Since its Richards birthday today...Happy Birthday Richard!:*
Kilis cries echoed in Bards tiny house. The fever holding him grew worse and his brother was sick with worry. Fili stayed at his side and stroked his little brothers hair. He felt Kilis pain as if it was his own and he wished that he could take his pain away, even if he had to endure it instead of Kili. Belladonna sat at their side and held Kilis hand, while her father paced up and down the tiny kitchen. Brann and Oin and both asked for athelas and Bards son, Bain, had gone to get some. Thorin had nearly smirked about Branns curses as she had learned that the men of laketown fed that precious weed to the pigs.
Barbarians! As if their whole culture had gone along with the destruction of Dale. Brann had muttered.
Thorin had mentally answered. 'They have gone through alot. It was Bards ancestor Girion who failed to kill the dragon. Their culture died with him that day.'
The men of Dale had to suffer all of this because of Erebors treasury. Can you blame Bard for not trusting you? The dwarven greed has brought so much pain and grief for his people...
'You were not there.' Thorin grumbled. 'You have no idea what we lost that day.'
Do not think that I have not seen you and your kin suffer, Thorin! I was there when you fought for yet another lost kingdom in front of Morias gates! I was there when your father could not even dwell in the happiness of his own grandchildren because he was homesick! Or goldsick...I know that you want your home back! I know what you have lost! Don't you dare judge me and other men because you think that you were the only ones who suffered a loss!
Brann was furious. She had been under strain since that quest began, she had to watch her family stumble from one danger to the other and she could do practically nothing. She feared for her husband the nearer the mountain came and she feared that this quest would claim his life. She could not wait for him to join her in Mandos Halls, but she would not be selfish. This quest meant all to him and she wanted to support him with all her might. But right now, Brann could not think straight. She needed air.
Right, as if there is no air in here! Brann cursed and stormed out of the house. The slammed the door shut, not noticing that in her fury, she had really opened and slammed the door in the world of the living. Only Thorin knew that it had not been the wind that had moved the door and he looked after the movement in awe. He felt sorry for hurting his wife yet again, but in his dwarven stubborness he did not even think about his words. With a thunderous expression he turned to his nephews and his daughter. Bilbo was sitting with Bards children and made some tea. The hobbit had been silent the whole time. He watched Kili in worry and turned to Thorin as he moved towards him. He knew that he had to answer some questions now. But before he could, Bain stormed into the house together with Oin and a bouquet full of kingsfoil.
'Mash some of it and press it into the wound. Is the hot water ready? Perfect! Throw some of it into the water and make him drink it! Qucik!' the deaf healer yelled his orders.
Bilbo and Belladonna scrambled to do as they were told. Belladonna mashed some of the weed and Bilbo made the kingsfoil tea. Thorin moved to Kilis side and took his hand.
'Be strong little one.' he muttered.
Kili opened his eyes as he heard his uncle's voice and smiled weakly. 'Maybe, when this is over, I will see aunt Brann again?' he muttered and Thorin closed his eyes from preventing his tears to fall down freely.
'Kili, do not say that!' Fili despaired. 'You have to fight it, do you hear me?'
Thorin lowered his head and laid his forehead against the hot and sweaty skin of Kilis forehead. He would have to leave tomorrow if he wanted to open the secret door. He would have to leave his nephew behind, even if it pained him to deprive Kili from the first sight of their homeland. He had told them so many stories about Erebor when they had been small dwarflings and now Kili could not come with them. Thorin feared that Kili could never see Erebor restored in his full glory.
Bilbo and Belladonna returned with the tea and the mashed kingsfoil. Oin rubbed the mash into Kilis wound, which made the young dwarf cry out in agony and Bilbo tried to make Kili swallow some tea. Soon, the hobbit gave the cup to Fili, who was more successful to make his brother drink. He simply held the cup against Kilis lips and closed his nose with his fingers. As Kili opened his mouth to breathe, Fili slipped him the tea.
'Thats a way to do it.' Bilbo muttered and made Belladonna smile.
'Alright, there are way too many dwarves around here. Give him some air.' Oin stated and pushed Belladonna and Bilbo away. 'Your majesty, please, let me work. There is nothing you can do right now.'
Thorin nodded slowly and retreated back to the kitchen with his daughter and the burglar. Bard and his children had already gone to sleep and Thorin used this moment of privacy to talk to Bilbo.
'Master hobbit...' Thorin did not know how to begin and he knew that Brann had left him after their dispute. He knew that he was not the best with words, but he had to try. 'You said something about Belladonnas mother when we escaped Mirkwood. Would do mind to explain?'
Bilbo paled and bit his lip. He knew not what to say. He could not tell them that he had seen this woman between the worlds. But Belladonna took his hand.
'My mother is still with us, we know that.' she ignored her father hiss her name in warning. 'No, adad. We want him to be honest with us, so we have to be honest with him. After my mother's death, Gandalf ensured that her...spirit, her soul, remained in the Halls of Mandos. She can still talk to my father and she is still with us, even if we cannot see her. She communicates with us through breezes and other movements, but apparently, you can also talk to her. How?'
'My wife told me that you carry something...someting evil...' Thorin remembered. 'What is this new monstrosity, master burglar?'
Belladonna frowned at her fathers tactless questions. On the other hand she grew curious. Bilbo had managed the unthinkable in Mirkwood. How?
The hobbit took a deep breath and sighed. He finally nodded and began to talk. 'When the company was captured in the Misty Mountains, I managed to slip away, the goblins simply did not see me. I slipped though, and feel into the deep. Down there, in the darkness, lives a creature called Gollum, a horrid and nasty creature. He eats the goblins who have the luck to cross his path. This creature had a golden ring...' Bilbo stuttered. Dwarves were greedy and loved gold. Would they take the ring away from him? Suddenly he felt the urge to back away, but Thorin and his daughter had him trapped in a corner.
'Bilbo.' it was Belladonnas soft voice which made him focus again. There was no malice in her eyes and Bilbo felt a wave of relief.
'I took this ring and as I slipped it onto my finger I became invisible. I do not know what power it posesses, but I used it to escape from the goblin tunnels as well to stay unnoticed in Mirkwood. I am no burglar, I simply had help.' Bilbo shook his head sadly.
'Nonsense, Bilbo. What you have done was only you. Not this...ring, not the invisibility. And I am sure that it was not the rings idea to get us out of Mirkwood in barrels.' Belladonna assured him and the hobbit smiled gratefully.
'But why can you see Brann? And talk to her?' Thorin wanted to know. He envied the hobbit for being able to talk and see Brann every moment he wished to.
'I do not know.' Bilbo shook his head. 'When I slip on the ring, I see her, just like I see you right now.'
'The ring makes you wander between the worlds.' Belladonna muttered.
Thorin watched the hobbit closely. He thought about asking the hobbit to use the ring to be able to see his wife. But Bilbo had reacted strongly as Belladonna had asked him about the ring. Almost obsessed. Thorin knew that look from his grandfather. Thror had reacted that way when someone wanted to take him from his gold in his last days of sickness. Were hobbits also drawn to riches? Thorin had always thought that they were simple creatures who did not care for gold and jewels. Shaking his head, Thorin tried to fight a headache. He looked back to Kili, who had fallen asleep, thanks to the kingsfoil.
Fili caught his uncle's gaze and smiled. Fili looked as tired as Thorn felt and the sun was already rising. They would have to leave soon. Thorin decided to postpone more discussion about the ring and stood up.
'This ring might be helpful for your next task, master burglar.' Thorin stated and turned away from the hobbit, who sighed in relief. At least the dwarf had not tried to take the ring from him. 'We need to leave after sunrise.'
'What about Kili?' Belladonna asked as they walked back to Thorins nephews.
'He will stay here.' Thorin stated sadly. 'He cannot come with us, he is too weak.'
'I will stay with him. The wounded are my responsibilty.' Oin stated firmly.
'I will stay, too.' Fili told his uncle and earned a shocked look.
'Fili, you belong with the company.' Thorin tried to persuade his nephew.
'I belong with my brother.' Fili stayed stubbornly.
Thorin frowned, but deep in his heart he knew that Fili was right. He would have done the same for Frerin over a century ago.
#
In the meantime, Brann was fuming. She stood on the balcony of Bards house and looked up to the moon. It was a red moon, like the moon of Kilis story which he had told to the she elf. She had heard Tauriel talk to Legolas about this story and she had smiled at the she elf's dreamy expression. Tauriel...Brann frowned. Maybe the captain of the guard would help them. She liked Kili and maybe...Brann was already running before she knew it. She could not feel the elf's presence, so she had to find her on foot. The former queen ran...thankfully, as a presence, she could also run over water and so she took the direct way towards Mirkwood. If she was fast enough, Kili would live.
Brann ran the whole night and most of the morning. She found the river and ran upwards towards the elven realm. She thanked the Valar that she did not grow too tired. She felt young again and relished in this feeling, but not for long. Brann did not have to search for the she elf for long. She practically ran into her a few miles into the land. The red hair stood there and looked upon Laketown. The elven prince was with her. Brann frowned. She did not know how to lure the elves to Laketown. She froze as she heard their conversation. Brann understood a few words of Sindarin, she had learned secretly, in the hope that one day, Thorin would have had searched for relations with elves. Today, she knew how naive these thoughts had been.
'When did we allow evil to become stronger than us?' Brann heard Tauriel ask her friend.
Legolas frowned and sighed. They had followed the orcs until they had lost their trail, but they knew that the orcs had gone for Laketown, after the dwarves. Tauriel would hunt down the orcs, wether he wanted it or not. Brann was still panting as the two elves mounted a white horse and rode towards Laketown.
Brann was still panting from her run and watched them leave. 'Are you freaking kidding me?!' she exclaimed and did not know wether to feel relieved or angry. At least she did not have to lure them to Laketown. Grinding her teeth, Brann turned around on her heels and ran back to Laketown. In the middle of the lake she paused.
Thorin and most of the company would already be on their way to Erebor. Durin's Day was today and they would not lose any time. Tauriel and Legolas were on their way to Laketown, they would help Kili. Brann needed to stay with Thorin, especially now. She had sworn that he would not succumb to the goldsickness if she could prevent it and by the Valar, she would. Brann closed her eyes and concentrated on her husband once again. She was tired of running, she just wanted to see him. Her vision blurred and she felt light as her presence was drawn back to where she belonged. Her family.
As she opened her eyes she stood at the foot of the Lonely Mountain.
Wait, we need to scramble up there? Brann winced.
Thorins head spun around and she could see him relax. 'You are back.' he adressed her mentally. 'I missed you.'
At least you managed to stay out of trouble until now. I missed you, too. Brann sighed. I promised you to stay at your side. And I will stay true to my promise. I love you, but do not make me go up there.
The company frowned as their king laughed out loud as they started climbing.
#
On their way to the top Thorin told Brann what had happened so far. He was relieved as he heard that Tauriel and Legolas were on their way to Laketown, although he would never admit it. Thorin knew that only elves could help his nephew, Oin had told him so. The old healer and Fili had stayed at Kilis side and Belladonnas sweetness had persuaded Bard to give them shelter. Bards eldest daughter liked Fili and she seemed happy to have him around longer, even if she really pitied Filis younger brother. The youngest daughter had a good heart and she had looked at her father with puppy eyes as he wanted to throw the dwarves out. The two girls had a good influence on the male members of their family and Brann smirked as Thorin told her so. Thrain had once said that the Durin line was inofficially ruled by the females of the line. It seemed that it was not only the case with the Durins.
'Over there!, Bilbo was the one who found the stairway leading up to the secret door.
'You have keen eyes, master hobbit!' Thorin patted Bilbos shoulder and made the hobbit smile proudly. The company rushed up the stairs and stood in front of the grey rock. They watched as the sun set slowly behind the mountains. There was no keyhole. Nori tried to find it with his spy equipment while Dwalin used brutal force to open the secret door. But nothing helped. Branns heart sank as the last sunlight of Durins Day faded away. But it was Thorins face that hurt her the most. The expression of utter despair and broken hopes shattered Branns heart.
Thorin...Brann watched sadly as Thorin let go of the key that he had kept close during the whole quest. The key to his home. Thorin, do not give up...
Brann and Bilbo both tried to stop Thorin from leaving, but the exiled king turned away from the secret door. He slammed the map into Bilbos chest and walked through Branns presence without knowing it. But Brann felt the cold in his heart as he walked through her. Bilbo and her stayed behind.
Why did you throw away the key? We will find a way! There will be another Durin's Day next year! Thorin! Brann cried out after her husband, but as she looked down the stairway she felt dizzy. That's it, I will wait here for a year, I will not go down there and scramble up again next year! Do you hear me?
Brann sat down and cursed. This was not how it was supposed to happen. Bilbo had also not given up, he was thinking hard. The last light of Durin's Day...the last light...Brann exhaled deeply in despair and the strong wind resulting out of this breath moved the light clouds from the moon. A bright light shone upon the grey stone and Bilbo turned to see the keyhole emerge from the stone. Bilbo and Brann both jumped and yelled down the path.
'Its the moonlight! The last MOONlight of Durin's Day! Come back!'
Thorin, who had not walked down the stairway and had sat down behind the next rock, nearly went deaf.