Deep in the Mines of Moria, the young dwarf Focuse awoke to a day like any other. He boarded his cart and directed himself deep into the mines in hope of finding a new cluster of jewels. As he began to dig, he noticed the temperature gradually increasing. He figured that one of the furnaces must be boiling over in the city and thought nothing of it. Deeper and deeper he dug into the rock. As he threw one more haul with his pick, he noticed a glimmer of light begin to show through!

Quickly Focuse began to chip away at the rest of the rock until he had made a hole large enough to crawl through. As he did, he saw an immense cavern with much of the outer ring surrounded with the bright glow of magma flowing below!

The heat was unbearable as bullets of sweat began darting down Focus's back and forehead. He thought of turning back to inform the Council of what he had found but thought better of it. This was the most interesting thing he had ever found in the mines. He had never seen anything like this before and he wanted to take a look around first.

The cavern was flat, with the exception of one large boulder in the center of the cavern. There must have been a hole in the stone opening up to the magma and fire below because the stone was illuminated on all sides and flames constantly licked the perimeter. There were no signs of life but there were certainly signs of a battle across the rocky interior of the cavern. Half burned arrows and axes lay scattered askew amongst what Focuse now saw to be bones. A few shields bore insignia that Focuse had never seen. A strangely shaped skull of some sort of animal on a field of blue. This was certainly not the mark of the clan of Moria.

Unknown to Focuse the stone in the center of the cavern was not a stone at all. Rather, it was a single, monstrous egg consumed in fire that called to him. The voice was soft and shrill as it called to him.

“Come this way,” the voice said.

Focuse quickly spun around to find the source of the voice but none appeared.

“Come this way,” the voice repeated.

“Where are you coming from?!” cried Focuse, attempting to sound as intimidating as possible.

“I am here, in the flame,” replied the voice.

Focuse began to grow concerned, for dwarves are not known for their intellect but rather their acquisitiveness. It took Focuse a minute to realize that the voice was coming from inside his head!

“How are you doing this?” Focuse demanded, this time unable to hide the fear in his voice.

“I won’t hurt you; I promise. Just come closer,” the voice responded.

As Focuse turned all he could see was the boulder in the center of the cavern. He approached slowly and slightly confused as the fear built in the pit of his stomach. This was not something Focuse was used to feeling at all. He had always been raised to turn and face fear head-on, yet he had never felt nor seen anything that would inspire fear as his father described it. All he had ever known was the mines, and after all, what was there to fear in the mines?

As he approached, he noticed the stone shake and realized that what he thought was a boulder was actually a large egg itching to hatch! It was easily the size of five dwarves, and it was covered in sleek black scales, the likes of which Focuse had never seen!

“Wh- what are you?” Focuse whispered.

“I’m just a baby,” the voice replied, “but I can help you.”

“How?” Focuse asked.

“I see the desires of your heart, Focuse of Moria. I see how you crave adventure and freedom from these dark mines. Free me and I can give you what you want. Free me and I can take you far away from this place,” replied the voice.

Focuse turned and thought for a moment. This was most certainly a trick of some kid. It seemed like something his brother ,Tocuse, might do to get a rise out of him. However, something in him knew that if he turned back now and reported his findings to the Council, he would never forgive himself. He would rather die than spend the rest of his days in this mine. He turned back with a determined look in his eye. “What do you need me to do?” he said.

“All I need is a drop of blood to fall on my shell. Then all will be revealed” the voice said.

Focuse didn’t allow himself to think. Before another second ticked away, he grabbed his ax and cut across the palm of his hand. He reached out across the ring of magma and flame to touch the egg as he was told. As soon as he made contact, the egg began to shake.

Scales flew off the egg and within moments there was a large cracking sound. Foucse could not believe his eyes! There standing in front of him was what could only be a baby dragon! It stood about eight dwarves high and was covered in the sleek black scales just as the egg was. Its eyes opened revealing a black pupil on an otherwise yellow eye. Its face stretched long and forward dominated by a row of massive teeth showing from amongst its lipline. it had four legs each with three claws that made Focuse doubt the strength of his axe. The dragon stretched its surprisingly long black wings for first time and looked down on him.

“You and I are now bonded, Focuse of Moria,” the dragon replied still inside his head. “Climb on my neck and I shall take you far away from here.”

And he did.