Third Person
Nailah frozen as she spotted the small shifter boy stumbling away from the Giant Spider, a stone in his hand. Other Spiders began to descend but the Dragon Shifter didn't care about anyone other than the scared brunette boy.

"TAJ!"

Rushing forward Nailah boosted into the air and dropped down on top of the Spider, impaling it with ice, sliding off its back as it dropped dead, landing in front of the three year old.

She scooped him up and cradled him to her chest, sweeping her cape over them both and crouching to the ground as another Spider reared up at them ready to strike. It's pincers bounced off her Dragon Scale cloak and it shrieked as it was shot dead by the Blonde Elvish Prince.

Tauriel, an orange haired warrior fought off the last of the spiders, single handedly saving the youngest Durin, who stared at her in shock and wonder. A look Legolas was giving the strange woman who now stood, cradling a small child to her chest. He hadn't realised her when he'd spotted the Dwarven company, too focused on killing the Spiders and his dislike for the short race.

The Elves gathered the Dwarvish company back together as the Prince called to have them all searched for weapons, the warrior Tauriel passing on his orders in Elvish.

Nailah's P.O.V
"What were you thinking Taj?" I chastised as I tried to calm my rapidly beating heart. It had been many, many years since I'd felt a fear like that. I kept him on my hip, where he nestled under my cloak still shaking with fear and now tears. I sighed as he shuddered and wailed into my shoulder.

"Alright, alright. Shhh." I hushed him, rocking side to side as I rubbed his back.

"I'm not mad at you. I was just worried." I rubbed a hand threw his messy curls, careful not to catch any of his feathers on my long nails, before I kissed his head. His wails turned to shuddering sobs and sniffles.

"Are you armed?" I looked to my right to see Legolas standing beside me with a stern look, his eyes were soft as he glanced down at Taj. I shook my head no and lifted the edge of my cloak open to show it had no pockets and that I had no sword of dagger strapped to my waist. He nodded, though kept an eye on us. I could tell he was curious but on guard. He wasn't sure whether I'd use my power against them and I could see him weighing their chances at fighting me off.

Honestly, I didn't have any magic left in me. I'd used the last of it to save Taj. I'd have to shift to use any of it now, I'd exhausted my human forms link.

I let the Elves lead us through the forest towards the Kingdom of Mirkwood, listening to the Dwarves grumble and complain the whole way, as Taj fell asleep in my arms. I noted that the halfling hadn't been amongst us and I hoped he was okay, the poor wee thing.

As we came up to an ornate stone bridge over a rushing waterfall, Desiree flittered by my face and I sighed and shook my head. Had everyone disobade my orders?

'What happened?! Where's Taj? I can't find him anywhere?'

I ever so slightly shifted my cape to show the hovering bird Taj's sleeping form, tucked against my side.

'I helped them fight off the Spiders but Elves showed up and finished them off. Taj must've come looking for me, and was nearly killed trying to help a Dwarf.'

I thought back. As Shifters we could build telepathical links to each other, but it took time, patience, trust and concentration.

'What do we do?'

'Find the halfling. See he's safe, then go back home. And this time, don't let anyone leave.' I sent back firmly as she hovered by the Elven gate as the guards held it open and we passed through, entering the Kingdom of Mirkwood and leaving her behind as Legolas called for the gates to be closed behind us. I stared up at the twisting tree that seemed to make up the whole Kingdom, ornate stone structures used as bridges and winding ramps, stairs and buildings.

Each of the Dwarves were locked in individual cells and as another Elf made to push me into one, the Prince stopped him.

"Not them. My father will wish to speak with her." He said in Elvish as the guard nodded and Legolas stepped forward to gently grip my free upper arm. I let him guide me past the cells and back up towards where I knew the King would be waiting. The Dwarves watched us pass with curiosity.

I furrowed my brows as we left the dungeons. I could sense something near, something almost, other worldly. I subtly glanced around us as I protectivly clutched Taj closer to my chest, but saw nothing, so allowed myself to continue to be escorted up spiralling stairs.

We stepped up onto a large open platform. Oppisite us was a huge staircase leading to a dias which housed an ornate throne made of a twisted tree, branches stretching and winding up and out in a glorious display of power. Atop the throne sat the most handsome Elf I had even seen, King Thranduil.

I'd never actually seen King Thranduil before. I'd seen his wife only briefly, having not long since fled to Mirkwood when she left. Since his late wife's departure from this world, he hadn't really left his Kingdom often, so our pathes had never crossed.

"Ada. This woman was found amongst the Dwarves. She weilds great power, bending air, water and ice to her will. I saw it with my own eyes." Legolas told his father in their native tongue. I listened to him speak, but couldn't take my eyes from the Kings stunning blue ones. He stared back with veiled curiosity. He stood from his throne and nodded to his son, a sign of dismissal, as he descended the stairs.

Legolas left us, making his way quickly back down the steps. I tore my eyes from the Kings to watch the Prince leave, and when I turned back, Thranduil was standing only a few feet from me. I nearly startled, and readjusted Taj in my arms. The Kings eyes quickly dropped to the moving lump under my cloak as he raised a single, thick, dark brow. I slowly moved my cape back to show him Taj's sleeping form. The King stared at the sleeping child for a few moments, his expression unreadable. I decided to break the heavy silence.

"Your majesty. My name is Nailah, and this is Taj. We mean not to have upset you, but I could not let the Spiders overrun those Dwarves so sort to intervene." I explained as I let my cloak drop again before sinking into a small curtsy, as best I could while holding a small child to my hip. Thranduil once again met my eyes as he raised a brow.

He clutched his hands behind his back and slowly walked around me, coldly surveying me as his silver robes dragged on the stone behind him. The King smirked slightly as he noticed my bare feet, and I suddenly felt under dressed for such an occasion. I shuffled my feet under the skirt of my dress but it only seemed to amuse him further.

"Do you speak Elvish?" He asked in his native tounge. I gave a single nod in return as I held my head high despite my slight embarrassment at being barefoot and dirty in the Kings presence. So much for first impressions.

"It would seem that you've been in my forest for much longer than my guards would think. Am I right?" Thranduil asked and again I gave a single nod. He seemed unimpressed with my lack of verbal answers but didn't address it.

"And what, Nailah, pray tell, are you?"

He finally asked the question I had been waiting for, yet still hadn't figured out an answer to.

Should I tell him the truth? His people have always been kind to animals, but Shifters were another thing altogether. They weren't involved in the Great Purge, but they also didn't try to stop it. Though to be fair, no one really did. That's why Sauron had been so successful in wiping us out.

"I am part of a dying race your Majesty. We have long since sought shelter in your woods. Back when they were vibrant and teaming with life we fled here for our lives, we have remained in secret ever since." I explained with humble confidence. It was only right to tell him we had been living on his land without permission, and somehow I saw it going down better than telling him what we were, especially with my form being a Dragon. Dragons were widely hated and hunted for their greed and murderous ways. But I wasn't a Dragon, I was a Shifter whose form was that of a Dragon. A wingless four legged one at that.

The King raised a brow as he stared at me again. His piercing gaze seemed to want to sear right through me, but I was as old as he was, and familiar with such intimidation techniques.

"You just managed to answer my question without actually answering it. You are clever, I'll give you credit for that." He said as he relented his stare and I let my shoulders relax a little in an attempt to calm myself enough to tell him the truth. I didn't want to put my make-shift family in danger. My people looked to me for guidance. I was the oldest and the strongest, and now our whole species could be once again doomed, if I made the wrong choice.

The King could see my conflict and surprisingly reached a hand out to take my free one in his.

"You and your son are safe, but my woods are not. If your people are out there they are in danger." He said softly. I looked into his ice blue eyes. They didn't show the softness he spoke with and I hesitated. I could tell that he was still undecided on what he'd do with us once he knew the truth and that worried me. But the idea of a safe place for my small Clan was too inviting, as I weighed my options.

If Taj wasn't with me I might've just refused to tell him, to keep my people safe, but with Taj here I had no idea what he'd be put through if I angered the unfamiliar King.

"My people and I are Shifters your Majesty." Thranduil's brows furrowed as he searched my face for deception in silence. I sighed and gently stirred Taj.

"Hey, Taj." I gently called to him as I moved my cloak off of him as he lifted his head and yawned while rubbing his big brown eyes.

"Where are we?" He asked softly as he looked up and around us, his eyes stopping on the King as he gripped me tightly in fear.

"This is King Thranduil of the Mirkwood Elves." I explained to him as he shyed away from the King in fear and anxiety. I smiled softly at him as I kissed the top of his head.

"Taj. I'm gonna have to put you down now, to show the King my true form." Taj lifted his head to look up at me with big worried eyes at the notion of being put down in an unfamiliar place. With a frightened look he shrunk in a puff of feathers and flapped from my arms to sit amongst the long fur of my cloak, neslting into it.

The Kings eyes widened as he stared at the little Whipbird that was my adopted son. Taj gave out a call that gave the bird its name and the Kings face actually broke into a genuine smile.

"I was unaware that Shifters still existed. Yet here you are, in my very own Kingdom." Thranduil said in wonder as he took a small step forward and slowly reached out a pale hand towards Taj's little flittering form.

"It's alright dear." I said softly as the little bird gently rubbed against my cheek. Taj hopped from my fur and perched on the Kings outstretched finger as Thranduil inspected him with unabashed wonder.