By the time the company had met at the foot of the mountain and Edhael had explained the predicament of Glorfindel's group, the sun had set and the mountain loomed dark over them, blocking out the eerie light of a full moon. Gerithor had sent Halbarad with several watchmen to keep an eye out along the path, and so far there had been no sign of either dragon nor orc.

"How long do you think they'll be held up in Mithlond?" Gerithor asked, leaning forward and warming his cold hands at the crackling fire.

"I couldn't say," Edhael replied. "I left before they reached the city, so I do not know how strong the enemy there is. All I know is that the messenger that rode from there was frightened."

Gloin frowned. "Ach, then we shouldn't expect any help from there. Sauron's made his move, and he's made it well."

"Aye, he's preventing his enemies from uniting in defense against him," Gerithor agreed. "He has the advantage in numbers. He's smart to keep us divided."

Gloin let out an annoyed snort as he stood and began to pace. "Well he's met us at every turn so far. How can he manage so many fronts so well??"

This time Edhael replied. "I do not know. There are other players at work here, ones that have not yet revealed themselves. We must be wary."

At that moment one of the watchmen called out in the distance. "Dwarves coming down the mountain path! Several dozen of them!"

"My kin!" Gloin cried, taking off at a jog up the path. Gerithor and Edhael followed, the ranger picking up his sword first.

When they arrived they saw a column of heavily armored dwarves standing in the path, their armor glinting in the slight moonlight that crept around the mountain. They were armed for battle and it seemed that their leader had gotten into an argument with the ranger who stopped them.

"Move outta the way or we shall move ye!" The leader of the dwarves replied, his expression hidden by a steel helmet.

"We have men surrounding you," Halbarad, who had recalled his men to lend support to the ranger on watch, replied. The dwarf remained silent, his head swiveling to look around him. Tension was thick in the air, and the dwarves stood with their shields in front of them protectively.

"Arrows can't pierce dwarf-forged steel, brigand! Remove yourselves from our mountain!"

He shouted something in dwarvish, and his soldiers began to inch forward with shields held outward.

"Ready arrows!" Halbarad shouted. A fight was inevitable, that much was clear. Fortunately, Gerithor and Gloin arrived just in time.

"Hold!" Gerithor cried, raising a hand up at the rangers. Gloin yelled something loudly in dwarvish, causing the dwarves to lower their weapons as well. Upon seeing them, the leader of the dwarves pulled his helmet off and stepped forward.

"Gerithor?" He asked. As soon as he stepped into the light Gerithor recognized him.

"Kalan!" He cried joyfully, running to embrace his friend. They hadn't seen each other in many years, ever since they had parted after the defeat of the Black Numenorean Arnakhor. 

"Ye've grown a wee bit since last we met!" The dwarf replied, wearing a large grin. Gerithor knew that he looked much different now. The years had been cruel to the ranger, from the scar he bore to the world weary look to his eyes. 

"You've aged a bit yourself!" Gerithor said, noting the sprinkling of grey in Kalan's beard.

"Well, it's been nearly twenty years, what do ye expect?" He retorted. "Tell me, what brings ye to the mountain? I almost killed yer men up there!" He pointed up at Halbarad and laughed.

"That's Halbarad!" Gerithor replied. "Don't you remember him?"

"Aye, I do! I couldn't see him well in the dark there!" He waved at the older ranger. "How're ye doin' lad?" Without waiting for a reply, he turned back to Gerithor. "But that still doesn't explain why you're here."

Gerithor's smile disappeared and he grew serious once more. "The dragon. We heard news of it and mustered what strength we could to fight him."

Kalan frowned. "Aye... He's still in our halls. We managed to evacuate the women and children to the tunnels below, but we're running low on supplies. The dragon's blocking the way to the larder. We haven't been able to leave the mountain until now either... It's rather odd that he wasn't watching the path tonight."

At the mention of a dragon watching them, Gerithor felt a shiver creep down his spine. The mere thought of it was unnerving.

"We should go somewhere safer, where we won't be heard. It's not just a dragon that we have to worry about now," He said, looking to and fro furtively. Kalan seemed to notice his nervousness.

"Aye, follow me and my boys. The sally gate is still held by my soldiers, and from what we can tell the dragon doesn't know about it. We can talk more there."

As the company hurried up the mountain path, Gerithor couldn't help but feel as though they were being watched... Whether by dragon or orc, he did not know, but he did know that no good could come from it...

========================================

Indeed, they were being watched. In the dark creeping shadows of the mountain, several orcs watched quietly.

"A gate," One of them observed.

"Ach, it wasn't on the map," Another added.

"A hidden gate then... That must be where they went," the first orc replied.

"The fire-haired one must die," The leader, the orc that had fought Gerithor in Bree, growled. "If he dies the others will fall."

"Smart," one of the other orcs nodded. "We should contact Her with our report."

The leader snarled and disappeared into a grove of trees. When he was safely away from the others he produced a strange whistle from his cloak. It was made of some sort of dark wood, and was carved to resemble a crow. He lifted it to his cracked lips, but when he blew no audible sound came from it.

A dark winged shape descended from the night sky, and it landed next to the orc. Though in appearance it looked like a raven, its eyes held a strange, almost humanlike glimmer.

"I am here Lurkai," It suddenly rasped. "Report."

The orc replied without hesitation. "The enemy is in a hidden chamber of the mountain. The flame haired ranger leads them. Destroying him is the way to destroy the rest."

"Indeed it is," the raven replied. "But that is not your job. That ranger has a gift... And I will use that gift to destroy him from within."

The orc's mouth twisted into a cruel grin, and he nodded in understanding. "Orders?"

"Kill any who stray from the group. Make them fear to be alone. We will destroy their minds, slowly, one by one."

"It'll be done my lady," the orc growled. The raven's eyes suddenly changed, and once more it was just an ordinary bird. It cawed once, then flew off into the night sky. Lurkai and his orcs had their mission... And they would see it done.

=========================================

Gerithor and the rest of the company had entered the mountain through a small door carved into the side of the mountain, disguised to look like the rocks it was surrounded by. The door opened into a narrow tunnel, which was perfectly carved and decorated with intricate runes, as was the dwarven fashion. Several tunnels diverged from the main one but Kalan explained that all of these led to the throne room, where the dragon was currently.

So instead they continued until they reached the armory. This was the one place that the dragon had neither destroyed nor even visited. Most of the armor was gone, as it had been used in the defense of the mountain, but what was left was lined along the walls on stands or racks.

Dwarven women and men had made themselves at home in the armory, and Gerithor noticed a corner set aside as an infirmary and a makeshift kitchen that was in the middle of the room, where dwarves were lined up waiting to be served.

"We've had tight rations for the past three days," Kalan explained as he saw where Gerithor was looking. "Kona, our head cook, thinks that we only have enough food to last another two days."

"My men only brought enough food to last themselves a week or two I'm afraid," Gerithor replied.

Kalan raised his hands in front of him. "I didn't mean to imply that we wanted your supplies. We just need to find a way to get to the larder soon. Whether by driving that scaly gecko out of our home or by sneaking around him, that's what has to be decided."

Gerithor nodded in understanding. "We came to defeat him. Though we have but half of the force we set out with, we still intend to see our quest through. What do you know of the beast?"

Kalan was silent until they came to a long, empty hallway. No sign of dwarf nor man disturbed the silence that was here. Gerithor's old friend looked up and down the hallway before drawing close.

"The folk who didn't fight don't know anything about this beast. And it's better that it stays that way..." His voice came out as little more than a whisper. "This dragon... He's no mere dragon. He fills up the entire throne room, and his fire is tempered as a thousand forges. His scales are black as the night sky, and there's no gap or weak spot in them."

"He can't be much worse than Smaug, or Aldernari..." Gerithor murmured. He had seen the latter himself, and though the beast had been dangerous he had been slain by none other than Caledorn in the Battle of Fornost, after a long and brutal fight.

"Oh, but he is..." Kalan replied. His voice trembled slightly, and it was this that signaled to Gerithor that the beast was truly as terrifying as he said. "The beast is as cunning as Saruman the White himself. He must've been watching us for a good count of days, for he attacked right at the midnight changing of the guard. As if he were waiting for the opportune moment, when we'd be least prepared. The guards didn't see him until he was already upon them, and by then it was too late."

"Did he do anything after he had driven you out?" Gerithor asked.

"Oddly enough, no... He seemed contented that we were gone. I expected him to fly about outside the mountain to catch us as we fled, but either he knew that we weren't planning on leaving or he had no intention of killing us."

Gerithor stood for a moment in silence, pondering the situation.

"I want to see him," The ranger said suddenly.

"What???" Kalan exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise. "But he'll kill you!"

"From the stories I've heard and from what little personal experience I've had with dragons, I don't think he will. They're intrigued by strangers, and unless they're hungry they'll hear them out at least. Even Aldernari, who was a younger and more aggressive dragon, let me have my say." Gerithor gave his dwarf friend a small grin.

Kalan let out a sigh. "Alright lad... But it sounds like suicide to me. I'm coming with you, just so ye don't die alone! Follow me, this hallway will take us to him." 

Managed to get another chapter done, yes! Hope you guys enjoyed it, I was pretty happy with this one! I've been looking forward to writing about Gerithor and Kalan's reunion.