That's Another Story For Later

Stuck

Smaug was flying over the city of Dale, breathing fire everywhere. The city was in flames, and people screamed. Smoke rose from the city. Buildings crumbled under the heat and velocity of the dragon-fire. "The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the Lord of the city, rallied his bowmen to fire upon the beast." As the city erupted in flames, a tall man in armor, who I surmised was Girion, lead a group of archers in shooting the airborne Smaug.

"But a dragon's hide is tough, tougher than the stronger armor. Only a black arrow, fired from a wind-lance, could have pierced the dragon's hide, and few of those arrows were ever made." Girion ran over to a rack holding three long, heavy, black arrows. They were each made of metal, and were at least four feet long. He grabbed one, and loaded into the wind-lance. He drew back the arrow.

He turned the wine-lance, trying to aim at the maneuvering serpent. It was difficult to see from the smoke and the speed in which the dragon travelled. Girion fired, and the arrow sped through the air. It hit Smaug in the chest, and bounced harmlessly away. "His store was running low when Girion made his last stand." The Lord grabbed another black arrow, loading it, and fire. The arrow arrow found its mark, and bounced away harmlessly."

~ ~ ~

"Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different." Thorin said gravely. His voice woke me from my trance, and I set myself down from Kili's arms, adjusting my nightshirt. I saw the relieved look on his face when I stood. It must have hurt. I braided our fingers together once again, and he leaned slightly on me.

"You speak as if you were there." Bard said, approaching Thorin.

"All dwarves know the tale." He said. I knew he was there, Balin too. I knew they didn't want to betray their travels, though Balin would eventually.

"Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon. He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast." Bain said. Dwalin started laughing sarcastically.

"That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more." Thorin strode up to Bard suddenly.

"You took our money, where are the weapons?" Bard instructed us to wait here. He disappeared down the lower part of the house.

"What happened to you?" Sigrid asked. I sighed, and looked to them. I heard the others talking.

"I have an elven power to see visions. So I saw what happened that day, and I know Girion loosened a scale. It's complicated. It happens often enough the Company doesn't react that much anymore. Yet when I wear a shirt for a dress, they get flustered." I joked, causing Tilda to laugh. I turned to the conversation at hand.

"Tomorrow begins the last days of Autumn." Thorin said.

"Durin's Day falls morn after next. We must reach the mountain before then." Balin continued. I found Kili's hand, finding comfort in it.

"And if we do not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" Kili said worriedly. Our faces set in a grim line. None of us wanted to consider the alternatives.

"Then this quest has been for nothing." Fili answered softly.

"We will find the door. We're almost there. We cannot quit now." I said determinedly. Bard's footsteps returned, setting a package on the table. We all looked at it curiously. He loosened the package and strings, to reveal hand made weapons. They weren't made that well. The rest of them look on in disgust. Thorin picked one up.

"What is this?" He said in distaste.

"Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon." I looked on with disgust as well. These looked like they wouldn't last a second against an orc attack. Kili picked on up with his free hand.