Hi guys, sorry it's been awhile but I moved and have had MAJOR writer's block but it's all good now! Read, Review, Enoy!
Chapter 38:
"Thorin Worsens"
How many times had they fought that morning? Torshar had officially lost count. She had first confronted Thorin in the treasury by saying, "How can you think I am bearing an Elf child when you are the man I love?!"
His response was simple, "I never loved you… You were only ever a means to an end."
Those stone cold words burned hotter than dragon fire ever could as tears began to form in her eyes and she subconsciously grabbed her stomach though the king did not notice due to his back facing her. She sniffled trying to form her next words, "You were… Are the only man I will ever love… I put my life on the line for you so many times as you did for me… You said you would fight for me… How can you stand there and tell me it was a lie…?"
His silence meant everything; she slowly retreated to her room where she sobbed for nearly an hour before passing out due to exhaustion.
Shortly after midday the versifier emerged and joined Bilbo, as well as the others, in the Great Hall where Bombur had laid out a bountiful spread of vegetable and venison soup accompanied by bread and ale. Bilbo gingerly took her arm and led her to the table where he sat her between himself and Kili, who offered a warm smile.
'This is what a family should feel like…' she thought to herself as the men began to tell stories and laugh at each other's jokes; the meal almost forgotten on their plates. The Hobbit chuckled as Kili was regaling a tale of when he and Fili were and in the mines for the first time, "And Fili has this pick axe that was about as tall as he was propped on his shoulder—"
"What in the name of Durin is this?!" a voice bellowed, causing the merriment to die quickly. Thorin's presence fell over the table as he walked up, "Well?! Anyone wish to explain?!"
"We were just enjoying a bit of lunch, uncle." Fili stated calmly, not meeting the power hungry king's gaze.
"I see… And has the Arkenstone been found?"
No one dared answer, making Thorin slam his fist on the table, "I said that no one was to stop until the Arkenstone was found! What part of the was unclear?!"
Quickly Torshar stood with anger in her voice, "That is enough!"
The enraged king turned his sights onto the minstrel with a cruel grin, "The Elven slut wishes to speak up?"
Looking him dead in the eye, the pregnant maiden spoke slowly and meticulously, "Your men have searched and built a barrier for your "kingdom", they deserve food and rest for what they have accomplished."
"They should be obeying the orders of their king!" he shouted but she didn't flinch.
"A king who would throw the wellbeing of his subjects away for a stone that a dragon buried decades ago…? We have traversed Middle Earth for you and you have repaid us with nothing but anger and abuse!" she screamed in response.
The Dwarves looked at the versifier with wide eyes then slowly turned their attention to Thorin who stood with his fists visibly shaking at his sides. His gaze burned with the fury of a dragon as he quickly strode the strode distance around the table to her then proceeded to backhand her across the face with his left hand; knocking her to the floor with a startled gasp, "If you ever speak to me that way again… I will destroy you."
As his boot steps receded from the room, Bilbo and Kili quickly stood and went to the fallen woman's sides. Silent tears fell as she was gently lifted to her feet and the brunette archer spoke to the Hobbit, "Let's get her back to her chambers." Though she did not hear.
Bard quickly approached the Elven lord that sat upon his elf steed, "You would go to war over a handful of gems?!"
"The heirlooms of my people are not easily forsaken." The blond man stated somberly as his golden army marched by.
"We are allies in this. My people also have a claim upon the riches in that mountain. Let me speak with Thorin, or at least Torshar, she can convince him." The bargeman pleaded.
The Elf lord turned his head to him, "You would try to reason with Dwarves?"
"To avoid war? Yes."
"Very well, bargeman…" Thranduil conceded after much internal deliberation, "But know this, I will reclaim that which is mine… By any means."
"Why do you come to the gates of the King Under the Mountain armed for war?" Thorin's voice echoed, causing the forlorn minstrel to lift her head from her pillow where she lay resting after the incident in the Great Hall. The responding voice was barely a whisper to her but she heard it. Throwing off her coverlet, she stood, grabbed her coat, and quickly headed for the door.
"On behalf of the people of Lake-Town, I ask that you honor you pledge; a share of the treasure so that they might rebuild their lives." Bard spoke slowly through the gap in the makeshift gate to Thorin.
"I will not treat with any man while an armed host lies before my door."
The4 dragon killer leaned in slightly, "That armed host will attack this mountain if we do not come to terms."
Smirking slightly the king stated, "Your threats do not sway."
"What of your conscience? Does it not tell you that our cause is just? My people offered you help… And in return you brought upon them only ruin and death."
That seemed to strike a nerve as the Dwarf prince responded with, "When did the Men of Lake-Town come to our aid but for the promise of rich reward?"
"A bargain was struck, Thorin!" Torshar shouted as she emerged from the hallway, causing everyone to turn their attention to her.
The warrior growled slightly, " 'A bargain'?! What choice did we have but to barter our birthright for blankets and food?! To ransom our future in exchange for freedom?!" he tore his gaze from the minstrel and focused back on the bargeman before his gate, "You call that a fair trade? Tell me, Bard the Dragon Slayer… Why should I honor such terms?"
"Because you gave us your word… Does that mean nothing?" the brunette Man asked with a pleading tone. The Dwarf turned away with a slight huff and looked upon the gathered company. Torshar stood out to him and for a moment her beauty seemed to free him but the sickness reared its ugly head; dragging back into the pit of darkness and making him shout, "Be gone! Let their arrows fly!"
As the sounds of galloping hooves began to disappear, Bilbo spoke up, "What are you doing?! You… Cannot go to war."
"This does not concern you." The sick Dwarf stated as he attempted to pass the theif.
"Excuse me, but in case you haven't noticed there is an army of Elves out there! Not to mention several hundred angry fishermen! We are, in fact, outnumbered." The Hobbit retorted, trying to reason with the warrior who only smirked.
"Not for much longer…" he stated matter-of-factly.
"What does that mean?"
"It means, Master Baggins, you should never underestimate Dwarves. We have reclaimed Erebor… Now, we defend it."
The versifier pulled her furry-toed friend aside as the Dwarves began to head towards the armory, "You have to take the stone…"
"What?!" he whispered astonished, "Do you have any idea what Thorin will do to me if I am caught with it?!"
"Almost certain death… But you won't… The army will attack at dawn, when the sun sets tonight…" she slipped him a silk pouch, "Take the stone, climb down the gate, and get this to Bard. Maybe he can use it as a bargaining chip to prevent war…" tears started to form and pool in her eyes as she spoke.
The befuddled Hobbit gently pulled her into an embrace and smoothed her hair with one hand while laying his other on her lower back, "We will save him…" he offered weakly.
Sniffling again, the versifier lifted her head from her friend's chest, "Maybe the stone being in someone else's possession will break him of this sickness… Bilbo, please… You have to get it out of this mountain…"
Nodding, the thief took her hands in his, "I promise…"