My Own Star In The Sky

Chapter 7: I made up my mind

Dakota POV:

I was still sitting against the tree. I was thinking about my mother. Lately she had often asked me if I loved Thorin. I was worried about her. I knew she was terribly sick. You could barely see it but the healers have told me her situation is worsening rapidly. I was thinking about the question that she has been asking me these last few days. I honestly didn't know if I loved Thorin. I thought of all the moments I spend with him and how much I miss him. I had made up my mind. I knew the answer. I sighed. I saw that someone was walking towards me. It was Faya, Freya's older sister. She looked panicked and she was out of breath. "Dakota, it's your mother something is terribly wrong!" she said almost unable to talk. I jumped up. "Get the healers to my house!" she nodded and ran off. I ran home as fast as I could. I opened the door. My mother was on the ground. I fell to my knees next to her. I took her body in my arms. I started crying uncontrollably. She opened her eyes. I smiled trough my tears. "Mother. You're not dead." I said relieved. She chuckled. "I feel...weak... I can feel that... I don't have too much time left... on this world." I saw a tear run down her face. "If you want to I won't go on the journey so I can stay with you." She looked at me. "No, I want you to go." I nodded. "I made up my mind, mother." She looked at wanting to know my answer. "I...do. You were right all this time." She smiled at me. She reached up with her hand and stroked my cheek. "I'm sure that if he feels the same, which I think he does, he'll be good to you. You deserve someone like him." I smiled at her. The door opened and two of the healers and Faya entered. The healers crouched beside my mother. "We'll have to take her to the healing room." One of them said. "Will she be alright?" I asked. They looked at each other. One of them nodded and the other answered. "If we take her with us now, she has a good chance of making it." I nodded. I stood up and the one of the healers picked her up. They brought her to the healing room and they left Faya and me standing in my house. I sigh. Tears are welling up in my eyes. Faya walked over to me and stroked my arm. I start crying and Faya gives me a hug and stroked my back.

After 2 hours a female healer came back. "How is she? How is my mother?" I asked impatiently. "She is sick, which I know you already knew, but because your mother is heartbroken it is only becoming worse. I think that she is depressed and that is really making everything heavier to bear." She said in a low voice. I looked down and it felt like I was about to cry again. "I do think that if she stays in the healing room and if the healers care for her we can keep her alive. But this does mean that she won't live at home anymore" she continued. I nodded understanding. "Thank you I appreciate what you are doing for my mother." I said almost whispering. She placed her hand on my shoulder. "I know she is the only family you have left so I want to try as hard as I can to make sure she stays alive." I gave her a hug. "Well, I have to go back to work. Why don't you go to sleep? You look like you can use it." I nodded and she left my house. "I must leave now to. I have to care for my sister." Faya said. I nodded. "Tell your sister and mother I said hi." She nodded. "I will. Goodnight Dakota!" she waved and left. "Goodnight and sleep well!" I shouted after her. I sighed and went to my room. I put on my nightdress and climbed into bed. Even though I felt tired I couldn't sleep. I was thinking about my mother and about Thorin. Eventually I managed to fall asleep.

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The next morning began as any other. I woke up, ate breakfast and headed to work. Around noon I was walking in the corridors of the castle. I had to fetch some lunch for Dís. I almost reached the kitchen when someone called out to me. "Dakota! Wait!" I turned around. Kili was walking towards me. I gave him a friendly smile, which he returned. "How is your mother?" he began. "She is doing better than yesterday." I said. He nodded probably understanding I didn't really want to talk about it. "I wanted to tell you we'll be leaving in 3 days. Thorin will be in the Shire within 2 weeks and it takes us less than 2 weeks." I nodded. "Yeah, that's fine." He looked at me. "Are you sure you still want to go?" he asked carefully. I nodded again. "My mother also wants me to go. She thinks it will be good for me. She doesn't want me to stay here just for her." I explained. "Okay, I'll make a list for you so you can pack your backs." With that he walked away and I resumed my to duties.