Chapter Thirteen
The Company departed from Lake Town, leaving behind Fili, Kili, Oin and Bofur. Bofur didn't make it to the boat in time, because he dozed off due to all the alcohol he drank that night. Meanwhile in the boat, the remaining Company remained silent as they begin their journey to the Mountain. "Durin's Day is tomorrow. At least all of us can rest before then." spoke up Balin, breaking the silence.
Hours went by, they reached shore and entered Dale. Thorin decided they would stop and camp there. It was Tabitha and Bilbo whom noticed a sudden change in Thorin, it wasn't much, but it rose concern between the two of them. Thorin hardly had spoken a word to Tabitha, nor Bilbo the entire night. Normally Thorin would lay by her side that night, but he didn't. He remained awake, talking quietly with the dwarves, in which most of them acted like Bilbo and Tabitha weren't even there.
"Am I the only one feeling that we're not wanted?" asked the hobbit. "No, you're not the only one, Bilbo. Good night!" said Tabitha. "Good night, Miss O Hara!" said Bilbo. No soon as Tabitha fell asleep, she could hear a voice talking to her, a voice she didn't recognize at all.
The voice was gruff, but not deep as Thorin's voice. "Tabitha! Tabitha Silver Star! Can we talk?" the voice spoke up. Tabitha felt startled by the voice, that she sat straight up. "Who said that?" Tabitha snapped. "Come over this way, so we can talk in private!" the male voice answered. Tabitha stood up, and walked towards the direction the voice had directed her to. Suddenly to her shock and surprise, she saw a dwarf with brown hair and brown eyes, and brown braided beard standing in front of her, with a glow around him.
Tabitha had no idea what was happening, and she didn't remember this dwarf in front of her amongst them in the boat. Something weird is going on here, and I don't understand this at all, thought Tabitha. "Who are you? And of all people, why are you coming to me for?" asked Tabitha. "I came to you since you know my brother well, Tabitha. I'm very worried about him, as you are of him. And by the way, Frerin, son of Thrain, At your service!" said the dwarf. Tabitha's eyes widened. "But Thorin told me you're dead!" exclaimed Tabitha.
"Yes, yes, I am-I'm here in spirit, and it seems you're the only one I can speak to, about my family." said Frerin. When did I become a medium all of a sudden, no one has spoken to me about that! thought Tabitha. "What do you wish to tell me Frerin?" asked Tabitha.
"Tabitha, this quest is going to be very dangerous, and my brother and our kin are in danger, and I'm not speaking of just the dragon either." began Frerin, gently. "The gold sickness." said Tabitha. Frerin nodded. "Yes, and how did you know that?" asked Frerin. "Back in Rivendell I overheard Gandalf and Elrond talking about it, as they too are worried for Thorin." said Tabitha.
"You love my brother, do you?" asked Frerin. "Yes, very much, but I doubt that he loves me back. He hadn't spoken to me or our hobbit friend since we've arrived here." said Tabitha. "He loves you, Tabitha, I could see it-but it's already starting to consume him." said Frerin. "What shall I do then, Frerin?" asked Tabitha. "That you have to learn on your own, Tabitha. There is nothing much you can do when the sickness takes control of my brother. I seen it with our grandfather." Frerin replied.
"So you're saying the sickness will wear off on its own then?" said Tabitha.
"Yes. And by the way, Tabitha, tell my brother, I love him, and I miss him dearly as well as Fili and Kili. And if he tries to hurt you in anyway, he's going to deal with me personally!" Frerin, added with a grin. Tabitha laughed. "I'm not sure if I should tell him, Frerin. He wouldn't believe me." said Tabitha.
"Don't worry, if he wants proof, he'll get his proof. Farewell, Miss Silver Star!" said Frerin, and he disappeared. No soon as Frerin disappeared, she could hear footsteps behind her. "What are you doing out here and away from the Company?" asked a deep voice from behind her. Tabitha turned, and she saw Thorin approaching her. "I couldn't sleep, so I decided to go for a stroll." Tabitha replied. "You shouldn't be walking out here alone, Tabitha. Come back with us." said Thorin gently.
"Thorin, before we go back, there is something I need to tell you." began Tabitha.
"What is it?" asked Thorin. "I'm not sure if you'll believe me if I tell you this, so I'll go ahead and tell you anyway. For starters, I figured out tonight I have an ability I didn't know I have, which is speaking to the deceased." Tabitha continued. "WHAT?! Tabitha, you are tired, you should get some rest, now you are speaking of nonsense." said Thorin, sharply. "Fine, you don't believe me, maybe I should've have never said anything!" snapped Tabitha, and she was about to walk away, when Thorin's hand stopped her. "Wait, go ahead, you can tell me. You're an elf, after all, an elves have special gifts, and you realized you have used yours for the first time. Just tell me." said Thorin.
"I really don't know Thorin, it would upset you." said Tabitha.
"Tabitha, I won't get upset. Just go ahead and tell me what happened to you tonight. If you had spoken to the dead, who did you speak to?" asked Thorin. "To your brother, Thorin." Tabitha replied. Hearing this, Thorin's eyes widened in disbelief, and there was some anger in his eyes. "This is tomfoolery! Is this some kind of joke, and if it is, its not funny!" barked Thorin. "I knew it! I knew it! I just knew it! I should have never said anything to you! That's what you get for asking!" shouted Tabitha, angrily.
"Well, if you saw my brother then, what did he say to you?! Tell me!" Thorin demanded. "I'm not saying a word, it seems you have find me as crazy, so I'm not going to say no more!" argued Tabitha. Suddenly, Thorin grabbed Tabitha roughly by the arm, squeezing it tightly. "TELL ME!" bellowed Thorin. "STOP IT! You're hurting me! Let me go!" Tabitha screamed, as she shoved his hand off of her arm, and she bolted away from him. Thorin stood there, as he watched Tabitha run away from him.
Stop it! You're hurting me! Tabitha's last words echoed through the dwarf's mind, and he closed his eyes, releasing a sigh. "Brother, what have you done! If you keep this up, you will lose her forever!" a familiar voice spoke behind him. "Frerin." said Thorin softly. Thorin felt a hand on his shoulder, which startled the dwarf leader.
Thorin jumped and spun around. He could see Frerin standing in front him laughing. "I haven't seen you jump like that in years, nadidith!" laughed Frerin, heartily. "She spoken the truth. She did speak to you, did she?" gasped Thorin. "Of course she had spoken the truth, brother. She has a gift, and she figured it out tonight how to use it. However no one, not even that wizard friend of yours have spoken to her about it, and they knew she had it." said Frerin.
"They should have told her about it a long time ago." said Thorin. "I know. But there is some things she has to learn on her own, Thorin. Don't send her away, brother, she needs you. Her father has a rough hold on her, and he betrayed her for lying to her about her heritage. She doesn't want to go back to that lifestyle. You and our kin are her family now." said Frerin. "I won't let her see her father, especially after the horrible things he has done to her-and forcing her into an arranged marriage is one of them." said Thorin, sitting down on the ground.
"Thorin, I worry for you, all of you, especially Tabitha. That's all I'm going to say. Just remember to keep close with Tabitha, don't turn her away. She is your One, your light. And possibly your savior." said Frerin, and he disappeared.
"Frerin? Frerin! Where did you go?!" Thorin called out, and he saw his brother no more after that. Thorin walked back to the camp, and went to sleep. The next morning, everyone woke up and ate a little bit. Thorin saw Tabitha chatting quietly with Bilbo. "Tabby, may I have a word with you a minute?" asked Thorin. "As long as you don't grab my arm again like you had done last night, we'll be fine." grumbled Tabitha. "About that, Tabitha, I'm sorry-I shouldn't have done it. I've spoken to him, Tabitha. We talked. And I apologize for not believing you before." said Thorin.
"Believing in what?" asked Balin. "Tabitha has recently discovered an ability as an elf, she didn't know she had." began Thorin. "What ability?" asked Dwalin. "She can speak to the deceased." said Thorin. "Wow? Really?!" exclaimed Gloin. Tabitha nodded. "And I don't think it's the first time, either. There would be other spirits that will speak to me, besides the one whom I spoken with last night." said Tabitha. "Who spoken to you then, lassie?" asked Balin. "Frerin." Tabitha replied.
"Frerin? As in Thorin's brother?!" said Dwalin. "Yes, Dwalin, Frerin. He is worried about all of us, but his concern is on Thorin and me." said Tabitha. Balin nodded quietly.
"And he's right!" said Balin softly as he looked over at Thorin and then at Tabitha. "Come, we must begin our search for the door. Everyone pack up!" Thorin announced.
Time skip
It was late afternoon and early evening as the Company continued their search. And it was Bilbo whom had spotted the side door they've been searching for. "I found it!" exclaimed Bilbo, pointing in the direction where he had found it. Thorin smiled. "You have keen eye sight, Mister Baggins!" said Thorin, patting the hobbit on the back, as Thorin led the Company to the door. "Those whom have doubted us, rue this day!" cheered Thorin, and the dwarves cheered after Thorin had spoke. And after that, Thorin took out the key, as he prepared to insert it inside the door.
Unfortunately, nothing had happened. "Am I missing something here?" said Thorin, as he took out his map and looked over it. "Stand by the grey stone, where the thrush knocks-the last light of Durin's Day shine-upon the keyhole-The Last Light of Durin's day…" began Thorin, reading over the map. Then he looked at the Company. "I have to be doing something right!" exclaimed Thorin in frustration. Suddenly Dwalin and Nori, impatiently charged at the door trying to break it down.
Tabitha rolled her eyes. Idiots, they are misunderstanding the translation on the map! thought Tabitha. "It's no use-we've missed it. And we came all this way-now we have to wait until next year." said Balin sadly. Thorin slammed his map and key on the ground, and he walked away with the other dwarves. "Wait! You cannot give up now! Come back!" Bilbo called out. "The Thorin Oakenshield I know would not give up this easily!" snapped Tabitha. Thorin turned and glared angrily at both Tabitha and Bilbo, and he turned away as he kept walking away.
As night fall quickly came, the moon came out, shining down upon the door, as a thrush approached, landing on a small stone and tapping on it. To Bilbo and Tabitha's surprise, the keyhole appeared on the door. "THORIN! It's here! The key! The key!" cried out Bilbo, but there was no replied. "Thorin, get your ass over here before we miss it!" shouted Tabitha. No soon as Bilbo reached for the key, Thorin placed his foot on the key, as he bent over and picked it up. Afterwards, he inserts the key into the keyhole and Thorin pushed the door open.
"Erebor." Thorin said quietly as he entered, followed by the rest of the Company.
Thorin placed his hands on the walls of the Mountain. "I know these walls-these halls-the stone… Do you remember Balin? Halls filled with golden light?" said Thorin quietly, his voice deep and musical as he spoke. "Yes, laddie, I remember." said Balin, wiping a tear from his eye. Tabitha took Thorin's hand, gasped in amazement at the structure. "You all live here? This place is amazing!" said Tabitha quietly. "You just wait until its rebuilt and restored, if you want to see amazing!" said Thorin, grinning at Tabitha, squeezing her hand.
"What is that?" asked Bilbo, pointing at some runes scripted on the wall, what appeared to be Thror's throne, and something above it. "The Arkenstone. The King's jewel!" said Balin. "And that is why you are here, Master Burglar." said Thorin.