Once Shadow had escorted Sabre safely back to his stable, she found herself immediately whisked away by a flurry of elven hands. Gently, yet with a brisk efficiency, they guided her through the ceremonial bathing rituals and cloaked her in the finest garments the house had to offer.

Freshly bathed and enveloped in an exquisite dragon-lined gown that accentuated her grace, she felt a new sense of awe. The dress was a deep purple that seemed to come alive with every movement she made, intensifying her existing charm.

Staring at her reflection, Shadow couldn't help but marvel at her transformation. The dress was indeed a work of art. 'Such a pretty thing, isn't it?' she thought with a soft smile, enjoying the unexpected splendor of the moment.

The Dress:

"Oh, my! You look splendid, my lady," one of the elf maidens squealed with delight, her words dancing with genuine admiration. Shadow's response was a radiant smile, followed by a gracious nod of acknowledgment.

She gingerly lifted a circlet designed from the purest gems of starlight. Each gem captivated with its celestial glow, mirroring the constellations of a clear night sky. It nestled perfectly amongst her hair at the crown, becoming an extension of her regal persona.

Dressed to the nines, Shadow found Lindir waiting by the entrance. As his eyes met hers, a warm blush colored his cheeks, his admiration poorly concealed. "Oh, my lady, you look stunning," he stuttered, slightly flustered.

Shadow chuckled lightly at his innocent flattery, patting his shoulder reassuringly. "Thank you, Lindir. That's most kind of you," she said, her voice a soothing melody.

Arm in arm, they made their way to the grand dining hall, their shared smiles radiating brighter than the grandeur of their surroundings.

As they stepped into the room, conversations across the hall came to a sudden halt. Even the musicians ceased their strings mid-note, all attention turning to the ethereal maiden gracing their presence. The commotion fell into an awed silence; her beauty commanded attention without demanding it.

Acknowledging the room with her warm smile and a gracious bow, the circlet around her head shimmered, making soft clinking sounds as it caught and reflected the light.

"As you were," she gently urged, her voice layering over the silence like a velvet blanket, prompting the crowd to resume. With her charm and grace, she swept towards the high table, where figures of importance were seated.

There was Elrond, deep in conversation with Gandalf, Bilbo, Balin, and Thorin. Gandalf and Balin treated her to warm smiles, nodding appreciatively at her impressive appearance. Meanwhile, Thorin and Bilbo opted to divert their gazes, a clear effort to hide their unspoken admiration.

Motioning towards the vacant spot beside Thorin, Elrond invited her, "Have a seat, my lady. You are one of our honored guests tonight, after all."

"Thank you kindly, my lord," Shadow replied, the words as effortlessly graceful as the movement with which she took her seat. She radiated an aura of relaxed elegance, as natural to her as breathing.

Her ebony hair, though trimmed short for practicality, added to her allure. It framed her face and highlighted her radiant eyes. Shadow was like a poem of feminine strength, a sight seldom seen among the dwarves, let alone in all of Middle-earth.

She had chosen to maintain her cropped hairstyle even in her human form, as it lent her an edge in combat. Efficiency was high on her list of priorities and her unorthodox choices reflected this philosophy. Yet, these little quirks only accentuated her unique charm.

Her Human Form:

The progress of the meal was comfortably warm and unhurried, an ambiance that Shadow found familiar and inviting. She knew she had traveled a long way from the solitary path she had once embraced. The shadows that had been her constant companions always drawing her closer to secluded caves along the path to the hidden valley.

Choosing to steer clear of the affairs of the elves, in fact, the business of Middle-earth as a whole, had been her way of life. Especially since the fall of Sauron a few years earlier. It was a decision born out of necessity, out of self-preservation, and yet she found herself drawn back into the heart of it all.

Now she would be dipping her toes into those turbulent waters once again. Unavoidably beckoned by the dire circumstances. How would the dark lord react upon discovering his most loyal and perilous servant granting shelter to his enemies? Shadow didn't have the answers, but she knew one thing for certain. Only time would tell.

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As the evening ebbed, Shadow found the need for solitude. Retreating to her room, she delicately freed herself from the constraints of the ceremonial dress, donning instead a nightgown adorned with soft floral patterns.

She sighed, a sound feather-light yet heavy with unspoken thoughts as she removed her circlet. With practised fingers, she ran them through her cropped, inky hair, shaking loose the artificial perfection of the evening.

Drawn by the ethereal beauty outside, she stepped onto the balcony that overlooked the picturesque valley of Imldaiers. The stars in the sky, like tiny, flickering jewels, reflected in the depth of her dark purple eyes. Her gaze, captivating as it was, held a serene solitude.

A smile, gentle and tranquil, graced her lips as she looked up at the moon. Its gleaming presence a familiar sight. Just then, the call of the dragon resonated within her. A call she recognized, acknowledged and embraced.

Knowing it was time for her nightly flight, Shadow sprang from the balcony railing, her form shifting mid-air into that of a dragon. Scales, as dark as the night, glistened while her wings, subtly tinted with hints of purple, unfurled elegantly. With a powerful flap that stirred the calm night air, Shadow ascended into the moonlit sky.

Shadow took her time, circling the valley a couple of times before coming to a river, its unhurried flow a perfect match for her tranquil mood. After satisfying her thirst, she found a cozy spot under the watchful gaze of the placid moon to settle down.

But her peace was short-lived when an unfamiliar sound caught her attention. It rustled and whispered through the calm night air like a question waiting to be unveiled.

As she looked up, her eyes found a figure, cloaked in all white, traversing the well-trodden path. The man emanated an aura of unfamiliarity wrapped in a cloak of recognition. It took a moment for the realization to hit her. Saruman, the white wizard. She hadn't heard of him for years and yet, there he was in corporeal form. Shadow watched him from the shadows, her heart pounding with a mix of caution and uncertainty.

Not far behind the white wizard, a figure bathed in a more tender hue of white advanced on the same path. A beauty so ethereal that it could take one's breath away, Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien. The moonlight seemed to favor her, bathing her in an ethereal glow and augmenting her otherworldly charm. Even as Shadow marveled at the sight, she felt a twinge of rivalry. The Lady of Light was indeed beautiful, but Shadow held her own allure, amplified by the tender glow of the moon on her own features.

There was a serenity in Galadriel's voice that pierced the quiet night as she addressed Shadow; a warmth that radiated comfort, not menace. "You may show yourself, Night Fury. I mean no harm."

Galadriel turned her intense blue eyes to meet the striking purple gaze of the dragon princess. Seemingly unfazed by the sudden attention, Shadow stepped from the shadows, greeting the Lady of Light with a respectful smile and a curtsey.

"My lady," she started, but Galadriel, as poised and gracious as ever, dismissed the formalities with a casual sweep of her elegant hand.

"We are both queens; there is no need for us to bow to each other," she gently corrected.

Shadow hummed in agreement. "It's nice to finally meet you, Lady of Light. Although, I hope your visit isn't about what I think it is," she voiced her concern, her tone barely above a whisper but it resonated in the quiet night.

A moment of silence ensued before a sense of melancholy shadowed Galadriel's features. Her luminescent smile dimmed, her golden locks stirring gently with the breeze as she nodded. "You have heard of him too then. It's futile to ignore the impending danger. But I fear Saruman may not see it. As for Elrond, he is a good soul, but his isolation in this valley has resulted in a sort of apathy. I worry that he may struggle with accepting the truth, much like you, me and Mithrandir."

Shadow offered a nod of understanding. "Will you require my presence at the meeting?"

With a tender smile, Galadriel took Shadow's hands within her own. "No, dear. Your journey is irrevocably intertwined with the dwarves now, isn't it? Your destiny lies with them, regardless of the world's opinions."

Bow her head, Shadow's dark curls cascaded around her. "If that's your wish, my lady, then I shall respect it. Thank you," she said, on the brink of letting go when Galadriel stepped back into the bath of moonlight.

Galadriel watched as Shadow transformed into her dragon form and took to the sky, her silhouette growing fainter against the backdrop of the moon. A smile warmed her features, a quiet reverence for the dragon queen.

One day, my dear Shadow, you will realize that your worth extends beyond the prophesies etched on the wall, she thought to herself, her gaze trailing the path of her departure.