Standing at the base of the great gates of Erebor Hadrian remembered his last visit to the great hall's of Erebor. While Hadrian was examining the mountain Thorin turned to the company and ordered, "Find the stair's that the map describes." Quickly the company split into small groups and began examining the intricate carving's and design's that surround and cover the massive stone gates.
Soon only Hadrian and Bilbo were left standing in front of Erebor. Frowning Hadrian realised that there was a air of discontent and anger around Bilbo but it did not come from the hobbit, filing away the information for later Hadrian turned back to finding the stairs.
Gasping Bilbo rushed over to Thorin and asked, "are those the stairs?" quickly moving to look at the front entrance from the side Hadrian was confronted by a stair like pattern that zig zagged up the side if Erebor's entrance each of the giant step's came up to Hadrian's chest and where the stair's changed direction the gap was twice as large.
Looking down at the map and back up at the stair's Thorin sighed, "you have a good eye mister Baggins those are the stair's." puffing up with pride Bilbo rushed of to tell the rest of the company leaving Thorin and Hadrian staring at the stair's with utter incredulity.
Raking his finger's through his hair Thorin turned to Hadrian and asked, "Who builds an escape route that leads to the front gate and makes it near Impossible for an elf to use let alone the dwarf's that it was built for?" shaking his head in disbelief Hadrian replied, "Apparently your grandfather King Thror dose."
As Hadrian finished talking the rest of the company rushed over to see the stair's upon seeing them they all stopped in shock until Kili tilting his head in disbelief says, "are we sure that's the stair and not a death trap?" bursting into a low booming laugh Thorin replied, "we never claimed that Thror was sane when this was built."
The next day was spent pushing and pulling each other up the giant stair's Hadrian lifting Bilbo, Fili, Kili and Ori up to the next step then climbing up with their help only to have to begin pulling the other ten members' of the company up.
By the time they got to the top of the stair's the light was fading and every muscle in Hadrian's body was screaming in protest. Quickly they set up camp and wolfed down some bread and cold stew before falling asleep.
The next morning Hadrian sat at the edge of the camp site thankful for elves advanced healing as he had recovered from yesterday, but the rest of the company was stiff and sore. Soon they were quickly following the narrow trail up the side of the mountain as Thorin reminded them that today was Durin's day and that is they didn't find the door today they would have to wait until next year.
As the sun began setting on the horizon painting the sky orange and pink Bilbo found the hidden door. Word's in the dwarven language where inlaid in silver soon the dwarves began hunting desperately for the key hole.
Scanning the area where the door would be Hadrian thought about everything that he knew about dwarven door's which was admittedly very little as dwarves guarded their secret's more fiercely than a dragon guards it gold.
Slowly the Sun disappeared beneath the horizon prompting the dwarves to beat and hammer at the door in desperation. Shaking his head in disappointment Thorin says, "we will have to find another way into the mountain." Groaning the Dwarf's sit-down despairing about how they are ever going to enter the mountain. Slowly the light of the moon reached the flat plain of rock illuminating the outline of the door.
With a little click a chunk of rock slid away revealing the key hole. Jumping up in surprise Thorin grabbed the key and with shacking hands inserted it into keyhole and turned it. For a moment nothing happened, and Hadrian began to wonder if they had found the right door or had the wrong key.
Then with a series of pops and groan's the small door popped open revealing a long narrow passage winding deep into the mountain above the passage was some Khuzdul and a simple carving of the throne of Erebor and the Arkenstone.
Looking up at the carving Thorin said, "here in lies the seventh kingdom of Durin's folk." Laughing quietly Thorin turned to the company and smiling said, "let's sleep for tonight and in the morning enter Erebor"
The next morning Hadrian watched quietly from the side-lines as the dwarf's prepared Bilbo for his journey into Erebor. All of the dwarf's kept reminding Bilbo that his job was to enter Erebor and find out where the dragon was and in what state it was in.
Smiling down at the nervous hobbit Hadrian said, "Mr Baggins's I will follow you most of the way down the tunnel so that if the dragon is awake there is someone nearby to help you." Nodding stiffly Bilbo took a deep breath and began to make his way down the tunnel Hadrian close behind clutching the modified wind lance.
After 5 minutes of silently creeping down the tunnel Hadrian stopped before a sharp bend then with a silent nod sent Bilbo along the last stretch of the tunnel. Silent to even elven ears Bilbo slipped around the bend and began the final descent into the treasury.
Peering around the corner of the tunnel Hadrian contemplated just following bilbo into the treasure room but remembered that Smaug would recognise the smell of an elf. Glancing back at Bilbo Hadrian was surprised to see him take out a plain golden ring.
As soon as Hadrian looked at the ring he could hear it whispering seductive promises how it would help him find the old elven stronghold's and to defend them permanently. With a shake of his head Hadrian pulled himself from the thrall and sweet lies that the ring was sprouting to see Bilbo slip the ring on his finger and disappear.
For a long moment Hadrian stared at the space where bilbo had been standing before realising that the one ring was in the position of an oblivious hobbit who did not care for or hear the seductive promises of the ring.
Crouched ready to act if Bilbo should need him Hadrian strained to hear something in the overwhelming silence. Trying to pear around the corner and into the treasury Hadrian was startled by the sound of hundreds of coin's tumbling down a slope.
For a moment there was absolute silences before the deep and rumbling voice of Smaug echoed through the treasury and into the tunnel Saying, "How curious I can smell both elf and dwarf in my horde but can see neither and know that Elf's and dwarfs won't work together unless the world is ending, leaving me to wonder who the presence I can sence is?"
Clutching the wind lance Hadrian prepared to enter the Chamber's when Bilbo answered, "oh Smaug the Tremendous, Smaug the Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities, Smaug the Mighty, Smaug the Unassessably Wealthy, Lord Smaug the Impenetrable I have long desired to lay eyes on Your Magnificence."
A loud prideful rumbling filled the hollows of the mountain as Hadrian began creeping out of the tunnel and towards bilbo. As Hadrian crept towards Smaug bilbo kept talking about how terrifying and magnificent Smaug was.
Once Hadrian was close enough to see Smaug the dwarfs burst into the treasury with a loud battle cry. Enraged Smaug launched himself at the dwarf's. For Hadrian the next half hour was a endless cycle of running jumping and charging at Smaug.
As Hadrian peered around the pillar he was hiding behind he spotted Smaug charging towards him as Fili and Kili slid down the stairs on ornate silver trays. Leaning forwards Hadrian grabbed the brothers by the back of their neck's and pulled them behind the pillar as he leapt in front of the charging dragon.
Growling in rage at Hadrian Smaug released a great plume of fire that seared the side of Hadrian's arm. Filled with desperation Hadrian charged straight at Smaug causing the dragon to rear up in surprise before laughing.
While Smaug laughed Hadrian stabbed Smaug through the heart with the wind lance. For a single moment the world seemed frozen before a great burst of fire escaped Smaug melting some of the gold near him.
Quickly hopping over the pile of hot coins Hadrian was unprepared for when Smaug's body crashed into the golden mountains sending a cascade of gold flying up into the air. Raising his arms Hadrian braced himself as the coins and cups bounced of him leaving welts behind.
sorry for the delay life got in the way of this chapter