Chapter Fourteen
Bernadette came out, and she noticed Thorin, and all the other dwarves dressed in armor, provided by the Master. And she burst into laughter when she took notice Bilbo dressed in armor and a helmet too. "Go ahead, laugh at my expense. I do look rather ridiculous." grinned Bilbo. "Actually it's the helmet." chuckled Balin. Bernadette smiled at Thorin. Thorin really looked handsome in his, very kingly. But she could tell by the look on his face, he wasn't too happy with the armor, and the cloak either. Bernadette climbed into the boat joining the others. She noticed Bofur is missing, as well as Fili and Kili.
But she saw the two young dwarves approaching the boat. But as they were about to climb in, Thorin stopped them. "Kili, you are staying here. Return when you are healed up." said Thorin, softly and kindly. "But Uncle! I want to go! I want to see our old home!" protested Kili. "Fili, are you coming?" asked Thorin. "No." said Fili defiantly. "Fili, you are part of this company! You will be king some day. You belong with the company!" said Thorin. "I belong with my brother." said Fili. "Come on, let them go!" insisted Balin. "I am not going to risk the quest for dwarves. Not even my own kin." snarled Thorin.
Hearing those words coming from Thorin, angered Bernadette. She couldn't believe he is saying this about his own relatives. "I'm going to stay with them." said Bernadette, and she climbed out of the boat. "Bernadette!" protested Thorin. Bernadette slapped Thorin in the face. "How dare you speak like this about your own flesh and blood! Do you even care of them at all?" snapped Bernadette. Thorin turned away from her, climbing into the boat. "Don't you turn away from me, Thorin Oakenshield!" demanded Bernadette.
Bernadette stood there, tears in her eyes, watching the boat floating away. Fili placed her hand on Bernadette's shoulder. "Bernadette, you don't have to do this." said Fili, softly. "You should've went with them, Bernadette. Your brother is with them." said Kili. "Come, we need to get Kili back inside, and rest!" said Bernadette. Fili nodded, as she helped Fili walk Kili into Bard's home. Bofur followed them. "I missed the boat, didn't I?" asked Bofur. "Well, if you didn't drink so much last night, you would've went with them." said Oin. "Its just as well. I am needed here to help Fili with Kili. Bernadette, why didn't you go? Bilbo is with them yer know." said Bofur.
"I' m really angry with Thorin, after the things he said about Fili and Kili." said Bernadette. "You know he never meant to say those words, lassie. That's how he is. He's always been that way as long as we known him." said Bofur. "Really, Bernadette. You should've went with them, to be with Bilbo. You need to be with your brother." said Fili. "But.." began Bernadette. "No buts. Later, we will find you a boat and send you on your way to the mountain. Your place is with Thorin and Bilbo." said Oin. Bernadette nodded.
"Bofur, go find some kings foil and quick!" Fili quickly said. "He's getting worse?!" exclaimed Bernadette, and she watched Kili going into a convulsion, his entire body shaking. Bofur nodded, and he quickly leaves the house. But no sooner as he stepped outside, he saw orcs approaching him. But before they attacked him, Tauriel leapt out, killing two orcs. The Elf captain noticed Bofur holding the kings foil. "Athelas!" said Tauriel. "Please help us! Our kin is sick, we need your help!" said Bofur. Tauriel took the plant. "I'm going to heal him!" said Tauriel.
Bofur followed Tauriel back inside. "Captain Tauriel!" exclaimed Fili. "I'm going to heal your brother." said the Elf, as she approached the table.
"Master Oin, boil some water! Bernadette, bring me some towels!" instructed Tauriel. Oin and Bernadette nodded. Bernadette went to get towels, while Oin boiled the water. Sigrid and Tilda sat and watched Tauriel. "Where's your father? He had not come back!" asked Bofur. "I don't know, Master Bofur. I am really worried of him, and our brother. He hasn't returned yet either." said Sigrid, sadly. "Don't worry, I'm sure they'll come back." said Bofur, patting Sigrid on the shoulder. After boiling the water, Oin brings the pot of water over to Tauriel, and she began her work on Kili.
Tauriel began to chant, as the other watched in amazement of the Elf using as much as her strength to heal Kili. Oin and Bofur 's views of elves had changed after watching this. "I wish Thorin would change his view of the elves. This woman is going all her way to help Kili. She really likes him." said Bofur smiling. Bernadette watched as Tauriel continued her healing Kili. To everyone's amazement, Kili's eyes opened, his body relaxed. His vision was blurry, but he could see the red headed elf standing in front of him. The young dwarf smiled. "She is so far, far away. Do you think she'll ever love me?" said Kili softly.
Bernadette smiled brightly at the young dwarf. Wow, he really must love this elf!
Bernadette thought. Then, her thoughts now turned to Thorin and Bilbo, and worried of them. She decided once and for all she would leave, knowing now that Kili is okay. Bernadette stood up. "Bernadette, where are you going?" asked Oin. "I'm going to the Mountain. I need to be with Bilbo and Thorin." said Bernadette. "You should've went with them when they left, Miss Baggins. Right now, its not safe for you to go, with the orcs crawling around." said Bofur. "I will have Legolas escort her." said Tauriel. "I really don't think that is such a good idea, lass. No offense or anything." said Bofur.
"Well someone has to be with Bernadette." said Oin. "Oin, you should take her." said Fili. "But, I have to stay here, by orders of our King." said Oin. "I will take her." said Bofur, standing up. "Thank you, Bofur." smiled Bernadette. Bofur grabbed his weapon. "Farewell, Fili, Kili and Tauriel. Kili, I hope you recover soon so you and Fili return to the Mountain." said Bernadette as she hugged both dwarves. "Please do be careful out there, Bernadette. You don't know what is going to happen." said Fili, kissing Bernadette on the cheek. "Thank you, Tauriel, for helping Kili." said Bernadette, and she hugged Tauriel.
"You're welcome, Miss Baggins! Now go, you are needed!" said Tauriel. Bernadette nodded.
Bernadette and Bofur leave the home. Luckily Bofur found a couple free boats available. The two of them climbed in, and Bofur began rowing the boat. "Bofur, the mountain! Smoke's coming from it!" cried out Bernadette. "The dragon! He's woken up! This is not good, not good at all!" cried out Bofur. "I think I picked a bad time of returning to the Mountain." grumbled Bernadette. "Just remain calm, Bernadette. I will protect you." said Bofur. "Bofur! DUCK!" cried out Bernadette, as she saw the dragon leaving the mountain. "Oh, Mahal above! He's heading for Lake Town!" moaned Bofur.
"Fili! Kili! Oin!" gasped Bernadette, tears streaming down her face. "I just hope someone find Bard. He's the only one who can kill the dragon." said Bofur. "Me too." said Bernadette, as the dwarf a hobbit remained ducked in the boat. Bofur rowed as fast as he could to get to the Lonely Mountain, luckily avoiding the fires and wrath of Smaug. "That was close. I thought we was going to be fried back there." sighed Bofur, as they climbed out of the boat. Bofur and Bernadette quickly walked up the mountain. They had to stop a few times for Bernadette to rest, because all the climbing tired her out.
It wasn't too long, they finally reached to where they needed to be.
"Oh no! The side door closed already! We cannot get in!" cried out Bofur. "Isn't there a another way in?" asked Bernadette. Bofur stood there for a little while. Realizing since the dragon already had left, he knew another way into the Mountain. "Follow me. There is the Front Gate! The dragon is already gone, we can enter there!" said Bofur quickly. Bernadette nodded, and she followed the dwarf. It didn't take them long to arrive at the Front Gate. "Hey! There's Dwalin! He must be taking first watch." said Bofur. "DWALIN!" called out Bofur. Dwalin looked up, smiling brightly at Bofur and Bernadette.
"Bernadette! Bofur! How did you manage?! We thought we lost you!" exclaimed Dwalin, and embraced them. "Where's Thorin?" asked Bernadette. "He's inside, but I'm afraid, Miss Baggins, he isn't the same." said Dwalin sadly. "What are you saying? He can't be falling under it already!" said Bernadette. "It is slowly taking its toll on him, I'm afraid. He's fine now, he's not in full rage yet. But that's what I'm worried about." said Dwalin. "Also Kili is okay. The Elf Captain Tauriel, she healed him." said Bernadette. Dwalin looked at Bernadette in surprise.
"Yes, she healed Kili. She's amazing. We never seen anything like it!" said Bofur.
Dwalin. "Go on in you two, besides you don't want to freeze, Miss Baggins!" said Dwalin. "Alright, alright." said Bernadette, and she entered the mountain, and found herself in a large hall, filled with many treasures, and ahead of her, sat Thorin, Bilbo, Balin, Dwalin, Nori, Dori, Ori, and Gloin. Thorin and Bilbo quickly stood when they saw Bernadette entering the hall. "Bernadette! I thought I would never see you again!" exclaimed Bilbo running to Bernadette, and hugging him. "I'm okay, Bilbo. Fili and Kili, they are okay too, as far as I know. Captain Tauriel healed him." said Bernadette.
Thorin approached Bernadette. "Bernadette, you would've gotten yourself killed coming up here! Why did you do it? You didn't come alone did you?" asked Thorin. "Bofur escorted me. We have luckily made it to the Mountain, in spite of the dragon's fire. I'm afraid the dragon is making his way to Lake Town." said Bernadette, sadly. "No!" said Thorin softly, remembering that Fili and Kili are still there, alongside with Oin. Now he had regretted for making them stay there. "I hope you learned your lesson for leaving them behind." said Bernadette, turning away from Thorin.
"You're not still angry at me over that, are you?" asked Thorin.
"Yes, talking of your own kin that way is wrong, Thorin!" said Bernadette. "I know. Now I'm regretting for making them staying behind. I really doubt the two of them are going to talk to me for a while." said Thorin. "Eventually they will, once they return to the Mountain, Thorin." said Bernadette. Thorin took Bernadette's hands. "I am glad you came, Bernadette. I have something for you. I already given Bilbo his gift. Mithril shirt, and gloves." said Thorin. "I see that he's wearing it!" smiled Bernadette. Bilbo grinned.
"It is a lot better than the armor the Master gave us!" spoke up the hobbit. Thorin and Bernadette laughed. "I have to agree with Bilbo on that. I never liked the armor the Master gave us either." said Thorin.