Nathaniela's Destiny

Chapter 21: Kin Folk Troubles

After word was spread about the wedding and the crowning of King Thorin and future Queen Nattie, there were many dwarves whom weren't happy about their union, mostly the dwarves from the Iron Hills and Ered Mithrin.  As Nattie had been doing her daily routine, of making sure everything was in place for the big wedding event, she had been hearing whispers among the dwarves.  "Did you hear, that our King is going to marry the Half Blood?" asked on dwarf woman, in the corridor.  "Yes, it's spreading throughout the seven kingdoms!  Let me tell you, he cannot marry this woman! He will be a disgrace to our people, if he chooses to marry her! This woman cannot become our queen!" said another dwarf woman.  Hearing the words angered Nattie, as she felt her heart turning into ice after hearing the harsh words.   However Nattie decided to keep her cool, she didn't want to make a scene. Nattie had decided to keep a long on any gossip or whispers she's been hearing among the dwarves, so she can keep a report to show to Thorin, in case things had gotten worse.

 Unfortunately, things had indeed gotten much worse.  During the evenings, whenever Nattie returned to the King's chambers, she would find threatening notes to her, and of course these notes were signed anonymously and it would make it difficult to point out the culprit.   But there was one, that was the icing of the cake, and she could not keep this problem hidden from Thorin after reading it:

 Half Blood,

   You should have stayed away when you got the chance! And since you never listened to our warnings, your time will end now!  Embrace yourself, because tonight you will fall to your fate!

  After Nattie read the letter, she held the letter close to her as she darted towards the Throne Room.  At the time, Thorin was speaking to Bard and Thranduil about the trades, and Nattie decided to wait until they had finished their conversation.  Once the talks had ended, Nattie ran towards Thorin.  Bard and Thranduil whom was still standing in the Throne Room, noticed a look of distress on Nattie.  "Nattie, what's going on? You've been on edge for the past several weeks!" said Thorin gently.  Nattie explained the whole ordeal to Thorin, which the whispers and gossip had been several weeks ago, and then she showed her the log, of the whispers she had been hearing among the dwarves.   And after that, she shown the threatening letter to Thorin.  Thorin's eyes flashed in anger when he read the letter.

  Thorin turned his attention to Nattie, as his facial expression softened.  "Why didn't you tell me all of this before, Nat? This is really serious! I'm not going to have my own KIN threatening you! And I promised you many years ago I will not allow any harm come to you, and promise still stands! As for now, you will have a guard standing outside our chambers, and you will have a escort every day to go with you, when you stroll the corridors!" said Thorin.  Nattie nodded, as tears fell down her face. "Come here!" said Thorin, as he lifted Nattie up, and sitting her on his lap, as Nattie leaned his shoulder.  "We will get to the bottom of the threats and the gossip, I promise you that!" Thorin whispered to Nattie,as he held Nattie in his arms.  After sitting for a while,the two of them stood up. "We will call an emergency Council and talk about this.  Bard and Thranduil, you will attend this meeting, but I will ask for your aid on this!" said Thorin. "Why, of course Thorin!" said Bard.   Later on, the urgent council meeting began, as everyone attended, as well as the elder dwarves among the council whom are already had taken fond of Nattie,and who would go an extra mile to protect Nattie.

 At least I got the Elder Council on my side, thought Nattie,  as she tried to keep optimistic about the ordeal. The meeting began as Thorin had spoken about the gossip and threats that had been targeting Nattie.   Dis, Dwalin, Balin, Fili and Kili felt shocked hearing this.  "And I wish to know who's been behind these threats and I WILL be investigating this matter! Dwalin and Gloin, I will assign the two of you to pay visits to the homes of the Dwarven Families and you will be questioning them.  And report to me if you find out anything!" said Thorin.  "Yes, Thorin!" said Dwalin and Gloin together.  "Fili and Kili, you two would be the first to guard Nattie, and escort her to whatever she needs to go!" said Thorin.  "Yes, Uncle!" said Fili and Kili.   And with that, the meeting ended.

*************************************************************************************

  Amongst the large group of rebellion dwarves whom had been against Nattie,  was Tabitha, the Dwarf woman had it out against Nattie as far back since the early days of Erebor, and Tabitha hated Nattie, and she would do everything she can to rid of her, and to get back to Thorin.  In fact, it was Tabitha,  and her father Narvin, who led the large group of rebellion dwarves.  "Tonight,we will attack! The Half Blood woman will be removed from the premises! We will take her and hold her for ransom!" Tabitha announced the group.  "Lady Tabitha, how are we going to get her! You know as well as everyone else that Erebor is heavily guarded!" said one dwarf.   "There is a side door, you idiot! Have you forgotten about that? Miles, Tori, Olaf! You three will enter the side door, and track down the Half Blood, and bring her to our camp!  And if I don't see her with you, heads are going to roll!" Tabitha demanded.  "Yes, Lady Tabitha!" the Three dwarves said, as they walked away.  

 "She has no idea what's coming to her! I will put an end to her crap once and for all! Here's to the end of the Half Blood!" cheered Tabitha, raising her mug of ale.  "Hear, hear!" toasted the Dwarves as they raised their mugs.        Meanwhile, it was past midnight as Nattie laid in bed, as she tried to sleep. Unfortunately Thorin wasn't there with her, as he had been busy helping Dwalin and Gloin on their investigation.  Thorin had told Nattie that they will not rest until the Dwarves are found.   Nattie however, she had a very difficult time sleeping.  She felt that something in the air isn't right, as she felt her stomach churning.  Suddenly, she heard movement in the King's chambers, as Nattie sat straight up.  She hoped it was Thorin returning from his long night of investigating. Suddenly she saw the knob on the bedroom door turning.  "Thorin?" Nattie called out.   Suddenly, Three Dwarves entered, heavily cloaked, as they grabbed Nattie. "HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! PUT ME DOWN!" Nattie screamed.   

   "You're coming with us woman!" snarled the first dwarf. "TO HELL I'M NOT!!" Nattie screamed as she tried to fight off the dwarves.  Suddenly, she felt a heavy fist hammering on her head, and the last thing she remembered, everything went black. "Tori, leave behind a little note for His Majesty!!" shouted the first note.   The second dwarf wrote the note, and after that, they left, carrying an unconscious Nattie with them.    Later, Thorin and the dwarves returned to the Mountain, as Thorin decided to retire to his chambers for the night.   Once he entered the bed room, he gasped, as he saw that there was an empty space on Nattie's side of the bed.  Suddenly, Thorin took notice of a note left behind on the bed, and Thorin picked up the note and read it:

Your Majesty:

   We have your beloved Half Blood! And don't you even think of coming to rescue her! If so, not only we will take her life, but Yours as well!

   After Thorin read the note,  Thorin bellowed in anger, as he ripped up the note.   After that, the Dwarf quickly reached for his fur coat and sword, as he went to track down Dwalin and his nephews, as well as summoning on the guards announcing to them that Nattie had been kidnapped, and they needed to go find her, with Thorin whom will be leading the search party.  Once everyone had been rounded up, they began their search.   "Do you know who had written the letter?" asked Dwalin, after they reached the base of the Mountain.  "This note is once again signed anonymous, Dwalin, just like the previous letters! I have no idea who is doing this! And whoever is doing this, is going to be DEAD!" snarled Thorin, angrily.   Once they reached below the mountain, Thorin had decided to split everyone into groups.  "Fili and Kili will be going with me! Dwalin, you will lead the guards!" said Thorin. "Yes, Thorin!" said Dwalin, as he approached the guards, as he lead them  to another direction.  

  "I hope we find her, Uncle! I pray that she isn't hurt!" said Kili.   "We will find her, Kili.  And if there is a scratch on her, whoever is doing this, will die by my hand!" snarled Thorin. 

To Be Continued...