Horse hooves thundered across the ground, the large beast's breaths coming in short gasps, a thick white foam lined the edge of its lips. The bit slid forward in its mouth the reins held firm yet loose as the rider gave him his head urging him faster. The rider bent low, thighs burning as they clenched tight against the saddle keeping not only herself but the limp body in front of her seated on the horse's back for hours. As the horse's chest heaved again the rider felt a wave of guilt at her treatment of her mount, she knew she was pushing the animal much past his limits but she had no other option available to her. They had barely escaped, even now they were being chased, hunted by their captors. She could not stop, could not let up for even a moment. She squeezed her eyes shut and sent a frantic prayer to Mahal to give the horse beneath her enough strength to carry them to saftey, and another another to Yavanna to keep the limp body seated before alive. Opening her eyes she pressed her lips against the ear of her companion.
"Stay awake!" she ordered harshly, "Do not give up on me now dear one. We've fought to hard to make it this far I will not loose you!" she cried her voice thick with worry and tears.
Her breath caught in at the back of her throat when the body before her gave no response.
No, not now, not when they were so close!
"Please!", she pleaded desperately, "You swore to me in that vile place that you would not leave me alone! Stay with me nadad." her tears freely streaming down her bloody face.
"Can't die and let you have all the fun." came a broken wheeze, barely audible but she swore she had never heard anything more beautiful in her entire life.
A dry bark of laughter escaped her lips hope filling her chest once more; the mountain rose high before them the distance to their saftey quickly being eaten up by the horse's frantic gallop.
We might just make it.
Thorin Oakenshield had many reasons to rejoice. He was Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain. Against all odds his quest had been successful, once again a son of Druin sat on the throne of Erebor and it's halls we filled with those who had once called it home. Miraculously, the entire e company that had followed him across the wilds of middle earth had managed to survive not only the journey but the bloody carnage that was now being called The Battle of Five Armies. Yes, Throin had many reasons to rejoice but countless more to regret. Even now the sounds of joy and cheer reached his ear as songs and laughter drifted down the stone corridor from the great hall where a mighty feast was being held in the honor of those they had lost the battle field on that horrid day, but he would not join them.
To his subjects Thorin was everything a great King should be. He was strong, brave, fierce, kind, understanding, fair in his rulings and dealings with his people, and just in his punishments for those who deserved them. In him they saw their leader unbreakable and strong, something that couldn't be further from the truth. Thorin Oakenshield was broken and the only thing that could put him back together again was far away in green fields of the kindly west, banished from his side by his own hand. Bilbo Baggins was safely tucked away in his cozy hobbit hole carrying on with his life, happy and far away from danger, far away from Thorin. He knew it was for the best, Bilbo deserved a happy life free of death, betrayal, and heartache which is all he would find by Thorin's side.
Though he would like to say he sent the hobbit back to his shire for his own good he could not. Even after the battle his mind had still been caught in the lingering effects of the gold sickness, clouding his mind from seeing reason. He refused to revoke Bilbo's banishment, the pleas of the company falling on deaf ears as he ordered them all from the tent. Bile rose to the back of his throat as the image of his hobbit flashed before his eyes. Bilbo had stood at the edge of Thorin's cot his head heavily bandaged leaning heavily on a short cane held in his right hand. Looking back Thorin could remeber the bright red stain that bled through the white bandage but then the only thing he could see was a traitor. Vile unforgivable words spewed from his mouth like a poison just as they had on tha battlements, the only difference was this time Bilbo offered no apologies or defense, in fact he gave no reaction at all. As the last word fell from Thorin's lips Bilbo raised his eyes to meet the king's for just a moment before he slowly turned and hobbled form the tent, never looking back or raising his head from the ground.
It hadn't taken much for Thorin to come to his senses, a hard punch from Dwalin to the back of the head and two more delivered to his face by an irate Kili and Fil banished any remaining whisps of gold sickness from his mind. He quickly ordered the makeshift camp to be searched for their burglar but it had been to late. The mithril chain mail neatly folded on a small stool with an abandoned acorn laying nestled on top were the only things left behind, with Bilbo and Gandalf no where to be found. Throin openly wept when Dwalin roughly thrust the items into his chest, his fist curling around the acorn as he clutched it over his heart. He wept until his eyes were red and raw and his voice horse. No one came to comfort the King Under the Mountain and he was glad for it, he deserved no comfort nor peace, death would have been a more merciful fate than the pain he felt in those moments, pain he still felt to this very day.
It had been six months to the day since the epic battle fought in the shadow of the Lonely Mountain, hence the feast raging on in the great hall. Time crawled on and slowly the company returned to their king though their relationship forever changed. They supported him, stood by him, and offered him thir strength but Thorin knew in their hearts they would never forgiven him for the treatment of their beloved friend. The change in his relationship with his nephews had been the most drasticly changed; Kili and Fili out right avoided any contact with Thorin only tolerating his presence for official business. Never speaking a word to their uncle unless forced and only then they kept it to one or two word answers. Thorin felt their loss as if someone had removed one of his limbs but he didn't push them. He had apologized to the entire company for his actions while under the gold sickness, knowing he did not deserve their forgiveness and would not force himself on them.
Throin dipped his hand into the pocket of his great coat letting his fingers ghost across the smooth hardness of the acorn that lay hidden there, a sharp burst of pain bursts under his ribs as it alway did we he thought of his beloved burglar. He let the pain wash over him clenching his fist by his side, this pain was his punishment. A punishment that was no where near severe enough but eagerly carried out, because when the pain came so did the memories, and any memory of Bilbo Baggins was worth the pain of a thousand deaths.
"We're here nadad! We made it!" cried the rider pulling the exhausted horse to a halt.
Carefully she leaned back pulling the fully unconscious form into front tight against her chest, brushing back blood soaked locks from the much too pale face.
"Open the gates!" she bellowed turning her face up to gaze at the guards on the battlements catching site of a familiar figure. "Dwalin open the damned gate!" she shouted sliding awkwardly down from the saddle, making sure not to jostle the battered form in her arms; a job made only more difficult by her burning muscles and rubbery legs. She ignored the answering shout and the commotion on the wall placing a soft kiss to a pale temple, burying her face into a matted tuft of hair.
"Dis!" Dwalin called running through the barely open gate towards her. "By Mahal what happened? Are you hurt?" he questioned frantically as he closed the gap between them. "Get Oin!" he barked over his shoulder at one of the guards, his eyes scanning her face and body for any obvious injury only to let out a strangled gasp as he took in the body in her arms.
"Is that..." he breathed unable to voice the rest of his thought, praying that his eyes were deceiving him.
Dis growled clutching the body tighter against her stumbling back two steps just out of Dwalin's reach.
"He needs to be taken to Oin!" she snapped wishing that she could reach the dagger hidden in he sturdy boot, "You will take me to Oin or I will have your beard." she ordered raising he shoulders and lifting her head in determination.
Dwalin could do nothing but nod his understanding unable to speak, his eyes locked on the on the broken form of Bilbo Baggins. What in Mahal's name had happened? The Warrior stepped forward arms reaching for the hobbit only to have Dis back peddle further away from him.
"You will not touch him." she seethed some how managing to pull Bilbo deeper into her chest turning her body so that he was partially hidden from view. "Take. Me. To. Oin." she demanded through clenched teeth each word lined with the weight of a direct order and the heat of a threat. Dwalin nodded his head sharply turning on his heel, making his way into the moutain with the princess only a step behind.
No words were exchanged between the pair and Dis for once was thankful for Dwalin's lead tongue as the quickly made their way down the long hallways the lead to the infirmary. Dwalin easily pushed open the large door that led to one of the empty medical rooms as Dis rushed past him gently laying Bilbo down on the soft cot on the other side of the room. She blinked back tears coming to sit next to the hobbits head running a trembling hand across his cheek her breath rattling in her chest, completely oblivious to Dwalin standing at the foot of the bed his normally blank face twisted into a look of horror.
The door opened again with a loud bang as Oin rushed into the room wasting no time in coming to stand before the Dwarven princess quickly cupping her face to scan her for injuries.
"I'm not hurt-see to him!" she snapped sharply pulling Oin's hands from her face.
Oin looked to his right with a gasp, his knees bucking slightly forcing him to brace himself by putting both hands on the edge of the cot as he took in the lifeless form before him. He push away his shock and forced himself to focus, a healer was only as good as his mind, he could not let his emotions keep him from doing his job. His eyes scanned over the hobbits body listing injuries as he saw them.
Large contusion on the jaw, swelling above right eye socket, gash to bottom lip, three broken knuckles on right hand, two on left, gash on palm of left hand, minor scrapes on both calves.
"Help me undress him, leave the small clothes on." he ordered Dis, who quickly lifted Bilbo under the shoulders allowing Oin to skillfully remove his shirt over his head, "Fill the basin on the table with water, on the stand to your left is a large bottle with a green label bring both to me then go get the washing cloths from the wooden cabinet behind you." the healer dictated to Dwalin as he gently freed Bilbo's legs from his trousers.
If Oin had been relieved by the lack of major injuries to his young friend it vanished the moment he took in his undressed form.
"Och laddie." he breathed stealing a glance at Dis who had gone back to gently rubbing her hand over the unconscious hobbits face.
Two inch gash on inner left thigh along with minor bruising, stab wound on top right thigh-half of an inch wide- less than two inches deep beginging signs of infection, large gash on left side - four inches long-less than an inch deep, two cracked ribs along with substantial bruising across the chest, large burns on both sides and chest.
"Do you know of any injuries on his back?" the healer questioned never taking his eyes or hands from his work.
Dis swallowed hard dragging a deep breath through her nose, "They whipped him." she managed around the lump in her throat.
"Who!" roared Dwalin placing the water basin on the small table located at Oin's elbow his hard eyes locking on to Dis' s face.
The princess's head snapped to the right leveling Dwalin with a fiery glare her mouth firmly shut.
"I will know who did this to him." the warrior growled searching his massive fists at his side his body strung tight as a bow.
"You will know nothing." she retorted never dropping her gaze even as Dwalin stepped forward angrily.
"Now see here-"
"Enough!" roared Oin his voice bouncing off of the stone walls of the chamber, "now is not the time or place, the only important thing at this moment is attending to Master Baggins's!"
Dwalin's mouth shut with an audible snap but his eyes and hard mouth promised that the conversation was far from over. Oin ignored the mounting tension in the room, focused solely on the task before him. As gently as possible he cleaned all of the wounds that littered the front of Bilbo's body before wiping them down with an orange liquid that would help stave off infection, laying a thick adhesive cloth or each wound.
"Make yourself usefull and help me turn him over." Oin barked at the pair of dwarves who were still glaring daggers at one another.
As gently as possible the trio moved Bilbo so he was laying flat on his stomach allowing his back to be fully viewed. Dwalin let out a violent slew of curses in Khuzdûl and Westeron throwing his hands in the air as he began stalking back and forth across the room no longer able to stand still. They hadn't just whipped their burglar, whoever they were, they completely shredded his back. There didn't look to be a single piece of skin left untouched, nasty slashes riddled the expanse from his shoulders to slightly below his pants line. Dwalin was a warrior used to the sight of carnage and blood, he'd seen his friends fall to a foes before his very eyes but that didn't stop his stomach from doing somersaults at the sight before him. The little broken body of his friend. He knew Bilbo was strong, hell the hobbit had proved just how strong he was over and over again through out their quest, always shattering the the limits the company put on him. Dwalin was a private dwarf, he dint need to surround himself with friends or company preferring to keep those around him at arms length but somehow this little hobbit had managed to bury his way into his heart. Now looking down at his broken body the only sign of life the faint rise and fall of his chest, Dwalin realized just how much he had failed his friend.
The door swung open for a third time thankfully with a little less force than when Oin entered keeping it from slamming against the wall, as a very worried Thorin burst into the chambers.
"Dis what in Druin's name happened?" he asked his eyes flitting over her widening at the amount of blood on her face and front. "You're hurt!" he exclaimed rushing towards her only to be sent stumbling backwards by her fist connecting hard with his face.
"What was that f-" he started only to stop mid stride as his eye took in the movement behind his sisters towering body, it looked like Oin was working on a second patient. "Who is that?" he asked taking a step forward only to be blocked by his very furious sister.
"Get out." she said her voice low and filled with ice causing Thorin's eyebrows to dissappear into his hair line.
"Dis did you hit you head, are you alright?" he asked again leaning forward slightly to check her pupils, "Oin come check over Dis." the king called becoming increasingly worried for the mental state of his sister as she continued to send a furious look his way
"A little busy at the moment your majesty." Oin grumbled sharply only increasing Thorin's curiosity of what exactly was going on beyond his sight.
Dis seeing where here brothers gaze was wandering stepped forward pulling back her shoulders blocking Bilbo entirely from his view. Thorin had banished Bilbo from the mountain but if he so much raised a hand in the hobbits direction she would not hesitate to drop the king where he stood, Dwalin be damned.
"Amad!" came two unison cries as her son's sprinted into the room her eyes blurring with tears tor the hundredth time today. Her chest bloomed at the site of both of them alive and healthy. Bilbo had told her both of her sons had managed to survive not only the journey but the battle as well but part of her heart hadn't believed it until this very moment. Her eyes ghosted over Gloin and Dori who followed behind Kili and Fili before returning her gaze returned to her sons.
Thorin used Dis' s moment of distraction to dart around her coming face to face with an image pulled straight from his worst nightmares, there before him lay the broken body of Bilbo Baggins. Thorin's limbs locked in place his entire body trembling in a mix of shock, horror, and rage. His mind refused to believe the sight before his eyes, this couldn't be Bilbo he was safe in the shire.
"Is that..." his voice trailed off unable to ask the question terrified of the answer he would receive. His arm moved forward on its own accord slowly reaching out to run his hands over the bloody blond curls.
Throin's movement snapped Dis from her daze spurring her into to action. She spun in a flash, clasping Thorin's outstretched arms between both of her strong hands bracing her feet and using her weight to fling him around her front and crashing to the floor behind her.
"You will not touch him!" she roared advancing on her brother who sat shocked on the ground, his eyes still locked on the unconscious form behind her.
Everyone froze starring at the sight of a furious Druin princess looking every inch of the warrior that she was, except for Oin ho continued muttering cures under his breath while trying to stem the bleeding from Bilbo's wounds. Dis's chest heaved her hands trembling in rage as she tried to push the ringing from her ears. Thorin surged to his feet coming back to his sense and rushed towards the bed only to be shoved hard in the chest with enough force to send him flying back a few feet landing on the ground in another heap.
"I said you will not touch him!" she screamed her eyes wide and frantic surging forward, towards Thorin, refusing to allow him any closer to the bed.
"What is he doing here?" Thorin thundered praying that his eyes had deceived him and that was not his burglar laying bloody on the cot.
Dis's only response was to growl low in her throat baring her teeth as she crouched into a defensive stance ready to tackle Thorin to the ground should he try to get past her again. It was only then the the rest of the dwarves tore their eyes away from the Druin siblings long enough to take in the rush of movement behind them.
"No!"
"Bilbo!" her son's cried borkenly as they stumbled towards Oin, Dori and Gloin grasping each other as if to keep the other standing upright.
"Amad what happened to him!" Kili called frantically clutching his mother's arm.
Dis shook off her son's hold, keeping her gaze locked on Thorin ignoring the questions hat were now being thrown at her from all sides. Thorin rose to his feet stalking towards his sister with one purpose in mind, getting to his beloved hobbits side.
"Step aside Dis." he ordered in a voice that would have sent a shiver of fear down even his strongest enemies but his sister remained unmoved, rising her chin defiantly.
"No." she threw back with as much ice as Thorin.
Thorin spurred forward to dashing swiftly to her left just out of arms reach but Dis was prepared, throwing her body forward with as much force as she could mange tackling her brother to the gorund.
"Get off of me!" Thorin bellowed rolling onto his back trying to pry his sister off him.
"I WILL NOT LET YOU HURT HIM AGAIN!" she screeched landing a hard punch to his jaw that sent his head crashing back against the floor. The siblings wrestled on the ground as Dori and Gloin grabbed Kili and Fili struggling to keep the young princes out of the fight, while they tried to frantically break the older dwarves grip.
Throin braced his weight pulling his body to the left, rolling Dis beneath him, pinning her hands to the side as she fought widely to gain the upper hand.
"Dis stop this!" he shouted trying to break through her rage.
"Dis!" came a broken shout from behind them.
"Don't hurt her!" Bilbo cried as he struggled to push himself off of the cot, "Take me instead just let her go!" he howled struggling against Oin.
"Don't move lad you'll only make it worse." Oin ordered as he tried to keep Bilbo on the cot with as little force possible, only to receive a sharp elbow to the face for his efforts.
"Bilbo!" Dis cried hoping to still the hobbit but her voice only caused him to fight harder, a painful cry bursting from him as he tried to swing his legs off of the cot.
"I said let her go!" he screamed his eyes wild and unseeing as he struggled furiously with whoever held his arms. Bilbo didn't know where he was, all he knew was Dis was in trouble and needed his help.
Bilbo's scream of pain cut through her like a knife, shoving her knee hard into her brothers groin she pushed herself to her feet sprinting to the hobbits side.
"Easy Bilbo, stop struggling." she whispered cupping his face in her shaking hands.
"Dis!"
"Shush, I'm here gamz mudtû, I'm here. We're safe." she reassured him softly running her thumbs over his battered face.
"You're safe?" Bilbo whispered leaning his face into her touch.
Dis's heart bled at his words even now 'you're safe' he asked not a single care for himself, damn her brother for making Bilbo think his life was worth so little.
"I'm safe, you made sure I was safe." she choked out cradling Bilbo's head against her chest, as the hobbit slowly reached his arms up to embrace her back wincing at the movement.
"You need to lay down gamz mudtû." she whispered into his hair gently guiding him back down on his stomach but Bilbo on tightened his grip halting her movements.
"Don't go!" he pleaded clutching to her like his life depended on it.
"No dear one, I'm not going anywhere." she soothed easing herself up on to the cot in a sitting position guiding Bilbo down into her lap.
"Good." he sighed leaning his head into her hand as she gently ran her fingers through his hair.
No one moved as they all stood breathless watching the scene unfold before them; Kili and Fili had both gone limp in Dori and Gloin's arms reaching out to pull each other close. Dori and Gloin both relinquished their hold on the young princes as the boys embraced each other. Dwalin stood with his back stiff hovering just to the right of Oin, while Thorin sat dumbfounded on the floor his mouth hanging open. Even Oin remained still as the princess cradled Bilbo in her arms.
"I'm tired Dis." Bilbo mumbled moving his hand to grasp the hand Dis had rested on his shoulder.
"I know you are but I need you to stay awake, can you do that for me?" Blibo hummed in response squeezing her hand tighter.
"I can see the shire." he breathed and Dis let out a strangled sob, "The grass is green and lush, a light summer breeze drifts over the hill. Drogo's birthday is this week which means everyone will be gathering around the party tree to celebrate. Food, drink, family, and friends all gathered together under the light of the stars. I wish you could see it."
"I will see it. You promised to take me to the Midsummer Festival next year remember? You're going to teach me how to make your famous apple turnovers and we are going to dance and drink until the rises high over Bag End." her voice cracked but she pushed the words past the lump in her throat tears dripping into his long curls.
"A Baggins on the arm of a princess, poor Lobelia would have a heart attack." his chuckle quickly turning into a wheezing cough.
"That dirty Sackville-Baggins won't give you any more trouble after I'm done with her."
"I wish I could be there to see it, do me a favor and make sure she doesn't sneak off with my mother's silverware once I'm gone." he smiled wistfully.
"Oh no, you're going to be there to see it because your not going anywhere Bilbo Baggins do you hear me? You promised not to leave me alone and a Baggins never goes back on his promises!" she sobbed clutching onto Bilbo tighter oblivious to everyone else around them.
"It appears I'm doomed to fail the entire Druin line."
"No!" Dis rasped curling her body so her forehead was pressed against the top of Bilbo's head, "You have failed no one gamz mudtû, it is my line that has failed you. You are strong Bilbo and I need you to fight. Do not give up when you have come so far." she sobbed.
Blibo released her hand lifting it towards he face only to have his arm give out and crash towards the cot before Dis caught it holding his palm against her cheek. Bilbo traced a thumb along her jaw finding it wet with tears.
"Do not cry, not for me. The princess of Erebor crying over the loss of a worthless halfing, what would you brother say." he tsked softly.
"My bother is a fool!" she cursed tightening her grip on his hand.
"Don't say that. Thorin was right about me; I'm nothing but a worthless thief." his voice grew weaker with every word that passed his lips and Bilbo knew he was almost out of time. He did not fear death, in fact he would happily embrace the darkness when it came for him now that Dis was safe. There was nothing left for him in the land of the living but in death he would be free to walk the garden of Yavanna and that sounded much better than living out the rest of his days outcast from those he loved before dying bitter and alone in Bag End. No, there was nothing left to keep him here and the darkness couldn't come soon enough.
"I am glad to have met you Dis daughter of Thrain, and I am glad you are here with me at the end." he whispered his voice heavy with sleep, his time was almost done.
"This is not the end!" Dis cried rocking him back and forth, "Don't give up on me gamz mudtû. You are needed here, you are loved, do not go. Y - you swore you wouldn't leave!" she wailed tears blinding her as she pressed clutched Bilbo tight as if her grip alone would be enough to hold him here in the land of the living.
"I'm sorry." he breethed before the darkness swallowed him whole.
"No! Dis screamed as mighty breath left his lungs and his chest stilled, "No, no, no, no, no." she sob frantically.
Oin moved then, shoving Bilbo roughly onto his back his hands over the hobbits heart pumping it for him.
"I'm not letting you go that easy laddie, if you won't fight to keep it moving I'll do it for you." he swore before placing his mouth over the hobbits pushing air into his lungs, repeating the process.
Kili and Fili crashed to the ground sobs shaking their hunched frames as they buried their faces in each others chests. Dori stumbled backwards into Gloin who barely managed to keep them both on their feet tears openly falling from both of their eyes. Dwalin sunk slowly to the ground is head hanging between his knees, tears pooling on the floor below him as his fists beat mercilessly against the cold stone floor. Thorin's world was shattered, his ears were ringing as if he had taken a massive blow to the head, his vision blurred as he fought to pull air into his burning lungs. Bilbo Baggins was dead and it was entirely his fault. Scrambling to his feet he stumbling from the room, blindly running until he fell face first into his chambers where he proceed to expelled everything from his stomach before promptly passing out where he lay.
Thorin woke with blurry eyes and a pending head on top of the covers of his large bed. Slowly he reached up running his hand over a large lump on the back of his skull with a hiss. What happend? Suddenly the memory of this morning slammed into to him with the force of a rock slide. A broken cry escaped his lips as bile clawed clawed a burning path up the back of his throat. Suddenly cup of water was being held against his lips as an order to drink registered registered in his ears. Thorin greedily sacked down the cool liquid like a man dying of thirst.
"Easy lad, deep breaths." the voice ordered again .
Slowly Thorin turned focusing on the white bearded figure. Another sob racked his body and Balin reached forward to embrace his young kind with a heavy heart.
"Deep breaths Thorin, I need you to calm down we have much to discuss."
Throin clutched the back of Balin ' s robes like a dwarfling clutching it's mother focusing on controlling his breathing. Time passed, though Thorin was not aware how much, be for eye was finally able to detach himself from his old mentor. Balin stayed silent waiting for Thorin's eyes to clear and focus on him before speaking.
"He lives." he stated simply and firmly, ignoring Thorin's sputtered questions and muted tears only moving again to force the king back onto his bed when he tried to get up.
"I need to see him Balin." Throin pleaded but Balin remained unmoved his heavy stare holding Thorin in place.
"Oin managed to bring Blibo back from the brink of death but he is still unstable. Oin is refusing to let anyone but your sister by his side and I agree with him, the last thing Bilbo needs is to be surrounded by those who have done him wrong." the old dwarf said his eyes sad and full of guilt, a guilt Thorin felt to the erythromycin core of his soul.
"The company is hold vigil in the connecting chamber, you're sister has agreed to divulge the events that led to Master Baggins's grievous injuries we only await your arrival." he finished giving Thorin a pointed look.
Thorin wasted no time before springing from the bed and stalking out of his bed chamber into the sitting room beyond.
"Thorin!" Balin called causing the king to halt long enough to turn and look at him, "You might want to change your shirt I may have put you into bed but I wasn't stripping you of your soiled gamrents." he smirked.
Dis landed hard against the stone floor of the make shift cell, rolling across it's width with the extra momentum of the throw crashing into the wall. She lept to her feet charging towards her captures only have cold iron bars slammed into her face as the closed. With a quick twist of his wrist her captor locked the cell sneering triumphantly in her direction.
"Don't worry your highness, we have big plans for you and your pretty little body." he learned licking his lips.
"Wouldn't do that if I were you." came a light voice form the shadows, the speaker hidden from her view.
"Whys that?" he captor questioned mockingly.
"I don't know how much you know about the King Under the Mountain but the only thing he cares about more than gold is the legacy of his line. If you so much as hint to the fact that his sister was used in such a way he wouldn't think twice before casting her from his house and any Lans of ransom you have would be for nothing." the voice spit with heat.
His argument must have hit home because the grizzled man left with a curse and a kick to the bars. Dis narrowed her eyes allowing them to adjust to the darkness of the cave making out a small hunched form on the opposite wall very close very close to where she had rolled moments before.
I suppose you're expecting a thank you but you won't be getting one from me." she spat at the figure, "You know nothing of my brother, speak of him again that way and I'll gut you."
Dis had made many men, dwarves, and even rarely and elf or two tremble in fear when she threatened them so the loud laughter that followed followed her threat was quite the shock. She was even more surprised when the small creature emerged from the shadows wiping tears from his eyes.
"I guess you're more like Thorin than I thought." he chuckled to himself, "Blibo Baggins at your service," he greeted bowing low. "I must say the resemblance is almost uncanny though I can see Fili has your eyes." he smiled rolling back on his heels.
"You know my son?"
"I know both of your sons and your brother, I was part of his company."
"So you helped reclaim the mountain?" she asked stepping forward.
"I was more of a burden than anything but I tried my best." he answered his eyes suddenly very interested in the cavern floor.
"My sons how are they?"
"Don't worry Lady Dis both of your son's survived the battle, though they both sustained some injuries of course, but Oin said that they would make a full recovery in no time at all." he smiled again.
"Battle! What Battle?" she demanded noticing the way the creatures eyes widened his overly large feet shuffling back and forth.
"You aren't aware of the Battle of Five Armies?" he asked meekly.
"F-five Armies? Just what ridiculous nonsense has my brother gotten himself into this time?" she asked sliding down the cave wall.
"Come sit Master Boggins, was it, I fear we have much to discuss." she ordered patting the spot on the ground next to her.
"It's Baggins actually though Kili was determined to call me Boggins for one r two months." he chuckled taking a seat directly to her right, Dis smiled despite herself the happy smile of this little creature appeared to be contagious.
"Start at the beginning Master Baggins, leave nothing out I will know if you bend the truth and hound you until you reveal it to me." surprised by how teasing her teasing her tone sounded she had been trying to come off hard and demanding.
"Your sons were very descriptive when discussing your methods and I'm quite fond of my ears so I promise to hold nothing back." he chuckled again.
"It all began on a very normal morning by any hobbit's measure, I was sitting on my front bench smoking a pipe..."
"M ' lady." Oin called quietly from his spot near the end of Bilbo's bed bringing her back to the present.
"It's just Dis, Oin; I'm sorry I was lost in my head what did you say?"
Oin sent her an understanding look, the entire company seemed to be lost in their own heads as of late, and for good reason.
"Only that if your ready everyone had gathered and wish to hear all you can tell us about how Bi- Master Baggins came to be in this state."
Dis nodded once leaning down to press a soft kiss to Bilbo's sweaty forehead, though Oin managed to get this heart pumping again last night the fever had set in faster than they had expected.
"I will be right back." she whispered before standing.
Oin was barking orders at his best healers threatening them with in an inch of their life should they fail to take proper care of their charge. He had refused to attend the meeting at first stating that he could not possibly leave the burglar's side but he eventually changed his mind. He had to know what happened to the young hobbit and no second hand explanation would do, so after a few more imaginative threats he followed Lady Dis into the room that housed their very solemn company.
Dis squared her shoulders and took a deep breath before sweeping into the room her eyes taking in each dwarf that had gathered there. All of them sat close together, each touching another in some small way, linked together like chain mail. Their eyes were red and swollen as they all straightened, turning their attention towards her, never relinquishing their grip on each other. It took her a moment to notice that there was another figure unchecked in a chair hidden back in the corner and her mouth turned down into a fierce frown.
"What are you doing here." she spat.
"I came to hear what happened to Bil-"
"Don't you dare say his name!" Dis thundered cutting of her brothers words, "You are not worthy to call him by his name nor do you deserve to hear what I have to say." she finished hotly.
Thorin for his part did not look as if he would argue her insults, instead it seemed as if he agreed with them by the way his shoulders hunched a little further. Though he did Though he did not Though he did not argue neither did he move to stand or leave and the two siblings stared fiercely at fiercely at one fiercely at one another, neither wanting to be the one to back down first.
"Lady Dis, I don't really know if any of us truly deserve to hear what you have to say. We failed him, we failed him in every way possible and that's something I will never forgive myself for but Bilbo was...is the best friend I've ever had. I know that I don't deserve his friendship or his forgiveness but I need to know what happened to him." Bofur sniffed.
Dis lept her gaze locked on her brother even as she listened to Bofur's heartfelt words.
"I will beg you if that's what you want!" the toy maker pleaded, "I will get on my knees in front of the entire kingdom and beg if that what if takes, just please, please tell me what happened to my friend." Bofur's voice broke on the word friend.
It was the honest heartbreak in his plea that caused Dis to turn away from her brother and face the rest of the company. She found that Bofur was already half way to his knees preparing to beg as he stated with hot tears streaming from his eyes.
She stepped forward pulling the toy maker toy maker to his feet, "I will tell you what I know but you will not like what you hear." she informed him honestly.
"We have to know amad." Kili whispered determinedly from his place sandwiched between his brother and Dwalin.
"I will tell you but I ask that none of you ask any questions of interrupt me, this story will be hard enough to tell as it is and if I stop I am not sure I will be strong enough to continue." she explained ignoring the way a few of the dwarves paled at her words; once they all agreed she began her tale.
"Four moths ago my envoy was attacked on the road west of the Misty Mountains, we wre greatly out numbered and my men were slain. I was take captive, hands bound by a large man with a long scar over his left eye. I fought him of course but it was no use he was as strong as the moutain he led me into. He lifted me from the ground and threw me into a stone cell. I charged him but he locked the iron bars before I could make it to the other side of the small cave, he threatened me then. Not with threats of beats but of a promise of something every woman fears." she paused deftly ignoring her son's eyes as they whispered at her implication.
"That's when Blibo spoke up, he told the an that the only thing Thorin cared more about than gold was the legacy of his line and if any of them harmed me he would sooner cast he out of his house than pay a ransom. It worked, the man left angry but alone and I was furious; who would dare speak in such a way about my brother? I didn't realize it until much later but with one sentence Bilbo saved me. In seconds after hearing the moutain threaten me he made so not a single member of the entire camp would consider violating me in the way they'd promised. He introduced himself as a former member of your company and told me of your journey and the following battle. Though he insisted that he had been nothing but a burden to all of you I knew better, how was it possible that someone so kind, clever and brave could be...how did he phrase it, dead weight." she finished bitterly swallowing hard to contain the stream of insults she wished to lay at all of their feet on Bilbo's behalf.
"Everyday they would come and drag him away, and after one incident which led to my being beaten as I tried to stop them he quit fighting, going with them willingly even though he knew the terror that awaited him." she gulped.
"They knew who he was when they captured him the previous month, they knew he had been part of the company that had reclaimed the Lonely Mountain and hoped to unhinged to gain information that could be used to remove Thorin from the throne. Everyday that would take him away for questioning and everyday he would be tossed back into the cell unconscious and bloody. Through it all his only concern was for my safety and we'll being he said his injuries were worth it if grey left me alone. He spoke of all of you and of his home back in the shire as I shared stories of my life with him. It should come as no to surprise to any of you, or maybe it will given your treatment of him but it did not take long for him to lay a strong claim on my heart."
More than one of the dwarves sobbed at her words but she ignored them, let them feel the guilt they were due for their mistreatment of him.
"One a month passed that way before our captors became restless with Bilbo's lack cooperation and they turned their eyes on me. They came in the middle of the night while we were sleeping. Blibo and I fought them viciously trying to keep a grip on each other but there were too many. We we're both dragged over the sharp stone and tied to two posts. Four of them started beating him relentlessly as I watched on in horror, they would stop long enough to shout out a question the resume with more vigor when he gave no answer. It was only after one of them struck me hard across the face that he gave in to their demands. He told them he had the arkenstone, that he'd stolen it from Bard the Bowman before leaving the mountain. He said he buried it in a thick grove of pines three days ride from the elven pass of Mirkwood. They locked us back in our cell and do you know what he did then?" she asked bitterly.
"He crawled over to me and began tending to my wound, as if he wasn't covered in gashes and bruises himself! He couldn't even stand on his own legs but his only concern was for me, he didn't think himself worthly of comfort. That was the moment I swore to myself that I would never leave him to be alone again. Three days later they bound and gagged us chaining us to the floor of a covered wagon. They attached metal collar on each of us as if we we're dogs, our hands and feet were cuffed and connected by a heavy chain that ran from my neck trough a loop on my hands to an identical one at my feet leading back up the same way to Bilbo's collar. The chain was to short for us to sit up when one of us would move it would cause the metal to bite into the skin of the other. Of course Bilbo tried sit in a way that allowed me to move freely without harm but by then I'd had enough. After a lot of arguing I finally convinced him to lay in a way that would cause him less injury. So we lay there chained together to the floor like animals and planned for the future. Little things that would seem odd to others like a dwarf visiting the party tree, learning how to plant tomatoes, and bake apple turnovers." she paused then and closed her eyes remembering the way that Bilbo had smiled when he spoke of his home even as his world was falling apart.
"Thanks to Bilbo's quick thinking while we We're tied to the posts we had three weeks of hard traveling with out any beatings but all good things come to an end. Too soon we arrived at the area where Bilbo had told them he hid the Arkenstone and they began to search. After the first day brought no results they decided that they would take him with him the next morning to show them exactly where he buried it. Some how he managed to stall them for an entire day with his wit assuring them that they were on the right track. The next day they caught on to his lie and punished him severely for it. They dragged him back to camp by his hair kicking him the entire way, then they bound his hand with a rope and stung him up a tree high enough that his feet couldn't touch the ground. They came for me then so I could watch as they tortured him. They whipped him. Each man took turns slicing into his flesh until his bad was red with blood. I swear to you all that I tried to get to him but I was still bound in my chains. I will never forget the sound of that whip ripping open the skin on his back or the cheers and taunts from the men as they x-rated out their deed." Dis swiped angrily at the tears on her cheeks her eyes stinging as more poured from her eyes.
"He didn't scream as their blows landed on his back, not once, not even when they cut him down from the tree and he landed in a crumbled heap on the ground or when they flipped him onto to his mangled back and dragged him back to the wagon to be chained. I thought-I thought he was dead when they chained us together, he just laid there broken and bleeding. I tried to tend to his wounds but each time I moved his cuffs cut into his ankles and wrsits. I've never felt so useless jn my entire life, not even when the dragon came." she was openly sobbing now unsure if her words were even able to be in stood through her gasps and sobs.
"That night they drank themselves into an angry stupor all of them convinced I was no threat and Bilbo on the brink of death. There was no need for any of them to abstain from their cups when their captives had no hope to escape but they were wrong. Even fighting in the edge of consciousness his body raw and bleeding Bilbo managed to save us. When they lifted him back into the wagon to be chained he managed to swipe the second set of keys hiding them into the gore beneath him. After all of our captors had passed out across the camp Bilbo unlocked my chains. He told me to take one of the horses and ride hard for Erebor, to all of you. He tried to convince me to leave him behind saying I would only slow him down, that it would be better for everyone since he would only be killed if he returned to the mountain. By Mahal's grace he lost consciousness long enough for me to steal one of the horses and get us both away from those bastards." she spat her voice pure ice and venom.
"Bilbo Baggins is the best being I will ever have the honor to know. He saved me time and time again by putting himself in harms way with out a moment of hesitation for no other reason than it was the right thing to do. Even after everything he'd been through he always put the needs of those around him before himself just as he did with all of you, and the worst part is he doesn't see how amazing he is. He thinks himself to be a unless coward worth no more than the mud beneath a boot because that's what you all led him to believe!" she shouted surging to her feet hot blinding hot b blinding anger replacing her grief in an instant. She glared at each of the dwarves before her before setting her gaze on her brother.
"He fought for you, he followed you, he put his life on the line for you and for what? Not for gold or glory, he never wanted riches or songs, he did it because he loved you, he did it because you asked for his help and he would never turn his back on someone when there was any chance he could help them. What did he get in return? Your mockery, you're disdain, the chance to be the butt of all of your jokes! The cruel irony is that he never betrayed you, not even after you had already cast him away and named him a betrayer. Beaten bloodied and broken he worked to protect me and all of you from those monsters! H-he still spoke of you all with love and friendship in his heart, he blamed himself for your selfish actions. He was willing to die alone in a pool of his own blood because he thought so little of himself, because he thought he was the one who failed you. None of you truely appreciated the true friend you had in Bilbo Baggins. He is stronger than any dwarf, man, or elf and he is going to survive this. When he does it would be more than any of you deserve if he were to disappear put of your loves forever." she finished her shoulders deflating her anger smothered our by a drowning sense of emptiness.
"You wanted to know what events led to him lying an inch from death and I've told you. Now I'm going to go back to his side, I've spent to much time here as it is." she whispered rushing from the room leaving thirteen devastated dwarves in her wake.