Rivendell was much changed since the Council. Terrico had been there for the Council, but had not attended. It was the last time she'd spoken directly with Gandalf. He'd told her of the ring and told her to continue her studies. He also warned her about her ties with the Dragons. "You're the only person who'd willingly go into a Dragon's lair without any weapons save your magic. I don't understand it, but you seem to have quite a way with them. Perhaps your studies of them may eventually make them our allies." He was just starting to learn what she already knew, that Dragons were not the greedy, evil creatures that everyone thought they were. That description fit only one kind of Dragon, the Blackmaw. They came in many different colors, but all were the same. All of the other Dragon species were kinder, preferring stores of food to stores of treasure. Terrico thought of what the world would be like with Dragon allies. The Piquenia Dragons of the Shire-woods could make nice companions for travelling hobbits, being just the right size to act as flying steeds. They had hobbit-like tendencies, too. They preferred to hide and run than fight. She personally liked the Redrock Dragons. They were bigger than Piquenia Dragons, and were just a few feet taller than the horses the Elves kept. She had a Dragon's egg in one of her pouches right then, but it wasn't a Redrock. It was a Gladias egg. The Gladias Dragons were amphibious. They could breathe through thin nostrils on land, or through their hidden gills in the water. She wondered when the egg would hatch. She had gotten it a few weeks ago, when it had fallen from it nest. The mother had decided it was gone for good, and refused to take it back when Terrico had tried to give it back. She thought of the two now far behind her. "Legolas might actually like to have a Dragon," she thought, smiling to herself, "he'd look rather nice perched on its shoulders, flying off to all sorts of adventures." She liked Legolas a bit, but never let it show. She'd watched him at the Council, and would have talked to him afterwards, but they'd run off too quickly.
She arrived in Rivendell a good three days ahead of them. She got a room at the Inn, then went over to Elrond's house. She found him easily, since he was sitting out on a ground-level porch watching the traffic of the city. "Hello Elrond! Do you remember me? I'm Gandalf's no-longer-lowly apprentice!" She called, running towards him. He stood up and smiled. "Of course I remember you, Dragon-elf! How are your studies going?" Master Elrond was one of few elves willing to accept that Dragons could be good, even friendly. "Quite well, thank you. Have you heard from King Thranduil lately?" Terrico knew that the King would be sending out messengers to find Legolas as soon as he knew he was gone. "Not a word. I've heard he's maiden-searching for that wayward son of his. I remember him well. I sent some of Rivendell's most beautiful elf-maidens to Mirkwood." He smiled again, and gestured to the maidens that were talking in the markets not far from Elrond's house. "I'm sorry to say that all were refused. Legolas will not be tied down so easily." Terrico smirked as she remembered the faces of the rejected maidens. "Yes, I suppose he would be a hard one to tie down. I've heard he seeks a maiden that won't settle, a wanderer, perhaps you, Dragon-elf, may catch his eye." Elrond knew both Legolas and Terrico quite well, but neither had met him together. "If his eye can catch me! I have followed him for a time, walking right next to him, without him even hearing me. My skills have not waned. If I were to seek a husband, he must be brave and strong. He must be able to look a Dragon in the eye and laugh. It is a hard thing to do." Terrico knew that she was an elf-maiden as well, and could be married off easily if her father back in Greenhorn wished it. Her father was understanding of her ways, though. When she was young, some of the young Dragons that dwelt in the forests nearby would come and play with her. They refused to show themselves to any other elf, and they also refused to be seen by Gandalf. Terrico rubbed the pouch that held the Dragon egg. She sat on a ledge near Elrond and spoke with him for many hours, until it became dark and the shops of the market closed down. The two said their good-nights, then departed in separate ways. Terrico went back to the Inn, and began copying her sketches of the different species of Dragons that she had studied so far. She had drawings of the Redrock, who dwelt near Gandalf's tower and were her close friends, the Stalicia, and the Gladias, of which her egg had come. She wished next to study the Piquenia Dragons near the Shire, and speak to the old ringbearers. She was sure that the Dragon Bilbo had met so long ago had been a Blackmaw. She did not wish to study those Dragons, because they had descended from the evil worms that had terrorized the peoples when Sauron was in power. The other dragons had descended from the worms as well, but they had forsaken their heritage in a special ceremony for a more peaceful living. She did not visit Elrond the next day, but instead visited Bilbo. He was quite glad to see her. He loved to tell her tales of his adventures with the dwarves, and she loved to hear them. She showed him the sketches she had of her Dragons, and Bilbo admitted that they were not the same as the Dragon he had faced. She told him of the Piquenia Dragons, and spoke of her hopes that they might become allies. Bilbo agreed with her that the Dragons would make good guards for the Shire. He'd heard of Saruman's takeover, but was glad when he heard that all had been restored. He dozed off later in the afternoon, and Terrico left to see if Legolas and Gimli had arrived yet.
After a few days of walking, Legolas and Gimli had finally arrived at Rivendell. "It's a lot less populated then before, but it is still beautiful." Gimli commented, still amazed at the beauty of the city. "Yes, and I am glad to see that Elrond is still around, as well as the Inn and the market. There are still quite a few maidens here. I'm surprised Elrond didn't send them all off when my father called for them." Legolas looked around, taking in the now-familiar sights and sounds. He noticed a dark-haired maiden walking about the market. Their eyes met for a second, then a cart passed between them and the maiden disappeared. "Odd," Legolas thought to himself, "she seemed to be packed for the road, with a strange little belt of pouches. I wonder where she came from." Elrond came out and greeted the two, and ushered them inside to talk and rest before Legolas could give another thought to Terrico.