I HOLD NO CLAIMS TO ANY MEMBER OF THIS STORY. Only Miriel, Drake, the female dwarves, Ammie, and the female elves are mine :)

Chapter Twenty

The Lonely Mountain

"Get your hands off of me! Do you even know who I am!?"

Lula sighed as all the dwarves were gathered in front of the Lake Master's House. They had tried to take weapons from an armory but got caught. Drake had disappeared right after the dwarves had left Bard's house, leaving them on their own. Durila was the one making the fuss, ripping her arm from the guards grasp.

"You foolish men will regret this."

"You're not helping the situation, dear," Gloin told her.

"No, wait," Dwalin stepped forward. "She might be onto something here."

"What the hell could that be?!" Bofur demanded but the older dwarf stepped forward again.

"Hold your tongue." Dwalin growled at Alfrid as the townsfolk all talked behind them. "You do not know to whom you speak. We are not common criminals. You stand before three lines of royal blood! Durila, daughter of Dain of Iron Hills. And this is Thorin, Son of Thrain, son of Thror and his wife, Raniel." At the names, the crowds murmured in excitement. Durila looked pleased as eyes passed over her. Thorin looked solemn as he stopped forward, and Raniel barely moved, save for the sigh that escaped her lips.

"We are the dwarves of Erebor," Thorin announced. "We have come to reclaim our homeland." He took steps forward, staring up at the man before him. "I remember this town in the great days of old." He began to look at the other people. "Fleets of boats lay at harbor filled with silks and fine gems. This was no forsaken town on a lake. This was the center of all trade in the North!" The crowd began to grow excited. "I would see those days return. I would relight the great forges of the Dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the Halls of Erebor!"

The people began to cheer but a single word cut through it, bringing it all to a stop.

"Death!" Bard emerged from the crowd, anger on his face. Olivia moved behind him, a look of worry plastered to hers. "That is what you'll bring upon us! Dragon fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all."

Thorin turned back to the crowd. "You can listen to this naysayer but I promise you this: if we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain."

Raniel frowned at his words and glanced at Balin. Her grandfather shared her look. Both of them could tell that Thorin was lying; but why?

"You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth 10 times over!"

Bard shook his head as the people roared but still he didn't give up. "Have you forgotten what happened to Dale? Have you forgotten those who dies in the firestorm? And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a Mountain King, so riven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!"

"Though that may be true," Raniel's voice broke out over the crowd. "Thror was a foolish King, but his descendant shouldn't be judged for what he did."

"The lady is right," The Lake Master nodded. "After all, laying blame does nothing. For was it not your ancestor, Bard, Lord Girion, that failed to kill the beast in the first place?"

"It's true," Alfrid agreed. "We all know the story. Arrow after arrow, he shot. Each one missing its mark."

"Did we not just say we were not going to lay blame for what our ancestors have done?" Olivia matched up to stand before Alfrid and the Lake Master. "If Bard is to be blamed for his ancestor not killing the beast, then so should I. My ancestor was the one that forged those arrows in the first place. And speaking of Ancestors, who was the one that raped and murdered women in the alleys, eh? The ancestor of our dear Lake Master here. Why are you not held accountable for what your family did? Or how about the thief in your family, Alfrid? Laying blame will get us nowhere. You're all fighting about sending dwarves into a mountain to fight a Dragon. A dragon that laid waste to the entire side of the mountain. What do you think 16 dwarves can do against this beast when an entire kingdom could do nothing to it almost two hundred years ago?"

Olivia's words made the crowd murmur in doubt again. Bard shot her an appreciative look before stepping towards Thorin. "You have no right. No right to enter that mountain."

Thorin looked up at him. "I have the only right."

"Raniel, I don't like this," The queen turned to look at Lula and Durila as the two of them gathered around her. "I don't like this at all. These people, these humans…"

"They will turn on him," Durila announced. "The moment we're gone, he will be targeted; most likely her, too."

"And they call dwarves greedy." Lula grunted.

"Bard," Raniel moved closer to the man. "I'm sorry."

The man glanced down at her, ready to curse at her like he did Thorin, but the look on her face stopped him. He gave a sigh instead. "It's not your fault. I just pray that whatever plan you have works in all our favors."

Raniel closed her eyes.

~So do I.~

The next morning, the entire town gathered around a boat that the dwarves would be using to get to the Lonely Mountain; all save for Bofur. Lula had been trying to find her brother all morning, but it seemed that it was impossible to do so.

"If we're to find the door before nightfall we must be quick," Balin was telling Raniel.

"Bofur will catch up," Durila told her friend.

"I know; I'll smack him when he does, too."

"Not you." Thorin's voice made the three women turn to see that Kili had been stopped from stepping onto the boat. "We need to travel fast. You'll only slow us down."

Kili, looking so pale and frail, stared at his uncle in disbelief. "What are you talking about? I'm coming with you."

Thorin shook his head has he passed more onto the boat. "Not now."

Kili didn't back down. "I'm going to be there when those doors open. When we first look upon the Halls of our Fathers, Thorin."

"Kili, stay here. Rest." Thorin ran a hand over his nephew's hair. "Join us when you're healed."

Kili looked heartbroken. Thorin turned to board the boat but was stopped by Lula. The female dwarf had placed her hands on her hips and as giving him a firm look.

"That's not fair and you know it, old man."

"He will only slow us down."

"He's your nephew! You can't just toss him aside."

"I'll stay with the lad," Oin called out, getting off the boat. "My duty lies with the wounded."

"Sorry, Raniel," Lula gave the other dwarf a smile. "I'll be staying here, too. He's my patient after all."

Raniel gave a small smile as Lula sauntered over to Kili, not even waiting for a reply. She felt guilty, yes, but she did understand Thorin's reasons. Kili could hurt himself even worse. To face Smaug with a wound like that, it was like offering him up on a platter. Thorin should have discussed this with the young dwarf the night before instead of just crushing his dreams like he just had.

"Uncle," Fili stepped forward. "We grew up on tales of the mountain. Tales you told us. You cannot take that away from him!"

"Fili," Thorin sighed.

"I will carry him if I must."

"One day you will be king and you will understand." Thorin told him. "I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one Dwarf. Not even my own kin." The younger dwarf took one look at his brother and then stepped off the boat. Thorin grabbed him. "Fili, don't be a fool. You belong with the company."

Fili gave him a spiteful look. "I belong with my brother."

"Raniel," Durila looked over at the other woman. The Princess had yet to step onto the boat, instead standing firmly in front of the humans. "Go make sure this fool doesn't ruin everything we've done here. Hurry up and get this over with so we can come walk the halls ourselves, understand?"

Raniel turned her eyes to Fili and Kili, as if asking for their permission. Fili nodded to her and she closed her eyes. "So be it." Her eyes opened again as she stepped onto the boat, taking a place by Ammie and Bilbo. "Take care of him. And don't let your guard down."

"Not in a thousand years," Durila gave the queen a wave. "And if something happens to you, well, that's just keep that from happening, agreed?"

Raniel smirked as the boat took off. "Agreed."

Everything fell silent for a moment as the humans all left to go about their day before Durila let out a huge curse.

"That bastard. The more I'm around him, the more I hate him. How Raniel ever fell in love with him I'll never know."

Fili glanced at Durila as she moved towards them. I understand Oin and Lula, but why did you stay? Why not go with them?"

"Because I'd rather enjoy your company than your uncle's." She crossed her arms. "Is that a crime?"

Fili stared at her for a moment before giving a sigh, struggling not to grin.

"No! please wait!" Bofur's form came flying to the edge of the water and he stomped his foot in distress when he saw that he had missed the boat. He then turned and found the five of them standing there. A grin spread across his face. "Ha. So you missed the boat as well?"

Fili wen to reply when his brother doubled over. "Kili? Kili!"

"I told you to tell me if anything felt off!" Lula cried, placing a hand to his forehead; he was burning up. "I just thought you were so pale rom the blood loss but now… now I know it's something else!"

"Something else?" Fili cried. "Like what?"

"That arrow…I've no doubt now; it was poisoned."

"Dirty bastards." Durila cursed. "We have to get him somewhere safe before we can deal with the poison."

"Back to Bard's," Lula commented as Oin and Fili held Kili between them.

Bofur led the way but the moment that Bard saw their faces he tried to shut the door. "No. I'm done with Dwarves. Go away."

Bofur grabbed the door. "No. No, no, please. No one will help us. Kili's sick." Bofur glanced back at the young dwarf behind him. "Very sick."

"We believe that the arrow I pulled out yesterday was poisoned," Lula told him.

"Please! Drake said that you and Olivia were the only ones we could trust here!" Durila pleaded. "You have to help us."

"Bard," Olivia called over his shoulder, her tone pleading.

Bard gave Kili another look before sighing. "Bring him in."

Lula felt like she was going to cry. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

~Hate me

Break me

Let me feel as hurt as you

Push me

Crush me

But promise me you'll never let us go~

Drake knew that he should help them search but he found his body unwanting to move. It wasn't hard to figure out why; he didn't even have to think about it. On the other side of this secret door was Smaug; was his father. He wanted nothing to do with that lizard bastard, but he had promised Miriel and Gandalf that he would keep the Dwarves safe. The faster this was over with, the faster he could return to Mirkwood and Tauriel and clear out the spiders.

Tauriel. Drake had no doubt that she was furious with him. To just disappear on her again like that, he knew that she was going to get an earful when he saw her again. He didn't look forward to that.

Drake was laying down on the head of the Dwarf carved in the mountain, watching the Dwarves and Hobbits that didn't even notice that he was there. He frowned, noticing that several of the dwarves were missing. He expected Kili to be left behind due to his leg, and Lula seeming as how she was looking after him, but for Bofur and Oin, Fili and Durila all to be missing now too…had there been an argument after he left them the night before? He had skipped town when the Dwarves had been caught, knowing that Thorin was slick enough to catch up to him.

He frowned even deeper when Thorin and the other Dwarves just gave up, leaving Bilbo, Ammie, and Raniel to stand before the hidden door as the moon rose up in the sky. These Dwarves gave up to easily for his taste.

"You know," Drake called out as Thorin picked the Key back up. "If it weren't for these Hobbits, you never would have made it anywhere, would you Thorin? Not so useless after all, are they?"

"And just where the hell have you been? Ammie called up to him with a frown.

"Waiting for you here," He answered, sliding down to stand with them. "I didn't feel like dealing with the Lake Master."

"And we did?"

"Well, you're here, aren't you? Most of you, anyway." He watched as Thorin opened the secret doors. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"

Thorin went to walk in first but he stopped himself, turning instead to Raniel. He didn't say a word to her, merely giving a bow and holding his hand out in a motion to her to walk in first. Raniel stared at him for a moment, a memory of their first dance together where he had bowed the same way when asking for her hand. Shaking her mind free of it, she stepped through the door way and took a deep breath; only to cough from inhaling the musty air. Drake's laughter could be heard from outside and she growled for him to shut up as they all filed in one by one.

Everyone was beside themselves in joy and awe, leaving Drake in the back with his arms crossed. The further he walked into this place, the angrier he got.

He hated this.

He dreaded this.

He promised this.

~Gandalf, Miriel, the two of you better hurry the fuck up.~

"You want to send them in there with the dragon?" Raniel's voice brought Drake from his thoughts and he turned as she glared at Thorin. "That was your big plan? Just to make him get the Arkenstone!?"

"You didn't know?" Ammie raised a brow.

"No, I had no clue!" Raniel shook her head. "You can't do this, Thorin. It's murder! If anyone should do it, it's you since you're the one that wants the stone so bad." She began to pace. "I thought we were going to try and lure the dragon out of the mountain, not steal from it while he sleeps!"

"And what would we do if the Dragon was lured out?" Thorin asked her.

"I thought that's what Gandalf and Miriel were here for!"

"Well, neither of them are here," The Dwarf told her. "So in go the Hobbits."

Raniel shook her head. "No, I won't let you send them to their deaths. If you want that damn stone so bad, I'll go. I'll go in there and get and I'll break the damn thing!"

Raniel had moved towards the end of the hall but Dwalin grabbed her hand. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a second and calm down, dear." "I'll go with them." Drake announced. Everyone looked at him and he scratched his nose. "It was part of the deal with the wizard and his girlfriend. If I helped with Smaug then they'd help me with Thranduil. Let's just get this over with, shall we?"

"I do not approve of this at all, Thorin! Any of you!"

"Don't worry, Ran," Ammie smiled at the Dwarf. "We'll be just fine."

Raniel took a look at her smile before pulling her into a hug. She pulled Bilbo into it too. "If that dragon wakes up before you find that cursed stone then run as fast as you can. And if you do find that stone," Her voice dropped to where they could barely hear her. "Keep it away from Thorin."

Bilbo backed up from the Dwarf, nodding his head. "I promise."

She kissed the top of his head. "good boy." She kissed Ammie's too. "Both of you, stay safe."

"Don't I get a kiss too?" Drake grinned.

"Bring both of them back alive with you and I'll give you whatever you want." Raniel told him.

Drake gave a laugh and turned away.

"So…you want us to find a Jewel." Bilbo commented, looking at Balin. Raniel had wanted to be the one to walk them into the treasure chamber but Dwalin refused it, placing himself between her and the pathway after the other four moved down it.

"A large, white jewel," Balin nodded. "Yes."

"That's it?" The Hobbit asked.

"How different will it be from any other down there?"

"I know what it looks like," Drake answered. "Bring me any white Jewel you find if you're not sure and I'll tell you."

Balin looked at the tall man. "You know a lot more than you should. You're keeping to many secrets from us."

"I keep secrets from everyone, Dwarf," Drake gave him a smile as he headed down the steps. "You're not special."

Balin watched after him for a moment before turning back to the Hobbits.

"In truth…I do not know…what you will find down there. You needn't go if you don't want to. There's no dishonor in turning back."

"No, Balin," Bilbo shook his head as Ammie just smiled beside him. "I promised I would do this…and I think I must try."

"There's no try, there's do." Ammie raised a fist. "We'll find that stone for you and come back out alive! Count on it!"

Balin stared at them before laughing. "It never ceases to amaze me."

"What's that?"

The Dwarf smiled. "The courage of Hobbits." The trio smiled at each other before Balin gave another sigh. "Go now. With as much luck as you can muster."

Grabbing Bilbo's hand, Ammie hurried down the path to catch up to Drake. He had stopped just around the corner for them, a frown on his face.

"If you want to go back, now's your chance." Ammie told him.

Drake shook his head with a smirk. "And let the two of you show me up? Not in a hundred years." He glanced at them. "Are you sure you want to go in there? I can do it while you wait here for me."

"And let you face danger alone?" Bilbo shook his head. "I'd rather get this done as fast as possible. Three is better than one."

"If that's your wish, then in the case that Smaug does wake up," Drake told the duo beside him. "Let me do the talking. I'll keep him distracted and give you two time to escape."

Drake passed through a archway and then froze as knocking echoed behind him. Turning, he found Ammie standing there with a hand slapped over her face as Bilbo sheepishly lowered his hand. Drake couldn't help but give a grin as he shook his head.

"Please try not to get us killed."

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