"Shut the door, please!"

Bilbo was fearful now more than ever. The silence which surrounded them in the dead of night was becoming too much for the hobbit. His begging made the dwarves uneasy, and so they shut the door. Hands roamed along the smooth surface searching; there was no trace of the keyhole.

"We're trapped." Dwalin said in a low tone. He felt all around its edge with no luck.

Éla's heart beat faster to the chilled verse. There was no hope in exiting from where they had entered.

"Grab what you can, we'll move further into the tunnel." Thorin ordered.

Éla slowly got to her feet, feeling her way up the rock wall as she went. No one could see the person in front of them it was so dark. Her mind too preoccupied with exhaustion and soreness, she hadn't even tried to pick up her belongings. She couldn't find the strength to bend down without being inflicted with some form of vertigo. Nausea came and went as it pleased, plaguing her at the most unfortunate of times.

Shuffling gaits filled the empty space, forcing her to follow. She kept a hand on the wall for support and guidance as they began their slow trek down. Taking one step in front of the other, Éla placed a hefty boot down, all was calm. Another second passed and she lifted the other boot suddenly shaken as she stepped down. The rock beneath her touch trembled as her whole body vibrated from her feet to her chest.

"What was that?"

None needed to respond, for a blast collided with the side of the mountain with such potency that the roof began crumbling above. The dwarves remained fleetingly motionless before they broke out in a run down the tunnel. Every strike from the dragon echoed and boomed as they put distance between themselves and the door. Éla did not know where she found the energy to continue forth. Her legs carried her unwillingly down the passage, occasionally stumbling over fallen rock and steadied by a stray arm from behind. The further they went, the dimmer it got.

Smaug was furious as they heard his thrashing and destruction for a few minutes longer until it ceased entirely.

Éla had never known such silence could befall and haunt them the way it did then. There were no whispers in alarm that the dragon would hear the resonances protruding from the tunnel. So they sat close together for what was deemed as days with very little food and rest. Éla had fallen into a light sleep as her body naturally reacted to its consistent strains. No dreams filled her thoughts. She was left in a black haze both awake and with eyes shut, a feeling she wanted to alleviate with the sun warming her skin and the wind brushing over her face one more time.

She did not hear the others backtrack towards the entrance in hopes of an exit. What she heard instead was a soft, encouraging voice ringing through her ears, dowsing her from sleep. Bilbo felt more confident and reinvigorated their hearts to follow him to the dragon's lair quietly. Éla wearily got up as the dwarves began moving in single file. Her body protested the actions but she forced herself regardless.

Breathing the air was like breathing in chemicals. It was definitely thicker. Every now and again, they'd pause as Bilbo listened quietly for any signs of danger. They continued slow and steady until the dwarves heard a thump and the hobbit fell into the hall, disappearing from their view. With no means to see beyond their hands, it had proven a challenge to perceive anything as it was. Minutes passed as they waited nervously before finally hearing a tiny voice yelling, "Light! I need a light!"

Oin and Gloin retreated up the tunnel for their boxes and torches. Bilbo luckily found his way back to their perch as Gloin handed him a flame.

"I don't suppose any of you are willing enough to join me?" He asked in an attempt to get some of them to assist in the search.

"You were hired as our burglar and investigator, Master Baggins." Thorin reminded sternly. "If you wish to venture out with light, you will do so on your own accord."

Gloin was ready to match another torch but quickly rested it in his lap upon hearing Thorin's reasoning. They could've used a little more light, but instead they settled to watch the flicker of Bilbo's flames grow smaller and smaller as he made his way around the mounds of treasure. After a few moments, the flickering flame disappeared and all was quiet.

The dwarves soon heard Bilbo's cries for help and Thorin sighed out of frustration.

"I think it's safe enough to help the lad." Balin was first to offer. The older dwarf motioned to Gloin to match a torch. In which he complied, and lit several. The sudden spark of fire made Éla jump, not once noticing how close she initially stood next to him and his torches. It was only small sprouts of fire that bobbed with every step down the first set of stairs.

In an orderly fashion they quickly met up with Bilbo and to their relief, no real danger was present. Smaug was nowhere to be seen and so they began wandering around the vast hall rejuvenated by the mounds of treasure. Éla placed a hand on Bilbo's shoulder as she passed and they walked together as the others busied themselves and hollered at each other with new finds.

A sweet, cheerful tune filled the atmosphere shortly after. Éla paused to listen to its familiarity that had long been forgotten. The melody vaporized her ill feelings and she found new energy to walk around inspecting jewels and the like herself.

As she examined the twinkling reflection of gold from the torchlight, Éla stopped near the edge of one pile and hovered the torch over a large, dull plate sticking out from the mound. She found a hilt in a nearby pillar and set the torch inside so she would have both hands free. Returning to the plate, Éla eyed it curiously. It wasn't the dish that caught her interest, it was what lay beneath. Sticking out between the gold coins and jewels, there was a piece of plated rings. In one light tug, the piece was freed as the treasure rolled and clanged passed her feet. There was weight to it and a guess was made as to what it was.

Éla brought her find under the torchlight; she had found a coat of mail. Eyes searched the material for holes or damage, but it was perfectly intact and quite possibly never worn. Holding the material to her chest, she pressed her chin to the collar and wrapped it around for size. A small smile crossed her face at the close fit.

Looking around, Éla went around the pillar with the mail to change in private. She made quick work of her cloak and outer layers. Grabbing the armor piece, she slid it above and over her arms, wincing from the twinge of pain in her shoulder and muscles. Fire burned the flesh there but it was quickly ignored as she redressed when she heard Thorin's call soon after.

Éla rounded the corner, grabbed the torch and trotted towards the group soon followed by Ori who had his hand cradling a new leather book trimmed with rhinestones. Everyone inspected the other clad in armor. Half were already changed while the others helped with adjustments. It made them look like true warriors, even if some were not.

"Éla."

Thorin motioned her to where he stood by a wall of nails. Éla assumed it was where the armor had been stored and kept for so long. As she approached, she took in the sight of his new garb – armor lined with faint gold, a cape as red as blood, under-leather stained blue as dark as midnight, and a belt encased with scarlet jewels. Even the ends of his coat were trimmed with a faded gold after many years in this place. It was marvelous and one that fit him royally. There was a different aura about him, seeing him so regal in that moment, it caused a slight buzz to course through Éla's veins.

"Take these."

She was knocked out of her reverie as he handed her a pair of black leather bracers, trimmed with their own design in silver thread and small, sapphire gems at the seams. Éla guessed they were crafted more for fashion, but quickly discovered the underlining was indeed plated with metal. As she adjusted them comfortably on her forearms, Thorin retrieved several other stray pieces of armor for her to adorn. He helped her with the leg and shoulder pieces that weren't too heavy to bare, and she fastened the rest. Éla could've sworn she saw him smile a fraction of a second when his eyes caught on to the sleeves of her chainmail. Once her leg guards were in place Thorin carefully lifted a chest piece over her head.

What she hadn't realize was all the pieces except for the thin chest plate, were made for new recruits. The steel plating was common but still beautifully detailed and shone brightly under the firelight.

Thorin stepped back to admire the finished assembly. Not realizing he was being used for balance, Éla nearly tipped backwards before he caught her arm to steady her. "It's a bit heavy."

"It will protect you." He reassured simply and faced his company.

"Thorin, we're armed and our luck has already run thin without considering an escape." Bilbo piped up. "We don't know when Smaug will return."

Thorin gave Bilbo a respectable nod. "You're right. Let us take our leave now while we still can."

Through large doors, the tallest Bilbo had ever seen to date, they followed Thorin relentlessly up many staircases and down many halls. This part of the mountain was new to Éla and most of the dwarves, yet it hadn't appeared as unfamiliar as she'd half expected it to be. It looked just like home, only more damaged and smashed; nothing that couldn't be fixed over time.

The walk was long and tedious. Many times Bilbo took hold of Éla's offered hand and help him up the wide, stone steps, often falling behind. His hobbit legs were too short and her armor was slowly beginning to weigh her down. It wasn't until a trifling burst of sunlight escaped the ceiling, did they stop to examine the room they unknowingly walked into.

Thorin took half a second for the room to register with his memories. "The great chamber of Thror; the hall of feast and council."

He surveyed the area in minor interest. Enough damage had already been done to fret over the skeletal remains occupying the space. "The Front Gate isn't much farther from here."

Quickly they passed through the chamber. Éla hung her head low out of respect for the fallen and to keep herself from being sick. The decaying smell still lingered from the bones, mixed with charred wood and dust. It was unpleasant.

Upon exiting another large set of doors, they followed the sounds of running water, increasing their pace until they arrived under the golden glow of the sun. Éla stopped short just behind them. This was the very place where the dragon made his initial attack on the mountain, and looking to her right, a charred wooden door slightly ajar that saved her and her brother's life over one hundred years ago.

Éla lost herself in the memory, remembering her father's death as clear as day – the intense burning sensation on the palm of her hand as she had tried to pry the door shut before the dragon could burn them alive. The memory was so strong, she began to feel the warmth pulsate in her hand. A slight squeeze and she looked down, the warmth was not from dragon fire but Thorin who had taken her hand in passing. She looked up at him yet he did not smile. In his eyes, he wordlessly brought comfort to her past as he gave one last gentle squeeze before letting go.

Only then did Éla feel the cold wind nip at her nose and cheeks. Even through gloves, her fingers began turning numb.

"Is there any place we can go rest and possible eat?" Bilbo asked shivering and his stomach hungry for food. "It's cold and this isn't the safest of places to stay."

"Aye, there's an old watchtower on the South-West corner of the mountain." Balin explained.

"How far?"

"About five hours, if my memory hasn't evaded me already." Balin mapped out the way in his head. "Might take a bit longer with broken routes."

Bilbo almost dreaded asking.

"Come on, let's hurry and follow the path! I feel as though we're being watched." Dori proclaimed with dread. He kept looking up the mountain as if waiting for something to show itself.

The dwarves became more conscious and started their long journey around, soon arriving at an old bridge that had long since collapsed in the water. They trudged through to the other side where they found steps leading up and then came across an old road. Bofur and Bombur handed out funny looking biscuits that were hard to chew and water as they took a short break before continuing.

With some form of food in their stomachs, the way was easier to navigate. Each step was increasingly more difficult than the last as Éla felt her armor drag down by the time late afternoon approached. Her breathing became more labored as the dwarves reached the top of a ridge.

"Here we are." Balin announced. "We should be sheltered for a while and there's access to a good view without being seen ourselves."

His words drifted away as he continued to speak of the watch post. Éla's vision blurred, something was wrong. Her hands began to tremble but she ignored it. There was one last step to conquer, that's all she needed to do and then she'd be fine. They'd made it without any signs of danger, yet her body warned otherwise. As she lifted one armed foot, Éla's head spun and she desperately reached for something to grab onto before falling into a black, eternal void…

I should've been working on other things but this happened. Regarding Thorin's armor; I didn't completely stick with the entire gold getup because it seemed too comical. So I changed the colors around a bit. Use your imagination as you see how it should appear.
Dun, dun, dun! Who doesn't love cliffhangers? ;)