Aelith was starting to understand exactly how underappreciated Bilbo was. If it hadn’t been for that stubborn little hobbit, the dwarves would have given up and left, never to realize that the door had opened after all.
Now they had finally finished setting up a makeshift sort of camp just inside the doorway and Bilbo was helping Balin pull out some cold rations to tide them over for the night. Everyone was exhausted from the trek up the mountain from the lake shore, and most were sitting about, half asleep by now.
Aelith noticed suddenly that Avice was sitting right next to the cracked doorway and fidgeting slightly. She walked over to her friend softly, crouching down to join her on the dusty floor.
“What’s wrong?” asked Aelith and Avice glanced at her friend nervously.
“I don’t like being underground…”
“Really?”
“It brings back bad memories.” Avice offered no further explanation, and Aelith didn’t press for more.
“You know,” said Aelith changing the topic, “you don’t have to wear the mask anymore.” Avice looked at her in surprise.
“Of course I do.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m well aware of what I look like. It’s unnerving…”
Aelith sighed sadly,
“You know none of the girls would judge you and if the dwarves do, which I highly doubt they will, they’re not worth your time.”
“I know…”
Satisfied she’d made her point and deciding what Avice really needed was time to think, Aelith moved back towards Bilbo and Balin to help hand out food to the sleepy dwarves.
* * *
Later that evening, Nora and Aelith both noted how Thorin temporarily left his seat with Balin to slip over to the opening of the cave with a plate of food.
He wasn’t gone long, but several minutes after his return, Avie rejoined the rest of them.
She wasn’t wearing her mask this time.
Just as Aelith had predicted, none of the company seemed to even notice and both of her friends saw Avice’s tense shoulders slowly relax as seconds became minutes and minutes became hours and nobody said anything.
* * *
Legolas was slightly irritated. He’d come all this way, for what? To be informed that neither elf had any intention of going anywhere and that his company was unwelcome.
“Unwelcome?” he repeated in disbelief as he faced Nienna’s smug face. Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed Silvia slipping out of the room, but he couldn’t care less at this point.
Had he been concerned about Silvia? Yes, but she was his friend and he knew she could take care of herself. The real reason for his rebellious journey was standing right in front of him and ruthlessly telling him to beat it.
“You held us prisoner and you expected a welcome?” retorted Nienna sarcastically. Legolas looked at her,
“I didn’t hold you prisoner, my father did.”
“Same difference.”
“Not really!”
“Yes really!”
“Guys,” came Runa’s dry voice from her bed in the corner. “I’m trying to pretend to sleep to give you two some privacy, try and keep it down.”
Neither responded to her.
“I came all this way to make sure you were safe and this is the thanks I get?” demanded Legolas quieter now. Nienna scoffed.
“You came to drag us back as prisoners.”
“No I didn’t!”
“Then you came for Silvia, whatever.”
“I’m not here for Silvia!” exclaimed Legoals.
“Just kiss and makeup would you?” asked Runa politely from where she was still pretending to nap on her bed.
“Then why are you here?” asked Nienna softly, a challenge in her eyes. Legolas didn’t think about his response, it just sort of happened.
“I’m here for you!”
Both froze. Even Runa stopped breathing as an agonizingly silence fell over the room. After a moment, Legolas went on,
“I know it’s stupid, but we’ve been betrothed for fifty years and never seen each other. I’ve always wondered about you. Now you’re here and you’re nothing like I ever imagined.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was told I was to marry an elven princess who had been cared for all her life. I assumed she’d be delicate and docile and then you showed up, all fiery independence. I was… am curious about you.”
“So you stalked me all the way from your precious Mirkwood…”
“No, I came because I knew that even though I didn’t know you, because I’m your intended, I owe you my allegiance and my protection. And yes,” he hurried on as he saw her open her mouth to protest, “I know you don’t need me to take care of you. But I owe it to you to at least fight by your side.”
Silence fell again as Nienna took in his words, searching for an lie, any falsehood or greedy motive.
Runa, no longer laying down, began applauding.
“That was beautiful. Nienna, you’re marrying him whether or not you like it! Legolas, you have my blessing. Feel free to kidnap her if you need to.”
Both turned to stare at her in irritation.
“Right, sorry. Dont’ mind me,” she said, trying not to grin. “Just pretend I’m in a coma.” Nienna rolled her eyes but turned back to Legolas.
“How can I trust you?”
“I did just disobey my father to follow you here…” Legolas pointed out.
“Fair enough.” Neinna agreed.
Just then, Silvia poked her head in.
“Is it safe?” she asked Runa and Runa nodded.
“Yeah, they worked it out. Can you tell Bard that we have another elf who’ll be staying here?” Silvia nodded delightedly before exiting again to go find Bard.
* * *
Bilbo had been gone for hours and Aelith would be lying if she said she wasn’t worried. She was very worried.
After all, they’d just sent him into the dragon’s lair. Literally.
Moments later, footsteps could be heard pattering along the corridor and a slightly singed Bilbo dashed into view, running as fast as he could.
“What happened?” demanded Thorin as the hobbit collapsed in exhaustion.
Aelith handed Bilbo a glass of water and the hobbit smiled gratefully at her, drinking the whole glass before he attempted to answer Thorin’s question.
“Well there’s good news and there’s bad news.”
“What’s the good news?”
“There’s a lot of gold.”
The dwarves all looked at each other excitedly as Bilbo produced some trinkets he’d snagged on his trip. The company crowded around the small pile of treasure, handing out small jewels and gold pieces.
Bilbo shyly handed Aelith a gold chain with a small crystal pendant.
She looked at him in surprise, then, after Thorin nodded, okaying the gift, took it with a smile and draped it around her neck.
“Bilbo… what’s the bad news?” asked Balin. The dwarves ceased their happy chatter and looked at the hobbit, who swallowed slightly.
“Well… it’s about the dragon…”
“What happened?” demanded Thorin.
“Um, it’s kind of… awake…”
“Kind of?”
“Fine. It’s most definitely awake.”
“And?”
“And I think it might be trying to find us…”
Just then, a fearsome roar echoed around them and the dwarves, girls and hobbit all froze. The the sound was fearsome, the truly terrifying issue was that it wasn’t echoing to them from where Bilbo had come from.
It was coming in from outside the open door.
* * *
Later that night, the company watched Lake Town burn.
They’d closed the door almost all the way, and only opened it on Aelith’s insistence when they heard the dragon’s cries echoing into the distance.
Peeking out and finding the dragon gone, there’s had been a sense of relief. It hadn’t lasted long.
Soon after, they saw the flames light up the night sky.
The dwarves watched in horror, but the girls were emotionless, never flinching as they saw the city burn and heard the far off sound of the dragon’s triumphant shouts mingling with human screams.
“I am fire! I am… death!”