The Valar Child: The Desolation of Smaug

Chapter 14 - To the Mountain

Beren

I woke up before the sun and saw that Bard was the only other person up. Rising, I picked up my blankets, and gathered my belongings. Bard walked over and placed his hand on my shoulder. "Beren... I've known you since I was a boy. You've always been a free spirit, but this, is something else. Are you sure you should be following these dwarves? Just for the sake of the girl too? Are you positive this is the right thing to do?" Bard asked me. I knew he was concerned. Worried about how my decision would affect me long term. Something I had already thought about. I knew that I would be welcome in the higher societies of Middle Earth for being a Valar, so, if Thranduil closed his doors, I would have other places to stay. But, I wanted Hildar by my side while doing so. I knew what I wanted to make of myself, and I hoped to aid in Hildar in hers. Nothing would dissuade me.

"Thank you for your concern, old friend, but... I've made up my mind. I'm going with them. Honestly Bard! Did you think I would stay here in Lake Town till the day I actually started to age?" I asked him. Bard looked slightly injured and I gave him a slight smile.

"Honestly? I wanted you to be the one to wed Sigrid. You and her have known each other for a long time-" Bard started to say before I cut him off.

"Sigrid and me?! It's like Thranduil trying to get me to marry Tauriel!" I exclaimed, causing the children to stir in their beds. Bard's frown deepened and I cleared my throat. "No, Bard. I've never viewed Sigrid that way. If Tauriel is my older sister, Sigrid is my niece. I would never do that to her. Besides, I think Sigrid should choose her husband," I told Bard. The barge man looked away from me, and I felt angry. Partly at myself and partly at him. I held out my hand and Bard looked at it. It took him a few seconds, but he accepted it, and shook my hand. "I don't want to leave with you hating me," I said. Bard's lips pulled upward slightly, and we embraced.

"I would never hate you, Beren. You're my one friend in this world... now. I just want you to be safe," Bard explained. When we separated, I gave him my killer smile. Afterward, I walked over to the bed, and leaned down. I kissed both Sigrid and Tilda, and ruffled Bain's hair. I would miss them, very much.

The run to the docks was difficult with all the townspeople out to see the company off. Luckily, it was relatively easy for me to scramble up to the roof tops and run along them the rest of the way there. Upon arrival, I saw the dwarves were all putting equipment and supplies into a long boat. Jumping off the last roof, I did a flip, and landed firmly in front of Thorin. The King Under the Mountain glared at me, but I simply bowed. "Beren! You made it!" Hildar said as she came up to me and pulled me away from her adoptive father. She brought me over to where Kili was sitting, rather dejected to the side with Oin. "Thorin won't let him go. Says it's because of his leg," Hildar said. I knelt down and examined the leg, duly noting Kili's pale complexion and heated skin.

"This isn't good. He feels like he has a fever," I said.

"And who's the healer here, laddie?" Oin asked, gently pushing me away. I stood up and folded my arms across my chest. I was about to say something, when Fili came up and stood next to Kili.

"I'm staying too," he said.

"What?! No! You're both not staying! What about me?!" Hildar asked. I watched as she gripped both brothers by their shoulders and shook them to emphasize her point. I smiled at their affection for one another, and again, had a moment of self-pity. Fili smiled at her and took her chin in his hand, giving it a squeeze.

"Don't worry. You've got the elf man with you," Fili said and I straightened up. The young dwarf prince looked at me seriously. His blue eyes were like icicles. "You stay with her. No matter what," he told me. I nodded my head and bowed to him slightly.