All day I've been writing and occasionally checking story stats. Every time, the number of favs and follows have increased. Glad to see more people are getting hooked. So have another chapter :)
Next morning quickly became a welcoming sight. Everyone was well and accounted for, and the dragon hadn't discovered the secret door leading into the mountain.
Light rays seeped through the crack as the sun continued its ascending journey in the sky, spreading along a thin path in the tunnel until it vanished within the darkness altogether. Éla found herself taking in slow, deep breaths throughout the night, depriving herself of much needed rest. The air was warm and thick despite the cool breeze occasionally propelling around them from outside and she found it difficult to breathe. Her body ached in various places, throbbing even, from being tossed around in a fury to evade the dragon. She remained seated with her legs drawn to her chest as she now fought an upturned stomach and small chills.
The dwarves broke out in quiet whispers but Éla couldn't have cared less. Their fear had subsided knowing Smaug's search lessened for a time. They were currently safe.
"So what's the plan now?" Dwalin asked once more.
"Someone should investigate-" Nori began but was rudely cut off by his elder brother.
"-Outside? That's suicide!"
"Keep it down!" Oin protested. He didn't need his hearing trumpet to hear the others. Their voices carried over the stone walls easily.
"He could be sleeping?"
"No, it's too soon."
"Someone must do something."
They tried having a say altogether, voicing individual opinions, putting blame on each other, when finally Éla had enough of their meaningless banter.
"Would you all knock it off?!" She silenced them in the dark. "If you don't keep quiet, Smaug will surely find us and then we'll all be flayed alive."
It was in that silence as the dwarves shifted in place nervously, when Bilbo offered to use his ring and spy-out Smaug's lair at the other end of the tunnel. The dwarves regained a little more hope and admiration for the hobbit. By noon, he had kept to his word and Bilbo crept down the narrow passageway into darkness.
Éla remained motionless, hidden in plain sight listening intently to the shuffling around her. She had loosened the hold on her legs and kept her arms crossed over her chest. It seemed to provide some comfort in preventing her stomach from flipping on itself from her spinning head.
"Can someone open the bloody door before we all suffocate?"
Dwalin was growing impatient and paced around the confined space.
"No. Not until we know it's safe." Thorin's voice echoed within the darkness.
"This place is beginning to feel like a tomb." Kili mumbled, most likely to his brother because it wasn't directed loud enough for anyone else to hear. Éla realized the young heir had moved closer towards her as she overheard his concerns. She was beginning to grow fond of them, wanting to reach out and comfort their worries. She would have done so if her muscles weren't so stiff and sore.
"No one knows where the dragon is; he could be waiting for one of us to show ourselves!" Dori proclaimed, a hint of fright engraved within his words.
The dwarves hushed in slight fear when the crack in the door unexpectedly etched wider little by little. Thorin wasted no time in stomping the few feet towards it after distinguishing Éla's grunts from the frail movements. She couldn't wait any longer. Thorin grabbed her arm to stop her.
"You're not leaving." He said sternly.
"I need air." She spoke just above a whisper in one shaky breath. It sounded forced to Thorin, making him wince and become a little nervous.
Éla released her arm from his hold, and resumed the pulling on the doorframe.
"If Smaug is out there, you'll be killed." He warned.
She faced him head on, unable to see his face as it was shaded from the door. She could barely make out the curve of his jaw before facing the light. "I'll take my chances out there than suffocate in here."
In one final grunt and tug, Éla squeezed herself through the space and escaped out into the fresh air. She stumbled out into the open, suddenly feeling weak to the bone and felt her way towards the edge of the rock wall. With a deep breath, her lungs filled with the sweet, brisk air, momentarily calming her nerves. The rock was cool under her touch once she removed her gloves. Her head didn't hurt so much, yet it was too early to say the same for the rest of her body.
Thorin quickly came to his senses after she fled through the crack and began frantically pulling at the door. Dwalin aided him and in moments it was swung open to its complete width, bathing the nearest portion of the tunnel in sunlight. Thorin was first to set foot outside and rounded the edge of the rock-face to find Éla leaning her weight against it.
He made to grab for her but paused, hovering a hand over her shoulders.
"Why are you shaking?" Thorin moved to lift her face to his but she turned away from him, sliding to her knees against the support of the smooth rock. She did not want to be touched.
"I did not mean to cause you harm, Éla." He bent down to her level, hoping she would at least look up. "I had to get you inside." Thorin fell into silence. He didn't know what else to say to make her look at him.
"Just, give me a moment." Éla spoke between shallow breaths.
"No." Her voice became shallower, as if life's energy was draining from her body. Thorin outstretched his hand again but she shook her head. "Everything aches."
His eyes filled with unseen hurt that he couldn't touch her, and he was to blame. He was anything but gentle towards her as she was pushed through the doorway. Adrenaline and fear drove him with such alacrity, there was no time to think when the dragon came.
Thorin watched her features relax as the cool wind brushed across their faces. He stood and decided to leave her be. As he turned, Fili was in the doorway behind Dwalin. They waited for some form of permission to exit.
"Is it safe to come out?" Fili asked.
Thorin gave them a slight nod as they met on the grassy patch. Fili and Kili continued further out into the open, halting when their uncle grabbed Fili by the arm and spoke low.
"Keep her company but don't let your brother tire her." Fili met his uncle's stare before nodding in acknowledgement and then rejoined the younger.
The two brothers took a moment to enjoy the fresh air before searching for the one they sought. Éla was situated a little ways away from the entrance where the platform was more levelled and flat. Fili and Kili joined her as quietly as they could in hopes of not startling her. Their concerns were put to rest when the corners of her mouth curled upon hearing them nestle on either side of her.
Éla opened her eyes to the view of a desolate land contrasted by the bright, blue sky. She wondered how long it will be until such a view would never be known to them. They sat content in silence as the rest filed out into the open.
Oin went around, checking everyone for scrapes and damage from the fallen rock and flames the previous night. Fili focused on the landscape like Éla did, and Kili had shifted in seeking entertainment in Oin making his rounds among the company. Occasionally, the two brothers would steal glances, both glimpsing at the female. What they didn't know was that she was well aware of their stares. Call it motherly instinct for being around them for so long, Éla was beginning to sense and understand their inaudible communications. In her eyes, they were still children, for she could very well be their mother.
Often times, her thoughts recently drifted to the Lady Dís, and wondered how she coped with her sons' departure so far away from home. Éla found herself growing fond of them, as they were of her.
"Tell me about your mother."
The request startled and surprised Fili and Kili. They didn't know what to say exactly. The thought of their mother sometimes evaded their minds altogether during the duration of their quest. It didn't mean they didn't care for her.
"What would you like to know?" Fili asked kindly.
"Anything."
Fili began, "she's beautiful, kind, and caring. She's a fierce and noble leader."
"And constantly worries over us." Kili added with a shrug of his shoulders, but a smile grazed his lips nonetheless.
"When Thorin left to reclaim the mountain, she was adamant on letting us join the quest. It took her some convincing and Kili's constant pleading."
"You begged?" Éla held back a laugh as she tried to picture that image in her mind.
"No, I – we had to prove that we could take care of ourselves, you know, to ease her worries."
"You two would get along nicely." Fili added with a smile.
"She's the one person Thorin fears most. Don't tell him I said that." Kili muttered the last bit.
At that, they caught Éla's attention. She didn't think it possible. "He fears his own sister?"
Fili grew uncomfortable, turning around to make sure none were listening in on their conversation and Thorin far away from earshot.
"Mother made a few threats before we left."
Kili burst out laughing, his shoulders rocking with every breath. "That's right!"
"What was the threat? If you don't mind sharing."
Fili was ready to continue once his brother calmed down, but Kili butted in instead. "If something happened to us, she promised to strangle him."
Éla sat paralyzed in complete stupor and amazement. "I'll have to keep that in mind."
"Bilbo!"
Bofur's cry startled the dwarves from their talks when the hobbit suddenly fell in a heap outside the tunnel. Vapor and smoke rose from the entrance and Oin rushed with his medical supplies to tend to him.
Éla, Fili and Kili moved closer to the entrance, partly out of panic, and partly worried for their friend who was singed from dragon fire. Bilbo spoke little, still frightened by his experience with Smaug. He told them everything that had happened, what concerned them at the very least, and occasionally glanced over at a small thrush that seemed to listen just as determined as the dwarves.
"Curse that bird!" He picked up a small stone and threw it out of rage and frustration. His hands shook in fear. "I don't like the look of him listening in on us!"
"Stop!" Thorin demanded, stepping forward between the bird and hobbit. "Thrushes are no threat. They are tamed, magical creatures. The men of Dale use to understand their language."
"Well, then I have a story that it may find of interest." Bilbo said in a huff, plunking down to the ground.
He went on with his tale and was surprised how attentive the dwarves were. None interrupted as they listened and then converted to chatter when told of the dragon's weakness. Éla met Bilbo's line of sight after the thrush flew away. It was shown over his face; he was uncomfortable and troubled. She gave him a reassuring smile but it only made him sink further into himself.
Éla turned to the sky that had grown black, the stars shining above them. It was as if they were being mocked from the heavens. While the sky was beautiful, she shimmied closer to Thorin by the burnt grass next to the door. The air was cold that night and Éla sought unneeded warmth. She wasn't cold, just anxious by the growing stillness in the air.
Bilbo started to fidget in place. "We should probably head inside. Smaug may know we're here and attack soon. He knows the way I came into his halls and I won't doubt his judgement to make the connection as to where the other side is located."
The dwarves halted in their stories of dragon lore and slayings. Thorin's face fell into an unhappy contortion. "If that's so, then why hasn't he barricaded the other end?"
His question frustrated the hobbit in a fit of nervousness. "How should I know?!" Bilbo brought a hand to his brow briefly. "He probably wanted to attract me back down, I don't know – please, let's go inside. I fear this place will be attacked soon."
He was so sure of himself, the dwarves complied and resumed their chatting once they settled. The door wasn't shut completely in fear of it unable to open if it was.
Their talk quickly turned to the treasure and that of the Arkenstone as well as its discovery. Thorin and Balin recounted old memories as the rest listened. Éla watched Thorin's eyes gleam under the moonlight as he spoke of the white gem. She couldn't help but feel a slight pang of sadness when she gazed upon him. He stared blankly at the wall opposite him, picturing the many facets of the Arkenstone and how it shone brightly and wondrously. It was common knowledge that it was the Heart of the Mountain and the heart of the late King Thror's. So she wondered downheartedly if it was also the heart of Thorin.
Every time I typed Dwalin's name, I kept typing 'Dwaline' instead. My brain is fried, haha. At least I'm getting slightly longer chapters out now. Tensions will rise soon enough. Things will be said that cannot be undone and one action may be the root to mend or destroy everything...