Happy Sunday! Thanks very much to Xoxo, blasttyrant and Guest for your reviews on the last chapter! As always, let me know your thoughts on this one, I love to read from you.
They departed early the next day after a night of troubled sleep for all of them. It was a cold day and their progress was relatively slow as they made their way up the slope from the lake's edge, the mountain looming before them. They talked quietly among each other from time to time but fell quiet again for long periods of time quickly after, while the landscape around them grew bleaker the closer they got to the foot of the mountain. It was already around midday, when they finally reached the ruins of an old town, nestled into the valley before the mountain.
"Dale," Bofur breathed as they slowly made their way through the ruins. The buildings around them had caved in long ago, roofs were missing and what was left of the old stone and wood was charred and blackened from the dragon fire that had destroyed it long ago.
Arinna was looking around solemnly as she followed after the others, her heart heavy in her chest as she beheld the scene around her. There weren't only destroyed buildings but skeletons. The remains of people that had died in the firestorm, surprised by the dragon's attack on an ordinary day. The druid felt a lump build in her throat as the images before her began to mingle in her mind with images of the night Smaug had attacked Laketown.
They came across an old marketplace after a while, where some charred stalls were still manned by dead people, sending shivers running down the small company's spines. None of them said anything as they slowly made their way through the town with careful steps. It was a sight that weighed heavy on all of them, and any thoughts they had, they kept to themselves.
It wasn't until they reached what had once been the city walls to the north of the town that Arinna broke away from the group. Her gaze had been drawn by something in the distance and she slowly made her way over to the edge of the wall, the stone having caved in so much in most parts that she was able to look out over it without any problems. There in the distance she could see the far outlines of the Iron Hills on the horizon, though her gaze was set on something much closer to the town. A large rocky plain reached from the outskirts of Dale toward the East, and though it was several miles away, Arinna was able to see from her elevated point of view the charred bit of land in the distance. A few stone pillars still stood, but that was all that remained. The druid knew immediately what had once been there.
She felt someone step up beside her and she did not have to look around to know who it was as she kept staring at the spot in the distance with wide eyes.
"There's nothing," she muttered finally, a sudden devastation filling her unexpectedly and with great force. She shook her head slightly. "All these years, I thought of this moment. I came all this way to see my father's homeland. The place where my parents, my ancestors, lived and breathed. But there is nothing left of it at all."
Fili gently grasped the druid's hand, not knowing what to say as she kept staring straight ahead. He followed her gaze, feeling his heart sink at the sight of the charred land.
"I'm sorry, Arinna," he finally said, sadness filling his heart as he took in the conflicted look on her face. He wished he could do something to help her, to ease the obvious pain she felt at the revelation of her ancestral home, but there was little he could do.
"He used to tell me that we belonged here," the druid uttered quietly, shaking her head to herself once more as she remembered her father's words. It was as though she was talking more to herself than him. Arinna finally looked back at Fili then, who gave her hand a comforting squeeze as he returned her gaze out of compassionate blue eyes. "He always had hope. He used to dream of coming back, and after he died, that became my dream, as well. But there was never anything to come back to at all."
Her gaze wandered from Fili over the environment around them, across Dale's destroyed buildings, the remains of the people that had once lived here. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she uttered her next words.
"There is only desolation."
"Some things can be rebuilt," Fili muttered softly after a few moments, directing her gaze back to him as he gave her a sad smile that she did not return. He could not begin to know what it must feel like for her, to finally reach her destination, the place that she had planned on going to for so many years, and find it gone. His eyes drifted to the mountain that was closer than ever now, reaching high into the pale afternoon sky. Though he did not know what awaited them inside Erebor, he knew that at least the mountain would always stand.
He reached his arm around the druid then, pulling her into a comforting hug as he pressed a small kiss to her temple. She leaned her head against his shoulder for a moment, though she said nothing as her eyes wandered back to the distant bit of land that had once belonged to the druids.
Fili slowly began to pull her away from the city wall then and she followed him back to the others without a word, her hand still kept firmly in his grasp. Kili sent his brother a questioning look as they approached together, but the blond dwarf just shook his head slightly in return, instead motioning for them to keep moving. Kili did as told, though he shortly reached out to give the druid's shoulder a comforting squeeze before they began to make their way to the edge of the town. They kept going, keeping their eyes set on the mountain as they got closer to it with every passing hour.
Bilbo was stood outside between the battlements atop the makeshift gate that they had built. That Thorin had had them build the previous day and night. The hobbit looked out over the plain before the mountain with a heavy heart, his thoughts whirling in his head as he gazed toward the Long Lake that shone beneath the sun in the distance. He remembered vividly as it had shone the night before last, though not with the sun but with dragon fire, as Smaug had come down upon it.
The beast was dead, but at what cost, Bilbo thought to himself. Laketown was destroyed, many if not most of its people dead. Bilbo could only imagine. If they had not come for the Arkenstone, if he had not woken the dragon – as he had now come to think of it as his own mistake, for playing games, riddles with such a beast – none of this would have happened. And not only had they released the dragon's wrath upon the people of Laketown, but Fili and Kili had been down there as well, and Bofur and Arinna. Bilbo did not want to imagine what had happened to his four friends, so he kept hope in his heart, though it was getting harder with every passing hour.
It did not help that Thorin seemed to be unaffected by all of this. While Bilbo and the rest of the company had helplessly watched Laketown burn with desperation in their hearts, Thorin had stood with his back turned, looking instead into the mountain's halls. He had not mentioned his nephews or the other missing members of their company even once since that night, and had even once scolded Bombur for it when the fat dwarf had relayed his fear for his brother to Bifur in hushed tones.
Bilbo sighed as he thought of Thorin. The dwarf-king had been behaving oddly for two days now, his constant bad temper making it impossible to talk to him normally, as he had the whole company relentlessly search the enormous treasure hall for the Arkenstone. He was obsessed with finding it, wild eyes searching every bit of treasure, every corner of the hall. He hadn't found it yet, and to Bilbo, of course, that came as no surprise, for it was hidden safely in the inside of his jacket pocket. He didn't quite know why he hadn't told Thorin yet that he had found it the night that he had been sent into the mountain to steal it from Smaug, but something was holding him back. Something in his gut told him that it was better if the stone remained hidden, at least for now.
"What are you doing up here, Bilbo?"
The hobbit turned around with a slight jump, finding Nori making his way toward him. He let out a relieved sigh at the sight of the red-haired dwarf, sending him a small nod in greeting. There was only one reason why Thorin would excuse someone from searching for the Arkenstone, and that was for assigned guard duty up on the battlements.
"I… I just needed some fresh air," Bilbo answered as Nori reached his side, the dwarf giving him an understanding nod as he followed his gaze out over the plain.
"Aye, I understand," he muttered. "This is the first time in my life that I actively look forward to guard duty. Not that I don't like to throw myself into a pile of treasure, usually, but turning over every coin has me spent. Especially with Thorin looking over everyone's shoulders like that."
Bilbo sighed quietly. "He's not himself."
Nori stayed quiet for a little while, and for a moment, Bilbo regretted saying it, thinking that Nori would judge him harshly for it, seeing as he was loyal to his king. But Nori just let out a low whistle, shaking his head.
"No, he is not," he muttered, before he narrowed his eyes and took a step forward, peering into the distance. He held his hand over his eyes, trying to see better against the sun. "Bilbo, come here. You've got keen eyes, what is that there in the distance?"
The hobbit did as he was told with some surprise, stepping up to the edge of the battlements and gazing out over the land, searching for a moment before his eyes found what Nori was referring to.
"It's people," Bilbo muttered, narrowing his eyes as well to focus his gaze. "Looks like they're moving toward the mountain."
"Lakemen?"
Bilbo shook his head slightly, waiting to give his answer as he watched the group move closer still. It was another while before he could make out their proper shapes against the sun.
"It's only four of them. You don't think –", he interrupted himself abruptly, earning himself a confused look from the dwarf beside him.
"What? What do you see?" Nori asked impatiently, jumping slightly when Bilbo suddenly pulled back from the edge of the wall, his face illuminated with sheer excitement. "Bilbo?"
"It's them!" he called out loudly, making Nori flinch slightly before he suddenly ran off, leaving the dwarf to stare after him in confusion. Nori looked out toward the small approaching group again, and only when he heard Bilbo calling out behind him, did he realise what the hobbit meant. "Open the gate! Open the gate!"
Bilbo kept calling out as he ran down the stairs into the halls of the mountain, knowing his way around by now, and also knowing for certain that Thorin had all the others gathered in the treasure hall. He would not be able to open the gate by himself, so he made sure to be as loud as he could as he entered the hall on slithering feet.
"OPEN THE GATE!"
The company turned around to face him immediately upon his outcry, confused stares turned toward the small hobbit who was waving his arms wildly at them.
"IT'S THE OTHERS! WE MUST OPEN THE GATE, IT'S FILI AND KILI! ARINNA AND BOFUR!"
Dwalin was the first to move, the hobbit's words stirring hope in his heart as he ran, following the hobbit as Bilbo turned on his heels and ran back toward the entrance gate. The others followed quickly, calling out to each other as they hurried to catch up with them. Only Balin remained, moving slowly toward the doorway of the treasury, while his gaze was set on Thorin, who hadn't moved.
"Thorin," the old dwarf said, apparently ripping the dwarf-king out of a deep thought as his icy blue gaze shot up to look at him. Balin gave the younger dwarf a kind smile, though worry flickered behind his eyes. "It's Fili and Kili. We should go and welcome them."
"Yes," Thorin said, though still he did not move. He seemed unwilling to leave the treasure unattended. Balin suppressed a sigh.
"Surely, we can continue our search later," he suggested and again Thorin gave a short nod, though it took him another long moment before he began to move and walked slowly toward the doorway.
"Of course," he muttered, though more to himself than to Balin, who followed behind him as they made their way through the dark halls of Erebor.
Kili had never felt as relieved as when he saw the gate open before them and found himself staring into the faces of his friends. Somewhere deep inside him, there had been the fear that perhaps they had not survived, and the feeling of that fear dissipating was the best feeling in the world to the brunet dwarf. His joyous cries mixed with happy laughter as he found himself engulfed in a flurry of hugs, pats on the back, knocking of heads. He was squeezing Ori so tightly that the dwarf cried out a little, and Kili quickly let go of him, a large smile still plastered on his face as he looked around for his uncle.
Though when after a few moments, he still could not find him among the crowd, a small frown began to crease his forehead.
"Where's…" he began to ask, but was suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice and he looked up happily toward it, seeing Thorin approaching with slow steps and outstretched arms.
"Welcome, my sister-sons," the dark-haired dwarf called out, his voice sounding somehow strange to Kili's ears, overly formal. His gaze wandered between him and Fili, who had come to stand beside him now. "To the kingdom of Erebor!"
Thorin smiled at his nephews, a wide, toothy smile that seemed strained somehow. Kili dismissed the strange feeling it gave him and rushed forward, enveloping his uncle in a hug, which Thorin returned, before he turned and did the same to Fili. He patted his older nephew on the back before he let go, grasping him by the shoulders to get a good look of his face. Fili smiled at Thorin, happy to see his uncle alive and well, though he faltered slightly when Thorin's already strained smile fell, and his expression changed completely.
"What's this?" Thorin asked in a low, rumbling voice, keeping one hand unintentionally but firmly on Fili's injured shoulder, making the dwarf wince slightly, as he brought his other up to the braid behind Fili's left ear. Fili opened his mouth as his uncle twisted the end of it harshly in his grasp, his dark and confused gaze resting on the small silver bead. He didn't get a chance to speak. "A courting braid? Who on earth –"
Fili opened his mouth again to explain, but Thorin pushed him out of his way slightly before he could utter a word. He stepped past his nephew, his gaze drifting over the rest of the company as he searched for the counter part of Fili's braid. He found it quickly enough in the black hair of the druid, who was standing beside Balin, who had one arm wrapped around her still from their previous hug. The old dwarf kept it there as Thorin's heavy gaze came to rest on the small woman.
He stared at her for a moment, before a dark chuckle left his throat. He shook his head slightly, a disbelieving grin pulling on the corners of his mouth. "Surely, this must be some kind of joke," he said, half turning toward Fili, who shook his head in return. Again, the blond dwarf was about to say something, when Thorin's gaze darkened and he turned back toward the druid.
"You!" The dwarf-king growled loudly, directing everyone's attention to the situation now. No one dared say anything though, as Thorin's temper flared. "Are you courting my nephew? SPEAK!"
Arinna flinched at Thorin's sudden outburst, feeling Balin's hand wrap supportively around her upper arm. She looked from Thorin to Fili, not knowing what to say. "I… I…"
"You… you what?!" Thorin growled, though it was Fili who now finally spoke up, taking a few steps forward to come to stand beside his uncle.
"I was going to tell you, uncle," he said calmly, trying to appease him. He had expected Thorin to react a certain way to the news of him and Arinna courting, but he had not thought that he would just shout at her in front of everyone. "I was waiting for the right moment, but it… well, it just never came. And then Laketown happened and –"
"And you thought you'd just throw all your responsibilities, your heritage – your honour– to the wind and court some woman you've picked up off the street?" Thorin hissed, glaring dangerously at his nephew who looked taken aback by his words completely.
Fili's mouth fell open as he stared at his uncle in shock, a deep frown creasing his forehead as he shook his head. "My… my honour? Uncle, how can you say such a thing? She's –"
"She's not just some woman, Thorin," Kili threw in before his brother could finish, unable to witness the scene silently any longer. He was shocked at his uncle's reaction, having expected him to disagree at first perhaps, but not like this. Arinna did not deserve any of this. "It is Arinna. She's one of us."
The druid could only stare at the dwarf-king with wide eyes as he continued his tirade, only sparing her a short glance as he curled his lip mockingly. "She could never be one of us," he snarled, ignoring the shocked looks he received from everyone around him. He turned his gaze back to Fili. "She is a nobody from nowhere and if you think that she could ever make a fitting match for you – the crown-prince of Erebor, my heir – then you are sorely mistaken. She is not worth –"
"Enough."
Arinna's quiet voice broke through the crowd, all gazes turning to her as she looked at Thorin with sad eyes. She held his gaze for a moment, shaking her head slightly as she looked into his icy blue eyes, which seemed to hold nothing but contempt for her. She had never seen him look at her like that, even when they had first started out on this journey and she had not yet earned his trust.
"I will not let you say these things about me," she finally said, her voice still quiet but firm as she addressed him. Her heart was heavy in her chest as she looked at him, a crease forming between her eyebrows as she studied his dark features. "You know where I come from and what I have lost. You know the person that I am. But more importantly, I know the person that I am. You, on the other hand, I hardly recognise."
As Thorin remained stoically silent upon her words, Arinna continued quietly. "I love Fili. And whether you approve of it or not is your decision. It will not affect my own. But I will not let you disrespect me like this. After all this time, I do not deserve to be treated as such, and I believe that you know this, Thorin, however unwilling you may be to admit it to yourself right now."
Again, Thorin said nothing, his eyes dark and seeming troubled as he stared at her in silence. She waited for him to react, holding his gaze with determination, though after a few more moments, Thorin simply turned away. The druid watched his retreating form with a confused frown as he stalked through the small crowd, who made way silently, before he disappeared down a dark hallway.
The silence stretched over them for a few more moments as nobody knew what to say after what had just happened. Balin was the first to speak, his voice quiet and sombre as he gave Arinna's arm a small squeeze.
"Well, I believe congratulations are in order," the old dwarf muttered, giving first her and then Fili a small smile. He gave the druid a small nudge. "Come on. Let's get inside."
