Let Bygones Be Bygones (2 of 3)

It's nearly dawn and I'm walking through the town towards Bard's house. I'm hoping he is going to be awake at this early hour. I sigh before I raise my hand and knock on the door. I hear movement inside and then the door opens.
“Bard, I was wondering if I could have a word?” I ask. He thinks about it for a moment before letting me in.
“I never got to thank you for yesterday....Thorin... Did not look very pleased about it though” He says now knowing his name.
“He has not always been pleased with a lot of what I do, but it's nothing to worry about. I couldn't just stand there and let them blame you for something beyond your control, what happened wasn't your fault.” I say remembering the day with crystal clarity. “If anyone is to blame it would be Thror, his love of gold attracted the dragon. Caused the death and eviction of thousands... But blaming people won't change things.”
“You were there” he says softly as he realises.
I nod.
“I'm older than I look” I chuckle a little, my comment seems to cause him to laugh a little also.
“I should probably go, they are probably getting ready to go by now.” I say as I notice the sunlight through the windows.
“Chase, whatever you do... Don't waken that dragon” He says almost pleadingly. I don't know what to reply.
“Just in case this does not go to plan, get your family and get out of town, Take as many people as will join you. If the dragon does not wake, or if the dragon is dead or we manage to kill it then I will personally inform you, if I am able. If the worst should happen... Please forgive me...” I say. Before he can reply I turn around and leave his house, heading back towards the Masters house. I'm not really concentrating on anything around me, my mind is too busy over thinking, but once I get back to the main street I notice there's no one around and I curse and listen. I hear people cheering in the distance and run towards the celebrating.

As I get closer to the sound of the people I see a large crowd along the sides of the main channel.
“Out of the way! I'm late! Coming through!” I say pushing past a few people so that I can get to the boat.

I manage to get through the crowd and emerge in front of Thorin, Bilbo and Balin. I smile, a little out of breath, thankful I've made it in time.
“Well that was good timing” Bilbo says amused “I was just wondering where you were”. I lean over for a moment to catch my breath and as I lean over I notice Fili, Kili and Oin off to the side and Bilbo, no doubt noticing my confusion explains as I straighten up.
“Thorin doesn't want Kili to slow us down, personally I think he is more worried about him hurting himself more. Oin said he is going to look after him and Fili won't leave his brother.” he says to me, quietly.

I feel bad for them, knowing how much this meant to them and seeing how disappointed Kili looks it physically pains me. I look towards the mountain, is it going to be worth it? Thorin wants the gold, Bilbo wants to help even though at first it was just a job I don't know about the others... But all I want it to go home. But is what we want worth it if we wake the dragon and bring death and ruin on these people? Bilbo taps my arm to get my attention I look at him as he gets into boat and I follow.

The musicians of Laketown play their instruments as the Master climbs up to a raised platform. He waves, and the people cheer and applaud. The master begins speaking but I am too busy thinking about Kili to pay attention. All his life he has probably dreamed of the moment the dwarves return to Erebor, now his uncle won't even allow it because of his concerns.

The boat starts to move startling me back to the present. I look over to Kili who looks on miserably from the dock. I look away closing my eyes feeling sorry for the young dwarf as all the other dwarves in the boat smile, wave, and bow at the cheering people. Even Bilbo is greeting the crowd.

Once we're out in open water Thorin stands at the bow of the boat looking across the lake toward the Lonely Mountain. Nothing is said but the overwhelming feeling of being so close to the mountain is shared by all of us. You can tell just by looking at the expressions on everyone's faces. I look at the water and trail my fingertips through it and daydream to pass the time.
It takes a good long to cross the lake and it's almost strange to be on solid ground again. Walking over the rocky, seemingly lifeless terrain has caused us to spread out a little bit. We have a five minute break every now and then before continuing on again now wanting to waste much time.

“So quiet” Bilbo says breaking the silence. Now that he mentions it, it is quite quiet, not surprising after all but now it's been mentioned it hard to un-hear.
“It wasn't always like this. Once these slopes were lined with woodlands and the trees were filled with birdsong.” Balin says walking over to stand next to Bilbo.
“This was all a pine forest once, if you can believe it. Perhaps one day trees will grow here again”

“Relax Master Baggins. We have food we have tools and we're making good time” Thorin says. Then something catches his eye and he runs over to the edge of some rocks, and the rest of us follow, looking from the overlook at the once beautiful city of Dale.
“What is this place?” Bilbo asks
“It was once the city of Dale. Now it is a ruin. The desolation of Smaug.” Balin says

“The sun will soon reach midday; let’s find the hidden door into the mountain before it sets. This way!”
“Wait...is this the overlook? Gandalf said to meet him here. On no account were we-” Bilbo starts, but he's interrupted by Thorin

“Do you see him? We have no time to wait upon the wizard. We’re on our own.” Thorin turns and walks away. “Come.”

I too look at the city from the overlook. The last time I saw the city it was on fire and the stench of burning in the air as black smoke filled the sky. Seeing the aftermath and remembering what Bard has said... My surety of this quest is even more conflicted now...

I get called by Bilbo and when I look around we realise the others have started walking again. I jog to catch up with the Hobbit.

Once we get roughly to the point on the map Thorin looks around unsure if we're in the right place.
“The door should be around here somewhere, everyone, spread out, start looking” Thorin says. Immediately everyone spreads out and starts scouring for the secret door.
We look around not really knowing what to look for, all we know is it's a secret door.

“Anything?” Thorin asks after a while, unsuccessful.
“Nothing!” Dwalin replies,

I jog over to Thorin “Are you sure we're in the right location? It could be anywhere around here, how are we supposed to recognise a secret door none of us have ever seen before?” I ask
“If the map is true, the hidden door lies directly above us.” he says looking at the map.
“Up here!” Bilbo shouts. Thorin looks before grabbing his sword out of the ground and everyone runs towards where he shouted from. As we get closer behind a large section of the mountain, which we previously couldn't see, a large dwarven warrior is carved into the mountain.
“You have keen eyes, Master Baggins.” Thorin says relieved and heads towards the base of it. Thorin inclines his head for Bilbo to start climbing first and then he follows, as do the rest of us. The steps are large and we have to climb onto each. Thorin helps Bilbo before climbing up and making it look easy. Then when I try to climb I find out it's not as easy as he made it look. He laughs at me a little before helping me up. I blush and thank him as I turn around to hide my no doubt obvious red face, and I straighten myself out before helping Balin who is behind me. Offering him my hand to help him up. He gives me an amused look, smiling and looking at me for a moment before looking at Thorin before turning around to help Dwalin and Gloin help Bombur up. It's the same until we're all the way to the top where there is a little ledge. Thorin jumps down onto the ledge quickly

“This must be it. The hidden door.” Thorin says looking at a wall. He turns around looking at all of us who are standing looking at him. “Let all those who doubted us rue this day!” He says holding up his key. We all cheer and start to gather on the ledge.
“Right. We have our key, which means that somewhere, there is a keyhole.” Dwalin says walking over to the wall as he looks for said keyhole. He begins exploring the walls of the with his fingers, looking for a keyhole. Thorin walks to the edge of the ledge looking out at the setting sun.

“The last light of Durin’s Day will shine upon the keyhole.” Thorin says as Dwalin looks.
As the sun continues to set with still no sign of a keyhole Thorin starts to worry and inclines his head for Nori to go and help Dwalin. “Nori.”
Nori, who is known as a bit of a thief, runs to the wall and begins tapping it in different places with a spoon while holding his ear to a cup held against the wall. Listening for any hollow spots where the mechanisms for the keyhole would be. While, Dwalin, getting increasingly annoyed at not being able to find the keyhole as we are running out of light, strains and pushes against the wall. I look to the sun and back to the wall, this can't be right, I feel myself beginning to panic, we can't have come all this way for nothing, we can't have.

“We’re losing the light.” Thorin states.
“Come on!” Dwalin says now kicking the wall.

“Be quiet! I can’t hear when you’re thumping.” Nori complains just as annoyed

“I can’t find it...it’s not here! It’s not here.” Dwalin says, panicked
As the sun gets is almost setting behind smaller mountains in the distance, Thorin frantically gestures to the other dwarves.
“Break it down!”
Dwalin, Gloin, and Bifur used their weapons on the stone wall, only resulting in shattering their weapons.
“Come on!”

“It’s no good! The door’s sealed. It can’t be opened by force. Powerful magic on it.” Balin states

They cease their efforts with their destroyed weapons and drop the now useless handles on the floor in frustrated disappointment
“No!” Thorin says sounding close to deafeat as he walks forward and re-examines the map.
“The last light of Durin’s Day will shine upon the keyhole. That’s what it says.” he looks around at the company who all look just as downhearted and defeated as he does.
“What did we miss?”
Thorin walks up to Balin and repeats his question, hoping his friend has an answer.
“What did we miss... Balin?”
“We’ve lost the light. There’s no more to be done. We had but one chance.”
The dwarves bow their heads regretfully and turn back toward the stairs.
“Come away lads. It’s...it’s over.” Balin says as he walks.
“No... No...” I say in disbelief, “Stop...” I say looking around at the others.
“Wait a minute!” Bilbo says looking around at the other dwarves.
“We've come this far...” I look at the Hobbit unsure what to do.
“Where are they going? You can’t give up now!” Bilbo says not wanting them to give up when they have come so far.
I sit down and look at the floor but I hear a clang causing me to look up and see Thorin who has just dropped his key.
“Thorin...” He says as he walks past the hobbit, forcing the map onto the Hobbit “you can’t give up now.”
Bilbo looks at me and I shake my head and look back to the ground. Maybe this is for the best.
“Stand by the grey stone...” Bilbo says after a while causing me to look at him
He goes and stands by the grey wall.
“Bilbo... It's hopeless...” I say looking at him feeling physically and emotionally drained.
“When the thrush knocks...” He continues as if I had not said anything.
He looks around as if looking for something.
I sigh and just watch the Hobbit.
“The setting sun...and the last light of Durin’s Day will shine. Hmm. The last light. Last light…”
As a thought hits me I stand up
“Say that again?” I ask suddenly, walking over to him and looking at the map.
"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light will shine on Durin's Day will shine upon the key-hole" he says again. I look at the map and then I hear a tapping noise.
I look up and look around for the source of the noise and see a thrush hitting a snail against the grey wall. Just then, the moonlight hits the wall.
As the thrush flies away, Bilbo laughs with relief and delight and points at the wall.
“The last light!” Bilbo says.
“It's not the sun...” I say looking at him.
Bilbo gasps as he looks at the wall, I look and see why and I see the keyhole as he yells for the dwarves.
“The keyhole! Come back! Come back! It’s the light of the moon, the last moon of autumn! Ha ha ha!”
I laugh and hug him happily. “Bilbo you've done it, you've figured it out!”
He laughs. “The key!” he says before pulling away quickly and we both start looking around for it.
“Where’s the- Where’s the key? Where’s the- it was here…but it was here, it was here! It was just…”

He says as he looks frantically. His foot hits it and it goes flying. I grab my knife after a panicked pause and after a moment of judgement I throw it. We both hold our breath as the key gets to the edge. Just before it falls off the side of the mountain, a boot steps on the string at the same time as my dagger lodges in a small crevice and the string hooks onto the handle, I look at the person who stood on it to see that it's Thorin, looking quite surprised, either that he was almost stabbed in the foot, or that the key almost went off the edge, but the answer is probably quite obvious. Bilbo sighs in relief and I let out a breath that I hadn't realised I had held. Thorin slowly reaches down and picks up the key, then examines it. The other dwarves step up beside him. They all look relieved.

Thorin walks over to the door and slowly unlocks it. The mechanisms can be heard moving inside and Thorin pushes against the rock hard, opening the door into narrow hallways. We are all gathered behind Thorin as we look over his shoulders at the halls of our home.
“Erebor.” Thorin says as if he can not believe his eyes
“Thorin…” Balin says as he steps up besides him, choking up as he speaks. Thorin rests his hand on Balin's shoulder before entering the mountain.
“I know these walls…these walls, this stone. You remember it, Balin? Chambers filled with golden light.”

As he says this, Thorin runs his hands over the walls, lost in memory, as Balin steps into the tunnel.
“I remember.”

Nori points at a carving in the wall above the door; Gloin look up to it as Bilbo motions for me to walk in before following me. I stand next to Balin and look at what they are looking at. It's of the throne of Erebor, with the Arkenstone above it, sending out rays of light in all directions. And an inscription carved above and below.

“Herein lies the seventh kingdom of Durin’s Folk. May the heart of the mountain unite all dwarves in defence of this home.” Gloin reads the inscription on the carving.
As Bilbo looks at it Balin Explains what the carving is about.
“The throne of the king.”

“Oh. And what’s that above it?” he asks curiously
“The Arkenstone.” Balin replies
“Arkenstone….And what’s that?”
“That, Master Burglar, is why you are here.” Thorin says causing us to look at him for a moment before looking back to the Hobbit.
“Bilbo, come” Balin says and starts to walk down the tunnel. Bilbo following close behind him.