A.N. Spooky season is here! We started decorating the inside of our house a couple of weeks ago, but are doing official decorating this weekend. It was also opening weekend of a musical that I'm in. I'm sure many of you are experiencing cooler weather, and, as a Californian, I am completely envious. Thankfully, we'll get a little cooler in a few days. Yay fall!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters and plot points.
Morning was unusually still and silent, bringing with it all the tensions from the day prior. To stave off some of the maddening silence the Company took turns watching the ponies, so everyone could get the chance to move around. Danica had told them that the door would be revealed later in the day, so they still had a while to wait. Thankfully, most of the Company was beginning to get excited, and rotating pony shifts kept everyone busy.
The energy Thorin had felt the previous eve had only grown, and he found himself unable to just sit. Most of the time, he paced up and down the path between the ponies and the door. Mid-afternoon, Danica went down to the ponies, and he couldn't help but follow, drawing her into a secluded area to take her again. She was more nervous, as it was broad daylight, but gave in to his desperate touch and kiss.
Nearly everyone made their way back up to the hidden door by sunset. Bofur and Bombur remained below, as they had before. It was torture waiting for the moon to rise. When it did, there was a brief moment when sun and moon hung suspended above the horizon. All breath was stolen from the air, broken only by the "crack! Crack!" of a thrush breaking a snail on stone. A cloud passed over the sun, dyed blood red, then made way for a single beam of sunlight to join with the moon. Together, they bathed the mountain. Everyone jolted when a piece of rock cracked and fell away behind them. Bilbo was the first to approach and investigate.
"The keyhole!" he exclaimed. "Thorin, bring the key!"
The second sentence was quite unnecessary, for Thorin was already striding forward. His hand quivered slightly as he held the key out. A deep scraping of stone and metal announced the key finding its home. Upon turning the key, a long, straight crack broke through the wall. Using both hands, he eased the door open, ignoring the small stones and dust that fell. His grunt of effort echoed down a hallway he knew hadn't been seen in over a century. Before stepping over the threshold, he reached a hand out behind him. Not even a breath later, Danica's hand slid into his. Pulling her beside him, he walked in.
What had once been a dead space sparked with life at their entrance. Thorin ran his free hand along the wall, finding it smooth, cool, and entirely familiar.
"I know these walls. These halls. This stone," he looked at Danica, her form slightly blurry around the edges. Her eyes glistened like his, and she smiled warmly. Behind her, Balin took a step in.
"Do you remember it Balin? Chambers filled with golden light,"
"Aye," Balin's voice cracked with emotion. "I remember,"
It was easy to forget the dragon sleeping somewhere in the mountain. All there was now was an aching, bittersweet triumph, and the overwhelming pride of bringing his wife to his home. He looked at her, and found her touching the wall with nearly as much reverence as he had. Her eyes were misty, and wide with awe. Their eyes locked, and he had a vision of her standing beside his throne, a crown that matched his set upon her braided hair. She stood tall and proud next to him as their people bowed to the King and Queen Under the Mountain. The vision passed quickly, but remained branded on his heart, and in his mind.
"Arkenstone…what is that?"
Bilbo's voice pulled Thorin back to the present. Their hobbit was staring up at a depiction of the king's throne with the Arkenstone above it.
"That, Master Burglar, is why you are here," Thorin said, unable to keep his mouth from curling upward.
Danica and Balin volunteered to walk down with Bilbo a little way, before wishing him food luck. Bilbo's breath was hitched and fast, as was Danica's. The air was close and stale, and reminded her too much of her nightmares. Though she was able to keep her face and hands calm, her knees quaked.
"Be quick and silent," she advised, then pulled Bilbo in for a hug. "Most of all, be safe,"
He nodded. "I will do all I can to make sure I do not wake the dragon,"
"That would be preferable," Balin chuckled. "You have shown yourself to be a fine burglar, and one of the most courageous people I've ever met. Go with as much of that courage as you can muster,"
With a sharp nod, and roll of his shoulders, Bilbo bid them farewell. Once he was out of sight, Danica and Balin headed back up to the door. Each step they took had Danica's nerves growing tighter. What if everything that had changed made it so that this would change as well? What if her presence got Bilbo killed? She didn't realize how fast she was breathing until she had to lean against the wall.
"Are you alright Dani?" Balin asked, his gentle hand touching her arm.
"I need air,"
It was true, as the air in the mountain was altogether too close and musty, and smelled faintly of sulfur. More than that, was the vice of anxiety that squeezed around her ribs. The moment they were out in the open night, Thorin had her in his arms. She worked hard to steady herself, pressing her face into his shoulder.
"I'm ok," she finally managed. "I just worry that all the changed could result in Bilbo's death,"
Now that she was in the open, with the words said aloud, the vice eased. One final breath had her slumping a little. Thorin lifted her face with a hand, and brushed her hair back.
"What you have done is brought everything to where it should be," he said soothingly. "This means that Bilbo will live. If he can bring the Arkenstone out, then we can have the full support of the dwarven lords,"
"And if the dragon wakes?" she asked. The danger made her miss John, as he'd always been another person to protect her, and lift her spirits.
Thorin rested his forehead to hers, so some of the grief and fear abated. "We will do what we must. As a couple, and as a Company,"
After she nodded, they stayed that way, then sat together against a rock, accepting a little wine from the others, who were already celebrating. Danica let herself relax against her husband's shoulder, feeling that much better when Estellia landed beside her. Somehow, she managed to doze off, though her dreams were filled with bright yellow eyes, and dragon fire. A feeling of deep dread preceded the clapping that awoke her.
"A burglar indeed!" Balin's voice broke the night.
Thoroughly befuddled, Danica stood, and saw Balin escorting a very while Bilbo out, holding a solid gold chalice. All the others cheered, pleased to see evidence of the treasure, and their burglar's abilities. Contrary to their jovial attitude, Danica felt her dread sink further into her stomach.
'I will not part with a single coin,' the remembered words slithered through her mind.
Cups were passed around, and a few of the dwarves clapped Bilbo on the shoulder. Danica looked for Estellia, who was still perched on a rock.
'Smaug will notice the missing treasure,' Danica thought, once Estellia looked back at her.
'Are you certain?'
A great rumbling from below silenced those above. Bilbo was instantly back up, and then everyone began scrambling. Danica barely breathed before Fili took one of her arms, and thorin the other. Thorin called out to some of the others to pull Bofur and Bombur up, then joined them once Danica was safe in the tunnel. She popped out quickly to grab a few of the packs, but ended up sprinting back to the tunnel at the sound of Smaug smashing through the front gate.
"Everybody inside!" Bilbo yelled, and not a moment too soon. Just as Bofur and Bombur made it up the ropes, a violent flash of orange and yellow speared across the sky.
They had just managed to close the door to a crack, when heat and light drowned the mountainside. Danica cowered into the stone wall, hands over her ears to try and stifle some of the noise. Such a roar could not be entirely blocked out, and reverberated deep within her bones, turning them to jelly. Primal fear took over, screaming at her to get away. The cold that followed the fire bit at her sweat-slicked skin, yet her shivers were from ore than just chill. Hands pulled at her, but she couldn't make her body obey and relax.
"Danica. Danica, it's alright. The dragon is gone," multiple voices were speaking the words, but she heard Thorin and Fili above the rest, as well as the flutter of wings.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Thorin, Fili, Kili, Balin, and Dwalin looking at her with concern. The others were white, and breathing nearly as hard as she was. However, by the rawness in her throat, she realized that she must have been screaming.
"Sorry," she murmured. "G-guess I'm not as brave as I thought I was,"
She was still quivering when Dwalin gave her shoulder a pat.
"Ye kept hold of yer bowels, which is more than most would do,"
Despite the situation, she smiled. "Thank you, Dwalin,"
"He's gone after the ponies," Ori said sadly from the door. Danica shared in his sadness. There was no chance the poor animals could escape.
"At least he'll be busy," Dori grumbled. "And I doubt he will have noticed our presence with fresh meat running around,"
It was of little comfort, but was true enough to provide some relief. Bilbo paced back and forth, a look of deep concentration on his face.
"If I go now, I can likely find the Arkenstone with the dragon is eating," he announced.
Many of them protested, but not Thorin. Danica looked at him, but he was regarding Bilbo with hope and pride. And something else. Something dark and foreboding. Her mouth opened to give warning, but wasn't fast enough.
"Do what you must, Master Burglar," Thorin gave a solemn nod, and sent their thief off.
Bilbo Baggins certainly had plenty of courage. Thorin wouldn't have expected him to go back in with the dragon awake. Though he hadn't received word from Dain, he did believe his cousin would support him without the Arkenstone. But what of the other lords? Even with him sitting as king within the mountain, would they support him? Either way, having the gem in his possession would make the victory feel complete. He remembered it shining above his grandfather's throne, a sun and moon bound together in one jewel. No treasure in the world could compare, and no hoard could come close to the one beneath his feet.
Pride welled in his chest, thinking of the generations of hard work his people had given to the wealth of the mountain. His people had gone from the highest of highs, to the lowest of lows, and he would bring them back into glory.
"Thorin," Danica's voice was soft and full of anguish. He knew before looking at her what her expression would be.
"I am sure Bilbo will be fine," he assured her, giving a small smile, while still not looking in her eyes. However, she pulled his gaze when she gently took his hand. As he had figured, her brow was creased with worry, her silver eyes dulled by it.
"It's not Bilbo who has me concerned right now,"
Part of him had known this, but hadn't wanted to acknowledge it. They had already gone over this a couple of times. Thorin sighed, not wishing to speak about it again. To his surprise, her hand dropped from his.
"Very well,"
Those two words spoke volumes, and left him feeling cold and empty. She went to sit with Fili and Kili, both of whom passed a dark glance his way. They all jumped when Estellia suddenly shot through the hall, down and out of sight, where Bilbo had gone. Everyone went deathly still. A few moments later, the mountain quaked and rumbled.
"Mahal save us," Gloin murmured.
"Pray he saves Bilbo," Nori pointed out. Balin looked to Thorin, as did a few others.
"Give him some more time," Thorin ordered, trying to control the sinking feeling in his gut. "He may already be on his way back with the gem,"
They all waited for a few more minutes before Fili, Kili, and Danica stood. Thorin motioned for them to hold, which only caused them to frown, Danica most of all. Without a word, she grabbed her spear, and took off. Time froze, as did the blood in Thorin's veins. Roaring filled his ears, and, without noticing anything or anyone, he drew Orcrist, and ran after her.