Chapter Ten
Neniel grumbled to herself as she followed the Company to the Gallery of Kings. And she thought Thorin really had lost his mind now. Idiots, you know fire cannot destroy fire drakes, Neniel thought to herself. "Neniel, go help Bilbo!" Thorin called out to the dark elf. "Yes, you royal pain in the-!" Neniel grumbled, as she started to feel more angry with him. After helping Bilbo, she decided to walk away from the Company and the Dragon.
She decided to explore the Mountain on her own, she is very familiar with structures such as this, because she once lived in dark places herself, and she could easily find her way. She soon approached a hall way, with several doors, she came to a door and she opened, and she entered the room. She could see many things in the large room. She approached a dresser. As curiosity has taken over her, she opened the dresser, and she looked through. She found a old portrait, that seemed to be made by a very great artist, and she picked up the portrait and looked at it.
It was a picture of a very young dwarf, with dark hair and blue eyes.
She almost mistaken him for Kili, until she noticed the blue eyes and laughed. "This has to be young prince Thorin!" Neniel spoke loudly to herself, as she realized the room she is inside now, is Thorin's old room he stayed in as a young prince. This place could use some cleaning up, Neniel thought to herself as she looked around the room. She also noticed another item that caught her attention. A large golden harp, that appeared to be dusty, in which it had not been touched or played in years. She only heard Thorin play a harp before, but it was an Elvish harp.
And the one he had carried through his travels he had lost in the Goblin Caves. Maybe I'll surprise Thorin by cleaning his room, thought Neniel, as she begin her work at once. Meanwhile, Thorin finds himself face to face with Smaug. And the two exchanged heated words, and Thorin pulled a lever, revealing a gold statue of his Grandfather, as Smaug stood and stared at the statue. Suddenly the statue exploded, sending molten gold surrounding the dragon, and Smaug roared. "The People of Lake Town aren't the only ones who will be perishing from my wrath, dwarf! You have kin remaining there who will die as well!" roared Smaug, as he flew out of the Mountain.
Bilbo came running out of the Mountain as he watched Smaug fly towards Lake Town. "I am fire, I am death!" bellowed Smaug, as he flies towards the town. "What have we done?" Bilbo whispered, sadly. "Bilbo! You are needed!" Balin called out to the hobbit. "I'm coming!" the hobbit called back as he entered the Mountain. "Where is Neniel?" asked Thorin. "I don't know. We haven't seen her since we arrived." said Dwalin. "All of you in the treasury, and keep searching for the jewel." demanded Thorin.
"And what of you?" asked Balin. "I'm going to find Neniel." said Thorin, as he walked away. As Thorin strolled down the corridors, he could see a door opened, with light coming from it. My old room! She has found my old room! Thorin thought to himself, as approached the room and entered. To his surprise, he discovered the room is clean and everything in place, and he also noticed his harp, cleaned and polished. "My room! Its clean!" exclaimed Thorin.
"I figured it would be something for me to do, to take out my frustration." said a female voice. Thorin looked up and he saw Neniel approaching him. "Alright, alright, I haven't been very kind to you since we had left, but really you didn't have to do this for me, Nen." said Thorin. "Oh, you don't like it!" moaned Neniel
"Of course I like it, Neniel! Its just since I am King now, I won't be sleeping in here. I will be sleeping in the King's chambers. You, however will be sleeping here." said Thorin. "Oh." said Neniel, her voice filled with disappointment. "At least until we're married of course." said Thorin, smiling at Neniel, as he took her hands. Neniel smiled, and she could see hope in Thorin somewhere (praying the sickness wouldn't take its toll on him).
"Well, the Arkenstone cannot find itself. We must keep searching." said Thorin, as he spun around, and was about to walk out of the room. "Thorin-!" began Neniel. But Thorin was already out the door by the time she spoke his name. As Neniel began searching, she could see Thorin standing in the center of the gold, murmuring to himself. Neniel closed her eyes, she only spent a brief calming moment with the dwarf earlier, but now all that is changed.
She remained quiet as she searched, tears falling down her face. Gone was the dwarf she knew and love, and instead is a gold obsessed King standing in front of her. Suddenly, she could her voices in the distance. And she knew it was the others: Fili, Kili, Oin and Bofur. They made it back! Neniel quickly stood up and bolted, followed by Bilbo as they both went to greet the dwarves.
"We need to get out of here! Thorin has changed! And I'm afraid not for the better. He hasn't eaten or slept in days, no matter how much we try to convince him to do so. The sickness has got him." said Bilbo. Fili and Kili looked at the hobbit in disbelief. "He's telling the truth. You wouldn't even recognize him!" spoke up Neniel, wiping a tear from her eye. And suddenly we could hear Thorin moving in the Treasury, as Fili, Kili, Bofur and Oin went to see him, with Bilbo and Neniel followed behind.
Thorin knew the dwarves are present, and he spoke. "Behold, the Treasure of Thror!" said Thorin, as he turned around and looked at the dwarves. Neniel's heart sank when she the look in his eyes. This wasn't Thorin at all, the Thorin she knew and loved. "Welcome, my sister-sons to Erebor!" said Thorin, his deep voice echoing throughout the treasury, and he picked up a ruby and tossed it in Fili's direction. "Neniel, we need to talk." said Fili, quickly. "Yes?" said Neniel, and she could see the sadness in Fili's eyes as he spoke.
Fili took out an item, it was her mother's necklace and earrings. "Yur mother wanted me to give these to you." said Fili. "Mother? Where is she? And what's with the necklace and her earrings?" asked Neniel. Fili closed his eyes, and he took Neniel's hands.
"Neniel, your mother was among those burnt in Smaug's wrath, and she never made it." said Fili. "No. No! Don't say it's true!" screamed Neniel, her eyes widened in shock and horror. "Nen, I'm so sorry!" said Fili. "NO!" screamed Neniel, as she felt to her knees, tears streaming down her face. Fili took her into his arms, as he comfort Neniel through her mourning. It wasn't only sadness that clouded over her, but anger as well. She felt angry at everyone for sending the dragon into Lake Town in the first place, and now she wanted to place the blame on Thorin.
"Fili, just leave me be." said Neniel, as she pushed Fili away from him, and she stood up, as she angrily about to leave the Treasury, when Thorin stopped her. "And where do you think you're going? Search for the Arkenstone! No one is going to rest until its found!" bellowed Thorin. "Go blow it out your rear end, Thorin! I'm not going to help you! So take your stupid gold and stone of yours and shove it!" shouted Neniel.
And these sent Thorin into rage, as he raised his hand and struck her, as she fell to the ground. "THORIN!" shouted Kili angrily, as he was about to charge at his Uncle. "Do as I say and search, now!" Thorin bellowed.
Balin and Dwalin were shortly informed about the incident between Thorin and Neniel.
They quickly went to the Treasury as soon as they found about it. "She's unconscious. She should be taken to her room quickly." said Oin, as he knelt before her. Dwalin picked her up as he carried Neniel to her room, followed by Fili, Kili, Bilbo and Balin. "Luckily nothing is broken, thank Mahal! She's only bruised and scraped, a bump on her forehead." spoke up Oin. "We need to keep her away from Thorin as much as possible, at least until he gets passed this." said Dwalin.
"What happens if he'll never snap out of it?" asked Nori. "I don't know." said Balin sadly. Bilbo stood in deep thought, maybe he had a way of keeping Neniel away from Thorin for a little while. "I will stay and keep her company!" spoke up Bilbo. The dwarves nodded as they left the room, as Bilbo remained looking at her. He felt sad for her, especially after finding out the death of her mother, Nelywith. An hour later, Neniel woke up, and she discovered she was back in her chambers again.
"Where am I? Thorin?" Neniel called out softly. "You're in your room, Neniel. Thorin had struck you." said Bilbo. "Bilbo!" said Neniel softly as she reached out for his hand, tears falling down her face. "I don't know much more of this, I can take. My mother's gone, and now-Thorin!" stammered Neniel, as she burst into uncontrollable tears. Bilbo wrapped his arms around her, as he allowed her to weep.
"There is a way he can be saved, Nen." spoke up Bilbo softly, as he ran his fingers through her hair. Neniel looked up at Bilbo. "Really?" said Neniel. "Neniel, I have something to confess to you, so please don't get angry with me." said Bilbo, as they broke the embrace and Neniel sat up. Bilbo reached in his pocket and took out the Arkenstone. "Bilbo! You had the Arkenstone the entire time?!" exclaimed Neniel. Bilbo nodded. "Oh, Bilbo! You know you're taking a big risk here." said Neniel. "I know, but I believe its worth it. And I was wondering if you can go with me." said Bilbo.
"Bilbo, you know I can't. I can't do this to Thorin, he would hate me and never speak to me again." said Neniel. Bilbo took Neniel's hands. "You have to trust me on this, Neniel. In the long run, things will work out." said Bilbo. Neniel realized Bilbo made a good point. Neniel closed her eyes and sighed. "I will help you. So what is the plan of yours?" asked Neniel. Bilbo explained his plan to Neniel. "Let me grab my cloak, and we can go!" said Neniel. Bilbo nodded, as he waited for Neniel to grab her cloak, and afterwards, they leave the Mountain, heading towards the encampment of the Elves and Men.
When they arrived, they could see Gandalf in the tent with Bard and Thranduil.
"Gandalf!" exclaimed Bilbo and Neniel together. Gandalf greeted them, as Neniel hugged the wizard. "Neniel, are you okay? You don't look so good!" said Gandalf, as he noticed the pale features on Neniel. "I haven't eaten in days, Gandalf, and things have turned for the worst for Thorin. I barely even know him anymore!" said Neniel sadly, as Bilbo presented the Arkenstone to Bard and Thranduil. "Maybe its for the best you stay with us, Neniel. Its not safe for you to be with Thorin right now." said Gandalf.
"I cannot do that, Gandalf. I pledged my loyalty to Thorin and I cannot leave us side. I promised I would stay with him, even through this." said Neniel. "And risk of getting killed? Do you have any idea what you have gotten yourself into?" spoke up Thranduil. Neniel turned hearing Thranduil's voice. "And when do the Great King of the Woodland Realm cares about Dark Elves?" asked Neniel. "Neniel, I know your mother and your stepfather, whom is also Tauriel's father. You are brave and courageous just like them. And I apologize of my treatment towards you before." said Thranduil.
Neniel smiled. "Apology accepted." said Neniel, as she took Thranduil's hand and shook it. "Would you please reconsider of staying with us?" asked Bard.
"I'm sorry, Bard, like I said before to Gandalf, I pledge my loyalty to the dwarves. I know Thorin can be saved. And I would fight through the fires of hell to save him myself, even if takes my own life." said Neniel, and she walked away. Bilbo shortly followed behind her. By the time Neniel and Bilbo arrived at the Mountain, Neniel went to her room, and laid down in bed. She remained awake, looking up at the ceiling.
At the same time, she could hear heavy footsteps entering the room. "Who is it?" Neniel called out. "It's me, Thorin!" said Thorin. "Thorin? May I help you with something?" asked Neniel. "Balin informed me of your mother. You have my deepest condolences." said Thorin, sitting beside her on the bed. "Don't try kissing up to me, Thorin, its not working." snarled Neniel. "I'm not kissing up to you, Neniel. I am giving you my condolences, and I mean it!" said Thorin, sharply. "Oh, if you really mean it after you hit me earlier today?!" snapped Neniel. "Nen, about that.." began Thorin.
"Just don't Thorin. Just leave, I cannot deal with this right now!" demanded Neniel, sharply. "Suit yourself." snarled Thorin, and he left the room, slamming the door behind him.