Hey all! Chapter 20 all done and dusted! Just need to warn you all, been suffering with depression again the past couple of days and I don't know how that's going to affect my writing, so please continue to be patient with me.
Also on another note, for those who have already read the previous chapter, I've added a paragraph onto the end if you wanna go back and reread it before you continue reading this one. Thank you!
Review responses;
Dinosaur Imperial Soldier – In the end, Violet had to go with Thorin in order to keep the secrecy of their relationship from him. As for Smaug. . .we'll find out in the next chapter.
CrystalVixen93 – I'm glad you love this story and hope you enjoy this chapter!
LarissaValentiMeedachi2613 – I'm happy you like it so!
MajesticLunicorn – I'm glad you liked it and thank you, I'm happy you enjoy my writing. It has certainly gotten better since I first started on here over 10 years ago!
SilverLark25 – Violet and Kili will definitely be reunited later, don't worry. . .not before both suffer some worry and heartache. It was definitely hard for her to stop saying anything about her and Kili.
As for Thorin using her and her wolf side? Violet will be offering to go in willingly in order to keep Bilbo safe as you'll see in the next chapter xx
MonkeyGirl13 – Here's the next chapter for you! Please enjoy!
The Desolation of Smaug
Bard opens his door to find Bofur, Fili, Kili, and Oin on his doorstep.
"No. I'm done with dwarves. Go away."
He tries to slam the door shut, but Bofur stops it with his foot.
"No, no, no! No one will help us; Kili's sick. He's very sick."
Looking to the young dwarf being supported by Oin and Fili; he looks extremely sick, he face pale and clammy with sweat. Bard hesitates before letting them into his home once more.
By late afternoon, we finally reach the other side of the lake and step onto shore. Once we've left the boat, we quickly shed the armour we were given from the Master before making our way towards the mountain, with me taking one last look at the town before following Bilbo and the dwarves.
We spend the rest of the day walking before we stop to sleep for the night and then continue on the next morning. Walking over a hill, I stop and stare at the Lonely Mountain, just how tall and majestic it actually looks. When I was a child, I remember sitting on the Carrock and looking towards this mountain, wondering how anyone could live underground, how anyone could think of this place being such a wonder to live in. But, from just seeing the outside. . .I can see how the dwarves would have called this place home.
"It's so quiet." I say as I look around.
There's no sound of animals or even the slight rustle of the breeze in the air. The whole ground around the mountain is like a barren wasteland. No green grass, no trees. . .there's nothing.
"It wasn't always like this." Balin replies as he and Bilbo join me. He points to some slopes to our right. "Once, these slopes were lined with woodlands. The trees. . .were filled with birdsong."
"Relax, Master Baggins, Violet. We have food, we have tools and we're making good time." Thorin says as he walks past us.
He suddenly runs atop an embankment overlooking a valley. The others also run over, Bilbo and I joining them. I stare, sadness in my eyes as I see the ruins of a city, which lies before the gates of Erebor.
"What is this place?" Bilbo asks.
"It was once the city of Dale. Now it is a ruin. The desolation of Smaug." Balin replies with hate in his voice.
Dale. . .the city my grandmother was born in. . .after the stories my mama used to tell me about it. . .I'm finally seeing it with my own eyes.
"The sun will soon reach midday; let's find the hidden door into the mountain before it sets. This way!" Thorin exclaims as he starts to walk away.
"Wait. . .is this the overlook?" Bilbo asks, turning to Thorin before the dwarf runs off. "Gandalf said to meet him here. On no account were we-"
Thorin interrupts him abruptly. "Do you see him? We have no time to wait upon the wizard. We're on our own." Thorin turns and walks away. "Come."
Bilbo looks back at the city, conflicted. After a few moments, Bilbo and I follow the dwarves.
After a few hours of searching, we are still no closer to finding the secret entrance and I can tell Thorin is getting frustrated.
"Anything?" Thorin asks, raising his voice for us all to hear as we're all scattered around.
"Nothing!" Dwalin replies.
"If the map is true, the hidden door lies directly above us." I hear Thorin say as he reads the map again.
I walk with Bilbo as we both look around.
"Vi, look at this."
Looking to the hobbit, I see him pointing to one of the statues. There seems to be a pattern that zig-zags up and it looks like some stairs have been carved into it.
I smile as I look to Bilbo. "I think this is it."
"Up here!" Bilbo yells back.
Thorin and the others dwarves run over and looks to where the stairs are.
"You have keen eyes, Master Baggins." Thorin compliments him, I can hear the smile in his voice.
We spend the rest of the afternoon making our way up the steep and treacherous steps, I help up Bilbo and Balin on the way, to which I am given grateful smiles, and find a little rock-walled clearing in the side of the mountain. Once I reach the top, I see a clearing that overlooks Dale.
Thorin runs to the clearing. "This must be it. The hidden door."
We all gather around the clearing as Thorin turns to us, holding up the key.
"Let all those who doubted us rue this day!"
The dwarves all cheer at this.
"Right. We have our key, which means that somewhere, there is a keyhole." Dwalin says as he begins exploring the walls of the clearing with his fingers, looking for a keyhole.
"The last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole." I hear Thorin say.
Looking to him, I see him looking to the sun which is setting fast behind the mountains in the distance. Thorin looks at the wall and tries to figure out what the light hitting the wall means. As the sun gets lower and lower on the horizon and nothing changes on the wall, Thorin begins to get frantic.
"Nori."
Nori, who I have been told 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."
"Come on!" Dwalin shouts as he begins kicking at the wall.
Nori begins to get agitated at Dwalin's thumping. "Be quiet! I can't hear when you're thumping."
"I can't find it. . .it's not here! It's not here."
As the sun gets closer to disappearing, Thorin frantically gestures to the other dwarves.
"Break it down!"
Dwalin, Gloin, and Bifur smash at the wall with their weapons, to no avail.
"Come on!"
"It's no good! The door's sealed. It can't be opened by force. Powerful magic on it." Balin informs us all.
The dwarves 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." He holds his arms open is disbelief; the other dwarves mutter in disappointment and anger. "What did we miss?" Thorin walks up to Balin and repeats his question, earnestly and tearfully. It's hard to hear and see a dwarf that is normally so strong and proud to almost break down into tears. "What did we miss, Balin?"
"We've lost the light. There's no more to be done. We had but one chance." Balin replies.
The dwarves bow their heads in despair and turn back toward the stairs.
"Come away; it's. . .it's over."
"Wait a minute!" Bilbo exclaims.
"You wait." Gloin grumbles.
Bilbo looks to me. "Where are they going?" I don't answer as I watch the others leave. "You can't give up now!"
I turn as I hear something clatter to the floor to see Thorin has dropped the key, a look of defeat on his face.
I look to the Dwarf King. "Thorin. . .you can't give up now."
But Thorin presses the map into Bilbo's chest and walks past him.
I walk over to Bilbo, refusing to give up and see he is reading the map So I stand behind him so I can read it as well.
"What did we miss, Bilbo? There's got to be something we missed."
He nods in agreement as he looks to the wall. "What was the riddle again? Stand by the grey stone. . .when the thrush knocks. . ."
I look around, looking for a thrush, but find none. "The last light of Durin's Day. . .will shine upon the keyhole. . ."
As I am thinking about the riddle, something suddenly enters my mind at the same time as Bilbo's as we both mutter together;
"The moon. . ."
We look to each other before looking up at the now dark sky to see the clouds parting to reveal the moon. As we hear a tapping coming from behind, we turn to see a thrush knocking a snail into the stone just before the moonlight shines upon the wall. As it does, both of us let out an excited breath as we see the keyhole
As the thrush flies away, Bilbo and I laugh with relief and delight as he points at the wall.
"The last light!"
Bilbo gasps in surprise and we both let out a cheer and I can't help but change into my wolf form and howl at the moon, hopefully alerting the dwarves.
Bilbo rushes to the edge to shout back to them. "Come back! Come back! It's the light of the moon, the last moon of autumn! Ha ha ha!"
Bilbo begins muttering to himself as he searches. "Where's the- Where's the key, Violet? Where's the- it was here. . .but it was here, it was here! It was just. . ."
I put my nose to the ground and sniff around as he looks down. Neither of us notice his foot coming close to the key before he accidentally nudges it, almost sending it off the edge until a heavy boot stops it.
I look up and sigh in relief as I see Thorin standing there, looking at us in surprise for a moment before he slowly picks up the key. The other dwarves are standing behind him, looking between Thorin and the keyhole in awe.
Thorin steps up to the wall and inserts the key and turns it, all of us hearing the locking mechanisms behind the rock. I notice him pause for a moment before he pushes the wall. It's stuck for a slight moment before the door opens, the seams completely invisible earlier. The door opens into a dark tunnel going into the mountain. The dwarves look on in awe as Thorin stands on the threshold, looking into the mountain.
"Erebor. . ." Thorin mutters in almost disbelief.
"Thorin. . ." Balin chokes up next to him.
Thorin puts a hand on his shoulder before he steps into the mountain.
"I know these walls. . .these halls. . .this stone." I hear Thorin say. "You remember it, Balin. . .Chambers filled with golden light."
"I remember." Balin says as he steps into the tunnel.
Bilbo and I walk in after Gloin while he's talking.
"Herein lies the seventh kingdom of Durin's Folk." I hear Gloin speak.
Looking around, I see he, Nori and Balin are looking at a carving in the wall above the door. I looks to be what I could assume is the throne of Erebor, there seems to be something above it sending out rays of light in all directions.
"May the heart of the mountain unite all dwarves in defense of this home."
Balin explains. "The throne of the king."
I look between him and the carving. "And what's that above it?"
"The Arkenstone."
"Arkenstone. . .And what's that?" Bilbo asks.
"That, Master Burglar, is why you are here." Thorin says as he looks to the Hobbit.
All the dwarves look at Bilbo, and he looks bewildered, but resolute.
Well, there we have it. The door is finally opened. Next chapter we see Smaug, so please stay tuned for then. Please keep leaving your lovely reviews, love hearing from you all xx
