Chapter 8.2: From Imladris to Mithlond
As the two move ever closer, picking their way through boulders and trees to keep hidden, they watch the titanic struggle. It soon turns almost into an aerial comedy. The smaller dragon flees, dives down toward the ground, to be followed by the three larger ones. Moments later, it pops out its wings for a second, braking in the air, then writhes like a snake as the larger dragons pass by, trying futilely to snatch it. As the last of these flashes past, the small dragon nips at the end of a tail causing its assailant to roar in pain.
Moments later, the smaller dragon finds itself surrounded by a triangle of the elders above him. Some conversation must be happening as they hover there, but then the elders dive while the smaller struggles to climb. Exultant in their impending victory, the three large dragons angle less steep toward him, extending claws at the last moment so that all three latch on to rip him to pieces.
Instead, just before their claws reach, the smaller dragon folds his body and does something so that it explodes downward. The larger dragons slam into each other instead and reflexively tear at each other for a second before realizing what has happened.
Again and again the smaller dragon flies circles around the three big ones. Their breath of fire or other, darker things only catch each other, not the one. By the time Ryland and Toben arrive at the cave, the large dragons are limping home on torn wings and wounded pride.
The smaller dragon is nowhere to be seen.