A/N: And so the end draws nearer and nearer, there are only thirty one chapters and an epilogue, so we are getting very, very close my lovely readers. I still hope you are all enjoying, and this chapter is part 1 of the great build up to the battle. Also brief warning, there are quite a few time skips in this chapter. Also, I truly can't decide when to post Chapter 29, so I will do it either tomorrow or before if/when I get five reviews. I'm just trying to base it on what you guys want. So enjoy this chapter!
~l l~
They all stood in awe before he looked back to the treasure, taking almost no note of the fact they were there. He stood amongst the gold, turning his back and Bilbo led them away. He muttered something about gold sickness. Kira could feel it too, this was wrong. She felt terribly uneasy and reached for Kili's hand, on instinct, who though surprised, held hers just as tightly.
Upon coming to the realization of this place, her hopes began diminishing. They weren't done yet, no, far from it. Whatever lay upon this place, this kingdom, this king, they had to figure it out and fix it, lest it get the best of them all.
But on she looked, and finally, Bilbo led them into a banquet hall of sorts where all of the dwarves were seated. Each of them jumped up and she felt herself pulled into hugs, and clapped on the back as they all yelled out. She then turned back to Bilbo and hugged the wonderful hobbit. She whispered, "I don't want to hurt everyone else's feelings, but I've missed you the most Bilbo."
He smiled, before embracing her back as best he could with his small arms. He muttered back, "Dwarves are alright, but at least a lady can keep her manners. Hopefully, you'll prove to be some help around here."
They both straightened out, before she greeted the rest of the company. She commented, "Bombur, I hope things went well!" or "Gloin! So good to see you." She even mentioned, "Balin, Erebor really is as grand as your stories. I am glad I got to see it."
And so they all began to settle down. They sat around the table, Kira placing herself between Kili and Bofur, the former's and her hands nearly instantly intertwining. She thought it was a bit mushy, but now with the new obstacle ahead of them, she was unsure just how often they would be together and wanted to relish in it. As Bilbo finally stood at the head of the table, Dwalin boomed, "So what in Thrain's name happened to ya lads? Lass?"
And so, Bofur took over the storytelling, as he seemed keen to do whenever it was a worthwhile tale. He made sure to keep them on the edge of their seat as he went on about the fear-inspired awe from the fall of the dragon, or the utter despair when it seemed like Kili wasn't going to make it through the night. As with any good story teller though, he began wrapping up assuring they were all okay and had made the journey back safe and sound, all healed. He was sure to add at the end, "Though you should've seen the kiss Kili planted on Miss Kira! Young lad still has spark in him even after a meeting with death."
For what seemed the umpteenth time that day, she felt her cheeks enflame as Dwalin whistled and Gloin clapped while Ori simply whispered to himself, "I knew it."
The soft, if not mortifying, moment was interrupted by Thorin as he burst through the door. He looked angry, furious even, before he bellowed, "What are you all doing lazing around here? We have work to do, go! Go into the halls and search for the Arkenstone! I must have it!"
He ushered them out the door, so far as pushing Bifur and Bombur up, which Kira took careful note of. She was beginning to see what Bilbo meant by sickness, though it seemed to lay solely upon the King of Erebor. He was avaricious beyond compare. And many knew that nothing good could come of a greedy dwarf.
~l l~
Hours passed, only to hear the new King under the Mountain call out, "Found anything yet?" Only to be responded with a chorus of negative answers.
Her stomach dropped, she felt the tension grow before he screamed at them, "Then keep looking! The Arkenstone is in these halls, find it!"
Without realizing, she began to glare at him, hating whatever he was becoming. He was changing, and for the worse. She stopped for a moment, just to stare as he loomed over the hoard from his watchtower like a hawk. It was lazy, and borderline cruel as nearly half of the company hadn't eaten in almost a day now, they needed sustenance. Yet he pressed on, "No one rests until it is found."
And so they kept looking, searching piece by piece through what seemed to be miles of gold coin, treasures scattered here and there throughout the hallways. All while Thorin watched like a slave driver.
But at long last, he let them go, with a simple, "Get out of my sight!" And so they all stole off, most pestering Balin or Dwalin about where some food lay, and they directed them to the banquet room they were previously in.
Unceremoniously, each dwarf took their own share of what they could find, Kira joining in on the feast. After the incredibly long night, the trek here, and all of the searching, she was famished and exhausted. She even began falling asleep while eating when Bofur pushed her shoulder lightly, "C'mon lass, at least finish yer meal."
She nodded wearily, devouring the little bit of bread of her plate, before finding her body being pulled to a room with not beds per say, but an abundance of blankets. As the dwarf turned away, she didn't realize who it was, but saw a few other dwarves join her, each finding their own nest. And so they, consisting mostly of those who had come from Lake Town, fell asleep.
In what felt like minutes, a hand lightly pushed her side, calling, "C'mon princess, we're to look further." The younger dwarf smiled at her and she tiredly got up, before giving a large grin back.
As per her usual response, she called back, "Not a princess, just a lady, beardless." He smirked, taking her by the arm for a change and she linked her other arm with Fili's, who was just awakened, and not nearly as kindly as she had been. So they began toward the great gold filled halls once more, before they were forced to split up and look their separate ways.
~l l~
Quite a long time later, her fingers grew numb from searching through the precious metal. Her body felt heavy and she wanted to groan out, when someone did it for her. Yet, as she turned, Thorin was nowhere in sight while Dwalin, instead, was kicking up the gold at his feet as he huffed. He finally yelled out, for all of them to hear, "We can't do this anymore, we've looked for hours!"
He stomped over to his brother as the majority of them watched and the two whispered amongst each other. After just a moment though, Balin called them all over and he asked, "Have any of you found the Arkenstone yet? Be honest lads and lass."
All of them shook their heads, each looking more exhausted than the last. Balin sighed deeply, before stating, "Well, we need our rest, all of us, and this is getting a wee bit much. Dwalin and I are going to talk to Thorin and try to get him to see sense; I suppose keep looking in the meantime. We're going to try to sort something out."
They all nodded in the affirmative, a few grunts here or there from each of them and so the search continued. Still, each hill seemed a skyscraper compared to before and every handful moved felt like more work for later. At one point, Kira found herself simply staring at the mountains of glittering gold.
A few moments later, Thorin stormed into the hall, shouting, "So you are all thinking this is too much? You sent Dwalin and Balin to check on me? Just know this, if you are holding the stone to yourselves, you will not be forgiven lightly." And with a swish of his thick coat, he disappeared into a hallway once more, leaving them all aghast.
Silence passed and one by one, the dwarven company began trickling out of the room. She gave one last look around her, truly eyeing the place up and down, before returning to the hall they had unofficially decided as the meeting room. Some sat here, others roaming the halls of Erebor, but she merely sat down and stared blankly at the wall. Were they doomed to a life of searching? No, surely not, but when would Thorin give up… or go mad? She worried deeper than before.
Without preparation, Bilbo rushed into the room and pulled on her arm, as he whispered, "I need to talk to you, now."
She nodded, noticing the frown etched into his normally neutral face. She got up and allowed him to drag her down a few twisting hallways, each one going deeper into the caverns. Finally, he looked around him and nodded to himself, before explaining, "I talked to Balin and I think I know what this is. He called it gold sickness, apparently Thrain had it to. It's making him go crazy, all of these jewels and riches surrounding him. He's going mad with greed."
Though she had had her suspicions, this confirmed it, so she nodded. But she asked, "What can we do about it then? Hope it goes away?"
He shook his head and began tapping his foot rapidly, as his hand reached into his pockets. He muttered, "Gold sickness, no gold and the sickness has to go." But he spoke up louder, "I don't know the best we can hope is that no one finds the Arkenstone and he eventually accepts it. Perhaps I can snap some sense into him too."
He shot her a crooked grin, before he ran off without another word to her and she stood against a wall, more confused than ever in both the situation, and now her location. So she sat and gave herself much needed time to breathe. What was going on these days?
Eventually, she heard her name being called, "Kira!" "Miss Kira!" "Kiralyn!" And she perked up, walking down the hall and following the voices. Finally, she stumbled upon Fili, quite literally, and they both ended laughing. He mentioned, "It's been a few hours, we've been worried. Where were you?"
Unsure if Bilbo wanted her to share the information or not, she shook her head, making up, "I needed to clear my head, so I went on a walk and before I knew it, I was terribly lost. I'm sorry about that."
He laughed heartily, going so far as to ruffle her hair. He replied, "Well, let's hurry and get you back." He covered her ears before screaming as loudly as he could, "I found her!" She laughed quietly to herself as they all found their way into the hall, meeting up along the way.
Few words were exchanged before they went off their separate ways, falling asleep once more. The tension in the air was building and she didn't like it one bit, but no one acknowledged it. So she drifted off into a restless sleep, only to be awoken feeling as tired as before.
Apparently, they were given a new task. Balin quietly explained, "Grab something quick everyone, we're blocking up the gateway today." He had a solemn look, eyes cast downward as he said it.
She physically stopped in her tracks, confused by the task. How could they do that? Why were they so insistent on staying here and only here? Sure, the goal had always been Erebor, but wasn't it to rebuild it to its former glory? That wasn't easily done by holing themselves in here with no supplies to aid them.
And still, she followed, each task seeming more dangerous to her as each one showed a bit more madness in the new king. She wanted to bring it up with Kili, maybe even Fili, but didn't know exactly how, especially since it was their blood she was berating. So she kept quiet as Thorin got them working.
She couldn't do much lifting, and so took to one of the wheelbarrows, carting giant rocks all over the place. Every man did his part, Thorin was sure of that as he yelled, "We'll have the blockade by sun up. This mountain was hard won; I will not see it taken again."
Here, she grew suspicious. She had never understood why they were blockading the mountain, the only others out there were the people of Lake Town. People who needed food, warmth, shelter… no! He could not be blocking them off. Suddenly, she dropped the wheelbarrow and put her foot down. She would not fight against her own people, even if it meant going against the quest. Kili himself argued, "The people of Lake Town have nothing, they came to us in need, they have lost everything."
As he said this, she felt a greater admiration for him, understanding even more so the empathy he had with others. And she knew, she loved him that much more for it.
Yet Thorin growled out, all too happy to turn this around, "Do not tell me what they have lost, I know well enough their hardship." He turned more to the window-like opening, looking upon Dale and the fires in it. "Those who have lived through dragon fire should rejoice! They have much to be grateful for."
It took everything she had not to scream, her face turned bright red and her head felt like it was going to explode under the pressure. How dare he, he knew the toils of dragon fire and the bittersweet pain of living after it. He knew the agonies of rebuilding, leaving everything they knew. And they had promised! They had promised them help, gold, riches, trade! She let out a whimper and fell to the ground, desperate to release her fury in some form.
Thorin still ordered, "More stone." He lashed out at Nori before yelling louder, "More stone to the gates!"
Balin saw her and reasoned, "Come on up lassie, I don't like this as much as you do, but we have to listen to him. Come now, he'll realize what he is doing soon enough." His voice trailed off as he said this, and his eyes betrayed him, nearly shining with unborn tears. She allowed him to help her, before continuing to work blindly and numbly. She could not bring herself to lift the stones though; it was one step too far.
Fili and Kili began taking the stones from her cart, sending pitying looks, while she turned back in an effort to get more. A routine like this was better than watching Dale fade away.
~l l~
Thorin allowed them rest as dawn had shone its face. Most of them leaned against the nearest wall, too tired to do much else, but she merely stared on, unfeeling. She was still infuriated, enraged, boiling, but she had to hold it in. She was a part of this quest, and that sometimes meant sacrifice.
A few moments later, Thorin called down to them, "A horse rides on toward us, all of you, come up to prove we are strong and this is our home."
Wearily, they trekked up the steps together and she glanced down, trying to figure out who the man was. As he rode closer, she saw it was Bard and a small blossom of happiness bloomed in her now dark heart, her face brightening as he called up to them, "King Thorin, son of Thrain, we are glad to find you alive beyond hope."
The King, as to be expected from his previous actions, brushed it off and demanded, "Why do you come to the gates of the King under the Mountain armed for war?"
She boiled further, having to flex her hands to hold any sort of calm. Kili grabbed her hand and began rubbing circles, actually calming her. She shot him a grateful look as the conversation went on.
"Why does the King under the Mountain fence himself in, like a robber in his home?" Bard questioned and she understood him perfectly. This made no sense, except to a king who has lost his wits.
Yet Thorin battled back, "Perhaps it is because I am expecting to be robbed." She had a number of retorts, but held her tongue all the same, focusing instead of the hand in her own and the comfort and warmth it brought to her.
Bard kept his gaze up, a much more giving tone as he pleaded, "My lord, we have not come to rob you, but to seek fair settlement. Will you not speak with me?"
And so Thorin descended the steps as Bard got off his horse, turning instead to the single hole they had allowed in the gate-like structure. Moments passed, and she leaned closer to Kili, trying to ignore the pounding in her heart as they talked. No words reached her ears, merely the sound of conversation itself.
After much wait, they all heard, "Be gone, Man of Arrows fly!"
She could not stop it; another whimper escaped her lips, this one with much more fury behind it. Kili immediately held her tightly. Once more, she felt torn. She had friends here, loved ones, but it was not for what she believed in any longer. Out there lay her city, her kin, her people, her fight. Where does she go though? What can she do?
As Thorin came up the stairs, he pushed her away, only somewhat, as the King looked upon all of them, then gazing out at the retreating horse and rider. Finally, Bilbo scolded, "What are you doing? You cannot go to war."
Even Thorin was forced to turn when words like that came out from someone's mouth. He glared, looking for the perpetrator, making him see through as he glared on. He uttered, "This does not concern you."
She felt her own fury begin to crest, but Bilbo shouted back, "Excuse me, but just in case you haven't noticed, there is an army of elves out there, not to mention several hundred angry fishermen. We are in fact outnumbered."
For the first time in a long time, Thorin held a small smile, though it looked out of place. He countered, "Not for much longer."
Bilbo pondered, "What does that mean?" And Kira admitted, she held that question too.
"You see Master Baggins," he closed in on the little hobbit, his aura lighter, but more akin to that of the calm before the storm. He continued, "You should never underestimate dwarves. We have reclaimed Erebor, now, we defend it."
Again, he stalked off, allowing them all to their own devices. Bilbo looked desperately at the company for assistance and most looked away, as though they couldn't agree, but had to. Kira though stared him right in the eye through her own watery spectacles. She conveyed her simple message, 'This was wrong.'
