Chapter Two
Hi everyone! First off I would like to say WOW! Thank you everyone who has reviewed, favorited, and followed this story! I am thrilled with the way things are going with my first story so far and all of you are to thank for that. I was very nervous about posting my first story but I am really glad I did it. So here is chapter two, I struggled a bit with this one but I hope you all enjoy it! Please keep reading and reviewing! :)
Lighting cracked across the sky and the deafening wind howled as the impending storm approached the small human city. It was late evening when most would be asleep in their homes, but a single building's lights shone out into the empty streets. Inside a dwarf worked to finish the pile of swords still needing to be sharpened. Thorin Oakenshield placed the newly sharpened sword away and went to work on the next in the pile, when the door to the forge suddenly slammed open revealing a darkened silhouette. Thorin pulled out one of the sharpened swords and held it in defense against this unknown intruder.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Thorin ordered.
"Is this how you greet an old friend baring news?" Thorin chuckled with a small smile playing on his lips shaking his head he lowered his sword.
You could hear the amusement in Thorin's voice as he said, "Is this how you enter a room now Balin?" Balin walked through the threshold of the door toward his friend with a stony face and saddened eyes.
"Aye, it is when I'm in a hurry." Balin quickly shut the door to the forge and rushed to Thorin's side. "Thorin I bring grave news from the mountains."
"What is it? What's happened?" Thorin's voice cracked betraying the fear he felt. Balin looked at his longtime friend and by all accounts his King and did not know how to continue. Thorin's fear grew the longer it took his friend to answer his question. "Balin please tell me… what has happened!" Balin sighed and looked his King directly in the eyes.
"I am sorry Thorin but the mountain has been attacked by goblins. They have taken control of the lower tunnels and the living quarters."
Fear, fear that had not been felt since fighting the dragon Smaug gripped at Thorin's heart and his blood turned to ice running through his veins. His eyes telling of his fear he looked to his old friend and asked in a shaky tone. "What of Dis and the boys?"
Balin sadly shook his head, "I am sorry Thorin, but we do not yet know of their fate. No one has seen them, but I fear the worst." Shaking his head the distraught dwarf king turned to face away from his longtime friend. Thorin closed his eyes and saying a silent prayer he let out a shaky breath. Balin watch sadly as he tried to imagine how Thorin was feeling. To lose one's entire family was a fate he would not wish on anyone, not even his worst enemies and to lose ones as young as Fili and Kili was truly unthinkable. Balin was not even sure Thorin would be able to fully recover from something so terrible.
After a moment of silence Thorin turned back to face his friend and longtime advisor with determination shining brightly in his eyes. He would not give up on his kin, not now, not ever.
"Then we must find out what has happen to them. I will not abandon them Balin!" Not waiting for an answer Thorin walked quickly past the aging dwarf to the door with purpose.
"Thorin we should not leave now. There is a large storm approaching! We would not make it back in this weather." The king gave no indication that he had heard the dwarf and kept his pace to the door.
"I will get us ponies so that the journey will be faster. I need you to find Dwalin and tell him what has happened. If he will join us, I would be forever grateful." Nodding Balin turned to follow Thorin out the door.
"I will seek out my brother as you asked, but Thorin you must prepare for what we might find when we get back." There was a small pause as Thorin lifted his head and straightened his shoulders. He looked to Balin with fierce determination.
"If there is any way I can save my dear sister and nephews, I will do it Balin."
Sighing sadly Balin replied "I know laddie…. I know."
Even in the late hour Thorin made quick work of finding someone to buy ponies from. He made even quicker work of saddling them up with everything they would need for the journey back home. The dwarf King was just putting the finishing touches on the saddles when he heard loud voices coming from down the alleyway to his right. Turning his head to listen, it took only a moment to know who it was coming his way.
"I just don't see how this could have happened! How did those filthy things get into the mountain in the first place?" Dwalin roared out in anger.
"Brother I have told you all I know."
"If one hair on those boys' heads is so much as out-of-place, I'm gonna rip every last goblin limb from stinking limb!" Dwalin's voice increased with every word,
"Keep your voice down! Some people try to sleep at this time of night." Sighing Balin added "I think you will have to get in line, if Dis or the boys are hurt I don't think there is a force in this world that could stop the wrath that Thorin will bring."
"Aye and I will be right there with him."
"As will I brother, as will I."
Even in this dire situation Thorin could not help but smile, how those little devils managed to turn hardened warriors into mother hens was beyond even him. Thorin's thoughts turn dark again as he thought of losing his mischievous little nephews. He could not lose any more of his kin, Thorin had already lost his Grandfather, Father, Brother he could not lose Dis and his nephews as well. If only he did not take this job away from home he could have been there to protect them all. Balin was right, if even a hair was missing from his family's heads, the goblins would pay dearly!
As Dwalin and Balin neared the ponies a crack of lighting lit up the sky and rain started to fall. Dwalin moved swiftly to stand next to Thorin while Balin hurried to a pony. Thorin turn to face Dwalin and each dwarf gripped their right arms together in greeting.
"Thank you for coming with us Dwalin, I will never forget this." Thorin said sincerely.
"Think nothing of it my friend. I care for Dis and the boys like they are my own. I will not let anything happen to them!"
More lighting and a loud bang of thunder broke through the night and the ponies started to stomp their hooves nervously.
"We have to hurry I want to be back at the mountain by dawn!" Thorin ordered over the noises of the storm. The company quickly set off in the direction of the mountain, each hoping they wouldn't be too late to save the people dear to them.
So what did you guys think? Next chapter should be up in a couple of days. Thanks for reading!