Chapter Eight
It seemed hours since Cyril had been put in the dungeon cell, and she had been sobbing during that time period. She knew her life was going to end this very night, and she felt scared. He promised he would protect me! And he didn't, he told me he was going to protect me! Cyril thought. Suddenly, she could hear angry voices in the dungeon cell. The voices sounded familiar. "You'll pay for this tree shaggers!" shouted a gruff voice. "DWALIN?!" cried out Cyril. Cyril knew it was Dwalin's voice yelling. "CYRIL?!" Dwalin yelled back.
"Its Cyril! She's here in the dungeons!" exclaimed Dwalin to the other dwarves. "I'm in the last cell!" Cyril called out. "What is she doing in the execution cell?!" snapped Nori. "You heard the Elf King, Nori! He's going to kill her tonight!" shouted Dori. "Not on my watch!" scowled Thorin. Thorin looked at Tauriel, whom was the one had brought him and the others down. Now it was down to Thorin to be put into a cell. "Put me in with the woman." Thorin ordered Tauriel. "As you wish." said Tauriel. It surprised Thorin that Tauriel is obeying him.
Soon, they came to Cyril's cell, and Thorin was placed in it with her.
"Listen the both of you, I'm going to help all of you get out of here." said Tauriel. "Tauriel, don't. You heard what your King had told you. If you do this, you'll sent into exile, you'll have no where to go!" said Cyril. "Cyril, the last thing I need is to see an innocent person die by hands of a King." said Tauriel. Thorin felt moved by this, as he didn't know what to make of the situation. "It doesn't matter, I'm getting all of you out of here. I'll figure out a way, I promise!" said Tauriel, and she went back to her duty.
"She will stay with us, if it comes to her being banished." said Thorin. Cyril nodded. And a small smile appeared on her lips. After Tauriel had left, Thorin looked at Cyril. "You promised you would protect me." said Cyril, stiffly. "Cyril, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you were slacking behind." said Thorin. "You should've stopped and waited for me, damn it!" shouted Cyril. Thorin took Cyril's hands. "I know, I know, Cy. I feel terrible for not stopping. It was the air of the forest that had gotten to all of us. I really feel terrible Cyril." said Thorin, his voice emotional.
"I am glad you're here." said Cyril softly, as she leaned back in Thorin's arms. "I'm glad I'm with you too, Cy. That Elf Bastard will not lay a hand on you, not when I'm around." said Thorin, gently.
As Thorin held her, he hummed softly, as he gently ran his fingers through her hair. Cyril could feel his chest rising and falling luring her into a deep slumber. Hours went by, Cyril had waken up from her nap, and still there was no sign of Tauriel. "She was supposed to come back!" said Cyril, her tone in hurt. Suddenly, a voice was heard. "Cy, Thorin! Its me!" called out a voice. Thorin and Cyril turned to find the source of the voice. To their surprise, it was Bilbo standing outside of their cell. "Bilbo!" exclaimed Balin, Thorin and Cyril together.
"I got to get you out of here and fast!" said Bilbo quickly. "What happened to Tauriel? Why didn't she came?" asked Cyril. "You really don't want to know what he's doing to her." said Bilbo. Cyril closed her eyes. "And the Elf King is enraged right now, he wants to kill you immediately. That's why we must go NOW!" said Bilbo. After releasing the rest of the Company, Bilbo lead them into a wine cellar. Once they entered the cellar, they could see many barrels gathered in the cellar. "Is this your idea of an escape plan?" asked Bofur, sharply.
"You'll get us drowned!" snapped Dwalin. "Hey! Its either the barrels, or remained locked up in the dungeons, and see the face of my death!" shouted Cyril angrily. "INTO THE BARRELS NOW!" Thorin bellowed.
And the Company obeyed Thorin's demand as they climbed into the barrels. Cyril climbed into a barrel with Thorin, pressing her body against Thorin's, as he wrapped his arm around her stomach, as she leaned back against the dwarf's chest. Once everyone in inside the barrels, and Bilbo approached a lever and pulled it, releasing the barrels into the river. Bilbo realized the mistake he made when the door had closed, as he found himself still standing in the wine cellar.
The hobbit pulled the lever again, and when the door opened, he jumped into the river. "Welcome back, Mister Baggins!" Thorin called out to the hobbit. "Swim as best you can to our barrel!" Cyril called out. And Bilbo swam to Thorin and Cyril's barrel, as he held onto it, as they floated down the river. Unfortunately, as they continued to float down, they came to an abrupt stop when they saw a closed gate in front of them. Thorin swore loudly in Khazadul.
"Oh no!" cried out Cyril, pointed ahead of them, and they could see the elves standing on a bridge, when suddenly an army of orcs, led by Bolg, Azog's son, attacking them. As for Kili, Kili jumped out of his barrel as he tried to make for the bridge, going for the lever that opens the front gate. "KILI!" cried out Fili, as the blonde dwarf watched as an orc charged at the brown haired dwarf, stabbing him in the leg.
Kili collapsed to the ground, crying out in pain. At the same time, Tauriel jumped out, and killed the orc that stabbed Kili, as well as other orcs. Kili slowly stood up as he reached the lever, and he pulled it, opening the front gate, releasing the barrels. When that was done, he jumped back into his barrel, and the pain of his injury worsened. "Kili!" Fili called out again. The barrels continued to float for some time, until they finally reached to shore, as Thorin, Bilbo and Cyril, and Fili, helped the rest of the dwarves out of the barrels.
Kili sat down on boulder, as Fili quickly ran towards him. "You're injured, nadidith!" said Fili, gently. "I'm fine, its only a scratch." murmured Kili. "No, that appears to be more than just a scratch, Kili!" said Cyril. "We need to press on!" spoke up Thorin. "Oh come on! Can't you see the lad is hurt?!" shouted Gloin. "Very well, you have two minutes for rest." said Thorin. No soon as they sat for a rest, a man appeared, aiming his bow at the Company. Kili was about to throw a rock at the man, when the man spoke.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, dwarf. Unless you choose to get shot at!" the man warned the dwarf. "And just who in the hell do you think you are?! Can't you see our friend is hurt?!" shouted Cyril angrily. Balin placed his hand gently on Cyril's shoulder.
"Let me handle this, lassie." said Balin. Cyril nodded, as she stood back while she allowed Balin do all the talking. The man introduced himself as Bard, working as bargeman for Lake Town. Balin and Bard came to an agreement as Bard will ferry them to Lake Town, so they can stay and rest, and reach the Mountain from there, as Balin and the Dwarves also agreed to pay Bard for the ferry ride. When that is settled, the Company climbed into the boat. Cyril remained close with Thorin.
Bard kept looking at the woman who had been sitting with the dwarf leader. There is something interesting about this woman, but I cannot pin point it. Something magical about her, thought the bowman. After paying the man, they set out to Lake Town. As they drew closer, Thorin could see the Lonely Mountain ahead of them. "There it is, Cy! Our home!" whispered Thorin, as he took Cyril's hand, and Cyril smiled at him. "We're getting closer to our goal!" said Cyril. Thorin nodded.
As they reached the town, Bard suggested them to hide in the barrels of fish. It would save him from getting into trouble of 'smuggling' outsiders into the town. Once everyone climbed into the barrels, Cyril mumbled to herself. "Don't worry, we won't be in these barrels for long!" Thorin whispered to Cyril. Pretty soon, they passed through without any trouble.
Bard suggested to the Dwarves and hobbit to enter his home through the sewers, while he allowed Cyril to enter the front door, since she appeared to Bard as a human, and people wouldn't suspect her. As they entered the home, they are greeted by Bard's children, Sigrid, Tilda and Bain. Sigrid and Tilda offered Cyril a bath and some fresh clothing, and right away, they showed her to the washroom. Cyril sighed as she climbed into a bath. She couldn't remember the last time she had a hot bath.
After the bath, she changed into a simple light green dress, that Sigrid had loaned Cyril. Cyril looked into the mirror and smiled. After getting dressed, she joined the others in the dining room. Cyril gasped, once she looked at Thorin, whom was now wearing different clothing himself, as well as the rest of the Company. Gone was wet dark blue under tunic, and in its place was a bright red laced shirt, with a brown under tunic underneath, and black trousers.
Wow, Thorin looks handsome in red, Cyril thought to herself as she sat next to him at the dining room table. She sat and listened to the conversation between the Dwarves and Bard, discussing the weapons Bard had promised them before arriving in Lake Town.
Once Bard presented the weapons to the dwarves, the first person that began to complain about them was Thorin, and Gloin also spoke his opinion about them. Some people can be so picky, Cyril thought as she rolled her eyes at the complaining dwarves. Two hours later, Cyril found Thorin sitting in the parlor, looking out the window, and she noticed a change him. There was something in his eyes, she knew that wasn't right.
"Are you okay, Thorin?" asked Cyril. "You look as if you seen a ghost!" piped in Bilbo, whom he and Balin are also in the room with him.
"Dwarven wind lance-the weapon Lord Girion used to kill Smaug!" said Thorin softly. "You spoke as if you had been there!" said a voice behind them. Everyone turned, and they could see Bard standing in the doorway. "What of it? Everyone knows the tale." Thorin replied back. Bard quickly left where he stood. Thorin looked at Cyril, as he noticed her feeling very uneasy. "Cy, what's wrong?" asked Thorin. "I'm just worried that's all." said Cyril.
"Worried about what?"
"Us, Thorin! You, and everything else!" Cyril replied. "Cy-!" began Thorin, as he wrapped his arm around her. "There is nothing to worry about! Everything is going to be fine!" said Thorin gently, as he held her close to him.
Suddenly, Dwalin enters the room. "Thorin, we are ready to go to the Armory." said the bald dwarf. "What?! Oh come on, you can't do that! That's stealing! Thorin, you were born properly, and stealing isn't something a future king should do!" snapped Cyril. "Well its better than the piece of crap that Bard showed us!" Thorin shot back. "OH!" Cyril cried out in frustration. "Cyril, you remain here while we gather the weapons. I shall return to get you when we're done!" said Thorin.
"Yeah, yeah!" Cyril grumbled. Thorin kisses Cyril on the cheek as Thorin lead the Company from Bard's home. Just pray they don't get caught by the guards, Cyril thought as she watched the Dwarves and Hobbit leave Bard's home. No sooner as they left, Bard entered the dining room and he found Cyril sitting alone. "Where are your friends? You know they were not supposed to leave the house!" said Bard. "Try telling them that. Stubborn ass, dwarves!" Cyril grumbled. Bard laughed. "You're a dwarf too aren't you?" asked Bard. "No, I'm half dwarf/hobbit!" Cyril replied.
"I've seen you around before, what is your name Miss?" asked Bard, suspiciously. "Cyril Firesilver." Cyril replied. Bard's eyes widened. "It cannot be! You're the one with the dragon's curse! I saw you!" exclaimed the man.
"Don't you dare try and hurt me, Bard!" said Cyril standing up. "No, I will not hurt you, Cyril. It seems that it's a blessing you have came here. You are much needed. I have a feeling the beast will waken." said Bard. "Wait a minute! You knew who we were the whole time, didn't you?" snapped Cyril. "Yes, because I overheard your friends talking, and I caught their names, especially from their leader, King Thror's grandson! You're not helping them, are you?" asked Bard.
"Yes, I am. I remain loyal to them. And I'm not going to rest until their home is reclaimed, and to.." began Cyril, and she quickly stopped before she went even further. She didn't want to reveal too much, but unfortunately Bard caught on of what she was about to say. "Cyril, if you're about to say you want to save him from a sickness that is going to consume him, you are wasting your time. King Thror never overcame is." said Bard. "And how would you know that? You don't know Thorin as well as I Do!" Cyril shouted.
"Well I know Dwarves! They are selfish and greedy, and all they care for is themselves!" Bard snapped back. "Not all dwarves are greedy, Bard. I wish people would stop judging them for their past! Thorin had single handedly led his people to a new life Ered Luin! You call that Selfish? I don't think so!" Cyril shouted.
And without thinking, she stood up and sprinted out of the door. Besides that, it had been well over an hour, and the Company hadn't returned from the Armory yet, and she was bound to find them.