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29: Captors Turned Helpers

29: Captors Turned Helpers

They grabbed us and led us down. We trudged - and limped along - until more guards appeared and so did people.

What the hell is everyone doing here?

A guard's hand went too low, and I punched him. Another one yelled at me and I glared at him.

The men to women ratio must be twelve to one, because there are barely any here.

The guards finally let us go at the bottom of some stairs; the wide door opened for a fat man and a dude with a unibrow.

If this goes down like all the other kings I've seen, I'm decking someone tonight.

"What is the meaning of this?" Big man yelled and walked down two stairs.

One guard confessed, "We caught them stealing weapons, sire."

"Ah, enemies of the state eh?" Big man responded.

"A desperate bunch of mercenaries if there ever was, sire," Unibrow told him.

Watch it shortie.

"Hold your tongue!" Dwalin yelled and walked up, "You do not know to whom you speak. This is no common criminal! This is Thorin, SON OF THRAIN, SON OF THROR!"

He projected his voice at the end and pointed to Thorin. I knew Thorin didn't like being in the limelight, so I held onto Dwalin's arm and stood next to him. Thorin did the same and everyone was whispering.

"We are the dwarves of Erebor," Thorin proclaimed and the murmuring increased.

I felt something on my nose and looked up. It was snowing. The exact snow that I never thought I'd see was gliding down my head. And now I couldn't enjoy it because I was a prisoner hours away from death.

Curse my damn luck.

Thorin continued, "We have come to reclaim our homeland."

I was shocked; that was the first time he had ever told someone about our quest so blatantly. With Beorn, Thranduil, and Elrond, they basically had to beat it out of him. What was his plan?

"I remember this town in the days of old. Fleets of boats lay at harbor filled with silks and fine gems. This was no forsaken town on a lake. This was the center of all trade in the north! I would see those days returned, and relight the great forges of the dwarves, and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!" He yelled and everyone cheered.

He was such a good speaker; I was happy I knew his words were true. I had to touch the corners of my lips to see if I was smiling.

"DEATH!" A voice rang out in the night, "THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL BRING UPON US!"

Everyone quieted and I turned around.

"What the fuck do you mean by that?!" I yelled at him.

Bard looked at me and I stared him down.

"Dragon fire, and ruin. If you awaken that beast," he looked at Thorin, "it will destroy us all."

"You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this. If we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough wealth to build ESGAROTH TEN TIMES OVER!" Thorin yelled at the crowd and they cheered even louder.

Unibrow said, "Why should we take your word eh? We know nothing about you, who here can vouch for your character?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but someone else beat me to it.