Chapter 27
Thorin nodded. "Come. Look at this. Such pretty trinkets." He chuckled.
Bilbo stared, enthralled at the white gems. "They seem to shine with a light coming from in them rather than without."
Thorin nodded. "These are the White Gems of Lasgalen."
Bilbo dropped the necklace fast. "Elf gems?!"
Thorin looked at him. "And what is wrong with that?"
Bilbo stared at Thorin. "They are King Thranduil's! What are they doing in a Dwarf mountain?!"
Thorin chuckled. "Tribute to King Thror. Or, at least that is what Grandfather claimed." Thorin set the earrings down. "I wish your mother were still alive, Bilbo. I would have decked her in furs and jewels. Showered her with my love. We would be a complete family."
Bilbo moved to Thorin's side. "We can still be a family, Father. Please…let's give some of this gold to the men so they can take care of their own families. I don't want any more children to lose a parent, like I did."
Thorin frowned. "If that is what…" His eyes glazed and then he shook his head. "No. This gold was mined and earned by Dwarves. It shall stay within the Dwarven halls."
Bilbo felt like screaming again. "We have no means of keeping the gold here. There are only fourteen of us, Father. There are over hundreds of survivors. Besides, an Elven army has marched to Dale. They are waiting for these jewels, no doubt!"
Thorin chuckled. "Then I will send a raven. Already, the birds are coming back to my mountain."
Bilbo was still. "A what?" Had his father already gone raving mad?
Thorin started laughing. "Come, let me show you the Roost. When Dis was younger, she called it the Royal Roost, because only the birds who served the Royal family stayed there."
Bilbo chuckled. "I can't wait to meet my aunt. Did she and mother get along?"
"Aye. They got along too well." Thorin grumbled slightly. "Always conniving behind my back, and then tricking me to do what they wanted. Once, your mother and aunt actually tricked me into drinking a fowl brew called coffee. And for what? Because that was the only liquid bitter enough to cover the sleeping draught she slipped in there."
Bilbo blinked. "What did she do that for?"
"She wanted me completely clean. Hobbit Standards clean, or so she claimed."
Bilbo started laughing, holding his belly and laughing. His voice bounced off the walls and echoed.
Thorin smiled at the sound of laughter. It made the mountain feel not quite so dead. He couldn't wait for more Dwarves to come. He could show off his son.
They finally climbed the stairs to the roost. Thorin went around introducing the ravens to his son. "It takes some time to learn their tongue, but since you are my heir, you must learn."
Bilbo didn't have any qualms about learning another language. "I can hardly wait. It would be an honor to learn from so magnificent a bird!"
All the Ravens puffed up a bit at the praise. Thorin chuckled. "Your Silvertongue will get you many friends, my son." Bilbo looked around the nest as Thorin spoke with Roac.
"Go to Dain and tell him that the mountain is under my control, but it may not be for long if he does not come to my aid. The Elves are at my doorstep."
The bird croaked slightly and took off. Bilbo frowned in thought. "Is there anyway to build some sort of insulation from the winds. Winter is coming. It's going to be a bad one." Flashes of wolves and screams of Hobbits filled Bilbo. Winters were always bad in the Shire. The rivers would be frozen over and the wolves would wander in, hoping for a nice Hobbit sized snack.
Thorin shook his son. "Bilbo!"
Bilbo blinked rapidly. "Sorry. Lost in a memory." Staring at him, and not bothering to hide his concern, Thorin rested their foreheads together.
Fíli popped up through the hatch. "Bard wants to speak with you again."
Bilbo and Thorin hurried down the steps. Thorin spoke a long while with the man, but something wasn't right. The longer he spoke the more of a stoop Thorin had. His voice became thicker.
Bilbo frowned and looked at Fíli. "What's happening?"
Fíli shook his head in confusion. Kíli moved closer to his brother. Bilbo bit his lip. He opened his mouth to speak when Thorin marched back, but his father spoke first.
"I will not part with a single coin! Not one piece of it! They are friends with Tree-shaggers! I will do no business with the likes of them!" He marched away towards the Treasury.
Bilbo stared at Fíli. "Did Bard say anything about war?"
"Aye." Fíli looked somber. "They will attack if they do not get what they desire."
Bilbo looked at Fíli. The Dwarf wasn't looking at him. "What they need, Fíli. They are not greedy! They need gold to buy and barter! The Master no doubt fled, taking everything with him. He was greedy! But Bard is good. He saved my bloody life! I owe him a debt! A life debt! And I will not see myself shamed because of the greed and stupidity of my father!" Bilbo stormed off, ignorant that Thorin overheard everything he had said.
Thorin frowned in thought and moved along the paths that had been carved in the sea of gold. "Gold…gold beyond imagining…"
I will not see myself shamed because of the greed and stupidity of my father!
Thorin tried to shake Bilbo's voice out of his mind, but the heartbroken tone sliced to his core. He looked around. Why could Bilbo not see the wonders and beauty of gold?
Balin entered the room. His brother right behind him.
"Shouldn't you be keeping watch?" Thorin's voice was gruff.
Balin sighed. "Bifur and Bofur are keeping watch. The rest are looking to see what weapons and armor are still usable."
Thorin nodded. "What do you want?"
Dwalin spoke up. His voice showed the heartbreak he was having over his friend's goldlust. "We are here to remind you of your promise."
"Promise? What promise did I make?"
Balin sighed and gently said, "You vowed that you will not allow your son to fall to the same disease that is in your line. The longer the gold stays here, the higher the chance of Bilbo becoming his great-grandfather. The gold is not safe, Thorin."
Thorin stared at the glittering mounds of treasure. His words echoed back to him like a slap in the face. Each word bit into his resolve. "I…leave me. I must think."
Balin and Dwalin left with a bow. Thorin paced down the paths, looking at the gold. He stayed in the treasury for two days, unaware of the need to eat or sleep or drink.
I'm so sorry for not updating sooner! The internet has been out until now. Sorry!
Ink...
