Thank you friends and new readers for your wonderful reviews and support! They give such happy feels! Lalathiel made several good points in her review that I hope are answered here. This chapter may not make such sense, but sit tight. All loose threads will be woven together by the end (I hope).

Chapter 20

The dwarves were gasping for breath by the time they made it back to the garden. Thorin berated himself the entire way. They had all acted impulsively, and Relianna might die because of it. Zozer cleverly manipulated their deepest fears. Fire compelled an instinctive response from the dwarves of Erebor, and he knew it. Ever since Smaug smashed through the front gate and incinerated hundreds of dwarves in a searing blaze, those who survived vowed never to lose one of their own to fire again. Those who came later from Ered Luin carried that fear and determination with them. After they arrived, it was reinforced when they found charred bones on almost every level of Erebor.

"Fool! Fool!" Thorin cursed himself under his breath. Now he bitterly regretted not telling Relianna about Zozer. She knew there was danger, but after leaving Onkra, she had relaxed her guard. Even dressing up to keep her identity hidden was more a fun adventure and not a means of protection.

Kili and Fili ran to open the door, but Dwalin hauled them back by their collars and stood in their way, his bulk barring them from entering.

"He may be in there, and we won't risk you both," he said sternly.

Thorin pushed through without a word, physically thrust him aside, and ripped open the door. He pulled a dagger from his boot and signaled for the others to fan out and search. The garden wasn't especially large, but it did have winding paths and little nooks and arbors. They heard nothing but a strong wind whipping the leaves and branches.

"Relianna!" he shouted. He hushed everyone, and all strained to listen. The lush foliage and setting sun made it hard to see. With every rustle of leaves, they jerked and jumped. Thorin cupped his hands around his mouth. "Relianna! Answer me!"

They strained to listen and heard a faint, rattling breath. The sound pulled Thorin forward like a lifeline to the balcony at the furthest edge. Underneath a tree lay Relianna. Her body was slumped over a sizable rock and twitching. A forefinger and hand were sticky with reddish vomit, and the flagstones around her were splattered with it. Her other, limp hand lay in shards of glass. Oin dropped beside her, his face drawn and anguished.

"Forgive me, my dear, forgive me," he whispered as he felt for her pulse and listened to her breathing. He worked quickly to assess her condition, and he and Thorin carefully rolled her off the rock. The others hovered behind. Their eyes darted to and fro and their hands opened and closed, searching for some way to be helpful. The wind tried to push them away from the scene of defeat, but they stood firm.

"Good lass," Oin said as he counted her rapid pulse, "smart, smart lass." He looked up at Thorin.

"Looks like she somehow got over this rock to help her throw up the poison."

Thorin stroked her hair and whispered his love in her ear. A fresh round of convulsions shook her body, and she shivered helplessly. He used a piece of linen from his pocket to wipe spittle from her mouth.

"We have to move her," he said. His mouth was tight and his jaw set. "Out here we're vulnerable."

Oin reached over her to stop him from trying to pick her up in his arms.

"Not yet," he replied quickly while looking over her ribs. "I have to check to make sure she's broken no bones first."

Thorin grabbed his arm and forced him to look up. He felt helpless, and frustrated rage at failing to protect her clouded his mind.

"We could lose her first!"

Oin tugged against his hold and held his gaze just as firmly. Fili, Kili, and most of the others argued to support Thorin, while Balin agreed with Oin. Dwalin stood on the side observing, his face impassive but watchful.

"If she's broken bones," Oin said strongly, "we could kill her by moving her." Then he gave a knowing snort and pulled his arm away after Thorin looked down at her with fresh despair. "Besides, she won't die yet. Remember? Zozer will draw this out to make sure she suffers first and all of us with her."

Fili and Kili dropped their knees. Of course, they had heard of Zozer and others like him. All royals and nobles were aware that poison was a most effective and untraceable way to kill an enemy. The advantage, of course, was that the assassin would be long gone before his victim died. Therefore, many had court healers who specialized in antidotes.

"What I wouldn't give for her grandfather to be here right now," Oin said under his breath.

Thorin and Oin gently positioned her, and Thorin tried to support her limp body. The convulsions had ended for the moment.

"Aye, but he isn't, so we'll have to make do and gather all the facts we can," Thorin said, thinking hard. "What did you tell her before you left?"

Oin bowed his head, unwilling to relive his shame.

"Oin! What did you tell her?"

The old healer sighed heavily.

"I told her to beware of strangers."

Thorin threw his head up and stared into his face. Something had happened that none of them knew about.

"She wouldn't have then. She wouldn't have talked to a stranger, so she must have known him."

Kili picked up two goblet stems. It seemed incredible to him and his brother that Relianna had somehow met Zozer earlier.

"Uncle?"

"How could that be?" Oin replied, his brows drawing together. His face twisted in pain and outrage.

Thorin looked around at the scene. Two goblet stems and the handle of a pitcher. He and Oin both dipped their fingers into the clear liquid running between the shards.

"Wine," Thorin said after sniffing his fingers.

"Aye," Oin agreed, "and cinnamon and honey." He rubbed the liquid between his fingers. Then he squinted and rubbed harder. "And something else that's granular, but he's masked the scent too well."

Thorin sniffed his fingers again and looked down at the remains of the goblet.

"I've smelled this before," he said. "When we were in the infirmary, a goblet of this was there along with a platter. She would have drunken it then if she didn't wait to eat with me. The question is how did it get there?"

Oin's face turned thoughtful.

"That was the night I was detained by an urgent matter." Then he saw the look on Thorin's face. "But it was only for a few minutes!"

"He must have come in dressed as a healer," Balin offered, trying to distract Thorin's anger. "He must have known enough about her to make him credible. Gain her trust."

Relianna groaned and started shaking again, this time curling up in pain. She panted and struggled to breathe. Oin quickly felt her ribs and other major bones.

"None broken," he said with a satisfied nod.

Thorin looked up at his nephews. The clock was ticking, and he had no idea how much time she had left, how much time he had left before he lost what was left of his heart.

"Clear the halls all the way to infirmary. No one, no one is to see us bring her there."

They nodded and turned around. Thorin jerked his head at Balin, and he trotted after them. Then he called Dwalin, who came over reluctantly.

"I don't care what you think," his king said, "and I don't care what you feel. You will do everything you can to save her life. Understand me?"

Dwalin looked away before dropping his head and nodding. The black king needed his warriors now. An uninvited player had just laid waste to his strategy and threatened his queen.

"For you, Thorin, I will, but only for you."

After the others had left, Thorin waited with Oin until they got the all-clear sign. They tried to make Relianna more comfortable, but she cried out weakly no matter how they positioned her. Thorin finally cradled her in his arms and urged her head on his neck.

"Zozer doesn't use ordinary poisons," Oin said quietly. "That's why he's feared. I stock antidotes to all the poisons I have. Whoever was asking about them wasn't looking for the poison itself. He wanted to know if I had the antidote."

Thorin didn't miss his insinuation.

"So then you can't help her," he whispered, hoping against hope that he was wrong.

"No, I can't. Mahal help us, I can't."

Thorin walked her back carefully while trying to stifle her cries gently. She was clearly in terrible pain and, finally, her eyes rolled back in her head, and she fainted.

"How much of this can she stand?" he whispered harshly. "How long does she have?"

Oin bowed his head and sighed. Zozer never let his targets live more than a day. Sometimes he killed them outright, but those were simple contract killings. This was different; this was personal. For hurting his family by being born, Relianna would suffer and torment those who loved her. He would make her pay, make them all pay, for as long as he could.

Thorin brought her in carefully, where all were waiting, and laid her on the bed. Nella, with tears running down her face, cut the gown off her after shooing them all outside. They came back in to see the convulsions starting again, but this time she spoke through chattering teeth. The gown she wore was heavy but not warm enough for her deep and relentless cold.

"B-bear, b-b-bear, help me."

The dwarves looked around at each other with open surprise. She wasn't making sense, but the look her face showed that she understood her own words.

"My l-love help," she gasped.

Thorin crouched by the bed and took one of her cold hands and held it against his cheek.

"I'm here sweet Relianna." His voice broke on her name. She shook her head slightly, and her eyes opened. They were as black as midnight.

"Her pupils are dilated," Oin said peering closely. "Nella, let's get to work. We need to list all her symptoms and see if anything fits what we know."

They bustled to the apothecary, dragged out their books, and brought them to a nearby table.

"Grandfather?" she whispered, and she clawed at the air. Thorin caught her hand, and then she seemed to look at him. "Grandfather?"

His face crumpled. He had never felt so old. He was aware of the great difference in their ages from the moment he felt her face in the dark, but he refused to dwell on it. She made him feel young, and he was so happy that he ignored it when his silvered hair mingled with hers. He bent his head in pain, and his shoulders sagged. Balin came up behind him and put his hand on his back.

"She doesn't see you, laddie," he said softly. "She's speaking into her memories."

"He's safe, grandfather, he's safe," she whispered, and then she gagged. Thorin wiped away the bile from her mouth. "So strong now, so handsome."

She gasped from pain, and then the spasm passed.

"My love, help me, where are you half?" The dwarves looked more confused.

"By Erebor," Fili whispered horrified, "what is she saying?"

"Half? Half?" Her voice grew louder. "Half? My dear, help me. Bear help me!"

"Half? Bear?" Ori asked timidly. "Is that someone's name?"

"Help me, my bear …."

By now, it was clear that she was not talking about Thorin but someone else. Eyes opened in shock, and Dwalin's breath hissed between his teeth. Thorin whipped his head around to face his equally stunned companions.

"She's not talking about you, Thorin, is she?" he spat in disgust. "So in all her useless life, The Oinker was right about one thing. This wench has a lover after all, and you've been played for a fool."

No one said anything, but their thoughts swirled like whirlwinds, too turbulent to share with anyone else.

Fight for love like you'd fight for your life.

With all your wits and strength,

With all the courage you have,

And with your sharpest blade.

Else time and trouble will steal it away.

Thorin looked down at her, his eyes stormy and hurt beyond measure. He had given his heart in exchange freely and passionately, but it now appeared that someone else had hers all along. However, the deceit Dwalin suspected her of just didn't fit what he knew about her. With his mother's words lodged in his mind, he struggled to make sense of what she said. Just then came a soft knock on the door. The tension in the room was so tight, that Fili yelped at the sound. The others jerked like puppets on a string. Balin opened the door a crack. It was a tiny, veiled maid.

"Forgive me, my lord," she said after a deep curtsy, "but I'm worried about Reli. We all saw her behind the king dressed as a guard, so we knew something was wrong. When the halls were cleared, I thought something might have happened to her."

Balin drew himself up and gazed on her with suspicion.

"Why would you think that, lass?" he said through the crack in the door. He turned to Thorin who nodded, and he waved the maid inside.

At soon as she saw Relianna, she pulled off her veil and flew to her side. Her convulsions returned, and her friend covered her mouth and nose with her hands. After looking mournfully at her friend, the maid turned to the others.

"I knew it! I knew when I heard that old hag laughing about something happening to Reli!"

Relianna stared out into the air unseeing.

"So sorry I broke promise. Bear, it's h-hen, h-hen," she gulped, and then with great effort she forced the words out. "Bem, get b-bear."

The she hacked and twisted in pain, screaming and thrashing. Thorin and Fili helped hold her down.

The maid quailed at the violence of her pain and backed against the wall. Balin took her arm and pulled her close.

"She won't last too much longer, lass," he said seriously, "so if you know anything that might help her, now's the time to say so."

She swallowed hard and clasped her hands in front.

"My name is Bemma, my lords," she started nervously.

The princes and Thorin turned at the name. Fili sucked in his breath.

"The one that she saved from the beatings?" he asked.

She nodded, and her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm so clumsy, and she took what I deserved from the Iron Hills all the way to Erebor. The healer had to keep giving her medicines to help her. She was always hurting, and sometimes she cried herself to sleep."

They looked down at Relianna who scratched the air again.

"Bear, where are you?"

Thorin turned to the little maid, his face stern and forbidding.

"Do you know who this 'bear' is?" he asked, his voice more a command than a question.

Bemma dropped her eyes and nodded.

"He was always cloaked and never came in daylight," she said. "None of us ever saw his face. Reli used to give him little pouches. I never knew what was in them, but I could tell from his robes that he was a healer. The last time I saw him I overheard him say that he would follow her here and wait at the inn in Dale."

Balin looked over at Thorin whose eyes were shuttered and expressionless. They all guessed that he must be the healer she had traveled with those many years.

"How did they seem to you?" Balin asked quietly.

She looked up then. "They were close, my lord."

Dwalin elbowed his way to the front.

"Just how close?" he growled.

Bemma cast up eyes up and saw his fury. She took a deep breath, pressed her lips together, and shook her head. He stood in front and tipped her chin. Kili protested at his treatment of her, but he didn't move.

"Just how close?"

Bemma dropped her eyes.

"They hugged and kissed when they saw each other, my lord. The only true happiness I ever saw in her was when she was with him."

No one said a word, and they all looked to Thorin. He seemed far away and no longer there. Then his eyes drifted down to Relianna, and his gaze hardened. Walking over to his nephews, he gripped their shoulders tightly.

"Get him here now!"

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