After riding hard the entire night, Legolas deemed them far enough from Erebor that they could rest and eat. Bilbo had fallen asleep after crying for a few hours. The little drake was quiet, but very much awake. Legolas let the horse slow to her own pace, and he rubbed her neck softly to signal her to stop. More than eager to stop, the mare did so and Legolas dismounted, stirring Bilbo awake. The hobbit looked at him blearily.
"Why have we stopped, Legolas?" the sleepy hobbit murmured.
"We have travelled far for the night, and have made good time. We should be back to your shire in a third the time it took your company to reach Erebor. For now, we take a rest. We can begin teaching your friend some Westron, if you'd like." Legolas suggested as he helped the hobbit off the horse. Legolas didn't tether her – she would graze on her own and not stray far, she was a well-trained war horse. Bilbo mumbled agreement and set to gathering some wood for a fire as Legolas gathered a few things from the mare's packs. The dragon kept close to Bilbo, trailing like a puppy at his feet, even trying to help by picking up a stick in her mouth far too heavy for her frail neck. Legolas gave a small chuckle as she dragged it along behind Bilbo, and when they passed by him he snatched up the drake and stick alike, removed it from her maw. As she chittered at him angrily he spoke in the tongue she knew.
"~That is a bit large for you little one. I suggest you try something smaller next time. Smaller~, Small." He repeated the word in Westron with emphasis. He set her down, and as Bilbo approached them he handed the stick to the hobbit. He looked to her again.
"Small, Laurë. Náto – Yes?" Legolas chided gently. Bilbo watched with amazement as Laurë gave a nod.
"Cinta, smaller, elda condo!" the little dragon chirped. Bilbo gazed at Legolas with amazement as she trotted off and came back with a smaller stick, much more suited to her size.
"Smaller!" She tittered as Bilbo took it to her, adding it to his bundle. She gazed at him with those large endearing eyes.
"Ontaro, valin?" she asked softly. Bilbo looked to Legolas for help. The elf smiled.
"She called you parent, and asked if you are happy with her." Legolas turned to her.
"Parent, happy." Legolas urged gently.
"Parent happy?" she repeated brightly, eyes wide open and a small grin turning up her mouth. Bilbo laughed for a moment, offering her a hand and she scrambled up onto his shoulder.
"Yes, Laurë I am happy." Bilbo whispered quietly, scratching behind her tiny ears affectionately. A small thrum came from her throat and she nuzzled his neck. Her voice spoke in his head in that old voice but in the mix was the two words she had spoken to him, Ontaro and valin, and intermixed also with them was the word happy. Bilbo smiled.
"Yes, little one. I am very happy. Valin, little one." Bilbo whispered sweetly. Legolas smiled at them, offering his arms out to take the wood from the hobbit. Bilbo gratefully gave them up and watched as the elf prince began to make a fire, the chill in the air starting to creep into Bilbo's skin. He felt the dragon shiver a little on his shoulder. Unbuttoning his coat he ushered her inside the cloth and redid the buttons carefully to avoid her sensitive skin, not yet hardened with scales like Smaug had been. Her little head popped out under his chin and she nuzzled it for a moment before going off on for a few moments in Quenya to Legolas. The elf laughed and waved a hand at her, almost a dismissal.
"You can teach her words you know, that is what she was going on about. She wants to be taught more words. While I make us something to eat why don't you walk around and teach her words?" Legolas suggested as he nursed the fire to burning. Bilbo grinned, as he was more than eager to accept that task.
"Well then, I shall have to teach you of the earth and trees little one, hm?" Bilbo asked her, although he knew she had no clue what he said. Taking a moment he paused next to a tree, resting a palm and looking up to its murky boughs. He let a smile grace his face as a leaf fell down onto his arm. He fetched it with his other hand and held it to her nose, letting her examine it to her content.
"Leaf." Bilbo mentioned, and was pleased when she promptly repeated it upwards of a dozen times. He patted the tree and repeated its name. The next short while went like this, he would find an object and tell her the name, and she would slowly start threading together small words. She picked up words quickly; she was extremely intelligent and fond of learning. At one point he held his hands up, one over the other and said the word 'on', repeating the motion. She placed her chin on his shoulder.
"On parent." She giggled. Bilbo smiled.
"Yes, you are." He laughed, looking over to the elf prince who was watching them fondly. And that night Bilbo slept peacefully, without tears, without shame or fear. The next few days passed like this pleasantly, and already little Laurëwas speaking like a toddler as Legolas taught her how to speak properly and Bilbo taught her the things of the world. They made a good pair of teachers, as Bilbo could not tell her how to speak fluently, and Legolas did not have the time to tell her the words of everything around them like she wanted.
On the fifth day, they reached the end of Mirkwood and the edges of Beorn's territory; Bilbo was surprised that the skin-changer was there to meet them. He must have left before them and moved at a faster pace, for it looked like his lands had never been left.
"Little rabbit, your drake and you look thin! You too, elf-prince, come and I will hasten us to my home." Beorn boomed, and also rather unexpectedly Laurë took to Beorn rather quickly, fond of sitting in his massive hand as he spoke lowly to her. Bilbo would hear them talking back and forth, and the bear-man gestured largely. Probably telling her stories of his lands, Bilbo thought. She was much too small to walk on her own any time soon, although she had grown a little and webbing was starting to grow in between the creases of her wing-digits and the fleshy spikes all along her back.
They made good time to Beorn's house and were there on the seventh day. The skin-changer treated them to the sweet honey, bread and milk. Special for Laurë were some eggs that hadn't the fortune of being fertilized. Beorn grumbled a bit about this, but this was his way of admitting that she did need a high amount of protein. He would not see animals slaughtered for her sake, but some eggs that would never grow to become chicks he would begrudge to her, and only her. Legolas and Bilbo made a great effort to show that they did not need – or want them. Bilbo was quite flustered, making sure to show how appreciative he was – for both his food and Beorn's adjustment to the drake (whom they had been catching rabbits and small mammals for and feeding her those).
That night Bilbo was sitting in front of the fire, when a voice that was not his drake started whispering in his mind. At first he confused it with little Laurë's voice, but then the voice took a darker tone and was whispering dreadfully possessive things to him. How the drake was getting special treatment and that he shouldn't bother with her, to leave her with Beorn. Bilbo shook his head, vaguely remembering the ring still hiding in his pocket. It had whispered to him in the past, but in the flurry of the past week and a half he had nearly forgotten about it. He had meant to leave it with Gandalf since the journey was over and he had no need to turn invisible anymore – but now the wizard wouldn't come near him for years to come.
"Little rabbit has deep thoughts?" Beorn's voice rumbled quietly, well, as quiet as his voice could get. Bilbo gave a small nod as he held the ring for him to see.
"This is what troubles me. A magic ring I had found in the goblin caves. When worn, it turns the wearer invisible. However it also whispers to the wielder, when worn or not. The creature I found it from had gone mad, called himself Gollum. This ring is how I escaped death by his cold, unfeeling hands. I used this ring to rescue the dwarves from Thranduil's dungeons, and to hide from Smaug. But now I have no use for it, and I fear its nature around Laurë. I do not want to see her become corrupt, and I fear this ring may try to twist her mind as it has tried to twist mine." Bilbo explained slowly, turning the golden thing in his hands. He looked to Beorn, who blinked at him as if deep in thought.
"I hear no whispers from this ring, little rabbit. Why did you not give this to the wizard?" Beorn asked, puzzled. Bilbo winced.
"To be honest I quite forgot about it with the battle, Laurë hatching and the journey home." Bilbo replied, clutching the ring in his hand. An idea began to form in his head as he looked into the fire, swearing he could almost see stories being told in the flames. He looked back to the giant man, who had taken a seat in a giant chair.
"Say Beorn, would you be able to hold it here for me? You say you don't hear the whispers, and Gandalf could come here to retrieve it once Laurë and I leave." Bilbo asked cautiously. The great man seemed to glower over at him.
"I feared you would ask that of me, little rabbit. I do not like the idea of this whispering magic ring. It may draw evil to my lands." The skin-changer growled, although he did not seem angry. Bilbo sighed, knowing that would be the answer.
"But I will take this task. I can protect my land from small evils; I cannot protect the world from an angry dragon more dangerous than Smaug the terrible."
They spent three days with Beorn, teaching Laurë more words and how to speak in sentences. She was an apt student and spoke like a young child already, although she listened better than she spoke. She would be a great scholar of a dragon if she wanted to learn the languages of the world. They left Beorn's bee pastures in peace, laden with jars of honey and a new pack filled with bread attached to the mare's saddle. Because of Laurë's curious nature, they spent the rest of the way a bit more leisurely, teaching her as they rode upon the horse or walked at the mare's side.
But all too soon the weeks passed by, and Bilbo blinked, suddenly recognizing where they were, upon the edges of the Shire. They had been walking along the road with their packs on to give the mare a break, and now Bilbo realized the other reason Legolas had suggested that for today. He looked up to the elf, only to find that he and the mare had stopped several paces back. Turning to face the prince, Bilbo gave a frown.
"I'm afraid this is as far as I go, Bilbo. You know your home from here. I apologize. I wish you the best. Fare well, Bilbo Baggins." Legolas called mournfully. Bilbo gaped as the elf mounted the horse and they tore off into the distance like wraiths from the dawn. A small chirp from the ground brought him back to reality and he glanced down to the ground where little Laurë walked on her own by his feet. Her webbing had finished coming in, full broad wings and fins between the spikes along her back. Small round nubs had begun to sprout in front of her little ears, and along her jaws and that small horn on her nose had given Bilbo more than a few scratches before she realized she had to be careful with it. Scales had begun to grow on her belly – soft still but that they were forming was the important part. She gave a great few flaps of her wings and landed on his arm that shot out automatically for her to land on.
"Legolas gone? Why?" she mewled softly, tongue flicking out to lick Bilbo's cheek affectionately. Bilbo nodded, tears forming at the corners of his eyes as he shifted the pack on his back.
"He couldn't stay, he has a home to go to, as do we little one. Come, we must get home before dark, and we still have several miles till Bag End." Bilbo replied stiffly, biting back the tears. He had to be strong now. This was his fate – to be alone in the world. He had been a lonely (if content) bachelor before the dwarfs; surely he would manage with a little one underfoot with no help.
With no walking stick it was a bit more tedious than Bilbo would have preferred, but after his adventure with the company it was normal. They made it back to Bag End just as the sun was about to finish setting, with Laurë tucked into his coat once again, just her head poking out of the top under his chin. Opening the gate, which creaked something awful, Bilbo sighed. Home sweet home, he thought dully. As he began to walk up the steps his little drake got excited and forgot his warning to stay in his coat – scrambling out and jumping to the door, impatient to be inside. When Bilbo's hand came to rest on the knob and began to turn, imagine his shock when the door opened for him! Bilbo's eyes were wide, his mouth agape and speechless as he stared at the hobbit standing just inside his door brandishing a gardening hoe.
Bilbo slumped into the chair by the gently rolling fire in his fireplace, old Gaffer Gamgee sitting across from him, Laurë in his lap.
"Sorry 'bout that Mister Baggins, I didn't recognize you when you were coming up the steps, all sad looking." Gaffer said sheepishly. A young boy sat on the floor between them, hands playing with Laurë in Gaffer's lap. The drake relished the game, as the boy put his hands up she was to try and tap them with a paw – if she got him they burst into giggles only to start again. The young lad was Gaffer's boy, Samwise.
"I do not blame you, Gaffer. In fact I have to thank you for minding Bag End, I had thought I would come back and all my things sold off by those Sackville-Baggins…" Bilbo groaned, nursing a steaming cup of tea.
"Interesting little creature you came back with though, it's amazing how fast she moved to protect you, all hiss and no claws." Gaffer chuckled, stroking her back gently. She preened for a moment before swiping a paw and catching Sam's hand, sending the young lad bursting into laughter.
"She's one of the last drakes. Probably the youngest, now that I think of it. Her sire was a great drake with the power of enhanced dragon-fire. Smaug the Terrible was his name. He claimed the great dwarf city of Erebor. Recently it was taken back by the dwarfs though, that is where I went off to. I was helping them. Would you believe I had a battle of wits with a dragon?" Bilbo grinned, his Took side showing. Laurë looked at him with a tilted head, blinking her eyes in such a fashion that meant she was curious. He winked at her.
"You get your wits from your da, little girl. He was as smart as they come! Regrettably he was also very mean, and greedy. Nothing good comes of greed, just an empty life and a lonely heart." Bilbo lamented. Gaffer looked at him with wonder for a moment before nudging Laurë gently. The little dragon hopped off his lap and jumped up into Bilbo's, tongue flicking out to steal a taste of his tea. She made a face suggesting that she wasn't pleased with her experiment.
"I really should be getting young Samwise here to bed; again I'm sorry I nearly hit you with a hoe." Gaffer smiled bashfully. Bilbo waved a hand.
"No worries, Gaffer. Just do me a favor and don't mention little Laurë here? I'd rather not have word that there is a dragon in the Shire. Goodness knows hobbits gossip and word would get out to men and all sorts of nasty things could happen." Bilbo shuddered. Gaffer nodded.
"Sure thing, Mister Baggins. Good night." And with that Gaffer hoisted up little Sam who whined a bit before settling, and left quietly from Bag End. With the crackling of the fire and the purring from Laurë, Bilbo nearly was lulled to sleep, before he shook himself slightly awake and noticed his little golden drake was asleep. He smiled and set his empty mug down to take care of in the morning. Acting proper could wait one night. He pulled the sleeping babe into his arms and went to his bedroom to find it clean and just as he left it. Changing into night clothes he slipped under the covers and tucked Laurë in the crook of his elbow. He'd imagine sometime in the time she would migrate to his chest with her head in his neck, but he didn't mind. He had grown to love her on their trip to Bag End with Legolas, and however abrupt the prince's departure had been, it was a good journey and good to be home. He only wished that he had been able to make peace with Thorin, first…But he would think more on that tomorrow while he settled back into a comfortable hobbit lifestyle. For now, he let sleep claim him with dreams of gold and gems and soaring on wide green leathery wings.
Quenya Translations:
Náto - Small
Cinta – Yes (or confirmation)
Elda condo – elf prince
Ontaro – Parent (masculine or feminine, I mean it as no-gender.)
Valin - Happy
