The Ranger ➵ Kili Durin

PART 2 : CHAPTER 12

The boat pushed idly through the glassy water, cutting through a thin layer of ice that sat on the top. The mountain's peak disappeared into a blanket of clouds in the sky, the base of the mountain casting a shadow upon the town and lake below it. Elvira's heart couldn't help but ache at the thought of leaving Kili and Fili behind, and she had to focus all of her energy into telling herself not to die so that she could see them again.

She had watched them stand on the dock as they floated away, watched as Bofur came running up to the dock too late; at least they were in good hands.

What she hadn't seen, however, was Kili's drooping eyes, his grimace of pain as he gripped his thigh before he lost all consciousness. If it had not been for Oin, Bofur, and Fili, Kili was certain that he would have died right there.

The dwarves left behind were in a panic. Not sure where to go or what to do, Oin and Bofur bickered for a moment about going back to Bard's. Knowing how well Elvira had been taken care of the night previous, it became quickly obvious as to what they needed to do.

Throwing Kili's arms around their necks, Oin and Fili dragged a half conscious Kili with them up the stairs to Bard's house. Bofur knocked frantically, hoping that they would answer. The door opened quickly, and an angry Bard stood by the door.

"No," he said before Bofur could speak, "I'm done with dwarves. Go away." At that, he tried to shut the door again, but Bofur, thinking of nothing else to do, stuck his boot in the door to prevent it from shutting.

"Please," he begged, "No one will help us. Kili is sick," he said, looking back at Kili for a moment to see him pale and weak. "He's very sick." Finally, Bard nodded hesitantly and opened the door for them to come inside.

The boat scraped against the shore before lodging itself into the land, and Thorin jumped out to secure them there as the rest of what was left of the company hopped out of the boat, grabbing their weapons and the other provisions that were given to them. Elvira's stomach burned with every move she made, but she made no outward mention of her pain; she didn't have the ones that usually stuck up for her with her now, and the last thing she could do was show Thorin an ounce of weakness.

They began hiking across the foothills of the mountain. It loomed over them, it's dark presence emanating over the silent lands below. As they began to get higher, Thorin ran ahead and stopped above a hill overlooking a valley. The rest came to join him. Below, the ruins of what was once a great city sat, an almost haunting figure.

"What is this place?" Bilbo asked.

"It was once the city of Dale," Balin answered. "Now, it is a ruin. The desolation of Smaug," he said solemnly. Elvira took in as deep a breath as she could muster with the pain, knowing that the desolation of Smaug was not yet over.

"The sun will soon reach midday," Thorin stated, breaking the haunted silence. "Let's find the hidden door into the mountain before it sets. This way!" He began to lead on once again.

"Wait, isn't this the overlook?" Elvira asked quietly, not sure if anyone would hear her.

"Yeah, Gandalf said to meet him here. On no account were we to-" Bilbo added, but was cut off.

"Do you see him?" Thorin asked gruffly. "We cannot wait for the wizard. We're on our own." He began to walk away again, and when he called, the dwarves followed. Bilbo and Elvira took one last look at the ruined city of Dale, and then looked at one another, and with uncertainty in their eyes, they began to follow as well.

When they made it to the side of the mountain, it was evident that they needed to find a pathway to get them to the top, where the entrance would be located. The dwarves scoured for something that looked like it would take them up there, but to no avail. Elvira, in pain, stood with her hand on her stomach, holding the bandages that were most likely being seeped through with blood from the long walk she had just endured, taking deep breaths. She stared down at Laketown; the little shimmering dots on the lake were so far away, and Kili was down there. She said a quick prayer, hoping that they would see each other again soon. Having just made up earlier that morning, she was eager to see him again.

"Up here!" she heard Bilbo shout across hills.

"You have keen eyes, Master Baggins," Thorin smiled, breathless.

They were treacherous stairs, climbing up the body of a great statue all the way to the top. Elvira, usually so nimble and quick, found herself growing tired not halfway up. She cursed herself, claiming that she needed to stop injuring herself so much.

When they finally made it up, Thorin ran to the clearing, towards a great wall of stone.

"This must be it," he muttered. "The hidden door." He lifted the key in the air, turned to the rest of the group, and cheered, "Let all who doubted us, rue this day!" The rest of the group cheered, and Elvira smiled.

Dwalin and Nori began to push and tap on the wall, looking for anything that would result in the secret opening. The sunlight began to grow dim, the last light of Durin's day starting to fade beyond the horizon. The dwarves were beginning to grow anxious, and Dwalin began pounding on the rock, hoping for the tiniest movement.

"Break it down!" Thorin ordered, desperate now. How could they come all this way, and not find it? They all go towards the rocks and begin to hit them desperately with the hilts of their weapons, as the sun finally sets and the valley is covered in night.

"No!" Thorin yelled. He pulled out the map, crazed, as he desperately searched for anything that they might have overlooked. "The last light of Durin's day will shine upon the keyhole, that's all it says!" He opened his arms in disbelief. The rest of the group muttered in disappointment and anger; they had failed. They had nearly risked the lives of every single one of them, only to come so far and be turned away. Disappointment hung in the air like a foul stench. Even Elvira couldn't help but feel so brokenhearted. Had every stab wound, scrape, scratch, and tear been for nothing?

The dwarves began to slink away, back down the stairs they had climbed up.

"What did we miss?" Thorin said tearfully and earnestly. Balin shook his head. "What did we miss?" he asked again, looking to Elvira now. She met his eyes, saw that what replaced his usual fire was now the cold hearted tears of defeat. As if she could answer him, could somehow fix everything, he looked to her as his last hope.

"We've lost the light," she whispered hoarsely, shrugging. Her voice cracked as she held back her own sadness, anger, and disappointment.

"Come away," Balin said mournfully. "There's no more to be done. We had one chance."

Bilbo, overcome with a hopeless feeling, called to try and get them to stay. "You can't give up now!" he said.

Thorin closed his eyes, bowed his head, and let the key to his home, the only thing standing in the way of him and his birthright, slip through his fingers and clatter to the ground.

guys i haven't updated in over a year

did you forget about me?

I hope you didn't.

Enjoy this chapter, I'm gonna try and write more stay tuned :) 

love always, 

em