Confirmation
Hiccup and Toothless wandered off together a short distance from everyone else. They agreed without any words that they needed a moment to themselves after what they had seen. They eventually sat down, mostly so Hiccup could rest his leg, and did nothing but stare into the east.
"What do you think happened?" Toothless asked.
Hiccup shrugged.
"If I had to guess, I'd say Sauron is gone. Frodo and Sam destroyed the Ring."
"Do we know that for sure?" Toothless warily asked.
"No, but what does your heart tell you?"
Toothless hung his head and closed his eyes while thinking about what he was feeling. There was so much that seemed different. A warmth seemed to hang in the air now. The skies also were much brighter than they had been before.
"That something very bad is gone from the world. We, or I at least, would know if Sauron had his Ring again."
Hiccup gently scratched Toothless's neck.
"Yeah. Did you feel anything as you saw... that shadow? You looked angry."
Toothless shivered and growled softly, tapping his tail on the ground.
"It was very like when I was around the Ring. I felt like someone else, a twisted soul-fire, was with me. But he was not strong. If he was... that would have been very bad. It was only angry and afraid of it."
Hiccup frowned after glancing back at the rest of the Furies gathered together.
"Do you think he did anything to you all?"
"What?"
"We know that all of you are a little tempted by gold. I just hope it didn't get worse for everyone just now."
Toothless grumbled, not liking that possibility.
"I do not think it would. If Sauron died then his power and his Nazgul died. The pack will always be free of them, and if we do still want gold... we can fight that twisted wanting."
"True, and no one else felt it the same as you did," Hiccup agreed.
They stared into the east a while longer before eventually turning back and returning to the rest of the Furies. They were still generally in their family groups, but they all gathered together when he and Toothless approached.
"Ready to keep going?" Hiccup asked them.
They all nodded and purred in agreement as everyone started moving again. But there was far more muttering about what they might have just seen.
Moonbeam immediately slipped in between Hiccup and Toothless while Breath-Of-Sky and Mystery walked together.
"Was that shadow the bad soul-fire?" Moonbeam whispered.
"I think so," Hiccup sighed.
Toothless nuzzled her head and gave her a lick.
"And it is gone now. The strong wind blew it away forever," he said.
She purred and glanced over her shoulder.
"I hope it is gone."
Hiccup patted her on the neck as they kept walking. Then he realized something else that he hadn't truly shared with her. The three of them were sufficiently on their own that no one else would overhear.
"Did I tell you at the enemy had a precious thing that he put his soul-fire into?"
"Yes, and that was the thing that was to be destroyed, true?"
"True. I held that thing once, and I heard its twisted whispering. It probably put some... rot... in my heart, and that rot is part of why I was... not letting Burning-Star be free before. Not an excuse for what I was doing, but still..."
She turned to him and hummed, her eyes wide with understanding.
"But he saw that rot and took it out, the same as I did with a different problem," Toothless explained.
"And me also," Moonbeam hummed after a moment of thought.
Hiccup laughed.
"Look at us. We all had so many problems, and we helped each other with them."
Toothless and Moonbeam huffed and rolled their eyes as they all kept walking, eventually returning beside the rest of the Furies.
Hiccup stayed beside them until the pain grew too great, at which point Toothless began carrying him. Taking the opportunity to just enjoy the view and rest a while, Hiccup stared out at the beautiful land all around, at the thick forests and White Mountains to the west and the massive Anduin and the large island that split the river in two.
They were settling down to rest in the morning when cries of alarm went up.
"What is it?" Toothless barked, flying to his paws.
Hiccup and Moonbeam stirred in place beside him.
"One of the big birds!" Snowflame shouted.
Toothless grumbled to himself. This could only be one of the Great Eagles. He looked around in the sky, and noticed a very big bird in the distance over the river. The bird was flying out of the northeast, toward where the armies had marched to threaten Sauron. The Great Eagle turned toward him and his kin, since it had definitely seen them.
Maybe it has come to tell us what happened.
They all held themselves at the ready as the bird flew near. While he knew that the bird was not going to attack, he still felt wary of it simply because these birds were bigger than him. Birds should not be bigger than dragons.
Maybe this is the Windlord bird. I want to race that one and win! That pile of hot waste who thinks no wings are faster than his!
The bird certainly looked familiar, with brown feathers and very broad wings. The Great Eagle cried a loud and piercing cry that echoed from the hills. Then it smoothly dove for them, glided in a wide circle, and touched down before them, its wings stirring up the wind.
He and his kin did not move at first, no one wanting to step forward toward it.
"We should say hello," Hiccup whispered with a paw on his shoulder.
"Yes, we should..."
Toothless took a deep breath and then slowly walked toward the Great Eagle. Now up closer he could see that this was not the Windlord he had met in Edoras, although it looked similar.
"Duath amlug," the Eagle spoke to him.
"Good Eagle, what is your name?" he asked.
"I am Landroval, which means broad wing," Landroval answered with his wings flared wide.
They were very broad wings.
"It is an honor to meet you, Landroval," Hiccup said, bowing.
"And so for me also, Child of the West," Landroval dipped his great head toward them and folded away his wings.
"Do you know an Eagle named Gwaihir? We met him in Edoras," Hiccup added.
"He is my brother. He sent me in search of you, for I have tidings most joyful and beyond hope! The reign of Sauron is ended!"
Hiccup sighed and relaxed at the confirmation.
"The Ring was destroyed then?" he asked.
"Yes, the Ringbearer's quest was fulfilled. I and my brother bore the two Halflings from the ruinous slopes of Orodruin."
"Frodo and Sam are alive!" Toothless cried in surprise and joy.
"Yes, though not without wound," Landroval answered.
"Did you fly from the Black Gate?" Hiccup asked.
"We brought the Halflings back to the hosts of Rohan and Gondor. The army of Orcs was devoured by the ruin of Mordor; the ground itself consumed them, and very few survived."
"That's good to hear. What about the Fellowship and everyone else?"
"There was very little death in the battle. All my kin still in the skies of Middle-earth were at the battle to give aid."
Hiccup nodded, but he had another thought after hearing that the Eagles were present at the final battle. There were surely a number of these Great Eagles, but he had only seen two.
"If I may ask, why didn't you Eagles help out at Minas Tirith? We could have used the help."
"Do not think that we roosted idle in our aeries. We were aiding the Elves of Lothlorien and Eryn Galen, what you call the Mirkwood," Landroval calmly answered.
Toothless lifted a paw and touched his pendant while remembering the strange beauty of that hidden Elven world.
"Did something bad happen to Lothlorien?" he warily asked.
"The Enemy sent his army from Dol Guldor to strike at the heart of Elvendom in Middle-earth. Three attacks there were, and we fought in all of them. The outer woods were burned and scoured, but the Enemy was repelled. They could not best the power in Lorien, not unless Sauron himself were to take part in the attack. Not even their greatest weapons were enough, though ours was not the victory over them. We flew here to the Black Gates as soon as that victory was won."
Hiccup frowned at the thought of Lothlorien burned and desecrated, even if only partially. That news drove home that the war was much bigger than he thought at first. The war had basically involved everyone, everywhere.
I hope this didn't touch the Shire at all...
"The woods will heal, though Lothlorien will not endure. I see that you both have wounds," Landroval added.
Hiccup shrugged and held Toothless's neck.
"We'll be alright."
Landroval then looked past them to Moonbeam.
"Well met, fain amlug," he said to her.
She started in surprise at being addressed and then strode forward to stand beside Toothless.
"What does that mean?" she asked.
"It means white dragon," he answered.
She purred in approval.
Landroval then looked to all three of them in turn.
"I was bidden to invite you three to meet with the host of Gondor and Rohan across the Anduin. Mithrandir and the Kings wish to speak with you soon. They have news and an offer that you can take to your Alphas and your pack."
"We will meet with them," Hiccup agreed.
"My brother also wished for me to convey to you that we know your actions. We know what fires burn in your hearts," Landroval said.
Toothless tilted his head in confusion.
"I do not understand."
"Nor I," Hiccup added.
Landroval stood tall and proud, almost towering over them as he turned his head to stare to the west.
"We know that you have been hurt and touched by a power that is beyond you, and yet you still flew to aid the Children of Iluvatar: the humans, Elves, and Dwarves. You would also live in peace with them."
"Yes, we will," Toothless answered.
Landroval looked down at them.
"My brother will do something for your kind, but for now, know that there will be peace between our kinds. We will not be here in Middle-earth always."
"No? Why not?" Toothless asked.
"We Eagles were sent here to keep watch on and thwart the Enemy, but he is no more. We shall return to our true home beyond the horizon when the time is right for that great flight."
Landroval stepped back and stretched wide his broad wings.
"Until we meet again, may the winds be warm under your wings and may your catches be many."
"And may your hunts be good also," Toothless hummed.
Hiccup bent his head to Landroval in a sign of respect.
Then the Great Eagle jumped aloft with a piercing cry as he turned his flight for the northwest.
They watched him fly until he was only a tiny dot in the sky.
"So, I guess we should go meet everyone," Hiccup proposed.
"Yes, we should. I want to see Frodo and Sam again," Toothless purred.
"Same here. I wonder what Aragorn and Theoden want to say. You coming with us, Moonbeam?"
"I will," she answered.
"Alright, let's go right now. We can probably fly to them and come back here before the evening."
Toothless nodded in agreement.
"We should let our sire and dam know. They and our other kin can walk more to be closer to home."
They bounded over to Sky-Dancer and Far-Flight.
"Sire, dam, we are going to fly to a different range for the rest of the day. We will meet with the human Alphas and hear news for the pack. Can you all keep going with Wing-Of-Ice, Eyes-That-Shimmer, and their kin? We will find you later today," Toothless asked.
Far-Flight and Sky-Dancer warily hummed as they thought about it.
"All the fighting is over now, true?" Sky-Dancer asked.
"Yes, it is finished," Toothless answered.
"Okay, we will go with them. Hiccup, do you need any of your bags?" Far-Flight asked with a glance to his own back.
"No, I don't."
Moonbeam hopped over to Mystery and nuzzled her.
"Sister, can you stay here with Far-Flight and Sky-Dancer?"
"If I must," Mystery hummed.
Breath-Of-Sky hopped over to her side and nudged her shoulder.
"We can play pinning and tail-chasing!" he cried.
"You have no chance, little one!" she stuck out her tongue at him.
The two fledglings ran off, running along through the grass while shouting at each other.
Sky-Dancer then stepped forward and nuzzled Toothless's and Hiccup's noses.
"Fly fast, my dear cubs," she hummed.
"We are your cubs. How can we not fly fast?" Toothless barked in amusement.
Hiccup rolled his eyes as he climbed on Toothless's back.
"The sooner we fly, the sooner we get back," Hiccup explained.
Toothless hummed in the peace of flight with Hiccup flying with him. It was their first time on a long and peaceful flight together since... they flew to Minas Tirith weeks ago. Moonbeam flew at his side and regularly touched wingtips with him.
The land below was peaceful, and the winds were very warm. Even flying somewhat towards Mordor did not feel very bad since the far mountains looked brighter.
He and she had flown through the morning. They passed over the Anduin and over a large island that Hiccup said was called Cair Andros. They also kept flying over a very long stretch of marshes. Hiccup had mentioned that they should not stop there, so they had not.
They flew closer and closer to the Mountains of Shadow while the land turned from the green of Gondor to more of a brown and black with fewer and fewer trees. There were also more large mounds of dirt on the sides of the trodden paths.
He grumbled to himself as he glared down at the land.
I do not like this land. It looks more dead...
Then he saw many, many humans in the distance. They were marching together into the south toward Gondor. Another large group of humans and horses were leaving more straight toward the west, which meant they were probably going to Rohan instead.
He and Moonbeam flew high above the humans, just in case any of them wanted to shoot arrows, all while he looked for the humans whom he would know, Aragorn and Theoden. They would certainly have set aside a place for him to land.
Then he saw a flash of white light that looked strange and bright.
That must be Gandalf!
He dove for the bright white shape, smoothly glided, and touched down in a small clearing that had been made for him and Moonbeam. He lay down so that Hiccup could climb off his back and stand at his side. Moonbeam also landed and pranced up to stand with Hiccup between them.
Gandalf was the first to step toward them through the mass of armored humans. The Wizard, now wearing pure white robe-furs, smiled freely and widely such as he could not remember the Wizard doing in all the time he had known him.
"Masters Haddock, Toothless, and good Moonbeam, welcome!"
"It is wonderful to see you, Gandalf," Hiccup smiled.
"You must have met Landroval. Am I correct?"
"Yes, he found us and let us know that you wanted us to fly here."
Gandalf nodded.
"It is more for the sake of these two that I asked for Landroval to carry the message. My work is finished now with Sauron's downfall."
"Is everyone alright?" Toothless asked.
"Everyone whom you know, yes. None of the Fellowship were harmed, and few soldiers of either people were hurt. The Nazgul were here for a time, but they had few fellbeasts left. We have you and your kin to thank for that."
Gandalf then stepped aside with a gesture with his staff to two others who were approaching.
They all knew the two armored humans who stood before them: Aragorn and King Theoden. King Theoden, wearing the same bright, Rohan armor he had before, stepped forward first and bent his head in a sign of respect.
"My greetings to you all," Theoden said.
"King Theoden," Hiccup similarly welcomed him.
Toothless and Moonbeam bent their heads to him.
"How are you faring, Master Haddock?" Theoden asked with a concerned glance at the leg.
"Better. The leg will take some getting used to, but I'll make a better one when I have the time for it."
"I take it that you plan to return to Edoras?" Theoden inquired.
"Yes, we were walking there with Wing-Of-Ice and his kin. His family flew to be with him now that he is grounded," Hiccup explained.
Theoden nodded.
"That is good of them. I will meet with him when I am able and return to Edoras. For now, I will remain with my people and go with Aragorn."
"When will you be back in Edoras?" Hiccup asked.
"I know not. It may be several months yet. Eowyn would rule in my stead, except that she is unavailable. One of my vassals, Eogar, will be keeping Edoras in order until my return. Speak to him about any needs you have. As for the wounded, they will gradually return throughout Rohan as they are able."
Something he said reminded Hiccup of a faint worry he had. There was little risk that anything had truly happened, given that there had apparently not been much fighting before the Black Gate, but he wanted to confirm what he hoped was the case.
"Sir, you didn't lose any of your commanders, did you?"
"Is there anyone in particular whose well-being you wish to inquire about?" Theoden asked with a knowing look.
There was a very good chance that the King already knew why he asked.
"Gamling, sir."
Theoden smiled.
"As I suspected. He is well. You might convey that good news to... others who wish to hear word of him."
Hiccup nodded.
"I will. We will let everyone in Edoras know that the battle went well."
Theoden stepped aside to let Aragorn come forward.
Hiccup was very surprised at how different Aragorn appeared now. The former ranger had a cut down his cheek, a sure sign of having been in battle. He wore a dark black and red cape which flowed down his back and he had silver armor with the crest of Gondor on his chest. His long hair neatly fell down to his shoulders, not unlike the Elves.
Gone entirely was the wild ranger; Aragorn now looked very noble and lordly.
He looked kingly.
"Well met, good dragons, Master Haddock."
"Alpha-King Aragorn, you won the war here," Toothless purred to him.
Aragorn glanced around after laying a hand on his sword's pommel.
"We did our part, but the victory does not belong to one man. Next we will work on rebuilding the world so that all may share in the days of peace."
Hiccup nodded, liking everything he heard but also knowing more of how difficult that would be.
"We hope for that. We had to leave Minas Tirith for our own safety."
Aragorn frowned.
"I crave your pardon, Master Haddock. What do you speak of?"
Toothless softly growled while clawing at the dirt.
"Someone attacked my brothers! They were getting food in a tent when a man threw a dagger at Breath-Of-Sky and then tried to hit Hiccup," he snarled.
Aragorn glanced at Hiccup for explanation.
"That man was drunk and angry at all dragons after... what happened to the city and the people. We all left in case anyone else wanted to try to hurt us. Faramir spoke with his people to help keep the peace, but we still thought it would be best to leave," Hiccup added.
Aragorn sighed and looked pained after hearing that.
"Thus the influence of the Enemy lingers even after his defeat. It will be long before such pains can truly heal."
"Do you think they will? Some people might not want to forgive," Hiccup frowned, feeling some of that despair that hovered at the edge of his thoughts.
Aragorn took a deep breath and stood a little taller.
"It will take time. The survivors of the city are departing to other cities: Pelargir, Linhir, Calembel, Cair Andros, and Dol Amroth, true?"
"Yes," Toothless answered, "many were walking with the sun along the mountains."
"A garrison will remain in Minas Tirith to guard it and slowly repair the fortress. My dwelling shall be in Dol Amroth until such time as I can return to Minas Tirith in its splendor. Minas Ithil, now known as Minas Morgul, will be destroyed."
Moonbeam snarled.
"That is a bad place of death! It will be good for that dead city to be gone."
Aragorn solemnly smiled at her and continued speaking.
"The first thing I do after I reach Dol Amroth is that I shall name as friends of Men and of Gondor the pack of dragons that dwell in Rohan. All who answer to me as their King will hear that you are welcome and free to dwell in peace with us always. However, even with my doing so, building true and lasting peace happens best when peoples see each other and learn to trust. The Mordor dragons caused much wanton death for which many will be grieved and bitter if nothing is done to help them. I will ask that you three, Master Haddock, Burning-Star, Moonbeam, assist me as peacemakers in my lands."
They all blinked in surprise.
"As peacemakers?" Hiccup gasped, recovering his breath.
"Yes," Aragorn nodded, "you would go together to the cities of Gondor, meet with people, introduce yourselves, and help them see that you dragons are not beasts or weapons of the Enemy. You could help the survivors and others who have been hurt to move on and let go, in as much as it is possible."
Hiccup glanced to Toothless and Moonbeam as they did the same.
Hmm, it's a good idea and feels like it should be done. It's exactly what I wanted to do for so long. But there might be some... complications soon.
"When would you want us to do that?" he asked.
"It will be several months yet before all are settled down and ready for such a meeting, though it would be good to not let old hurts fester too long. I will send a messenger to you in Edoras when I would request this. Is this mission as peacemakers one which you three would be willing to do?"
Hiccup and Toothless turned to Moonbeam to get her thoughts.
"I will help make peace be," she purred.
"So will I," Toothless agreed.
"Me too," Hiccup also agreed.
Aragorn nodded.
"Very well. Has Flame-In-The-Night made a decision about the captive dragon?"
Toothless grumbled.
"Yes, he flew to the city to go talk with the dark wing. He said that, if it can be peaceful, he will take it back to Edoras with the rest of the pack."
Theoden stepped forward at that, clearly alarmed by what he heard.
"Did I hear that correctly? A Mordor dragon will be brought to Edoras?"
Hiccup crossed his arms and frowned.
"Yes, but he will only bring that captive dragon if it agrees to not be violent. The dragons must show that they can keep their own kind living peacefully. If it cannot then they will deal with it however they must."
Theoden definitely did not like it, but he eventually assented.
"I have trusted so far, and I might not be alive now if not for Flame-In-The-Night. I shall trust his judgment in this matter concerning his kin."
Theoden stepped back.
"Burning-Star, would you please take a message to your Alphas and the rest of the pack for me?" Aragorn then asked.
"We will. What is the message?" Toothless asked.
"There is a large island, Tolfalas, near to where the Anduin empties into the Bay of Belfalas. Men do not live on that island, nor is it used as a harbor. I would offer that island to the pack to be yours for all time. Men would not be permitted on it without your leave, and the island would be under Gondor's protection, as much as we can grant it."
"You would give us a range to be ours!" Toothless exclaimed in wonder.
"Yes, I have heard that the fish are plentiful in those waters. It would also be good for your kind to have a place where you can be alone, if any of you so desire. None would be compelled to go there, but some who do not trust humans as much as others may wish to have an island of their own."
Hiccup nodded in agreement after a moment of thought.
Yeah, it's like the Shire. There's nothing wrong with having a home to themselves for those who want it. Sounds like that might be a place where Burzghash could go live in peace.
"We will tell the Alphas and the pack about the offer. I think it's a very good one," he agreed.
Aragorn frowned.
"Would that I could stay and speak longer, but I have matters of command to return to. There were a number of Men from the East who surrendered today."
Hiccup noticed that there were indeed dozens of men in very different armor. They were all marching while being escorted by armed guards.
Seeing that reminded him that the war had involved lands and peoples he had never seen and knew nothing about. He had no idea if these people were truly evil, were forced into serving Sauron as slaves, or were paid for war.
"I understand. You have come very far from the Strider we met in Bree," Hiccup said.
Aragorn smiled.
"So have you both. I await the opportunity to greet you three in Dol Amroth."
Toothless stepped closer to him and grumbled to himself.
"I know that a human greeting-ceremony is to shake paws."
He held up a forepaw, claws fully hidden, before Aragorn. Without any hesitation, Aragorn placed one of his own hand-paws against his. They both nodded as one and then stepped back.
"It was either that or I give you a lick, and I think that shaking paws is better when greeting an Alpha-King."
Aragorn freely laughed.
"Indeed, good dragon. There are others who wish to meet you three. Farewell to you all."
Aragorn gestured to a group of people near a wagon and then departed, returning to his bannermen and horse.
Hiccup then realized who the people were near the wagon.
"That's the Fellowship! Let's go see them."
They wordlessly agreed and strode over to greet them. The soldiers parted and let them pass.
As usual, Legolas and Gimli were arguing with each other. Pippin, clad in his Citadel Guard armor, walked beside them with his head held high.
The Hobbit ran for them first.
"There they are! My favorite dragons in the world! Oh, and Hiccup too!"
Toothless and Moonbeam chuckled and gently nuzzled Pippin's cheek.
"Guess what, I killed a troll!" the Hobbit beamed.
"You killed a troll! How did you do that?" Toothless eagerly asked.
"I have Hiccup to thank for that. The dagger from the Barrow-downs was very sharp. True, Bilbo did in three trolls at once a long time ago, but at least I got one the normal way!"
Hiccup gasped in awe.
Bilbo... defeated three trolls at once? How did I miss hearing about that? Gods, he must have been an amazing fighter back in the day!
"Anyway, I'm completely famished; we've had nothing but dry bread all day, and I missed luncheon entirely," Pippin continued.
"Yes, a true tragedy," Hiccup rolled his eyes.
Pippin must have misunderstood the tease because he sighed and frowned, suddenly losing all his enthusiasm.
"I'm sorry, Master Haddock. I don't mean anything by it. Here I am complaining about not getting enough food... when you lost an entire foot and almost died."
Hiccup shuffled over and gently patted Pippin on the shoulder.
"No, don't worry about it, Pippin. I know that you make jokes and mean more than you say. I used sarcasm for a long time to pretend like I didn't care. I could use your help learning how to smoke with a pipe."
Reassured, Pippin reluctantly smiled.
"That's something I can easily do. We have to find some Longbottom Leaf though. Isengard had some, but I didn't bother looking in Mordor."
"Probably a good idea," Hiccup agreed.
Legolas and Gimli finally ceased their bickering and came forward.
"Well met, Master Haddock, Nagolpen, Galadithil," Legolas greeted them.
Toothless and Moonbeam grunted in surprise and confusion.
"Nagolpen is lacking-teeth, and Galadithil is Moon-light," the Elf explained.
They purred in approval at the translation. Toothless nodded once, wondering to himself whether Elf-names would work for cubs.
Gimli dismissively waved a gloved paw.
"Bah, I won't greet ye with fancy words, but I will say that I am very glad to see you all here! Though, it is good that you dragons were not here to take all the kills!"
Toothless snorted.
"Did your ax drink much Orc blood?"
"Aye! It drank much and bit deep today," Gimli proudly announced.
"Good! You are a strong fighter!" Toothless growled in approval.
Legolas rolled his eyes and gently pushed Gimli's shoulder.
"Forget not our contest, Dwarf!"
Toothless thought about these words, eventually remembering that the Elf and the Dwarf had an ongoing contest in every fight to see who killed the most enemies.
I wonder...
"Which of you had the most kills in all the fights?" he asked.
"That is what we were talking about," Legolas grumbled.
"Depending on technicalities," Gimli fumed.
"Such as what counts as a kill."
"And whether size of the kill should matter."
"Maybe," Hiccup interjected, "you two could save that for later. We can't stay here for long."
"Aye, you're right. Mine apologies. Don't want to settle our scores too quickly now, do we?" Gimli grumbled.
"Indeed. What else would we have to politely disagree about as we explore the far reaches of the world: the deep forests, the Glittering Caves, the shores with the sea-birds that..." Legolas sighed and gazed off toward the Anduin.
Then the Elf closed his eyes and hung his head.
"Woe. Woe is me, for I have heard the white gulls crying, and I will never find true peace on these shores again."
"Excuse me, but I don't understand. What's wrong?" Hiccup asked.
Legolas solemnly gazed back at him.
"We Elves of the Woodland Realm are most affected by seeing the Great Sea and hearing the cries of the gulls. Once we do for the first time, our hearts will always turn toward the sea and our true, hidden home that lies beyond the horizon."
"Valinor, right?"
"The Undying Lands of Aman, yes. It would be good to again see my kin who have made that journey hence already," Legolas sighed.
Gimli grumbled and roughly patted Legolas's shoulder, though he had to reach high to do so.
"I know that it's not the same, but I miss mine kin in Erebor. Let's hope they and Dale endure as did we."
Hiccup frowned.
"We met Kings Dain and Brand when we flew past Erebor. They said that they thought Sauron would attack them."
Gimli leaned on the pommel of his ax.
"Aye, Erebor is a key location for the Dwarves, mining, trade, and as a path to western lands. We must hope that they stood firm against whatever foe they faced."
Toothless felt a little chilled by how much of the talking was about sad things or the consequences of fighting. Then he remembered the very good news they had been given.
"The Eagle said that they brought the Hobbits back! Where are Frodo and Sam?" he eagerly asked.
Pippin nodded toward the wagon. It was being pulled by several horses, though the wagon was currently motionless.
"They're both still asleep. Gandalf and the Eagles brought them back like that."
"How are they?" Toothless hummed.
Pippin frowned again.
"Not well. They're very, very thin, and they have so many hurts that... you probably don't want to see..."
"I do if we can see Frodo and Sam without waking them. At least tell us what happened."
"Alright. Sam made it out a little better, probably because he had more cushioning to start with... but Frodo is very thin, his neck is scarred where he was carrying the Ring, he looks like he has been stabbed, and he has other hurts."
Hiccup and Toothless blinked in shock and horror after hearing how many hurts there were.
"Do we know what happened? No, no we wouldn't since they've been asleep so far," Hiccup reasoned.
Pippin turned to Toothless and Moonbeam.
"I'd like Hiccup to see them. It would probably be best if you two stay here. You might scare the horses that are pulling the wagon..."
Toothless grumbled but saw nothing wrong in that thinking, so he gently nudged Hiccup's shoulder before sitting down at Moonbeam's side and holding her tail.
"True, you go brother. You can tell us what you see. We will sit here."
"Alright," Hiccup answered.
Pippin led Hiccup over to the rear of the wagon.
Then he saw them. Frodo and Sam were sound asleep under thick blankets and linens while a healer watched over them. He could not see much of them except that they were wearing very ragged clothing. Their hair looked thin and very messy, as though they had not washed in many weeks. Their cheeks looked sunken and sallow, which were sure signs of starvation.
But they looked at peace, their closed eyes still and breaths calm and slow.
The reality of what they had accomplished struck him and left him weeping.
They saved everyone and changed the world forever.
"They did it. They made all the way to Mount Doom," Hiccup whispered in awe.
"Yeah, no idea how they did it. If what I saw of Mordor is like the rest of it," Pippin solemnly said.
"Hobbits," Hiccup smiled.
"I guess we're pretty amazing. I kind of want to hear their story, but it might be better to wait a while," Pippin shrugged.
"I know what you mean."
Still, Hiccup felt very disturbed as he beheld Sam and Frodo sound asleep. He had no idea how they felt in their hearts or what pains they had suffered on their long journey. At the very least in Frodo's case, bearing the Ring for months on end must have been torturous.
They left the sleeping Hobbits and returned to Toothless, Moonbeam, Legolas, and Gimli. Gandalf, Aragorn, and Theoden were speaking further ahead in the procession.
"How are they?" Toothless warily asked.
"They'll be fine. They just need rest and time," Hiccup answered.
"Good. I want to see them when they are well."
Moonbeam hummed while staring toward the wagon.
"I do not know those two Hobbits. They are the ones who destroyed the bad thing, yes?"
Hiccup rested a hand on her neck and gave her a gentle scratching.
"Yes, they saved us all. You dragons should be free now, always."
"That is good," she hummed.
Gimli stepped forward, removed his helmet, and crossed his arms.
"You three will be departing for Edoras now, true?"
"Yes, we will go with Wing-Of-Ice and his kin," Toothless answered.
"It will be a while before we get there since we're walking with them. It's right for us to go with them and keep them safe," Hiccup explained.
"What will you do now? Where will the Fellowship go?" Toothless asked.
Gimli, Legolas, and Pippin glanced at each other.
"We shall attend to Frodo and Sam, and then we will be at Aragorn's coronation," Legolas said.
"I'm not sure what will happen. I'd like to go back to the Shire, but I'm in King Aragorn's service, so what I can do depends on his leave," Pippin pointed out.
"He will probably give you leave. The same will be true for Merry since he is in King Theoden's service," Gimli added.
Hiccup reached out and put his other hand on Toothless's neck so that he held both purring Furies.
"I hope that you can come visit us in Edoras. It would be nice to get everyone in the Fellowship together and tell stories."
"Aye, I think we can do that," Gimli grinned.
Toothless crouched down to let Hiccup on his back. He and Moonbeam bent their heads toward the Elf, Dwarf, and Hobbit.
Then Toothless and Moonbeam took to the sky and turned their flights for the west, leaving behind the many humans. The wind flowing from the west was warm and clear.
Toothless's thoughts flew back to everything he, Hiccup, and Moonbeam had heard: the victory over the Enemy, the offer to help build peace throughout Gondor, and the future of peace with Rohan. It was much to think about.
His small hurt in his neck flared with slight pain. The hurting was not bad at all, a mix of weariness from long walking and flying, but it did make him groan slightly, enough even that Hiccup patted him on the neck.
He glanced to his side when Moonbeam brushed his wing, and he gazed into her wide purple eyes, the sight of which filled his soul-fire with warmth. She had been so calm all throughout even when he and she sat among the many human soldiers.
"What do you think?" Hiccup asked, scratching his neck.
He hummed in quiet thought as the warm winds stroked his wings. Lengths of grasses and trees passed underwing.
"I think what you said about a quiet life is good, even if we will fly some to other human cities. That peace and trusting is something we should make be."
Then he snorted and tossed his head in amusement.
"Well, life will be quiet until Moonbeam and I have our first cub!"
"Yeah, that'll be the day," Hiccup chuckled.
Toothless glanced back over his shoulder at him. The Fury's eyes were wide with curiosity.
"Brother, if you and Adney do become mates, do you think I can help her watch the cub?"
"Uh, maybe. I'd be fine with that."
"First, you and she must become mates."
"Okay, first... I'm not there yet with her, and I need to get to know her better."
Toothless sighed and closed his eyes as he continued on in calm flight.
"True, flying too fast into sharing that part of life would be a mistake. I know."
Hiccup sighed and lay flat on Toothless's back.
Neither of them said anything else as they continued on in flight into the west throughout the afternoon. Over the hills and forests. Over the massive Anduin and along the massive White Mountains and a deep forest in the distance.
It was evening when they finally saw a Night Fury circling high in the sky above a thick grove of trees. Toothless and Moonbeam raced for the Fury in an eager flight and roared aloud in greeting, and Far-Flight answered with a joyful cry of his own.
Down they glided and saw the small group of Furies curled up together in the shadows of the trees. Wing-Of-Ice, Eyes-That-Shimmer, Nightfall, Windripper, Snowflame, Sky-Dancer, Breath-Of-Sky, and Mystery were all huddled together, many of them already asleep.
Toothless purred to himself as he calmly walked up to them. Far-Flight bounded up to him with a deep purr and nose nuzzle.
"My cubs, I will keep watching for us. You three can sleep. We will all walk more with the next sun, and you can tell us what happened," Far-Flight declared.
"We will," Toothless answered and yawned.
Hiccup got off his back and stumbled over to Sky-Dancer's side while he and Moonbeam entwined tails and lay down together. There would be time later to explain everything that they had learned.
But this was the time for sleep in peace, secure in the knowledge that a great evil had been vanquished from the world, forever.