Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien, save for Nuil and characters not seen in Tolkien's works.
"Fire leaped from the dragon's jaws. He circled for a while high in the air above them lighting all the lake; the trees by the shores shone like copper and like blood with leaping shadows of dense black at their feet."
~J.R.R. Tolkien
CHAPTER NINE
T.A. 2770
Nuil leaned against the parapet, as the summer wind whipped at her hair. It lifted the unbraided strands lazily into the air and around her head. Beside her Dis was watching the dwarrow below travel down the road to the city of Dale. The somewhat large caravan, was not to show force or wealth (although most of the time it was) but merely an escort for the prince. Prince Frerin.
"I do not see why he gets to go, and I do not," Dis growled, her eyes trained on the dwarf riding a pony in the center of the escort. "I am fully capable."
"But underage," Nuil reminded her with mock sternness as she tried to imitate Thrain. Dis scowled at her, punching her arm. "Ow!"
"Being fourteen summers is hardly underage," she muttered ignoring Nuil. "Are not mortal girls not married when they are this age?"
"I wouldn't know," Nuil replied uncomfortably. "I've never lived among the race of men."
Dis hummed, eyes narrowing as the escort grew smaller in her line of sight. Nuil sighed, tilting her head back. She enjoyed being out where the wind could touch her skin, but she would always like the feel of strong stone beneath her fingers, and luminous caverns filled with fire and jewels.
Dis ran her hand along her braided beard, the dark hairs long enough now to be neatly braided along her jaw, in thought. She was coming to an age where she was beginning to get noticed by young male dwarrow, a fact to which she was very proud of. She looked at Nuil, with a smile on her face.
"One would think you felt trapped here, with all the smiling you do when you are outside," she murmured with amusement.
Nuil looked at Dis, a smile lighting her face. "No. But I do enjoy it when I can."
Nuil grinned turning back to the city, eyes slowly falling shut. She and Dis stood in silence until a set of feet signaled that they had been joined by another.
"Your time will come, mimel namad," said the newcomer. Nuil opened her eyes to see Thorin standing to the left of Dis, his hand on her shoulder. A small smile tugged at his lips when Dis sighed.
"I know."
Thorin looked over at her, his eyes warm as he nodded to her. "Nuilweyil."
"My lord," she replied. Nuil did not bother to drop down into the customary curtsy that decorum demanded, because it would look odd in pants. In the early hours of the morning she had been sparring with Nilwe in the practice arena, and had no time to change in order to see Frerin off.
Though Nuil did not like Thorin, she respected him. She much preferred his younger brother, who was easy to be around and easy to bring into good humor. Thorin, was slower to such open displays as his brother. It was difficult for her to handle, and so she tried to be polite with him. Nuil knew he would never be like Frerin. So she gave him the respect he deserved and let him be.
More silence followed after their meeting. Until suddenly the wind picked up, a raging howl that caused Nuil to stumble backwards as Dis fought to keep her hair out of her eyes. The banners along the parapet snapped in the wind, waving wildly. The wind did not die down, only seemed to pick up.
"By Durin's beard, it is fierce!" Dis cried. Thorin eyes turned to the horizon as he shielded his sister from the wind. A great howl filled the air and Thorin began to push Dis back into the mountain, a frown on his face. Nuil was lifted to her feet as her father appeared. His grip on her arm was firm.
Balin entered the parapet, running to look out over the landscape. Thorin joined him, as Nolen began to guide Nuil back inside.
"Papa! What is it?" she asked, sensing a great deal of fear coming from her father. He did not reply as his gaze stayed firmly locked onto the dwarf prince, who had now turned and cried into the city:
"DRAGON!"
Cries of dismay filled the air as Nuil was yanked behind a pillar, her vision obscured as a roar filled the air. It was far louder than anything she had ever heard, so unlike any sound she had ever heard. Then there was heat. The stifling and burning heat that was too near for comfort, she felt the air become hard. Nuil tried to breath but only found a deep pain settling in her chest where her lungs were.
Just as it came, it was gone.
Screams lingered in the air. The stench of burning flesh, sweet yet not. Nuil gagged as it filled her nose and her eyes teared up. Her father was pulling her again, her feet stumbling over fallen stones and . . . bodies. Nuil was disorientated, not knowing where to look, where she was going. What was this? What was happening? Where was Dis?
"Nuil!"
Her father was calling her name. A gasp tore from her lips, as she raised her eyes to his face. Her throat felt like it was on fire, like she had never tasted water before. Tears were in her eyes.
"Nuilweyil, look at me!"
His hands were on her shoulders, firm. It gained her attention, as she tried not to focus on what was going on around her. She focused on her fathers strong and firm gaze, not daring to look away from his brown eyes.
"Get your mother. Keep her safe. Get out of the mountain."
She numbly nodded, still focused on his eyes. Memorizing the brown orbs that held her firmly in his gaze. Beneath her feet the rock shook, and her ears were filled with the stomach curling crack of great stones. Nolen brought her head to his lips, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"Go. Keep your mother safe."
Then he was gone. Nuil watched, for a moment as he ran towards the gates, before she turned and ran. Flying through the hallways of fleeing dwarrow, pushing herself, skidding around corners as the mountain shook. She didn't dare stop until she reached their dwellings, heart pounding in her tiny chest. Without knocking she burst through the door, stumbling into the living room. Her mother, Meldamar, was standing by the fireplace. Her frightened gaze on the ceiling as dust trailed through the air.
"Mama!" she gasped, running and grabbing her hand. Meldamar looked down at her; her hand tightening around Nuil's. "We must go!"
Panic was in her voice. Meldamar looked shaken, as if she was in disbelief. Nuil tugged on her hand, drawing her to the door, as another rumble shook the mountain.
"Nuil, stay with me," Meldamar commanded suddenly, jerked from her surprise. Nuil felt herself relax into the strong presence her mother now commanded. She wouldn't need to stay strong, not alone at least. Without a care for their home, their possessions, or even shutting the door, they ran.
The halls, once pristine and glittering, where strewn with fallen rocks and covered in dust as the mountain shook. Meldamar kept a firm grip on Nuil's hand. Nuil ran, trying to keep up with her longer limbed mother. She had to keep her promise to her father. Even if she hadn't agreed to it, it was expected. It was her duty.
As the two neared the front gates, they were forced to stop. Every resident of the mountain was piled near the gates of the mountain. Their cries to escape rose in the air, smothered by the roar of the dragon. Meldamar turned her gaze frantically around. She stood a full head taller than the dwarves, seeing the column of warrior dwarrows advancing towards the main gates. The gold plated doors buckled under the onslaught of the dragon. The molten fire creeping through the cracks as it groaned inward.
Then the gates were thrown open, falling off its hinges and splintering to the floor. Fire poured down on the column, the dwarrows crying out as the ground shook.
Nuil gasped as she was shoved to the side as an enormous leg landed where she had once stood. Her hand was torn from her mothers, Meldamar's voice rising above the roar: "Nuil!"
"Mama!" Nuil screamed scrambling to her feet. She was buffeted back down by fleeing dwarrow. Her hands slammed into the ground, the broken rock digging into her skin. "Mama!"
The horrible roar filled the air, and Nuil cowered in the rubble. Screams filled her ears and smoke filled her lungs. Her vision blurred, but Nuil raised her eyes seeing the doors just ahead of her. The light of the sun beckoned to her, filtering in through the dragon smoke.
Then she saw him.
He turned, facing back into the mountain, face covered in dirt and blood. He was supporting his grandfather. The Kings crown was falling from his head, blood pouring from a wound. Thorin. Nuil raised her hand out, his name on her lips as she cried for help. His eyes landed on her. Little Nuil, covered in dirt, dust and blood. Her small hands reaching out desperately for him. Thorin turned to go back for her.
The mountain rumbled and the doors began to collapse. The dragon smoke shrouded her, cutting her off from his sight. And then the door fell, great boulders sealing Erebor.
TADA! I had a difficult time writing this but I love it. I leave you with a cliffhanger! I'm a little in a hurry at the moment so I will thank my reviewers real quick and leave you to cry for all the dwarves lost that day. :'(
To my wonderful reviewers:
The Penned Tekrid: the fluff will be full of so many feels! When I read it I get so excited, so I'm looking forward to posting them :)
Sam0728: definite time skip coming up! Cause you all know she lives, but what has she turned out to be? Nobody knows . . . yet.
IceheartsChill: I wanna know what Smaug looks like! Cause of he has Cumberbatch's voice . . . oh boy!
KingofTruands: yeah, he's too nice to her. Maybe a little OOC? Meh. I think every tough guy like Thorin or even Dwalin would have a soft spot for Nuil. :)
Christen: thank you so much! I know they are a little bit short, but hopefully I can get the chapters to be longer.
Comics4theFeels: thanks! Hopefully the next couple of chapters will keep everyone sated!
I would give you all hugs but I'm trapped behind this computer screen. Just pretend I'm doing it, if that's not too weird. Okay, not so short of a thank you. But all the same!
Translation:
mimel namad- little sister
Read and Review!
~filimeala