Heart Of Stone

Chapter Nine

Her soft hands glide over his chest as she gives him a sultry smile. He grips her hips and groans as she slowly eases down upon him. She throws her head back and moans as she takes him to the hilt. He removes himself but then thrusts deep. She smiles in ecstasy. "Thranduil."

Thranduil sat up right in bed, his breathing ragid. He was stiff, yet again, and sweat coated his body. He groaned and fell back onto his bed. That was the second time he'd awakened this night. Sweaty, stiff, and yearning. "Where are you dear hybrid? Why did you go?"

The soldiers dragged the dwarves to a mansion, with multitudes of townspeople following behind. It was snowing a little. Fawn was atop a roof, Fang close beside her.

Dwalin growled. "Get off of me!"

There was lots of muttering and yelling and the Alfrid man closes goes to retrieve the master. The head soldier arranges all of the dwarves under guard in the town square before the doors of the mansion. As guards open the doors of the mansion, the Master-Fawn was assuming- storms out, still putting on his coat. "What is the meaning of this?"

"We caught 'em stealing weapons, sire." The head soldier answers.

"Ah. Enemies of the state, then."

"This is a bunch of mercenaries if ever there was, sire." Alfrid sneers. Fawn glares at the male.

Dwalin steps forth. "Hold your tongue. You do not know to whom you speak. This is no common criminal; this is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror!" Dwalin gestures at Thorin, and Thorin steps forward. The crowd murmurs in amazement. "We are the dwarves of Erebor." Thorin announces.

The crowd whispers in shock and recognition, and people crane their heads to see better.

"We have come to reclaim our homeland. I remember this town and the great days of old. Fleets of boats lay at harbor, filled with silks and fine gems. This was no forsaken town on a lake! This was the center of all trade in the North." Thorin speaks earnestly to the crowd, and the people nod in agreement. "I would see those days return. I would relight the great forges of the dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!" The people cheer and clap, and the Master looks on, calculating.

Suddenly, a voice calls out over the crowd, and Bard strides forward. "Death! That is what you will bring upon us. Dragon-fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all."
The people whisper anxiously and Fawn finds herself truly thinking over his words. She'd never thought if Laketown when she'd accepted her role in the quest.

"You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this; If we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!" The people shout in excitement and they applaud. The Master looks on, smiling and nodding at this turn of events.

"All of you! Listen to me! You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale?!" The people quiet down and shake their heads sadly. "Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm?!"

The people shout, "No!"

"And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain-king so riven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!" As Bard and Thorin stare at each other angrily, the crowd gets louder, but then the Master steps forth. "Now, now, we must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame. Let us not forget that it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the beast!" The Master points accusingly at Bard, and the crowd begins to clamor. Fawn gasps. Now that was unexpected.

As Bard looks away, Thorin looks at him in shock and anger. "It's true, sire. We all know the story: arrow after arrow he shot, each one missing its mark." Alfrid says slyly.

Bard looks around as the crowd yells angrily at him. He then strides forward and speaks to Thorin earnestly. "You have no right, no right to enter that mountain!"

"I have the only right." Thorin turns and faces the Master. "I speak to the Master of the men of the Lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people?"

Fawn frowned, thinking to see if Gandalf had told her about any prophecy involving Erebor. She searched through the many memories mentally grabbing onto the one she searched for, and pulling it forth.

"The lord of silver fountains,

The king of carven stone,

The king beneath the mountain shall come into his own,

And the bells shall ring in gladness at the mountain king's return,

But all shall fail in sadness and the lake will shine and burn."

Fawn's eyes widen and she looks to Fang. "They cannot enter that mountain."

"I say unto you...welcome! Welcome and thrice welcome, King under the Mountain!" The Master opens his arms in welcome, and the crowd erupts in cheers. Fawn's gaze snaps to them. Thorin climbs up a few steps and turns to face the audience; the people hug each other in excitement and joy. Thorin and Bard stare at each other.

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It is morning in Laketown; the people crowd along the sides of the main channel as a boat is loaded with supplies for the dwarves to take to the mountain. Fawn stands before the dwarves, her arms crossed and her Warg beside her, her body and clothes now clean.

"You do know we're one short; where's Bofur?" Bilbo asks.

Thorin shakes his head. "If he's not here, we leave him behind."

"We have to, if we're to find the door before nightfall. We can risk no more delays." Balin states.

They march along the pier and the dwarves and Bilbo begin to board the boat. They are fully decked out in armor and regal clothing. Thorin stops Kili before he can get in the boat. "Not you. We must travel with speed, you will slow us down."

Kili smiles, thinking Thorin is joking. "What are you talking about? I'm coming with you."

"No."

Fili, already in the boat, turns and looks at Thorin and Kili.

"I'm going to be there when that door is opened, when we first look upon the halls of our fathers, Thorin."

"Kili, stay here. Rest. Join us when you're healed." Thorin lays his hand on Kili's shoulder and smiles at him, but Kili looks shocked and betrayed. Thorin turns to board the boat. Kili turns away. Oin gets out of the boat. "I'll stay with the lad. My duty lies with the wounded." Thorin nods and looks to Fawn who begrudgingly boards the boat after she whispers to Fang "Stay here, guard the others. I will return.". He whimpered but left to stand by Kili who pets him.

Fawn turns to see Fili talking to Thorin. "Uncle, we grew up on tales of the mountain. Tales you told us. You can't take that away from him!"

"Fili."

"I will carry him, if I must! Fawn! Convince him!"

Fawn shakes her head and looks away. "He is right. We need strength right now, not weakness." He'd be the first to die.

"One day you will be king, and you will understand. I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one dwarf, not even my own kin."

Fili looks at Kili, then steps out of the boat. Thorin tries to stop him. "Fili, don't be a fool. You belong with the Company."

"I belong with my brother." Fili pulls away from Thorin and goes to join Kili, Fang, and Oin. Fawn sighs and sits. She gives them a sad smile and mouths to them 'I'm sorry.'

The musicians of Laketown play their instruments as the Master climbs up to a raised platform. He waves, and the people cheer and clap.

Fawn drowns him as he speaks out and as the boat begins to move her mind travels to a certain elf. Thranduil.