They all fell silent as Thorin pushed the key into the hole that had been revealed by the moon's soft silver glow. The sun had finally set and the last light of Durin's day was shining upon them, sending fits of shiver down everyone's back. No one dared to utter a word as Thorin turned the key in its embedding until it came to a rest with a resounding snap.
Silence
He then slowly turned around to look at the company one last time. Balin and Dwalin were standing right behind him an expression of pure anticipation on their faces. Behind them the rest of the company seemed no less eager to finally enter their long forsaken mountain. Everyone but Bilbo was holding their breaths, some of them were smiling, others just stunned by the significance and magic of the moment. Especially Ori, now being the youngest in the group couldn't stand the tension building in the silence and started to nervously hop from one leg to the other.
A small frown appeared on Thorins face. He just now seemed to realize that nearly half of the company was missing. Bofur, Óin and Fili had stayed behind in Esgaroth to look after Kili. A picture of his youngest nephew's face flickered before the soon-to-be king's eyes. Kili's bewilderment as Thorin had told him to stay behind. As he had denied him the right to be at his side when the gates would open. Back at that moment he had seen something break in Kili's eyes though he couldn't really place it yet. Fili had begged him to let Kili go with them, he even offered to carry him. But even if he did carry him they would slow the others down and Thorin would not risk the perfection of this quest for the sake of one dwarf. Not even for his own kin. If just Fili had come with him. He was his heir, the next in line for the throne, he belonged with his king.
Thorin winced imperceptible, his oldest nephew's words still resounded in his mind.
"I belong with my brother."
At some point he had been about to pull the boat around and return to his nephews as he had thrown a glance back to where they were standing at the docks. Kili's face had been so unhealthy pale and he was leaning weakly onto his older brother as Fili looked at his uncle with accusation burning in his eyes.
Thorin swallowed hard, feeling a stab of guilt in his chest for leaving them. He tried to push the thought away. The only purpose of this whole quest had been to reclaim Erebor and he was just about to do so. They would be all right. Kili would get better and his nephews would follow him later and share in their uncle's joy at his coronation. A smile appeared on Thorin's lips.
"Thorin?"
His thought-consumed mind returned the attention on Balin. The old dwarf was facing him with a warm and reassuring smile. Ever so slightly he nodded towards the hidden door indicating what everyone else thought. Only now did Thorin realize that the whole company was staring at him in anticipation and that he had been lost in his thoughts for way too long. He scolded himself for being so absentminded when there was such an important event lying before them.
With a quick nod Thorin put both of his large smith hands on the clammy stone feeling his own pulse coursing through his fingertips. He exhaled deeply and closed his eyes as he started to build up pressure against the wall, more and more until it finally gave away underneath his palms and the door swung open, connecting with the wall on the other side with a hollow thud.
Cold musty air escaped the passageway and confirmed any suspicions that it hadn't been opened in quite a while. The smell was all but pleasant and it stung in the Hobbit's nose. Bilbo could hear Nori mutter something about "dragon dung" and he proceeded to cover his nose with his impsovised handkerchief. Thorin in contrary did not stagger back met with the foul odour. He did not even flinch but took a step towards the entrance.
Following Thorin, one dwarf after the other entered the mountain gathering in the middle of the anteroom until they were all inside. Bilbo was the last one to step through the door and while everyone stood as if rooted to the spot he turned his head around to take in this unknown surrounding.
"I know this walls... this halls..."
Like in a dream Thorin slowly moved deeper into the hall and put his hand against one of the walls. "This stone." As significant as this moment seemed to be for Thorin, Bilbo couldn't help but wonder if he really remembered this particularly stone. The halfling suppressed a grin for he found it to be disrespectful to disturb this magical atmosphere.
"Here lies the second kingdom of Durin's folk" Bilbo turned around to find Gloin staring at something just above the entrance. It was a picture, the delicate lines carved into the stone wall.
"May the heart of the mountain unite all dwarfes in defence of his folk" Gloin spoke on as Bilbo stared at the picture in awe.
"The throne of the king." Balin stood right next to Bilbo a content smile on his face, an approving nod following his words which were more directed to himself than to anyone else.
"And what's that above it?" Bilo asked narrowing his eyes, unable to draw his gaze away from the small shape above the carved throne. Balin's smile grew even wider and he chuckled.
"The Arkenstone."
Bilbo frowned. "What's that?" He expected the answer to be given by Balin but instead Thorin's low voice filled the room once more and it was loaded with grandeur.
"That, master burglar is why you are here."
Fili sat on a chair by the bedside, his head resting on his chest, his blue eyes barely open. The blond dwarf watched his brother's steady breaths as the dim moonlight filtered through the shabby windows of Bard's home. Kili lay calm under the blanket facing his brother with closed eyes, his hair still a bit damp from sweating as is stuck to his forehead. Fili reached out to swipe away one dark curl that had fallen into Kili's face. Brushing the younger dwarf's forehead slightly in the act he nodded approvingly to himself as he realized that his brother's temperatur had returned to almost normal. Though Kili seemed to be sound asleep now Fili could not bring himself to relax fully.
The moment, Tauriels healing approaches had seemed to take advantage over the poison in Kili's system the young dwarf had stopped struggling and screaming and it had taken all of the strengh left in Fili not to run to his brother's side and shove her away.
One moment, his brother's screams had filled the air, suffocating every other sound and draining Fili to the core. The other, everything was silent. As if a higher creature had stolen every little noise from their world, leaving the four dwarves and one elf in utter, frightening silence.
Then, slowly and soft, the she elf began her incarnations, singing rather than speaking in a tongue Fili could not understand. Her body started to sway as she closed her eyes, pressing further down onto Kili who had stopped struggling and just stared at his auburn haired saviour with wide eyes.
Fili was on his feet in an instant crawling over the dead orc's bodies to reach his little brother. He took hold of one of Kili's hands that had been clenched tightly around the sheets only seconds ago. A cold wave of fear rushed over Fili as his brother didn't look at him. Kili did not even stir at his reassuring squeeze and Fili sought the elfe's gaze frantically.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, the she elf fell silent and took her hands off Kili. Fili's eyes watered as his little brother murmured words too soft for his ears to hear and he released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Kili's head lolled to the side as his eyes closed and for a split second the horror that he might never open them again shot daggers through Fili's heart. For a moment he simply sat and watched Kili take in one, two, three even breaths before he allowed himself to relax a little. Resting both hands on either side of his brother's face, Fili drew himself closer, resting his forehead against Kili's, sighing in relief.
"Your brother is going to be alright."
Fili started at the melodic voice coming from behind him and turned to see the she elf still remaining in the room when he had expected her to be long gone, following her friend. As words failed him, he simply nodded, a thankful expression on his face, saying everything his mouth could not. But Tauriel understood as she smiled back at him with a kind but sad look in her eyes.
"I must go now. He still has to fully recover yet but I have trust in your caring, son of Durin."
With that she disappeared, leaving Fili to his unconscious brother and to his own thoughts.
The silence was interrupted by a soft moan and Fili was startled out of his thoughts as his brother slowly regained consciousness. With apparent difficulty, Kili lifted his eyelids and for seconds his gaze was caught in a far away stare before the fog around the dark eyes lifted and he blinked several times.
"Kili, you're awake!"
Fili was unable to hide the sheer joy filling his voice as Kili turned his head to look at his big brother, the moonlight shining in his eyes in tiny sparks. He managed a small smile.
"F- Fee. You're here."
Fili returned the smile full heartedly at the moment Oin re-entered the room carrying several bottles and a pile of clean white cloth in his arms.
"Of course I am" He squeezed his little brother's hand reassuringly. "I never left you."
Had Gandalf been there, Thorin would have smacked him upon the head regardless of the heigh difference. Though he had learned to accept and somewhere deep down in his "grumpy old self" even like the halfling he could still not understand why the wizard was so obsessed with dragging such a careless and unfitting being onto this journey.
In the meantime, the other members of the company had made themselfes comfortable in the anteroom. Gloin and Nori had dragged in some wood and started a small fire, keeping it close to the still open doors for not to choke everyone inside. Now Ori, Nori, Dori, Bifur and Gloin sat down by the fire watching with hungry eyes as Bombur prepared a meal for them. It had been hours since they left lake town and half of them were already "starving".
They had decided for Balin to walk Bilbo further into the mountain and to lay out the details of their plan. He was the oldest of them all and would surely have some kind of smart advice for the halfling. The others had wished their burglar good luck before they set up their "camp".
Thorin snorted. Bilbo could really make good use of luck now since he doubted that the hobbit's skills would be sufficient to fulfill the task. Stupid wizard. What did he know about a dragon's wiles. Deep down Thorin knew how childish these thought were but his stubborn mind refused to admit it. This whole quest was now lying in the hands of a creature that was not even able to leave his home without a handkerchief, leave alone steal anything, even the tiniest piece of gold from a possessive dragon. A humorless chuckle escaped Thorin's throat as the ridiculousness of the situation dawned on him.
Again he began to stride back and forth, ignoring Bombur's food offers despite his growling stomach. How could he think about eating now?
It was when the king in exile began to hiss at even the smallest of laughter from his company that Dwalin who had been standing by the doors as if rooted to the ground for the last hour turned his back to the stunning moonlight to approach the nerve-wrecked dwarf.
"Thorin." The old dwarf stopped pacing and lifted his gaze to meet Dwalin's.
"Come, rest. You're working yourself up."
But Thorin only shook his head and slumped back against the cold stone wall. It felt like an eternity since he last slept but rest was not an option now. His glance was fixed on the passageway where Bilbo and Balin had disappeared an hour ago. Not even Balin had returned yet.
"I shall rest no sooner as my fingers close around the mountain's heart." He forced himself to regain his composure and straightened his back. He then turned to face away from his cousin's worried expression returning to pacing the anteroom.
Balin led him deeper and deeper down into the mountain. Turning around corners until Bilbo himself, who had an unique sense of directions could not locate himself anymore. He wondered how the old dwarf could still find his way so easily after being cast out of this mountain decades ago.
After walking for what felt like at least a whole hour, Balin eventually came to a halt and Bilbo almost bumped into him as they were surrounded by darkness save for the small torch in Balin's hand.
"Easy, lad. No rush now for this is going to be an important and equally dangerous act of yours." The old dwarf offered Bilbo a reassuring smile as the hobbit tried to keep the fear that was creeping up on him from entering his expression.
"Okay. I go in there. Find the Arkenstone, and be on my way, right?" He swallowed a few times against the lump in his throat with no success.
"Wait, what does the stone even look like?"
Balin chuckled and cocked his head.
"'Tis a great white jewel. You will recognize it once you see it. That I am sure of."
Bilbo nodded and smiled weakly. How many great white jewels could be found in a mountain full of dwarven treasures? Surely not too much!
Balin's hand padded his shoulder and Bilbo forces a determined expression on his face. He would not crumple now so shortly before the completion of his task.
"You know, you don't have to do this." Balin offered him and for a second Bilbo was tempted to accept his offer. But then he remembered his own words.
Because your home has been taken from you. And I'm going to help you to take it back.
Bilbo straightened his shoulders and looked Balin in the eyes giving a resolved nod.
"I'm not afraid. Whatever awaits me, I'm going to deal with it. I'm not letting you down."
He didn't expect Balin to chuckle at this and his expression became questioningly as the old dwarf shook his head, a wide smile on his lips.
"Amazes me every time. The courage of the hobbits." Though Thorin might not have much trust in the halfling, Balin would trust him with his life for he could see the honesty behind Bilbo's eyes. The courage he had brought up in himself during this quest to reclaim a home that was not his.
"Any last advice?" Bilbo's eyes now casted an determined look and Balin knew he was ready.
"If you should indeed encounter a living dragon down there." He paused for a moment.
"Try not to wake it."
A/N: So, hey there. This is my first Hobbit fanfiction and I hope this first chapter was okay, I'm trying very hard to produce long chapters but somehow they all end up about this lenght, so yeah... Unfortunately, english is not my native language so if you (most likely) find mistakes I'm very sorry I try to keep them at a minimum by reading every sentence over and over but some just slip through (damn them, nasty mistakes! *grrr*) By the way the story switches perspectives whenever there is this "_" so you don't wonder. There are most likely going to be three perspectives: Thorin, Bilbo and Fili/Kili
If you enjoyed this nevertheless you can leave me a review also if you have any improvements, I'm always open for them!
Love :3
Thaye
