[Child of the 7th Age]

Child sat with her arm about Angara's neck waiting for the ship to make its leap. The dragon turned its jeweled green eyes on her, and then laid her head in the hobbit's lap. The dragon's act was a strangely protective one, as if she wanted to shield Child from some strange unknown danger.

Angara whispered to Child under her breath, "Hold on. You and your brothers and sisters. Strangely enough, I have become somewhat fond of your people. And, unlike the Man or the Elf on this vessel, you have little knowledge or lore to protect you. You go to face something you do not understand and can not even imagine."

"You may think you come from a different world and time, but if the Dark One should glimpse you, he will see only a hobbit face and body. His plans for you and your little friends will be no different than that which he envisions for all your other kin from the First Age."

"Unlike the Elf, you have never faced great evil. Unlike Man, you have never felt the touch of brokeness in your soul. But if you are going to help your people survive, I fear that sometime, somewhere you must look into the eye of darkness and stand firm."

"And I will tell you that, even with the power and wits of Man and the lore of the Elven kin, this venture will fail unless a hobbit finds the strength to endure, the simple act of hanging on and lasting even in the face of evil."

As Child listened to Angara's grim words, something inside her quailed, and she sensed a quiet fear she had not known before.

[ July 30, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[ July 30, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]