Chapter 37

True Courage

That night my wife was going up to the mountain. She stood at the entrance of Dale and took a deep breath.

"Gwirithiel you do not have to do this." I said.

Though I knew it would not change her mind, I still had to try. She smiled at me.

"I do Kili. I have to because I owe Thorin my life. And I promised Fili something. And if Thorin finds out that Bilbo gave us the Arkenstone…..I have to be able to help him. I love you Kili, and nothing will keep me from coming back to you." she told me.

I pulled her lips down to mine and kissed her hard. I kissed her as though I might never kiss her again. When we separated I put my hand on her belly.

"You keep mother safe now. Make sure you both come back to me." I said.

With one last kiss Gwirithiel made her way towards the mountain.

Gwirithiel's POV

I made my way up towards the mountain. I pulled my hood up and my cloak around me. I looked around but I could not see Thorin. I stopped and had a different thought. If Thorin saw me coming he would never speak with me. I had to catch him off guard. I went around towards the hidden door. I climbed up the mountain and to my relief I found the door still open. I took the key and put it around my neck. I walked down the tunnel and there I found Thorin, sifting through his treasure. I silently made my way down and stood a little ways away.

"Thorin Oakenshield." I said.

I spoke with a louder voice. Thorin would not know who I was.

He spun around and glared. He drew a sword.

"Who are you!? How did you get in here!?"

I held up the key.

"How do you think?"

"Impossible! No one but I and my company knows where the hidden door is!" He shouted.

"Well I do. I came here to save you from yourself. Look at yourself! This is not the King Under the Mountain I imagined. What of your family? Your sister? Your niece and nephews!? What of your nephew's unborn child?" I asked.

"How could you possibly know about them!?"

"You banished them! You banished people of your own family! I had always heard that Thorin Oakenshield was a brave an honorable dwarf! The dwarf I see before me….has no honor."

"How dare you! Who are you that you pretend to know anything about me!? Show me your face or die now!" he threatened.

His words broke my heart but I would not let this sway me.

"You already know who I am. Tell me Thorin Oakenshield, is all this gold really worth losing your family? To never see your great-niece or nephew grow? Think of the price you shall pay for this madness!" I said.

He slowly started to walk forward. I did not move an inch.

"Leave me! Before I kill you where you stand."

"You won't kill me."

I let my voice return to normal and his eyes went wide.

"Gwirithiel?" he asked.

He reached up and removed my hood.

"You would risk coming back here after I banished you!?"

I looked directly into his eyes and nodded.

"Of course I would. You are my uncle too! And after you banished us, you know not how much pain Kili was in. He loves you! You are like his father! And you promised his mother that you would take care of him and Fili. This is not taking care of your family. Do you not understand by now what has happened to you?! You have gone mad with greed! All you care for now is your gold and your treasure! Have you no love left in your heart?" I asked.

Tears had started to roll down my cheeks. I looked around and picked up a handful of gold.

"All this…..this gold is lifeless! Cold and lifeless! The Thorin I knew would never choose this over his family! Over his people! Your promised the men of the lake you would give them a share of this treasure! There is more than enough here to share! Do not become your grandfather! Please Thorin! This is not you!"

I threw down the gold and looked down.

"I looked up to you! You were a brave, courageous and honorable dwarf king! Now I do not who the dwarf before me is. I did not show it before because I knew I had to be strong for Kili. But what you are doing is breaking my heart! I have had the honor of getting to know you during this journey! You have saved my life and welcomed me into your family! Can you not see what you have become!?"

I fell to my knees as tears poured down my face.

"I would give anything to have the old Thorin back! The Thorin I know!" I cried.

Fili's POV

I heard crying and went towards the sound. I gasped when I saw Gwirithiel before Thorin. I started to run forward when Thorin knelt down. She looked up at him and started to wipe the tears from her eyes.

"Forgive me Gwirithiel. You are right! I have lost my mind to this treasure. I lost sight of what is truly important. You and Kili were right to destroy the Arkenstone. You are so very pure of heart and kind. You showed true courage in coming back here. I love you my niece. Without you I would have become my grandfather if not worse. You, Fili, Kili and my sister are the most important things in my life. Thank you for helping me to remember." he told her.

He pulled her into his arms and I smiled.

"Thorin Oakenshield!"

I turned towards the gate.

Gwirithiel's POV

Thorin and I ran towards the gate. Thranduil was there with his army and Bard was beside him. I looked at Thorin.

"You know what you must do." I said.

He touched my shoulder and nodded. He walked forward.

"I will speak to Bard the Dragon Slayer." Thorin said.

Bard rode forward a bit and looked up at him.

"I have been…..taught a lesson so to speak. I will help your people. That is my first…."

Thorin was interrupted by the sound of marching.

"Dain." Dwalin said.

Dain Ironfoot rode forward on a large battle boar. He started to shout insults at Thranduil and I cringed at some of them. Then something worse happened. Azog and an army of orcs came.

"Thorin! Kili is still down in Dale!"

Thorin's eyes widened in alarm.

"We have to fight!" I said.

"Not you! You are pregnant and I will not have you in harms way."

"But Kili…."

"I will find him! I promise you he shall be safe! Now go! Find a safe place to hide should the orcs get inside the mountain. Above all else you must stay safe!" he said.

I sighed but nodded. He kissed my cheek and hugged me. Then Fili did the same. I watched as my friends and family ran out into battle.