Thorin's Heart ~ Chapter 12

Chapter 12 ~ Broken

Thranduil stood proudly at Thorin’s cold cell, his posture sure and strong, and his smirk firmly in place.  He had come with ammunition, the key to Thorin’s undoing.

“I did not know we were such enemies, Thorin Oakenshield.”

Thorin looked surprised.  Who had told him?  

“My my, the great “thunderous” Thorin in my very own home, in my dungeon nonetheless.    Now why would you not tell me who you were, and what about this quest of madness you are on?  Come to reclaim your gold?  Did you think I wanted it?” Thranduil laughed. “Are you not going to speak?  I should have known a proud Durin would never talk, especially over talks of his horde.”

“I have nothing to say to you. You and your people abandoned us long ago. You are lower than the dirt I walk on,” Thorin growled from the shadows of his prison.
 
“Did you want me to slaughter my people for the dwarves own greed?  Can’t we move on from such a horrible day?  I have news for you from Rivendell.”

Thorin’s heart stopped. Rivendell? Kale was at the Carrock.

“What of it?” Thorin snapped.

“Apparently you have a wife there.”  Thranduil smiled letting him take that in as Thorin’s rage burned with fire.

“You know when I heard such news I could not believe it.  I should have recognized the necklace you wore around your neck.  Clearly not of dwarven make, only seen on one creature all of my life.  I thought to myself, not the majestic Kale of Rivendell, the most unique being to ever set foot on Middle Earth.  As precious as the air we breathe, the prize and heart of Lady Galadriel herself, the one I wanted for my son.”  He eyed Thorin gauging his reaction. “I had only met her once some years ago.  She was so small and was perched on Brakin’s shoulders like a little bird.  She would not let me hold her, but I felt the power she possessed and my son was taken.  He has visited her several times in Rivendell just to be in her presence.  How disappointing that she chose a dwarf to be her mate.  Legolas would have been a perfect husband. He could’ve given her immortality, and now she has been tainted by you. Did you not think of her at all?”

Thorin growled and grabbed Thranduil through the bars.  

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.  I have the most pressing news.”

“And what do you want for such news?” Thorin spat.

“You already know Thorin!”

“Done,” Thorin let him go as he stumbled back and Thranduil straightened his robe, amazed that it had worked so quickly.

“Ha ha ha, I have found the fearless battle hardened warrior, Thorin Oakenshield’s, weakness. I can understand why,” he said smiling to his guards.

“You tell me now and then you release me,” Thorin yelled.

“Fine Fine, our agreement,” Thranduil smiled holding his hands up as to surrender.

“She’s been sick Thorin, very ill, deathly ill for a matter of fact,” he added solemnly.  “She hasn’t been at the Carrock since you left.  You should sleep soundly knowing she is back where she belongs in the protection of Rafe and Brakin. They are trying to undo the damage you have caused.”

Thorin hit the bars fiercely making the rocks crumble above them.  Thranduil looked up with concern touching his eyes knowing that Thorin’s strength could very well bring the walls down. Being in his furious hands would not end well.

“Let me out now or I’ll kill you,” he snarled.

“You will take me to my gold first.  I will let you out as soon as we get a hunting party together and plans in order.  We will get you to the mountain and let you do the rest. However, you plan on doing this I want to be there to watch and I want you away from Kale.”

“I will go nowhere until I see her,” Thorin hissed hitting the bars that imprisoned him again.  “If you want me on my knees I will get on my knees and beg like a dog.”

“Ha ha ha, no need for that Thorin, King without a mountain, you will remain in your cell until I have decided what we are going to do with you.  She is in far better hands than your own. Always remember that was your choice.” Thranduil turned walking away and then stopped.

“And just for insurance,” he added holding up Kale’s necklace with a smirk, “You’ll get this back after the gold is won again.”
 
Thorin grabbed his neck as Thranduil left and screamed his name over and over until the dungeon door was tightly shut behind him.

Time seemed suspended and loomed in the darkness as Thorin sat and shook.  His nerves were being eaten away with thoughts of his wife fallen ill.  He grew scared and paralyzed, feeling his soul part from his body and grow ill with her.  He would kill Thranduil if ever he could get his hands on him again.  He had taken Orcrist, Kale’s necklace, and his spirit.  He would try to take Kale herself if he wielded such power.  Thorin was being tortured and was helpless.  Thranduil was breaking him and he knew it.

“Thorin,” Bilbo whispered from outside his cell.  Bilbo had heard everything and knew they were trying to break him.    

“Go away Bilbo, let me rot in my own misery.”  

Bilbo could hear the hurt and defeat in Thorin’s deep voice as he sat outside the bars on the cold damp floor and removed his ring.  His voice carried the final blow, Kale.  She had been sick and he was not there to help her.  Everything that could have possibly gone wrong had.  Thranduil took such news using it against Thorin and despair was consuming him.

“You know we had a long talk the day you let me wait outside her door.” Thorin did not speak so Bilbo continued hoping he would listen.

“I thought she woke many times calling you but when I would open the door she would be asleep.  When she finally did wake, she was scared and I did not think I could calm her down. She just kept saying your name over and over.  I knew you would kill me if you came back and she was so upset, so I tried to talk to her and help settle her nerves.”

Bilbo eyed Thorin, then his head had sunk and he thought he saw a tear.  He cautiously continued.

“After realizing you were not far away she thanked me over and over for trying to help you on the cliff.  And then she made me promise something else.”

Thorin looked up, a dwarf who had aged many years in his cell.

“She made me promise I would stay by your side and never leave you.  She made me promise to be with you until the end. ‘Stay with him Bilbo Baggins and I know everything will be alright.  Stay with him Bilbo and bring him home to me,’ Over and over she begged, and Thorin I’m not going to let her down.  I’m going to get you out of here.  I made a promise and I’m going to keep it. Hang on Thorin. I’m going to make this right.”

Bilbo eyed him again and his head had sunk back down.  

“She is the light in your dark dungeon and she loves you more than life itself. Hang on for her.”

Bilbo slipped back on his ring and stood. “Hang on for her Thorin,” and then disappeared into the darkness.

Kale sat on a bench with Arwen. The bench looked out at the river that ran through Rivendell. This was the first time she had felt the sun on her skin in weeks and she smiled at the strength it seemed to give her and the baby.  The trickle of water calmed her some and see closed her eyes, picturing Thorin’s face.  Her father had carried her and left her there for some time alone with her friend.

“The world is new now, everything has changed,” Arwen said smiling at Kale softly.

Kale touched her belly feeling the wonder within that left her speechless.
   
“You gave us quite a scare.  I have never seen anyone so sick. I think it opened everyone’s eyes to how strong the bond you share with Thorin is.”

“It is strong Arwen,” Kale whispered weakly. “I feel tied to him in such a way that has left me lost without him.”

“What is it like? Love?” she clarified giggling.

Kale smiled, “Words could never truly explain.  It is the feeling of being so close to someone that you give yourself to them completely heart, body, and soul, but love never seems enough leaving you craving for more.”  She stared into the distance remembering his touch that gave her chills.  “The very sight of Thorin gives me butterflies, his touch can turn to fire, and his kiss makes me weak, but stronger at the same time as he pulls me to him. When he came to Rivendell, I knew from the moment I saw him and heard his voice that I would never want another. Just the loss of his arms around me at night is enough to kill me,” she whispered tears filling her eyes.

“Look at what he has given you, Thorin is with you as we speak,” she smiled touching Kale’s belly.

Kale laughed with tears in her eyes, “You’re right, we have made a miracle. He will be so happy when he finds out; he wanted a baby so much. Everything will be perfect.  As much as I wish he was here now, I could not hurt him by making it harder on him.  He carries such a burden on his shoulders and the weight of the world in his heart. I admire him so, and pray he comes back to us soon.  Without the baby, I don’t think I could hold on much longer,” she whispered as her voice broke and she put a shaky hand over her mouth.

Arwen held Kale in her arms trying to comfort her until Brakin came and picked her up, carrying her back to bed.  Arwen sighed, hopeful that they would be reunited soon and hopeful of a love of her own king one day.