Disclaimer: The book, The Hobbit, belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien, and by no means do I own the movie. I do not own these characters and I am not making a profit from this story. I am just taking these characters out for a walk in the park and I promise to return them in one piece.
The breeze is soft as it caresses my cheek, blowing lazily as if it had not a care in the world, heavy with the scent of pines. Pine trees, how that scent has always filled me with an aching sadness deep in my chest ever since that fateful day so long ago. Yet this time, despite the aroma, the air seems so fresh, so pure—very much like Erebor's gold.
Erebor. Oh! that cursed mountain. The one place I despise the most yet the one place my heart yearns for. I need to see her, feel her strength beneath my feet once more. Even if it is the last thing I behold—I long for her, for home. Yet what will my companions and I encounter when we arrive? A dragon? I fear the worm, but there is another I fear worse.
The gold, the riches… the Arkenstone—those are what I dread over any foul creature in Middle-Earth. I fear the power those riches wield over heart and mind. It was the cause of Erebor's fall, the cursed metal and colored stones. That is the cause of my people's misery.
I fear it, yes. I fear this disease taking hold of me as it did my grandfather. I can still remember the greed in his eyes, the faraway look he would get. He would waste countless hours amongst his hoard. I fear the same fate shall befall me. The Dragon Sickness, how can anyone escape it? As much as I may tell myself that I will not fall to it, deep in my heart I know it will be impossible to resist. If the line of Durin has one fault, it is that.
A grunt from my left breaks me from my reverie. Dwalin. I did not notice him ride up next to me—I can only wonder how long my friend has been watching me, for he has an amused sparkle in his eyes. "What do you find so amusing?" I question in my most authoritative voice.
Unfazed, Dwalin continues to stare. "You. I know that look—you are thinking, and that is never good for anyone's well-being."
It is my turn to grunt. "And what have I been thinking about, Master Mind-Reader?"
"Nothing good I can tell you that." His eyes quickly lose their humor. "Do not dwell on it, for we are not there yet, so there is no reason to worry about what is not certain."
Before I can even form a reply Dwalin has fallen back in line beside his brother. Despite our many years of friendship, the old warrior never ceases to amaze me. By no means is Dwalin a mind reader, he is just a friend—one who knows me so well he might as well trade in his axes for a seeing-glass. I am sure that the scented air has conjured up memories for Dwalin—for a number of the Company as well. It is good to have a friend who reads me so well. Who knows? Maybe he can knock some sense into me if I begin to fall to the Dragon Sickness. Yes, Dwalin would be the perfect candidate for that.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this little one-shot. Please do not forget to review! I'd love to hear your thoughts and reviews just make me so incredibly happy :)