[Hookbill the Goomba]

Fáinu nodded his head, "I think that the tale must be told. I do not think that I shall sleep until it is done." he drained his mug and stared out of the window, wondering how to describe his feelings at the time.

"The horror of a Dragon's den is enough to make the blood turn cold, even that of the servants of Sauron, I would guess. Bones lay all around, the smoke of burning hovered ever in the air, and there was ever the reek of the Dragon. That smell would turn the hardiest men away, but we were a strange few, driven by powers, I suppose, beyond us. My sword felt heavy in my hand, and the dwarves seemed to be showing fear like I had never seen since the destruction of Dale.

"We halted about the centre of the basin and covered each other’s backs, I scanned the surroundings and could see a cave from which a light was emanating. Along with it, came smoke in great clouds, and the reek was even more potent there, seeming like the stench of death. So, slowly, we entered the cave, weapons poised and hearts heavy, thinking that this battle may end too swiftly.

"However, we found the source of the light and the smoke, it was a great bonfire surrounded by rotting bodies. It made Killi sick. It was a trap! Swiftly we dashed out of that place, but there at the entrance to the cave was the Dragon." Fáinu clenched his fist and shuddered, then with his other hand, removed the dirt-ridden bandage. The scar was white and smaller, but still visible and a marring on his otherwise fair elven skin.

"Tall and terrible that beast was! With eyes like a raging fire, wings like onto that of the fell beasts of the Nazgûl and teeth that made our swords seem blunt. Its scales were black and stronger than any weapon we possessed, and his belly was protected by a great armour plating. There was no hole in this armour, like that of Smaug the terrible, it seemed that he knew well that tale.

"'Hail, Fáinu, son of Háinu' he said, Háinu being the name given to my father by Elrond. 'Thou hast come for revenge, so I hear! Fool! Fool! Thrice a fool! get you gone, dost thou not know death?' he mocked us with many curses before blowing his terrible fire. Luckily the shields prevailed and Killi and Fundin dashed out, casting throwing axes at the great beast. It merely laughed at them.

"Orcs came then, from hiding places and deep holes. Yet Killi and Fundin slew them as they came nigh, until they began to come thick and great in number. I leaped into the battle and hewed the heads of many Orcs, before the Dragon wiped them out in an attempt to get to us. It cursed us again, and as it did so, Cree fired arrow after arrow at the creature's head, but to no avail.

"The creature rose into the air and made a swoop for our heads, but as it did so, Killi leaped upon it's back and began to dig his axe into the straps that held the Dragon's armour on. With an almighty crash, the plate fell off and landed in the centre of the Basin, yet in fury, the Dragon cast Killi away and he was impaled on a great spike. Then anger took hold of Fundin and he threw his great axe at the Dragon, yet his thrust was too hasty and went amiss. The dragon stuck him then with a mighty swoop of its arm and he fell next to his comrade.

"Summoning up all courage, Cree bent her bow and shot towards the Dragon's belly, and it indeed hit. Yet the Dragon seemed unmoved and unhindered by this strike. Horrified, Cree drew her sword and dared the Dragon to face her. This I knew was folly, and as the Dragon landed, I leaped upon its back and attempted to hack its head. In its fury, it struck Cree down and threw me off into some dead thorn bushes. Wasting no time, I rose and dashed towards the Dragon, but it stared me in the eyes and I was frozen.

"Too well I remember that time. Unable to move, even to lend aid to my hurt comrade, Cree. I cursed the Dragon thrice, yet it laughed and taunted me with its eyes, setting a ring of fire about it and me. The creature picked up Cree and threatened to break her before my eyes. I still could move not and my rage began to grow."

"Then help came unlooked for, as Fundin was not dead, and he cast with all his might, a single axe at the Dragon. It smote him in the eye and the freezing curse was lifted from me! I then leaped on top of the squirming dragon and plunged my sword deep into its heart. The flames it let fly must have been seen in Dale! Yet in its pain, I was thrown off and lay broken bonded, nigh to Cree. Yet, a madness took me in that hour, I wanted to make sure the beast was dead indeed. Though Cree awoke and attempted to aid me, I cast her away saying 'Get away from me! I need no ones help!' For this, I am most deeply sorry." Cree nodded, "So I took up the sword from the belly of the Dragon, and readied myself to thrust it through the other eye of the beast.

"Yet, in its dying moments it said onto me, 'with this deed, thou recovers from one curse, and receive another anew! Woe to you, Fáinu son of Háinu! Ever you shall wish for death and find it not. Mandos shall not take you, nor shall any ship bare you across the sea! And as for your friend, this Cree, ever know that because of thee, she indeed has a share in this Curse!' at these words, I hacked at the Dragon until it was utterly dead."

Fáinu looked at his hand and remembered what happened next with fonder memory. "The deed done," he continued, "the quest complete. I rose and removed the bandage, to see the cursed hand. I saw with my own eyes, the flesh being healed and the skin returning. The burn was gone and all that remained was a fell scar. Fundin came to me and aided me, for many of my bones were broken, I came to Cree and offered her aid, regretting my earlier words, for they were made in wroth."