Chapter Nineteen
The following evening was the birthday feast. And Frerin felt much better and he was able to walk on his own as well. Everyone gathered in the Great Hall, and there was much food, drink and merriment as the celebration proceeded. Meanwhile, outside of the Great Hall, stood a group of dwarves, led by a female and male elf. The female's name is Dora Firesword, and her father, Noran Firesword "The Line of Durin is going down! No King in his right mind should marry a dark elf!" snarled Noran. "And I wanted to become Queen." said Dora.
"Don't you worry, Dora. You will get your title as queen, and I have a plan." said Noran. "What is the plan?" asked Dora. "See this bottle? This will poison the King's mind. The poison I've discovered somewhere around the mountain. Once he drinks it, it will poison his mind, and he will listen to everything you say to him." said Noran. "What about the rest of them, and the wife?" asked Dora. "The rest of us, and myself will deal with Neniel, the children and the rest of the sand blasted family! No go!" said Noran, handing the bottle to Dora. Dora took the bottle as she entered the Great Hall, followed by her father and their company.
After Dora entered, she found the kitchen and made a drink for the Dwarf King, pouring the poison into the ale. After that, she handed it to a servant. "Give this to his Royal Majesty. It's a special blend, mae for him." Dora instructed the servant. The servant nodded and took the drink, as she served it to the King, as he watched Frerin and Autumn open their presents. Thorin took a couple swigs of the drink that was given him, and so far it hadn't effected him yet.
Dora remained close by to make sure the effects of the poison would work, and she would go from there. Once the poison effects him, its time to put on your charm, Dora! thought the Dwarf Woman. "Thorin? Thorin are you alright?" asked Neniel, as she noticed Thorin turning pale. "I think I need some fresh air. Quite odd that I'm feeling so strange." said Thorin softly. "Go and get some fresh air, dear. I'll be right here with the kids." said Neniel, as she kissed her husband on the cheek.
Dwalin watched Thorin walk away suspiciously. After Thorin walked away, Dora followed him. "Neniel, wouldn't you mind passing Thorin's drink over my way?" asked Dwalin. "Sure, of course!" said Neniel, as she handed over the mug to Dwalin as he sniffed the drink. Neniel noticed the worried expression the bald dwarf's features.
"Dwalin, what's wrong?" asked Dis. "Thorin's drink has been poisoned!" exclaimed the dwarf. Neniel stood up. "WHAT?!" cried out Dis, Neniel and Balin together. "I don't know who's responsible, but the drink is poisoned." said Dwalin. "That explains why he's feeling strange. I must go find him! Dis, you wouldn't mind looking after Frerin and Autumn while I'm gone?" asked Neniel. "I don't mind at all!" said Dis. Neniel quickly left the Great Hall, as she went to find Thorin.
Meanwhile, Thorin stood out at the balcony, to get the fresh air he needed, as a dwarf woman approached him. "I figured I would find you out here, Thorin son of Thrain!" spoke up the woman. Thorin turned, and he saw Dora smiling at him. "What are you doing out here, Dora? Aren't you supposed to be with your family?" asked the dwarf king. "Father is too busy speaking politics with the council members, and I got bored. Its been a while since we last seen each other." said Dora.
"Yes, it has been a while." said Thorin, as he kept looking out over the Mountain. "Thorin, why didn't you come back to me when we were courting. You left for the Battle of Moria, but you never sought me down afterwards." said Dora. "I needed to be alone, Dora." said Thorin. "Oh come on. I know you missed me." purred Dora, as she placed her hand on the dwarf's cheek.
"Dora, you still look the same as always-beautiful-very beautiful." said Thorin softly. "Thank you. Yer know, it's a bloody shame that you're married, I would have taken you right now. People are talking about that Dark Elf of yours, Thorin, and they're not very kind. This woman is trouble, mark my words! She's only after you for one thing, and that is your gold!" said Dora. "Impossible! Neniel would never do such a thing!" hissed Thorin.
"Thorin, I took a walk earlier today, and I found her in the Treasury admiring the gold. And I overheard her say that if she isn't going to get any of it, she would take her children and leave the Mountain, to live in Mirkwood to stay with King Thranduil." said Dora. "You are lying, woman!" hissed Thorin. "Why would you think I would lie about this? I'm telling you the truth, I was there! I saw her!" said Dora. "No-it can't be true-the many years I've trusted her-and she-!" snapped Thorin. "I'm so sorry, Thorin." said Dora, placing her hand on the dwarf king's shoulder.
"DAMN IT!" shouted Thorin angrily. "Just relax, you have someone here who would treat you better than that elf!" said Dora. Thorin turned to Dora and smiled. "Welcome home, Dora, daughter of Noran." said Thorin, smiling at the dwarf woman, taking her hands.
Suddenly, Thorin pulled her into his arms, and he kissed Dora. At the same time, Neniel walked out onto the balcony and gasped. "THORIN!" screamed Neniel, anger clouded over her. "You! You! What have you done?!" barked Thorin, breaking the embrace from Dora. "What do you mean what I done? I don't understand!" snapped Neniel. "Don't play dumb with me, Neniel. I know what you've been up to!" snarled Thorin, as he angrily approached the dark elf.
"Thorin, what is going on here? What are you talking about?!" shouted Neniel. "You've been in the treasury! And I've been told, you've said some things about me as well!" growled Thorin. "Thorin, I was no where's near the treasury!" argued Neniel. "LIAR!" screamed Thorin, as he struck Neniel, and she collapsed to the floor. "You are therefore banished from Erebor, and take the children with you!" barked Thorin. "Thorin! You can't be serious! I didn't do anything!" screamed Neniel. "I SAID LEAVE!" barked Thorin angrily, as beads of sweat falling down his face. Dora snickered. Plan A, complete! Dora thought.
"You look like you need some rest, My King! Come, let me take you to your chambers!" said Dora, as she guided the King out of the balcony.
Meanwhile, Neniel sprinted down the corridors weeping heavily, when suddenly she bumped into Noran. "Grab her boys!" barked Noran. And several dwarves grabbed Neniel. "Hey! What are you doing?!" screamed Neniel. "You're coming with us!" snarled a dwarf. "MAMA!" cried out a voice nearby. Neniel looked ahead of her, and she saw three dwarves holding her son and daughter. "FRERIN! AUTUMN!" cried out Neniel. "Lets get them out of here! They are with us now!" barked Noran. "LET US GO, YOU BASTARDS!" screamed Neniel.
Suddenly, she felt a hand striking her face. "Silence, you elven slut!" shouted Noran. And as they dragged Neniel and the children out of the mountain, Balin came out from his chambers, hearing the cries and screams. He noticed a group of dwarves carrying Neniel, Frerin and Autumn out of the mountain. "OH NO!" cried out Balin, and he bolted towards the Great Hall, and he quickly went for Dwalin, Dis, Fili and Kili. "Where is Thorin?" asked Balin. "I don't know. We haven't seen him since he had left the Great Hall, when he complained about feeling ill!" said Dis.
"Dis, where are Frerin and Autumn?" snapped Balin, angrily. "Autumn needed to go to the bathroom, so Frerin took her. Why? What is going on?" asked Dis sharply.
"Neniel, Autumn and Frerin have been kidnapped by a group of dwarves! I'm suspecting it's the same group of dwarves that's after the family." said Balin. "We must find Thorin." said Dwalin. And so Balin and Dwalin, alongside with Fili and Kili left the Great Hall, to find Thorin. "He might be in his chambers. Lets go there first." said Balin. "Balin, there is something I need to tell you too. Someone had poisoned Thorin's drink tonight as well." said Dwalin, as they walked towards the King's chambers.
"What?! What in Durin's name is going on here?! First the kidnapping, and now Thorin being poisoned?! Something isn't adding up here." said Balin. "That's why we need to talk to Thorin." said Dwalin, as they finally arrived at the King's chambers, and they entered. When they entered the chambers, they saw a dwarf woman sitting by Thorin's side. "Hey! Who the hell are you, and what are you doing here?!" demanded Dwalin, noticing Dora standing with Thorin. "I am Dora, I found Thorin outside on the balcony. I was only making sure he was okay." said Dora.
"I'm sorry, but I'm having a hard time to believe your words, Lady Dora, daughter of the bastard Noran!" snarled Dwalin. Dora's eyes widened, she had a feeling, she been had, and they caught on to her trickery. Dwalin, of course, was not done questioning Dora.
"Dora, where were you at six o clock this evening when the birthday feast started?" demanded Dwalin. "What is the meaning of this, Dwalin? Dora was only here helping me out!" snapped Thorin. "Thorin, you've been poisoned! I smelt the drink that was given you tonight!" snapped Dwalin. "What do you mean I was poisoned?" asked Thorin. "After you left Thorin, I took a sniff of your drink, and I took a sniff of it, and I smelt some poison in your drink." said Dwalin. "That's impossible! Who would do such a-!" began Thorin, and suddenly he collapsed to the floor.
"Thorin!" cried out Fili and Kili. "Kili, go get Oin quickly! And tell him to find some anecdote. Inform him our King has been poisoned. Dwalin, we have to get to the bottom on who is responsible for kidnapping of Neniel and the children and Thorin." said Balin. Dora snarled. "You will never find out! No one is going to tell you!" snarled Dora. "What did you just say?" barked Dwalin, glaring angrily at the dwarf woman. "Young woman, you better confess on who had poisoned the King. We need to know!" Balin demanded sternly.
"Fine! I will tell you! I poisoned the bastard okay! I want to be Queen of Erebor! Not some low life dark elf!" screamed Dora. "Crap, not another one of them power hungry dwarrowdam!" grumbled Dwalin.
"And as for your precious Queen and children, they're not here! My father and his rabble had taken them out of here! By, of course-the King's orders!" snickered Dora. "You stupid little bitch! You and your father will pay for this! In the mean time, you are under arrest for the threatening the King and Queen of Erebor! You will be trialed once King Thorin has recovered." said Dwalin, angrily, as he grabbed Dora, and he took her to the dungeons. Oin came quickly as he could as he began to examine Thorin, whom remained unconscious on the floor.
"Balin, I need you to open his mouth, while I feed him the anecdote." said Oin. "Yes, Oin!" said Balin, as he helped the dwarven healer. Balin opened Thorin's mouth gently as Oin, poured the anecdote into Thorin's mouth. "How long will this work?" asked Balin. "It wouldn't take long. It should clear the poison here soon." Oin replied. Thirty minutes later, Thorin startled awake, coughing, and pretty soon, he ran into the bathroom, and began to violently throw up. Balin and Oin knew the anecdote is taking its full course.
When Thorin had finished and cleaned up, he slowly walked out and sat down on a chair. "What's going on? What happened?" asked Thorin. "We will tell you once you rest, okay?" said Balin. Thorin nodded.
Neniel's POV:
It had been hours since we had left the Mountain, and my children and I found ourselves in the dwarves encampment tied to some trees. "Mother, do you think father and the others will find us?" asked Frerin. "I surely hope so, Frerin. I surely hope so! I'm not so sure about your father, though!" I said sadly. "What do you mean? What's going on between you and father?!" cried out Autumn. "Your father has changed, something about him-has changed!" I replied sadly. I didn't want to tell my children what I've witnessed out on the balcony.
"Silence! Nobody had given you permission to talk!" barked Noran. "Why don't you go blow it out your rear end, Noran!" I shouted at the dwarf. This angered the dwarf, and he stormed over towards me, and he struck me again. I screamed. "You leave my mother alone!" shouted Frerin, angrily. "You be quiet, you little brat!" screamed Noran. And Frerin quickly fell silent.