A Sacrifice To Save You

This is what it looks like

After their peaceful day of watching the sunrise days turned darker, the air felt heavier and everyone was on edge. Thorin noticed his cousin Dain was missing along with his battle ram and one of his advisers. No one knew where they had gone although they kept searching every corner in Erebor and Dale. Thorin was getting restless, it wasn't like Dain to just leave without telling him.

Walking briskly through the corridors, rushing stairs down taking turns around the corners Thorin's brain was fuming with dozens of explanations why would Dain do such a stunt. The war was upon them, they needed every capable warrior on the battlefield to defend this kingdom.

Taking a sharp turn to the left Thorin found himself on the lower levels where Balin's and Dwalin's chambers located. Approaching the dark heavy looking door, Thorin pounded his fist against it ignoring the fact he might wake half the mountain. He had questions that demanded answers.

"Balin!" Thorin bellowed, his patience wearing thin every passing minute.

His voice echoed in the corridors, bouncing off of the walls, no doubt waking the whole mountain.

After agonizing two minutes, Balin opened the door, his white hair ruffled up, his eyes half-closed as Balin tried to comprehend the hour of this forced awaking.

"Thorin....what makes you so anxious this time of hour?" Balin mumbled, yawing stepping aside when Thorin without a word stepped in looking around.

"Have you seen or heard of Dain?" Thorin asked turning to look at his friend who looked more than a little puzzled by his behavior.

"As I told you the night before, no, I haven't," Balin replied closing the door walking back to his bedchamber rubbing his face trying to push off the remanent of the sleep. A heavy sigh escaped from Thorin who slumped on the couch behind him.

"Where in the name of Durin he has run off to?" Thorin muttered into his hands while Balin changed his clothes.

"We'll find him, Thorin," Balin ensured walking back to the living area seeing Thorin leaning in his hands, his raven black hair framing his face.

"I am not so sure about that Balin. Even Myra told me she hasn't seen Dain," Thorin signed lifting his head looking worriedly at Balin who offered him a couraging smile, although the elderly dwarf knew it did little to calm Thorin's mind.

A battle horn startled them both and looking at each other Thorin and Balin froze for a moment before a mighty warning roar traveled through the mountain, shaking its foundations.

"Myra...," Thorin whispered turning his head to look out the window.

Thorin and Balin leaped into action dashing out of Balin's chambers seeing royal guards running down toward the main level where the front gate was located. Shoutings echoed throughout Erebor, panicking dwarrowdams ushering their youngs into safety in their chambers while their fathers prepared to defend their families.

"Dwalin!" Thorin called when he saw the gruff-looking warrior jogging toward them ax in his hands.

"Thorin! It's on! The battle! The enemy is here!" Dwalin yelled passing them earning grave looks from both dwarves before they followed Dwalin.

Running down the endless staircases, through maze-like corridors Thorin finally reached the balcony above the gate. The shock was evident on his face as he gazed upon the stream of enemy lines approaching downhill, the earth trembling under their feet as they marched forward.

Orcs as far as the eye could see, fell beasts landing on Ravenhill, their screeching hurting ears of the dwarves. The sky behind them was colored in blood-red, sun stretching its rays behind the horizon as if it knew it would be shed today.