More Than Meets the Eye

Chapter Fifty-One

Arielle could barely see straight as she made her way into the depths of Erebor, down below the living quarters, below the forges, deep into the bowels of the Lonely Mountain, where the dungeons were located.

It was as cold as death itself down there, but she ignored it as she followed the trail of lit torches flickering in rough stone sconces. Dwalin was there, standing outside a door, arms folded, expression grim as he said, "How is the wee one?"

"She is very sick and you are not keeping me from that room."

"I wouldn't dream of it, Your Highness," he replied gruffly. "Thorin's been waiting for ye and Balin is in there to make certain neither of ye do anything foolish."

"You let me worry about me, Dwalin."

He grasped the iron handle and the door opened with a soft creak. She stepped inside, ignoring the way her blood seemed to roar through her temples. She almost shook with fury, and she couldn't recall ever feeling such pure rage surge through her as she came face to face with the nanny she thought she could trust.

"How is Tiriana?" Brena asked softly, her dark eyes red and puffy from crying.

"You have no right to ask me that," Arielle snapped, shaking her her head. "You will not speak of her nor will you ask me about her."

"Arielle," Thorin came over to her, "how is Tiri?"

"Come over here." Arielle caught his hand to tug him to the farthest corner of the small cell, away from Bren's prying ears. Her back to the nanny, she lowered her voice to just barely a whisper, "Narnerra can treat the botulism, but Tiri will be in the infirmary for quite possibly weeks."

He swore softly under his breath and rubbed his eyes with one hand. "But, will she recover fully?"

"She's hopeful, but we won't know for some time." Her throat tightened as the fury spiked. "I want that woman here and I want to talk to her. Alone."

"I don't think that would be wise."

"Thorin, she tried to kill our daughter. She talked our nanny into doing her dirty work, the bloody coward."

"I know. And that's why we will face her together."

She met his gaze. His eyes were warm until he looked over at Brena, then they became slivers of pale blue ice. Arielle brushed his thumb with hers. "Thorin?"

"I could kill the both of them with my bare hands," he muttered, looking back at her, his eyes warm once more. "Every time I think about our daughter up there with Narnerra, so close to losing her life... The rage is unbearable."

"I know. When I left the infirmary, Narnerra was just getting started with the treatment. We won't know much more until tomorrow." She spun around to face Brena. "Why would you do such a thing? She is only a baby."

Brena's eyes shimmered with tears and while Arielle didn't doubt they were genuine, they didn't move her at all. No matter how upset Brena might be, she was the one responsible for Tiriana's condition. Had she done the right thing and come to her, and come to Thorin, they could have arranged for her to remain safely away from her cousin. But instead she chose the coward's way out.

And in doing so, nearly took Tiriana's life.

Unforgivable.

"I didn't wish to, Your Highness. You have to know that."

"Do I? Because I don't believe you. You had no trouble trying to do harm to her, no qualms about it whatsover. It seems to me you did it with very great ease."