Chapter Six
Thorin shortly found Tabitha now out on the front lawn, with her katana, as she kept swinging at the trees, screaming, yelling and cursing. Thorin tried to keep himself from smiling at the sight, seeing how quite impressed of watching her with the sword. She had never told me she used a sword before! Quite impressed with her skill, still needs a bit more training, I will work with her on that, thought Thorin. "Tabitha!" Thorin called out to her. Suddenly, Tabitha spun around pointing the edge of her sword at Thorin.
"Don't come near me, or I swear I'll kill you!" snapped Tabitha angrily. "Tabitha, put your sword down. I came out to talk to you, and to apologize for the words I have spoken earlier. I wished I known of this sooner." said Thorin. "You have no idea, Thorin, what I have go through! YOU DON'T!" screamed Tabitha. Thorin gently took Tabitha's hands, as he looked at her in the eyes with a firm and gentle expression. "If you must know, Tabitha, I know what its like to lose a home, although our circumstances are different, and I know what its also like of losing family members as well." said Thorin.
Tabitha remained silent as she looked away from Thorin. "The reason I didn't want you to go at first, is because I love you-Tabitha-I don't want to see you hurt, or worse. Ever since the day I saw that man attacked you, it hurt me to see you laying on the ground in pain." said Thorin. "I understand you were only trying to protect me, Thorin, but I can handle myself." said Tabitha quietly.
"Unfortunately you wasn't able too with that idiot of a man that attacked you earlier." said Thorin. "Thorin, lets not talk about that anymore." said Tabitha. "Well, we all agreed that you can come with us. In fact, once we reclaim Erebor, you may choose to stay with us in Erebor if you like." said Thorin, a slow smile appeared on his lips. Tabitha smiled in return. "You really mean that?" said Tabitha. "I mean it with all my heart, mizmel!" said Thorin gently. The last word took Tabitha by surprise, and she knew it was in his language.
"Well, I suppose I accept your apology." said Tabitha sheepishly. "Suppose? What do you mean by that?" said Thorin, playfully. Tabitha grinned. "I gotcha! Yes I accept your apology, Thorin. I just want to get you going there for a minute." shot back Tabitha. Thorin laughed, his deep booming voice, echoing throughout the area. This was her first time hearing him laugh heartily, and it warmed her heart.
The two shortly then sat in silence for a while. "Tabitha, I have one more question to ask you." said Thorin. "Yes?" said Tabitha. "I've been told that after Alex, you weren't interested in relationships anymore. Is this true?" asked Thorin. "Uh-yes, its true-I like to keep my heart open and strong." replied Tabitha. "Well what happens if someone who truly cares for more than just a friend, one who wishes to court you, whom will treat you like a queen and something more? What would you tell him?" asked Thorin.
"Thorin, why are you asking me this?" said Tabitha. "Because I am love with you, Tabitha Michelle O Hara. And I'm asking you if do the honors of courting me?" Thorin asked, as he knelt before her. Tabitha's eyes widened in shock and surprise. "Say what?! You're didn't just ask me to.." began Tabitha. "Yes, Tabitha-please accept my over-you and I will be very happy together, and live together as King and Queen of Erebor!" said Thorin gently. "QUEEN?!" shrieked Tabitha, her face turning pale. She felt as if she was about to faint, feeling the effects of the shock of Thorin's intentions for her.
"Uh-Thorin, isn't this a bit too sudden-I really don't know." said Tabitha quickly. Thorin gently placed his hand on her check.
"My American princess, a woman worth more than all the gold and jewels in Erebor-say you accept my offer in courtship!" said Thorin. Tabitha looked into Thorin's eyes as both of her hands trembled. "Yes, I accept your offer, Thorin!" Tabitha finally replied. "Oh, my love!" whispered Thorin, as he pulled Tabitha into his arms, crashing his lips gently onto hers. Tabitha felt so intoxicated from the kiss, she could feel her entire body feeling weak from the effect. She enjoyed this moment.
Once their kiss broke, Tabitha looked up into the sky. "Mom, Dad! You had something to do with this, did you? You knew! YOU KNEW!" Tabitha said loudly looking up into the sky. Thorin laughed. "What? Do you talk to your deceased loved ones at times, Thorin?" asked the young woman. "Yes, but not often." Thorin replied. "Come now, its getting chilly. I don't think none of us would want to catch a cold." said Thorin. Tabitha nodded, as they went back inside. So the next few days, Tabitha had been busy packing her belongings with the help of Thorin, Bilbo and the rest of the dwarves.
"Hey! Is this your bow and arrows?" called out Kili, holding up a bow and quiver filled with arrows. "You never told us you're an archer, Miss O Hara." said Fili, grinning.
"I never got around to telling any of you. I won seven years in a row in archery competitions." said Tabitha. "Wow, it sounds like you are really good. Maybe you should show us your skill sometime." said Kili. "I will, once I get around to it." said Tabitha. It was after all her packing was done, she felt ready to go. "Do you know where we should go to find the portal, Miss O Hara?" asked Gandalf. "We're going to a cave that is three hundred miles from here. So expect a long road trip." Tabitha replied. "We don't mind long road trips." spoke up Bofur.
After everything packed and ready to go, everyone climbed into Tabitha's van and headed off. It seemed hours since they had been on the road, and the Company began to feel very restless and bored. "How long is it until we get there?" griped one. "Are we there yet?" called out Fili. "We're bored!" complained Dori. Tabitha grumbled to herself, but then smiled as she remembered pulling the old 'Are we There Yet?' phrase on her parents. "Fine, lets sing a song to pass time. How about 99 Bottles of Beer on The Wall?" asked Tabitha. "NO! Not that one! My nephews drove me crazy with that song!" said Thorin, sharply.
"Fine then, I know another one you will all act!" Tabitha grinned mischievously, and she began to sing:
I know a man who went to Delaware
Lost his underwear!
Found it on a polar bear!
Once he arrived, so many people stared
That's the way the story goes.
Now he's arrived in the state of Delaware
He found his underwear
After taking it from a Polar Bear
And now he went back home
When people no longer stared
He's one happy son of a butt!
The dwarves burst into loud and raucous laughter after hearing Tabitha's song. "Wow, that was funny! Where did you hear that one?" chirped Bofur. "My father-he was known to make up silly songs from time to time to cheer me up." said Tabitha. "That sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me!" grumbled Thorin. "Oh, Thorin, lighten up. When was the last time you ever song a silly song?" asked Tabitha. "He has sung them, Miss O Hara, but it has been years and years since he sang songs like that. Even drinking songs!" said Dwalin.
"I just see no reason of me singing them anymore." said Thorin, stiffly. Tabitha looked at Thorin sadly, and then at Balin. "I will tell you more about that later, lass." said Balin. It had been two days on the road, and after two days had passed, they finally arrived to the caves that Tabitha had spoken about. "Not much of a cave." said Gloin, as they looked at the cave's entrance. "So. What are we going to do now, Tabitha?" asked Thorin. "We'll sit and wait until nightfall." Tabitha replied.
And so now it was the waiting. "So where do you think the portal will open, Miss O Hara?" asked Nori. "It will open in front of the cave, and once it opens, we will all make our entrance into the portal, and go from there." Tabitha replied. Thorin sat down on a boulder cleaning his sword, and humming a tune to himself. Tabitha instantly recognized the tune Thorin was humming. "Oh, I see you did like that little song I was singing in the van, you just didn't want to admit it!" joked Tabitha. Thorin looked up at Tabitha. "Alright, if you must know, I liked the song! There! Are you happy now?" said Thorin.
"Yes, very happy." said Tabitha, sitting down next to Thorin. "You know, Thorin, I feel very comfortable around you. I can talk to you and your Companions about anything, and everything." said Tabitha.
"I'm glad you are with us, Tabitha. I couldn't bear to see you not having a home. It really isn't your fault for it to happen. Part of this is our fault too." said Thorin. "Thorin, like I said to Balin the other night who said the same thing, that its not your fault. These things happen." said Tabitha. "No, they don't. You don't deserve to lose all those precious memories to you, Tabby." said Thorin. "You just called me Tabby. No one has ever called me that since my mother and father were around." said Tabitha.
Thorin took his hand into Tabitha's. "Tis a lovely name." said Thorin softly. "Hey, Fee! Look at Uncle and Miss O Hara." said Kili. "I noticed, Kili! Those two have became much closer lately. I wonder if they're.." said Fili. "I think they're courting too, but they decided not to tell us yet." said Kili. "Lets keep a close eye on them!" grinned Fili. Two hours later, nightfall came, and the moon came out, and it was full. "There it is! Its coming!" called out Kili. "Everyone get ready to enter the portal!" Tabitha called out.
Suddenly a large black hole appeared, and it high white light glowing around it. Once it grew larger, Tabitha jumped into the portal first, followed by the rest of the Company.
Middle Earth,
Twelve miles from Rivendell
An hour later, the Company and Tabitha found themselves inside a forest. "Where are we exactly?" asked Thorin. "We are twelve miles from Imaladris, home of Lord Elrond." Gandalf replied. Thorin snarled. "Is this some kind of trap, Gandalf? We're not going to stay with the elves? Is there any other way around going there?!" snapped Thorin hotly. "I'm afraid not, Thorin, if you wish to get answers about your map, Lord Elrond is your only choice, because he will help you translate your map." said Gandalf, and he led the company into the Elven Valley.
Tabitha felt excited of meeting Lord Elrond. She didn't know what to do or act in front of him. However she felt like she wanted to knock Thorin in the back of his head, when he kept mumbling about his distaste of elves. Once they arrived in the courtyard, they are met by both Elrond and his advisor, Lindir. Gandalf spoken to the elves first, and then he introduced the Company to them. Lastly the Wizard introduces Tabitha to the Elf Lord and his advisor. It seemed Lord Elrond had recognized Tabitha. "Tabitha Silver Star? Is that really you?" asked the Elf Lord.
"Gandalf, how does he know my name? And why is he calling me Silver Star?" whispered Tabitha. "You don't know, do you?" asked Gandalf. "Don't know what, Gandalf? Is there more stuff you've been hiding from me that I don't know?" Tabitha demanded. "Yes there is. Hold on a minute! Lord Elrond, a word please!" said Gandalf, and the two stepped aside. "What is going on here?" whispered Thorin. "I don't know, Thorin." said Tabitha.
"Elrond, Tabitha thinks her parents are dead." said Gandalf. "I know. They are dead in California, but here they are not. Are you saying that she doesn't know who she really is?" asked Elrond. "No she doesn't. One of us have to tell her." said Gandalf. "I will tell her soon, before we adjourn for supper." said Elrond. "Tell me what? Will someone tell me what in the world is going on here?!" snapped Tabitha. Gandalf instructed Lindir to guide the dwarves and Bilbo to the dining hall while he, Elrond and Tabitha talk.
"Tabitha, sit down, there is something we got to tell you!" began Elrond. "Well out with it." said Tabitha, impatiently. "Tabitha, your parents, they're not really dead." began Elrond. "WHAT?! Is this some kind of joke?! Lord Elrond, this isn't funny now! My parents are really dead. That is something people cannot joke about!" snapped Tabitha.
"Tabitha, I'm not even joking. I would never joke over things like that. I'm telling you the truth. They live here. Both of them are elves. Your mother is the sister of Lord Thranduil of Mirkwood, she had been living here, because she and her brother haven't been getting along. She married Telemarin, an elf minstrel whom lives here, and they had you." said Elrond. "But how did all of us end up in California? At least my parents anyway." said Tabitha.
"When your mother and father just got married, they decided to go out on an excursion and they fell into that portal-the same one that the dwarves into, and the same portal, that brought all of you back here." said Elrond. "I don't get this at all. Why didn't they just come out and tell me the truth? They should have told me this themselves!" said Tabitha sharply. "They are here, if you wish to talk to them yourself." said Elrond. "Where are they?" asked Tabitha. "Allow me to show you to their quarters." said Elrond.