Turns out I wasn't wrong; the Arkenstone was, as previously presumed, a stone.
"Why have you brought me a cup Master Baggins?" Thorin did not sound pleased that Bilbo had returned clutching one golden cup, not pleased at all.
I narrowed my eyes observing him carefully as we all rose to our feet. Something is wrong with Thorin. Dwarves may like gold but he's getting greedy…almost…ill. At this frightening thought I finally admitted to myself that there was a high possibility Bard had been right. Thorin was getting affected by Dragon Sickness; just like his grandfather. Pursing my lips I frowned slightly as Fili laid a gentle hand on my hip, if Thorin was getting ill then it was up to us to fix him. The problem was I wasn't entirely sure how you fixed Dragon Sickness.
Can it even be fixed? Can we cure Thorin? We have to be able to surely, we just have to.
"No but you don't understand!" Bilbo was desperately trying to get his point across to the dwarves as Thorin glared at him.
"Of course I understand Master Baggins. If the treasure is there I don't understand why you have brought me a cup! We need the Arkenstone." Eyes hard, chest heaving Thorin was struggling to maintain his composure as Bilbo clung desperately to the cup.
From the urgent look on Bilbo's face I realised he must have something important to tell us otherwise he wouldn't have come back so soon.
"Bilbo…" I stepped forwards and placed a friendly and concerned hand on his shoulder, looking the hobbit right in his wide urgent eyes. "What is it?" I asked voice low and serious.
Bilbo gawped slightly struggling for words at the effect my movement had had on the company. Everyone had fallen silent; Thorin included and stood calmly, waiting for him to speak.
"Is long, scaly and terrifying at home?" I prompted.
Seizing onto the opportunity my words offered Bilbo began nodding hurriedly, giving him the look of one of those nodding dogs you often saw in cars in my world. "Yes-" He finally puffed out. "Yes-" Looking me into the eyes, trying to shove the information into me without words by the looks of it he continued. "But Zai that's not it."
"It's not…?" I asked, surveying him carefully through narrowed eyes. He was beginning to sound like a crazy person, but I assumed we would have heard something if he had awoken the dragon so it couldn't be that.
"No-" He huffed and puffed and I took pity on him.
"It's okay Bilbo, just take a minute."
Nodding gratefully to me, I turned away from the hobbit and held my hand out towards the company. "Water?"
The way the dwarves all scrambled to fulfil my request; (all except Thorin, Fili and Kili) you would think I was already a member of the royal family. Like Queen or something. Mind you, maybe that was just the affect Erebor was having on them.
Ori was the first to push a small flask into my hand and I smiled at him, eyes crinkling. "Thanks Ori." Turning back to face Bilbo I offered him the water and he drank deeply for a few moments, before passing it back still panting.
I waited patiently with everyone else when what I really wanted to do was slap him into action, until; at long last, Bilbo was ready to speak.
"Bard was right Zai. The dragon, Smaug, Bard's ancestor hit him. I saw the bare patch."
My eyes widened and I clenched my jaw slightly. I expected Thorin to jump back in but he didn't. "You're sure Bilbo? Positive? You need to be absolutely certain." I gulped as I looked at him imploringly.
This seemed a matter of great importance. If anyone had any hopes of killing Smaug that had to be the target area.
"I am Zai, I am. Right where Bain said it was too. One missing scale under the left wing." The air seemed to gust out of Bilbo slowly after he had imparted this important information.
I breathed in deeply, lips slightly parted, eyes glazed in thought as I lifted my head slightly to look across the top of the hobbit's head.
"Gotta have one hell of a crack shot then…" I muttered. "Alright, okay, we can live with that. Did you see the Arkenstone?" I asked returning my gaze to the hobbit.
"No." Bilbo shook his head his curls bouncing slightly. "But there's so much there…. I'll find it I will. I…I just had to tell you all."
I smiled at him slightly. "You're one brave hobbit Bilbo Baggins, eagar to run off and face a dragon."
"I can do this Zai. I can you have to believe me."
I wasn't quite sure when exactly I became the one in charge here but I rolled with the moment, thinking perhaps the dwarves were just as shocked as I was about the weak spot on the dragon.
"I do believe in you Bilbo. Always have." Bilbo returned my smile with a beaming grin of his own and then placed the cup in my hands.
"I believe in you too Zai." And with that he scuttled back off down the tunnel.
I sighed deeply. Once again, we were left waiting.
"You will make a fine Queen." Thorin's deep voice seemed to reverberate around the empty chamber.
The others had left to get some fresh air when Bilbo went back into Smaug's lair, muttering about how we'd hear if he needed assistance, but I couldn't. I felt it in my bones that something wasn't right, so I had shrugged Fili off with a slightly harsh glance and I stayed biting my lip waiting for Bilbo's return.
I jumped as Thorin placed a hand on my shoulder. I'd been stood staring blankly at the tunnel where Bilbo had departed, since he'd left ten minutes ago.
Twisting slightly to face Thorin but still keep the tunnel in my peripheral vision, I stared at him wide-eyed.
Really? That's high praise from Thorin.
"I sense your shock but I speak the truth. You composed yourself better than some who have ruled for a long time indeed. You managed to discover important information and impart a sense of hope and belief in the hobbit. Zalia, you worry for him, like a friend yes, but also in the way a ruler worries for their people. You will make an excellent Queen one day." Bestowing a wry smile upon me Thorin cupped my elbow and tugged me gently outside. "It will do no good to fret on his behalf now." He murmured, giving me a gentle shove towards Fili. "Just as it is doing your betrothed no good to worry over you."
Nodding a tad in acknowledgement of Thorin's words, I whispered a quick word of thanks before stumbling over to Fili. His head snapped to me and air seemed to whoosh out of him as a relieved look crept onto his face.
"We were beginning to think you'd been turned to stone." Kili told me, grin tugging at his lips as Fili enveloped me in his arms and dropped a kiss on my head.
"Something just doesn't feel right." I muttered laying my ear against Fili's chest and letting his strong, steady heartbeat soothe me.
"Mimur, bes' no worry." Fili caressed my back, "Bilbo will be fine."
Kili bobbed his head in agreement his hair shaking slightly with the movement and a serious look adorning his face which seemed oddly out of place. "Fee's right Zai. And anyway, I'm sure we'd hear something if Bilbo was in trouble."
That was when the mountain shook. I latched my arms around Fili's waist as he planted his feet, keeping us steady. Kili gripped the wall to hold himself in place as the tremors began to subside.
"Like that you mean?" I glanced over at Kili who had eyes the size of dinner plates.
"Yes. Exactly like that."
"Was that an earthquake?" Asked Dori nervously as we moved over to join the others.
"That my lad." Said Balin, tone grave as he turned to face us all, "Was a dragon."
Thorin actually looked worried, his eyes widened and his mouth parted in a slight gasp. He moved towards the edge of the ledge and stood looking down at the ground while the tunnel lit up. I yanked myself from Fili's hold and peered desperately down the opening.
"I think something's wrong with Thorin." I muttered, "Why isn't he running in to help?" Fili and Kili were the only ones that heard me.
"Zai there is nothing wrong with our Uncle." Kili stated arms crossing over his chest.
"How could you even suggest something like that Mimur?!" Fili questioned sounding a little wounded that I had accused Thorin of having any sort of difficulty.
I wanted to argue but I clenched my teeth together and let it go, turning away from the tunnel to face the company once more.
"What about Bilbo?" Ori asked frightfully as everyone turned to face the dwarf in question.
"Give him more time." Thorin replied, voice stern and yet slightly shaky.
"Time to do what?!" Balin cut in. "To be killed?!"
It seemed I wasn't the only one who had noticed something odd about our leader in the last few days. Balin was right on the money with me. He sounded irritated with Thorin for the first time in the entire journey, and that gave me hope. If I wasn't the only one noticing then I couldn't be imagining the change in Thorin's demeanour. However, now didn't seem to be the time to be worrying about Thorin's state of mind, so I tried to let it go, just as I had had to do when speaking with Fili and Kili.
We have to do something to help Bilbo.
Thorin turned to face Balin and glared at him accusingly. "You're afraid." He stated voice sounding slightly disgusted.
Balin looked affronted under his long white beard. "Yes, I am afraid." He replied in a haughty tone, nodding. "I fear for you." He took a step forwards and waved a pointed finger at Thorin.
Well, didn't see that coming.
"A sickness lies upon that treasure hoard. A sickness which drove your grandfather mad." Balin sounded desperate and pleading. His voice cracked slightly and I shot a troubled glance towards Fili and Kili. Thorin's grandfather was their great-grandfather and I didn't want them becoming gold obsessed zombies either.
"I am not my grandfather." Thorin replied in a whisper as he turned away.
"Aren't you?" I stepped towards him, eyes narrowed, perfectly aware of what I was getting myself into. Balin at least looked pleased with my courage. "We need to help Bilbo Thorin. When I first met you, you didn't even know me and you saved me. Bilbo is our friend and you're going to let him die all for the sake of a little gold."
Stiffly Balin nodded in agreement along with Bifur, Bofur and Bombur, they were the ones I saw anyway. However that paled in comparison to the scorching glares I could feel coming from Kili and Fili. Even if they had noticed anything odd, Thorin was still their Uncle.
"You know nothing." Thorin snapped at me. "I am the King! I know what I am doing! You have no right to speak to us like that!"
Balin and the other dwarves reared back as Fili and Kili stepped up next to Thorin, either side of their Uncle arms crossed over their chests; unflinchingly loyal. The princes looked slightly uncomfortable under the harsh anger on their faces but I guessed the anger was overriding their better judgement.
I breathed in deeply, clenching my teeth together before letting loose with another scathing remark. "Oh I apologise your majesties. I'll remember my place next time." I spat and with a mocking bow, eyes hard I stormed over to stand next to the tunnel entrance with Bifur and Nori.
"Thorin that was out of line." Balin was trying to defend me as I felt hurt well up in my chest and tears brim in my eyes. "Zalia is trying to help."
"She is a woman." He threw me a stiff glare, "That might mean more in her world, but here, before she's even got any sort of status by being a part of the royal family it does not. And she would do best to remember it." With that he turned back to face Balin and I felt a single tear slide down my cheek as Fili and Kili nodded along with him.
We might all be under a lot of strain, but there was no need for that.
"He doesn't mean it." Nori whispered, "He doesn't."
Bifur signed something and Nori nodded, "They don't Bifur says, none of 'em."
I signed a 'thank you' to Bifur as Nori continued. "But getting back to Thorin. He knows you're different. He likes that you're different. Dis is too, Thorin's sister. And anyway he always says how it will be good to involve female dwarves who want to be involved if only you and Fili can find a good balance. I think he knows they'll only ever be a few special cases but…" Nori paused sighing. "He likes you Zai he really does, he always says how you keep Fili on his toes. How brilliant you are for it. He wants women to have a more prominent role when it's appropriate. It's one of the things he talks about changing."
I chuckled inwardly. There is no way in hell Thorin Oakenshield would want a woman like me. It'd drive him crazy. He'd much rather things stay simple, but I think I see what Nori means. He's beginning to see the value of woman… not just in a precious way, but in a way they can play major roles too. Or he was… Nori's right though. This world just isn't like mine. I don't think many dwarven woman would want to be like I want to. I think they like being either looked after or left alone. I frowned slightly. I prefer a healthy balance.
Pursing my lips but nodding gratefully at Nori I continued to listen to Balin.
"You're not yourself, the Thorin I know would not hesitate to go in there-" As Balin pointed towards the tunnel Thorin cut him off.
Replying in a loud, hard voice, he said, "I will not risk this quest for the life of one burglar."
Fuck this. I will risk my life for the life of one burglar.
As I slipped unnoticed into the tunnel, after presumably being put in my place, I heard Balin's last words to Thorin. "Bilbo. His name is Bilbo."
My hurt feet pounded against the corridor, throbbing with pain as I ran as fast as I could. I needed to do something, anything. Someone had to help the hobbit.
As I rounded the corner and practically rolled down the stairs into the treasure hoard I got my first glimpse of the gold which was making Thorin such an asshole.
Well, saying a little gold might have been an understatement of epic proportions.
The chamber was huge. It spanned out as far as the eye could see and I briefly cast my eyes over the throne, presumably put in for Thror to spend time with his gold wondering, how on earth a dwarf hadn't looked stupid on something that size, as I glanced around. The chamber practically glowed. There looked to be mini-mountains of all number of jewels and precious things everywhere, I scrambled up.
If I live I am totally coming to forage later, there's got to be some cool stuff in here to see.
Darting forwards it wasn't hard to see where Bilbo was. He was being chased by a dragon; an enormous, winged, scaly, red, dragon. I think part of me had always believed that Smaug didn't exist despite everything, because how could dragons exist? Well I skimmed across the gems and precious metal to a complete standstill as I stared up in a sort of petrified wonder at the large beast with the glowing orange eyes. The gold chinked under my feet and for a second Smaug forgot Bilbo. I swear my heart stopped.
"A new jewel for my collection." His voice sent shivers down my spine as I gawped upwards. It was rough and cavernous and terrifying. Honestly it's a wonder I didn't piss my pants right there.
"You…you're a dragon." I muttered unable to think of anything else to say.
Smaug let out a bottomless, guttural chuckle. "Indeed little twinkle. And you are a jewel."
"I…what?" I answered stupidly.
"A new jewel. A shining one. With an extra, a special jewel which only shines in your presence but you are a jewel in yourself. One of a kind in this world, and deathly dear to someone. Most precious in fact." He sniffed the air around me, surveying me with one unblinking eye which took in my sword and apparently me, all at once. "And you have brought my cup back. What a good little gem."
I gulped. "Erm… no problem?" I sounded as uncertain as I felt. Bilbo gaped at me wide-eyed as I threw him an imploring look. He seemed to get the message and continued to search around for the Arkenstone.
"Thank you dear, put it wherever you like."
I dropped the cup immediately. I'd hardly noticed I was still holding it. There was something about staring a dragon in the face that made your mind go decidedly blank.
"I suppose I will have to feed you." He cocked his head to the side. "It wouldn't do to have the jewel loose its glisten or for the sparkle of old tales to die."
"Wh-what old tales?" I asked uncertainly, trying to play the dragon for time like we had the trolls.
"The prophecy of the elves of course. It spoke of you."
I nodded. "I, I know that much, and who…who did you say I was precious to?"
Smaug's eyes narrowed and he let out a loud snarl which sent me sprawling straight onto my arse. "You stink of dwarf, yet you do not smell like one yourself. I can only assume you are special to one of the company whom this 'barrel-rider' has come to steal for. That makes it all the more sweet."
I saw Bilbo nervously reach for the Arkenstone. "And I must deal with him." Smaug continued. "So the silver…" He inclined his head towards a small pile just left of Bilbo who froze in his movements. "It will suit you more than the gold. Go look, you will not be stealing anything, for you are never leaving."
As Smaug took off towards Bilbo I gulped but did exactly as he said, aiming straight towards the silver, making as much of a noise and a mess as I could.
If Smaug thinks of me as a piece of his collection… he might and that is a big might, but he might, not want to kill me.
"I think our little game ends here. So tell me thief, how would you like… to die?!" I gasped as Smaug snapped for Bilbo who winked out of sight somehow, like in Mirkwood, just in time.
"BILBO RUN!" I yelled as I began sprinting down the chamber not entirely sure where I was heading but following the sound of Bilbo's footsteps and the gold that sprayed up behind him. Taking the best plan I had, seeing as I'd decided I was willing to die for Bilbo anyway, I zigzagged after him.
"MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!" Smaug roared and it was terrible. Truly fearsome and as much as I wanted to drop to the floor and whimper I didn't.
"I'm looking around!" I yelled back.
"LIAR!" He shoved me with his nose and I went flying through the air, spinning over the top of wherever Bilbo was and landed heavily in a large pile of gold.
I was right, he could have killed me, but he doesn't want to.
With this thought in mind I jumped straight back to my feet, which I'm sure would be bleeding again. Smaug let out a long, scorching flame which made me feel sick, even though none of it touched me. I could just about make out coins flipping of their own accord off steps and I dashed in that direction, rounding the corner and banging into Bilbo. We both gave each other frantic but relieved looks as we puffed away for a few seconds. Smaug let off another bone-chilling bellow we... continued to run.
As Bilbo and I darted up another set of steep stairs, Thorin's voice rang out from behind us. "You're alive. Zalia! You're here too!"
"Well I didn't exactly go bounding down the mountain did I?!" I snarled, still a little peeved as Bilbo yelled frantically, "Not for much longer!" Neither of us stopping.
Thorin swung in front of us. "Did you find the Arkenstone?!"
"You are joking. Thorin Oakenshield you best be fucking joking." I exclaimed as Bilbo huffed, "The dragon's coming."
"THE ARKENSTONE!" Thorin boomed his tone hard, making mine and Bilbo's eyes snap to him.
Thorin is a total dickhead.
His voice dropped to a crazed whisper as we panted in front of him. "Did you find it?"
No, no he's not. He's sick. Really sick.
Bilbo and I shared a concerned glance. "No," Bilbo replied in a light voice, "We have to get out." And he padded forwards.
Thorin's sword came across the doorway with a clang blocking us. Before he drew it slowly away, pointing it at Bilbo as he began to stride menacingly forwards. Bilbo backed off tugging me with him looking completely fearful.
"Thorin." He spoke beseechingly and desperately. "Thorin."
"Oh dude that is it! Sick or not I've had it with you!" I ripped my sword from its scabbard and pointed it threateningly at Thorin. "You want to go Pops? Let's go."
Bilbo looked highly bewildered.
I don't think Bilbo knows about Dragon Sickness… or about Thorin being a douchebag.
Thorin glared over at me. "Zalia I would kill you."
"You are crazy right now. I'm willing to take my chances. Sword beats dragon fire death any day." I fixed him with a hard stare and I thought I saw a flash of the old Thorin.
Perhaps he's not in too deep yet. Perhaps he'll go in and out of things, almost like when you're losing it in your old age. Maybe we just need to work with him, keep him sane. Yank him out of it once and for all.
Suddenly a loud thud cut off our mini stare down and we glanced to the side. Smaug was making his way slowly down the chamber, having finally discovered where we were again.
"This is all your fault. Thanks crazy." I snapped at Thorin.
Our swords were still pointed at each other as the other dwarves ran in and Fili's eyes widened, he and Kili faltered slightly as they looked at us. With one last death glare at each other we swung to point our swords at the dragon.
"Hi Smaug. How've you been?" I asked in a high-pitched, faux nonchalant voice.
The dragon narrowed his eyes at me. "Jewel move."
I held my breath feeling fear shoot up my spine. "I'm fine here thanks."
With a low growl and a swipe of his tail Smaug sent me spinning off the platform, corridor, walkway thing the dwarves, Bilbo and I were on until I was shielded behind it.
And then in the cavernous, rumbling yell he shouted, "YOU WILL BURN!" at the others.
They all followed me bounding off the side of the platform and into the gold, we rolled and tumbled and slid down.
"COME ON BILBO!" Yelled Dori as I felt Fili grasp the hand not holding my sword with one of his rough ones as he tugged me up, yanking me along behind them.
"BELIEVE ME NOW?!" I shot at him nastily, glaring over at Kili the other side of him as well for good measure.
"MIMUR I'M SORRY!"
"ME TOO!"
"WELL I SHOULD THINK BLOODY WELL SO! YOU NASTY LITTLE WANKERS!" I shouted as we dived through a doorway, feeling the pure heat against my back from Smaug's dragon fire.
Honestly, he talks about keeping me alive and then does something like that. Stupid dragon.
Thorin came rolling in, screaming slightly, back of his coat ablaze.
"STOP, DROP AND ROLL!" I boomed, the command coming clearly, and Thorin, to my utter surprise, obeyed.
When he stood he fixed me with a serious glance. "Zalia…"
"Yeah, yeah, we're all sorry, women should totally rule the world because all men are nasty little buggers when they come across anything shiny, yadda, yadda, yadda, I love you guys, you love me can we move?!"
With a stiff but firm nod in my direction, Thorin took off, leading the company. "Come on!" He called moving swiftly.
I shot forwards, dropping Fili's hand and grabbing Thorin's wrist instead, talking lowly to him as we walked. "If you ever point a sword at me again."
He shook his head. "That was a most grave mistake. I cannot… you are my child Zalia." Even in my annoyed and highly panicked state I noticed he didn't say are like, he said are. That made my heart feel like glowing through the anger.
"Well then. Act like it."
And that is how our escape of the dragon's lair began; with Thorin and I reaching an important understanding which shaped the rest of our relationship.
So what did you think?
I know that's totally not how it all went down, but then hey if it was we'd be four dwarves less at the mountain and Zai wouldn't exist so *shrugs*
I hope you thought I inserted her well especially since everything with her sword and her being from a different world I figured a crazy obsessive dragon that could sense Bilbo's ring could sense that.
Hope you liked it.
Thanks for all the favs, follows and reviews.
Rue.