Walking In Starlight

27

In the mountain, Thorin had decided to save Bilbo, charging with his sword out through the tunnels, and stops as flames light up the walls of the tunnel. He runs out onto the same overhang Bilbo had earlier reached, then stops abruptly when he sees the mountain of treasure all around him, his breathing heavily. Just then, Bilbo runs up to him,

"You’re alive!" Thorin said

"Not for much longer!" Bilbo countered

"Did you find the Arkenstone?" He asked

"The dragon’s coming!" Bilbo exclaimed

"The Arkenstone!" Thorin shouted

They are both standing at the entrance to the tunnel, but Thorin is blocking Bilbo’s way, pausing and looking at each other for several seconds,

"Did you find it?" Thorin asked more quietly

They stare at each other for several seconds, panting heavily,

"No" Bilbo answered "we have to get out"

Bilbo tries to enter the tunnel, but Thorin swings his sword across it, blocking the entrance, pressing the blade against Bilbo, who stumbles back, the sword still touching him. Bilbo and Thorin face each other, with the tip of Thorin’s sword against Bilbo’s chest,

"Thorin" Bilbo said "Thorin!"

Thorin steps forward, forcing Bilbo to step back, his eyes are open in fear, and Thorin’s face is steel and blank of emotion, but suddenly, Bilbo looks off to the side, and Thorin hears a sound in that direction. He turns and sees Smaug approaching over the mountain of treasure, and Smaug, recognizing Thorin, snarls, the remaining dwarves run out of the tunnel and face Smaug, their weapons out. Smaug roars and rushes at them, his chest and neck glow orange,

"You will burn!" Smaug roared

Just as Smaug bellows fire at them, the dwarves and Bilbo turn and jump off the staircase, tumbling down the pile of treasure and land near the entrance to another tunnel, which they run into

"Come on, Bilbo!" Dori shouted

Angrily, Smaug breathes fire in all directions. Thorin, the last one in the door, is pushed in by the force of the flames, running into the room at the other end of the tunnel with the back of his coat on fire, and he throws himself on the ground and rolls to extinguish the flames, then jumps back up,

"Come on" Thorin said

With Smaug roaring in the background, they run.

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At Bard’s house, Tauriel washes and tears apart the Kingsfoil in a tub of water held by Tilda. Merius picks up a barely breathing Ryneela and gently lays her on the table,

"Hold her down" Tauriel ordered

Kill and Fili instantly hold her arms down against the table, her hands tightly clenched into fists as Tauriel approaches with the bowl of water and examines Ryneela's wound. Seeing how black and festered it is, she looks away in worry. As the others look on, Tauriel closes her eyes and begins chanting in Elvish while she kneads the soaked Kingsfoil in her hand, then presses it to Ryneela's wound,

"Menno o nin na hon i eliad annen annin, hon leitho o ngurth" Tauriel said
May the blessing that was given to me be sent from me to her, may she be released from death

Ryneela screams and thrashes in pain, and Sigrid jumps in to help hold her down, Bane and Merius grasp her arms to hold them down, the other seven brothers looking at one another, nodding slightly. Shokar, Damon, Melekai, Yelekai, Zikras Stazar and Achrigan join hands circling the table, they let their power consume them, their hands glowing with their own color as they closed their eyes, Bane and Merius closing their eyes as another scream emitting from Ryneela,