When I woke, I tiredly looked around before realizing I wasn't on the ground, matter of fact, I was in motion. I would have been more in shock if I hadn't still been so completely exhausted. I moved my head just enough to glance up at a stoic, blonde haired elf.
"Hmm…" I hummed. He glanced down at me, "You survived," I was barely able to crack a smile. I patted his hand lightly. I only saw the smallest smile light his face before falling asleep again.
When I woke the next time, I was laying on the ground under the cover of trees. Fading light filtered through the branches. I pulled myself up, hissing at all of the sore muscles though my body, and looked around. The first thing I saw was red flowing hair. Tauriel was standing next to a tree staring out at the Lonely Mountain. I looked in the opposite direction to see Bard and Legolas starting a fire. There was a blanket on me and my coat was back on, warm and dry. I guessed Legolas and Tauriel had found some supplies in all the chaos. I stood myself up and found my legs still shook. I was amazed at how I could still be weak after all the rest I'd had. I suppose fighting dragons and almost drowning would do that to you.
I made my way to the fire and sat by the two men.
"Will you be leaving us soon, Bard?" I asked, breaking the comfortable silence. Not looking up from his fire he mulled on the question.
"Perhaps, soon," he paused, "I will be taking whoever will come with me to Erebor. Thorin guaranteed our safe keeping there till the battle is over then those who wish can begin the renewal of Dale." He fetched more kindling for the newly glowing fire, "It will be a large undertaking… and it will be risky." He sat again forgetting the fire for a moment. Legolas took the fire care over. I knew making the right decisions for his family was eating away at him.
"I suppose everything is risky right now, considering Lake Town is gone, there aren't many places to go, especially with some of the armies out there on the loose. I hope you can convince many of Thorin's allies to come, I think it will the only recourse we have." He mused still staring into the fire. I tried to gauge the look on his face. He seemed resolute. He knew Erebor would be his best option.
"I'll gather who will come first thing in the morning." He said tenaciously, "Remind your king of our arrival, we will travel quickly." Bard finished.
It looked like either him or the elves had found some kind of small animal to cook for dinner and he began preparing it. I was so exhausted I couldn't offer my help but felt terrible about it. They were all exhausted too, I was sure. I internally cursed my easy previous life that left me soft and useless in times like this. Sitting gave me all the time to think and all I could think of was how the dwarves had all fared. Some of my thoughts were not pleasant. I sat in uncomfortable silence.
By the time I was offered food I hadn't comprehended how hungry I was. I ate quickly and almost didn't taste anything. Tauriel offered me bread when I'd finished the meat, probably noting that the food hand't been close to enough. She also reached over to hand me my quiver, filled with arrows.
"I figured you'd lost them, you spent a lot of time in that lake," She smiled. I hadn't even realized how lost I'd felt not having arrows to my bow. I felt safe again. And then I remembered something.
"Legolas!" I shouted, garnering his, and the elves, full attention, "You are absolutely crazy!" I smiled, he looked at me in shock, "You jumped on top of a dragon!" I emphasized. Letting out a small, nervous laugh, "It was pretty amazing but where in the world do you get even an ounce of courage like that?" I wondered. Everyone smiled at the not so distant memory. Pushing down the lingering terror of the life or death event we'd just conquered.
"Courage comes to one when the lives of friends are at stake." He pointed. My smile wavered at the corner. I thought about that for a moment and was stunned. I was amazed that I was considered friend enough to jump atop the Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities. Still shocked and with my mouth slightly agape I gave him a small nod.
"I think thanks are in order for that." I nodded my head towards him, he nodded back, a small grin on his face.
I thought about his words carefully. I suppose he was right. I just hoped that in the battle to come I would be able to find my courage when it was needed.
That night, in the midst of my dreams, I began to feel hot. The feeling was too closely familiar to the dragon flames I'd avoided not too long ago. I could feel myself falling to nightmare. I looked around me for a giant scaly beast but saw nothing. I was surrounded by blackness. The sound like the creaking of a glacier sounded behind me and I whipped around.
In terror I screamed as a giant eye, flaming and burning at my skin, floated, enormous, in front of me. My fear dropped me onto my back and I skidded away keeping the encroaching eye in my field of vision. How had I missed it? Its flames were scorching. It didn't pursue me in my retreat.
Wake up! I thought to myself. Slap yourself or something.
I closed my eyes and smacked my face. I opened my eyes again, hopeful.
The eye was gone. But blackness still surrounded me. I glanced behind me.
A pale figure stood far away in the jet black darkness. The hair rose on my arms. I closed my eyes again trying to think myself out of the dream. I peeked through my concentration to check my surroundings.
The pale figure was gone. Still there was ink black darkness.
As I looked around I saw nothing. But that didn't calm my nerves. A ghostly, incoherent whisper filled the darkness.
"Rouse yourself" it whispered. And it sounded like wind on the most peaceful day. My fears settled.
"How" I whispered back, my voice sounding croaky in comparison to the dream speaker, "I've been here before and I could not escape by myself" I glanced around to see if I could find The Whisperer.
"You were weak. You are no longer." The voice seemed to circle around me where I sat. I followed it around the empty black space. I waited to hear if more direction would come.
"You have more power here than you apprehend. The gateway has been open to you for some time. Your immersion into this world is evidence of such." The voice seemed to be fading, the area began to warm again. In a panic I shouted back at it.
"That still doesn't explain how!" My annoyance was far overcome by the fear of what I knew was trying to make its way back into my dream world. Or wherever I was. When I blinked, fire burned in the distance, the pale figure back beneath it. With every breath they seemed to jump closer and closer. My heart was racing again. Screw it. If she said I had power here then by Jove, I was going to try and use it.
I outstretched my hand. I tried to concentrate my thoughts, I inhaled deeply.
Will them away, I thought. Will the dream to banish them. Will myself awake.
I exhaled.
The creatures remained, though their approaching had ceased. A growling began to fill the air. Then a vicious roar. Startled I dropped my hand.
Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! I closed my eyes again.
Another deep inhale. Think of something safe. Think of someone safe.
"Bard" I thought in my mind. It was calming. "Take me back to Bard"
I woke with a start.
There was no panic, just a jolt of the real world returning. Glancing around the campfire my three companions rested. Bard was just beside me. I smiled and with a deep and tired sigh, I fell into more pleasant dreams.
In the morning I was not too eager to tell anyone the previous nights unrest. Perhaps, at a safer time, I could speak with my elven friends about the strange phenomena further. Especially since the The Whispering Voice had shown up. As of now I was much more eager to get back to the rest of my companions.
"Grandpa!" I whispered to myself. I still had no idea if, after the time we spent in Lake Town, he was still in one piece in the spot we'd left him. With worry hot on my mind I bolted to get up and ready. He was part of our battle tactic after all.
Everyone was up the moment I took my first steps around camp.
"Why the haste?" Bard groggily inquired. I continued packing while I explained.
"I forgot about Grandpa, he's in the forest just outside Laketown. I really hope he's in one piece after everything that's happened!" Legoals and Tauriel were right on my heels packing their own supplies.
"You left your grandfather in the forest?" He questioned, sounding more than a little worried and upset… understandably. I paused.
"Uhhhh… Oh… No. Sorry. It's so hard to try and explain. It's my transportation, I named it Grandpa. SUPER long story, but I will show you when we meet back up." He still seemed confused but at least satisfied that my elderly family member wasn't staking out in the woods unattended. "Bard, are you good to find your family without us? Just want to be sure," He nodded, I paused, finishing my packing and flashing him a smile, "Then we'll see you in Erebor." It seemed like a quick and lonely goodbye but I did not want it to feel like he would be gone that long.
Trekking across the beach and through the forest, with great help from the elves, we found Grandpa looking safe and sound. But the test of fate was when I put the keys in and turned them. Screeching rang through the forest and, although the sound would make any mechanic cringe, it was music to my ears.
"Keep on kicking, Grandpa, you're doing fabulous," I patted the dash, probably looking a little silly to the elves standing just outside the door, "will you be riding inside or up top again?" They were both already mid leap to the top of the vehicle. I shrugged my shoulders, whatever floats their boat.
With a glance at the gas gauge I began taking us around the lake, gravel like sand spitting out behind us. Would there even be enough left in the tank to be on any use in the war ahead. I bit my lip thinking of the possibility that there may not be.
Tilting my mirror I could see the elves seemingly enjoying the breeze and gazing at the mountain ahead. The shore was ending and the terrain would be unpredictable from here out.
"You two will need to scout the best routes for Grandpa, it's much harder to tell where is best from down here," I shouted over the wind. Red hair began to blow into the passengers side "windshield" (since there was none of that anymore). She began to guide me through the new landscape. Eventually finding a road for us to use. It was smooth sailing from there. The drive would still take a while but the goal was in sight. I sped up.
The approach was awe inspiring. Closer and closer we got and the size of the entryway and statues seemed to get more and more unbelievable. By the time we were on the front steps the doorway loomed over us, absolutely monumental. Any door there had previously been was long gone and dwarves could be seen lifting and guiding heavy stones in every direction. I gently beeped the horn a couple times to hopefully get the companies attention.
Through the crowds of dwarves, many more than we had started on our journey, a small few dropped all and ran towards our approach. Close enough, I stopped the car and hopped out where I was promptly tackled by a handful of dwarves.
"You made it!" Ori was almost crying. I tried to hug him but it was just a giant group hug at this point. I heard Dori cry out how blessed the day was and then it was all gibberish from there. Too many dwarves talking all at once. Slower behind the running crowd was Bomber, Fili, Kili, and Dwalin. My trusty hobbit and the king were yet to be seen. Fili and Kili, running, pushed and shoved each other to reach me first and I was tackle again by the two.
"You." Fili said, pulling me into a deeper hug, "I can't believe you stayed behind to face that. I had no idea the fire and destruction that was coming. We saw the fires burning and had almost given up hope when you did not arrive the next day." I hugged back awkwardly with one hand, the other still wrapped around Kili.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I worried you. We were too exhausted to travel after. I wish I'd had a way to let you know." My eyes were misty at that point but now real tears poured over. A smile came over Fili.
"Ah, no need for those Nâla''azan, Slayer of Dragons." He patted my back. I shook my head, smiling somberly while the two brothers finally backed from the hug.
"It was definitely Bard who killed the dragon. I didn't slay anything that day. But I supposed we all helped in our ways. I'll have to tell you all about it, especially the part with Legolas," I pointed my thumb a the elf that was standing behind me watching everything unfold. Fili raised an eyebrow.
"What a tale it must be! We have a few to tell of our own. A few tales for after dinner perhaps?" Fili gestured me to walk with him. The entire company and the elves followed along, Dwalin taking the responsibility of finding Grandpa a good resting spot. Balin shuffled his way next to me.
"A small word of warning, lass," He sheepishly bowed is head. I looked at him, my heart already leaping, dreading what he was about to say, "Thorin is not about. He has been in the gold chamber for days searching for the Arkenstone." He finished sadly. I stared at him in disbelief. I glanced at Fii who was furtively trying to ignore the conversation, along with everyone else.
"I told him not to…" I grunted out in unhappiness, "Can you take me to him? We need to chat." I grimaced. Balin nodded hesitantly. The entry way was upon us and the dwarves from other clans and families were all around moving and building. The majority of the company decided they had better things to do and wandered elsewhere. The elves had disappeared altogether. Balin, Fili, and Kili stayed with me, worry eminent on their faces.
"Be careful of his temper, lass, He's been out of sorts for some time." Balin warned. I laughed in discontent.
"Yeah, I know exactly how out of sorts he is right now. Hopefully he'll listen for a bit 'cause it seems like he needs a little reminder of what is at stake at the moment." I said.
"I can go with you," stated Fili. I could tell he'd already come across Thorin's wrath in this place. He didn't want me to feel it too.
"If you two wouldn't mind standing nearby in case things too get out of control. I think I have every point for him to listen but sometimes sickness has no logic. And I know I won't back down so I may need assistance." Balin nodded and Fili just led on.
I was taken through tall hallways that made me question everything I thought about gravity. We weaved around intricate carvings and gems inlaid in walls. I could not believe the wealth the hallways alone carried. The last archway I was lead to was glowing already. A golden light beckoned us into the chamber of riches. They gestured me inside, staying at the archway as I wandered in further.
If I hadn't been so mad at Thorin I would have been absolutely boggled at the mountains upon mountains of gold and other precious things piled around. Another time I'd come back and admire it. I sucked in a deep breath and shouted across the gold.
"THORIN!" It was like the shout of a mother to a child who knew they were in for it. A startled grunt was heard and an avalanche of coins followed. I tracked the sound to see Thorin tumbling head over heels down the side of a gold pile. As he settled below with coins piling on top of him he shouted back.
"What is it woman?" I rolled my eyes at his reply.
"You know exactly "what it is"!" I ground back at him. I sped walked to get closer.
"Keep in mind you are speaking to a king!" He demanded. Oh ho ho, no he didn't.
"Don't you pull that on me. You know exactly why I am here! Now get up here." I chided. Thorin was silent for a moment before grunting and pulling himself from the avalanche, trekking toward the stairs. I sighed quietly in relief, glancing at the other dwarves in satisfaction. They were frozen in shock.
I internally prayed I hand't seriously side stepped into bad town. I knew they knew that I was not from here, I didn't have "kings" and I didn't house the same rules and manners as them. They were either shocked he listened or they were worried I'd enraged someone who shouldn't be meddled with. I prayed they were amazed at my ability to summon the stubborn dwarf.
Thorin's trek through the coins was slow but he made it to the stairs and stomped up to me. He stopped in front of me and folded is arms unhappily.
"What," He sighed. I knew he knew but he was struggling with something almost as powerful. I softened my stance.
"Well, first of all…" I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him into a strong hug, "I am so glad you are ok." the tears were almost back and I couldn't keep the wavering out of my voice. He was frozen for only a moment before he hugged back, letting out a deep anxiety ridden sigh.
"And I, you," he pulled away from the hug. I didn't give him a chance to do anything else.
"But you know I told you to keep out of this place, and to let that Arkenstone lie where it be. Can we please leave this place? Can you come with me?" I held out my hand. His face rankled at the thought for a moment before it softened and he seemed to be thinking. After too long a pause I closed my eyes and tried again.
"You know why I'm here. You know who I'm here for, who is at stake." It was almost a mantra. Remember who we are fighting for, Thorin. You can do it. My brain pleaded. I tried to convey through my face. My arm was still outstretched. He breathed through his nose, closing his eyes and reached for my hand, grasping it tightly.
"What must I do to keep from this sickness?" He asked in defeat. The muscles I didn't know were taught finally relaxed and I smiled lightly at him.
"I have a few ideas."
Thank you so much for keeping up with the story!
Someone pointed out my misspelling of Erebor in previous chapters. I don't even know how I went on that long not noticing *facepalm* Thanks for pointing it out!
In regards to the vexation about Grandpa running out of gas I, the nerd I am, calculated this at the planning of this story and it's actually semi-plausible for it to make the drive, lol. Buuuut if you are reading a fantasy fan fiction about dimension travel, wizards, magic, and Undying Lands I hardly think the plausibility of a vehicle making the journey to Erebor on one tank of gas is a concern XD Glad you're invested though!