And we're back! Should be a fun chapter, hope you enjoy!
The noises grew louder as the company of dwarves waited outside the mountain. An orange glow could be seen from the depths. Smaug was most definitely alive.
"What about Emi?" Ori asked worriedly.
"Give her more time." Thorin stressed, walking to look over the edge, hoping it would calm him. It didn't.
"Time to do what?" Balin followed him. "To be killed?" Thorin turned to his old friend in astonishment.
"You're afraid." The dwarf lord accused.
Balin looked at his king for a moment before responding. "Yes, I am afraid. I fear for you." Thorin turned to the white haired dwarf. Fear for him? Why? "A sickness lies upon that treasure hoard. A sickness that drove your grandfather mad."
"I am not my grandfather."
"You're not yourself!" Balin interjected quickly. "The Thorin I know would not even hesitate to go in there-"
"I will not risk this quest for the life of one… burglar." Thorin growled, turning away again.
Balin frowned. "Her name is Emi."
"It does not matter-"
"Thorin! I am not blind! I've seen the way you look at her. I heard you back in Laketown." Thorin's eyes widened. "Was that all a lie? Do you really care nothing for that woman?"
"I cannot risk everything-"
"LISTEN TO YOURSELF!" Balin shouted, drawing the attention of all the others. Thorin could not but stare at the old dwarf. The Burglar… Emilie…
The King Under the Mountain is dead. The dragons voice thundered through the air as Emi panted, trembling, behind a pillar. The Arkenstone lay a good distance away, but in sight.
I took his throne. Smaug slithered past Emi's hiding spot.
I ate his people like a wolf among sheep. Emi stared at the Arkenstone, assessing, when the dragon came to stop on the other side of her hide away.
It's Oakenshield. That filthy dwarf usurper! He sent you in here for the Arkenstone, didn't he?
"I don't know what you could possibly be talking about!" Emi denied quickly as she continued to plot a course to the gem.
Don't bother denying it. I guessed his foul purpose some time ago. But it matters not. Oakenshield's quest will fail. Emi dashed behind another pillar. And you have been used, thief in the shadows. You were only ever a means to an end. That coward Oakenshield has weighed the value of your life and found it worth nothing.
"Just shut up!" Emi yelled, trying to push away the dragon's words. It couldn't be true. It couldn't be. Thorin had said… Well, it didn't matter what he said any more! That wasn't the point. She had to get this gem, no matter what.
What did he promise you? A share of the treasure? As if it was his to give. Smaug scoffed. I will not part with a single coin!
"You do not know everything, O Smaug the Mighty!" Emi began before she knew what she was saying. "Not gold alone brought us here!"
So you freely admit 'us'. Why not say 'us fourteen' and be done with it, Lucky Number?
"I tell you now," Emi swallowed dryly "gold was only an afterthought. We came for something else. Something far greater. Revenge."
The ground rocked a quaked, sending coins showering down, and the Arkenstone with it tumbling once again out of sight. Such was Smaug's horrible laugh. It shook the ground. Revenge! He snorted. Revenge! I kill where I wish and none dare resist! I laid low the warriors of old when I was but a wyrmling. Now I am old and strong His foot stomped, shaking the earth. Strong his other foot set a spray of gold coins. STRONG The Dragon's great tail swept the ground, sending coins and priceless treasures flying through the air. My armor is like tenfold shields! My teeth are swords. My claws, spears. The shock of my tail, a Thunderbolt! My wings, a hurricane! And my breath… DEATH.
The Dragon reared up before the hobbit and Emi could do naught but stare in horror. Then, she noticed something. A small, bare patch. "So it's true." She whispered to herself. "The Black arrow found its mark."
What was that?
"Wellllll, I really must not detain your magnificence any longer!" Emi started backing up towards the edge. "Or keep you from much needed rest. Dwarves take some catching, I believe, after such a long nap." She stopped at the edge of a cliff of treasure. "As do burglars." And she stepped back, letting herself tumbled head over heels down the slopes of coin and gem.
Emi scrambled to her feet on smooth ground, littered with only a few coins. The Arkenstone lay only a few feet away. But her attention was ripped away as the might of Smaug came landing right in front of her, rearing before the hobbit. The dragon glared at Emi, then at the Arkenstone, and smiled.
I am almost tempted to let you take it. He purred. Emi froze in horror. If only to see Oakenshield suffer, watch it destroy him, watch it corrupt his heart and drive him mad!
Emi's stomach dropped away. Is that what would happen? Would the Arkenstone destroy him?
But I think not. Smaug's roaring voice called her back to reality. I think our little game ends here. So tell me, thief, how do you choose to die?
Without a second thought, the burglar slipped on the ring, grabbed the Arkenstone, and ran.
Thorin rushed out of the tunnel, coming to stop a he gazed upon the see of gold. The treasure of his kin. His treasure. It was beautiful.
The padding of feet, however, broke him from his awe struck. Thorin turned to see Emi flying up the stairs, panting.
"You're alive!" Thorin cried out in relief moving to embrace the hobbit.
"Not for much longer!" Emi shook her head, ducking away. "We have to get out of here!" Thorin frowned. She denied him? Very well then. Back to business.
"Did you find the Arkenstone?" The dwarf demanded.
"Thorin, the dragon." Emi pointed out.
"The Arkenstone!" Thorin repeated. "Did you find it?" The two stared at each other when Emi did not answer. She seemed to be at war with herself. Then, at last, her eyes became cold and she spoke.
"We have to get out of here." And the hobbit moved towards the tunnel, only to be blocked by the flat of a blade. Emi froze before slowly turning to look at Thorin. His eyes were also cold. Emi took a step back, but the sword followed. Now the point faced her. "Thorin…" she faltered, cool expression replaced by one of confusion. The sword pressed into her, forcing her to back up again. Thorin followed. "Thorin!" She was still being forced back. She paused as her feet felt the edge. Nowhere else to go.
Emi stared straight into Thorin's eyes and took a deep breath. "Fine then." She whispered. "Run me through." Thorin pushed the blade closer, but she did not move back. She couldn't without falling. The tip of the sword began to dig into skin through her waistcoat. Her eyes widened. This was it. She was really going to die here. After saving their lives countless times and surviving a dragon she was going to die by the blade of one she thought was he friend. After all that work…
"Nope!" Emi cried, grabbing the sword and pushing it away. The palm of her hand stung as the blade cut into it, but ignored it as she dashed away from the edge. In instinct, Thorin whirled around, bringing the sword at her exposed neck. But it stopped. The steel hovered, just barely touching the wounded hand, which she had brought up in an attempt to block the weapon. Emi was still, her eyes fixed on the blade hovering by her neck. The blood from her hand dripped onto the floor. Drip… drip… drip…
Thorin's eyes widened. Drip… The sword slipped from his numb fingers to clang upon the stone floor. Drip… "What have I done?" Emi stayed ridged, watching fearfully as Thorin carefully took a step forward and reached for her wounded hand. It was trembling when Thorin took it in his. Two cuts ran along it from where she had grabbed the blade, and another small graze where his sword had swung at her. The blood continued to drip. "What have I done?" Thorin whispered again, looking up into Emi's still fearful eyes. He moved one hand to cup her cheek, but she flinched away, causing the dwarf to freeze in place.
Slowly, he released her wounded hand, letting it fall to her side. Her eyes were squeezed tight, her body ridged as if waiting for the final blow. Thorin fell to his knees. "What have I become?"
A monster. Like your Grandfather. Emi's eyes flew open and Thorin spun to his feet, quickly picking up his sword as well. Sitting before them, in all his enormity, was Smaug. Oh, don't stop now. It was so entertaining to watch. How easily people can turn on each other. Now do you understand the truth to my words, barrel-rider? Emi gulped under the dragon's gaze. He will BURN. The dragon's chest began to glow with fire as his mouth opened wide.
Just then, eight dwarves rushed out, yelling, saw the dragon and ran, yelling, off the side of the staircase, taking Emi and Thorin with them. The ten of them tumbled down coins, coming to stop at another tunnel entrance, which they quickly ran into. Smaug roared with fury, spreading fire in all directions. Thorin yelled as his coat caught fire. He rolled across the ground before quickly removing the flaming cloth and springing to his feet.
"Come on." He said to the others, before taking off into the tunnel.
The company traveled quietly across a bridge as they made their way through Erebor. It was silent.
"We've given him the slip." Dori whispered.
"No, he's too cunning for that." Dwalin shook his head.
"Where to now?" Emi asked quietly, trying to stop her voice from trembling, for she had still not quite recovered.
"The western guardroom." Thorin answered, not looking at the Hobbit for her own sake. "There must be a way out."
"It's too high. There's no chance that way." Balin shook his head.
"It's our only chance, we've got to try." They started across the bridge as silently as they could. And in the silence, they all heard when a gold coin clanged loudly to the ground. Everyone turned to look at Emi who was closest to the coin. The hobbit frowned at the thing, then looked up. Everyone else followed her gaze.
The great belly of the dragon slithered over top of them. Gems and coins, long ago embedded dropping off slowly. Emi felt her blood run cold. He could smell them. So why wasn't he burning them all to a crisp?
…They were being played with. Like a cat plays with a mouse before it eats it. The dwarves didn't seem to care though, they were just glad they hadn't been spotted as Thorin motioned them forward again.
At last, they reached the western guardroom. And all hope was lost. The guardroom was full of corpses. Their dead kin.
"That's it then." Dwalin frowned. "There's no way out."
"The last of our kin. They must have come here. Hoping beyond hope." A cave in had blocked the exit. "We could make for the mines." Balin suggested. "We might last a few days."
"No. I will not die like this. Cowering, clawing for breath. We make for the forges." Thorin said, looking at the bodies.
"He'll see us, sure as death." Dwalin nodded.
"Not if we split up."
"Thorin, we'll never make it."
"Some of us might." Thorin argued. "Lead him to the forges. We kill the dragon. If this is to end in fire," He looked around at the others. "Then we will all burn together."
Ah, and next is the scene where they fight Smaug. :P That scene is so dorky. Maybe I should just write it out...
This chapter though! Thorin and Emi... woo This is gonna be fun to write!
Please review if you have a moment. Even a smile is encouraging!