Chapter Eleven
Bilbo left the treasury, fuming, now in disbelief on how Thorin is saying such awful words about Cyril. Suddenly, Bilbo quickly stopped when he saw Fili, Kili, and Bofur entering the Treasury. Bilbo ran towards them. "We got to leave. It's Thorin-he has changed, and not for the better I'm afraid!" said Bilbo. "What do you mean?" asked Fili. "The Gold sickness-its got him. He even hasn't eaten or drank anything in days, no matter how hard we tried to get him to!" Bilbo continued.
Suddenly, Fili, Kili and Bofur followed Bilbo down into the Treasury, where they can see Thorin, now dressed in his dark blue fur line coat, and leather tunic and mithril armor. "Welcome my sister-sons, to Erebor!" said Thorin, looking at Fili and Kili. Fili and Kili exchanged looks. Bilbo turned to Bofur. "Where is Oin?" asked Bilbo. Bofur's eyes turned grave, when Oin's name is mentioned. "Oh, no! Nothing hasn't happen to Oin, has it?" asked Bilbo. "No, it Cyril. Cyril has been badly injured from the battle against Smaug. Oin isn't for sure she's going to survive. They're in the healing chambers, as we speak." said Bofur.
"May I go see them?" asked the hobbit. "Sure!" said Bofur, and he led the hobbit to the healing chambers. As Bilbo entered, he could see Balin is also in the room with Oin. "How is she?" asked Bilbo. "She's going to be fine, however she will not be able to walk for a while, unfortunately. I stitched up her wounds where Smaug had bitten her. I saved her from bleeding to death." said Oin. "Oh, thank Aule!" sighed Bilbo. "She is sleeping right now." said Balin.
"I don't think we should tell her about Thorin." said Bilbo. "We're not going to let Thorin set foot near her. Especially in the state he's in." said Balin, firmly and emotionally, and he quickly looked away, as his body began to shake. "The gold sickness-it has taken him." said Balin, sadly. Oin bowed his head. "What happens if she wakes up? What shall we tell her?" asked Bilbo. "I will remain with her until she recovers, and I will tell her everything." said Balin. Bilbo nodded. "There has to be hope in him. There has to be a way of saving him!" said Bilbo softly, and he left.
As Bilbo left the healing quarters, he bumped right into Thorin in the hall way. The hobbit stopped him.
Bilbo decided once again to talk to Thorin. For a little bit, he could see the Thorin he knew standing before him, and as they talked Thorin smiled, as Bilbo presented an acorn he found at Beorn's home to him. "Cyril even has one. We agreed we plant the acorns at the same time." said Bilbo. Thorin smiled. "Cy, where is she?" asked Thorin. "In the healing chambers. The good news is she will survive. Oin has sealed up her wounds. Unfortunately she will not be able to walk for a while." said Bilbo.
Unfortunately the peaceful moment had been interrupted when Dwalin appeared, just as Thorin and Bilbo were about to go check on Cyril. "Thorin, the Elves and Men have taken up camp in Dale. Bard and Thranduil are here wishing to speak to you. Well, at least Bard." said Dwalin. Thorin nodded, and he followed Dwalin. Oh no! Not this, not now! thought Bilbo, as he followed Thorin and Dwalin. An hour later, Cyril had woken up, and she saw Balin sitting next to her. "Lass, you're awake!" beamed Balin.
"Yes. Where's Thorin?" asked Cyril. Balin's face saddened as Thorin's name was mentioned. "Oh no, something didn't happen to Thorin, did it?" gasped Cyril. "I'm afraid so, lassie. The gold sickness-its consuming him. Its not taking its full course just yet." said Balin.
Cyril could feel her heart sinking as she heard this Which explained why he was acting a bit different leaving Lake Town, and after that. "Which is why we cannot allow Thorin to see you." said Balin. "I want to see Thorin, Balin! I want to see him so he can know that I'm alright." pleaded Cyril. "Alright, lass. I can see what I can do. But I cannot guarantee you anything if he will come and see you or not." said Balin. Cyril nodded.
No soon as Balin had left, Bilbo came running to Cyril's chambers. "I hear that you're awake! How are you feeling?" asked the hobbit. "Better than I was hours ago." said Cyril, as she slowly stood up. "Can you walk?" asked the hobbit. Cyril slowly stood up and she walked slowly around the room. "Be careful with your stitches, Cy." said Bilbo. "I am Bilbo. So any news on how Thorin is feeling? Balin told me of the gold sickness." said Cyril. "I'm afraid he's gotten much, much worse." said Bilbo sadly.
"Oh no!" said Cyril. "I have a plan that will save him, Cy." said Bilbo. "A plan? You have a plan?" said Cyril. "Cyril, there is something I have to show you." said Bilbo, and he took the Arkenstone out of his pocket. "Bilbo! You mean you had the Arkenstone the entire time?!" exclaimed Cyril. Bilbo nodded.
"And I'm not intending on returning it to Thorin. I'm holding on to it as a fourteenth share. I'm planning to take it to Bard and Thranduil to stop a war from breaking out." said the hobbit. "I should go with you. I may not be fond of Thranduil, and he's an arrogant ass of an elf, but I hear he's been wanting a necklace." said Cyril. "Yes, his wife's. He wants the necklace." said Bilbo. "Bilbo, do me a favor and go into the treasury and find that necklace." said Cyril. Bilbo's eyes widened.
"Cy, you really don't mean.." began Bilbo. "Bilbo, just do it!" said Cyril. "Okay." said Bilbo. "And when you return, you and I will go together to meet with Bard and Thranduil. One way or the other, we're going to bring peace among the races, even it would take brute force-and to betray someone I love…" said Cyril sadly. Bilbo placed his hand on Cyril's shoulder. "We can do this, Cy." said Bilbo, and he left the healing chambers. While he done that, Cyril got dressed, even though she was struggling to do so. Eventually she got dressed and she sat down on the bed.
Then there was a knock on the door. "Is that you Bilbo? That was fast!" Cyril called out. "No, its me Balin!" said the older dwarf. "Come in!" called out Cyril. Balin entered the room. "Well?" said Cyril.
"Cyril, I don't know how to say this, but Thorin doesn't want to see you. I tried to convince him, but he's rambling on these accusations about you that isn't true, and he said it with anger." said Balin, gravely. When Cyril heard this, it felt as her heart shattered to pieces. It seemed that Thorin's love for her now dying out because of the gold sickness, and it hurt her. I am glad I'm joining Bilbo on this plan, thought Cyril. "Cy, are you going to be alright?" asked Balin.
"I don't know, Balin. I just need to be alone, if you don't mind?" said Cyril. Balin nodded. "As you wish, Cy." said Bain, and he left the room. After Balin left, Cyril put on her boots and cloak, and at the same time, Bilbo returned. "I found the necklace, unfortunately it appeared Thorin had smashed it to pieces." said Bilbo, holding up the necklace. "Don't worry, I can fix it. I have worked with necklaces before." said Cyril. Bilbo handed over the bright necklace to Cyril, as she put the necklace back together skillfully. Bilbo watched in delight. "I never knew you can do that." said the hobbit.
"It's a skill I've always had. I once made necklaces all the time." said Cyril. Once the necklace is finished, she and Bilbo left the Mountain, heading towards Dale to the encampment of the Elves and Men.
As Bilbo and Cyril entered the tent where Bard and Thranduil are sitting, they could see Gandalf in there as well, standing and talking to both the elf and man. "Gandalf?!" exclaimed Bilbo and Cyril together. "Mister Baggins! Miss Cyril! This a pleasant surprise! What brings you both down here?" asked Gandalf. Bilbo approaches Bard and Thranduil, as he presented the Arkenstone to the two of them. "The Arkenstone of Thror!" gasped Thranduil. "I'm giving this to you for several reasons. For one to prevent a war from breaking out, and with Thorin, being my friend, he deserves to be King, and I'm hoping this would save him." said Bilbo.
Bard smiled. "You have a great heart, Halfling. I hope you realize you are taking big risks here." said the man. "Its worth the risk. Also, Cyril here, as something else to present to King Thranduil." said Bilbo. "Oh?" said Thranduil, his eyes turned to Cyril, as she approached the elf King. "I do believe this belongs to you." said Cyril, as she handed the necklace to Thranduil. Thranduil smiled as he took the necklace. "I have misjudged you, Miss Firesilver, forgive me for any wrong doings I have done to you." said Thranduil.
"It's okay, Thranduil. I understand what its like losing someone that is close to you, I lost my parents from Azog years back. Now I'm losing my beloved to a gold sickness." said Cyril, and she looked away, wiping a tear from her eyes. "You really do love him, do you?" said the Elf King. "Yes. I do. We known each other for years, since our first meeting in Ered Luin." said Cyril. "I can imagine how difficult it is for you to do this, Cyril. Its very bold of you, but I fear the worst of the outcome of this when King Thorin finds out about this!" said Thranduil.
"That's why its best you should stay here, Cy!" said Gandalf. "No, Gandalf. I have to go back. Oin would throw a fit if he sees me up and about, as I'm still recovering my injuries." said Cyril. "Yes about that! You should be resting, Miss Cy! I saw you fallen after Smaug had bitten you. Really you should stay here with us." said Bard. "Bard, I will be fine. I was careful coming down here, and I will do the same going back. Which, I'm sorry to cut this short, but I must go back. Are you coming Bilbo?" said Cyril. Bilbo nodded, as the two of them left the tent.
"I think Thorin's stubborn ways is rubbing off on her!" grumbled Gandalf. Bard laughed. "Yes, I can see that all too well." said Bard.
Luckily, Cyril and Bilbo made it back without getting noticed, and Cyril went back to the healing chambers, and she changed back into her night clothes. As she laid back in bed, Oin came in, and he looked furious. Oh shit, he seen that I was gone! Cyril thought. "Miss Cyril, I came in here to check on you a moment ago, and you weren't there! You were told to stay in bed! Where did you go?" demanded Oin. "I went for a walk, Oin. If I laid here much longer, I would get stiff!" said Cyril.
"Cyril, you must remember the stitches in your side, you don't want to mess them up!" said Oin. "I know that, Oin. I'm sorry." said Cyril. "I'm going to have a look at them. Raise your shirt, please." said Oin. Cyril nodded, as she done so. "You have lucked out. The stitches have stayed in place. Never, ever do that again, Cyril. If you wanted to walk, you should have told me earlier, I would have helped you." said Oin. Cyril rolled her eyes. "I know that, Oin. I told you I'm sorry." said Cyril.
After Oin had left, Cyril laid back down, as she drifted off to sleep. The next morning, Cyril woke up to find Dwalin entering the room. "Cyril, you are needed out at the Front Gate." said Dwalin. "But Oin told me not to move any more!" said Cyril. "Thorin wants all of us out on the front gate. He wants you to fight too." said Dwalin.
"Dwalin, don't you see that I'm NOT in fighting condition?!" shouted Cyril angrily. Dwalin took Cyril's hands. "Cyril, trust me, I tried telling Thorin, but he refused to listen. He wants us at the gate, its orders. And you don't want to go against his orders." said Dwalin. "You're right, Dwalin. Just give me a minute to get dressed." said Cyril. Dwalin nodded, as he turned away to give her some privacy, as she got dressed.
After getting dressed, she followed Dwalin out to the Front Gate. As they stepped out, Cyril could see Thorin now dressed in gold armor, and wearing his Grandfather's crown on his head, and the look in his eyes frightened her tremendously. And now she felt dread, knowing Thorin is going to find out about the Arkenstone and the necklace, and things aren't going to end well after that. She could see Bard and Thranduil approaching the ramparts already, as they begin their negotiations.