Thorin's Heart ~ Chapter 13

Chapter 13 ~ Promises to Keep

Hours and time seemed to pass by slowly as Thorin waited, waited to be released, waited for Bilbo, waited to be back in her arms. Thorin looked up suddenly and saw an elf standing by his cell.  He had a sweet spirited face and had kneeled down, trying to get a better look at Thorin through the bars.  He shook his head and then stood again.

“I came to see the face of the one who has stolen my heart,” Legolas said smiling.

Thorin did not answer but slowly stood to face him in the light.  He was as handsome as elves come and young, like her.  His nature seemed peaceful, unlike his father’s, his face pleasant, but knew he was lethal as the most skilled of his kin.  

“I was headed to see her after hearing she was so sick and then my father told me the news of you. I will honestly admit I was quite shocked,” he added.  “Yet somehow I knew Kale was always out of reach.  But I had always promised to follow with my hand outstretched.”

“She’s made no mention of you,” Thorin growled not caring if he was being friendly or not.

“Please do not hurt my pride,” Legolas said putting his hand over his heart.  “It has already been destroyed enough for one day.”

“So what now, come to add to my misery?” Thorin said returning to his seat.

“No,” he laughed. “Not at all!  If Kale finds out I had part in helping my father keep you prisoner here she will never forgive me. Everything has changed now knowing who you are.  She has already dismissed Rafe from her life since his betrayal to you at the Misty Mountains and I could not live knowing she has done the same to me.  I am truly happy, if she is.”

“What did you say?” Thorin said standing again and walking to the bars.

“Did you not know?  Rafe is the one that alerted the goblins to your coming which almost cost you your life.   When Kale heard this, she banished him from her and has had nothing to do with him since.  He’s going crazy with such a loss.  He knows nothing except her.”

Thorin hung his head low thinking of the position Rafe had put them all in.

“You must promise me you will be good to her.” Legolas said softly interrupting Thorin’s thoughts of Rafe.

Thorin owed him nothing but would never allow him to think he would do nothing but hold her dear to his heart.

“She is my life,” Thorin spoke proudly.  “I have never met someone with such gentle grace or pure of heart. Why she chose me, I will never know,” he whispered slowly shaking his head sadly.  “She caught me so off guard, awakening my soul and planting a fire in my heart. I have not been the same since.  She has made me new and alive and I will spend the rest of my life making up this lost time from her. I swear it!  She has always believed in me.  I wanted her with me every step for the rest of my life but I could not bring her with me to protect her. Now that I have found out she has been sick I cannot live with myself.  I have to get out Legolas, now!”

“No one blames you Thorin.  She does not blame you. I think she made an honorable choice and her heart obviously played the larger role in all of this.  You won and I will accept that even though it is crushing.” He looked down and then sighed. “Both of our futures are going to be different now but we have to stay strong and I have to get you out of here for her sake.  She needs you now Thorin, more than ever.”  

Thorin looked up thankful.  

“My father is old and covets gold.  He is firm with his opinions and often does not listen to reason, but he will listen to me.  We will get you to her.”

“Thank you, Legolas.”  Thorin unwillingly whispered.  He had been in debt to elves all to often, but could only hope that he would be true to his word.

Kale walked slowly down the hall until she reached Thorin’s room.  The hall was empty and whispered of the loneliness that Thorin and the others had left behind.  Rivendell was once full of proud noble elves that filled these rooms. One by one and family by family, they slowly began to disappear, as did her Thorin.  Her grief was slowly killing her but she held onto his promise and for the future of their baby.

She pushed the door open and slowly walked in, shutting it behind her.  Her father had left for a moment to make her some fresh soup and she took the opportunity to slip away.  She knew Rafe wouldn’t be too far behind.

Tears filled her eyes as she saw their bed.  She would never forget their first night together. They were finally able to sleep together and hold each other without being disturbed.  She did not want to fall asleep but her body was not use to giving so much, and she dozed often in his arms.  The best sleep she ever received.  He was so warm and strong, and she craved his scent and touch.  She had made her home in his arms and missed it so.  She shivered as the wind softly blew through the curtains bringing her thoughts back to reality. She wanted to crawl into their bed and bury herself in the covers hoping his scent still lingered, but she knew she had to get back.  
   
As she turned, something under the side of the bed caught her eye.  She walked quickly over to retrieve it.  The floor was covered with leaves that had blew through the windows and made their home on the floor. Laying in the middle of them was a note and on the front it read, “My Kale.”

Her heart stopped and a lump filled her throat as she moved her finger across the writing.  She slowly opened it and could barely see because of the tears that filled her eyes.  

My Dearest Wife,
     You are sleeping beside me right now and I cannot rest afraid I will miss a moment with you.  Afraid, I will miss hearing you whisper my name or see your eyes open to find you waking by my side.  Afraid, Kale I am so afraid.  Scared that something will happen and I cannot get back to you, but I promised you before, I will never stop fighting to be with you again. You are the best and most precious thing that I have ever had in my life.  You baby, are my life.  I cannot imagine the pain whenever we part, but I promise you now and I promise you forever that my constant love is with you, inside of you, holding you and thinking of you always. I pray for the day you are in my arms again.
 
Last night, was our first night together as husband and wife and I cannot contain the joy I feel thinking of those moments together.  I pray we get them back soon and we spend forever making up for lost time.  I will hold onto to those moments and cherish each memory of your touch, your kiss, your scent, and your love until I am with you again.
I pray that our family grows soon.  I hope I’m able to give you the babies you asked me for.  I have dreamed of a little one, as I dreamed of you.  I can only imagine how great a mother you will be.  You have the most giving and loving heart, God knows I don’t deserve you, but how I love you so!  God, I love you Kale!  I love you fiercely, my wife, my heart, and I pray that by the time you find this, I am already home, in your arms.  I will not stop fighting for our home, for you, for us!  This is a once in a lifetime love and no matter what challenges might have carried us apart, we will always find a way back to each other.

Please do not cry for me but smile knowing we are closer to being together again.  Smile, at the future we will share.  Smile, at the moments we have already had.  Smile, because our babies will soon be in our arms and we will never be parted again.  Smile, because you have all my love.  I am, and will always be, yours completely.  I have to go, you are stirring and I cannot wait to embrace you again and be consumed by your love, the love I would die for.
                                                                Your Husband, Your Thorin
*You’re in my heart Kale, you are my heart.

Her hands shook as tears dripped on the paper.  She covered her mouth with her hand in awe of how close he seemed.  She felt his love pouring from the words and she held it to her heart, and smiled.

Bilbo had made his way to the Elves’ wine cellars and figured out he could use the barrels they sent down river, for more wine, to hide the dwarves in.  Getting them out and to the barrels was a problem.  Luck was on his side as he eventually found two elves passed out, obviously from the wine, and he slid the keys from the female’s pocket.
 
He had come to know her from the shadows.  Her name was Tauriel, captain of the guards, fierce and strong, but Bilbo saw the loneliness and longing of something more when she was alone, or thought she was alone.  He thought luck was finally with him one day as Tauriel had stormed from Thranduil’s chambers furious.  She had overheard the conversation of Kale and was on a mission to release the dwarves to make Thranduil angry and pay him back for his coldness.  She didn’t care what kind of consequences lie before her, she was numb to caring anymore.  By the time she reached Thorin’s cell, she had changed her mind and Bilbo was left to find another way. He sensed that she loved Thranduil but she would never be enough in his eyes and have his love in return.
 
Bilbo lingered for a second longer staring into her sleeping face, feeling pity for her.  She was a prisoner here as well.  He did not want to get her in trouble but Kale’s promise was more important.  He turned quickly running toward the dwarves, and did not look back.

Bilbo somehow managed to get them all out as they quietly followed him to the last cell, Thorin.  Thorin could not believe it as he hugged Bilbo and knew Kale was right.  Bilbo smiled feeling important but knew the task was not yet done.  They ran swiftly through the vast caverns down into the wine cellar.  The two sleeping elves were still there as they slipped by. Bilbo tucked them one by one into the barrels.  The elves came later and pushed the barrels into the river. Bilbo jumped in after them and they floated swiftly downstream.

Bilbo breathed in a sigh of relief as the river took them further and further away from the elves.  The dwarves soon popped their tops off the barrels to get fresh air. They held on tight, as they prepared for the rough waters ahead.  The water was cold and soon they were all soaked and near freezing.  They floated for what seemed like forever until they finally saw the Lake Town.  Long wooden planks stretched out into the river, as it curved, catching the barrels and guiding them into the docking area.  It was dark and no man was in sight.  Bilbo helped them out and walked ahead with his ring to make sure no danger was near.  It was passed midnight and freezing.  They were cold and needed a fire.  Thorin had already made up his mind he was turning back even if the Lonely Mountain was closer than ever.
 
“The Lake Town,” Bawlin whispered. “We are at the Lonely Mountain’s footstep.”

“I can’t believe, we’re almost there,” Fili chimed in.

“I have to go back,” Thorin interrupted desperation and loss in his voice.

“What?  We can’t turn back now,” Kili unwillingly added.

No one would have ever disagreed with Thorin but coming so far and being hurt, battered, near drowned, and tired, it seemed Thorin had gone mad in Thranduil’s cell.  Everyone was in an uproar expressing their dislike with his plans not knowing what was really wrong.  
 
“Kale,” he whispered looking into the night as everyone stopped arguing and listened.

“Thranduil said she was deathly sick.  I have a wife now and she comes first over any mission of madness.  I have abandoned her and she needs me, I have been such a fool.”

No one could argue that Kale needed him even if it cost them their home.  They all had fell in love with her in some way or another, and their sadness for her took over willing them to let go and do what was right.  Their King was selfless always putting his people first over himself.  Life had dealt him a lonesome hand and he was now asking for something back. They would support him whichever way he went.  

Bilbo had walked up just in time to overhear and slipped off his ring. “She’s ok Thorin!”
Everyone looked his way as he continued.  “I heard them talking about her.  She’s not sick!”

“What?”  Thorin roared with anger that Thranduil would stoop to such lies to hurt him for the release of his gold.

“She was,” Bilbo clarified. “Very sick actually, but she is better now.  They had sent for Lady Galadriel to help her.”

Thorin felt as if he could finally breathe for a moment.  But knowing she had been so ill crushed him and he knew hearing this news had still changed nothing.  He needed to be with her.

“No matter, I am going back!”

No one spoke as the decision was final.  Bilbo did not want to stand in Thorin’s wrath but knew he made a promise.  

He swallowed the thump in his throat before speaking.  “You have to keep on Thorin, for Kale,” Bilbo whispered weakly. “I promised her I would see you to the end of this.  To get you back your home, her home, and then get you back to her.  I have come this far and that’s what I’m going to do!  I’m not going to let her down.”

Everyone smiled at the boldness Bilbo seemed to have found and Thorin sighed.

“If I didn’t think she was ok I would never stand in your way. Not that I could,” he added. “No one has wanted to turn around as many times as I have.  But I made a promise to her Thorin and to you and I am going to follow through on my word with or without you.  Here, maybe this will help you decide.”

Bilbo reached into his pocket and then held out his hand and there was Kale’s necklace glowing in moonlight.  Thorin looked at him astonished and almost speechless, “How?” is all he could manage to say.

“Hey, I’m a burglar,” Bilbo said proudly shrugging his shoulders as if it was something he had done every day of his life.  “And that was yours from her and they took it from you.  It was never intended on being theirs, she gave that to you, so you better put it back on and let’s get on with this.  I miss my books, my house, food, clean clothes, well you get the point.”

Bilbo turned and headed toward the Lake Town and everyone started to follow patting Thorin on the back as they walked by.

With shaky hands, Thorin put on Kale’s necklace, determined to carry on and get back to his love as fast as his feet would carry him.