Chapter Nine. A Dragon's Oath
Gandalf was woken by the shouts in the courtyard, Samwise burst into his room a moment later. "Gandalf!! The lady's Arwen and Eowyn!! They've gone missing!!!" The Wizard rose as swiftly as he could, his wounds were nearly healed, but should he rip them afresh... "I will be with you all shortly." Sam nodded and vanished back into the hall. A scream sounded, and Gandalf ran to the window. Shadowfax screamed again, throwing himself at the doors to the great hall, the frightened guards were torn between not permitting entrance, and not wanting the beast to hurt himself. "Let him enter!!" The guards looked up stunned, but flung the doors open, allowing the horse lord to run inside. Gandalf grabbed his staff, and as swiftly as he could, followed the great beast into the throne room.
Shadowfax whirled on his hind legs, crying to the wizard, he seemed to be trying to squeeze behind the throne of the king. "Guards, move the throne forward, if you can!" Several moved forward to push, for they trusted the Wizards judgment. A great passage lay beyond, and from deep within the darkness a growl rolled forth. For a moment Gandalf stood in silent horror, then moving quickly mounted Shadowfax and both sprang into the passage. The stairway was barely wide enough for horse and rider, the wizard kept his head low, and then the ground dropped out from beneath them... The horse screamed, hoofs scraping for the floor. The landing jarred them, almost causing the great beasts legs to buckle beneath it, and very nearly throwing the wizard. Two fiery eyes turned upon them, wide jaws opened and a roar echoed forth.
The horse lord shrieked forth a challenge, rearing and snapping his teeth, Gandalf held his staff high. "How soon! How soon you forget your vow!!" The dragons jaws shut, it regarded the wizard with burning orbs. "You... I remember... I will do you no harm Wizard, but these thieves are mine by right!" A light shot forth from the staff, casting the room aglow, the dragon reared up temporarily blinded. "Peace! You gave your oath and I hold you to it! These are no thieves!" Arwen and Eowyn stood against the far wall, both held swords, blood was dripping down Eowyn's leg. "One is a hero of Gondor! The other is an Elven maiden who holds your kings heart! Would you slay ones such as these?!" The dragon hissed, eyes still shut tight, but it lowered its great maw to the floor. The light dimmed and faded.
"They intruded; I protected what is mine... I am free of fault, my oath stand pure. They should not have come." The wizard nodded, "It was an accident by all parties, and as no harm was done, will be forgiven by all parties. You are noble, I feared for their safety, forgive my harsh words." The great eyes opened, the neck arched so that the dragon looked down upon
them. "It is done." There came a great crunching sound as the dragon
shifted its weight, steel like claws digging threw the treasure and scraping stone. Arwen stood silent for a moment; then moved forward, her
hand coming to rest on one sharp claw. "Lle naa vanima..." The great creature lowered its head, eyes contently aglow. "You speak gently, Elven maiden." Gandalf smiled, a little known fact on dragons was that they were
vain creatures, this the elves had known. The easiest way to deal with dragons was flattery. As long as the flattery was not done so that it was obvious, for their was also nothing a dragon hated more than a liar, except
a thief.
"Mankoi naa lle sinome?" The Dragon raised its head, a growl in its throat. "I swore my services to the elves chosen men, in payment for my life, bound in service until I am released. And my profit is what you see, such a
treasure as this there is, nowhere else!" A fierce swipe of a talon accentuated the growl, metal and gems flew. And a dark fire burned in its eyes.
For a moment Arwen was silent, and then her eyes sparked defiantly.
To harness the power of a dragon...
"'My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears,
the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane and my breath,
death.'"
The Hobbit: Smaug.
Could this beast of ancient days still fly? "You are strong, that I see, and you have sworn yourself to us... The king of Gondor is in peril, and I call upon your oath to free him." The eyes sparked fire, a roar shattered the air as the dragon spread its wings, sending all falling to the ground. "You cannot command me!!" saliva flew, burning the metal where it landed with a soft hissing sound. Gandalf began to rise, but the calm on Arwen's face stopped him. She pushed herself to her feet, moving into the beast's path and holding its gaze. "Do as I ask, and when Aragorn to Minas Tirith returns, I will free thou of thy oath, as the Queen of Gondor!" for a moment their was silence, then a sharp barking sound, a laugh, if one could call it such, came from between the fiery jaws. "I hold you to your word Maiden! When Queen you become, I will not forget your dept!!"
The mighty head lowered so that they looked eye to eye. "...But if Queen you do not become..." The great jaws spread wide, teeth like swords dripping acid bared. "...Than you will belong to me Elf maiden, and I will partake of your
flesh..."
Gandalf cried a warning, but the eyes of fire had consumed her. "Our deal is struck. You will not fail me." The jaws pulled into a parody of a grin. "Nor you me, it is said, it is sealed, it is done!" The great wings spread; the head threw back in a laugh. "Command me Maiden! For this shall be the only time you do so!!" Arwen turned, her head held high.
Gandalf watched silently, Oh... we will all pay for this later... "Take Mithrandir to the Fellowship, from there help them intercept the Nazgul. Do
whatever you must to stop them from reaching Mordor." The dragons head
lowered, eyes like coals burning warmly flashed, "...Is that all..."
The citizens of Minas Tirith cried out as the dragons shadow fell over them, a cry, a bellow, the beast exalted its flight, thrice it circled the citadel, and then with a great flap of its scaled wings, vanished over the Pelennor Fields. From the White Tower Eowyn and Arwen watched the dragons
flight until it passed from view, and no one looked twice as Shadowfax
leapt the gates and vanished, trailing the Shadows passing.
Translations
Lle naa vanima: you are beautiful
Mankoi naa lle sinome?: why are you here?