Woo! 101 reviews! Congratulations and thank you Memo for being my 100th review! I'm so thankful for you all to have stayed by me through my difficult times when I haven't been able to upload anything, I really appreciate all of your love and support during those times.
Review responses;
The Hand of Section XIII – Yep, almost. In another couple chapters it will be. .
Memo – First, thank you for being my 100th reviewer! And don't worry, things will go back to normal soon x
FlowerChild23 – I know, I do too. But, things will work out soon, not to worry xx
Chapter 29
A couple of days later, as we're all in the entrance hall of Erebor, Thorin strides past, calling us up to the nearly built wall. We climb up the stairs and look out over to Dale where we see elven guards standing, their golden armour glistening in the sunlight. It seems Thranduil has come to Dale. . .I have a feeling this isn't going to bode well for any of us.
Hearing the sound of hooves, I look down and smile in relief as I see Bard riding towards us. Having heard from Aiden and the dwarves of him and Bain being missing after Smaug was defeated, I'm relieved to see he survived.
Bard stops in front of the gate, just beyond the bridge.
"Hail Thorin, son of Thrain! We are glad to find you alive beyond hope."
"Why do come to the gates of the king under the mountain armed for war?"
"Why does the king under the mountain fence himself in? Like a robber in his hole."
"Perhaps it is because I am expecting to be robbed."
"My lord - We have not come to rob you, but to seek fair settlement. Will you not speak with me?"
Thorin nods, and steps away from the platform and down the stairs, indicating for Bard to come closer. As we follow him, I see him talking to a black raven before sending it off, the bird cawing loudly as it flies out of the mountain. Thorin strides up to a hole in the blockade.
"I'm listening."
"On behalf of the people of Laketown, I ask that you honor your pledge. A share of the treasure so that they might rebuild their lives."
"I will not treat with any man while an armed host lies before my door."
"That armed host will attack this mountain, if we do not come to terms."
"Your threats do not sway me."
"What of your conscience? Does it not tell you our cause is just?! My people offered you help. And in return you brought upon them only ruin and death!"
"When did the men of Laketown come to our aid, but for the promise of rich reward?!"
"A bargain was struck!"
"A bargain? What choice did we have but to barter our birthright for blankets and food? To ransom our future in exchange for our freedom? You call that a fair trade? Tell me, Bard the Dragonslayer. . .Why should I honor such terms?"
"Because you gave us your word. Does that mean nothing?"
Thorin turns away from the hole, disappearing from Bard's view. He leans back against the blockade and for a moment he looks tired and weary. He then looks to us all, who have gathered together and are standing watching him. As he catches and holds my gaze, I converse my plea for him to agree to the terms, plea for him to listen. But sadly, he doesn't listen.
"Be gone, ere arrow fly!"
I hear Bard slap the rock angrily, before he mounts his horse and rides back to Dale. We watch him go from the top of the platform.
"What are you doing?! You cannot go to war." Bilbo suddenly shouts to Thorin.
"This does not concern you."
"Excuse me?! But just in case you haven't noticed, there is an army of elves out there. And not to mention several hundred angry fishermen. We-We are in fact outnumbered."
Thorin turns to look at Bilbo, smiling.
"Not for much longer."
"What does that mean?"
"It means Master Baggins, you should never underestimate dwarves."
Thorin turns to the whole group.
"We have reclaimed Erebor - Now we defend it!"
As Thorin strides down the steps, Bilbo, Balin and I glance at each other, all of us looking distressed. I just turn to look to Dale as some of the dwarves tear off one of the stone heads of the statues to break the bridge, stopping anyone from reaching the mountain.
I keep my arms around Aiden as he clings to me in fear. I feel so useless, standing around unable to do anything to bring my son some peace, to chase away his fear, but what can I do? Thorin won't listen to anything anyone says, too deep in his sickness to make any sane choices, choices I know Thorin would choose if he was in the right state of mind.
Later that day, the dwarves go to the armoury to prepare for war. Aiden and I join them, or are forced to join them since Thorin doesn't want me to leave his side. I stand, leaning against the entrance as I watch Aiden standing with Fili and Kili not too far away. I being to think and wonder about our future, about his future in this world. I know I made the right decision in by staying here, as the other option is not worth thinking about. But, at the moment, his future here looks just as bleak as it did where we came from. With this sickness running through him and the threat of war right on our doorstep, I wonder whether we will all survive this. . .whether Aiden will survive this. As a mother, it is my duty to protect my child from anything and everything, but how can I protect him from the unknown?
I am suddenly brought out of my dark thoughts by Thorin's voice from next to me.
"Master Baggins, come here!"
Looking to the dwarf, I see him standing there in full armour, Bilbo walking towards him. Thorin holds up a tunic of white, shining mail.
"You are going to need this. Put it on."
Bilbo begins removing his jacket.
"This vest is made of silver steel - "Mithril" it was called by my forebears."
Thorin holds it up so that Bilbo can slide into it.
"No blade can pierce it."
'As light as a feather. And as hard as dragon scales.'
I wince slightly as the voice comes through my mind, along with a sharp pain in my head. The voice sounds so familiar, but I can't place where I have heard it before.
Shaking my head slightly, I watch as Bilbo finishes putting the vest on, then looks at himself; out of the corner of my eye, I can see the other dwarves have stopped to watch him as well, before continuing with their preparations.
"I look absurd. I'm not a warrior; I'm a Hobbit."
"It is a gift. A token of our friendship. True friends are hard to come by."
I can hear the smile in his voice, but as he looks towards the others, he frowns. He then grabs Bilbo by the shoulder and pulls him away where the other dwarves can't hear him. I walk over and join them.
"I have been blind. Now I begin to see. I am betrayed!"
Bilbo and I glance at one another and just by his look I know he is just as worried as I am. Has he somehow found out Bilbo has the Arkenstone?
"Betrayed?"
"The Arkenstone."
I watch nervously, my heart rate quickening, as Thorin moves closer to the hobbit, Bilbo looking extremely uncomfortable and worried.
"One of them has taken it."
Bilbo almost sighs audibly in relief. I am also relieved for Bilbo, but then dread fills me as the realisation to his words hit me. How could he think one of his own kin has taken it?
"One of them is false."
As he speaks, I don't like the sound of his voice. So dark and full with resentment and malice. It seems to echo around us.
I reach out and take his hand. "Thorin. . .the quest is fulfilled. You've won the mountain. Is that not enough?"
"Betrayed by my own kin."
I inwardly sigh as my words don't seem to get through to him.
Bilbo then bravely speaks up, though still nervous. "No eh. . .You. . .You made a promise. . .to the people of Laketown. Is-Is this treasure truly worth more than your honor? Our honor, Thorin. I was also there, I gave my word."
"For that I'm grateful. It was nobly done." his proud smile at that soon vanishes as he continues to speak. "But the treasure in this mountain does not belong to the people of Laketown! This gold. . .is ours. . .and ours alone. By my life I will not part with a sssssingle coin! Not. . .one. . .piece of it!"
As he continues to speak, his voice becomes more dark and sounds more snakelike. . .more like Smaug. I stand back as the dwarves walk past in single file, all of them in full armour. I watch as Thorin follows after them. My heart fills with dread. If I thought we had lost Thorin before, I know we definitely have now. How did things get this far? I wish Gandalf was here. . .maybe he could have helped.
Feeling a small hand take my own, I look down and see Aiden's worried face looking up at me.
"Are you okay, mommy?"
I smile as I kneel down to his height. "I'm fine, my love, don't worry. But, I need to talk with Bilbo alone. Go follow the others, I will meet with you soon."
He nods as he runs off down the corridor. I sigh as I stand, watching Aiden go.
"This is getting out of hand."
"It is. . .that was not Thorin talking, that was Smaug. Smaug said those words to me in the treasure hall."
I look to him. "What words?"
"Not parting with a single coin."
I go quiet for a moment. "There's got to be something we can do. But what? What can we do?
Bilbo doesn't say anything for a while before he answers; "I have an idea. . ."
I turn to him. "What is it?"
He looks to me for a moment but then shakes his head. "No. I can't say. Not with how Thorin is right now. I don't want to do anything to jeopardise anything between you both. Just, trust me."
I hesitate for a moment before nodding. Normally, I wouldn't care what Thorin thought of me – or did to me – if I helped Bilbo. But with Aiden here also. . .I couldn't take that chance.
"Okay. I trust you. But, promise me you'll be careful."
He nods. "I promise."
And there we have it. Slightly shorter than usual I know, but I felt this was a good place to end it. Next week will be the beginning of the battle, so stay tuned for that. Please keep your lovely reviews coming xx
