Unexpected

Chapter 21: Dragon Sickness

Kili, Fili, Bofur, and Oin had returned from what remained of Laketown. Kili entered Erebor even more ill than Eili remembered. The poison from the arrow was still spreading throughout his body. Eili worked day after countless day, but alas, it was not enough.

"Kili, please... please don't leave me again...." She begged.

Eili's eyes shot opened and she sat up in her bed. She was breathing heavily and her heart was beating rapidly.  Sweat fell from the dwarf's forehead and Eili's clothes clung to her body. The dwarf princess wiped her face with the sleeve of her shirt and then removed her coat. Eili was so tired that she had forgotten to change out of her clothes. She turned to the edge of the bed and swung her legs over it. The dwarf stood and slowly moved towards the door.

Eili exited the room and trudged down the corridor. She walked aimlessly through the halls of Erebor, studying the words and images that had been carved into the stone walls. The dwarf princess was removed from her reverie when she heard a peculiar noise. It had come from the hall full of gold, where Smaug once dwelt. It sounded as if someone was moving treasure about.

She cautiously approached the hall. Eili glided across the floor and hid behind a pillar, hoping not to be spotted. She furtively peeked from behind the pillar and spotted Thorin.

He was nearing one end of the hall. The dwarf king stomped through the coins and violently threw jewels and chalices behind him.

"I know it's here..." He spoke, his voice deeper than usual. "I will find it..."

Eili studied his face. The bags under his eyes were very prominent and his face seemed hollow.

Suddenly, Thorin stopped moving.
His head whipped around and looked directly towards where Eili stood. Thankfully, the young dwarf had envisioned this moment and hid behind the pillar. She could hear coins shifting underneath her uncle's feet as he moved closer to where she hid. Eili held her breath as the dwarf king drew nearer. Thorin muttered to himself in a low voice. "I will not rest until it is found."

After hearing this, Eili's suspicions had been confirmed. Thorin hadn't gone to bed at all. He had instead been searching for the Arkenstone all night.

When the coast was clear, the young dwarf made her way back to her room. Eili sat on her bed and put her head in her hands. She did not get much rest after that.

•••

When Eili left her room that morning, she was met with Balin, Dwalin, and Bilbo. The dwarf princess joined the group, who perched at an area that overlooked the treasure room. Thorin was still rummaging through the gold.

"He didn't go to bed last night." Eili  stated.

Balin sighed. "I think we all know what is upon us."

Bilbo shot Eili a confused look. She wore the same expression as the night before, when she told the hobbit she would explain later. He stayed silent.

The group walked down some stairs to meet the dwarf king.

"Good morning, Thorin." Dwalin said.

He was not given a response.

"W- We were about to eat. Would you like to join us?" Eili asked timidly.