Chapter Twelve

After Tabitha's bath, she went down to join the Company at the dining room table, and she could see the they are dressed in different clothing. But what caught her attention was Thorin. He was dressed in black trousers and a red shirt with laces and a tan shirt underneath. Tabitha took her seat with the dwarves, and Bard hands them over weapons that he promised to give them before their arrival in Lake Town. Unfortunately, the Dwarves weren't happy with the weapons and they began complaining, as well as Thorin.

I wish they would just take what they would get, instead of being so damned picky, thought Tabitha. Later, the Company dispersed and went into different rooms. Tabitha found Thorin, Bilbo and Balin sitting in a small parlor. Thorin looked out the window of the room, as Tabitha entered. "You look as if you seen a ghost." said Bilbo. "I have-Dwarven wind lance, Lord Girion used it to try and kill Smaug, when Smaug first attacked Lake Town." said Thorin. "You spoke as you've been there." said Bard, standing behind them.

"We all heard of the story, Bard. Even if some of us hadn't been there." spoke up Balin. "Tabitha, we're going to the armory. You stay here where its safe." said Thorin, approaching her. "But Thorin! That's stealing! You can't just do that!" protested Tabitha. "I don't care. We're not going to face the dragon unharmed. You stay here, and we'll return for you!" said Thorin, as he kissed Tabitha on the lips briefly, and left.

You were raised better than to steal, Thorin son of Thrain, thought Tabitha, as she walked out of the parlor room. Three hours later, Tabitha had waited for their return, but there was no signs of the Company. "They should've been here hours ago! I wished they never had left after they've been told not to!" said Tabitha loudly, and she stood up. She reached for her cloak she had been wearing. Soon as she reached for the door, Sigrid spoke up. "Where are you going, Miss Silver Star?" asked Sigrid. "Going to find out why my friends haven't made it back!" Tabitha replied.

"But you can't just leave! You can't! You were told not to leave!" protested Sigrid. "I have too, Sigrid. I'm worried for my friends, I have to go find them." said Tabitha, and she walked out of Bard's home. She moved through town, and shortly came to the Town Square.

And what she had saw, explained everything to her. She saw a large crowd of townspeople, and a group of guards in front of the Master's home. And she recognized that Thorin, Bilbo and the Dwarves are with them. I knew it! I just knew it! I warned them, and now they got caught! Tabitha thought, as she sprinted towards the area, when suddenly one of the Master's guards stopped her. "I'm sorry, but this is official business of the Master, you cannot pass through." said the guard, stiffly.

"Excuse me?! I'm with them!" snapped Tabitha. "I'm sorry, but that's the Master's orders, now go home." said the guard sharply. "Let me tell you something, pal! I've faced many dangers, walked nearly across Middle Earth with them, you cannot just turn me away from my friends! Now let me pass, or I'll do something that I'll regret!" shouted Tabitha. "I said those are the Master's Orders, now go HOME WOMAN!" shouted the guard. "Damn it! That does it!" Tabitha screamed, as she kneed the guard in the groin, and the man yelled, as she darted passed him, heading towards the Company.

"Thorin!" Tabitha called out. "Tabitha, what are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay behind at Bard's home." whispered Thorin. "You were taking too long! I was worried!" Tabitha shot back.

"As you can see that we got delayed." said Thorin. "Well, gee, I wonder why? I warned you not to do this, and see what happens? You got caught!" Tabitha scorned the dwarf. "Tabitha, this is no time for lectures." Thorin hissed back. The Master and his assistant, Alfrid came out of the home, demanding to know who the thieves that had been in the armory. That is when Dwalin spoke up defending Thorin, and the rest of the Company.

"Do you have any idea whom you speak of here? This is Thorin, son of Thrain son of Thror King Under the Mountain!" called out Dwalin. The Master looked at the Company in surprise, and Thorin stepped forward. "We are the dwarves of Erebor, we have come to reclaim our homeland!" announced Thorin, and the townspeople cheered. But it was suddenly the cheering ended, soon as Bard came out, and called upon the dwarf, accusing him and the dwarves of bringing the dragon. "Now wait just a minute, it wasn't their fault!" Tabitha shouted, stepping forward.

"Don't listen to him, he has no idea what he's talking about!" hissed Tabitha. Thorin looked at Tabitha in surprise. But Bard ignored Tabitha, as he continued to spat negative remarks at the Dwarf. "You have no right to enter the Mountain!" hissed Bard. "I have every right!" Thorin shot back.

"Now, now, we shan't have any of this! Tonight, we shall celebrate in honor of King Thorin and his Company! Follow me to the feasting hall!" announced The Master, and everyone followed him into the feasting hall. Thorin took notice of Alfrid glaring at Tabitha. "Why is that crooked man looking at you?" whispered Thorin. "I have no idea, Thorin, but he's making me feel very uncomfortable." Tabitha whispered back, as they joined the Master at the table.

"You stay close with me at all times, Tabitha." said Thorin. "I will." said Tabitha, as she sat beside Thorin at the table. Bilbo and the rest of the Dwarves took their seats at tables in front of the large table where the Master, Alfrid, Thorin, Tabitha, Balin and Dwalin are sitting. Suddenly the Master saw Tabitha sitting with Thorin. "Alfrid, come here." spoke up the Master. "Coming, sire." said Alfrid, as he walked towards the Master. "Is that Lord Telemarin's daughter Tabitha, sitting with the dwarves? The same woman Thranduil mentioned in the letters?" asked the Master.

"Yes, Master. Its her." Alfrid replied. "Good. We got her where we want her." said the Master. "What do you have in mind, sire?" asked Alfrid.

"King Thranduil sent me a letter, as requested by Tabitha's father himself, and the King has offered me eighty coins to marry her off with one of my guards, Camden, is the one I'm choosing to marry Tabitha. Go send for Camden." said the Master. "Yes, sire." said Alfrid, and he walked away. "You're feeling restless, Tabitha. Are you alright?" asked Thorin. "I need to go out for some air, its feeling rather stuffy in here." said Tabitha. "Just don't be long." said Thorin.

Tabitha nodded. And Tabitha walked away and stepped outside the Feasting hall for some fresh air. She didn't realize she had been followed by a man with short brown hair and a goatee. He appeared to be middle earth, and slightly built. It was Camden, one of the Master's guards. "Ah, Miss Silver Star, I see you're enjoying the night air. Is the feast everything you've expected?" asked the guard. "Yes. And leave me be, I don't know you. And you're the same guy whom I kicked in the groin earlier." said Tabitha stiffly.

"Yes, I was very well aware of that. I didn't realize you were in connection of those greedy bastards. It's a shame that they're planning to leave without you tomorrow morning. I've overheard King Thorin is wanting to leave you behind." said Camden. "That's not true! He would never leave me behind!" snapped Tabitha hotly.

"Its true I'm afraid. He's only looking out for you, dear. And besides its for the best, you stay here with us, where we can take good care of you, or I will take good care of you." purred Camden, as he moved closer to Tabitha, placing his hand on her face. "King Thranduil wasn't joking when he told me how beautiful you are." said Camden. Hearing this, Tabitha's eyes flashed in anger, and slapped him. "You sick bastard! You and the Master are working for HIM! This is all a set up isn't it?!" screamed Tabitha.

Suddenly Camden grabbed Tabitha by the arm. "Yes, I've been paid handsomely, not just by King Thranduil, but your father. He wants you to become my wife!" said Camden, sharply. "Over my dead body! I'm not going to fall for my father's or Uncle's wishes! They can rot if I care!" shrieked Tabitha. "Fine then, if you're not willing to agree with the terms, I will FORCE YOU to agree!" bellowed Camden, as he picked up Tabitha, and she screamed. "YOU PUT ME DOWN! You're going to be sorry for this! PUT ME DOWN I SAY!" Tabitha screamed. "Shut up, woman! You're going to marry me, if you wish it or not!" barked Camden, as he angrily marched off, carrying Tabitha in his arms.

Meanwhile, Thorin felt worried that Tabitha had not came back inside yet. A feeling of dread came over him.

"Where are you going laddie?" asked Balin. "I'm going to find Tabby. She told me she went out for some fresh air, and she hadn't made it back in yet." said Thorin. As Thorin stepped outside, Alfrid approaches the dwarf leader. "You won't find her. She's with Camden." snarled Alfrid. "WHAT?!" barked Thorin. "Camden has taken her to his home. They're going to be married tonight!" said Alfrid. "To hell he isn't!" bellowed Thorin, and he quickly darted back inside. "Dwalin, and Fili! You're coming with me!" Thorin bellowed.

Dwalin and Fili quickly ran towards him. "What is it?" asked Dwalin. "Tabitha has been kidnapped by one of the Master's guards. It appears that Tabitha is going to be forced into a marriage to the guard." snarled Thorin. "Grab your weapons, we're taking this man down." said Dwalin. All three went for their weapons and quickly left the Feasting Hall. It didn't take them long to find Camden's home, and they could hear a preacher speaking, Tabitha screaming, and Camden barking orders at them.

"I'll count to three, and we'll barge down the door." said Dwalin. Thorin and Fili nodded.

"One!" said Dwalin.

"Two" said Thorin.

"THREE!" called out Fili.

And all three dwarves charged at the door, busting it down. "LET HER GO!" roared Thorin, as he, Dwalin and Fili brandished their weapons. Camden. "No, she is already spoken for, Dwarf. All paid by her father, himself! Its too late now, she is mine!" shouted Camden. "Let her go, or we'll kill you!" Thorin barked. "Thorin, if you attack me, all of you will be arrested and locked up!" snarled Camden. Suddenly, Thorin lunged out at Camden, pinning him to the floor. "Dwalin, release her!" Thorin demanded to his friend.

Dwalin nodded and released Tabitha from being tied up. "Hey! You cannot do that! We're in a middle of a wedding here!" shouted the preacher. "And this here wedding is called off!" bellowed Dwalin, as he punched the preacher, and the man fell into unconscious. Meanwhile, Thorin swung his sword, and killed Camden. "We're leaving tonight. We're not going to wait until morning. Lets go back, and round up the others." said Thorin, as he and Dwalin helped Tabitha stand up. Tabitha thought it was a good idea that they would leave tonight, or more trouble would come to them.

Once they arrived back at the Feasting Hall, Thorin addressed the rest of the Company about leaving that very night. "Thorin, I'm afraid we got a issue here. Its Kili! He's not well at all. He's too weak to even move." said Oin. Thorin looked over at his young nephew, whom now was holding to his brother. Thorin closed his eyes, now leaving him with a very difficult decision to make. "Oin, he has to remain here until he's well. You will stay behind with him." said Thorin.

"Well if Kili isn't going, I'm not going." said Fili. "Fili, you are part of this company, and next in line to become king. You're coming with us." said Thorin firmly. "No, I belong with my brother. I'm staying." said Fili. Thorin turned away, and continued giving out orders to the rest of the Company. "Return when you are healed." said Thorin, softly, as he approached Kili, placing his hands on the young prince's shoulders.