Natasha came back from her memories to find herself at a stream. She sat beneath one of the towering mallorns, gazing out at the water for several minutes, her fingers playing idly with the strap of the bag slung over her shoulder.
It was the bag that Gandalf had passed to her just before they had crossed the Bridge of Kazhadum. Keep it safe. He had charged her before dashing to the head of the Fellowship to guide them through the remainder of Moria. She had completely forgotten it until now, and even at this moment had forgotten that she was fingering the satchel, her fingers simply needing something to keep them busy.
"You should look inside to see your charge." A voice from behind her startled her. Natasha jumped and turned to face the speaker, only to find Lady Galadriel standing only a couple feet from her.
Darn elves and their silent feet. Natasha thought enviously.
Lady Galadriel smiled softly and gestured to where Natasha had been sitting. "May I join you?"
"Of-of course." Natasha stammered, not sure why the Lady of the Wood would wish to visit with her.
Lady Galadriel gracefully sank to the ground and patted the spot next to her, waiting as Natasha slowly sank down beside her, removing the satchel as she sat.
"Gandalf never told me what was in his bag, though I did ask once, he kept adjusting the darn thing one night as though it were uncomfortable." Natasha said, as she set the bag in front of them.
"Open it." the Lady suggested.
Natasha's hands made quick work of the clasp, and she opened the flap to reveal a very large, almost gemstone like egg, gleaming in the sunlight that was filtering through the canopy. Lady Galadriel's gasped and her face went blank as Natasha brushed her fingers over the surface of the egg. It was warm to the touch, and her fingertips were tingling when she drew them away from the egg.
"It is a Dragon's egg." Lady Galadriel finally said, but shook her head when Natasha's head snapped up. "Oh not the kind you've probably heard of, not like Smaug or Glaurung, evil dragons the both of them. No, this is the first kind of dragon, created by Illuvatar when the Song was first sung. This was the dragon that Melkor based his own off of, and though he achieved a rather good copy, he never achieved the full greatness that the original held. And for that, he sent his evil dragons to hunt those of Illuvatar, to destroy them so that only his remained. They are the Third-born, as elves are the First, and humans the Second, though they arrived before humans did in the histories of the elves. They too had been called to Valinor, living on surrounding islands, protecting the bays during the times when Melkor was trying to conquer that Blessed Realm."
Natasha listened quietly, her fingers once again straying to the egg now nestled in her lap.
"The Dragons of Illuvatar were beautiful to behold, on ground, but much more so in the air." Lady Galadriel continued. "Their hides sparkled in the sunlight, though not blindingly. They helped the elves in many of our endeavors, helping us to build our greatest cities, though I do not believe it was ever recorded. If it was, those records were lost when the cities of old fell." Her she smiled sadly, remembering the days of her youth. "After the old cities fell, many of the Dragons went into hiding. I only heard from one or two after Lord Celeborn and I established this kingdom far from the ravages of that distant war. But even that contact faded over the millennia. By the Last Alliance, I had not heard from a Dragon in nearly 3000 years. Many of the younger elves, like Legolas and Aragorn, only know the evil tales of the dragons of Melkor. They would shoot one of Illuvatar's children on sight, mistaking it for the evil ones they have heard of."
Natasha nodded her head, her eyes turning to the egg in her lap. She would have liked to have seen the time when Dragons and elves worked together, but alas that was not her fate, for here she was, possibly cradling the last egg of that great race.
"When do you think this one will hatch?" she asked softly when Lady Galadriel had finished speaking .
"It is hard to say. It could be today or tomorrow, or it could be several hundred years from now. The Dragons had a way of keeping themselves within their eggs until the optimal situation occurred, whether it be plenty of food or plenty of water, or just plain physical safety. Of course, when all these things were provided, eggs usually hatched within a month of being laid, or at least that's how I remember Ilara's clutch hatching. She was a dear friend before I left Valinor." Lady Galadriel smiled again, this time a happier smile. "Keep this egg with you at all times. Do not let the satchel out of your sight."
So saying, she stood and turned to walk away.
"But surely the egg would be safer here, at least until I return from the Quest." Natasha said, confusion clearly written on her face. "And if I do not return perhaps someone could take it with them when they make their way to the Grey Havens."
"It is true that it would be safer here." Lady Galadriel nodded. "But Gandalf entrusted it to you. He did not tell you to bring it to me. He instructed you to keep it safe. And so it must stay with you. He would not have entrusted this task to you without a reason."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Natasha to her thoughts as her fingers glided over the surface of the gleaming egg.