Ossë glances at the dragon with eyes that glow in a surreal fashion, a smile almost evident on his features "It is not often we see your kind here, on the lands of the sea. Forgive my curiosity if I wished not to display myself until such a time as it was necessary."
"This is Lady Ithilia," Olwë introduces, his voice soft, looking from the sea lord to the Lady Dragon.
Ithilia huffs a puff of smoke at Ossë as she replies, "It is understandable, perhaps, given the history of Dragons. But if you value your friend Olwë i'd not replicate that manoever. Next time I might well bite first and ask questions later!"
Ossë smiles in a sweet way at Olwë, tilting his head just lightly and saying with a sweet sincerity "I am not returned, kind King. I have always been here, even if just beyond your sight."
"Hiding, Watery One? Skulking perhaps?" Ithilia crooks an eyescale.
Olwë blushes and drops his gaze...."For so long after the kin....afterward, I looked to the sea and wondered if we would ever hehold you again."
Ossë holds up his empty hand "Now now, great Ithilia! I mean't no harm. I am not under the care of this King Olwë, it is in deed that he is in my care. For I have been paying close attention in these dark times, to be of any assistance if I may"
Ithilia begins pacing around Olwë and Ossë, her tail switching as she circles. "So you help while hiding? That is not the Dragon way, so forgive if I do not understand it."
"For so long, we have had only the presence of Lord Tilion." Olwë blushes as he speaks the name of the Ainu Guardian of the Moon.
Ossë's features turn somewhat cold, the water slowing as it moves along his form "It is but the way of the Ainu, such as myself, to hide so as not to interfere in the ways of the First Children, until such a time as our presence is necessary to aid them on their way! Are you in any way insinuating I have come here under dangerous and guileful desires? Do you DARE imply such of me?!"
Olwë lays a hand on Ossë's arm and speaks quietly. "Please, Lord Ossë. The noble One means no disrespect."
Ithilia continues her circling, her talons clicking on the pavers of the harbour as she moves.. "I dare anything Wet One. While you have been off in hiding it is Olwë and myself who have fought and LIVED the evil times. Felt every cut, mourned every loss. When you can say the same, THEN you may take offence at my words, but not until then!."
Olwë speaks softly. "The Teleri had the comfort of Ainur like you and Tilion, before the kinslaying, and Tilion afterward, but her people had noone."
Ossë's entire form seems to shudder visibly, even as the gentle hand presses against his arm which seems entirely solid beneath the touch. He takes a deep quiet breath, the light of his eyes pressing into a squint while he takes in the circling form of the black dragon. "And you again imply I am in some way lacking in your pain? Have I not suffered as the Children's salty tears join the stream of my domain? Have I not wept myself as they have lost and raised voluminous waves in joy at the exhaultation? I have been ever present here beside them, lending my support, aiding in their travels, willing only the greatest happiness on them and strife on those that would attack them!"
"But then, suddenly, nearly all of you vanished."
Ithilia cocks her head at Olwë's words. "Yes, you are right, Noble Elf, for we have been shunned by those of the shadow and those of the light. We live in a no-man's land, wanted dead by all. So what have to to lose? "
Ossë frowns, looking disturbed "I have my duties, which keep me here, tending your lot, King. Each their own to care for, and each their duty in this life until the end of times. I cannot be held accountable for them as they were not in my caring or my reach of power. It is sad indeed that they had no one, but they are stronger for this. Wiser for this. More graceful for this. I would not destroy these wonders from their being, if I had but to choose my own purpose since the dawn of Ainulindale!"
Olwë looks up at the great dragon, his eyes tearfilled and his voice soft, a little choked. " I hear the pain in your words, Noble Lady. Would I could undo the centuries."
Ithilia stops her pacing, coming to stand again in front of the two smaller forms in front of her.. "I dare you, Ossë, to take on the form of flesh and blood, and then speak to me of what you feel. For flesh and blood is what lives, what beats, what breathes. Take on Flesh and Blood and walk in our world as we do, then speak to me of your feelings. "
Ossë rest's his hand again on Olwë's shoulder, giving it a kind support were the King to need it at this time. He looks straight on at the large powerful beast, intoning with passion "Let there be no bad blood amongst our kind, Sister! For we are greatly in need of each other now, and disention will only make us weaker against the forces of darkness which are even now but making their way towards these lands!" Ossë seems to glower for a moment, silent. He takes this moment to consider and nods in a grave fashion "I will... I will. But of my own choosing and not merely for your sake!" Ossë summons a rush of water to devour his body, encasing the strong and deliate form of his watery guise, diguising him from all eyes for the moment.
Olwë turns his head to look at Ossë, his body tensing. Ithilia lets her great body collapse back to the ground again, hearing a couple of the pavers crack beneath her weight as she does so.. She lets out a great sigh.. " You are right, Wet One.. there should be no dissention"
Ossë suddenly dispells the waves and they vanish into the air, becoming nothing but a temporary mist. Beneath the shadow that quickly passes he appears once more, now a pale blonde guise to resemble that of his charge, the noble elves of Alqualondë.
"There has been far too much happen in the past to hold onto it. It is time perhaps to show the compassion and noble spirit i sense in Olwë, if we are all to surivive what I suspect lays ahead of us." Ithilia nods her head in acquiescence. Olwë backs away from the swirlling column of water and gasps as they dissolve and an elven looking Ossë appears.
Olwë blushes..."As I sense in you, Noble Lady."
Ithlia cannot resist giving an evil laugh, "NOW you will feel it if I bite you Wet Wonder!"
Ossë steps forward, his hands now bare of all but encasements of gold and jewels as befit his power, raising one such pale hand to the great head of the dragon, allowing her to see quite clearly he is in form of flesh and blood. Ossë laughs, his gold hair rippling behind him "You were not afraid, only indignant at the disadvantage! I fear you not great Ithilia! As you may not harm me, in any guise I take!"
"The last time you walked so among us was when Earwen was but a child...and you taught us the secrets of the swanboats.." he looks at Ossë.
Ithilia lets her teeth show, just for a moment while Ossë is so close, and then masks them again before she speaks, "You have no reason to fear me Ossë, for despite all I sense no evil in you. It is only those with evil in their hearts that need truly fear me. "
"Great Lady, how came you to Alqualondë? What is through a dream?"
Ossë turns again to the kind face of the king, grinning mischievously at him "I can assure you, gentle Olwë, you have beheld my guise anon in many instances, even if you were not privy at the time to my true name"
"But be warned, while you or Olwë have no reason to fear me, I am no tame Dragon, to do your bidding or that of others. I am wild and free, daughter of my sire, the Mightiest Dragon of all, the Great Ancalagon the Black.. so I suggest you do not ever test my patience!"
"And I and the Teleri are not chattels either, or villains to be threatened, but the firstborn of the elven races, steadfast and loyal to Eru."
Ithilia looks down at Olwë, her head tilted in thought. "I.. I came because I sought you, Majesty. I remembered the words that I heard spoken of you, so long ago. I had hoped you still lived, and had not fallen victim to the dark times that have been upon the lands."
Olwë regards the dragon quietly, his eyes locked on her face, his body at ease but his posture erect . Ossë clenches his fest, snapping back at the large beast with a fury as great as the worst sea storm "I need no pet or slave to do my will! My will is only mine to enact! But keep you also in mind, I am as wild and as tempestous as the least and most of my siblings and I have no restraint when protecting those under my care! So let us both respect and be aware of each others and consider each no less than peers! But enough! I tire of this quabbling!"
Olwë blushes. "We lived...despite the kinslaying...We...endured."
Ithilia snorts a puff of smoke again as she suppresses a chuckle at Olwë's words. " I see we share pride and stubbornness too, Elf"
Ossë scoffs right back, his grin rather proud and humored "In leaps and bounds, but while I may look like The Children I am not of them, do not confuse me for an elf!"
Ithlia turns her grin upon Ossë also, "And it would seem that you are also in accord with us, O Puddle Maker. Perhaps if we three can direct our ferocity against those who deserve it, we might accomplish something good!"
Olwë smiles, then laughs..."We have pride in abundance, it seems."
Ossë grumps, crossing his arms over his chest "I did think, Lady Ithilia, that this was entirely the purpose of your call!"
"Pride and courage, which is not such a bad combination, methinks" Ithilia's chest rumbles as she chuckles ruefully
Olwë nods. "I think me we will have great need of such, Noble One."
Ithila's stomach chooses this moment to rumble loudly. Her eyes stray longingly to the swans on the harbour... "Ahhh, yes, I beleive it was. Times are changing. Times HAVE changed. The dragons can no longer continue to exist in limbo, not when we can help those in the light fight against the shadow."
The breeze from the ocean wafts across the land. Ithilia's nostril's quiver as warm swan scent is brought to her. Olwë watches her nostrils flare and follows her gaze out over the harbor..to the swans.
"Perhaps you are famished after your journey." The sound of hooves fill the harbor...Olwë turns and beholds Lord Tilion on his white steed.
Ithilia shifts a little where she sits as her stomach grumbles loudly yet again. "I confess it has been a long flight from Arador, and dragons do not travel with supplies""
"Perhaps, you would allow me to dispatch hunters to secure deer for you?"
Tilion send his steed on his way..... to avoid an embarassing situation
I would not wish to put you out, Noble One. What I need is right in the harbour, if you will excuse me but a moment.".. with that Ithilia takes flight... her mighty wings taking her directly to the harbour. Hovering briefly over it, seeming to watch the water. Olwë watches, as it slowly dawns on him... He turns to Lord Ossë..."Oh,no..."
Disappearing beneath the waves with a last flick of her tail, the Dragon plunges deep... her threshing turning the waters of the harbour to white foam as she chases the school of large salmon she had spotted there earlier.
Ossë watches the dragon take flight with great interest, seeing it dive into the sea. He raises an eyebrow and watches her quietly, wondering what she will do.
With a mighty splash, Ithilia rises from the harbour, one last fish wriggling in her jaws before she snaps it down.. "The wind tells me I am needed on Arador"" she calls down to Olwë and Ossë. "I must bid you farewell for now, but I shall return."
Olwë waves, eyes shining and mouth open,a look of wonderment on his face. "I shall return" She calls, turning her nose to the sun, her mighty wings bearing her away swiftly.
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