Flames

3.2

A few dwarves and Bilbo carried Azalea to her room.

"She'll be okay, right?" Bilbo asked.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure. She's just exhausted," Balin replied. "These past few days have been rough for her."

"They've been rough for us all," Kili replied. "Let's get back to the vault."

"I'll follow you in a minute," Bilbo said. The dwarves nodded. Bilbo found a chair and pulled it up to Azalea's bedside.

"I have to tell you something," he muttered. "I don't want Thorin to know, but I have to tell someone."

He looked down the hallway again. Then, he reached into his coat and pulled out a shiny gem.

"I have the Arkenstone," he said. "I had to tell someone. I'm sorry it had to be you and...now."

He put the Arkenstone back in his inner pocket and covered Azalea's hand with his.

"Don't die. Please, don't die," he muttered.

Then, he got up and headed back to the vaults.

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Two days passed, Azalea still hadn't woken up. Several people visited her, Bilbo most often. Thorin had yet to visit her.

Until then.

Everyone else was busy looking for the Arkenstone. Thorin had slipped away quietly and walked to her room.

"Hello," he said, sitting in the chair. He stared at her lifeless form and sighed.

"This is my fault," he muttered. "This is all my fault. I never should have let you go into this mountain."

He reached for her hand, but then decided against it.

"I want you to leave this place once you wake," Thorin said. "I want you to leave and never come back. You're just a distraction."

Then, he left. 

----------------------------

Azalea woke the next day. She had no recollection of anything that had been said to her during her comatose state. She felt her way along the corridor, trying not to break anything. 

"Azalea?" someone asked.

"Fili?" she replied.

"Azalea! You're awake!"

"Last I checked," she joked.

"Come on! You've been asleep for three days. You need food," he said. He grabbed her hand and pulled her along. She felt a brief mistrust, but then realized that wasn't an option. She had to trust these people. If she didn't, who could she trust?

They went through a door, and she heard other voices.

"There's a chair and a table right in front of you. I'll be back," Fili said.

Azalea reached in front of her and found the chair. She sat in it and faced the table.

"Hey, Azalea's awake!" someone exclaimed. People came over to her, hugged her, said they were glad she was awake. She recognized all of their voices and tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach.

She didn't hear Thorin's voice.

Food was placed in front of her. Suspicion rose in her chest, and she crushed it. 

These people care about me, she thought. They wouldn't poison me.

Azalea hurriedly ate the food in front of her. It tasted okay. She tried to figure out what she was eating.

"Chicken for sure," she muttered to herself.

Every little movement sent itching pain through her scarring wounds. However,  she'd been asleep for three days. Hunger hurt her more than her face.

"Why are you all celebrating? The enemy is at our doorstep!" Thorin announced.

"Thorin! Azalea's awake!" Kili exclaimed. Azalea turned towards his voice and smiled. Thorin stared at her smile and thought about what he'd said.

I want you to leave and never come back. You're just a distraction.

How could I have said that? She doesn't remember, does she?

The way she's smiling at me, I don't think she does.

He shook his head briefly to clear his thoughts.

"We don't have time to celebrate. We must prepare for war," Thorin said. He stormed out of the room. Azalea's smile faded as she heard his footsteps recede.

"He noticed you, Azalea," Kili said. "Don't worry."

She smiled sadly, then turned to face the place where she thought Thorin had been.

"Something's wrong with him," she muttered. "What's wrong with him?"

There was an awkward silence. 

"Guys? What's wrong with him?" Azalea demanded, sensing their reluctance. 

"Azalea, he's..." Kili began.

"What?"

"He's sick," Dwalin finished. "He can't see past his own greed."

"What?" she breathed.

"The gold in the mountain is cursed. Thorin is the only one who's fallen to the curse so far," Balin explained.

Azalea sighed and sat back in her chair.

"He changed," she whispered.

"It's not his fault," Bilbo assured her.

"He promised he wouldn't change," she muttered to herself.

Everyone got quiet.

"You heard him," Fili said sadly. "We've got a war to prepare for."