The next morning, the small company started off soon after dawn. It would take about four days to arrive at Tharbad and all wanted to get there as quickly as possible. Sauros traveled with them, reveling in his ability to travel with those that did not desire to kill him. He had some protection that he did not have before and friends. He had been hiding for too long from the people of Middle-Earth and ignoring the vow he was sworn to by his ancestors. He knew of the horror stories that were attached to the word dragon and what he had to prove. Thankfully, none of his traveling companions ever had the opportunity to see him truly angered.
That thought marched through the dragon's mind as night descended on the rain soaked travelers. It had begun to rain ice water that soaked everything not covered. They had hoped to find some type of shelter before dusk but it seemed futile. The ground turned muddy and slushy as the group pushed on until Sauros stopped and lifted his mighty head.
"There is evil upon the wind," he growled as his eyes narrowed to pierce the darkness.
Instantly, the elves had their bows out and ready as they scanned the plains. A sudden flash of lightening illuminated a pack of black solid bodies moving across the ground towards them. The sounds drifted across the rain sounds to the sensitive ears of the elves and they tensed, knowing that sound.
"Wargs," Elladan muttered and roughly estimated the number. "A pack of about twenty-five."
"Everybody move behind me," Sauros growled softly as he moved forward.
"You can not defeat them all Sauros," Elrohir said sternly as Sauros rounded on him.
"I have an oath to uphold firstborn and I intend to do so and besides…I have not had a good battle in several hundred years," he said with a sparkle in his eyes.
Turning back to the approaching horde, Sauros remained still before springing into action. Pivoting, the powerful tail swept around him and slammed into the first line of wargs. Spinning again as Sauros' talons grew; he trapped several of the beasts under his talons. Flames suddenly erupted from Sauros' nostrils and engulfed a large portion of the wargs. Few wargs that escaped the flames attacked Sauros' side and pulled a roar of pain from the dragon. Talons ripped away the attacking wargs and crushed them in powerful grips. Killing the remaining ones, Sauros threw his head back and roared. The elves covered their ears in pain as the sound reverberated from the distant mountains and echoed across the plains. Sulfur smoke drifted from his nostrils as he breathed in the stench of death. Rain ran down his face and down his sharpened fangs as he lowered his head and sniffed at the dead wargs.
"Well that was interesting. First warg attack in while and I did not do a thing," Legolas said and slipped the unused arrow into his quiver.
"Let us find a place to camp away from this place and I can tend to your wounds Sauros," Elladan said, knowing what warg claws can do if untreated.
"I will be fine Lord Elladan. Dragons are very resilient," he said and shook his head and readjusted his jaw.
Elladan let it drop and walked with the others to put some distance between the corpses and them. Finally walking enough, they looked for some type of shelter. The rain was still falling as Sauros lowered himself to the ground and looked at the others.
"We must keep moving Sauros. Shelter must be near."
"Why must you find shelter? I am your shelter."
He unfolded a wing and nudged Legolas under his leathery wing with his snout. The others followed and Sauros wrapped his tail around the edges and laid his head on the other side and under his own wing. The five travelers sat close to each other and tried to rest.
"As an elf, I find this stupid to ask but is anyone getting hot?" Elrohir asked and looked at each of them.
"It is because of me Lord Elrohir. Fire races through my blood and since you are surrounded by me, I can easily warm you and dry you," Sauros said and slowly opened an eye to look at the elf.
"Ah."
"What did you mean when you said that you 'have an oath to uphold'?" Legolas asked as he leaned against the dragon's leg.
"A vow that all dragons must honor; it is older than Middle-Earth itself and I have ignored it for too long."
"Who was the vow made to?"
"Someone long ago that you only know of in your songs, stories, and praises; you know him as Ilúvatar but he is more than a concept. He is my liege, my lord."
"You know Ilúvatar?"
"I do not know him personally but my father did. My father was Lord Rhiannon, the most powerful and courageous of all dragons."
"What happened to your father?"
"Many hundred years ago, dragons were hunted for sport and prestige. My father was with our family when an army surged over the hills and glades. The humans shot spears into my family; my sister, mother, and father. They roped them down with thick ropes and killed my mother and sister to break my father. During the scuffle, I slipped into the forest and hid while I watched. The men continued to torture him and left the bodies of his family in front of him. Soon, he was lying in their steaming blood and with the knowledge that he could not save them," Sauros murmured as his eyes fluttered shut.
"What happened then?"
"The mighty King Meneldil of Gondor arrived in all his glory. I thought that surely this king would apologize to Rhiannon and order his soldiers to release him but I was wrong. Meneldil pulled out his sword and looked down at my father with nothing but arrogance and superiority. I do not know how he knew I was there but my father looked at me suddenly and I watched as Meneldil slit my father's throat. I saw the light flicker, fade, and die out in my father's eyes while he stared at me. Meneldil took a vial of blood and a scale from each of my family and left. They left, praising their victory over the beasts that they left to rot and subject to the elements. It was a conquest to them, not the waste of a beating, loving heart that they banished with one slice of a man's sword. A mere mortal man extinguished the life of an immortal mythical creature."
The small cocoon was silent as everyone mulled over the dragon's story. Sauros breathed deeply to sooth his emotions brought about by the memory. His father had been a proud dragon who held his duty above everything else. He protected his family and was respectful of humans. The respect had been instilled in his children but Sauros had lost it that ay. Sauros had grown up avoiding all races except that of his own. The news of the death of Rhiannon affected all the dragons in the deepest of ways.
Rhiannon was seen as the leader of all the dragons and the most powerful. He was inspirational and a leader when he was called upon. To be defeated by humans was a powerful punch to the dragon way of life. Being the only son, Sauros took control and tried to calm the spreading fear and worry. It suddenly turned to open hunting season on dragons. Some kingdoms began offering bounties for dead dragons. Dragons began to travel to Valinor to escape and others were slaughtered. Sauros remained with the last few and watched as the numbers dwindled. He finally moved himself to a deserted and crumbling city of the early ages. He had remained there and became the name of a legend. He watched the years pass and kings rise to power before falling to their knees under the weight of the years and kingdom.
Sauros' eyes slid open and looked at the sleeping elves and wizard. Hs thoughts had kept him company during the night while he watched over his companions. The sun shone brightly and warm against his blood red scales as he slowly unwound himself and stretched.
"Good morning Master Elves," he said as everyone woke and stood.
"I feel like I spent the night in an oven," Legolas muttered as he looked at Sauros.
"If you did not enjoy it, then next time you may sleep in the rain," Sauros said and climbed to his feet.
"We had best start moving along. There is much land to cross," Gandalf said and started to walk without waiting for anyone.
With a snap of his tail, Sauros turned and followed the wizard. Legolas looked at the twins before swinging his bow to his back and started to walk. The group moved quickly during the day and towards evening a town started to appear on the horizon.
"We could stay at the town for the rest of the evening and the night," Elrohir suggested as he looked at everyone.
"And leave me out here alone? Bloody kind of you," Sauros said and eyed the dark-haired elf.
"Sauros, I do-"
"Nay, worry not. I shall rejoin you several miles outside the town tomorrow morn," he said and leapt into the air as he spread his mighty wings.
Sauros flew away and disappeared into the clouds. Elrohir looked at the others shocked and pointed after the dragon.
"I did not mean it that way."
"Calm down young Elrohir. Sauros is only being his normal short-tempered self," Gandalf said and held onto his pointed hat as a small breeze threatened to carry it off.
"Why is he so short-tempered?"
"Because young Legolas, you are the first things related to friends that Sauros had had in several millennia. All of his kind has been killed off and all the other races hunt them. It is either risk being slaughtered or become a recluse and fall into legend," Gandalf said before glancing to the elves. "You had best pull on your cloaks and hoods. I do not know how this town feels about elves."
"Probably the same way that most human towns feel about elves," Elladan commented and arranged the hood to cover his leaf shaped ears.
"I have a sudden swell of pity for Sauros all of a sudden. We are welcomed among our family and own kind but Sauros has no one. He is alone," Legolas said quietly.
"It is good that you realize this Legolas but do keep it to yourself. Sauros will not appreciate your pity. He is a very proud being."
"I never would have guessed," Elladan muttered as he looked at the passing humans.
Gandalf looked sharply at the eldest twin and made a mental note to talk to the elf. The wizard was sensing a barely restrained fury from the elf but it was more of emotionally pushed fury. Gandalf knew of Elladan's powerful emotions and what they were capable of. He was fiercely protective of his brothers and family and would do everything in his power to aide his family. After the events concerning the twins' mother, Elladan became even more protective of his immediate family. Once Aragorn came to live in Imladris as young Estel, Elladan had taken Estel under his wing and treated him as a younger brother. The wizard guessed that Sauros' first reaction to not aide Aragorn had hit Elladan personally and the dragon had immediately been pushed to the elf's bad side.
The wizard didn't think that Aragorn knew what kind of close-0knit family he had. He must have known that they were close but not as close as they really were.
Waving away the elves, Gandalf moved slowly into an inn along the town's main street. A young girl sat on a tall stool behind the desk and looked up at Gandalf as he walked up to the counter.
"Can I help you Mister Sir?"
"Yes you may little one. I need two rooms for four travelers if you please."
"That will be six schillings for two nights Mister Sir. Our rates have gone down because it is the winter season and we rarely get travelers."
"I will only need the rooms for one night little lady. My companions and I intend to depart in the morning," Gandalf smiled and turned to look at the door as his companions walked in.
"Then it will be three schillings Mister Sir. Do you wish for some dinner to be brought up to the rooms?" she asked and Gandalf heard Legolas snicker behind him.
"That would be well. Am I too assume that you are the lady of the inn?"
"Nay, Mister Sir. I am Lina. My father owns the inn and my mother is in the kitchen cooking and my big brother works in the stables. I am only six summers old and am not old enough to wander the inn alone. My father tells me that sometimes not nice men come to inns and that they may try to harm me. You will not harm me, will you?"
The elves behind Gandalf would have possibly died of laughter if they could have seen the wizard's shocked face. It was rare that a child would be that blunt with an Istari and it startled the wise wizard. The child showed a magnificent education that was rare for a child of her age.
"No, little one; neither I nor my companions will harm you. You have mine and their words of honor."
"I will take you to your rooms now Mister Sir so you may rest and dine," she said and jumped off the stool to disappear behind the counter.
Gandalf leaned over the counter and looked behind the counter for the young child thinking that she may have fallen. A tug on his robes brought his attention to the young child that stood beside him. The child was much shorter than Gandalf would have expected and had the feeling that the child was a bundle of energy when the mood struck her.
"This way Mister Sir. Since my father is not here now, I will take you to your rooms but do not tell him. He worries when I go somewhere alone with the guests, even in our own inn."
"He is absolutely correct young lady. Few people can truly be trusted these days," Gandalf said and elbowed a snickering Elrohir as he passed.
Gandalf followed the young girl across the large floor and between tables filled with drinking customers. The elves carefully eyed everyone from beneath their hoods. Legolas broke off from the line and caught Elrohir's eye and nodded towards an empty table at the corner of the room. The dark-haired elf nodded to show that he understood before continuing to follow the others. They climbed the narrow staircase and walked down the dimly lit hallway. A drunken farmer stumbled down the hall causing them to press against the wall to let him pass. Somehow in his drunken stupor, he noticed Lina and stopped in front of her.
"Well ain't you a purdy thang. Why dontcha come back ta my room an we can have us some fun?" he slurred and reached for her.
"I would not do that if I were you," Elladan warned quietly.
"Well you aren't me so you can leave us be," the drunkard snarled and wrapped a grungy hand around Lina's neck.
Elladan's hands were a blur as they shot out and wrenched his hand from Lina's throat. His other hand grabbed Lina up and easily tossed her to Elrohir before slamming the human against the wall. Elladan's left forearm pressed against his neck as his right hand held his long hunting knife against the human's ribs. During the small scuffle Elladan's hood fell off to reveal his fair skin and pointed ears. The man's eyes widened in shock at the elf that loomed in front of him with a terrifying glint in his eyes.
"If you ever touch Lina again I will be sure to remove both of your hands before you touch another person. You do not want the wrath of the elves upon you," Elladan growled and pressed his knife harder against the man's ribs to reinforce his words. "Do you understand?"
Elladan relaxed his hold just enough for the man to nod.
"I want to hear you say it."
"I won't touch her."
"Good, now leave."
He glared at the drunken man's retreating back before turning to the little girl in Elrohir's arms. His glare changed immediately to an expression of utmost care. He blamed it on being the eldest and being protective of his two younger brothers. The last young child he had interacted with had been Estel when he had been a young child. The memories of the enjoyment he experienced with young Estel were fresh in his memory as he looked upon the young child.
"Are you okay little one? Did he harm you?" he asked softly and gently brushed away some of her hair that had fallen in her face.
"You are an elf," she said softly as she gazed at Elladan.
"Aye, that I am young one; as is my brother who is holding you."
Elrohir's free hand came up and pushed back his hood for the child's curious gaze. Elladan smiled at the wonder in the child's eyes and suddenly felt slightly self-conscious under her curious gaze. Her small hand reached out and gently touched Elladan's face.
"So soft," she murmured, causing Elladan to blush.
"Perhaps we should finish this in our rooms instead of the hallway," Gandalf suggested with a faint smile.
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*Slumps in chair exhausted and plunges hands in a bowl filled with ice* My poor little fingers. I have been typing for like an hour straight and now I am regretting it; well not exactly regretting it but yelling at myself. I should have taken breaks. Well anyway here is the new chapter. I hope that all my readers enjoyed this chapter I know I did. I do not know when the next chapter will be up because I only have about three pages written out after this chapter and I don not know how quickly I can write the next chapter but I will work at it over my fall break. Thank you to everyone who reviewed for Chapter 5, I was just thrilled beyond words. I am serious, I almost knocked over my mug of tea when I saw how many review I got for it. So, thank you from the deepest portion of my heart that holds all my writing fans.
Frodo16424-*blushes* Oh please, I am not going to be able to get through the door with the big head you just gave me. And yes, Sauros is going to be a major character in my story and will not be going anywhere soon.
Lorraine-Gee, ah shucks, ya do not really mean that. Thank you so much for the compliment, you have no idea how much that pleases me when you say that it is well-written with good characterization. My head is now floating in the clouds.
Yoshi-fan2003-And I love the reviews you leave for me. It is starting to turn into something like Christmas morning when I come downstairs as a little kid and see how many presents are under the tree. It is feeling like Christmas in here with all this love going around.
Fire Eagle-Well thank you so much for your compliment, my poor plot bunny is getting fat on all these compliments on the story. I think he is getting spoiled; or maybe I should put him on a diet. Only four low fat/carb reviews a day is the vet's prescription but I think Mr. Plotbunny has been sneaking into my inbox and splurging.
Lady Beriaron-Well I was going for the fact that he is known as Strider pretty much everywhere and the elves knew that he would be using that name among the Ranger population. At least that is what I dreamed up in my little demented writer world. Spades land, great place to visit but do not want to stay there too long.
ThE iNsAnE oNe-Do you realize how long it took my email server to download your 'MAS!' email? That is what it is now called; the 'MAS!' email. My poor laptop was panting at the end of it and then it saw the next one from you and went screaming into my closet and I had to lure it out with new software.
Grumpy-My head is about one more compliment from exploding right now and we really do not want that. It would send poor Spade's writing matter all over the walls and it would be a pain in the a** to clean it up. Thank you so much for the compliment, they serve to enlighten my day beyond measure.
Okay, now that my plot bunny is happily fat and well fed it will hopefully start whispering out beautiful chapters that ensure more reviews that fed it even more. I am seriously going to have to find a better place to hide the review treats before he has a heart attack. Do you realize how many calories are in those? Eh gads.