Prologue

Ered Luin,

2733

"Listen girl, the rate you're going right now, you'll never make it in the real world! Now get to work!" barked a dwarf to a raven haired woman in the forge. "Yes, adad!" said the woman. "Cyril! I am not your father! I just took you in because you had no other place to go! One more word out of you, you will be sent out of here!" barked the dwarf blacksmith. His name is Daryn, head blacksmith of the village. "Yes sir." said Cyril as she continued to help the dwarf blacksmith in the forge.

Cyril Firesilver was no ordinary dwarf. She was born a dwarf and a hobbit. Her father was a dwarf, and her mother was a hobbit. Both parents died a few years ago, leaving her to set out on her own. The hobbits didn't want her in the shire, knowing of her heritage, forcing her to leave the Shire. She tried to find a home in Bree, but the folks there didn't want here there either. One night as she set out on her own, she encountered a witch, who placed a curse on her. A curse that will remain with her for the rest of her life.

By day she remained in her regular form, and by night she transforms into a dragon. And so Cyril spent most of her nights outside, finding a place where she could remain hidden and not seen by people. After traveling from village to village, she settled in Ered Luin, and Dwarf Blacksmith took her in as his apprentice. However he never liked her much, he kept her busy with the work in the forge.

Cyril spent most of her day in the forge, wondering why the blacksmith didn't like her, although she was used not being liked much, but this dwarf was hell bent on not liking her, and remaining rough on her. She took her anger and frustration of her treatment from him out on forging, much to his annoyance. So the Dwarf Blacksmith decided to leave the forge alone with her that day, while he went away to visit relations in the Iron Hills.

One day, a dwarf with dark hair and blue eyes entered the forge, followed by a bald dwarf with brown hair. "Where is the Blacksmith at? Is he here?" asked the dark haired dwarf. "No, he's gone away to visit relatives." Cyril replied. "So he goes to visit relatives leaving a half bred woman in charge! This is an outrage!" fumed the bald dwarf, as he glared at Cyril. Then he turned to his dark haired companion.

"Thorin, we cannot allow her to work on our weapons! Just look at her!" fumed the bald dwarf. "Dwalin, she's our only hope. The Blacksmith is gone. We must trust her." said Thorin. Cyril recognized the dwarf's name. Thorin! King Thror's Grandson! The Prince! There's royalty standing in front of me! Cyril thought. However she frowned remembered that years ago as a child when she lived in Erebor, she was sent into exile due to her heritage, was no longer welcome among the dwarven community until years later, when she arrived in Ered Luin.

The dwarves there praised her skills in blacksmithing, because it was a talent she had and loved doing, thanks to the Dwarven Blacksmith whom had trained her. "I will work on your weapons if you wish to get them done, sir." said Cyril. "I will pay you two bags full of gold." said Thorin. Cyril's eyes widened. He'll pay that much to work on two weapons? But why? Cyril thought. She decided not to question it, and accepted the two full bags of gold coins, graciously. "What is your name, woman?" asked Thorin. "Cyril. Cyril Firesilver." replied Cyril.

"Oh." said Thorin quietly. Thorin recognized the name. It was the woman his grandfather sent into exile years ago because of her half bred heritage. "How did you manage to end up staying here?" asked Thorin, stiffly.

"The Dwarven Blacksmith accepted me as his apprentice." Cyril replied. "What was he thinking of bringing in a half.." began Dwalin. "Silence, Dwalin!" hissed Thorin. Dwalin fell silent. "Your help is quite appreciated, Miss Firesilver, and I thank you." said Thorin bowing his head to her. "You're welcome, your High.." began Cyril. "Please, just call me Thorin." said Thorin, with a small smile.

"We'll return in a couple hours!" called out the dwarf. Cyril nodded as both dwarves left. Two hours later, Thorin and Dwalin returned, and by the time they arrived, their weapons are finished. "Wow, I'm quite impressed Miss Firesilver! Well job done! You'll become a Master Blacksmith yet!" Thorin praised her. "Thank you, Thorin." said Cyril, wiping her hands her apron. Suddenly, a dwarf woman with dark hair ran into the forge. "Thorin, its Kili! He took off, and he fell in the river!" panted the woman.

"I know how to swim, I can go and save him!" said Cyril quickly. "No, no! My brother can swim, let him save him." said the woman quickly. "My dearest sister, please allow Miss Firesilver rescue Kili." said Thorin. The woman nodded, as Cyril followed Thorin, Dwalin, and Dis out of the forge. They soon came to a river, where they could see the dwarfling struggling to stay above water.

Cyril dove into the water, and swam towards the young dwarf. "You may not know me young dwarf, but I'm here to help you! Trust me! Take my hand!" said Cyril gently. Kili nodded as he climbed into Cyril's back, as she swam back to shore. Cyril gently placed Kili on his back, while allowing his mother to take over from there. Thorin smiled and nodded at Cyril.

It suddenly, the dwarf woman noticed on a bruise on Kili's arm. Not thinking any of it, anger clouded over her, and she turned and glare at Cyril. "You! You bruised my son!" Dis accused Cyril. "What do you mean?" asked Cyril, her eyes widened and confused on what is going on. "You hurt my son!" barked Dis, angrily. "I didn't hurt your son, I was only trying to save him!" protested Cyril. "Don't you give me that! You hurt him!" screamed Dis. "DIS!" bellowed Thorin. "She shouldn't be here Thorin! This woman is a disgrace of our people! How could you allow her to stay here?!" barked Dis.

Cyril not only felt angry, but hurt over this. She came to save her son from drowning, and instead of getting praised, she was getting accused of something she did not do. Thorin turned to Cyril. "Tell me you didn't hurt my nephew!" said Thorin. "Thorin, I didn't hurt him, I swear!" shouted Cyril.

"Why am I having a hard time believing that?" snarled Thorin. "Thorin, you got to believe me." said Cyril. "Go back to your home." Thorin demanded. "Very well." said Cyril sadly, as she walked away. After all she had done to rescue the young dwarf, and this is how she got treated. She had never felt this hurt in her entire life. By the time she arrived at home, she went to her room, as she laid down in bed, tears running down her face. I don't know how much more of this I can take! Cyril thought.

Cyril realized that night came, and she had to leave her home, knowing what is going to happen. She quietly left the home, luckily without getting noticed, and she found a large cave she could stay in, after she turned into her dragon form. The next morning as she returned home, she noticed a large group of dwarven guards standing outside her home. "What is the meaning of this?!" Cyril demanded. The first dwarven guard approached her. "By orders of Lord Thorin, you are demanded to leave Ered Luin. You are no longer welcome here. Go and pack your belongings and leave immediately." said the first guard.

"I cannot believe I'm hearing this? Why is he demanding me to leave?" cried out Cyril. "No questions, woman! Just pack and leave our lands immediately!" snapped the first guard.

Without saying any more, Cyril went inside and packed, and when that is done, the guards escorted her out of Ered Luin. Well I'm out on my own again. This is getting ridiculous! thought Cyril.

The Old Forest,

2940

It had been a couple years since her departure from Ered Luin, and she took up residence in the old forest. She even built her own home in the forest clearing, and there she remained peacefully until one day, an old friend of hers paid her a visit. It was none other than Gandalf the Grey Wizard. Cyril smiled, welcoming her friend into her home. "How are you holding up, Cyril?" asked the wizard sitting down at the dining room table as she served them both tea.

"Doing well. Hanging in there, as always." Cyril replied. "There is a reason for my visit, Miss Cyril. A very important reason. A favor that I like to ask you." said Gandalf. "What favor is it?" Cyril inquired. "I'm arranging a quest, alongside with thirteen dwarves, and a hobbit, to reclaim their home of Erebor, and I'm asking you to join us for several reasons. I know of your curse, Cyril. And this curse could be something useful for the quest." said Gandalf.

"Have you gone mad, Gandalf? No! After the way I got treated in Ered Luin, there is no way I'm going with those idiots to save their home! And how dare you use my curse as a weapon against that fire breathing, gold obsessed lizard who calls himself a dragon?!" snapped Cyril. "Cyril, you have to trust me on this. We really need you on this quest. In the long run, you will find your place if you join us." said Gandalf.
"I will never find my place, Gandalf. You of all people should know that by now." said Cyril sadly.

Gandalf placed his hand on Cyril's shoulder. "Don't let others judgments get to you, especially certain dwarves. They never got to know you well enough, which they should. You are kind, brave, and courageous woman, Cyril, and we've been through a lot. And none of them understand that, nor they know of your curse." said Gandalf. "Yeah, it will complicate things even more, if they found out, Gandalf." grumbled Cyril. "Cyril, you leave all that to me. I will give you some time to think about this." said Gandalf. Cyril nodded. "If you don't mind if I stay with you tonight?" asked Gandalf. "I don't mind." Cyril replied.

As the night progressed, Cyril lay in bed thinking over the words the wizard had told her. It was too much to process, but she came to see that Gandalf is right.

She knew this quest would be extremely dangerous, the more people joining the dwarves, the more help they can have to face a dragon. It also made perfect sense to her that with her being a dragon, she could take down Smaug herself, in dragon form. That night, she made her decision, and she would tell Gandalf in the morning of her choice. The next morning, Cyril woke up and started breakfast as Gandalf shortly joined her.

Once breakfast is served, the two sat together at the dining room table. "Have you made your decision, Miss Cyril?" asked Gandalf. "Yes, Gandalf. I've made my decision. I will join you and the dwarves on the quest." Cyril replied. Gandalf smiled. "Good, good. I was hoping you will say that." said Gandalf, cheerfully. Lets just see how long if I keep my sanity during the whole trip, Cyril thought to herself. "So what is the plan?" asked Cyril. "We will meet in the Shire. There you will meet a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. That is where we'll be gathering. Also Mister Baggins will be joining us well." Gandalf replied.

Cyril nodded. "So when will I leave to the Shire?" asked Cyril. "Tomorrow morning, so pack your belongings tonight. I myself will be leaving after breakfast." said Gandalf. Cyril nodded. After breakfast, Gandalf departed from Cyril's home.

After breakfast, Cyril began packing her belongings right away. It took her most of the day to pack, and then she went to a small barn where she kept her horse, Nigel, and prepared him for the journey as well. Cyril had a feeling once Thorin sees her again, he will be against her going, not just because of her heritage either.