Saving Durin {Hobbit/Thorin}

Chapter 41: What is Dain's name were you thinking?

Chapter 41:

What in Dain's name were you thinking?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bilbo's Point of View~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking over the rubble formed in Smaug's escape, I can see the returning victims of Smaug's desolation march into Dale with all their belongings perched upon their backs. The Lakemen seem to follow Bard, so I can only assume he has taken the leadership role of his ancestor. Let's just hope he doesn't share the same fate.

"I want this fortress made safe by sunup. This mountain was hard won--I will not see it taken again," Thorin commands us from his state of madness. The company's working bodies are illuminated by the lit braziers beyond the gates of Erebor. Looking at my companions' faces, I see the exhaustion I feel within my bones, from forty-eight hours of conscientious work. They sweat with every lifted block and cringe in every arm movement. Thorin just looks upon them, blind to the pain he should be feeling.

"The people of Laketown have nothing. They came to us in need. They have lost everything," Kili tries to reason with him. A chirp from above our heads illustrates Sidel's agreement with Kili's words. The two siblings have shifted into their Phoenixes for the new work, flying in pieces of rubble from the outside. I can only imagine that as they pick up each rock, their eyes are drawn to the squalor of the Lakemen. I am glad to be within Erebor at this moment.

"Do not tell me what they have lost. I know well enough their hardship. Those who have lived through dragonfire should rejoice. They have much to be grateful for," Thorin responds haughtily as he looks upon the fires burning in Dale. The madness bound within the dwarf king's mind, evidently, hinders his ability to grasp the idea that we are at fault for the destruction of Laketown. We caused all this pain and loss. The Lakemen deserve all that we can give them, especially the promised gold and refuge.

"More stone!" Thorin yells to Sidel and Typhon, "Bring more stone to the gate!" I cringe at his words, knowing full well that if Erudian was here to see this, Thorin would be getting an earful for shouting at her siblings. A hand placed on my shoulder draws my attention to Tauriel's presence at my side. Eyes meeting eyes, we send a prayer for Rue's quick return, for she may be too late to save Thorin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Erudian's Point of View~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day quickly slips away into darkness, with no more than a minute sunset and twilight. My body grows brighter with the fading light, and I draw more attention with each minute. It is this glow that drives me away from the orcs' camp, and back into the sky. I needed to get information, but I also need to escape in order to transfer the information to the others.

When I arrived at the camp, Azog was meeting with the commanding orcs near a rocky outcropping. With luck on my side, he explained their entire battle strategy, including the second army of orcs coming from the north. I now feel like I have enough information to truly save Durin, though it will take much planning, and, more importantly, Thorin's sanity.

And thus, I set off into the sky, towards my home in Erebor. By now, it is night, and to the innocent eye, I am but a comet rocketing through the sky. My pace has increased as I feel the ache in my heart, deriving from Thorin's sickness and my siblings exhaustion. It is ever more important to return now.

I almost miss the heart-warming sight as I fly over the Brown lands for the second time today. Below me, and charging across the plains, Gandalf moves with a hurried pace towards Erebor. Immediately, I fall from my faster speed and dive towards the ground like a true comet. Gandalf sees me fall from the heavens and stops his horse in shock. I fly over to him, shifting back, so that I may address him fully. I pant in exhaustion over the past few days as the wizard just look upon me with worry.