The King and Dragon Lord

Ch. 8

I and Kili were outside with our bows. Watching over the citizens of Erebor as they were led out. All of the dwarves that were in the army had their weapons.

Thorin and the rest of the company were above the entrance watching as all the citizens left. "I didn't think I would have to see Erebor drove out again."

Balin put his hand on Thorin's shoulder. "At least it's not a dragon this time." They both laughed.

Once the people of Erebor and Dale (both having their soldiers armed) were far enough away, I and Kili went back inside. Dwalin and Fili turned up not long after scouting the surrounding areas.

"There are a few small groups of orcs but they're only going from behind the mountain and over to the East (map view)," Fili said as he and Dwalin came in.

"None to the West?" Confusion filled my face.

Balin came up to me, Fili, Kili and Dwalin. "Is something wrong?" He asked slightly worried.

I shook my head. "N..no. I'm just worried about all of them I guess."

Fili smiled at me reassuringly. "They'll be fine."

I nodded. "I'm going to go walk around for a bit." They all smiled at me and I walked off. My thoughts were solely placed on the Gallery of Kings and that's where I went.

————

Pretty much all of Erebor was rebuilt after the Desolation of Smaug except for where the fire drake of the North exited the Gallery of Kings. Why that wasn't fixed I will never know.

But then again I'm glad it isn't.

The pit that stretched from one end of the hall to the other was filled with gold. It was stunning. I sat at the end facing where Smaug broke through. My legs were propped up and I had my head resting on my knees with my arms going around my legs. My eyes never moved. Even when Thorin came and sat down beside me.

"I don't think I've ever seen a dwarf take more interest in the hall than you." Thorin sounded more intrigued by my interest in the hall than confused.

I shrugged my shoulders. "It was the one part of Erebor I always wanted to see...that and it makes me wish I would've come to the East when everything was happening."

Thorin laughed. "It was rather interesting."

"Or adventurous as Bilbo would say." I turned to him grinning. My eyes went back to look across the hall. "I can only imagine what it must've been like seeing a full-grown dragon face to face."

"Why didn't you come to the East?"

"Oh, I wanted to. Believe me. But everything was happening when I left Rivendell to start life as a ranger and didn't want to put myself in a situation that could get me killed. Which hasn't changed." Silence filled the hall for a few seconds. "Although. I did stay in Lake Town for a bit but once I heard that the King Under The Mountain arrived I didn't hesitate to immediately leave."

"How far did you get before Smaug woke."

I laughed. "Not far actually. I headed North to the area of Thranduil's Caverns but when I saw Smaug break through the entrance I made Aro run as fast as he could to Dale and we just found a place to hide right before Smaug took flight for Lake Town. When I know he flew over Dale I climbed and watched as everything happened."

"Where'd you go after that?"

"Once I saw Smaug fall I went back to Aro and headed North. Went around Mirkwood and then headed West. I don't remember where I went to be completely honest with you."

Before Thorin could speak, we saw Bilbo walk over to us.

"Hey so uh. Gandalf wants to talk to us all about something." I and Thorin got up and followed Bilbo to where we usually meet.