RATING: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)

**A/N** Special thanks to my best friend Rachael for thinking up the title of this chapter :)! Heehee.

35.

No sooner had Elenath spoken her thankfulness that they were hidden than a dark shadow passed by the mouth of the cave. The very earth seemed to tremble, and between the twisted, broken boughs of the fallen trees, they could barely see fire spewing forth from the mouth of a great creature.

"A dragon!" gasped Legolas, turning and pushing the Ladies before him. "Flee! Quickly, back into the cave before he sees us!"

Elenath stood as one stunned, her hand clamped to her Sword. It burned; burned as it had before in the presence of… "Dimnarion!" she whispered and was frozen in fear. She felt an intrusion in her mind, heard the words hissing forth from the dragon's mouth that had once wrapped her in Dimnarion's spell.

Haldir took Merethiel's hand and led her back into the secret chamber while Legolas lifted the princess into his strong arms and followed close behind.

"Do not let him take me," she whispered, "Please… he works his magic even now. He will force me to do things I do not wish to do…."

Again, she felt Dimnarion's mind reaching out for hers, calling to her. She handed Calmakil to Legolas, along with the little jeweled dagger. "Do not let me leave this room. He calls to me, Legolas, with a strength much greater than before!"

The prince's eyes widened and he closed the heavy stone door to the chamber, placing Elenath's weapons against the wall and pulling her near. "Worry not. I shan't let you go."

"What is this? Why does she fear so?" asked Haldir, amazed at the change that had come over Elenath. She literally cowered in the far corner of the room, clinging to Legolas as if her life depended on it. "We are safe here."

"The dragon. He is a Wizard-" began Merethiel.

At that moment the princess stumbled to her feet, screaming the name of the beast as she struggled against herself toward the door. Legolas tackled her, pulling her thrashing form close and holding her as still as he could, clamping his hand over her mouth. "Shhh, Melamin My Love…"

She whimpered and willed her arms to go around the prince's waist, burying her face in his shoulder, trembling with the effort of resisting Dimnarion's call.

"What is the meaning of this?" the warrior demanded once more, drawing his sword and walking toward the Prince.

Merethiel dove in front of her two friends. "He is saving her life! Let him be!"

The earth trembled again and the wind howled. Thunder crashed loudly, though the heavy door muffled the sounds. Then a mighty dragon's roar rang out, starting loud and then fading away as if the beast was moving on. Long moments passed before the princess finally stopped struggling and rested her head against the cold stone floor, fighting to catch her breath.

***

An eerie calm settled over the palace of Rivendell, and Gandalf stood to his feet, taking his staff in hand.

"What is it?" asked Elrond.

"He has tried to ensnare Elenath," said the Wizard, "and has failed. Either she resisted him and remains hidden or…"

He did not have to finish. Elrond knew what danger Elenath might be in.

"Still," said Gandalf, "Still, I feel a glimmer… an inkling of something deep in the Wood." He looked at Elrond. "I feel that your granddaughter still lives."

The earth shook, and the Elven Lord leapt to his feet, turning to look out into the Wood. "What foul thing is that?"

The Wizard sighed. "He is coming."

***

Elenath lay trembling in Legolas' arms; the terror that had seeped into her so quickly seemed reluctant to leave. As the prince picked himself up from the floor and gathered the princess into his lap, he explained to Haldir what had happened between the Elf Dimnarion and Elenath. "How he found a dragon to do his work, I shall never know," he concluded.

"He *is* the dragon," whispered Elenath. "I killed his Elf-body and he found another form, more terrible and powerful than before. Oh that I had waited for Gandalf to do away with him properly! But I could not. He was… He would have…" she shuddered. "I could not abide it. And now he makes for the palace. All I love and hold dear is in danger."

"Galadriel!" Haldir exclaimed and leapt to his feet. "Alas! We are trapped in this place and my Lady is in peril!"

The princess stood as well, walking unsteadily toward the great warrior. "Forgive me, Haldir. If it were not for me, you would be with her now."

He turned away, striding to the door as if to leave and then stopping, as if he remembered the great trees and raging storm.

"Please," said Merethiel, "My lord, do not fear so. Rivendell's warriors are fierce and skilled. And Mithrandir is with her. What better protection can one have against an evil wizard?"

***

"Hide," said Gandalf to Elrond, and then shouted the same to all the Elves who had ears to hear as he ran down the hall. "Hide! Quickly!"

The earth shook again, and a great peel of thunder sounded.

"I hide from nothing!" Elrond caught up with the Wizard who regarded him with stern admiration. "I may not be a Wizard, but this is my realm and I intend on protecting it!"

"Fine. Then come with me"

Galadriel joined them as well, a quiver filled with bow and white arrows at her back. "A dragon poses a threat to all of the Elven realms."

"Dragon!" exclaimed Elrond. "There have been no dragons here since…"

"There is one now," she said calmly. "I can feel it."

The shaking became more defined as the three ran out into the tempest toward the enraged roars of Dimnarion. Then they stood at the very gates of the palace, waiting for the beast to appear.