Chapter 33

The day passed by quickly. The dwarves were given new clothing, weapons and, much to Bombur's delight, massive quantities of food. Ember spent the day in her room, lying down. So much had happened in such a short time, and she felt as though her body was worn out. She barely ate anything, and slept for most of the day. Kili worried over her incessantly, but was finally shooed away by a maiden who came to prepare Ember for the feast. Sighing, Ember rose, and allowed the young woman to pamper her. When she finally emerged in the living room, the dwarves sighed in awe once again at her beauty. Only Kili noticed how pale she was, and squeezed her hand worriedly. She gave him a warm smile. Her dwarves deserved to celebrate. Tomorrow they would head to Erebor. They were running out of time, and Ember could feel the excitement building in each of them.

As they headed to the manor house of the Master, Ember snuggled close to Kili, whose arm was wrapped around her tightly. As they entered the grand ball room, Kili gave a low growl. She turned to him with her eyebrow raised. "I don't like how everyone is looking at you!" he muttered. She smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Now you know how I feel!" she whispered. "All these ladies are having very unladylike thoughts about you!" He stared at her in surprise, a slow grin growing on his lips.

"Well…this could be fun!" he said cheekily. She smiled and punched him in the arm.

"If your eyes leave mine tonight, I might have to hurt you!" she replied.

"Promise?" he said, his eyes smoky with lust. She merely laughed and kissed him. Soon the Company was seated, and a pleasant meal was set before them. Ember's nose turned up however, as the smell of food and ale wafted to her. She picked at her food, hoping no one would notice. She glanced up to see Balin staring at her, and she gave him a smile, before forcing herself to take a bite of her salad. Balin smiled back at her, turning to Oin, and Ember sat back, taking a sip of her water. Kili offered her some wine, and she shook her head. Her eyes moved around the room, but they did not locate the person she had hoped to find. Bard had either not been invited, or chosen not to come to the feast. Ember was disappointed, it would have been nice to have known someone other than the dwarves at the festivities. Finally, after several long (and boring) speeches, the tables were rearranged and a band started to play. Ember felt herself being pulled out onto the floor by Fili and Bofur, and she glanced back at Kili, who grinned wickedly. The Company soon circled Ember, dancing about her with laughter. Ember shrugged, and lifted her skirts, her feet moving faster than they had ever seen before. The dwarves were struck as Ember danced, her body swaying and moving to the music as if it flowed from her rather than the instruments. Grabbing Bilbo by the hand, she pulled him into the circle and began to twirl him around. The dwarves laughed merrily as the little Hobbit surprised them with his agility. Ember threw a cheeky grin at Kili, before grabbing Dwalin into the circle. The warrior dwarf stared at her, before lifting her about the waist and tossing her in the air. She was caught by Bifur, who grunted his approval before kissing her cheek and setting her down. Soon more people joined the group, and Ember floated back to the table for a drink. She sat down beside Thorin, who sat near the Master and Alfrid, clearly bored out of his mind.

"My dear lady," Alfrid's voice oozed. "I was wondering if you would care to dance with me?" She stared at him, trying to think of a polite way to decline, when Thorin stood up.

"I am afraid, my dear Steward, that this lady is spoken for. Shall we, my Ember?" She looked at him in surprise, but gratefully took his hand. As he led her to the dance floor, he placed an arm around her back.

"Thank you, Thorin," she whispered, taking his hand and placing her own on his shoulder. As they began to dance, he chuckled.

"For the record, I never dance. But the thought of that slimy worm touching you was more than I could stand, taal berch men." He smiled as he led her about the dance floor, before a soft tap touched his shoulder.

"May I, Uncle?" Kili asked. Leaning forward to kiss her brow, Thorin placed her hand in Kili's, then bowed to them before heading back to his chair. Ember sighed gratefully as she wrapped herself in Kili's embrace. She placed her head on his chest, and he stroked her back lightly as they swayed to the music. "Are you well, vol kaon?" he whispered into her hair. She pulled back, a curious expression on her face.

"Of course, why do you ask?" she said. He smiled, stroking her cheek.

"Vol kaon, you slept for most of the day, you barely ate anything at dinner, and you are so pale," he said. Ember sighed, she should have known better than to try to fool her One.

"I am just…worn out, I think. It has been such a long journey, and there is still more to come. My stomach is worried about leaving by boat tomorrow," she added with a smile. "In all honesty, I could fall asleep right here." Kili frowned.

"Why don't we head back to the manor, and retire early?" he asked. She shook her head.

"No, Kili, you need to celebrate with your Uncle. If anything, it will keep positive relations with the Master." Kili made a face, but knew that she was right. Both he and Fili would need to remain for most of the evening, as Thorin's heirs.

"Well, what if someone else went with you?" He glanced around, and noticed Bifur and Bofur were both sitting down, mugs of ale in their hands. He led Ember over to them, and she sat down on Bifur's knee, resting her head on his shoulder. After explaining how tired Ember was, Kili asked if they would mind taking her back to the manor. Both dwarves were more than happy to oblige. Bifur carefully stood Ember on her feet, and she smiled, taking his offered arm. Kili handed Bofur a large bottle of wine, and Bofur grinned. Kissing her delicately on her lips, Kili watched as they quietly left the room. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he smiled at his brother. "Come, Fili," he said, "let's go rescue Uncle Thorin." Laughing, Fili handed his brother a mug of ale, and headed towards the head table.

As Bifur and Bofur led Ember out into the night, she looked up at the stars that were reflecting off of the still lake waters that ran through the town. She quickly made up her mind. "Bifur, Bofur, would you mind if we stopped quickly at Bard's? He was not at the feast, and I am hoping that the Master…"she trailed off.

"No need to explain to me, lassie," said Bofur tipsily. "I quite like the bargeman." Bifur grunted his agreement, and Ember knew he wanted to visit little Tilda. They headed towards the far side of the town, the chilly air crisp and cold. As they approached Bard's home, Ember was relieved to see smoke coming from the chimney. They stepped up the stairs, and Ember knocked politely. Bard opened the door.

"No. I'm done with dwarves. Go away." He tried to slam the door shut, and Bofur stopped it with his boot.

"What are you saying?" he asked in confusion. "We have done nothing to you."

"But you will. You will awaken that dragon and kill us all!" Again Bard tried to close the door, but Ember stepped forward.

"Bard, please," she whispered. He stared into her eyes, and he felt his heart stir. He could see how tired she was, and he knew she probably hadn't eaten. He sighed.

"Come in," he said warily, "let's talk." Ember nodded her head, and the dwarves bowed in acceptance. He ushered Ember over to the chair by the fire. Tilda came out of the bedroom and squealed in delight at the sight of Bifur. He smiled back at her, tossing her lightly into the air. Grabbing his hand, she pulled him towards her toys, and with a quick glance at Ember and Bofur, Bifur followed the young child. Bard smiled in spite of himself. After a few moments, he handed Ember a cup of tea, and found a glass for Bofur, who poured the wine he had brought. They sat contentedly, but avoiding any talk of Erebor. Bofur finally dropped off to sleep, snoring softly. Ember finally set her cup down, turning to Bard.

"Why did you not come to the feast? Did the Master not invite you?" she asked.

"On the contrary, he was most insistent that I come. He seemed to notice how…well you and I got along. But I cannot celebrate something I do not believe in." Ember took his hand.

"Bard, these dwarves want nothing more than to reclaim the home which was stolen from them. How can you say that you don't believe in that?" she asked gently.

"Because in order to reclaim their home, they risk mine. There is no way to defeat that dragon…I of all people know that only too well." She looked at him, a sad smile on her face.

"Bard, you are not Girion," she said softly. "Do not take his failure as your own." He looked at her, a feeling of understanding coming over him. He leaned towards her slowly, his eyes searching her own. Ember looked at him in surprise. Was…was he going to kiss her? Suddenly a loud crash startled them, and Bofur was jarred from his sleep. An orc screeched in the room. Ember rose, yanking her blade from her right boot. Bard leapt towards the kitchen, grabbing a knife. Orcs began to enter the home. Bofur bashed one over the head with his bottle of wine, then sliced its throat. Ember leapt into the doorway that led to the bedrooms, and slashed the belly of another. Bifur had Tilda hidden behind him and he swung his ax menacingly. Ember turned as Bofur yelled out, and seeing her distracted, an Orc punched her in the face. She dropped, seeing stars. It rose over her, a black look in its evil eyes. Suddenly, an arrow shaft pierced its throat. Ember shoved the body off of her as more arrows flew through the air. The battle ended quickly, and Ember smiled softly at the hand extended towards her. She rose to her feet, with a slight grimace. "What took you so long?" she asked Legolas. He grinned, embracing her tightly.

"Are you all right?" he asked, reaching for her cheek where a large bruise was already forming. She saw Tauriel behind him and smiled.

"Yes, I am ok. Are there more?" Tauriel shook her head.

"The others have retreated." Tauriel smiled politely at Bard and Ember quickly introduced the elves. After greeting them, Bard embraced his children. Bifur stroked Tilda's hair, as Bofur sighed.

"That was an awful way to wake up!" he muttered. Bard looked at the carnage in his home.

"We can toss the bodies into the lake," Bard said. "No one will find them until morning." Legolas and Bifur quickly agreed, and joined Bard in grabbing the bodies about the room. Once the task was completed, Bofur turned to Ember.

"We should get back to Thorin and the Company," he said. Ember nodded.

"Legolas, Tauriel, you will come with us," she said, when she felt a wave of dizziness come over her. She swayed, and Bard grabbed her in his arms before she hit the ground.

"She hasn't been feeling well," he explained to Legolas, who watched as Bard laid her gently on his bed. "Go and find the other dwarves. I will keep her safe here."

"Really, I'm fine, I just need…" Ember started but Bard looked at her sternly.

"You have been nauseous, and have barely eaten in several days. After a battle like that, you need rest." His firm tone left no debate, and Legolas and Tauriel nodded their agreement. Bofur headed to the door, but Bifur grunted, speaking furiously to Bofur in Khuzdul.

"He says he is staying to watch over his girls," Bofur interpreted, grinning. He watched as Bifur picked up little Tilda and put her to bed. He led the elves out of the home, and Bard turned back to Ember, whose blue eyes were beginning to droop.

"Sleep, Ember. Your body needs it, more than ever." She looked at him oddly, wondering just what he meant as he covered her with a warm blanket.

"Thank you, my friend," she murmured as she snuggled into the blanket. He smiled down at her, then headed out of the room. He chuckled quietly at the sight of Bifur, who sat with his back against the doorframe of Tilda's room, his head dropped on his chest in sleep. It surprised him how protective the dwarf was of his daughter. He headed into the kitchen, and thought back to Ember's words earlier. Sighing, he reached up into the jumbled pot rack above the counter. He pulled down a black arrow, the last of the three that his ancestor Girion had had in Dale. He slowly turned the arrow over in his hands, examining it closely.

"You are right, my dear," he whispered softly. "His failure will not be mine."

Against his better judgement, Gandalf had accompanied Radagast to the bridge of Dol Guldur. He only hoped that he would be able to reach the Company before Durin's Day arrived, but he knew that he had to solve the riddle of the Necromancer. As they approached the bridge, Gandalf spoke. "Dol Guldur. The hill of sorcery." Radagast nodded, his eyes roaming the ruins.

"It looks completely abandoned," the brown wizard muttered.

"As it is meant to," Gandalf replied. "A spell of concealment lies over this place, which means our enemy is not yet ready to reveal himself. He has not regained his full strength." Gandalf slowly stepped onto the bridge, before turning back to his friend. "Radagast, I need you to carry a message to the Lady Galadriel. Tell her we must force his hand."

"What do you mean?" Radagast asked fearfully.

"I am going in alone. On no account come after me. Do I have your word?" Gandalf looked back at his friend, who nodded slowly, before finally preparing to leave. As Gandalf began to stride across the bridge, Radagast suddenly turned and called out to him.

"Wait Gandalf! What if it's a trap?" he called.

"Turn around, Radagast, and do not come back," Gandalf replied firmly. Radagast turned and walked away as Gandalf whispered quietly after him. "It's undoubtedly a trap." Drawing his sword and clutching his staff in his other hand, Gandalf strode across the bridge. As he slowly entered the ruins, he noted that it seemed abandoned; indeed, even the rocks looked weathered and worn. But he felt the air of menace pierce his heart. He decided that he'd had enough of playing hide and seek. Raising his staff into the air, he muttered a loud spell, causing a flash of white light to pulse through the air. He was momentarily shocked as a massive cloud of shadow revealed itself, appearing on a bridge before him. He growled at he realized it was the Necromancer. "Go back to the Shadow!" Gandalf roared, forming a shield of light around himself.

"There is no light, Wizard…" the thick dead voice seemed to encompass the air around him," that can defeat darkness." The shadowy figure continued to pound at Gandalf's shield, and he struggled, reaching deep into his power core. With a giant surge of power, the shadow pushed so hard that Gandalf's shield collapsed. Gandalf gasped and fell back, as the shadow turned into a wreath of flames. The flames turned into the slit pupil of an eye before slowly taking the form of a tall man, wearing armor, with a spiked helmet shielding his face. As the figure approached, Gandalf's staff was burned into ash from the intense heat. Gandalf was tossed into the air, before being slammed back down onto the stones. Tendrils of shadow and flame hurled him back into a stone wall, holding him immobile. The figure forced Gandalf to look at him, and the flames surrounding him seemed to explode, forming a Great Eye, with the figure at the center. Gandalf moaned as he recognized the Necromancer for what he truly was.

"SAURON!" Gandalf groaned. He heard laughter as Azog, along with a large pack of orcs and Wargs emerged from the shadows. Azog stepped forward, a smug grin on his vile face. Suddenly, an image was forced into Gandalf's mind. It was…Ember, shielding Thorin from the Orcs on the cliff near Goblintown. As the image of Ember's face grew larger, Gandalf realized exactly what Sauron was wanted, and a cold fear settled on him.

"Where is the half-breed, Wizard?" the dead voice thundered softly. Gandalf reached deep into his power core, but was slammed back against the wall, his grip on consciousness slipping.

"Never," Gandalf struggled in reply. A surge of flame burst forth, he howled in pain and knew no more.

"GANDALF!" Ember screamed in horror, jerking out of her sleep many leagues away. Warm arms reached out to hold her as she struggled and fought against the darkness. "GANDALF!" she wailed, tears pouring from her eyes. The arms tightened around her. She smelled the warm scent of pine and heard her One's voice murmuring to her softly. Finally, he began to hum, stroking her long blond hair as she sobbed quietly into his chest. She couldn't shake the image of her beloved Istari being tortured, and she trembled violently in Kili's arms. Finally, a cup was placed to her lips and she drank deeply. Soon, the sleeping draught worked its magic, and Kili laid her back down onto the pillow. He sighed, kissing her softly, and she whimpered softly in her sleep. He cupped her cheek, caressing it gently and she sighed into his touch.

"Men lananubukhs menu, vol kaon," he whispered tenderly. He slowly rose from the bed, turning to the door. His eyes locked with the figure standing in the doorway. Bard.

The Company sat in Bard's living room once again, having been located by Bofur and the elves. Legolas and Tauriel stood nearby, one at each window to the home, keeping a watchful eye. Thorin glared at them both, but held his tongue. They had saved his Ember from the Orc pack, and while he did not enjoy being in the debt of an elf, he knew he did owe them. While he had been humoring that miserable Master of this town, members of his Company had been under attack. They had returned to find Bifur keeping guard outside of the human child's room, and Ember fast asleep in the human's bed. Kili had been furious, and had even raised his sword to Bard, before Bofur explained that Ember had been thoroughly exhausted. Kili had gruffly nodded his thanks to Bard, and had just entered the room when she had screamed in terror. The sheer terror and despair in her voice had made his very soul ache. He felt her pain as if it were his own. Oin had finally handed him a sleeping draught when even his humming could not calm her. As he now made to rejoin the Company, he found himself staring at the dark haired human who seemed very worried about Ember. "How is she?" Bard asked him quietly, and Kili raised an eyebrow. He did not like how this man made him feel. It made him angry that Ember was lying in his bed, rather than the one they shared, even if it was for a good reason. He realized that he was feeling something he had never experienced: jealousy.

"She's asleep for now. The draught Oin made should last for the night," Kili replied warily. "I will take her back to the manor after we have all discussed…" Bard cut him off.

"There is no need to move her," he said hurriedly. "I promise she will be safe here."

"If you think we'll leave our lass in your bed alone, you've got another thing coming," a voice growled behind the human. Dwalin stood glaring at Bard, and Kili couldn't help hide a grin. By Mahal, every dwarf in this Company loved Ember. He felt so blessed that she had chosen him.

"Kili can stay with her…she shouldn't be moved, not in her condition," Bard insisted. Kili looked at him in confusion.

"What are you talking about? What condition?" he asked. Bard opened his mouth to speak, when Balin stepped forward.

"He means while she is so exhausted, right Master Bard?" the old dwarf said, placing a hand on Bard's arm. The bargeman looked at Balin intently, before nodding.

"Yes, she needs rest," Bard said in agreement. They all stepped into the living room, as Thorin spoke up.

"We must ready ourselves to leave in the morning. The…Master has a ceremony planned." Bard frowned, but did not object as Thorin continued. "Kili and Bifur can stay with Ember, the rest of us shall return to the manor so as not to cause any unnecessary attention. Hopefully, the bodies of the orc filth will remain undiscovered until after we leave."

"We shall remain here as well, if this is agreeable, Master Bard," Legolas stated. Bard nodded absently as the Company rose to leave. Thorin paused beside Legolas.

"You truly are a part of her family...guard her with your life." Legolas was surprised at the reluctant acceptance offered by Thorin and he bowed his head in agreement.

"No harm will come to any member of your Company this night," he said solemnly. Thorin nodded his head in acknowledgement before stepping out into the night. Fili was the last to leave and as he stepped to the door, Tauriel approached him.

"I will see you in the morning," she said quietly. "You will have to tell me more of your adventures on our journey." Fili looked at her in surprise.

"You are coming with us to the Mountain?" he asked. Tauriel nodded, and Fili grinned.

"Does Thorin know?" he asked cheekily. As Tauriel shook her head, Fili laughed. He pulled a lock of her red hair, tugging gently. "Oh, I can't wait to see the look on his face!" Chuckling lightly, he gave her hand a light squeeze, and headed out the door.

Review! I own nothing but Ember!