The Fifteenth Member (Thorin Oakenshield/OFC)

Chapter 25

There was a great feast in our honor that night. It was to take place in the Master's house but we had to wait for a bit for it to be cleaned first. It was no surprise that I didn't see Bard among the crowd outside hoping to get in so I decided to go find him. I found my way back to his house where I found him sitting at the table much like Bain had earlier. Unsure of whether or not I would be welcome, I knocked on the doorframe.

"What do you want?" Bard asked after he recognized me, "Are you here to gloat?"

"No, I'm here to apologize. The danger Smaug poses is great and the Master has overlooked it in his greed. If you truly believe that the only way this will end is in death, then you should take your children and flee."

"But we have nowhere to go. No friends nor extended family at all to take us in."

"Well, for all we know, Smaug is long dead and perhaps that's why he hasn't made an appearance in sixty years, maybe all that's waiting for us in Erebor is a giant rotting carcass. Even if he is still alive, he must have some sort of weakness."

"One, but it is not for certain. A black arrow fired from a dwarvish windlance is the only thing that will kill him. There is only one left and only one place that is certain to cause death."

"A one in a million chance is better than none. There is always hope. Remember that."

"You should get back to the party or the your dwarf king will come looking for you. Keep the dress, consider it a gift." I knew it would be useless to try and talk to Bard anymore so I grabbed my books that I had neglected earlier and left.

I was almost back in the main square when Alfred came out of the shadows.

"What's a lovely little lady like you doing walking by herself in the dark?"

"I'm going to the party."

"Oh, no you're not. You're coming with me." He rushed forward and grabbed my upper arm harshly and I knew it would cause it to bruise.

Thorin! Help me!

What's wrong? Where are you?

Not one block away! Alfred has me cornered!

Hold on! I'm coming to get you! I began to struggle against his hold, knowing that my love would soon find me.

"Stop squirming slut! It will only be worse for you." This only made me struggle more. By now, he was trying to pick me up but I wouldn't have it. I closed my eyes and screamed as loud as I could my throat burned but I increased in volume anyway. I heard something shatter and Alfred let go of my arm. I opened my eyes to see him back against the wall on the other side of the path and broken glass everywhere. I clamped my hand over my mouth when I realized that the glass was from the windows on the buildings above and that it was my scream that had shattered them. I didn't have much time to think over it because Thorin came careening around the corner and nearly crashed into me.

"Mereniver! I heard you scream! Are you hurt?"

"A little shaken up but I'm fine. I should've been more careful." Still furious at Alfred, I used my abilities to pull a large amount of water from the lake, cool it until it was almost frozen, and hurled it at Alfred. He wasn't expecting it so he could do nothing as the cold water seeped into his clothes.

"That was for the name." I hissed. Thorin walked right up to him and punched him so he fell unconscious.

"That was for attempting to harm my love in the first place!" Thorin and I stalked off together, hand in hand. When we got back to the Master's house, most of the villagers had been dismissed, only the guards and some of the rich had been allowed access. As soon as we got inside, Fili and Kili rushed over.