" Thorin!"
Bilbo looked towards Thorin at Dwalin's cry only to see that the dwarf kig had slipped into unconsciousness. His armor was in tatters and his clothes bloodstained with blood still dripping from his wounds.
" We have to get him to Oin. We have to get him to the healing camps," he said while looking at Bofur, Nori and Dwalin, " How did you even get up here in the first place?"
" Mountain rams," Dwalin replied gruffly, nodding his head down the hill. There Bilbo saw rams twice as big as himself and suddenly found himself wishing for Myrtle, his pony who had carried him for the earlier part of the journey.
" Come on," Dwalin said as he began asserting his authority and ordered Bofur to help him carry Thorin to the rams. While they did that Nori helped Tauriel take Kili and Bilbo saw Dwalin narrow his eyes at Legolas, still not having forgotten the treatment the company received at Mirkwood. " You! Elvish princeling, get Fili to the rams. Master Baggins, keep an eye on tree shagger."
Soon they were riding back down Ravenhill, with the injured Line of Durin being carried by both Dwarves and elves. As they rode, Bilbo recalled the events of Azog's demise. He remembered Azog raising his mace to kill Thorin, to kill his leader, his love. Bilbo could not just stand and watch and so he impaled Azog with Sting, but even that did not kill the Pale orc. If anything, Bilbo's sneak attack only succeeded in further annoying Azog. He shuddered to think what might have happened to him and Thorin if Bofur, Nori and Dwalin had not arrived.
" Oin! Oin!" He yelled once they came in sight of the healing tents, praying to the Valar that Oin had his trumpet to his ear. Thankfully, his prayer was answered and Oin came out along with two other healers from the Iron Hills. Upon seeing the lifeless bodies of the Durin's, the son of Groin immediately called for stretchers and rushed the three to the healing tents.
Hours passed and no one entered or left the tent in which the king and his nephews were located. Bilbo sta and wondered about what would happen to him if Thorin didn't live. He would surely die of a broken heart. But then what if Thorin did live? Would he welcome Bilbo back to Erebor? Accept Bilbo's love? Or did that bloody Arkenstone still cloud his mind?
" I'd have thought you would be closer to the healing tents ,laddie. Not all the way here by yourself."
Behind him Bilbo saw Balin who gave him a sad smile.
" Thorin? " Bilbo could not help but ask.
Worry clouded Balin's face as he opened his mouth to reply, " I don't know, laddie, I don't know. Oin's been with him for hours but no news came out. But Thorin is strong. If there is anyone who has the ability to cheat death over and over again, it's Thorin Oakenshield." He suddenly winked at Bilbo, " And lets face it, if he dies he won't be able to court you would he?"
" Court me?" Bilbo asked hopefully.
"Aye, you two are so obvious that the others have had a wager going on since the Trollshaw Forest."
"What?"
" Well it's only the two of you who are blind, oblivious yet obvious so I don't suppose you can blame the lads for placing a bet."
" All of them?"
" Everyone but Dori and I." But lad, you have to understand the current situation."
" And what's that?"
"What's that? Well the King and his Heirs are unconscious. Dain Ironfoot is preparing to return to the Iron Hills leaving his 500 men behind for Erebor."
" So how does this involve me?"
" We're leaderless. Since no heir of Durin is currently sitting on the throne, that makes me Erebor's steward. And I need your help with a very pressing matter."
"And what would that be?"
"The Arkenstone."
Bilbo's face darkened at the mention of the rock. "What about it?"
"Well? What should be done with it?"
" Destroy it. No, wait. Give it to Bofur and tell him to hide it, wherever he sees fit."
" Bofur ,laddie? Trust him a lot, you do."
" That's because I belive him to be honest and to tell you the truth, he was the only one who welcomed me when I first joined the company."
" True enough laddie."
"Balin? Will Thorin forgive me? "
Balin snorted, " He'd be the biggest fool in Arda if he didn't. No, actually the biggest headless fool in Arda. Well I'll be going now, Bilbo, to check on Thorin."
Bilbo watched as Balin slowly strolled away, his thoughts only about the dwarf, Thorin Oakenshield. He also thought about the Arkenstone he had entrusted Bofur with. Was it his place to make the decision? Although he trusted Bofur to hide it somewhere he hoped it would never be found, he wondered of how this would affect Thorin. Would he give up his birthright so easily? Would he forgive Bilbo? That was the more important question. Sitting there wasn't going to get anything done and so Bilbo decided to check up on Thorin.
Once at the healing tents he saw the rest of the company. The battle had not been kind to any of them and all of them had one injury or another. They sat in silence and all of them turned to look at Bilbo.
"What's going on?" Bilbo asked Ori. However the youngest of the Ri brothers did not reply. Surprisingly it was Gloin who answered the hobbit.
" Oin came out a while ago. Said Thorin's not going to last another few hours unless a miracle happens. That's when Gandalf came over with that tree shagging King Thranduil and Bard with him. Apparently the elf knows some ancient magic that might save Thorin, but the fucking weed eater refuses to treat him."
" Where is he now?" Bilbo's voice was dangerously quiet and the dwarves realized it.
" Inside," Gloin pointed to the tent.
Bilbo stormed into the tent to see Oin, Gandalf and Bard arguing against Thranduil. They did not notice the hobbit and in a moment of impulse, Bilbo ran and tackled the elf king. He did enough to startle the elf who proceeded to throw Bilbo away and stared in disdain at the hobbit.
"Why!" He screamed. " Why won't you heal him?"
"Why should I?" was Thranduil's ice cold response." Why should I save a blind and greedy mountain king who is clearly unfit to rule? He watched the battle like a coward hidden away in his mountain."
" What will it take to convince you?"
Thranduil's eyes widened greedily." Gems of starlight are hidden in Erebor's treasure horde. That is what I seek. That is what was denied to me by Thror and that is what I want. Give it to me and I'll heal this dwarf of yours."
" You shall have it."
" Can you guarantee it?"
" You have a hobbit's word."
" Not at all reassuring, but I guess that is all you have to offer. Now all of you except the deaf one, get out so I can heal the dwarf."
"Can you guarantee it?"
"What?"
"Can you guarantee that you will heal Thorin?" Oh never mind, I suppose your word is all you can offer but quite frankly that counts for nothing."
Thranduil looked at him murderously while Gandalf and Brad smirked. Oin, it seemed could not hear what was going on.
" Leave now," Thranduil said.
"My apologies King Thranduil," Bilbo replied as he left the tent with arenewed hope that Thorin might live.
So that's the second chapter complete. The next one will depict Thorin's dreams as he lies unconscious. Please review.
The Noise Of Thunder