Disclaimer: I don't own any familiar characters, and or anything pertaining to the world of the Hobbit. All, but my ocs, are owned by J.R.R Tolkien (who probably hates us for doing this to his work).
Chapter 49
Fili hadn't slept in what felt like weeks. There were small moments in between his spiraling mental state and his search for Magdalen when he did catch a second of slumber. Though even in his sleep he was haunted by memories of her and the questions she had left unanswered.
Why did Magdalen leave so suddenly?
Why did she believe she wasn't worthy of his love?
In reality, he wasn't worthy of her. Fili would do anything to have her by his side at this moment.
None of it made any sense to him. Then there was the matter of the note. He had read it too many times to count. He had practically memorized it by now. When night came Fili would sit in his bed going over the lines of the letter in his head, hoping he would stumble upon a hidden meaning he had missed. His mind would wander to visions of Magdalen. How beautiful her hair had looked on Durin's Day. How her nose scrunched when she got angry. How the fire in her soul made his ignite again.
At the week's end, all of his hope began to dwindle. Fili had searched high and low in every part of the valley, Dale, and the lands surrounding Erebor. He had questioned every guard in Erebor and none reported any sight of Magdalen. Through all of his search nothing turned up, it was like she had vanished into thin air.
Her voice rang in his ears when no one was around. The phantom of her hands touched his skin, leaving him buzzing and lightheaded. Every part of him cried out into the world for his Magdalen. She was out there and he would never stop believing that. He would never stop looking for her.
"Fili," His mother's voice hurtled him back to reality. He blinked focusing on the raven-haired woman next to him. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. Dis smiled at her eldest son weakly, reaching up to pat his cheek.
Fili smiled down at his mother, covering her hand with his. Turning his head to press a kiss in her palm, before dropping it.
"You don't have to go, I understand. I'll tell them that you weren't feeling well." She squeezed his hand tenderly.
"Amad, there's only one day left… What if I can't find her?" Fili questioned his eyes staring down at the floor.
"Fili, what you have with Magdalen is not something simply can be forgotten. The love you share is not something that can be shaken. You will find her, just as she will find you. Aule has a plan, you must trust in that plan." Dis took her son's face in her hands shaking it.
The feeling of hope resurging in his chest. Fili bent down pressing a kiss into his mother's hair. "Thank you, Amad."
Dis nodded at her son before backing away. Fili turned his face back to his balcony staring at the sun as it crept higher in the sky. He knew his mother was right his faith - his love - was not something that could be shaken.
The gates of Erebor were like seeing heaven, as they appeared over the green hills of the valley. Her heart jumped at the sight. She was home, so close to the people she loved most. Though her mind turned to what challenges still lay ahead of her. She thought of Amrus and Tearsa, her throat tightened at the small thought of the pair. True rage raced through her veins at what they had taken away from her. The Valar had plucked her from her life, and she survived. She had faced adversity, and she had survived. She has been on the verge of death, and she survived. They weren't going to stop her from getting her happiness. She had fought her enter life for that, and she was beginning to become tired.
The morning sun had graced the valley, sunlight making the face of the mountain shimmer. Her heart beat wildly in her chest, to a beat she could not comprehend. Deamra, who sat behind Magdalen on their mare, gently rubbed her shoulder. Magdalen glanced at her friend giving her a small smile.
"Let's go home." She wrapped her hand around Deamra's.
Deamra nodded, her eyes trained on their home. She envisioned herself jumping into her husband's arms, and never wanting to leave.
A troop of soldiers flanked either side of them, in front of them strode King Thranduil on his mighty elk. His platinum blonde hair glistened under the bright sun that sat in the sky. To his right, Tauriel ride proudly. There wouldn't be enough thank you that Magdalen could give to the elves or Deamra. She would forever be indebted to them.
Magdalen's heart quicken as they began to cross the stone bridge leading into the mountain kingdom. She could make out two dwarven guards slumped against the stone wall, jump to attention as their small caravan darkened the gates.
"Halt!" Yelled one of the dwarves, stomping to stand in front of the towering king and his elk. The red face stared up at the elf and his soldiers with suspicion.
"What is the meaning of your visit, the king is not expecting your kind." Spat the dwarf.
Magdalen huffed behind the king, she did not have time for the dwarves' distrust of the elves. Kicking into the side of the horse, Magdalen strolled in front of the king her face set in a warm expression.
"King Thranduil is with me. I need to speak with King Thorin immediately." Magdalen addressed the guard.
The dwarf that had been speaking paled, looking back at the other guard with an awed expression.
"Lady Magdalen." Stammered the other guard. "We thought you left Erebor."
Magdalen let out a breath, trying to relax the tension that built up in her shoulders.
"That is what I need to speak with King Thorin about."
The guard's shared a nervous glance, neither one is going to move.
"I believe Lady Magdalen needing to speak with the king is of the utmost importance." Hissed Thranduil.
"NOW!' He shouted making the guards rush to their post.
Within a minute the gates opened with a thundering aching sound. Thranduil and Magdalen's eyes met, Magdalen nodding her head in thanks. Thranduil led their group into the open hall. Passerbys didn't seem to pay any mind to the newcomers. Until a gasp came from someone, then the dwarves seem to freeze
"Is that.."
"What is that elf doing here?"
"It can't be!"
"Lady Magdalen, I heard she left the prince."
The whispers began to grow into loud chatter. Magdalene glanced back at the nervous Deamra, giving her a reassuring smile.
"Deamra, Deamra!" The familiar voice broke through the walls of whispers.
The dwarves parted as the face of the chief librarian and scribe emerged through the crowd. Deamra let out a cry of relief quickly slipping from the horse she sat atop. Without a second thought, Deamra ran into the arms of her husband's arms tears pouring down her round cheeks. Deamra openly sobbed whispering into Ori's ear.
Longing contorted in Magdalen's chest. She needed to find her Fili, she needed to fix everything.
"Magdalen?" Exclaimed another familiar voice from behind the touching scene before her.
The kind face of Balin appeared, Magdalen's face broke into a smile as she followed suit of her friend. She sprinted into Balin's arms, bending over so her cheek pressed into the small dwarves head. Balin let out a laugh patting Magdalen's back gently. Pulling away Magdalen looked at Balin. His face was bubbling with questions, but Magdalen didn't have time to answer them. She needed to find Fili, she needed to find her family.
"Where is Thorin? I need to speak to him right away."Magdalen asked.
Balin's mouth fell open but no words came out, as if he was unsure what to say.
"He is an a meeting right now with the Rus clan they are.." His voice faltered looking away from the girl before him.
"They are discussing the contract of marriage."
Magdalen inhaled quickly, her eyes set on the ground nodding slowly.
"Please take me to him, I need to speak with him right away."
Balin nodded, turning to bow at King Thranduil who now stood behind Magdalen. She glanced at the king, knowing he was going to follow her to see how all of this played out. Balin began leading them through the halls toward Thorin.
Fili took his seat next to Thorin, waiting for him to call the council into session. He could feel the heavy gaze of his brother from the other side of Thorin, but he couldn't bring himself to look. Beside him Tearsa sat quietly, he was surprised when he walked into the chamber to find how pale she looked. Fili would have thought she would be beaming at the talks of their future, but she looked just as miserable as he did. Perhaps their marriage could work. Misery loves company. Fili had never felt so small, so out of control in his life. And there sitting in front of a council that would decide on a future that he did not want, he felt as if his life were slipping away before him.
As Thorin opened his mouth a loud commotion echoed outside of the hall door. The quiet talking of the room stopped abruptly, all eyes set on the door. Thorin stood about to speak an order to the guards when the doors opened. There in the door stood King Thranduil and Balin. Fili's brow furrowed at the sight, King Thranduil had not been invited to the Erebor. And odd, King Thranduil never would come to Erebor without a reason.
"What are you doing here, Thranduil?" Thorin questioned, though there was no harshness to his voice. Instead pure curiosity. It was clear he too was taken aback by the elf's sudden appearance.
"I found something in my wood, I believe it belongs to you." The elf said his cool demeanor never changing.
He stepped aside, and from behind him came forward a small figure.
The world froze around Fili.
Fili couldn't speak, he only stared at the girl. The girl who had, quite literally, fallen into their lives. The girl who had stood up against a king. The girl that had stolen his heart. She had changed in the week she was gone. Her face was thin, too thin, and she looked like she hadn't had a proper meal in a while. She looked ethereal in the elven garb. Like a paradise, he had longed to see. It took everything in him not to storm over to her and steal her away from everyone's peering eyes. To feed her, to hold her, to tell her what he should have said a week ago. To kiss her until his lungs gave out.
"Magdalen." Filis voice was so quiet.
Her eyes did not meet his as she strolled through the room.
Thorin came to stand in front of Magdalen, taking in the sight of her. Fili could see the wave of pity in his uncle's eyes.
"I thought you left us, you left a note." Thorin's voice was uncharacteristically quiet.
Magdalen's lip trembled, wells of water filled her eyes. Pressing her lips together Fili watched as she tried to compose herself before she spoke. She shook off whatever was clouding her mind, holding her head high.
"I would never leave Erebor, this place in my home Thorin." Her voice was clear as she spoke.
"I would never willingly leave this place." She repeated.
Fili had been so distracted by Magdalen that he didn't notice Tearsa tense up next to came around the table, standing at a distance from Magdalen.
"Did you leave here willingly?"
Bright jewel eyes looked up to meet Fili's, she shook her head. "Nothing I have done in the last week has been on my own volition."
"You." Magdalen narrowed her eyes at Armus.
He sat back in his chair, arms tucked over one another as he met her gaze. His face pale as she stared him down.
"This was all Armus's plan. He kidnapped Deamra and me, he forced me to write the letter so that Tearsa could become queen. You are a vile snake, and I hope you die in a whole." Magdalen lunged at Armus, tears blurring her vision.
Armus backed up into the wall as Magdalen reached across the table at him. Though Thorin and Dwalin grabbed her before she could do anything.
"YOU TOOK ME AWAY FROM MY HOME, MY FAMILY. YOU CAN THREATEN ME, BUT DON'T YOU DARE THREATEN MY FAMILY AGAIN YOU BASTARD." Magdalen twisted and turned trying to get out of the men's grip.
"Magdalen calm down," Dwalin whispered to her.
Magdalen closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. The room stood still as Magdalen calmed gently moving out of Thorin and Dwalin's grip.
Opening her eyes she found Fili standing at the edge of the table. His eyes pleading with her to let him come over to her.
"Armus has a piece of the Dragonstone left, he planned to use it on you Thorin. So Fili and Tearsa could become the rulers sooner."
The room erupted into chaos.
"Lies!" Lord Hamrus screamed, slamming his fist against the table.
"It's not father," Tearsa spoke silencing the room.
"Tearsa!" Snapped Amrus.
Tearsa held her lips tight her eyes narrowing at the uncle. They floated from her uncle to Magdalen's figure. Much to everyone's surprise Tearsa's eyes softened at the sight.
"Amrus did kidnap Lady Magdalen and Lady Deamra. He told me that he had a plan for me to win the competition. I-I was so blinded by my need to gain my father's approval, that I didn't see how wrong I was. I never meant for anyone to get hurt." She mustered, her voice quieting with every word.
"UNGRATEFUL CHILD!" Roared Amrus.
"Guards, cease the Rus clan at once!" Thorin roared.
Armus roared fighting off the guards with all of his might. Terror struck Magdalen like a lightning bolt when Armus lunged at her. Armus was on Magdalen in a second. Not having enough time to ward off the man, Magdalen was knocked against the table. A warm sensation shot through her body, the screams of the room-filling her ear.
Magdalen's body suddenly began to buzz.
She blinked… once... twice.
Why was everyone staring at her? She could see that they were yelling, but their voices were muffled in her head. She stumbled back collapsing onto the cold floor. Her hand gripped the table, trying to keep from crumbling onto the floor unsuccessfully. With her other hand, Magdalen felt an oddly hot spot in her abdomen. A sticky substance covered her hand, she looked down to find her hand covered in crimson. From her stomach the handle of a dagger stand out against her bloodied skin. Two arm scooped her up pulling her into a body. Looking up through black spots growing in her vision.
"Fili," She breathed smiling up at the horror-filled expression of Fili.
"You are going to be alright, Magdalen. Just listen to me, stay awake Dushin-Mizim." He begged with her.
"I didn't want to leave you, Fili. Fili, please believe me. I never wanted to leave the mountain." Magdalen pleaded with Fili, pressed her face into his chest.
Fili pressed his cheek into her hair, before placing a kiss there. "I believe you Magdalen. I believe you."
Tears poured down her face, her hand cupped Fili's hands. His hand covered hers pressing her palm into his face. "Dushin- Mizim please stay with me."
Magdalen's laugh turned into a violent cough. "All good things have to come to an end."
Fili held her body to his, pressing his forehead into hers. "Hush your mouth, everything is going to be alright just focus on me."
Magdalen brushed her hand over his bread, tugging on his mustache braid. "I had a dream a long time ago, it was of my children. I like to believe they were ours." Her breathing became shallow.
Fili looked over the pale face of his love. "Tell me about them."
Magdalen smiled looking out at the night sky. "There were three of them. Two boys, and a little girl. The oldest boy had blonde hair like your, had my eyes. The other boy had dark hair, he must be Kilis."
Magdalen grinned at Fili, who shook his head. Even moments from dying she still had her fire.
"No he had your nose, he was beautiful. And our little girl.." Magdalen began to weep.
"I will never get to see them, I'm never going to get to hold them in my arms." Magdalen sobbed.
Fili kissed her head. "Of course you are, Magdalen you are going to live."
Magdalen shook her head. "No, Fili, they are calling me. Stupid gods, they have the worst timing."
"I don't want to leave you, I want to be selfish. I want to stay with you." His grip on her face tightened.
Magdalen's weep became louder, her hand slipping over Fili's hand. "I love you."
Fili pressed his forehead, Magdalen reaching up to place one last kiss on Fili's lips. Pulling back she smiled at Fili weakly, before closing her eyes.
"Magdalen."
"Magdalen."
She slipped into the darkness.
Duh Duh Duh…
Lol don't kill me. I'm just a lover of no easy roads in stories. I like to make my protagonist work for their happiness.
Happy Holiday!