Hey guys! Sorry it took me so long to update, but I hope you like it! This might be the last chapter for two weeks because I am going to Europe! But I will do some writing during travel time, like on the plane so I hope you all stick with me!
Chapter 19
My whole body aches, burns, and writhes with pain as i lie face down on the mattress. My pulse is pounding in my skull and my ears are ringing. Wincing as i open my eyes in the bright light,
But...where am I?
Erebor...No Thorin would die before Elfish decor hung in his halls!
Rivendell...No too green, too forest like
No...this can't be this must be nightmare.
Hiding my face in these soft linen pillows I hear the soft sounds of Elfish singing and the sounds of song birds.
I hear the soft swish of fabric and someone enter my tent.
"Ah...so your awake, good. How are you feeling, do you need anything, my father and I are at your service" Offers a kind voice.
Legolas...
Turning on my side, I shade my eyes from the bright light.
"Water..." I plea as i wince in pain.
My whole side feels like it is being burnt by fiery flames. Looking down i try to examine my side but i am wrapped in soft clothing hindering my inspection of my body. Hearing the soft gurgling of water being poured into a cup i return my attention to the blonde elf at my side. My mouth is dry as desert, i feel as if my tongue is cracked from lack of moisture...
I eagerly grasp for the glass but he pulls away gentle. Annoying me by denying me water,
"Easy now... Don't hurt you" he whispers kindly as he puts a hand behind my head and brings the cup to my dry lips
As the water slowly slips into the parched crevasses of my mouth I greedily drain the whole cup trying to quench my thirst.
"Another please" I demand but try to doing polite.
After draining two more cups I lay back against the pillows. He brings over a tray of fruit and sets it on my lap.
"You probably have lots of questions..." he says with a gentle smile as he sits next to me.
"Yes...where my dragon is. How did I get here...where am I?" I demand almost angrily.
I had no desire to be among these elves, I wanted to be with my friends...
"Your dragon is in the camp but he is healing. You are in the camp of King Thranduil. But how you got here is another story... You were in the camp of Bard but once father found out that you had survived the battle he claimed you because of the debt you owe him. Bard gave you to us but you were barely alive luckily our healers were able to save you. You were unconscious for five days." he says politely but only a few seconds later his tall father walks through the door.
"Legolas... I told you to get me when she wakes up, but thank you for tending to her none the less" king Thranduil says with a smirk.
I groan and roll over in bed as he takes a seat beside my bed.
He was the last person I wanted to talk to.
"We have some business to discuss, you owe me!" he says in a low threatening whisper.
"I...I have not set foot in the mountain, I do not have your stupid rock." I snap at him.
"Ah...ah...ah I wouldn't use that tone of voice with me, remember that I hold the lives of you and your dragon in my hands. You will bring me that rock or I will kill your dragon and put its head on a stake!" he says viciously
"No!" I shout my voice cracking with tears "Kill me but not him...please not him"
I would not cry in front of him.
I stand tall and hide my tears, something I have always been good at.
If I was not so weak I would have decked him in the face, but that would have had terrible consequences
"How can I retrieve this rock if I don't even know what it looks like also that I am in your camp and not in Erebor?" I ask raising a mocking eyebrow.
He sat back and chuckled before he spoke "it's crystal blue and rather large, you will know it when you see it! To answer your last question, I will let you leave to find the diamond...but only for three days and if you don't fulfill our agreement there will be consequences. Do you understand?"
He wants me to turn on my friends for a rock...but if I don't do this...if I can't do this I'm...dead. That means Coppa too...I can't kill him. But...Thorin will never trust me again nor will the company.
"What is your answer!" he demands forcefully slamming his fist on the night stand causing it to rattle.
"Will you not give me time to think? I am not so quick to betray my friends." I spit back at him.
He sent me a glare before he stood and walks towards the door of the tent, but before he left he turns and stares at me. "You have one hour!"
After he left I sat there on my bed for a few moments with my head in my hands, before I swung my legs around and began to pace the room.
I felt twisted, like I was being pulled in two different directions. Is a rock really all that important? Is it worth dying over...Would Thorin forgive me? Could he forgive me? But he would never trust me again. But does he value the Arkenstone more than he values our lives... Am I to risk my life to win the chance to live?
I sat on the cot trying to sort this all out.
"He will forgive you in time Rena..." Coppa whispers in the corner of my mind.
"But how do know that he will? He is so stubborn, so hard headed!" I ask him.
"I don't know but anything is better than death." he says wisely.
"Yes, but they are my friends...our friends, Coppa" I say quietly.
"They won't even notice it's gone if you act quickly. Once you find it say that you are going to take me flying but you fly back here and give the stone to Thranduil then fly back and they won't even notice you gone. Rena it's the only way!" he says desperately.
I silently consider his plan but before I can reply Thranduil walks through the tent giving me a cold hard glare. "Have you made the right choice?"
"yes" I say stiffly standing and pulling on my jacket.
"Good! I would hate to do anything rash!" he says with a malicious smile and fold his arms in front of him. "I will let you change and your things will be packed and ready for you when you're ready to go!, oh and remember if you tell anyone about our little deal it will cost you dearly" he says quickly before he walks out of the tent.
I sigh heavily as I pull on my clothes. My burns on my side were healed but the scar was red, inflamed, and about the size of One of Coppa's feet and it hurt none the less.
After pulling my jacket back on again I braid my hair down my back. There was no mirror but I did not care. I was glad to leave but I was dreading my return to the mountain.
I stepped out into the light for the first time in days; it felt lovely on my skin. I cross the camp towards Coppa avoiding the silent stares of elves sitting at their campfires. It was a long awkward walk across the camp because I had hurt my leg in the fall and I now had a slight limp that painfully pinched as I walk.
When I put my pack on Coppa's back I was extra delicate because of his bad shoulder. I had ointment that could heal him but it would be best if I did it when got to Erebor, so that it could heal properly. I mounted his back delicately and then I harnessed myself gently in place. I put on my now single glove and grab reins, its twin must have been lost in the battle, and I will have to ask Ori for another. Just before I take off I see king Thranduil standing a few feet away and he mouths "Three days" with a warning glare.
When I reach Erebor its past sun down and night has set upon the mountain. Only a few torches burned at the gate, luckily I had not been seen by the watch.
Lowering myself from Coppa's back I slowly walk trying not to limp.
As I approach I hear rustling and hushed whispers.
A shadowy figure appears holding a torch above a rock pile and then followed by a second.
His face was shadowed but I could tell it was a pair of dwarves.
"W...who...who goes...Th...There" a weak little voice croaked and in an instant I knew it was Ori.
"Yeah! Who goes there?" I much older bolder voice shouted and I knew that it belonged to Dori.
I smile when I hear their voices, but my heart aches when I realize that in three days' time they will despise me.
"A friend! Who longs to be reunited with her friends!" I shout up happily.
An excited gasp and the pounding of feet are the last thing i hear before I am tackled to the ground by the pair of happy dwarves.
"Ohhh... Take it easy boys" I groan as the help me to my feet. "I'm still a little battered and bruised"
Ori hugs me tightly as soon as I am standing. "Oh Rena, we thought you were a goner" he says
"Oh I don't go down that easy" I chuckle as I pat the little dwarf's head.
He runs up the path and shouts back. "I'm going to get the others; they will be thrilled" he quickly disappears and I'm left with Dori.
I sigh as smile at the old dwarf. "How are you Dori?"
"Ah I am well enough, but stop with the small talk, let's go get your things." he says politely.
"No need, Coppa is bringing them right now" just as I finish say that a large gust of wind blows down on us and Coppa land beside me.
"Well that was quick! Let's go up and meet the others." he suggests and begins to wall up the path.
"Dori? Could you give me a hand, the hill is quiet steep and my leg is a little weak." I ask sheepishly.
"Oh...of course" he says, puts an arm on my back and I put an arm on his shoulder.
We slowly climb up the steep hill and a few stones rolled down past us as we walk along the rocky path.
When we reach the opening of the door I hear shouts and running coming to meet us.
I first see Fíli and Kíli running towards me with beaming smiles.
They wrap me in a warm embrace nearly knocking me over. Nothing can be compared to a warm dwarf hug.
"We thought you died!" Kíli says after my big hug.
"I knew you'd make it Rena" Fíli says with a proud smile.
"Well, it's good to have ya back safe and sound, Lassie" Dwalin says happily.
"It was not the same without you" Bofur says with a smile.
"Let me take a look at your leg when we get back up there and see what I can do!" Oin says after he notices my limp.
After another big group hug, Dwalin offers to carry me the rest of the way to the throne room. But, I couldn't help but notice the absence of Thorin, and it bothered me.
"Ummm...where is Thorin? Is he alright! Smaug did not hurt him, did he?" I ask as anxiously hold on to Dwalin.
"Easy there lass, I'm going to lose my arm if ya keep squeezing so tight! Thorin is in the treasure room! I assume that's where ya want me to take ya?" he says with a smirk.
I was satisfied with that answer but why had he not come to greet me?
As we walked into the enormous hall I found that all the stories of Erebor had been true and there had been no exaggeration what so ever. It was large, stone covered, and laden with gold. Even after years of Smaug living in it Erebor was still very beautiful. There were large marble blocks with gold lines running through them and thrones made of pure gold and rare jewels covering the floor. Dwalin had to be cautious so that he would not trip on them. I could tell we were near the treasure room because the piles of gold grew large as we approached a large wooden door.
He set me down when we got to the door and he pushed open the doors so that we could enter.
"Dwalin, would you mind if I went on my own from now on, I would like some privacy" I ask gently.
"Yes, but he is not...oh never mind" Dwalin mutters and then walks away briskly.
What was Dwalin talking about? I guess I will find out soon...
I step into the treasure room and limp down the gold covered steps. I had never seen so much gold in my entire life! There were piles and piles of rubies, diamonds, and gold coins all over the floor. How was I to find the Arkenstone in here...if it even was here?
But now was not the time for that, now I must find Thorin.
Walking around the massive room I could not find him until I stop and hear the sound of gentle snoring...
"Figures he would be sleeping" I think with a smirk as I hunt through the piles of gold.
It did not take me long to find him, his snores led me right to him.
He was reclining against a pile of gold with his hands folded on his lap and he looked completely relaxed.
I remember only days ago I had slept in his strong arms. He looked so peaceful, so calm; I did not want to disrupt his dreams.
The oncoming storm of goblins and Orcs would provide little peace to his already troubled mind, and I would bring him even more pain. If he only knew, but i am forbidden to tell him of the deal i struck. A stupid thoughtless deal! I should have just escaped when I had the chance rather than barter my way out of it. But if I was caught, they might have tortured me, or worse. But anything is better than being enslaved to do another's bidding.
But what about Coppa, am I doing what's best for him? I am I just being selfish and putting myself first?
I curled up on a silken cushion and fell into a deep slumber...
*****Thorin's POV*****
I shot up from my sleep because a loud clank had awoken me. I was having the most pleasant dream about Rena holding the Arkenstone while wearing the golden crown of the queen of Erebor on her brow, it seemed like she was trying to say something but the noise had awoken me.
I knew I was only dream because that snake had her in his camp. Once I find the Arkenstone I will then find her. Once Erebor is returned to its former glory I will go find her.
I squinted me eyes because I was still very tired but I could see a slumped over sleeping figure on a cushion.
Rena!
I jump up and wrap my arms around her slender waist bringing her head to my chest and holding her close.
I place a kiss on her head and I feel her gently stir.
"Ahh! Easy your grip, I am not yet healed" she squeaks and I pull back alarmed.
"Rena! Are you hurt! Did he touch you! What happened?" I shout angrily but very worriedly.
"No! They helped me, he let me go. The only injury I received was from Smaug" she whispers into my chest as I soothingly rub her back.
"You're back with me that am all that matters, you're safe with me. You are mine!" I say protectively possessive.
Maybe I won't need the Ark...
A quick shimmer of blue catches my eye. And I dash across the floor dropping Rena,
I saw it!
I dig through the pile of gold through jewels behind me as I search for the Arkenstone.
My Arkenstone!
"Where is it?" I murmur as I continue to fervently search.
"Ow, what the..." I hear her say as she walks over to me rubbing her arm.
But I don't answer because just as I toss away a gold platter I see the very thing that haunts my dreams.
The Arkenstone.
I cup the most precious thing in the world and stand. So beautiful...So breathtakingly beautiful.
The most beautiful thing I have ever beheld.
This must go to the throne room, where it belongs!
I begin to walk, brushing past Rena and ignoring her insistent question.
But she fallowed me none the less, although I kept my eyes fixed on my jewel.
****Morena's POV****
Why was he ignoring me!
I fallow him down the large marble hallway like a puppy at its master's heels, a confused puppy.
He never took his eyes off the Arkenstone, he just stared with wide and excited eyes.
I cannot believe he found it! This was going to be ten times harder to steal!
I did not even want to steal it, and especially now because of the way he gazes into that stone. He loves it.
"Thorin! Please! Stop where are you going!" I shout grabbing him by the shoulder.
"to put it back where it belongs." he mutters without his eyes ever leaving the blue sparkly stone.
He turns shrugging off my hand and walking away from me into the throne room.