Chapter Nineteen
The next morning, Thorin sent for Lady Copperfire, and he informed her that Frerin and Thror will be joining her school, and they sat down in the Dwarf King's study, as they filled out paperwork, getting things started for the children. "When will they start their first day?" asked Thorin. "The first day of school begins tomorrow actually. Tomorrow morning at nine o clock." said Lady Copperfire. "Very well. You will be seeing them tomorrow! Thank you!" said Thorin.
"No, no! Your Majesty, thank you!" said Lady Copperfire as she curtsied and she left Thorin's study. Later, Thorin informed Cyril that Frerin and Thror will be going to Lady Copperfire's school. The next morning, the twins were woken early as they are prepared to go to the school after breakfast. After eating breakfast, Cyril took the twins to school, she looked very nervous, and unsure what to think after she dropped off Thror and Frerin. I better remain in Dale just in case, thought Cyril as she took Thror and Frerin to school.
"I assure you, Your Highness, that there won't be any trouble. No harm will come to your sons, I promise." said Lady Copperfire.
Yeah, you said the same thing to Thorin about Kili. We'll just see about that! Cyril thought. "Alright, I have your word. I will be in town in case you need me. I will be sitting at the pub just a few places down from here." said Cyril. Lady Copperfire nodded "Remember, if there is a problem, send for me immediately!" Cyril called out "Yes, your Highness!" said Lady Copperfire, as she entered her school.
As Cyril entered the pub, she took a seat at a table. She didn't realize some familiar faces are there as well. One of them was Thorin, and the other Dwalin. "Hey! Did you two follow me here?" asked Cyril. "Yes, and I have my reasons." said Thorin. "I suppose you feel the same way as I do then." said Cyril. "Yes. Lets just see how it goes." said Thorin. And so they sat and waited. An hour later, no one had came for them yet. Which Cyril could see that was a good sign.
Fifteen minutes later, Cyril noticed a dwarf approaching the table with a annoyed look on his face. And he approached Cyril first. "Your Highness, your presence is requested at Lady Copperfire's school!" said the dwarf. "We're on our way!" said Cyril, standing up, and Thorin and Dwalin followed Cyril out of the pub, as they made way towards the school. As they approached the school, they could see a very angry Lady Copperfire and the twins standing next to her.
As for the twins, they stood next to the teacher, and to Cyril's shock and horror, the two are bruised and beaten up. "My boys!" cried out Cyril running to them. "You should do something about your heathen sons, Your Majesty! They have been nothing but trouble the entire day!" growled the teacher. "What do you mean?" asked Thorin, darkly. "They've been caught fighting with several of my students." said Lady Copperfire. "But they started it, adad! They were calling us both horrible names! I tried to stop brother from fighting with them, but I couldn't stop him!" said Thror.
"And you are blaming this on our SONS?!" bellowed Thorin angrily at the teacher. "Listen your Majesty, I will not tolerate fighting in my class, no matter who has started it or not!" said Lady Copperfire, icily. "But our sons are the victims of bullying, Lady Copperfire! How dare you blame them for something they are trying to defend themselves?!" shouted Cyril, angrily. "Thror, Frerin, we're going to take you home, and teach you ourselves. I'm done!" growled Thorin. "Your Majesty, you cannot just do that!" protested Lady Copperfire.
"I am your King, I can just DO THAT!" Thorin barked, and they walked away. "Why did I even bother signing them up for the school?" grumbled Thorin, as they walked home.
"You didn't know this was going to happen, Thorin. None of us knew." said Thorin gently. "We'll have Master Oin look at the boys bruises and scratches when we'll return, and get them mended." said Thorin. Cyril nodded in agreement. As they returned home, the lads went to the healing chambers, as Oin tended to their wounds. Later, Thorin went to check on Frerin and Thror, whom now are safely in their room, and talking quietly, sitting up in their beds.
"Still awake I see. I thought you two would be sleeping by now." said Thorin. "We wanted to talk. We're not ready for bed just yet." said Thror. "Look, lads, I'm sorry I had to put you through all that! It won't happen again. From now on, you will be getting your education from Balin, Lady Dis and your mother." said Thorin. "Then who will train us in weapons?" asked Frerin. "Who do you think is going to, Frer? Myself and Dwalin, of course!" said Thorin with a laugh. "Thank you for saving us today, adad!" said Thror. "Actually it was your mother and I both who saved you! And you're welcome, by the way!" said Thorin.
"Can we hear a song, father? We usually hear a song right about now!" said Frerin. Thorin smiled. "Of course! Just hang tight, I will be right back." said Thorin, as he stood up and left the room for a brief moment. Shortly he returned with his harp, entering the room.
Thorin sat down in a chair beside the twin's beds, placing the harp on his lap, as he began to play and sing an old lullaby that was sung to him as a child, which was also sung to Fili and Kili as well.
Twenty years later…
Time had passed peacefully in Erebor, and the twins grown up to be grand and fierce princes. Fili, now King of Erebor, since Thorin's age, he had decided to retire and allow Fili take up the reign. Frerin had decided to leave to go on a hunting excursion that day. "You should take your brother with you. Going alone would be a bad idea. Rumors have been spread that orcs are breeding again." said Thorin. "We'll be careful adad, I promise." said Frerin. "How long are you planning to be gone?" asked Thorin. "A month or two." Thror replied.
"Are you sure this is a good idea of letting them go, Thorin?" asked Cyril. "Cyril, dear, they are grown lads now. They can take care of themselves, and they are taught well when it comes to combat." said Thorin, gently. "We're leaving tomorrow morning." said Frerin. Thorin nodded. Later that same day, Dwalin entered the King's chamber. "Thorin, I've been writing to my brother, he's not once had replied. It has been weeks now since I last heard of Balin." said the bald dwarf.
Balin, alongside with Oin and Ori had left to colonize Azanulbizar several years ago. Thorin was against them of going, and it led into a heated argument between Thorin, Dwalin and Balin. Dwalin also was against the idea of his brother going there, remembering what happened so many years ago when they tried to reclaim it from the orcs. "I don't understand it Dwalin. Many of our people died that day. He's sending himself on a suicide mission!" said Thorin.
"Yeah? Well what did ye call what we done to reclaim Erebor? You would have died Thorin, as well as Fili and Kili!" said Dwalin. "But that was different! Cyril saved our asses, DWALIN!" snapped Thorin, hotly. "Try writing to him again, Dwalin." said Thorin with a sigh. Dwalin nodded and left the room. Cyril entered. "Look Thorin! We got a letter from Bilbo!" exclaimed Thorin's wife. Thorin's eyes widened in delight at the mention of the hobbit's name. "Finally! Some good news for today!" said Thorin, as he took the letter and read it:
Dear Thorin and Cyril,
I just got done celebrating my one hundred and eleventh birthday. It was quite a celebration, but I pulled a disappearing act, and really showed them all! Anyway, jokes aside, I'm leaving the Shire permanently. I'm going to stay in Rivendell with Elrond and the elves.
Ever since the first day we arrived in Rivendell, I told myself that will be a place that I will consider of retiring someday, and I'm planning on doing just that to finish up my book. Anyway, how are the twins doing? And how is Fili, Kili, Balin, Dwalin and the rest of the Company? Well, I'm ready to leave home, I'll write soon!
Sincerely,
Your friend
Bilbo Baggins, Esquire.
Thorin smiled as he read the letter. Taking out a quill and some parchment, Thorin wrote in response. Before he began to write, he turned to Cyril. "Tell him the twins are doing fine, they are going on a hunting trip, so Bilbo might see them in case they pass through Rivendell." said Cyril. Thorin nodded, as he began writing his reply letter to the hobbit.
One week later, Cyril had been worrying about Frerin and Thror. They would usually send a letter to let her and Thorin letting them know how they are doing. Another week went by, Cyril found her husband pacing back and forth in their quarters.
"They should have written us by now." said Thorin. "I know dear." said Cyril placing her hand on her husband's shoulder. "Its bad enough we lost contact with Balin, and now our sons. What is going on?" asked Thorin. "I don't know, Thorin. I honestly don't know." said Cyril. Three days later, Thranduil and Legolas stopped in for a visit, but they weren't alone. They were carrying two bodies. And to Thorin's shock and dismay, it was Frerin and Thror. "My babies!" cried out Cyril.
"They are severely injured, King Thorin. We found them on the outskirts of Mirkwood." said Thranduil. "Dwalin! Send for our healers Nakur and Orin, quickly!" demanded Thorin. Dwalin nodded, as he quickly bolted away. Pretty soon the dwarven healers came, as Thorin carried Frerin and Dwalin carried Thror, as they marched to the healing chambers followed by Nakur, Orin, Cyril, Thranduil and Legolas. Kili soon followed.
"What's going on?" asked Kili. "Your cousins are injured, lad." said Thorin. "What?! But how?" asked Kili. "We don't know for sure. Nakur and Orin is going to have a look at them." said Thorin. "Well if its get too bad, I can send for Tauriel." said Kili. "Just wait, until we get a proper diagnosis, Kili, if its too bad, you can send for your wife." said Thorin. Kili nodded. The healers sent the group out of the room while they worked on the twins.
While that was going on, Thranduil and Legolas went home, as Thorin and Cyril went to their chambers and waited. "I sent Kili to inform Fili of the situation." said Thorin. "Oh, Mahal, I hope its not too bad." said Cyril. Two hours later, Nakur entered the chambers. "Here is the situation, your Majesties, they have been poisoned by Morgul blades. It seems that they had been attacked by orcs." said Nakur. "The rumors are true then! Orcs are breeding again!" gasped Thorin.
Nakur nodded sadly. "Are they awake?" asked Thorin. "Frerin is awake, he is not seriously injured as Thror. However, Thror is continuously having convulsions. Lady Tauriel is with them now." said Nakur. "Thank you, Nakur, you may leave." said Thorin. Shortly after Nakur left, Cyril turned to Thorin, wrapping her arms around her husband. "Oh, Thorin!" said Cyril, tears running down her face. Thorin gently rang his fingers through her air. After a while, Thorin went to the healing chambers to talk with Frerin.
Frerin told his father everything that happened. "We weren't attacked by orcs, adad!" said Frerin. "And who done this to you and your brother?" asked Thorin. Frerin coughed, and then spoke again. "Nine men dressed in black robes. And the worse thing about it, they are asking for Bilbo!" said Frerin. Thorin's eyes widened in horror.
"Why would they want Mister Baggins for?!" asked Thorin. "I don't know father, they are looking for him!" said Frerin. Thorin closed his eyes. The Dwarf realized this was a matter that was beyond his knowledge. "I need to send for Gandalf." said Thorin. Thorin left the chambers, and he went to speak with Dwalin and the other dwarves informing them of the disturbing news. It was Gloin who spoke up first. "The Black Riders, Thorin! They are wanting Bilbo because of his ring!" said the red haired dwarf.
"And how long have you know this, Gloin?" asked Thorin. "I figured it out two days ago, Thorin!" snapped Gloin. "I suggest you, Gimli, Dain, Thorin Stormhelm, Dwalin and Dori to leave to Rivendell. You will meet with Gandalf there." said Thorin. "I don't see why you can't go." said Dwalin. "Dwalin.." said Thorin. "Why don't we just all go?" asked Cyril. "Cyril, you will stay here and look after our boys. The road is extremely dangerous now." said Thorin. Cyril nodded. "When shall we leave?" asked Gloin. "In Two days." Thorin replied.
A/n: Sorry for not updating in a while, been busy with spring cleaning. Anyway, in this chapter, the scenes are set up for Lord of the Rings.