~Sixteen~
~A Warm Welcome Home~
Well, welcome home.
They weren't even spared a moment to take in their surroundings, to relish in the fact that they had made it, that they were finally home, at last, at long last. Now they had a Dragon Sickness problem to worry about.
"What about us?" Bofur mumbled to Oin.
Thorin flicked his wrist and tossed something through the air. Fili reached up to catch it - a glittering red jewel. Thorin's eyes shone in the wash of golden light as he grinned widely.
Well talk about dramatic...
Dahlia reached out and held Fili back from going any further, though he was so stunned he didn't move.
"See?" sighed Bilbo.
"Yeah, something's definitely wrong..." agreed Kili.
"Is it like you remember?" Dahlia asked the brothers as they took in their surroundings, their family home.
"I can't remember it well, but now it's all coming back, chuckled Fili.
"Oh - thank Durin you're alive!" In what had once been the grand royal dining hall, they found the others, seemingly trying to hide from their Company leader.
However, there wasn't much time for a big 'welcome home' or reunion, for now that they were all here and the Company of Thorin Oakenshield was once again all back together, the king put them all to work right away.
"Any sign of it?" Thorin had everyone - minus himself - searching for the Arkenstone in the hall of treasure. Everyone sifted through gold coin after gold coin, but the glittering moonlight-coloured jewel was nowhere to be seen or found.
"Nothing here!"
"Nothing yet!"
"Not over here either!"
Their calls echoed throughout the vast hall.
"The Stone could be anywhere..."
"It is here in these halls, I know it..."
"We have searched and searched," Dwalin reminded him wearily.
"Not well enough," snapped Thorin.
"Thorin, we would all see the Stone returned-"
"And yet, it is still not found!"
"Do you doubt the loyalty of anyone here?" pressed Balin. "The Arkenstone is the birthright of our people."
"It is the King's Jewel. AM I NOT THE KING?!" His shout echoed throughout the hall. "Know this: if anyone should find it, and withhold it from me, I will be avenged." On that note, and with his threat lingering, the others left him to sit upon his throne alone and in silence, pondering the whereabouts of his precious stone.
Balin sighed once they were far enough away and out of earshot. "That blasted stone... Perhaps it is best it remains lost..."
"I want this fortress made safe by sunup. This mountain was hard-won - I will not see it taken again."
The people of Lake-town had taken refuge in the ruins of Dale. And, by the looks of things, the Mirkwood Elves had assisted them, if the Elven archer guards lining the walls of the city overlooking the valley were anything to go by.
"So that stuck-up Elf King helps these people, but he never helped us," grumbled Thorin.
The king had set his company to work once more, this time taking a break from searching for the King's Jewel, and now enduring the back-breaking task of building up the front wall that had been smashed out by Smaug before he had attacked Lake-town.
"The people of Lake-town have nothing," Dahlia protested.
"They came to us in need, they have lost everything," agreed Kili.
"Do not tell me what they have lost. I know well enough their hardship. Those who lived through Dragon fire should rejoice - they have much to be grateful for."
"Aye, a dragon you set loose on them," Dahlia reminded.
"What happened to that town of Man was not our fault, and I will not be blamed for it," was his response.
"But you gave them your word that you would help them once you reached the Mountain, and now you have reached it - are you really going to turn your back on your word, especially now that they have suffered so?"
"Do not tell me of what they have suffered! They will get through it, like we did. And we had not a coin to help us through. Nor a single Elf."
"But you have the power to help, and you won't."
"No, I won't. We need more stone! Bring more, now!"
"Oh, Dahlia, I'm sorry," Bilbo cried, hurriedly kneeling in order to help her scoop up the contents that had fallen from her bag when they bumped into each other.
"That's alright. Thank you," she said as he handed her back the items and she returned them to her bag.
"What's that you've got there?"
"Some food and drink, clothing, medical supplies."
"Where are you off to?"
"Over the wall. We promised those poor townspeople help and although it wasn't my word, I won't back down on it. We have resources to help them."
"Of course. Er, do you mind if I join you?"
And so together, the Hobbit and the Dwarf - the Master Burglar and the Future Queen Under the Mountain - headed over the wall and into the night.
"You cannot stop them! If you think the Dwarves will surrender then they won't," Bilbo announced when they reached the camp.
"We will fight and die to defend our own," added Dahlia.
"Bilbo Baggins!" cried Gandalf. "Lady Dahlia Ironfoot!"
They were brought into a grand tent, before King Thranduil.
"So this is the Halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons from under the noses of my guards."
"Uh, yes... Sorry about that..."
"I came to deliver this." Dahlia emptied the contents of her bag. "And know there is more where that came from."
"And I came to offer you this-" Bilbo set his handkerchief on the table and unwrapped it.
Dahlia gasped. "Bilbo! That's the-"
"Arkenstone, yes."
"The Heart of the Mountain," breathed Thranduil. "The King's Jewel."
"And worth a king's ransom," added Bard. He turned to Bilbo. "How is this yours to give?"
"I took it as my fifteenth share of the treasure," Bilbo stated, causing Dahlia to chuckle. It was really rather clever.
"Why did you do this? You owe us no loyalty."
"Oh I'm not doing this for you. I know that Dwarves can be obstinate, and pig-headed, and difficult, and suspicious and secretive, with the worse manners you can possibly imagine-"
Dahlia cleared her throat. He'd better have a point with all this.
"-But they are also brave and kind, and loyal to a fault. I've grown very fond of them - they're my friends. And I would save them if I can. Now Thorin values this stone above all else at the moment."
"And in return for it he will give you what you are owed," said Dahlia, catching onto his plan.
Bilbo nodded. "I believe so." He looked desperately at the leaders. "There will be no need for war. Please, at least try."
"Very well, we will make the offer. But if he refuses, then we will have no choice but to attack," Thranduil decided, causing Gandalf to heave a heavy sigh. "You started this, Mithrandir, you will forgive me if I finish it."
Duh! Duh! Duh! Haha! ;)
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)
