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A Cavern of Crystal
Silverjaws walked quietly through Mirkwood. It was three weeks since her successful hunt and she was in a peaceful mood for a change. She made her way to a small cavern. The cavern was filled with crystalline stalactites and stalagmites, soda straws flowed from the roof, it glittered with beauty that only came from years of formation. Water dripped from the roof forming new formations. Small pools of water contained small cave pearls. Small salamanders that live in the cave rested on the smooth floor.
She came to a marble stalagmite and rested her hand on it. "My cavern home alone holds more beauty than all of the dwarf caves combined. This cavern continues to create treasures that must never be touch by pick or shovel. Marble, steel, crystal, cave pearls and all assortments of minerals grow here in this one cave," she said quietly.
She continued on through the cave.
As she made her way to the back of the cavern she started wondering how long her father would keep her in Mirkwood. She always longed to be free and wished he would release her. "Once again I long for freedom, to walk out of these woods and never return. How can I get my father to see my desire? How can he not see I suffer to be free?" she said quietly.
A small salamander sat at her feet looking up at her with no sign of sympathy. "Must you look at me that way? You have do not know what it is like to live in a cage, to be fenced in, far from the cave you dwell in," she said and the salamander slowly walked away.
She slowly looked around the cave, enjoying the moment of freedom that she had. She looked out a small crack in the wall and noticed it was getting dark. "I will be un able to get home before Mirkwood becomes dark and dangerous. Spiders will be coming out now by the hundreds." She turned to a naturally made crystalline chair and sat down. Thinking again how she would get her freedom. She transformed into a dragon a walked back to the entrance to the cavern.
She reached the entrance and peered out. "The moon shines brightly tonight Silverjaws," said a familiar voice.
"Ada I didn't, I mean, how did you find me," she said with much shock.
"I went for a walk through the forest after diner, looking for you and found this cave I was about to go inside but I saw something moving inside and thought better. Seeing as how it was you though I felt more comfortable," he said.
"The night time is dangerous in the forest Adar, please come inside, but do not touch any of the formations," she said and led him back through the cave.
"This cave is gorgeous," said Legolas looking around.
"I plan to keep it that way. I am glad we have some quiet time together, I need to talk to you about something," she said.
"Yes, about what?" he asked and continued to look around.
"Father I need you to pay attention to me, this is very important," she said.
"Okay go ahead," he replied turning his attention to her. She motion for him to sit on a soft bed of moss that had started growing inside the cavern. They sat down facing each other.
"Ada, I do not want to live in the palace anymore. I wish to live my life free and in the wild, like a dragon should," she said with a sincere voice.
"Well that is nice my child but I am afraid I cannot let you go. It is written in the law of Mirkwood that all royal members until married must remain in the Palace," he said.
"Can I earn my freedom from the palace life? What must a royal elf do to get out of the palace and never have to return?" she asked.
"Well you either have to be well over your age to be able to leave the palace, have outstanding citizenship, or you can talk to the King and sign an agreement form that states what you will do to earn your freedom. Or you can do a very devastating crime and be banished from the realm," he said.
"I'll talk with the King. I just hope we can work out a short term agreement," she said.
That night they slept on the moss. Silverjaws stayed awake looking out of a large crack in the ceiling of the cave. "The star of Draco shines brightly in the night sky. The souls of my ancestors are watching over the land tonight," she whispered.
Morning came and the two headed out of the cavern. They made their way up to the palace and Silverjaws made an appointment to see the King.
"Come my Granddaughter, tell me what troubles you," he said. She entered the room and sat in the chair across from his desk.
"I wish to make an agreement to release me from being forced to live my life in the palace," she said.
"Ah I see, you want freedom just like your sister. She came in also looking to make an agreement. You are of a good enough age Silver that I am willing to work out an agreement. What do you have in mind?" he said.
"Well I am a dragon and can do many things with my dragon powers, perhaps I can use them to solve people's problems," she said.
"That sounds reasonable enough. When can you start?" he asked and wrote down the agreement on two agreement forms.
"As soon as possible," she answered. He handed the agreement slips and the quill to her so she could sign her name. She signed her name in English, Elvish and both forms of Dragonish on both slips.
"Good, I will see what problems will need your assistance," he took one of the forms and let her keep the other.
"Will do my grandfather, I will be very glad to start and thank you. After all it is a silver-dragon's instinct to help the damsels in distress." Her eyes flared with bright happiness.