A sad story about a family I no longer have

Chapter 13: greed

Caerwyn had slept through the night, listening to Thorin instruct his kin to pile up stones at the entrance to the mountain kingdom, upon Dwalin sighting the refugees of Laketown burning fires in Dale. Caerwyn felt glad that they had found a place to call home, after the destruction of their town. However, Thorin hadn't been happy. He had immediately seen them as a threat. Caerwyn could see it in his eyes, that hardness within that she only saw when an enemy was near. How could they pose a danger to them? It was unlikely that their aim was to attack the mountain, especially since they were so few and were hardly prepared for war.

Now, it was day. Caerwyn rushed to the gate, up the stairs that had been crafted in the night, to stand with the rest of the Dwarves and Bilbo, Thorin at the center. When she looked over the ramparts, she could see a horse and rider approaching, stopping shortly before the columns just before the blocked gate. They dismounted, and although we were high up, she could make out that it was Bard. Caerywn was relieved that he had survived, that he had killed Smaug, but the atmosphere was otherwise tense.

When Caerwyn looked up, she saw that that shimmer belonged to the golden armor adorning many soldiers, and she knew they couldn't be the survivors of Laketown. Had Dale been claimed by some other ruler while she slept? Was Bard coming to ask for their help in fighting the invaders? All of them faced the mountain, arranged on its many levels, holding spear, shield, and banner.

Bard called up to Thorin, hailing him as King Under the Mountain, and asked to speak with him. When Caerwyn was convinced that he would deny him, Thorin nodded once, and made to descend the stairs. The rest of them descended after him, no one daring to speak. They lined up a few feet behind Thorin as he spoke to Bard through a gap in the rocks. She couldn't hear what Thorin said, but he seemed relatively calm. Bard, however, didn't sound calm. There was anger in his tone, and Caerywn thought she heard him hit the rock with his fist.

"If you refuse my people their share of the mountain's wealth, let me ask what I hope is an easier issue to manage," he called to Thorin. "Let me speak to Caerwyn, to know the state of her injury."

Thorin stilled, and Caerwyn waited for his response. He turned to look at her, and she kept her expression neutral as he considered Bard's words. She thought that, in this also, he would deny Bard's request. After all, he had just denied Bard and the other survivors any monetary assistance to rebuild in Dale. However, Thorin beckoned Caewryn forward, and she obeyed. Caerwyn approached him first, and he nodded once, looking at the gap through which he had spoken to Bard. She went to the gap and saw Bard's face on the other side. "It makes me glad to see you have survived," Caerwyn said, bowing her head. "And I, you," he replied, his expression softening somewhat. "Thank you for making sure my children escaped to safety."

"I'm sorry that I could not keep Bain with us," Caerwyn apologised. Bard shook his head, a knowing smile on his face. "You could not have made him stay. He has a strong will, often to the point of stubbornness." Caerwyn smiled, nodding in understanding. "The stitches are still intact," she said, getting right to the heart of the matter. "There has been no further bleeding, and I haven't had a fever again, either."

"That is good," Bard said. He still looked worried, casting a glance up at the stones above him that barred the gate. "Bard, who leads the soldiers that stand in Dale?" Caerwyn asked, lowering her voice.

"They are Elves of Mirkwood, led by their king, Thranduil. Legolas' father." he responded, also lowering his voice. "He means to come here, to reclaim heirlooms of his people. He claims that they are here, amongst the treasure of Erebor. I came here to try to prevent war through words, but my efforts have been in vain." Caerwyn looked down, wringing her hands in front of her. "I am sorrowed to hear it," she said honestly. Bard looked to share the same sentiment. "If war does break out...stay safe."

"I hope you will be safe, as well, if it comes to war." With once last glance, Bard turned around and walked back to his horse.

Caerwyn closed her eyes and bowed her head, trying to understand how things now stood. There was an army at Erebor's door, and a city full of people who had been refused help to rebuild. Both Bilbo and Caerwyn had anticipated an army's arrival, but it was another matter entirely when she considered how many there were. She swallowed hard, unable to understand how gold sickness could make Thorin defiant when another king's army was threatening war.

Caerwyn turned to leave, walking back into the mountain to be alone with her thoughts. "Caerwyn." Caerwyn stopped, her back straight at the sound of her name. She turned back to face Thorin, who had a very serious expression on his face. For a moment, she thought he had come to his senses. It was the same, familiar look that she had come to know in her time with the company. But she was wrong.

"Tell me what you spoke to the bowman about," Thorin commanded. "We relayed our mutual gladness to see each other alive after the destruction of Laketown and spoke of the state of my injury. He told me that the army in Dale belongs to King Thranduil of Mirkwood, and that he came to prevent war between you and the Elves," Caerwyn responded automatically. "If war does come, for whom shall you fight?"

"I fight with those I made my oath to serve," she replied. "Unless I am released from my oath, or death takes me."

"While there is threat to Erebor present, I will be held to my oath. I do not think the Laketown survivors are so keen to be at war. For the king, his soldiers prove that he has such intentions. However, I do not believe he is the only threat. I believe there are others, still, who may hear word of your reclaiming and see it as an opportunity to strike."

"Who are you thinking it may be?"

"Orcs, Thorin," Caerywn elaborated. "The Orcs that have pursued us since the beginning. I don't believe they are done with us." He seemed to consider her words for a few, agonising moments before voicing his thoughts. "You need not worry about our defences, Caerwyn," he said. "Do not so easily doubt the ingenuity of Dwarves."

"It is nearly explicit in my oath that I should be concerned in times like these, under these circumstances," Caerwyn murmured. "Forgive me, Thorin, for my doubts and fears." This stopped him short. Caerywn kept her head down, just in case she would be chastised. However, the verbal beating she was expecting never came. "Caerwyn, it is only understandable for you to be wary of the Orcs," he said, a softness in his voice that made her remember how he spoke to her in Laketown when she was feverish. "The thought has crossed her mind many times. "After all, we thought your family and town had been slaughtered by them."

"I tend not to dwell on such memories," Caerywn replied, as if the experience hadn't bothered her in the slightest. "My main worry was of returning to you and the others in time. I was my own last thought." Thorin stepped a little closer to her. "Why do you think of yourself with such low regard?"

"It is not necessarily low regard in which I see myself, but more of a lesser priority. Thorin, I know that you and the others could have lasted out in the wild without me. You would have made it here with no need of my help. However, I made an oath that you accepted, and from then on out, my priority was to you and your company. Taking less time to consider my own fears and hesitations, unless absolutely necessary, ensures that I can be quicker to assist whomever among you might require me." Caerwyn wasn't sure what to make of the expression on his face. "You speak like a warrior."

"If that is what I have to be in order to best serve you and the company, that is what I will be," Caerwyn said, doing her best to sound as confident as her words seemed to be. Thorin shook his head, more at something in his own mind than her words. "I do not know why fate placed you with us, Caerywn. However, I am glad for it." Caerwyn smiled humbly. "I am glad for it, as well." After her reply, Thorin nodded once to her before leaving her presence.