Story time! Bit of a filler chapter, but, oh well.

Disclaimer: Me no own, you no sue

Fili took Arriah's hand and led her back inside. Arriah quickly took in the scent of the whole company, Gandalf included.

"It would seem that you weren't the only one waiting to hear my stories Fili."

"Yes, well, I might have said something during dinner."

Arriah gave a small smile as she felt a fire begin to warm her.

"Both tales are rather long...is there somewhere I can sit?"

"Oh!"

And she was nudged to the left slightly.

"There's a stone pillar behind you."

Arriah nodded and lowered herself to the ground, shifting to get comfortable and leaning back against the pillar.

"Tell me when to start."

There was a shuffling followed by muffled voices.

"Ready."

Arriah nodded.

"I was pretty young, I can't quite remember how young though. I'd left Harondor and was heading further South, towards Sutherland, and eventually I'd end up in Far Harad. The land there is flat and dry. Only the occasional grouping of trees and bushes gave any evidence of life. And man, was it ever lively. A large river wound it's way into my path. Animals that I'd only ever heard of in fairy tales ran around in great herds.

"Live was abundant there, even though it rained little. That part of Middle Earth is still un-mapped to this day. No one venture's there. It is a place where only the lost wander, in hopes that they will be found again, or fade into memory.

"I took up camp in a cluster of trees along the river's bank. I stayed there for many days. Watching the herds come and go. I leaned that there was some sort of schedule that the animals took too. Smaller animals and their herds usually came early in the day, and as the day progressed the animals and the herd's became bigger.

"One morning I woke to the most incredible sight. Across the river was a lion. As big as they come, it's fur was like honey, and it's mane like the sun. It's eyes were a piercing blue. Large paws, sharp teeth, and claws like razors, with a long tail that had a tuft of hair on the end of it. I'll never forget it.

"From then on, every time I woke the lion was there. Some days it would just drink and then leave, but as the days progressed the lion began to just sit and stare at me. I was captivated.

"One morning, weeks after I'd made camp at the river I woke to see the lion sitting directly in front of me. You can imagine my shock, especially when it didn't rip off my head. Instead it sat there for some time and then got up and left. So what did I do?"

Arriah smiled.

"I followed it of course. I packed up my camp and ran after it. I stayed behind it for most of the time, but as I continued to follow the lion I began to walk beside, mind you, I still kept my distance though. I followed the lion for many, many days, and before long I realized that I was back in Harondor. I was amazed and confused. Why did the lion lead me here?

"Well, when the lion turned to look at me, I got my answer. When the lion spoke it's voice was deep, and rumbled out like a roar. He said: Tei hu me, ni sona. Donr wro no hemith tin aka, hos wolf.

"Which translates to 'Here we are, young one. You are not lost any more, little wolf'. And then the lion left, but I quickly turned and asked him his name. He told me it was 'Rhaw' and left."

Arriah was silent.

"Rhaw? Like the constellation."

Arriah smiled and nodded. "Just like it."

"Incredible."

"Ah, the language the lion spoke, what was it?"

"Maywae. It is the common language of all animals. It is a language that a bird might use when speaking to a deer. I've spent many, many years learning it."

The company was silent.

"Quite a tale lass."

"Incredible. Wish I was there."

Arriah couldn't help but smile.

"And what of this other tale of yours? It's said you've met a dragon?"

Ah, his majestic asshole has arrived.

"Yes."

Arriah shifted slightly and took a deep breath.

"About twenty years after my encounter with Rhaw I was travelling in the far north. Past Emyn Uial, in between the Ice Bay of Forochel and an abandoned Carn Dum, slightly within the Northern Wastes is a small mountain range the locals call the Genbun Mountains. As adventurous as I was back then I made for the mountains after hearing a tale of a small village that was being terrorized by a dragon.

"The village was called Genbun, named after the mountains, and they asked me to dispose of the dragon that had been stealing their cattle and terrorizing everyone. The money they offered meant little to me and I headed up the mountain.

"At the top I found a cave. Inside was unnaturally hot, and smelt overwhelmingly strange, I knew I'd hit the jackpot. I enter the cave slowly and looked around. No dragon. I ventured further in, and continued for quite some time. Warm air followed me where ever I went. Turning on way, then the other. I was then that I stopped and realized that I had not found the dragon, but it had found me."

Arriah paused for effect.

"It was behind me, and had been since I entered the cave. I turned slowly and gaped at the beast. Scales blue like sapphire's and eyes red like ruby. It stared at me for a long time, and then stepped over me and continued into the cave. And what did I do? Well, I followed it of course."

There was a slight chuckle from the company.

"I followed the dragon deep into the cave, one turn and then the next I followed it until I came upon a large cavern. A third of it taken up by a shimmering pool, the rest smooth rock. But let me tell you, being followed by a dragon wasn't my biggest surprise that day. Inside the cavern were three baby dragons. And when I say baby I mean as big as eighteen hand horses.

"The dragon was female I realized, and was only trying to feed her children. I stayed in that cave for a while. Observing the dragons. While I was there the mother dragon told me many things. Tales of her kind, passed down for generations. She taught me dragon speech, well, the basics anyway. I learned of many different types of dragons. One's that breathed ice, and others that turned their scales different colors to hide. Apparently not all dragons are gold-lusting fire breathers. it was actually quite fascinating.

"When I returned to Genbun I gave the leader of the village 500 coins and began to leave. He asked 'Why give me this?' so I replied 'Because I didn't kill the dragon'. He looked scared and asked why. I told him 'Because there were four dragons, not one.' The entire village overtook me the next day."

Arriah smiled slightly.

"They relocated by Bree, I think."

Silence followed.

"Stop that. I know you're all giving me looks. It's not exactly like I'm just going to go up to any dragon and ask it how it's day has been."

Arriah rubbed the back of her neck. "Told you I'd be a bore."

Suddenly the company was in an uproar.

"No, I've just never-"

"Incredible-"

"Lassie, twas such a fine tale-"

"You weren't a bore, trust me."

She smiled to her right, to where Fili's voice had come from.

"Uh, lass, I don't want to seem rude or anything, but how old are ye'?"

Arriah blinked. "Uh...Uhm, I think..."

"Do you really not know?"

"Well, when you can no longer tell day from night keeping track of your birthday becomes rather hard."

Arriah furrowed her brows.

"My dear, you turn 83 in two days."

Arriah blinked. "You sure, Gandalf?"

"Quite."

Arriah nodded. "I'm 82 then. Why?"

"Jus' curious, lass."

Arriah shrugged and stood. "Can someone please help me navigate my way to the hall? I'm rather tired now."

"Oh, I'll-"

"I will."

Arriah blinked in the direction of Thorin's voice. A hand was placed on the small of her back and she was nudged forward.

"Those were quite the tales."

"Did you enjoy them?"

All she got was a grunt in reply.

"I feel the need to apologize. I've unnecessarily harsh and rude to you."

Arriah blinked. "Apology accepted."

They walked in silence.

"This is the hall, can you find you way from here?"

Arriah nodded and Thorin walked off. Weird.

Arriah quickly hurried to her room and threw herself onto her bed, not bothering to change, and soon she was pulled into a deep sleep.

That's all folks! R&R!