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Before Mayleea could open her eyes, she could hear scattered voices and feel things against her skin. She knew she was an Elf not a dragon because everything smelled different when she inhaled. She struggled with her eyelids for a long time before she stopped and waited until they were ready to open on their own. She drifted in and out of consciousness, never hearing an entire conversation of the people around her. She sensed people in the room even when they weren't speaking or moving. Sometimes she knew it was Legolas or Aragorn, and other times it was a human she didn't know. All of them seemed to know she would be alright, so they weren't panicked. All but Legolas. Every time she heard him speak it was in his voice. Every time he laid his hand on hers, she could feel it in the way he touched her. He was worried.
"Legolas, you heard Gandalf. She is going to be fine," Aragorn assured his distraught friend.
"But why isn't she awake yet?" Legolas asked looking up at the ranger from Mayleea's bedside.
"Gandalf said the healing would take time. Why are you so worried?" Aragorn asked seating himself in a chair next to the Elf.
Legolas looked back at Mayleea and took a breath.
"When we were at Isenguard, and she was fighting them, I was on the top of the tower watching. I was enthralled by her. The way she moves in battle is no less than beautiful."
As Legolas stopped to take a breath, Aragorn gave him a knowing half smile.
"I wasn't watching when she got hurt, but I believe I felt it."
He looked up at Aragorn who had leaned forward and folded his hands between his knees, listening intently.
"There was a searing pain, like I had been stabbed with a blade on my side, from my shoulder down to my hip. The same spot she was injured. I looked, but there was no injury to me."
His eyes held a question for Aragorn. He leaned back and thought about it for a moment.
"Is it possible?" Legolas asked.
"It is," answered Gandalf from the door.
"Gandalf," Legolas said standing and going to him. "What does it mean?"
A smile spread across Gandalf's grandpa face.
"There was an instant connection between the two of you the moment you met. Only a very strong bond could connect you in the way that you describe. Did you get hurt on the roof?"
Legolas thought back.
"Yes. Saruman threw me into one of the corners. I believe he bruised my side."
Gandalf nodded and looked at Mayleea.
"When she wakes, ask her if she felt it. That will determine how strong your bond is."
"But Gandalf, what does it mean?" Legolas asked.
Gandalf's smile grew.
"You will understand in time dear boy. In time."
Legolas was about to ask another question when Mayleea stirred. Legolas quickly returned to her bed and took her hand.
"Mayleea?"
She blinked and opened her eyes meeting his immediately. She didn't quite know what to say to the four of them.
"How are you feeling?" Aragorn asked.
"Better," she said sitting up.
She flinched as she sat up. Aragorn saw Legolas flinch as well.
"How long have I been unconscious?"
"A few days," Gandalf said handing her a canteen.
She took a small drink and looked at Legolas.
"Did you tell Théoden about Saruman's armies?"
"He did indeed," Théoden said walking into the room. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine," she said swinging her legs over the bed.
"What are you doing?" Gimli asked surprised.
"We have already wasted two days," she said.
"Three days," Aragorn corrected.
"Three days. What are we going to do?"
There was a long pause.
"We ride to Helms Deep," Théoden finally answered.
She couldn't believe what he was saying.
"You're going to empty the city and travel to Helms Deep when Saruman's armies are on the move? They will overtake us. You must know that."
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli watched Théoden.
"You do not have to come along," Théoden said turning from the room. "You have been and are free to leave."
Mayleea shook her head.
"Can you walk?" Gandalf asked after he left.
"I believe so," she answered.
"Good. Théoden is going to need you before the day is through. Come."
Mayleea stood and with Legolas' shoulder to lean on, they made their way to the stables.
"Helms Deep," Gimli spat. "They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight! Who will defend them if not their King?"
"He is only doing what is best for his people," Aragorn said. "Helms Deep has saved them in the past."
"There is no way out of that ravine," Mayleea put in. "They are walking into a trap."
"She is right," Gandalf said. "They will get a massacre."
He paused.
"Théoden has a strong will but I fear for him and the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defenses have to hold."
"They will hold," Aragorn promised as Gandalf mounted Shadowfax.
"Look to my coming. At first light on the fifth day. At dawn look to the east."
Aragorn nodded and Shadowfax galloped past them. Legolas and Mayleea went out to help the people begin packing and moving out.
"So was Gandalf angry that I fought the Uruki?" Mayleea asked as they sat on a hill overlooking the people.
Legolas watched a young woman take a doll made of straw from a little girl and toss it back in their house, then drag the screaming child toward the gate. He kept his eyes trained on the house as he answered.
"No."
"What did he say about it?"
Legolas turned his eyes on hers and smiled softly. He studied her big brown eyes. They were curious and fearful. She blinked and cocked her head; a habit he figured had formed as a dragon. A loose strand of ebony hair fell over her shoulder as she waited.
"Nothing," he answered. "No one did."
He thought for a moment.
"Well Gimli wouldn't stop saying how impressed he was with you."
Mayleea smiled. Suddenly there was a call to move out, and the people of the city began walking out the gate. The general mood was depressed and once in a while a wail would rise over the hills. Mayleea stood and turned to Legolas.
"Would you like to fly?" she asked with a smile.
Legolas noted her pearly white teeth. He stood and nodded.
"Are you sure you are fit to fly at all?"
Mayleea snorted.
"I was born to fly."
Legolas looked unconvinced. Mayleea rolled her eyes and concentrated on her other half. It was more difficult than she remembered it to be. She staggered a bit and fell back against the closest fence. Legolas stepped forward and took hold of her arm. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth against the pain that began in her side and radiated through the rest of her body. Finally she could no longer feel Legolas' hands on her and she opened her eyes. She was forced to blink against the sun. Finally her eyes were adjusted and she looked up at Legolas.
Legolas watched the somewhat disturbing transformation from Elf to Dragon. He was sure he would never be used to it. She was beautiful and fascinating as a dragon and as an Elf, but the transformation was anything but. And more importantly, it looked like it hurt, this time especially. Her orange, feline like eyes found his.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Never better," she said cheerfully.
He thought he could hear the edge of pain in her voice.
"Can you fly?"
She didn't respond but jumped into the air. She came down with a hard thud. She growled and tried again, this time flapping her wings tentatively. She got up into the air and looked back at him expectantly.
"Would you like to fly?" she asked again.
He smiled and grabbed her front foot and hoisted himself up in front of her wing joint. On his last ride, Legolas had been so happy he was getting to fly that he hadn't taken time to notice the dragon beneath him. The first thing he noticed this time was that she had smooth skin, not scales on her back and sides. Her body was obsidian and slick to the touch. The plates on her face, neck and chest matched the color on her wings and front legs, as well as the smaller plates that went up the bony part of her wings. The long bones that held the leathery part of the wings taught, matched the ebony of her body as did the plates on the knees and toes of her back legs. The black from her shoulders seemed to seep down into the orange and made long veins that reached almost to her toes and made the orange contrast wildly. The only other orange was the tip of her tail where there was an orange flare that Legolas assumed worked as a rudder while in the air.
The orange plates all the way along the bottom of her body overlapped each other and continued up her neck and onto her bottom jaw. Her face was one hard plate with eyes set in the front under heavy brow bones. Her top jaw came to a hard point the extended past her bottom jaw, like an eagle's beak. Her nostrils were two raised bones on the end of her nose. Her horns started an inch or two behind her eyes and were about the length of one of Legolas' arms. She had black spikes that started on the crown of her head, but laid flat against one another until they reached the back of her neck where they became leathery like her wings. They stopped at the back of her neck then picked up again right behind her wings where they became hard and sharp.
The leathery part of her wings were a brilliant orange, reminding Legolas strikingly of fire. They were twice the length of her body each and about the same width. The leathery part was attached to the length of her body all the way down just behind her hip.
Legolas looked around her wings and noticed the lean muscle on her thigh and up over her back onto her shoulders. Her legs were long and her feet armed with massive claws. Her back feet resembled a lions with four toes and plates up the front of her legs. The front had four toes and a thumb higher up. Every part of her was surprisingly lean. Every time Legolas thought of Dragons, he thought of them as big and cumbersome, but that was the exact opposite of Mayleea.
She seemed to know he was studying her and she turned her head.
"Ready?" she asked.
He nodded and tightened his grip on her spine spike. Mayleea rose into the air above the wall and out over the parade of people. Legolas leaned over her heck and laughed, though it was lost in the thunder of wind on his ears. Mayleea flattened out and swooped down over the procession of people. Most of them had apparently never seen a dragon before, so they cowered and some even ran. Mayleea quickly entered their minds and told them all not to fear her. That coupled with the King and Aragorn telling them not to fear, they relaxed. Mayleea flew a mile or so ahead checking for the enemy.
"How are you feeling?" Legolas asked her.
"Never better," she answered.
She felt his doubt.
"I am telling the truth."
He nodded.
"May I ask you something?" he asked.
She grunted.
"Of course."
"When we were at Isenguard, did you feel the wizard throw me into the wall?"
Mayleea didn't speak for a minute.
"Yes" she finally answered.
"I felt the pain when you got cut by the Orc blade," he said slowly, as if thinking it over.
"You did?" she asked surprised. "What does that mean?"
"Gandalf said I would understand in time," Legolas said simply.
"Well that is a bit cryptic," Mayleea said with a laugh.
She swooped around and looped back over the people, dropped lower through a cloud bank so she could see the ground more clearly. She scanned the people and found Aragorn riding toward the front with the king. Right in front of them was Gimli and Eyowen. She laughed.
"What is it?" Legolas asked.
"Gimli is telling Eyowen about Dwarf Women."
Legolas laughed too.
"You can hear them?"
"Just as clearly as I can see you," she answered.
"I wish I would see like you do," he said.
She laughed again as Gimli's horse spooked and took off sending him to the ground. Eyowen rushed to his side. There was a moment that passed between her and Aragorn.
"I believe she is very fond of him," Mayleea said to Legolas.
"It is quite obvious, even from here," Legolas said smiling.
Suddenly a wave of exhaustion washed over him. He didn't understand why at first then realized it may not be his exhaustion.
"Mayleea, are you tired?"
She whipped around and cocked her head.
"How did you know that?" she asked.
"I felt it," he said simply.
If possible she cocked her head further to the left.
"You should rest," Legolas said. "On the ground."
She nodded and swooped down to the ground.
"I will show you what a dragon can do another time," Mayleea promised as she turned on the downdraft, folded her wings against her body and plummeted toward earth.
She felt Legolas' complete trust in her as she opened her wings a few feet above the people's heads. She soared out in front of the people and landed a little harder than normal. She stumbled, but caught herself as Legolas jumped off. She shrunk to her smallest size and wrapped herself around Legolas' shoulders. He grinned and waited for the crowd of people to converge on them.
"How was the flight?" Théoden asked riding up with Aragorn.
"It took more out of me than I expected," Mayleea confessed flexing her small claws on Legolas' shoulder.
"You should be resting," Aragorn said sternly.
"I am now," she said with a smile.
"Perhaps you could rest more effectively as an Elf," Legolas suggested.
"I can't sit on your shoulder as an Elf," Mayleea said flicking her snake like tongue between her teeth.
"We all need a rest," Théoden said turning his horse to the rest of the people. "We stop here for the night!"
The people began to scatter into family groups and set up sleeping arrangements for the night. Some began to cook, others tended to the old or sick and still others slept. Mayleea got up and leapt from the Elf's shoulder. She trotted off to the large pond fed by a stream from the mountains. She dove in and let the cool water wash the dust off. The water rushed over her streamline body as she dove to the bottom chasing a small fish. It cut back under her. She followed it easily and snapped her jaws down on it. She broke its spine instantly and came back to the surface. She crawled out on shore and lay down in the warm sun. She pulled the fish's spine out to make sure it couldn't get away, and then rested her head on a rock. She put her foot over the fish so it wouldn't be taken while she slept then let sleep take her.
It the sun was dipping low over the hills when she woke up two hours later, her fish still under her foot. She stood and stretched then devoured the fish in two bites. It did little to fill her up, but she was used to living on little food. Where there was plenty of food, there tended to be plenty of men, and she always stayed away from those. She dove back into the pond and came up with two more fish. She grew to the size of a small pony and carried the still wriggling fish to where Gimli and Legolas were sitting. She dropped the bigger of the two in Gimli's lap. He gave her a huge smile.
"Well it looks like we are eating good tonight!" Gimli said happily.
"Where did you find these?" Legolas asked watching the Dwarf gleefully bashing the fish against a rock.
"The pond. It was mostly empty of fish. I only found three."
"Well for now, this is plenty!" Gimli said spearing the fish and holding it over the fire.
She nodded to them and trotted around until she spotted Aragorn sitting on a rock, overlooking the valley the people were in. He was cleaning his sword as she came up. He looked up meeting her eyes then looking at the fish. She dropped it at his feet and sat back on her haunches.
"You need it more than I do," he said nodding to the sad wriggling of the fish.
She cocked her head.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
He nodded.
"You need your strength for the fight that is sure to ensue."
She couldn't argue with that and at that moment she could sense Eyowen coming closer with something that smelled awful. Mayleea lay down in front of Aragorn and used her hooked snout to tear into the fish's soft underbelly. Eyowen walked up just as Aragorn went back to cleaning his sword.
"I made some stew," she announced.
He looked up.
"It isn't much, but it's hot."
She scooped some out in a bowl and handed it to Aragorn. He put his sword down and took it from her gratefully. Apparently he couldn't smell the foul odor that Mayleea could. She stuffed her nose further into the fish, trying to block the smell.
"Thank you," Aragorn said politely.
He took the spoon he gave her and took a tentative spoonful. Mayleea watched the squishy looking substance go into his mouth. He stopped for a moment and she could tell he just about gagged. He looked up at Eyowen who seemed to be waiting for an answer.
"It's good," he choked out.
Mayleea snorted earning her a look from Aragorn.
"Really?" Eyowen said happily.
She then began to walk away, a smile on her face. Aragorn glanced at Mayleea then offered it to her. She snorted again and shook her head. Aragorn began to pour the watery substance out, but Eyowen turned suddenly.
"My uncle told me a strange thing," she said as Aragorn pulled the stew back in front of him. "He said that you road to war with Théngel, my grandfather, but he must be mistaken."
"King Théoden has a good memory. He was only a small child at the time."
Aragorn looked uncomfortable as Eyowen knelt in front of him.
"Then you must be at least sixty," she said.
Aragorn laughed and shook his head.
"Seventy?" she asked.
After a pause.
"You cannot be eighty?"
Aragorn grinned.
"Eighty seven."
'Have I really been alive that long?' Mayleea asked herself.
Eyowen stood up, her face a mixture of surprise, worry and awe.
"You are one of the Dunedín. A descendent of Numenor blessed with long life."
Aragorn nodded again.
"It was said that your race passed into legend."
"There are few of us left," Aragorn said nodding to her. "The northern kingdom was destroyed long ago."
"I'm sorry," she said. "Please eat!"
Eyowen stood awkwardly by his side while he forced himself to eat the entire bowl of stew while Mayleea looked on with a sly smile.
The light was quickly gone and Aragorn pulled out his pipe. Mayleea curled against his side and rested her head on his knee.
"How do you feel?" he asked her.
"Tired," she confessed. "I should be fit by morning."
"Go to sleep," Aragorn said taking a puff off his pipe.
She didn't have to be told twice. The last thing she felt was Aragorn's arm rest over her back.
The next morning came far too fast. Mayleea opened her eyes to the sound of Théoden shouting to wake everyone up. Mayleea looked up at Aragorn. He was in the same position she had been in the night before.
"Did you sleep?" she asked.
"No," he answered.
He seemed to be thinking.
"Are you alright?"
He looked down at her and smiled.
"I am," he said. "Come. We must get everyone together."
Mayleea stood and arched her back like a cat and stretched her wings out, then shook herself. She yawned, sending a small jet of fire into the sky making people around them jump and scurry away. Aragorn frowned down at her but looked away with a small smile on his face. Mayleea followed Aragorn to his horse where she landed on his shoulder. As the people began to move out Eyowen popped out of nowhere and began walking next to Aragorn. Her appearance surprised Mayleea so much that she almost fell off Aragorn's shoulder.
"Where is she?" Eyowen asked.
Mayleea was confused as to what Eyowen was asking.
"The woman who gave you that jewel," Eyowen confirmed.
Aragorn sighed and looked away from her. Mayleea leaned over his shoulder and looked at the necklace. It was the Evenstar; the jewel of the Elves. Aragorn was quiet for a long time thinking before Mayleea gently entered his mind. The picture that flashed before her eyes was one of darkness. Aragorn was standing with a woman. A dark haired Elf with fair skin and sad eyes. They were speaking in Elvish, but Mayleea understood.
"You have a chance for another life" Aragorn spoke. "Away from war, grief and despair."
"Why are you saying this?" the Elf asked in English.
"I am mortal. You are of Elf kind. It was a dream Arwen. Nothing more."
Mayleea watched Arwen's face. Her eyes were hard and her jaw set.
"I don't believe you," she whispered.
Aragorn grabbed her hand and tried to put the shiny necklace in it, but she stopped him.
"It was a gift. Keep it."
She closed his hand around it. The last words she said were spat, but somehow still elegant. Mayleea extracted herself from his mind and looked at his face. He seemed to know she had been in his thoughts. Weather he cared or not was unknown, but at that moment Mayleea felt the need to be somewhere else. She jumped into the air without warning and climbed into the sky and soared out over the people looking for the fair haired Elf. She found him on a ridge in front of the people. She flew over and landed next to him. Just for fun she changed back to an elf. He looked worried.
"Legolas?"
He looked at her surprised. She wondered if she sounded funny as an Elf.
"What's wrong?"
He looked back out at the two riders who went to scout out in front of them. One of their horses spooked and tried to run the other way.
"Something is wrong," Legolas said squinting.
Mayleea sensed the need to be a dragon and turned back. She grew as large as she could and waited for something to happen. She didn't have to wait long. A Warg jumped off the mountain above them and took out one of them out. Mayleea roared and charged down the hill. She hit the Warg full force knocking the rider from his back. Legolas ran after her taking the rider out while Mayleea finished the Warg. Legolas watched her in awe. She reared up opening her mouth where Legolas saw her teeth for the first time. He was surprised to see that they folded back into her mouth like that of a snake. When she went to strike they came forward and easily embedded themselves in the Warg's throat. It screamed and thrashed and Mayleea let go of him and aimed for his jugular with the point of her beak. That silenced him. She shook the blood off her face and roared at Aragorn who had appeared on the hill.
"A scout!" Legolas shouted.
Aragorn turned and ran down the hill yelling the warning.
"WARGS!" he shouted.
Legolas and Mayleea ran to the top of a hill looking over what was sure to be a bloody battle field in a matter of seconds. Mayleea glanced at Legolas. He knew what she wanted.
"Go," he said with a nod. "And be careful."
Mayleea nodded.
"You be careful," she said and took off over the field.
She roared making some of the charging Wargs stop. Her mighty call echoed off the hills and mountains as she dove toward them. A jet of fire erupted from her, lighting the dead grass on fire, creating a barrier between the Wargs and Théoden's people. Some of the Orc dogs were moving too fast to stop before the flames. Legolas heard their screams as the fire caught their rancid fur. The others reared back. Legolas couldn't take his eyes off the dragon. The way she twisted her body mid flight as one of the Warg's found a way around the flames was entrancing. She folded her wings against her side and fell like a rock to earth. She opened her wings with perfect judgment to soar just above the ground. She grabbed the Warg and climbed higher than the closest mountain and let go of him. He fell back to earth, his terrible scream cut short with a crunch as he hit the ground. Legolas began to help her by shooting arrows into the crowd of Wargs, but just as he began, there was hoof beats behind him. He turned just in time to catch hold of his horses' saddle and pull himself up.
The fire died down just as Mayleea heard Théoden shout the charge. She swooped back over them and charged with them. She roared over the King's voice and sprayed a jet of fire into the air. She flapped her massive wings once and gained some altitude before the Wargs and the Horses collided. There was complete chaos for a few seconds until Théoden's army managed to get their ranks together. The Warg's were far stronger than the horses, and were taking them out at the knees. Mayleea couldn't take out mass numbers of the enemy without also taking out some of the King's army. She let out a frustrated roar and landed hard crushing an Orc's scull with one smack of her foot. The Wargs seemed to know they wouldn't live long if they tried to fight her, but their riders were a little more courageous. Or idiotic as the case may be. Five riders turned their wolves toward Mayleea. She let out a deep growl, making the ground rumble. It didn't stop the Orcs from driving the Wargs forward. One leapt at her, but she saw him and reared. He bounced harmlessly off her chest plates and knocked one of his comrades over. She reared again as another Warg went for her leg. She brought her foot down on his skull while at the same time setting another on fire. She picked another one up in her mouth and shook him until he was dead and the other one smartly ran off. She glanced around and found Legolas, Gimli and Théoden, but Aragorn was missing. The other three noticed as well.
"Aragorn!" Legolas shouted.
Another call came from Gimli a minute later, but there was no answer. Mayleea was suddenly worried. She roared loudly and extended her mind out like radar. She felt Legolas, Gimli, Théoden and the army of men around her, but Aragorn was nowhere to be found. Mayleea jumped into the air and flew over the battle field to see if she could see his body when she heard Legolas talking. She turned and swooped down to him, got little and landed on his shoulder. He was kneeling next to a dead Orc. It had apparently just died. Legolas reached forward and pulled its hand up and to Mayleea's horror, he pulled out Aragorn's necklace. Mayleea extended her neck and touched it with her nose. A soft whine escaped her and she laid her head on Legolas' wrist. He put a hand on her shoulder. He stood up with her sitting on one of his arms and walked to the cliff.
"He went over," Legolas croaked to Mayleea.
She snorted, shook her head and threw herself off Legolas' arm. She folded her wings against her body and dropped down, feeling the wind pass over her streamline body. She pulled up just above the water and flew back and forth, up and down, over and over across the surface of the water, but saw no trace of Aragorn or the Warg. She followed the river downstream for a few miles then came back.
"I cannot find him," she said defeated landing on Legolas' shoulder.
"Get the wounded on horses," Théoden said turning to one of his men. "Leave the dead."
Mayleea and Legolas turned to Théoden in unison, both glaring. Mayleea even growled.
"Come," Théoden said, his voice authoritative, but gentle.
He put a hand on the Elf's shoulder, then with one more look over the edge, left. Legolas opened his hand and looked down at the shining jewel. Mayleea crawled down his arm and sat looking at the necklace. She wrapped her tail around his wrist and looked back up at him.
"I need to look for him," Mayleea said, her voice only a whisper in his mind.
Legolas nodded.
"Meet us at Helms Deep."
She nodded back and jumped from his arm.
"Wait!" he called after her.
She whipped around in the air.
"How do I… well… contact you?"
Mayleea smiled.
"You have done it before," she said.
"I do not remember how," he said.
"I will teach you when I return. It is harder than you may think."
Legolas nodded.
"Good luck."
She nodded and dropped. Legolas watched the gull sized dragon plummet toward the water below. The little orange animal opened its wings and flew across the surface of the water, following the river downstream. Legolas watched her until the river turned out of sight. He then sighed and followed Théoden and Gimli down the hill to his horse. From there they road to Helms Deep.
Mayleea searched for her King for an hour before she soared around a bend in the river and was almost grabbed by the jaws of a half dead Warg. She pulled up and ran into a rock above her. She growled against the pain then looked back at the Warg. He was clinging onto a rock with one front paw. The other was dangling uselessly in the water, blood pouring from a wound. It was growling and whining from the obvious pain it was in. Mayleea was tempted to let him die slowly, but in the end she killed him quickly and put him out of his misery. After finding the Warg she flew down the river for another four hours, not finding much. When she was just about ready to give up, she caught sight of something dark floating down the river ahead of her.
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