Chapter 28
The Mountain and the Door
The dwarves rowed the boat closer to the Mountain. Thorin stood tall and proud at the front of the boat as I sat next to Nori. I looked at the Lonely Mountain as we got closer. Nori got out with Dwalin and Bombur to pull the boat on the shore. I took Nori's hand and he helped me out of the boat.
"Get rid of the armor. We won't need it." Thorin said. The dwarves she'd the armor and we head towards the Mountain. We climb some foothills . Thorin suddenly runs up a hill and we come up to see a city in ruins. Dale.
"What is this place?" Bilbo asked as we all stood in a line. I stood between Nori and Dori.
"Dale." I said. Balin nodded.
"Yes. Now it is a ruin. The desolation of Smaug." Balin said.
"The sun will soon reach midday. Let's find the hidden door into the mountain before it sets. This way." Thorin said.
"Wait. Is this the overlook? Gandalf said to meet him here. On no account we..." Bilbo was cut off.
"Do you see him? We have no time to wait upon the wizard. We're on our own. Come." Thorin said as he turned and walked away. The others followed.
"I don't like this."I said.
"Me neither. Let's go. Your husband will be worried." Bilbo said. I nod and we follow after the dwarves. We come to the stone statues of the dwarves. The dwarves started looking for the secret entrance.
"Anything?" Thorin asked as he leaned on his sword that was sticking out of the ground.
"Nothing." Dwalin said.
"If the map is true, the hidden door lies directly above us." Thorin said.
"Up here!" Bilbo yells. We ran to where Bilbo was and we saw stairs going up the side of one of the statues.
"You have keen eyes, Master Baggins." Thorin said, putting a hand on Bilbo's shoulder. I groaned. There were so many stairs.
"Come love. I will stay behind you and make sure you don't fall." Nori said. I smile weakly and we joined the others as we began to climb the steps. We come to a clearing. Thorin runs to it.
"This must be it. The hidden door." Thorin said. We join him where he was. He faced us and held up the key. "Let all those who doubted us rue this day!" The dwarves cheered.
"Right. We have the key, which means that somewhere, there is a keyhole." Dwalin said. He begins to feel the walls with his fingers looking for the keyhole. I watch as Thorin walked to the edge of the clearing and looks at the setting sun.
"The last night of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole." Thorin said. He looks at the wall. I watch as the sun gets lower and lower and no keyhole was showing. "Nori!" Nori kisses my check and hurries to the wall and begins to tap the wall with a spoon in certain spots. Bilbo stood next to me as we watch as Nori hold a cup to his ear against the wall as he taps and Dwalin pushes against the wall. "We're losing the light"
"Come on!" Dwalin yelled, as he starts kicking the wall.
"Be quiet! I can't hear when you're thumping." Nori said.
"Break it down!" Thorin shouted. Dwalin, Gloin, and Bifur began to smash the wall with their weapons. I bit my lip as they didn't succeed.
"It's no good! The door's sealed. It can't be opened by force. Powerful magic on it." Balin dwarves stopped hitting the wall and drop their weapons. The sun disappears.
"No!" Thorin said, stumbling forward, examining the map.
"Thorin." I said. He ignores me.
"The last light of Durins Day.." I didn't hear the rest as I saw a bird pick up the rock and knocks on the wall. The dwarves stopped talking and watched.
"A thrush." Ori said.
"Could the last light of Durin's Day be moonlight?" I ask, looking up at the sky to see the moon comes out behind the cloud and the light shows on the wall. A keyhole is shown. I smile as Thorin steps towards it and inserts the key. He turns the key and sounds of mechanisms is heard. Thorin pushes the wall and a door opens to reveal a tunnel. Thorin stands in the doorway.
"Erebor." Thorin said
"Thorin." Balin said, choking up. Thorin steps in and runs his hand across the walls.
"I know these walls... These walls, this stone. You remember it, Balin. Chambers filled with golden light." Thorin said. I felt Nori wrap an arm around me. I look up and see him looking at Thorin, who looked lost in memory.
"I remember." Balin said, stepping in the tunnel. I walked into the tunnel with the dwarves and Bilbo. Noti points up and I see a carving in the wall above the door of a throne and a stone that was sending out light rays in all directions.
"Herein lies the seventh kingdom of Durin's Folk. May the heart of the mountain unite all dwarves in defense of this home" Gloim said. Nori's arm slightly tightens on my waist.
"The throne of the King." Balin said.
"Oh. And what's that above it?" Bilbo asked
"The Arkenstone." Balin said.
"Arkenstone? And what's that?" Bilbo asked.
"That, Master Burglar, is why you are here." Thorin said. I saw he looked bewildered and I wondered if he could handle this.
An: There's the new chapter. I promise another update and soon. Till next time
