Mini Lord of the Rings fanfic!

Glaudin gazed out across the Valley of Erebor. A sharp wind blew across his beard sending brown tendrils flying into his face. Below him stretched out Long Lake glittering in the early morning sun. The bustling city of Dale, rich with gold flowing from the mountain, awoke beneath him. Behind Glaudin deep inside the Lonely Mountain the hammers of the dwarves were already hard at work extracting gold, silver, precious stones, and mithril, the most precious of all. Mithril was the lightest and hardest of all metals in Middle Earth, none could compare.

Someone tapped Glaudin lightly on the shoulder. He turned around and saw his good friend Theafandir. Theafandir was a Silvan Elf from Northern Mirkwood now called Greenwood, he was deaf but that didn't stop him from being an effective, but annoying, talker at times. He towered over Glaudin, blonde hair that reached the middle of his back flowing in the wind.

"Good morning." Glaudin said.

Morning? It's nearly midday! Theafandir signed. Glaudin snorted.

"To an elf yes. But to a dwarf it is early."

You are a soft prince.

"I am not! I'll have you know I spent all day in the mines!"

Doing what? Gazing at the jewels. Theafandir's blue eyes glittered with mischief. He smiled widely.

"You've been snooping haven't you?" Glaudin exclaimed appalled.

Does it matter?

"Humph!" Glaudin turned away muttering under his breath. Truth be told he had been looking at the jewels but he was doing more than that. He was counting them carefully making sure each one was still there. He hated the job but as Prince of Erebor it was one of his many responsibilities.

Your father wants you. He sent me up here to get you.

"Of course. It's always 'do this do that, finish my job, be a good prince', it makes me sick."

He said it was important. Theafandir signed. Glaudin sighed.

"Fine, fine I'm coming." He trotted down the massive polished stone stairs into the throne room. The huge room was lit by thousands of torches casting an eerie glow over the place. Columns of stone hewn away until they stood smooth and gleaming in the fire light supported the roof that still gleamed with hundreds of priceless gems and rare metals. Along the path leading to the king's throne were large cases of rubies, bigger than a hand, diamonds worth more than cities and armor made entirely from mithril.

Glaudin ignored all this as he rushed along to his father. His father was Fasdin, son of Dain, and king under the mountain. He was powerful, influential, and the richest dwarf in history. His wealth was rumored to be greater than that of Thror. He sat now in the center of his throne room waiting for his son.

Fasdin was dressed in rich purple robes with gold thread woven in intricate details giving the illusion that he was shimmering in the light. His hair was a deep brown with thin streaks of grey that belied his still young age. Glaudin bowed deeply before his father.

"Father. You wished to see me."

"You're late." Fasdin's deep voice echoed in the hall.

"I did not know you had summoned me."

"I told you last night I wished to speak with you before noonday. A pity the elf knows to be here when you do not."

"Father, I can explain."

"Silence!" Fasdin roared. Glaudin flinched. "I do not want an explanation. I want you to be here when I tell you to and not have to send the elf after you. It's becoming a common occurrence." Fasdin did not tolerate tardiness and punished freely. Glaudin bowed his head to receive his punishment. Theafandir interceded.

My lord, He signed bowing. He would have come sooner but there was a disagreement between two women in the hall. He stopped them before they could hurt each other. Fasdin frowned. He had never liked the elf but Glaudin had taken to him in an instant and they became close friends. Theafandir, he knew, was an emissary from the Woodland Realm sent to provide communication between the dwarves and the elves.

In general Fasdin was not bothered by the elves in his home as long as they stayed away from the mines and smithies but Theafandir was different. He was deaf, for one, and couldn't speak. The only word he could speak was his name and a few short syllables of greeting but that was it.

Fasdin was outraged and tried to send him back but King Thranduil replied saying Theafandir was the only elf who would willingly spend years amongst dwarves and had a unique ability to pick up any language after a short time. Fasdin had grudgingly agreed and Theafandir had stayed.

Soon after agreeing to let him stay Fasdin had discovered the elf had another condition. He fell asleep at random intervals and would sleep for hours and then wake up and continue with whatever he had been doing at the time having no memory of falling asleep.

"Is what he says true?" Fasdin asked.

"Yes, father." Glaudin said though he knew it was a lie. Theafandir knew as much as Glaudin how harsh Fasdin's punishments could be. They had an agreement to keep each other out of harm.

"Very well. You are dismissed elf." Fasdin waved his hand. Theafandir bowed and padded silently out probably going outside Glaudin figured. He suddenly wished he could join his friend. Whatever his father wanted him for it wasn't going to be pleasant.

"Glaudin."

"Yes, father."

"Report."

"Everything is in place." Glaudin said.

"Diamonds?"

"Yes."

"Rubies?"

"Every one."

"Emeralds, gold, copper, iron, mithril?"

"Yes, father, I finished counting last night. Everything is in place." Glaudin said exasperated. Fasdin nodded.

"Did you check the Arkenstone?" he asked.

"Ye-... No. I didn't." A seed of fear began to grow in his stomach. The Arkenstone was deep within the halls of the mountain next to Thorin Oakenshield's grave. There was no chance of anyone getting to it.

"Ah, I see. It's buried so deep that no one will ever get to it and steal the birthright of Thror. Had you checked you would have known that it was missing!" Fasdin's voice grew louder and louder with each word until it rang throughout the mountain. Deep below them the dwarves heard him even through the pounding of hammers and the grinding of steel against stone. They heard him through the huge bellows melting gold and heating iron. They stopped their work for a moment to listen and shrugged going back to their work. They often heard him yelling at his son for one reason or another.

"Thror's beard! Who could have taken it?" Glaudin exclaimed.

"I do not know but you will have to find it. It was your responsibility after all and now you must find. Do not tell anyone it is missing. We cannot have that kind of rumor flowing out of here with The River Running. I will not tolerate it."

"Yes, father, I will bring the Arkenstone back."

"Good. It is the most precious jewel of all and cannot be in the hands of thieves. Now get going." Fasdin said. Glaudin rushed off heading toward Thorin's grave. Suddenly he had an idea. Theafandir might be able to help him. If Glaudin could trust anyone it would be the elf.

Do not let anyone know. Fasdin's command rang in Glaudin's mind. But Theafandir was his friend. Perhaps Glaudin didn't have to tell him. He would just say a very expensive jewel was missing. Satisfied Glaudin turned around and went outside to find Theafandir. He got outside and the tall elf was nowhere to be seen.

"Thea! Thea! Where are you?" Glaudin shouted. He looked toward the river hoping to see his friend. Theafandir wasn't there. Glaudin searched the few trees surrounding Erebor knowing Thea liked to spend his spare time up amongst the branches. But he wasn't there either. Glaudin searched for nearly an hour before he gave up. Maybe Thea was inside.

Glaudin walked under the archway leading into the mountain when suddenly something dropped on him. Yelling Glaudin drew his axe and hacked it to pieces. When he stopped he realized it was the pillow off his bed. Glaudin knew exactly who was responsible.

He looked up and sure enough Theafandir was sitting on top of the archway laughing silently. He dropped something else on Glaudin. A blanket. Looking closer Glaudin could see Thea had managed to drag his entire bed up on the arch.

Fuming Glaudin waited for Theafandir to stop. The elf, sensing the joke was over, threw down the rest of the bed and jumped after it landing on his feet in the middle of Glaudin's "bed". Glaudin ripped the mattress from under his feet sending Thea sprawling. The elf rolled and came to his feet like nothing had happened. He made a show of brushing imaginary dirt off his clothes.

"Quit screwing around." Glaudin ordered.

Why? It's funny. Theafandir pushed his blonde hair out of his face.

"It's annoying."

You're just jealous.

"Of an elf who plays stupid pranks?"

Yes. That's twice this week now.

"What? No it isn't! That's the first time!" Glaudin exclaimed. It couldn't be could it? That would mean he was behind and Thea was winning.

I made the pile of coins fall. Theafandir mimed a stack of coins scattering.

"That was you?" Theafandir nodded excitedly. Glaudin fumed. He had a lot of catching up to do. "I'll get you later but right now we have things to do." Theafandir's eyebrows furrowed when he tried to recall what he needed to do.

I have nothing to do. He said at last.

"A very expensive stone is missing from the treasury and my father wants me to find it."

You said last night everything was still here. How is this possible?

"I don't know but it's missing and we need to find it."

It's the Arkenstone isn't it? Theafandir spelt out Arkenstone since he had no sign for it. Glaudin froze.

"How did you know?" he asked. Thea tapped his head and smiled.

Not hard. Been with dwarves too long. It was the only stone you didn't check.

"Wait. Hold on. How did you know I didn't check it?" Glaudin asked. Thea shrugged.

You told me.

"Oh, right." Glaudin said recalling the conversation he had with Thea. But he didn't recall telling him about the Arkenstone.

And when you said expensive jewel you gave it away. For dwarves cheap is expensive so expensive would be priceless.

"That easy huh?"

Simple. Theafandir agreed. Are we going now?

"Yes."

...

Thea and Glaudin stood outside Thorin's resting place protected by magical spells that prevented anyone without the password from getting in. Glaudin uttered a few short phrases and the heavy stone door decorated with dwarven runes swung outward. Thea sneezed when dust flew up his nose and promptly dropped like a sack of rocks sleeping.

Glaudin managed to catch him before he hit the ground and carried him into the tomb carefully closing the door. He waited a few minutes for Thea to wake up and when he didn't began to search the room for clues the thief may have left behind. He found nothing. Thea stirred on the floor and opened his eyes. He looked around him and sighed.

I fell asleep again didn't I he said. Glaudin nodded. Thea's shoulders slumped and he picked himself off the ground. How long?

"Fifteen minutes."

Find anything?

"No. The stone is gone but there is no evidence anyone was here. Nothing!" Glaudin said sullenly. He was hoping to be able to find something here. Theafandir thought for a moment. Suddenly his eyes lit up.

The ground! Look at the ground! The elf pointed excitedly at the ground next to the stone casket that held Thorin. There, on the floor, were scuff marks of something heavy being dragged across the floor. Thea kneeled down to examine them and began signing so fast Glaudin couldn't understand him.

"Slow down, Thea. I can't understand." he said. Thea huffed and blew a strand of hair from his eyes.

Scuff marks. Something heavy. Stone. Casket. Something under. That was all Glaudin could understand. Thea was shaking with excitement which made it hard for him to sign accurately but Glaudin got the point.

"You mean to say they came from under the casket?" Glaudin said still trying to wrap his head around what Thea was saying. Thea nodded. He pointed to the casket and made a shoving motion. Glaudin nodded understanding what he wanted. Together they pushed Thorin's casket aside slowly.

"Smaug's breath!" Glaudin exclaimed seeing the hole beneath it. "They really did come in through that." He and Thea gazed into the hole. "Who do you think made it?"

Dwarves?

"I don't think so. Dwarves don't make those kinds of tunnels even in a hurry. This looks more like goblin tunnels to me."

That was my next guess.

"Yeah right. I wonder where it leads."

Why don't you go see? Theafandir said. He peered down the hole and threw a rock down. It clattered against the bottom almost instantly. Not deep.

"No. But I still don't trust it. You have any rope?" Glaudin asked. Thea nodded and pulled a thin coil of silvery-grey rope from his pocket. "How is that supposed to help?"

Elvish rope. Stronger than your great big chains and lighter. It's very long too. If you fall in another hole it will hold you. Theafandir handed Glaudin one end and held the other. I will hold this end while you go down and look.

"You're not coming?" Glaudin asked. Thea shook his head.

Wait for you then come.

"Okay. I'll tug on the rope three times to let you know I'm coming and lots of times if I get attacked." Glaudin help up three fingers because the elf sometimes mixed three with free. Thea nodded holding up three fingers also.

Glaudin tied one end of the rope around his waist and lowered himself into the hole. When he reached the bottom his discovered the tunnel went south and was only a foot taller that he was. The cramped tunnel was darker than the night sky and smelled of foul creatures.

Thea handed him a torch and disappeared over the edge. Glaudin took a deep breath and set foot into the dark tunnel. The torch splashed light along the rough walls and was abruptly cut off just a few feet in front of him. He kept going deeper and deeper in the hole with the rope trailing behind him.

The tunnel kept going on and on and before long the elven rope snapped taunt. Glaudin peered further down the tunnel before tugging three times and going back. Theafandir pulled him out and asked what he'd seen.

"Not much. There's no light but it goes due south for as far as I went. What do you think we should do?"

Let's do it. Thea signed with grim determination. His blue eyes glowed dangerously in the dim light.

"You know you don't have to come with me."

Friends. I go where you go. Glaudin was touched by Thea's words. He smiled and the elf smiled back. Thea lowered Glaudin into the hole again before dropping down himself. He stood up and realized he was nearly taller than the hole was deep.

This will be uncomfortable. Thea said just before Glaudin took the torch and stepped once again into the dark. Theafandir bent down nearly in half and followed close behind. They walked in silence occasionally Glaudin tripped and fell but each time Thea caught him.

They walked for a long time. Thea's back ached from bending over for so long and he longed for a breath of fresh air. He hated tunnels especially small dark ones which was why he spent every moment possible outside. Their torch had long ago burnt out thrusting them into darkness. Finally Glaudin stopped and Thea nearly ran into him.

"We'll sleep here for the night." he said and then remembered Thea couldn't hear him. He felt around in his pockets for something to make light with and found a small piece of flint and steel. He struck them together lighting the torch. The fire blazed bright, blinding him momentarily. Theafandir was sitting on the ground with his legs folded underneath him.

Sleep? he asked when his eyes adjusted to the sudden light.

"Yes." Glaudin said. He laid down on the cold ground and fell asleep immediately. Thea was awake for a while before drifting off into a dream-like state for several hours. When they woke they ate a light meal of elvish bread Thea kept with him at all times. They set out again and by noon according to Glaudin the ground began to slope upward.

The ceiling lowered as the ground came up until even Glaudin was forced to crawl along. He could hear Thea's breathing increase as the walls closed in on them. He hoped the tunnel would expand soon before the elf panicked or worse, passed out. When Thea got excited he tended to fall asleep.

Just a little bit longer. Glaudin thought. The tunnel continued to shrink. Glaudin's shoulders became lodged against the walls. He wiggled around trying to rotate so he could move. Behind him he could hear Thea in a near panic.

"Thea!" he shouted hoping the vibrations in his voice would calm him down. "Thea, don't you dare pass out on me! Do you hear?" Glaudin knew he couldn't hear him but Thea's breathing eased a little. Glaudin unstuck himself and crawled forward with Theafandir behind him. The skinny elf had little trouble squeezing through with his narrow shoulders and thin torso.

Soon the tunnel began to widen rapidly and Glaudin could see a dim light just ahead. Glaudin glanced back at Thea and made a silencing gesture. The tunnel broadened until even Thea could stand up. By then they could clearly see the end and what lie beyond.

A great fire was burning with hunched figures moving around chattering in a strange guttural language. Glaudin snuffed out the torch before it could give them away.

"How much you want to bet those are our thieves?" Even in the dim light Thea's sharp eyes could make out what Glaudin said. He peeked out of the tunnel. "Goblins." he said in disgust. "I hate goblins."

Me too. Nasty vermin. Need baths. Wargs too. Thea said. Glaudin agreed. Even though he didn't like baths much himself these creatures brought a new meaning to filthy. Their sparse clothing was covered in blood, dirt, and their own filth. Their skin was rotting in places and covered in blistering, pus-filled sores. The Wargs were like huge wolves but fouler and evil. Their dagger-like teeth gleamed in the fire-light waiting to be coated in the blood of their prey.

Quietly Theafandir and Glaudin made plans to scout the surrounding area. Thea would scout around the edges looking for a way to infiltrate the goblin camp. Glaudin would stay near the tunnel out of the light until Thea came back.

Thea slipped off into the night leaving Glaudin behind. He skirted around the edges of the goblin camp. He estimated about thirty-five goblins were sprawled out in the dirt. They had obviously been there for a few days based on the number of animal carcasses littered on the ground and the lack of anything living in the immediate area.

He settled into the grass careful to keep downwind of them least he be smelled by their Wargs. Thea sat there for hours noting every move the goblins made and storing it for later use. Suddenly one of the goblins began to speak. Thea couldn't read his lips so he watched the actions of the others around him.

They began chanting and yelling when the leader held up a sack with something small and round in it. The goblin reached his filthy hand into the sack and pulled out the Arkenstone. It glittered and sparkled. Thousands of tiny facets reflected the light in thousands of ways creating a mesmerizing sphere of brilliant colors.

Thea had seen enough. He had all the information he needed and already an idea was forming in his head. He crept silently back to where Glaudin sat. He could see his friend was trying to figure out what was happening. From his place he could not see why the goblins were gathered in a circle.

They have the Arkenstone. Thea made an arch with his hands and picked up a small stone. I have an idea.

"What is it?" Glaudin asked eagerly in a hushed whisper. Thea began drawing in the dirt with a small stick.

This is the goblins camp. He drew a circle. The goblin in the middle is the one with the stone. He's missing a nose and one ear.

"Okay."

You go around here. I'll go around the opposite direction. Stay downwind of the Wargs. When I give the command you start killing the goblins as quietly as possible. Kill the Wargs first.

"Okay. But how will you give the command."

Bird whistle. On the third one attack.

"How will I know it's you?"

You'll know. Theafandir said. He and Glaudin separated and moved in as close as they dared. Several minutes passed and the sun began to rise. A bird sang in the distance. A few seconds later another bird whistled but this time it was much closer. Thea!

Glaudin forced himself to remain still while Thea whistled again. The far off bird answered his call. Thea whistled again for the third time.

The goblins were just heading off to bed when they struck silently. Two ghosts at the break of day killing off the Wargs first. One by one they fell silently to their death. Thea slit the throat of one goblin before ghosting over to the next as only elves can do.

Glaudin swung his axe into the next of his tenth goblin and missed. The goblin had moved causing his weapon to cleave into his side. The creature screamed alerting the remaining goblins to the threat. But they were slow and disoriented. The sun hurt their eyes and muddled their brains.

They screamed and gurgled as one after the other they were cut down by Thea's knife or Glaudin's axe. Soon the last cries of the dying faded to nothing and a red sun rose over the bloody earth washing it in a red light.

Glaudin stepped back to admire his handiwork. Thea looked at the battlefield with disgust. His unruly blonde hair flew about his head in the early morning breeze. His loose white shirt was spattered with black goblin blood.

I do not like killing. But it was the only way. he said producing a pouch from behind his back and handing it to Glaudin. Glaudin eagerly took it and untied the string. He gasped when he saw the stone inside. This wasn't the Arkenstone! The Arkenstone was clear with many colors reflecting off its surface. This stone was black and worthless.

"This isn't the Arkenstone! This is a rock!"

The Arkenstone is a stone and a stone is a rock. What difference does it make? Thea asked rolling his shoulders. Glaudin fumed.

"The Arkenstone is not a rock nor is it a jewel. It is the heart of the mountain."

I thought the heart of the mountain was just rock.

"No! You know, for an elf you can be quite dense. This is not the Arkenstone!" Glaudin sank to his knees in remorse. They had been so close only to be fooled by goblins!

Well, if that isn't the Arkenstone, is this? Thea tossed something small and glittering at Glaudin. Glaudin caught it and nearly cried for joy. The Arkenstone! Then it struck him.

"You tricked me! You swapped the stones out when I wasn't looking!" he accused. Theafandir spread his hands guiltily and then smiled.

Got you. Third time. Glaudin sighed. He wanted to be mad at the elf but he simply could not be. It was Thea's nature after all and part of him that made Glaudin like him.

"I will get you back for this. You'd better watch out." he warned. "Come on, let's get this back to my father."

No tunnel. Thea stated. Glaudin nodded.

"No tunnel."​

******************************
Okay so I realized a mistake but I didn't have the heart to change it.

So Thea uses a bird call to signal the attack but he's deaf... So I decided that he could at the time see the bird and thus know when it was singing. He was also taught at a young age how to whistle like a bird. There. No longer a mistake.

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It's 86 words over. Hope that's okay.