Yes, I am still alive and no, I haven't given up on this story. I have been so busy with school work it is not funny leaving me no time to write. But I have some free time now! Sorry about taking so long.
It took everything Thorin had to keep himself composed as he walked with Dain to meet with Bard and his children. He swallowed hard telling himself he had to this for his family. He reminded himself he had no choice and killing the bargemen was the only way to keep those he loved most safe. Dain was, of course, smiling a big cocky smile as the two walked to meet Bard, who was waiting at the front gate for them.
"Remember, say anything or try to warn him and your kin dies," Dain whispered to Thorin.
Bard smiled when he spotted Thorin. The two had become close as they rebuilt their homes together. They had a meeting with each other practically once a week and they were almost border line friends. Thorin had even stayed the night when a bad storm hit when they were meeting in Lake-town. Bard's youngest daughter gave Thorin a big wave as he walked over to them.
"King Thorin," Bard said with a bow. His children bowed as well.
"Lord Bard," Thorin said in a faint voice and bowed as well. Dain just glared.
"I hope it is alright that I brought my children, even though you said you wanted to meet in private. They were quite adamant in coming," Bard told Thorin glancing down at his eldest Sigrid.
Dain stepped forward. "It is no trouble at all, Dragon-Slayer. I do not believe we have met, I am Dain, Lord of the Iron Hills."
"Sir Thorin," Sigrid's shy voice called out. "Is Fili around, by chance?" She asked the dwarf king as her brother rolled his eyes.
Thorin's heart skipped a beat. Images of Fili lying bloody and half alive flashed in his mind. He could feel Dain's eyes on him making sure he said the right thing. Thorin took a deep breath. "Fili is…he's taking care of other matters, he won't he joining us." Thorin lied to her.
"Oh, okay," Sigrid said sadly, but then forced herself to smile.
"Shall we then," Dain said and ushered the others towards the meeting room. The group began walking. Tilda ran up to Thorin's side smiling brightly. She was currently going through a 'dwarf phase' thinking they were the coolest thing in all of Middle-Earth. She especially enjoyed their braids and she spent all her time braiding her and her sister's hair.
The group walked in silence, Thorin's head down. He watched his feet stepping in front of the other wishing he could stop. He wished he could stop and warn Bard what was going to happen. He wished he could stop leading the man and his family to their deaths. Yet, Thorin just kept on walking. He hated himself, Mahal did he hate himself. He gripped a tight fist and bit the inside of his cheek to prevent himself from warning Bard what Dain was going to make him do.
"Is everything alright, Thorin?" Bard asked as they walk. He noticed that the dwarf king was extremely tense and gripping a fist so tight his knuckles were white.
Thorin shot a quick glance to Dain. "Everything is fine," Thorin snapped having a bit more stress in his voice than Dain would have liked. Yet, the topic was dropped for the next moment they entered the meeting hall. Dain told Bard and his children to have a seat at the large table in the center of the room. Thorin stared at the glasses on the table then quickly looked away. He glanced up at the hallway and balcony that over looked the meeting room spotting one of Dain's loyal guards patrolling. Feeling immensely guilty Thorin sat down at the table across from Bard.
Thorin noticed that the glasses were empty and he let out a sigh of relief. He remembered Dain's plan was to make them drink a paralytic so Bard would be frozen thus not be able to fight back. Thorin wrapped his fingers around the sword at his side. It felt so heavy and cold. Dain was making small talk and Thorin could hear Bard's daughters laughing with each other. Thorin lowered his head even more. For my kin, he had to keep saying to himself.
"So, why have you called me here, Thorin?" Bard's voice snapped Thorin out of this thought.
Thorin opened his mouth to say something, what exactly he did not know, but Dain spoke first. "It is a rather delicate matter Dragon-Slayer," Dain said smoothly knowing he had full control of the situation.
"Please, just call me Bard. The whole Dragon-Slayer is bit over the top," Bard told Dain, just like he told anyone who gave him that title.
"But you are the one who killed the beast are you not?" Dain pressed. "Truly, it is an impressive feat. I still do know how you managed it. Few would be so bold, so brave, as to stand up to a live dragon. Still, I do not know if it was bravely or madness that made you think you could stand up to Smaug."
"Actually, it was neither," Bard admitted looking over at his children.
"It's scary," Thorin suddenly said in a low and soft voice. "The things we are capable of doing when those we care about are under threat."
Bard nodded in agreement. He looked at Thorin wondering why he was refusing to look him the eye. Thorin wasn't acting like he normally did. He wasn't boasting his pride and nobility like he always did. He didn't have his firm and strong demeanor; instead he looked on edge and, dare Bard think it, Thorin almost looked frightened.
"Well, how about we get started," Said Dain then beckoned one of his guards over. "Please get our guests something to drink," Dain said and Thorin let out a gasp, which only Bain noticed. The guard bowed and walked away.
Thorin closed his eyes. He thought of Fili, Kili, and Dis. He couldn't let them get hurt. He had already lost so much; saw so much death and pain. He couldn't go through it again. He couldn't lose the three of them; they were all he had. He would not let them be hurt. They were his family. They meant everything to him.
Soon enough the guard came back with a large pitcher filled with an ale looking liquid. He poured it into Bard and his children's glasses. Thorin's brain was screaming for him to act; to stop this, but he sat still, for his heart was screaming at him to do as Dain said. Bard took his glass and pressed it up to his lips.
"Wait!" Thorin yelled. Bard set down his glass and Dain shot Thorin a glare. Thorin looked from Bard to Dain trying to figure out what he should do. Thorin was not a killer. Sure, he had killed plenty of orcs, but they were orcs. Thorin never killed someone who was innocent. Killing an innocent would make him no better than an orc. Bard was a good man. He didn't deserve death and he certainly didn't deserve to die like this. Not in front of his children. Thorin gripped a tight fist, he would have to kill his children too. Yet, if he didn't kill Bard then Kili or Dis or Fili would be killed in his place. There was no choice.
"I think we should make a toast," Thorin lied, picking up his glass.
Bard smiled and agreed. They all raised a glass, even the kids, and Bard said something nice about allies turning into friends. Thorin felt his heart sinking deeper into his stomach as Bard praised Thorin for helping the people of the lake and giving them the supplies they needed to survive. Bard gave Thorin a nod when he was finished with his speech and drank down the poisoned drink.
Dain and Thorin watch the four humans drinking, not touching the drink themselves. Dain smiled wickedly, almost laughing at one point, as Thorin turned away. Bard seemed to notice this and set down the drink, his arm feeling surprising heavy.
"You still have not told me why you called this meeting Thorin," Bard stated. He noticed that the dwarves had not touched their drink and he felt panic rush through his body.
"Da, I don't feel right," Bain said looking down at his legs.
Bard stood up abruptly "What is goin-," he started to say, but a sudden wave of stiffness rushed through his body. His legs grew tense like they had been frozen in place. He leaned forward pressing his hand on the table, his breathing growing ragged. He could hear his children yelling out for him but he couldn't move his legs. "What have you done?" Bard managed to ask before his arms went tense and he fell to the ground.
Bard laid on his side, his head pointing under the table. He saw the sword at Thorin's side getting nervous. He tried to turn his head to see his children, who had suddenly gone quite, but his neck was stiff. The tension left his body getting replaced but a consuming numbness. His body became limp and his own body felt foreign to him. All Bard could do was ever so slightly wiggle his fingers and control his eyes, even then the movement was difficult like they were tired down with weights.
He watched as Thorin and Dain stood up from the table. He tried, once again, to move. His breathing became heavy as he tried to will himself to move more than just his eyes and the tips of his fingers. No matter how hard he struggled his body would not responded. He was completely frozen in place, helpless, and confused.
Dain laughed loudly watching the bargemen and his kids fall to the floor petrified. He got up from the table, patting Thorin on the back, and looked at his work. The children looked dead. The venom worked perfectly freezing them so they couldn't even move their eyes. The venom also slowed their breathing making it look like they weren't breathing at all. Dain frowned when he saw Bard. The venom had not worked so perfectly on him, due to his size. He could still move most of his face, eyes included, and his breathing was loud and heavy. Dain kicked Bard onto his back.
Thorin slowly walked over to Dain's side. He watched as Bard struggled to move and opened his mouth as though trying to speak. "Th…tho..," Bard fought to say. Bard's eyes caught Thorin's. Thorin could see Bard was scared, but not for himself. Thorin turned his gaze away.
"You know what to do," Dain ordered and Thorin unsheathed his sword. Bard began to fight the poison more, his breathing growing even heavier and his fingertips moving like crazy. Thorin walked over to Bard and placed the blade on his Adam's apple.
"D-don't," Bard managed to say. Thorin held the blade in place. It felt heavy in his hand. "D-don't," Bard painfully repeated. Thorin made eye contact again with Bard remembering all the meetings and conversation they had together. He lifted the blade slightly off his skin.
"Need I remind you what happens if you don't Thorin?" Dain asked. Bard was looking at him with a confused face. Bard turned his attention back to Thorin who was now visibly shaking. "Kill him and his children, Thorin, now!" Dain ordered.
Thorin pressed the blade back down on Bard's neck. He was shaking and he felt like he could cry. This wasn't right. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to kill his friend. He wasn't a killer. He wasn't a monster. He didn't want to, but he had too.
He shifted the sword, having the tip of the blade pointing perpendicular into Bard's neck. Thorin lifted the sword into the air high above his head. Thorin looked down at Bard's still form. "I'm sorry," he whispered and plunged the sword down.
Ah, feels good to be back! I will really, really try to get the next chapter out ASAP. I have just been so busy lately. I will, hopeful, get the next one out within the week.