There was a hard pounding on my door as my mother rushed to my small window. She ushered me over and pulled me onto her back. Swinging her legs through first she began to scale the rock wall below my window as I held tightly to her dress. I could hear the mountain roaring with voices and the smell of smoke was in the air.
"Mama?" I whispered as she paused a moment, "What's happening?" She didn't reply as she looked for a place to drop down to. I could feel her trembling as she began to reach for a nearby notch. It was just barely out of her reach.
"Jewel?" she whispered, "Hold on tight." I squeezed my arms around her neck as tightly as I dared. She began to rock herself from side to side and before I knew it she had leaped over to the other notch. Luckily she caught it but there was a pop in her shoulder that made her cry out in pain but still she held on.
Carefully she finished scaling the wall and we finally arrived at an abandoned staircase. I dropped from her back and she held my hand while moving down them quickly. The voices echoing in the mountain were getting louder as we ran down the pathways towards the front gates. They became more distinguishable as screams and cries for help.
We found ourselves sitting around the table with my mother's necklace in the center. My neck felt bare without its weight around it as I never took it off. The silver fitting around the diamond had runes carved into its surface.
Look through and behold the secrets of Erebor
I looked at them as they danced around their places. I could never read them for myself, they moved around too much for me to actually comprehend their meaning. Father had to read it to me before I understood their message.
"Before Smaug attacked our homeland," my father began breaking my string of memories, "and drove us out like sheep, someone found a cavern. A mythril lined cavern." He looked up at me and was sure I was looking. "Kàra, mythrill has never been found outside the mines of Moria. The discovery was incredible but Thror kept it quiet and he forced all the workers into silence."
"I was a part of the mining group that found the cave," Bordan picked up the story, "I can remember 'im threatenin' us with treason if we uttered a single word about what we 'ad found. 'e didn't want attention to be drawn to what he 'ad planned for that place. 'e ordered us to work for weeks on that room to turn it into a stronghold."
"It was magnificent," my father began once again.
"I don't understand," I said, "If Bordan was forced into silence then how did you learn of it?"
"Your grandfather was initially chosen to create the locking mechanism for the door, Thror had planned, and he entrusted me with designing the key. I was so young at the time; I was barely older than you. It was simple to design and our father thought it was brilliant. The diamond manipulates light to open the lock that your grandfather planned," father spoke as he took the necklace from the table, "A little bit of dwarven engineering and a spell or two and this cavern became impenetrable." I felt nervous with it in his hands as he turned it over and over in his hands. I never let anyone touch it.
"At first I thought that Thror would keep the key. Hand it down through the line of Durin, to his descendants so that they could protect it," he paused for a moment, "But he decided to give it to someone else, a priestess named Kalra. At first I was furious when I found out; my creation was being given to an old dwarrowdam and was not to be the heirloom of the line of Durin. But, whatever was put in the cavern the line entrusted her with its safety."
"You mean you don't know?"
"No yer father and I were never told."
"Your grandfather and I were ordered to give her the key. That was the day right before the attack of Smaug. When she finally arrived she had brought her daughter with her, your mother." He stopped for a moment and seemed to be fighting something inside of him, "I handed the key over and then my father instructed me to leave. I didn't quite understand why but I didn't object since Kalra said the same thing to your mother. Together we walked down the passage a ways before she stopped me and insisted that we turn around to watch. My father and her mother with hands entwined were mumbling something with the key in their hands. When they were through, they each took a turn trying to get it to open but Kalra was the only one who could."
"Then the dragon attacked and I never saw it again until I found your mother among the refugees. She never told me what happened to her mother when Smaug destroyed our home but I was relieved that she had managed to save it. And…" he paused and put the necklace back on the table.
"And?" I inquired.
"I fell in love so I married her. It wasn't a proper wedding but it was enough for us. And it wasn't even a week afterwards," he spat as the anger began to refill in his eyes, "that the Observers attacked us. That cult! I had hoped that all knowledge about the mythril cave would have died in the wrath of the dragon but I was wrong! Someone had broken their oath of silence and word had spread. There were only a select few that knew your mother had the key to it, probably the families of the other priestesses, at least that's that your mother thought. So we broke off from the main refugee group and set off on our own for a few years. When you were born we settled in the Blue Mountains, hoping that the madness would have ended."
"So all those years ago, it wasn't a bandit raid? Was it?" I asked. My father shook his head.
"They were after the key," Bordan answered and then paused, "and your mother. Tales of it had spread and rumors had grown but most back then didn't believe it. Those that did, had joined and they grew in such large numbers they attacked the mountain. And since that attempt failed they now want you."
"Me?"
"Aye, lass, they worship that pendant as though it were one of the gods. And with yer mother gone yer the only one that can open the door."
"And right now they're coming for you." I fell back in my chair.
"What are we going to do father?"
"You both need to come with me, back to the mountain," Bordan insisted.
My father remained silent as he leaned forward staring at the necklace.
"They 'ad a chance last night and by a miracle they didn't get 'er. Rodan 'ave some sense! Ya need to come with me."
"Father?"
"We could destroy it," he said before picking up the necklace again, "Seal away the cavern forever."
"They'll still come after 'er, Rodan. They'll find a way."
"Father listen to him, please, we need to go." He shot a glare at me.
"This is my home. This is our home!"
"I know Da!" He rose from the chair.
"I will not be chased out like animals to the fire! Never again! I will stay and fight, Bordan!"
"But uncle-"
"Leave then! You're not a dwarfling anymore! You do what you think is best!" he shouted as he threw the necklace into the wall. And then…
It was like I had been struck by lightning. The pain just appeared in the time it took to blink. I crumpled to the ground with no control over my body. I couldn't hear. I couldn't see. I couldn't breathe. I felt like a deer just making eye contact with a hunter before the release of the arrow. Paralyzed, with nothing but that ache, like I, myself, was just thrown against a stone wall.
I began to hear voices, quiet at first as though they were miles away but the pain made it hard to focus on. My head pounded and my body burned.
"Mahal! Are ya okay, lass?" Bordan called with terror in his voice, "By my beard! Rodan what's goin' on?"
Then little by little they were getting closer and my vision began to come back. As that happened the pain faded to something more bearable, something I could push to the back of my mind and ignore.
"Kàra?" I blinked finally and saw him coming into focus. They both were down on their knees beside me.
"I'm alright," I muttered as I pushed away their hands and struggled to stand up. The right side of my body throbbed but my shoulder hurt more than anything. Bordan rose to his feet, faster than I, and moved over to where the pendant had landed.
"Where does it hurt?" my father's face was full of concern.
"I'm okay."
"Just tell me."
"My shoulder," I hissed. I flinched as soon as he touched it.
"Let me see," he whispered as Bordan handed me the necklace. My father's actions had left a large dent on the right side of the diamond. I looked at it quizzically as I slipped off my large coat and felt my father carefully and respectably raise the back of my shirt.
"There's nothing here," he stated.
"It doesn't hurt much anymore," I replied as he dropped my shirt.
"Sure looked like it did, lass!" Bordan exclaimed as I pulled the chain of the necklace around my head and tucked it under my shirt as I had always done.
"It's going away. I'm okay."
"Are you sure?" my father asked. I nodded in reply.
"Ya should sit down."
"I'm fine."
The three of us stood in silence a moment although my body was still reminding me of the incident.
"Rodan," Bordan finally spoke, "Ya need to make a decision. Ya can stay 'ere and risk loosin' 'er to them who will do Mahal knows what to 'er. Or you can come with me back to Ered Luin where you 'ave tons of stone and trained guards to 'elp keep 'er safe."
"Father?" I put my hand on his arm. He moved away from it and to the window.
"If we leave now, we could make it to the mountain by tomorrow morning. You and I…"
"Not me," he muttered as he turned back around, "Bordan, you take her back. I've got to stay."
"But da!"
"Kàra," he interrupted, "Please. Not this time. It's what's best."
"Rodan, ya can't stay 'ere. They'll kill ya."
"I'll head East and lead them off your scent, you said so yourself that they mistook you for me. How many attacked you?"
"Five or six?"
"Did any get away?"
"One did." The tone in my uncle's voice seemed as though he was angry with that figure.
"Then he probably alerted the rest that you weren't me. They'll do well to avoid you. I'm the one they're looking for. My face hasn't changed much since the fall of Erebor."
"Did you not hear uncle? They'll kill you Da!" I felt a stirring in my chest, it began to get tight.
"Kàra," he whispered as he walked over and put his arms around me, "Dying for you would be the most honorable death for an old warrior like me."
"No! You're coming with us! Tell him uncle!" I fought against his arms.
"Rodan ya don't 'ave to do this. We can take 'er to the mountain where we can both protect 'er. Don't put this burden on yourself."
"It is my burden to bear, brother," he stated as he released me, "Promise you'll watch over her."
"Da I'm not going without you!" I insisted.
"Yes you are," he replied sternly, "Now go and get your things."
"No Da I can't! I can't just leave you!" My eyes began to water.
"You must."
"I'm not going to!" The first tear broke free and fell.
"Kàra," he replied calmly, "Your mother would tell you the same thing, now go pack." There was a sudden thud in my chest and my mind went silent. He never, ever, ever brought her up. It was almost unheard of from him. He sometimes acted as though she had never existed whether that be for his own pain or to honor her memory or perhaps both.
"Rodan if by some miracle ya survive. Come back to the mountain, we'll be waiting for ya." My father nodded.
"I intend to but if you are to make it there by tomorrow morning you need to leave now."
"I only 'ave one pony and she won't carry the both of us at that speed for very long."
"What about supplies?"
Bordan shook his head.
"Alright, I'll see what I can do," my father replied as he leaned over to me and gave me a kiss on the forehead, "Stay here with your uncle. I'll return soon."
"But Da…"
"Kàra, please," he whispered as he put his hand on the back of my head and pushed our foreheads together, "Just this once, don't argue with me. I'll be back soon."
Frustrated tears were now dripping down to the floor as I watched him grab his cloak and disappear through the door. I held my breath trying to calm myself but it just made everything worse. I soon fell into Bordan's arms and sobbed.
"Please uncle," I managed to say, "He has to come! They'll kill him!"
"I know, lass," he hushed as he stroked the back of my head.
"You have to do something! Please!"
"I can't."
"Why?"
" 'e's right. They know who 'e is, except for a few grey 'airs and aging wrinkles, 'e looks just the same as 'e did when they saw 'im last. If 'e were to come with us and we met them on the road, they'd find you."
"But there's a chance we won't meet them! And what about what you said earlier, they mistook you for him! How am I any safer if they make that mistake again?"
"Lass," he sighed.
"No!" I pushed him away, "he's coming with us! I don't care about the risks! I'm not leaving him here to die! If he doesn't go then I don't!"
"Kàra!"
"Not without him!"
" 'e's right ya know! If their scouts saw 'im on the other side of town it would give us a better chance of goin' unnoticed."
"So he'll die a martyr."
" 'e won't die easily," I saw the frustration growing in Bordan's eyes.
"But he'll still die!"
"I know, lass! I don't like this plan anymore than ya do! 'e's my brother! But it's our best shot of gettin' you out of 'ere without bein' seen!"
Another hour of arguing the sun had finally risen above the horizon. Bordan and I were both at extreme odds with one another as we glared at each other from across the table when father arrived.
"I've got you two fresh ponies and a bag of supplies for the road. Bordan I'll take your tired pony with me."
"Cloudfist? She's a tough ol' mare. She'll be alright for the return trip." He stood and helped my father unload the bags he had in his hands.
"Are you sure?"
"I've 'ad 'er for years. I've pushed 'er 'arder than this before. She'll be alright."
"Alright, Kàra hasn't ridden in years so I found a sturdy one. I'm not sure of temperament so keep an eye on the beast." I remained silent on my side of the table continuing to glare at my uncle.
"Aye."
"I'll leave now," my father stated as he readjusted his cloak around his shoulders, "Get their attention. Kàra? I've brought your tools and pieces from the shop; you can sell them in Ered Luin if you need extra coin." I nodded and dropped my eyes feeling sadness washing down my body from my head to my feet.
"Alright."
"Come on, love," he whispered as he carefully set the bag down and walked over. I saw his hand reach up under my chin and I looked up.
"Promise me," I whispered, "I won't leave until you promise me that you'll find me." I heard his deep sigh as he looked over at his brother.
"I can't do that."
"Well you've got to."
"Kàra…"
"No!" The tears starting coming again, "I will not leave until you swear it! Swear it on my mother's grave that I will see you again after you walk out that door!"
He paused for a moment, debating his answer. I could see the indecision in his eyes knowing that he was preparing to lie to me. I knew that his chances were slim but there was still a chance. I just needed to hear him say it. I needed to hear him say that he was going to do all he could to come back to me even if it meant running away.
"I swear it."
Okay so another chapter down. I hope you enjoy and leave me a review if you don't mind!
