Sally and the Line of Durin

Chapter 8

Sally and Bilbo watched as the dwarfs prepared their armour. The noise of the clanging of metal on metal was cacophonous. Thorin stood proudly and beckoned them to him. He held in his hand what looked to Bilbo like common chain mail. Thorin held it out to Sally and said, "You are going to need this."

Sally took it and, enthralled, said, "Mithril. Silver steel..."

"Yes, Sally. That is what it is called. No blade can pierce it."

She looked up to Thorin and saw in his eyes only coldness and bloodlust. She handed the Mithril back to Thorin, "No, I do not need it. Please, Bilbo will need it more than I."

Thorin handed it to Bilbo saying, "Put it on. It was made by my forebearers, it will protect you. "

Sally joined the other dwarfs, picking out armour and sharpening weapons.

Bilbo said to Thorin, "I look absurd. I am not a warrior, I'm a hobbit."

"It is a gift." Thorin raised his brows, "A token of our friendship." He glanced at the dwarfs, "True friends are hard to come by."

He took a hold of Bilbo's shoulder and led him away, "I have been blind; now I am beginning to see." They stopped and Thorin turned Bilbo toward him, still holding his shoulder, "I am betrayed!"

Bilbo gulped, "Is that right?"

"The Arkenstone," Thorin hissed. He leaned in close, "One of them has taken it. One of them is false."

"Thorin, the quest is fulfilled. You have won the mountain; is that not enough?"

"Betrayed by my own kin..."

Bilbo continued, "You...you make a promise to the people of Laketown. Is this...is this truly worth more than your honour? Our honour Thorin, I was there; I too gave my word."

Thorin smiled, "And for that I am truly grateful; it was nobly done." The smile disappeared from his face, "But the treasure in this mountain does not belong to the people of Laketown. This gold..." For a moment Thorin looked tortured, then the hard coldness returned to his eyes, "is ours and ours alone." He stepped back from Bilbo, across the corridor, "By my life, I will not part with a single coin; not one piece of it!"

The dwarfs filed past them, Sally bringing up the rear with a longbow and multiple quivers of arrows. Bilbo reached out for her before she went past. Thorin fell in line with the other dwarfs.

"Sally, you cannot do this!"

"Bilbo, I know it must be hard for you to understand; but these are my people."

"I am your people!" Bilbo tried to get purchase on Sally's armour.

"Bilbo...you will forever be my darling nephew but Thorin is my One. I have to do whatever I can to cure him. I have to stay close!"

"Sally, I have to tell you something-"

"I know you have it, Bilbo. Get it to Dale! Barter it as your share, but for Mahal's sake! Get it out of here!"

Bilbo looked at her, tears starting to form in his eyes. "I don't want to go without you."

Sally smiled, "Bofur has watch tonight. He will make sure you get over the wall safely."

She turned away from him and jogged off to catch up with the dwarfs.

***

In the morning thousands of Elves were positioned outside the gates of Erebor. The dwarfs lined the ramparts as Thranduil and Bard made their way through the soldiers.