Chapter 7

The next few weeks went by in a rush. Thorin and Bella spend most of the time in each other's company. Bella had long forgotten about the kidnapping and Thorin had forgotten about the letter and the bribery, in fact they had forgotten about everything around them. Thorin's crew and the citizen took it with amusement, even Dwalin had to admit that he had been wrong about the princess.

Sometime the news of an upcoming wedding spread in the whole village and everybody helped with the preparations. Bella and Thorin completely ignored preparations, they just enjoyed the time they spent together.

Bella had actually forgotten about her kidnapping and arranged marriage with king Smaug and Thorin had quite forgotten about the ransom letter. All the greater was the surprise when an answer to the letter reached the pirate fort Erebor, in form of king Smaug and his fleet.

Smaug's fleet moored off the island, close enough to attach. Dwalin had entered the quarters, where Thorin and Bella had been, wheezing and rattling. The news of the siege had barely left Dwalin's mouth, as Thorin jumped out of his chair and ran outside.

Bella tried to follow him, but he stopped abruptly, turned around and grabbed her shoulders: "You have to stay here, it is too dangerous for you out there! I could never forgive myself if anything happened to you!"

He kissed her and reached for the necklace that hung around his neck. With a firm tug, he detached the necklace and gave it to Bella. She admired the fine worked silver necklace with a little key attached to it, before Thorin started speaking again: "This is the key to my journal. It is in my private quarter in a drawer in my desk. It shall be yours if something happens to me tonight. It shall remind you of me and of our love. Take it and keep it. And promise me that you won't follow me!"

Bella's throat was constricted and she could barely manage a nod. Thorin gave her a loving smile, before he kissed her in assurance and finally left, together with his impatient comrade.

As soon as they were out of sight, Bella hurried to the captain's private quarters, clutching the key in her hand. It didn't take long for her to find the journal and as soon as she held it in her hands, she run to one of the balcony from which she could overlook the village and haven.

The people were in utter panic now, they rushed through the streets and barricaded themselves in their homes and houses. Children were crying and men were trying to reach the haven and canons. But before any of them could reach the Arkenstone, the fleet opened the fire and Bella saw how the Arkenstone was completely torn apart by the force of the canon balls. The other ships and defences followed shortly after and big parts of the little town were destroyed as well.

The first tenders were lowered into the water and countless soldiers approached the coast of the pirate fortress. Many sank before they could send a food on dry land. As soon as the first soldiers reached the coast, the fight on land began.

From her position, Bella could barely make out if it were foe or friend, who was killed by swords and sabers.

At first, the residents fought brave. They pushed the soldiers back and prevented them from progressing, but more and more foes reached the coast and their number increased. Eventually their numbers got to big and the defenders were forced to retreat. Some of them even managed to break the ranks and they stormed, led by their king, up the hill towards the estate.

Bella left the balcony and looked around for a place to hide or something to defend herself with. She hid the journal in her dress and wanted to rush to the door, when it was already opened.

"Your majesty, you are well" Said a greasy voice.

The man dashed forward and reached for her.

"Don't you dare touching me!" Screamed she.

"Princess, there is no need for you to fear me. Me, as your soon to be husband, would never harm you."

"Do not come closer!"

But king Smaug ignored hear, grabbed her arm and pulled her with him. "Stop struggling, we are here to free you from the pirates' clutches."

Smaug ignored her nagging and attempts to break free and pulled her with ease behind him. The village was calm, the battle seemed to be over and Bella had to close her eyes at the countless corpses whose blood turned the ground in deep red.

She was escorted to one of the tenders which brought her and Smaug to the flag ship. On board, she was greeted by a terrible sight. Tied up, on his knees and bloody was none other than the pirate captain himself. He looked up at her startled gasp and silently motioned her to stay calm and quiet.

"Don't worry, dear, this pirate will never hurt you again." Insisted Smaug who wrapped his arm around her. Thorin's eyes narrowed in anger and bloodlust and were fixated on Smaug.

After the fleet had sailed for quite some time, Thorin was roughly grabbed and led to a previously assembled plank. Smaug motioned his men to throw him into the raging sea and Bella had to watch helplessly. Her and Thorin's gaze met a last time and Bella had almost thrown herself at him, but his gaze spoke volumes. She shouldn't do anything stupid and as one of the soldiers stepped behind Thorin, Bella hid her face in her hands, she just couldn't endure the sight of her drowning love.

When the fleet arrived Smaug's kingdom, the relief to see the princess alive was great. In honour of the brave and great Smaug a joyous festival was celebrated, only Mella didn't take part in it. Despite all of Bella's pleas, a wedding was arranged and celebrated, another big spectacle for the people.

Smaug, who had not only hoped for a bond between two kingdoms, but for a beautiful wife who could gave him lots of heirs, was disappointed. He was not given a single heir, nor a woman who respected or silently submitted him.

Soon Smaug got tired of her and ignored her completely, her turned his attentions on royal duties and other, more promising women. Bella didn't care at all, the lesser time she had to be with the murderer of the love, the better.

One evening Smaug returned drunk and in need for a woman, only to find his wife dead on the floor. In her hand was a closed book, a key on a silver necklace in its lock.

The cause of the queen's death was not clearly determinable. Except a few minor bruises she had no external injuries nor had she been ill.

Nobody could even guess that the reason for her departure was a broken and lonely hurt that was desperately searching for his other half.

On the same evening, several residents of the neighbouring fishing village said they had seen a ghostly ship at the haven. It had anchored there and on the dock had been standing a bearded man with long dark hair with braids in it, he had been wearing a blood red coat, black boots and a black hat with a single red feather on it and his piercing sea blue eyes seemed to search for something. He hadn't move from his spot until the silhouette of a woman with long blond hair and dressed in a plain white dress ran down the planks. The fisher said, that the two figures had embraced each other with tears in their eyes and together they went on board.

The ship had finally cleared the anchor and silently left the harbour and disappeared at the horizon.


Well, that's it.

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