Born of Fire
By A.D. Reese
A tale of great sorrow, and a love unlike any other.
Gaia
She was a strange woman. The strangest woman the Shire had been exposed too, they would wager. The gossip was electric as they whispered over their shoulders, or over a swift trade. Who was the woman at Bag End? Of all the things that Bilbo Baggins could have returned with that afternoon, he brought a woman! He hadn't brought back a trinket, nor details of his adventure, just walked right back into Hobbiton with a tall, dark shadow following after him.
In said woman's defense, she had attempted a conversation, but the Shire didn't take too kindly to odd strangers…at least not the men and women. The children trailed after her like baby ducklings, desperate for her attention. Rowen claimed wholeheartedly that she did not like children, but hobbit children were so small and round faced, something that always had her grinning from ear to ear with glee.
However, their parents would often grasp at their collars, urging them to leave the Stranger alone. Yes, in the beginning, they all called her Stranger. So it was only fitting that once they learned of her true name, she was deemed Rowen Strange. She did not understand their need to label her, but she accepted it none the less.
They didn't ask Rowen Strange of where she came from, of what elf realm. From her height to her sharp ears, she could have passed for an odd, dark-skinned elf. So that was what they told themselves to ease the curiosity. Even though her eyes, a piercing blue that read them with ease, put nearly all the hobbits on edge, they did not ask where she hailed from. And though she smiled at them, and often bought goods from them, they were always slightly put off. She looked like a predator, like she was on a prowl for something or someone.
Yes, the hobbits were often kind to her face, but Heavens only knew the things they said when she left on one of her wretched adventures that had the children whining and wishing for her return. The parents would almost rather have her in the Shire than listen to their children complain of her absence.
Disturber of the peace, she was.
Always gathering up their children and showing them grand gestures of magic and spells. Always telling them awful stories that nearly had their children running for the hills to find adventures of their own. Always finding Gandalf's (the Wizard) fireworks and setting them off for giant displays of dragons and fairies and the like. Always bringing them fancy trinkets and toys.
Imagine if they'd found out about her true heritage? How do you think a bunch of halflings would react to a dragon living in their Shire. They'd go mad, clearly.
If you've heard what I've heard, which is only a little, then you would have heard that Morgoth bred them. They are rumored to be beings of mass destructions-evil beings, but I will have you know that everything you have been told of dragons is completely wrong.
Before there was man, there was dragon.
Eons ago, Gaia swam among the stars on her own. She flew from one end of existence to another, without a home or a baring. She was larger than all of the stars in the galaxies, and therefore never had anywhere to rest. She came across a cold, massive star, that did not shine. She decided that it was far too cold and she found the largest star in existence and set fire to it, allowing her smaller star to warm considerably. It was comfortable.
Gaia found that her small star was so massive as she grew closer, that she could not see the end of the star. When she landed on the star, its cracked surface seemed to stretch on for ages. Gaia quite liked the star, and found that the star quite liked her as well, as she could feel its steady heart beneath her. "Planet," she decided. "For it has a heartbeat, it is alive, so it is no star."
One evening, there was a single flower sprouted from the ground! It was blue, and the color was quite beautiful, and she named it Saphir. When the moon shone on Saphir, he glowed brightly, twinkling as though he was a star of his own.
Though without water, Saphir was dying, and only Gaia could bring it water. Gaia opened her massive jaws wide, desperate to not let the beautiful flower die, and was surprised when water spouted forth from her and filled the earth for as far as the eye could see.
Gaia quite liked sculpting herself a world, and spent her days in creating vast canyons and tall mountains. It was beautiful, and for years she was content until she realized that of all the beautiful things she had created, she had only one to share with. Saphir was kind company, but she craved a companion.
First, it was a storm that she spawned with massive wing strokes, and from that storm hailed a smaller dragon than herself. She called him Statiel.
From her fiery breath that sculpted the highest volcano, came Ignis, her daughter of fire.
Then, from her womb, came the biggest dragon, Terra.
The products of these children ruled the seas and the mountains.
Fields of Saphir grew, filling her lands with a glowing petals and shattered starlight and all was well until the men came. Gaia was kind, and willing to share all that was hers, she learned the ways of men, and then used her magic to walk amongst them.
She was the mother, the First, and because of that, her daughters were the strongest, and their daughters, and their daughters after them.
They were strong, valiant creatures. After eons of being hunted by the darkspawn, they resigned to their regions, and kept to themselves. They did not wage war for a long while after Nastari, but Rowen felt a storm brewing.
For this reason, she stayed near her hobbits. She watched their borders, unwilling to allow any harm to come to Bilbo, or Frodo for that matter.
She met Frodo nearly a week after he'd been dropped off. She returned with trinkets and some seasoned pork. She pushed the door open with her free arm, shocked to see a small, rosy cheeked, and dark haired little hobbit.
Bilbo had informed her before she had gone of what was to come, and she had seemingly forgotten or misplaced the knowledge. She tucked her things on the table after she shut the door. He peered around the threshold of the kitchen. She took a seat and pushed her hood away from her face, giving the shy little hobbit a good view. She leaned forward as he eyed her with one blue ye.
"So this is your nephew?" She called to Bilbo.
"It appears so!" Bilbo called in reply. "He's quite the little devil, though he puts on a good face."
"Maybe Bag End will be a little fun after all," Rowen said with a smile as she ducked her head. Frodo gave her a little smile. "I've been so excited to meet you, Da'len." He came out from behind the doorframe, his little hands behind his back as he shyly stared up at the dragon. Her voice was deep and smooth, and it made him feel safe.
Bilbo watched from the doorway as Frodo made careful steps towards her. He had seen her magic shows, but he had never been alone with her like this. Now he had all the time in the world to ask for magic!
"Can I see what you've got in your bag?" He asked nosily, and Rowen laughed at him, and he smiled. Yes, he quite liked the sound of her laugh. With hands that felt like they could break him, yet they did not, she placed him on the table, his large feet dangling.
"Pick what you'd like, Da'len."
"What does that mean?"
"It means little one. It's the language of where I am from." She told him, he nodded, about to ask her Just where is that? When he found a plush dragon in the bag, and wooden swords, and play shields carved from oak.
"Can I play with these?" Frodo asked excitedly, his eyes wide with excitement.
"Of course, Da'len." Frodo looked up at her and caught sight of her pointed ears, and then brought a hand up to his own ears. He made a face, furrowing his eyebrows. It was quite adorable, and Rowen grinned at him.
"Hm." Is all he hummed before he looked back down at his new toys.
Bilbo used a cloth to dry an empty pint as he watched the exchange with a smile. It warmed his very being to see her smile that much.
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SWIGGITY SWAGGER IM BOUTTA TIMESKIP SO SHE CAN MEET LEGOLASS
