Chapter 17: The Gathering of the Clouds
All night one of them had watched, but when morning came they had not heard or seen any sign of danger. But even more thickly the birds were gathering. Their companies came flying from the South; and the crows that still lived above the Mountain were wheeling and crying unceasingly above.
"Something strange is happening," said Thorin. "The time has gone for the autumn wanderings; and these are birds that dwell always in the land; there are starlings and flocks of finches; and far off there are many carrion birds as if a battle were afoot!"
"There's that old thrush again," Bella commented. Sure enough the old thrush was there, and as Bella pointed, he flew towards them and perched on a stone nearby. Then he fluttered his wings and sang; then he cocked his head on one side, as if to listen; and he sang again, and again he listened.
"I believe he is trying to tell us something," said Balin; "but I cannot follow the speech of such birds, it is very quick and difficult. Can you make it out Bella?"
She shook her head gently. "I'm sorry, I cannot."
"I only wish he was a raven," said Balin.
"I though you did not care for them! You seemed very shy of them, when we came this way before."
"Those were crows! And nasty suspicious-looking creatures at that, and rude as well. You must have heard the ugly names they were calling after us. But ravens are different. There used to be a great friendship between them and the people of Thror; and they often brought us secret news, and were rewarded with such bright things as they coveted to hide in their dwellings."
No sooner had he finished speaking that the old thrush gave a loud call, and immediately flew away.
"We may not understand him, but that old bird understands us, I am sure," said Balin. "Keep watch now, and see what happens."
Before long there was a fluttering of wings, and back came the thrush; and with him came a most decrepit old bird. He was getting blind, he could hardly fly, and the top of his head was bald. He was an aged raven of great sixe. He alighted stiffly on the ground before them, slowly flapping his wings, and bobbed towards Thorin.
"Behold," the great bird croaked out, "the birds are gathering back to the Mountain and to Dale from the South and East and West, for word has gone out that Smaug is dead!"
"Dead! Dead?" shouted the dwarves. "Dead! Then we have been in needless fear – and the treasure is ours!" They all sprang up and began to caper for joy.
"Yes, dead," said the raven. "The thrush, may his feathers never fall, saw him die, and we may trust his words. He saw him fall in battle with the men of Esgaroth the third night back from now at the rising of the moon. So much for joy, Thorin Oakenshield. You may return to your halls in safety; all the treasure is yours – for the moment. Many gather beside the birds. The news of the death of the guardian has already gone far and wide, and the legend of the wealth of Thror has not lost in the telling during many years; many are eager for a share of the spoil. Already a host of elves is on the way, and carrion birds are with them hoping for battle and slaughter. By the lake men murmur that their sorrows are due to the dwarves; for they are homeless and many have died, and Smaug has destroyed their town. They too think to find amends from your treasure, whether you are alive or dead
"Your own wisdom must decide you course; but thirteen is small remnant of the great folk of Durin that once dwelt here, and now are scattered far. If you listen to my counsel, you will not trust the Master of the Lake-men, but rather him that shot the dragon with his bow. Bard is he, of the race of Dale. We would see peace once more among dwarves and men and elves after the long desolation; but it may cost you dear in gold. I have spoken."
Then Thorin burst forth in anger: "Our thanks, raven. You and yours shall not be forgotten. But none of our gold shall thieves take or the violent carry off while we are alive. If you would earn our thanks still more, bring us news of any that draw near. Also I would beg of you, if any of you are still young and strong of wing, that you would send messengers to our kin in the mountains of the North and tell them of our plight. But go specifically to my cousin Dain in the Iron Hills, for he has many people well-armed, and dwells nearest to this place. Bid him hasten."
"I will do what can be done," said the raven, before he slowly flew off.
"Back now to the Mountain!" cried Thorin. "We have little time to lose."
"Back to the Mountain!" cried the dwarves.
In the back of the group, Bella firmly clamped her cloak tight, very aware of the weight of the Arkenstone and the burden it was upon her. She knew that things would not go well from this point on.
XXXXXXX
As you have heard some of the events already, you will see that the dwarves still have some days before them. They explored the caverns once more, and found, as they expected, that only the Front Gate remained open; all the other gates had long ago been broken and blocked by Smaug, and no sign of them remained. So now they began to labor hard in fortifying the main entrance, and in making a new path that led from it. Tools were to be found in plenty that the miners and quarries and builders of old had used; and at such work the dwarves were still very skilled.
Bella on the other hand was utterly useless when it came to labor, due to her less sturdy build. So instead, she cooked and took the time to wash and launder all their clothes in the river. It had been days since she'd last uttered a word, and she refused to talk to anybody. Fili and Kili sat with her for company, but Bella would not talk. Guilt about keeping the Arkenstone ate at her, and she was suffering from having to watch Thorin descend into madness bit by bit every day.
As they worked the ravens brought them constant tidings. In this way they learned that the Elvenking had turned aside to the Lake, and they still had a breathing space. Better still, they heard that three of their ponies had escaped and were wandering wild far down the banks of the Running River, not far from where the rest of their stores had been left. So while the others went on with their work, Fili and Kili were sent, guided by a raven, to find the ponies, and bring back all they could.
XXXXXXX
There came a night when suddenly there were many lights as of fires and torches away south in Dale before them.
"They have come!" said Balin. "And their camp is very great. They must have come into the valley under the cover of dusk along both banks of the river."
That night the dwarves slept little. The morning was still pale when they saw a company approaching. From behind their wall they watched them come up to the valley's head and climb slowly up. Before long they could see that both men of the lake armed as if for war and elvish bowmen among them. At length the foremost of these climbed the tumbled rocks and appeared at the top of the falls; and very great was their surprise to see the pool before them and the gate blocked with a wall of new-hewn stone.
As they stood pointing and speaking to each other, Thorin hailed them: "Who are you," he called in a loud voice, "that come as if in war to the gates of Thorin son of Thrain, King under the Mountain, and what do you desire?"
But they answered nothing, and left the way they came. That day the camp was moved to the east of the river, right between the arms of the Mountain. The rocks echoed then with voices and with song, as they had not done for many a day. There was the sound, too, of elven-harps and of sweet music; and as it echoed up towards them it seemed that the chill of the air warmed, and they caught faintly the fragrance of woodland flowers blossoming in the spring.
Then the dwarves themselves brought forth harps and instruments regained from the hoard, and made music to soften the mood. Eventually, when they stopped to think of a different song, Bella gently took Kili's harp and began to sing.
A king he was on carven throne
In many-pillared halls of stone
With golden roof and silver floor
And runes of power upon the door
The light of sun and star and moon
In shining lamps of crystal hewn
Undimmed by cloud or shade of night
There shone forever fair and bright
The world is grey, the mountains old
The forge's fire is ashen-cold
No harp is wrung, no hammer falls
The darkness dwells in Durin's halls
The shadow lies upon his tomb
In Moria, in Khazad-Dum
But still the sunken stars appear
In dark and windless Mirrormere
There lies his crown in water deep
Till Durin wakes again from sleep
Bella finished, and placed down the harp, avoiding everyone's eyes as she stood up and walked over to the edge of the wall. Leaning against it, she looked down at the camps below, and knew deep within her heart that war was coming. Hanging over her head like a storm cloud, she knew not everyone would survive, and that perhaps her own Thorin might be among the dead in just a few days to come. It very well could be his tomb that the shadows lie across. 'NO!' she shook her head to banish the thoughts. Thorin would survive, and he would overcome his dragonsickness, no matter what she had to do.
"That was beautiful," came Thorin's voice from behind her, startling her. Spinning around, she clasped her hand over her heart as she tried to slow its rapid beating.
"Don't scare me like that!" she scolded, looking up at his eyes. A gasp escaped her. It was her Thorin's eyes, not the ill monster that had been living in him for the past few weeks.
"Sorry," he said with a sheepish grin, "but you're finally talking to me again."
"I always talk to you Thorin. It's to the gold-craving dwarf whom I will not converse with," she said as she grabbed his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'm glad you're back."
A strange look crossed Thorin's eyes, and he quickly changed the subject. "We very well could all die within the next few days."
"Aye," she murmured, "that we could."
Leaning down, his lips brushed her sensitive ears, causing her to shiver pleasantly. "Come away with me tonight," he whispered, before gently tugging her away from the group.
Deep within, Bella knew that this was not a good idea, but she consented because the Arkenstone was currently tucked away in her bag and not on her person. Also, she wanted to experience all of Thorin Oakenshield. It may just be the fear causing her to feel this way, but she wanted a night with her King, in case they may never have a future.
Thorin led her to an old large bedroom, where a gigantic bed lay freshly made and cleaned. This was where Thorin had been sleeping for the past few nights. He turned her around, so that she was facing him, and gently pressed his lips to hers. Electricity shot through her immediately at the familiar feeling of his lips, and her hands automatically went to intertwine in his hair. After a few seconds, he pulled away, earning him a groan from her. "Bella Baggins, would you do me the honor of allowing me to bed you on this night?"
Her hands made their way to cup his cheeks as she planted a chaste kiss on his lips. "Yes," was all she could get out before he scooped her up and devoured her mouth with his. Fire pumped through her veins as she used her hands to quickly remove his cloak and shirts, revealing the hard rippling muscle underneath. Experimentally, she ran her hands across his shoulders and down his chest, raking her nails gently along the firm flesh. A groan escaped Thorin, which she swallowed down, before he moved his head to place a kiss in the crook of her neck. He lowered her down onto the bed, before tearing her coat and shirt off in record time. A deep blush filled her face as Thorin moved back a bit to admire her half naked form.
"You're beautiful," he murmured, as she reached up to cover her chest from his penetrating gaze. He wrapped his hands around each of her wrists and pressed her arms against her sides before descending to place wet kisses down her collar bone and moving towards her breasts.
"Mmmm," she moaned, arching her back slightly. "Thorin…"
And that was just the beginning of their night of passion, in which one hobbit lass lost her virtue, and Thorin made love to his greatest desire.
XXXXXX
When Bella awoke the next morning, she was all alone in the bed with the happy memory of the previous night. No regret filled her, which she took as a good sign, as she quickly dressed and went back to the gate where the others were. Thorin was deep in conversation with Balin, but spared her a smile before returning to the talk. Everyone looked at her with knowing eyes, and Fili and Kili even had the gall to wink at her. Stiff and sore in places she did not know could hurt; she sat down against the wall to think.
A while later, a company of spearmen was seen crossing the river, and marching up the valley. They bore with them the green banner of the Elvenking and the blue banner of the Lake, and they advanced until they stood right before the wall at the Gate.
Again Thorin hailed them in a loud voice: "Who are you that come armed for war to the gates of Thorin son of Thrain, King under the Mountain?" This time he was answered.
A tall man stood forward, dark of hair and grim of face, and he cried: "Hail Thorin! Why do you fence yourself like a robber in his hold? We are not yet foes, and we rejoice that you are alive beyond our hopes. We came expecting to find none living here; yet now that we are met there is matter for a parley and a council."
"Who are you, and of what would you parley?"
"I am Bard, and by my hand was the dragon slain and your treasure delivered. Is that not a matter that concerns you? Moreover I am by right descent the heir of Girion of Dale, and in your hoard is mingled much of the wealth of his halls and towns, which of old Smaug stole. Further in his last battle Smaug destroyed the dwellings of the men of Esgaroth, and I am yet the servant of their Master. I would speak for him and ask whether you have no thought for the sorrow and misery of his people. They aided you in your distress, and in recompense you have thus far brought ruin only, though doubtless undersigned."
"You put your worst cause last and in the chief place," Thorin answered. "To the treasure of my people no man has a claim, because Smaug who stole it from us also robbed him of life or home. The treasure was not his that his evil deeds should be amended with a share of it. The price of goods and the assistance that we received of the Lake-men we will fairly pay – in due time. But nothing will we give, not even a loaf's worth, under threat of force. While an armed host lies before our doors, we look to you as foes and thieves.
"It is in my mind to ask what share of the inheritance you would have paid to our kindred, had you found the hoard unguarded and us slain."
"A just question," replied Bard. "But you are not dead, and we are not robbers. Moreover the wealthy may have pity beyond right on the needy that befriended them when they were in want. And still my other claims remain unanswered."
"I will not parley, as I have said, with armed men at my gate. Be gone now ere our arrows fly! And if you would speak with me again, lay down your arms before you approach the threshold."
"We will give you time to repent your words. Gather your wisdom ere we return!" said Bard. Then he departed and went back to camp.
Many hours past, the banner-bearers returned, and trumpets stood forth and blew a blast: "In the name of Esgaroth and the Forest," one cried, "we speak unto Thorin Thrain's son Oakenshield calling himself King under the Mountain, and we bid him consider well the claims that have been urged or be declared our foe. At the least he shall deliver one twelfth portion of the treasure unto Bard, as the dragon-slayer, and as the heir of Girion. From the portion Bard will himself contribute to the aid of Esgaroth; but if Thorin would have the friendship and honor of the lands about, as his sires had of old, then he will give also somewhat of his own for the comfort of the men of the Lake."
Then Thorin seized a bow of horn and shot an arrow at the speaker. It smote into his shield and stuck their quivering.
"Since such is your answer," he called in return, "I declare the Mountain besieged. You shall not depart from it, until you call on your side for a truce and a parley. We will bear no weapons against you, but we leave you to your gold. You may eat that, if you will!"
With that the messengers departed swiftly, and the dwarves were left to consider their case. So grim had Thorin become, that even if they had wished, the others would not have dared to find fault with him; except perhaps old Bombur and Fili and Kili. Bella, of course, greatly disapproved of the whole turn of affairs, and was highly disappointed in Thorin. But as she met his eyes, she saw that her Thorin was gone, and the gold-hungry beast was back.