Take My Pain Away

Chapter 12

Thorin did not confront Arfindel. Instead he sought out Thranduil. He searched in all the probable places for the Elven King, but was not successful. He decided to consult with Balin, but could not find him.

"Where in Mahal's name is everyone?" he grumbled as he stalked the halls.

He came across Dwalin, who informed him that Balin had taken Thranduil to the library.

"What is going on? That perfumed elven oathbreaker has wrapped Arfindel around his pinkie finger; has he addled Balin's brains as well?" Thorin was royally pissed off. "Is he sharing our secrets with him?"

He made for the library at break-neck speed, determined to have the beardless wonder out on his ass.

***

Abrâ groaned and opened her eyes again. She was surprised to find Fili gazing down at her anxiously. "Fili!" she gasped. "What is the matter?"

"You were moaning something fierce, Abrâ. Are you in a great deal of pain?"

Abrâ did not want anyone to worry over her injuries, so said, "No Fili. It isn't all that bad, just uncomfortable." Meanwhile, she felt like her skin was too tight for her body, she wanted to scratch everywhere and there were spots that felt like they were on fire.

Oin made his way to the bed and instructed Fili to fetch Gandalf.

He puttered about the room, preparing her ointment and getting fresh linens ready. As he did he muttered, "Tis not right that I have to wait for Gandalf to do everything. I am the healer, I should be the one caring for her. Confounded wizard!" Oin thought he was being quiet but without his ear-horn he did not realise how loud he was.

Abrâ lay in the bed listening to Oin. Her heart sank hearing about the burden she was on the folks in the mountain. She was keeping Thorin from important kingly duties, Fili & Kili were being kept from their interests watching over her, and Gandalf, he had no rest from her.

The wizard entered the chamber and, with a cheerful chuckle, exclaimed, "Ahh, Abrâ, my dear! It is so good to see you awake. You gave us all quite the scare." Gandalf leaned over the bed and tried to make eye contact with the patient. "Abrâ?"

She refused to look him in the eye, instead keeping her head turned to the wall. Gandalf frowned as a tear pooled before falling from her eye. "Abrâ," he intoned. "What is wrong? Look at me." When Abrâ refused he peeled back her bedding and set to work changing her dressings.

Abrâ felt humiliated. Here was Incànus looking at her. Naked! She lay there trying not to acknowledge what was happening. She hissed in a breath and gasped in pain as he removed the dressings. It felt like her skin was being peeled from her bones; the tender skin on her inner thighs, across her belly and on her arms was raw and bleeding. As hard as she tried, she could not control the tears streaming down her face.

When Gandalf had finished with her body he whispered, "Abrâ, I need you to look at me." She shook her head. "I need to change the dressing on your face."

Her chest heaved and a sob broke through, however she turned toward her friend and let him work on her face. She was surprised by how much bandaging there was; it started to the left of her mouth, from her jaw and up along her face into her hair. She would no longer be able to grow her beard. Another wave of humiliation rolled through her. She was no longer a proper dwarf. She was a monster. She would be an outcast. Her people would no longer accept her!

"Gandalf! Gandalf, please. I need to get up!" Abrâ begged. "I need to see it!"

Gandalf stood over her and shook his head, "No, I do not think that wise." He turned to Oin, "Please have someone fetch Miss Abrâ some broth."

A few minutes later Kili entered with a tray. Gandalf propped Abrâ up on some pillows and went about feeding her. As he did so he explained, "Abrâ, it is going to take a number of weeks before you are well enough to get out of bed, let alone go traipsing around the mountain. Let us take care of you and get you back to your old self."

As he continued to speak Abrâ's mind was wheeling with questions. What had happened to the dragon? How long had she been out? Where was her ring?

She interrupted the wizard with her questions.

"Well," Gandalf chuckled, "the dragon is in a cage. Bilbo has it." Gandalf chuckled, removed his hat and scratched his head. "The villain will not give up the ring; if anyone tries to take it away he bites them. As for how long you have been out...you were 2 days on the ground and you have been in here for a week."

"A week?" She struggled to get up, "Really Incànus, I must get up. There is so much to be done!"

Gandalf stood to his full height and proclaimed, "Umbakhul du IgrÌd e Abrâsh, I forbid you to get out of this bed!"

Abrâ burst into fresh tears.

Gandalf gathered her gently into his arms and soothed her. "Hush now. You must allow yourself to heal, you have tremendous injuries." He rocked her for many minutes until she fell asleep against him.

"Kili? Where is your uncle?"

Kili smirked, "He is in the library; giving Thranduil," he made a face, "a stern talking to."

"Oh no," groaned Gandalf. "I'd better go save him."

KIli chuckled as the wizard rushed from the room.

***

Long before he got to the library Gandalf could hear Thorin's shouts.

"You lack all honour! You skulk around my mountain and engage in negotiations with," Thorin's face twisted, "with someone who is not of my kin!"

"Oh, but he assured me he was acting on your behalf," Thranduil countered. "I thought one dwarf was as good as another."

Thorin felt like his head was going to explode! The unmitigated gall of this preening, pampered wood sprite!

"Go!" Thorin stood close to the elf, "Get out of my mountain!"

Thranduil glared down at the king before tossing his hair, turning on his heel and leaving the room, his entourage behind him.

Thorin stomped around the room, trying to cool off. He had to tread more carefully with Arfindel. As a representative of his cousin Dain, Thorin had to get his point across without alienating the dwarves of the Iron Hills.