Spirits had risen then fell by their discovery. From time to time one of the dwarves would check on the hobbit, but it was of no use. They were no closer to finding a way to open the door and so the waiting began.

As nighttime drew near, so did the last week of autumn. Bilbo grew weary of the prospects of this quest. There was no need for gloomy thoughts at that point, and so he filled his mind of all good things he left behind in the far west. What should have come so easily, did not. Amidst snoring and a howling wind, Bilbo fell into an uneasy slumber.

In the morning, the dwarves scattered in different directions along the paths, exploring the ledges around camp. The hobbit was left to his thinking, much to his fortune. Éla walked over to Nori, who had curled the rope, handing the free end to Kili so he could be lowered to the camp below.

"Good morning, Éla." Kili flashed her a quick smile as he tied the rope around his waist.

"Good morning to you both." She received a nod from the other, and watched them at work. "What are you doing?"

Kili shuffled to the edge, his back to the valley. "Going to give Mr. Bombur an update and help with the load down there."

Éla crouched to his level as Nori fed the rope lower and lower. "Would you like me to help? I don't mind keeping Bombur company if it means you can return to the mountain."

"Really?" The young prince stopped just below the edge, wide-eyed with surprise and gratitude.

"Really." She understood his excitement and will to explore what little of the Lonely Mountain he could with Fili. While they all took part in the expedition, Éla didn't mind sitting out for a bit. There were enough dwarves prowling the area as it was.

"It would go faster with two." Kili said aloud more to convince himself. "We could haul up more equipment and other provisions."

Once Kili was firmly on the ground, Nori recoiled the rope for Éla. He waited patiently as she secured the bind around her midsection. He watched, mouth slightly agape that a female would have knowledge of such a skill, for he was ready to offer her a quick tutorial. Their race was very set in their ways regarding one's role in society. Very few women took interest in these types of expertise. Nori convinced himself that the female was definitely educated in such matters.

Éla positioned her feet near the edge like Kili had done. Nori broke away from his thoughts and looked down when he felt the straw-like material slip in his hands. Éla followed his gaze; he was eyeing her weapon, not the cliffs. The corners of her mouth curled and she patted the handle strapped to her waist. Nori let out a quiet, disheveled laugh and began feeding her the rope.

Kili waited at the bottom, squinting in the sunlight as he watched. It only took a few minutes for her to plant her feet back on solid ground. The air was more refreshing than where they were by the grassy perch. Kili steadied the rope so Éla could untie herself. Heaven forbid Thorin was surveying the area from above.

"Still afraid of heights?" Kili asked, grinning as he recalled their journey down the Carock's massive steps.

Éla looked up at the towering view. It truly was a fair ways to drop. "Having you watch my back? Not at all."

Kili tugged the rope, signalling Nori to wind it up again.

"You know we were only fooling around." His smile faded. In its place, doubt and apprehension.

"There is no need for apologies, Kili."

"I know, it's just…"

Éla grabbed him by the arm to stop their pursuit towards the ponies and a confused, red-headed dwarf. She knew where he was getting at. "You have every right to be afraid, Kili. As does Fili, and everyone else in this company. Including Thorin. We finally made it to our destination where danger lurks around every corner. There is no shame in expressions."

He darted his gaze to the ground, but Éla gently took him by the shoulders, leaning closer so he would face her.

"I don't understand, you were happy a moment ago."

"It was the memory…after the goblins when we were climbing down the stairs. You, and Thorin." Kili smiled shyly under her stare. "Fili and I joked about it at first, but now we see our uncle doing things- he's happy and," he paused, eyes gleaming with hope, "that makes you part of the family, right? I don't want to lose that."

"You won't." Éla heart sunk from his optimism. It was saddening to know the young dwarf valued her at great length. "When all is sorted out with the mountain and the dragon, that'll be for Thorin to decide. Come, let's tell Bombur the good news and help with the ponies."

She locked her arm with Kili's and nudged him along.

Thorin stood on the enclosure above the door where the Halfling sat, analyzing the familiar view for the better part of the afternoon. From time to time, he'd spread the map in his hands, gaping at the moon runes or at camp below.

Dusk was evident and the night air vastly approached with the setting Sun.

"Some are getting restless with the waiting."

Thorin didn't need to turn around to know who had crept from behind.

"They have no choice, unless we send Master Baggins to investigate the Front Gate."

Balin stiffened at the suggestion. "Would you?"

Thorin sighed and looked from his map to the remainder of their camp at the base of the mountain. "No. Even with his magical ring, I wouldn't make that risk. Not yet."

Balin came around to stand by his friend. "Because of her?"

He knew he got his point across when Thorin fell silent. "There's no sense in keeping it secret any longer, not since those braids were put in her hair. So I'll ask you straight out: have you considered the position this will put not only you, but Éla in if we succeed on our quest?"

Thorin's face filled with dread. "Balin, I don't need this. There are bigger matters to attend to than that."

"The council will not take kindly to this, laddie."

He had forgotten about the council's members. "Your point?"

"Braids are not enough to sway their votes." Balin said softly. "You left The Blue Mountains. Here we are with death at our feet waiting to claim all of us at any time, and you're deluding yourself into the ground."

"Whether they agree with my decision or not, the council will have to live with it." Thorin's demeanor dropped low.

"Thorin, you are not wed." Balin emphasized the last part, hoping the headstrong dwarf would understand. "Falo will be the first to call you out, then the rest of the council and quite possibly your cousin, Dain."

Thorin cringed upon hearing their names. There was no doubt Falo would sway anyone and everyone in his favour. Since Erebor's fall, Thorin thought very little of the dwarf whose cowardice led his escape to the Iron Hills. When Durin's Folk fled to Ered Luin, the council split. Éla would be put in a difficult confrontation if something were to happen to him.

"We don't know what will happen in the next few days." It was Balin's turn to heave a sigh as he gazed over the valley, fixating on the sinking orange sun. "Fili and Kili are your heirs. If this quest takes a turn for the worst with the dragon, she'll be unable to claim anything."

"I know."

Thorin folded the map and stored it in his chest pocket. In that moment of quiet solitude the two dwarves nearly jumped out of their boots, figuratively of course, as they heard shrilled cries from Bilbo below their feet.

"Everyone come quick! Hurry!"

"The thrush! Come quickly!"

"Kili! Éla! Bombur!"

A piercing, excited cry filled the mountainside and valley below. Éla and Kili paused, exchanging glances by the call of their names. Nori and Bofur were seen tossing the rope down to them. Bilbo's cries came to an abrupt halt and the mountain was silenced once more.

Kili nearly broke into a run but faced his two companions instead, unsure what to do. Bombur examined the distance momentarily before perching himself on a low boulder. There was no hope for getting him to use either method.

"There's no way I'll survive that." He said.

"What about the path?" Kili asked almost hesitantly. He was eager to see what all the fuss was about when the female took the rope and started tying it around his waist.

"Enough talk. Go." Éla encouraged. "You can return afterwards."

His face lit up and was hastily pulled up the mountain.

No news came from the others. Éla waited what felt like an eternity before taking a seat next to Bombur. The sky filled with stars but they too were threatened by overcasting clouds forming in the night sky. Éla had grown tired in the calm ether and so her eyes fell shut with her back to the rock wall. Her mind remained blank as she kept an ear open for information from above.

Her body slowly grew heavy with exhaustion, craving rest. Bombur's heavy strides kept her alert for a time, however that too turned into a rhythmic pattern for sleep.

As her mind succumbed to slumber, Éla jolted awake as the ground began to tremble. She sat unmoving, waiting in the silence. Bombur too, paused in fright. Éla listened intently for possible danger. A shrill from a small bird echoed down into the valley and her heart began to race. There was a distant, foreign sound that escaped the mountain, one which made the hairs on their necks stand on end. Smaug was awake and had taken flight outside.

Éla yanked Bombur to hug the mountainside in hopes that they wouldn't be seen. A piercing cry resonated throughout the mountain above. They covered their ears and the female chanced looking up. The darkness of night startled her when something fell over her shoulder: rope.

"Oh no. This is not good. No-no-no, no!" Bombur began to panic, shaking his head and waving his arms in front of his plump self. "I won't make it!"

"Bombur, you're going to be fine." Éla frantically tied a knot to secure him and then tugged for the others to start pulling. "Just hang on and pray they make haste."

As he began rising off the ground, she took another stray rope that was tossed down to them and pulled a little for some slack. There wasn't enough for her to secure herself with, but there was no time. Whoever was hauling starting pulling the rope back up, causing Éla to quickly wrap the end around her wrist instead. She kicked off the rock as their pace quickened.

A hand grabbed her arm, roughly pulling her torso over the perilous edge of the cliff. Her footing slipped as she attempted to crawl up, yet was saved from falling by Dwalin. Unknowingly, Thorin took hold of her other arm and Éla was hoisted to her feet mid-air and shoved hard towards the little green terrace. There was commotion all around her with dwarves rushing to bring supplies inside the black hole. Her footing stumbled and she caught herself on one of the boulders. With no time to breathe, Éla was taken by the back of the arm and nearly dragged into a dark, humid abyss. Her body was slammed into a wall, suddenly feeling nauseous from the tossing and force.

"Thorin!"

An immense wind hurdled just outside the door and the dwarves crouched and huddled against the rock walls as spouts of flame and smoke seeped through the crack. Intense heat radiated over them, then several shrieks, and silence. They listened above the poundings of their hearts for the ponies left behind.

Éla's hands clutched the thick fabric pressed firmly against her front. She was sandwiched against the wall and a good thing too, for her legs were ready to give out. Not once did she open her eyes before the night calmed into darkness. There was no need to see who stood before her. Thorin pressed his forehead to hers for a few seconds before retreating, his warm breath tickling her nose.

"Are you alright?" He whispered.

She nodded. Words would've failed her if she spoke, for her stomach would give way instead. Éla took a deep breath to steady her shaken body.

"What now?"

Éla peered through the black haze they now resided. Dwalin's silhouette was most noticeable under the crack of light through the door. The others were a little farther off. Their outlines resembled that of a painting – everywhere the light touched was sketched with white chalk on charred parchment.

"Move further into the tunnel." Thorin ordered, being mindful not to raise his voice too loud.

Everyone grabbed sacks and tools and crept a good ways down the narrow path. When they stopped far enough to still catch a glimpse of the door's entrance, Éla slunk to the ground. Her back and side started to ache and her stomach flipped.

Will this story have a happy ending? I wonder…In all honesty, I can't wait to hear your reactions a few chapters from now.
Time for things to heat up. Literally.

Hopefully the story is still holding your interest!