Chapter XV

Eruanna Úlumiel and her three dragons came to an island. Faroniel and Helegiel let out sounds of joy as they saw their siblings. People looked up, and a place that smelled of death and despair reignited with joy and hope as they cheered. Ceveniel landed, allowing Bard and Bain to dismount and celebrate their reunion with Sigrid and Tilda.

Legolas ran up to his daughter and Eruanna slipped off of Ceveniel's back, hugging him tightly. "I saw everything", Legolas said. They pulled apart and he smiled. "I've never been more proud. Nor more in awe of you."

"I've always been in awe of you", Eruanna Úlumiel said. She then went to examine Ceveniel's leg that had been bitten by Smaug. "What happened?", Legolas asked, following her.

"Smaug bit Ceveniel. But her scales are very tough, so she hasn't sustained much damage. If she and her brothers are allowed to rest awhile, I trust they'll be fine", Eruanna said.

"Eruanna", Bofur came to her. "You'll be coming with us, will you not?" The other dwarves looked at her with hope in their eyes. Eruanna wanted to go with them but she remembered Thorin's words. "An elf cannot step on dwarvish lands."

"I have to tell you something", Eruanna decided to change the topic completely. The dwarves looked at her, confused. "There is a prophecy. The one Thorin said to the people of Laketown. It does not foretell something very good. I fear something will happen to Thorin. Keep an eye on him, stay together and be vigilant."

"But you'll come with us, right?", Oin asked. As much as he hated to admit, he wanted her to come with them. She had proven to be a valuable ally and had even helped kill the dragon. Eruanna went to respond but then her attention was directed elsewhere. To Kili and Tauriel.

"Tauriel", Kili whispered.

"Kili, we're leaving", Fili called out, grabbing a spare boat. "They are your people, you must go", Tauriel said, her head hung low.

"Come with me!", Kili said. "I know how I feel, I'm not afraid. You make me feel alive", he said.

"I can't", Tauriel said, looking away.

"Tauriel, amrâlimê", Kili said. Tauriel looked at him. "I don't know what that means", she said. "I think you do", Kili said, smiling at her. Eruanna looked at them with sorrow. She knew it wasn't love. Just a mere fascination. Love did not happen in a matter of days.

"Hir nin Legolas", Tauriel said, addressing Eruanna's father.

"Maewado i Naug! Boe i nadh egeno (Take your leave of the Dwarf. You are needed elsewhere)", Legolas said. Eruanna frowned. She didn't see the problem with letting Tauriel go.

Tauriel looked at Kili and slightly shook her head. He sighed in disappointment and turned away from her. Just then he went back to her and placed his runestone in her hand.

"Keep it. As a promise", he said. She smiled at him and watched him leave.

"Eruanna", Kili and Bofur looked at her pleadingly. Fili looked devastated as did Oin. They all knew her decision but they wanted her to change it. "Please come with us. You helped us. You deserve to see us win", Kili tried to persuade her.

The Dragon Princess smiled at the Dwarvish Prince. "I have no further purpose in the Company", she said with a small smile. "But I wish you all the best of luck. Our alliance has come to an end and we must return to the grounds of neutrality."

"What about fixing broken bonds between our races?", Fili asked.

Eruanna smiled. "I do not know if that can happen. Should it come to pass, I will rejoice. But for now, that cannot happen. Go to the Mountain, Fili. And remember my warning. Stay safe. You four are among the few who were good to me." The dwarves knew there was no changing her mind. They bowed their heads in sadness and respect before rowing away on the boat.

After they left, Eruanna found herself facing Legolas who looked confused. "You made a promise", he said.

Eruanna smiled. "There is nothing more for me to do, father. The biggest obstacle between them was the dragon and he is gone. The mountain is theirs for the taking."

"What will you do now?", Legolas asked.

"Go back to our people", Eruanna said. "Where I longed to be when the journey started."

"It was Bard! He killed the dragon! Him and the Dragoness", Percy, announced all of a sudden. "I saw it with my own eyes! He brought the beast down! Shot it dead with a black arrow as the elf had her dragons beat the cursed beast!"

The people cheered, hailing both Bard and Eruanna. All of a sudden Alfrid came up to Bard and held his hand up. "ALL HAIL TO THE DRAGONSLAYER!! ALL HAIL KING BARD!!", Alfrid cried out. Bard freed himself from Alfrid.

"I have said it many times", Alfrid continued. "This is a man of noble stock! A born leader!."

"Do not call me that!", Bard said. "I'm not the master of this town. Where is he? Where's the master?", Bard demanded. "Halfway down the Anduin, with all our coins I don't doubt, you would know, you helped him empty the treasury!", the woman from earlier accused Alfrid.

"No", Alfrid denied. "I tried to stop him", Alfrid said. The people didn't buy it. "I begged, I pleaded, I said Master, NO!." The people screamed in anger and threatened to hang him.

"Think of the children", he said. Eruanna stepped forward. "Will nobody think of the children!", Alfrid shouted, grabbing Tilda, but she kicked him and broke free. The Dragoness smiled.

Eruanna watched several men grab Alfrid to hang him. Bard looked at her, pleading and she nodded.

"ENOUGH!!", Eruanna shouted, unleashing a blast of energy. The people gasped and looked at her. "Have you all not had your fill of death already!?!", Bard shouted. "Winter is upon us; we must look to our own, to the sick and helpless. Those who can stand, tend to the wounded. And those who have strength left, follow me. We must salvage what we can", Bard said.

"What do we do then?", the woman asked. "We find shelter", Bard said.

He looked at Eruanna. "My daughters told me everything you did for them. Thank you for helping them. And thank you for helping me take down Smaug."

"You killed the dragon. I just provided a distraction", Eruanna said with a smile. "I'm just glad I was able to ensure the safety of your innocent children."

"Take only what you need, we have a long march ahead", Bard said to the people of Laketown. "Where will you go?", Legolas asked. "There is only one place", Bard said. They looked at the Lonely Mountain in the distance. "Dale. You wish to go to Dale, where your ancestor, Gyrion, once ruled", Eruanna said to Bard. He nodded.

"The mountain! You are a genius sire, we can take refuge inside the mountain! It might smell a bit of dragon, but the women can clean it up. It'll be safe, warm and dry, and full of stores, bedding and clothing... the odd bit of gold", Alfrid said, smiling sickly. Eruanna stared at him with disgust.

"What gold is in that mountain is cursed. We will take only what Thorin Oakenshield promised to us, only what we need to rebuild our lives", Bard said, giving Alfrid some wood.

"News of the death of Smaug will have spread through the lands", Eruanna's father said.

"Aye", Bard agreed.

The Elven Prince went up to Bard. "Others will now look to the mountain for its wealth for its position." "What is it you know?", Bard asked. "Nothing for certain, it's what I fear may come", Legolas responded.

Eruanna looked at her father. Tauriel came up to them. "You saw something out there", Eruanna said to her father.

"The orc, the leader. He is Bolg, spawn of Azog the Defiler. I saw a mark I had not seen for a long time. The mark of Gundabad." "Gundabad? ", the Dragoness asked. "An orc stronghold in the far north of the Misty Mountains", her father said.

"Hir nin Legolas", came a voice. The three elves turned and saw Captain Feren come to them on horseback. "Celin 'winiath o adar lín. Cân i hi danwenidh na le (I bring word from your Father. You are to return to him immediately)", he said. "Tolo (Come)", Eruanna's father said to both Eruanna and Tauriel.

"Hir nin. Edlennen Tauriel (My Lord. Tauriel is banished)", Feren informed them.

"Daughter", Eruanna's father, looked at her. "Go", she said. Legolas looked at her. "You must go back, it is the King's command. I will help these people and then send word to you when I'm back in Imladris." "Naw aran nín, mal ú-gân innas nin (Yes, he is my King, but he does not command my heart)", Legolas said. Eruanna smiled at him.

Legolas looked at Feren. "Watch over her", he commanded.

"I ride north, will you come with me?", he asked Tauriel. Eruanna glared at him. "To where?", Tauriel asked.

"To Gundabad!", he said. Eruanna gave him a look. "Eruanna, I need you to be safe", he looked at her. Eruanna sighed and looked down. She understood him. Her paternal grandmother died in Gundabad, during a war between orcs and elves. She understood he wouldn't want to lose her either.

"Do what you must", Eruanna said.

Eruanna watched them ride off. "My Lady! We must not delay!", Feren called to her. "Yes", she agreed. With that, they rode off to Dale.