Chapter Eight
It seems like days the Company had been locked up in the dungeons. And they thought they were going to give up hope until a familiar called out just right outside of Thorin and Neniel's cell. "Thorin, Neniel!" said the voice. The two looked up and they see Bilbo standing in front of them holding keys. "BILBO!" exclaimed Balin, who also noticed the hobbit. "Shh! I have to get all of you out here! I have a plan!" hissed the hobbit.
After releasing the Company from the cells, he led them into the wine cellar. "Wine Cellar? Is this your plan, Mister Baggins?" asked Bofur, sharply. "You're going to get us drowned!" snapped Dwalin. "Hey! Its either this, or we'll stay locked up!" snapped Neniel hotly. "Into the barrels, NOW!" barked Thorin, and of course the dwarves obeyed. Neniel climbed into a barrel with Thorin. Once everyone is into the barrels, Bilbo found a lever and pulled it, releasing the barrels into the river.
Bilbo realized the mistake he made when the door closed, and noticing he was still in the cellars. The hobbit pulled the lever again, and he jumped into the river.
"Welcome back, Mister Baggins!" Thorin called out to the hobbit. "Swim to our barrel, and hold on!" Neniel piped in. Bilbo listened to Neniel's order and swam to the barrel. The barrels floated for a while until they came to an abrupt stop when they could see a gate in front of them. "Damn it!" Thorin swore loudly in his language. Suddenly, Neniel noticed the Elves had been following them, realizing they had escaped, when she also noticed orcs ambushing the elves.
Kili climbed out of his barrel, as he tried to go for the lever to open the gate. But as he climbed the bridge, an orc stabbed the dwarf prince in the leg. The dwarf fell with a loud cry, and at the same time, Tauriel jumped out, killing the same orc that attacked Kili, and several others. Kili slowly stood up as he finally reached the top of the bridge, and pulled the lever that opened the gate, releasing the barrels. After he done that, he jumped into barrel, crying out in pain. "Kili?!" exclaimed Fili, noticing his brother, now in pain.
An hour later, the Company reached land, as Thorin, Neniel and Bilbo helped the Company out of their barrels. Fili took notice of Kili slowly sitting down on a rock slowly. "Kee, you're injured!" Fili exclaimed, running to his brother. "Its only a scratch, I'm fine." said Kili softly.
"No, you're not Kili! You're injured! You've been stabbed by a morgul blade!" snapped Neniel firmly, as she knelt towards the young dwarf as she examined his leg. "We must keep moving!" announced Thorin. "But we need to rest, Kili's injured!" protested Fili. "Fili, the sooner we get to the nearest town, the soon we can heal your brother." said Neniel. Fili realized Neniel is right. "Alright, we have two minutes." said Thorin. Suddenly, a man with dark hair and a brown trench coat appeared, pointing his bow at the Company.
Kili was about to throw a rock at the man, when he spoke up. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, dwarf, or else you will get shot!" said the man. "And just who do you think you are, pal? We have an injured companion and you pull this stunt?!" shouted Neniel, angrily. Balin gently placed his hand on Neniel's shoulders. "At ease, lassie. Let me handle this!" said the older dwarf, gently, and Balin spoke up, introducing himself.
After talking for a little bit, getting to know the man (his name is Bard), they came to an agreement on taking the Company to Lake Town, as they are willing to pay them for the ferry ride. After that was agreed, Bard allowed the Company to board the boat, as Neniel sat with Thorin. Bard looked at Neniel.
"A Dark Elf! You're not the first I seen in Lake Town!" spoke up Bard, as he looked at her. Neniel's eyes widened when she heard this. "What do you mean? Who is the dark elf that lives in Lake Town?" asked Neniel quickly. "A woman named Nelywith!" Bard replied. "That's my mother!" cried out Neniel, standing up, her eyes tearing up. And here she was thinking that her mother was dead! Then that means her step father is living somewhere as well!
"Nen, are you alright?" asked Thorin softly. Neniel turned to Thorin. "My mother-she-she's alive. My mother's alive, Thorin!" cried out Neniel, tears running down her face. Thorin pulled her into his arms, holding heir tightly as he allowed her to weep. Thorin looked up at Bard and scowled. "You better not be bluffing, human!" scowled Thorin. But the man remained silent. Shortly Bard spoke up, demanding the Company to pay up. And so the dwarves (and Bilbo) emptied their pockets as they placed gold on a table nearby.
"Well, it seems that we're a little short." spoke up Gloin in frustration. "Here, take this!" spoke up Neniel, as she removed her necklace. "No, Neniel! That necklace your mother had given you! Don't get rid of it! Your necklace symbolizes your immortality! Keep it!" said Thorin. Even Bard agreed with the dwarf on this.
Bard even felt shocked that this dark elf was willing to give up this special necklace. "No, young elf, keep it. I take what the Company has given me." said Bard. Neniel nodded.
Time skip
The Company arrived in Lake Town, however they had to enter Bard's home through the sewers, on the exception of Neniel who simply refused to do so. After everyone bathed, and dressed in fresh clothing, they met in the dining room as the Dwarves and Bard discussed about weapons. When Bard handed them some weapons, the Dwarves didn't appear happy at all, and began complaining, beginning with Thorin. Neniel rolled her eyes at this. Weapons are weapons, stop your complaining you idiots, at least the man is kind enough with the offer, Neniel thought.
As the evening progressed, Neniel entered a small parlor as she saw Thorin sitting by the window, with Balin and Bilbo also in the parlor with him. "You look as if you seen a ghost." spoke up Bilbo. Thorin soon spoke up. "Dwarven wind lance. Girion used it to try and kill Smaug, but he missed." spoke up Thorin, solemnly. "You spoke as if you were there." said a voice behind them, as they turned and seen Bard at the door.
"We weren't there, but we have heard the tales, Master Bard." said Balin quickly. Bard then quickly left the area, as Thorin stood up. "Get Dwalin. We're going to the Armory." said Thorin. "Are you out of your mind? We was told to stay put!" snapped Neniel. "Neniel, we need to have decent weapons to take on Smaug, instead of the garbage that man showed us!" Thorin shot back. "And what am I going to do?" asked Neniel. "You stay here." said Thorin, and he walked away. Neniel cursed to herself in her language after the Company left.
She had a bad feeling they were going to get caught. After waiting for two hours, the Company hadn't returned. "Oh, this is crazy!" snapped Neniel as she stood up and put on her cloak. "Where are you going, Miss Neniel?" asked Sigrid, Bard's oldest daughter. "I'm going to find the Company. They should have returned along time ago!" Neniel replied and left. Not long after Neniel had left Bard returned. "Where's the Dark Elf?" asked Bard. "She left, Pa. She went to find the Dwarves." Sigrid replied.
And Bard also left. Bain rolled his eyes. "Why can't father just mind his own business?" moaned the young boy.
Neniel's POV:
I sprinted into town, looking for the Company. As I reached the town square, I seen a crowd of people gathering around the Master's home. Shit! They've been caught! I warned them about this, I thought to myself as I quickly approached the crowd. Suddenly, a guard saw me as I approached the crowd. "I'm sorry Miss, but this is official business of the Master, no one is allowed to enter the town square until further notice." said the guard, firmly. "Listen, I know the Dwarves, I came with them into town!" I said.
"I'm sorry, miss, but I cannot let you pass through." said the guard. "Now you listen here, ass hole! I told you I am with the dwarves, why don't you believe me?!" I shouted. "One more word out of you, she elf, you will be arrested for obstructing official business of the Master." shot back the guard angrily. "Look, I'm telling you the truth! Please let me pass!" I yelled at the guard, angrily. "You heard the woman! She's with us!" spoke up a gruff voice from behind them. I looked up and saw Dwalin looking at us. With hesitation, the guard allowed me to enter, as I caught up with the Dwarves.
No one's POV:
"What are you doing? You were supposed to stay at Bard's house!" hissed Thorin. "I was worried, you took too long of returning!" Neniel replied. "I apologize, as you can see that we're delayed." Thorin whispered. "I told you, but you didn't listen to me, Thorin." Neniel whispered back. "Spare me of the lectures, Neniel. I don't need it right now." said Thorin. The Master and his assistant, Alfrid came out, and the Master demanded who the thieves are.
"How dare you call us thieves! Do you have any idea who you speaking to here? This is no other than Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain!" snapped Dwalin. The Master smiled, as the crowd cheered. And then Thorin spoke up. "We are the dwarves of Erebor, we have come to reclaim our homeland!" announced Thorin, as he stepped forward. Then, Thorin began making his speech, promising the citizens of Lake Town, that there will be gold aplenty to give them, to help them for what they have lost. But it was then, Thorin's speech was interrupted by Bard.
Neniel snarled. The nerve of this man accusing the dwarves of the cause of the attack! They have lost as much people as theirs. Smaug's attack was nobody's fault! thought Neniel.
"You have no right to enter the Mountain." said Bard. "I have every right!" Thorin shot back. "You listen here, naysayer! That mountain is THEIR home! How dare you say they have no right to enter it!" shouted Neniel. "Neniel, I handle this." said Thorin. Then the Master spoke up. "Come on now! Lets end this! Tonight, we shall have a feast in honor of Lord Thorin and his companions." said The Master, as he led everyone to the feasting hall. "That man is getting on my last raw nerves." snarled Neniel.
"Well Neniel, you need to control your temper before it gets you into trouble." said Thorin. "Ha, and this comes from the dwarf who does the same thing!" Neniel shot back playfully. Thorin grinned, as he took Neniel's hand. They entered the feasting hall, and sat at a large table with the Master and Alfrid. The rest of the Company sat at a long table in front of them. The feast went very well, and after the Master made his speech, the music, dancing and merriment began. Even Thorin and Neniel danced a little bit, and also Thorin had drunk. Neniel hoped she would get Thorin drunk to see what he would be like.
As the two danced, Neniel could hear a voice calling out her name. "NENIEL! Is that my Neniel?!" cried out the female voice. Neniel stood frozen, as she heard the voice, recognizing it. "Amad?" asked Neniel, and she turned, and she could see a elf woman approaching, with golden blonde hair and brown eyes. "NENIEL!" cried out Nelywith as she ran towards her daughter and the two embraced. Tears ran down Neniel's eyes as she felt her mother's embrace.
When the embrace broke, Neniel looked at her mother. "I-I thought you were dead! I thought Azog and his minions killed you!" said Neniel. "I managed to escape, thanks to the Wood Elves, and your sister." said Nelywith. "What about father? Where is he?" asked Neniel. Nelywith frowned as she bowed her head. "He's dead, dearest." said the elf woman. "I thought as much." said Neniel sadly.
Then Neniel introduces Thorin to her mother. "It's an honor to meet you, Lord Thorin!" said Nelywith, with a curtsy. "And you as well. You and Neniel look almost a like!" said Thorin. Neniel laughed. "Thank you Thorin, that was the nicest thing anyone has said all day. Come mother, I will explain to you about my purpose with the Company." said Neniel. "You don't have to, Neniel. I already know!" said Nelywith. "How did you know?" asked Neniel softly.
"An old friend. A wizard friend." Nelywith replied. "Gandalf." said Neniel. Stupid wizard, you weren't supposed to tell anyone about this quest! Great if Thorin knew Gandalf has told anyone about the quest, he would be angry with me for sure! Neniel thought. "Mother, may I have a quick word with you alone?" asked Neniel. Nelywith nodded, as the two walked away from Thorin. "What is it dear?" asked Nelywith. "Don't let Thorin know you know of the quest, especially when Gandalf told you. He would be very angry and I don't want that, is that understood?" said Neniel. "Understood." said Nelywith.