Chapter Twelve
Later, around noon, Gandalf and the dwarves discussed on departing Beorn's house. Although against the idea of going through Mirkwood, Thorin had to agree, because they had no other choice but too. Bernadette even had her doubts of going through the forest, but she remained quiet. Beorn suggested that since the ponies are on loan, that they should be returned once they arrived at the entrance of Mirkwood Forest. Everyone agreed. Also Gandalf mentioned that he too, will be departing from the company for a while, because had urgent business to take care of. The dwarves, Bilbo and even Bernadette complained about this.
Bilbo and Bernadette hoped Gandalf would stay with them, and help them go through the forest. So after much packing with fresh supplies, Gandalf and the company departed from Beorn's home. Bernadette hated the thought of leaving the comforts of the kind man's home, but they had to continue the quest. Four hours later, they arrived at the entrance of Mirkwood Forest. "As you know already, the ponies have to be returned. I will be taking the ponies back to Beorn, and leave for my business there. Don't worry, I will meet up with you later." said Gandalf.
"Must you leave, Gandalf?" asked Bernadette. "Don't worry, Bernadette. You and Bilbo will be just fine. I promise I will meet up with all of you later. In the meantime, I have urgent business I have to take care of. Farewell all of you! And make sure you stay on the path!" said Gandalf, and he left. "Why are wizards like that?" asked Bernadette to Thorin. "I have no idea. They come and go way too quickly, I suppose." said Thorin. Bilbo laughed. "My thoughts exactly." chuckled the hobbit. "We'll make camp tonight, and we will enter the forest tomorrow morning." said Thorin.
Bernadette sat and looked up at the stars. Bilbo walked over and sat next to his sister. "You two are officially courting are you?" asked Bilbo, noticing the braids in Bernadette's hair. Bernadette turned to her brother. "Yes. He braided my hair last night. It is official!" smiled Bernadette. "Thorin isn't all too bad, once you get to know him." said Bilbo. "See? I told you! Once you prove worth to him, he's shown you more respect now." said Bernadette. "I didn't like seeing that awful orc hurting him like that. I like to see him live to become King." said Bilbo. Bernadette smiled. "Me too." said Bernadette.
"Bernadette, do you think he'll ever ask you too-well, marry you?" asked the hobbit.
"I really don't know, Bilbo. I'm a little nervous when it comes to marriage. I don't think the two of us are ready for that big step of commitment." said Bernadette. "Someday you two will get married. You'll make a good Queen, Bernie." said Bilbo. "Really?" said Bernadette. "Yes. And you will have my blessing." grinned Bilbo. "Bilbo-that is the most beautiful thing you ever said-thank you!" smiled Bernadette. "Well, I'm getting tired. Good night, Bernadette! See in in the morning!" said Bilbo. "Good night, dear brother!" said Bernadette. Bilbo walked over to his bedroll, climbing in, and drifted off to sleep.
Thorin walked over and sat down next to Bernadette, smiling at her. "I over heard the little conversation you had with Bilbo!" said Thorin. "You did?!" gasped Bernadette, and her faced turned red, feeling warm. "It is nice to hear that you think of the future, Bernie, and to hear of your brother's blessing." said Thorin. "Do you think we'll ever get married?" asked Bernadette. "Right now isn't the time yet. I will ask you when the time is right." said Thorin. Bernadette nodded in agreement. Thorin wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him. Bernadette resting her head on his chest, looking into his blue eyes.
"Tomorrow is going to be a rough one. I hate the thought of entering that horrible forest, yet to mention a possibility of running into those tree shagging idiot elves." said Thorin. "Thorin, we won't get separated won't we?" asked Bernadette. "Don't worry, no one is going to separate us. I won't let them. You will stay near me, Bernadette." said Thorin. "I will." said Bernadette, closing her eyes, as she laid in Thorin's arms, and she drifted off to sleep. The next morning, the company woke and they begin their journey into Mirkwood Forest. Bernadette and Bilbo didn't like the feel of the atmosphere of the forest.
The air felt heavy. The further they walked into the forest, everyone felt miserable and cranky. Bernadette also noticed Thorin also cranky, but she didn't want to ask, so she remained silent, avoiding Thorin all together. Days and weeks went by, things gotten more weird by the minute according to Bernadette, and she took notice her brother behaving oddly. "Bilbo!" called out Bernadette. But Bilbo just stood there. "Bilbo!" Bernadette called out again. "W-what?" asked Bilbo, snapping out of the smell spell he was under. "Are you alright? You are acting strangely." said Bernadette.
"I'm fine, Bernadette. Don't worry. I'll be just fine." said Bernadette.
"Bilbo, climb up into the trees, and see how much longer this forest is!" said Thorin. Bilbo nodded, and he climbed up into the trees. Once he reached the top of the trees, he could see the Lonely Mountain in the distance, as he noticed they are getting closer to the Mountain. And also he smiled brightly as many large blue butterflies flying around him. Bilbo loved butterflies, and always fascinated with them, as they flew around him. He was paying more attention to the butterflies that he couldn't hear Thorin and the dwarves, alongside with Bernadette calling out to him.
After a while, Bilbo looked down. "We're getting closer to the edge of the forest, Thorin!" Bilbo called down to them. But there was no response. "Thorin!" called out Bilbo. But still, there was no reply. With concern and worry, Bilbo quickly climbed down from the tree. He noticed Thorin, Bernadette and the dwarves are not there. "Thorin! Bernadette!" cried out Bilbo. "Thorin, Bernadette! Where did you go?!" called out Bilbo again. Suddenly, he heard clicking noises behind him. The hobbit turned, and there were four giant spiders in front of him.
That explains a whole lot, these stupid spiders have something to do with their disappearance! Bilbo thought, and he unsheathed his sword. "You hurt my sister and my friends, you deal with me!" barked Bilbo angrily. The spider didn't reply, and it quickly approached the hobbit. But no sooner as the spider approached him, Bilbo stabbed it. After killing off a few spiders, he found Thorin and company. They were trapped in the spiders webs. "BILBO!" cried out Bernadette. Bilbo rescued them from the webs, by using his sword to cut them down. "Bilbo, I'm so glad you came!" said Bernadette. Thorin stood up. "Thank you for saving us, Mister Baggins." said Thorin.
Suddenly several more spiders arrived, but soon were killed by two elves. One blonde haired elf male, Legolas, son of Thranduil, Elf King of Mirkwood, and a red haired elf female, Tauriel. Once they noticed Thorin and Company, Legolas approached them, aiming his bow at them. "Don't make me have to kill you, Dwarf! What are you doing on our land?" demanded the Elf Prince. But Thorin remained silent. He refused to tell the elves where are they going. It was none of their business. "We'll take them to our father." said Legolas. Tauriel nodded, and she turned to the other elves, giving them orders in her native language.
Now they are in the custody of the elves.
"Now I see why Thorin hates the Wood elves, they are sure rude." whispered Bernadette to Fili. Bernadette noticed Bilbo wasn't present. Bilbo, where in Aule's name are you now? Bernadette thought, as the elves taking them to the Elf King's palace. The place was beautiful, with many spiraling stairs. Shortly, they arrived, finding themselves standing in front of Thranduil. The Elf King stood, wearing long white and silver robes, adorning a branch crown with leaves and jewels on his head. His blue eyes looking at the company darkly. "Take the others to the dungeons. Leave their leader here." said Thranduil. "THORIN!" screamed Bernadette.
She didn't want to be separated from Thorin. "Who is that? She's not a dwarf." said Thranduil. "Her name is Bernadette Baggins, and she is a hobbit, and my wife!" snarled Thorin. He lied to the Elf King. Him and Bernadette had not yet married, and he had planned to ask her once they arrive to the Lonely Mountain, if they even get there. "You taken a hobbit for a wife? What has this world come too?" smirked the Elf King. But Thorin just kept glaring at the Elf King. Meanwhile, as Tauriel and several elves guided the rest of the company to the dungeons, it was Tauriel who had Bernadette.
"Why is a innocent hobbit doing among a band of dwarves?" asked Tauriel, gently.
"Because, I want to help them reclaim their home, Captain Tauriel. And secondly, I am in love with their leader. Yes, it may sound odd of hearing a hobbit and dwarf as a couple." said Bernadette. "I don't think its odd at all. Its not unusual for one race courting another race. Legolas told me a story, not too long ago of Luthien and Beren. It is one of my favorite stories. Their love for each other." said Tauriel with a sigh. Bernadette chuckled. "I love stories like that myself." said Bernadette. Once they arrived a cell, Bernadette entered and she sat down. "Can Thorin share the same cell with me? I hate being separated from him!" said Bernadette. Tauriel nodded, and she locked up Bernadette's cell, and walked away.
Tauriel went back to the Elf King's Throne Room, and she could hear the two kings getting into a heated argument. Deep down inside the elf captain, she felt bad for the dwarves. In her heart, she felt Thranduil was horrible on his part for not helping the dwarves years ago after Smaug's first attack. She loved her King, but she knew he had a bad habit of lack of good judgment, and pride. She knew his pride would be his downfall, and trait, very rare among elves.
She wished she could do something to help out the dwarves.
When the Elf King and Dwarf ended their argument, Thranduil ordered Tauriel to take Thorin into the dungeons, until he decided to continue to answer his questions. Tauriel nodded, and she took Thorin down into the dungeons. "Your hobbit companion has requested you to be with her. I'm granting that request." said Tauriel. "But isn't that against.." began Thorin. "I don't care what the Elf King says, you and Bernadette Baggins belong together." said Tauriel, with a smile. Thorin couldn't believe his ears. Why all of a sudden this Elf Captain being so kind? Shortly, the arrived at Bernadette's cell, he entered the cell, Tauriel locking the cell up, and she continued her rounds on her duty.
"See? We wouldn't be separated for long!" smiled Thorin, sitting next to Bernadette. Bernadette smiled back, and she moved closer to him. "How did it go?" asked Bernadette. She hated to ask the question, knowing it would fuel Thorin's anger. "I told him to go.." began Thorin, and he began to swear in khazadul. Bernadette looked at Thorin in surprise. She knew very little of the language, but she knew he used swear words. Balin spoke up. "You didn't come with a deal then?" said the older dwarf. "No." scowled Thorin. Balin sighed. "We've failed." said Balin sadly.
"We do still have hope!" said Thorin. Bernadette smiled, she knew whom Thorin is speaking of. "Did you just say a swear word earlier, Thorin?" asked Bernadette. "How did you know that?" asked Thorin. "Ori and Bofur taught me a little of your language. What did you say by the way?" asked Bernadette. "Bernadette, I really shouldn't repeat this in front of you. Its not appropriate." said Thorin. Bernadette sighed, and decided to drop it.