Part 3 of More to The Story. It's about a family that are the key-holders and Gatekeepers between our world/Wizarding World and Middle Earth. Adventure, friendships, and love. Part 3 picks up at the beginning of The Battle of the Five Armies, with equal parts of books and movies with the crossovers. OC's and real characters.
The Company and Gatekeepers are divided. Some of the company remain in Laketown with the younger members of the Gatekeeper family. The parents and grandparents are still missing. The danger of the dragon, orcs, and greed were on everyone's minds. What would become of them? Erébor? The Wizard and Muggle world? Nothing was certain.
I do not own anything from the Hobbit or Harry Potter; only the OC's and their story. All Harry Potter/Hobbit references and characters belong to J.K. Rowling, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Peter Jackson.
Chapter 13
When the company split up, Jordan and Karah went with Fili and Kili. They chose to retrace their steps and start in the royal wing. Then they would try to navigate to places where René might wonder to. It did not take long for them to make it back to the center of the mountain. They sort of split up to search every little hiding place imaginable.
While Karah, Kili, and Fili called out for the little girl, Jordan tried to be more watchful. What if René didn't want to be found yet? What if she's still trying to keep away from her mother in order to carry out what she came here for? Jordan thought to herself. René was a smart and determined kid.
In an effort to keep moving and keep looking, she pulled open a large door and tripped on a lip, or rather a miniature step in the floor. She fell forward on her hands and knees. Her eyes were blinded by the shine of the gold floor. It added at least three inches to the thickness of the floor, making it so easy to trip over. She did not think anyone had heard or seen her until she heard Thorin's heavy breathing and stomping. He seemed to be awestruck by the gold and unaware of everything else. It took him a while to notice he was not alone.
He scowled at her, "have you found the child?"
Not yet. Jordan answered and cautiously got to her feet. What is this place?
Thorin rolled his eyes at her, like she should already know the answer. "It's the Gallery of the Kings."
Jordan looked all around and could see why it was named such. Are you alright? It was a trick question, because she knew he had lost his mind. However, nothing else seemed to work to get through to him.
"I'm fine!" He snapped at her. His gaze continued to survey the beautiful treasure.
She also looked around. It was easy to understand how someone could fall easily to greed when such a prize was won. She made a point to not touch any of the gold or treasure if she could help it. She was lost in thought, glaring at the gold, until she was jerked out of it.
"What do you need?" Thorin yelled to her.
Nothing.
"Then do as I have commanded and find the child." Thorin ordered and went back to admiring the gold.
Jordan had to stomp her foot to get his attention back. It's true then, the Dragon Sickness has taken over you? It's is a real disease that plagues your family. This curse is why Fili and Kili refuse to go anywhere near the treasure. Why Fili acted the way he did when we escaped from Laketown.
"You don't know anything about it, witch."
I know better than you realize, Thorin. Break your curse before it's too late. Or you will lose everything.
"You dare to point fingers at me, when you yourself are cursed?" Thorin spat at her, slowly walking closer. He was seeing her more clearly, the tattoos she loved and boasted were fading, others taking their places. Familiar black marks underneath her skin making their way to the surface. A terrible language used by dark creatures.
I'm WILL to break my curse, or die trying! Jordan declared. With each declaration, the dark marks darkened and became perfectly legible.
Thorin recognized the black speech tattoos and pulled his sword out to stop her. "Stay where you are, witch! It is you that brought all the darkness upon us. You are the one Azog the Defiler has been following! You have led him to us and have betrayed us to him."
For a moment, they just did nothing but calculate each other's movements. On one hand, Thorin was right. All dark creatures were drawn to her because of the curse and black speech. And she probably will betray everyone in order to save her brother. On the other hand, he was wrong because she never actually met Azog nor is she the one leading him to the mountain. He was after Thorin and the rest of the Durin line.
As an instinct, Jordan pulled her wand out and bore it like a weapon. I am not responsible for the Pale Orc following us. She took a defensive step back, wanting to keep a distance between them. She remembered what happened to the orc that tried to kill her when they escaped Mirkwood. Don't come any closer. If you do, you will get hurt.
"And now you dare threaten me, witch?"
No, not threaten you. But If you try to get between me and my family, there is no telling what the outcome will be. The black speech and her eyes were continuing to darken, making her appear more demonic.
"You do not frighten me with or without your curse." Thorin's voiced dipped so he almost sounded like he was laughing at her. "I knew you could not be trusted since the day I met you. I've kept watch on you and you have slithered your way into my nephew's heart. What's your purpose? Are you going to turn him and the rest of us over to the Pale Orc? I'll have you locked away in the deepest mine until trail. No one will be allowed to see you. Not Fili, Kili, Bifur, Karah, Nicole, or anyone else."
He attacked her with such forcefulness, Jordan almost did not dodge it in time. If he did not stop, the curse would kill him too. She did everything she could to keep some distance between them. Only him being a seasoned warrior, be backed her into a corner without even trying.
I did come here for a purpose. But it's not what you think! Jordan tried to explain while keeping the curse from choking her. I will do anything I must to protect my family. You used to feel the same. Break your curse, Thorin! Break it for you and your family. Do what your grandfather couldn't!
Thorin had lost all his empathy. "Drop your wand or I'll cut off the hand holding it!" He had stepped to her again and she could feel the curse bringing a coldness over her, preparing to kill the threat, and keep her alive. With no other choice she cast a stunning spell and hit him square in the chest. It knocked him off his feet and the breath out of his lungs. She left him on the floor and ran for the door. She wanted to help him, and later she probably could. Right now, she needed to find a place where she could try to regain her composure and calm the curse down before anyone else saw her.
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Thorin laid on the floor for a moment trying to catch his breath. He must have bumped his head on the floor and rattled his mind because he started hearing voices. Dwalin's report about the dwarf soldiers fighting and dying for him and this kingdom. Fili and Kili proclaiming their readiness to join the fight. Bard trying to convince the people of Laketown to not support the company and not go to the mountain where the dragon slept. Nicole accusing him of not caring about her, or her children, or his people. He could see Jordan demanding him to break his curse before it was too late.
He rolled over onto his hands and knees and stared at the gold floor. It gleamed and glittered at him with such lust and greed. The shadow of a dragon slithered around him. Smaug's voice whispering in his ear, "Love it. Keep it safe. Pile the gold all together so nothing is lost. Do not part with any of it. Hoard it. Let no one take it from you!"
The floor opened up beneath his feet and he felt himself sinking. The gold was swallowing him hole, taking over! For the first time since he arrived he felt a fear like none other. He ran from it. Sprinting as fast as he could, only the whole in the floor was getting wider and he could not escape. The claws of the gold grabbed his heavy royal robe to pull him in, drowning him in the darkness.
Bilbo's voice called to him, "You have changed, Thorin. You're just like your grandfather."
"I'm not my grandfather!" He yelled louder and louder with each breath. "I'm not my grandfather! I'm not my grandfather!"
A little voice called out to him, "Thorin? Mr. Thorin?" The child's voice began to cry and weep.
Thorin heard the child's voice calling him out of the sickness. The gold closed in around him and if he didn't reach out to that scared little voice, he would be lost forever. Yanking the crown off his head, he chucked it to the floor; damaging the crown and the floor. He did not care. He would no longer be poisoned by the Dragon Sickness. He felt like he had literally been carrying the dragon over his head and had thrown the giant creature and not a crown. The weight had lifted from his entire body and he could breathe again, see clearly because his eyes had been washed from his own tears.
"Hello? Mr. Thorin, is that you? Is anyone out there? I'm scared and cold." The little voice sniffled.
"René?" Thorin guessed and started looking all around. "Speak to me, René! Where are you?"
"I'm here!" She sounded a little chipper. She picked the least visible spot to hide in. Anyone could have walked right by and never noticed the little ginger.
He pulled his heavy robe from his shoulders and wrapped it around the little girl. "Have you been here this whole time? How long?"
"I don't know," the little girl replied, fresh tears fell from her eyes. "When I ran away, I didn't know where I was and I just kept walking."
"We need to get you to your mother," Thorin helped her to her feet and tried to escort her to the door. He wanted desperately to get away from this room and put Nicole's worries and fears at ease.
"No! She wants to leave but I don't want too. I brought you medicine and you need to take it so you'll get better. And I like it here. Please don't let her make us leave!" She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his shirt and cried.
"Shhh, it's alright." Thorin picked the child up in his arms, and gently rubbed the back of her head. "Thank you for bringing me medicine. That was very thoughtful. Jordan gave it to me and I feel much better now. However, it was a very foolish and dangerous thing you did to travel here on your own. And your mother has her reasons for wanting to leave."
"They're stupid reasons."
"But they are still her reasons and she wants you with her. She's been very worried for you."
"No, she hasn't. She hates me."
"Why would you think that?" Thorin's heart broke hearing those words.
"I said mean things to her and ran away, now she hates me." René explained, becoming more hysterical by the moment.
"René, listen to me. Take a deep breath. That's it. Another. Dry your eyes now. You can use my shirt." Thorin felt the little girl dry her eyes and waited until she calmed. "Your mother does not hate you. She loves you more than anything in the world and will do everything she must to keep you safe."
"Why can't she do that here?" René rested her head on his shoulder. "I don't want to leave again. We had to leave home, and Hogwarts, and Laketown. I don't want to leave anywhere else. Please let me stay here!" She hugged him even tighter.
"Okay, René. Please listen again. You won't be leaving right now." Thorin explained calmly. "There is a war going on outside and the safest place for you and your family is inside the mountain. I must take you to your mother so you can be safe while I go out and defend you all and my home from our enemies."
"But what if she makes us leave while you're gone?"
"When the fighting is over, you will do what your mother says. If she says you must leave, then you must. Until then, no one is leaving the mountain. I will protect you, your mother and brother, your aunt and cousin, and my nephews and friends with my life. And I promise, that as long as you are alive and these halls are under dwarf rule, you and your family are always welcome here."
"Do you pinky promise?" René held up her little finger for him.
He was unsure for a moment on what to do. He looked at her pinky and decided to take it in his. René squeezed and he followed suite, ensuring his promise. He leaned and touched his forehead to hers just like he did with his nephews. "I promise. And will you promise me something?" René nodded. "Promise me that you will be brave, the best you can. And that you will do as your mother says. She is a wise woman and she loves you very much. And she will do what is best for you and Gage. Do you promise to do these things?""
René squeezed his pinky again. "I promise."
"Thank you, now we must hurry. We need to find your mother and the rest of the company." Thorin carried the little girl out of the hall. He had many apologies to make and he hoped he could make things right. If not, he would go alone out to war, just as he deserved.
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Jordan had no idea where she was; only that she needed to get away from the Gallery of the Kings and Thorin as quickly as possible. She wondered if she should have wiped his memory of their encounter. Perhaps there was a chance she could go back and do it now? But if the rest of the company found out, they could charge her with using magic against the king. Well, they could do that anyway because she stunned him. What do I do? Panic took over and the curse was not lessening.
Heavy footsteps thumped toward her. Not ready to face whoever was coming, she pulled open the nearest door and quietly closed it. She listened through the keyhole, hoping to hear a clue as to who it was. What if it's Thorin? What if it's René? It didn't matter at this point. She could not allow anyone to see her like this. It was too suspicious and what if they all thought what Thorin did? Whoever it was had continued on by without opening the door. The room she occupied was completely dark.
Lumos. Jordan used her wand to make a light to see where she was. It seemed to be a study, with lots of books. Sending the light further out, she gasped in the amazing sight before her.
It was not a small study. It was a magnificent library! It was stories tall completely lined with shelves, cupboards, drawers, and displays. There were balconies with ladders on tracks, desks, tables, chairs, and many lamps, fireplaces, and torches. There were books of all topics, scrolls of ancient literature, maps of the world, paintings and tapestries depicting scenes throughout history.
The amount of knowledge all in one place would take many lifetimes to study. Jordan thought to herself. She admired the beauty before her until she glanced at her hands and arms. The Black Speech was completely covered her skin; and realization hit her. This was it! Somewhere in the vast library was where the book was hidden. She walked further inside until she heard someone calling out for her.
A nasty voice pressured her to stay hidden, Ignore them. Find the book! It sounded like her own, only controlled by the curse. Get the book and bring it to your master!
He's not my master! Jordan snarled at the curse.
"Jordan, where are you?" Fili called from somewhere out in the hallway.
What about your brother? The curse reminded.
Shut up and go away! Jordan almost blasted her wand at nothing.
"Jordan!" Karah called out this time. "Come on! Please don't be missing too!"
She had to get out of there before she gave herself away. I'll be back. She told the curse, who seemed to hiss its displeasure of her leaving.
