S T A R L I G H T

C H A P T E R 27

C H A P T E R 27 : D U T Y

~𝕀𝕗 𝕨𝕖 𝕘𝕠 𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟, 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕨𝕖 𝕘𝕠 𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕥𝕠𝕘𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣~

~𝕎𝕖'𝕝𝕝 𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕒𝕨𝕒𝕪 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘~

~𝕃𝕖𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞 𝕨𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣~

"You are sending him to that dragon alone?" Simbelmynë yelled, though her voice was only a whisper. This place was after all a dragon stronghold, although she was sure it would be more than interesting to see the beast awaken.

"He is a burglar, my lady, it is what he was contracted to do." Dwalin explained, kinder than he usually spoke.

"I expected there to be at least a plan," the elven woman replied, leaning against the wall of the small entrance, still towering a foot over majority of the company.

"That was the plan," Thorin replied unbothered.

"Interesting, isn't it? My plans seem to work out, whereas yours have led us into more trouble,"

"Remind me how you ended up in the elven kings company for weeks?" he reminisced with fake wonder, looking up with a knowing grin. If he only knew what truly occurred those few weeks... It was enough to make an elleth blush.

"No, but I'll remind you whose plan worked to get us all out and who's acquaintance helped us into Laketown," she snapped back, a smirk painting her amused face before quickly softening at the thought of her hobbit accomplice, "I do not think Mr Baggins should be going to the dragons lair alone."

Thorins brow arched, "did you wish to join him?"

"I do not fear dragons," the elleth replied confidently.

"Trying to find something you fear has never been the objective of our mission, my lady," Dori chimed in with a small chuckle, his mouth turned up into a grin.

"I might as well prove it," she shrugged, glancing towards him, her ego on full display.

"I refute it. The hobbit is small, nimble.. You would only wake the dragon, Lady Simbelmynë," Thorin explained, practically forbidding his tall accomplice from thinking of risking her life. After what he had seen her do, he knew pretty well not to let her even attempt or prove it. She didn't have to- he believed her.

Mynë hummed in contemplation, "I appreciate your concern for me Thorin."

"What are friends for?"

"Perhaps we may need to move that concern from myself to Bilbo then,"

"Mynë." Thorin scowled, tone changing from playful to serious within an instant. As much as he enjoyed the elfs company, she was impetuous, daring, bold and a little too fearless. Her fearlessness could at time drive him to the edge.

"How will you feel if he does not return?" She played on his good conscious, narrowing her eyes down at him.

Balin stepped forward, beginning to pace at the entrance. "Have faith in Bilbo," he advised in his knowing, wise tone.

Simbelmynë felt her frustration grow, thinking of how idiotic all of this had become. "Actually what even is the plan to get rid of Smaug? Biblo was sent to retrieve the Arkenstone and tell us if the dragon is there, but what is the plan to defeat it?" she wondered aloud, looking to every member of the company for answers, "none of you? Really?"