'You should have seen it,' Fili said enthusiastically. 'The way that dragon reacted.'

After their arrival back at the camp, Fíli and Frêllian had told the others about the four-legged dragons the size of an ox. About their reptilian skin and their big frills. And the bright colours the frill of the alpha male had.

'It almost seemed Frey could command them,' the dwarf finished.

'Perhaps there is a chance you might command Smaug as well,' Ori wondered out loud hopefully. His eyes on the ferian as he wondered out loud.

'Don't be ridiculous. I did not control them and I most certainly will not try and control that fire drake holed up in the mountain!'

She had wished Fíli had not spoken of what had happened. Fearing they would think she could miraculously control the mighty beast called Smaug. Which turned out to be the case. But why would such a powerful creature listen to a puny ferian such as herself?

No, just like the stories she had heard when she had been just a child, these small dragons had felt at ease with her. Yes, she had startled them, but the did not fear her. Powerful, yet docile dragons. Not nearly as big as their fire breathing and flying cousins.

Though she was still surprised of how many stories had held truth to them. The power of the first born being one of them. And now these dragons had started to show up. True, they were not the dragons she had imagined them to be. But dragons they still were.

And while Frêllian had never been one to believe the myths of her people, she now found herself wondering how much of those myths were actually true. Had there really been a time where there were two moons circling the earth? Was she really the descendant of the moon?

And what of the lost child of Aelash? The story of the lost sister? Was there really such a legendary child? If so, why had there never been an encounter with this descendant of Aelash?

While Frêllian was deep in thought, she failed to listen to the conversation. Though it seemed Fíli gladly told the others about their experience. So she just sat there in silence. Not even listening to what the others said. Not even feeling the gaze of Bilbo on her every now and then as the hobbit looked at her in concern.

And as strange as it might be, so unlike her, Frêllian was the first to call it a night. Laying down in her seat next to Dwalin. Her gaze up at the sky as she looked at the stars. Then she turned her attention to the bright full moon.

She had grown up calling her Lüna. Not because of her believes, but out of custom. Her mother had called her Lüna and her uncle did too. Even back at the pack. Ferian and warg always addressed the moon as Lüna. But did anyone know the truth? Did her mother know? What even was the truth?

The light of Lüna faded as Frêllian slowly closed her eyes. The last thing she saw was the concerned looking Bilbo as he looked at her. Then, she found herself drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

'Frêllian,' a soft voice called out. 'Wake up, Frey.'

Frêllian muttered in her sleep. Telling the voice to bother someone else. But the person did not as she had told. Instead a hand reached out for her, gently shaking her awake.

'Come on, Frey. We are about to leave.'

Suddenly the ferian jolted awake. Leave? Why? Sitting up straight, the first thing she saw was the face of Bilbo. His eyes filled with concern as he looked at her. Not that she could blame him.

All around her, the dwarves were almost finished packing. Wanting to continue their journey as fast as possible. Though what troubled her was the silence. The once so cheerful dwarves, the loud dwarves, now barely saying a word. No muttering, no bickering.

'Are you alright,' Bilbo questioned as the ferian started to pack her belongings as well - as few as they were. 'This is so unlike you. You usually are one of the first to rise. And now we couldn't wake you up.'

'I'm fine, Bilbo,' was her soft reply.

To reasure the hobbit when he gave her a doubtful look, she smiled at him. Yes, she was alright. She had just been a little tired. Having gotten rid of the poison out of Kíli's blood had taken a lot of her energy. And she hadn't had the chance to regain her energy with all the commotion at Esgaroth.

Though it seemed those land dragons from last night had somehow allowed her to give in to her tiredness. And now that she was fully awake, she felt better than ever!

'You had us worried, lass.'

She smiled again as she walked over to the white haired dwarf, Bilbo following along. He told her they would reach Erebor today, which they would have to. For today was Durin's Day.

Taking the piece of bread from Dwalin, they were off. While the mountain - their destination - was so close by, yet it was still so far away. As they walked miles and miles, watching as beautiful landscapes turned into barren and burned ones.

It was during midday that they reached the skirts of the mountain, without any danger and the dragons from the night before being the only ones they had encountered. But luckily there was no sign of the dragon.

The only sign something dangerous was lurking within the stone walls of Erebor, was the lack of sound. There was no sign of life, no creature to be seen. And her animal instincts urged her to get out of there. For this place reeked of death and decay.

Still, she continued. Following after their leader as he lead them to the south, where the Front Gate stood. There they passed the old watch-post called Ravenhill and the ruins of Dale. The sight had left both Bilbo and Frêllian - and the younger dwarves that had only heard stories of Erebor - stop in their tracks and look at the sight in amazement.

Even though the city had been on the other end of the valley, the marks of the dragon had been visible even from such a distance. Broken stones, from where the fire drake had smashed against the walls. Darkened stone, licked by dragonfire. The once bustling city, now empty. The ruins touched by the hands of time. According to Balin, the sides of the mountain used to be green with gras and woods and the valley right and pleasant. But all was destroyed by the dragon. Though Thorin did not allow them much time to dwell on the past. For they were on a mission after all. And tomorrow was Durin's Day, which meant they would to find the hidden door today!

Luckily they reached the mountain later in the afternoon and Frêllian had forgotten about Dale for a moment. Taking in the beauty of the mountain. She has had heard stories about the mountain, stories her father had told her. And stories she had heard during her journey with the dwarves. Not really understanding why the dwarves had been so drawn to it, longing to reach the mountain.

But now that she was standing this close toe mountain, she understood. As she took in her surroundings, it wasn't hard to imagine the beauty of it. And she felt a slight pull of her heart as she traced her fingertips over the stones while looking for the hidden door. And to think she had yet to see the Front Gate up close! For Thorin had lead them the lower spurs of the mountain on the western side. If the map was true, then the hidden door would be somewhere high above them, hidden within the cliff. Thus this was where they searched and searched. Until the sun had set and they were forced to set up camp. There was no happy chatter, no singing nor any of the sorts the dwarves had done during their journey since they left Bag End late April. And even the hobbit and ferian remained silent. For not only was there the fear of Smaug that lingered, which meant no campfires as they took shelter underneath a overhang. But there was also the disheartened mood, for tomorrow they would need to find the secret door. If not, then all would be in vain! And that thought weighted heavily on their heart. And sleep did not came easily for Thorin Oakenshield's company that night. Not when they were sleeping on the doorsteps of danger.

'Do you think we will find the door tomorrow,' Bilbo questioned quietly as he sat next to Frêllian.

Frêllian did not look at her hobbit friend as she replied. Instead her eyes remained at ahead, alert for any sound.

'I do not know, Bilbo,' was her honest reply. 'I have no idea what we are looking for and I think neither do the others. If I remember correctly, even Thorin did not know of its existence, before Gandalf showed him the map and key. Only his father Thrain and grandfather Thror knew of it, for they most likely used that door during the attack.'

They were quiet again. Just like their surroundings. Even the dwarves did not snore loudly, though judging from their breathing, some were not actually sleeping. Just resting. And of course there were Bofur and Gloin keeping watch a little closer to the edge of the overhang.

'Do you regret leaving home,' Frêllian asked after a long silence. 'I haven't heard you complain about your comfortable chair, warm hearth and books for a long time. Yet I have seen you look off to the west to where the Shire is.'

He sighed, before she heard him move about. His movements quiet, but audible to her sensitive ears. It seemed her question had caught him of guard. He took a long while, before he finally answered.

'I do not regret this journey,' was his reply, a longing in his voice as he spoke. 'Though I would be lying if I said I do not miss home.'

'I understand,' Frêllian said, her head finally turning to him as she chuckled dryly.

'Hobbits never did like adventures. Nasty, disturbing uncomfortable things that make you late for diner, that's what you called them.'

Bilbo chuckled as well, as he remembered those words he had spoken to Gandalf when the wizard had stopped at his doorsteps on that sunny morning. Yes, he hadn't been too keen about any sort of adventure. He was after all a Baggings from Bag End, a respectable hobbit. But the Took inside had taken over.

'I guess Gandalf was right when he said I would not be the same hobbit I once was, after this journey.'

Frêllian hummed at this. Yes, she had noticed this too. The hobbit had changed, for the better! He was no longer the stiff hobbit that only worried about being respectable, wanting to return back home for a handkerchief he had forgotten in his haste. And now he was dressed in clothes too large for him, standing taller than ever.

He had changed indeed, but for the better! No matter if they were to find the door tomorrow or not.

'Anything?'

There was desperation evident in his eyes as Thorin called out for the others. And Frêllian could not blame him. Today was Durin's Day, they needed to find the hidden door today! But how to find something that was hidden?

'Nothing!'

'If the map is true, the hidden door lies directly above us.'

Leaving Bilbo's side, Frêllian started inspecting the walls. But nothing stood out.

Only a massive statue of a dwarf that was carved into the side of the mountain.

She jokingly stated dwarves must have had a need to compensate their lack of height as she glanced over to her father. To which the dwarf chuckled. Telling her he had used those enormous statues as a hiding place when he had been a young lad.

'Hiding place, you say?'

With this new information, she inspected the statue once more. This time thoroughly. At first she saw nothing out of the ordinary. But as she was about to turn her head away, she saw it.

At first glance, it just looked like the walls have started to crumble down. But once she looked closely, it became clear it was a set of stairs that has been built into the statue.

'Up there,' the ferian shouted, gaining the attention of her companions. 'That must be the way to the door.'

'A good thing you got your mother's keen eyes, lass,' Dwalin beamed proudly as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

Thorin took his eyes off the statue for a moment. Thanking her with a nod. Then they began their way up. The stairs where steep and small, the steps carved uneven.

One could say it was done in haste, but then again it could have been done on purpose.

For if this was indeed the way to the door, then it would make sense if the way to the hidden door would be difficult to find too. And a neatly carved stairs would stand out, while these stairs blended perfectly with the rocky cliff.

Though the climb up was going to be a difficult taskthey had no other choice. They would need to reach the door before the sun would set today!