Hey everyone! So sorry it's been so long! I've been so busy, but now i'm here!

So there are a few people I have to thank!

To my beautiful, amazing reviewers,booklover1598, Emzy2k11, LILEVILONE96, kaia, sweets1111, Tiryn, Spirit Kiss, Sephira Vanya Estelwen, and my favorite,Guest.

Thanks again everyone!

Oh and if you want to see what the dragons or Mayleea as a human look like, just message me!

Mayleea slept as a dragon that night. Paladin had suggested sleeping on the cliff to watch over everyone. She agreed and they sat on the cliff's edge for a long while. Paladin changed back into a human first and let his legs hang over. Mayleea smiled. She looked at his lanky form. The man was all arms and legs. Both pairs of extremities were fairly muscular, from what, Mayleea did not know. She decided to ask.

"How are you so fit?" she asked she sat next to him.

He grinned.

"Just born that way I suppose."

Mayleea snickered as he continued.

"No, we have been sparring in the caves since we were little."

Mayleea nodded and Paladin looked at her.

"What?" he asked.

"I wish we had more time to train. Prepare."

Paladin frowned at her. He noticed in the dark, it was easy to see the strange glow about her. The lines were much more visible. Paladin watched as her heartbeat sent waves of color across her skin, beginning somewhere under her clothes in the middle of her body, and shooting up and out all the way to the ends of her fingers. She seemed to still be unaware. As it pulsed again, he saw it pass quickly through his eyes. This drew a smile out of him, before he spoke.

"We are not totally unprepared," he said glancing back out across the dark landscape.

"Who is the best at sparring?" Mayleea asked, not meeting his eyes.

"Maltok," Paladin said.

From his voice, Mayleea guessed the two had met in a spar before and Paladin had not come out on the winning end. She snickered as he continued.

"But that is not to say we cannot fight. We are all taught from a young age."

"From what I remember of childhood, my nest mates and I did not need to be taught," Mayleea said with a grin.

"Nor did the young ones born under the mountain," Paladin laughed.

They were quiet again for a moment and Mayleea became Pensive.

"Paladin," she said quietly. "I need to ask something of you."

He looked up and caught her eye. His face conveyed that he was only too willing to do whatever she asked. She frowned and hoped he didn't see it in the dark, though he was sure to have.

"Paladin, I need you to stay behind tomorrow."

His face went blank.

"Why?"

Mayleea suddenly realized what he must have thought.

"It is not because I doubt your ability in battle. I need someone here who I trust in case the worst happens to me."

He brightened somewhat.

"You put too much faith in me."

"I will decide who deserves what amount of my faith," she said, gently elbowing him.

He sighed.

"I do not want anything to happen to you. How will I keep that from happening if I stay here?"

Mayleea stood and changed back to a dragon. Paladin looked over her impressive coloring and finally met her yellow eyes. She dropped her big head into his lap, bringing his smile back. She blinked slowly.

"You will always be with me."

A small smile crossed his face and he nodded as he laid a hand on her neck.

"You must keep Kopa in check."

She sat up and was an Elf again, and she put her hands out to him, palms up. He put both hands over hers and grasped her glowing, lower arms. She closed his fingers around his arms and turned them over, so her arms were above. Paladin didn't quite know what was going on, but he didn't really have time to think about it she caught his eyes, then closed hers. He followed suit. It was dark and quiet for a moment, then, from the darkness behind his eyes, came a light. It was a little star, far away at first, but it slowly began to glow. Words were suddenly accompanying the light.

"In the event of my death, my power will transfer to you, Paladin. You will be the One and Only ruler of this clan and its people; until the day of your death, or you find another fit do take your place."

Paladin felt a surge of power go through him all at once, then, all of a sudden, it was gone. Paladin opened his eyes and met her dark ones, illuminated only when her heart pulsed color across them.

"We must rest now," Mayleea said standing and changing back to a dragon.

She lay down, the toes on her front feet curling over the edge of the cliff. Paladin stretched and leaned back onto her bony side.

"I haven't slept as a human for a very long time. I think I will be perfectly happy this way for tonight."

Mayleea grinned and made a low purring noise. Paladin put his hands behind his head and leaned to his left into her front leg. She purred at him and curled her neck and tail around him, then folded her wings behind her.

There they slept until Mayleea was awakened by the warmth of the sun on her back. She opened her eyes and blinked. She lifted her head and looked over her shoulder. She turned her face to the sun and purred before she remembered Paladin was sleeping against her chest. He rolled away from her when she woke him up and curled against a rock. Mayleea snorted and stood up, letting a ray of sunlight stream under her. He moaned and tried to cover his face, but Mayleea picked him up by the back of his shirt. He finally opened his eyes and immediately closed them.

"Mayleea!" he gasped.

She was holding him over the edge of the cliff. She snickered and put him back on the cliff.

"Good morning to you too," he grumbled with a scowl.

He dusted himself off and came to stand by her side. She met his bright, groggy eyes then swung her head back out over the cliff. Down below, around the body of water, slept here clan. Her family. There were hundreds of colors and sizes. Mayleea spotted Kára and Pallando, both on the outer dragons meant to protect the females and young ones. They were curled together, Kára on the inside and smaller; Pallando on the outside, his body, neck and tail curling in around her. He had his neck over hers and had his head resting on her back.

"Are they mates?" Mayleea asked Paladin.

He smiled and crossed his arms.

"My brother has always loved her. She only noticed him when we were trapped under the mountain. He saved her from a rockslide about a year after we went under."

"You dislike their relationship?" she asked turning one big eye to look at him.

"I don't think she cares for him the way he cares for her," he stated bluntly.

"You are afraid he will be hurt?"

Paladin sighed.

"My brother is very young compared to most here."

"Where is the rest of your family?"

Paladin frowned and continued to look at his brother. After a moment, he sighed and met her eyes.

"My father, like most, died before I was old enough to remember. My mother died under the mountain. That is as far as I wish to go on the matter," he said dropping his eyes.

Mayleea nodded and shook off.

"Come, we must wake them."

Paladin followed her gaze to the clan sleeping in the still shadowed valley. He stood with her and turned back into his dragon. Mayleea watched his long, brown body out of the corners of her eye as he stood on the edge of the cliff. His back and shoulders were rippling with lean muscle in the sun; his long, sharp nose perfectly silhouetted against the sky. Suddenly Mayleea blinked. Paladin was a very attractive male. He had everything a female would want. He was strong, handsome (both as a human and as a dragon) capable in battle and unafraid. He was loyal to the end and she suddenly felt the strange attraction he had for her. The worst part was that she wasn't sure if it was his feelings for her or HER feelings for him. It frightened her and he seemed to notice.

"Mayleea?"

His voice was so strong and calming. She shook her head.

"Nothing. Come."

He watched her walk to the edge and take a breath. Then all of a sudden, she roared. It was nothing like he had ever heard. He had listened to dragons roar in great concentrations for decades, but none was like hers. It ignited something in him that he hadn't felt in a long while. Suddenly, he couldn't contain it anymore and let out a roar of his own, accompanied by a jet of fire. Mayleea roared again and the dragons below began to wake. When all eyes were on her and they realized who she was, they responded with roars of their own. Mayleea and Paladin jumped from their perch and followed the cliff face down. Just before reaching the bottom, they pulled up expertly and soared just over their heads.

Paladin followed right behind her as they soared over the dragons, both roaring loudly and coming back in a wide circle.

"Rise! Rise Dragons of the West and East. We wake with the sun and our journey begins now!"

The dragons on the ground roared as Mayleea and Paladin swooped over again and this time instead of turning to circle around, headed toward Mordor. One by one, the dragons on the ground followed. They nuzzled their loved ones and took to the sky. Mayleea turned and watched them. There was a vast number behind her and for the first time, she had faith they might win. She might beat all the evil that had lurked in the shadows for so long. She rolled back toward Mordor and began their long fourney.

"They will not be expecting you," Paladin said quietly.

She glanced at him with one round eye.

"Good luck," he said, quieter still.

Without thinking, Mayleea pushed her cheek against his. He leaned into the touch and wrapped his neck around hers. She returned the gesture.

"Thank you Paladin. If not for you, I would not have known I had a family, and I would not have felt this joy."

"Thank you for believing in me," he said pushing the top of his head against her shoulder. "Promise you will come out of this alive. For all our sakes."

Mayleea grunted and pushed her mind out around his. Their minds entwined and became one so quickly, Mayleea could not even tell which part was her own and which was his. She knew he felt it too. They both knew it was as far easier connection than she and Legolas had. It dawned on her very quickly that Paladin was the very obvious choice in a mate, and he felt it too. However, he did not say anything about it.

"Be safe."

He dropped down from their flying level, and swung a wide circle back toward the dragons staying behind. Mayleea shook her head and sprayed fire between her teeth. A few dragons around her did the same, but they were very solemn for the most part. Pallando and Maltök flew at her left and right wings and Kára, behind and just above her tail. The rest were in a loose flying formation. When Mayleea turned around the massive number stunned her. All she saw was flapping wings and intermediate jets of fire. On the ground, she could see the massive shadow blotting out the sun and she actually grinned.

"Maltök. How many are behind me?"

"172 souls, my Queen."

"172. We could do a lot of damage with 172."

"That we will, my Queen. That we will."

Legolas was sore when they finally reached the Black Gate. He had been on his horse for almost two days. The sun shone against his back, soaking into his green attire. He took a deep breath and for a moment, forgot Gimli was behind him.

"How far is your mind wandering this time lad?" he asked.

Legolas opened his eyes.

"I don't know how far," he admitted dropping his eyes.

"Well I don't think it will be wandering for long," Gimli said glancing up to the sky.

Legolas looked too. There was nothing there but dark clouds from Mordor.

"What if we are in this fight alone? What if she doesn't come back?"

Gimli barked a laugh.

"How well do you know that girl?"

Legolas craned his neck and looked at the Dwarf.

"What?"

"That girl is of an ancient race who has the power to change between two forms. She is older than any of our memories and she is far more loyal than anyone I've ever had the privilege to meet. She will be back because she pledged her loyalty to Aragorn, but I have no doubt, even if she didn't pledge her loyalty, she would fight her way back her for you."

Legolas sat dumfounded for a moment.

"Stop worrying laddie. She'll be here."

Before Legolas could do anything, he felt a tickle in the back of his mind and the connection began to strengthen. Instinctively he looked up. He turned his horse around to face the way they had come from.

"What is it lad?" Gimli asked looking around Legolas' shoulder.

"I do not know for sure," Legolas said, searching the sky.

There is nothing abnormal about the day. The sun was sinking on his right, just beating the growing black cloud from Mordor. The air hung hot and heavy on them; most likely having something to do with their proximity to Mt. Doom. Nothing living was anywhere near the black gate. Usually on a humid summer day, acacias and other little bugs would be singing. Now, there was no noise. Absolute silence. Even the tromping of the troops was muted. Legolas' horse snorted and stomped. Legolas was aware enough as an Elf to sense things no other man could, but all at once he thought his horse was more aware than him. Something was coming. He grinned and turned his steed back and trotted up between Gandalf and Aragorn.

"She is on her way," he said without looking at either of them.

The King and the Wizard glanced at each other, then smiled. They would be very happy to see their friend again, for no other reason than they were very fond of her. Another twenty minutes went by and they were all gathered at the gate, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, Éomer, Merry and Pippin were on horses at the front. They were all quiet for a moment, the evil of the mountain weighing them all down. Suddenly, Legolas heard a far off cry, like that of an eagle. It was quiet and he was almost sure no one else heard it, but he searched the sky. Aragorn saw him turning in his saddle and followed suit. He was noticed by Pippin and Merry, who glanced at each other, then threw their heads back. Gandalf was next, then Éomer, then when whole company. Eventually they all heard it. One roar first, followed by a whole company. Then silence. Then the one again, a little louder that time followed by the company. The third time, the sound was deafening and just as they fell silent, they appeared over the mountain on the other side from the Black Gate.

The sun was behind them as their numbers grew and grew. The men of Gondor and Rohan erupted in shouts and cheers. The dragons responded with cheers of their own; mostly drowning out the men, but it didn't matter. Mayleea soared up and over the black gate and banking back around. Her body was hardest to see against the black background. Only the smattering of orange on her body and her bright wings. Her voice appeared in Legolas' head.

"You waited for us I see."

She was snickering. Legolas was too busy watching the amount of dragons to talk. The air was electric with the beating of dragon wings and an occasional Jet of fire. Men whooped and hollered, throwing their helmets into the air and slapping on another on the back. Legolas could have cried he was so happy. He watched her leading the company. Her company. It had to be at least one hundred and fifty dragons. Any normal man would not be able to see anything more than different colors, but Legolas could see every different body. Every long neck, every beating wing, every shiny scale. Mayleea led her company back behind the men and they all landed.

Mayleea, Pallando and Kára changed back to their other forms and began to move forward. Maltök followed and the men parted for them. They all fell over themselves as the horse sized dragon walked through; wings spread out above their heads. Mayleea smiled at them. Some looked terrified, others were beaming. Still others were crying. She grinned as she looked ahead and felt Paladin there with her, hovering at the back of her concisions. She acknowledged him there and finally came out upon the King.

Aragorn was off his horse, waiting with his hand on the pommel of his sword, a genuine smile on his face. He put out a hand to her when she was close enough and she grasped his lower arm.

"Mayleea," he said, squeezing her arm and putting his palm against her cheek.

She leaned slightly into his hand.

"Your royalty is apparent," he said grinning.

"As is yours, my King. We are ready to fight for you."

Aragorn frowned.

"No. You and your people fight along side us."

His voice was quiet and serious. Enough to surprise Mayleea.

"Then it is alongside you where this battle will find us," Kára said stepping up parallel to Mayleea.

"This is Kara. My second."

Kára blinked at Mayleea for a moment then met Aragorn's eyes.

"Kára, this is the King of Gondor."

Kára's eyes widened and she bowed from her waist.

"Your majesty."

Aragorn frowned slightly and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Aragorn," He corrected.

Kára smiled and Maltök bowed his head between Pallando and Mayleea. She could hear his conversation with Aragorn.

"I have seen your future, my King. Under your rule, Gondor will flourish. Your influence will spill over into surrounding realms to make them better. My Lord, you will be remembered by every living being, for the rest of time."

Aragorn glanced over at Mayleea. His eyes were red and she grinned.

"Thank you my friend."

Aragorn put a hand out and Maltök pushed his nose into Aragorn's palm. The King smiled just as two scruffy heads popped out from behind his legs. Mayleea saw them and instantly dropped to her knees. Pippin rushed out and threw his little arms around her neck. She smiled broadly and buried her face in his scruffy mop. Merry was no less excited to see her and just as soon as Pippin had released her, he jumped at her. She caught him and fell onto her backside.

"My hobbits!" she cried. "You've taken good care of each other then?"

"I saved him!" Pippin said happily.

"Pippin," Merry groaned.

"An Olyphant fell on him!"

"It did not fall on me," he hissed indignantly. "It fell near me."

"You were still in -"

"Leave her be, Peregrin Took," Gandalf interrupted.

Merry and Pippin pared and Gandalf pulled her to a hug. He held her there for a moment, her head in the crook of his neck. After a second he leaned her away.

"It is good to see you my dear."

Then he paused and corrected himself

"My Queen."

She blushed lightly.

"It is strange to hear that."

"Get used to it," Gimli said gruffly. "Good to see you my dear."

"You as well, master dwarf."

He grunted and nodded and Mayleea turned to find Pippin. She wanted to hear more of the Olyphant falling near Merry, but instead, found a blond haired Elf.

"Legolas," she breathed.

His face was impossible to read.

"Mayleea."

His voice was not. Her face broke into a smile and she reached a hand out to him. He did not immediately take it but stepped forward. He held her eyes as he reached forward and grasped her upper arms. It was only then she could feel him shaking slightly. His fingers; usually so gentle and calm, grasped at her arm. He seemed not able to believe she was in front of him. he was hiding his thoughts from her.

"What is it?" she asked quietly.

His eyes quivered slightly, looking from her eyes to her lips and back again. She frowned.

"Let me see?" she asked moving a hand up to his neck.

He Flinched but more from surprise than anything else. Finally he sighed and thoughts began filling her mind. They were jumbled and emotionally charged. More than anything else, they were filled with love and regret and hope, all at the same time. Mayleea's eyes were forced shut and if not for Legolas' hold on her arms, she would have fallen. One of his hands snaked around her where it rested on the small of her back. When thinking about it later, Mayleea wouldn't remember any specific scenes from Legolas' mind, but feelings. Legolas had a knack for hiding how he was feeling and what he was thinking and now Mayleea knew why. He thought and felt SO much. She wasn't sure how he managed to keep it all inside.

"Legolas," she gasped aloud.

The thoughts suddenly stopped on one feeling. He was frightened. Mayleea slowly opened her eyes to meet his.

"Why?" she asked.

"I love you."

The words were so quiet; so small, Mayleea wasn't even sure she heard them at first. She pulled her brows together and leaned in slightly. Legolas mirrored her movements. For a moment they held each others gaze and the rest of the scene disappeared. The faces around them blurred; the terrifying image of the Black Gate with Mt. Doom as a backdrop faded away. The two elves gazed for a moment at each other before Legolas pulled her forward into his embrace.

"I am glad you are alive."

Mayleea let her arms went, of their own accord, to his blond haired head.

"As am I," she whispered in his pointy ear.

She felt a shiver run down his spine and she snickered. She pressed her palm to the back of his neck, effectively holding him in place.

"Survive the battle to come," she instructed.

Her voice was tense and demanding, but Legolas could hear a distinctly heavy sound he was not used to. He leaned away and recognized the look in her eyes. It was only then that he put towo and two together. Her voice and eyes were heavy and clouded and he felt his chest tighten.

"I will be waiting for you," he answered.

She smiled and turned to her dragons just as the black gate began creaking. All eyes turned and focused on a figure coming out at the bottom. Mayleea frowned and phased back to her dragon.

"Maltök."

He grunted and came forward.

"Who is that?"

"That is the mouth of Sauron, my Queen. He is a pawn. No more. As dangerous as a field mouse."

Mayleea growled.

"I will enjoy crushing his head between my teeth."

"I would not advise that. That taste would stay with you for weeks," the dragon said with a chuckle.

Mayleea snorted and dug her nails into the packed earth.

"Wait here," she said to Kára, Pallando and Maltök, then followed Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas and Éomer's horses out.

Before they even got close to the gate, Mayleea smelled him. He didn't smell bad. Just evil. It was a fear, but more than that. It was debilitating. She almost couldn't make herself move forward. All she wanted to do was run. Run back behind the lines all the way back to Moria and the rest of the dragons. Thoughts of despair filled her. Like she may never be happy again. She began to stop until she felt a soft touch on her shoulder.

The ebony of her skin contrasted wildly with Pippin's tiny hand. He caught her eye and smiled hopefully. She purred and leaned over. she hooked her beak into his cloak and lifted him off the horse in front of Gandlaf. She shrank a little and dropped him in front of her wing joint. He felt her chest rumbleing under him and he smiled. Mayleea jogged a little and grabbed Merry from behind Éomer. He yelped, a little surprised, but Mayleea dropped him behind Pippin.

"Hang on," she said to them.

She felt their little legs tighen over her back. By then, they were at the gate. Having Merry and Pippin with her helped her fear and she strode right up next to Aragorn. The Mouth Of Sauron kicked his horse forward and came to stand in front of them. Mayleea felt Pippin and Merry shaking, so she grew a bit bigger.

"My master, Sauron the great, bids you welcome," the Mouth sputtered.

His voice was worse than Mayleea was expecting. It was deep and throaty and rumbling, and when he finished his sentences, he gave a great smile, showing large bloody, yellow teeth. He had a helmet on showing nothing but his sickly pale chin and mouth; eyes and face covered by several layers of metal. The air was thick and the tension; pliable. When no one spoke, the Mouth tried again.

"Is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me?"

Mayleea thought he would make a lovely treat but Gandalf spoke before her.

"We do not come to treat with Sauron."

The Mouth jerked his head around. To look at him, Mayleea supposed, since she could see no eyes.

"Faithless and accursed," Gandalf spat. "Tell your mater this: The armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart these lands, never to return."

The Mouth let out a gurgling chuckle.

"Old Greybeard," he chortled, turning his head to the side. "I have a token I was bidden to show thee."

From a bad in front of him, he withdrew a small, metrill shirt. It meant nothing to Mayleea, but she felt the two Hobbits tense, then Pippin whispered something.

"Frodo."

The Mouth sneered and threw the shirt at Gandalf. The Wizard caught it and Mayleea felt Pippin lean over her shoulder.

"Frodo!" he said, louder.

The Mouth laughed.

"Silence," Gandalf said to him.

"No!" Merry shouted, drawing the Mouth's attention.

"Silence!" Gandalf growled, turning to them.

The Mouth seemed to be very much enjoying himself and Mayleea didn't like it.

"The Halfling was dear to the, I see."

Mayleea caught Aragorn drop his eyes, his face pained.

"Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host."

He paused for effect.

"Who would've thought one so small could endure so much pain."

Mayleea reached over and took the Methrill Gandalf was offering her. She held it gently and lifted it back to the Hobbits, who grabbed it and hugged it.

"And he did, Gandalf. He did."

Mayleea growled, feeling not just her pain, but Gandalf's, Legolas', Gimli's, Aragorn's and the Hobbits'. The Mouth jerked his head around to her and jerked his head to the side. She dropped her head and crouched. He just grinned all the more; until Aragorn moved his horse forward.

"And who is this?" he gurgled. "Isildur's heir? It takes more to make a king than a broken elvish blade."

Aragorn ignored him and rode up to his right. Before the Mouth had time to do more than glace his way, Aragorn let out a yell and swung his 'broken elvish blade' decapitating him.

"I guess that concludes negotiations," Gimli grunted.

"I do not believe it," Aragorn said, turning his horse around to face them. "I will not."

Gandalf nodded once just as the gate began creaking. From inside, battle chants could be heard and as the gate opened wide enough, Mayleea got her first look at the enemy. Thousands upon thousands of Uruki with the Eye watching their every move. Mayleea could feel the eye. The heat and strength of its gaze almost killed her on the spot.

"Pull back!" Aragorn called. "Pull back!"

Mayleea didn't have to be told twice. Merry and Pippin instinctively hung on to each other as she turned and ran for the army. Riding a dragon was nothing like riding a horse, either in the air or on the land. Mayleea was far more agile while running. Not as stiff as a horse or as bouncy. The Hobbits would later describe it like trying to ride water; the way her movements flowed, was nothing short of marvelous for them. She made it back to the men before the horses and she slid to a stop before Kára, Pallando and Maltök. Pippin and Merry slid to the ground and Mayleea phased back to an Elf.

She could see the men losing their nerve. They glanced around at each other, sheer terror on their pale faces. Mayleea pulled her weapons and swung them around as Aragorn came riding up.

"Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers!"

All the men seemed to forget their fear and tune into what he was saying. Aragorn slowed down to a trot.

"I see in your eyes, the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day!"

Mayleea heard a roar from the far back.

"This day we fight!" Aragorn continued.

A few more roars.

"By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!"

The metallic scraping of hundreds of swords being drawn at once drew a yell from Mayleea. It was a little bit strange and almost inhuman, but she didn't care. She turned to her dragon companions.

"Kára, take these two and get everyone ready. I will be along shortly."

Kara's nodded her large horned head and opened her slender wings. The tiger stripe design going down the back of her neck and stretching to the middle of her wings, shone against the departing sun. She roared to Pallando and Maltök who followed her back to their lines. Mayleea watched them, then turned to Aragorn.

"I must lead my people. I will not be able to provide immediate assistance like I did back in Helms Deep."

"Should we expect more enemies like the green dragon?" Éomer asked.

Mayleea hung her head.

"Her name was Enobaria. And yes. Saruman took many over the years. It is unclear how many he has turned to the side of evil."

"How many strong are you?" Aragorn asked looking over her head.

"173," Mayleea answered. It was not really an impressive number, but it would have to do.

Aragorn didn't show any frustration with that number, though she knew he was hoping for more.

"The rest were young or adults with small ones. Not fit for battle."

Aragorn nodded.

"It will be enough. Now you must get back to your people. Prepare them."

"You did that for me, my friend."

Aragorn shook his head and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Be safe."

"You as well."

With that, she turned and met the eyes of the elf. There were no words, not even in their minds. She took a running leap and phased back in mid air. She pushed off the ground with her back feet and went up and over the men, back to her people. Kára and Pallando were waiting for her.

"Do you wish to say anything?" Pallando asked.

Mayleea looked back and forth over the massive number of dragons, wondering how on earth this still couldn't be enough.

"I ask no more of you than to fight for your children, your mothers, your families. Do not fight for me. Stand for them. They are the biggest motivator. Keep them in your minds as you fight. Keep them in mind as you rip the heads off our enemies and crush them."

Someone in the back sprayed a jet of fire.

"Keep them in mind as you rip out the throat of another dragon."

A few roars.

"Keep them in mind as we wipe Mordors armies off the face of the earth, FOREVER!"

Roars and fire erupted from every corner of the dragon's ranks. Dragons were rearing and flapping and tossing their heads. Mayleea joined them and lifted into the sky. The dragons were on the far hill behind the black gate and the enemy, who were four times the size of the combined armies of Rohan and Gondor, had encircled Aragorn's troops. They had made a sort of target, with Gondor and Rohan in the middle, about one hundred feet of empty space then the enemy's lines. She could hear Gimli through hers and Legolas' connection.

"Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an Elf."

She listened for his response.

"What about side by side with a friend?"

"Aye," he responded after a moment. "I could do that."

Mayleea landed and looked around her.

"Fight well my friends."

Then all was quiet in their ranks. No one moved, no one spoke and Mayleea waited.

"I'm here with you," Paladin could be heard whispering to her.

There were several long moments between her ranks going quiet and when they finally went in. Mayleea was listening for Aragorn, and when she finally heard him speak, she thought she heard a very distinct sadness.

"For Frodo."

Time to review friends! Love you all!