The IRE of Winter

[ 17.2 ]

I made a deep breath to calm myself, I suddenly felt excited to hear the old man's voice, I can't wait to hear what he has to say. Carefully, I sat on the floor to listen some more.

'Mithrandir,' the King spoke, 'we are facing something far more dangerous than those little dragons in the North, if the Northman has returned from the grave, then this war has already begun.'

'You are overly anxious, my Lord. There is no need for such worry. The Northman isn't the same as this black rider, I suppose, the man who have seen this rider up close swore. This man was...slender and moves like a girl, very unlikely to be the Northman.'

'And that rider rode a black dragon. Do you know what that means? There was only two black dragons that have ever lived, one is undeniably dead the other has disappeared, and it owe me ten thousand lives. I swear I would kill that dragon this time and hang its hideous head on my wall.'

'But you blinded that dragon, if by chance it was the same one, how could it fly with a rider?' Legolas said.

'Seemingly impossible,' Gandalf answered, 'unless the rider is a...'

'...vaurg,' the King said.

I flinched upon hearing the word. Miraak, I knew I've heard its name before and now it all made sense, why the dragon was blinded, why it wanted retribution. My chance of acceptance for being the black rider vanished in an instant, everyone, especially the King wants its head and I won't be safe either. There was silence for a moment, until the King motioned near the shelf. My heart was pounding hard, (for a good reason), I am afraid to get caught. He paused right in front of the shelf, I could see his silver and black robe through a small slit.

'Leave me, do not send servants, I wish to retire to my bed for now.'

'Father...I don't think...'

'I insist. Go now, all of you,' the King said irritated.

I didn't hear anymore protests everyone motioned away. I peeked through a slit and I saw Legolas following the old man and the she-elf. Something pinched my heart, he never leaves the she-elf's side since they've arrived. I sat back and waited for the King to withdraw but he stood unmoving for a while. Finally, he motioned away from the shelf, his beautiful robes sweeping the marble floor. I stole a glance through the slip again praying he would go straight out of the room but to my surprise, he wasn't standing there anymore.

'Are you done eavesdropping, child?' he suddenly appeared popping his head from behind the bookshelf.

I toppled to the floor, startled, I looked at him nervously. 'I beg your pardon, my Lord, it was not my intention to listen secretly, I dropped by to ret...'

He didn't let me finish and he offered a hand to help me stand, 'I must say, you hid yourself too well, if I didn't notice the books on the table, I wouldn't know you were here.'

I hesitated staring blankly at his hand. He had two beautiful rings around his ring and index finger, gold and white gem. I dared to look at him and his faint smirk made me even more nervous. I reached out and stood, his hand was warm and slightly rough. 'Thank you, my Lord.'

He turned his back and walked to the table while I stood in silence, then he picked up the books and returned them to the shelf. 'Your panctuality is unusually better than anyone I knew, I suppose that paid you well. Since you've heard everything, tell me what you think.'