Chapter 7: New Friends
The moment Yúla woke up, she knew something was wrong.
It wasn't the same feeling she gets when something urgently required her attention, but nor was it nothing. Just the odd feeling of missing something important that wasn't leaving her mind alone.
The feeling of a small pressure attempting to lift her wing membrane might also have been the cause.
Opening her eyes, she was greeted with the sight of Ídhaiamrûn attempting to escape her coils by lifting on her wings. The scene in front of her was rather silly if it wasn't for the small issue that her friend looked like he had been doing this for some time now.
Her elf appeared to be sweating profusely and breathing heavily as he stood atop one of her tail coils. He was attempting to lift her wing, seemingly trying his best to both remain quiet in his actions while using his full strength to do so. His supplies were on his back as he tried to escape the accidental prison she placed him in.
Embarrassed, she lifted her wing for him, causing him to lose his balance for a moment. Steadying himself by placing his hands and feet on the tail he found himself previously standing on. Looking over, he spotted her large sapphire eyes staring back at him.
A moment of silence came and went as the two studied each other, and the words he spoke before she began her slumber came to her mind.
"Sleep now, dear Yúla, for you are in the company of one who loves you for who you are, not what you are."
That phrase has caused far more turmoil in her mind the more she thought of it than she thought it might have.
Did he truly mean that? Was it just the elvish way of being overly sentimental? What does love even feel like?
She read about such things in the stories and books over the years, but no one ever thought to explain what it actually was. She thought she knew what it meant, but the ancient stories she heard over the years of her elvish education came to mind. Sadly, her mind supplied one single thing that didn't fit in any of them.
She knew what familial love was. She felt the tender care and saw the proud smiles of Radagast when she was younger, but what she was currently pondering was something different altogether.
Elves loved elves, and sometimes men. Dwarves loved dwarves, but typically didn't get along with others. Men were short lived, and loved as much as they hated…
What did the stories say about dragons? Dragons only loved gold, if it could even be called love. They were selfish creatures that couldn't love anyone but themselves and their plunder. Was she truly so different as to change that? To feel something different?
Her actions when she took Moria showed that deep down, she wasn't all too different to her kin than she first assumed. The fleeing and cowering orcs still brought a ferocious primal excitement within her, showing that she was just as capable as her kin when it comes to ferocious actions.
Looking deeply into the forest green eyes of Ídhaimrûn, she saw as his face morphed into a soft but caring smile. He seemed genuinely happy to see her awake, though she couldn't tell if that was only because she freed him from the trap of her own selfish making or something different. Adjusting himself to sit properly on the piece of her tail he was on, he spoke up.
"Good morning, oh great sleepy one."
Feeling the not-fire warmth blossom up within her chest again, she gave him a fang-filled smile in return. In the end, she decided that her chaotic thoughts didn't matter right now. She learned long ago that her instincts would guide her correctly. Worrying about things she didn't know would get her nowhere. For now, she will operate as she always had until her instincts told her otherwise.
Seeing the utter darkness around the two of them peeking through her now opened coil-prison, she decided to make an observation.
"Are we sure it is morning? How long have I been asleep anyway?"
Uncoiling from her curled position, she made sure not to move the part of her tail that her friend was perched on. Looking around, her eyes long adjusted to the darkness, she saw the ruined remains of the bridge in front of her. The gold wagons are still sitting on the other side, untouched from the day before…
… along with the decapitated horned head of the balrog…
Hearing her friend's feet impacting the stony ground, she finally moved her tail carefully away from the elf so as not to squish him. The motion immediately told her that once again her great muscles were cramped and sore from sleeping so still on a hard flat surface. Her armored scales poked and prodded into her hide beneath her armor, making the next motions of wriggling and stretching unsurprising.
"To be honest? I don't know. I began to stir some time ago, but the darkness of this place seems to be all consuming."
Finished with her morning stretches, she decided that she would begin to settle into her new home. She knew well that there had to be plenty of orcs remaining, along with many unexplored cracks and crevices in her new kingdom that held ancient treasures and forgotten crafts.
Knowing she didn't need to explore her new home alone, she placed a wing on the ground in front of her… friend?
Friend?
No. Gandalf was her friend. Glorfindel was her friend. Elrond was her friend. Her instincts told her that Ídhaimrûn was something more, though she didn't know exactly what.
I thought I was done with these thoughts!
"Yúla? What are you doing?"
Shaking her thoughts off once again, she looked down to the elf who was staring in disbelief toward the gesture.
"I wish to explore my new kingdom. Do you not wish to come with me?"
The elf looked unsure of something as he stared down the makeshift ramp. He took a moment to organize his thoughts, speaking up after a moment.
"You wish for me to ride upon your back again? Are you sure? I don't wish to degrade you to the role of a steed Yúla."
She was surprised at his observation, before a soft amusement boiled up from within her. Snaking her head down, she snorted a bit of smoke in his face in return for the small insinuation that she could even be equated to the small prey animals they called horses.
"I am no mere mode of transportation, nor am I a steed! None shall share the skies upon my back with me unless I allow them to, and the only one I will allow to do so is you, Ídhaimrûn."
She meant it. She felt a bond between them now, one that she still needed to puzzle out in her mind, but he was the closest one to her, sharing her own love of flying and the skies unlike any other. The spot perched on her back between her wings was his spot, and no one else shall share it with him.
If anyone else ever tried, she would eat them. If she ever needed to fly someone else, she would use her claws to carry them as she initially intended to with her elf.
Ídhaimrûn seemed stunned at her declaration, his green eyes widening in surprise before softening again. Bowing deeply, the elf almost seemed to topple himself over as he spoke his response toward the dark stone floor.
"I… I don't know what to say…"
Snaking her head down, she gently bopped him on the back with her muzzle, sending him to the floor with a soft grunt of surprise. After only a second of floundering on the ground, their eyes met once again as forest green met deep sapphire.
"Then don't say anything at all, as the only reason I have made this choice is because I care for you deeply. Come now, we have a newly claimed kingdom to explore!"
Slowly, he got back to his feet and began to climb atop her back once again. She could feel the weight immediately, knowing that he settled into the same spot he had previously. Unlike last time, it felt comforting knowing he was with her.
Jumping clear over the gap, the dragoness landed roughly on the other side. Immediately, she smelled the scent of gold and mithril. Precious metals stacked in several carts strewn about from the chaos she brought with her. Sadly, despite the happy knowledge that the several carts she saw from her angle while fighting was not in fact all of the loot the orcs almost took from Moria, Yúla knew full well that she still needed to deal with the issue that there was still an army of orcs in her home.
Scenting the air, she began to follow the worst scent trail of rotten flesh she could find.
Time to hunt some orc!
Following the trail, she wound herself through several different passageways. Keeping her wings close to her body, she was careful to use the appendages to protect the elf on her back as she scanned the darkened surroundings.
Throughout her journey, one thing became clear. The trail she was following was leading deeper into the darkness. Down massive stone staircases, around spiraling corridors, and through massive deep tunnels the two descended, going deeper and deeper into the darkness of Moria.
Eventually, she began to hear noises. Growls and snarls and screams. Some were definitely orcish, but some sounded like beasts. The feral growls and roars becoming a confusing turn of events.
Finding herself in a long circular hallway leading somewhere, she continued onward. Squeezing through a small archway that led into a much much larger room, she heard her elvish friend whisper quietly to her even as she found the source of the strange sounds.
"I can't see a thing… What is out there?"
But Yúla could, and what she saw caused her fire to ignite against her consent. This dim light emanating from in between her scales, incidentally, allows the elf to perceive the surroundings as well.
Cages. Some large and some small, all of which were made of crudely welded metal. They circled the entire large room, with a large amount of strange creatures inside. The scents of the room were a bit confusing to the dragoness however, as while the scent of orc was obvious, the scent of beast and man was not.
Scanning the surroundings, she watched as the entire room didn't even pay attention to her arrival. Somewhat surprising considering her clawed feet resounded throughout the hallways as she walked, but the loud roars of the beasts and the clanging of chains and bindings was certainly loud enough already.
Some were chained to walls, others to the floor. Unable to move, the most free out of all of them were the ones in cages much too small for them. There were whip marks and several of them, and several that were still attached to the walls were definitely dead, still dangling in the confined position they were in when they were alive.
Yúla sometimes didn't understand the lives of those that were smaller than her. The farmlands and livestock that grazed upon it always seemed to baffle her. The hunt and chase was the best part of any meal, with fences and domesticated creatures removing any sense of sport.
But this?
This was the worst thing she had ever seen in her life. The conditions here, even for prey and animals, were horrific. The prey couldn't even move, strapped to walls and floors in compromising and degrading positions…
Glancing back to the perpetrators of such a heinous act, she spotted the orcs. She was sure they would have heard the deep threatening rumble that built up within her throat, but she was surprised as they ignored her.
It seemed the distracted orcs were focused on what appeared to be their meal. One of the beasts, which appeared to be a large bear, was sprawled out dead in front of one of the cages. The orcs were happily digging in with their faces and hands bloody, the loud roars of the creature's companions as they thrashed against their bindings to no avail.
Strangely enough, there were also several large men and women chained up as well. The two legged people seemed to be just as angry at what the orcs were doing as the beasts were, but Yúla didn't quite care about that.
This was one of the worst things she has ever seen. Sure, she felt chained by circumstances and caged by other's feelings about her, but she never had to live with literal chains or actual cages like that. She felt truly sorry for the creatures, and that empathy quickly turned into pure red-hot rage for the ones that caused it.
Deciding to fully announce her presence, she let out a deafening roar. The bellowing challenge was immediately noticed by all those present. The orcs all looked up in terror, the crimson blood reflecting off the orange glow of her scales ominously.
They had no chance, and the deed was done before many of them even knew what was happening.
Giving the orcs the same treatment that they were giving the poor deceased creature, several of the orcs disappeared down her gullet. Others met a fiery end, and the last of them were dispatched by her claws.
After what could have only been a minute of bloodshed, the room fell into deathly silence.
The caged creatures didn't make a sound, as if even breathing would draw the firedrake's attention. The chains no longer rattled as over a hundred tired eyes were suddenly on her. Giant bears, tall men, and even a few massive wolves and similar other creatures were suddenly looking at her with fear in their eyes. Adrenaline filling their veins, she knew they wished to flee, but their restraints prevented any motions at all.
After a moment, some of them appeared to accept whatever fate their mind thought she would dish out. One by one, two by two, they all lowered their heads in submission and acceptance. They were defeated, beaten and scarred as they stared down what they knew was their fiery end.
And it would have been, if she had been any other dragon. As it was however, she wasn't going to kill them just for existing in her new home.
No, she wished to set them free, but the moment she thought of it she realized it would be a massive undertaking. These creatures wouldn't be able to understand her, as wolves and bears weren't exactly known for their fluent language skills.
"Ídhaimrûn?"
The elf, still astride her back, spoke up quietly.
"Yes?"
Snaking her head back, she locked eyes with the elf.
"What should I do? I wish to free them, but I don't know how."
Several gasps at the revelation went through the crowd of trapped prey, surprised at her words. She ignored them however as her elvish friend glanced around and examined their new predicament. At this point there was enough fire from the burning orcs for him to see properly. After only a moment, he whispered a response back.
"If we set them free, how will we lead them to safety? The men I can understand, but some of the other creatures might not-"
"We are not beasts!"
The two companions looked over to see as one of the massive wolves shifted. Bones bent and fur receded into the shape of a two-legged creature. After only a second, a large female human replaced the wolf, but the chains and bindings shifted with her. Still forced into having her wrists cut and sliced with the transformation, she cringed but remained as stoic as she could, staring up at the dragoness from the floor she was binded to.
The wolf-woman seemed to be calculating something on the ground, shifting her eyes over to a cage that held several different small humans. A tear rolled down her eye before she turned back to Yúla with determination replacing the sadness.
"Set my people free… please. I beg of you… I have no gold or offer, but if you wish it I will bind myself to you as a servant… I will do anything! Please, just let them go."
Blinking, she brought her large horned head down to the wolf-woman. Studying her closely, Yúla realized that the scars and bruises on this creature were severe. Stripes from whips and purple bruises were almost painted all along the back of this person, forced by chains to the floor even as she looked up pleadingly to the dragoness.
Even when beaten, scarred, and bound to the stony ground, this person was strong. Strong enough to try and negotiate with a dragon while on the brink of death.
Yúla respected that.
Confused at the strange offer however, the dragoness tilted her head.
"I would have thought one like you would be rather tired of chains and cages, and yet you wish to bind yourself to me? Why?"
Gritting her teeth, another tear fell from her as she spoke up.
"My clan and my children are more important than anything to me. Please, I beg of you, let them go."
Memorizing this person's scent for a second, she snorted in amusement. Yúla watched as devastation came across the woman's face with each sniff. It took only a moment for the dragoness to understand why.
She thinks I'm scenting her for a meal.
"Here, let me help you."
Ídhaimrûn's voice called out from beside the bound wolf-woman, his hands reaching for one of the bindings. The moment her eyes met his, they went absolutely massive.
"An elf? W-what…?"
The melodic chuckles of the painter rang through the darkness, a strange sound for such an evil place.
"You are quite lucky, you know. Any other dragon, and you would be eaten by now to be sure."
Undoing the first metal binding with a loud clang, Yúla noticed that there was significant discoloration where the metal used to be. This person was most likely bound to that floor for quite some time.
Yesterday, her slaughter of the orcs was entirely selfish. She claimed her home, and these orcs were intruding upon it. The hardened and fierce predator instincts were all that drove her to end each one quickly and efficiently.
But now? Now she knew just who it was that used to be living here. Now she knew just how evil these orcs could be. Stories in ancient dusty tomes, read to her by Glorfindel didn't do the malice and cruelty justice.
Now, once she found any more orcs in her new home, she would play with her food.
"I refuse your offer."
With her arms free for the first time in an uncountable amount of time, the wolf-woman sat up. Devastated eyes looked up from the ground even as Ídhaimrûn began to free her legs.
"I need no oath of fealty, nor do I wish for it. No. If you people are not beasts, then you deserve to be free."
Surprisingly, the woman didn't react to Yúla's words immediately. Everyone just sat quietly as the elf continued with his work.
With two more clangs to the floor, the woman was freed but she didn't move. She appeared to almost be in shock from Yúla's words, unable to even form words. There was a small glimmer though, a spark of hope and determination that wasn't there before as she slowly came to the realization that this was her chance.
All of their chances.
Ídhaimrûn moved to place his winter coat on her bare body, covering her in clothes. Considering her reaction of flinching, almost as if she was struck, the two realized that it must have been quite some time since she had worn anything at all.
The elf looked up to the black dragoness, gesturing around them to the crowd of bound people.
"How will you get them out? The bridge of Khazad-dûm is down… unless you wish to ferry them across the gap yourself?"
Blinking, Yúla almost planted her face into the ground. Her decision to trap the orcs inside Moria by destroying the bridge lead her to essentially becoming a jumping ferry, holding one or two of these people in her claws as she jumps over the gap she herself made.
Growling, she nodded reluctantly. She made the decision, and now she needed to live with it.
"There is another way out."
The two looked back down to the woman who was now getting to her feet. The spark of determination was now a raging inferno as she realized that Yúla wasn't lying to her.
"I heard the orcs talking about it, though none knew how to get through it. Something about a western gate across the mines…"
Blinking, Yúla realized that the orcs could use such an exit to escape from her.
Well that just won't do!
Sadly, her bloodlust was tempered by reason. These people could not defend themselves. They were weak and starving from the time stuck down here.
"If you are speaking honestly about freeing us, then the western gate is our best option."
Ídhaimrûn also spoke up as he began to move towards the cage the woman was looking at previously.
"Not to mention, if it opens up on the other side of the misty mountains, we can take these people to Rivendell for healing. I'm sure Lord Elrond will help them."
Nodding, the dragoness looked out toward the blackened exit. This was certain to be a large undertaking, but it mattered not. These people needed help, and despite her teeth and claws and fire, she was the only one that could do so.
"Mama!"
Hearing the small voices, Yúla turned to see three small humans run outside of the metal cage they were trapped in. Sprinting over with an energy they really shouldn't have, the dragoness watched as they crashed into the weak woman, sending all four toppling to the ground. Despite the weakness shown between all four, the beaming smiles were easy to see.
Smiling, the dragoness sat down as she waited for the family to finish. Hugs and nuzzles were given and received by all four as the small family was reunited.
The scene was heartwarming. Yúla didn't have much when it came to family, the only one she considered anything close was her old caretaker in the woods.
Radagast.
She hasn't seen the wizard in almost sixty years now. The last time she saw him was when she was still small enough to wrap her arms around him in a hug.
The memory of the old shack in the woods and all the old memories of the brown wizard filled her with nostalgia. It wasn't the first time over the years that she thought about her old caretaker, wishing to see him again. Watching this family reunite made her wish she could nuzzle and hug him in a similar way to these younglings.
He was never truly just a caretaker to me… He raised me as best he could despite the difficulties I gave him, and I miss him dearly.
She vowed that once her nest was cleared fully and these humans were free of her home, she would visit him again.
Immediately, the thought of her descending from the skies over Rhosgobel, scaring the poor wizard and his rodent friends before she could explain. Even the imagined look on his face caused her to laugh uproariously.
The deep bellows from her mirth caused the entire room to once again go silent. The family stopped as the two eldest children pulled the youngest behind them and prepared for anything. The mother did the best she could, but the weakness of her body became clear as she struggled to even get to her feet.
Noticing the mood shift, Yúla calmed her emotions down so she could properly explain. Taking in a deep breath, she shook her head.
"Sorry, you just reminded me I need to visit my father… I haven't seen him in quite some time."
A soft smile came across the mother's face, as she spoke up.
"The legendary disdain and ferocity of dragons is misunderstood it seems." The wolf-woman said, placing a shaky hand on her chest and bowing her head low. "My name is Rowena. I was once the leader of the skinchangers in these mountains, but now… Now I would be happy to leave this accursed place behind forever."
Bowing her head low, she nearly placed her chin on the ground in front of the woman.
"I am known by the elves as Morrovalùr."
For some reason unknown to her, her mind went back to the silly lessons that Radagast used to give her. The childish greeting that he taught her came to mind, and for the first time since meeting Gandalf back in Rhosgobel, she decided to use it.
"Want to be friends?"
The shocked look on the woman's face was entirely worth it. Sadly, Rowena didn't quite regain her bearings before one of her younglings answered.
"Yes please!"
Turning her attention to the small one, she saw as she shrunk under the firedrake's attention. Wanting to capitalize on the fleeting moment of bravery this child had, Yúla began to lower herself to the ground. Sadly, the loud reverberating echo of Yúla's full weight impacting the ground only caused the small female child to shrink back into her terror even more.
Well I can't have that, now can I?
Placing as much of her want to gain a new friend into her voice as she could, she almost felt the magic take hold as she spoke up. The dragoness felt a bit guilty for using her dragonspell in such a way, but she meant them no harm and this seemed to be the best way of convincing them of such.
"And what is your name, brave one?"
The spell worked like a charm, immediately causing the child to come back out of their figurative shell.
"M' name's Freya." The child said, a beaming smile filling her face. Gesturing to her eldest and youngest familial companions, she continued. "And these're my brothers, Byron an' Beorn!"
Feeling blissful that despite the situation due to how this was going far more smoothly than the other men she met not too long ago, Yúla felt a soft protective instinct begin to take over. Smiling down to the younglings, she made both herself and them a promise.
In her mind, she claimed ownership over these people. They were hers now, and no one would ever hurt them again.
"Don't worry little one, I'm going to get you out of here."
-OtWoF-
Sadly it took much longer to get all of the strange animal-people free, as some of the bindings were apparently enchanted to never be removed, but the group was eventually able to move. Several chains and cuffs were still attached to the wrists and necks of some, but Yúla hoped that Elrond might be able to do something about that when they arrived.
She had long since decided that Rivendell would be the best place for these refugees. The healing lord would be arguably the best spot for them to be, and she needed to return for her personal treasures anyway.
Eventually, Ídhaimrûn returned to his spot upon her back and the entire group of skinchangers were following her down the darkened dwarven hallways. A quick glance of everyone before she began showed that her initial examination was correct and there were over a hundred of them that were alive. They are in varying stages of being wounded and weak, but the dragoness vowed to get them out.
The initial issue was feeding and giving them water, but apparently there was a storeroom right next to the chamber they were in. The explanation as to why made Yúla's blood boil all over again.
"Azog placed the food just out of reach as he starved us. The pale orc found some sadistic pleasure watching our children starve to death with food within sight, so close yet still out of reach."
Shaking that infuriating thought away, she continued to scent the air. The stench of orc was all around them, but that didn't matter too much. They already had bumped into several packs of the creatures, but it always ended the same way.
Food to fuel the fire.
Eventually after what felt like several days of trekking through the ancient dwarven kingdom, the group came across a deep open pit. Ropes and chains were dangling from every surface that the dragoness could see, all with chairs and platforms on them.
Shoddy wooden bridges connected either side with pillars of stone sprouting up in webs up and down the mine, connecting both sides. Convenient for someone who could cross them, but not so much for Yúla. The hole itself was massive, but not wide enough for her to fly freely without extreme care to where her wings were.
What is this?
"The deep mines of Moria."
Ídhaimrûn's voice echoed through the area, resounding through the mines. Looking down, Yúla honestly couldn't tell how deep it was.
Feeling childish, she found a large boulder and tossed it in and waited… and waited… and waited…
Blinking when she didn't hear any crash like she expected, she continued to stare down into the blackness. Her thoughts of exactly how deep this place is was interrupted as Rowena spoke up.
"I heard the old guards talking about a sometimes glowing door at the end of the mine trail… Do you see a trail?"
Looking around, she saw as the open path they were on tapered off into a very shallow winding path that hugged the wall, along with several others. There were an almost uncountable number of paths along the wall in fact, and it almost disheartened her until she noticed they all seemed to lead in a single direction. All the paths seemed to converge on a single 'floor' and from there crossed over to the other side.
She could spot where it led, but she would never be able to follow these tiny trails. Her only way across was to glide across with a short jump, then use the paths to cling to the wall and climb her way around.
Shifting herself so her elf would be able to dismount, she spoke up.
"Ídhaimrûn, I need you to lead them on. I am going to climb across and do not wish for you to fall."
Feeling the elf climbing down her wing, she readied herself and leaped. Reaching the far end quickly, the earth shook and dust fell from above as she clung to the side. The screeching and panicked yells of orcs could be heard throughout the entire mine, telling her they were using the vast pit to hide from her.
For now, she would focus on her pack of strange animal-men, but these mines will be alight with fire and smoke by month's end.
Shuffling and clambering her way up, she eventually came to a bridge-like platform that seemed to be large enough for two carts to cross. The bridge appeared to just be a flattened out natural rock-bridge between both sides of the mine. Poking her head up and over, she watched as a single orc turned and sprinted down a hallway large enough for her to fit in. Looking down, she saw that it continued on for quite some time, and she also smelled orcs. Far more than just that one scurrying away from her.
One thing she noticed after she woke up was the profound lack of orc and goblin army in her home. Sure, she did a lot of damage to them the day prior, but there still should have been enough of them to be a constant nuisance.
This is where they are hiding!
Slithering her way into the hallway, she felt her fire climbing its way to her throat. The memories of caged younglings and tortured skinchangers coming to the forefront of her mind. If this was the way out, then a small legion of orcs now stood between the scarred people and freedom.
Growling menacingly, she began to advance through the darkness.
"Come out, come out little orcs, and I will give you the mercy you deserve!"
None.
-OtWoF-
Eventually, the dragoness found the end of the line. She had once again mowed through hundreds of orcs, stomping and burning her way through them all. The straight hallway terrain ended up making the hunt a bit too easy.
The further she went, the heavier the crowding was as her prey all stumbled over each other to escape her wrath.
"~We're trapped! It won't open!~"
"~Bash it open! The dragon is coming!~"
"~You can not escape the fire!~"
And they didn't.
Looking around the remains of the room, her enemy defeated and smoldering, she felt herself calming down as she watched the bodies turning to dust.
Looking at the bodies, she wondered why these orcs were evil. She knew full well that they were, the condition she found the skinchangers in was testament to that, but was she not one of these dark creatures? What made her different from these orcs in the end? If Radagast found a baby orc all that time ago, would the same situation happen?
Is all this darkness simple dark magic corruption, or are their choices their own? Are their choices even their own choices or just the magic of a dark lord within them?
Looking past the destruction she caused, she saw a large door glowing on the far end. Well, at least she assumed it was a door. There were markings that were seemingly glowing with an otherworldly light.
The doors of-
Feeling something touch her right forepaw, she quickly looked down and opened her maw. Ready to unleash her flame, she took in a deep breath….
Only to see a calm Ídhaimrûn with a hand on hers, smiling up to her with no fear.
Shutting her mouth with a loud snap, she watched as the room visibly dimmed as her fire calmed. Horrified at what she almost did, she immediately looked away and pulled her forepaw away from him.
"You are the bravest elf alive, I'm sure of it…"
Looking behind her to find the source of the voice, she saw Rowena standing next to a pile of orc bodies with Ídhaimrûn's coat still over her shoulders.
Her words struck a soft spot in the back of Yúla's mind. The idea that Ídhaimrûn had anything to fear from her was disturbing, and a small bit of anger welled up at the suggestion before she stamped it down.
"He need not fear anything from me. My friends are few and far between, but I value them over any treasure and will protect them as such."
Quietness was her only response as the wolf-woman thought over what the elf said. Her eyes wandered the area for only a moment before she looked down to one of the orc bodies. Running a scarred hand along the remains of a rusted sword, she shook visibly at the sight of it.
"No less than they deserve. Good riddance."
Murmurs of agreement rose up from the group that somehow was able to sneak up on her. Thankfully, the group looked no worse off than she left them.
"I'm assuming that is the doorway out of here?"
Returning her attention to the door, she watched as Ídhaimrûn stepped over to the doorway.
"It says: The doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend, and exit."
The grouping waited for a moment, until one of the younglings spoke up.
"It didn't open. Try speaking louder!"
A chuckle went through the group, only to be followed by a somber silence. They all knew that this door was the single thing standing in their way to the outside world. They had been in here for so long now, and the darkness seemed to be closing in.
Ídhaimrûn seemed to grow focused as he studied the door more closely before turning to Yúla.
"I believe it might be a password door of some kind. I didn't see any sort of keyhole."
Right up until the ones in the very back of the group needed to dodge the suddenly active tail of an excited firedrake. After all, her riddle-crazed draconic mind immediately supplied her with an answer.
"Mellon."
And just like that, the doors began to open and the dragoness had a new favorite door.
"It's a riddle door!" She exclaimed, a beaming smile coming across her face.
The moment the door opened fully, a figure was revealed to be standing in the way. Instantly, everyone became alert.
None more so than Yúla. After all, her elf was the one standing next to the door. Growling deeply, she was careful not to squish any of her new charges as she snaked her way forward. Ready to meet any threat, she was stopped when a familiar form and voice immediately drew her attention.
Grey pointed hat, wooden staff, smoking a pipe…
"Gandalf?"
-OtWoF-
"When you flew off, we all panicked. Galadriel's warning was rather clear, and we wished to stop you before you did something you might regret. Glorfindel and I set out to try and find you, but I must admit… I got a bit stuck behind the western gate."
Snorting, Yúla shook her head even as she waited ahead for the skinchangers to catch up.
"Taking Moria was not something I regret, my friend. The kingdom is mine now, a home away from judgemental eyes and mouths."
A grunt of acknowledgment was all she received as the wizard nodded.
"I had a feeling you would choose this place. Sadly, my skills with opening the door are somewhat lacking. I have been out here for several days now attempting to find the opening words…"
Snorting in amusement, Yúla reiterated what it said.
"The doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend, and enter or exit… I might need to commission a few elves to change two words, but I very much like the riddle. Only my friends may enter…"
Blinking, the wizard looked up to the massive sapphire eye of the dragoness.
"It is a riddle then? Hmm…" Gandalf said, taking a large puff out of his pipe. Blowing a smoke ring, he continued as if nothing happened. "Considering who now resides within those great halls, it is rather fitting."
Laughs came from both wizard and dragon even as the grouping of skinchangers began to catch up. Frustratingly, with Yúla's massive frame and Gandalf's surprisingly well behaved horse, it was easy to see that the two were far faster than the weak grouping of men and animals. They made it to the top of the clearing around a small lake near the western gate. Yúla could still see the doors to her new kingdom, glowing but thankfully shut behind the last person so none of the orcs can escape.
Spotting Ídhaimrûn giving a particularly hurt looking man a drink from his water flask, the dragoness smiled. The elf was kind hearted, free spirited, and a loyal friend. She would be saddened when they finally arrived in Rivendell, certain that the elf would never wish to stay within the dwarven kingdom with her…
No matter how much she wished for him to.
"So now that we are traveling together once more, would you mind telling me what happened after you left?"
Her eyes flicked to the three little children that seemed to be filled with an abundance of energy now that they were free. Rowena seemed to grow stronger by the minute, brightening like a spring flower under sunlight now that she was free.
The sprawling people behind them looked up to her, several of them smiling. She knew for the first time in her entire life, there was a group of people that were not afraid of her. These people could grow to become good friends, willing to talk and share their stories like she wished when she was young.
Ídhaimrûn branched off of the group, making his way to the two waiting ahead. The focused but happy face of her brown haired companion caused a bright smile of her own to form. Without thinking, she lowered a wing for the elf.
Stepping on with no hesitation this time, the elf found his place upon her back. The comforting weight somehow made the fang-filled smile even brighter.
Turning her absolutely blissful smile down to her wizard companion, she took one last look at the closed doors of Moria from above before she began the journey back to Rivendell.
"I finally found where I belong."
-Author's Note-
Hi everyone!
I made the hallways and doorways bigger in Moria. Sue me.
You're telling me that little… well "not so little" miss obsessed with riddles can't use the riddle door?!? Blasphemous! She can fit through it, and y'all will just need to deal with it.
Also I love how absolutely no one remembered that Beorn and the skinchangers were in there gettin tortured by Azog. Everyone's all anticipating dwarves (which her first meeting with dwarves is following the Tolkien canon not the movie canon btw) I felt like taking the line "once there were many, and now there is only one" and running with it.
I love the movies, and I love the books too. Here's the issue here: Tolkien was far FAR more detailed with what happens when in the timelines for anything else outside of the movies. Expect me to ignore a lot of movie canon for the hobbit at the very least.
For those that are unaware, the battle outside of Moria was triggered when Azog cut the head off of Thoror who wandered into Moria by himself 20 years post Smaug, and sent it back to Thrain. The dwarves are still scared of Durin's Bane, which as far as they are aware, is still currently chillin out in Moria.
So while dwarf x Yúla conflict is inevitable, she's got a bit of time to relax in her newfound treasures and contemplate her feelings at the very least. :)
I wanted to take this chapter the whole way to the Radagast reunite, but it just didn't fit. I got about 2600 words written for the next chapter or two already done just from stuff I cut from this one, but I got a bad case of "addicted to destiny 2 crucible" to deal with. Sorry guys!
Oh one more thing. The watcher in the water. Tell me, if you were the watcher, would you want to mess with Yúla? I know I wouldn't. I imagined he flattened himself out and waited for the massive dragon to pass. :P
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