CHAPTER 2

"So thief, how are you enjoying Erebor? Do you enjoy exploring my carnage, gathering the forgotten bodies of the dwarves? Would you like to see the day their lives ended?

A view of clouds opened up, the sun shining down. The beat of wings clearing away the clouds and rocking the pine trees below. A roaring sound shook the stones. The gates of Erebor glistened in the distance and the city of Dale rang with bells. Fire filled the air. Men fled, burned and died below. Families and children screamed in fear. Then a black arrow soared into the sky, but it missed its mark. There was a roar of triumph. Above the smoke, the gates of the Dwarven kingdom shone and grew closer. Fire poured upon the battlements and the gates were torn asunder. The inside of the mountain was a flurry of fear.

"Like ants" the Dragon laughed, He blew a burst of fire into the soldiers below, he followed the smell of gold into the lower halls. He went killing as he went, burning and crushing anything before him.

A band of dwarves stood in his way. The grandson of the king at their head his sword brandished and gleaming. "Leave this place, you fiend, these are halls of the dwarves!"

The dragon's chest rumbled with laughter, "No, I don't think so, I believe I own this mountain now." He beat his wings and charged forward through the small bearded warriors. The screams of the dwarves filled his heart with pleasure, and as he broke into the treasure hoard he gave a mighty roar. The dwarf king was hobbling out the south entrance with his grandson his old voice screaming and cursing. The dragon growled with pleasure spreading his wings. "May this lost treasure drive you mad, little king, may it plague the line of Durin, even after my death. Bolvag Lat Parhor-Ma." Darkness fell.

"I'm still king, little thief, even after me death. I still rule under the mountain. The cruel laughter grew louder and louder.

"NO! STOP!" Billianna sat up punching furiously at whatever was holding her.

"Ow, Bilbo, what in Durin's beard is wrong with you? It's me Kili!"

Billianna opened her eyes, her body shaking and sweating. The Princes hung over her blinking rapidly. "Oh, Kili, Fili, I'm sorry!" she gasped.

Fili rubbed his arm winking, "See if I ever try and wake a hobbit again. You're stronger than you look Bilbo."

Billianna smirked at the nick-name the brothers and many of the other members of the company had decided to give her. "… Sorry bad dream."

"I should say!" the dark haired dwarf looked over at blonde brother. "Thorin told us to make sure you got a bath this morning like you wanted, Fili thought we should try and scare you awake, and look what that got us, a beating."

Billianna blushed. "Very, funny." She grabbed her wrap and pulled it around her. She squinted menacingly. "Alright, I'm awake, now clear out and find me some new clothes while I get ready… or you'll get another beating."

"Yes, mam'!" Kili laughed.

The brothers cleared out, and Billianna sighed, rubbing the muscles on the back of her neck. The dreams were getting worse, if she was still sleeping with the rest of the company like she had on the journey they would have all have known by now, but since they'd won back Erebor she'd been sleeping in own room. She didn't want to worry anyone about some silly dreams about dragons she was having. So she brushed them away again. She'd always had a vivid imagination, how could this be any different from other dreams that had plagued her.

She walked across the room, the overly large dwarf man's shirt, now night gown, slipping off her shoulder as she examined her face in the mirror. Her once hobbit-lady like skin was now freckled and tanned from traveling and her well groomed hair was now a thick mane. She was no longer the prim and proper hobbit girl from Bag-end. She was some wild hobbit woman. She laughed at herself, when she thought that. No, she was still a simple hobbit girl, just with a lot more road under her feet than last she'd looked in the mirror… that and a few more problems. She glanced over at where she'd hidden the Arkenstone under a pile of pillows in the corner. Before she could brood over it anymore there was a knock at the door and Kili called out. "Ready when you are!"

She slipped on her old clothes, her ring on a chain, and grabbed the little bar of soap she'd been saving for so long. She hurried out the door and smiled at the two dwarves. "Alright you two, let's go."

They led her down to the north base of the mountain to where a hot spring had been found. When they arrived they produced the clothes they had found. A little dwarf child's frock, and a dwarf dwarrow dress that was obviously far too big. They started arguing over which one was best, until finally Billianna cleared her throat. They looked over and she smiled. "Wearing a skirt this whole venture has been anything but helpful. The trolls wouldn't have caught me if I hadn't tripped over this skirt and made a noise. And trying to climb the spider trees was a nightmare… the point is. I think I'd like some trousers for a change." The two princes gaped at her. "And could you maybe find me some scissors?"

Fili was the first to start grinning. "Alright." He winked at Kili mischievously. "We can find some in a jiffy, right brother. " Kili grinned back. "Of course."

Billianna gave them a suspicious look. "I'll leave my skirt in the hallway so you find the proper size this time…"

The brothers nodded enthusiastically and hurried off, closing the door behind them. She rolled her eyes and hoped to goodness whatever they had up their sleeves didn't involve her.

With a laugh she stripped off her clothes, she tossed the skirt out the door and then went running for the spring. She landed with a splash and began to tread water, she was so glad her Brandybuck and Took cousins had taught her how to swim all those summers ago, it had already saved her from drowning when they'd escaped the elf kingdom in those barrels. She sighed with pleasure as she felt the warm water and soap wash away all the layers of dirt. Who knew a simple bath could feel so good.

Translation: (Black speech) Bolvag Lat Parhor-Ma: "Curse you ever-more"

(Thanks for reading, reviews are welcome! Next chapter will be Thorin's POV, and he's in for a shock, ha, ha. )