Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Dragon Encounter: Part I

They all had their roles to play. After reigniting the coals within the giant furnaces that had long since cooled decades ago, the group began their offensive move against the dragon. Bilbo had scurried about releasing leavers which opened the water channels, dousing the fire drake and dampening his inner flame. It had aided them for a moment, just enough for them to go about and take their positions as Smaug retreated for a moment. However they had all known it was only a temporary stall, eventually, the dragon would regain his flames. So they all worked quickly in spreading out to take up the tasks given to them by Thorin.

Bombur was working the billows to keep the recently lit furnaces hot enough to heat the crucibles. As soon as the flames beneath them were to their hottest degree, their contents quickly began to liquify into a smooth basin of molten gold. Balin and Ori went down to the old alchemy lab and collected any salvageable chemicals and ignitants they could procure. As they swifty mixed the explosives as safely as they could, they handed their flask grenades off to those nearby, who hurled the explosives at the scaly monster approaching.

The explosives did very little as far as injuring the dragon, but it agitated the massive creature enough that it failed to notice Gloin and Bifur who had taken post in the cart pulleys high above the large cavern. As the winged serpent stomped his way beneath them, they quickly severed the lines of the other pulley carts, causing them to fall down heavily onto the dragon. Smaug retaliated by thrashing around his body, only to entangle himself in the ropes and cables of the ancient mining equipment.

"We need to lead him to the gallery of the Kings!" Thorin shouted over the roar of a frustrated Smaug. He began to give out specific instruction to groups and individuals of what was to be done next. After everyone had been tasked, he turned to that last of the group. "Thrade," he said, grabbing the younger dwarfs shoulder, "you come with me."

"Drasl, drasl, drasl, drasl!" Thyra's mutters came out loudly as she sprinted as fast as she could. She took the corner in front of her sharply, cutting it too closely and clipping her shoulder. She stumbled for a moment then continued down the way. "Shit, shit, shit," she repeated.

Fili was still very unfamiliar with the Régínn language. He had picked up a few words here and there that he was mostly confident he knew the meanings of, but for the most part, his fluency in Régan was closer to none existent. However, it was times like these that Fili felt he spoke the language fluently as he watched Thyra fly around the corner and sprint towards him with curses flying out of her mouth. A flaming spurt of fire erupted from the corridor she had just escaped from, then a raging growl sounded and shook the ancient kingdom as if an earthquake had hit. Her dark eyes were wide, as her face, while usually pinched and concentrated in such scenarios, was alarmed and distressed.

And her unnerve was well placed as a three hundred ton fire drake came barreling around the corner after her. His massive size filled the corridor, causing his clawed wings to scrape against the marbled architecture of the ancient wall as he tried to maneuver his giant mass around the sharp turn. He let out another hair raising growl as he straightened and began to pursue Thyra down the long corridor, his wings and tail hitting the large pillars that held up the massive caverns roof, as debris and rubble fell down to the ground in his wake.

Fili watched as the furnace within the drakes chest began to glow. Looking to Thyra in urgency he realized that with her back to the dragon, she had not realized what was about to happen. Without thinking, Fili found himself sprinting towards the fleeing Thyra and pursuing the dragon behind her. Thyra gave him a look that questioned his sanity but he ignored it as he wrapped his arms around her the moment he reached her and spun them in a sharp turn to hide behind one of the wide pillars.

They stopped spinning when Thyra's back hit the marble pillar as Fili pressed himself into her just as a heated flame burst past them in the aisle they had just been running through. Unable to bear the heat, Fili moved them farther away as he tucked Thyra into him and let his back take the majority of the radiating heat. As the fire died down and the dragon came closer, Fili guided them around the pillar to the other side again to hide as the drake passed them by. Just as his scaley mass moved by their pillar, it let out a high volume roar again.

Fili watched as Thyra flinched at the sound and realized he had pinned her arms between them, preventing her from covering her ears. Instead of releasing her arms, his hands automatically went up to her face as he cupped her ears and bowed his head to hers as he did his best to suffer through the ear splitting sound.

The pillar they were against, shook when Smaug's tail whipped against it, causing a small rainfall of rock to fall down around them. Fili again pressed closer to her as he did his best to protect her from the falling masonry and to his surprise, she made no move to try and push him away or dislodge herself. Instead her hands grabbed onto the front of his shirt as she pulled him closer. Even after the fire drake's ground shaking steps faded away, they remained close. Either out of negligence of the noticing they were no longer in danger or just too exhausted and adrenaline worn to move. Sweat from exertion and the heat of the dragon's fire rolled down both of their faces as they both breathed heavily and stared back at one another.

When another roar echoed down to them from far away, they both seemed to come back to reality. Fili took a step back as his hands slowly slipped away from her face and he lifted his already sweaty shirt to try and wipe away the sweat from his face. Thyra pushed off from the pillar, wiping her brow and pushing her matted and straying hair from her face.

"Back to starting point," she said in broken Westron, her weariness becoming evident in her lack of proper grammar.

Fili nodded and placed a hand on her lower back to guide her to the gallery of kings, backtracking the way they had just come as the others led the dragon around from their own planned points of the kingdom.

When Kili first departed from the blue mountains, traveling with his brother to meet the rest of the company at Bag End of the Shire, he had many fantasies and dreams of what their adventure would entail. However fantasy and reality rarely matched up. He had thought this adventure would bring him even closer to his brother, but if anything he felt farther away from Fili than ever. Since that first encounter with Asha, Sigurd, and Thyra, something had changed in their brotherly dynamic. And as those encounters accumulated until they merged into a constant presence of their female companions, Kili could not ignore the distance he had found between himself and his brother. What surprised him the most was how much that distance did not seem to bother him. For that bond was still there, the love of a sibling was still strong, but he had become independent. No longer was he the younger prince or Fili's younger brother. He was Kili, a single individual that stood out on his own without the need of his supporting brother.

In his mind's adventures, he had pictured himself fighting and bravely trekking across territories of wild enemies and creatures that most of his peers back home could hardly dream of. And while this had certainly happened, his imagination had fallen short of what he expected to encounter. Never did he think he would be nearly eaten by trolls only to be saved by dawn's first light. Nor dine with and be housed by elves. Never did he think he would watch the mountains battle each other in a thunderstorm at the highest peaks of mountains. Nor did he expect to fall into a hive of goblins and be forced to fight their way out of the swarm. Never did he think they would be tracked down by the ghost of his uncles fallen enemy. Nor cross paths with nearly extinct shapeshifters had never crossed his mind, let alone lodging in one's cabin. And he had never known spiders could be so enormous until they encountered the monstrous arachnids that even Kili's most horrid of childhood nightmares had never been presented.

And most of all, when he had imagined them reclaiming the mountain kingdom and defeating the dragon, he had never imagined it involving running through ancient halls as he avoided spurts of raging fire, rekindling furnaces that had not seen a hot coal in over half a century, or setting traps in which they lured a vengeful dragon. To be honest, he had never really imagined this part. Somehow he had sort of always skipped over the slaying and got right to the victorious reclaiming and reunion of Durins to their true home.

As he sat perched on a ledge with his bow in hand, waiting for his part in Thorin's elaborate plan to defeat said dragon, all he could do was bite at his fingernails and bounce his nervous leg as he listened to the hair raising roars and screeches of the frustrated fire drake. With each sound, a shuttering shiver went down his spine and he had to remind himself that the more frustrated and irritated the dragon sounded, the more their plan was working.

"They will be fine."

Kili looked to his right where a just as nervous looking Sigurd was crouched down next to him, attempting to look confident. When she gave him a smile he could not help but feel his heart flutter and believe anything that came from those lips.

That was another thing he had never imagined happening during this quest. Finding his one. The existence of soul mates was highly debated amongst his kind. Some believed in them while others made them out to just be myths. And he had claimed so many women to be his one that he was sure it was difficult to believe. But this time it was different, Sigurd was different. But that was what made his situation so difficult, deep down in his heart, he knew Sigurd was his one. The question was, was he hers? However such questions could not be answered at this moment, in fact he almost dreaded that moment depending on the answer.

He nodded his head quietly as he looked back down at the maze of narrow bridges, drop offs, and dizzying stairways that made up the majority of Erebor's cavernous kingdom. Currently they were waiting for the dragon to come their way before they shot down the large tapestry that would hopefully stall the dragon enough for those who had gone straight to the gallery to make the preparations for what they hoped to be his defeat. Like them, the rest of the company were spread throughout the caverns and grand halls, some of them laying and setting traps like himself and Sigurd while others made sure that the dragon was led throughout the course they had laid out. Fili and Thyra fell into the latter of these categories, and Kili would be lying if he denied his stomach wasn't twisted in knots for the sake of their safety. In no lesser terms, Thyra and Fili's roles took form as the mice in the game of playing cat and mouse, Smaug being the cat.

"What is your mother like?"

The random question had Kili looking at Sigurd curiously. "What do you mean?"

Sigurd bit at her lip. "I just...Fili is such a natural leader, already I can see the older generations giving him respect and noting his words. And he cares so much for everyone. Even when he and Thyra…befriended?" She struggled to find the exact word that described the pair but even though the word did not quite fit, Kili nodded in understanding. "Well, before they became...whatever they are, he looked out for her when it came down to it. He is charismatic and smart, handsome and brave...

"And then there is you." She blushed slightly and looked away from him, unable to look him directly in the eye as she continued. "You are generous and kind hearted. When others are out of place, you can see it. You can identify the discomfort and sympathize with them, making efforts to make them at ease. And like your brother you are smart and brave and handsome…

Her words had grown more quiet with the more praise she said of him but Kili held on to every word. As she spoke, his heart had begun to beat so strongly within his chest, he worried she might hear it. But he kept silent as he waited with baited breath for her to continue.

"I just wonder what kind of mother can let their child go on a journey with a high possibility that they could very well never return," she finally said after a long silence. "She must be very brave and trusting. I am curious as to what kind of person it takes to raise such great men."

She finally met his eye when she finished and Kili could see a genuine praise in her eyes. He smiled softly as he thought about his mother, looking away to gaze out as he thought about the day she gave him the promise stone of his return.

"She is both of those things...and so much more," he answered. "She is strong willed but has a tender heart when it is needed."

He looked back at her to see that there was something lining her eyes. Something that Kili could only identify as a tint of greenish envy.

"You are lucky to have someone like that for a mother," she admitted, looking down at her lap. "I know it is selfish and disrespectful to speak ill of the dead, but I wish my mother could have been like that for me. I don't think she ever looked or saw me as a daughter...only a burden."

He was not sure how to answer such a thing. He wanted to deny such things under the grounds that he could never imagine anyone finding it in themselves to mistreat Sigurd. But he knew nothing of her real mother and therefore could not speak an excuse. So he offered what he could. "You have Asha," Kili reminded. "She may not be your mother, but she is a strong woman, who cares about you, and has taught you many things that even myself do not possess. People don't need to be connected with blood to take on the important roles in life. They just have to care, and Asha cares about you."

"Yes," she admitted. "But she has Thrade. As much as she has done for me, and filled that void my mother failed to do, she looks and treats us differently. Most probably can't see it. In fact I don't even think she realizes she does it. But there are times when there is something more when she looks and speaks to Thrade. Something that makes it seem like she is seeing even another person in him, like he reminds him of someone else she once held a strong bond with that she lost."

Kili did not reply. He did not have the chance for as soon as she finished, a loud roar erupted from down the hall as an orange glow lit up the darkness farther down. He exchanged a single look with Sigurd before they both stood and readied their arrows.

"Keep that rope tight," Thorin instructed as he passed off the end of a rope to him. "Tie it off securly so that it holds but make sure it will lose when we need it to."

Thrade nodded and did as he was told, taking care to follow every instruction given with exactness. As he made the last knot, he turned around to see Thorin greeting the first of those who had arrived after completing their tasks. Bombur and Bifur nodded their heads then began to make their way up to where the bubbling crucible of molten gold was ready for pouring.

For a moment, Thrade paused as he took in the Durin leader as he stood alone for a moment. His hand went into his pocket and Thrade watched as he withdrew something small from within. He could not make it out immediately but after Thorin turned it in his palm a few times and Thrade had neared, he recognized it to be a stone. The same small stone that Thrade had subtly become familiar with being in Throin's possession over the course of the many weeks he had traveled with the older dwarf.

"You carry that with you like it is the arkenstone itself," Thrade commented. "Why is that?"

Thorin looked up from the stone and surveyed Thrade for a long moment. Under his scrutiny, Thrade was unsure of what was going on in the King's mind. Had he overstepped?

"...If it is not too bold of me to ask," Thrade quickly amended, his tone apologetic as his head slightly bowed.

This made a small turn of the corner of Thorin's mouth in a soft amusement. Giving the stone one last look, he held it up then tossed it for Thrade to catch. Thrade caught it in his cupped hands then proceeded to look over it with close inspection, only to find it was nothing of any true significance in look. Just a plain pebble that was perhaps a bit smoother than most.

Thorin let out a small chuckle at the small disappointment that manifested on the young dwarfs face. "That came into my possession when I was not much younger than you. It may look insignificant and of no value, but I guess you could say that it has served me over the years as a good luck charm. It has earned its value more than if it was the most precious of ores. Your mother was the one who gifted it to me."

Thrade's head bobbed up as he looked at Thorin with surprise. "My mother? But that was back when the Durin's and Brimir's..."

"Hated each other?" Thorin supplied. He then smiled and nodded. "The rivalry was a curse on our kind, that stone was perhaps the token that could have saved both our kingdoms had I not been blinded by hatred. I keep it with me as a reminder of what could have been, and what I strive to salvage from the mistakes of my past."

This explanation did nothing to clarify the many questions that Thrade had in his head. And Thorin could see that. However, as much as he would love to explore and explain, this was neither the time nor the place.

"Perhaps when this is all over, you and your mother can spend some time in Erebor, maybe right some of those wrongs."

Still not fully understanding, but more than eager to have a reason to linger in the king's presence, Thrade nodded his head. Giving it one last look, he moved to hand the stone back to him.

Thorin looked at it resting in Thrade's hand as he held it out to him, but then shook his head. "Keep it," he insisted. "Something tells me it will be more useful to you at this moment. Can you hold onto it for me? At least until this is all over?"

Again Thrade looked confused by Throin's words but he nodded his head, looking down at the stone again. This time there was something different in his face as he tucked away the stone for safe keeping. As it rested in his pocket, he suddenly felt he understood what Thorin meant by it holding value. He wasn't sure why, but he felt someday it would all come together and make sense.

The pounding of racing footsteps sounded as several groups came rushing into the gallery of kings. Fili and Thyra ran closely together, soot and singes maring their sweat soaked bodies as they breathed heavily. Then Dori, Ori, and Nori followed after as they all carried tools and supplies for the final touches of their plan. And finally Kili and Sigurd, light footed and breathing heavily, came running from another section.

As they all converged, there was a loud roar that seemed to shake the entire mountain. "It is time," Thorin announced. "Everyone, take your place."

At his command they all scurried and climbed up the giant molding. Spreading out they all readied themselves for what was to come. And as they all settled, Thorin standing on the shoulder as everyone else stilled and waited, Smaug entered the grand hall, his yellow eyes lighting and roaming until finally stopping. He locked eyes with Thorin and for one long, still moment, only the sound of the draft in the mountain could be heard.

At this point it would be great to hear some feedback from anyone, if anyone is still even reading. I would love to finish this story eventually and I am sorry for taking such a long hiatus, I am just struggling to figure out what all I want to include in the final parts of this story. I of course would love to finish the third part of this story which extends past the BOFA and explores life after and the world to the east as a conclusion to Thyra's character but I would like to know if people are even interested in that or would like things to be concluded and left alone right about where the ending of the book is. Also, I would love to know what pairings and characters people are favoring or missing so I know what to focus on or add if I am lacking for the next chapters. What scenes or parts are people most interested in reading about?

Thank you all to those who have given me feedback in the past, it helps immensely! Take care and be safe! I will try to give this story love more often when I do write.