Chapter Eight
"The dragon is gone. What should we do now? What happens if the dragon comes back?" asked Balin. "I doubt the dragon will come back. In the meantime, we will make for the armory." said Thorin, and everyone nodded. As Olora followed the Company, she felt very upset about what she had witnessed. It appeared Thorin had shown no signs of concern of his nephews, Bofur and Oin whom are still behind in Lake Town about to get fried by a dragon, and it angered her.
"Do I have to go the armory? Is there a room where I can stay for a little while?" Olora spoke up to Balin. Balin smiled. Even Thorin overheard Olora's question. "I'm glad you brought that up, Olora. There is no need to show her, Balin. I will take her to my grandmother's old room." said Thorin. Balin nodded. Good, Thorin is going to guide me, then we will talk! Olora thought, and Thorin walked away from the Company leaving them to the armory, as he strolled beside Olora. "Now that we're alone, Thorin, we need to talk." said Olora.
"What about love?" asked Thorin. "You don't seem to be at least concerned on whom is left behind in Lake Town are you?" said Olora.
"Olora, what are you getting at?" snapped Thorin, as they stopped as they stood in front of a door, that appeared to link to a chamber. "Fili, Kili, Bofur and Oin, you big LUG! Aren't you at least worried about them! They are going to be fried! Don't you understand that?!" Olora yelled. "Of course I'm worried about them, Olora! Why wouldn't I be?!" shot back Thorin. "You don't seem to be showing it! I hope you realize if they aren't going to make it back to the Mountain, we know whom the blames lays upon!" Olora said, as she turned away about to enter the chamber.
"Hold it right there, Olora! Are you blaming me for sending the dragon out? You were told not to wake the dragon, Olora! You and Bilbo both are the blame for this! We would've killed the dragon if he was still sleeping!" snapped Thorin. "Oh now you're blaming me and Bilbo for waking the dragon? Well excuse me that it cannot be helped that trotting on tons of gold can be noisy! There is gold everywhere you idiot! Its impossible not to wake a dragon while trotting on noisy gold coins!" Olora shouted.
"I'm not going to stand for this!" bellowed Thorin, as he walked away. "Well, I love you too, jack ass!" shouted Olora, as she entered the chambers, slamming the door behind her.
Thorin finally arrived at the armory, as he entered and the first thing he noticed was his grandfather's regal golden armor. Thorin smiled as he looked upon it, and he puts it on. Thorin then picked up a small mithril shirt as he approaches Bilbo. "Bilbo, this is a reward for your duties as a member of our company! It's a gift worthy of a prince!" said Thorin, as he handed over the shirt to the hobbit. Bilbo looked at the shirt, and then at Thorin. "Thank you." said Bilbo. "Well! Go ahead, put it on!" said Thorin.
Bilbo nodded as he removed his jacket and he puts on the mithril. "Where is Olora?" asked Bilbo. "She's resting in her chambers. Don't mention that woman's name to me." growled Thorin. "You and Olora didn't have another fight did you?" Bilbo called out as Thorin was about to walk away, and the dwarf stopped. "Thorin!" said Bilbo, firmly. Thorin turned to the hobbit. "Why does this concern you?" asked Thorin. "Because Olora is my friend, and I don't like seeing her hurt. She loves you, you know. Very much. She would walk fire for you, if she wanted too. She went all the way and brought your father back. She deserves something." said Bilbo, and he walked away from Thorin.
Thorin bowed his head. He is right, the Halfling is right. Why am I harboring so much anger towards her? I love her! thought Thorin.
Thorin decided to walk back towards the chamber where Olora had stayed in. By the time he reached the chamber, he knocked on the door. "Go away!" Olora called out from behind the door. "Olora, let me in please! We need to talk!" Thorin called out. "There is nothing to discuss! Leave me alone!" shouted Olora. "Olora, if you don't open the blasted door, I will knock it over!" Thorin demanded firmly. Suddenly, the door opened and Olora allowed Thorin to enter the large chamber.
"Well if you want to talk, talk!" said Olora sharply as she crossed her arms. "I like to apologize for earlier, I didn't mean to lash out like I did." said Thorin. "Thorin, tell me that you are concerned about your nephew's safety." said Olora. "I am, Olora, I am! I feel really bad for what happened? What do you expect me to do?" said Thorin gently. "I feel as guilty as all of you since I have to admit Bilbo and I did wake the dragon, which we didn't mean to, Thorin." said Olora.
Thorin took Olora's hands. "I know the two of you didn't mean to, Olora! Come, follow me to the treasury." said Thorin. "The treasury?" said Olora. "Yes." said Thorin, and the two of them leave the room, as they walked down the corridors. They soon entered the treasury, as they strolled among the mounds of gold. "Wait here." said Thorin, as he explored the treasury, rummaging through the treasury.
Olora could see a few of the other dwarves in the treasury, on the exception for Balin, Dwalin and Ori. Shortly, Thorin returned with something in his hands. "Close your eyes, Olora!" said Thorin. Olora closes her eyes. "Okay, you can open them now." said Thorin. Olora opened her eyes. Her eyes widened as she could see in Thorin's hands, a diamond necklace with rubies embedded in between and a large ruby in the center. "Thorin-its beautiful." Olora gasped, as she gazed at the necklace.
"Here, I'll put it on you!" said Thorin, as Olora turned around as he placed the necklace on her. "I'm not done yet." grinned Thorin. "What do you mean, Thorin?" asked Olora. Suddenly to Olora's surprise, Thorin knelt before her. "Olora, daughter of Tharkun, we've been through many rough times together-and I may not been at very good terms with you of late, but I love you, I've always loved you. Olora, what I am saying is, will you marry me, and become my queen?" asked Thorin. When Thorin asked this, it shocked her, and her mouth fell open.
She felt moved by Thorin's proposal, that tears slid down her cheek. Shortly, Olora smiled. "Yes, Thorin! I will marry you!" Olora replied, as she threw her arms around Thorin's neck. Thorin leaned towards Olora, brushing his lips over hers, embracing her with a kiss.
"Men lananubukhs menu, Olora!" whispered Thorin, as he kissed her neck. "I love you too, Thorin!" said Olora, softly. The next evening, a Raven named Roac flew for a visit with the dwarves, informing them of Smaug's death. Everyone cheered in delight. "HURRAY! The treasure is OURS!" the dwarves cheered and yelled. Olora cheered herself, as she threw her arms around Thorin in a big hug. But their little celebration quickly ended, when Roac continued speaking of the arrival of Bard and Thranduil, alongside with their Armies.
"In two days they will arrive in Dale to set up camp. And they will approach the gates to negotiate the shares you have promised the folk of Lake Town, and the necklace King Thranduil is inquiring." said Roac. Hearing this, angered Thorin tremendously. "You just tell the human and the tree shagging elf, the won't see ANY OF IT!" bellowed Thorin. Olora's eyes widened in shock and horror when she heard this. Thorin! You promised them! I stood there and heard you promise the people of Lake Town the gold to rebuild! Olora thought, as she could feel her heart sinking to her knees.
"This discussion is over!" bellowed Thorin, and he turned away and went inside the mountain, followed by Olora, Bilbo and the Company.
Thorin informed everyone before he went to the treasury that he wish not to be disturbed, and after that he wasn't to be seen again for a while. Olora felt her heart shattered to pieces seeing this. And she could see this sickness is forming in him now, and its progressively getting worse. Balin took notice of Olora's distress, and he sat beside her. "You are worried of Thorin, I can tell. You're not alone, lassie. He has worried me too. And its going to get much worse, I'm afraid." said Balin sadly.
"What are we going to do?" asked Olora. "I'm afraid there is nothing we can do, Olora. We tried everything when Thorin's Grandfather succumbed to it, and nothing had saved him. We even barricaded the Treasury, bue still found away of entering the Treasury." said Balin. "He's not going to be like this all the time is he?" asked Olora. "I don't know, Olora." said Balin, gravely. Olora stood up. "I'm going to retire to my chambers. If anyone needs me, you know where I am." said Olora. But no soon as she was about to leave the Great Hall, Fili, Kili, Oin and Bofur arrived.
"Fili! Kili! Bofur and Oin! You made it! Oh! I thought you would never make it!" cried out Olora. "We made it out just in time. Where is Uncle?" asked Fili.
"He's in the treasury, lads and he's going to be in there for quite a while. Just to be safe, I wouldn't bother him right now." said Balin. "What a way of coming home. Uncle has to be in the treasury!" grumbled Kili. "And you, Kili need to get your rest-I've seen you have recovered miraculously from your injuries, but still you need your rest." said Balin. "Yes, Kili! What's going on? There is no way you can heal that quick!" spoke up Dwalin. Kili closed his eyes and then he quickly looked at Fili. "We should tell them, Kee. They need to know." said Fili.
"The Elf King's Captain, Tauriel, came and she saved me. She used the kings foil or what the elves called it Athelas, to heal me! Please don't say anything to Uncle! He will get very angry if he finds out. I owe it to her. She saved my life-she didn't have too." said Kili. "An Elf? Saving your life? But why?" asked Nori. "Is she the ginger haired elf? The one you spoken to in the dungeons?" asked Dwalin, with a smirk on his face. "Yes, she is. So please, don't tell Uncle about this." said Kili.
"We won't tell him, laddie. Your secret is safe with us. It is a blessing that she came that she did! Otherwise, you would have never made it here." said Balin, smiling. "Now who's the mood for some tunes?!" called out Bofur, cheerfully as he took out his flute.
"I'll go and gather some instruments from the treasury! I'll be back!" said Dwalin, as he walked out of the Great Hall. Olora couldn't bear it anymore. She needed to talk to Thorin and tell him how she feels. It was difficult for her to hold it back. "Olora, where are you going?" asked Bilbo. "I'm going to talk to Thorin." said Olora. "Olora-be careful." said Bilbo. "Don't worry, Bilbo! I'll be fine! Its only going to be a couple minutes." said Olora, and she walked out of the Great Hall.
As Olora drew near the treasury, she could see Dwalin walk passed her carrying several musical instruments. A small smile appeared on her lips. And then she moved on, and she entered the treasury. She didn't know Fili and Kili, Bofur and Oin followed behind her. "Thorin? Do you have a minute?" asked Olora. "Olora, you've been told not to disturb me while I'm in here." snarled Thorin, with his back towards Olora. "Thorin, we need to talk. Its about what was discussed outside earlier today." said Olora.
"Olora, I'm in no mood to talk right now! Please LEAVE!" demanded Thorin. "Thorin, what's gotten into you?" snapped Olora. Suddenly, Thorin angrily lunged at Olora, and he grabbed her by the throat. "You were told to leave! DO AS I SAY!" bellowed Thorin, his voice echoing throughout the room.
"Stop it! You're hurting her!" shouted Fili as he and Kili charged into the treasury. Bofur quickly ran towards the Great Hall to tell the others what is going on. Thorin quickly dropped Olora, as she collapsed to the floor, now unconscious. Kili ran towards the woman, kneeling before her. "Oh, Mahal! She's not breathing!" exclaimed Kili. It didn't take long for the others to enter. "What's going on here?" demanded Dwalin, and to everyone's shock and horror, they see Olora laying on the mound of gold unconscious, and not breathing.
Fili told them what happened. "Dwalin, take Olora to her room! And have Oin go with you. The lads and I will deal with Thorin." said Balin. "No, I have nothing to say to him." said Kili, as he followed Dwalin and Oin out of the treasury. "And you, Thorin-you should be ashamed of yourself of lashing out on her like you had done. She only wanted to talk to you." said Balin. "Balin, if you and Fili don't leave, the two of you will be next." growled Thorin. "FINE!" shouted Fili, and he walked away, followed by Balin, who's head bowed sadly.