Disclaimer: standard

Author Note:

Eiluj: Thank you for the review! And even bigger thank you for reviewing honestly. So often I see people that review things and just say, "Nice story."...which I suppose is good for my ego...however, it's not terribly good for my writing. So, thanks once again. I guess I should explain why most of my stories are--as you and Jane Yolen called them--"tourist fantasies" because I really don't approve of fan fiction. The stories I've written are stories I wrote for friends or students that wanted me to write one. I write "tourist fantasies" though, because I'm not quite sure if I can stay in the true character of the stories actual characters, so by putting something like...someone from another world, they're less likely to act as they normally would. And pardon the Gandalf thing...it was simply my observation, since he is one of the nearly-all-powerful Maia...how do you think they would act if they felt threatened? And don't mind my ranting about reviews. I know, I probably have people who are reading it and not reviewing, I simply felt like complaining. It made me feel a tad bit better. Please though, no shameless advertisements for other peoples' stories. Sorry if that sounds...selfish or stupid or childish...it's just a rule I have. Thanks again for the review!

Now on to the author's bit of rambling....darned holiday season. Can't please everyone...and half my thanksgiving decorations (yes, I decorate my place for thanksgiving...I'm a weirdo.) got lost when I moved. Hmm...just another reason to go shopping. : )

Have a great Thanksgiving! Just in case I can't update before then.

I which case, I might wish everyone Happy Thanksgiving twice.

~ Raven "Sirens Muse"

Chapter Seven: The Reputation of the Lady

When the dragon awoke at dusk, the foundation had been set. Verity climbed upon the dragon's back, tying herself on with thick cords or rope. "Onward we go, Smaug!" she tried to sound light.

They were soon flying out into the clear night sky. Smaug was approaching the town. "Do not fly low!" she warned him. "I will shoot the bow arm of the bowman."

"Why not kill him?"

"Because I do not kill."

The dragon didn't comment.

Using the magic of the bow from Smaug's cave she sighted Bard as she hid behind Smaug's great scales. She loosed the arrow and it hit his bow arm, preventing the death of Smaug. She made it seem like an accident from another bowman, so no one would wonder. Magic arrows are quite useful. Then they flew toward Mount Doom. Now was her chance! The change in plans. Verity carefully slid under Smaug's wings, without him noticing. She found the place where he was unprotected, drew her sword, and slew him. Smaug roared in rage and pain as verity tried to cut through the rope that bound her to the dying dragon. "Not so fast, treacherous Seer!" cried the dragon and he held fast to the ropes, taking Verity down with him. Down, down into the depths of the lake. The lake boiled with the death of Smaug and no one could find Verity.

"The Lady Seer has killed the dragon, just like she predicted!" Bard cried, hardly knowing how she did it.

"A seer?" asked a man.

"Yes! A woman seer! She told me she would slay the dragon and that I would be king!"

"You? King?" scoffed a woman.

"Yes!"

A small voice in the back of the crowd began chanting, "King Bard, King Bard! All hail King Bard, the Seer's Chosen!"

Soon more joined the chant...it wasn't long before everyone began chanting it. The master of the town protested, of course and suddenly a group of Elves burst in. "King Thranduil!" exclaimed the Master.

King Bard stepped forward. "What brings you here?"

"The Lady Seer called us. Where is she?"

"Dead." said a weary voice. "She is dead in the boiling river...or wishing she was." Verity stepped into the light next to Bard.

She was quite a sight, soaked to the bone and her clothes were slightly burned. Her skin was a terrible shade of red, but she was alive. "Lady Verity!" Thranduil gasped.

"Oh, did I not mention I was a seer? Sorry, I might have forgotten, everything was jumbled together. My poor company thinks I dead. Heavens! I thought I was dead."

"Terribly sorry about your shoulder, Sire." she said with a slight curtsy in Bard's direction. "It was necessary to keep up the deception with the dragon. There was probably an easier why to do this, but the time I figured out some way, any way, this was the easiest I could think of. Besides, I'd almost created a first class mess of things. Everyone here might have died, so I guess it turned out all right in the end."

Bard smiled. "Indeed, My Lady...your thoughts are confusing."

"Are they? Sorry, it's been a terribly long night. Oh yes, I forgot. Don't covet the dwarves treasure. There are bigger things at stake."

She opened her mouth to tell them of the battle and stopped. "Let Thorin to his treasure, we have more important things to discuss." she said, taking Bard's arm and steering him toward the hall.

Thranduil and a few of his men followed. Verity glanced back and looked about for Calen, but he was nowhere to be seen. She made a mental note to ask Thranduil about that later.

"This is madness!" exclaimed the former master of Lake-town.

"Madness it may be, but it is the only course of action we can take. Will we risk battle here, upon your home-front, risking the lives of your innocent?" argued Verity wearily.

"Lady Verity is correct. It would be best if we met the goblins away from this place." Bard agreed, looking rather haggard himself.

Verity yawned and glanced out the window. The sun was rising high into the blue sky with the promise of safety for the people of the town. "Not to mention, the goblins won't expect us knowing of their comin, they'll never expect us actually coming to them."

The master finally nodded his consent. "May it be what King Bard decrees." he said a tad grudgingly.

"Good stuff." muttered Verity sleepily, it was getting harder and harder to keep her eyes open.

"We are all weary and in sore need of rest." Thranduil said finally, "The council is over for now. We shall plan more on the morrow."

Never had Verity been so thankful for anything in all her life. She wearily dragged her body to the guest room that she was given and dropped onto bed, fast asleep before she even hit the sheets.

Sometime around noon, there was a knock at her door. "M'lady? M'lady Verity?" called a familiar voice.

Verity opened one bright green eye and looked at the door warily. "Yes?" she called sleepily.

"It's me, Teleri!" called the voice again.

Verity sat up quickly. "Oh Teleri! Come in!"

The door opened and Teleri stuck her head in. "Glory be! We thoughts ye were dead!"

"So did I! Did Thorin get his treasure?"

"That he did. And he gaves me my own bow and quiver o arrows."

"Wonderful!"

"Why didn't ye comes back?"

Verity paused. Why hadn't she gone back? Was it guilt for not obeying the ring? Was it really because of the goblin threat? She spoke slowly, "There are...many things happening now...I got caught up in most of them."

"Likes what?"

"Well, a goblin attack for one."

"I'll goes and fight!" Teleri said, slamming one small fist over her heart in a brave salute.

"No, you won't. You're much too young."

"But I braved the journey."

"That you did do, but this is a full blown battle. The Battle of the Five Armies as it will be called someday. There will be death...and blood. I hardly want to go myself, but as the seer, I have an obligation."

"Obly-what?"

"Obligation. Responsibility, requirement...I have to go. Bard needs my help."

"And ye needs my help."

"You'd only get yourself hurt. Or killed. I couldn't possibly forgive myself if you were killed."

"I don'ts have much tur live for." Teleri said quietly. "Ma and pa are dead, least be if I could be with thems."

Verity bit her lip. She forgotten the child was an orphan. She'd forgotten so much lately. She motioned for the girl to sit beside her at the edge of the bed, then impulsively hugged the child. "You have me. What if we were sisters? Would you like that?"

"I ain't never had a sister. I had brothers, but never a sister."

"Well, now you have one."

"What if ye dies in battle?"

"I won't be fighting." Verity assured her. "My sword skills are limited. No matter how good Calen thinks I am."

A second knock on the door that morning startled them both. "Lady Verity? You are needed at the council." called a messenger.

"I will be down presently." Verity called back.

She turned to Teleri. "Will you go down and sit in my place until I come?"

"Me? Sits in a council?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"Cause I'm a servant."

"You forget, you're a seasoned adventurer now. No mere servant. And you are also the sister of the Lady Seer. It's your duty to go."

Teleri's eyes shown like tiny stars. "Then I'll be goin! Lady o the Council, sister tur M'lady Seer."

With those words, Teleri left for the council. Verity took as short as bath as she could, trying to get the grime of the dragon and dust of the treasure off. She then dried her long hair, dressed in her worn leggings and tunic and piled her uncombed hair atop her head since she was in too much of a hurry to attempt to comb it.

The council was in full swing when she arrived. Small Teleri sat in the tall, high back chair, looking grave as she could and listening well as the men around her discussed things beyond her ken. Verity rushed in and Bard glance up from the map he was studying. "Welcome Lady Verity. You're representative has been much helpful, but we are glad to see you here for your own input."

Verity flashed a grin at Teleri as the girl stood, gave Verity her seat and scampered off. Verity sat quickly and faced the grim council. "I have a plan." was the first thing she said.

Thorin and his company arrived just in time for supper. Verity saw that Thorin wore a great golden crown upon his brow and the rest of the dwarves were decked out in fine armor and swords. Bilbo himself had a bit of armor and her carried Sting in a fine sheath at his side. Thorin stopped before her and bow low. "Greet, fair and wise Lady Verity, slayer of the Dragon Smaug and defender of the treasure under the mountain."

Verity grinned. "After all we've been through, Thorin, I would expect a greeting much less formal from you."

Thorin smiled. "But I am no longer the Thorin I once was. I have reclaimed my treasure and title."

"Well then, greetings, King Thorin of Under the Mountain."

Bilbo rushed forward then, he was holding something of the deepest richest blue in his arms. "Verity!" he cried. "This is for you!"

And he trust the most beautiful blue cape into her arms. Verity was enchanted with the gift and hugged and kissed them all in turn. "A fine gift from a king." she praised the gift. "Will you and your army be joining us in battle?"

"Indeed!" said the Dwarven King. "We would not miss the chance to help defend our new home."

"Good, then let us find King Bard, he was going to find me some armor that would fit."

Bard found the lightest armor her could, but still the weight bothered Verity. She forced herself to bear it and sat upon her horse a bit straighter. Her sword clinked against her side and she felt as if she were in a dream, marching into battle with the characters of storybooks. She had no idea what battle was, nor had she any inkling of what was to come, her mind was too far away in thoughts of heroism and valor. "Halt!" cried Thranduil suddenly.

The army stopped and Verity's mind snapped back to the present. She glanced around at the elves, who all sat ridged upon their horses. They were listening to the woods. "Horses." whispered and Elven scout.

"How many?" asked Bard.

"Around ten. Maybe less."

"Hardly goblins." whispered Verity. "They would be riding wargs."

"Indeed." agreed the mortal man.

"Shall I meet them?" she asked.

"Yes, take two scouts with you." ordered Bard.

Verity gestured for two of the scouts to follow her and she rode toward the noise. Peering through the trees she saw ten lone horses in the clearing. "What the--"

Zing! Sang an arrow, narrowly missing her ear. "Do not move." ordered a voice.

The voice sounded strangely familiar. "Turn about slowly, hands to your sides."

The three did was they were told and turned their horses around to see Glorfindel, sighting down a golden bow. His head jerked up. "Lady Verity?"

A smile rushed to Verity's face. "My Lord Glorfindel! A fine way to greet friends!"

"Ah, but even friend must be careful around friends during these times. I saw a host of goblins but a few miles from here."

"They are the ones we're trying to surprise." Verity admitted. "What brings you here?"

"A message from King Thranduil. He asked for the aid of some from Rivendell."

"Just you?"

"There are nine in my company."

"They're hiding, I assume."

"Actually, they have their bows trained on you as we speak."

"Lord Glorfindel! Have you become so paranoid since we last met?"

The Elvenlord smiled and nodded slightly. Nine archers appeared from all around. To Verity's dismay--or relief--none of them were Calen. "Come with us, back to our army. They're probably thinking we've been ambushed by now."

Glorfindel laughed and they all headed back to the army. The newcomers were met with great happiness by the rest of the army and Glorfindel told of the goblin sighting to Thranduil and Bard. "Heading the opposite direction you say?"

"Aye." the Elvenlord nodded. "Twas most strange."

"We shall camp here for the night." Bard announced. "Everyone dismount and strike a camp."

Three hours later, found a makeshift camp appeared in the clearing. The men and Elves were sitting around the camp fire, talking softly and eating. Verity sat alone by the small stream the bordered the clearing. She wasn't very hungry, but she forced a bit of something into her mouth and ordered herself to chew and swallow. "It seems you have made for yourself quite a reputation, my Lady Verity." Glorfindel remarked from behind.

"I suppose so."

"I have heard the tales already. How you deceived the dragon and killed it, then made Bard king. They will be legends someday. Legends of the Lady Dragon Slayer, Seer to the Elven and Mortal kings alike."

"Wonderful." came the glum response.

"You're not pleased with this. Why?"

"I don't really care. Well, sure it's nice to know I'll be a legend someday--I think--but in truth..."

"Yes?"

"In truth I just want to be out of here. I'd like a quiet day for once. To go to bed late and wake up early. To smell coffee, to hear the quite talk of the customers as they come in for their morning cups. I would have thought this to be my dream. Save Middle Earth, be a Mary Sue who can do anything because I know what's going to happen. But in truth, it's not all it's cracked up to be. And now, Lord Calen is in love with me. And sure, he's wonderful, but I don't know if I really love him. I suppose it's high time I love somebody. I am 25...er...probably 26 by now. Although I lost track of time. Ack..." she was rambling slightly to herself, forgetting he was there.

Glorfindel wisely didn't ask about the words he didn't understand. "I longed for my home. I understand your feelings with such a matter. And it would not matter to me if you had not slain the dragon, you survived. That is enough. Lord Calen knows this too. He is..." he elf paused. "...good...but do not rush love. It comes when it wills."

"Perhaps." Verity was unconvinced.

"By my life or death, I swear to protect you, my Ver--Lady Verity. If you have need of family, I will be that for you. A brother." he said softly.

"I'd like that." whispered Verity. "A brother. My brother. Thank you."

"It is nothing. Now, you best rest. Your watch isn't for four more hours."

Verity stood and turned around. She stood up on tiptoe and kissed his glowing, pale cheek. "Thank you." she said quietly and went off to her tent.

Glorfindel's hand felt the warmth left by her kiss and he stared into the darkness for some time.