Chapter Five
Soon the paramedics came and took Thorin to the hospital, while Tabitha gathered up the rest of the Company to go the hospital. "But what of you, Miss O Hara? You're not hurt from this man either, are you?" asked Oin. "I'm fine, Mister Oin. I only have minor scratches and bruises." said Tabitha. "Are you sure?" asked Oin. "Oin, I'm fine, really. Now lets go and see Thorin." said Tabitha. Ten minutes later, they arrived at the hospital. They waited in the waiting room. "Miss O Hara, why are people staring at us?" asked Ori.
"Don't worry about it Ori, those people should mind their own business." said Tabitha. Shortly, a doctor and nurse came out and told Tabitha that its clear for everyone to visit. "But since you have many people with you, you have to send people in pairs." advised the nurse. Tabitha nodded. "Fili, Kili and Bilbo you three will come with me first." said Tabitha. And so it was Fili, Kili, Bilbo and Tabitha whom went into Thorin's room first. "Thorin!" said Tabitha, as she entered the room, followed by Fili, Kili and Bilbo.
"I'm quite impressed on how things are done here. I'm feeling better already. They stitched up my wound, and removed the bullet quickly." said Thorin, smiling at Tabitha, Fili, Kili and Bilbo. "Are you alright, Uncle?" asked Kili. "I'm fine, lad. Like I said before, they did everything so quickly that it felt like the whole thing didn't happen at all." said Thorin. "What did the doctor say?" asked Tabitha. "He said I will come home today, they're getting the papers ready. I should have you come with me in the vehicle, Miss O Hara. They asked me too many questions, and I had no idea how to answer them." said Thorin.
"What did you tell them?" asked Kili. "You didn't tell them your real name, did you? You should have given them a fake one." said Tabitha. "I told them my name is Black Stone, Thorin Black Stone." said Thorin. Fili and Kili laughed. "Did they buy it?" asked Bilbo. "Yes, they did in fact. They written it down on the paper." said Thorin. "When they asked you your age, you didn't tell them you're 195 did you?" said Tabitha. "No, I told them I was 45." replied Thorin. "Good, because if you told them that, they would send you to a mental hospital." said Tabitha.
"Why would they do that for?!" snapped Thorin. "It's really complicated to explain, Thorin." said Tabitha. "Tabitha-who was that horrible man?" asked Thorin.
He had been meaning to ask Tabitha who the man was that attacked him and Tabitha. Tabitha explained to Thorin who he was and how she knew him. "How did you end up with somebody that mean, Miss O Hara." said Kili. "I don't know, Kili. Now I wished I never met the guy." said Tabitha. "No man should treat a woman that way, and I pray to Mahal we never see that scum again." said Thorin. "You don't have to worry about that, Thorin. He's going to be in jail for a very long time." said Tabitha. "Good, I hope so." said Thorin.
Thirty minutes later, Thorin is released from the hospital, and they went home. Tabitha decided to order pizza, and everyone sat outside on the front porch, and ate. "Tabitha, I know this question may be personal, and I hope you don't mind me asking. How long since its been since you and Alex separated your ways?" asked Thorin. "Four years. And I told myself after my deal with Alex, I wasn't going to get myself involved in any more relationships." said Tabitha. "Oh." said Thorin, and the tone of his voice sounded in disappointment.
"I wouldn't blame yer, lassie. After the way you got treated. Besides I don't think you have any time for such things now." said Oin. "No, I don't. I'm too busy entertaining all of you until you have to leave!" said Tabitha smiling at all of them.
Tabitha went inside the house to get a stereo, while the rest of the Company remained outside. Balin took notice that his friend had remained very quiet. "What is troubling you laddie?" asked the older dwarf. "Its going to be difficult leaving this place-and difficult leaving-her." said Thorin quietly. "I see you've taken quite a liking to the young lass." said Balin. "I do, quite a lot in fact, Balin." said Thorin, quietly. "Now Thorin, you can't get too attached to her. We'll be leaving in two more months." said Balin. "I understand that, Balin. That's what makes it so difficult." said Thorin.
"Thorin, you heard her earlier that she isn't interested in courting anyone, especially after what she went through with that horrible man." said Balin. Thorin remained silent. Soon, Tabitha came back outside with the stereo and she plugged it in, and turned on the radio, and music came out. "What is that?" asked Ori. "Whatever it is, is playing music." said Gloin. Tabitha explained to the dwarves what the contraption is.
Two months later…
October came, and the time drew near for Gandalf, Bilbo and the Dwarves to leave Tabitha's home. Even the Company put back on their old clothing, and began packing immediately. And for the first time, Tabitha felt her heart shatter to pieces as she watched them pack.
She was going to miss having of them around, because they made her smile and laugh. And she would miss conversations she would have with Thorin, mostly speaking about her family, and in exchange he would speak to her about his family and dwarven history. She hated to see them go, but she knew they had to continue their quest. Tabitha stood and watched for a little while, and she quietly left the room without saying a word. She was going to be alone again.
"Hey, where did Miss O Hara go?" asked Bilbo. "She left just a few minutes ago. She looked rather sad." said Ori. Thorin looked out of the room where she had went to. "I'll go and talk to her!" said Gandalf. Gandalf left the room and he found Tabitha sitting outside on the front porch. "Everybody's worried about you Miss O Hara! You left the room quite swiftly. Are you alright?" asked the wizard, gently. "Sort of." grumbled Tabitha. "There is something wrong, go ahead and tell me." said Gandalf.
"Its just that, I've become quite fond of all of you, and if you all leave, I will never see any of you again." said Tabitha. "Miss O Hara…" said Gandalf softly. The wizard could see she would be alone once they would leave, and she was still in process of mourning for her parents. And it left Gandalf standing silently in deep thought.
Suddenly an idea popped in Gandalf's head. Maybe I should ask Miss O Hara to join us. I've seen her fight off that horrible man, and practicing with her katana sword, and with a little bit more training, she would be a great asset to the group, thought the wizard. "Miss O Hara, I have a proposition for you." began the wizard. "What is it, Gandalf?" asked Tabitha. "How would you like to join us on the quest, Miss O Hara? I'm sure Thorin would not mind, and we all have seen you fight, and I'm quite impressed with your skill." Gandalf continued.
"Gandalf, I cannot go. I'm sorry, besides we all know Thorin. He would not allow it. My place is here in California. This is my home. I cannot just leave all my memories behind." said Tabitha. "Tabitha, there is another reason why I'm asking you to join us, and I should have shown you this sooner. It came in the mail today. It's from your father's bank." said Gandalf, as he handed over the letter to Tabitha. Tabitha's eyes widened in fear. She realized for the past few months she had trouble keeping up with the payments on the mansion, and she dreaded the bad news that may come in the letter.
And so Tabitha opened the letter and began to read it:
Miss O Hara,
We have regret to inform you that you are several months behind on your mortgage payment. And it leaves us no other choice but to impound the estate, and the belongings in it, we will be putting it up for auction. You have thirty days to pack and leave. This is an eviction notice.
California Bank
After reading the letter, tears fell down her face. Now only she felt sad, but panic and angry as well. Then she looked up at Gandalf. "How long have you withheld the letter from me Gandalf?!" shouted Tabitha, angrily. "The letter came in the mail two days ago!" said Gandalf, gravely. "Damn it, Gandalf! You should have given it to me the day it arrived! Now I'm without a home! I have thirty days, Gandalf! THIRTY effing days!" screamed Tabitha, as she bolted back inside the house, slamming the door.
Tabitha quickly ran towards the courtyard, located behind the home. She didn't realize that one of the dwarves saw her running. And that one dwarf that saw her, was Balin. What is going on with Miss O Hara? I'll go and talk to her, thought the older dwarf, and he followed Tabitha out in the courtyard.
Tabitha sat nearby the memorial stones of her parents, as she wept openly. "How could this happen, I'm so sorry mom and dad for letting things go-I've been so busy, and I left school because of everything happening-I even had to close my bookstore-I'm stuck in a bind now." wept Tabitha. "Am I interrupting something?" spoke up a voice behind Tabitha. Tabitha looked up and she saw Balin approaching her. "Oh, hi Mister Balin." said Tabitha.
"You look distressed, my dear. What's going on?" asked Balin sitting beside her. Tabitha took a couple breaths, and she explained the sad situation to Balin. When she finished, Balin's eyes widened. "Oh, lassie. I'm so sorry-its our fault-we've been keeping you busy.." began Balin. "No, its not your fault, Balin. Its nobody's fault but mine. Everything seem to happen all at once, and now its overwhelming. And now I'm losing this beautiful home, and everything in it. Everything in this home, the home itself means a lot to me, you know." said Tabitha, wiping a tear from her eye, as Balin wrapped his arm around her.
"I wish there was something I can do to help." said Balin, gently. "I'm afraid it isn't, Balin. I have thirty days to pack my belongings and leave. I have nothing to stand on right now." said Tabitha.
Balin took Tabitha's hand. "Come on inside, lassie. We should go inside and join the others, and we can talk about this to everyone else, and hear what they think of it." said Balin. "They wouldn't do anything to help, Balin. Like I said there is nothing else to do. But I will come inside." sighed Tabitha. Tabitha followed Balin inside the home and they made way to the Great room of the house where the rest of the Company had gathered. As they approached, Tabitha and Balin could hear Gandalf arguing with Thorin and the dwarves.
"It seemed like the wizard has beaten us to it." grumbled Tabitha, and they entered the Great Hall. "She is not going with us and that's final wizard! The quest is going to be far too dangerous for her!" shouted Thorin. "You don't understand, Thorin-she's losing her home, she has thirty days to leave the premises. In fact, all of us have to leave the premises." argued Gandalf. "Well who's fault is that? Not mine! She should have kept up with the payments!" barked Thorin. Suddenly, a large vase was seen tossed across the room, as it aimed for Thorin, and it missed, and it fell to pieces on the floor.
It was Tabitha whom thrown the vase. "You selfish, arrogant heartless bastard! You care for your own people, but apparently you have no care for others! I HATE YOU!" screamed Tabitha.
Tabitha sprinted out of the room. "Miss O Hara!" called out Balin. "Nice going, Thorin. You really done it this time." snapped Dwalin. Thorin stood and sighed. "Thorin, please reconsider your decision. Look at her, she is torn up about this already. This is the only way to help her." said Gandalf. Thorin had seen Tabitha upset, and he felt his heart aching as he watched her bolt out of the Great Room in tears. "And weren't you the one who told me just earlier of your feelings about her, Thorin?" Balin reminded the dwarf.
And Balin's remark hit Thorin, as the dwarf realized on what he had done. Thorin really truly cared for her, and now he had gone and upset her. Now it was time he had to fix things, and fast. "Balin, write out a contract." Thorin finally said, and he left the Great Room to find Tabitha.