Chapter 10: Home
They arrived in Lake-town but did not stay they knew that there are elvish scouts on their tail. Since Cartel and Legolas were at home in the forest the group ran along the tree line til Legolas spotted the elvish scouts. So they ran into the forest to stay as hidden as possible. They ran to the foot of the mountain. The dwarfs' home Erebor it was covered in moss but the mountain was home to them and to Cartel, but she didn't feel at home unless she was near Thorin.
As the dwarfs led Legolas and Cartel up the secret stairs to the hidden door, Legolas smelled the dragon's stench. It reminded him of when his Ada tried to cook for them. Ada made a terrible mess and smell. But all Cartel could think about how she was going to kill Smaug and peel off one scale for every dwarf he killed in the taking of Erebor. After the scales are collected she would make a coat of armor for Thorin as a revenge gift. She smiled at the thought of it.
Thorin saw her smile, it wasn't a smile of joy, but a smile of evil intention. He wondered what was going through her brilliant mind at that moment. Cartel's smiled faded Smaug could recognize the scent of an elves. But Legolas promised to follow her into the mountain. It was night when they reached the top so everyone went to sleep. But Thorin nor Cartel could sleep they sat and stood watch together.
Rose moved closer and closer to Thorin and whispered softly into his ear, "If this mountain is home, then why do I feel at home next to you?" Thorin was in a trance why did she feel at home with him, did she love him. Thorin snapped out of it when Cartel kissed both his ears. She saw daylight rising. Thorin grabbed Cartel's hand and whispered "You are my home Cartel." She stood up to wake Legolas turns out he wasn't sleeping, he had heard everything that was said and he was curled up crying. The voice in his head was as silent as before he knew Cartel.