[Child of the 7th Age]

Before Child had fallen asleep the night before, she had spent several hours reading about dragons and how they had fought for Morgoth in the wars of Beleriand. Now she understood why Angara had been filled with sadness and fear.

Child also sensed that there was something missing from the ancient lore. For there was nothing in the stories about the dragons who had lived in Middle-earth before Morgoth had tampered with them. Yet she knew that such dragons must have existed. Her Uncle Bilbo had once confided to her that, however strong evil might be, the Shadow could not create life out of nothing. It could only take and corrupt beings that already existed. And no sentient being was created who did not have freedom to chose their path in life, whether for good or evil.

On more than one occasion, Angara had expressed great anger that Morgoth had ruined and distorted most of her kin. She had told Child that only a few of her kind remained. Indeed, these true dragons were so rare that most people did not even believe they existed.

Moreover, these original dragons were smaller and less powerful than the creatures manipulated and bred by the Shadow. They had just one advantage over their evil cousins. They were exceedingly fast and agile, more so than the powerful, lumbering creatures who served the Dark.

No wonder Angara was reluctant to return to Beleriand. Once again, she would witness the sad fall of her kind, and be powerless to change their fate. Once again she would rage with fury against Morgoth who used and distorted her kin.

Then a terrible possibility struck Child's mind. What if Angara intended to face the Dark Enemy and force a confrontation, a scenario that could only end in disaster for the dragon? Or, even more to be feared, what if Morgoth determined to corrupt Angara and, like so many before, she found it impossible to resist?

These thoughts wove in and out of her dreams all night and were still on her mind as she awoke the next morning.

Then, as she rose to meet the day, one last possibility hit her. What if these doubts and fears had been purposely placed in her mind, and Angara's as well, and perhaps even that of Pio, by some outside force to dissuade them from going?

Child knew that Elves had many strengths which she did not, but they were also prone to extended bouts of longing and sadness, feelings which she as a hobbit did not normally have. Hobbits might know fear in a frightening situation, but they did not dwell on imagined evils. Yet that is precisely what she had been doing last night.

Child shook her head and resolved to push back the cloud afflicting her thoughts. She decided to have breakfast with Kali, and then go to speak with Piosenniel and Mithadan about how quickly they could manage to make their way out of this harbor. For surely they would need to sail down the Anduin to reach the Bay before they could attach the time-travel device and mysteriously vanish from this age.

[ July 15, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]