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MiaraElerina: yeeeppp... Kind of, I guess? Thanks! Had an awesome thanksgiving... Anyway, here's the next update!
Chapter 9
"Did you really?" Erillin asked incredulously. I nodded, a small smile on my face.
"Yes, I did. That is my story of how I got to be here now- I know that I look nothing like either the King nor the prince." I added.
She nodded in return, eyes still wide. I laughed. "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed my boring story..." She grinned.
"Saph?" She bounded out from under my bed, squirming all over my feet. I hugged her. "Will you please go see if Father needs me? I need to go see Toron," she hopped out the door, barreling around the corners and barking happily; while I headed the other way down the hall, laughing at her antics along with Erillin.
I finally found Legolas at the archery area. "Finally! I should have known to look here first." I teased, placing my hand on his shoulder. He turned from his bow and grinned, smashing me in a hug. I choked, "You're killing me!" Erillin's laughs didn't help.
He let me go and looked me over. "You look good, sister. I thought you were to stay longer?" He tilted his head. I sighed and filled him in. He turned away, a thoughtful look on his face.
"I suppose your right." He murmured. "What are you going to do?"
"Going to do? Keep an eye out, that's what! Nothing more. I can't do any more. Dol Guldur is much too dangerous right now to do anything there. Mithrandir will take care of other things now." I moaned and shook my head exaggeratedly.
"So now I come home to have the breath smashed out of me as well. I can't go to Rivendell without all four kids deciding to tackle me, and I can't go to Erebor without having my lungs crushed! I'm not safe anywhere!" I whined in mock horror, face twisting and hands flapping.
Legolas was laughing to the point of tears just as Father came around the corner, Saphira bouncing at his feet.
/I got him!/ she shrieked. That earned a sour look from Father and another round of laughing from Toron and I. Erillin had left to other places.
"You needed me, Father?" I asked. He knew just as well as I did who the Necromancer was. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "I though you would make light of homecoming." I said amusedly. Legolas was busy wiping away tears. "Hmm. Yes, Father. You know your favorite treasure well." It was my habit to say such things- even if I meant them now with all of my heart.
It was something I'd always done, to avoid riling up the temper of the dragon. With Father, though, I did it not only out of habit, but meant it as well. He considered me his treasure, and I did not dispute that. My Father would always be a dragon, really, in many aspects. I made sure that he, and everyone else, knew that I belonged to my Father, and always would. Parental wise, you understand, not slave-like.
He shook his head at my antics, but pride, possessiveness, and love gleamed in his eyes as he smiled indulgently. He knew that I knew that he was very possessive. I smiled. Despite their faults, I loved my Father and Adar very much. I was content to know that they knew it, and that they loved me too.
...
I sat at my table in my room, the book The Phoenix and the Flame in front of me. There were empty pages in the middle, and I had written my story in it. There were many pages left, though, and I knew that it was not finished yet.
I looked up, pen back in the ink pot and ink drying as Erillin came in, bringing a tray of things. It was luminescent like her, but as she set it down, it materialized. I smiled as I noticed the cup of hot chocolate and a snack for Saphira. "Thank you, Erillin. Saph!"
She opened one eye and yawned lazily, stretching, uncurling, and padding from her special bed next to mine and nuzzled the space next to Erillin as she happily ate her snack. My ability to see her was transferred over our bond to Saph. Really, that wolf, sometimes she acted uncannily like a cat.
Despite his initial dislike of Saph, Adar had provided quite a few things for Saphira in my room. When questioned, he just waved it off and said that it was because he didn't want to be bothered with her later on, blah blah blah. I had shaken my head and gave him a knowing smile, which he just glared mildly to and went on to another topic. I knew that he spoiled Saph just because she was mine- he might have even taking a liking to her.
I turned back to my book as Erillin floated next to me interestedly, peering over my shoulder. I turned the page and smiled delightedly as glowing, orange script began to appear. I began slowly reading aloud.
"Phoenix, you have done well to come so far, blessed of the Eru. You know what tasks are appointed you next. Be not afraid, but be comforted in the knowledge that nothing given to you will be above your skills. Believe that help comes over the hills, and from the Eru and Valar. Be strong and be brave. This token given to you will be for you to give to whomever you please, as a sign of your love. Use it wisely, and use it well. This is the Morningstar, the precious pendant that will be yours. As it is a gift to you, so will it be a gift to whoever you give it to in return. Know that it cannot be passed down to another after it has been given. It also contains the power to give immortality. You may give the immortality to whomever you choose, and it will not affect the pendant. It will never come off once put on. Choose wisely, Phoenix. You may find that you will not have to look very far to find the one. If at the most desperate hour, the pendant will heal the most gravest of wounds if it has not yet been given. May you be blessed on your quest." The script stopped, and no more was written.
A pendant suddenly slipped from the back pages into my lap. I picked it up and studied it. It looked very familiar. It had a flower on the top, and was golden. It had two golden bands extending from the flower to the gem that sparkled at the bottom of the pointed end. It looks just like the Evenstar that Yavien wears, I realized. The gem was clear and bright, and after all of my years spent among treasure in Erebor, I pronounced it opal.
It flew up and attached itself to my neck, glowing with a soft but bright light, like starlight. A sign of my love, I mused. Gandalf was right. I would need a long time to decide who to give the immortality to. I turned it over and noticed one word on the back. It said simply- words. I frowned, but then realized that it would reveal its meaning one day.
I leaned back in my chair, sipping the drink. This had been a day, I sighed to myself wearily. And I had the feeling that tomorrow was going to bring changes that even I could not foresee.
...
"Adar?" I called into the throne room.
He motioned me up from his throne. He had been rather busy, and had just now had finished for the day.
I hummed and walked up the stairs, dress swishing softly against the wood. I still hadn't changed from festivities in Erebor, yet.
"Are you well, mîn yeldë?" He asked. I nodded and hugged him. He accepted the wordless forgiving thankfully.
He noticed the pendant on my neck as I pulled back. "What?"
"Oh. It's my Morningstar, Adar." I proceeded to elaborate.
"I see." He gave me a look I couldn't interpret, but I had no chance to ask as we headed into the dining hall.
Sitting next to Toron, I forgot to be serious and laughed to my hearts content at Father and Legolas. At least things weren't serious enough that laughter was gone.
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