CHAPTER 52 - REVELATIONS
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hobbit or any of the characters/story lines that belong to it, all credit goes to J.R.R. Tolkien, in all his glory.
Bilbo Baggins had been exploring the deep chambers of Erebor in quiet fascination; unaware of the happenings in the chambers above him that had torn their Company apart.
So when he was making his way back up a small tunnel, he was quite surprised to knock into an extremely angry dwarf.
"Kili?" Bilbo asked, "Where are you going?"
"Away," Kili said, not bothering to stop walking.
"Why?"
"Ask my confounded uncle," Kili spat, and disappeared down the tunnel.
Bilbo shook his head, unsure of what had just happened, and made his way back to the main chamber.
The dwarves were pacing through the halls, looking quite agitated and distressed. Thorin's sister Dís wore an expression as if she were close to murdering someone, while Fili was sitting with his head between his knees.
Thorin was standing deadly still, his arms crossed tight over his chest and his hands clenched together. His jaw was locked uncomfortably tight and he was staring down at the floor to the spot where Thror's key still lay.
Through taking in all of this, the hobbit still managed to notice that two of their number was missing.
He saw Balin leaning against a stone column and headed straight for him.
"Balin," Bilbo said, "What has happened?"
Balin sighed and stood up off the column to look Bilbo in the eye. Slowly he explained all that had happened in the short space of time that the hobbit had been gone.
"Oh my," Bilbo gaped exasperatedly. He ran a hand through his unkempt curly hair and shook his head, "I should have been here… perhaps I could have helped-"
"No one could have helped, lad," Balin said heavily, "This was bound to happen sooner or later."
Bilbo nodded and looked to Thorin, who still had not moved.
"Is he alright?" Bilbo asked quietly.
"I do not know," Balin sighed, "I am not sure I even know him anymore."
"Do you think he regrets it?" Bilbo asked, still watching Thorin carefully, "Letting her go?"
"Hard to tell," Balin said, "I still believe he will not sway his decision to keep the gold to himself… but whether he will choose the gold over her is something I do not know."
Bilbo nodded considerately. As he watched Thorin his thoughts trailed to the shimmering gemstone that lay tucked into his sleeping roll.
"Where are you going, lad?" Balin asked. He noticed Bilbo's determined expression as he made to where they were keeping their belongings.
"Just off for a wander," Bilbo said distractedly, "I'll be back shortly."
"How do we know they were not sent here as spies?" Bard asked, casting a wearied eye over Hayden and Harvey.
"Believe me, Bard," Gandalf said, "They would not have abandoned Thorin if it were not completely necessary."
"Why is it you have come, then?" Bard asked, looking to Hayden.
"Thorin is more than willing to starve himself in that Mountain than let anyone touch that treasure," Hayden said, "That's why we need your help."
"Why are you really here?" Bard asked, looking her directly in the eyes, "Are you not betrothed to the dwarf?"
"Yes… well, I think so," Hayden said uncomfortably, "But I don't know him anymore- the gold has completely taken over him."
"And why is that any of my concern?" Bard asked stiffly.
"Because if he stays this way there is no way in hell your people are going to get their rightful share of the treasure," Hayden said, "And I think I- we- know how to change his mind."
"Do enlighten me," Bard said, taking a seat and looking to them all curiously.
"Something stirs within the enslaved peoples; the goblins and the orcs," Gandalf said, "The goblins have been restless since the death of the Great Goblin."
"And the orcs are being led by Azog, who has sworn to fully wipe out the line of Durin," Hayden said, "I doubt it will be long before news reaches him of where Thorin is."
"And what is this to mean?" Bard asked.
"It means that there is war brewing, Bard," Gandalf said firmly, "We have foreseen this long ago."
Bard nodded, "Aye, I have always thought war is inevitable – what with the death of the guardian, each race would want a share of the treasure."
"Exactly," Hayden said, "So if you and the Wood-elves were to side with the dwarves against the enemy then I'm sure Thorin would give you your inheritance in return for your help."
"What makes you think this?" Bard asked, "What if his mind stays as it is now?"
"That we do not know," Gandalf said heavily, "But if anyone can get through to him it is our Hayden."
Bard pursed his lips and looked to all three of them in turn. He stared intently at Hayden for a long moment.
"And what is in this for you, if I do conform to this plan?" Bard asked.
"If Thorin sees you aren't his enemy it might knock some sense into him," Hayden said, "It's the only chance we have of getting him back."
But Bard still looked suspicious. Hayden stepped forward to the man and lowered her voice so only he could hear her.
"I love him, more than I ever thought possible- and it killed me to leave him, but I had to," Hayden said slowly, tears welling in her eyes, "Please… you're my last hope."
Bard's eyes remained ever intently on Hayden, interrogating her with his gaze. And slowly, he nodded.
"Alright, we will side with you," Bard said, "But only if there is war; the Mountain still remains besieged until Thorin's decision sways."
"Thank you," Hayden smiled genuinely.
"Well, it seems my plan will not be as useful as I thought now," came a voice supposedly out of nowhere.
Hayden jumped violently and stepped back in her shock, looking to where the disembodied voice had come from. Then, out of thin air, Bilbo Baggins appeared.
"Bilbo," Hayden sighed, clutching her chest, "Don't-do-that."
"Sorry, Hayden," Bilbo smiled apologetically.
"What are you doing here?" Harvey asked.
"I did come to help make amends," Bilbo said, nodding to Bard, "But I see that has already been done."
"My dear Bilbo, you become more courageous by the day," Gandalf beamed brightly.
"Gandalf?" Bilbo asked disbelievingly, a broad smile appearing on his face, "What are you doing here?"
"All in good time, Master Baggins," Gandalf smiled, "Do enlighten us of your plan."
"Oh, well," Bilbo shifted modestly, "As much as I respect Thorin, I cannot bring myself to agree with his views on this whole situation."
"Join the club," Harvey shrugged.
"So I came to see if I could help them change his mind," Bilbo said.
"And how would you do that?" Bard asked curiously, leaning towards the hobbit.
"Using this," Bilbo said. He reached into a pocket in his coat and produced a gorgeous blue gemstone that seemed to give off light in itself.
"The Arkenstone," Gandalf muttered in awe.
"I found it while looking over the treasure," Bilbo said, "I know it wasn't right of me to keep it, seeing how much Thorin values it, but I thought it might be useful to bend his decision."
"You were right for not giving it to him," Hayden said, "He would have become more ill than he already is if he had it."
"Quite ingenious, Bilbo," Gandalf smiled approvingly, "If Bard uses this stone to parley, we may yet see an alliance between the three races."
"We shall see," Bard said, looking to the stone begrudgingly, "Thorin will be suspicious though. He will know one of you brought this to us."
"Which I will fully take the blame for," Bilbo said confidently.
"Bilbo-" Hayden began to protest.
"No, Hayden," Bilbo said firmly, "I was the one who took it and I will face Thorin's wrath, whatever it may be."
"And they doubted me when I chose you, Bilbo Baggins," Gandalf smiled, looking proudly over the hobbit.
"You do know what Thorin will do when he finds out what you did," Hayden said to Bilbo with a concerned frown.
"I know… he will be livid, no doubt," Bilbo sighed, "But that is a price I am willing to pay to end all of this."
"Very well," Bard nodded, "We will depart tomorrow morning for the Front Gate… perhaps we may have some luck yet."
Bard left them with those words, bowing his head to Gandalf as he passed to return to his camp.
"You should go back, Bilbo," Hayden said, "Or they'll wonder where you went."
Bilbo nodded and looked to the siblings concernedly, "What about you? Where will you stay?"
"We'll stay with Gandalf," Hayden shrugged, "I'm sure he could lend us a tent?"
"Of course," Gandalf smiled.
"Right, then," Bilbo said, with a small nod, "I'd better be off- I will see you all tomorrow."
With smiles and goodbyes from them all Bilbo made his way back up to the Mountainside, but he was soon stopped by a familiar voice.
"Bilbo! Bilbo- wait," Hayden called, running after him.
"What is it, Hayden?" Bilbo asked curiously.
"I know you didn't want them to know you had gone," she said, catching her breath, "But if you could tell Thorin… tell Thorin…"
"Tell Thorin…?" Bilbo asked with raised eyebrows.
Good question, Hayden thought. What could she possibly tell Thorin that would show him how she felt right now?
"Just- just tell him that no matter what," she said, "Nothing will change my feelings for him."
"I will," Bilbo nodded with a small smile.
"Thank you, Bilbo," she smiled back. She leaned forward to give him a small kiss on the cheek, "See you tomorrow."
"Right, yes," Bilbo nodded, flushing embarrassedly, "See you tomorrow."
Meanwhile in Erebor, while Bilbo and his fellow companions were planning on how to sway Thorin's stubbornness, Dís was trying to prevent herself from using her own method against him – physically abusing him until he gave in.
Thorin still stood rock solid, staring down at Thror's key. He hadn't moved an inch since Hayden, Harvey and Kili had left and he didn't seem any closer to moving.
Dís, after making sure she had her emotions fully under control so that she wasn't tempted to take physical action against her brother, made to move in front of Thorin. She raised her head proudly and cleared her throat.
"Are you leaving me too?" Thorin asked, without looking up. There was a bite in his voice that made even Dís wince.
"Not yet," Dís said stiffly, "You realise what you have done, do you not?"
Thorin remained quiet, his expression still unreadable.
"Not only have you lost my son, you may just have ruined your only chance for love," Dís stated, "Perhaps I was right in thinking no woman could ever tolerate you."
"And what would you have me do, sister?" Thorin spat, raising his head to glare at her, "Give up the treasure my grandfather cherished to those filth?"
"Well for starters, brother, he was my grandfather just as much as yours," Dís said with just as much force, "And I would have you bring Hayden back; I have no doubt of her love for you-"
"Love?" Thorin scoffed, "You think it was love that turned her against me? That made her side with our enemy?"
"You have no enemies here, Thorin," Dís snapped.
"How would you know?" Thorin asked stiffly, "While you were in the Blue Mountains it was I who was travelling, risking my life-"
"It seems you have forgotten that I was also there when the dragon took our home," Dís snapped, "Have you also forgotten that you were not the only one to sacrifice that day? Do you remember our grandfather, perhaps? Our father? Our brother-?"
"Do not bring Frerin into this, Dís," Thorin snapped harshly, "I feel his death more than anyone still."
"You could end this, Thorin," Dís said, "If you just gave them what they wanted, Hayden would return-"
"I do not need Hayden to return," Thorin spat, "She has shown her loyalty and it is not to me."
"So all these months she has travelled with you she has shown you no loyalty?" Dís asked disbelievingly, "From what I heard of her she's shown you nothing but it."
"She is nothing to me now," Thorin spat bitterly, "Just like the others who left."
"Thorin, this is madness," Dís sighed, "Hayden is not nothing to you and if you just gave it a chance-"
"I will not risk this quest for a woman!" Thorin growled.
"Her name is Hayden," Dís growled back. She stepped closer to Thorin, giving off an amazingly menacing aura for such a short woman, "I know you well, Thorin Oakenshield – I am the closest blood you have left. So I am begging you not to let her go… or I fear you will let yourself go."
Dís stepped to him and put a gentle hand on the side of his face, looking into his eyes that were so like hers.
"I cannot lose you, Thorin," Dís said weakly, "You may have your faults, but you are still my brother – and I will not lose you aswell."
"You would still have your sons," Thorin said stiffly.
"I would," Dís said, "But they cannot replace my brothers."
Thorin sighed and lowered his eyes to the ground. He was about to reply when an odd sound met his ears. He looked up and past Dís.
Bilbo Baggins was creeping back into the hall, but he did not look like he had just been for a stroll around Erebor.
"And where have you been, Master Baggins?" Thorin asked suspiciously, directing his attention away from his sister for the moment.
Bilbo stopped in his tracks and looked nervously over to Thorin, "What would make you think I had been anywhere?"
Thorin clicked his tongue impatiently, and Dís, noticing the hobbit's obvious guilt, beckoned him over to them.
"Did you leave the Mountain?" Dís asked gently.
Bilbo looked into Dís eyes and found himself trusting her despite everything. It was strange that her eyes were so like Thorin's, yet they had a warmth in them that Thorin's were missing.
"I did," Bilbo nodded.
"Did you see Harvey?" Dís asked worriedly, "Is he alright?"
"He's fine, they're both fine," Bilbo said. His burrow furrowed slightly, thinking over his last words with Hayden.
"Is there something else, Master Baggins?" Dís asked.
"I… well I have a message from Hayden," Bilbo said, "But I do wonder whether it is the right time to tell you-"
"No, please tell us," Dís encouraged.
Thorin sighed and looked away impatiently, but he wasn't fooling his sister. Dís had felt him stiffen as soon as the hobbit had mentioned Hayden's name.
"It's actually for Thorin," Bilbo said, looking timidly to the dwarf King.
Thorin raised his eyebrows and tried his best to look impassive.
"She says no matter what, nothing will… change her love for you," Bilbo said slowly, hoping his alterations of her words would spark some recovery in Thorin.
Bilbo gave a small nod to both the dwarves and left with that, not wanting to be present for Thorin's reaction.
Dís smiled and looked to Thorin. He wore an expression like he had just been kicked hard in the stomach multiple times.
"If that isn't proof enough of her feelings then I don't know what else I can say," Dís said simply, "We are all with you Thorin, remember that."
She patted him gently on the arm and walked away to converse with Balin.
Thorin stood shocked on the spot, words and thoughts rushing through his mind all at once. But there was one memory more prominent than the others.
"If you do come with me Hayden, I will never leave you. That I promise."
"By Durin," Thorin cursed, feeling sick to the stomach, "What have I done?"
He slowly sunk to the ground in his despair, his face buried in his hands. Through all this Hayden had been there for him and this was how he repaid her; by succumbing to the same illness he had watched kill his grandfather.
He looked through the gaps in his fingers to Thror's key, which still lay on the ground where Hayden had thrown it.
"You will take it, so that everyone in this Kingdom knows that you are mine, and I am yours…"
"Thorin?" Dwalin said, kneeing down in front of his friend.
"I've lost her haven't I?" Thorin said weakly, "She will not come back to me…"
Dwalin sighed and put a heavy hand on Thorin's shoulder to reassure him, "Have faith, cousin. She may be hardheaded, but she is not blind. She will return to you."
"I do not think I should be so lucky," Thorin sighed, "How could I have been such a fool?"
"It happens to the best of us," Dwalin said, "You can still get her back, Thorin."
"How?" Thorin asked hopelessly, looking up to meet his cousin's gaze.
"Fight for her."
Stay tuned to see what happens next in Chapter 53 of An Unexpected Journey!
