An Unexpected Journey

Chapter Twenty-Six: Reunited Again

“Thalia,” Fíli and Kíli cried in joy before they moved to hug the blonde, no one could believe what they were seeing and it took several moments for them to realise that Thalia had somehow come back from the dead.

Thorin stared speechlessly, a weight lifting from his shoulders as he looked at her as he tried to wrap his head around that by some miracle, she had survived.

“We don’t have time for this,” Cornelia snapped stopping the dwarves from hugging Thalia, they needed to move if they wanted to get out of this alive; she knew that if they didn’t get out now then they would die.

Thalia nodded her head, her eyes glancing at the goblins that were quickly approaching, there would be time later for their reunion but right now they needed to get out of there.

“Who are you?” Dwalin asked moving to grip his axe, he glared at Cornelia knowing that there was something about her that he didn’t like.

Cornelia snorted as she eyed him, she really didn’t have time for defensive dwarves and she could tell that even Gandalf agreed with her on that one.

“We will do introductions later… Cornelia is right, we need to move,” Gandalf said as Thalia took a deep breath, she was suddenly glad that she’d had a break from all of the running; she knew that she would need all of her energy and strength for the rest of the quest.

Thorin nodded his head as he ushered the group forward, he wasn’t going to let this go and he wanted to know how Thalia had survived the fall that should have killed her.

“Move,” Thorin ordered kicking everyone into gear, he spotted the smile on Thalia’s face before she collected her bag and turned on her heel and ran; he was glad that she was okay.

***

Cornelia sighed in relief as they all gathered on the mountain side, the sun was low in the sky and only gave the indication that time had passed while they had been down in the caves.

Thalia’s laugh made the dark haired woman roll her eyes as she moved to scout ahead, she didn’t want to hang around longer than needed; they needed to get a move on and track down their cousin and soon.

“We thought you were dead,” Fíli and Kíli said as they clung to Thalia, they were thrilled that she had somehow survived and they hoped that Thalia wouldn’t be leaving them anytime soon.

The two dwarf princes grinned as they pulled back from Thalia and glanced at their uncle, they hoped that he wouldn’t take so long this time to start courting her.

“Where is Bilbo?” Gandalf asked looking around concerned, he couldn’t see the hobbit anywhere and he knew that if anything had happened to Bilbo then he would hold the dwarf king responsible.

Thorin frowned at the wizard’s words, he looked around as the others also started to look for the hobbit, who was nowhere in sight.

“Mister Baggins saw his chance and took it. He nearly cost Thalia her life and now he has fled back to his home,” Thorin snapped making everyone fall silent.

Thalia stared at him surprised at his outburst, she knew that he hadn’t been warm to the hobbit since he joined the company but she hadn’t expected him to lash out like that.

Her fall hadn’t been Bilbo’s fault, if anyone was to blame then it was herself; she had been the one to try and save him without any help, it had been her undoing.

“That wasn’t his fault,” Thalia protested as Bofur did the same, she smiled at him gratefully knowing that she could never blame Bilbo for what had happened to her, she was sort of grateful that it had.

“I slipped and fell that had nothing to do with Bilbo,” Thalia said as Thorin looked at her, he opened his mouth to argue before he saw the look on her face; he closed his mouth knowing that it was better not to argue with her, he had only just gotten her back.

“Whatever happened… Mister Baggins is long gone now,” Thorin said as he looked at the wizard, he felt exhausted after a long night and he didn’t want to argue anymore; he glanced at Balin, who had a secretive smile on his face as he watched his king.

“No I’m not,” called a voice making everyone look behind them to find Bilbo nervously moving towards them; he smiled at Thalia, who looked actually pleased to see him while Thorin looked far from happy.

Everyone quickly moved towards the hobbit to welcome him back, they had been so sure that he had started his journey home; he had made it clear that he missed his small hobbit life.

“Look, I know you doubt me, I know you always have. And you're right. I often think of Bag End. I miss my books, my armchair, and my garden. See, that's where I belong, that's home.” Bilbo said softly as he messed with something in his pocket.

His blue eyes searched the group before they landed on Thalia; he knew that she was the one that could understand why he was doing this, since it was her reason as well.

“That's why I came back... 'cause you don't have one, a home. It was taken from you. But I will help you take it back if I can,” Bilbo said blushing at the smile that Thalia gave him, he looked down at his feet as the blonde cleared her throat and went to say something.

However Cornelia burst back into the clearing and made Thalia look at her confused, she blinked as her cousin scowled at the group; there was clearly something bothering her and she didn’t know what.

“Just who are you?” Balin asked looking at the dark haired woman, he didn’t know why Thalia was suddenly in the company of the other woman but he hoped that Gandalf hadn’t been meddling in things that he shouldn’t have again.

“Cornelia, Daughter of Hades,” Cornelia said making the dwarves look at her confused, they knew that it obviously meant something but they didn’t know what; Gandalf seemed a little un-nerved by her presence and it made them wonder why.

Thorin eyed Cornelia warily, he could sense that there was something dangerous about the woman before him and he didn’t like that she seemed attached to Thalia in some way.

“She’s my cousin,” Thalia explained softly making the dwarves look at her, she shifted nervously wondering what had Cornelia on edge; she knew that it couldn’t be good and she hated to think that they had wander straight into more danger.

“Cousin?” Ori asked curiously, he was a little surprised that someone from Thalia’s family was with them; Thalia barely spoke about her parents and now some relative of hers had popped up.

“My real father’s, brother’s daughter,” Thalia explained watching Cornelia, it felt weird to think of herself as a demi-god and she knew it was going to have to take some getting used to; especially if she was meant to stop something from happening with her cousins.

No one else got to say a word as a howl filled the air, Thalia looked at Cornelia alarmed as Thorin gripped his sword; they all knew what that sound was and they had hoped that they had lost the hunting party after Rivendell.

“Out of the frying pan,” Thalia muttered annoyed as everyone turned on their heels and started to run, she knew that this time they wouldn’t be as lucky.