Call of the Dragon

Chapter III:

,,Thorin is tireless! Especially when he pursues an important goal." that was main thought that came to Bilbo's head, after the rushed packing and heading in a new direction. Again they had a purpose set before them, though Bilbo liked it even less than a previous one. Stealing the treasure is one thing but slaying a dragon? Now that is different matter altogether.

,,Stealing would be much easier, having that useful ring and all" He mused to himself conveniently forgetting how terrifying it was for him, to enter Smaug's lair to reach the treasure in the first place. ,,There are only fourteen of us. What chances we have in a fight like that?" Wondered again, the hobbit silently. Bombur's mood was darkened too, tasting of the delicious goulash, had to wait for now, and he wasn't happy about that. He put a lot of work to prepare it and hoped that after his trouble with finding right herbs to enrich it's flavor, he would have the first portion to eat. Instead they were roughly reprimanded by Thorin and thrown on the path, once again.

,,Maybe we can stop for a moment. At least to rest a little!" fat dwarf groaned miserably. ,,My legs are killing me!"

,,Don't complain. There is still a long way, ahead of us. We won't give up now!" shouted Thorin from the front. ,,Follow me!" he added eagerly looking around in search of the best, in his opinion, trails.

Whole company was trotting through thick undergrowth. Thorin's sword and Gloin's axe were put to good use in clearing up the path. Many sent looks of exasperation towards Thorin, silently cursing his stubbornness. Those ,,best trails" turned out to be the ones hardest to go through. Still nobody said a word, fearing Thorin's reaction. It was so dark that dwarves started to bump on each other and stumble on the roots crossing their way. Thorin paid no heed to anything, but finally after another hour, which seemed like eternity to the rest of the company, he took notice of their much slower rate of running and heavy breathing.

With thoughtful face, dwarven leader stopped and announced ,,We rest now. Forgive me, I was overly harsh for you. Our company deserves some reprieve." And after a moment of silence he added: ,,Make a camp here, in this forest clearing! Balin you take the first shift." With these words he started to organize everything from lighting fire to preparing places for sleep.

Gloin, fared maybe better than most but still, he was very tired. To his brother, laying nearby on the ground who didn't even want move now, he whispered:

,,They say the direct descendants of the Seven Fathers have wills and bodies harder than the very stones of the earth. Now I believe it." Oin acknowledged this statement only with slight nod.

,,We should know that, we're Thorin's cousins. Yet I feel that in me gift of endurance is rather weakened." Oin answered after moment of silence.

Gloin only laughed and closed his eyes, trying to relax. Hours past quickly, the moon rose over the horizon and dark clouds started to gather above them.

Bilbo immediately after stopping, fell of his feet like a heavy bag. He found cozy place under the tree with sprawling roots and placed himself on the softest spot. Relieved sigh followed and soon the dwarves could hear only snoring. Sleep overcame him at last. He laid there unperturbed for a long time, while others who were still awake hummed soft tune. Gloin smiled wistfully looking at him, and said: ,,That hobbit is a much more hardened than he was before. I'm glad we took him with us!" Other dwarves approved in unison.

,,Let him sleep, lads. And you too take your time and rest. Soon we'll be going forward!" called out Balin from his post, followed immediately by annoyed groans of the rest.

Fili asked loudly, while trying to repair his boot: ,,Have you make any specific plans, Thorin? Uncle, do you hear me?" And muttered under his breath when he heard no answer: ,,I could talk to a brick wall!" After a short pause he added annoyed, turning to his sibling:

,,Thorin at times is hard to stand, with all this stubbornness! But to not even answer to reasonable questions, of his own kin no less!"

His brother Kili said nothing, only looked around flustered searching with his eyes the person pivotal to their conversation.

,,Where did he go!? Have you seen him? I could have sworn he stood right there on the rocks!" He shouted in distress.

No one said a word, Balin quickly climbed on the biggest nearby rock and fixed his gaze in the blackness of night. From among the clouds a faint moonlight was pouring through, but it wasn't enough to spot anything.

Worried, dwarves shifted from their resting places and got up. They started to walk all around the camp shouting Thorin's name.

,,I can't belive it. He just disappeared!" shouted Dwalin angrily. ,,One of you must have seen him! He couldn't vanish in thin air!" Others quickly protested: ,,No we haven't seen him!" multiple voices were heard.

Dwalin frowned recalling last few hours: ,,When I was busy making fire earlier, I remember that Thorin told Bifur and Bofur to gather some brush. Later he went with you, as he said, in order to supervise you. I heard even from here that he criticized Bofur for gathering rotting branches!"

,,It's not our fault, he disappeared!" both dwarves exclaimed in defence. ,,We did as he requested and we minded our business, later we brought everything to fireplace and tried to get some sleep. How could we know that he trailed further. We just didn't notice he wasn't with us during return trip to camp!"

Dwalin face immediately twisted with anger. ,,What did you say?! You haven't noticed him! This is outrage!"

Bifur and Bofur were indignant, rest of the dwarves started to shout on them blaming the unfortunate pair for their leader's going missing. The noises finally woke up Bilbo. He stretched and stood up, yawning. He looked around bewildered and saw infuriated dwarves almost coming to blows.

,,What happened?" he inquired. ,,Is something wrong?!" hobbit asked frightened a little.

Balin whistled drawingly, to silence loudly bickering company. ,,Calm yourselves, all of you!" he shouted, his voice resonating through the forest.

,,Listen Bilbo. Thorin is missing and we don't know what happened to him, about one and a half hour ago these two went with Thorin to gather some wood" he motioned indicating Bifur and Bofur.

,,He didn't return with them, so either went for a walk or he just delayed I presume. We needn't worry, though it's dangerous to split up in unknown terrain, he can look after himself." Added white bearded dwarf, trying to ease the tension. ,,He will probably return shortly, I'm sure of that!"

,,Delayed!? What are you talking about, brother?!" shouted Dwalin. ,,Those fools should have stick together with him. We wouldn't be now in so ridiculous situation. He may come back in a few minutes, or not. Now thanks to them, we must organize search party!"

Balin sighed in irritation: ,,All right! We'll do this. Though I still think he's perfectly fine, just exploring surroundings."

,,Are we not forgetting something?" spoke Fili. ,,The vicious dragon flying somewhere in this cursed land? We still don't know where we are nor why we're here. Thorin set out to go through with a mad plan of slaying the dragon, but what if he found him first?"

Dwarves murmured worriedly. Some started to tousle their beards in despair. ,,W-W-What are we going to do now?!" asked mortified Bilbo.

,,Calm yourself! No reason to panic now!" mediated Balin. Now when Thorin was missing he ought to act in his place.

,,Pack your things we may have to leave this glade. We'll divide into two groups. One stays at the fireplace, in case Thorin comes back on his own. The other will search for him, we'll be taking turns which group goes, which stays and change directions where to search." He commanded.

,,We could scour bigger area, spreading out!" proposed Gloin.

,,And lose more companions?! I don't think so. Better do it with good planning. Now move it." Countered Dwalin. ,,Remember Mirkwood? Thorin was missing too when we got lost, off the path. We found him later." He added smiling.

,,Yes, locked in the dungeons!" whispered dramatically Bombur, winking knowingly to his brother. This small comment caused outburst of joyfulness. Their spirits immediately roused.

,,Master Baggins. You'll come with me and the first group!" announced Balin. ,,We must be careful and prepared for everything! We don't know what might be lurking in there! Well besides angry dragon, that is."

Bilbo gulped nervously and grasped the hilt of elvish sword, thinking ,,Courage, just like in Mirkwood." The memory of his brave fight under the trees of that dark forest, strengthen him immediately and he said regaining composure

,,You can count on me. Let's find Thorin!"

Balin nodded his head with cheerful expression. ,,Take heart. I feel we'll be reunited with our brave leader sooner than you think. Now get ready!"

Whole company confirmed the order with resolve. Finding Thorin was now their main priority.

…

While the dwarves were debating, Thorin was rushing stubbornly through the bushes. In fact he quickly abandoned Bifur and his cousin, during their excursion not so long ago. He was paying no more attention to firewood. While they were turned away from him, Thorin spotted strange light in the distance. It flickered once blue, once white, the revue of colors mysteriously flowing through the air. This was the reason Thorin was missing. He dismissed the thought of calling his friends, willing to investigate phenomenon closely, all by himself, before it would disappear. In his heart Thorin felt it was the clue to solving the mystery of their transfer in space. He didn't care if dragon's magic caused it, or not. ,,Great Worms will met their end soon. Now more important is explaining how it works, and maybe figure out how to return to Lonely Mountain." He thought. The unpleasant possibility of meeting face to face with the strange blue dragon or Smaug himself was muffled. From his point of view though he was sure that both beasts were working together, that's why he set out to fight the newcomer. One dragon is better to deal with, than two in the same time, especially if the one in question was smaller and weaker (at least that's what he hoped for, after hearing Fili's report of his sighting). All the way from their first camp in these new lands, his head was full of ideas. Clever traps, contraptions and fighting techniques which would help him achieve his personal vengeance on dragon-kind, still nothing was satisfying him enough.

His journey suddenly came to a halt, when he reached wide ravine full of weeds.

,,Going down there and all over to the other side will be too much trouble." Thought the dwarf. His eyes met the fallen tree trunk conveniently hanged over it. After the crossing, Thorin looked around cursing, the light was no longer visible. Few steps away he sighed relieved, finally he spotted it again. It was shifting through the air slowly, as if moved by the wind. Wherever it flowed some small stones and grains of soil vibrated, pulled by invisible force. Thorin warily moved closer encircling the light orb. Suddenly without any warning confused dwarf lost his balance, he was forcefully lifted off the ground. Quickly and skillfully he drew sword and plunged it deep in the earth hoping to escape. Unfortunately his attempt was in vain. The sword slipped from his grasp. Once again the sensation of displacement and confusion overwhelmed him, mere moment later he was surrounded by total darkness, yet some faint light seemed to emanate from afar. Thorin found himself thrown on the piles of metallic objects. At closer inspection he immediately understood.

,,The Hall od Thrain!" he said in awed voice. Never before Thorin stood in place so still and silently, the weight of this fact hit him with full might. ,,I'm here! I finally returned to the halls of my fathers!" single thought flashed in his mind and he repeated it over and over again. Thorin fell to his knees half laughing, half weeping. He was at home.

Then suddenly anger burned within him, ,,SMAUG! SHOW YOURSELF!" he yelled in strong and sure voice, standing on his feet in combat position. Only silence answered him, there was no sign of the Great Worm. The beast left it's lair. ,,Of course!" he thought ,,Dragon was taken by the same force as we! But where? Why didn't he found us in these unknown lands, the first time we passed through the vortex?"

The questions multiplied, but no reliable answers were available. In the same moment a sudden suspicion struck him. The last time they were transported, the magic doorway disappeared. But no, this time was different, as he whipped around searching, the sight of familiar light orb came into his eyes. It hovered as before, peacefully, showing no signs of fading or sudden movements. Thorin relaxed a bit and then he turned attention to his surroundings. As he stood on the piles of unimaginable treasure, he begun to relive memories of old days. With a mournful sigh he closed his eyes and in the blink of an eye he again saw this place alive, bursting with activity, full of voices of his people and ringing hammers. This state was broken by something he saw nearby, silvery flash, a glow more magnificent than anything with subtle glints of all colors of a rainbow, drew his attention. Carefully watching his steps, Thorin trotted through the mountain of gold coins and jewellery. He held his breath because he immediately recognized it's source. The Heart of the Mountain, the Arkenstone! It was a globe of thousand facets, magnificent gemstone. It shone like silver in the firelight, like water in the sun, like snow under the stars, like rain upon the Moon! It was worth more than a whole river of gold. For generations from the time of the great Thrain I the Old the original founder of the kingdom Under the Mountain and last king of Moria, it belonged to the royal house. Thrain himself discovered the gem, laboring even harder than most of his subjects to build their new home in the Lonely Mountain, after being driven from ancient halls by a Dark Terror, Durin's Bane. Dwarves put all their skill to shape the gem and as such the Arkenstone become one of the greatest, most valuable treasures. An heirloom of Kings. At all times when the kingdom endured, the gem was kept on an honorable place in the Great Hall of Thrain, spreading it's light, magnified and multiplied by crafty system of crystal lamps and mirrors, illuminating the throne of dwarven kings. A sign of prosperity and good fortune for Durin's Folk. Thorin with reverence took the stone in his trembling hands. Enchanted by it's beauty and light, he put it in the folds of his coat, close to his heart. Then new idea came to his mind.

,,Who knows if we'll need some money? The journey is not over until we dispose of the main danger. Better to take some of the treasure and most importantly better weapons, if we are to fight with Smaug and rest of this dragon spawn out there!"

With resolve he gathered whatever he could from the treasure, filling his pockets with jewels, silver and gold. After a long walk through the precious pile, he finally reached the walls of the grand chamber. There he found stack of countless weapons and armors of great worth. For himself he chose a shining mail made of scales coated with gold and similarly adorned helmet. From the weapons, he took an axe which handle was incrusted with scarlet gems and cunningly inlaid with silver ornaments and covered with runes. To complete the set dwarf added a large, round shield and short broad sword in jeweled sheath. Thorin selected also armors and weapons for the rest of his companions so they would all be prepared respectively. Even for Bilbo did Thorin take a mail and helmet of figured leather strengthen beneath with steel hoops and stud with white gems. All of it's beauty was only an addition to it's marvelous virtue of protection. Smiling he imagined the hobbit's reaction. The armor too was truly magnificent, it was light and flexible, a small shirt almost weightless, ideal for someone unused to wearing gears of war, made of really tiny and thickly merged rings. It was made of mithril and had a belt of pearls and crystals, wrought probably for some elvish prince, long ago. One of the last great works from this fabulous metal.

Before Moria was abandoned mithril's worth was ten times as that of gold, but now it was beyond price. Such precious thing was in Thorin's view fully suitable gift for Bilbo, in gratitude for his great deeds during the quest. All this baggage Thorin stacked on the shield, and leaning under this heavy burden the dwarf started to walk towards his destination. Returning to his companions and renewing the chase was now the only interest. The magic vortex haven't changed, it still was in the same spot where before. Thorin grinned in satisfaction, but seconds later his face fell. There was a blinding flash and the portal begun to shift it's shape and moving from previous position gaining speed, flowed closer and closer to the entrance of the chamber. Thorin was filled with sudden fear, and realization overwhelmed him: his friends would be stranded on the other side if he won't join them soon. He rushed quickly in the same direction, in full speed and with enormous effort jumped straight into the light before it would vanish.

…

Bilbo was getting tired, not the first and not the last time on this mad journey. The dawn was close more and more light appeared in the eastern sky as the time went by. Balin at the head of their party was still shouting Thorin's name but to no result. Part of the company was left near the fireplace, resting while the other under the lead of Balin was still searching the forest. It was near dawn and they made already big distance from their camp just as the other group before. Now again it was their turn and Balin was leading them in rapid pace. The trees were beginning to dilute and in the clear air the great plains started to spread, far in the horizon. From their grove the road led through wastelands and further into great desert, far beyond the edge of sight. But the dwarves knew nothing of it and methodically scoured the area. Dwalin and Dori argued about next course of action, but Balin heed nothing of their quarrel.

,,I say, we turn back! Maybe we missed some areas in this hollow we passed by." Said Dori. ,,Thorin might have been there for all that we know!" He added angrily.

Dwalin sighed irritated and asked: ,,And what would he be doing down there?"

,,Maybe he had an accident! He could be hurt, lying somewhere!" Countered Dori.

Balin turned his head towards them with worried expression, but he said nothing.

Dwalin dismissed the idea and said in utter surety: ,,Thorin is tough! He'll endure everything!"

Finally the wariness befell on the group. Balin ordered a few minutes of rest. The sounds of birds greeting a new day filled whole area. But in the usual noises of the wild a new theme took part, the guttural cries and clanging sound of armored feet trotting through the undergrowth. It seems someone else was leading a search party, but in no good intentions.

To be continued.

Notes: Sorry for taking such a long time for update. What do you think about this chapter? :) Share your opinions.