Moon

Chapter 2: A Strange Confession

*Edited*

As the party of thirteen dwarves ate the young hobbit out of house and home a lone knock sounded at the door. An unexpected member.

Everyone froze as a Bilbo marched angrily to the door.

It swung open and Bilbo squeezed his eyes shut and started yelling,"No. I'm done with dwarves. No more! I'm afraid you'll have to leave!"

"I'm sorry, Master Hobbit. I fear dwarves can be very unwelcoming and wizards are full of unpleasant surprises and riddles. Though, I am pleased to inform you, I am neither," Moon said smoothly from the door, a hint of humor evident in her tone.

Bilbo opened one eye , then the other.

"O-of c-c-course, My Lady. S-S-Sorry," Bilbo continued to stammered apologies until she held up a hand. He stopped short, the words dying in his throat.

"Moon," Gandalf nodded her way. The hooded Moon nodded.

Thorin Oakenshield stood up, the blue dragon eyes glowing out from under the dark hood blinked in recognition.

"Who are you."

"I am Moon."

"Why are you here?"

"To serve you on your quest to reclaim Erebor and kill the dragon Smaug."

"Why?"

"You are not the only one terrorized by the very thought of him," she said coolly, slightly uncomfortable with the prying king.

"What are you?"

"Excuse me?"

"Elf, Dwarf, Hobbit, Human, Cross?"

"None of the above," Moon said, she was just getting more and more amused by his questions.

"Well then, what are you?"

She let out a roar of laughter. A real roar of laughter that shook the house. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Maybe you're right," the King said.

She settled into a seat next to a dwarf wearing a funny hat.

"I'm Bofur," he said eventually.

She grinned, showing pointed fangs. "Moon."

"What are you, really?"

"A dragon."

"Good one."

"I told you that you wouldn't believe me."

"Then you were right, lassie."

"I'm always right," she grinned manically.

"You're a strange one."

"Oh, I get that a lot."

"I imagine so, seein' as you claim you're a dragon and you're a smilin' at me strangely."

Her mad grin widened.

"Are ya' sure you're sane, lass?"

"Oh I'm quite sure I'm not. I imagine that's why Radagast and I get along so well."

"Who?"

"Never you mind, Master Bofur. You'll know soon enough."

"Well then."

"Would you like some weed?"

"Some what?"

"Very well then, more for me!"

He eyed her strangely.

"I was only joking. It's Tobacco."

He raised his eyebrows and she rubbed her hands on her thighs nervously.

"I don't get out much."

"Ya' don't say?"

She gave him another strange grin and ran off towards Gandalf.

She tapped his shoulder.

"Ah, yes, Moon?"

"How on earth am I supposed to talk to these people?"

"How bad is it?"

"Ummm....I used my weed joke."

"Moon, we've talked about that joke."

"Yeah, well, it just slipped out."

"Just try to act natural."

"What's natural?"

Gandalf sighed and rubbed his temples. "Do we really need another lesson on normal?"

"No," she said, nodding her head yes.

"Please go try to have a norm- just go talk to Bilbo."

She saluted him and flounced towards the hobbit, her weapons and armor tinkling happily.

"Hello there, fine host."

He smiled tiredly.

"Gandalf didn't tell you that he was bringing us, did he?"

The hobbit shook his head.

"Oooohhhh," she nodded, blue dragon eyes wide with understanding. "He once said he was coming for tea and brought an army of elves."

"Really?" Bilbo asked, brightening up immediately.

"No."

Bilbo sunk back into the depths of his chair.

"Though I did once bring an army of rabid raccoons into his house."

"Nice one," Bilbo chuckled, but upon seeing her serious face stopped dead. "You didn't really?"

"Oh, but I did," and with that, Moon launched into the hilarious tale of rabid raccoons at Gandalf's. Some of the dwarves had gathered around to listen, and Moon thought they were wonderful story-listeners. They laughed, said she was crazy, and gasped in just the right places.

Even Gandalf was chuckling from the doorway at the memory as Moon used extravagant arm motions and action sounds.

"Then he said,"Well that's that." and proceeded to kick me out of the house!" Moon finished. The dwarves rolled around on the ground, laughing their hearts out.

"What a wonderful tale," Thorin said vaguely.

"Oh I can assure you, Master Oakenshield, that it was no tale," Moon said, grinning her mad grin.

Gandalf nodded in recognition and the dwarves laughed even harder than before, even the stressed Bilbo was laughing along. Thorin looked absolutely dumb-founded.

"Just sign the contract," Thorin growled.

She signed in great, swirling letters: Moon.

She hummed with satisfaction as the words glowed blue and then swam with red, she flinched and looked away.

The oldest dwarf, Balin, eyed her with curiosity. She avoided eye-contact and excused herself outside, the room had suddenly becoming suffocating.

As she stepped into the night air, a sense of relief washed over her at being out of the confined space of the hobbit hole. Her tall frame had not fit in with the low-ceilings at all.

"What was that back there, lass?" Balin asked from the doorway, coming to stand next to her.

She heaved a sigh, and feeling she could trust him she recounted her plights.

At the end he nodded and said,"So, you really are a dragon?"

"Yes," she sighed,"but you mustn't tell the others!"

"I won't lassie, and that's a promise."

"Thank you, Balin."

"Anytime, anytime," he said, patting her shoulder and walking back inside.

Heaving a sigh, she climbed onto the roof to watch the stars, am drifted into an uneasy sleep filled with nightmares.