Hello again! I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas! :-) Here is the next chapter. I had a lot of fun writing this. I would love it if you would tell me what you thought of it. This chapter is longer than most just FYI. I do not own anything only the things I created. Please follow, favorite, and review. It would mean a lot to me.
"Gandalf it is too risky! How do we know for sure if she has changed?" Jaille asked. Gandalf and she were talking in a forest not too far from the others. The forest had a deathly feel to it. There were no living creatures scurrying around. All the plants were either dead or a dark dreary color. The grass was dark it looked as if someone had lit fire to the ground.
"Jaille you are going to have to trust me on this." Gandalf said perfectly calm. He just sat there blowing smoke rings from his long wooded pipe.
"She is working for the Necromancer! How can you trust her?" Gandalf motioned Jaille to lower her voice. Talking aloud of the Necromancer could attract attention from unwanted people.
"Your step sister is on our side, you are just going to have to trust me. We need supplies and Varanton is closest. You will do as I say Jaille, understood? Jaille said nothing; she gave Gandalf a stern look. Jaille simply nodded her head, though she did not like being associating with Katrina one bit. "Good. Now you must go ahead and make sure there are no enemy spies. Katrina will let you know when we may enter Varanton. Once she has told you it is safe come and get the rest of us." Gandalf stood up, put on his pointy grey hat and then walked away leaving Jaille alone.
Jaille began to run towards the area where she would meet Katrina. She had her dagger drawn out. Everyone in a while she would stop and listen. Jaille had the feeling as if someone was watching her.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is. How have you been dear sister?" Jaille stopped in her tracks. She turned around slowly. Her grip on the dagger began to tighten.
"Katrina I was looking for you." Jaille forced herself to smile.
"Jaille please don't do this. The city is spy free for now. You must come in quick otherwise it could be some days until I am able to let you in."
"Alright, I'll just go on back to tell the others the good news." Jaille was about to walk away but then Katrina grabbed her arm.
"Jaille wait. Is it true?"
"Is what true?" Jaille knew exactly what Katrina wanted to know. She knew that Katrina would be very upset.
"Is it true that my husband is dead? Please tell me the truth." Katrina's eyes were starting to water. Jaille hesitated to answer, but she decided to anyway.
"Yes he is dead. Ratchet killed Tom." A few tears came from Katrina but she forced herself to stop. She could not come off week.
"Once you come to the castle Jaille I need to talk to you." Jaille nodded and then disappeared into the trees. Once Katrina knew she was completely alone she sat down and began to sob. "I will make you pay Ratchet. You took my husband away from me. Never have you made such a big mistake. Aghhhh! I'm going to kill you!" The trees, bushes and grass where on fire. Katrina soon got a grip and began to sob again.
"It's safe." Jaille said. Some of the Dwarves were startled by her. No one had seen Jaille come. "We must leave." Everyone stood up. They gathered the little supplies they had and they were off.
They came up to a massive wall that was surrounding Varanton. It was easily at least fifteen ft. high. There were no guards anywhere to be seen. No torches were alit. Varanton seemed lifeless. A dark cloaked figure stood at the opposite side of the wall. The figure raised the black iron gate with magic and let the company in.
"Where is everyone?" Nori asked.
"Shhh! We cannot talk here." Said the figure. Thorin had grown greatly suspicious of the figure. He did not trust whoever it was.
They walked through Varanton without talking. No one dared to say anything. You could hear the Dwarves heavy walking. Their boots made an echoing noise against the stone ground. None of the houses were lit. no inns were open. The pubs were empty. It seemed as if they were the only ones in Varanton. It felt as if they were the only ones alive.
Eventually they came to the castle. Thorin had not been in Varanton for some time. The last time he was here was when he met Jaille. The figure muttered some words and the black iron gate opened. They all stepped inside. The gate then shut almost making no noise at all.
"Can we speak now?" Ori whispered.
"Shhh! Hold your tongue Ori." Gandalf hissed.
The castle was all dark on the inside. There were no lights shining. You were just able to see what was in front of you. Gandalf did not dare shine a light from his staff. He knew very dark things lived in the kingdom. The figured then opened two doors and let the company inside a room. Once everyone was inside the figure shut the door.
"Lumière." Said the figure and instantly the room lit up. The figure pulled down the hood of its cloak to reveille that it was Katrina Oalkson.
"I apologize for the secrecy. The spies may be gone but other dark things lurk here." No one said anything. "My name is Katrina Oalkson. I am the queen of Varanton." Again it was silent.
"Why do you have spies?" Fili asked.
"They are spies of Ratchets. They make sure certain people do not enter this kingdom. Usually they are out at night." Katrina replied.
"Where is everyone?" Ori asked Katrina.
"In their homes, hiding in the dark. They are afraid."
"Afraid of what, you?" Thorin snapped. Now like I said earlier Thorin had not been in Varanton for some time. The last time he was he was being held prisoner. Katrina had been the one who put him there.
"No. they are afraid of Ratchet. You have not seen Ratchet's full form, only part of him. Those who step out of line he kills."
"Why aren't you dead?" asked Kili.
"Ratchet considers me his ally, a loved one. Though I am neither. Now get some rest. We will talk more tomorrow." Jaille was going to go be with Thorin but Katrina motioned for her.
"The last time I was in this library you arrested me." Jaille said coldly. The two sisters were now sitting by a fireplace in the library.
"Well I'm not going to arrest you, and would you stop playing these games! This is a time to be serious." Jaille just stared at Katrina. "What are you doing with these Dwarves?"
"Helping them get back their home."
"Is it really that? Or is it something more than that?"
"I do not understand what you mean Katrina."
"I remember you saying you do not care for the Dwarf Thorin Oakenshield, yet now I do not know if this is so true."
"What of it? Do you have a problem with me caring about Thorin?"
"No, but I do not think a secret marriage was wise."
"Who told you?" Jaille was going through her mind wondering how someone told Katrina.
"Krin did. I also know about Thraeon." Jaille's eyes immediately widened when Katrina said Thraeon. She remembered the day she gave Thraeon up to Krin. Tears started to fall. She had not seen the child in six years. At times she wanted to see Thraeon and at times she did not. "I will not say anymore but I will let you know Thraeon is here and I suggest you and Thorin see her before you leave. Well goodnight and we will talk more tomorrow." Katrina then left Jaille alone.
Jaille sat in a chair just thinking and wondering what was going to happen tomorrow. Katrina seemed to know more about Jaille's past then Jaille knew herself. Katrina was right. Thorin and her secretly getting married were most unwise.
Jaille stood up, took the lantern and left the room. She went inside the room with the company. Only Thorin was awake.
"How was your talk with Katrina?" Thorin asked. Thorin was blowing his pipe by the fireplace. Jaille wanted to tell Thorin everything but she didn't.
"It went fine, though she was mainly talking."
"You still do not trust her do you?"
"Do you blame me? She killed my mother and stepfather. She wanted me dead. Katrina was the reason I went into hiding." Jaille was clenching her fist. Her jaw began to tighten. There were only two reasons why Jaille had not killed Katrina was because of Gandalf and she wanted to know more about Thraeon.
"I do not trust her either Jaille, though I seem to remember someone telling me to trust Gandalf's decisions."
"I seem to remember you simply ignored me." Jaille smiled. Thorin and Jaille where now in the dreary hallway all alone.
"I'm not ignoring you now." Thorin whispered. Thorin leaned in and began to kiss Jaille. Thorin wanted more though. They were able to spend time alone and Thorin was not going to waste it. "Is there somewhere we can go alone?" Thorin whispered in Jaille's ear.
"We are alone Thorin."
"You know what I mean Jaille." Jaille lead Thorin to a bedroom. They went inside and Thorin closed the door.
"Better?" Jaille asked Thorin.
"Much better."
The sun began to shine through the window. Jaille opened her eyes and they began to adjust to the light. She slipped out of the bed and entered the bathroom. Jaille looked at herself in the mirror. Jaille wondered why on earth Thorin would pick her. Her dark hair was all greasy. Her face was covered in dirt and dried up blood. Jaille didn't particularly smell the best but everyone in the company smelled bad. They all had gotten used to it. Jaille cleaned herself up and decided to go looking around the old castle.
Even in the day the castle was still dark and gloomy. Jaille walked over to window and looked out. The city was still lifeless. No one was out and about.
"They're still hiding." Jaille jumped up. She turned around and there was Katrina. Jaille got a much better look at her step sister. Her blonde hair had strands of grey. Her face did not look old yet it had aged. Katrina's ice cold blue eyes had dark circles underneath them. She looked as if someone had drained the life out of her.
"What happened to you?" Jaille questioned. It hurt Jaille to see Katrina like this. All lifeless and dreary. You could see Katrina was breaking on the inside and it was starting to affect her appearance.
"Magic ages you sister." That was partly true but there was of course more to the truth.
"There is something else Katrina."
"That is not your business. Come breakfast is ready." Katrina then started to walk away. Jaille hesitated to follow. She decided to anyways.
"I assume Thorin and you will want to see Thraeon." Katrina took a sip of her tea.
"We will not be seeing the child at all." Jaille replied.
"May I ask why?" Katrina knew Jaille was hiding something. Not just from her but also from Thorin.
"It is not your business." Jaille said coldly
"Thorin does not know of the child. Am I correct?"
"Yes you are correct. He has no idea the child exists." Katrina did not say anything. "I plan on telling Thorin about Thraeon once Erebor has been reclaimed."
"Will you then announce your marriage? Will you then come out of hiding? Jaille, Thraeon has cursed blood, and so do you. Ratchet could easily kill both of you once you make things public. You made the foolish mistake of having a child. You knew the child would live a cursed life! Why did you not wait?"
"I don't know! It just sort of happened! I wanted to just die when I found out I was bearing a child. Do you not think this kills me Katrina?"
"You must tell Thorin about the child. You must tell him everything."
"I will tell him everything once Erebor is reclaimed."
"Jaille there is a very high chance neither of you will return. Dark things will happen in the future. Things that most will not survive."
"I will talk to him about it. I would prefer to meet Thraeon before I tell Thorin about her." Jaille requested.
"As you wish." Katrina answered. The two sisters stood up and Katrina led Jaille down a long dark hallway. This hallway was gloomier then the other ones Jaille had seen. This one had many weeping angel statues down the hallway. All were in different positions. It seemed as if they would move every time you looked away or blinked. There was a white door with a gold handle at the end of the hallway. Two voices could be heard from inside. One of the voices was an adult woman. The other voice was of a young girl. "Wait here. I will let you know when you can come in." Katrina opened the door and slipped inside. A woman stepped out of the room. She gave Jaille a smile and then walked away. Jaille felt as if she had been waiting for days. Eventually Katrina stepped out of the room.
"Now Jaille, I have been telling Thraeon for some years that you and her father will return." Jaille nodded. "And also she is very friendly. Just like you once were."
"Can we just go inside?" Jaille wanted to get this over with. Katrina opened the door and they both stepped inside.
Inside the room was a young girl. With long dark wavy hair and bright blue eyes. Jaille instantly thought she looked like Thorin.
"Thraeon," Katrina started. "This is your mother Jaille." Thraeon looked right at Jaille. Jaille began to walk towards Thraeon slowly.
"Thraeon…" Jaille's eyes began to water. Thraeon walked up to Jaille and said,
"Are you my mother?" Jaille bent down on her knees. She was now face to face with her daughter.
"Yes. Yes Thraeon I am your mother." Tears started to fall from Jaille's eyes. "I am your mother." Thraeon then wrapped her arms around Jaille. Jaille returned a hug back. Jaille started to cry. They were tears of sadness and happiness.
"Why were you gone so long?" Thraeon asked her mother. Thraeon looked up at Jaille. Thraeon didn't like it when people were sad. It always made her feel uncomfortable, and she knew sometimes all people need is a hug.
"I have been on a quest." Jaille obviously could not tell Thraeon the real reason why she was gone. She did not want to put such heavy burdens on a small child.
"Well will you now tell Thorin about Thraeon?" Katrina asked Jaille. They were both standing outside on a balcony that overlooked Varanton.
"Eventually." Jaille replied. She was watching the lifeless city. The only noises that were being made were Jaille and Katrina, and the cold bitter wing howled in the dead trees. "Are they still hiding?"
"Yes and that's not what we are discussing. I suggest you tell Thorin now. You guys will most likely be leaving soon." Katrina stood up and went inside the castle.
"Katrina!" Jaille said as she went inside. Right as Jaille turned around the corner she ran into Thorin. "Thorin."
"I've been looking for you." Thorin's voice was low and he seemed upset.
"I apologize. I have been talking to Katrina and…" Jaille looked down the hall towards Thraeon's room. She knew in the end she should tell Thorin.
"And?" Thorin turned Jaille's head so they faced each other. Their eyes met for a second and Jaille quickly looked down at her feet. "Is something wrong?"
"We need to talk. I haven't been completely honest with you." Jaille told Thorin her story. She told him about her cursed blood and about Ratchet. Jaille took a deep breath and then told Thorin about Thraeon.
"A child? That's not possible Jaille." Thorin was trying to remember a possible time where Jaille could have been pregnant.
"Think about it Thorin. A child is possible." Replied Jaille.
"Why did you not tell me Jaille?"
"I was trying to protect both of you and I knew there could be no connection between you and the child. People would jump to conclusions, and if they found out I was the mother; out people would go to war. You know the bad blood between our kinds! I did not want to lose both of you. If Ratchet found out he would kill you and Thraeon." They stood there in silence. Jaille couldn't even look at Thorin. She felt horrible that she had kept this from Thorin.
"Does Thraeon know she has a father?" Thorin managed to say. His words were stiff.
"Yes, Thraeon knows she has a father." Jaille replied. "Why do you even care? You told me you did not want a child."
"Jaille having a child at that time was foolish. It's easier to hide a marriage, then to hide a child."
"You could have stopped it from happening Thorin!" Thorin's jaw and muscles tightened. He was trying to control his temper.
"This is not my fault! You choose to marry me! Maybe I should have never asked you." Thorin roared. Thorin had grabbed Jaille's shoulders. He then pushed her against the wall. Jaille slowly sank to the ground as Thorin when to sit on a chair. Jaille began to sob quietly. Her shoulder began to hurt from Thorin squeezing them.
"Please Thorin forgive me. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I am so sorry." Thorin said nothing. Jaille wished she never had told Thorin. Thorin soon relaxed. He couldn't be upset with Jaille. Thorin felt as if he could nothing right. "I just wanted you to at least meet her."
"Show me her. Let me see Thraeon." Thorin mumbled. Thorin looked over at Thorin. His back was facing her. "Show me our child Jaille."
"Alright I will. But you must tell Fili and Kili as well. Especially Fili. He needs to know the truth." Fili needed to know why Jaille left Thorin. Fili found out about Jaille not long after Thorin and she got married. He was happy for Thorin that he found someone (even though he thought Jaille could use some facial hair).
"Fine I will tell them. Only because it will end the petty feud between you and Fili."
Jaille then lead Thorin down the long dark hallway. Her heart began to beat faster and faster, the closer they got to Thraeon's room. They stopped once they got to the door.
"Just to let you know she is very friendly and clingy." Jaille said cautiously. She didn't know exactly how Thorin would react to Thraeon.
"Do you think I don't like friendly people Jaille?" Thorin asked.
"No, no. I'm just letting you know." Jaille opened the door and then slipped inside. She then opened the door a few minutes later and let Thorin in.
"Thraeon this is your father Thorin." Thorin came in and he saw Thraeon. There standing in front of him was his daughter. He didn't know exactly what to say or do. Just then Fili and Kili ran into the room.
"Awww she's so cute!" Kili blurted out. "She must get her looks from Jaille not you uncle." Thorin turned around and glared at his nephew. "Just kidding." Kili smiled at Thorin. "I'm actually not." Kili whispered to Jaille.
"How did you know? How did you know the child was ours?" Jaille asked Kili.
"We overheard you talking to Thorin." Began Fili. "And we heard everything. I would like to apologize Jaille. I shouldn't have been rude."
"Fili I don't blame you, and I forgive you." Jaille went over to Fili and gave him a hug. Fili hesitated at first to hug her back, but his conscience gave in.
"Thorin was now sitting in a chair with Thraeon on his lap. Thraeon was talking to Thorin about what she does for fun. Thorin was nodding and smiling at Thraeon. He could tell that Thraeon could get very lonely.
"What do the others think we're doing?" Jaille asked Kili and Fili. She was smiling at her husband. Seeing him like this made her so happy.
"They probably think you and Thorin are having "alone" time. And they probably think Fili and I are up to no good. Katrina is talking to them right now." Jaille couldn't help but laugh. Fili and Kili were definitely known for getting into trouble. Thraeon had now gotten out of Thorin's lap and ran over to Fili and Kili.
"Who are you?" She asked them. Her bright blue eyes looked right at Kili.
"I'm Kili, and this is my brother Fili. We are your cousins." Of course Thraeon didn't know exactly what it meant to be cousins with someone. She just knew it meant family.
"Do you want to play with me?" Thraeon had a huge grin on her face. Showing all her little teeth.
"Sure!" Kili responded. Thraeon grabbed both Fili and Kili's hands and they left the room. They were walking down the hall. Going pass the weeping angel statues. Kili then stopped and had a smirk on his face. He knelt down to Thraeon and whispered to her.
"Don't blink. Whatever you don't blink. If you look away or blink the statues will come after you… and then they'll kill you! We better run." Kili then picked Thraeon up and ran down the hall. Fili was running after his brother and had a smile on his face. It felt good to be a kid again.
Now it was dark out and it was time for sleep. Thorin and Jaille had gotten ready for bed and was now lying on the bed facing each other.
"Jaille I'm sorry about what happened earlier. I shouldn't have let my temper get the best of me. Will you please forgive me?" Thorin's voice was soft and gentle.
"Yes Thorin I will forgive you. I'm as well. Have we cleared everything up now?" Jaille asked Thorin. Part of her hair had fallen in front of her face. Thorin brushed away the strand of dark hair.
"Yes everything has been cleared up." Thorin pulled Jaille closer to him. "Everything is okay." Jaille put her hand in Thorin's hand. Her hand was quite small compared to Thorin's.
"Thraeon really likes you." Jaille said.
"She's six years old, she will like anyone." Thorin smiled at his wife. Jaille was now right next to Thorin. "You know I love you Jaille."
"I know you do, but I love you more." Thorin pressed his lips against Jaille's forehead.
"I love you most. Do not ever forget how much I love you. No matter what happens Jaille Pearson. I will always love you." Not long after Jaille fell asleep in Thorin's arms. Thorin thought about the child. Being a father would be no easy task. Being a husband was hard enough. How could he be both? And also a king. Well he soon would be king. Thorin soon drifted off to sleep.
The company had now been staying in Varanton for a little over a week. They were told to stay inside the castle at all times. There were moments were Katrina had to lock them in a room just to keep them away from Ratchet's minions.
"Gandalf you must leave now!" Katrina ran into the library were Gandalf was talking to was talking to Balin. Gandalf looked up at Katrina and took his pipe out of his mouth.
"He is here isn't he?" Gandalf's voice was deep and emotionless. Though he was very afraid.
"Yes, Ratchet is here. You all must leave now." The company was now trying to get ready and leave as fast as they could. Ratchet would be here in less than thirty minutes. They needed to get out of Varanton and as far away as possible.
"Must you go father?" Thraeon asked Thorin. Thorin was getting his things ready. He bent down on his knees and was now face to face with Thraeon. He put his hand on Thraeon's cheek and spoke.
"I promise Thraeon I will come back, and when I do you will come to live with your mother and I in a new home. I promise I will return." Thorin kissed Thraeon on the head and gave her a hug. Thorin let go and kissed the child one more time. He stood up, grabbed Ocrist and left. He couldn't look back at Thraeon, it hurt far to much. Thraeon began to cry as her father walked away.
Jaille was about to leave, but Katrina stopped her. Katrina held onto Jaille's arm tightly. "Did you say goodbye to Thraeon?" The sister's eyes met. Both giving each other cold stares.
"Yes I did. Now please let go of me. I need to go." Katrina let go of Jaille's arm. Jaille then opened the wooden door and was about to leave until Katrina said,
"Jaille I want you to know I took the cursed blood out of you and Thraeon. It is now in me."
"Katrina," Jaille began. Katrina then pushed Jaille out the door.
"Go the company needs you." Katrina shut the door and Jaille ran off towards the others. Katrina stood on a balcony and saw Ratchet enter the city. "So Ratchet the Destroyer has come. His biggest mistake."