The Lionheart (The Hobbit)

Chapter 35: Decisions

Tygr POV

I sat frozen, looking at Thorin who was awaiting an answer. My mind was flooded and confused. "Can...can I think about it?" I asked quietly. I felt Thorin's disappointment but but nodded. "Of course." He said. I grinned slightly and tugged the blacked to cover my chest. He grinned at me and say up before pulling me to his chest. I rested my head on his shoulder for a moment before he reached and grabbed the cloth I wrapped around my chest and re wrapped it. "Thank you..." I said quietly. I stood and pulled my underwear back on followed by the dress I made of one of Thorins shirts. He redressed himself quickly, though in much different clothes. He wore the clothes of a king. "Whoa..." I marveled. "What is it?" He asked. "No no, nothing. You just look quite...regal." I said with a small smile. He grinned and held his hand out to me. "Come with me." He said. I took his hand as we walked side by side down the long hallway. I glanced over at him and felt nervous. He looked so royal and kingly...and well I'm wearing a shirt as a dress. Suddenly he stopped at a door made of iron. "What's this?" I asked. He grinned at me then unlocked the door. "One of the rooms Smaug wishes he had found." He said before pushing it open. My eyes widen a the dimly lit room. Placed in various places where mesmerizing necklaces, earrings, bracelets...even crowns. "Oh mahal...these are just....breathtaking!" I said as I stood in front of an emerald bracelet. "I wanted to give you something, I figured you would like." He said. I turned and saw him open a small silver box. Inside was a beautiful diamond and sapphire bracelet. My mouth opened slightly as I looked at it. "Y-you wanted to give this to me?" I asked shocked. "Yes, it was my mothers." He said as he took it out of the box. "N-no Thorin I can't be given something so valuable..." I said worried backing away. He smiled and quickly latched it around my wrist. "You will, and you are." He said. I looked at it, it fit perfectly. "It's so stunning." I said looking at it. "Yes it is, my father made it for my mother. It was ment to be passed on to our significant others. That is why I am giving it to you." He said. I blushed and nodded, "thank you...so much." I said. He kissed my forehead and went elsewhere. I glanced at other items in the room, rings and necklaces. "This one is really pretty." I said pointing to a silver ring with a rather large diamond cut ruby. Thorin glanced over my shoulder and nodded, "yes it is." He said. I looked back and saw him placing a crown on his head. "What's that?" I asked. "It was my Grandfathers crown." He said. "It's looks perfect on you!" I said with a giggle. He smiled and nodded, "thank you my love." He said grazing my cheek with his thumb. "I need to go check on their progress of searching." He said. I nodded and followed him out of the room. He locked it and looked at me, "that room is a secret, only the royal line knows." He said. "I'm not royal though.." I said. "You will be soon...I hope." He said with a wink before walking off. I stood there frozen before nervously laughing. "Yeah..." I muttered following him down the hall towards the treasure room.

As we arrived we saw them all searching, looking rather spent. "You should give them a break." I said quietly. He nodded, "you can all stop for now! Rest." He said loudly. The company got expressions of relief and trudged their way out of the room. "I smell like coins." Kili said smirking at me. I smiled and laughed, "where have you two been?" Fili asked. I froze and glanced at Thorin. "Oh...we where talking." I said. Fili nodded, not asking anymore. I flinched when I heard Echo's roar from elsewhere. "Is that Echo?" Thorin asked. I nodded, "I'm going to go find her. See what's wrong." I said before running off.

I finally found Echo pacing back and forth infront of the large open door. "What's wrong?" I asked hopping over large chunks of stone. "Tygr! Come with me!" She said worried before gliding off. I sighed and began running after her before she landed on the shore of the lake. "What is i- oh mahal..." I whispered as I looked around her. On the ground cowering where three small water dragons. Babies. "Hey little ones, what are you doing here?" I asked softly as I kneeled down closer to their height. One of them looked at me with fear in their eyes. "Where's our dad..." He said. "W-what?" I asked. Echo then spoke to me through her mind. "Tygr...their Tidels children." she said. I gasped and covered my mouth. I felt my eyes become watery looking at them. "We have to tell them..." I said back. I sighed. "Your father...Tidel? The water dragon?" I asked. They all nodded. "Your father...has died. He died trying to defend Laketown and kill Smaug." I said quietly. They looked heartbroken, all except the smallest who didn't seem to understand. "Our dad...is dead?" The largest one asked. I nodded. "He's buried right over there." I said pointing a little ways away where the dwarves had buried him. The who large ones instantly ran over to the spot while the smallest staid and looked at me. "What is your name?" I asked softly. "Ladel~" she squeaked. I grinned slightly, "where is your mother?" I asked. "Our mother is dead. She was killed by Orcs." The larger one said coming back, his eyes where filled with grief. The middle one had yet to say a word. "I'm sorry for your loss...is there anything I can do for you?" I asked. They all stayed silent before Ladel spoke. "Can we stay with you?" she asked. I was shocked then looked at Echo. "Can...can they live out of water?" I asked. Echo nodded, "they have legs unlike their father. Their half woodland from what I can tell." She said. I nodded then looked back at the infant dragons. "I don't see why not." I said with a smile. "What about Thorin?" Echo asked. "He'll live." I said waving it off. "What are your names?" I asked the other two. The largest looked at me, "Ethne." He said. "Aetne" the middle one spoke, revieling that she was a girl. I nodded and stood back up, "well...we better go tell Thorin." I said. Echo nodded, "I hope he lets them stay." She said. "You know to be completely honest with you I don't think he's going to say no to me for a while because there's an answer brewing in my head that he wants to know. So I got that going for me." I said as I walked into the castle. Suddenly Ladel clung to my leg. "What's wrong?" I asked. She said nothing only looked at me. I sighed and pried her off of my leg and allowed her to climb onto my back, holding on around my neck. "I remember I did this with you when you where smaller." I said looking at Echo. She nodded, I then noticed Ethne and Aetne sniffing the air. "It smells like a fire drake in here." Ethne spat. I nodded, "that's because one lived here for 60 years. He's dead now though." I said.

I went in search of Thorin, though found him speaking with Dwalin. I handed Ladel to Echo and told them to stay where they where. I snuck along the wall to listen in on their conversation.

"You asked her for her hand?!" Dwalin asked, sounding shocked. "Yes...she asked to think it through through." Thorin said. "I'm sure she will say yes, no doubt of it actually." Dwalin said. "I hope she does...I've never felt like this about anyone. Sure I've been with many women but none like Tygr. For some reason something about that girl just captured my heart...and won't let go. I don't know what I'll do if she says no." Thorin said. I felt my heart pound in my chest before creeping off. I breathed hardly thinking about what he said. "Are you alright? What happened?" Echo asked. "Nothing...come on." I said. I walked them with me over to Thorin and Dwalin. "Thorin...can I speak with you?" I asked. Thorin nodded immediately. I pulled him aside and laughed nervously. "So...Echo discovered something." I said. "What is it?" He asked. "We found Tidels children...and I want to keep them here with us until they are old enough and strong enough to fend for themselves." I said. Thorin's eyes widened. "Why don't they go to their mother??" He asked. "That's what I thought...their mother was killed by Orcs." I said. Thorin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay, if you want to keep them here in the mean time that's fine." He said. I squealed happily and hugged him. "But," he said holding me back to look at me. "Once their adults they go on their own. Understand?" He asked. I nodded, "100%!" I said happily before kissing his cheek and running off. I slid around the corner almost tripping over Ladel. "Hey! Okay yeah you can stay. However, Thorin said you can only stay until you are all old enough to fend and care for yourself." I said. They nodded seeming to understand. "Echo, go get them settled somewhere where they can sleep." I said. Echo nodded and nudged the little ones with her nose while walked elsewhere.

I walked calmly down the small tunnel when I was pulled aside. "Ah!" I shrieked when my mouth was covered. I then saw it was Dwalin. "Calm down lass, it's just me." He said. I pushed his hands off of me and huffed. "What?" I asked. "What are you going to say?" Dwalin asked. I scowled at him, "to?" I asked. "Thorin! What are you going to say? Yes or no?" He asked. My eyes widened and I glared. "I don't see how that is any of your business!" I snapped, feeling extremely pressured and rushed. "Lass...I care about Thorin and he cares about you. To be completely honest I think your the only one distracting him from the dragon sickness, he should have been consumed like his grandfather by now." Dwalin said. "What? What dragons sickness?" I asked curious. "Every piece of gold in the treasure room is infected with Smaugs greed. The same greed that Throrr had only stronger. However since your here Thorin is been more concerned with you." Dwalin said. "Oh...look Dwalin. Don't ever think for a moment that I don't love Thorin...it's just marriage is a serious thing...and I just need to think it through." I said. Dwalin nodded, understanding. "I'm just telling you, Thorin has never cared for anyone more than he has you...he loves you." Dwalin said before leaving me in the corner he had pulled me into. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair, sliding my back down the wall. "...what am I going to do?" I muttered hiding my head in my knees.