Well fans of 'Follow Me', this isn't a sequel, but this is me dabbling about with more Hobbit Dwarviness

Now this will not strictly follow the books/movies, and I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this

But a new OC with some Thorin Fili Kili action can't be bad, can it

So, if we're liking this so far, go ahead and let me know what you think, want or even demand

Stay faithful

Middle Earth was home to many creatures. Some were heroes that fought in battle. Some were dark and twisted, corrupted by the evil within their very souls. But some folk could not be so easily defined. Some battles lie within the heart. And some fall prey to the darkness that awaits to consume.

"Zuko, give him back!" Her soft voice called as her tiny body rushed past the trees. "Give him back!"

The giggles of Luna's brother echoed inside the forest. Zuko was a fast runner, fastest out of the trio, and there was no way Luna could catch him. But she kept on chasing him, trying to keep the timid smile from forming on her lips. She could hear Zuko taunting her, singing loudly, disturbing the creatures within the forest of Illenia. And faster she ran, barely catching up with her brother until she saw his dark figure standing still amongst the trees. Breathing heavily, Luna slowed to a stop in front of him.

In his tiny hands sat a small bird, chirping as it struggled in her brother's grip. The little girl gritted her teeth and clenched her small hands, determined to look authoritive over her elder sibling.

"Let him go, Zuko," she ordered her brother.

Zuko was barely three years her senior. His dark curls fell over his eyes and his pale hands gripped the bird tighter, threatening to squeeze the life from the innocent animal. His white teeth gleamed as he poked fun at his little sister.

"Why?" he laughed, his age leaving his voice light and child-like for a few more years. "Who are you going to tell, Luna? Mother?"

As threatening as the sound could be coming from a seven year old girl, Luna growled. How dare he use their mother to tease her? Their mother had passed on to the life that awaits all children of the Valar when Luna had been born. No one blamed her, but Luna feared her mother's death was her own fault. She had something within her that she could not explain, and Luna believed her mother had paid the ultimate price for bringing such an unusual child into the world.

Luna stomped her bare foot against the grass and pouted. "Please, Zuko! You are going to harm him."

"Fine," he grumbled. Zuko rolled his eyes and shrugged, moving his hand to offer the bird to his little sister. "Here."

All to relieved for sensible thought, Luna put her hands together and uncurled her fingers, readying her palms to cradle the bird. Softly and slowly, her brother passed the bird over, allowing it to hop onto her skin. A grin rushed onto Luna's face when she felt its soft feathers against her own undamaged skin. But in the moment the bird was passed from one sibling to another, its heart gave out and the body of the animal lay still in her hands.

A whimper escaped Luna's lips and she dropped the deceased bird as if it was poisonous. The bloated body rolled along the grass until Zuko's foot acted as a barrier. The animal's lifeless black eyes stared up at Luna and her own eyes began to water. As it did many times before, vines of silver moonlight began to glow under Luna's skin, traveling from the place the bird had stood on her palms, up her arm until it curled around her heart, sinking into the beating organ until the life-force no longer belonged to the animal. It belonged to her.

Salty tears fell from Luna's eyes as she slowly raised her head, glaring at her old brother's guilty face. He raised his foot, taking a few steps away from the tiny lifeless body of the bird and the saddened child.

"Luna-"

But she had no time to listen to her brother's excuses. She turned and ran, pushing away the branches that bit and scratched at her arms. The cuts the branches left behind almost healed instantly, the life-force of the tiny animal renewing her body until it would run out completely, and she would heal as any normal child would. But she was not a normal child. And she never would be.

Luna ran until the crystal homes of Illenia were in sight. They sat at the tops of the trees like beacons of light, welcoming her back, bathing her in warmth. The forest was equally mesmerizing and frightening to those unfamiliar with the magics of Illenia. The beauty was almost too much for any stranger to stand and those who brought ill intentions to their home were chased away by the Illenia Spirits as it remained their home until the end of days, and so it would stay that way. Only five Crystal Coves sat amongst the trees, and Luna did not stop until she reached the largest oak of all. The grand, clear staircase wrapped around the great tree until it reached the child's home. As her bare feet met each step, her heartbeat remained rapid as she could see everything below her, the clear glass causing the child to appear as if she were running on air.

Their home was the largest for the owner was far more powerful that those who lived elsewhere in Illenia. As Luna flung her tiny body into the room, the sounds of her panting drew the attention of voices, ceasing all conversation of the owner and her guest.

"Luna," a song-like voice stopped the child in her tracks. Luna looked up to see her guardian and aunt, Lady Larissa of Illenia, staring down to meet her niece's eye. Her tone was soft yet scornful, "cease your steps and return to your room. Can you not see we have company?"

The declaration drew Luna's gaze to the figure sitting beside her aunt, and the child gasped in surprise. Yes indeed, her aunt did have company, and not one that came to call often enough. Lady Larissa was incredibly beautiful, with hair as black as midnight and eyes true to the seas of the West. But sat against her was nothing more than the embodiment of an angel.

"I do not wish for her to depart so soon," the angel's voice spoke with a hint of amusement. "Come, child."

The kind eyes of the Lady Galadriel fell onto Luna, a smile forming in fondness over the child. Cloth fell from her body like white waves, pouring from her limbs as the elf stood, her arms rising in offer. Luna approached the White Lady timidly, her arms reaching up for the elf to take her small hands in hers, holding them softly as if the child were made of glass. Luna feared that the Lady may be harmed at her touch, just as the bird had been struck down just moments ago, but the elf held little worry for herself, only for the child's distressful state. Her light eyes scorched Luna's, allowing warmth and happiness to lap over the girl's racing heart, calming her until she returned the elf's smile with her own.

"My, how the children of this world grow so fast before my very eyes," Lady Galadriel's voice said out loud, growing silent until only Luna could hear her voice inside her mind. It warms my heart so to see you, my child.

As Luna had learnt to communicate with her own aunt, the child spoke without the use of her lips to thank the elf. Honoured to see you, my Lady.

The smile on Galadriel's lips spread as she turned to her friend. "You have taught your niece well, Larissa. She is a credit to both you and your sister."

Lady Larissa bowed her head in thanks, smiling down at Luna at the thought of pleasing Galadriel so. The White Lady released the child's hands gently and shyly, Luna stepped away from the elves. She was intimidated by such figures as her aunt Larissa and the Lady Galadriel, almost so far to say that they made her nervous. The elven blood flowed through her own veins, as it did her siblings. But both sorceresses knew that Luna was not to become an elf, even if she wished to do so. As within her, something else waited, something dark and unknown.

To your room, Luna, her aunt's soft voice ordered within her mind, interrupting the child's thoughts. With a quick bow, Luna ran to her room but hovered near the entrance, keen to listen to the two elves.

"Do your plans still remain, my friend?" Larissa's voice sung quietly, careful of her niece's ears in the next room.

The Lady Galadriel turned to face the elf, her smile falling only to be replaced by a look of sadness. Her head tilted and her fingers approached her lips, hovering over her mouth as her eyes looked into the distance. The child both excited and grieved the Lady of Light, but the elf hoped with her help, Luna's fate may change for the better.

"Even by the touch of her skin, I can feel such power that your niece holds within her." The Lady wandered about the room, while Larissa stood and waited apprehensively. "She is the strongest out of the three, but she must know how to control such a gift, for the sake of all races in Middle Earth. Such a dark power must be harnessed, not unleashed."

In her room, Luna bit her lip and held her breath.

"Is it hopeless?" Luna heard her aunt ask weakly.

Galadriel turned to her friend and took her hand, placing her other on top to offer comfort. "There is always hope." She smiled. "Bring the child to me every new eve and I will do my best to help her control her gift. None of us can truly understand what lies within the three, less of all Luna." Galadriel looked to the room that contained the child, knowing full well that she was listening. "But not all hope is lost. Her future is not yet certain, nor is the path she will choose to take. All we can do is await the years to come."

"This is the news you bring from Lórien?" Larissa whispered. "You have seen what she can do. She is dangerous."

Luna's heart skipped a beat. Her aunt thought she was dangerous? She had caused many accidents and deaths in her years, true, but not to her. Not to her family. Is that what was to come?

Larissa continued, "Luna has a darkness within her that would consume her if she allows it."

Galadriel patted her friend's hand, smiling softly. "Your niece has the heart of her mother. Strength and stubbornness will not be so easily deterred. Have faith in her, Lady Larissa."

As I do, The Lady's voice continued in only Luna's mind. The child gasped and jumped onto her bed, hiding under the covers in fear of a scolding for listening. Luna may be young, but she was not foolish. She knew she was different. All three siblings were, in different ways to each other. But the Lady Galadriel said it herself; there was hope. Luna had two high sorceresses guiding her into the way of the good and true. She could survive this.

Night came and the lights of Illenia began to disperse. Luna remained awake under her covers, thinking of what her aunt and the Lady Galadriel has said. From what she'd heard, the Lady of Light planned to give her teachings in Lothlórien. This sent a blow of happiness to Luna's gut. She had yet to venture outside the forest, unlike her sister. She would become as developed and knowledgeable as her, even more so.

By chance, the door creaked open and in snuck the very sibling Luna had been thinking of. Mora dropped the hood of her cloak away from her face as she stepped further into the room, only to catch Luna's eye. Luna giggled at having caught her elder sister sneaking in at such late hours, and she was sure their aunt was already aware of her return.

Mora's stunned eyes returned to their usual gleam and glistened as she jumped onto the bed and tickled her little sister's sides. The child erupted into a fit of laughter as she wriggled around on the bed, trying to escape her sister's fingers.

"And what are you doing up at this light?" Mora jested.

"I shall tell if you will," Luna giggled her child-like laugh. Mora frowned playfully and huffed before untying her cloak and hanging it upon the stand. Mora was unlike her siblings with her tall stature and auburn curls, with her father's emerald eyes and serious manner. It was only times such as this that she would jest with her sister, and soon her playful mood would cease. It was Zuko and Luna that were alike. Luna's hair was indeed curly but as black as her mother's and aunts. She was a small thing, as was her brother, but she was as wild and soulful as her mother. But Mora was the responsible one, and the eldest, and felt she must be a model of parental guidance for her brother and sister for when their aunt was not. But at this hour, she allowed her sister the pleasure she so rarely received and jumped on the bed, confessing her night's events.

"I went to see Omnic for some tutoring. Larissa does not know, so please keep these words to yourself, little sister," Mora smirked. Omnic was a sorcerer in a town not too far for the forest's borders. He was young and handsome, and here was the temptation of his teachings for Mora. Like her aunt, Mora was gifted with a touch of sorcery, and her aunt gave her lessons that helped guide her niece to be powerful, but good. Luna had no interest in the magics other than the Lady Galadriel, and from there she began her tale for why she was up so late.

She finished, "They wish me to go with The Lady to Lothlórien to help me understand what I am." Luna twiddled her thumbs and stared at the silk sheets beneath her crossed legs. "To stop me from hurting things. They're afraid of me-"

Mora's hand rested upon Luna's frantic thumbs. "They are not afraid of you, Luna. They simply want to help you."

Luna bit her lip and looked up at her sister. "I do not want to hurt things no more, Mora."

The young woman smiled and rubbed her thumb against her sister's rosy cheeks. "Lady Galadriel will do all she can to teach you. Trust in her, and in yourself."

Luna nodded numbly, uncertain. She could not be so sure as her sister. She had yet to discover if she truly was good, or something worse. But her thoughts were scattered when Zuko slipped inside the room, joining his sisters on the bed. He had not expected the slap to the back of his head, and he stared at Mora in shock.

"What was that for?"

Mora tutted at Zuko and nodded at Luna. "Be good to your sister. Lest she'll turn out to be more powerful than even you, Zuko, and send you to the healing houses."

Luna grinned and thanked her sister silently. Zuko appeared frightened for a moment until his confidence returned and he looked at his young sibling. A stubborn pout arrived on Luna's lips.

"Luna, I am sorry for before. It was foolish," he apologised sincerely.

Luna huffed and crossed her arms, lifting her chin to stare out of the crystal cove instead of straight ahead to look at her mean brother.

Zuko suddenly laughed once and sat up straight. "Here, I know how to return your smile."

Sparking her interest, Luna slowly turned to look at her brother. He shook his head left to right quickly, clearing his mind. His shoulders began to lower, and as he slouched, his body sharply morphed, becoming smaller and smaller all in a moment's sight. In Zuko's place flittered an identical bird to the one that had died in Luna's hands. A grin took hold of her lips and Zuko flaps his wings, circling his sisters' heads, sending them laughing as they watched him enjoy the form of the bird.

"Show off," Mora called at her brother as he flew around the bedroom. Luna giggled and watched him. Zuko darted around the furniture, stretching his wings until he landed on Luna's shoulder. He pecked at her long curls, causing the girl's face to brighten with joy. With her sister the sorceress and her brother the shifter, Luna wished her own gift could have been more fun. She did not know what it was yet, or what would come from it, but what she did know was that whatever it was, it would make her more powerful than her siblings. And that frightened her more than anything.