Chapter Sixteen
That evening, the dwarves held a small celebration honoring the engagement of Thorin and Bernadette. Dis and Bernadette sat in corner alone discussing dwarven culture, Dis teaching the hobbit the ways of the dwarves. This was a dream come true for Bernadette, because she always wanted to learn the dwarven culture. But the more she listened, her heart sank, knowing that she what she is going to do with the Arkenstone, and the last thing she wanted to do is face Thorin. She tried everything to avoid him. She wished she could talk to someone other than Bilbo and Gandalf of her dilemma. Maybe should could talk to Dis of this, since her sons are also involved in the plan.
But soon as she wanted to talk to Dis about it, word came that a raven name Roac needed to see Thorin, giving him message from Lake Town. Dis and Bernadette followed the others outside, and they listened to the message. Roac told them that Bard had killed the dragon with the Black Arrow. The dwarves cheered loudly. They are free, at last. But their cheering fell silent as Roac continued, telling them that armies of men and elves are approaching below the Mountain. Bard leading the men, and Thranduil leading the elves.
They came to negotiate the treasure. Hearing this made Thorin angry. This gave Bernadette another reason to avoid him. His anger, his greed, the way he spoke. She knew it wasn't the real Thorin that is talking. And so they went back inside, Bernadette decided she wanted to be left alone, and she sat weeping heavily. She hoped she wouldn't be noticed. But someone did take notice of the hobbit woman's distress, and it was Dis. "Miss Baggins, are you okay?" asked Dis, sitting next to her. "No." said Bernadette. "What is troubling you?" asked the dwarf woman kindly, placing her hand on the hobbit's shoulders.
"I can't talk about it." said Bernadette. "Of course you can." said Dis. "Dis, please don't get angry for what I'm about to tell you, and please don't tell anyone, especially Thorin!" said Bernadette. And Bernadette explained the situation to Dis. To her surprise, Dis didn't get angry at all. "Your sons are involved in this plan too. They want to save Thorin as well. But still, Dis! I cannot face your brother. I've been avoiding him all day. And once he finds out what happened with the Arkenstone, I will be banished and I will never see any of you again, and the wedding will be off." said Bernadette.
"Bernadette, I have to agree with Gandalf on this. This is the only way to save him. Yes, he will get angry, but you let me deal with him." said Dis, assuringly. "Dis! Miss Baggins! Dinner is ready!" called out Thorin. "Come, you must join us for dinner. You need to eat." said Dis. "Go on ahead. I'm not really all that hungry." said Bernadette. Dis nodded, and she walked away. "Bernadette not wanting to eat?" asked Thorin. "She's not hungry at the moment. She just wants to be alone for a while." said Dis. "Pre wedding jitters?" grinned Thorin. "If you put it that way, yes." lied Dis.
The next morning, the day came when Bard and Thranduil arrived at the Front Gate, demanding to see Thorin. Bernadette dreaded for this time to come, so did Bilbo. Bilbo felt more worried of Bernadette, than he did himself. Because he knew of her engagement with Thorin, and their engagement will soon be broken. Bilbo stood by his sister's side, so he could be there for her, preparing for the worst. Thorin, Bard and Thranduil exchanged heated words regarding the treasure. Suddenly, Bard held up the Arkenstone in his hand, causing to elevate Thorin's rage even more.
"How come you by it?!" roared Thorin.
"We gave it to them!" called out Bilbo and Bernadette together. Thorin quickly spun around, glaring angrily at Bilbo and Bernadette. Suddenly, Thorin grabbed Bilbo, shaking him. "You! You! Traitor! You undersized burglar! I wished I never allow you on this journey, as well as your sister! As for you, I'm going to throw you to the rocks!" barked Thorin. "Stop it! Stop it!" screamed Bernadette, reaching for Bilbo. "That will be enough, Thorin Oakenshield!" called out a gruff voice, in a demanding tone. Thorin turned and there stood Gandalf.
"There is no reason for you to harm our hobbits. They had a reason they had to do this." said Gandalf. Thorin turned to Bernadette, his face fueled with anger, hurt and betrayal. "Bernadette! I thought you loved me! Why? Why did you do this? I cannot believe I trusted you! I offered my love for you! And you done this! Leave me, Bernadette!" yelled Thorin. Bernadette couldn't take it anymore and she bolted. "Bernadette!" cried out Fili and Kili together. Dis angrily stood in front of her brother. "You are just like our grandfather! Snap out of this, Thorin! I cannot allow you to become like what happened to our Grandfather! Stop this, please! You'll get us all killed!" pleaded Dis.
"Uncle, we're only doing what's best for you." spoken up Kili.
"I cannot believe my own flesh and blood is turning against me!" roared Thorin. "Thorin, get a hold of yourself! Right now there is something more important that jewels and treasure we got to worry about. An army of orcs and goblins are approaching the mountain as we speak, and they being lead by Azog and his son, Bolg. We have to work together and fight these orcs off. You must agree on having a meeting here, to discuss the battle plans." said Gandalf. "And summon our cousin Dain, we need their help as well." said Balin.
Thorin stood silently. "Very well." said Thorin, darkly. And everyone met in the Great Hall for the meeting discussing battle plans. It was really difficult for Thorin, sitting in the same room with the Elf King. "Bernadette's been gone for a long time. I'm worried about her." Bilbo whispered to Fili. "One of us should go find her." said Kili. "I will go find her." said Balin. "We will call a break for the meeting. We'll meet together in another hour, while we wait for Dain and the Iron Hill dwarves to arrive." said Gandalf.
And so the meeting adjourned for the moment. Thorin stood pacing back and forth. "I think its best for you to not pace like that brother." said Dis. "I'm not talking to you." said Thorin.
"Thorin Oakenshield, talk to me like that again I'll punch you in the nose!" snapped Dis. "Is that a threat?!" snapped Thorin, darkly glaring at Dis. "Listen to me, we got someone who's heart is broken right now, torn to shreds. She needs you." said Dis. "What are you talking about Dis? She broke my heart! She took away from me that means more to me than anything!" barked Thorin. "See? That's why we took it from you! Thorin, a living breathing thing is more important than any jewel, and you all of all people should know that!" said Dis.
The two stood in silence. "Thorin, do you love her?" asked Dis. Thorin didn't reply. "Thorin! Answer my question! Do you love Miss Baggins or not?" demanded Dis. "Of course I love her!" snapped Thorin. "Do you love her more than all the gold in Erebor? Even more than the Arkenstone itself?" asked Dis. Thorin froze when he heard this question. And he realized it all made sense to him. Thorin loved Bernadette very much, and he realized he chosen the treasure and jewels over her, made him feel guilty, and his heart sank. "Bernadette had to do what she had to do, Thorin! To save your ass! I can see already you have succumbed to the sickness! It not only breaks my heart seeing you like this, but to see you and Miss Baggins not on speaking terms!" said Dis.
"Dis." said Thorin softly. "Thorin?" said Dis. "What's happening to me?" said Thorin. "The answers lie within you Thorin. You need to go talk to Miss Baggins and make amends." said Dis. "Where is she? I need to talk to her." said Thorin quickly, scanning around the Great Hall for her. "I don't know. She disappeared quickly at the Front Gate." Dis replied. "Balin, have you seen Bernadette?" asked Thorin. "That's where I was about to go. She disappeared quickly after-!" began Balin, and he turned away from Thorin.
"You're angry with me too, are you Balin?" said Thorin. "I'm not angry with you, I fear of you." said Balin. "I need to go find Bernadette!" said Thorin quickly. Thorin went out to the Front Gate, hoping he would find her. But there was no sign of her. Suddenly Bard approached Thorin, who walked behind him. "If you're looking for Miss Baggins, she's standing over by a cliff. I highly advise you, Master Thorin, you better stop for her for what she is doing." said Bard. "What do you mean?!" snapped Thorin. "She's attempting to take her own life." said Bard. Thorin's heart sank turned cold when he heard this.
Thorin bolted, looking for the cliff where Bernadette is located. He shortly found the area, and he saw Bernadette looking out over the Mountain.
Her eyes closed, as she prepared to make her plunge off the mountain. "Bernadette! STOP!" called out Thorin. Bernadette turned, her eyes blood shot from crying. Thorin approached her. "Bernadette, this isn't very necessary for you to do this. This is not a way of solving things. Please don't do this, Bernadette." said Thorin gently. Bernadette turned away from him. "You hate me. All I ever wanted to do is help you and you hate me!" cried out Bernadette. "Bernadette, I take back the words I said to you at the Front Gate. I wasn't myself earlier, you know that, everyone knows that." said Thorin.
"Thorin-but you called me a traitor, that really hurts you know." said Bernadette. "Bernadette, I said before I'm sorry for the harsh words I said. Bernadette, I still love you! I love you more than all the gold in Erebor." said Thorin gently, taking Bernadette's hands. "You really mean it?" said Bernadette softly. "I really mean it. With all my heart!" whispered Thorin, brushing his hand on her cheek. Bernadette closed her eyes, a tear sliding down her cheek. "Please forgive me, Bernadette. That's all I ask of you." said Thorin, looking into Bernadette's eyes.
"I forgive you, Thorin!" whispered Bernadette.
Thorin drew Bernadette into his arms, holding the hobbit woman close to him. "Don't ever let me catch you of thinking of harming yourself again!" said Thorin, cupping Bernadette's chin, tilting her head, where her eyes looking into his. "I promise I won't think of doing that again." said Bernadette. "Say you love me, Bernadette. Say you will still marry me!" said Thorin. "I love you, Thorin, and I still want to marry you!" said Bernadette. Thorin leaned closer to her, pressing his lips onto Bernadette's kissing her passionately, and they stood there kissing for a long period of time. Shortly they kiss broke.
"You are freezing, lets go back inside so you can warm up." said Thorin. Bernadette smiled, taking Thorin's hand, and they walked back together inside the Mountain.