Take My Pain Away

Chapter 10

Thorin coughed as thick smoke billowed all around. He tried to call out to Abrâ, but each time he took a breath he coughed more. He could hear his companions choking around him, but could not yet see anyone.

Finally, he managed to squeak out, "Abrâ! Where are you?"

He received no answer.

Fear gripped him as he struggled forward, or rather, the direction he thought was forward. "Abrâ!" he cried, his voice still hoarse. He could hear the others calling for her.

As the smoke started to clear Thorin kept an eye open for both Abrâ and the dragon. He could see neither. "Look for her!" he shouted at the company. But he didn't have to. Bilbo and the dwarves had all come to care deeply for the dam, thus they were scrambling over rocks looking for her.

Ori found her. "Over here," he shouted. "She looks really bad!"

Dwalin came barreling toward Abrâ as she lay prone on the floor. Oin was jogging toward him and called out, "Don't - gasp - touch -gasp - her, it - gasp - will - only hurt her - gasp -more."

Dwalin hovered over the woman wringing his hands. "She really doesn't look good." He saw Thorin coming toward them and turned, placing his hands on his shoulders, "I don't think you should see, Thorin."

"Let me pass," he growled, putting all of his strength into trying to move Dwalin. They squared off against each other. Fury burned in Thorin's eyes, "I said let me pass."

Dwalin stood his ground.

"Dwalin-" Thorin's face collapsed into one of absolute fear and heartbreak. "Please, I must get passed."

Dwalin could not bear to see his king thusly; so, despite thinking it not a good idea, let him pass.

Thorin stumbled over to where Abrâ lay. He stood over her and could not believe what he saw. She lay on her back, blackened. Her breeches and tunic had been burnt almost off. Her hair was singed, her beard gone; half of her face was burned, as were her arms and hands.

Thorin wanted to do nothing else but hold her in his arms. He should have told her how he felt, although he thought she might know. But thinking something and knowing something are two very different things. Mahal! Why hadn't he confessed? Stubborn, foolish, scared...all those and more! He had been worried about what others would think of his choice for a Queen. Although, she couldn't be his Queen, could she? That damned curse!

Thorin started to pace, then he settled down on his haunches and watched Oin.

Oin sent Dori and Ori off to get some blankets, while he sent Bofur, Bifur and Nori for buckets of water. He shrugged, "Until Gandalf gets here all we can do is try to ease her pain with damp blankets. None of us can touch her. I wouldn't want to think how much additional pain she would be in." He leaned in close over the girl, "As it is, I think she is in a coma." He looked up at Thorin, "She has no idea what is happening."

Bilbo joined the group. Kili glanced at him and said, "What's that?" as he pointed at Bilbo's hand.

"It is a lizard," he declared, imagining Kili to be slightly nutty for not knowing a lizard when he saw one. "And Abrâ's ring."

All of the dwarf eyes turned to him. "What? I found this lizard wrapped around the ring over there." He pointed to a spot not too far away.

Kili looked closely at the lizard, he elbowed Fili and said, "Do you think that might be Smaug?"

At these words the lizard's spiny scales stiffened and it hissed at Kili.

"Hahahaha!" Fili laughed, "What's the matter, Smaug? Too small to do anything now, aren't ya?"

"Leave the creature alone," Thorin growled. "As a matter of fact, how about you all just get going? Leave us here to tend to Abrâ."

Kili frowned, "But Uncle, we all care."

Thorin glared at the young dwarrow, but his face softened and he rose to his feet. He approached the boy and placed his forehead against Kili's. "I know, Kee." He wrapped his hand around his neck and continued, "I think quiet and rest would be best for our Abrâ. Hmmm?" Kili nodded. "How about you and the others get the kitchen cleaned up and prepare some food, eh?"

"Yes Uncle," Kili replied. He was disappointed to be sent away, he was very concerned for his friend; but he understood. Too many people would interrupt her rest.

It wasn't long before Ori and Dori returned with all of the blankets they could find. Bofur, Bifur and Nori came back soon after, each carrying two buckets of water.

"Bofur, please dunk a blanket in the water." Bofur did as he was told. "Now you and another take it from the bucket and wring it out till it is only damp. Then four of you take a corner and, very gently...be sure not to touch her, lay the blanket over her."

Thorin moved quickly to help Bofur with the blanket.

"Ori, please take this blanket," Oin handed a smaller blanket to the young dwarrow, "and cut it into small pieces that will fit over the burn to her face."

Ori nodded and pulled out his knife. He sat on the floor and, tongue sticking out in concentration, went about his task.

Bofur, Bifur, Nori and Thorin each took a corner of the blanket and moved to a place beside Abrâ. "One, two, three," Thorin counted as they laid the blanket in unison. Steam rose from the damp fabric, but Abrâdid not even twitch when the cloth made contact with her heated skin.

Thorin took one of the pieces that Ori had already cut and dunked it in the water. He wrung it out and, with great care, holding the piece by two corners laid it over Abrâ's reddened face, ensuring she could breathe. Under his breath he whispered, "Mahal, please let her live."

He and Oin remained by her side for hours, changing the blankets and watching over her. Occasionally, someone would come to relieve Oin, but Thorin refused to leave.

'How can she leave me when I've only just found her,' the thought kept swirling through his mind. He hoped against hope that Gandalf would return with the secret to freeing her from this curse. For her sake? Or for his? If he was honest, he would admit that it was for his. She had lived her whole life like this, for her it was normal. For him it was unnatural and evil; he felt himself cursed, he'd lost his homeland, his grandfather, father, brother...and now that he had found love, was he to lose her also?