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Children of Erebor

Chapter 4

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On The Way

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"What do you mean he was taken?" King Thrain glared at his eldest son. "And where were you?"

Thorin swallowed hard, "I'm sorry, father…I…"

Thrain shook his head angrily, "No excuses! I want to know who is responsible!" He slammed his fist on the armrest of his chair hard. Fundin was by the King's side as well, they were in the King's private chambers. He was glaring at his sons, Balin and Dwalin.

Thorin turned to his cousin, Balin who shrugged and shook his head, "Bandits."

Thrain frowned, "Bandits? What bandits? I have never heard of bandits in Dale, have you Fundin?"

His cousin shook his head, "Nay."

"Father, it's the truth." Dwalin said vehemently.

Dwalin turned to Thrain, "Uncle, it was a pack of bandits…they seemed to know the children were to be at the fields."

"What of the guards?" The king demanded. "Where were they? Why are they not watching my son?"

Thorin looked apologetically, "It was my fault, father, I insisted there should be no guards to draw any attention to the gathering."

Thrain stared at his eldest son, "It seems your judgment is ill-made, Thorin."

Thorin nodded, "Yes Father, I'm well aware of it but I'll find my brother and the other children…I'll get them back."

Dwalin stepped forward, "Your Majesty…Uncle, someone must have told these bandits the whereabouts of the children." He glanced at his cousin who nodded for him to continue, "That's why I requested we meet in your chambers with just us, and no guards."

Thrain nodded, "I see…wise decision, my nephew. Are you saying we have a traitor within Erebor?

"Or traitors." Thorin nodded.

Thrain watched his oldest son, his heir to the throne, "Is there no one whom to trust?"

Thorin nodded, "Gloin and Oin are questioning the guards right this moment."

The King nodded again, "What about Frerin? What is to be done?"

"Balin, Dwalin and I are on our way out, Father. We are going to the fields where he was taken, they might leave some clues."

The King frowned, "It is a start. Do you have any idea where these…bandits have taken him?"

Thorin replied, "We are on the way to find out what Oin and Gloin have gotten so far, father."

Thrain nodded, "Go…go…" He waved at them. "Hurry and find your brother."

Thorin nodded, "I won't come back without Frerin, father." He nodded to his cousins and they left the chambers.

"Great Mahal," Thrain turned his face upwards as he uttered, "Guide my son…and my nephews…help them find my youngest boy. Keep them all safe."

Fundin nodded, "And let's hope our sons come to no harm."

Thrain and Fundin exchanged worried looks

…..

A guard of Erebor stopped Balin when the cousins left the King's chambers, "This came for you, Master Balin." He nodded as he handed the note before he return to his post.

"What is it?" Thorin asked anxiously. "Who is it from, Balin?"

Balin shook his head, "I do not know…" He opened the note and began to read and smiled. "Ah, it's from Comet."

"Comet?" Dwalin peeked over his brother's shoulder and tried to read the note. "What does that lump of a dwarf have to say?" he griped.

"Who is this Comet?" Thorin inquired impatiently.

The two cousins explained to him.

"We have a cousin named Comet?" Thorin glared at Balin. "I've never heard of him, and I know quite a few cousins in the Durin family line." He began to walk away from them.

"There are many Durin cousins you and I are not aware of, my dear cousin Thorin." Balin and Dwalin shook their heads as they smiled.

Dwalin nudged his brother, "I told you he'd never believe us."

Balin glared at him, "Oh bother you, Dwalin! You are no help at all!" He jogged after Thorin, "It is the truth although his mother was from the Stonefoots clan and his father who was a Durin but quite a few times remove." He nodded a few times.

Thorin frowned at him and then at Dwalin who had caught up with them, "I am glad this news amused you two." He nodded at the note Balin held. "So what news this so-call cousin of ours have? Does it pertain to Frerin?"

Balin stared at the back of Thorin for a moment before he called out, "As a matter of fact it does and to the other wee ones. They are taken to the old mine."

Thorin, who was walking away from them, stopped suddenly and turned back and stared at Balin, "You mean that mine?"

Balin raised his bushy brows, "If you mean the one your father had forbidden all to enter," He nodded gravely. "Then, aye. That one."

Thorin shook his head, "You must not tell my father!" He grabbed his cousin's shoulder roughly. "You know his rules!"

Balin shook Thorin's grasp from his shoulder, "I'm well aware of the King's decree, cousin."

"Balin!" Thorin glared at him. "I'm serious! We are going there no matter what he says!"

Balin sighed, "Thorin, I'm very well aware of your father's decree and to enter the mine will be our death warrants."

Dwalin nodded.

"But," Balin held up the note, "Our cousin had found the bandits' tracks and he said they had taken the children into the mine. And I for one, am in agreement, will be going there." He turned to his brother.

Dwalin nodded, "Count me in." He picked up his battleaxe and nodded, "I'm ready. The mine is no place for the Dwarflings."

"Aye! And so, we are willing to do whatever we can to get them safely back…aren't we, Thorin?" They turned around at the sound of familiar voices and saw their other cousins; Oin and Gloin, who had their packs on their backs. "Didn't think you're going anywhere by yourselves, are you?"

Balin clapped his hands on their backs approvingly and chuckled, "I knew I could count on you two."

Thorin frowned at his other two cousins, "What news have you?"

Gloin nodded, "One of the King's chamber guards, he was the one who revealed to us that there were four bandits."

Oin nodded, "Aye, they heard there were diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and many precious stones as large as your fists and gold in the old mine."

Thorin shook his head, "Fools! False tales! Who told them about the stones and the gold?"

Gloin continued, "The guard Finil heard it from the old Cook who had been with the services of the King since before the mine collapsed."

Thorin looked up at the evening sky, "And how did he know about it?"

"He said Frerin told him." Gloin revealed.

Thorin spun around, "Frerin! Frerin doesn't know about the mine! I don't believe it! He must have made it up!"

"Dear Mahal!" Balin paled. "Thorin, if that is true, what has that laddie done? He'd placed himself and the other wee ones …?" He shook his head in sorrow, as were the rest of his cousins.

"We must hurry to the mine, Balin!" Thorin began to pick up his pace.

"Wait!" Balin stopped him. "Our cousin, Comet…he is coming with us."

Thorin paused again and turned around, "What?"

"He knows the mine, Thorin."

"What are you talking about?"

"He used to work in the mine when he was a laddie."

"And where is he?"

"He's to meet with us near the mine soon with one other person."

"Who?" Thorin asked anxiously.

Balin shrugged, "I don't know, he just said there will be one other beside him."

Thorin nodded impatiently, "They had better hurry or we are going in without them."

…..

Much later almost sundown near the path leading to the old mine, the five cousins were waiting impatiently...

Balin shook his head, "No, we are not. As I said…"

"Here! Here! We are here!"

They turned around at the new voices.

Balin, Dwalin, Thorin, Oin, and Gloin stared at the new comers.

Two ungainly dwarves staring back at them uncertainly.

"Ah! Cousin Comet!" Balin greeted the dwarf before him but the one on his right smiled happily as he stepped forward and bowed slightly.

"Yes, yes, cousin Balin, 'tis I, Comet! It's been almost five years since we last saw each other!" He bowed at the others as he introduced himself the others and then to Jul. "This is the friend I had written on the note."

Balin nodded happily, "And I believe you've not met our cou..." before he could finished introducing Thorin to them, Thorin nudged Balin rudely and shook his head, "Uh…Yes…this is our uh, friend Thor-his younger brother was taken too." He continued to frown at Thorin.

Comet bowed at Thorin, "At your service Thor, and to my cousins Oin, Gloin, Dwalin." He straightened up and nodded at them, "Shall we get on our way?"

Balin nodded, "Yes, yes, let's not waste any more time." He waved his hand onwards, after he gave Thorin a dark look.

…..

With barely lit torches, the bandits pushed the four reluctant children.

"On you go, you useless runts!" The leader of the gang pushed Frerin along.

"Watch it now!" Frerin glared back at him.

"Watch your tongue, less I'll cut it off! I don't need it!" He laughed at the young Dwarfling as he nudged him roughly again just for kicks.

Frerin bit back a retort; he knew if he said another word he'd be hit by the leader, whose name was Siban; he was a huge dwarf who was missing an eye with several scars all over his face which was hidden by his heavy long and dirty beard that extended to his belly.

Frerin was able to take a good look at this particularly nasty dwarf as he moved alongside with him since the moment he was taken at the fields in Dale.

It was certainly a shock to him and some of the children when this ugly group of dwarves came and hustled them out of the fields just as they had decided to play a game of hiding and finding the leader which was a popular game for most of the dwarflings. Frerin, being the oldest in the group, was chosen as the leader had hid behind some low-lying rock formation in the fields but one of the children, a young female had spotted him and began to chase after him. Soon, two more went after them as laughter ensued. But their laughter were cut short when they ran head on into these ugly dwarves and sacks were quickly thrown over their heads and they found themselves hauled up and taken by them and soon they were running into the direction of the old mine.

He could hear the younger ones screaming and soon there were shouting and metal clashing.

Frerin knew he was largely responsible for the whole thing when he heard them talking about heading towards the forbidden mine and jewels and gold.

Yes, he had talked about a large cache of precious jewels in the old collapsed mine not long ago to the two cooks who worked at the kitchen.

Putting two and two together, Frerin knew he was now in really big trouble.

He hoped his father and the guards were on their way to rescue him and the others.

And he hoped these ugly bandits would not harm any of the children in the process.

He should tell these stupid ugly bandits that there were no gemstones or gold in the mine. That he had made the entire story.

Why? Why did he tell such a bold lie? Frerin was beating himself as he dragged his feet along the cold floor of the dark tunnels.

"Psst!"

He wished he could take back all he had said to the young stupid cook that day! But it was too late…

"Psst! Hey! You there!"

Frerin turned to his left and saw the young female dwarfling walking behind him, "What?" He whispered back.

"Where are we?"

"We are in the mine."

Her eyes wide with fear, "A mine? Why?"

He shrugged, "They think there's gold and precious gems in one of the tunnels deep in here."

"Is that true?"

He shook his head, "No but it's just a made-up story."

She smiled slightly, "I heard about it too, from my Grandpy. He used to tell me stories of this mine before it collapsed that took my father and mother, and many others." She looked down sadly.

Frerin felt sorry for her.

She looked at him, "I'm Mera."

He nodded, "I'm Frerin."

Her eyes widened, "You mean…the Prince Frerin? From Erebor?"

He shrugged, "I guess so…it's no big deal."

"No big deal! You are a prince! That means there's going to be a huge rescue party…guards on their way!"

Frerin shook his head, "Don't tell them who I am. I don't know if they will come into the mine, my father had forbidden all to enter in this mine."

Mera's hopes and eyes lost her shine and her shoulders slumped, "Oh. That's right. Well, I guess we'll die…here."

Frerin nodded. "With these stinking bandits…"

He felt his head being smacked hard suddenly! "OW!"

"SHUT IT! YOU MAGGOTS!" Siban yelled at them before he yanked at the ropes that tied to Frerin close to him, "Move over there! You don't talk to each other!" He led Frerin away from the young female dwarfling but they managed to exchange looks before they were separated as she slipped something into his hand.

Frerin felt the heavy item in his hand; it was rough and he dared not looked for fear Siban caught it. He placed it in his pocket quickly and thought to look at it when he was alone at a later time.

Once again, he wished he had not made up the story about the gemstones in the mine; looked what it had gotten him and the others into!

He knew he was in a world of trouble with his father when the rescue party came for them…if they came at all.

"Come on Father!" Or better yet, "Thorin where are you? I hope you had not gone off in one of your journeys with our cousins!" He wondered for the hundredth time….

….

End of Chapter 4