Ariana: The Hobbit

Entering the Mountain

Ariana's POV

Bilbo woke me up and I got ready. We all go to the dock and I notice someone missing. "Where's Bofur?" I ask the others confused. As the  boats are loaded by the people of Lake Town.

"If he's not here, we leave him behind" Thorin states.

"We'll have to. If we're to find the door before nightfall" Balin agrees. "We can risk no more delays" he states. We all start to board the boat and Thorin stops Kili from boarding.

"Not you. We must travel at speed. You will slow us down" he states.

"What are you talking about?I'm coming with you" Kili tells him. Thinking Thorin was joking.

"Not now" Thorin tells him.

"I'm going to be there when that door is opened. When we first look upon the Halls of our Fathers, Thorin" Kili tells him.

"Kili, stay here. Rest. Join us when you're healed" Thorin tells him in a gentle tone.

"I'll stay with the lad. My duty lies with the wounded" Oin states heading over to Kili.

"Uncle. We grew up on tales of the mountain. Tales you told us. You cannot take that away
from him" Fili pleads. I forgot they were his nephews.

"Fili..." Thorin starts to say.

"I will carry him if I must" Fili states.

"One day you will be king and you will understand. I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one Dwarf. Not even my own kin" Thorin tells him. Fili gets off of the boat to go to his younger brother and Thorin grabs his arm. "Fili, don't be a fool. You belong with the company" he states.

"I belong with my brother" Fili tells him ripping his arm away from Thorin's grip. He goes over to Kili and Oin. The others get into the boat as the band starts to play. The Master of Lake Town stands on a platform to see us off.

"Go now with our goodwill and good wishes. And may your return bring good fortune, to all" he states as we set off. Some of the dwarves say goodbye to the crowd.

"I have a bad feeling Bilbo" I mutter.

"I'm sure everything will be fine" he assures me.

"Promise me you won't leave my side Bilbo. Not until we know that dragon is dead" I tell him.

"Ariana..." he starts to say.

"Promise me" I say looking into his eyes pleadingly.

"Ok, I promise" he says. I smile wrapping an arm around his shoulder. Waving goodbye to the folks of Lake Town. When we reach the other side of the lake we start to hike up the mountain.

Hours pass and we reach the overlook of the Dale city ruins. "What is this place?" I ask.

"It was once the city of Dale. Now it is a ruin. The desolation of Smaug" Balin explains. As Thorin looks up at the sun.

"The sun will soon reach midday. We must find the hidden door into the mountain before it sets. This way" Thorin states setting off.

"Wait. Is this the overlook?" Bilbo asks.

"He's right, Gandalf said to meet him here and not to enter the mountain without him" I remind Thorin.

"Do you see him?" Thorin asks us. "We have no time to wait upon the Wizard. We're on our own. Come" he says and continues on. I share a look with Bilbo and we follow the company to search for the hidden entrance. "Anything?" he asks when we reach the location.

"Nothing" Dwalin answers.

"If the map is true, the hidden door lies directly above us" Balin states.

"Up here!" Bilbo shouts. I head over to him with Thorin and look up. To see a hidden staircase built into the mountain side.

"You have keen eyes, Mr. Baggins" Thorin praises. We climb the stair case. We soon reach the top. "This must be it, the door way" he states heading over to the wall. "Let all those who doubted us rue this day" he says holding up the key and the dwarves cheer.

"Right, then. We have a key" Dwalin states. "Which means somewhere, there is a key hole" he states as they all start to exam the wall.

"The last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the key-hole" Thorin says looking at the setting sun.

"But which light?" I ask and they all look at me. "Sun light or moon light? It didn't specify" I state. "What if it meant moon light? We needed moonlight to read the map" I remind them.

"She's right, guess we can only wait and see which light the riddle means" Balin states. The others nod and we exam the wall. No key hole appears as the sun sets. The dwarves start to lose hope.

"Have faith, I'm sure it's the moon" I assure them.

"Look" Bilbo says pointing to the sky. We look up to see the moon appear from behind a cloud and it shines down on us. We look back at the wall. We see a key hole.

"Thorin" I say and he approaches it with the key. He inserts it and turns it clock wise. We hear a click and the door opens.

"Erebor" Thorin says, his voice full of emotion. As he enters the mountain followed by Balin. Bilbo and I let the dwarves enter first. Before following them.

"Herein lies the Seventh Kingdom of Durin's Folk. May the Heart of the Mountain unite all Dwarves in defense of this home" Gloin reads looking up. Bilbo and I look at the engraving he was reading from.

"The throne of the king" Balin tells us.

"And what's that above it?" Bilbo asks curious.

"The Arkenstone" he answers.

"Arkenstone, what's that?" Bilbo asks.

"That, Master Burglar is why you are here" Thorin states. Balin leads Bilbo away and I follow them. Balin explaining to Bilbo his task.

"You want me to find a jewel?" Bilbo asks him.

"A large, white jewel. Yes" Balin tells him.

"That's it? Only, I imaginethere's quite a few down there" Bilbo states.

"There is only one Arkenstone and you'll know it when you see it" Balin assures him.

"I'm going with you Bilbo, two pairs of eyes are better then one" I state.

"But lass, the dragon will smell you" Balin states.

"I was raised by hobbit Balin, I no doubt smell like one. I'll be fine and I am not letting Bilbo go down there alone" I tell him.

"Very well" he relents. "I do not know what you will find down there. You needn't go if you don't want to. There's no dishonor in turning back" he tells us.

"No, Balin. I promised I would do this. And I think I must try" Bilbo tells him. "Besides Ariana will be with me" he adds and I smile at him. Resting my hand on the hilt of my sword.

"It never ceases to amaze me" Balin says with a chuckle.

"What's that?" we ask him curious.

"The courage of Hobbits and women" Balin states. We smile at him. "Go now, with as much luck as you both can muster" he tells us. We nod and start to descend the stairs. "Oh Ariana, Bilbo!" he calls. We stop and look up at him. "If there is, in fact a live dragon down there don't waken it" he tells us.

Bilbo's eyes widen, while I roll mine. Like we'd be stupid enough to wake a dragon. We continue on as Balin returned to the others.

A/N

Pictures above of Bofur, Fili, Kili and Oin. Picture on the external link of the hidden side door.

Future Chapters:

Smaug

Broken Promise

Elf Army

Battle of the Five Armies

Azog and Bolg Deaths

Epilouge: Return Home