The dwarves destroyed on of the statues so it could fall and destroy the bridge that connected the land to the entrance of the mountain. Thorin was absolutely serious about going to war against the men and elves in Dale with no regard for the consequences he has set in motion. Saphira felt Bard's pain about Thorin's refusal on giving them what he promised. Both Bilbo and Saphira had vouched for Thorin and it was just thrown away like a piece of paper. The dwarves had begun to grab their armour, clean it and polish, they sifted through the weapons to clean and sharpen them ready for war in the morning. The company happily obliged there was still the fear of dying the next day that was on their minds. Saphira, on the other hand, had to deal with more dizzy spells and the churn of her stomach that put her off any food that day. She began to think through the symptoms she was having, she didn't go to any of the dwarves for help she wanted to do this on her own. She sat in the kitchen on her own, picking at the lunch she had made and nibbled at the fruit she found to try and settle her stomach.
"There you are," She heard Kili's voice.
Saphira looked up and smiled at him as he approached her. "Looking good Kili," She compliments the young dwarf on the armour he was wearing.
"Thanks," He beamed, sitting beside her. "Is the impending war troubling you?"
Saphira nodded. "It is, and something else too."
"Are you having more dizzy spells?" Kili asked.
"Yes I am," Saphira replied.
"I'll go get Oin then," He said, standing to leave.
Saphira grabbed his arm tightly, stopping him from leaving. "No, no that won't be necessary," She said quickly. "I might be able to diagnose what is wrong with me. If it is something wrong at all."
Kili frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I've had more symptoms, and they are all something I've never had until recently," Saphira explained.
"Interesting," Kili said, sitting back down beside Saphira. "Any guesses?"
Saphira thought about silently. She gasped when she realised, her hands moving to her stomach instinctively and closed her eyes. She sensed a life, no two lives within her. She opened her eyes and looked at Kili sadly.
"I'm with child," She said softly.
Kili's expression was absolutely priceless. At first it was shock, then changed to happiness, then back to shock again. He wasn't sure of what to say.
"How...how is that possible?" He asked. Saphira frowned and opened her mouth to speak when Kili spoke again. "I know how babies are made, but you're not a dwarf. You're a dragon."
Saphira chuckled softly. "I know," She said softly. "It's not impossible because I am the only one of my kin in existence. I have enough human in my blood to allow such a thing to be possible."
Kili's face beamed. "We should tell Thorin.
"I will tell him," Saphira said firmly. "I hope...I hope it will wake him up."
"So do I," Kili said, hugging her tightly. "I'm going to have a cousin."
Saphira laughed loudly at the young dwarf's comment. She made him promise not to tell anyone else about her new found pregnancy until she announced it to Thorin first.
Kili left her to finish her lunch and Saphira headed back to the armory. She took her time, thinking about how she would announce her pregnancy to Thorin. She didn't know how far along she was, she could have gotten pregnancy from the first time or the second, but it didn't matter now. She found Bilbo walking around aimlessly near the armory and he walked with her to the armory to find the dwaves still going through the armor and waeapons.
"Master Baggins, Saphira come here!" Thorin called loudly.
He was dressed in golden armour and was holding two shirts. They approach him and he walks towards them. Saphira gasped when she saw they were both mithril.
"You're both going to need these," He said, holding the shirts out to them. "Put them on."
Saphira gladly remove her coat to put on the shirt that was offered to her. She was surprised it actually fit her and was very light and comfortable.
"These vests are made with silver steel," Thorin explained, holding up the last shirt as Bilbo pulled off his jacket. "Mithril, it was called by my forebears. No blade can pierce it."
Bilbo slid the mithril shirt on, which fit perfectly and glanced up to see the dwarves looking at them. "I look absurd," Bilbo said, looking at himself. "I'm not a warrior, I'm a hobbit."
"It is a gift," Thorin smiled. "A token of our friendship." He looked at Saphira after speaking to Bilbo. "And yours is a token of our love."
"Oh, well we haven't made any love since after I woke up," Saphira grumbled.
Thorin rolled his eyes and glanced at the other dwarves before looking at Bilbo. "True friends are hard to come by," He grabbed Bilbo's shoulder and pulls him aside. Saphira followed, a little alarmed by Thorin's sudden change in mood. "I have been blind, but now I begin to see. I am betrayed!"
"Betrayed?" Bilbo gasped nervously.
Thorin leaned in. "The Arkenstone, one of them has taken it," He whispered. He was talking about the Arkenstone! "One of them is false."
"Thorin, the quest is fulfilled you've won the mountain," Bilbo said softly, relieved Thorin doesn't suspect him for holding the Arkenstone. "Is that not enough?"
"Betrayed by my own kin," Thorin said, obviously not listening to the hobbit.
"Now, uh, you made a promise to the people of Laketown," Bilbo continued. "Now is this treasure truly worth more then your honour? Our honour Thorin, Saphira and I were also there. We both gave our word."
"And for that I am grateful," Thorin smiled briefly. "It was nobly done, but the treasure in this mountain does not belong to the people of Laketown. This gold is ours." He began to back away, speaking as if he was a dragon himself. "And ours alone. By my life, I will not part with a single coin. Not one piece of it."
The dwarf and hobbit stare at each as the dwarves pass between them ready for battle. Saphira stared back at him sadly. They don't need Smaug under the mountain anymore, a new dragon has claimed his presence upon the treasure and that wasn't Saphira as all. He doesn't need to appear as a dragon to be one. The company make their way to the gate to set up watches upon the gate. Saphira decided to try and find Thorin to speak to him in private. It wasn't hard when she found him placing a helmet upon his head.
"Thorin, can we talk?" She asked gently.
Thorin looked at her and smiled. "Of course, you can talk to me about anything."
Saphira smiled briefly. "I have some good news..." She began.
"Oh no!" He gasped, interrupting her. "You're not planning to leave are you?"
"What? No Thorin!" Saphira exclaimed.
"I understand if you want to return to the valley to say farewell to your friends but it's too dangerous to leave now," He continued with his rambling, his eyes wide with worry.
"I'm not going yet Thorin!" Saphira snapped. "I am not going to leave you when you need me most."
Thorin smiled in relief. "Good, I don't want my most precious possesion to leave the mountain yet," He said walking past her.
"Did you just say..?" Saphira gasped.
'Oh no Thorin I am not an item! I am a person, a person who is carrying your heirs.'She thinks sadly,
Thorin leaves her alone again, leaving her wondering if she should tell him about the babies at all until after the battle. If he lived to see it that is. She walks to the gate and leaned against the stone barrier, overlooking the open field.
"Oh ancient ones," She sighed sadly. "Is this to be our fate? Is this pain that I feel punched through my chest going to remain, or will it fade away? I need to know so I can be prepared for tomorrow."
"Young dragon, we feel and hear your pain," A gentle voice responds. "Be prepared to leave after the battle tomorrow. You cannot have you children in Erebor."
"Why?" Saphira asked in surprise.
"They will be in danger there," The voice replied before fading.
Saphira frowned. 'Great, another unhelpful instruction.'
She sighed and walked down the stairs back to her room to pack her essentials. She made sure Excalibur was with her and ready for tomorrow.
They all stood at the top of the wall, staring at the army of elves and men that stood ready in front of them. Saphira learned from Bofur that Bilbo had left at midnight and he was possibly not coming back. It was probably for the best since he wasn't bred for war, no hobbits were anymore. He didn't ask to come and be involved in a war between dwarves, elves and men. Thranduil and Bard approach the wall on top of their mounts, passing through the elves and walking up some stairs before halting after Thorin shot an arrow at the ground in front of the elk.
"I will put the next one between your eyes!" Thorin warned the elf, aiming another arrow at the elf.
The dwarves cheered loudly as the elf smirked at him. Saphira rolled her eyes, leaning against the barrier lazily as the elf king lower his head as an order for his men to pull out bows themselves. All, but Thorin and Saphira, ducked at the fear of being hit by an arrow. Bard glanced at Thranduil who raised his hand and the elves put their arrows away for now.
"We have come to tell you payment of debt has been offered and accepted," Thranduil began loudly.
"What payment?" Thorin demanded, still holding his armed bow at Thranduil. "I gave you nothing. You have nothing."
Thranduil lifted his eyebrows and glanced at Bard. Saphira widened her eyes when Bard reached into his jacket and held up the Akenstone in his hand.
"We have this," He said.
Thorin lowered his weapon in shock to see the Arkenstone in the hands of a bowman. He stared at it as the dwarves began yelling at him calling them thieves, asking where they found it and saying it belongs to the king.
"And the king may have it with our good will," Bard said, tossing the Arkenstone in his hand putting it back in his jacket. "But first, he must honour his word."
Thorin shook his head. "They are taking us for fools," Thorin said in disbelief. "This is a ruse, a filthy lie," The dwarves stare at Thorin in disbelief as he yelled at them. "The Arkenstone is in this mountain! It is a trick!"
"I-It's no trick," Bilbo's voice said loudly. "The stone is real. I gave it to them."
Saphira stared at Bilbo with wide eyes as Thorin turned to look at him with his own eyes filled with hurt and betrayel. Her heart raced at the thought of what will happen next.
"You," He said simply.
"I took it as my fourteenth share," Bilbo said calmly.
"You would steal from me?" He asked painfully.
"Steal from you?!" Bilbo exclaimed, shaking his head. "No, no I maybe a burglar but I'd like to think I'm an honest one." Thorin took a step forward, glaring at him and growling under his breath. "I am willing to let it stand against my claim."
"Against your claim?" Thorin repeats, his voice deepening. "Your claim, you have no claim over me you miserable rat!"
"I was going to give it to you," He said gently. "Many times I wanted to. But..."
"But what theif?" Thorin asked coldly.
"You are changed Thorin," Bilbo replied firmly. "The dwarf I met in Bag End would never have gone back on his word. Would never have doubted the loyalty of his kin."
"Do not speak to me of loyalty!" Thorin sneered. "Throw him from the rampart"
Everyone gasped at his order. The dwarves looked at each other, not going to move to hurt Bilbo who has done nothing but try to help his friend.
"Did you not here me?!" Thorin snapped, grabbing Fili's arm as he glanced at his kin. He looked at Bilbo when Fili pulled away. "I will do it myself!" He grabbed Bilbo and pulled him to the edge of the rampart. "Curse you! Cursed be the wizard the forced you on this company!"
"If you don't like my burglar then please, don't damage him return him to me!" Gandalf's booming voice stopped Thorin from throwing the hobbit from the rampart and making him look at the wizard. "You're not making a splendid figure as King Under the Mountain are you, Thorin son of Thrain?"
Thorin let Bilbo go, who scurried over to the rope he used last night with the help of Bofur and began to climb down.
"Never again will I have dealings with wizards!" Thorin declared. "Or Shire rats!"
"Are we resolved?" Bard asked, relieved the hobbit was unharmed. "The return of the Arkenstone for what was promised?"
Thorin doesn't respond, only glancing at the hill they could see from the rampart and began to pace impatiently. Saphira glanced at the hill. What was he waiting for?
"Why should I buy back that which is rightfully mine?" Thorin yelled, his voice cracking with the pain in his tone.
Thranduil looked at Bard. "Keep the stone sell it," He said to the man. "Ecthelion of Gondor will give you a good price for it."
"I will kill you!" Thorin yelled fiercely at Thranduil. "By my oath, I will kill you all!"
"Your oath means nothing!" Thranduil snapped.
"Come on Thranduil," Saphira said loudly, catching the elf's attention. "Did you have to go and infuriate the dwarf?"
"Yes I did," He replied.
She rolled her eyes. "Very helpful," She sighed.
"Much less helpful then you were in Laketown," Bard said, startling Thorin in his track.
Thranduil turned to Bard. "Be quiet!" He hissed.
"Why?" Bard asked, looking at Saphira. "Surely the King Under the Mountain knows there is a dragon in his midst."
Saphira swallowed nervously. "You must be delusional to think that Bard," She said, her voice cracking a little.
Thorin turned to glare at Saphira. "Are you the Dragoness?" He asked. Saphira looked at him to see the same eyes he gave Bilbo before becoming murderous. "Tell me!"
Saphira clenched her eyes shut briefly, and opened them with tears in her eyes. "Yes," She said softly.
The dwarf stared at her in shock. He didn't know how to respond to her. He had already told her she would kill the Dragoness should she ever come close to Erebor, but she has been in the company all along.
"You have lied to me all this time?" Thorin asked, the hurt and betrayal clear in his voice.
"Not exactly," Saphira replied nervously. "Would you have let me come if you knew?"
"No," He said. "But it doesn't change anything. I have been blind to all the signs, the sword, the mark on your shoulder and that petty, little necklace the elves gave you in Rivendell, they all screamed at me. And now here we are."
Saphira walked forward. "Thorin, I did not come for the treasure in the mountain," She told him gently. "I came to help you through this, the dragon sickness that lies upon your heart. I am not the dragon who dwells in this mountain."
Thorin glared at her. "Yes you are."
"I am not the one who spits the words Smaug would say about the treasure of this mountain," She continued. "Bilbo is right, you are not the dwarf I knew in Bag End, in Laketown."
"And I do not want you here," Thorin said. Saphira's heart cracked at his words. "Leave, follow that rat and do not climb back up."
"Thorin..." Saphira said stepping forward.
He immediately stepped back. "Leave before I change my mind and kill you!" He snapped, turning his back to her and looking at the army.
Saphira looked at his back with sheer pain in her eyes. She walked silently behind the dwarves and began to climb down the rope. She jumped onto the stone head and looked up, glaring briefly at Bard who had a guilty expression of what he had just done. Thranduil had a sympathetic expression, he knows what she is going through now. She jumped onto the ground, stumbling a little and feeling her veins become alight with fire.
"Thorin, lay down your arms," Gandalf ordered. "Open these doors. This treasure will be your death."
Saphira ignored the dwarves as she allowed the feeling of fire to spread through her body, her own skin starting to glow of a rainbow aura.
"Give us your answer," Bard demanded to the dwarf who's heart was also torn. "Will you have peace, or war?"
Saphria heard a raven cawing loudly. She glanced up hearing the sound of an approaching army.
"I will have war!" Thorin replied loudly.
Saphira ignored the men and elves who turned their attention to the dwarf army that was approaching. She stood up straight and tall, closing her eyes and allowing the dragon to take hold.
'Saphira, now is the time to reveal your true identity,' The Ancients whispered gently into her mind. 'It is time to unleash the true dragon within you.'
Saphira opened her eyes, that now glowed of a bright aqua and opened her mouth, unleashing a massive roar as rainbow light surrounded her as her body grew in size. The dwarves watch in horror as they saw the only dark shape of her body changing and growing into a dragon.
"Is that what I think it is?" Kili gasped, staring at the Dragoness' complete transformation.
"Yes Kili, Saphira's most powerful form," Balin replied, staring at the dragon in front of them with awe. "The aurora dragon."