Spit, blood and curses flew out of many mouths, merging among voluminous cries and reverberating clashes of metal as a battle waged on. Panic erupted as an immense shadow loomed over from behind – a deep snarling laugh bellowed its amusement, sending a ghostly chill up one's spine.
Cries faded in and out by the sudden onset of pain that fell just as quickly as it emanated. Falling into a never-ending dark abyss, waiting for the moment of contact that never came, glazed orbs shut out the murky world one more time.
Éla woke in a startle, heart palpitating by what she had just dreamed. This wasn't the first time those images bowed to her like a newborn nightmare. It began to plague her mind at night, making it difficult to sleep. What were these nightmares she was having? She wondered over its significance but was interrupted shortly after by a curious hobbit who crouched to her level near the fire.
"Bad dream?" He asked quietly, frowning at the diminishing flames for not providing a substantial amount of heat to warm his cold hands.
Éla watched him rub both hands together in friction. "What gave way for that assumption?"
"The shocked look spread over your face." Bilbo explained. "There seems to be a lot of that going on nowadays."
"A lot has happened."
It was true, a lot had happened within the last few weeks. Thorin and Éla's courtship no longer remained secretive and judging by mixed views within the company, the hobbit pondered the challenges both dwarves would face once the quest was over. Fili and Kili were the only two who were relatively convinced and ecstatic about the news while the others, not so much. Although he'd been traveling with Thorin's company for well over seven months since leaving The Shire, he didn't need to know much about dwarven customs to see that their actions may not be widely acceptable among their people.
Bilbo didn't like to over-think too much about the personal matters of others and instead, gazed over the treetops with a sky bathing in a golden glow yet threatened by overcasting clouds. The morning was a gloomy one as the dwarves loaded their ponies with as much as they could carry in preparation for a long ride North-West towards the mountain.
Éla got up, rolled her bedroll and fastened it to one of the available ponies next to Bofur.
"Looks like we're riding partners today."
She returned a warm smile. Even the always optimistic dwarf sensed the weight of the quest tugging on what little hope they had left. The twinkle usually seen in his eyes was replaced with uncertainty, clouded by what lay ahead. No song would cheer for them, nor bring fervent faith to the unwilling heart.
Thorin and Dwalin took the lead once everyone was saddled and everything accounted for. Éla hoisted herself on her pony and rode alongside Bofur. Behind them, Balin and Bilbo brought up the rear with two ponies heavily equipped with necessities. Their going was slow as there was no definitive path for the ponies to maneuver through. Sometime later that morning, Thorin, Dwalin, and even Dori scouted further ahead, splitting the group into two with a several meter gap between them. No one spoke or sang out of fear of being heard by an unknown foe. Éla kept looking over her shoulder, making sure Balin and their hobbit hadn't fallen back too far with the extra load. The rest rode in silence as the filtered green scenery lessened to charred soil and stumps. Any signs of vegetation soon disintegrated into the barren lands as they arrived on the outskirts of the Desolation of Smaug.
Tension began to rise as the company came to a halt, looming over the wastelands outside the abandoned city of Dale, the former town of men built in the shadow of the Lonely Mountain. Each member rode up to the edge of the hill anticipating an airborne fire-breather swooshing down upon their location, but nothing came. All was quiet on the southern front.
The full view of a long-forgotten homeland was nerve-racking for the older members who remembered the day the dragon attacked Erebor. For Éla, it was a memory that continued to haunt her past and uneasily settled in the pit of her stomach. She looked around at the other reactions; Fili, Kili and Ori appeared more in awe over its magnificent height than the despair and mixed emotion given off by the rest. They've only heard stories about their homeland and pictures drawn from remembrance. It was entirely different to see something firsthand.
The company ventured towards the western side of the mountain near a southern spur formerly known as Ravenhill. There, they made camp by midafternoon next to a damaged watch tower. Éla aided Bofur with keeping the ponies together so they wouldn't bolt from fright. If she were an animal venturing in unfamiliar territory all while sensing danger, she would want to turn and run in the opposite direction too. Thorin glowered at the watch-post; even if it would provide a decent view of their surroundings, it was not safe to climb and expose themselves to imminent danger. Not yet.
"Balin." Thorin called for the elder dwarf who obliged and was swiftly at his side. "Take Fili, Kili and Master Baggins to search the land of the South by the Front Gate."
With spirits dwindling, Éla discerned the minor reluctance in their hobbit at the idea of expediting closer to the mountain's entrance and thought best to intervene. "I'll go."
"No."
Thorin's steely gaze pierced over her. She glowered at him for looking at her in such a way.
"And why not?" Éla demanded, joining their circle of debate. "It would benefit to have two who know the landscape rather than one out of four."
"You're not going." He said in a commanding voice. "End of discussion."
Balin cleared his throat before sending the female a pitying look of compassion. "We will be back shortly."
Nori walked past the jagged group as Thorin sent Balin with his nephews and Bilbo to scout ahead. Éla waited until they were out of earshot before confronting the dwarf leader.
"What was that about?!" She whispered indignantly.
He faced her indifferently, not wanting to continue a pointless argument. "I will not send you out into danger where I cannot see you. It is for your own protection. "
"Thorin, I am not some fragile piece of pottery that can easily be smashed into pieces!"
"What makes you so upset?" The quick change in her demeanor surprised him. Éla appeared more offended by the subject than he anticipated. As he stepped forward, she backed away and his patience grew interminably thin.
"Do not treat me any different from those in your company." She necessitated, wanting to be heard. "That's all I ask."
"We already discussed this, Éla." Thorin grew frustrated by this persistent nature. It quickly escalated into an unnecessary hurdle. "I said I would allow you to continue forth, but I will not put you at risk. You made your choice."
"No. If I remember correctly, you were the one who took it upon yourself to make that choice." She stormed off but he grabbed her by the wrist, not allowing her to walk away from him so easily, not until he was good and ready and finished what she had started. "Then why agree to it?"
"It has nothing to do with that." She protested, eyes diverting anywhere but his face, a hint of shakiness in her voice. He tried again to pull her close but she refrained from moving, so he released his grasp. Something troubled her and he wanted to resolve whatever it was sooner than later.
"Then what?" Thorin asked one final time, in a low, arduous tone. He did his best to keep his anger and frustration in check but it was a challenge given the circumstances.
With a sigh, Éla looked at him in defeat. "I don't know."
As she walked back to the center of the camp, her hand subconsciously rested on the hilt of her dagger only to find that it was missing within its sheathe. There was only so much patience one had in one day and she knew who to search for. Éla bypassed Bofur and Bifur towards the stone tower where Ori sat with his book next to his notorious brother. The younger was puzzled upon noticing the female's cross stare undirected on him.
"Very clever, Nori." She crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for the dwarf to relieve what he had taken.
Ori watched his brother wide-eyed and faced the female before facing their leader located further back in deep conversation with Dwalin. The younger gave a pleading stare to return whatever it was he had taken so none would cause any trouble for the group.
"May I please have my weapon back?" Éla asked calmly again, her features portraying the opposition.
A quirky smile crossed Nori's lips before displaying the weapon from his sack. He examined the silver runes and craftwork of the blade.
"It's a well-crafted piece." He said, admiring the small details. "I never intended you would pick up on its absence in such a short time span."
Without a word, he returned her dagger in her outstretched palm and Éla sheathed it instantaneously.
"You would be amazed how fast people pick up on a valuable item being misplaced, or stolen."
Ori's face relaxed that nothing came of his brother's treason. They would be forgiven and he silently prayed that Éla wouldn't divulge the incident to Thorin. Nori remained unreadable except for the curl on the corners of his mouth.
"No hard feelings?"
Éla mimicked his stare and decided to join them. Ori really enjoyed her company, and so began drawing the runes on her dagger from memory.
"No hard feelings." She agreed to let it slide. After all, what did they have to lose under the mountain's dejected shadow?
Oh my goodness! Jumping to conclusions already?! Whether Éla's pregnant or not will be for you to decide as the story continues. It's not 100% clear to you, but I already know what will happen. :)