Chapter Eleven
Thorin and the Company continued their search, when all of sudden, a group of Elves, led by Legolas and Tauriel surrounded them. This is what I was trying to avoid! I cannot win for losing, thought Thorin, as he could see an arrow pointed at him. "Don't make me have to kill you, dwarf!" hissed Legolas. "What is the meaning of this?!" growled Dwalin. Legolas turned to Tauriel and the other elves. "Search them!" The Elf Prince ordered Tauriel and the other elves.
Legolas snatched Thorin's sword Orcrist from him. "Not only you're a liar, but a thief as well. Where did you find this?!" demanded Legolas. "Its none of your business, ELF!" snapped Thorin. "This is made in Gondolian. My kin!" gasped Legolas. Suddenly the Elf Prince tossed the sword aside, and he turned his attention to Gloin. Legolas reached for Gloin's locket, snatching it away from the dwarf. "HEY! That is private!" growled Gloin. The Elf Prince opened the locket to see portraits of his wife and his son, Gimli inside.
"Who is this? Your brother?" asked Legolas. "No, that is my wife!" snarled Gloin.
"And who is this ugly creature? An orc mutant?"
"That is my wee lad, Gimli!" snapped Gloin, angrily. Legolas looked at Tauriel at the other elves. "Take them to my father for questioning!" Legolas ordered Tauriel and the rest of the elves in his native language. And the Company found themselves in the custody of the elves, something that Thorin had tried to avoid, but failed. As they entered the palace, all Thorin thought about was Belle, wondering where she is, praying that she is safe.
As they entered the Throne Room, they could see the Elf King sitting on his Throne, and he stood up and approached them, asking many questions.
During the interrogation, Balin spoke up. "There is one question I like to ask of you Elf King. There is a member of our company that means a lot to us, a Halfling woman. Her name is Belle, Belle Baggins!" spoke up Balin. Hearing this, Thranduil smirked. "Ah, yes. The Halfling. We have found her. She's in our dungeons right now, since she refused to answer my questions about some of you." said The Elf King.
"You better not lay a hand on her!" barked Thorin, angrily stepping forward.
"Oh, and you're defending her? Is there something I should know, Thorin son of Thrain? I see that she is wearing dwarven courtship braids, so I take it you and this Halfling are in courtship?" asked Thranduil. "That is none of your damn business, ELF!" snapped Thorin angrily. "Apparently this Halfling of yours is blind. Its quite sad and unfortunate she hasn't yet seen your true form, especially when you reach the Mountain." said Thranduil, icily.
Thorin growled. How did Thranduil know of their quest? He prayed that Belle didn't tell him, unless Thranduil forced it out of her. After a while of questioning, Thorin and the rest of the Company are sent to the dungeons. The Company noticed there is no sign of Bilbo at all. Tauriel placed Thorin in his cell, luckily in the same cell as Belle's. Which Tauriel had intentionally done, although it was against her King's orders. Thranduil didn't want Thorin in the same cell as Belle.
"Wait-didn't Thranduil just order you not to put me in with Belle?" asked Thorin, looking at the ginger haired she-elf questionly. Tauriel smiled. "I don't care what my King says. Its time that you two should reunite-and besides you have to patch things up with her." said Tauriel. "What do you mean?" asked Thorin, sharply.
"She told me of the issues between you and her before leaving Ered Mithrin. I am praying that this is a misunderstanding, Thorin son of Thrain. If not, you will be getting an arrow shot to heart!" said Tauriel, sternly. "Are you threatening me?!" snapped Thorin. "No, I'm warning you. What has happened between the two of you needs to be resolved, otherwise your quest is going to fail." said Tauriel, locking up his cell and walked away.
Thorin turned around, and he could see Belle curled up in a corner of the cell sleeping. Thorin closed his eyes and sighed. "Did you make a deal, Thorin?" asked Balin from a cell next to Thorin's. "No. I told him to go rot in hell you piece of shit!" Thorin hissed. Balin's eyes widened at Thorin's words. "Swearing at this elf is not getting us anywhere, laddie!" snapped Balin. Thorin snorted. "Is Belle with you, Uncle?!" called out Fili. "Yes, she is here. She's asleep!" Thorin called back. Kili closed his eyes and sighed. "Thank, Mahal!" said Kili softly.
An hour later, Belle woke up. When she sat up, she could see Thorin sitting in front of her cross legged. Thorin turned to Belle. "Belle, you're awake!" exclaimed Thorin softly. "Don't touch me. You're lucky I haven't slapped you right now." growled Belle.
"Belle, listen about Nedina-you have to believe me when I tell you there is nothing between us. I got into a nasty argument with Lord Nul before we left. I should have listened to Balin, and avoided going there, after I found out what Nul's plans were." said Thorin. "So you still love me?" asked Belle. "Of course I love you, Belle. Belle, before you left, I was going to your room to sing you a song I composed for you. I never got to do that, because you left." said Thorin.
"You wrote a song about me?!" chuckled Belle. Thorin nodded. "Thorin, you didn't have to do that." said Belle. Thorin pulled Belle into his arms. "I wanted to-to tell you how I feel for you." said Thorin softly. "Can you sing the song for me now?" asked Belle. "I would, but I don't have a harp with me at the moment." said Thorin. "You can just sing with just your voice for now." insisted Belle. Thorin smiled. "Alright." said Thorin. As Belle laid her head upon Thorin's broad chest, Thorin closed his eyes, as he started to sing.
The words of Thorin's song moved her, and she could feel tears sliding down her cheek. She could tell that Thorin went through much effort of writing this song, and she could tell he really, truly loved her. When Thorin finished his song, Belle wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her lips onto Thorin's, embracing him in a kiss.
Thorin in return, given her a longer kiss. "I love you, azuygal!" Thorin whispered to Belle. "I love you too, Thorin!" said Belle, feeling quite delighted to lay in her dwarf's arms again. "Thorin?" said Belle.
"Yes?"
"Have you seen or heard from my brother?" asked Belle. "No, I haven't seen him since we arrived here, Belle." said Thorin sadly. "Do you think he will come for us?" said Belle. "I surely hope so, Belle." said Thorin. While Thorin slept, Belle remained awake, and she could hear a conversation between Kili and Tauriel. Belle chuckled softly to herself at this. Kili, I swear, we cannot take you anywhere without you flirting with an Elf woman, Belle thought grinning. Belle had thought of teasing Kili, once they figure out a way out of the dungeons, because she never forgotten the little incident in Rivendell with the elves there and Kili.
The next morning, Belle and Thorin sat and spoken quietly with Balin. Suddenly, they could hear a familiar voice speaking to them. Belle thought she would never hear that voice again. It was Bilbo! "BROTHER!" Belle cried out to Bilbo. "Shh! I'm here to get all of you out of here! I have a plan!" whispered Bilbo as he took the keys unlocking their cell door, as Thorin and Belle stepped out.
After releasing the rest of the Company, Bilbo led them into the wine cellar where they could see many barrels. "Is this your idea of an escape plan?" snarled Dwalin. "Bilbo, you know some of us cannot swim! Is there any other way?" said Belle. "Belle, its either this way, or staying locked up in the dungeons!" hissed Bilbo. "Into the barrels, now!" demanded Thorin. "Thorin, you and Belle will share this one! Climb in quickly!" said Bilbo.
As they climbed in, Belle looked at her brother. "What about you, brother?" asked Belle. "I will catch up with your shortly!" said Bilbo. Once Bilbo had seen that everyone is in their barrels, Bilbo approached a lever and pulled it. The trap door of the cellar opened, releasing the barrels into the river. Bilbo realized a mistake he made when the door closed after the last barrel went in, and him still standing there. He could hear elves shouting in the background.
Bilbo quickly pulled the lever again, and jumped into the water. Belle peeked over her barrel, as she looked for her brother. "Bilbo! Over here! Swim to our barrel and grab it!" Belle called out. And Bilbo listened to Belle's orders as he swam to Thorin and Belle's barrel, grabbing it. "Hold on tight, and don't let go!" said Belle. Bilbo nodded.
Suddenly the ride came to a halt when they could see a closed gate in front of them. "Damn it!" shouted Thorin in his language. Belle moaned when she saw Legolas and some elves on top of a bridge behind them. But it wasn't the elves that bothered her however. It was the orcs attacking the group of elves. "Great! We're on the run from elves and orcs!" exclaimed Belle. Suddenly, Belle saw Kili jumping out of his barrel.
Kili is trying to make for the lever on top of the bridge that would open the closed gate.
As Kili climbed the stairs, two arrows struck the dwarf prince in the knee, and the young dwarf yelped and fell. "KILI!" Belle, Thorin and Fili cried out. Slowly Kili stood up, and two orcs stalked behind the dwarf preparing to assault him and Legolas. "BEHIND YOU!" Thorin shouted to Legolas and Kili. Belle looked at Thorin in surprise. I cannot believe this, he's saving the elf prince too? For someone who despises elves, he is protecting Legolas? This is a shocker! Belle thought. Tauriel leapt out and killed the orcs whom was about to attack Kili and Legolas.
Kili finally reached the top of the bridge, and he pulled the lever, opening the gate, setting free the barrels. When that was done, Kili jumped back into his barrel before the barrel floated away from him.
The pain in Kili's knees increased, as he landed in his barrel. "Kili?" called out Fili. Fili could see his brother is seriously injured and it worried him tremendously. Two hours later, the Company finally made it to land. Thorin had resolved that everyone should remove their clothing, so the clothes would dry off. Everyone complied, except for Belle. "Belle, aren't you going to undress?" asked Thorin.
"And you're out of your cotton picking mind, Thorin? Can't you see that I'm only one female here? There is no way I'm going to stand in nothing but my underwear in front of fourteen males!" scoffed Belle. Thorin realized and understood of Belle's concern, but also felt worried of her health too. "Belle, I don't want you to get sick. Your brother already has came down with a nasty cold." said Thorin. "I'm fine, Thorin. Until we get to Lake Town, I'm keeping my clothes on." said Belle stubbornly.
Kili slowly sat down on a rock, as Fili ran towards him, fussing over his brother's injuries. "Kee, you're injured-by a morgal blade. This isn't good." said Fili, gravely. "I'm fine, Fili. Its only a scratch." protested Kili softly. "Just a scratch my foot! Kili, that looks more than just a scratch!" snapped Belle. "Belle, I didn't ask for your two coins!" shot back Kili.
Belle chuckled. "You're about as stubborn as your Uncle, you know that?" said the hobbit, crossing her arms. "And you can be a real pain in the-!" began Kili, when suddenly Kili stopped when he took notice of a man dressed in a brown coat, aiming his arrow at the company. The dwarf prince was about to throw a rock at him, when the man spoke. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, dwarf, unless you are wanting to get shot at." spoken the dark haired man.
"How dare you just show up like this out of the blue? This dwarf is injured, and you have the nerve to threaten us?!" barked Belle. "Belle, lassie, let me handle this." said Balin gently, placing a hand on Belle's shoulder. Balin began to speak to this man, whom is named Bard. And they worked out a deal where Bard will allow the company to board his ferry that will take them to Lake Town.
A/N: Words written in Italics are languages spoken by the characters.