Chapter Twelve: The Triumph of the Witch

Edmund diverted his eyes away from the stone form of Tumnus. Having the lifeless statue standing in his cell was worse punishment than being alone. The Faun was a reminder of his folly, and he worried over his siblings constantly, wondering what the Witch had planned for them.

His fingers were numb and turning blue. He could hardly bend them. He stuck them in his pockets, hoping that, somehow, they would find some warmth. One did.

Edmund started at the heat that brushed against his fingers, and the voices that started hissing in his head. He removed the object from his pocket and beheld the ring he had found in Mirkwood – the ring that would make him invisible.

Instantly, a plan began to formulate in his brain. He quickly stuck the ring on his finger and got to his feet. The chains rattled. Edmund removed the ring and slunk back to the floor, annoyed with himself. He was going to need someone to free him from the shackles first.

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Fili and Kili were the first inside the destroyed entrance of the Mountain Kingdom. Bofur and Oin followed closely, their eyes taking in the deserted surroundings. Eustace came running in behind them, afraid the Dwarves were trying to lose him. They were all shouting strange words – Bifur, Bombur, whatever those were – into the abandoned passages as they ran throughout the place. No one seemed to be there. Kili was on the verge of demanding what Eustace had done with their kin, when a voice sounded.

"Wait! Wait!"

"That's Bilbo!" exclaimed Bofur, staring up a stairway from where the shout was coming from. "He's alive."

Soon, the Hobbit materialized, winding his way over open bridges and stairs toward the four Dwarves. "Stop! Stop! Stop! We need to leave. We all need to leave."

"We only just got here," Bofur remarked, confused.

"I've tried talking to him, but he won't listen."

"What do you mean, laddie?" asked Bofur.

"Thorin!" Bilbo shouted, startling the others. "Thorin. Thorin. He doesn't sleep. He barely eats. He's not been himself. Not at all. I-it's this place. I think a sickness lies on it."

"Sickness?" questioned Kili, shooting Eustace a glance. The boy appeared completely baffled by everything that was going on. There was no recognition in his eyes that he had even been in Erebor before. Was it possible he did not remember being Smaug? "What kind of sickness?"

His brother brushed past him then, going down the stairs, intent on something.

"Fili?" Bilbo looked worriedly after the blonde Dwarf. "Fili. Fili!"

They followed him downward into the deepest holds of the Mountain – Smaug's previous lair. Gold coins were in heaps everywhere; no floor could be seen. Gems gleamed in the torch light, and precious objects stuck part way out of the piles, almost as if they longed for someone to finish unburying them. Kili gave Eustace another long stare, but the boy seemed as mesmerized as the rest; none of them had ever beheld such a sight.

An antechamber of carved jade was situated on the far side of the hold, and from its door emerged a figure clad in thick furs, rings and necklaces, and the befitting attire of a King. He mumbled to himself, seemingly unaware of the newcomers, then he slowly turned his head toward them, smiling.

"Behold the great treasure hold of Thror." He threw a ruby into the air, which was caught by Fili. "Welcome my sister-sons," he went on, "to Erebor."

He began to climb the stairs to join them on the landing. His smile faded when he noticed the skinny boy. "Who is this, and what is he doing here?" Kili was about to explain how they had fished him out of the lake, and how they felt somewhat obligated to helping him – though he was not going to mention Tauriel's suspicion – when Thorin wrinkled his nose and made a disgusted noise. "Smells like the rear end of a minotaur."

"That is an outrageous lie!" the boy rebuffed. "I will have you know I won the school hygiene award two years running."

Bilbo looked impressed while the Dwarves stared at one another.

"I'll tell you all about him later, Uncle," Kili spoke up. "But first, where can we find the rest of our kin? Is everyone alive?"

"They're all very much alive and in the Dining Hall, feasting on whatever they can find that hasn't spoilt," Bilbo explained. "I'll take you to them. Won't-won't you come, Thorin?"

The Dwarfleader had turned his head back to the gold strewn chamber, saying nothing. Bilbo rolled his eyes from the nephews to the uncle with a 'see what I mean?' look. The four Dwarves nodded before following the Hobbit to the Halls where the Royal Dwarves had eaten their meals in far-off times.

Unbeknownst to them, Thorin watched them go, his eyes lingering on the Son of Adam. Later, when Kili mumbled out a reason for "Useless Claire Snub" being there, Thorin barely heard a word. He had his own suspicions why a Man had come to Erebor: to steal the Heart of the Mountain – the Arkenstone.

{Section Break}

Edmund was shoved forward by the Black Dwarf, out of the cell and up the stairs to the courtyard. The statues did not appear to be as eerie in the light of day; nevertheless, they were still haunting, staring in terror – their last gaze before the Witch froze them. However, there was one figure who wore a different expression. Edmund stopped in front of the stiff woman, surprised by her determined look; one of total defiance. She had stood up to the Witch.

"Are you ready, Son of Adam?" Jadis called from the sledge.

Edmund faced her, sticking his hand in his pocket as he did so. Next instant, the Dwarf was standing by his lonesome, looking completely bewildered. Jadis was equally as stunned, but she recovered quickly.

"Follow the footprints!" she screeched, pointing after flying snow and the indentations that materialized in the snow.

A Warg, that had been lying in the shadow of a statue, bounded forth, pouncing on the air above the footprints. After a slight struggle and a scream, Edmund reappeared, clutching at a bloody hand. His fingers were intact but cut from where the fell creature had torn off the ring. Jadis was standing over him within a moment, scooping up the gold band out of the red-stained snow.

"What have we here?" she asked, examining the piece of jewelry.

"It's mine! Give it back!" Edmund shouted as a great desire to have the ring stole over him. The Warg lunged onto him, baring its teeth in the boy's face.

Jadis continued to stare at the ring, while voices whispered subtly in her head. She had an idea what this shiny piece of gold represented.

"Ginarrbrik, build a fire," she ordered.

"A what?" the Dwarf questioned, completely baffled.

"You heard me," the White Witch snapped. "I want a fire."

It took some time for Ginarrbrik to get a fire going on the snow-covered courtyard, with cold, damp sticks as fuel. As soon as there was a little blaze, Jadis tossed the ring into the flames.

"What are you doing?" demanded Edmund, eyes growing wide. The Warg growled threatening from his position on the boy's chest, silencing him.

After a moment, and the gold band had not melted, Jadis retrieved the stick her Dwarf sidekick had been using to stoke the fire, and she used it to carefully lift the ring from the tiny inferno.

"Off him," she ordered to the Warg as she turned to the boy. "Hold out your hand, Edmund," she requested once he was on his feet.

Edmund dared not disobey, but he took it reluctantly, expecting the ring to be blistering hot. Instead, it felt only lukewarm in the palm of his hand. For being in amongst flames, it was surprisingly cool, but there was still some of its own personal warmth – as if magic coursed through it.

"What can you see?" the Witch questioned impatiently. "Can you see anything?"

"Nothing," Edmund answered after a brief examination of the gold band. "There's nothing…wait."

Jadis stiffened slightly, then leaned down toward Edmund to determine if he was fooling her.

"There are some kind of markings. I can't read it." Edmund looked up at the Witch, confused. Maybe it simply said, 'This ring will make all wearers turn invisible;' however, the expression on Jadis's face made the boy realize it was something far more important.

"It's Elvish," she whispered to herself, though all could hear. "There are few who can read it." She took the ring into her own hand, though Edmund tried to keep it. "It is the language of Charn, where I came from. But I shall not utter it here."

Ginarrbrik shuttered. "Mordor," Edmund heard him mumble.

"In the common tongue, it says: 'One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them.'" Jadis suddenly grinned like a fool. "This is the One Ring, forged by Sauron himself, in the fires of Mount Doom! Well, Edmund," she cooed, regaining her usual chilly composure, "maybe you aren't a total loss."

{Section Break}

Bilbo sat by himself in one of the upper corridors. The sounds of Thorin's booming voice and the discouraged grunting of the other Dwarves were inaudible from the lower holds of the Mountain. Thorin was bent on finding the Arkenstone, but as of yet, none had been able to locate it.

Smaug's deep, sleek voice creeped into Bilbo's mind. "I am almost tempted to let you take it, if only to see Oakenshield suffer."

Bilbo remembered that moment clearly. The beautiful shining gem lay on the floor, barely a meter from his feet. He knew Smaug was on the verge of killing him; he knew Smaug had no intention of letting him live, no matter how much pleasure Smaug would have watching Thorin destroy himself over the jewel he desired so greatly. Moving as quickly as he could, and cursing inwardly about losing his ring to the boy in Mirkwood, Bilbo scooped up the Arkenstone, and hid himself behind a pillar just as Smaug unleashed a fiery onslaught.

Bilbo shuddered once at the memory, then glanced around to make certain that he was truly alone. Gently, he pulled the gem out of his coat pocket. Fire like that of an opal, only stronger, brighter, reigned within the stone. It truly was the most magnificent thing the Hobbit had ever beheld.

"What have you got there?" demanded Thorin's voice from the next passageway. Bilbo hurriedly got to feet as the King Under the Mountain thundered through the doorway.

"It's nothing," the Hobbit answered, doing a quick slight-of-hand trick.

"Show me," Thorin growled.

Bilbo opened his palm, revealing an acorn. "I picked it up in Beorn's garden, when we stopped there on our way here. I'm gonna plant it in my garden at Bag End when I get home."

A ghost of true smile played across the Dwarf's face. "It's a poor prize to take back to the Shire."

"One day, it will grow. And every time I look at it, I'll remember. I'll remember everything that has happened: the good, the bad, and how lucky I am to have made it home." Bilbo tried to grin. Was Thorin actually happy, somehow amused by this one simple treasure? Maybe there was hope for the Dwarfking yet; maybe he would be able to look away from all that glittered.

"I have been betrayed."

"W-what?" Bilbo stuttered, surprised by the announcement.

"We have been searching for days. The Arkenstone should have been found by now. Someone has taken it."

"Surely you do not doubt the loyalty of anyone here."

"There is one here who is not kin; someone I have not known for a great length of time."

The Hobbit gulped, thinking of the jewel in his pocket, and how he had only met Thorin and Company the night before they embarked on the journey.

"That Son of Man, Useless."

Bilbo released the breath he did not realize he had been holding. "I believe his name is Eustace, and he seems harmless enough."

"I've watched him. He's been taken in by the riches."

Bilbo wanted to point out that he had noted the same in Thorin, but was interrupted by Dwalin.

"Thorin, the people of the Lake are streaming into Dale."

"We must fortify the gate," Thorin commanded. "To the gate! Everyone to the gate!"

{Section Break}

Kili was one of the last Dwarves to the main entrance of the Mountain, now made large and gapping by Smaug. Thorin was ordering the Company to begin securing the premises by stacking the broken rocks to create a defense wall, when Nori, Bifur, and Dori arrived, escorting a tall redhead.

"Thorin, we found her skulking about in the lower holds."

"Tauriel," Kili said, taking a step forward before being stopped by his uncle's upheld hand.

"Explain why an Elf is in the palace of a Dwarf-lord," Thorin growled up at her.

"I meant no harm, King Under the Mountain. I have come in search of the Human-boy, Eustace, as it was said I would."

"Aye, it was told you would come to collect him," Thorin remarked, nodding to Kili. "But why did you sneak like a thief, rather than come before me with your errand?"

"Because I found no one when I came to your gates. I feared that, perhaps, all were slain. I have wandered these caverns, searching for anyone. I came across no one until these fellows here found me." Tauriel pursed her lips, battling to manage her anger that had been incurred by the insults. "Now, if I could take Eustace, we'll leave and you'll never see us again."

The Dwarfking grinned malignly. "You'll disappear…with the Arkenstone."

"The what?"

"It is the birthright of Dwarfish people! You sent that runt-boy here to obtain it, then you two would take it back to Thranduil!"

"No!"

"Uncle!" Kili got in front of Thorin. "Tauriel is not a thief. She was just trying to help Useless get away from the people of Laketown. She has done nothing wrong."

"Do not turn against me, Kili." Thorin brought his head close to his nephew's. "Maybe you assisted them to obtain the Heart of the Mountain for yourself."

"Uncle…?" Kili staggered back a step in disbelief.

"Do you want to rot in the dungeons with them?"

Kili swallowed hard. "Uncle, I can assure you-"

"Silence!" The Dwarfking turned to the Dwarves surrounding the Elf. "Lock her and Useless in the cells. The rest of you, start building. We shall have no more unwanted guests."

Kili watched his kin lead Tauriel away. He knew she could have fought them off and fled, but she did not. Bofur went and found Eustace and hauled him along by reaching up and taking hold of his ear. Tauriel's mission had been to save Eustace, and Kili had a feeling she would still find a way to do that when thirteen Dwarves and a Hobbit were not all standing in front of the door.

"Kili, Fili, Balin, Dwalin!" Thorin called them to him. "I've a job for you. Balin, do you remember where we stored the war machines?"

"Up on the ridge, on the back side of the Lonely Mountain," the white-bearded Dwarf replied. "But I doubt they're of any use now. The wood would be all rotted and the metal, rusted."

"See what can be salvaged and bring it back here." Thorin gazed out the open entrance of his mountain stronghold to Dale where campfires were being lighted. "I fear we are in need of weapons."

A.N.: So, Jadis, who has liked to believe herself to be in Suaron's place for all these years, (as Saruman pointed out), now has the One Ring. What will she try to do with? You'll all have to patient and wait and see!:)

Question: What is the creature Thranduil is riding in the films? Moose, Elk, Caribou, some fictional animal? Let me know what you think it was.

Peter, Susan, and Lucy return in the next chapter, and the Battle of the Five Armies is about to begin.