Raging Fire

Chapter 12 'Enemies of the State'

Bard's children were handing out some blankets. They only had a few, so some of them had to share. Kíli didn't get a blanket, and decided to take a chance. "Altá, you asked me by the river if you could make it up to me. I've thought of something." He started to say, but the girl cut him off. "Please don't tell me you're here to steal my blanket! I'm still freezing!" The girl pointed out. "We cpuld share if you wanted to, but I can see you're attached to the poor piece of fabric." Kíli said laughing about the freezing girl's worried face. Altáriël's eyes widened, she did not want to miss a chance to cuddle with the handsome prince! She hurriedly threw of the blanket of one of her shoulders, grabbed his hand and pulled him next to her. The rest of the company laughed at the girl's reaction, they had figured out her feelings a long time ago. But the dwarf had still not seen it. Kíli was warmer than the brunette expected. And she sat closer to him. He pulled the blanket around them and let his head rest on the girl's head. Happy that his little plan had played out the way he wanted. "It may not be the best fit, but it'll keep you warm." Bard spoke up. Bilbo thanked him. Thorin looked out of the window, gazing at the wind-lance on top of a wooden tower. The hobbit followed the dwarf's gaze. "You look like you've seen a ghost." Bilbo said. Altáriël then looked outside as well, seeing the giant weapon. She felt a gaze upon her and looked around. Thorin was making sure she was alright. She smiled at him and leaned back on Kíli's chest. Hearing his heart beat fast, thinking it was from the cold. Balin was telling Bilbo about the dragon again. In the meantime Thorin was making up his mind about the two young lovers, he just couldn't decide whether he would accept the two, would they get together, or not. He heard Balin speak about the Lord of the city from that day, Girion, and spoke; "Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different" Bard looked at Thorin strange. "You speak as if you were there." Altáriël rose from her seat, putting the blanket around Kíli, she was going to help Bard's two daughters, who were making dinner. As always she avoided conversations about that awful day.
After the dwarves had seen the 'weapons' Bard had provided them with, they made plans to steal better ones. The weapons the man had given them weren't exactly the things they has thought to have paid for. Altáriël was serving dinner, making sure the children wouldn't hear a thing about the plans of the dwarves. She sat next to Enelya, but the blonde just ignored her, making small talk with Nori, who was sitting on her other side. The half-dwarf wondered what she had done wrong, and left her friend alone. Instead she went over tonight's plan again with Thorin. The two hadn't spoken much during the whole trip. And it was time they would catch up with each other. "You like my youngest nephew." Her almost-father concluded. He said it calmly, and Altáriël thought twice, thinking she hadn't heard it right. "Wha...? Uh.. I don't know.... I guess so?" Was the thing she stammered in the end. "I am fine with you two together. Just so you know. I'd be happier if you ended up with Kíli rather than anyone else, Altá. As long as you are happy with your choice." Well, that was unexpected her first thought was. She had not expected him to talk about this topic, even more surprised that he actually said he would like to see Kíli and Altáriël together. Said girl made some sort of happy dance in her head, while smiling like crazy.

"Shh! Keep it down." Dwalin shushed Gloin. The company had successfully broken in. "As soon as we have the weapons, we make straight for the mountain. Go, go, go! Enelya started to run, she jumped up a pyramid of dwarves and dived through a second story window. Thorin commanded for the next one to go. Once inside she took a look around. Getting some weapons for herself first. She grabbed two identical swords, 3 daggers and a small pouch with small throwing knives. She regretted being so mean to Altáriël for a moment. But she knew it would be for the better. She looked around and saw her once so good friend already armoured up. She had a new bow, axe and at least 150 new arrows. Her stack of daggers had been refilled too and now she was helping Dori stacking up weapons for him to take downstairs. Suddenly she and the rest hear something, or someone fall on the stairs. The weapons the person was holding made a lot of noise. And Enelya knew that they would be caught now.
The company was led to a town square. Altáriël was helping Kíli, making sure he wouldn't fall again. she had once again been robbed of all weapons. She felt naked again. the brunette looked up to see a fat man emerge from a door. Looking at his clothes and appearance in general she decided that this was the Master of the town. "What is the meaning of this?" Kíli and Altáriël looked at each other, silently laughing about the Master's appearance. "We caught 'em stealing weapons, sire." One of the guards spoke. The Master squinted. Sizing up his new problem. "Ah. Enemies of the state, then." "This is a bunch of mercenaries if ever there was, sire." The Master's right hand spoke up. He had greasy hair and yellowish teeth, and the way he spoke made Altáriël dislike him. And whenever she disliked someone she was sure to make them shut them up. "Hold your tongue. You do not know to whom you speak. This is no common criminal; this is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror!" She said in an attempt to make the greasy man regret his words. Thorin stepped forward, and Altáriël decided her work here was done. She turned again to Kíli, who was trying to hide his pain. She had no experience with healing, but she did know what to do, she had seen Enelya do it all the time. Muttering a spell in order to lessen the pain. "Kíli, can I try something? I may know a spell that will ease the pain." She whispered to him. He looked at her and for a moment his façade dropped. He nodded yes and Altáriël began to chant the spell silently. Hoping she said the right words she looked up at her friend, sighing in relief when he saw him relax. The spell had worked its magic. Thorin was raising his voice more and more everytime he said something. She turned her attention back to the conversation that would decide their fate. Durin's Day was almost upon them. And even she began to worry more and more if they would make it in time. "I say onto you... welcome! Welcome and trice welcome, King under the Mountain!" The master nearly shouted, opening his arms in welcome.
It was amazing how fast they had organized the party. After seeing so many poor people on the streets Enelya was amazed by the beautiful wooden hall. It wasn't big, and it was dirty, but she liked it. She felt awful, she had been avoiding Altáriël all night. She knew that because the brunette had tears in her eyes. She was sitting next to Thorin, the two were also happy of course, they would go home again. But they also looked deep in thought, as if remembering the day they lost their home. Enelya remembered the flames as well, she was very young back then, but she had seen the Dragon and its fire, she had seen a burning city and heard the screams of hundreds, no thousands of people. There was a small band playing music. Fíli was deciding if he would be as bold as his brother, he had shared a blanket with the girl he liked, than surely he, the big brother, could ask his crush for a dance. Should he try it? Gathering his courage he walked over and bowed, took Enelya's hand and kissed it. "Can I have this dance? A beautiful lady such as yourself cannot be standing here alone all night". She took his hand and began to dance with him. Together they drank and danced until the early morning hours.
"You do know we're one short; where's Bofur?" Bilbo asked. It was morning, and the whole town had gathered together to bid their goodbyes to the company. Altáriël was already in the boat, looking around and waving back. "If he's not here, we leave him behind." Thorin answered. Bilbo looked shocked, but Balin briefly explained their leader's rudeness; "We have to, if we're to find the door before nightfall. We can risk no more delays." Enelya was hungover again, she knew she'd have to stop drinking before bed. Especially when she was on a dangerous quest like this. She was dreamingly sitting in the boat the men had provided for them. She was thinking about last night, she didn't know if she had kissed Fíli or not, she had drunk so much that she only remembered the big picture. She had danced with him, and kissed him on his cheek when he complimented her about her awful dancing techniques. She didn't want to think about it anymore, she was confused and didn't know if the flirty friendship she shared with the blond prince was still as much as a friendship as in the beginning.
Altáriël turned around to talk to the dwarf that was like a father to her, she wanted to share this moment with him. After all, they had both lost a lot on that day, Thorin lost his Erebor and Altáriël had lost her city and her family. But as she saw him, he was stopping Kíli from getting into the boat, saying something about slowing them down. Fíli and Altáriël got out of the boat at the same time, complaining. "What are you talking about? Kíli grew up with the tales of the mountain! You cannot forbid him to come!" She said, Fíli agreed with her. "I will carry him if I must!" "One day you will be king Fíli, and you Altáriël, you know better than anyone what sacrifice means. One day you both will understand. I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one dwarf, not even my own kin." Thorin answered. Altáriël and Fíli both looked hurt, they went to stand next to Kíli. The girl grabbed his hand, hoping to let him know that it wasn't his fault. "Altáriël, Fíli, don't be fools! You belong with the company." He said next. "I belong with my brother." Fíli answered, and Altáriël continued. "I have given up much in my life, this I can give up too, Kíli is my best friend and I will stay with him. Once he is healed we will travel to the mountain, they will need someone that knows the way." Thorin looked shocked, and even more when Enelya got out of the boat as well. "My duty lies with the wounded." She said and stood next to him, she looked at the dwarf's original healer of the group, Oin, who thanked her gratefully with a look. The company said their last farewells. And Thorin looked back one last time at his family. Waving them goodbye with a sad face.
Bofur suddenly turned up next to Enelya. "Ah! So you missed the boat as well?" he said with a smile. But suddenly, Kíli moaned in pain and fell over, Fíli barely catching his brother. "Kíli? Kíli!" The brown haired prince heard Altáriël say before his sight when black.

    I do not own the Hobbit, I only own my own two characters Enelya and Altáriël. If you see any mistakes please tell me. Also if you have any tips for me, I'd be happy to hear it.