Chapter Twelve. To Mordor we fly

Conclusion

Legolas opened his eyes, wearily he looked around them. Despite Gimli's efforts, water had seeped in overnight, were they any wetter they'd be afloat! The dwarf in question lay against the outer wall, not far from him the two hobbits had managed to choose the one spot still dry. But there was no sign of Faramir. Quickly the elf leapt to his feet and notched an arrow on his bowstring. Silently, he stepped outside, and relaxed. Faramir had his back to him, his head was bowed, and his fingers were twining threw the dark beasts mane. "What say you, how far ahead of us have your brethren bourn our enemies?" The horse lowered its nose to his hand, sniffing lightly, there was a dark glow in the beast's eyes... years under the thrall of the Nazgul had done that.
"Faramir? You are troubled." The steward whirled, but calmed when he saw who had addressed him. "And you are not? We have surely lost them now! The dawn has come and gone, And still we do not ride!" Legolas lay his hand upon his shoulder, eyes soft. "Do not do this to yourself... you are breeding your own despair, we will catch them yet." A scoff, but Faramir was silent. He had turned his gaze back to the road. "Well, I didn't expect this..." In the doorway Gimli stood, gazing down at his person with disgust. "Wet! Always wet! Why cannot we be dry perchance? My armor may not survive at this rate!" Legolas laughed outright, Faramir seemed to chuckle. "Dry yourself off then! If it disturbs you so much!" The dwarf shot them an unmistakable look of (with what?!) "Gladly I would! Had we such a luxury! Are the horses dry at least?"
Faramir nodded, "Aye Gimli, they are drier than us by far." The dwarf shook his head and vanished inside with a grumble, both exchanged a silent smile. Dwarves were a race who commonly, would rather carry a horse than ride it, and chop a tree rather than climb It. "I wait for the day he is so bothered by all this, that he takes that horse into his arms and walks with it!" Faramir smiled, "I will wait for it as well. We must depart soon Legola... Legolas? What is it?" The elf had frozen, his expression one of disbelief, "We may not leave as soon as hoped!" Faramir looked up and cried out in shock, a bellow sounded in the wind, and the horses charged and leapt, straining against their ties. Save one, the black beast reared and screamed, snapping its teeth, its eyes wild as it glared at the sky. For above their heads circled a beast of days long ago, Gimli ran out to see what was the matter, looked up, and looked back at them. "...Well, I didn't see this one coming..."
"Arm yourselves! This way it comes!!" the hobbits stood in the doorway, but they looked a different way, "Look!! Shadowfax comes!! But where is Gandalf?!" Faramir spared a quick glance, the horse lord was indeed with them. "Legolas! Would Gandalf send him alone?" The Elf was intently searching the dragon for a vulnerable spot. "No! Mithrandir must be nearby!" The Dragons eyes flashed at them, another roar pulled from its throat. "Wait!! Wait, do not fire!! This is the fellowship! Will you heed me?! Put us down among them!!" The group exchanged disbelieving looks, that voice... Gandalf?! The dragon plummeted towards them, then spread its wings like a giant sail, and landed not twenty feet from their makeshift shelter. "Ga... Gandalf?! What is all this?!" The wizard looked down from his perch, knuckles white and hair mussed from the speed and winds.
"It is thankful we found you so quickly! I had thought it would take at least a day more. Faramir, Legolas, Gimli, Merry and Pippin, This is Anantaboga the White, Dragon of the White Tree." The great dragon lowered his head so that Gandalf could dismount. "Gandalf! I have lived in Minas Tirith all my life! And we have no dragon!" The Wizard smiled, "I see, so I have just landed on a figment of my imagination?" They stared at him in stunned silence, "Much as I would like to discuss this we must be off, a passing bird told me that The Nazgul have sent to Mordor for Fellbeasts to take them the last legs of their journey. We must go quickly to catch them." Faramir moaned, "Fellbeasts?! We shall never catch them!" The Dragon reared back its head to regard the steward. "I am swifter than the eagles, and have traveled farther than the seagulls, do you dare imply I cannot catch another beast in flight?!" Faramir stood stunned, "Gandalf, how long did it take you to fly from The white Tree to here?" The wizard smiled, "A sunrise and a sunset, are you ready to go?"
A fierce light shone in Faramir's eyes, "I am ready, but the horses?" Gandalf motioned to Shadowfax, "He has agreed to lead them back to Minas Tirith, including the dark one." The two horses regarded each other in silent aggression, ears laid flat against their proud heads. "Then it is done! Tell us where to sit Gandalf, and let us depart immediately!" a soft cough came from the back, Gimli eyed them with amusement, "Well, you can go, but there is no way I will be flown on dragonback!"

..... ...... ...... ...... ...... .....

"I Loath You All!! When we touch ground my ax will split you!!! Augh!!! Why are we so high!!! I will be avenged!! My spirit will haunt you!!" Legolas looked behind him, "And how will you accomplish that Gimli?" The dwarf looked back at him from huge, frightened eyes, "Well, First I'm going to throw up, and then I'm going to die!!"

And the dwarfs horrified exclamations with the

Fellowshipslaughter faded... into
The winds.

To be Continued in: The Prophesy Ended

...well, you didn't think I could resist a trilogy, did you?