Hey guys! Sorry it has taken me so long to continue this! Anyway here it is! Also I wanted to thank darkplum23, Cooky Crumbla, booklover1498, eternalenergy, and Purestrongpoem for their wonderful reviews! Love you guys! Anyway, enjoy!
The company rode back to Helms Deep in joyfulness. Even the horses seemed to know they had won. All Mayleea wanted to do was fall into a deep sleep for a few days, but there were things that needed doing. Besides helping bury their dead, and burn the enemy corpses, Mayleea wanted another look at that green dragon. She had been so preoccupied with killing it that she had not really taken time to look at it. Legolas followed her down the steps to the place where the Uruki had broken through the wall. Many of the soldiers were already there, piling the Uruki around the green dragon in preparation to burn it. They came across Gimli sitting on the corps of a rather large Uruki. Gimli looked up from his pipe. Legolas stopped in front of the dwarf.
"Final count, 42."
Mayleea shook her head.
"42? Oh that's not bad for a pointy eared Elf prince," Gimli mocked and Legolas frowned at him. "I myself am sitting on 43."
Faster than Mayleea could see, Legolas drew an arrow and shot it at the Uruki Gimli was sitting on. It stuck between the Dwarf's legs in the side of the Uruki.
"43," Legolas said.
"He was already dead," Gimli said.
"He was twitching," Legolas said.
"He was twitching because he's got my ax embedded in his nervous system!" Gimli shouted.
Mayleea laughed and nodded to the green dragon.
"Come," she said. "You must see the dragon."
Gimli and Legolas followed her.
"The beast will not burn," she said to the soldiers.
They looked up and she met the eyes of the soldier she had fought with in the passage to the caves the day before. He blinked, surprised to see her. She nodded to him. Any man who could live through what they had just done deserved her respect.
"It is our orders," he said dropping his eyes.
"Well carry on. But it will not work. All I ask is that you give me a few moments."
The soldiers looked at each other then nodded. As they walked away, Gimli stepped up to the side of the dragon. Her front foot lay open and Gimli stepped inside.
"My goodness, how did you bring this beast down?"
"It was not easy," Mayleea answered walking around and touching the dragon's shiny snout.
Blood was trickling down from her nostrils. Mayleea moved down to the hole where she had ripped out the dragon's wind pipe. Blood was still dripping from the wound, adding to the already large pool soaking into the dirt. Mayleea ran her hand down the sleek side between the large spikes and sighed. Legolas, who had been marveling at how long the dragon was, turned to Mayleea.
"What's wrong?"
She shook her head and Legolas drew closer.
"The dragon told me I was not the only one of my kind. She said Saruman had hundreds of dragons hidden away in prisons."
Legolas and Gimli looked at each other.
"Hundreds?" Legolas questioned.
"Hundreds," Mayleea confirmed, not taking her eyes from the green dragon.
"Well this is wonderful news!" Gimli said loudly. "You may get the chance to bring your race back from extinction!"
Mayleea turned to Gimli and gave him a tired smile.
"Perhaps. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We must find them first. If the green dragon wasn't lying."
She looked up at Legolas, whose face was downcast.
"Legolas?" she asked stretching a hand out to him. "What's the matter?"
He seemed to snap out of his trance and smiled at her.
"Nothing. This is wonderful news!"
His fake happiness for her was evident, but she couldn't figure out why it wasn't genuine. She looked back at the green dragon and sighed.
"I wish I would have gotten to talk to her more. There is so much I want to know."
"And you will," Legolas said putting a hand on her shoulder. "When we find your dragons, you will know."
Mayleea nodded and with one last look at the green dragon, she followed the Dwarf and Elf away. They walked along the wall until they found Gandalf with Aragorn and the King.
"Ahh just who we were waiting for," Gandalf said. "Come, we are leaving for Isenguard."
Mayleea crossed the square to Aragorn's horse and took his hand. He pulled her up in front of him then followed Gandalf through the gate. They rode across the open land between Helms Deep and the closest hill. They crested it and looked out over the land.
"Sauran's wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift," Gandalf said.
The clouds of smoke from Mordor were growing and spreading across the land. Mayleea shivered as lightning and thunder crashed over the orange glow that was Mt. Doom.
"The battle for Helms Deep is over. The battle for middle earth is about to begin," Gandalf said. "All our hopes now rest with two young Hobbits, somewhere in the wilderness."
Aragorn glanced over at the wizard and they began their journey to Isenguard.
It was about a day's ride to Isenguard through the forest. By the time they reached the forest just outside the city, Mayleea had gotten pretty tired of riding. Besides her backside being sore, and the wound on her shoulder aching, she was faring rather well considering she had been in a fight with a huge green dragon only two days before. It was midday when they began to be able to see the tower of Isenguard above the trees and when they finally came upon the wall, they were met with two Hobbits, who looked like they were enjoying themselves.
"Welcome, my lords, to Isenguard!" the taller of the two slurred.
"You young rascals!" Gimli yelled from behind Legolas. "A merry hunt you've led us on and now we find you here, drinking and… and smoking!"
Aragorn showed one of his rare smiles and Mayleea felt him laugh.
"We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying a few well earned comforts," the other said while chewing a piece of bread. "The salted pork is particularly good."
"Salted pork," Gimli said, sounding as if he might faint.
"We are under orders from Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isenguard," the first one said.
Mayleea saw Gandalf shake his head good naturedly.
"Hobbits," he said under his breath.
"Well come on then. We must talk to Treebeard," Théoden said letting one of the two jump on behind him.
The other slid on behind Eomer, and they entered the flooded city. As they splashed up to the front of the tower, Treebeard came to meet them.
"Young master Gandalf," he said slowly. "I'mmmmmm glad you've come."
Mayleea had met the Ents once before, long before she had pledged her allegiance to Aragorn's great grandfather, and she had found them slow moving and distasteful back then. Now was no different except the call to action had not fallen on deft ears this time. What they had done to Isenguard was no less than impressive. He was continuing.
"But there is a wizard to manage here. Locked in his tower."
"Show yourself," Aragorn whispered so quietly Mayleea even had a hard time hearing him.
"Be careful," Gandalf warned. "Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous."
"Well then let's just have his head and be done with it," Gimli suggested.
"No," Gandalf said. "We need him alive. We need him to talk."
"You have fought many wars and slain many men, Théoden king, and made peace afterward," came a cold, magical voice to all their ears. "May we not take council together like we once did, old friend? Can we not have peace."
Mayleea looked around for the dark wizard and found him on top of his tower, leaning on his staff.
"We shall have peace," Théoden said quietly, then louder. "We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the West Fold and the children that lie dead there. We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers, whose bodies were hue, even as they lay dead against the gates of the Hornburge are avenged! When you hang from the limb of a tree, for the sport of your own crows! We shall have peace."
Saruman did nothing in answer to Théoden, but turned his attention elsewhere.
"I see my dragon did little against you," he said to Mayleea.
"She did plenty," Mayleea said feeling the spike in her shoulder again.
"But not enough I see," Saruman said.
He didn't sound disappointed as Mayleea would have thought.
"She told me something very interesting," Mayleea said, decided she may never have a better chance to ask him anything.
"Did she?" Saruman said sounding mildly interested.
"She told me I was not the only one of my kind, as I had originally thought."
"She did like to talk incessantly," Saruman growled.
"Was she telling me the truth?" Mayleea asked.
"You do not believe her?" Saruman asked, dodging the question.
Mayleea was far from in the mood to play games so she closed her eyes and forced her way into his mind. She was met with a brick wall guarded by magic. So he had been trained to protect his mind. Well she had been trained to get into minds. She hit the wall with so much force, Saruman had to take a step back.
"I do not want to play games with you. Tell me where the rest of the dragons are."
Saruman gulped and composed himself.
"They are all together and imprisoned for the use of any of my allies."
"Are they all evil?" Mayleea asked.
"Not yet," Saruman answered with a sly smile.
"WHERE ARE THEY?" she shouted, throwing herself into his mind.
He was pushed back to the far side of the roof.
"Tell me where they are," she hissed into his mind. "Before I make your death far more painful than it need be."
Saruman cried out and grasped at his forehead
"We need him alive," Gandalf warned her.
She knew this and concentrated on just hurting the wizard. Finally he threw himself into the wall.
"Alright!" he shouted. "Alright."
Mayleea pulled out of his mind and waited.
"They are in the caves."
"What caves?"
"In Moria. Below the mines."
Mayleea nodded, satisfied with the answer.
"If you are lying to me, it will be the last thing you do," she warned him.
Gandalf put a hand up to calm her.
"And what do you want, Gandalf Grayhame?"
"Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at stake, but you could save them Saruman! You are deep in the enemy's council."
"So you have come here for information," Saruman said leaning on his staff. "I have some for you."
He held up the Palantír. Mayleea growled, feeling its evil effects even from this distance. Mayleea had never been close to one, but she had heard plenty about them. They worked like a crystal ball of sorts to communicate between two people at far distances. They were usually evil, and used by Sauron to communicate with his allies.
"Something festers in the heart of middle earth. Something you have failed to see. The great eye has seen it. Even now, he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. You are all going to die."
Mayleea glanced around at her comrades and saw the two Hobbits gulp.
"But you know this, don't you Gandalf?" Saruman asked. "You cannot think that this ranger from the north will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile crept from the shadows will never be crowned King."
Mayleea tensed and let out a low growl, but Aragorn put a hand on her arm.
"Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those he professes to love. Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling before you sent him to his doom?"
Gandalf sighed.
"The path that you have sent him on can only lead to death."
"I've heard enough," Gimli growled. "Shoot him," he said to Legolas. "Stick an arrow in his gob."
"No," Gandalf said. "Saruman come down, and your life will be spared."
"Save your pity and your mercy! I have no use for it!"
As Saruman shouted this, he sent a jet of fire at Gandalf. It engulfed him, then before anyone could do anything, it dissipated.
"Saruman, your staff is broken."
The staff that had caused so much pain and death suddenly broke into several pieces. As they watched, Grima appeared on the roof behind Saruman. Théoden noticed him.
"Grima, you need not follow him. You were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan! Come down."
"A man of Rohan," Saruman mocked. "What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the dark and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs?"
Théoden frowned.
"The victory at Helms Deep does not belong to you, Théoden Horse master. You are a lesser son of greater sires."
Mayleea watched Théoden. His face fell and he looked so sad, but he turned his attention back to Grima.
"Grima, come down. Be free of him."
"Free?" Saruman said with a laugh. "He will never be free of me."
Saruman turned.
"Get down you maggot," he hissed and back handed Grima across the cheek.
"Saruman, tell us what you know!" Gandalf yelled.
Saruman turned back to look at them.
"You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided," Saruman said.
Mayleea was so relieved he was going to tell them everything, she almost missed what happened next. Grima jumped up from the ground and drove a long knife into Saruman's back three times before Legolas got an arrow strung and shot. Grima fell back onto the roof and Saruman turned his back to the edge then fell off. He tumbled over and over until he landed, with a sickening crunch, on a spiked water wheel. The two Hobbits cringed and looked away.
"Send the word to all our allies and to every corner of Middle earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We do not know where he will strike," Gandalf said.
As he finished, the wheel Saruman was squired upon began to slowly rotate. As he disappeared into the water, the Palantír worked its way loose and fell from his sleeve into the water. No one saw it but Mayleea and one of the Hobbits. Treebeard began to talk again, but was interrupted by Aragorn calling the Hobbit's name as he jumped from his horse.
"Pippin!" Aragorn shouted.
The Hobbit didn't listen. He stooped into the already waist deep water and pulled the ancient crystal ball out. Gandalf rode up to Pippin.
"Peregrin Took!"
He turned, surprised.
"I'll take that, my lad. Quickly now."
Pippin handed it up to him then dropped his gaze. Mayleea gave him a half smile as he walked back to his the horse he was to ride back to Edoras. That seemed to put a little smile on his face.
"Are you ready to ride?" Aragorn asked as he drove their horse back out into the forest.
"No," she groaned. "What I wouldn't give to fly."
"Have you tried yet?"
"No. It has only been a day. It still hurts to move. I decided to wait until tomorrow, no matter how much my backside hurts."
Aragorn laughed.
"You will get a rest. The horses cannot continue through the night. I suspect Gandalf will lead us to the river where we will spend the night, and ride to Edoras in the morning."
"That is wonderful news," she said with a grin.
Aragorn had been correct. They had only ridden for twenty minutes before they reached a large stream, feeding the river. They unpacked the horses and picketed them close to the water. The Hobbits happily started a fire and everyone sat around it and smoked. Gimli entertained them all with his elaborate stories until he passed out from too much ale. Mayleea then found a spot against a tree and settled down for the night. Being an elf, she didn't need to sleep as much as her comrades, but she hadn't rested since her fight with the green dragon. Just as she closed her eyes, someone appeared in front of her, blocking the heat of the fire. She opened one eye.
"Hello there!" it was one of the Hobbits.
"Hello," Mayleea said opening her other eye and crossing her arms.
"It has come to our attention that we have not had the privilege of meeting you, My Lady," the taller of the two said.
"This is true," Mayleea said smiling.
"My name is Meriadoc Brandybuck. This is Peregrin Took – "
"Pippin," he interrupted and they both bowed.
Mayleea smiled.
"We are Hobbits from the Shire."
"Pippin and Merry?" she asked.
They nodded.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Mayleea. I am an Elemental from the Misty Mountains."
The two looked at each other then back at her.
"What is an Elemental?" Pippin asked, cocking his head to one side. "You look like an Elf to me."
Mayleea laughed.
"I am. Well half of one anyway."
Pippin and Merry frowned. Mayleea decided now was as good a time as any to try and change back. She closed her eyes and remembered soaring over the battlefield. She remembered fighting the green dragon. Pain pulled at her shoulder and she felt the half healed cuts over her hip break open. She growled against the pain and realized happily that her growl sounded more animalistic. She opened her eyes to Merry and Pippin on the ground on the other side of the fire.
"You're a… a… dragon," Pippin said standing and slowly making his way back around the fire.
Merry followed, his eyes wide and curious.
"An Elemental," she corrected.
Both of them jumped, hearing her voice in their minds.
"Part dragon, part Elf," Legolas said from his spot next to Gimli.
"Can you fly?" Pippen asked suddenly.
His eyes were very large and a smile was quickly spreading across his face. Mayleea laughed and stretched her wings out to the side as far as they would go, then shook herself.
"Yes."
"No," Aragorn said coming into the firelight. "She was injured in the battle for Helms Deep. She needs another day to heal."
He rested his eyes sternly on her. She snorted but let herself turn back to an Elf. It was becoming surprisingly easy for her to turn from her dragon form. She smiled at the two Hobbits, who obviously had much they wanted to ask her.
"There will be plenty of time for questions tomorrow," Aragorn said to them walking slowly between them and Mayleea. He raised an eyebrow at the Hobbits and they retreated back to their side of the fire.
Aragorn gave them a small half smile then sat beside Mayleea.
"The Halflings seem taken with you," he said leaning closer to her ear.
She snickered, but her eyelids were already drifting closed.
"Sleep," Aragorn said.
She indeed tried, but she had never tried to sleep as a human, and it was far from comfortable. Hours after everyone was asleep, she sat up and glared into the remnants of the fire. At this rate, she was never going to heal.
"Something the matter?" Aragorn asked from his spot next to her.
She looked over her shoulder at him. He had one hand behind his head, a tired smile on his lips.
"I can't sleep as an Elf," she said sighing.
Aragorn propped himself up on his elbows.
"Lie back and try again," he said quietly.
She sighed and did as she was instructed, placing her hand under her head like him. She didn't know why it would be different this time, until Aragorn began to hum. She turned her head and looked at him.
"Close your eyes," Aragorn said, then continued humming.
She smiled and did, taking a deep breath. She was asleep soon after and Aragorn quickly followed.
The next morning, Gandalf woke them early and they were back at Edoras by noon. Théoden called the people together in the Golden Hall and when everyone had a mug of ale, he toasted the fallen.
"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead."
"Hail!" everyone in the hall responded.
Mayleea lifted her mug to her lips and took a small drink. It tasted better than she would have thought, but not her favorite drink in the world. She was never one for drinking, and being a dragon that had been fine, but now at this victory party where everyone had at least one mug in their hands, it was strange. She looked for Legolas, in hopes he wouldn't be drinking either. She found him in the process of a drinking game with Gimli. The dwarf seemed to be losing. The pile of mugs in front of him towered over his head, and he was being handed another. He belched before he dove into it. Mayleea shook her head and looked at Legolas.
"I feel something," the Elf said looking at his fingers. "A slight tingling in my fingers. I think it's effecting me."
"What did I say?" Gimli slurred. "He can't hold his liquor."
He promptly fell backward off his chair. Mayleea and Legolas looked at him then at each other.
"It seems you win," Mayleea said smiling.
"Game over," Legolas said grinning then, "I do believe I will go get some rest. I did not sleep well last night."
"Do you need assistance?" Mayleea asked.
"No thank you," he said smiling and bowing slightly. "I will be fine. Enjoy the festivities."
He turned and left the hall and Mayleea moved to where she heard singing. Merry and Pippin were on the table singing a song rather well for being tremendously drunk.
"Oh, you can search far and wide, you can drink the whole town dry. But you'll never find a beer so brown, but you'll never find a beer so brown, as the one we drink in our hometown! You can drink your fancy ales, you can drink them by the flagon, but the only brew for the brave and true, comes from The Green Dragon!"
They clanked their mugs and drained them. Everyone cheered and Mayleea turned to leave, but ran into Gandalf.
"Gandalf," she said surprised.
"Hello Mayleea," he said nodding to her. "Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Yes," she lied and stood beside him watching the Hobbits.
Aragorn appeared on Gandalf's other side.
"No news of Frodo?" he asked the wizard.
"No word. Nothing," Gandalf answered.
"We have time," Aragorn assured him. "Every day Frodo grows closer to Mordor."
"Do we know that?" Gandalf asked.
Aragorn looked at him then met Mayleea's eyes for a moment.
"What does your heart tell you?" he asked Gandalf.
"That Frodo is alive," Gandalf said after a moment.
Mayleea smiled and bowed to them both.
"I'm afraid the day's events have been far too taxing on me. I am turning in for the night. Farewell my Lords."
Gandalf bowed and nodded. Mayleea turned and began her walk back to their room.
"I am in need of sleep as well," Aragorn said appearing next to her.
They made their way back to the room where their Fellowship would be staying. It was in the back of the building behind the throne. Gimli was already there, unconscious from his consumption of alcohol. Legolas was there as well, sleeping peacefully on his blanket in the corner. Mayleea went to her blanket next to the Elf and Aragorn to his across the aisle from them. Mayleea finally slept through the night easily until she was awoken in the early morning by Merry screaming Pippin's name. She sat up on her blanket just as Aragorn and Legolas burst through the door. Pippin was writhing on the floor, the Palantír between his small hands. Before Mayleea could do anything, Aragorn had grabbed the Palantír from Pippin and fell back into Legolas, then dropped it. It rolled across the floor toward the back door. It seemed to be trying to escape, gaining speed as it went, until Gandalf threw a cloak over it and spun to face the rest of the room.
"Fool of a Took!"
Pippin didn't hear him. The young Hobbit was lying on his back, unmoving. Mayleea wasn't sure what was wrong with him, but Gandalf looked worried. He rushed to Pippin's side, shoved Merry out of the way and took Pippin's hand. Mayleea stood up and went to Aragorn's side, keeping one eye on Pippin all the time. She and Legolas got Aragorn back on his feet, as shaky as it was.
Pippin didn't seem to be responding to Gandalf shaking his little arm, so he put a hand over Pippin's forehead and he came back to them at once.
"Look at me," Gandalf said quietly.
As Pippin's eyes focused on Gandalf, realization hit him.
"Gandalf, forgive me," he said and closed his eyes again.
"Look at me," Gandalf said a little louder. "What did you see?"
Pippin closed his eyes and leaned into Gandalf's hand.
"A tree. There was a white tree. In a courtyard of stone." He paused. "It was dead. The city was burning"
"Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?"
"I saw… I saw him!" Pippin said, his eyes wide. "I can hear his voice in my head."
"What did you tell him?" Gandalf asked.
"He asked me my name. I didn't answer. He hurt me."
He stopped. Mayleea found Merry and registered his terrified expression.
"What did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring?"
Pippin's eyes were wide and his breathing labored, but he didn't answer.
"The sun is rising," Gandalf said. "Get Théoden. Meet in the golden hall."
Aragorn left the room and Gandalf helped Pippin stand. In less than five minutes, they were all in the Golden Hall. Mayleea was kneeling in the middle of the room by the fire when Aragorn returned with Théoden.
"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes," Gandalf said, looking into the fire. "A fool. But an honest fool he remains."
It seemed that Théoden didn't need to be told what was going on.
"He told Sauron nothing of Frodo or the Ring."
Mayleea glanced at the Hobbits who were sitting farthest from the fire. Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn were standing at the head of the fire, Gandalf on the left and Mayleea and Théoden on the right. Gandalf continued.
"Pippin saw in the Palantír a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing."
Gandalf glanced up at Aragorn.
"He knows the heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still, strength enough perhaps to challenge him. Sauron fears this."
Mayleea smiled at Aragorn, but, as always, his expression was stoic. Gandalf continued.
"He will not risk the peoples of Middle earth uniting under one banner. He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees a king return to the throne of Men. If the beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war."
"Tell me," Théoden said quietly. "Why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours?"
Everyone in the room turned terrified and angry eyes on the King.
"What do we owe Gondor?"
Mayleea stood, her temper once again getting the better of her.
"What do you owe Gondor?" she asked. "Gondor –"
"I will go," Aragorn said interrupting her.
"No," Gandalf said quickly.
"They must be warned," Aragorn argued.
"They will be," Gandalf promised, then walked closer to Aragorn. "You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river. Look to the black ships."
He then turned back to the room.
"Understand this. Things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith."
He paused and looked at Pippin.
"And I won't be going alone."
He then turned to Mayleea, who was still standing, glaring at Théoden.
"My dear, I believe you will be needed in the fight for Minas Tirith."
Mayleea's eyebrows came together but she nodded.
"Are you in any condition to fly?" Legolas asked stepping forward.
Mayleea hadn't even been thinking about her injuries. It seemed that a most of the night sleep had almost completely healed her.
"I am fine," she said smiling up at him.
"It is settled then. We leave in ten minutes," Gandalf said then to the Hobbits. "Come."
They followed him from the hall and Théoden shook his head and went back to his room. Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli settled their eyes on Mayleea.
"What?" she asked.
"Is your shoulder healed?" Aragorn asked, crossing his arms in front of him.
She rolled her shoulder and smiled back up at Aragorn.
"It seems that it is."
They didn't look convinced.
"Do not worry my friends. I have been flying for a long time. It is what I was made for."
Gimli's face was the first to break. He let a wide grin cross his face.
"You are right about that My Lady! You should see yourself fight in battle!"
Mayleea smiled and bowed slightly.
"You will have to fly quickly. Gandalf will want to make it to Minas Tirith in two days," Aragorn said.
"I did not know that was possible," Mayleea said with a frown. "But if that is what Gandalf's horse can do, so can I."
Aragorn smirked.
"You had best go. Gandalf will be ready to leave."
Aragorn walked past Mayleea and patted her shoulder.
"You will do fine."
Mayleea nodded and thanked him. Gimli followed Aragorn out and placed a thick hand on hers. She smiled at them then looked up at Legolas, who was the last one in the room. He took a few tentative steps forward. Mayleea matched them and in three steps each they were standing toe to toe.
"You are worried," she said in her mind.
Legolas nodded.
"I am."
"Your concern is touching, but un-nessicary," she said smiling.
Legolas let his eyes fall to their feet. Mayleea frowned and took him by the hand. She led him out onto the platform overlooking the city. Gandalf was just riding through the gate. Mayleea turned to Legolas.
"I am needed at Minas Tirith."
"I will come with you."
"Aragorn needs you here. He is going to need help leading these people."
Legolas shook his head.
"You are right of course," he finally said.
Mayleea smiled and put her hands on his shoulders.
"I will not be gone long. You will see."
He did not look convinced.
"And remember, you can always contact me."
He frowned.
"Just close your eyes and open your mind. Search for me."
"I will be able to find you, even over this distance?" he asked.
"Over any distance," she said smiling.
She cast a look over her shoulder as Gandalf crossed the river, then back to Legoas.
"I must go. We will see each other again. I swear to you."
Legolas smiled and leaned his forehead against hers.
"Until we meet again. Be careful."
She phased back to a dragon while her forehead was against his and opened her golden eyes to meet his. Her forehead was cold against his.
"You be careful."
She opened her wings and let the gusting wind catch them. She soared backward, away from the elf and turned over in the air. She sent a jet of fire out ahead of her, accompanied by a mighty roar. She flew down past the lookout tower Aragorn was standing on with Merry. She roared to them and flew out over Gandalf.
Legolas watched her go, her orange wings standing out against the sky. The occasional roar echoed off the hills as she followed Shadowfax and finally disappeared behind the surrounding hills. He sighed and looked down. Only then did he realize Gimli was standing beside him grinning.
"What?" he asked.
The dwarf raised and eyebrow.
"I'm not going to tell you if you don't already know laddie," Gimli said walking back inside.
Legolas frowned then looked back out over the land to where he last saw Mayleea.
Awww right? Ok time to REVIEW!