DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THESE CHARACTERS, THEY ALL BELONG TO THE FABULOUS J.R.R. TOLKIEN. I MADE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FROM THIS, AND ONLY MADE IT FOR FUN. DANKE.
Well, here is Chapter 20! Sorry I took so long getting it up. The next bits should come along faster. Hope you enjoy!
P.S. Don't forget to Review & Comment! ;)
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo OoOo
Bilbo threw another log onto the fire, which crackled hungrily and danced around the wood licking it with its fiery tongues. Somehow or other, Noeg had remembered a stash of fuel that he had saved for 'a rainy day'. Despite Bilbo's initial protest, the Petty Dwarf was able to convince him that a fire was necessary in the circumstances. Luckily for them, it had been quite close to the storeroom, allowing for Bilbo to fetch the wood with little trouble and a fire to be built just as quickly. After they had carried the wood back, Noeg had quickly set to work, attempting a diagnosis of Thorin's ailment. Bilbo felt an uncomfortable mix of anxiety and frustration. Anxiety for his friend's safety, and frustration that he was unable to do more. Because of this, he had to content himself with tending to the fire.
The room was silent for a few moments save for the fire as it cast its light over the stone walls. Bilbo squirmed in his seat. He did not enjoy the sense of waiting, nor did he like having nothing to do. The fire seemed to be looking after itself well enough, and caused the task of tending to it an uninteresting one at best.
It was then that Noeg happened to notice Thorin's ring. With a soft and mumbled 'Hello what's this?', that was addressed more to himself than anyone in particular, his face took on a curious look as he gave it closer inspection. Upon reading the inscription and seal he was able to guess both the owner's identity and his lineage. Turning to Bilbo he hissed in a voice laden with disgust and resentment.
"You did not tell me that I was to aid...this, the Heir of Durin."
Bilbo looked surprised. "Does it matter?" he asked warily. What on earth was the matter?
"It does." The Dwarf frowned. "There is much bad blood between us."
Bilbo inwardly sighed. Why did it seem as if there was bad blood between the Dwarves and every people imaginable in Middle Earth? They seemed to be at war with nearly everyone. Now it was just other Dwarves. Perhaps it was an exaggeration, but at that moment it seemed like it to our Hobbit, who had just nearly had enough with Dwarves in general. Petty or otherwise.
"How...um-" here the Hobbit coughed, unsure of what to say exactly, "bad?"
"The worst." The Petty Dwarf growled, looking almost as if he was seriously considering throwing the Dwarf out of his halls, "It was his family that banished my people. It is due to them that my people suffered such misery and are now all but dust." He looked as if he was about to pass into a tirade of wrongs that his people had suffered, but taking a deep breath and thinking better of it said, "Why did you not tell me?" The Dwarf's eyes keenly studied Bilbo's face as the Hobbit answered.
"I honestly...had no idea." Bilbo managed awkwardly, "no idea that it mattered. These titles...are just names to me."
The Dwarf frowned.
"Will you help him?" Bilbo pleaded. "He's my friend, and hurt."
The Dwarf remained silent, and considering Bilbo's favor carefully, as the fire made the shadows flicker eerily. He glanced at the Hobbit, then back at Thorin. The Dwarf gave a sigh, and answered the Hobbit.
"I cannot. Not in good conscience."
Bilbo looked at him in disbelief and was speechless for a few moments. Finding his words he spoke in an excited voice that he used when arguing with his neighbors. Was Noeg simply not helping Thorin merely because of the deeds his ancestors had done?
"In good conscience?!" The Hobbit squeaked, "And yet you can let him die?!"
Noeg seemed to be taken slightly aback by this sudden attack, but before he could think of the words with which to answer it the Hobbit continued furiously.
"You can honestly,stand there and say that you will let him die." The Hobbit snapped his fingers for effect, "Just like that? All over a silly feud that has been all but forgotten? By all but you?"
"Some wounds go deep Mr. Baggins, so that even time cannot heal them, and some wrongs cannot be borne. This being one of them" The Petty Dwarf growled.
"Regardless what his fathers and great grandfathers and cousins have done or haven't done, he is not guilty of them. The father is not the son. You would actually let him die for deeds he has not done?!" The Hobbit could not believe what he heard.
"You expect me to forgive them?!" Noeg demanded incredulously.
"I'm not asking you to forgive them, I'm asking you to help him!" The Hobbit shouted back. Adding he said, "I don't understand you Dwarves and your feuds and 'bad blood'. Nor do I want to. Whatever disagreement you have with Thorin's family, It's been all but forgotten, but you're still clinging blindly to it. So that you are even willing to sacrifice a life to it." The Hobbit glared at the Dwarf, and shook his head, waving his hand dismissively and turning away from Noeg. A few minutes passed in silence, and it was finally Noeg who broke the silence.
"I will help him." he said slowly, shoulders sagging in defeat, "To the best of my ability. But I do it for your sake Mr. Baggins, and not his."
Bilbo turned back to Noeg, and nodded wordlessly, realizing this was the most Noeg would do.
"Thank you." The Hobbit said gratefully, and he meant it.
"Pray don't mention it." The Dwarf said glumly, "It burns my heart as it is."
Bilbo decided not to press the subject further. He had expressed his gratitude, and that was enough. Dwarves seemed to be rather sensitive in these matters, and it was best not to upset them. Whatever the doings between the Petty Dwarves and the Line of Durin, it seemed that Bilbo's words had done their work. Rifling the Dwarf's conscience enough to achieve the desired effect.
Following the blood stain on the larger Dwarf, Noeg was soon able to find the main source of discomfort. Grimacing at the sight of the ugly gash, the Petty Dwarf darkly muttered something about Thorin's inability to dress a wound properly. Frowning Noeg turned once more to Mr. Baggins.
Raising a questioning eyebrow the Dwarf began. "Did you know that he was poisoned?"
Bilbo jumped at this. "Poisoned?!" he gasped. He had thought from the beginning that the injury was more than Thorin was making it out to be, but poisoned? The prideful fool! If the situation had been less serious Bilbo would have snorted out loud.
"The wound's obviously been caused by a blade, an' granted folk in these parts aren't too friendly, but I doubt unfriendly enough to attack you. An' that leaves the truly nasty ones. Which leads me to believe you both had a run in with goblins. Am I right?"
The Hobbit nodded, "We did. Thorin saved my life. More than once."
"Ah." Noeg looked as if he understood, "He saved your life and got himself injured is that it?"
Without waiting for an answer Noeg continued, "Orc blades are usually poisoned, so that even a nick can prove lethal. No escape for their enemies, so that even when dead they still do their foul work." The Petty Dwarf muttered a curse.
Bilbo placed a hand to his forehead, now understanding the Dwarf's behavior. No wonder Thorin had not wanted to eat. The puzzling behavior now started to piece itself together. Why on earth hadn't Bilbo thought of poison? Mentally, the Hobbit called himself a fool in several different ways.
"If I had known," The Hobbit lamented to himself, "I would never have let him carry me!"
"what?" Noeg asked, slightly confused.
"We were being chased by the orcs, and I hurt my foot and couldn't walk on it. Rather than leave me behind he insisted on carrying me." the Hobbit shook his head sadly.
The Dwarf looked at the Hobbit in disbelief, "He carried you? Well...In his condition I would call that the wisest thing to do."
The Hobbit didn't appear to hear. "I can't help but th-" But here he was interrupted by Noeg.
"Here now! None of that! It isn't your fault." The Dwarf gave Bilbo a warning look, as if he would not tolerate another similar sentence from the Hobbit. "You can't blame yourself for these things. They happen. How far did he carry you?"
"I don't know... A long way, but then he collapsed! He's...He's not going to die is he?" Bilbo looked at his friend anxiously.
"Not yet anyway." Noeg replied, attempting awkwardly to comfort the Hobbit, "Your friend's a strong one. It'll take more than an Orc scratch to end him. But I cannot help him"
"What?! Can't you help him?" Bilbo seemed confused.
It was a few moments before the Dwarf answered, "Yes..." he said slowly, "and No. I've seen this type of wound and poison before, but I lack the skill to heal it. I can clean the wound and give him something to abate the symptoms, but that will only slow the poison. I can't save him."
"You can't save him?" The Hobbit echoed in disbelief.
"No." Said Noeg, "I cannot." Seeing the Hobbit's face he added, "I swear to you Bilbo, on my Father's honor, that if I could save him I would!" The Dwarf appeared to be very sympathetic to the Hobbit, and in truth there was nothing he could do. He bore no love for the Line of Durin, but the Hobbit had been right, and he had attempted to save him.
The Hobbit looked as if he was frantically searching in his head for a way to save the Dwarf. Suddenly he shot out a word.
"Gandalf!" The Hobbit looked as if he had happened upon a fantastic idea.
Noeg raised an eyebrow. There had been few who had not heard of the wizard and his great deeds. The Grey Pilgrim was famed in many corners of the world, so that even word of him had reached this land. But surely the Hobbit did not think he could go trotting all over the world looking for a wizard that had a knack for only turning up when he desired to? The chances of finding the wizard, let alone convincing him to help Thorin, were undoubtedly against the Hobbit.
"If the Gandalf you mean is the Gandalf I think, the wizard. Then if anyone could save your friend it would be he. But I doubt he is in these parts."
"He is part of the company! The company we are to meet!" The Hobbit explained rapidly, "I have to get Thorin back. It's his only hope."
"Even if you had a wizard in your company, however unlikely, you would not reach them in time." Noeg countered.
"I have to try." The Hobbit said firmly. "If there's a chance I have to try."
Noeg smiled despite himself. The Hobbit was indeed a curious creature, at times he could be as timid as a mouse, at other times as fierce as a dragon in a pinch. The purpose with which the Hobbit now laid out his plan to save his friend touched the Dwarf's heart deeply. If there is one thing that Dwarves understand it is loyalty to one's friends and kin. It was almost infective.
"Very well." Noeg suddenly said, standing up "I will aid you then Bilbo Baggins, as far as I am able, and see that you are properly provisioned. Wouldn't do to go on a journey poorly stocked." He held out his hand to shake and as the Hobbit took it said,
"You are a good friend Bilbo Baggins." and glancing towards Thorin he added, "He is lucky to have such a friend."
The Hobbit smiled despite himself. "Yes." Bilbo almost seemed amused by the idea, " Yes. I suppose he is."