The Moonlight of My Life [HP x Hobbit Fanfic]

Ch. 24 Stay alert

The journey into the Misty Mountains was treacherous, with the group navigating narrow paths and sheer drops as thunder echoed across the jagged peaks. The weather had turned foul, rain pelting down relentlessly, turning the rocky trails slippery and hazardous. As they pressed forward, the ground beneath them began to quake violently, heralding the arrival of the Stone Giants.

Enormous figures of living stone emerged from the mists, their booming voices resonating like rolling thunder. The giants hurled massive boulders at each other in a display of raw, chaotic power, seemingly oblivious to the much smaller travelers caught in the crossfire. The company scrambled for cover, narrowly avoiding the destruction wrought by the warring colossi.

Sensing the escalating danger, Luna took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her hands rose gracefully as she began to channel her innate abilities, calling upon the surrounding mists. The damp air responded to her will, thickening and swirling around them, creating a dense, impenetrable fog.

"Stay close to me," she instructed, calm but commanding. The group huddled together, moving silently through the obscuring mist. Luna's ethereal presence seemed to guide them, her shimmering aura a faint light in the gloom.

Thorin, ever watchful, glanced back at her with a mixture of gratitude and respect. He marveled at her composure and strength, even in such dangerous circumstances. "Your powers serve us well, Luna," he said, his deep voice carrying a rare acknowledgment note.

The group found a large cave carved into the mountain face, its entrance partially hidden by an outcropping of rock. Luna directed the mist to conceal their retreat, ensuring the giants would not easily follow or notice them.

Once inside, the cave provided much-needed shelter from the raging storm and the chaos outside. The company collapsed in relief, though their expressions remained wary.

"Luna," Bilbo panted, catching his breath, "that... that was incredible. I don't know how you did it, but you saved us."

Luna offered him a soft smile, brushing her rain-soaked hair from her face. "It was the least I could do. I won't let harm come to any of you if I can help it."

Thorin and Hermione took stock of their situation as the company settled in. Thorin approached Luna, bowing his head slightly in gratitude. "You have my thanks, Luna. Your intervention may have saved us all."

Luna met his gaze with quiet determination. "We are all in this together, Thorin. I simply did what I could."

The group began to relax in the flickering firelight, though the tension of their narrow escape still lingered. Sitting close to Luna, Hermione whispered, "You really are amazing. I don't know how you keep so calm."

Luna smiled. "When the world around you is chaos, you can only control yourself."

Outside, the storm and the giants continued their clash, but within the cave, the companions found a brief moment of relaxation, their bonds growing stronger in the face of adversity.

As the company settled into the cave, the flickering firelight cast dancing shadows on the walls, creating a sense of warmth amidst the cold tension of the Misty Mountains. Seated slightly apart from the others, Legolas and Bard were drawn into a quiet conversation, their gazes often drifting toward Luna, who sat near Hermione, her ethereal aura more pronounced in the dim light.

Legolas leaned slightly closer to Bard, his keen Elven eyes still fixed on Luna. His voice was soft, a mix of admiration and curiosity. "Her abilities... they are unlike anything I have seen. She wove the mist as if it were an extension of herself... It is no ordinary magic."

Bard nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "It felt as though the mist obeyed her willingly, as if it recognized her as its master. I've seen nothing like it among Men. She carries an air of... something greater, something ancient."