Chapter Ten
Bernadette watched as Gandalf lit up pine cones tossing them at the orcs and wargs. Fili, Kili, Bilbo and a few others joined in tossing fiery pine cones at the enemy. When that was done, Bilbo and the dwarves cheered, but their little celebration ended, when a tall, pale orc approached, and speaking in the language of the orcs. "Oh no!" moaned Bernadette. "No, it cannot be!" gasped Thorin. "Thorin-no, don't do this." begged Bernadette. But Thorin ignored her, and he climbed down from the tree, and grabbing an oaken branch to use as a shield, and he approaches the Pale Orc.
And they begin their battle. "I cannot look!" moaned Bernadette, turning away. But after a few minutes of looking away, she turned to see how the battle was turning out. And things weren't looking good for Thorin. Bernadette notices the dwarf on the ground and warg on top of him. Anger, rage and hurt clouded over her, and she bolted down from the tree where she was sitting, with Bilbo at her side. "Miss Baggins! What are you doing?! You're going to get yourself killed!" cried out Dwalin. "This is for Thorin!" cried out Bernadette, her eyes glaring at the Pale Orc, holding up her sword as she faced him.
Meanwhile, Bilbo killed the warg and orc whom was about to behead Thorin. Azog roared in anger as he seen this. "Kill the Halflings!" Azog demanded to his orcs. No sooner as a few orcs approached them, Bernadette swung, with sword in hand, killing the few orcs approaching her, while the other dwarves came to their aid. "I'm quite impressed, Bernie! Where did you learn to do that?" said Bilbo. "I taught myself, Bilbo!" yelled Bernadette, as suddenly another orc approaching her, and she killed it.
Then the Pale Orc, in his full rage swung his hammer at Bernadette, striking her in the shoulder, and she fell. "Bernadette!" cried out Bilbo, and charged at Azog. "You mess with my sister, you deal with me, Orc Filth!" barked the hobbit, brandishing his sword. Suddenly the Eagles arrived, picking up Bernadette and Thorin first, shortly followed by Bilbo, and the other dwarves, and the leader of the Eagles picked up Gandalf last. The Eagles took the company to a large rock and they landed the company there. Gandalf approached them. "Thorin! Bernadette!" cried out the wizard, running to the dwarf and hobbit.
"Oin, see to Miss Baggins, please, while I look after Thorin." Gandalf said to Oin. The dwarf nodded, as he began working on the hobbit maiden. Meanwhile, Gandalf turned to Thorin.
He placed his hand over Thorin's face, murmuring an incantation. Slowly, Thorin opened his eyes. "The Halflings?" asked Thorin. "They are both here, and they are safe. Bernadette is injured, but she will be okay." said Gandalf. Oin slowly helped Bernadette stand up, walking her over so she could stand next to her brother. "The both of you! What were you thinking? The two of you would've gotten yourselves killed! Did I not say you a burden? You have no place out in the wild? And you have no place amongst us?!" yelled Thorin. Bernadette couldn't believe she is hearing this.
Anger clouded over her. Her and Bilbo went all their way to save his life, and this is the way they are getting treated. But suddenly, she noticed Thorin's mood softening, to much to her surprise. "I never been so wrong in all my life!" said Thorin softly, and he first hugged Bilbo. Bilbo looked quite puzzled at this. The hobbit thought Thorin wouldn't be the hugging type. When they broke the hug, Thorin looked at Bilbo. "I'm sorry I doubted you." said Thorin. "Well, I would've doubted me too. I'm no hero, nor a warrior. Not even a burglar, maybe." said Bilbo. The dwarves chuckled.
Thorin turned to Bernadette.
"Bernadette, I really don't know what to say-It is really brave of you to do what you done for me." said Thorin. "Thorin-I-I love you." whispered Bernadette. Thorin placed his hand on her cheek. "I love you too, Bernadette." said Thorin, and he took the hobbit woman in his arms, kissing her on the lips. "Oh, you two! Get a room!" teased Fili. Everyone laughed, even Bilbo laughed at Fili's remark. Bernadette blushed. "Say that to us again, Fili." said Thorin, sharply. Fili backed away, raising his hands apologetically. Suddenly, something caught Thorin' attention.
"Is that what I think it is?" asked Bilbo, as they looked ahead of them. "Erebor. The last of the great dwarven kingdoms of Middle Earth." Gandalf replied. "Our home!" smiled Thorin. Bernadette and Bilbo looked up, and saw a thrush bird flying over them, and making its way to the Lonely Mountain, that is seen in the distance. Bernadette stood in awe as she looked at it. Thorin's home. And the thought of possibly living there, excited her. "We will make camp, and tonight Gandalf and I discuss our next stop." said Thorin. Gandalf and Thorin lead the company down from the Carrock, and they walked for a while, until they found a place to make camp.
"Thorin, I like to have a word with you." said Bernadette. She still hadn't forgot how he left her behind at Rivendell, and she wanted to address him about that. "Yes, Bernadette?" said Thorin. "Why did you leave me behind in Rivendell? Without saying a word to me? I'm sorry, but that really made me upset." said Bernadette, her voice broken with emotion. "Bernadette! You were still injured at the time, and I thought you should stay there to continue to recover. I was only trying to protect you." explained Thorin. "Thorin, Gandalf has a reason for Bilbo and I to join your company, and secondly, leaving me behind without my brother, upsets me as well. I cannot be alone, not without my brother. If you take one with you, you have to take the other." said Bernadette.
"Bernadette-I don't know what to say. If that is how you honestly feel, I should've never left you behind in the begin with." said Thorin. "Damn straight you should've never left me behind!" snapped Bernadette. "Bernadette, I'm sorry for what I done, Bernadette." said Thorin. "Don't worry about it now. Its all in the past. We're all here together-and in one piece." said Bernadette. "Thankfully. I thought I lost you back there, when you faced Azog." said Thorin. "He was about to behead you, and I'm not going to sit there and allow that orc filth take you from me." said Bernadette.
Thorin smiled, brushing his hand gently on Bernadette's cheek. "You are quite brave, and I owe you my life for that. Thank you for saving me, Bernadette. You and your brother both." said Thorin. And he leaned towards her, kissing her passionately on the lips, his arms wrapped around her waist. And they stood and kissed for a long period of time. "Okay you two! I got food ready, and you're over there trying to suck the life out of each other!" joked Dwalin. Thorin glared at Dwalin. "Sorry, Thorin." said the dwarf quickly.
As they sat and ate, Gandalf explained to the company they will be making their way to Beorn's home, and they will stop there for a couple days for supplies and for healing, and to discuss their next leg of the journey. Gandalf also advised everyone to take bathes if needed, suggesting that Bernadette should go first, with her bath. "Good idea." said Bernadette, as she slowly stood up. "Ow!" Bernadette exclaimed. "Be careful! Your shoulder." said Thorin. "I think someone should help her." said Gloin. "No, no! I'll be fine. Really." said Bernadette. "Bernadette, Gloin's right. You need some assistance." said Thorin. "I can handle myself, you know." shot back Bernadette.
"If it makes you feel comfortable, I can help you." said Thorin.
"Very well." scowled Bernadette. Bilbo rolled his eyes. Bernadette took notice her brother's eye rolling. "What?" snapped Bernadette. "It's nothing Bernadette." said Bilbo. Thorin and Bernadette made their way to a river that is nearby. "I feel awkward doing this." complained Bernadette. "Bernadette, if you feel embarrassed don't worry about it. This has to be done. Besides that, I need to look at your shoulder wound, and to check up on your wounds on your hip." said Thorin. Bernadette sighed. "You might as well bathe too while you're here, Thorin." suggested Bernadette.
Bernadette undressed, and she walked into the water. She waited. "Well? Are you going to help me like you said you were going to do? Or are you going to just stand there?" demanded Bernadette. Thorin undressed, and he walked into the river, joining Bernadette. "Wow." said Bernadette softly, as she looked upon the Thorin's strong masculine body. Her mouth dropped open as she looked at him. "What are you looking at?" asked Thorin. "Its nothing." said Bernadette softly, as Thorin examined Bernadette's wounds. "Your hips are doing much better. Your shoulder however is fractured from Azog 's hammer. It will heal quickly." said Thorin.
Thorin began rubbing Bernadette's shoulder gently.
"I didn't ask for a massage, Thorin." said Bernadette. "I'm being nice and giving you one.." said Thorin. Bernadette slightly smiled. "Thank you." said Bernadette. "You're welcome." said Thorin softly. Thorin couldn't keep his eyes off of Bernadette, and her fair complexion. He had never seen her without any clothes on, and it mesmerized him. Bernadette turned around, and she looked into Thorin's eyes. "Thorin-I-.." began Bernadette. "You don't have to say anything, Bernadette." said Thorin. "I think I'm done now." said Bernadette quickly, as she climbed out of the water, and quickly dressed.
She felt very awkward, and had no idea what was happening. This is all your fault, Gloin and Gandalf, Bernadette thought, as she got dressed, leaving Thorin alone in the river, as he continued to bathe, but he watched her, trying to figure out why she quickly walked away from him the way she did.