~PART TWO: DESOLATION OF SMAUG~

(Elena)

I can see caverns made of emerald green. The once vibrant and bustling home of the Dwarves of Erebor is now covered in dust and furnaces as cold as the winter creeping over the mountain. I can't feel my body nor can I see it. It's as if I'm gently gliding through the caverns like a feather in the wind. Deeper and deeper into the chambers I wander aimlessly. It's getting darker. I don't want to go further. Something bad is down here. Something evil. I don't want to go but I have no choice. Thorin, please don't let me go down here! Can he hear me? Is he here? No, I'm alone. I can see the mountains of gold in the lowest of chambers. It's moving. Is it breathing? Somethings coming up from beneath it! I'm not alone at all. He's here. The dragon!

I gasp awakening from my restless sleep. The nightmare had been so vivid I thought I was really in the caverns of Erebor. I've never even seen them; how can I dream them up? Relaxing a little on my folded-out cot I roll over on my back staring up at the night sky. Above me the stars still shine but the light pink and orange hues begin to spread against the dark blue canvas.

Sitting up I look around at the still sleeping company of Dwarves. Even Bilbo drools a little as he sleeps on. Looking around I don't see anyone else awake until I look to my right and see Thorin looking up at me. I jump a little before huffing "You scared me."

"I scared you?" he whispers back "It seems like your dreams frightened you quite enough."

I furrow my brows and look seeing how close Thorin actually is to me. Before I went to sleep, he had laid quite a few feet from me but now he's practically in arms reach.

I force a smile trying not to ask the obvious "Yeah, it was a pretty rough night."

He nods before sitting up himself giving me only side glances "I heard you muttering in your sleep. You kept saying 'He's there. He's there' over and over. Who were you seeing?"

Nervously I swallow the tightness in my throat "Smaug. I dreamed I was in Erebor. Despite my mind screaming for me to flee it was as if I were flying through the caverns going deeper and deeper. It's like I knew he was down there, but I couldn't stop. I found myself in the deepest and darkest chamber. That's when I saw his burning yellow eye staring at me. Just before he could get me, I woke up."

Thorin seems a little disturbed now. Almost as perplexed as me. He nods looking down "I am sorry."

I smirk "It's not you're doing."

"Nor yours." He adds "I wish you hadn't been forced to go there. To be here in all of this...mess."

Blushing a little I rest a hand on Thorin's shoulder "Hey, it's okay. I guess fate just had other plans."

He smiles at me gripping my hand. My heart flutters a bit as I blush deeply feeling his hand holding to mine. Before I can dream of any possible romantic reason, he's looking at me and holding my hand in such a way he lets go. I pull back sheepishly as Thorin stands to his feet "I-I suppose I better start waking the others."

I nod "Okay." And he walks off.

"What are you doing?" I think to myself. How can I be falling for him? There is no chance of us being together. Even if Thorin could harbor affection for me he's from this world and I'm from another. I'll go home and we will never see each other again.

Sighing I run a hand through my hair and begin to motivate myself to get up. Just as I turn, I lock eyes with Bilbo who is wide awake. I see a curious smirk on his lips as he eyes me suspiciously.

"Good morning." I say warily.

He smiles even wider "Good morning."

"What is it?" I ask but the Hobbit waves me off.

"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."

(Bilbo's POV)

Hunkered down against the mountainside rock I look out beyond the few. Just several leagues off is the Orc pack trailing up. The Wargs have their noises to the doors and the Orcs eyes to the scenery around them. The slightest movement puts them in the frenzy and on edge ready to strike at the right time. If we do not pick up the pace and figure something out, we will be on the end of their swords soon. The thought twists my guts and I slink back to return to the group. Just as I go to leave a deep rumbling growl halts any further movement. Peering to my left I see an abnormally large sinister-looking bear. His piercing golden eyes stare out across the mountain range watching the Orcs. The mere sight of them infuriates the beast as he lets out a deafening roar.

In the midst of his rage, I take my chance and scurry away. Racing faster and faster I finally make it to the clearing where the others sit and wait. As I arrive, I see Thorin sitting next to Elena watching her as she stares to the ground lost in thought. If it weren't for the petrifying bear only several yards away, I'd be tempted to take a moment and let out an "Awww" in his admiration of her, but lives are on the line here.

"We have a problem." I mutter breathlessly.

The Company jumps to their feet and Gandalf whirls around setting his widened eyes on me "What happened? Did they see you?! They saw you."

I shake my head "No-no. Their several leagues back. They haven't found our trail, but they will."

Gandalf chuckles to the Company "Ha-ha! What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse."

The others nod and begin to overlap in conversation drowning me out. Despite my best efforts their voices turn into a dull roar and I begin to boil over like a tea kettle on the stove.

"Listen! Will. You. Just. Listen...." I snap silencing them as I point out "I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there!"

Gandalf speaks deathly quiet "What form did it take? Like a bear?"

"Y-." I pause furrowing my brow "Y-yes, a bear. A very-very large bear."

Bofur looks frightened up at Gandalf "You knew of this beast?"

Grumbling Gandalf steps to the side as the Dwarves huddle.

"I say we turn back and go around." Gloin suggests.

Dwalin scoffs "And be run down by the pack of Orcs sure as death."

"We can't stay here though." Elena points out "It's either the Orcs or the bear. I don't see any chance at all against the Orcs. Let's sneak through the woods and hope the bear doesn't catch on were here."

Fili shrugs "And what if he does?"

Kili chuckles "Run fer it."

"There is a house." Gandalf interrupts returning to the group "It's not but a few leagues from here. We can make for it by nightfall."

Thorin sighs "Whose house? Are they friend or foe?"

"Neither." The wizard replies, "He will either help us or try to kill us."

"What other choice do we have?" Thorin asks looking back at Elena.

Another thunderous roar from the bear echoes out seeming not too far away. The entire Company flinches and Thorin leans in close to Elena. As the roar falls silent Gandalf stares at the Dwarf blankly.

"None."