Emerge the Dragonborn | The Hobbit

Chapter 6 - The Calm Before

     In Erebor, the Dwarves prepared for battle, suiting up in their armour and gathering their weapons. Amidst them, Anaynah was adding the final touches to her attire. She looked down, adjusting the Elven bracers on her wrists that marked her kinship with Rivendell. The intricate craftsmanship reminded her of her bond with the Elves, a bond that now compelled her to stand alongside them in this crucial battle.

Anaynah strapped her sword to her waist with practised ease, ensuring it was secure. She then slung a bow across her back, readying herself for combat. Her movements were swift and purposeful, reflecting both determination and a hint of concern.

Amidst the preparations for battle, her mind swirled with conflicting emotions. She had faced Orcs, Goblins, and other foul creatures in her time, but never had she been poised to fight against Men and her kin—Elves—and against them at the same time. The Elves were always her allies, and her oath to aid Thorin now demanded that she stand against them.

As she adjusted the grip on her sword and felt the weight of her bow on her back, Anaynah couldn't shake the turmoil within her. These Elves and Men were not enemies by nature, yet here they stood, ready to defend their cause just as passionately as she was ready to defend Erebor. They had families, loved ones waiting for them back in their forest realm. Anaynah couldn't bear the thought of bringing harm to them, not after everything she had fought to overcome in her own dark past.

Yes, she had once been a dragon, wreaking havoc and causing destruction without remorse. She had slain many innocent lives in her ruthless pursuit of power. But now, in the light of day and with her human conscience fully awakened, the idea of fighting those with a soul weighed hevely on her.

Anaynah knew she couldn't turn away from this battle. The fate of Erebor and the future of her newfound allies depended on her resolve. Yet, she couldn't help but question her own path.
Could she truly reconcile the dragon's past with the woman she had become?
Could she fight without succumbing to the darkness that still lurked within her, a darkness that Ahriman sought to exploit?

These thoughts swirled in her mind as she glanced around at the assembled company of Dwarves, preparing for what would undoubtedly be a fierce and bloody battle. She would fight, she knew that much. But deep down, she prayed for a way to protect the innocents caught in the crossfire and to honor the bonds of kinship that now strained against the oath she had sworn.

Thorin's voice cut through her thoughts, summoning Bilbo with urgency. Anaynah watched from a distance.

"Master Baggins, come here!" Thorin's voice carried authority.

Bilbo approached cautiously and saw Thorin holding a tunic of white mail. "You are going to need this. Put it on," Thorin instructed firmly.

Bilbo began removing his jacket, unsure of what was happening. Thorin explained as he held up the vest. "This vest is made of silver steel; 'Mithril' it was called by my forebears. No blade can pierce it."

Bilbo slid into the vest, feeling its weight and strength.

Anaynah watched the exchange from a distance, her heart heavy with concern. She observed Bilbo, now adorned in the resilient Mithril armor, and couldn't help but feel a surge of protective fear for him. Despite his humble origins and initial reluctance, Bilbo had proven himself courageous and steadfast throughout their perilous journey. Anaynah silently vowed to stand by him, ready to protect him at any cost in the battles ahead.

"I look absurd. I'm not a warrior; I'm a Hobbit," Bilbo remarked nervously.

"It is a gift. A token of our friendship. True friends are hard to come by," Thorin replied with a hint of sentimentality, but his expression darkened as he glanced at the other Dwarves, catching Anaynah's eye too.