Chapter 17
A/N: It will mean a lot if any of you can help support this story. I really want to know if this story is doing good. I'm going to eventually rewrite it, since I've changed as an author. I've noticed mistakes that I'm very embarrassed about. It's not going to change the whole story though. So, like I said. It would mean a lot to get support. :) Please, if you know anyone who would love to read my story (or any of them) please share. :D
They were all shoved to the middle, in front of the Master's house. There he stood, fat and very unpleasing to the eyes. Beside him stood a man with a unibrow and was not better looking than the mayor. He looked untrustworthy.
"What is the meaning of this?" The Master of Lake Town asked; spit shooting out of his mouth as he spoke.
"Ew…" Mariah said softly.
"I'm going to barf." Alexis added.
"We caught them stealing weapons, Sire." The guard answered the mayor's question.
Mariah joined hands with Kili, giving him a squeeze. Ever since they had been caught, he had this expression of guilt and sadness.
"This is my entire fault." Kili whispered to Mariah, returning the squeeze.
His hands were bigger than hers. She had skinny and slender hands. Kili had, well, dwarf hands.
"Do not blame yourself." Mariah whispered back. "Look at me."
Kili turned his head to look at her. His eyes were so sad. It killed her on the inside.
"Show me that cheeky smile." She said and tapped his cheek, making him smile a bit. "I don't think less of you and neither does anyone else."
"Your sister does."
"Yeah, well…that's her."
"Shut it!" One guard ordered them, threatening them with a spear.
"Ah. Enemies of the state?"
"A desperate bunch of…" The voice of this man sounded a lot like Alfrid. "Mercenaries, if ever there was, Sire."
"Hold your tongue! You do not know to whom you speak." Dwalin hissed out and took a step forward. "This is no common criminal. This is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror."
"We are the Dwarves of Erebor. We have come to reclaim our homeland." Thorin spoke as he took a step forward, next to Dwalin. "I remember this town in the great days of old. Fleets of boats lay at harbor…filled with silks and fine gems. This was no forsaken town on a lake. This was the center of all trade in the North!" Thorin turned to look at the people of Lake Town. "I would see those days return. I would relight the great forges of the dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!"
The crowd of people all cheered. All but one man, Bard. He came from the crowd, stepping into the middle with the company.
"Death! That is what you'll bring upon us." Bard said and looked directly at Thorin. "Dragon fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all."
"You can listen to this…naysayer." Thorin said with a slight smirk to his lips. "I promise you this; if we succeed all will share in the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough gold to build Esgaroth ten times over!"
The crowd cheered again for Thorin. Mariah felt pride and joy swell up in her chest. Thorin would make an amazing king. He promised to bring their happiness back and that made Mariah's eyes fill with tears.
"Are you crying?" Kili asked as he quickly grabbed her face, turning her to look at him.
"I'm just so happy that he's promising these things." Mariah admitted with a lump in her throat. "Just to get happiness back is something I know all too well."
Kili smiled at Mariah, giving her his cheeky wink before turning his attention back to his uncle and Bard.
"All of you! Listen to me. You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale? Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm? And for what purpose?" Bard called out to the crowd and then turned to Thorin in a dramatic motion. "The blind ambition of a Mountain King, so riven by greed. He could not see beyond his own desire!"
"Thorin isn't like that!" Mariah shouted out, wanting to be heard. "Thorin is different. He would not promise anything unless he meant every word. He is not greedy. He has honor and pride."
Bard looked at Mariah with a saddened expression. "You do not know the prophecy, Child."
"Now, now. We must not, any of us be too quick to lay blame." The master of Lake Town announced. "Let us not forget that it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the beast."
"It's true, Sire. We all know the story. Arrow after arrow, he shot. Each one missing its mark." Alfrid added, giving Bard a smug look.
"Hey, you try to kill a dragon and see if you can make each shot count." Mariah bit back, protecting Bard. Yes, she knew he was against their quest, but he helped them and she felt in debt to him.
"You have no right to enter that mountain." Bard said with a determined look dead set on his face.
Thorin leaned in closer to the human, giving him a serious look. "I have the only right." He turned to face the Master of Lake Town. "I speak to the Master of the men of the Lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people?"
The Master seemed to be hesitant, but he then began to speak. "I say unto you…welcome! Welcome and rise! Welcome, King Under the Mountain!"
There was a party that night, celebrating Thorin's return and his quest to get back his home. The girls were given dresses to wear. They weren't too fancy, but the fanciest dresses they had in Lake Town.
Back at the party, Mariah and Alexis tried the wine. It was disgusting. Alexis had other words to describe it.
"This taste like asshole." Alexis said as she spit out the liquid from her mouth.
"And how would you know what that taste like?" Fili asked, sitting right across from her. A smirk was set on his face.
"Dude, come on. You know. You were there." Alexis replied and then turned serious. "I mean, I thought you wanted to keep that a secret."
Fili burst out into laughter. "If this happened, I have no memory of this. Such a shame."
"Okay, now I understand how you feel when Kili and I are all mushy." Mariah said as she held her hand to her belly. "I really don't need to know what happens between the two of you."
"You seriously think that I would lick an asshole?!" Alexis asked with an appalled look written on her face.
Mariah held up her hands in defeat. "I would think not, but I don't know! You're into some weird things, Sis!"
"Yeah, but not rimming! I mean if my partner wants his tongue down there on me, fine. But no way in hell am I going to ever lick an asshole! That is so gross."
"Well you spit on them!" Mariah countered, remembering when her sister spit on her crack.
"There's a difference between licking and spitting. Plus, I had to!"
"You didn't have to! No one was holding a gun to your head."
Alexis looked like she was trying to hold back on laughing. "Your ass crack was showing and it was calling out to me to spit on it."
"Yes, because my ass crack talks now!"
"It was pretty funny, Darling." Kili said as he took Mariah into his side, giving her a little shake.
"Still…" Mariah pouted out and leaned into his side, accepting his embrace.
The dwarves were off on their own story telling and drinking. Kili and Fili were the only dwarves that were sitting with the two sisters. It had become a thing. Rather than the trio that was formed at the beginning with Fili, Kili, and Mariah, now there is Alexis. She seemed to be getting used to the dwarves, even if she complains all the time. Perhaps she has even grown fond of them, or some of them.