Chapter 14:

Adra's POV

'Don't. Touch. Me.' Thali growled at Oin, who took a step back. I looked at Oin apologetically. 'Thali, we need to fix your arm somehow.' I told her. She glared at me. Honestly, she is so much like a child sometimes. 'Maybe we could just wait till it pops back in…' Rena suggested, as she appeared next to me, worry in her eyes. 'No.' Thorin told her. 'We need to get moving now. We can't waste any more time.' He continued, and everyone fell silent. Fili looked up at me from his place on the ground, kneeling next to Thali. I shrugged my shoulders.

'There is one thing I could do.' Thali said slowly, 'It might not be the best way to fix it, but it will be the quickest way.' She continued, looking up at Thorin, who nodded. 'What is it?' I asked her. She tried to get up, and, with the help of Fili, she walked over to a tree. 'This.' And she rammed her shoulder into the tree. A sickening crunch cracked the air, along with Thali grunting in pain. Oin made to walk forward, protesting, but Thorin held him back. Rena, Dori and Ori looked away and covered their ears, obviously grossed out. Fili and Kili looked alarmed, but didn't do anything.

'Di-did it work?' Rena asked me, and Thali shook her head 'Not yet.' She said. I groaned. She never realises the boundaries of pain, that girl. 'You do realise that this could make your shoulder worse, not better.' I told her and she nodded, ramming her shoulder into the tree again. 'Just give me one more go.' She asked me, giving me big puppy dog eyes that always melt me. 'Fine. But this is the last time.' I told her firmly, and she grinned and rammed her shoulder harder than ever. Another loud crunch filled the air, along with a huge POP! Thali rolled her shoulder, testing it. 'Yup. it worked. Told you.' She said to me as she accepted a bandage from Oin to fix the cut on her arm. I would have stitched it, but as we need to get moving, I'll do it later.

'Come on.' Thorin told us, and started walking through the trees. Everyone followed him, talking quietly, until we reached a cave. It smelt foul. Terrible. Like the toilet after Thali's dad has gone to the loo. But ten times worse. And that's saying something.

Some winged creature flew past my head, scaring me and causing me to squeal. It landed on Thali's good shoulder. Oh. Kevin. I forgot all about that bird.

Some dwarves – Thorin, Dwalin, Gloin, Bofur, Nori and Fili – decided to go in. So did Thali and Gandalf. The rest decided to stay outside. I sighed, and sat down next to Bombur. He smiled at me, and I did the same. He frowned a little. 'Are you alright, lass? You seem to be sad of some sort.' He asked me, and I looked back up at him. I sighed again. 'Yeah. I guess so. It's just that Thali was worrying me a lot today.' I told him, and he laughed. I smiled at his laugh, because it was a fruity laugh, full of life and happiness. 'Yes, she seems to be a worrisome one, doesn't she?' He smiled down at me as I laughed, pleased to see that I was letting off some steam. 'You seem to really care for her and Rena. Like your little sisters.' He inquired and I nodded my head. He continued.

'I myself have 12 young rascals of my own.' I looked up at him in surprise. 'Get out. 12?' I asked him, and he chuckled.

'Yes. Most of them are mischief makers, like your Thali.' He told me, looking down at me. 'I was always running after them, picking up their stuff and stopping the trouble. But you know what.' He asked me.

'What?'

'They stopped suddenly one day.'

'Why?'

'Because they grew up. They didn't need me to run after them anymore, and I had to learn to let go.' He looked down at me again. I sighed.

'Now there's the difference.'

'What?'

'Thali will never grow up.'

Bombur laughed loudly, and patted my shoulder. A thought suddenly entered my mind. 'Bombur… does Thorin… have any children?' I asked hesitantly. 'No. He doesn't have a wife either.' He looked at me knowingly, and I nodded my head.

The others came out of the cave, Nori, Gloin and Bofur grinning broadly and saying something about a treasure trunk of gold that they buried. Dwalin rolled his eyes. Thorin paid no notice. He was admiring a new sword he owned, made by the elves. It really was a beautiful sword. Thorin, obviously noticing someone staring at him, looked up and caught my eye. I quickly looked away, but he already started walking towards me. Once he got to me, I slowly looked up at him and smiled. A shadow of a smile appeared on his face as he handed me something. 'Here.' He said. It was a sword. Its scabbard was beautiful. Red rubies dotted its hilt, and the metal was gold, instead of silver or iron. I pulled the sword out of its scabbard.

It was about as long as my arm. The sword itself was silver, with gold swirls embedded in the metal. Inside the gold, there was Elvish and Dwarvish writing in silver. The hilt was gold, with silver swirls and red rubies incrusted in the silver. I gasped. It was the most beautiful sword I have ever seen.

'Thorin…wow. It's just, beautiful. Thank you!' I managed to say, and he smiled. 'You needed protection, and I thought, well, you might like this.' He told me, and I grinned. But before I could say anything, Thali came out of the cave, grinning her lopsided grin, her green eyes sparkling. I groaned. Oh no, why? Why, just why?

Thali… was loaded. Stock-piled with weapons. She had nearly everything. She had: A sword, with a dark blue hilt. Silver metal was woven into the blue, and there were blue Dwarvish runes on the sword, swirling around the blade, a hand axe, with green and black feathers, and black wood, hidden blades, arm guards, which hold the hidden blades, a beautiful bow, with green and white swirling around the wood, with 500 green and white arrows and white arrowheads, twin daggers, with gold and silver criss-crossing each other, and rubies on the hilt, two short swords, with emerald hilts and silver blades, 13 throwing knives, each with leather hilts and silver blade, one long dagger, with a light blue and soft orange hilt, and white blade.

She grinned at me, and I felt my hand being brought up to my face. Oh dear. She is set. She walked over to me and handed me something else. It was a shield. About the size of my forearm, it was silver and gold, like my sword, and had a red angel on it, made from rubies. Before I could thank her, however, Thali turned and walked over to Rena. She handed her two things – a long sword with a silver hilt, and amethyst gems incrusted in it. And a small shield, the same size as mine, with purple and silver swirling around each other. It really is amazing, what they found down there.

'Something's coming!' Thorin shouted, and moved in closer to me. I felt butterflies in my stomach, despite my fears. I saw Thali take out her sword, and Rena hesitantly lift hers. All the dwarves ran into a clearing and huddled together, facing the direction of the noise. Thorin moved in between the noise and me, so that he was standing directly in front of me.

'Thieves! Fire! MURDER!'