"Man, I wish we had proper rock climbing gear," said Sara, her chin tipped to the sky. "That's one long steep climb." She shaded her eyes against the sun with a hand as she took in the grooves cut into the side of the mountain. The groves stretched up out of sight and didn't resemble stairs in the least.
"That it is," said Nori, tugging the rope around her waist to make sure it was secure. She frowned at him.
"I know how to tie a knot," she said, with a scowl, folding her arms over her chest.
"Just making sure it's not a slip knot," he said with a smirk. "No need to bruise ourselves today."
"What trouble have you gotten yourself into now?" asked Bofur, approaching Bilbo who was tangled in several loops of loose rope.
"I can't seem to get this right," said Bilbo miserably. "Are you sure there's not an easier way up? Must we climb?"
"Quite sure, Mr. Baggins," said Nori. "Unless you would go to the next valley over and scale an even stepper climb and then cross over the upper slope, which we don't have time for."
"Indeed," said Bofur, rescuing Bilbo from the rope. "It seems that not only did the makers of the door intend for it to be secret, but also difficult to reach."
"It's not natural," muttered Bilbo under his breath. "Hobbits were not meant to climb a wall like a spider."
"Are you sure the door is up there?" asked Sara, braiding her hair to keep it out of her face for the climb.
"We followed the directions that Ori copied from the book," said Bofur, tying the rope around Bilbo's noticeably thinner middle. "It also matches the position on the map that we lost it in the goblin tunnels. There is a little alcove up there and a smooth stretch of stone where we believe the door to be."
"Let us hope you are right," said Thorin, appearing at Sara's side. He took her pack from its place by her feet and stashed it with the others at the base of the cliff. "We haven't time to go elsewhere before sunset."
"That elf better have a quick step," said Nori, tossing his pack on the pile as well.
"His name is Airidan," muttered Sara, pulling a tie from her pocket.
"It is of no consequence," said Thorin, taking the tie and finishing her braid. "We can not wait for him. He will arrive when he arrives, but the door will not wait."
"We'd better start the climb," said Dwalin, pointing to the sinking sun after securing himself behind Sara on the length of rope.
Today was Durin's Day. Four days past Gandalf left and Fili and Kili departed with Legolas and most of the elves for Mirkwood. Fili had still been upset with their separation but he had gone willingly enough. Before they left it had been agreed that the herbs to drug Smaug would be delivered to the dwarves camp in the valley southwest of the mountain early on the fourth day. The company had traveled with the people of lake town for two more days before they had finally split ways at the ramshackle gates of Dale. Sara had chosen to travel with her family for those two days and it had been awkward but not entirely unpleasant.
The company set up camp in the southwest valley the next day and reunited with Nori and Bofur who were pleased to report they had found the location of the door. But noon of Durin's Day had come and gone without delivery of the herbs and Thorin had grown anxious. Sensing the growing tension in the group Airidan volunteered to stay behind and see that the ponies were properly loaded with the herbs before following. Thorin had readily agreed and leaving the five ponies in the elf's care, Bofur and Nori led the company around to the west side of the mountain to where the so-called stairs were carved into the mountainside.
Thorin ordered that they use the elven rope to tie themselves together in groups of four for the climb. Sara suspected this was done more for Bilbo's and her benefit rather than the rest of the company, but after seeing the steep climb ahead, she had reconsidered. Thorin, Sara, Dwalin, and Ori would be the first to climb, with Nori, Bilbo, Dori, and Bifur next, and Bofur, Balin, Oin, and Gloin bringing up the rear. Bombur would remain on the ground with the packs and be hauled up on the ropes once the rest had reached the alcove above.
In a matter of minutes, the company was inching its way up the mountain face like a bizarre strung-out caterpillar. The climb turned out to be just as hard if not harder than it looked from the ground. It was a near-vertical ascent and the notches and grooves were overgrown and disguised with swatches of colorful lichen. As well as hiding the groves, the lichen also made the climb more difficult as it crumbled under pressure and acted like loose sand on the stone. The higher they got, the more grateful Sara became that Thorin had insisted they be tied together for at one point Ori slipped and he would have fallen if not for his tether to Dwalin above. About halfway up the cliff face, Thorin lost track of the intended trail and it took several minutes of shouting to Nori below for him to find it once again some ten feet to the left. All in all, Sara was relieved to finally reach the small hidden bay and secret door.
By the time Gloin clambered last into the grassy alcove, the sun was rapidly approaching the horizon. Thorin untied himself and followed Nori over to examine the flat stretch of stone where they believed the door to be. Sara inched towards the edge of the cliff, her boot knocking a cracked and empty snail shell off the edge. It was a very long way down. Below Bombur had shrunk to a small dot on the rocks and their packs even smaller specs. A stiff breeze blew up the cliff, brushing past her face and making her loose hair whip around and stick to her lips which she had just licked. Her back and buttocks flexed tight as iron as she looked over the edge.
"Even yer body's telling ya to back away from the edge lass," came Dwalin's voice behind her. She was so stiff and rigid she hadn't even jumped even though his voice had startled her. "Come away from there before ya fall," said Dwalin, tugging gently on the rope still tied around her waist. "We still need to pull up Bombur and the packs."
Cautiously she backed away from the cliff and untied herself, offering the loops of rope to Dwalin. Soon the packs were pulled up the cliff and stacked to the side. Then came the altogether trickier task of lifting Bomber to their lofty perch. To say the Bomber was unhappy about being hauled high off the ground was an understatement and Sara really couldn't blame him. Elf rope or no, she would have been just as nervous if she were in his place. By the time they dragged a puffing and panting Bomber up over the edge and into the alcove Bifur was chiding his younger cousin for his abysmal language.
"Right," said Dwalin, clapping his hands together. "Now that we're here, what's next?"
"We wait for sunset," said Ori. "If we have not severely miscalculated, the keyhole should then appear."
"What exactly did the moon letters say?" asked Gloin, shaking sand and grit from his hair and beard.
"Let me check what I wrote," said Ori, diving into the satchel at a side where he kept his papers and records. But it was Bilbo who answered.
"Stand by the gray stone when the thrush knocks and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole," said Bilbo absently as he picked patches of lichen off the rock he and Bofur sat on.
"Here now," said Bofur, turning to him in astonishment. "How did you remember all that? It's been months now."
"Not so long," said Bilbo, shrugging. "I recently read the account from Sara's phone because I wanted to know how my encounter with Smaug went. But the moon letters, in particular, have stuck with me because they always seemed a bit of a riddle to me and I do so love riddles. I have thought about them often but I must admit I still don't quite understand them. I mean all this stone is gray, or at least it is under the lichen. So where exactly is one meant to stand? Not only that but I don't exactly see any thrushes around nor is a wild bird likely to approach this spot with us all crowded here in front of the door."
"You make a fair point Mr. Baggins," said Balin, before turning to Ori. "What exactly does the book say about the opening of the door?"
"Just that as the sun is slipping down past the horizon the last ray of light shines from behind the clouds on the keyhole. Bilbo is the one to find it."
"Then perhaps we ought to sit and wait. It can't be very long now," said Balin, pointing to the sinking sun.
Reluctantly the group sank to sit on the stone, all save Thorin who paced back and forth in front of the flat stretch of rock. His eyes glanced to the horizon every dozen seconds or so. Sara approached him, staying out of his path.
"You all right?" she asked. A curt distracted nod was all his reply as his feet continued their monotonous pattern, his hands deep in his pocket. She watched him impatiently for several long minutes and at last, could stand his jittery energy no longer. She seized his hand and dragged him to sit on a stone with her.
"It's going to be fine," she reassured.
"We can't afford it not to be," he said, his body tense. "Everything rides on us finding the door. Without it, we cannot hope to take the mountain or defend ourselves in the coming conflict. It is imperative that we get this right."
The weight of his words settled over her like an electric buzz and she suddenly found herself wanting to pace. The sun had nearly sunk below the horizon and the company held its breath as the last orange sliver of sun sank lower and lower out of sight.
"Come on," said Sara, under her breath, unable to keep her knee from bobbing. Clouds dotted the sky overhead but none marred the setting sun. Sara stared at the stone wall waiting for something... anything to happen.
"We are losing the light," said Gloin impatiently. The sun was only a tiny slit on the horizon now. Thorin's hand gripped hers tightly as they watched in silence. Sara's heart stuttered as the sun slipped out of sight, only the orange and pink sky left to show where it had been moments before. No one moved or spoke for a long moment. Thorin's hand went slack in hers.
"Was that it? Where is the keyhole?" asked Bofur.
"I don't understand," said Ori. "The sun was supposed to show us the keyhole."
"Are you sure that's what the book said?" asked Dwalin, staring at the empty horizon.
"I'm positive, 'The setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the key-hole.' That's what the moon-letters said."
"Did we miss our date?" asked Nori. "Are we sure today is Durin's Day?"
"Positive," said Balin. "I have calculated it several times in the past month and always come up with the same date. Today is Durin's Day."
Thorin stood and went to the wall, running his hands over the smooth stone.
"Then this must not be the right place," said Dwalin.
"Where else would it be," asked Nori in agitation. "This place fits the description of the book, not to mention…"
Sara tuned them out as their voices grew louder and angrier. Her attention was focused on Thorin. He stood with his forehead pressed to stone for a moment before roaring in anger and slamming his fist into the unyielding stone. He turned and sank to sit with his back to the mountain drawing the key to the door from his pocket. He held it in front of his face dangling loosely from his fingers for a moment before tossing it to the side. It fell with a dull clatter on the stone at her feet. She bent to pick it up and turned to face Thorin, her mind numb.
"What did we miss?" he asked in a miserable whisper, his head in his hands. "Why did it not appear?"
"We've come all this way for nothing," argued Gloin loudly.
"We can't give up now, lads," said Balin. "It's not only our fate that rides on us taking the mountain." But his gentle voice was lost in the growing argument.
"I don't understand," repeated Thorin, running his dirty hands through his hair as Sara crouched in front of him.
"It will be okay," she said, knowing how empty her words were. "Can... Can we go in any other way?" He shook his head
"The only other way in is the front gate."
Her heart sank even lower. Just two days past they had seen the ruins of what had once been the front gate. It was collapsed in a heap blocking any entrance. No doubt this was the work of Smaug to keep intruders such as themselves out as he slept year after year. Even if they did find a way to move some of the rubble the noise would be sure to wake Smaug. There would be nowhere to hide once he emerged from the mountain and any caught would surely perish in the heat of his wrath. What were they to do? Not only them but what were the people of Laketown to do? They could not stay in the tunnels under Dale forever and they could neither return to Lake-Town with the orc armies on the move.
The argument had only grown louder and tempers were running dangerously high among the others of the company. The only one who seemed largely unaffected by all this was little Bilbo. The hobbit paced back and forth in front of the stone wall running his stubby fingers over the lichen-encrusted surface, muttering to himself.
"It must be here... last light of Durin's Day… keyhole... Where is the keyhole? Knocking thrush... whatever that has to do with it."
Sara watched him for a moment before returning her attention to Thorin. The sky was growing dark, the pale glow of the new moon visible behind a thin veil of wispy clouds. A small dark shape flew toward them out of the dimming sky and quite unabashed landed on a stone not far off. It was a small bird, dark feathered with a lightly speckled breast. It trilled brightly and then hopped off into the grass nearby.
"We have to chance a frontal assault on the main gate," said Dwalin. "There's nothing else to be done. We must draw Smaug out."
"That would be the epitome of folly," argued Nori. "Even if we did draw him out we would be gobbled up like so many crackers. There is no cover near the front gate."
Thorin raised his head. There was a hard set to his jaw that was all too familiar to Sara. Her stomach felt as though it were full of cement as he got to his feet not looking at her. To her left Bilbo had picked up a rock and was tapping the wall, listening carefully to the reverberations.
"We shall have to chance an attack on the main gate," said Thorin, rejoining the others.
"But it's a suicide mission," countered Nori. "Any near the gate are sure to perish."
Tap… tap… tap went Bilbo's stone.
"Which is why I will go alone. I know the risks involved, and you need not share them."
"But you are the king," said Bofur. "Surely there's another way."
Tap… tap… tap went Bilbo again. Sara glanced at him wondering what he was hoping to find now the sun was down.
"Before entering Mirkwood I held my life as forfeit to this quest, what difference is death by dragon then death in battle. If we do not take Erebor many more lives will be lost. But I will listen to any well-reasoned idea if you have one."
"Then let us go," said Bofur. "Our people need a king more than they need toymakers."
"I am the one who started this quest at the behest of Gandalf. I will see it through. Fili will make a fine king if anything should happen to me. I want …"
Tap… tap… tap went Bilbol again, interrupting them.
"I don't want you to go," said Sara, coming to Thorin's side and grasping his arm."There must be a way we can get into the mountain and not be exposed, a spell or a delayed trap or something."
Tap… tap… tap.
"I will not walk into this blindly," he assured, turning to face her and taking her by the biceps gently. "Any plan you suggest I will listen to, but any risk in any plan will be mine to take."
"But that's so stupid," she said, anger mixing with fear at the thought. "Please don't do this." Her fists clenched and unclenched at her sides. "I told you already, I can't…I won't watch you die."
"The idea does not exactly appeal to me either," he said, his earnest face lit by the light of the new moon above as it began to peek out from behind the clouds above.
"But Thorin you can't…"
Tap… tap… tap. Thorin's fingers tightened in frustration around her arm.
"Mr. Baggins, must you continue knocking about? The door will not…"
"It wasn't me," said Bilbo. He was sitting on a rock and raised empty hands. "I gave that up some minutes ago. It's the bird that's knocking about…" He trailed off, watching the bird. "That is a thrush is it not?" he asked, getting to his feet.
"What has that to do with anything?" asked Thorin impatiently.
"But don't you see! Oh, my stars!" The change of tone in Bilbo's voice drew the attention of the others. He was hopping about excitedly.
"Whatever has possessed you?" asked Bofur. "Bilbo, have you taken leave of your senses?"
"Look!" exclaimed Bilbo, pointing to the bird as it beat a snail on the wall. "Don't you see! Or rather hear?" They were all quiet watching their companion. "It's a thrush... A thrush that's knocking on gray stone."
"Perhaps laddie," said Balin kindly. "But we've lost the light. The sun has already set."
"But that's just it," said Bilbo excitedly. "I've only just realized the rest. The last light of Durin's Day... It's not the sun but the moon."
"But that's plumb crazy," said Bofur. "How can it be the moon?" But he fell silent as a sliver of the moon above finally made its bid for freedom from the clouds. Its pail light shone down on them and over the wall. Bilbo rushed to the stone and ran his fingers over its surface.
"It's the light of the moon," insisted Bilbo. "After all, the moon only reflects the light of the sun does it not? "
"Even so," began Nori, his voice dripping with disbelief. But he was cut off by a shriek of excitement from Bilbo.
"Look there! See in that small crack. It was not there a moment ago. A keyhole!" Sara's heart lurched. Could he be right? "Quickly Thorin, where is your key?"
In a moment Thorin was searching the ground, but Sara stopped him, handing him the key she held. He took it, hastily placing a kiss on her forehead before he approached the door.
"Look, just there," said Bilbo excitedly, pointing. Thorin clasped a hand on Bilbo's shoulder as the others gathered around. Thorin carefully slipped the large key into the hole and twisted. There was a dull click and a thud but nothing else seemed to happen. Leaving the key in its place Thorin put his hands on either side and gently pushed. A square door swung open silently. Stale air wafted out over them as if the mountain were letting out a great sigh.
"What is that smell?" asked Bilbo, a hand over his nose and mouth.
"That my lad, would be the stench of dragon," said Balin, stepping closer. Thorin hesitated only a moment before stepping inside the dark hallway, his head turning this way and that. Without a word, Dwalin lit one of their lanterns and handed it to Thorin who took it with a nod. Stepping further inside Thorin ran a hand over the wall to his left.
"I know these walls," he said in a reverent whisper. "Do you remember it, Balin?"
"I remember," said Balin, coming to the door, his voice cracking.
One by one the others filed quietly inside, speaking in the low reverent tones of their people, their words sounding like a prayer. Sara and Bilbo hung back just outside the door looking in at their companions. Sara watched Thorin's face trying to name the emotions shifting across these features; hope, joy, grief, anger, and determination, until at last his gaze fell on her and Bilbo unmoving outside. He quietly handed the lantern to Nori and approached them.
"Bilbo, Sara, why do you linger on the doorstep?" She had no ready answer for him.
"It felt like intruding," said Bilbo in a hushed tone.
"No intrusion my friend," said Thorin. "If not for you we would not have made it to the mountain. And now you have found the door when the rest of us had lost hope. We would have missed our moment and the door remained lost. You are most welcome Master Baggins. Come in." Thorin ushered him into the glow of the lantern light and the dull murmuring of the others. Thorin turned to face her.
"Sara?" His voice was a mixture of a question, an invitation, and even a plea.
"I... I can't believe we're finally here, that we actually found the door. It seems so surreal."
"Are you afraid?" he asked. She grimaced. Had it been that obvious?
"A little," she admitted, rubbing a hand over her arm.
"As am I," he said, drawing her into his embrace.
"I'm glad you aren't going to the front gate," she whispered into his shoulder. He drew back and took her face in his hands.
"There is still great danger ahead," he said, his dark eyes searching hers. "Are you sure you do not wish to go back?"
"No," she said. Her heart stuttered as his thumb smoothed across her bottom lip. "I want to be here with you." His kiss was slow but brief before he drew her to his chest again, her ribs protesting slightly at his strength. He released her and took her by the hand.
"Then, Sara Miller," he said, drawing her towards the door. "Welcome to the halls of Erebor. Welcome to my home." She stepped inside and Thorin slipped his hand around her waist pulling her close to his side. He bent close to her ear and whispered in a low voice. "May it someday be our home." Her cheeks grew warm at the thought.
"What does that say?" asked Bilbo to their right, his round face tilted up to look at a spot just above the door. They turn to look as Nori raised the lantern.
"Herein lies the 7th kingdom of Durin's folk. May the heart of the mountain unite all dwarves in defense of this home," said Gloin, reading the script that surrounded what looked like a chair and the sun rising behind it. "It is the king's throne."
"And what's that above it?" asked Bilbo.
"That would be the Arkenstone lad, our original goal in coming through this door."
"No longer," said Thorin. "Though I do not deny I would dearly love to be reunited with it in dew time we need only draw the dragon out for now."
Bilbo grew fidgety as many sets of eyes looked his way.
"I have been dreading this," said Bilbo under his breath.
"You need not go yet," said Thorin. "Until Airidan returns with word of the ponies and Bard and his people it would be folly to have you venture forth. We must wait for all of our pieces to be in place before waking the dragon."
"I still don't like feeding those poor creatures to Smaug," muttered Bilbo.
"Better them than you," said Bofur, clapping a hand on the hobbit's shoulder. "Come we will wait for the elf outside where the air is less fowl."
Several hours later they were still waiting for Airidan to arrive. They had eaten the simple meal from their packs as Thorin would not have a fire. He wanted no trace of their camp in front of the door that could give away their position when Smaug flew around the mountain in search of them later. Instead, they lit a lantern and lowered it on a rope to the bottom of the cliff so Airidan would be able to spot them more easily. The company had settled into a comfortable quiet, speculating about the state of Erebor, the size and strength of Smaug, and the treasure hoard of Thrain. This last subject was the most revisited and although Thorin and Balin had been the only ones to ever lay eyes on the horde, many stories had been passed down to the others.
There was an expectant excitement in most of the company. The exception to this was poor Bilbo who had worked himself into an anxious bundle of nerves. He sat cross-legged on the edge of the cliff twirling the hair on his feet into terrible knots. Sara had joined him several minutes ago hoping to comfort her friend. So focused in his thoughts was he that he had failed to yet notice her presence.
"You know, if you keep at that nervous habit of yours you're likely to return to the Shire with hairless toes," she said, pointing at his restless hands when he glanced at her and confusion. He looked at what he had done and folded his arms over his chest. But instead of his nervous fiddling, he began to rock to and fro wordlessly.
"Are you all right?" she asked. He looked over at her, biting a lip.
"Would you be alright if you were the one sneaking down to talk to a dragon?" he asked.
"No, I suppose not. But at least if all goes well you won't have to talk to him. You just have to sneak down and steal something so he gets angry."
"Not this time, but no doubt I will be called upon again to ascertain whether or not Smaug is really drugged. Next time he will know someone is lurking about. My mother warned me about dragons; they are deceitful and cunning creatures. It's altogether too easy to slip when conversing with a being several thousand times your size and I'm none too happy about the prospect of a conversation with Smaug."
"It will be okay." But once again her words were empty and hollow. She could promise nothing and they both know it.
She glanced behind her to Thorin for support but he was lost deep in his thoughts as the others muttered lowly. He was fiddling with his father's and grandfather's ring…again. There was something off about the ring but she could not quite place it. She shook her head. Or she was just suspicious because of Bilbo's ring and her worry for Thorin, that was all. Over the past few days, it had become one of Thorin's habits to flip the ring over and over aimlessly in his fingers in moments of calm. She didn't even think he was aware he did it. Then again neither was Bilbo most of the time. She looked back at her friend. His hand was indeed in his vest pocket once again.
"Still have your ring?" she asked. Wordlessly Bilbo drew the ring from his pocket and held it out to her. She did not take it. "You're planning to use it aren't you?"
"You told me not to," he said, tucking it back in his vest pocket.
"Well, I guess I thought risking life and limb to steal from a dragon counted as a need-to-use situation. I didn't mean that you can't ever use it. Just sparingly."
"I suppose I would feel better being invisible, though I'm still not entirely sure that helps against a dragon."
"Only one way to find out. I only hope…"
But Sara was cut off by a cry from far below. She leaned forward and looked over the edge and could see movement in the circle of lantern light at the base of the cliff. Airidan waved up at them. Dwalin appeared by her side and picked up the rope tugging at it. When the rope tugged in response Dwalin began to haul it in hand over hand. In no time at all Airidan was climbing gracefully over the edge and into the company.
"Where have you been, Air Man?" asked Bofur. "We expected you hours ago"
"Airidan," hissed Sara, but Airidan didn't seem perturbed in the least by Bofur.
"Is anything amiss?" asked Thorin, getting to his feet and tucking the ring into the pouch on his hip.
"No, all is finally in place," assured the elf.
"What took ya so long?" asked Dwalin.
"Not only did Legolas send back the herbs for us but he also sent back food, supplies, and light orbs for Bard and the people of Lake-Town. It took longer than expected to deliver the goods to Dale and then make their way to the southwest valley to meet me."
"But why send light orbs?" asked Gloin.
"They can't exactly light fires under the ruins," said Sara. "Not only would the smoke give away their position but it would also eat up their air supply. When was the last time you sat in the dark for hours with a child?" Only a few nights ago she had seen how the dark affected Tilda.
"It was time well spent," said Thorin. "I take it the ponies are loaded and in place?" Airidan nodded.
"They are. I see you found your hidden door."
"Mr. Baggins did," said Thorin, nodding to Bilbo. All eyes drifted to the little fellow who stood fidgeting once again under their attention.
"Am I to understand that now is my moment of glory?" asked Bilbo nervously, if not a bit sarcastically.
"One of your many moments of glory," said Thorin. "But yes if you are still amenable, the task is indeed yours." It was quiet for a long moment.
"We will not force you," said Balin. "It's a lot to ask for one who has already risked much on our behalf."
"No," said Bilbo, squaring his shoulders. "I'll do it. I'll go. This is why I was included in your quest to begin with. I am the company burglar after all."
"You may have to fight Nori for that title," said Bofur ruefully.
"Oh no," assured Bilbo. "After today I will forever relinquish the title. After all, what more daring feat can there be than to steal from a dragon. No, I do not wish to top this incident and indeed it is no fit occupation for a respectable hobbit."
"It's a very brave thing to do," said Airidan.
"It's a very foolish Tookish thing to do," corrected Bilbo with a snort as Nori untied the lantern from the rope and held it out to Bilbo.
"Wait, take this with you instead," said Airidan reaching into his pack. He pulled out one of the orbs they had used along the path in Mirkwood. Bilbo took it gratefully.
"Thank you."
"It should fit in your pocket and thus not be visible when you wear your ring of invisibility. Perhaps after all this is over you can indeed write those memoirs you spoke of," said Airidan with a grin. Bilbo smiled weakly.
"Perhaps. It will be nice to get back to my armchair and garden." Airidan laughed.
"That's the spirit Mr. Baggins."
No one spoke or moved until at last Bilbo blew out a long breath.
"Very well, I'm off." He turned to enter the dark doorway but Sara sprang forward and hugged him in a tight embrace.
"Be careful Bilbo," she said, finally letting him go. "Just get in and get back out."
"Indeed," said Thorin. "Go with caution and don't linger."
"Who would want to," said Bilbo with a grimace. "I hear there is a dragon down there." With these parting words, Bilbo turned and began his walk down the dark tunnel. Sara watched with growing apprehension as Bilbo's figure grew smaller and smaller in the encroaching gloom before he and his light were expunged entirely.
"And now we wait," said Balin with a heavy sigh. "May Mahal speed his return."
Several hours later Bilbo had still not returned. Sara was sure she would lose her mind with worry. There had been no movement or sound from either the mountain or the doorway. How long was the walk to the treasure room? Did this path even lead to the treasure room at all? What if Bilbo had gotten lost in the labyrinth beneath the mountain? She wasn't even sure if she preferred him lost or facing Smaug. She was not the only one to react to Bilbo's prolonged absence. While there was still a dull murmur among the dwarves much of what was shared was dwarvish. Even Thorin and Dwalin were whispering in low tones to each other. Bofur was beside himself. He sat hunched over a rock, his face creased with worry as he puffed away at his pipe. His frame was taught and anxious as his eyes often darted to the open door as if willing his friend's return.
"Lass," called Balin from his seat on the edge of the cliff by Airidan. "Come sit by us. It will do you no good to fret over Bilbo. Come and speak with us. You're as tight as a spring." She paused in what must have been her thousandth pass in front of the door. She sighed and pulled Thorin's coat closer around her before going to sit between Balin and Airidan. Unable to keep still she began pulling up shoots of dead grass. Breaking them into pieces she let them float out over the edge of the cliff on the breeze.
"You've got to try and relax," said Airidan. "You'll make yourself sick."
"I know," she said, sighing and rubbing a hand over her face in frustration. "But I can't help it. I'm worried."
"As are we all, but you must distract yourself," said Balin. "Come tell me about this new family of yours. You traveled with them until we parted ways did you not?" She nodded. "Then tell me of your siblings. How do you find being an older sister?" She groaned inwardly. He had certainly not chosen an easy topic.
"I don't know. I've never really thought about being an older sister to anyone. Even back on Earth I never really felt that way about anyone."
"Have they warmed to you?" asked Balin.
"Sort of, at least Tilda has. She seems excited to have another older sister. Sigrid is gracious enough but it's a bit odd now that we know we're sisters. I don't really feel like the older sister because she is so much more at home here in Middle-Earth. She knows what she wants to do with her life and all I want for the next few weeks is to live through them."
"What about the names?"
"Oh, yeah. Well, I'm still going by Sara and she is still Sigrid. It just didn't make any sense to try and do anything else. My name is Sara and has been for as long as I can remember."
"What about your brother… Bain was it?"
"He's the oldest and the hardest to read," admitted Sara, running a hand through her hair. "He's sixteen and that's a pretty independent age, at least on Earth it is. And while I can tell there is love between him and Bard there's also an odd tension."
"That could be because Bain was helping to create a rebellion with Eric behind Bard's back," commented Balin.
"Oh. That would explain a bit. Even so, he's a bit standoffish and I have to admit I'm not eager to push that with him."
"What about your father?"
"You mean the man who was leading a town full of people to safety. He's pretty busy now that he is officially the man in charge." She paused for a moment considering. "You know if he really does become king like he does in the book I suppose I will be a princess whether I want to be or not."
Balin chuckled. "It's not so bad, you can make a good marriage to a neighboring kingdom and help keep the peace as any good princess should," said Balin with a wry grin.
"Yeah, yeah," she said. "I'm just glad kingdoms get passed on to the oldest male. Anyway, Bard is actually the easiest to be around other than Tilde. At first, his enthusiasm was startling but he's taking it slow and not trying to make my decisions for me. It's weird... It's almost easier to ingratiate myself into the company that is my own family."
"Oh, I doubt that very much," said Balan. "Thinking back I can remember plenty of strife and awkward contention. It wasn't until after Rivendale that you seemed to have solidified your place among us." Sara thought back.
"I suppose you're right," she said, remembering the way many of the dwarves had actively ignored her in the beginning. It really had taken effort on her part.
"Not to mention that you have had day after day of only our company for weeks on end. You were bound to find your voice among us, but you have spent so little time with your family as of yet." She sighed.
"True. When this war is over I will have to try harder." Her stomach gurgled. Airidan drew something from his pack.
"Take one of these," he said, holding a leaf-wrapped packet out to her. "As I recall your entire group is fond of these."
"Oh, no. I don't want to eat all your food," she said.
"Don't fret about that, my pack is full of it. It's what most of Bard's people will be dining on this evening."
"You're sure?" she asked, accepting the elf bread. He nodded.
"Quite positive."
Unwrapping the contents she bit into the dense bread, the sweet honey and nut flavor filling her mouth. It was definitely better than the dry crackers in her pack. She gazed out over the little valley spread below them between the two closest arms of the mountain. Erebor was shaped like a six-armed star, its center the peak towering behind them. The sliver of silver moon was sinking into the horizon but by its faint light she could still make out some of the landscape below. Much of the mountainside was blackened and baron like great scars across the land. She could only assume it to be the work of Smaug in the years past. But despite the obvious ruin, there were patches here and there that still sported meager life. Their sheltered little alcove was one such a haven for grass and small shrubs.
"It kind of reminds me of the moon," she said between bites.
"In what way?" asked Airidan, his head cocked to the side in confusion.
"The landscape seems so barren, just like the surface of the moon," she said, gesturing to the view below them.
"Are you saying you know what the surface of the Moon looks like?" asked Balin, turning to look at her.
"Mmmhum," she hummed. "We have vehicles that fly to the moon and back."
"Have you been yourself?" inquired Airidan, his interest piqued.
"Oh goodness no," she said, straightening. "I'm no astronaut, but there are videos and pictures. They even brought back some moon rocks."
"And it looks similar to this?"
"I guess so, but maybe it just seems that way to me because I grew up in Kentucky where everything is green and growing. Here there's hardly even any sagebrush or anything."
"There used to be," said Balan. "I may have been young but I can well remember the mountainside was once covered in trees and shrubbery, all save the peak which even today is covered in snow."
"If that was so long ago why hasn't anything grown back? I mean sure, fire can be devastating for a forest but by now something ought to have grown back right? Sometimes the pants even grow back stronger after a fire."
"Aye lass," said Balin. "Perhaps that is so for a natural fire but not for dragon fire."
"Why not? Is it magic or something?"
"Not entirely," said Airidan. "While there may be something to be said about the properties of dragon fire, the main issue is the sheer difference in temperature. That level of heat is a literal scourge on the land."
"Won't it ever grow back?"
"Given time, yes."
"And 170 years isn't enough to even make a start?" she asked.
"No doubt Smaug has burned the mountainside more than once over the years," said Balin.
"It will take purposeful cultivation for the forest to once again cover the mountainside," added Airidan.
"It's a pity you could not have seen Erebor before Smaug descended on it," lamented Balin. "You are unlikely to see it as it's meant to be in your lifetime."
"I can imagine it though," she said with a sigh, worming further into Thorin's coat. The temperature had dropped considerably with the sun and their rise in elevation didn't help. "Tell me more about the Blue Mountains," she said, glancing over her shoulder at Thorin. Balin smiled wistfully.
"I could do that. I remember much more about it than Erebor."
"Why do they call them the Blue Mountains anyway? Are they blue?"
Balin chuckled. "That's because... "
The mountain shook and groaned beneath them, cutting Balin off. So sudden and violent was the tremor that if Airidan had not caught her arm to steady her she would have tumbled off the edge of the cliff to her death. As it was Balin was knocked sideways sending his pack careening over the edge and smashing on the rocks far below.
"What was that?" asked Ori nervously as he stumbled to his feet. The mountain shook again and Sara scrambled back away from the cliff.
"A dragon of course," said Nori running to the edge.
"Quick inside!" shouted Thorin, snatching up his pack along with Sara's. "Leave nothing behind that will betray our presence here."
"What about Balin's pack," asked Nori, already half over the edge on the rope and descending towards the broken pack.
"Leave it," shouted Thorin. "It will take too long to retrieve."
"I can get it. I am fast," said Nori.
"And a dragon despite its size is faster," said Thorin. "Come back. I will not risk it. Just bring the ropes with you." The mountain shook a third time sending Sara to her knees just as she reached the doorway. Thorin hauled her to her feet, pushing her inside. She had staggered some ten feet inside with the others when from deep inside the mountain came a deafening roar. Sara clapped her hands over her ears as a sudden surge of hot air blew up the tunnel towards them. It smelled of smoke and made her eyes and lungs burn.
"Seems Bilbo managed to wake and anger old Smaug," said Nori.
"Aye, but where is the little fellow?" asked Dwalin, peering down the long dark tunnel.
"BIlbo!" screamed Bofur.
"Shut up," said Nori, clapping a hand over Bofur's mouth. "You'll give away our position." In the dim light of the orb in Airidan's hand, Bofur's face was gray and deeply lined with worry.
"He should have been back by now," said Bofur, shoving Nori off him. "I'm going down there to look for him."
"Don't be a fool," said Gloin. "Who knows where old Smaug is!"
"I don't care, I'm going," said Bofur, pushing past the others.
"No need," said Airidan, catching his arm and pointing down the dark hallway. "Look, Bilbo is returning."
They all grew silent looking down the hall as the stone around them continued to tremble and quake. At first, Sara could not see it, but at last a small prick of light pierced the dark smoky air. Bofur broke from the group running down the hall towards him and Sara trailed after but had to stop as the smoke grew too thick. She coughed as the acrid stuff caught in her lungs which apparently were not as healed as she had thought. She crouched and waited for Bilbo and Bofur to return. Behind her, Dwalin was swinging the stone door closed.
"Not all the way," instructed Thorin hastily. "I don't relish the idea of being trapped with the only way down into Smaug's waiting jaws."
"But what of the smoke and Balin's pack?"
"We can stuff the cracks with our bedrolls. We shall just have to hope that after Smaug finds the ponies and the camp he gives up the search."
"I don't like this," said Dwalin, pulling spare blankets for their packs.
"Nor do I," said Thorin. "But we have little choice." Dwalin had just finished with the door when Bilbo hobbled back into sight leaning on Bofur's arm.
"What happened?" insisted Oin, rushing to the pair.
"A dragon happened," shot Bofur, helping Bilbo to the ground.
"It's the back of my legs and feet I think," said Bilbo. Oin set about tending his injuries, spewing the contents of his pack across the floor.
"What happened?" asked Thorin, approaching them.
"What happened is we sent a hobbit to face a dragon," snapped Bofur. "And Bilbo has paid the price."
"Pease Bofur," said Oin, dabbing cream on Bilbo's legs. "Remember to whom you speak. The burns are painful but ultimately superficial. Bilbo should heal without scarring. He's very lucky."
"Lucky number 13," said Bilbo with a grim smile. "It's just a good thing the calluses on my feet are so thick."
"But how did you come to be burned," pressed Thorin. "The dragon was meant to be asleep."
"And so he was," said Bilbo, accepting a waterskin from Dory. "But only at first. Thank goodness I had the wherewithal to read over my encounter with Smaug from the book previously. If I had not, I fear I would have been tongue-tied."
"What did he say? What did you say?" asked Sara, stifling a cough. Oin glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
"You did not lead him to believe you were from Lake-Town did you?" asked Thorin.
"No, I avoided that particular blunder," assured Bilbo. "But that's not to say I didn't make new mistakes."
"How so?" asked Sara. "What did you say?"
"Much the same as I did in the book. I even managed to persuade Smaug to show me his underbelly. It's true! There is a bare patch in his left breast. I felt all was going well. Perhaps that was where I erred, for I grew overconfident. Just before I left the treasure hall I goaded Smaug for not being able to see me. I forgot to count on his ability to hear me, not to mention that running across piles of gold is almost as visible as running across sand. It's a wonder I made it as far up the tunnel as I did before he blew fire after me. I managed to avoid the worst of it but I'm afraid the hair on the back of my head and legs will be absent for some time." He turned his head, rubbing a hand over his singed curly locks.
"You goaded a dragon?" asked Nori with an amused smile. "Whatever possessed you, Mr. Baggins?" Bilbo just grinned sheepishly.
"What took you so long?" asked Sara. "We were so worried about you. Did you get lost?" Bilbo flushed.
"No, I didn't lose my way. It's quite impossible as the passageway is long but leads straight down to the treasure room. No, I'm afraid it took me quite some time to work up the necessary courage to leave the relative safety of the tunnel and venture out into the treasure room."
"Come," insisted Nori. "Show me what you burgled from under old Smaug's nose."
"I'm afraid in all the hubbub I dropped the golden cup I had picked out," said Bilbo with a frown. He dug in his pocket. "However, I did manage to grab a handful of treasure from a pile on my way out."
He held his open palm to Nori who took the four gold coins and two blue gems from him. Gloin took one of the blue stones, examining it.
The mountain shook with the biggest tremor yet, sending them all staggering.
"Well, that will be the front gate," said Dwalin, as Thorin helped Sara back to her feet. "Now begins Smaug's flight around the mountain. Let us pray that he finds the ponies and not the door."
"Did you perhaps see the Arkenstone while you were down there?" asked Gloin when they had recovered themselves.
"There are a great many stones in the piles of gold but none seemed of great significance," he said.
"You would have known it to see it," said Thorin. "Though I don't deny that I would dearly love to be reunited with the Arkenstone in due time, it is of no importance at the moment. For now, we must wait and hope Smaug takes the bait."
"It's been awfully quiet for a few minutes," said Sara. "Where do you suppose Smaug…"
But she never finished her sentence for at that moment the mountain shook once again, but instead of the shaking coming from beneath their feet, it seemed to emanate from without the mountain itself.
"I would guess that he is scouring the mountain for us," said Nori, slipping the handful of treasure into his pocket.
"Drat it all," hissed Bilbo as Oin secured bandaging over his calves. "I wish we knew exactly what was going on. How long will it take for Smaug to succumb to the herbs?"
"Who's to say," said Airidan. "No one has ever tried to drug a dragon before. We can only wait and hope we guessed correctly."
"Seems there is little to hope for at this moment," said Bofur gloomily.
"Come, come," said Bilbo, turning to his friend with false bravado. "If I can goad a dragon and live to speak of it, we shall all make it out of this. Though at the moment I can't quite see how," he admitted.
They fell quiet again as roars and rumbles came from outside the door again.
"That's getting awfully close," said Sara, trying and failing to stifle a new fit of coughing. More smoke was wafting up the tunnel towards them and with the door stuffed up, the smoke collected above their heads, clogging the air.
"We should move further down the tunnel," suggested Balin.
"Agreed," said Thorin, taking Sara's hand and pulling her to her feet. She pulled her shirt up over her nose and mouth.
"Are you alright?" asked Thorin, his hand on her back to steady her as the ground beneath them shook.
"It's just all the smoke," she said, her throat tight.
"Oin," said Thorin.
"I'm already seeing to it," replied the old healer, digging into his pack once again. He withdrew a familiar pouch of herbs. Drizzling water over it he held it out to Sara who took it gratefully and pressed it over her nose and mouth. She followed Thorin and the others further down the tunnel.
Soon she was sitting with her side pressed to Thorin's, with Dwalin on her other side. Across from them with their backs pressed to the opposite wall sat Airidan, Bilbo, and Bofur. Their only source of light was the orb that Airidan held in his hands. They sat huddling in the dark as the mountain shook and trembled all around them. Outside they could hear the angry roars of Smaug as he reined his fiery wrath down on the mountainside.
Despite their fear and anxiety, time dragged on with all the urgency of a traffic jam. For several hours all they knew was the wigged wrath and ruin that lay in wait just beyond the door. Gradually the tremors grew less powerful and more interspersed. Finally, they stopped altogether. Sara was not sure which was worse, the constant shaking or the eerie silence. The last of the tremors had come from outside the mountain and not beneath, suggesting that Smaug had not yet returned to his treasure hoard. Had he snuck back into the mountain silently? Had he eaten the ponies and was now laying drugged to the wingtips on some rocky pinnacle? Had Smaug seen through the trick and set a trap of his own? It was an unnerving fact that Smaug was no mere beast but an intelligent and vindictive dragon whose treasure had been stolen out from under his very nose.
No one suggested they venture outside. Only the Valar knew how long they stayed there in the tunnel. Despite the swirling emotions and thoughts in Sara's head, sleep came like a thief in its own right and the next thing she remembered was being shaken awake by Thorin.
"Sara," called Thorin, shaking her gently. Her eyes stung as she opened them and looked up from his lap where she had been resting. "Wake up."
"What... What is it?" she asked, her voice rough and scratchy. Her throat hurt and her lungs felt heavy.
"We are going to open the door and have a look around. You should probably seek some fresher air. You seem to suffer greatly from the smoke."
"Yeah," she said, coughing as she set up. "It doesn't exactly... agree with me. Air sounds great."
They all made their way quietly to the door which was miraculously still intact. Dwalin tugged the blankets free and ever so slowly pulled the door wide. Sunlight shone in upon them illuminating the dim space. Sara blinked, unaccustomed to the bright light after so long in the tunnel. Cautiously Dwalin crept out into the open. After several agonizing heartbeats, he returned.
"I do not see Smaug but that doesn't mean he is not here," he called back.
"We should retrieve Balin's pack in case Smaug makes another run of it," said Nori. "It won't do to give away the position of the door after all the trouble we went through to put the ponies in the next valley over."
"Agreed," said Dwalin. "We should also check to see if the ponies are indeed missing."
"I will go and check what remains of the ponies," volunteered Airidan. "I can make the best time and return with news."
"And I will retrieve Balin's pack," said Nori. "I could do with a good stretch."
"Very well," said Thorin. "But first let Sara through so she can have fresh air, Bilbo as well." Sara glanced over at Bilbo who looked a little green around the gills. Quickly the two of them made their way out onto the grassy ledge. Even out here the air was mixed with smoke, great towering billows of the stuff drifting out over the horizon staining the sun above a rusty orange. Still, it was better than nothing and there was no dragon in sight. Near the edge of the cliff, Dwalin was holding the rope as Nori walked backward off the edge of the cliff and began his repel down. Beside him was Dori who held the rope for Airidan.
The others shuffled out onto the grassy doorstep crowding it. Wanting to get out of the way and stretch her muscles a little as well, Sara clambered up a few rocks till she sat atop a ledge some 30 feet above the door. She perched, looking out over the valley. Away to the west, she could see the edge of Mirkwood Forest and to the southwest where the river flowed from its tangled boughs. She shivered and wished she brought Thorin's coat outside with her. At least the view was good.
Despite the chance to be out of the tunnel, something still felt off. Her concerns about Smaug returned to niggle at the edge of her consciousness. Where was he? Why did she still have a growing feeling of dread? The cool breeze warmed suddenly, brushing past her cheeks. In moments a light breeze had grown to a stiff wind. Panic clenched her guts long before Thorin's shouted warning ever reached her ears.
"Dragon! Back inside," bellowed Thorin, pointing first to the south where a large red shape had appeared and then to the door below her. The others scrambled to get back under cover as Dwalin and Dori pulled frantically at the ropes trying to haul Nori and Airidan back up to safety. Smaug was winging his way around the southwestern slope of the mountain and closing the distance at an alarming rate.
"Sara," shouted Thorin, his voice cracking with panic. "Sara, jump!"
She glanced down at him, trying to gauge the distance and preparing to leap. Smaug let out a roar to shatter eardrums drawing her attention inexorably back to the enormous lizard bearing down on her. He was headed straight for her. Fear shot through her, freezing her in place. The dragon's wicked eyes never left her form.
"Jump Sara!"
Closer the dragon drew nearly atop her now.
"Sara Miller, by all that is holy, jump!" commanded Thorin at a shout. At once her body was free and she hurled herself off the edge toward Thorin's waiting arms. But it was not Thorin who caught her.
Hahaha! Yay chapter 61 is now complete… and a cliffhanger. Sorry it took so long… I know I say that every time now, but it's the Christmas season and I'm a mom. But just know that this work will not be abandoned… ever. I have put in too much hard work and am too close to the end to give up now. Admittedly it's no longer my passion project as my interest has shifted to my Snotlout fic but I still have immense love for this project. Okay that being said… I am the author and it can be hard to tell from my position. Has my writing changed over the last few chapters? I hope not (unless it's for the better.) But if it has please let me know so I can try and correct it in future chapters. At any rate, I want to thank all of you who take the time to leave comments on this story. It truly helps make the hours of effort worth it. May you find many good stories to read and have a very merry Christmas or whatever other holiday you celebrate.