Chapter 2

"Why must you go?" One man asked as she announced to the people that she would be leaving for an unforeseen amount of time.

"Because it is the will of the Valar for me to do so and I can not stand idle as others risk their lives in this battle when I could've easily stopped it."

There were murmurs among the people. Although none discussed it, they all knew about the darkness that wished to take over Middle Earth.

"What will happen to Atlantis when you leave? Will it cease to be protected?" A woman asked this time from the crowd gathered in front of her throne.

Perci smiled and shook her head. "As long as I draw breath, never shall Atlantis fall to darkness nor shall it be unprotected. You all are safe here and shall remain so while I am gone. And speaking of gone, you shall carry on as if I were still here. I must be on my way."

Perci bowed her head to her subjects and over to where her travel pack had been sitting, grabbing it and tossing it over her shoulders. She was ready for this. It was time to do the mission that she had been called here all of those years ago. But first, she had a birthday party to attend.

She walked out of the kingdom and over the bridge stopping at the two great statues guarding the bridge.

"Make sure only people with pure and good intentions enter. Allow all who seek refuge dwell here."

The statues had come to life at her orders and as one, used their shields to block the entrance to the bridge and drew their swords before turning back into stone. Perci relaxed slightly knowing that Atlantis was going o be well protected. She had just set a foot onto the beach when Draco, one of the dragons, flew overhead and landed in front of her.

Perci frowned up at the great dragon. "Draco, what are you doing?"

"My lady, there are some that wishes to go with you, if you would allow them to." The great dragon rumbled.

Perci turned puzzled. "Who?"

The great dragon lifted his tail that had been covering the cave entrance and out of the dark cave came three giant wolves. A pitch black one, a russet colored one, and a dark brown one. The smallest one was the size of a small horse while the other two - the black and russet - were larger then horses.

Perci was startled. She hadn't seen these wolves since they were pups and had left Atlantis to enter the great forest surrounding it and to join the wolf pack.

"Sam? Quil? Jacob? What are you doing here?" But of course, the wolves couldn't answer her. So instead, Draco had to translate for them.

"They wish to join you, as do I." Draco began to glow and shrunk down until he was about the size of her hand.

Perci gaped. "I didn't know you could do that."

She crouched down and allowed the now miniature sized dragon to crawl into her hand and up her arm to curl his tail around her neck to hold on as he settled on her shoulder.

"Of course you didn't. We dragons have to have some mystery, now don't we?" Sam - the black wolf huffed. "Sam is right. He pointed out that we should be heading out if we wish to make it to the Shire ontime and that you should ride one of them so that we can get there faster."

Perci grumbled but agreed, climbing onto the russet colored wolf that had crouched down for her before they raced off towards the Shire.

She had an old friend's birthday to celebrate.

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Perci and her companions traveled through quickly, only stopping to stretch, eat, and to grab a drink, as well as short naps before traveling again. They were able to make it to the Shire the day of Bilbo's birthday.

They stopped in the woods surrounding the Shire and Perci slid off Jacob's back and Draco slid off of her to curl up on the wolf's back.

"I'll be back in two days time for us to head to Rivendell. Stay here and rest, recover your strength."

"We shall await you, my lady." Draco replied bowing his head, the wolves doing the same. Even though they couldn't speak to her, they could speak to Draco and understand her words.

Perci bowed her head in return before turning and continuing the journey on foot.

She came out of the forest and saw further up the road a gray cloaked figure steering a cart drawn horse.

Perci couldn't contain a grin. It was Gandalf.