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Chapter 19


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Lady Galadriel,Queen of the Elves, sat beside her husband and King,
Celeborn, and a small smile was set on her lips. A few moments before,
she had heard the horn cry from far below, telling her that the Company
of the Ring had arrived. Also, with them, she knew who was traveling
alongside of them.

She felt a surge of excitement inside her, and a longing to hold the
young girl coming to see her. It had been so long ago since she had
held the child for the first time. She had been an infant, with golden
tufts of hair, and the most beautiful blue-violet eyes she hadn't seen
since the days that Leonians roamed the lands alongside of other elves.
No day had been as sweet as the days when the Leonians were with them,
for they were truly the High Elves. They were one with the balance of
magic and nature, more so than other elves, such was the magic that
created Lorien. Galadriel remembered the recountings of how the
Leonians weilded the elven rings to create Lorien, with aid of their
own magic.

Now, in these darker days, the magic was fading, and with it, the hope
of Elves staying in Middle Earth. But now, just maybe, the future would
become brighter, with the returning of the Leonian child.

She had so much to tell that precious girl, of her heritage, of her
mother and father, of her own powers, and what she must do for Lorien.
Most of all, though, she had to tell the child of the Mana Dragon.

Galadriel kept her eyes trained at the end of the wide, oval hall,
waiting breathlessly for the Company to appear. The great hall was
quiet in anticipation, for since the Company's arrival in the outermost
areas of Lothlorien, word had spread that the last blood of the Last,
the Leonians, had returned home.

Galadriel's smile deepened when she saw Haldir and Legolas appear at
the far end of the hall, and all eyes turned to the entrance, for now
the Company filed in. Breathlessly, she watched them enter, and stood
slowly.

The last to enter was a girl who's height was that of the hobbits' in
the Company, but Galadriel knew who it was. The girl-child froze in the
doorway, as excited whispers chorused through the hall, and the girl's
eyes locked on Galadriel's. On her shoulder sat a large falcon, sitting
proud and quite keenly. It was a beautiful creature.

The girl slowly stepped forward, past the Company, whom all were silent,
and came slowly past the tall elves of the hall, and stopped before
Galadriel.

Azura looked up at Galadriel in awe, her violet eyes wide and shining.
"I know you!" She cried, for she did know the woman. So many times in
dreams of past, she had remembered a smiling face and eyes, and this
face belonged to the woman standing before her.

Galadriel did not hold back her eagerness to greet the child, and cried
out, "I have missed you, Azura!" And with that, she bent and hugged the
child tightly, and wept, for the time lost, and for Lorien, for now
they were saved. The bird upon her shoulder gave a sqwuak, and lifted
off her shoulder with a powerful thrust of it's wings, and flew to Sam,
whom held up his arm and let it land on his arm.

Azura hugged the woman back, feeling like she was hugging her own
mother. The woman was weeping quietly on Azura's shoulder, and she
knew the woman was relieved by her pressence. Azura began to weep,
too, unable to hold back the emotions that surged through her.

After long moments, they parted, and Galadriel stood up, and looked
over the Company and to the elves that had gathered in the hall, and
raised her hands out, and said, "I welcome you, Company of the Ring-bearer,
to Lothlorien.

The Company came and lined up on each side of Azura, and began to sink
into bows. Azura followed their lead, and bowed low, to the beautiful
Lady in white.

She truly was beautiful, in a flowing gown of white, long flowing waves
of gold hair fell around her, like smooth waves of silk. A simple tiara
sat upon her forehead, tightly wound like a piece of ivy, with a single
pale pearl gem set on the tip. Galadriel held a manner, though, with
many layers; wisdom, beauty, grace, all beheld in her eyes.

When the others raised, Azura was slow to follow. She was beggining to
feel quite weak, despite her excitement and joy of being before a person she knew only
in dreams of past. A bead of sweat trickled down her left temple as she stood, and she
quivered lightly when she came to a full stand.

Azura watched as Galadriel calmy rested her gaze upon each of the
Company, as if her gaze probed the inner most desires of each member of
the Fellowship. Finally, the Lady's gaze fell upon her. It was strong
and calm, peaceful and stormy, deep and wavering, all at once. Azura
gave a shudder as images filled her mind.

For a moment, she forgot where she was, and felt she was somewhere else.

She was in a grassy glade, with tall, towering trees, and wild flowers
everywhere. Sunlight dripped through leaves, sending rays of light down
upon the jade-green grass. Soft laughter echoed around her, and she
glanced around herself. She saw elves, like her, towering, beautiful
elves.

She glanced down at herself, and saw that, she too, was tall and beautiful.

"Azura."

Azura's mouth fell open into a soundless gasp, and she turned, and
could not believe her eyes.

Her mother and father stood, flanked by other elves, all looking to her
with loving smiles. Her mother looked as she remembered her, with long
golden hair, and deep gray violet eyes, and that beautiful smile. Her
father. Before, she only remembered snippets of him, his voice and
eyes, at most, but now her heart felt at peace as she stared at the
man she knew was her father. He was tall and noble, with short, dark
hair, and he had her eyes. No, she had his. They shared the eyes she
had always known was his, and she was proud of them.

Others around her parents suddenly seemed familiar, even though she did
not know them. Yet, she did. They were her grandparents and family
before her. Uncles, aunts, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters,
cousins and siblings before her that had existed, and who longed for
her to join them.

"Come home..." He mother said, holding out her hand to Azura, beckoning
her to join them.

Azura numbly raised her arm to grasp her mother's hand, but she stopped
dead at what she heard, suddenly echoeing through the glade.

"Frodo, Mr. Frodo! Don't leave me here alone! It's your Sam calling.
Don't go where I cannot follow! Wake up, Mr. Frodo!"

Words she had heard before, in a state of delirium. She reeled back from
the loving face of her mother, and cried out,"No! Forgive me! I can't
come home yet! Frodo needs me! Frodo!!" Azura cried, looking about the
glade in panick, and suddenly found herself shaking, and looking wildly
about the great hall of the Throne of the Queen and King of Elves.
She was not towering and beautiful, and she was not in a glade. Her
mother did not stand before her, and niether did her father. She
glanced to her side, and Frodo was fine. He was looking intently to the
king and queen, and was perfectly fine.

Azura glanced back at the Lady, and she smiled approvingly to Azura.
What had happened? Had she been tested? Had she passed? Why was she
shown such cruel images, and torn so? She wanted to see her parents,
but the desire to aid Frodo was stronger. It was the Calling, or her
chains that fired her passion to help him now, but her love for him.
For all of them. She knew know, that she would rather die helping them,
that to bring back her family. Azura tried to pay attention to what was
going on in the hall, but her thoughts, and injuries were causing her
to tremble.

She was unaware that her face had grown pale, and her eyes were slowly
become dialated, as things began to grow a little fuzzy around her.
*I'm alright...*She thought to herself, keeping herself focused.
She would not be weak now, her injuries were not as important as
paying heed to the great Queen, her Queen, who stood before her.
She could sense Frodo beside her, but he was also paying attention
the the Lady Galadriel.

"There was word of there being ten in your Company, and yet there are
only nine. Where is Gandalf? I did not sense him enter Lorien, and I
have been longing to speak with him." Galadriel asked, looking intently
to Strider.

Strider's face grew tight with pain, and he replied, in a steady,
forced calm, " Gandalf the Grey fell into the deep shadows. He remained
in Moria and did not escape."

Shock crossed Galadriel's face, and her sorrow was evident in her eyes.
And at these words, all the Elves in the hall cried aloud in grief and
amazement.

Azura swayed a little on her feet, remembering the horror of watching
Gandalf fall into the shadows, with the enormous monstrosity that
describing words failed. It was horrible to remember. The pain of that
memory pained her worst than any wound, even as the nearly mind numbing
fire of her arm began to swell, and spread over her senses. Still, she
fought to stand, rigid and unmoving, breathing harder, which went
unheard over the loud murmur's of grieving.

"Let us hear a recalling of what happened, my dear friend, Aragorn!"
Celeborn said, quieting the Elves in the hall to silence.

Aragorn began to speak, but the pain and nausea was too much for Azura.
Her sight was fading into a blur of darkening color.

Pippin gave a cry from Azura's side as she buckled beside him in
unconsciousness. The Hobbits flew to her side, and stood fearfully over
her.

"Help her!" Sam cried, looking to Strider.

"Curse our fortune! I have forgotten about Azura, forgive me..."
Strider said, kneeling and lifting the small frame of the girl from
the ground. She was still and limp in his arms. He felt her cheek, and
it was dreadfully cold.

All around them, the Elves burts out in cries of dispair and dismay.

"We will have to speak of Moria later. Aragorn, bring her and follow
me." Galadriel said, swiftly walking toward a spiraling staircase.

Merry, Pippin, Frodo, and Sam all folowed closely behind Strider, and
followed him up the staircase. It wound around numerous times as they
found themselves moving higher and higher up into the enormous, but
beautiful tree. Faile had left Sam, and was flying in circles around
Strider, screeching loudly, and beating her wings furiously.

Sam was weeping loudly, and Merry and Pippin too, were crying, fearful
for Azura.

Frodo's face was twisted with worry, but he held back his tears. Tears
wouldn't heal her, and wouldn't help the situation in the least.

Soon, they were at the top of the stairs and came into a large, spacious
room. Wall ornaments and tapestries hung everywhere, and a large bed
sat in the middle. There were tall, slim vases with numerous flowers
along the wall, along with tables and chairs.

Faile flew and settled on a tall standing, unlit, candlebra, ever
watchful. She seemed to be watching Strider, as he carried Azura into
the room.

"Bring her over here." Galadriel said, making way to the bed. She sat
on the edge of the bed, and smoothed the covers next to herself.

Strider laid Azura down gently, making sure not to bump her arm. The
girl's skin had grown quite white, and cold.

Azura groaned in her sleep, her head lolling from the left to the
right.

Frodo, Merry, Sam, and Pippin came and climbed up onto the bed, with a
little trouble as it was raised quite high off the ground, and settled
near Azura, looking over her worridly.

"Help me remove her excess clothing and boots." Galadriel said, softly,
as she began to unlace Azura's boots.

Frodo's hand gave a shiver as he helped Strider unlace Pippin's tunic
that Azura wore, and held her arm still when Strider slid the sleeves
off and when he removed the tunic.

Strider pulled out a small dagger, and carefully cut away Azura's
sleeve, so that her arm was easily accessed.

Frodo grimaced when he saw the bandages on Azura's arm. They were red
and soaked with blood. All this day, she had been saying she was fine.
She never mentioned once that her cut was still bleeding. He didn't
understand why she wouldn't say something, or ask for help.

Galadriel frowned, "What happened to this girl?"

"She was attacked by an orc. She fought bravely, but this is what she
has to show for it." Strider replied.

"Remove her bandages." Galadriel ordered, and closed her eyes, clearing
her mind and relaxing, preparing to do a healing spell. It would take a
great deal of her energy, depending on how great this wound was. She
grimaced, which was unbecoming of the Lady's flawless, beautiful face.
"This girl carries great sorrows and pain within her, I fear her wounds
are deeper than just the obvious physical ones."

Strider carefully began to cut away at the thick wrap of bloody
bandages, his fingers growing slick and stained with fresh blood.
When he began to pull bandages off that had hardened against her skin
when old blood had dried, Azura gave a screech in her unconsciousness,
and began to kick against Strider.

"Hold her down! I have to be careful..." Strider ordered to the
hobbits, pulling back his hands, fearing he might cut her by accident.

"Release me, enemy of my Master!!" Azura cried, kicking against
Strider, a look upon her face as none of them had seen, a look so
terrible, that Strider recoiled in shock and surprise.

It took a moment for Strider and the hobbits to recover. Sam and Frodo
carefully held down her shoulders, and Merry and Pippin held her legs
still, with some diffuculty, but she soon settled to weaker kicks and
turning, and soon fell mostly still.

"I'm...I'm.. lost.." Azura ranted, unaware where she was, and opened
her eyes, which were bloodshot, and her pupils were so large, the
color of her eyes no longer showed. She didn't seem to see them, but
something else. "Mim! Come.. come back... No!!" She screamed, and gave
a screech when Strider pulled off another bandage, which had been
stuck tightly against her skin. "Leave and cause me no more pain!"
She cried.

"What's wrong with her?!" Frodo cried, holding her good shoulder down
with one hand, and stroking her cheek with the other hand. She was so
cold. "Why is she acting like this?" He cried, looking to Strider and
Galadriel.

"She is raving and hallucinating, because she has a fever, from the
wound, the Cold Fever, a illness that can come from some orc blades.
A poison is in the wound, and only my magic, and some few others, can
heal it." Galadriel said. "I.. must concentrate." She said, and began
to chant soundlessly.

Azura began to sob, and Frodo winced because her sorrow pained him,
and bent and kissed her cheek softly, "It's ok, Azura.... I'm here
with you."

"Lost.... lost..." She muttered, her eyes darting here and there, as
if she couldn't see or hear Frodo.

Strider peeled back the last bundle of bandages, and Pippin gave a
cry.

"Oh no!" He cried, and began to weep at the sight of Azura's festering
wound.

It truly was a horrible sight to behold. The skin around the cut had
turned ashen blue, and was covered slickly with blood and pus, which
both flowed freely from the wound. The cut itself was wide open, with
pink flesh upturned and muscle showing.

"I have failed you..." Strider siad, grimacing and resting his face in
his hands. "I have tried to be a leader in Gandalf's place, but I have
failed in helping you..."

"Don't say things like that! She isn't dead, Strider!" Merry cried,
his cheeks flushed and stained with tears. Merry looked back down to
Azura "She's strong, more so than any of us! She's risked herself for
us so many times... she... she won't die now! And you acting like that
will not help her!"

Strider looked down at Merry, and smiled, "You are right, my friend."

Galadriel moved and leaned over Azura, and her hands began to glow
bright white. Small, sifting balls of white light fluttered to Azura's
wound, and began dancing over it. Galadriel moved her hands to hover
over Azura's wound, and touched her hands to the wounds.

Azura shrieked loudly in pain, and began to convulse, despite the
fact that the hobbits, and now even Strider, was holding her still.

"I.. am... I must leave!" Azura cried, sobbing hysterically. "They
need me! They are calling me! Always... always calling..."

Below, Legolas and the others were looking up to the room high above
them, with worried expressions.

"Have faith in the Lady..." Legolas murmured, reassuring himself that
Azura would be alright. She had to be alright. He felt a twinge of
guilt for that a main reason he wished for her well being was for the sake of
Lothlorien. He did care about her, but he wanted her to help Lorien, and it was too
much for him to believe that he only cared for Lothlorien, he didn't wat to think
of it now. Azura was too sweet to deserve that manipulation, he didn't just
care for her survival just so she could help Lorien, he cared about her too,
as she was such a great friend, especially to Frodo and the other hobbits.

Gimli wiped his dirty cheek, wiping away a tear. He had a soft spot for the girl,
and he was worried for her. He didn't see her as an elf, or a hobbit. He saw her as
a sweet, young girl. And, he could see how much the young hobbits cared for her. He
felt deep sympathy for them.

Azura gave another pained scream from high above, and all eyes turned upward, wondering
if the young girl would survive the night.

Pippin gave a cry when Azura's bare foot caught his shoulder and pushed him backward off
the bed. Merry threw himself over Azura's knees, trying to get her to calm down, but
she had begun to writhe and kick again. "No more!! I must return to him!" Azura cried,
raving mindlessly, bewildered by her sickness.

Pippin hit the ground in a heap and quickly stood. He was unhurt, and was on the bed
again in a flash, to help Merry hold Azura's legs down again.

"Release me!" Azura screamed at Pippin, trying to push him off again, "I am needed!"
A fire was in her eyes, unlike of anything they had ever seen, and Pippin recoiled
from Azura's knees and cowered. Something unnatural was inside of her, and he could
see it's fire in her eyes. It was truly horrible.

The balls of light began to work more quickly over Azura's arm, the subtle flowing
quickly changing into a blur of white light, and Galadriel's face was contorted with
concentration.

Azura grew quite still, and arched her back as the light suddenly seeped right into
her arm, and the wound closed right before their eyes. The skin latched back together,
and the blue and grey was draining from the skin, slowly being replaced by her normal,
peach-pink skin tone. The wound soon only appeared as a thick scar, where once a
gaping wound lay.

Azura went quite still, ad the harshness and fire in her eyes faded, and her eyes
slid closed.

Frodo gathered Azura in his arms, and let her rest against him, and gently brushed a
few gold strand from her face.

Galadriel stood, and said, "She will have pain in her arm for some time, but she will
heal, in time. I will let her rest in this room, and I shall retire to my own room for
the night, as I need to rest. I will call for you all in the morning, promptly."

With that, Galadriel took leave of the room, her long gown flowing behind her as she went.

Strider rose from the bed, and said, "We should take leae as well, and let Azura rest.
Frodo, will you being staying with her, tonight?"

Frodo nodded, as he let Azura down, and sat next to her, looking over her.

Merry, Pippin, and Sam stood, shaken and bewildered by the events, but as Pippin moved to
get off the bed, Merry and Sam lingered. Pippin stalled when he saw they weren't coming.

"We're staying. We are worried about her, too." Merry said, sitting where he stood.

Sam hesitantly sat, and said, "I'm worried about her too."

Pippin suddenly felt foolish and guilty. He was scrambling to leave this girl, and
dear friend, who for months now, had tirelessly protected him, cooked for him, made
him laugh, and kept his company. Though, for a moment, when she had glared at him, he
had felt that she wasn't Azura, not at that moment. Pippin turned and sat,
"I would like to stay, as well." He said.

Frodo smiled and nodded, "We will stay with her tonight."


----


"Her will is weakening... His power is rising in her. Soon she will be on the true side.
Sauron's blood will once again return to the lands of shadow." Saruman smirked, looking
to Grima, who had come to report of the mixed-blooded young woman who was aiding the
halfling trying to destroy the One Ring.

"An Uruk-hai messenger informed me that she was totally under their influence for a
moment. That she shouted 'I am the blood and bane of Sauron! Let those of his, follow me'."
Grima said, looking at Saruman.

Saruman smirked, "I will have to meet with this girl. She won't be allowed to call the
great dragon. I will make her see who she belongs to."


---



Azura held the Lorien seed gingerly in her hand, and was digging a deep hole into
the ground with the other. She couldn't think of any other way that she could use the
seed to make it grow.

She heard a musical laughing behind her, and she turned.

Two young elven teenagers were smiling at her, one was male, and one was female, and they
looked like siblings. They both had golden hair, and saphire blue eyes that shone
with innocence.

Azura suddenly felt foolish and lowly in their presence, hunched over in the dirt, and
she stood, brushing off her knees. They were not too much taller than her. She bowed her
head in respect, and said, "Good day!"

"It is a beautiful day, is it not?" The girl said, smiling.

"Yes it is." Azura said, still holding the seed in her hand, which pulsated warmly, as it
had began to glow brighter the farther they had traveled into Lorien, and it grew warmer.
Even still, she had no idea how to make it grow.

"You are Azura, are you not?" The boy asked, grinning broadly.

"Is it that obvious?" Azura sighed, and smiled, "Yes, I am her."

The girl giggled, and it sounded like music, and she said, "My name is Arae, and he is my
brother, and his name is Aram." The elven girl got a thoughtful look, and then asked,
"Is it true that you are going to save Lorien? All the other elves talk of nothing but
it, so it must be true."

Azura was dumbstruck. The two elves had sincere, happy smiles, and innocent, beautiful
eyes, and she found that she couldn't bring herself to say anything but, "Y-yes..."

The girl smiled, and laughed, and took Azura's hand, and bowed really low, as did
the boy, "Thank you, Azura!"

With that, the elven children were off, running and laughing, full of innocence and joy,
and Azura was left standing by herself, confused and worried.

How could she save Lorien if she did not know wat to do?

Azura dropped to her knees infront of the useless hole she had dug, looking down at the
seed in her hand. She couldn't think of anything she could do to it, to make it grow.

Azura's face twisted into a grimace, as she threw the seed down into the hole, and stood
quickly.

Magic. That's what her ancestors did, so it was worth a try. Though she was but one, and
they were many.

Azura placed her hands infront of her, and closed her eyes to concentrate. She could
feel it, all of the magic of Lorien, all around her, pulsing like a lifeforce. It was
strong and weak, all at once.

Azura sighed, and readied herself, and then let it go.

To anyone who might have been passing by, it would have been a frightening sight, as
Azura was engulfed in flames, and the wind began to blow, fierce and untamed, causing the
flames to spiral upward, high above the treetops.

Azura could not tell how much time had passed, but the flames began to grow hot
around her, even though her magic prevented them from harming her, sweated began
to trace lines down her arms.

Azura stopped the flames as quickly as they had come, and fell to her knees in a sudden
weak spell, coughing and gasping for air, as the flames had sucked all the air from her
lungs. She crawled back to the hole, and peered down into it, where she had centered
the flames, but the seed remained a seed, and the glow was soft, and not any brighter
in the least.

Azura sat in defeat, and rested her forehead on her knees. It wasn't fair. Why was
everything so hard? Having to leave her home so young, being friends with people who
would be the death of her, and she lost the only person who could even show her how to
tap into the darkest recesses of her powers, and not to mention, she couldn't even figure
out how to make a seed grow. It all made her feel useless.

Azura felt a hand lay gently upon her shoulder, and she looked up, and found herself in
awe at the beauty of the Lady Galadriel, as she settled next to Azura, a comforting
smile upon her lips.

"You are ready, Azura. To know of things you do not know of, things that are terrible,
and things that are wonderful." Galadriel said, softly smoothing Azura's hair, and
smiling at her as if she were a child.

Azura nodded, "Yes, I think I should like to know. I am scared to know, but I need to
know. Who am I, sweet Lady?"

Galadriel paused a long moment, listening to a skylark call out, and sing in a
enchanting tone, and fluttering over their heads to rest in a tree far beyond them.
"Aelendria a'Leoni was the last Leonian to rule, before my Mother. She was a wonderful
woman, I met her when I was quite young, but I remember her laughing eyes and warm heart.
You see, even know, her presence still remains in Lorien, her magic esence is still here,
as with other Leonians who fused their magic with Lorien. They became a part of Lorien.
Their magic is still here, unclaimed, and drifting endlessly, like the sea."

Azura had retrieved the seed from the hole and was holding it in her hand, and listening
intently to Galadriel, as if every word was a link to a life. Her life.

"Aelendria had a daughter. Back then, there were so few Leonians left, so few that only
two families remained. Your mother and the young son, from the other family, grew quite
close, and eventually married. They left Lorien, and soon after, both of their parent's
passed on, and we Elves grieved. It seemed that the Leonians were lost to us, forever,
but some time later, they returned to Lorien, and with tem, they brought an infant child.
They brought you, Azura, and everyone loved you so." Galadriel said, pausing a moment, then
continuing, "You see, there is a legend, that a Leonian child, of mixed blood, would be born
and that that child would restore Lorien to it's power again, and that elves may continue
to linger in Middle Earth, to live and roam freely, without the ache of the yearning for
the sea. You see, Leonians do not yearn for the sea as we do."

Azura nodded. It was true, she loved the sea, but she did not yearn for it. "What is the
dragon? I have others speak of it, but I do not know of it."

Galadriel smiled softly, "I saw her once, when I was quite young. She came to visit your
grandmother. She is so beautiful to behold. Her scales are like frozen silver and saphires.
When she moves, her scales ripple and glimmer like the sun on Nimrodel. She is the Mana
Dragon, and her name is Iriah, and we elves call her Stardancer. For, when she flies in
the night sky among the stars, it is truly a sight to behold."

Azura got a far off look, trying to imagine a slivery-blue dragon dancing in the night sky,
among stars and clouds, but it was difficult.

"Oh how she loved us Elves, especially the Leonians, as she had been raised by Leonian Elves.
The day I met her, she wept a tear for me, as a promise she would return to Lorien."
Galadriel said, and lifted a neckle from under her gown, a silver chain with a silvery
crystal dangling from it.

"She cries stones?" Azura awed, touching the stone. It made her gasp, as it was as cold
as ice on a winter's night.

"Yes. The cool of it reminds me of her, as when she is sad, the weather about her can grow
quite cold." Galadriel said, smiling as she tucked the necklace back into a fold of her dress.
She sighed, and then continued, "There are a few facts you should know, as some tend to
confuse them, or get them mistaked. The Men who know of the dragon have sought either it's
power, or it's grace. You see, eons and eons ago, when there was just Ents and Leonians, and
of course, other ancient races, a hatchling dragon was found by a group of Leonians, and they
raised it and nutured it. And when that dragon was grown, she loved the Elves so much, she
granted them two things. A power to call for her, in a way that no one truly knows, for if
they are ever in danger, one would fear for their enemies, as the Dragon can be a terrible,
terrible enemy to have, even though she deems it unessecary for her to delve into conflicts of
races, but she is quick to defend the Leonians, and their descendants. The other power, was
that she awoke the natural power they had. And an awesom power it was. Sadly, as other Elves
began to come into existence, the Leonians began to fade. The few other elves that were in
Middle Earth spent there last days with Leonians, wishing them well, and tending to them, but
they faded."

Azura had begun to see images in her mind, like when she had visions, which had been rare. She
saw Middle earth as it was, new and bright, and raw. Everything was so raw and fresh, and the
magic in the wildlife was strong, and everything was balanced so perfectly. The Elves ran
alongside of other lifeforms, all living in a balanced order, but as time went on, others
came, and the balance shattered under a new one, one of survival. That's how nature became,
a fight for survival.

"... When Sauron rose, he wanted ultimate power. He sought the Rings, and even more, the
Dragon. Though she had been in hiding ever since the last Leonians vanished. Oh, she wept
for them, and so did we, and we wept when she left, for our loss was great. She came to us
Elves a few rare times, but she missed them so much. They were her family, you see. Sauron
did not care for the dragon's loss, he only sought power. If the dragon wouldn't serve him,
he decided a to do something so horrible. Orcs began raiding different places, spilling blood
and taking it, from everything, and bringing it back to Sauron. And one Elf, an ancient
woman, who was half Leonian, for her father was one, was taken by a orc, who took her to
Mordor, and with the blood, and with a terrible magic, he began siring Leonians. Siring
them with magic, and with blood. Fatherless, and motherless, the children knew no love,
and were horrible images of what Leonians truly were. And they fought for him, and it was
terrible, until they began to feel the stiring inside of them. The Dragon was stiring, she
felt their pressence again in Middle Earth, and she came to them, awakening them to their
true selves, restoring the mana essence within them, the power to call her, and their true
magic. They turned against Sauron and many died, and the rest fled, living in secret. A few
came to Lorien, and over the years, they have vanished again, all but one." With that,
Galadriel kissed Azura's forehead, and murmured, "You are truly the Last, and you will find
yourself as the ones before you and you will know what to do. Not now, but you will. Do not
weep, child, keep your eyes to the heavens, and follow your heart to the truth."

And with that, Galadriel left Azura, to think in silence. It was so much to take in, and
Azura soon found herself falling asleep in the warm autum air, with the cool, soft grass
beneath her, and she was still clutching the seed within her hands.

And deep beneath Middle Earth, the dragon stirred.


---

Author's note : Hey, so you all finally know! *grin* I dropped a few hints about
Azura's heritage and the dragon in the past, but you know now, so what do you think?
Reviews are nice.! :) Critisism is welcome to, and I a apologize if anything is not
correctly spelled, I rushed this chapter as much as I could, as I don;t want to keep
you all waiting to long for chapter installments. *wink wink*

This story is nearing it's end, not that quickly, but I thought I would warn you all, and
it will have a sequel, if I get enough enthusiasm, as I don't want to write it if
no one is going to read it! *wink wink* Okay, anyways, the next chapter will be quite mushy,
and quite funny. I think you all will enjoy it, it'll be a break from all this angst and
sadness. :)

-Azureskies