Suddenly, a shadow flashed across the full moon in an instant, and disappeared. An unexpected gush of air descended upon the company of Thorin Oakenshield. As they all felt the wind on their faces, they looked into the sky, all wondering what could have cast such a large shadow upon the moon.
"There is a legend about that. A legend that has been told all across middle earth about that very shadow I know you are all inquiring about." Gandalf said calmly.
"A legend?" Dori asked curiously.
"It's more of a myth," said Thorin. "I've heard it before."
"Heard what before?" Ori asked.
They all gathered around Gandalf, eagerly waiting to hear a new legend about middle earth. And as Gandalf began to speak, the fire began to calm itself, crackling, and cooling.
"Long ago, a Dwarf king, called Frer, fell in love with Elvish peasant."
Kili suddenly looked up into Gandalf's eyes. Gandalf looked back kindly. There was a slight pause before he continued.
"Frer loved the elf, true, but the two races have long since been unable to get along. They met in secret for years, until the king was unable to hide the affair. Soon a child was born to the peasant. The child was not accepted by the dwarfs and was considered an abomination by the woodland elves. After threats of war, the child was banished to the cold sea."
"The cold sea? I've never heard of anyone even traveling there before." Dori added.
"Yes, and this child had no one. She was alone in a barren ice land. Until, a large winged creature came out of the sea."
"A dragon?" They all asked.
"Perhaps. It is said that every dragon is a dark creature, created by the dark-lord Sauron. But this dragon was white, and no one can explain how it came to be. Its scales were made of pure diamonds. The good dragon cared for the child, and the child cared for the dragon. Legend has named the two: Diamond Scale and the White Rider."
"What does she look like?" Asked Fili with stars in his eyes.
"It is said that she wears white armor. She is short as a dwarf, but with eyes, hair, and wisdom of an elvish woman. During war, peacekeepers pray to her. She stands for peace among the dwarfs and the elves, even though both races banished her."
"Didn't her mother want to keep her?" asked Kili.
Suddenly an unfamiliar voice chimed in from behind the rocks and spoke: "Her mother was banished and killed."
It was Legolas, and with him stood Tauriel, trying not to make eye contact with Kili. They both sat down uncomfortably around the fire. Legolas continued,
"It's not a myth or a legend. Luna was the daughter of my father's first love."
"Luna. Yes, that is what they call her." Said Gandalf.
"Interesting. So according to you, Luna's mother chose a dwarf king over Thranduil." Kili said arrogantly.
He looked directly at Legolas. Embarrassed, and wanting to avoid confrontation, Tauriel looked away. Legolas argued back,
"No matter how much my father loved her, he could not marry a peasant."
Tauriel looked at Legolas, obviously hurt.
Legolas continued, "And it is very unfortunate – a child of an elf and a dwarf must be unbearably hideous."
"And why is that?" Gloin demanded angrily.
"You all clearly do not understand the whole purpose of this story." Gandalf shouted. "Luna is a protector and defender of peace." Gandalf sighed. "I'm not going to continue with this story tonight."
Disappointed, the company of dwarves groaned and finished their supper.
Soon the whole company calmed themselves and went about setting themselves up for the night. Bilbo anxiously looked up at the full moon hoping to see another shadow. Fili and Kili chuckled to themselves and discussed what this dragon rider possibly looked like.
"Gandalf," Thorin spoke softly, "This dragon rider - could she really exist?"
"She could very well be a real creature on this earth. Perhaps if we keep our eyes open, you could meet her someday. However, I would not risk asking king Thranduil about his past." Gandalf smiled.
War was in full raging chaos. Elves were scattered lifeless on the ground as orcs raged forward to finish off the last of Dane's warriors. Thorin looked to Dane with panic in his eyes. Bilbo and Gandalf looked down on the battlefield, searching for a miracle. Swords and axes flew through orc after orc, and there seemed to be no end.
In a stunning instant the heat of the sun was covered. And it was no cloud that blocked the rays of the sun. Every creature seemed to look to the sky. In one heart racing moment, a giant white creature dove down from the sky, swooping across the battlefield, shooting a wall of ice on the ground, separating the dwarfs from the orcs. After a brief pause, the enemy began clutter against the wall of ice. Angrily, the orcs slammed their weapons against the cold barrier. The dragon flew seamlessly through the sky, making tight turns and shooting white mist down at the enemy. When the mist cleared, there was nothing remaining but ashes.
Arrows began to fly towards the dragon-rider. As they did, the rider began to stand on the back of dragon and shoot arrows back. Every force began to rally with the new strength this unidentified ally gave them. Thranduil took the elven army up to the City and barricaded the townsfolk in safely. Tauriel and Kili hunted down the remaining dangerous orcs.
After the pale orc fled behind the lonely mountain, Thorin and his company returned to find their kin, the elves, and the humans had all survived. The grounds and hills were all covered in sharp spikes of ice and orc ashes. Diamond-Scale and her rider flew high in the sky looking for other groups that might attack, when she found nothing remained she slowly glided back to doors of Thorin's newly reclaimed treasure-filled mountain.
The dwarfs, Thorin and his company, Bilbo, and Gandalf, looked for the creature that saved them from countless casualties, and stopped the war. The diamond-scaled white dragon slowly landed in front of the elves, and dwarfs.
One small creature sat upon the neck of the gargantuan dragon. The dragon bowed its head, somehow looking everyone in the eye, and as it did so, the rider dismounted. The rider's face and head were covered with white cloth and slowly walked forward. She pulled the hooded cape off her head and untied the mask around her face. Dark curls, and waves of hair fell down her back as she approached Gandalf. The entire grounds fell silent.
"Diamond Scale and the White Rider." Dane said in astonishment.
Thranduil had a look of anger, longing, and sadness all mixing together in his eyes. He looked as if he had seen a ghost.
Luna ran to Gandalf as the wizard gathered her up in his arms.
"You've just saved us from almost certain death, Luna."
She only shook her head in disagreement. Luna smiled at the elven king, and the dwarf king and turned to leave. She looked her dragon in the eye, patted her nose and smiled. "Take us home," she whispered.
Thorin was breathing heavily, still in shock that this legend existed, and still in disbelief that the battle had been won. He looked at the silent, short, dwarfish, elvish woman in angry befuddlement.
"You're leaving?! You're just going to leave?! Fly away and pretend that this never… that you didn't… You can't! You can't just not say a word!" He yelled.
Luna turned slowly and looked at Thorin. An uneasy and still silence fell.
"Gandalf, can she speak?" Asked Bilbo.
"Yes." She answered and walked to Bilbo.
"I always knew hobbits had courage." She smiled kindly.
She then walked towards Thorin and bowed her head.
"I apologize. The new king under the mountain does not deserve to be dismissed so rudely." Luna said.
Thorin could only look upon her face, but he said nothing.
Another awkward silence fell.
Gandalf broke the tension. "I'm sure Thorin and his company would wish to thank you for your assistance today my lady."
"Yes! Stay! We'll have a feast!" Fili and Bofur grabbed her arms excitedly.
Balin pried them off her and led her inside. "You'll have to tell us all about yourself, lassy." He said with his usual charm.
Smiling and laughing they all went inside the mountain, Luna agreeing timidly.
Thranduil stayed behind with Legolas and his army to make camp for the night. The anxiety and sadness on king Thranduil's face could not be hidden as he watched her go into the mountain.