Moon

Chapter 18: Screams and Sobs

(A/N: 1.17K reads, 68 votes and 170 comments. *sobs* Thank you all. I love you so much.)

Moon's strong wings beat heavily as she searched for some place to hide. She saw a small hole in the ground. One that reminded her so much of a fox hole she quickly dropped down in front of it.

It was dug into the side of a hill, just on the other side of the ruins of Laketown, and barreled down into the earth. The only reason she noticed it at all was because of the faint blue light that shone from within.

Moon dropped down on her belly and easily slid through the gap, wings and all. It was quite larger than she had first presumed, because vines and grass had overgrown around the opening.

She let out a screech as she unexpectedly began barreling down a tree root slide. ma Moon slid to a sudden stop, just before she was launched into the water. Something had caught her just in time.

She could feel the heat coming off the creature behind her, and it was wonderful. It felt even better than fire. Moon cautiously turned around, so as not to startle whatever was behind her, but she was the one oh was startled. So much that she would have fallen back into the water if the glorious beast had not saved her, again.

"It is best not to disturb the water, little one. It tends to get angry when strangers wake it from its peace," said the godly animal. Her voice sounded like that of an elves, only more soft, strong, knowledgable and graceful. She was made purely of electric blue energy, and was in the form of a horse.

"Who are you?" asked Moon in awe.

"You even ask the right questions. I am Anale((A-nal-e)). You are all that they said you would be, but why are you crying, child?"

"You have a beautiful name. I am crying because I cannot save the one I hold dear to me, more so than anyone."

"There is always a way, my dear. What is wrong?"

"He has been corrupted, by dragon sickness."

"So, Oakenshield has finally reclaimed his throne?"

"Yes, and the gold has claimed him. I do not think there is anything I can do."

"Have you tried love?"

"I did, at least I think I did. I do not know much about love, Anale," Moon sniffed.

"You are so young, but you have been through so much. Youngling, you must return. Your family is in danger. Legions of Orcs march towards Erebor, the elves of Mirkwood are growing impatient, and the men of Laketown are feeling betrayed. Oakenshield has not honored his word. You must go, child. Run to them! Go. You must go," said Anale pushing Moon back up the slide and out of the hole.

"Anale, please, what do I do?"

"Trust your heart, and never your head, it tends to overthink things," she said, her head disappeared in the hole, and the ground began to knit together over it.

"Anale!" Moon cried, but it was too late, the hole was sealed. She did exactly what she had been told by the dazzling animal; she flew as fast as her wings could carry her towards Erebor.

It was several hours later, at noon the same day, when she arrived. The Mirkwood elven army was standing outside the walls of Erebor, along with the "army" of men.

She watched the elves draw their bows and point up the wall in perfect sync, before going back into their original position.

Moon watched closely as Bard held up the Arkenstone, and she realized what Bilbo had done. A deep pride in her hobbit friend welled up inside her, but it quickly turned to rage as she saw Thorin dangle him from the ramparts.