Bilbo, myself and the rest of the Company are in our boat, heading across the lake toward the Lonely Mountain. As the other dwarfs row, Thorin stands at the bow of the boat, facing ahead. We are all decked out in regal clothes and armour from Laketown. Though I, Austen and Aulton are in armour from the Shoreline, it was very elven in style but the design was more platinum in colour.
We docked up in the edge and Thorin helped me out of the boat, I smiled gently as he led the way for us to follow.
We climb the foothills of the mountain. At one point, Thorin, recognising the landscape, runs atop an embankment overlooking a valley. As the other dwarfs join him, they look at the other end of the valley and see the ruins of Dale.
"What is this place?" Bilbo asked,
"It was once the city of Dale. Now it is a ruin. The desolation of Smaug." Balin replied glumly.
"The sun will soon reach midday; let's find the hidden door into the mountain before it sets. This way!" Thorin explained and took a few steps ahead, grabbing my hand and pulled me to my surprise,
"Wait...is this the overlook? Gandalf said to meet him here. On no account were we-" Bilbo started, Thorin interrupts him abruptly.
"Do you see him? We have no time to wait upon the wizard. We're on our own." Thorin snapped, turns and walks away. "Come." Thorin added, me and the other dwarfs follow him.
Thorin stands his sword in the ground and pants. He calls up to the other dwarfs, who are all scouring the sides of the Mountain, trying to find the secret entrance. I move to a rock and sit down as Austen and Aulton move further up,
"Anything?" Thorin called to his company,
"Nothing!" Dwalin responded,
"If the map is true, the hidden door lies directly above us." Thorin spoke.
Bilbo moved next to me and put his hands on his hips, I looked at him and saw he was looking up at something. I frowned and followed his gaze, looking at a massive statue of a dwarf carved into the side of the mountain. Looking closely, I notice a set of stairs built into the statue.
"Is that what I think it is?" I muttered,
"I think it is." Bilbo smiled as I looked at him,
"Good eye." I smiled at him as Bilbo nodded.
"Up here!" Bilbo called and pointed at the statue, making the other dwarfs aware of the staircase,
"You have keen eyes, Master Baggins." Thorin put his hand on Bilbo's shoulder for a moment as he offered me his hand to stand, I took it and we moved to the statue.
We painstakingly make our way up the steep and treacherous steps and find a little rock-walled clearing in the side of the mountain. Thorin runs to the clearing.
"This must be it. The hidden door." Thorin spoke, I smile as the remaining dwarfs and Bilbo come into the clearing as well. "Let all those who doubted us rue this day!" Thorin holds up his key, the others cheer. I stand with Austen and Aulton to the side, Thorin smiles at me through the crowd of dwarfs.
"Right. We have our key, which means that somewhere, there is a keyhole." Dwalin begins exploring the walls of the clearing with his fingers, looking for a keyhole. Thorin walks to the edge of the clearing and looks out at the setting sun.
"The last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole." Thorin spoke, he looks at the wall and tries to figure out what the light hitting the wall means. I move to the wall and run my hands over the rock to feel for any ridges.
As the sun gets lower and lower on the horizon and nothing changes on the wall, Thorin begins to get frantic.
"Nori." Thorin looked at the dwarf. Nori, who is known as a thief, runs to the wall and begins tapping it in different places with a spoon while holding his ear to a cup held against the wall. Meanwhile, Dwalin strains and pushes against the wall.
The sun gets lower.
"We're losing the light." Thorin spoke,
"Come on!" Dwalin begins kicking at the wall.
"Be quiet! I can't hear when you're thumping." Nori snapped,
"I can't find it...it's not here! It's not here." Dwalin complained.
As the sun gets closer to disappearing, Thorin frantically gestures to the other dwarfs.
"Break it down!" Thorin yelled, I focused on the wall to try and feel the rock. With my earth abilities I was able to feel a tunnel the other side of the rock. I was off to the side away from the others as Dwalin, Gloin, and Bifur smash at the wall with their weapons, to no avail.
"Come on!" Thorin yelled, I looked at Aulton as he knew what I was doing, there wasn't a keyhole yet, which is why we couldn't find the door.
"It's no good! The door's sealed. It can't be opened by force. Powerful magic on it." Balin spoke, the dwarfs hitting the door drop their weapons in tiredness and disappointment. The sun disappears behind distant mountains.
"No!" Thorin stumbles forward and re-examines the old map, reading aloud. "The last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole. That's what it says." Thor in spoke as I kept my hand on the rock. He holds his arms open is disbelief, the other dwarfs mutter in disappointment and anger.
"What did we miss?" Thorin asked, he walks up to Balin and repeats his question, earnestly and tearfully. "What did we miss, Balin?" Thorin asked,
"We've lost the light. There's no more to be done. We had but one chance." Balin answered, the dwarfs bow their heads in despair and turn back toward the stairs. "Come away; it's...it's over." Balin added.
"It is here though… why isn't it showing?" I frowned as Bilbo moved next to me,
"Wait a minute!" Bilbo looked back at the others as he heard me,
"You wait." Gloin snapped,
"Where are they going? You can't give up now!" Bilbo looks beseechingly at Thorin, but Thorin turns away. He holds up his key and looks at it, then drops it to the ground, where it clatters.
"Thorin, it is here." I spoke, he looked disappointed at me and frowned,
"Thorin...you can't give up now." Bilbo spoke, Thorin throws the map at Bilbo's chest and walks past him. The dwarfs begin descending the stairs, but Bilbo stays in the clearing. He recites the riddle from the map to us while gesturing with his hands.
"Stand by the grey stone..." Bilbo pointed at the grey wall, and I moved to where he instructed and put my hand on there, Bilbo stands next to me, "When the thrush knocks..." Bilbo added as we looked around and couldn't see a thrush anywhere, "The setting sun...and the last light of Durin's Day will shine. Hmm. The last light. Last light…" Bilbo turns away from the wall, thinking hard and muttering to himself. I put both my hands on the wall and try to use my ability to move the rock, to overpower the magic but I couldn't do it. The earth just rumbled as the moon started shining behind me.
I see a thrush land on a rock next to me and starts hitting a snail against the grey wall. Just then, the moonlight hits the wall. As the thrush flies away, Bilbo laughs with relief and delight and points at the wall.
"The last light!" We spoke together, the moonlight illuminates a keyhole in the rock, and Bilbo gasps in surprise, then yells for the dwarfs, who have already gone, to hear. He peers over the edge of the clearing at the stairs but sees no sign of the dwarfs.
"The keyhole! Come back! Come back! It's the light of the moon, the last moon of autumn! Ha ha ha!" Bilbo called as I started looking on the floor with Aulton and Austen for the key.
"Where's the- Where's the key? Where's the- it was here…but it was here, it was here! It was just…" Bilbo spoke, we are looking frantically around on the ground in the clearing for the key, suddenly, his foot hits it and it goes flying from the clearing.
Just before it falls off the side of the mountain, a boot steps on the string and stops it. It is Thorin. Bilbo sighs in relief. Thorin slowly reaches down and picks up the key, then examines it. The other dwarfs step up beside him. They all smile in relief at Bilbo and the three of us.
Thorin inserts the key into the keyhole and turns it; mechanisms are heard turning behind the rock. Thorin pushes the wall, and a previously unseen door opens into the mountain. The seams of the door were completely invisible earlier. The door opens into a tunnel going into the mountain. The dwarfs look on it awe as Thorin stands on the threshold.
"Erebor." Thorin smiled,
"Thorin…" Balin chokes up, and Thorin puts a hand on his shoulder. Thorin then steps into the mountain.
"I know these walls…these walls, this stone. You remember it, Balin. Chambers filled with golden light." Thorin spoke, as he says this, Thorin runs his hands over the walls, lost in memory. Balin steps into the tunnel.
"I remember." Balin spoke.
The rest of the Company slowly and reverently enters the mountain. The three of us follow in last so the dwarfs could enter their home first. Inside, Nori points at a carving in the wall above the door; it is of the throne of Erebor, with the Arkenstone above it, sending out rays of light in all directions. Gloin reads aloud the inscription on the carving.
"Herein lies the seventh kingdom of Durin's Folk. May the heart of the mountain unite all dwarfs in defence of this home." Gloin reads, Bilbo looks at the carving in interest and curiosity. Balin explains it to him.
"The throne of the king." Balin spoke as he looked back at us as well,
"Oh. And what's that above it?" Bilbo asked,
"The Arkenstone." Balin answered
"Arkenstone…. And what's that?" Bilbo asked,
"That, Master Burglar, is why you are here." Thorin moved back to us as everyone looked at Bilbo. All the dwarfs look at Bilbo, and he looks bewildered, but resolute.
Balin and Bilbo walk into a tunnel leading to the interior of the mountain. The two were talking together as I stood with Austen and Aulton. I didn't know what I could do to help here as I leaned against the wall in thought.
"Are you okay, Aurora?" Austen asked as Thorin looked at me,
"Just thinking. Feel like I need to do something to help." I frowned as Thorin quickly walked over,
"I'm not putting you in harm's way of the dragon." Thorin spoke as I looked at him. I could fight this dragon with my abilities. I could help Bilbo… Austen could as well…
"I'm stronger than I look, Thorin." I turned to him,
"I'm not risking losing you." Thorin spoke, "You're mine. And I don't want to lose you." He added as I glared at him for a split second taking in those words. I wasn't his property… I took a deep breath, he may have meant it in a sincere way as I looked down with a sigh,
"Okay… but if Bilbo needs help. I'm going." I looked at him, "no hesitation." I snapped, Thorin looked at me lovingly and put his hand to my face,
"It won't come to that." Thorin nodded.
I look down the corridor where Bilbo and Balin went, he appeared around the corner walking back to us.
Sometime had gone by and we suddenly felt the earth shake as I put my hand against the stone, I could feel Smaug moving quickly. I watched the others quickly stand as I kept my hands on the floor.
"Was that an earthquake?" Dori asked,
"That, my lad...was a dragon." Balin answered, Thorin looks worried. I look up at him and stand up. I look down the corridor, I couldn't let Bilbo face this alone… I could help him! I looked back at Thorin, and I saw his expression change, I went to move to the corridor, but Thorin quickly jumped in front of me.
We could all see an orange glow coming through the door as I gasped, fearing for Bilbo's safety,
"What about Bilbo?" Ori questioned,
"Give him more time." Thorin spoke as I looked at him in disbelief,
"Trying to do what? To be killed?" Balin asked,
"You're afraid." Thorin spoke, I frown and look over Thorin's face as Balin pauses for a moment, then steps up to Thorin besides me,
"Yes, I'm afraid. I fear for YOU. A sickness lies upon that treasure hoard, a sickness that drove your grandfather mad." Balin answered,
"I am not my grandfather." Thorin yelled,
"You're not yourself. The Thorin I know would not hesitate to go in there-" Balin started,
"I will not risk this quest for the life of one burglar." Thorin argued as my eyes widened, Balin looks at Thorin disgustedly.
"Bilbo. His name is Bilbo." Balin quietly spoke as I looked down the corridor, Thorin looked at me and I went to push him out of the way, but he grabbed my arms,
"No! I won't risk your life." Thorin snapped, I looked at him and tried to push him off me. I froze a second later and looked at him.
"You can't stop me." I snapped at him Austen and Aulton went to grab me as well as my vision changed, and I jumped back into a small white bird. Thorin gasped as I flew by him and down the corridor.
"Aurora!" Thorin yelled as I changed into a white tiger and charged down the corridor.
I charged into an opening and found a large room with oceans of gold on the ground. I turned into a small white bird again and flew down, looking for Bilbo I saw Smaug crawling around, the size of him astounded me!
"It's Oakenshield. That filthy dwarvish usurper! He sent you in here for the Arkenstone, didn't he?" Smaug called, he circles around the structure; Bilbo, hiding beneath it.
"No, no, no. I don't know what you're talking about." Bilbo replied as I tried to focus in on where he was, Smaug looks beneath the structure that I'm sure Bilbo was hiding under as I landed on a crack in a pillar,
"Don't bother denying it. I guessed his foul purpose some time ago. But it matters not. Oakenshield's quest will fail. The darkness is coming, it will spread to every corner of the land." Smaug called as I took off again. "You have been used, thief in the shadows. You were only ever a means to an end. The coward Oakenshield has weighed the value of your life and found it worth nothing." Smaug taunted,
"No. No. No, you're lying!" Bilbo replied,
"What did he promise you? A share of the treasure? As if it was his to give. I will not part with a single coin. Not one piece of it." Smaug yelled, I suddenly clock Bilbo dive for the Arkenstone on the floor and Smaug catches this as well. Bilbo, the Arkenstone, and a bunch of gold flying. I see Bilbo tumble and land against a pillar as Smaug tries to find him.
"My teeth are swords! My claws are spears! My wings are a hurricane!" Smaug stands on his back legs and opens his wings, I move towards Bilbo and avoid distracting him as I move behind the hobbit. I see a scale missing and move behind the pillar,
"So, it is true. The black arrow found its mark." Bilbo whispered,
"What did you say?" Smaug yelled,
"Uh, uh, I was just saying your reputation precedes you, oh Smaug the tyrannical. Truly, you have no equal on this earth." Bilbo slowly backs up; I was still quite a distance from Bilbo as I wanted to help him at the opportune moment.
Bilbo is standing in a bare, open spot, and Smaug faces him. As he finishes speaking, Bilbo looks down and sees the Arkenstone lying just a few feet from him, and he gazes at it. I spot it as well,
"I am almost tempted to let you take it, if only to see Oakenshield suffer, watch it destroy him, watch it corrupt his heart and drive him mad." Smaug spoke as he glanced down at the Arkenstone.
Bilbo and Smaug face off, Bilbo pants. Then Smaug begins to rear his head. Smaug goes to speak again but stops and sniffs the air,
"There's another here… not dwarf but almost human?" Smaug's chest rumbles as he looked back at Bilbo, "But I think not. I think our little game ends here. So, tell me, thief, how do you choose to die?" Smaug's chest glows with a light from inside, and Smaug's head streaks forward, jaws open, to eat Bilbo.
I jump out and change my form to a large griffin and my paws land on his upper and lower jaw as Bilbo suddenly disappears. I throw Smaug's head to the side as he angrily raises his head again, and the glow from his chest travels up his neck; roaring. I suddenly change back into a small bird and fly away as he blew fire towards me and around the area. I couldn't see Bilbo as I took off into the air,
Smaug bellows out a massive wall of flames over the area in which Bilbo had been standing. Unseen by him, coins on the ground move as an invisible Hobbit runs away and up some stairs. Reaching a hallway, Bilbo exhaustedly pulls of the Ring and continues running. Smaug rages about, blowing fire and destroying pillars. His roars echo in the distance.
"I'll find you skin-changer!" Smaug yelled as I landed on a pillar and moved into a crack in the wall. I saw Bilbo manage to sneak away as I moved out but suddenly Smaug's jaw snapped at the air near me.
I turn into a bigger griffin as before and push myself off another pillar and forward through the cavern. I see up ahead that Bilbo and Thorin had found each other. Smaug suddenly bit onto my tail as I screeched and changed into an eagle and darted to the right. I see Thorin point his blade at Bilbo's chest, and Bilbo stumbles back, the sword still touching him. Bilbo and Thorin face each other, with the tip of Thorin's sword against Bilbo's chest. I dart around a pillar and fly directly towards them now with Smaug hot on my tail.
Thorin steps forward, forcing Bilbo to step back. Bilbo's eyes are open in fear, and Thorin's face is steel and blank of emotion. Suddenly, Bilbo looks off to the side, and Thorin hears a sound in that direction. They turn and see me and Smaug approaching over the mountain of treasure. Smaug, recognising Thorin, snarls.
Suddenly, the remaining dwarfs, Austen and Aulton run out of the tunnel and face Smaug, their weapons out. Smaug roars and rushes at them; his chest and neck glow orange.
"You will burn!" Smaug yelled, I fly out the way as I see the dwarfs and Bilbo jump off the staircase. They tumble down the pile of treasure and land near the entrance to another tunnel, which they run into.
I manage to lose Smaug and fly into another open path and Smaug suddenly blew fire down the corridor as I turned human and rolled on the floor as my arm caught on fire. I screeched and rolled around until it was out.
I lay on my back panting as I heard the dragon roar in the halls. I was split up from the others.
I lay there, staring at the ceiling, that was a mess… I frowned and lifted my arm up, my arm was searing with pain as I sat up from the floor, I touched my arm gently and winced as I sat up. I noticed my leg had the same burn mark on my upper thigh as I felt tears fall from my eyes, the pain was incredible.
I lifted myself from the ground and cried out in pain. I landed on my knees and tried to stand again. I could hear Smaug laughing as I moved further away from him.
"Come back and let me finish you off skin-changer! I can hear your suffering!" Smaug bellowed as I frowned, I just needed to find water, I would be able to heal myself.