Chapter Sixteen

The next morning, the Company met outside on the Front Gate Ramparts. Tabitha had dreaded for this day to come, and she nearly didn't want to go, but she told herself she had to face the music, and confront Thorin, and she dreaded for the repercussions from it. Then she remembered the words Thror had spoken to her, before. I will be there in case he does anything rash, and I will stop him from hurting you, Thror's words echoed through Tabitha's mind.

"Hail King Thorin! Has your mind have changed?" called out Bard. "My mind does not change of the rise and setting of suns." Thorin replied. "Oh, and what if I say, if this is part of the bargain in exchange for what we are asking for!" Bard continued. "What are you saying?!" snapped Thorin, angrily. "Will you parley?" asked Bard. "I will not. No gold will be in the hands of men or elves-its mine." Thorin replied. "And what of the Arkenstone of Thror?" asked Bard. "That is none of you concern, human, the King's Jewel is mine, and whom are you to ask of it?" growled Thorin.

Suddenly, Bard reached in his pocket and held up the jewel.

Thorin's eyes widened in shock when he saw it. "It was given to us as an offering of peace. What say you, Thorin, son of Thrain?" asked Bard. "It's a ruse. The Arkenstone still remains in the Mountain!" growled Thorin. "It's not a ruse, Thorin! I took the stone to Bard, I did it. Tabitha and I both went and presented the jewel to Bard and Thranduil. After all, its part of the claim written in the contract." said Bilbo.

"What claim? You never had claim over me!" growled Thorin. "Listen to yourself, Thorin-you've changed, this isn't like you!" said Bilbo. Suddenly, Thorin lunged at Bilbo, picking him up and hanging him over the ramparts. "You TRAITOR! You miserable rat! Curse wizards and their shire rats!" barked Thorin, and he finished cursing at the hobbit in his language. "STOP IT! LEAVE HIM ALONE!" screamed Tabitha, as she ran out, and she reached for Bilbo. "Run, run!" whispered Tabitha. And Bilbo ran.

Suddenly, Thorin swung around, and he attacked Tabitha, first picking her up, throwing her to the wall. "THORIN!" shouted Balin. Dwalin ran over to Thorin, trying to pull him back to keep from hurting Tabitha even more, as Tabitha lay on the ground unconscious in a puddle of blood. "Fili, carry Tabitha to the Healing Chambers, Oin, you go with them!" said Balin.

"You don't mind if I stay here and keep watch over her?" asked a voice nearby. Everyone turned, and they saw Telemarin standing in front of them. "YOU? How did you get up here?!" barked Thorin. "I want to be with my daughter. Where is she?" demanded Telemarin. "Let me show you to the Healing chambers, Lord Telemarin." said Balin. "I won't allow him near her. He would kill her." snapped Thorin. "I was going to but I changed my mind! And this comes from a dwarf who beaten the tar out of her!" bellowed Telemarin.

"She betrayed me!" screamed Thorin. "She didn't betray you, she was only trying to save you!" barked Telemarin. "Come, lad. Let me take you to your daughter." said Balin as he led Telemarin to the Healing Chambers.

Thorin's POV:

I stormed back into the Mountain, and the first place I went to is the Treasury, as the rest of my Company prepared for Battle. I heard footsteps behind me, and I turned it was Dwalin. "Thorin, there are people dying out there, and you choose to keep us locked up in the Mountain! We should be out there fighting!" snapped Dwalin. "People die in battle, Dwalin. Life is cheap, but gold is.." I began, when Dwalin interrupted me.

I glared angrily at Dwalin, as he continued to speak. "Bilbo and Tabitha are right, you have changed. And not for the better." said Dwalin. "How dare you have the odacity to say that to me?! You were my friend, Dwalin." shouted Thorin. "You're not the same Thorin, I know who single handedly led us to a new life after Smaug attacked, not the same one who led us to the Battle of Moria, which how you got your name Oakenshield! I want that Thorin back! The friend I know since childhood!" shouted Dwalin, a tear formed in his eye. I turned away from Dwalin, unable to look at my friend, I expected this coming from Kili, not Dwalin.

I clenched my fists, as my anger and rage continued to boil "I am not-Thorin Oakenshield-!" I growled, as I continued to look away from Dwalin, and suddenly I spun around, as I angrily glared at the dwarf. "I AM YOUR KING!" I bellowed at Dwalin. "Thorin.." said Dwalin, quietly. "Get out! Before I kill you!" I hissed. "Yes, Thorin." said Dwalin, quietly and he left the treasury, and I sat down on a mound of gold.

"That is no way to treat your family, especially your best friend. I am disappointed in you, Grandson. The Thorin I know would never turn back on his family and loved ones, as you turned your back on your future Queen!" said a familiar voice behind me.

I turned to find the source of the voice, and to my surprise, there stood the spirit of my Grandfather, sitting on his Throne. "Grandfather, what are you doing here?" I gasped. "To have a long little chat with you, Thorin. I've spoken to Tabitha two nights ago. Did she give you my message?" asked Grandfather. "No, Grandfather-I haven't! I-I done something to her." I said quietly. "You've hurt her, I know. She only done this to save you, not turn on you. She loves you very much, and she still loves you. About your kinfolk, don't turn on them. They need you out there, Thorin. And the one you went hard on, is your best friend." said my Grandfather.

I closed my eyes, as everything at once finally hit me, and I realized indeed I hurt her, and nearly killed Bilbo. "You owe the Halfling everything, after all he has done for you. He done what was right, just as Tabitha did. They care for you, Thorin. This was all my fault-if I didn't fall under it myself, none of this would have happened." continued my Grandfather. I remained silent. "There is still time to make things right. You go to your loved ones, and fix things. And its time we should make peace with the elves as well." said my Grandfather.

Of course he had to say it. "I will try, Grandfather." I began.

"Don't say you're going to try, lad. You're going to DO IT." snapped my Grandfather. "Alright, I will do this!" I snapped back firmly.

No One's POV:

The Dwarves gathered in the Great Hall, talking amongst themselves, as Fili and Kili sat together, expressing their worries about their Uncle. "If I had my way, you and I could travel back home to amad." said Kili. "That would be a good idea, but you know mother wouldn't have it. She had high hopes of us seeing our home again." said Fili. "Look, Fili! Look around you, look at Thorin! That is not the Thorin we know! Didn't you see what he had done to Tabitha! Oin says he had hurt her very badly, luckily she will survive. If he had killed her, this would eat up his conscious for life." said Kili.

"I understand that, Kee." said Fili. It was then Thorin entered the Great Hall, now wearing only his black leather jacket and chain mail. Kili jumped up, glaring angrily at his Uncle. "We will not stay behind and hide, while the others FIGHT FOR US! That is now how we are!" Kili shouted angrily at Thorin. "I know, Kee." said Thorin softly. Kili's eyes widened in surprise, as this was the first time in years Thorin had addressed him by his nickname. Fili and Kili knew the Uncle they knew and love had returned, and he fought of the sickness himself.

After talking with Fili and Kili, and the dwarves for a while, Thorin asked how Tabitha is doing. Oin had just entered the Great Hall, as he informed everyone that Tabitha is doing alright, and not as severely injured as everyone thought. Thorin sighed with relief. "May I see her?" asked Thorin. "I'm not sure if she's ready to see you or not, lad. When she woke up. She also had spoken to her father, and made amends with him. She has talked about going to Rivendell to stay with her family." said Oin.

Thorin closed his eyes. "But I don't want her to go!" said Thorin. "Thorin should at least talk to her, maybe he can convince her to change her mind." said Balin. "By the way she was talking, Balin, she sounded like she already made up her mind." said Oin. Suddenly, Thorin quickly left the Great Hall. "Thorin!" Oin called out, but it was too late, Thorin already had left the Great Hall. Thorin made his way to the Healing Chambers. And he entered, and he could see Tabitha sitting up in bed, now alone, and reading a book.

"What are you doing in here?" asked Tabitha, looking up from her book. "Tabitha, we need to talk." said Thorin. "There is nothing to discuss." said Tabitha, blankly. "Yes there is, we need to talk about this now. You really don't mean about leaving Erebor, are you?" asked Thorin.

"Yes, I am. There is no point in living with someone who loves his gold more than his own beloved." said Tabitha. "Tabitha, I've been a monster, not just towards you, but to everybody, and I spoken to my grandfather just earlier. It was because of him, I'm no longer blinded by greed, and of you, and your ability to speak to the deceased. He told me he has spoken to you!" said Thorin. "He has, and I've been meaning to tell you about it, but you kept brushing me away and putting it off!" said Tabitha sharply.

"Tabitha, I wasn't myself, and you know that. I never meant to have hurt you and Bilbo. Bilbo is my friend, and he saved my life, and he saved it again, the both of you. All I am asking is your forgiveness, and I'm begging you to stay, Tabby, because I love you-I truly love you." said Thorin. "Nothing you can say or do, will change my mind. Leave, I need some time to think things over." said Tabitha. "Very well." said Thorin, and he left.

Balin greeted Thorin outside of the Healing Chamber. "How did it go?" asked Balin. "She needs time to think things over-she hasn't forgiven me yet." said Thorin sadly. Then an idea popped in his mind. "Maybe I should do something for her, to win back her affections." said Thorin loudly.

"Well there are many options out there, Thorin, and I do know one of them. She loves poetry and song, especially hearing you. Maybe a love song will change her mind." said Balin. Thorin smiled. "A love song, that's it! I'll do that! Thank you, Balin!" beamed Thorin, and he quickly walked away. Balin only shook his head and smiled. Kili and Thorin are too much alike, thought Balin, as he walked back to the Great Room to join the others.

Later, Tabitha was feeling rather restless, and she felt tired of sitting in the bed all day, and she decided to go for a stroll. Climbing out of bed, she threw on her robe and slippers, and left the Healing Chambers. As she walked nearby the King's Chambers, she could hear harp music coming from the chambers, and a lone deep voice singing. She stood still, as she listened to the sad and emotional voice blending with the floating melodies of the harp.

Tabitha slowly opened the door of the King's chambers and peered through, and she saw indeed it was Thorin, sitting by the fireplace with a wooden harp with gold strings in his lap, as he played and sang. He sang from the heart, and tears falling down his face, as he sang. As she listened, she could hear the song was about her. Thorin sang of his love for her, and without her, he would be lost.

It was then Tabitha realized it was the Thorin she knew and love came back, and her old feelings for him have returned. Tabitha wiped a tear from her eye as she continued to listen, and soon the song ended as Thorin strummed the last chord. "Come on it, Tabby. I know you're there!" spoke up Thorin softly. Tabitha entered, and she sat down across from him on a lounging bench.

"That song-is very beautiful Thorin." said Tabitha. "I was going to sing it to you later, but it seems you have found me and heard it already." said Thorin, smiling at her, as he sat down beside her. "You really do love me, then?" said Tabitha. "With all my heart, Tabitha." purred Thorin, as he pulled her into his arms, holding her close to his chest. Thorin leaned forward, planting his lips gently onto hers, kissing her slowly and passionately.