Kings and Masters

Chapter 6

Erebor was looking better and better every day. The fallen had been collected and given a proper burial, and the dwarves had begun work on clearing out any evidence of the dragon. Soon, it would be as if Smaug had never come.

But even with this progress and the promise of the dawn of a new age of prosperity for his people, Thorin felt solemn. His mind turned to the fallen. So many dwarves lay dead before the gates of Erebor, the great battle against evil had cost him in the blood of his kin. And what pained him the most is that not long ago, he couldn't be bothered with the plight of his people. All he cared for was the gold and the arkenstone. It was worth more to him than blood, and it had nearly cost him the two who should have come first before even Erebor itself.

So it was with these thoughts that Thorin stood before the gates of Erebor, watching as rocks and debris were cleared away. He glanced to his side to Bilbo, who watched the progress as well, "If you don't mind, I've decided to stay here until spring," Bilbo was saying. "It's a long journey back to the shire, and I'd hate to pass over the misty mountains in winter."

"You're welcomed to stay as long as you like," Thorin told him sincerely. "You've been an enormous help to me, and my kin and this quest would have failed many times over if it had not been for you. I owe you an apology for what was said against you in the past."

Bilbo merely waved him off casually, "Just glad I could be of service," he said as they watched. A pause passed between them before Bilbo glanced at Thorin, "How... how are Fili and Kili?" he asked cautiously.

Thorin grimaced, "Kili is on the mend," he said. "Oin took out his stitches a few days ago, and his wounds are healing well. But he seems to have developed a breathing condition. Oin doesn't know if it will be permanent or not." Thorin paused as his thoughts turned to Fili. Bilbo waited patiently, a frown crossing his face.

"And Fili?" Bilbo prompted after too long of a silence.

"His wounds are healing as well," Thorin responded more solemnly. "But he still can't walk. Oin is optimistic that once his back fully heals, he'll regain use of his legs, but it will be a slow process, and even then, there are no guarantees."

"I've meant to pay them a visit," Bilbo said. "But Gandalf and I have been helping out here, and I haven't had the chance to go to the mansion."

"I'm sure they would welcome your company. They're both... not so well."

"I thought you said they were healing."

"Yes... physically," Thorin sighed. "It's emotional wounds that concern me. It makes me doubt whether it was a good idea to bring them along on this quest in the first place. We've all been through our share of war and death, but this was their first, and I fear for them. Especially Fili, I fear his state of mind if his back doesn't heal."

At that point, Gandalf walked up with Balin, "Word has been sent out far and wide," Balin said in a cheerful yet guarded tone. "Soon, more of our kin will arrive, and we will rebuild what we once had."

Thorin nodded and frowned, looking at Gandalf. He was almost afraid to ask, but he did so anyway. "The arkenstone..." he said cautiously. "Where is it?"

Gandalf frowned as well as if trying to decide his answer. After a while, he reached into his pocket and produced the gloriously glowing stone. The sight mesmerized Thorin, and for a while, he couldn't take his eyes off of it. There it was, in the hands of the wizard — the emblem of his people, the jewel of his grandfather. Thorin's thoughts suddenly turned dark, and he began to think of the betrayal- how this stone came to be in the hands of the wizard when it belonged to him! He glanced at Bilbo with a sudden feeling of contempt.

"Thorin?" Gandalf said cautiously, the old wizard looking down at him from his height with a knowing look on his face. "What becomes of this jewel?"

"It belongs to the king of Erebor," Thorin said with a sneer, he felt the darkness slowly creeping back into his heart, "It belongs to me and me alone."

"Thorin..." Balin said wearily, and Thorin noted the look of fear in his old friend's eyes, and he quickly turned away, as if the sight of the arkenstone caused him physical pain. He closed his eyes tight and covered them with a hand, trying to fight through the darkness that threatened to plague him once more. "... take it away," he gasped softly. "Just take it away. I don't care what you do with it; I can't bear to look at it again."

Thorin stayed like that, locked in his own mind for a long moment until he felt a hand on his arm. He dared to look up, afraid of seeing that cursed jewel again. But he met with the eyes of Balin, his dear friend. Gandalf and Bilbo stood on either side of the old dwarf, all watching with concern.

"Perhaps we should take steps that it never plagues you again," Balin said. "It was the bane of your grandfather's reign, Thorin, and it nearly destroyed you."

Thorin nodded, "Yes, it's for the best," he said, his voice a little husky. He cleared his throat a little, composing himself, "What of Erebor?" he asked, needing to change the subject. "How is it progressing?"

"We've given the fallen a proper burial," Balin said. "And we've cleared much of the debris from the main palace; it's ready to be inhabited again. The rest of the mountain will take time, but we're nearly finished repairing the front gate."

"Good," Thorin said with a nod. "Good. I'm happy to hear it."

"Which brings to mind another matter," Gandalf spoke up in a slightly lighter tone. "Your coronation, Thorin." Thorin sighed. He glanced back at the gate of Erebor with a bit of weariness and doubt. "I'd rather wait until my nephews have fully healed," he said. "I want them both at my side."

"They will be," Gandalf said. "But you must be their king now. It's essential that the dwarves establish themselves in this stronghold sooner rather than later."

Thorin glanced at Gandalf with concern, "Why?" he asked. "We have our kingdom back, dwarves will return, now is the time to breathe and let the dust settle."

"Thorin, there is a reason why I was so eager to help you with this quest," Gandalf said with a sense of warning in his voice. "And it wasn't only to help you reclaim your homeland. There are darker forces at work right now. Darker even than Azog, the defiler. And sooner or later, they will turn their eyes towards Erebor, not just for the treasure, but for its position. You must rebuild quickly, and you must be prepared to defend it."

Thorin craned his head to look at the wise wizard's face, and what he saw there was seriousness and foreboding. He swallowed a bit as he thought of what Gandalf could mean.

"Very well," he said. "When the repairs are complete, and when the men of Lake-town have rebuilt Dale, I will set a date for the coronation. And we will begin to fortify our kingdom. But until then, I'm going to see to Fili and Kili's full recovery... I should have never allowed them to be so grievously injured in the first place."

"Thorin, you weren't yourself," Balin offered. "And it is war; there are few who come out of it unscathed."

"I'm going to go see them," Thorin growled, in a tone that clearly said he was done with this conversation, as he turned and began walking towards the lake. Bilbo hurried after him, "I'd like to come along if you don't mind," he said. "I'd like to see the lads too." Thorin nodded and kept walking.