*CLEARS THROAT*
IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO COMMENCE THIS PROJECT FOR YOU ALL! I LOVE THIS BOOK AND THE TRILOGY OF MOVIES AND SEEK TO DISPLAY THAT IN MY STORIES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I SUCCEED OR FAIL, WON'T YOU? OH, AND THIS WILL PROBABLY HAVE MORE MITHRA THAN AILI TO START, SINCE MITHRA HAS MORE SCREEN-TIME AT FIRST. HOPE YOU LIKE!
NOW.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO...THE STORY!
GOD BLESS AND GOOD DAY!
~THE LUPINE SOJOURNER
(M)
I gulp and move swiftly about, grabbing my haversack (Tauriel had used it to store my weapons on her journey here) and putting blankets, as much food as I could find, and a few waterskins in it, as well as Oin and Bard's combined medicine stores. We had to go.
"We'll have to move quickly if we are to avoid the dragon. He'll be upon us before we know it." I instruct. Fili nods and hands me a few outfits of spare cloths and that's all I can fit. I buckle the bag closed and begin helping the others.
"Mithra is right." Tauriel adds as she comes inside from scanning the skies. "We have no time. We must leave." The children seem shocked. Fili goes to help a roused Kili up, but the Dwarf stubbornly refuses.
"Come on, brother." He notes. Kili pulls away.
"I'm fine, I can walk!" Kili snaps. I scoff and press his outer shirt to his chest.
"It's cold." I tell him, glancing hard at him and he reluctantly puts the garment on.
"Quickly as you can." Tauriel orders Bard's children, who remain where they are as the Elf hands Tilda a jacket to put on. Sigrid is putting on her own. We'll need as many clothes and blankets as we can get, for bandages and extra warmth on our way up the mountain if we can't make it in one day, especially with winter so near.
"We're not leaving." Bain replies, coming forward as I make sure I have all my weapons. "Not without our father." I frown. What did happen to Bard? He was just supposed to lose the soldiers then come back, right?
"If you stay here, your sisters will die." Tauriel tells him grimly, not looking at him. "Is that what your father would want?" She asks rhetorically, turning to look him in the eyes. Soon enough, we're ready to leave.
"Now or never, Tauriel." I tell her. She nods.
"Come." She tells us, as if we need to be told. I bring up the rear, double checking that we have everything. Kili is much steadier and stronger on his feet, I am thrilled to note, but he is still weaker than normal, which is a problem. I am right behind him as we get to the boat. Fili and Bofur start paddling and I take the rudder, noting dismally that we are nearly taking on water from all this weight. I sigh, but there's nothing we can do. We need to get- -oh, Mahal! There he is! Smaug got here fast! And he's huge! He circles back around, a light growing in his chest. I tap Fili's shoulder.
"I'm heading under that building! He's gonna- -" I am interrupted by a jet of flames and a chorus of screams echoing around everywhere. "do that." I finish awkwardly. Thankfully, we are soon under a building and relatively safe. We come out and suddenly there's another boat, right there!
"Look out!" Bofur calls, but it's too late. We bump into it and I direct us away before realizing that it's the Master and Alfrid on board, with a heap of the town's treasury on it, if not the whole thing. I feel hatred well up in me as we make our way away. Suddenly, I'm distracted by another of Smaug's attacks. I glare after him before Smaug rains flame upon the town again, distracting me. If only we had that Black Arrow. It would really come in handy right now.
We have no hope against Smaug without it.
=#=#=#=#=
(A)
I have calmed slightly, enough to move away from Dwalin. I take deep breaths, but it doesn't calm me completely. We all start moving toward an outcropping with was probably a guard post once, a kind of morbid curiosity overtaking us as we climb to the ledge.
Amazingly, we can hear the bells ringing from here. I shiver, recalling what Fili had told me about Bard's concerns about- -wait...wasn't this foretold in that prophecy? Didn't it warn us that we would fail?
Why didn't we listen?
Would it have made a difference at all?
"Poor souls." Balin mumbles under his breath as Lake-town is illuminated in dreadful fiery light. I gulp, my hands shaking in fists to keep myself together. It doesn't help, but at least I am not punching anything, as I probably would otherwise.
"I have to believe they made it out. They'd have seen Smaug coming. They'd have gotten away in time...right?" Balin pats my shoulder.
"One can only hope, Aili."
"Then that's what I am going to do." I reply grimly. "I'll keep hoping." I then note that Nori and Dori are trying to comfort Ori. I sit beside him, moving Dori's legs as I did, wrapping an arm around him. "We'll see them again." I whisper. "I have to believe that." Ori sobs and buries his head in my shoulder.
I have to. It's too painful to think of anything else that might happen.
=#=#=#=#=
(M)
I dodge flaming buildings and other boats, careful not to tilt the boat too far to either side as I did. It was a balance that took skill, but we make steady progress through the town.
As Smaug took another round, I lead us under another building. Grimacing, I watch as countless homes fall into the lake, some with screams ringing out inside. There's nothing we can do, though.
So we press on grimly, determined to survive. As we round a corner, Bain looks to the side and pales.
"Da." He moans. I pale. Oh, Bard's really done it! He's gone to fight Smaug! I gulp, slipping my satchel off and drawing the Elvin bow and quiver therein (Tauriel remembered my archery skills. I hadn't noticed it til I was packing to leave).
"He hit it!" Kili cries. I look up for a moment, slipping the quiver strap over my hips. I never liked reaching over my shoulder. "He hit the dragon! I saw!" I chew my lip. I remember promising to fight with Bard...but I also need to ensure his children's safety. And besides...it's not like hitting the dragon with a simple arrow will do anything.
"No." Tauriel notes, almost as if she had read my thoughts.
"He did!" Kili protests. "He hit the mark! I saw!"
"Enough, Kili." I tell him.
"His arrows cannot pierce it's hide." Tauriel adds. "I fear nothing will." That seems to make up my mind. I set my jaw in determination.
"Fili, take my satchel. Tauriel, man the rudder." I order. "If Bard is crazy enough to face that beast, he shouldn't do it alone." I add. Fili stands.
"No! Stay." His eyes are pleading and wild. "Please." I smile, taking his hand.
"See you soon." I tell him, and reluctantly grab a chain to swing away to the dock. What I do not expect is for Bain to grab my waist and swing out with me.
"No, Bain!" I tell him, adding to everyone's protests as we touch ground. "Go back! I need to find the- -" He simply sprints away.
"I need to get something to Da!" He tells me over his shoulder. I wait for only a moment as he retrieves...the Black Arrow from a boat. What? How'd he know where it was and that it was what I needed to search for.
"Leave them!" Tauriel orders sadly. "We cannot go back." I set my jaw.
"We'll be alright. See you on the shore!" I call. Then turn to Bain. "Let's go see your da." I cheer with false bravado. "Stay close." We then take off and speed toward the belltower Bard is on top of. Climbing is no problem, but the look on poor Bard's face is enough to crush me with guilt for letting his child endanger himself. Shoulda thought this through a little. Oops.
"Bain!" He cries. "What are you doing? Why didn't you leave?! You were supposed to leave!"
"Mithra and I came to help you." Bain replies. Bard frowns.
"No!" He moans and I suddenly notice the empty quiver and lack of arrows. I gulp and decide to pop up.
"Sorry." His eyes narrow.
"You let my son come here, to die?!" I bite my lip.
"No. Well, I came to fight with you and Bain- -"
"It's hopeless!" Bard interjects despairingly. "Nothing can stop it now."
"Not true." I reply and, picking up on my cue, Bain pulls the Black Arrow into view.
"This might help." Bard's eyes flicker with faint hope for a moment.
"I am sorry, Bard. I was swinging on a chain and he swung with me and then there was nothing I could do." He sighs.
"Bain. You go back. You get out, now." He tells him. "Let Mithra and I finish this." Bain might have replied, if Smaug didn't slam into the top of the tower. I am rocked flat on top of Bard and we nearly fall off before the tower stops shaking. I hear faint rattling, but that could just be my brain hitting my skull.
"Ow..." I mumble, clutching my head and pulling myself up.
"Bain!' Bard calls. I scan around and hear him screaming from the side nearest me. I scramble over and help Bard pull him up. Bard then retrieves the Black Arrow. I note that Bain is frozen in fear and shock. Of course. I stand protectively over him and notch an arrow to my bowstring. Bard blinks.
"That's an Elvin bow." He notes. I nod.
"Fire now, ask questions...later!" I call, firing an arrow as I speak as Smaug lands on flaming buildings, pausing from flying and destroying the town. The arrow gets Smaug's attention. I can't decide if that's good or bad yet.
"Who are you that would stand against me?" The dragon demands in an icy, rumbling, commanding tone.
"Concerned citizens!" I reply snarkily. Bard sets his jaw as I fire another arrow (Smaug doesn't even blink, the smug lizard) and picks up his...destroyed bow. Oh, that's just great. He pales.
"Now, that is a pity." Smaug taunts wickedly, almost seeming to smirk.
"Oh, shut it, you!" I call back, raising a finger to show I was not intimidated...enough to not fight back. This only seems to amuse Smuag, however, as well as intrigue him. He comes closer. I fire at the mark but of course it doesn't do anything. Remind me why I signed up for this again..? I reach for another arrow before realizing that there are none. They must have fallen out when Smaug hit the tower. I pale. So that's what that rattling was...
"What will you do now, archers?" Smaug asks snidely, coming ever closer. "You are foresaken. No help will come." I hold in a reply that would probably make things worse and scan for loose arrows still on the platform as Bard tries to figure out what to do next.
Oh, Mahal, what can we do now?!
=#=#=#=#=
(A)
The others have started losing interest in watching the town burn, but I remain like a sentinel, arms braced against the ramparts before me, fists white-knuckled against the unforgiving stone. My gut churns in guilt and horror at the wanton terror and destruction we had wrought on Laketown. Because we couldn't deal with a dragon.
We'd failed...just as Bard said we would, with the prophecy to back it up. I blink back tears. I had no right to grieve for something I had a part in creating. I had been in Erebor, I had taunted Smaug, and...and I was there, so bold as to command that Smaug leave Laketown alone...
And that was the final nail in that town's coffin. Trouble is...do I only feel bad about Laketown because I care about the members of the Company that had been there? If I had only passed through in a matter of hours...would I still feel like this? That sets tears flowing and suddenly, I can't seem to stop. They're silent at first, growing louder the more distraught I get. About the company members in Laketown's fate, about Laketown's residents and whether or not I felt bad because my brothers, Bofur, Mithra and Oin were there.
At everything. How can I have been so naive as to think this would go like Uncle planned it would, with Erebor restored and everyone there to enjoy it?!
He was right; I know nothing of the world. But I think I know a little more now.
=#=#=#=#=
(M)
I gulp and grip my bow tightly, still standing in protection over Bain, who seems to have started snapping himself out of his shock. I grimace. Just in time for him to witness our probable demise...
Fili...I am so sorry. I never meant...Oh, this is precisely- -no. I can't regret what Fili and I started. I am so much better of a person with him and his light shining through the developing cracks in the armor I formed around myself. I still love him and I know he loves me. If I die, Mahal forbid...I don't think he'll love again. I think he'll become like me. Cold, distant, using wit and sarcasm to cover his wounds. I shake myself, desperate for a way to- -wait, what if we stick Bard's bow into the wooden stake right in front of us, and then use the bowstring to fire the shot? With Smaug not flying around, it made him a much easier target to hit. I set my jaw, determined and with a plan. Bain bumps my legs as he scoots out from under me. Unfortunately, this means Smaug's eyes catch Bain's movements. I move to stand directly in front of the poor kid, even though I couldn't really do anything until I tell Bard my plan.
"Hmm...Is that your child?" Smaug asks tauntingly. I gulp, subconsciously peeking back at Bain, who's cowering against what's left of the stand for the bell. I don't blame him. Were I not a warrior, I'd be miles away by now, probably. I then grimace at the implications of Smaug's taunt, but refrain him commenting. "You cannot save him from the fire." Smaug goes on. I growl, eyes narrowed in fury.
"Low blow, lizard!" I scream defensively. Bard groans in helpless despair. His eyes are wild and desperate and I wish I could calm him- -oh, to Valhalla with it!
"He will burn!" Smaug presses, coming ever closer, smashing buildings underfoot as he approached. I roll my eyes and turn to Bard.
"Bard, we need to- -hand me your bow." He frowns.
"Why?"
"Just do it!" I scream back. He hesitates. I snatch it out of his hands and move to position the plank for my makeshift windlance. I knew generally what they looked like and went off that. I slam the ends of the bow into the stake then move to grab the bowstring before realizing that it had fallen off. I cast about for it, cursing, when Bard starts stringing it up, having obviously found the string. I smile at him as he notches the Black Arrow to the string. He then tries to pull it back, and struggles. I duck under his arms, come up against his chest and pull back with him. Together, we can move it. I don't pay attention to the position we're in, focusing on aiming and getting this thing pulled back enough to get enough thrust to actually make it to Smaug, who has strangely not caught on to what we're doing. Maybe he has, but is so cocky, he thinks there's no way this will work. It's a long shot, I'll grant (pun not intended), but it might just work. In fact, it has to. "Bain, I need you to get between the halves of the bow and lift the arrow on your shoulder. The arrow's too low." I order, straining to keep the arrow back. This thing is heavy and as such needs a lot of momentum. Bard and I practically lay on top of each other in order to get it pulled back all the way, but with Bain's assistance, we're ready. We just need the old lizard to move his butt closer so we can be sure we'll hit the mark. The poor boy is trying his best to put on a brave face, but there's frightened tears in his eyes. "Breath, Bain. It'll be over soon." I tell him calmly, eyeing the arrow and the dragon, making note of his mark.
"I just need him twenty feet closer..." I mumble. Smaug apparently obliges and keeps coming. Bain starts panting, which makes the arrow bounce.
"Stay still, son. Stay still." Bard instructs calmingly. Bain tries.
"Tell me, wretch." Smaug growls. "How now shall you challenge me?" he taunts.
"How is he that stupid?" I mumble to myself, almost daring to chuckle, if it wouldn't have wreaked our aim. Bard tenses a little and I can tell Smaug is nearing our range. I swallow. Good.
"You have nothing left, but your death!" Smaug roars, still stupidly coming closer. I smirk. This was getting a little ridiculous. He just keeps coming, too haughty and cocky to realize we're about to kill him. Smaug unleashes a roar and comes a little faster. I grimace, steadying myself with the thought that soon enough, we'd kill this beast and then it would be over. We'd be free to go up to Erebor and see what the situation is up there. Bain's nerves aren't as steady and he looks over his shoulder.
"Bain." Bard calls. Bain turns back. "Look at me. You look at me." He instructs. Bain nods, forcing his breath to steady so the arrow will fly true. I then recheck our aim.
"Little to your left." I tell him and Bain inches over. "There. Perfect. Hold that position." I tell him. "Ready?" I ask Bard. In response, he pulls back a little and in sync, we release the arrow. It sails through the air and I can't help but think...'what if it doesn't hit?!' But it does. It thuds up to the feathers into Smaug's chest, right in the soft spot, and I laugh aloud in delight and relief. I muse as Smaug realizes what's just happened and start flailing about in the air.
We'd slain the dragon! We did it!
Unfortunately, we're then treated to another smashing by Smaug and we grab each other as the bell tower collapses. I then grab tightly to Bard and Bain's coats and leap out, aiming for a huge chunk of wall beside the crumbling tower. We hit the water just short of the wall, and come up, gasping for breath. I grab the wall and haul an unconscious Bain onto it. Bard is nearly there himself, the tower's height causing the water to become harder than normal to us. I myself am winded, but catch my breath fairly easily. We move toward the edge of town wearily, just as Smaug comes crashing down. This sends up a tidal wave that smashes us into a building, and we nearly lose Bain to the water, but manage to grab then float out on the tide and I relax against the wood, smirking. "To be honest, I didn't think it would really work." Bard scoffs.
"Neither did I, but I am grateful. Your actions saved us." I nod, smirking.
"You had a hand in all this, too." He then looks to Bain, who is still out.
"As did he, though I fear this will haunt him for many years." I frown.
"This will haunt everyone, Bard. We saw a town ruined by a dragon. The dragon nearly killed us. This isn't something we just get over." I then sigh. "But, when there are other people, similar to you, you find it easier to get over it." He nods.
"Like you and this company?" I laugh.
"I suppose, but they know nothing of me. Not yet." He smirks.
"Aye, but the blonde Dwarf seems to like you." I blush, biting my lip.
"Yes, he does. I do, too. We...we're courting." He blinks, and we start kicking to move us along faster. I had to find the others. "I know we haven't know each other long, I know we may be rushing in, but...the attachment is sincere, born of common ground and a common goal. We...we both feel the same about each other, so why wait?" Bard sighs.
"So, we can expect a wedding in the near future." I flush, smacking his shoulder.
"I didn't say that!" Regardless...yeah. I can see myself standing before an altar, saying the blessings and vows and then we'd be married. I can picture it all.
I just hope Fili does, too. I have to find him.