Nearly There

Thorin and the rest of the company had arrived near the mountain and have been gazing at the city of Dale which have been nothing but a ruin. Bilbo was awed by the city as Balin had explained what had happened with Smaug. He felt sorry for the people who had lost their lives, homes and families. He wouldn't understand if it were happened in the Shire if Smaug had destroyed his home and would be devastated.

"Right, we need to keep going before the sun sets," Thorin had said to the company.

Bilbo glanced towards him. "Aren't we suppose to wait for Gandalf here like he told us to?"

"Do you see him? We don't have time to wait upon the wizard. We are on our own. Let's go!" Thorin replied back and they went searching for the hidden door.

The whole company had searched but to no avail. Bilbo, however, had spotted a set of funny looking stairs. "Over here!"

The company ran over to where Bilbo was and they smiled. "You have keen eyes Master Baggins," replied Thorin as he patted the hobbit on the back.

They all climbed up the steps and walked up towards a rock which where the hidden door and keyhole were. Dwalin searched for the keyhole. "If there's a key, there must be a keyhole," he said.

When Dwalin couldn't find it, Thorin nodded to Nori. "Nori!"

Nori walked over and had a cup in his hand with a spoon in the other, but he couldn't hear as Dwaling was making a wracket. "Be quiet! I can't concentrate whilst your thumping!" Nori exclaimed.

"It's not here!" replied Dwalin.

"Break it down!" Thorin ordered to the other dwarves. They obliged and started trying to hit the rock with their swords and axes. Balin stayed behind because he knew that won't do it.

"Enough! It can't be opened by force!"

Thorin gazed at the horizon as the sun descended behind the mountains and darkness had came. "No!" He stood in front of the others with the map in front of him. "The last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole. That's what it says," he glanced at each saddened faces of his company. "What did we miss? What have we missed, Balin?"

Balin replied back. "We've lost the light. It's too late, there's nothing we can do now."

Everyone in the company started to retreat except for Bilbo. "Where are you going? You can't give up now!" he turned to Thorin who turned and gave the map to him whilst dropping the key behind as well. "Thorin, you can't give up now," he tried to reason with him, but Thorin had ignored him and walked off. Bilbo walked around trying to solve this puzzle. "The last light on Durin's Day, will shine upon the keyhole." He glanced up at the moon and watched as the moodnlight shined on the cold stone and revealed the keyhole. Bilbo blinked and shouted back to the company. "T-THE KEYHOLE! WAIT! IT'S THE LIGHT OF THE MOON! THE LAST MOON OF AUTUMN!" The hobbit searched frantically for the key that Thorin had dropped. "Where's the key? The key was just here-" he kicked the key, but luckily Thorin's boot stopped the key from tumbling over the edge. Bilbo glanced at Thorin as Thorin had knelt down and picked the key up. The company had returned and gazed at the keyhole. Thorin walked up to the hidden door and placed the key in and turned it. He pushed the door open and sighed.

"I know these halls and these walls. Balin!" Thorin turned to his cousin.

"Thorin!" replied Balin with tears of joy in his eyes.

Everyone had entered and looked around also gazing up above the hidden door. Bilbo looked a bit flustered. "What is that?" he asked.

"That is why you are here, Master Baggins." Thorin repied back.

"That is the King's jewel. The Arkenstone," replied Balin.

"The Arkenstone. Huh!" said Bilbo.

"Are you ready for what is about to happen?" asked Thorin.

Bilbo gulped and took a deep breath. Glanced at the many faces around him, staring back. "Yes, I'm ready," he replied back with so much confidence in him, he couldn't understand himself why he has the confidence of doing something bad. Especially when it involves a dragon.

Balin walked over to him. "You'll be fine laddie, although I have to be perfectly honest, I don't know what you will find down there. Oh! Bilbo, if you do cross paths and find the dragon, don't waken it." Balin warned the hobbit and walked out of the door.

Bilbo, again sighed and continued down the hall until he had reached the King's hall with all of the gold scattered everywhere. "Right, this is gonna be difficult as I thought. Arkenstone," he whispered to himself as he also cussed under his breath.

He walked down quietly until he got to the bottom of the steps where the steps and the gold made contact with each other. "Why did I agree to do this again?" Bilbo asked himself. Bilbo walked across the amount of gold in search of the Arkenstone. The hobbit picked up one object then flung it across the room and picked up the other whilst telling it to shut it. Bilbo stopped as he heard coins hit each other. He looked behind him with wide eyes as he could see Smaug's head with his eyes closed. He cussed again and went to hide behind a stone pillar. Smaug woke and and moved more to stretch his limbs. Bilbo was in trouble now.

oOo

Thorin and the rest of the company were waiting outside of the door for Bilbo. They don't know what's happening, when they heard a rumble. "What was that?" asked Dwalin.

Balin replied back. "That, my lad, was the dragon."

The company looked at Balin with wide fearful eyes as they prayed for the hobbit to be alive. Thorin was staring out to the horizon again and Balin walked up to him. "I think we should go in a help the lad out, don't you think?"

"I'm not gonna throw this quest away for just one burglar," replied Thorin.

Balin furrowed his brows in disgust. "Bilbo. His name is Bilbo. You should be grateful that he is risking his life for this Arkenstone, and since there is a sickness that lies upon you like your grandfather."

"I'm not my grandfather!" replied Thorin.

"Well you are not yourself as far as I can tell! The Thorin that I know would not leave the poor hobbit behind and get hurt by that dragon. He would simply go in and help him," said Balin as he continued. "Don't you think that it would be a good idea of clearing your head and help that poor soul who is in danger?"

"Don't tell me what to do! I am your King!" Thorin roared and everyone jumped at his outburst.

"Well that settles it," replied Balin as he walked away from his so-called-king.

A/N: That's chapter 7 finished. I am so so so sorry about this very late update. I haven't been having a good few months as 3 of my family members had passed away and my cat got put down so I have been very emotional. I will start chapter 8 now and upload that as well. Please don't forget to review.