her, though politely.

"Then Bard the Bowman it is," She said stubbornly.

He looked at her as to argue further, but in the end, just shook his head.

"Alright, have your way, Dragon."

"Saphira. And no, it is not Saphira the Dragon," She smirked, but that smirk quickly faded after his words.

"Then Saphira the Stormcleaver it is," He said, rewarding her with a witty, unusual smile of his.

Saphira eyed him but remained cool. "Your tongue is sharp as your arrows, Bard the Bowman. Don't lose your head because of it."

The man just hummed in response, suddenly lost in his thoughts.

At that time the convoy of survivors crossed so-called Desolation of Smaug and reached one of the last smaller hills before the Lonely Mountain. The further she went, the less pain she would feel. Few times Saphira would spread her wings against the red dusk's light. The more she stretched her wings, the less pain she would feel tomorrow.

Soon she even offered to carry some of the children, who after the trick with her nose were even more interested in her. Parents in every way tried to refuse, saying that would never shame her, but between her own and the children's insistence , they had only one option - to give up. They laid a wide cloth on her back, to protect the children's soft skin from her sharp scales and one by one they lifted little humans on her. They would cheer and laugh on her back when she made a sharp turn or shake.

We never had time for that. To enjoy life, She thought bitterly about her and Eragon, when another torrent of laughter erupted.

Legolas gave another wave of laughter after seeing her. Others joined him. Even Gandalf smiled. For a moment everyone forgot the horrors of the previous night. It was just this happy moment.

But it was only a moment. Out of nowhere approached a boy. Breathless, he ran straight to Bard, only stopping before her. He slightly nodded and whispered. "Stormcleaver," before turning to the Bowman.

"Sir. There is something," He said, deeply breathing and pointing over the hill's top.

The leader's face darkened. "What is it? What did you see?"

"I don't know for sure, but it looks like an army," The boy looked scared enough for Saphira to believe him. "You should see it for yourself. I am sorry."

"Don't be sorry, boy. You did your duty and reported what you saw. Now rest," Bard the Bowman said firmly and started walking to the direction where the boy pointed.

"I am sorry, children. But now you must climb down," Saphira said them gently, turning her head at them.

The groans of disappointment sung, but they didn't dare to disobey the dragoness. When every child was on the ground, she waited until a few men dragged the cloth from her back away. Adults looked worried, glancing at each other and searching for the answers they didn't know.

With medium pace, she sided with Bowman, who already had passed the part of the hill.

"What do you think it is?" He asked.

"I don't know," She replied honestly. "Soon we will find out."

Both elves were quick to catch them. Legolas looked calm and even smiled when she looked at him, while she-elf was more anxious of something.

They reached the top of the hill, looking at the field under them. Not a field. A true army. Army of elves. Their golden armor weakly glinted into the evening light. Spears, long and sharp, resided in most of their hands. They seemed to be preparing the camp for the night. Saphira looked further above the army, where the gates of Erebor stood. There was no chance to get there, not facing the army of elves. Not by ground at least.

"It seems that your boy has eyes of an experienced military leader, Bowman. There truly is an army," Saphira mused loudly, before noticing the group of riders coming their way. "Who are they?" She asked.

"It is my father, King Thranduil, with his royal guards," Replied the elf, all his exhilaration evaporated. It was the same elf she once met near the gates of the Elven Kingdom. This elf could kill. "He and his general. His name is Varion."

A/N

I don't expect for you to remember his name, so this is the same elven general Eragon is going to fight in his storyline. If someone didn't realize, the chapter began with Saphira's hatching scene. I wanted to show how important Eragon was to her even when she was in the mere egg.

As to explain myself why I didn't update my story... 70% of the blame goes to Final exams. Yes, I finished school. Yay! I guess... 20% goes to French lessons. Suddenly I decided to learn this language. And 10% for my laziness. Summer can turn you in a really lazy mood and all you want to do is stay on the beach. So I am sorry. There is almost no time left for writing. I have the 1st chapter of five different stories I want finally to write! But I give all remains of time for this story I hope you still love. I am always anxious not to fail my readers. Not counting updating schedule, haha. (quiet sobbing)

I hope to give you at least one more chapter this summer. Flickyface- you are awesome, you all are, but only after her reminder, I found the will to finally finish the chapter. Kick in the butt would help me more though...

See you soon where the battle rages near Lothlorien...