Nathaniela's Destiny

Chapter 15: Will I save him and the Kingdom both?

Time Skip

Erebor

 Months had went by, the Company went through many dangers, and in spite all that, they arrived in Erebor.  Although they had to leave behind some dwarves, as Kili ended up getting severely injured after escaping from the dungeons of the Wood Elves.   They stayed in Lake Town for a while, in spite of their small disputes with the Master and Bard, they arrived in Erebor,   and unfortunately, they had sent the dragon into Lake Town, nearly destroying the city again, but it was Bard whom made his aim and killed the dragon.   Now that the dragon is dead, things had went slowly from bad to worse, as Thorin had now changed into a completely different dwarf, which had scared Nattie.     Now Nattie is at the cross roads in her life, on whether she would stay and help Thorin, or leave Thorin alone with his gold.   That same evening, Bard arrived to speak to Thorin, as the two spoke, Nattie stood next to Thorin.  Once the conversation ended briefly, Bard looked at Nattie. "Lord Thorin, if its okay with you, may I speak with your future bride?" asked the man.  "Make it quick, Bowman!" grumbled Thorin, and he walked away. 

  "Nattie, your future husband has changed, and I'm afraid not for the better.  And it causes me to worry, not just about your husband, but about you. I'm concerned of your safety, Lady Nattie.  If things get to bad for you here, you are more than welcome to join us in the Camp!" said Bard.  "Lord Bard, I will be fine! I promised Thorin I see that his kingdom is reclaimed.  You don't have to worry about me." said Nattie.  "Are you sure about this, Nattie--Nattie?" asked Bard, as he noticed the woman had trouble moving.  "Bard, there is something I have to tell you, something I have kept secret since the dragon had left the kingdom." said Nattie sadly.  "What is it?" asked Bard.  "While the dragon was here, all of faced him.   And out of recklessness, I stood directly in the path of the Dragon's wrath, as he tried breathing fire on us.  Unfortunately I stared at the flames, as the brightness of the flames, well, blinded me!" confessed Nattie.  "Nattie! Why didn't you tell the dwarves about this?!" exclaimed Bard.

  "I didn't want to be a burden, Bard.  However only one member of the Company knows of my blindness, and that's my friend, Bilbo Baggins!" said Nattie. Suddenly, she could hear Bilbo calling out to her. "Nattie!! Thorin is wanting to speak to you!" called out the Hobbit.  "I have to go!" said Nattie, and she walked away.    And so Nattie went to find Thorin, whom is now in the Treasury, barking orders at the dwarves of finding the Arkenstone.  Bilbo assisted Nattie into the Treasury and climbing up to the balcony where Thorin had stood.  "You summoned me, Thorin?" asked Nattie.  "You! You go and help the others to find the Arkenstone!" Thorin demanded to Nattie.  "Thorin!" began Bilbo,as the Hobbit realized that Nattie could not help with the search, due to her blindness. But Thorin ignored Bilbo's protests.   "Well don't just stand there, woman! Go help them!" barked Thorin angrily. "Thorin, I can't!!" snapped Nattie.

 "Woman, so help me, if you disobey your King's orders, you will deal with something more than just my anger!!" shouted Thorin, as he grabbed her shoulders roughly. "Stop it, Thorin! Your hurting me!!" screamed Nattie, as she tried to shove Thorin away from her.  "Thorin! She cannot help with the search! She's blind!!" shouted Bilbo.  "Bilbo, no! You promised!" cried out Nattie.  "What?" asked Thorin, darkly, as he turned his attention back to Nattie.  "I should have told you before, after the incident happened with the dragon. Bilbo here is the only one who knew about it, and he's been a big help for me!" confessed Nattie.   "You should have told me! How dare you with hold something like this from me!! Get out of my sight! I wish to never see you again!!" barked Thorin.  "I will be in my room, and I will leave you to your gold!!" screamed Nattie, as she bolted away  from Thorin.  "Lassie!" called out Balin.  "Go track her down, brother! We got it from here!" said Dwalin.  Balin nodded, as he went to follow Nattie. 

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  Meanwhile, Balin had caught up to Nattie in the King's chambers, as Nattie collapsed to the bed.  Balin knew something was wrong, and he needed to find out about it right away.  "Nattie, is there something you wish to tell me? I overheard your conversation with Thorin.  What is going on?" asked Balin, gently and firmly, as he sat down beside her on the bed. "Balin, I should have told you all this sooner before the dragon left.  Remember when Thorin and I were face to face with Smaug, and Smaug tried to breath fire on us?" asked Nattie.  "Yes, I remember, and I remember you were acting quite recklessly, looking directly into the dragon's flames." said Balin.  "Yes, well, Balin, I am blind now, resulting my from my reckless actions." said Nattie, sadly.  "Nattie!! Why didn't you tell us this sooner?!" cried out Balin.  "Balin, I'm sorry I didn't say anything before.  I just didn't want to become a burden." said Nattie.  Balin took Nattie's hands gently.  "You listen to me, Nattie--you will never be a burden, blinded or not.  If you told us sooner, some of us would have helped you! How did you manage to get around in this state?" asked Balin.  "With Bilbo's help, because he was the only one I told of my blindness." Nattie replied.  

 And Nattie burst into uncontrollable tears, as she poured out her feelings about Thorin, and the way he had been treating her.  Balin placed his hand on her shoulder. "I know lassie, there is nothing we can do a bout it now.  Trust me, we had tried everything to help Thorin's Grandfather through it, and nothing worked." said Balin gently.  "Do you think he will overcome it himself?" asked Nattie.  "Nattie, as long as I know Thorin, I have strong faith in him that he will fight this--Thorin is a strong and fierce warrior,and is quite strong enough to fight off the sickness, unfortunately his Grandfather was not all the strong enough, as he allowed it take complete control of him! Now you just stay in your room and rest--and for your best interest and safety, I advise you to steer clear from Thorin for now.  I know its going to be difficult, but you must do this!" said Balin.  "I will,  Balin!" said Nattie.  Suddenly,  Gloin enters the room.  "Balin, Thorin wishes to speak to you right away.  He wants Nattie there too!" said Gloin.  "I will come, but I will tell Thorin that Nattie needs to be alone." said Balin.  Nattie nodded, as she watched  the dwarves leave  her room. 

  Two hours later, Bilbo stopped by to visit Nattie, whom had just woken up from her nap.  "Well, what did Oin say about your eye sight? I heard he examined you earlier!" said Bilbo.  "He said I'm blinded permanently.  There is nothing he can do to bring my eye sight back.  And he also said the only way to get my sight healed is through elven healing, which he doesn't want to go to the elves to do that." said Nattie.  "Well, there is another reason why I'm here, Nattie--there is something I have to tell you." said Bilbo.  "What is it?" asked Nattie.  To Nattie's surprise, Bilbo took out the Arkenstone from his pocket.  "Bilbo! Why do you still have the Arkenstone? You had everyone searching for that jewel for nothing!!" exclaimed Nattie.  "I'm sorry, Nattie--But I believe this is the only way I can save Thorin.  The further way the stone is from Thorin, the better off he'll be." said the Hobbit.   Nattie could see the Hobbit made a very good point there.  "So? What are you going to do then, with this jewel?" asked Nattie.  

 "I'm planning on giving it to Bard tonight." Bilbo replied.   "But why can't you just destroy it? I can take it to the forges and have it destroyed there." said Nattie. "Nattie,  you can't be serious! You're in no condition to do this, Nattie! Can't we just stick to my plan? It's more safer!" protested Bilbo.  "Oh alright.  But there is something you have to do for me as well, while you are there.  If you see Tauriel amongst the elves, can you send her to the Mountain.  I will need her help!" said Nattie.  "Well, why don't you come with me, Nattie?  If Thorin and the Dwarves see an Elf in the mountain, it's not going to look very good!" said Bilbo. "You are right, Bilbo!" said Nattie, as she stood up and threw on her cloak.  "Let's do this!" said Nattie.  And so the two of them left the Mountain, luckily without getting noticed by the dwarves, as they headed towards the Men and Elves encampment.   As they entered the large tent occupied by Bard and Thranduil,  they not only saw the Elf and Man, but they also saw Gandalf.  

 "Gandalf!" exclaimed Bilbo and Nattie together.  Gandalf smiled at Bilbo and Nattie.  "Bilbo! Nattie! It's good to see the two of you!" beamed the wizard.  Nattie nudges Bilbo to go speak with Bard and Thranduil while she spoke with Gandalf, and she informed him about her blindness.  The news had  shocked the wizard. "Sit  down, Nattie! Let me have a look at your eyes." said Gandalf.  Nattie nodded and she sat down, as she allowed Gandalf to look at her.