Chapter Twenty-Three
By the time they arrived at home, Fili and Kili went with Dwalin to the training arena, in that way they could take their anger and frustration out during the training, while Thorin went to find Jessica, telling her of the days events. "See? Didn't I tell you Thorin this was going to happen?" said Jessica was she was working on her mending. Thorin sighed. "Yes, I know." said Thorin. "Oh I have great news. Just received a letter from Kili today. He and Tauriel are heading their way here for a visit." said Jessica. Thorin smiled.
"I was hoping to hear some good news today! And that is the best news I've heard all day. When will they arrive?" asked the dwarf. "In two days." Jessica replied. "Balin is going to give Vili and Frerin their education, since they are no longer welcome back at Lady Firebeard's school. Its for the best anyway. Self centered bunch of.." Thorin grumbled at the end, angrily. "I take it not all dwarves are happy about our arrival here, especially about myself and our children?" said Jessica gloomily.
"While I was on my way to stop the brawl, I've heard whispers from the dwarves, that I'm causing a disgrace to them. They said other things too that I'm not going to repeat." said Thorin. "Thorin, there has to be a way of convincing them to accept us." said Jessica. "Maybe there is a way." said Thorin, thinking aloud to himself. Two days later, Kili and Tauriel arrived, but they weren't alone. Two young children are with them. One a girl with red hair, and the other, a boy with brown hair.
"Come here you two!" beamed Jessica, as she greeted them and embraced them both. "And who are these two lovelies?" asked Jessica. "This is our son, Thror II, and daughter Aria Autumn." Tauriel replied. Thorin grinned. "So how are things going here, Uncle?" asked Kili. "A bit rough at first. I had to break up a fight today." Thorin replied. "A fight?" said Kili. "Yes, between my sons and three dwarves." said Thorin. Kili frowned, thinking back of the days he had been bullied by others.
"I wish I came here sooner. I would give those dwarves a piece of my mind!" fumed the brown haired dwarf. Thorin sighed. "It doesn't matter now. Vili and Frerin will be getting home schooled by Balin." said Thorin, as they sat down in the dining room. "Sounds like history is repeating itself, Uncle. Didn't I went through that? Let me guess, Lady Firebeard, am I right?" said Kili. Thorin nodded.
"I never liked her anyway. She was always demanded and yelling all the time. Where are the lads anyway?" asked Kili. "In the training arena with Dwalin." Thorin replied. Kili dropped everything. "Kili, you just got here! Where are you going?" asked Jessica. "To see my favorite cousins!" beamed Kili, as he left. Thorin laughed shaking his head. As the evening came, Kili came up with an idea of taking Frerin and Vili camping, during his stay here. At first, Thorin was against the idea.
But after an endless ranting of 'please' from Vili and Frerin (and Kili as well) Thorin gave in, and allowed them to go. "Kili, you make sure they are safe! If they are too go, you keep a close eye on them!" said Thorin firmly. Kili nodded. It was decided that the weekend would be perfect for Kili to take the lads camping and fishing. When Frerin and Vili were informed on this, they felt very excited, especially going with their cousin Kili.
By the time the weekend came, Kili, Vili, and Frerin departed as they went on their camping excursion. What they didn't realize as they left, they are being followed by a group of dwarves. "We will get those half breeds." growled the first dwarf. "Who is that with them?" asked another. "That is Lord Thorin's nephew, 'beardless' dwarf, Kili. I know him well!" snarled the first dwarf with a grin.
"What are we going to do now?" asked the third dwarf. "We're going to follow them, and then we'll attack." said the first dwarf, and the others nodded, as they followed Kili, Frerin and Vili. "Alright, we'll stop here!" announced Kili. "Yes! Perfect spot! Now when are we going fishing?" asked Vili. "After we set up camp, Vili. You two go find some firewood!" said Kili. "Yes, sir!" Frerin and Vili said together. Kili laughed. The two reminded him of himself and Fili at that age.
If nadidith was only here to see this now, he too would laugh! thought Kili with a smile. An hour later, Frerin and Vili hadn't returned with the firewood, which worried Kili. What in Durin's name is taking them so long to find firewood? They could've been back by now! thought Kili. Suddenly, Kili could hear cries and yelling in the distance. "Frerin! VILI?!" exclaimed Kili, as he went to find the sources of the yelling and screaming. Kili sprinted towards the commotion, and to his shock and horror, Kili saw a large group of dwarves attacking Vili and Frerin.
"NOO!" bellowed Kili, as he charged at the large group of dwarves. "KILI!" cried out Frerin, whom was trying his best fighting off the dwarves. Kili fiercely found himself in a brawl with these dwarves, as he realized they are outnumber. The three of them cannot take on six of them.
Both Frerin and Vili are severely injured, and could barely move, leaving Kili in a tight spot. There was no way of getting back home to get Thorin, as he was in the middle of fighting off the six dwarves alone. Meanwhile, Thorin sat in his study, looking over some paperwork, as he felt a feeling his stomach, something was wrong, but he couldn't pin point on it.
Three days later, the day came for Vili, Frerin, and Kili's expected return. Unfortunately, they did not show, which worried Thorin and the others. "They should have been back by now." said Thorin angrily. "Thorin, what happened if something happened to them?" asked Jessica. "I'm going to look for them, and Dwalin is going with me." said Thorin, throwing on his cloak. Jessica felt very worried herself. Maybe the camping excursion wasn't such a good idea after all. Thorin and Dwalin left, as they went to search for Kili, Frerin and Vili.
No soon as Thorin and Dwalin left their home, a dwarf approached them carrying a letter. "My lord, I was sent here to give you this message." said the dwarf, handing the letter to Thorin. "Thank you, Deren!" said Thorin taking the letter. He opened the letter and he read it:
Your Lordship,
If you wish to have your kin folk back safely, meet us in the encampment in the forest. You will give us seven hundred gold pieces for their return, if not, they will die this very night. No half breed should live amongst our people!
Anonymous
Thorin let out a loud yell in anguish after reading the letter. "What's going on, laddie?" asked Dwalin. Thorin handed over the letter to Dwalin, allowing the bald dwarf to read it. "We're going to get these bastards once we find them! This is an act of treason!" Dwalin fumed in anger. And so they went to find the encampment as mentioned in the letter. It didn't take Thorin and Dwalin long to find the encampment, where they could see six dwarves sitting around the campfire, alongside with Kili, Frerin and Vili tied to some trees. Thorin's heart frozen as he noticed how badly injured his sons are.
In anger and rage, Thorin and Dwalin stormed out into the camp. "Ah, there you are! Now hand us over the gold, so we can release your kin!" demanded the first dwarf. "Norvor! I knew it was you whom was behind this whole mess! The same one who's been bullying my nephew all these years!" snapped Thorin, angrily.
"Oh, you just figured that out?" snickered Norvor. "You treacherous bastard! You will pay for this!" shouted Dwalin. "Hand over the gold, or they will die!" barked Norvor, angrily. But Thorin didn't budge, as he aimed his sword, pointing the edge at the dwarf's neck. "You will get nothing, you traitor! You and your rebel deserve nothing for your actions! And I will KILL you now for your treachery!" bellowed Thorin.
"Just kill them, UNCLE!" shouted Kili.
"I will be more than happy to kill them myself!" barked Dwalin, raising his axe towards the other dwarves. "No, no! Don't kill us sir! We will leave them alone!" shouted one of the dwarves. "HEY!" barked Norvor. Suddenly, Thorin swung his sword, killing Norvor on the spot. "Dwalin, take these dwarves to the dungeons." growled Thorin. Dwalin nodded. "Kili, you get Frerin, I'll carry Vili." instructed Thorin. Kili nodded. After Thorin untied the twins, Kili carried Frerin, while Thorin carried Vili back home.
Once they returned home, Jessica and Tauriel gasped. "Thorin, what happened to the boys?!" cried out Jessica. "Tauriel, we need your healing skills. Frerin and Vili are injured! I'll explain on the way to the healing chambers." said Thorin. Tauriel nodded, as Thorin explained the ordeal to Jessica and Tauriel on the way to the Healing chambers.
"Jessica, go find some Athelas!" Tauriel instructed Jessica. Jessica nodded, as she quickly left the healing chambers. Thorin quickly boiled some water, and brought forth some towels for Tauriel. It didn't take long for Jessica to return with the plant, and she didn't have to go far to find it, however. Tauriel began working immediately on Frerin and Vili, as Kili stood and watched his wife work on them.
"What are you going to do about the traitors?" asked Jessica. "I already killed their leader, but the rest of them are getting locked up in the dungeons as we speak." Thorin replied. "Thorin, if you killed this dwarf, the others are going to find out about it, and its not going to look good." said Jessica. "Jessica, do you have any idea what they had done to OUR SONS?! Look at them, Jessica! I will not have this towards our children, to be bullied! And I will not stand by and watch our sons get hurt by our own!" snapped Thorin angrily.
"I understand that, Thorin." said Jessica softly, tears in her eyes. Maybe we should have stayed in Erebor, and not bother coming here at all! thought Jessica, wiping a tear from her eyes. Thorin noticed the look Jessica's eyes, as he took her hand, squeezing it gently. "Don't worry, things are going to change around here. I will be sure of that." said Thorin gently, as he took his other hand, rubbing her neck gently.
An hour later, Frerin and Vili's injuries improved, and they were allowed to go their room. Thorin had spent the remainder of the evening in his study planning out a speech he's going to address at the Great Hall in front of his people. He planned on addressing the public this coming up week about the kidnapping, and his sons. Balin hoped when Thorin make his speech, the people would change their minds and opinions on Jessica and the twins.
And finally the week came for Thorin to make his address to the Dwarves of Ered Luin. Everyone attended, and a lot of them were quite unhappy with Thorin, after hearing that Norvor had been struck down by Thorin's hand. But Norvor, however wasn't very popular among the dwarves, so the majority of them remained silent, allowing Thorin to make his speech. Thorin spoke how Jessica, Frerin and Vili had meant a lot to him, and of Jessica's deeds during the Battle of Five Armies before the two got married.
"They have done no wrong to any of you, and they don't deserve to get treated this way. And those who oppose of them with me, leave Ered Luin immediately and DO NOT return!" Thorin concluded. Many whispered realizing Thorin is right, and they are willing to get to know Jessica and the twins more better.
After the speech, dinner followed and then social time. Jessica, alongside with Frerin and Vili met with many of the dwarves, and spoken with them, they even shared laughs and told jokes, also swapping stories with other mothers among the dwarves on parenthood. Thorin smiled, happy that everything went well. Later that night, Thorin and Jessica lay in bed together, as Thorin held his wife close to him.
"The people is happy, the King is happy, everyone is happy!" said Jessica. Thorin grinned. "Thank Mahal!" purred Thorin, as he kissed Jessica on the lips.
The End