Another long chapter! Wooh!
Chapter 6
"The Hanging Tree"
"There is no way to stop it, Master Oakenshield. The sentence is final and must be carried out." Harar stated in tired defeat.
"You are the Lord of the city! There has to be something you can do!" Ori cried, "She is an innocent woman!"
Harar stood quickly as he shouted, "Or she could be guilty of the murder like my brother!" he slowly sat back down, "You may stay for the execution, Gandalf, but then I want you and your friends gone by sunrise."
Gandalf bowed his head, "As you wish, Lord Harar." He then turned and with the two dwarves in tow, left the great hall.
Upon returning outside, they were greeted by the others of their party, all with grim expressions, "No one in this forsaken city will say anything about that day. It is as if it's forbidden to speak of it." Dwalin said as Thorin approached.
"There has to be someone who knows something!" he voiced disgruntled, "Where's Bofur?" the prince asked as he gazed around the group and found no sign of the goofy hat wearing dwarf.
Just before they were to split up and look for him, he came running down from a side street, "I found someone! I found-!" but before he could make it to them, he tripped on a stone and was caught by his brother, "Thanks, Bifur. Thorin, I found someone who is willing to talk to us about Torshar's family! Quickly, come this way!" he urged and began to move back up the street he had just tripped out of.
The group followed him through turns and avoiding of soldiers for a few minutes, until they stopped before a place that no one, not even Thorin, could understand how Bofur got his information because they were standing before "Madam Kilbera's House of Lust".
"Bofur, do I want to know how you got your information?" Thorin asked annoyed as he rubbed his eyes.
The dwarf was quick to defend, "I promise I only spoke with Madam Kilbera, Thorin. I swear it was nothing else!" the prince took his word for it as he entered the establishment and returned a few moments later, "Follow me." Once more he led the party through the house where everywhere you turned there was women dressed in scandalous clothing trying to make a living the only way they knew how.
In the back of the bar was a staircase that led up to another floor and before it stood a woman dressed in a modest corseted dress of red, in her early thirties, and long brunette hair. When she saw Bofur she motioned up and began to climb the steps, the company following close behind.
"So, Bofur tells me you're friends of Torshar, that poor girl who is to be hanged this afternoon. What information are you looking for exactly?" she asked as they entered a study where a mahogany desk sat in the center and bookshelves on every wall, stuff to the brim with books and scrolls. The woman sat in the chair behind the desk and eyed the group, "I'm Kilbera, the Madam of this brothel, and Bofur was correct in saying that he only spoke to me; nothing more."
"What do you know of Torshar's father, Yurbir?" Gandalf asked.
"I know that Yurbir did not kill his family ninety years ago. It was impossible for him to." This seemed to get the group's attention.
"How do you know?" Ori wondered.
"Yurbir came to see me while the murders were taking place. I had asked him to loan some money to me so I could help one of my girls get out the city for a while due to a client problem. He had come to personally hand me the money… When he returned home was when he was arrested by the officials and accused of killing his wife and sons. I came to his defense but no one would listen due to my occupation… Especially Harar when he returned from the Iron Hills, which is also a lie! Your cousin, Thorin, was away on business when Harar went to see him, so he came and stayed with one of my girls. If you ask me, he killed them and left his brother and niece to take the blame…" Kilbera explained as she lit her pipe, "It breaks my heart to think that poor girl is going to suffer for the sins of her uncle…"
"There has to be a way to stop it!" Ori cried and received a familiar gaze from the madam.
"You… Are Ori… I remember you running around with Nalor and Thbir. You were such an inspiration to them." She smiled.
"Me? How?" the young redhead asked.
Kilbera's smile widened, "I may run a whore house, but I am an excellent listener and advice giver. They came to me a few times to talk about what was on their minds and every time they would say, 'I wish I had hope and faith like Ori'. You may have looked up to them, but they looked up to you more."
This seemed to help the youngest party member as he wiped his eyes with a smile and Gandalf stepped in, "If we were able to stall the hanging, would you testify to Torshar's defense?"
"Absolutely." She answered, "You must hurry! Go now!" she ushered them out the back when she heard the soldiers enter downstairs. And the group was off to speak to one other person before the afternoon was upon them.
"She does not wish to see anyone."
"Tell her Thorin is here to speak to her!" the prince demanded and the soldier sighed as he disappeared through a door then came back a few seconds later, "One minute."
The corridor was dark and damp as the noble dwarf walked its stone path past empty cells until he came to the last one on the right. Inside he saw the outline of a figure sitting on the floor in a fetal position, "Torshar?"
The figure moved and looked at him then slowly stood to the rattle of chains and approached the bars to reveal it was, indeed, the daughter of Yurbir. Her white hair was now grey due to the dirt that clung to it. Her starlight eyes had also dimmed to grey which, Thorin assumed, meat her spirit was broken. Her face was covered in dirt and bruises; she put up no fight. Shackles were fastened around her wrists and ankles, the prince noticed when she reached the bars of her cell.
"Thorin…? Why are you here? You should be on your way to Bree…" she wondered confused.
"You are more important than a quest to slay a dragon or take back a kingdom." He said as he reached to take her hand, only for her to retract from him.
"She shook her head, "You don't mean that… You did not want me on the quest in the first place… Why did you come here?"
"I did not want you on the quest because I did not want to lose you, should we fail. What made you come here instead of going straight to Whurrak?" he asked.
"I wanted to clear my father's name… And I thought Harar of all people, would listen. But I was wrong… He had me flogged like a traitor and left me in here until the time of my hanging this afternoon… Where the whole city will be watching…: she mused as she leaned against the stone wall, perpendicular to the bars, and slid down to the floor; allowing only a couple of tears to draw paths down her dirty cheeks.
Thorin stooped down beside her, "I will save you… You know you are innocent and do not deserve this fate-"
"It no longer matters, Thorin! Whether I am innocent or not, it no longer matters!" she cried in sorrow and heartbreak as she grabbed the bars with her hands, making the chains rattle again, "Do one thing for me, Thorin…"
He laid his hands over her shaking ones, "Anything, Torshar…"
"Do not stay for the hanging…" the door to the corridor opened with a loud creak, "Run from there as fast as you can!"
"Alright, sir, your time is up." And the prince was gently pulled to his feet and lead back down the hallway.
As he was walking he heard her call out, "Run! So we'll both be free! Run to the Hanging Tree!"
When Thorin met up with everyone outside, they were quick to ask about what she had said. When he said nothing, they began to worry. All the nobleman did was begin to walk towards the entrance to the city.
"Thorin? Where are you going? We need to rescue Torshar." Ori began.
"No, Ori, we do not!" he shouted, stopped, and turned to face him, "Torshar wants to die here! Well, I say let her! She wants to give up that easily then let her hand like her father!"
"Thorin! That is your friend you are speaking about!" Dwalin stated.
"She is all of our friend…" the redhead said sadly.
The king-to-be sighed, "You want to know what she said to me..?" his voice starts to shake, "She said… That she did not want me there, at the hanging. She said to run from there as fast as I can. So we'll both be free… Run to the Hanging Tree…" suddenly realization registers on Ori's face.
"She does want us there!"
"Did you not just hear me? She does not want us there!"
"No, she does! Because a woman I talked to said the execution was going to take place at the southern gate. Torshar gave you the real location; the Hanging Tree! 'So we'll both be free, Run to the Hanging Tree'! Harar is having her execution in private! The question is why?" Ori's explanation made Thorin's heart leap for joy and it registered on his face because he came up to the young dwarf and embraced him.
Torshar sat with her thoughts as the hour approached for her death. She would be holding her necklace of gold if Harar had not taken it from her, though it was procedure to take the traitor's belongings. With a sigh, at the sound of the corridor opening, the versifier stood and waited for her escort that appeared moments later.
"It is time, Lady Torshar." The soldier stated and opened the door. When she stepped out, three other soldiers stood around her to form a box so she could not escape and no one could try to help her. As they marched out of the prison and passed the entrance to the city, she took notice that the stable was empty save for Starry Night. She had to fight back the tears that threatened to spill.
Upon approaching the square, Harar appeared with an irritated expression, "Captain, did you say anything about the change of venue for the execution?"
"No, sir!"
The Lord grabbed him by the throat, "Then why is every citizen of Valtek here?!"
"I… Do not… Know!" he stuttered then was released.
Harar straightened himself before calmly saying, "No matter… We shall make this a public affair. Continue." And the soldiers did as he commanded and marched her up the steps to the waiting noose that hung from a branch of the old oak.
While she was being readied, Harar turned to the people, "Citizens of Valtek, for ninety years we have grieved the loss of Uriess, Yurbir, and their sons Nalor and Thbir… Yurbir was hung for the murder of his wife and sons but his accomplice fled." He points at Torshar, "This woman… My own niece was that accomplice! Today she will hang for her crimes!"
"For what crimes?" a male voice shouted from the crowd who looked around confused, "The only crime she has committed was believing you would never betray her or her family!" and Ori stepped out.
"Ori, dear fellow, what are you still doing here?" Harar asked confused and slightly irritated.
"We are friends of Gandalf the Grey and you invited him to see an execution. Though, I'm afraid it will not be Torshar's." Fili and Kili said simultaneously as they stepped out to stand beside Ori.
"Lay a hand on Torshar and you will have to deal with all of us, Lord Harar." Thorin threatened as he and the rest of the group, minus Gandalf, stood beside the youngest member.
"You cannot defy the law of Valtek! Guards, seize them!" and shortly, the group was overthrown by the soldiers who chained them, "Now, any last words, Torshar?"
She looked at him sadly, "May I sing one last song?" when he nodded, she began, "Are you,
Are you,
Coming to the tree,
Where they strung up a man,
They say who murdered three,
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be,
If we met at midnight,
In the Hanging Tree,
Are you,
Are you,
Coming to the tree,
Where a dead man called out,
For his love to flee,
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be,
If we met at midnight,
In the Hanging Tree,
Are you,
Are you,
Coming to the tree,
Where I told you to run,
So we'd both be free," she locked eyes with Thorin who was still trying to fight his restraints, "Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be,
If we met at midnight,
In the Hanging Tree,
Are you,
Are you,
Coming to the tree,
Wear a necklace of hope,
Side-by-side with me,
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be,
If we met at midnight,
In the Hanging Tree…" and the Lord looked at the executioner who was about to pull the rope until a sword of steel pressed against his throat. Harar was stunned and turned to run but found himself staring into an arrow notched to a bow that was held by someone in a hooded cloak.
"Harm my baby and it will be the last thing you ever do, Harar!" a third figure stated as they moved through the crowd and met up with a fourth then came up the steps to stand beside the bowman before the lord.
"Who are you?!" Harar demanded.
The third figure removed her hood to reveal graying hair and piercing blue eyes, "Recognize me now, brother in-law?"
Torshar gasped in utter shock as did the crowd, "Mother?!"