Chapter 18
"I'm sure many dwarfs will volunteer for this mission," said Balin.
Kaleria nodded. "I know that, but I want to keep the scouting groups smaller to avoid drawing attention."
They gathered names of the fastest, toughest, and most loyal dwarves. After the groups were set, they planned out where to send each group. Everyone agreed a scout team should be sent toward the Iron Hills and gather information on the village Thorin had gone to see. Another group was sent south to scout past the were unsure on where to send the final group.
"We're sending the final group to Mirkwood," said Kaleria.
Balin and Dis snapped their attention to her.
The Durin anger flared in Dis at the mention of their sworn enemies. "You can't be serious? Those heartless maggots cannot be trusted."
"The council wants us to create alliances. That is exactly what I intend to do." Kaleria stated, the serious tone of her voice chilling the air.
Balin attempted to diffuse the situation. "May I suggest another course of action? The elves do not trust us."
"Maybe it is time for a change. I am sending the scout team to the elves and I will ask King Thandruil for help returning our king."
"Thorin would never beg for help from elves," argued Dis.
"Thorin isn't here!" Kaleria bellowed, the emotion she had bottled for weeks exploding in a rage that scared Balin and Dis. "He is not here to be angry with me for asking the elves for help. He is not here to order me not to do it. I am Queen of Erebor and this is my decision."
Dis recoiled, but didn't offer a reply.
Balin stepped forward between the women. "As you command, my queen. We will send scouts to the elves and ask for their help. I will draft the letter—"
"No," Kaleria cut him off. "I will draft the letter. You two inform the scouts of our plan. I will have the letters completed this evening."
Balin bowed his head and moved toward the door. Dis remained where she was, staring hard at her brother's wife.
Kaleria met her eyes. "You're dismissed."
Dis bowed her head and stomped out the door, the Durin rage steaming in her wake. Balin shut the door behind him leaving Kaleria alone in Thorin's study.
Kaleria grew unsteady on her feet and sat on the edge of Thorin's desk for support. She wanted to make the right decision for everyone, but she didn't know what that decision was. She wanted her husband back. She wanted her people back. She wanted to uphold the values of Erebor.
No matter what she chose, she would have to live with that decision, but could those around her live with it as well?
After four days of bouncing along in the back of a wagon, the caravan stopped in a small clearing just past the treeline of the forest of Mirkwood. The clearing was in a low spot of the forest with plenty of dense trees to hide the caravan from the open plain.
Thorin could hear the humans unloading their cargo and setting up camp. The human driving Thorin's wagon leapt from the seat and circled around to the back of the wagon. He drew his sword and held it steady at Thorin and Dwalin as he lowered the gate.
"Out! The both of you! And don't do anything funny." The human threatened, keeping a sword length between himself and the dwarves.
Thorin lifted himself from his seated position and walked to the back of the wagon before jumping to the ground. The man flinched and held his sword straighter, trying and failing to threaten the King Under the Mountain. Thorin eyed the situation around him, taking in their new surroundings.
The humans had found a cliff face about twenty feet tall that curved into a half circle until the walls descended to meet the forest floor, taking up space nearly the size of Thorin's study. They had arranged the wagons in a half circle opposite of the cliff face, creating a completed circle. Thorin watched as his men were led to the bottom of the cliff face, enclosed in a circle by the twenty foot wall at their backs and dozens of humans in front.
Dwalin landed on the ground next to Thorin and surveyed the area around them. "This doesn't look good."
"We've had worse," said Thorin.
"I don't think it could get much worse." Dwalin huffed.
"Fire breathing dragon?" Thorin reminded.
"Oi! Alright, but at least we knew our surroundings then. I haven't the faintest idea where we are." Dwalin looked around the tops of the trees, hoping to see which direction the sun was setting, but the crowded foliage hindered his senses.
"Move ya filthy dwarves! Join the rest of your lot." The human commanded.
Thorin glanced at him. "You don't have to be rude. You don't smell so great yourself."
The human grit his teeth and started to swing his sword, but another hand caught his arm.
"That's enough, Ekbert." The leader of the humans, Aldor, shoved his man away as he stepped between him and Thorin.
"He needs to be taught a lesson," argued Ekbert.
"As do you! This dwarf is the key to all of this. I will not sacrifice all that gold because your feelings were hurt." Aldor said, harshly.
Ekbert grunted, none too pleased with being called weak in front of the entire camp.
"Unload your wagon and go find Rawlins. You can peel potatoes until your fingers are raw." Aldor ordered.
Ekbert hesitated a moment before sheathing his sword and going back to the front of his wagon to unhitch his horses.
Aldor turned to Thorin. "My apologies, your grace. Shall I escort you to your new accommodations?"
"I don't think that's necessary," replied Thorin.
"Nonsense," Aldor stepped behind Thorin and Dwalin and shoved them both forward, "it would be my honor."
Thorin and Dwalin walked down to join their men at the bottom of the cliff face.
"We picked a lovely spot I think. Plenty of room, nice structure, hard to escape." Aldor sounded cheerful as he described their new situation.
"What makes you think we would try to escape?" Thorin asked.
"Do you take me for a fool?" Aldor grabbed Thorin's shoulder and spun him to face him as he pulled a knife from his belt. He pressed the knife flat against Thorin's lips as he held his head in place.
"You are not the type to give up easily. You will fight until your last breath. I admire that about you." Aldor smirked as he pressed the knife harder against Thorin's lip. "But I want you to know that if you and your men try to escape, I won't kill you. I'll kill your men. And if you try again, I'll send word to Erebor to kill your family. Starting with that pretty wife of yours."
Thorin's eyes burned with rage.
Aldor's smile deepend. "Do we understand each other?"
Thorin breathed heavily to calm himself, and nodded his head.
"Good," said Aldor.
He shoved Thorin away and waited for him and Dwalin to reach the bottom of the hill with all their men. Thorin wiped the blood from the cut on his lip and glared at Aldor standing over them.
A threat upon his men, or his own life, Thorin could handle, but a threat against Kaleria was unbearable. He knew Aldor wasn't bluffing about having connections within Erebor, so Thorin sat at the base of the wall and began drafting a list of who in Erebor would turn against him. When he returned home, he would handle any spies himself, and it wouldn't be pleasant.