CHAPTER 2- Rumors

Balin came and sat next to me and, seeing the fear in my eyes both from what Dain would say and the nightmare I had had, put his hand on mine in a fatherly way. Once all of the chairs were filled by the remaining dwarves from the old Company, Dain began.

"There have been many rumors floating through the surrounding towns. Fires have destroyed several minor villages but survivors have blamed..." Dain paused, "dragons."

"Dragons!" exclaimed Gloin, one of the members of the Company, "There have been no dragons in the area since the destruction of Smaug!"

Painfully memories stabbed me like daggers. I didn't want anything like that to happen again. Everyone was in an uproar of chatter that took Dain many tries to silence. He finally did and everyone simmered down.

"Please don't panic. Most of these survivors were on the brink of death so could have been rumors. But if we get more news of these we may need to..." Dain winced, "make alliances with men and elves."

This again received outrage from many of the dwarves.

"If there is a dragon, he will learn of our gold just as Smaug did all those years ago and attack. There is no way we could kill it without help, as we all know. So, I just called you here to warn you and to tell you to keep your eyes open. If any of you hear anything about more fires or rumors about anything related to this, come straight to me. That's all. You are dismissed," Dain finished.

With no lack of nervous grumbling, the dwarves left slowly.

"Dain?" I asked reluctantly once the others had left, "Do you really think that there's a dragon?"

"I don't know, Dís. But please don't worry until it's confirmed."

I left not feeling relaxed at all. I didn't think I could handle losing anyone else, especially any in the Company, who I had become close to, or Dain or Deca. I also didn't want to relive the memories of when Balin first told me that my three closest family members had been killed.

Days passed with no news and I was beginning to feel at ease. I was outside on a very beautiful summer day just talking with Deca and enjoying the wonderful view when a shout drew my attention. Someone came through the trees. He was a man but moving very slowly. Deca and I watched him approach, not sure whether to go to him. But when he suddenly collapsed, I ran to him without another thought with Deca following close behind.

"Hello? Are you alright?" I called. The man did not answer. He looked very wounded. Once I reached him, I pulled open his bloodied shirt. The sight was not pretty and I knew he did not have a good chance of survival.

"Deca! Go get Oin! He is a skilled doctor!" I told her.

As she ran off, I tied the man's shirt around the deep wound, trying to do everything I could for him. The man slowly opened his eyes and tried to speak.

"Shh, don't waste your energy. It's going to be alright," I assured him, though I didn't believe it.

'N-no. P-please. Help us. Norwall is... attacked. 3 miles. Please. Help," he choked out.

"Attacked by what?" I asked, scared of his answer.

"Dragon," he said, before falling back into unconsciousness.

No, I thought, three miles away? Please, no.

"Dís!" Deca cried suddenly, running down from Erebor's great doors, pulling Oin behind her.

"Deca, I am far too old to be running around-" Oin was cut off when he saw the man.

Oin secured him enough to get him inside his medicine room with the help of others. Deca and I watched as Oin attempted to fix him up.

"Do you think he'll live?" I asked tentatively.

"I don't know, Dís," he replied softly.

I suddenly remembered what the man told me.

"I must go see Dain and tell him of this," I told the two as I hurried out of Oin's room. My thoughts were racing but I tried to keep calm.

When I told Dain of this, he looked wearier than I had ever seen him.

"I must send some men to Norwall to scout it out and bring back survivors. If they come back saying it's damage was caused by a dragon, I must call all of the races together and talk about an alliance."

Hey guys! Thanks for reading Chapter 2! Please write a review and favorite/follow! Chapter 3 should be up tomorrow! ?

~squeaker942~