The Valar Child: The Desolation of Smaug

Chapter 17 - Battle in the Forges

Hildar

Thorin split us up into groups: himself, myself, and Bilbo in one group. Balin, and Beren in another; Dwalin and Nori in one; Gloin and Bifur; and Bombur, Dori, and Ori in the last group. We backtracked to the interlacing stone bridges, and we began to cross. We were not trying to be quiet this time. "Here! Here we are, you old bird! I'd like to see you catch us with all those cobwebs on your wings" I shouted as loud as I could. Waving my arms, and screaming insults, I quickly caught Smaug's attention.

"A little too good!" Bilbo cried, as he and Thorin both caught hold of me, and dragged me away. Smaug began his pursuit, but he was soon distracted by Beren and Balin. Balin was doing a little dance, which brought a smile to my lips. Beren was using the elvish language, and I could only imagine the words he was using. Smaug lashed out at them, and I saw Beren grab Balin and they both fell on the stone, to avoid the sweep of Smaug's claw. My breath caught in my throat, but I saw them get up, and run away. Dwalin and Nori began their commotion, and Thorin dragged Bilbo and myself along. We were soon out of that wide, open cavern, where I felt so exposed. Turning down a huge hall, Thorin passed a small door, but pushed us inside.

"Where are you going?!" I asked, and he turned to answer. However, his eyes wandered and I glanced over my shoulder. Smaug was looking at us, an evil glint in his yellow eyes.

"Keep running! Take her Bilbo!" Thorin ordered, and Bilbo hauled me into the tunnel, just as a spray of fire went licking by us, and Thorin disappeared from my sight.

"Thorin!" I screamed, quickly dragging the Halfling after me. When I stepped back out into the hallway, Thorin had fallen down a mine shaft, but had landed on the intricate pulley system, and was gliding down. I rushed over, but there was no need. Dwalin had arrived, and he and Nori hacked at the reverse lever. It broke, and I looked down. Thorin started shooting back up the shaft, right by Smaug. A hand on my shoulder made me turn, and I saw Beren standing behind me. He gave me a quick smile, before he focused on the matter at hand. Thorin was almost out, when Smaug caught the trailing rope in his mouth, and pulled, breaking the machine, and dragging it off the ledge of rock. I looked frantically around, and saw a long chain coiled up at the edge of the precipice. Diving for it, I sent it tumbling over the side, and Beren caught me around my waist to keep me from joining it. I felt his strong arm around my midsection and looked back at him. The pain from his injuries could be clearly seen in his grey eyes, but he was not saying anything. He pulled me away, just as Thorin came back up in the chain I had provided. He glared at Beren, but the elf-man just smiled at him.

"The forges are here, but their stone cold!" Dwalin said. I walked between several metal grates, and stone pillars, to see the fabled forges of the Lonely Mountain. They were huge stone tankards, with solid, cold gold in them. Beneath them, was the actual furnace. A stone wheel for churning water, was also still, and tables with odds and ends of equipment and elements were lying around.

"We don't have a fire hot enough to set them ablaze," Balin said.

"Don't we though?" Thorin asked with a smile on his face. It had been a long time since I had seen Thorin smile this many times in succession. That made me nervous. He turned around and went back to the pillars. "You've grown soft in your dotage! Slug!" he insulted, and Smaug's head appeared. He glared at us, and I saw his chest begin to glow. He was about to breath fire. "Take cover," Thorin warned us, and we all got behind a stone pillar. Beren held me tight to him, and he closed his eyes. Wrapping my arms around him, I soon felt the heat of the flames as Smaug blasted us with everything he had. A moment after he was done, the forges came to life. I saw the fire begin to burn again, and the pulleys carrying carts started to move. Smaug seemed surprised and we all began to run about. "Can you still make those flash bombs?" Thorin asked Balin.