Chapter Fourteen
That evening, Thorin led Cyril into the Great Hall, and she could see many dwarves gathered. All eyes turned to them as the Dwarf King and his future bride entered. Cyril realized it wasn't Thorin they were looking at, they were looking at Cyril as well. "That must be the woman that saved their lives! She's a hero!" beamed one dwarf woman. Cyril smiled, already she could hear praises coming from many of the dwarves, calling her a hero. It warmed her heart. Thorin smiled as they continued walking through the large crowd of dwarves, and they finally arrived at the large table. Cyril could see Dain also there as well.
"Hello, Lord Dain!" said Cyril with a curtsy. "And a great hello to you, my lady!" said Dain, as he kissed her wrist. "Ahem!" said Thorin. Cyril laughed. And the two of them sat with the family at the large table as the feast started, with Thorin starting things off with a speech, welcoming home the dwarves. "Tonight, we will celebrate not only the homecoming for the Dwarves, but to celebrate of the reclaiming and restoring of our home!" began Thorin. All the dwarves cheered.
"And last but not least, there is also another reason to celebrate. Tonight, I formally announce my betrothal to Cyril Firesilver." Thorin continued, and the cheering continued. However, Cyril took notice of a few dwarves in the crowd that were not happy about this. The majority of the dwarves, including the council loved and adored Cyril, but there were a few in the crowd that didn't like her at all. And one out of the few was a dwarf woman named Cecilia Silverforge, daughter of Narin Silverforge.
Years ago, long before Smaug's first attack on Erebor, King Thror had arranged a betrothal of Thorin with Cecilia. Both families agreed on the marriage, however, Thorin didn't agree at all. Thorin felt against the idea of marrying someone, one-he barely knew-two, he knew the family well, as they are known for their traitorous acts. They were known to kill their own people for treasures, and to steal as well. Cecilia was also known to heard of practicing dark magic, which was rare among dwarves.
Cecilia had longed to become Queen of Erebor, and when she witnessed this, she wasn't going to have it at all. And now she decided to come up with a plan. Finally an idea popped in her head. I will ask the King if I would work as Lady Firesilver's housemaid, and go from there!
Thought Cecilia. When dinner ended and plates and dishes had cleared up, there was social time, and music and dancing, and plenty of drinking. During one of the rounds that Thorin and Cyril had spent with many of the guests, Cecilia approached them. Thorin snarled. "Long time no see, old friend." said Cecilia, smiling at the dwarf king. Cyril looked at the woman suspiciously. "What are you doing here, Cecilia?" asked Thorin. "You know I would never miss this for the world-you know, becoming King of Erebor, and of course marrying this lovely thing here!" said Cecilia.
Thing? Thing? The nerve of her! I'm not a thing, I'm a living breathing person! She's the one with thing, with that enormous honker of a nose! thought Cyril. "It will be greatly appreciated if you don't call my future wife names, Lady Silverforge! Now if you must excuse us, we have other guests we need to speak to." said Thorin quickly. "Wait! Look, I apologize for the crack about your future wife! She is just lovely! In fact, I was just going to ask you a favor." said Cecilia. "Sorry, I don't accept favors from lying, manipulative traitors." snarled Thorin.
"Oh come on, Thorin! That's all in the past! I given up that lifestyle years ago! I would never turn on your and our people! Just please, let me ask you this favor?" said Cecilia.
"Very well, what is it?" sighed Thorin. "It appears that your future wife is in need of a handmaiden, and I would love to take on the job! Unless the position is already vacant!" said Cecilia. "What makes you think you are qualified for the job as Lady Firesilver's handmaiden? I've already chosen one for her, and her name is Lady Eleanor Firebeard." said Thorin. "What?! That worthless little piece-I mean, you could have picked someone better than that! She's too-book wormy. Please don't say you've already chosen her for the job!" said Cecilia.
"Actually we haven't decided yet, or even hired anyone." said Thorin. "Oh, well then, you can chose me to be Lady Firesilver's hand maiden!" said Cecilia. "Fine, you got the job!" said Thorin. "Thorin!" called out Cyril. Thorin walked over to Cyril. "I like to have a word with you in private." said Cyril, as she observed the conversation between him and the suspicious looking dwarf woman. There was something about her, Cyril didn't like, but she couldn't pinpoint it.
Thorin and Cyril stepped out into the corridors. "Thorin, I really don't think you should hire her. There is something about Lady Silverforge that isn't right." said Cyril. "Cyril, she's the only one we can find that's qualified for the job! You don't like her do you?" asked Thorin.
"Thorin, son of Thrain! That is a stupid question to ask! No, I do not like her! I'm sorry! Like I said before, there is something about her, that isn't right." said Cyril. "Cyril, trust me! She isn't all that bad once you get to know her." said Thorin, gently. Cyril sighed. "Very well! She is hired. But if she causes any trouble.." began Cyril. "Cyril, she won't cause any trouble, and if she does, I like to be the first to know about it! Come, lets get back to the feast." said Thorin. Cyril nodded, and the two of them walked back to the feast.
As the night progressed, the Feast ended, and everyone went to their homes. Cyril was in a need of a relaxing bath, and once the bath was done Cyril called for a calming drink of tea. "Oh, I'll make you some tea!" snarled Cecilia as she left the chambers. Cecilia went into the kitchens as she brewed up some tea. "Now to bring out my special thieving potion! A poisonous concoction that will make her steal things!" said Cecilia to herself, as she took out a small purple vial. What Cecilia didn't know that Fili and Kili were in the kitchen, but on the other side, as they were talking to Bombur.
"Fili, there is someone in here other than us! Can you go and see who it is?" asked Kili. "Sure!" said Fili, as he peered across the kitchen, and he saw the dwarf woman, brewing up the tea.
Then, he witnessed the woman pouring purple liquid into the tea. "Now, that half breed whore will never stand a chance of becoming Queen of Erebor!" snapped Cecilia loudly. Fili's eyes widened in horror. "KILI!" cried out the blonde dwarf. Kili ran over to his brother. "What's going on?" asked Kili. "We need to find Thorin, Now! That woman is planning to kill Cyril! She's going to poison her!" exclaimed Fili. "We better get going there before she gets to Cyril!" said Kili quickly, as both dwarves quickly left the kitchen.
But they could see they were too late. Cecilia was already walking towards the chambers, and entered. "Go get Thorin, now!" barked Kili. And Fili bolted towards the Throne Room. Meanwhile, Cecilia entered the chambers. "Here is your tea, my lady!" said Cecilia serving the tea to Cyril. "Thank you, Cecilia." said Cyril, as she took the cup. "Now, just drink up my lady-and relax!" sneered Cecilia, as she left the chambers.
Cyril took a drink of the tea, and fifteen minutes later, she felt the effects of it. First, she began feeling very dizzy. After that she stood up, as if in a trance, she began walking out of the chambers, slowly, and she continued walking like that until she reached the treasury. Cecilia followed Cyril into the treasury.
This is it! My plan is going to succeed! thought Cecilia. Soon as Cyril entered the treasury, she picked up several gold coins, placing them in her skirts. That does it! Keep on going! Now head to the throne room and get the Arkenstone! Cecilia thought. When Cyril had finished, she slowly left the Treasury and headed for the Throne Room. Luckily, no one was in the room, and she entered and approached the Throne, removing the Arkenstone from where it sat.
"GUARDS! THIEF! THIEF!" shouted Cecilia. The same time the guards had entered the Throne Room, the effects of the poisonous tea worn off. "How did I get in here?! And why am I holding this? I must put it back!" said Cyril loudly, as she returned the Arkenstone to its spot. Shortly, Thorin, Dwalin and Balin entered following the guards. "Arrest her! She has tried to steal the Arkenstone!" shouted Cecilia. "What are you talking about?! I would never steal it!" shouted Cyril.
"Lass we saw you take it. All of us had seen you take it!" snarled Dwalin. "Not only that, I saw her in the treasury taking some gold as well!" Cecilia continued. "Thorin, I swear I didn't take anything! All I remember was drinking a cup of my late night tea, that's all I can remember!" pleaded Cyril. "Then explain this woman!" snapped guard, as he tugged at her dress, and gold coins came falling out of her dress. "NO!" shrieked Cyril. "Cyril, how could you do this to me? I trusted you! I given my heart to you, and now this? You have resorted to stealing? I never expected you to turn out this way!" snapped Thorin. "Thorin, I don't know what's going on, but I swear to you this was all set up!" pleaded Cecilia. "Guards, take her to the dungeons! Not only she's a thief, but a liar as well!" Thorin demanded to the guards. "THORIN! NO!" screamed Cyril as the guards grabbed her, and took her to the dungeons.
Thorin sat down on his throne and slumped, burying his face into his hands. "I cannot believe she had done this to me." said Thorin softly. "I'm so sorry, laddie. We have no idea what gotten into her." said Balin. Suddenly, Fili and Kili ran into the Throne room. "We're too late, aren't we?" panted Fili. "Too late for what?" asked Thorin. "We have witnessed something terrible in the kitchens earlier tonight, Uncle, and we have to tell you about it." said Fili.
"What do you mean?!" snapped Thorin. Cecilia rose her eyebrows in freight, realizing she had been caught. "We saw a dwarf woman in the kitchens brewing up some tea, and she inserted some type of poison in the tea. And I overheard her say she was going take down Cyril, so she would become Queen of Erebor!" explained Fili.
When Thorin heard this, anger and rage clouded over him, and also guilt. Cyril had spoken the truth after all, she was indeed set up. "Where is she?" demanded Thorin. "Whom?" asked Dwalin. "Lady Silverforge!" barked Thorin. "She's right here, Your Majesty?!" said Balin, gently bringing forth the dwarf woman. "YOU! You were the one that is behind this! Is this true?!" demanded Thorin, angrily. "Yes, I was the one behind it! This woman should NOT BE QUEEN! I should be Queen, and you know that!' shouted Cecilia.
"How many times have we been through this, Lady Silverforge? I never liked you, nor loved you! Your family has been nothing but trouble from the beginning! And let me inform you, the penalty of assaulting the future Queen of Erebor! And you know what it is! Guards, arrest her! I will go and release Cyril myself!" snapped Thorin. The guards arrested Cecilia, and Thorin followed them, as they made way to the dungeons. As they reached the dungeons, Thorin could see Cyril sitting on the floor, weeping quietly.
Thorin took the keys and opened the cell door. "Cyril." said Thorin quietly. "Go away! I have nothing to say to you! I rather just sit in here and rot!" snapped Cyril.
"I wouldn't blame you for being angry with me, Cy. You have spoken the truth about being set up. It was Fili and Kili whom had discovered that. She is being locked up as we speak." said Thorin. "Why in the hell didn't you believe me the first time, then?!" shouted Cyril angrily, as she stood up and glared at Thorin. "Look, I said I am sorry. Come on, lets get you out of here." said Thorin gently, as the two of them left the dungeons and went back to their chambers.
The two sat down near the fireplace. "If I known she was up to her tricks, I would have never hired her." said Thorin. "Why did you hire her for then, knowing she was nothing but trouble?" asked Cyril. "I had no idea she was going to intentionally hurt you, Cy. I am really am sorry you had to go through this, and I'm sorry that I disbelieved you before." said Thorin, taking Cyril's hands. Cyril sighed. "I forgive you Thorin. None of us knew she was going to do this. Luckily Fili and Kili was there to witness it." said Cyril.
"Don't worry, she will be put to trial, and I've already came up with a sentence for her." said Thorin. "And that is?" said Cyril. "She will be sent into exile, no longer will she be welcomed in any of the dwarven kingdoms of Middle Earth." said Thorin.