The fellowship made good time on the river that day; the boats of Lorien were fast and sleek. Only small incidents occurred during the day, such as when Sam confided in Pippin that he was afraid of water, and was subsequently dumped overboard. Aragorn refused to talk to Pippin for the rest of the day, as he had had to ruin his Smell by diving in the rescue Sam.
That night, they pushed the boats ashore and made camp. Aragorn volunteered himself and Pippin to hunt for dinner, and he dragged the hobbit off, kicking and screaming. Jacen, having spent the whole day attempting to keep his egg warm, made a bonfire and stuck the egg under a pile of ashes. Oddly, the egg seemed to have grown during the day, and now was about the size of a cannonball. Jacen wasn't worried, as it was also rock hard, and reasonably warm.
After a dinner of deer and berries Pippin had 'caught', everyone retired to their tents, tired from the day's traveling. Chewie took watch, and the camp settled into silence.
Around 3 AM, a great scratching noise could be heard from Jacen and Tenel Ka's tent. Everyone was woken by the noise, and clustered around the tent to investigate.
"Jace? What's the noise? Is it the egg?" Jaina said, opening the flap and peering in. The egg was in the middle of the tent, rocking madly. The scratching noise was coming from inside.
"I don't want it to hatch in here. He won't have enough room..." Jacen seemed to be talking to the egg, but Jaina and Tenet Ka grabbed the egg up nonetheless, carrying it out to the smoldering fire-pit.
Jacen followed behind, still looking distant and confused. When the girls placed the egg in the ashes, he took up a stump beside the fire and stroked the pulsing shell. The rest of the fellowship clustered around the fire-pit, anxious. Leia placed a blanket about her son's shoulders, but no one said anything.
Ten minutes into this odd vigil, the egg seemed to vibrate with energy. Hairline cracks appeared in the shell, and a knocking noise could be heard from inside. Jacen held his breath, leaning forward. Suddenly, all movement in the egg stopped. No one made a noise. Then- BANG! The shell flew apart, shards going everywhere. The creature within uncoiled itself and creeled.
It was a dragon. A shining, slightly wet, bronze dragon. Jacen gasped. He fell forward, the blanket falling from his shoulders. The little bronze stopped his creeling upon noticing Jacen, and bugled. Jacen reached forward, scratching the bronze's eyeridges. Eyes shining with joy, he turned to his friends, family and Gimli.
"He says his name is Jedith! His voice is in my head!"
Note: If anyone has read the Dragonriders of Pern series, they will understand about the dragon. If you haven't read those books yet..Do so. Now.