Focuse thought to Eagan as they walked out of the cavern, “Have you ever heard of anything like this amulet?”

“Once, in a very old tale. Until today I thought they were nothing but legend. I was not sure they ever existed,”replied Eagon.

“Maybe we should test it just to see how it works?”

“No!” replied Eagan swiftly. "We have established the connection but we need only call upon it in dire need.”

“Okay,fine, whatever you say. Lower your neck so we can start off to this Mordor place already,” Focuse thought to Eagan.

As they flew Eagan told Focuse tales of Mordor. It did not sound like somewhere Focuse wanted to be at all. It sounded like a dark and desolate place full of nothing but vile creatures with nefarious purposes.

The sky grew darker, yet it was still daylight out. They were drawing near to Mordor. They came up upon a mighty wall stretching for miles around. The wall was built our of made of stone and painted black yet stained around the base with blood from uninvited guests It encompassed the entirety of Mordor. From the sky Focuse could see a few tall black castles scattered across the flat, desolate landscape. In the center stood a massive volcano that towered over all castles.

The two began to circle the wall at a low level looking for an opportunity to pass over without attracting any uninvited attention from the guards patrolling the wall. It wasn’t long before they found an opening and dashed across. They immediately landed for Eagan knew that a dragon flying across the skies of Mordor was not something one could easily miss. They would be spotted for sure, so from then on, they had to move on foot.

All night they cowered and moved quickly only when they were sure they would be avoiding any unwanted attention. Focuse had never imagined Mordor to be so expansive. The ordeal exhausted his fascination of the world. He was no longer enjoying his adventure. Fear grew in the pit of his stomach like he had never known. He longed for the safe cool caverns of Moria. He swore to himself that if he would ever get back to those hallowed halls, he would never take it for granted again.

Eagon too grew fatigued. From inside his egg he had been told by his parents for years about the fierce enormity of his life as a dragon. He never imagined that he would stand so small in such a large world. For the first time he began to doubt their goal. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to live in caverns his whole life. It could be quite comfortable. He quickly scolded himself turning his back on his people so easily. His parents, had they ever known him, would be disappointed.

Eagon and Focuse both felt each other’s angst yet never spoke of it. They tore on through the night until they found it. The castle with a door of dragon scales. They both recognized it instantaneously and stopped. It was right across a large open expanse. To reach the door they would have to run out in the open for at least five minutes. They turned to each other.

“Is this an extraordinary circumstance?" Foucse thought to Eagan.

“Yes, Focuse of Moria, I believe it is,” replied Eagan solemnly.

Focuse removed the amulet from around his neck.

“What do we do with it?” He asked.

“Cut your hand and grab it.”

Focsue did as instructed. He pulled a small dagger from his pocket, cut his hand, and grabbed the amulet. As he did it began to glow red. The two were engulfed within the powerful glow and suddenly Eagan was gone.

“Did it work?” Eagan spoke inside Focuse’s head.

“I think so but where are you?” Focuse spoke aloud.

“I am inside your body,” replied Eagon.

“This is weird,” Focuse thought.

“I agree this is strange but go now. We must get inside.”

Focuse walked slowly across the vast expanse. After a few nerve-wracking minutes he found himself coming up on the back wall of the castle. Focuse put his back up against the wall and heard the clinking of an orc's armor approaching. Focuse panicked; he had never been in a fight before. This orc would surely tear him apart.

“Squeeze the amulet,” Eagan thought to Focuse.

Focuse did. There was a quick bit of red light and suddenly Focuse was much further from the ground. He looked down only to see a tall body covered in dragon scales. Focuse realized he was inside Eagan!

As the orc drew near, Focuse and Eagan bore down with their massive jaw and made quick work of him. Eagan grabbed the amulet and suddenly it was Focuse just back the way he was.

“Put on that creature's armor and let’s get inside,” Eagan thought to Foucse.

Focuse slid into the armor and walked back the way orc came from. He arrived at the door and was struck by its enormity. How many dragons did this man have to kill to get all these scales? Perhaps some of these scales had belonged to Eagon's parents. Focus did his best to cast the thought from his mind as he fell in line with a group of orcs he saw walking in.

Focuse passed through the threshold of the door and into the grand hall. The room was octagonal allowing corridors to extend out from the room in different directions with the exception of the wall standing right across from the door. There stood a grand throne and upon it sat the object of their quest. He wore a cape of an unknown white fur with streaks of silver almost like a zebra draped across his tight white undershirt. They were paired with black pants. The man sported a golden crown upon his head that was far too large for him. The crown slumped down on one side propped up by one ear. As Focuse followed the orcs to the center of the room the king stood up and looked directly at Focuse.

“At last, a new dragon has come to join us! Please, Eagon, show us your true form that we might marvel at your grandeur before your slaughter!” Draxis said, his voice echoing throughout the room. The group of orcs all turned to face Focuse.

He was surrounded.

Authors' Note:

The goal of this section is to build anticipation for the grand finale. Mordor was the natural location as it was the scene for Tolkiens grand finale in the Lord of the rings trilogy. The volcano mentioned is Mt.Doom. This is the location of the forging of the one ring of power. Eventually this is where the one ring of power will be destroyed as well. I modeled Tolkiens emphasis on supernatural objects here in my story. I loved how monumentally important it was in The Hobbit. It empowered a seemingly insignificant creature to play a monumental role. This is a theme I love and plan to replicate as well.

Ultimately, our heroes end on a cliffhanger. I knew early on that I wanted one of the remaining dragons to be a traitor and you have got to leave the audience wanting more, right! So who knows how our heroes will get out of this debacle and how the existence of dragons will be affected as a result!