Dragon's Rage

By Youkiyra Solar alias Krystal Fox

If all you are wondering why I have two pen names, its because I originally want the latter one but I loved the first one so I will keep everyone guessing to what Name I go by each day. (I have so many nicknames I can't keep track.)

Krystal Fox: Time for another story, It certainly took long enough. I had to spend serious time (laughter ensues) considering what I would do to these poor characters next, and with help from some of you fans out there I have finished the next chapter. Thanks for all the ideas.

LET THE STORY BEGIN!!!!

Chapter 3 Bree

As they entered the town they had dismounted and led their horses. (Though the horses more like just followed.) The elves of the group had their hoods low over their faces, where as Aragorn simply went with hood down obvious enough for his face to be seen. All who saw them thought they all were rangers.

"Strider, where would you like to rest tonight? The Prancing Pony or continue through town outside Angmar?" Glorfindel asked a musical tinge to it compared to Estel's.

Heads on the streets turned at his voice. Strider just nodded towards the inn and took it to action. Entering the inn stables a smell of hay and horses rose to their noses, the stable boy saw to their horse's accommodations and they went into the inn themselves.

As they entered the dimly lit, smoke filled room silence filled the room. Strider led the way to a dark corner where all of them felt safe from unneeded eyes. As talking resumed Mr. Butterbur came walking over. (More like Waddling over, sorry I couldn't resist)

"Now what would you and your friends like? Would you like your usual Strider?" He asked uneasily.

"No." Aragorn's scratchy voice said, "I want a selection of your raspberry wine."

Butterbur nodded and bustled off to go get it.

"Now Ara.... Strider. Why did you want to sit here in this smoke-ridden room and do?" His eldest elven brother demanded.

"This is how leads are made and followed, by listening, Brother. The locals here will say things that they wouldn't say any other place."

They sat there and the slow small chatter and talk grew to a dull roar. The wine came, Glorfindel and Aragorn were enjoying it, taking it up immediately and drinking it. The two watched the twins warily sample it by a sip then start drinking it like it was sugar to a child. Legolas though was even more cautious, that's what you get for being a Silvan elf. He took a sip and disgustedly put the cup down and refused to drink anymore, even after encouragement from his friends.

"Strider, how can you stand this weak wine, you can even taste what container it was stored in, and it's so ridiculous." Legolas complained.

Shaking his head at the elf took another swig of it and said, "Legolas, Patience, besides the fact that your taste buds are more apt to rich wines we must stay here till some other rangers show. They are ones who travel to areas thought deserted and explore them, they might know where this mysterious town. So relax and listen to the local gossip."

"Is'tobensitra!" Legolas muttered then said, "I see." Control on his gentle face, "While you wait I am going for a walk in the fresh air." He then stood and walked outside.

Glordfindel had raised his eyebrows at Legolas's curse. It was one that brought everything horrible down upon those who smoke. It was obvious to all the companions of Legolas that he despised smoke.

Once outside he started to walk towards the houses. Children played there, mothers hung their laundry, and fathers worked all as he walked by, doing so he noticed that he was being followed by a young man that had left the tavern when he did. Instinctively he pretended not to notice then went down a dark alleyway and blended with the wall. The man came walking by evidently looking for him.

Quietly Legolas leaned forward and asked, "Why are you following me?"

The man jumped three feet in the air spun and with a pale and shocked face sputtered out "I know who Ye look fer?"

"How?" Legolas questioned.

"I was coming home from hobbit-town and a strange old man said to give a tall blond haired elf who came to Bree and hated smoke this message. He spoke saying that he knew the answer to some thing that sounded like a riddle."

"What was it?"

"Something about those who change shape and what not." the man said thinking.

"What did this man look like?" Legolas asked curious.

"Well, he was too large and heavy for a hobbit, not quite tall enough for a man, though he made enough noise for one. He wore great yellow boots on thick legs and a blue coat and a long brown beard. His eyes were bright blue; his face was red as a ripe apple and was always Laughing every other sentence. Strange fellow. But I hope that helps you with what ever you're doing here. I didn't want to talk to you in the tavern because of all the ears listening. Well gots to be going." then the young man dashed off leaving Legolas baffled.

He had just described Tom Bombadil! Entering once again into the (augh!) smoke ridden room, walked past the many drunks and drinking men to the farthest table from the lights.

Arriving found the twins quietly discussing something and three new figures around the table.

"Ah, Farseeer (Legolas's ranger name) come and sit down. The twins wish to depart." Aragorn motioned.

"El, Ro you wish to leave us?" Legolas asked.

Yes and no. We plan to leave you but only to join up with you later. There is an old valley out of the way you are going that we want to check out and then we will return and meet up with you at the basin of the Witch King's lair." Ellandan said smiling, Elohir nodding his head.

Having given this news to all of the companions at the table they rose and left with out another word.

Aragorn sighed. Then sat up as Legolas relayed the news he found out to Aragorn and the others at the table. Then Legolas met Aragorn's eyes with a look of "introduce your friends Estel I don't know them"

Estel taking the queue introduced two brown haired rangers, brothers, Lanta and Svan. Then a red haired ranger from the south named Rigith.

Then after this they all discussed and agreed that they would travel to the old forest that they might speak with Tom. Though they would stay the night in Bree.

Going up to their rooms, getting settled for the night. The rangers shared a room and the elves shared a room.

Aragorn, Lanta, Rigith and Svan spoke of the places where this Mysterious town might be. And too many other subjects that I won't bore you with.

"Aragorn, why do you travel with those two elves? What have they to do with finding this village?" Svan asked with wonder of elves in his voice. (He was only 17 and had never seen an elf before.)

"Legoals knows the history of these shape-shifters, he also knows more languages than you could imagine Glorfindel has his own reasons besides I could never order friends to leave me when they want to be beside me. Time for a night's sleep." Acting on it laid his head on his pillow and closed his eyes. Sleep soon filled all the rangers and they slept well.

Glorfindel and Legolas were watching though the window as Elendil shone in the night sky.

"Glorfindel, what would Tom know about shape-shifters?"

"I don't know, but he has always been around since I have lived. He must know something or he would never have contacted you through that human." Glorfindel said thoughtfully.

"I was wondering, why did you join on this mission anyhow?" the Prince questioned.

I come because something I supposedly killed is still alive." With that he suddenly moved to lay down and allowed his eyes to quickly cloud over escaping Legolas's questioning.

Legolas was confused and curious at the lord's statement then went to sleep and in his sleep dreamt....

A hill with a large yellow willow tree on it, an open field below with figures dancing very strangely below. It was all fuzzy and blurred. Darkness seemed come then after a while Green eyes appeared that seemed to be laughing at him. Then a huge something above him it's hot breath breathing on him.... He woke cold swear dripping down his face, sat up with sun just starting to rise.

Turning saw Glorfindel sitting up, hands holding his head and he was trembling. Trembling! Legoals took a double take; the great balrog slayer was trembling.

"Glorfindel are you...." before he could finish Estel burst in.

"Come Legolas, Glorfindel time to go." Glorfindel stood and went out the door. Lanta was outside with all the horses waiting for their masters.

Asfaloth nickered at Glorfindel to hurry up. The golden Lord shook his head a smile now on his face.

The mounted and rode through the town out the northern gate and headed towards the old forest. Glorfindel having his mood cheered thought and turned to legolas motioned him to come and coming whispered something to his ear. Legolas burst forward with a musical laughter that the elf lord's soon joined.

"What is so funny?" Aragorn asked turning in his saddle.

"Why that Glorfindel was wondering what you smelled like if you were truly clean down to the last nail. It would improve your seriousness if took it to drastic action." At this the two elves urging their horses onward galloped towards the future king on either side of him lifted Aragorn off his saddle and picked him off of it and holding him suspended in the air went galloping towards the river.

"Stop, you stupid elves stop!" Aragorn pleaded with them but it was to no avail. The elves riding partly in the water dropped him in then rode away with the ranger spluttering and splashing about till a angry and soggy aragorn immerged only to be hit in the head by a hard bar of soap.

"Well Aragorn as I said earlier when I first arrived you need a bath." Legolas said laughingly as this event turned into a repeat of several days ago when he arrived at Rivendel.

Then as he stumbled out of the river he tripped into the bushes from his clumsey nature and all of them heard a sudden yell of frustration. As Aragorn was trying to stand a horrid smell began to fill the surrounding area all present knew what it was. Glorfindel looked pleased, Legolas was unreadable and the other rangers had shock on thieir faces. Their Leader came tumbling out of the bushes smelling like a skunk. The black and white monster went waddling away in the other direction looking irritated at having been disturbed.

"well, son of Elrond you have immediate need to bathe. Or your companions will suffer the smell of you that orcs enjoy." Glorfindel pointed out.

The human glared up at the Lord elf and went to his bags to take some things out, then once again disappeared into the bushes by the Riverside. Rigith and Lanta seeing that they would get not further that night had started to set up camp and Svan had disappeared in to the woods to gather wood.

Glorfindel started a conversation with Rigith about all the places he had been and surprised him with his extensive knowledge of Middle Earth.

"Have you been to the Lantern Waste in the Far north past what was Morgoth's caves?" Rigith asked.

"Yes, in fact I was there before it got turned into the Lantern Waste. IT used to be the most beautiful land that you could imagine. filled with beautiful trees and plants, though when Morgoth went there he defiled it with all the evil he could also destroying the last two Silmarils which cost so many elves lives." Glorfindel looked sad as he said that.

Rigith dropped that subject. At that moment a clean and Not-smelling Aragorn arrived at the fire. His cheeks were like ripe apples and his skin looked like it had been scrubbed very hard. Sitting down by the flames you could see the goosebumps that had risen on his skin from being cold.

"aragorn will you be alright?" Svan asked sitting down.

"Yes, friend I will as long as two vengeful elves to not play tricks on me every minute of the trip." He glared angrily at Glorfindel then looked around for Legolas. "Where is the Prince?" Upon asking this the ragners started.

"You mean to say that Legolas is a Prince?" Lanta asked amazement in his voice.

"Yes he is. Though he wishes not to be because of the responsibilities of a Prince." Aragorn stated looking around for said elf.

Rigith spoke up, "I saw him leave camp half and hour ago heading towards those hills south of us."

Aragorn nodded and left to find the missing elf.

Legolas stood on a hillside and uneasy feeling rising in his gut saying something was dreadfully wrong. How could he put his finger on it his thoughts went from His own father to Lord ELrond then to the twin elves. What could be wrong? At that moment what could be happening that would make him feel this way.

Back at camp Glorfindel had suddenly lost his appetite and felt a sense of foreboding that he did not like.

Aragorn sighted the said elf he was looking for and went and stood beside him, as he arrived could see that his friend was in deep thought.

"Mellonin what is wrong?' He asked seeing the look he recognized as deep concerned thought.

Legolas seemed to jerk back into life as the human's voice penetrated his mind.

"Aragorn, something is terribly wrong, I sense that someone or something terrible is happening at this very moment." Looking over the fields and plains that spread before him the wind in her wake blew gently blowing their hair in such a way it made them look like alknowing of the like Valor in Valinor. Were they right?

- - - - -

Far away a clash of swords and cry of pain filled the night. Two figures fought among many trying to save their lives. soon all was lost, one of the dark elves fell to the ground, the multitude swept forward and gathered up the dark elf and as a mob vanished from the field leaving a limp and unconcious being on the field wounds numerous and the conciousness of his bond with the other elf hurt his soul almost the point of death himself. He was too weak to even move his hand from his weapon. But lay there as the began to cast silvery beams upon his back.

Moving farther and farther away North the horrid being with guttural cries and a horrible tongue, carried the willingless elf with them to what end though? Merciful death or to a death of torture and life of misery. What would happen next?

Krystal Fox: I feel like I just killed an immortal elf. Well all you reading this will have to wait until next chapter to find out what happens, if "it" happens at all in this next chapter. Till then.