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Mending the Broken Pieces	By : LadyLaran Category: Lord of the Rings Movies > Het - Male/Female Views: 13613 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own "the Hobbit" nor do I make money from this story. Tolkien and Jackson are the ones who own the characters and world.

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Author’s Notes – I hope my American readers enjoyed their Thanksgiving; I had a good one but am worrying over Christmas now. My job only pays around two bucks an hour and tipshare isn’t always steady. So, I’m now open to taking writing commissions and prices are negotiable. If you’re interested, please check my profile for links to my social media accounts. Also, spread the word too!

Here’s hoping all of you enjoy this chapter. It’s not long, but things are starting to move forward now.

Disclaimer – I do not own “the Hobbit” nor do I make money from this story.

Chapter Fifty-two – Signs and Letters

Time continued to pass, and Thorin kept himself even more active once Oin cleared him to walk unaided. He spent time rebuilding strength in the ankle and training, hoping to keep his mind occupied so he wouldn’t focus on the worry that was growing more and more in his mind. He also spent time at the forges, helping to craft tools that were needed for the restoration as well as items he had planned for Hawthorn. It was an exhausting schedule but helped him keep himself from fretting constantly over his missing betrothed and family members. The dreams were the only thing keeping him from losing himself to his worry and fears, and those were becoming more and more scarce as time went by. The thought that the missing group was now in an area where sleep was limited did not help his worries at all.

One night, the king was drawn away from his concerns regarding the onslaught of emotions coming from the bond by a loud pounding on his door. He went to answer it, finding Gloin standing there.

“You need to see this,” he said, looking both excited and worried.

He followed his kinsman to a battlement, stopping in shock at the light coming from the south. It was far away but powerful enough to be spotted from Erebor, and he heard Fili and the rest of the company join him as well as Elladan and Elrohir.

“Where is that coming from,” Oin asked, sounding worried.

“I think it’s Mordor,” Ori answered with a note of astonishment in his voice. “Mount Doom would be big enough to see from here if it erupted. Do you think she made it?”

Thorin didn’t reply at first, focusing on the bond. Through the pain and exhaustion Hawthorn was feeling, there was a current of satisfaction and that gave him the necessary clue needed to answer Ori’s query.

“I think so,” he said with a proud smile. “She’s exhausted and in pain, but I can tell something has caused her to feel satisfied as well.”

“Well then,” Bombur replied. “We’ll need to have a nice party of some sort to welcome the company home.”

“As long as we know when to expect her,” Balin said.

“Glorfindel will send a message,” Elladan assured them, feeling relieved and worried at the sight of the volcano erupting so far away from Erebor. “If she’s feeling pain, there is a chance he will have them stop at my grandfather’s lands for treatment if they are still with the eagles and her injuries are not too severe. The others may have taken injury as well so we must be patient for news of their return.”

“In the meantime, we shall continue as we have,” Thorin said, feeling grateful that her burden was now gone and she could soon come home. “Bombur, work with Balin and the others in regards to planning a welcome home celebration once we know the status of her health and the others with her. We cannot do much, but she deserves something at least.”

The others agreed and soon dispersed, leaving the king staring at the sight of the red light coming from the mountain in Mordor. A hand pressed against his heart for a moment as he offered prayers to Mahal and Yavanna, asking for the safe return of those who were absent. He hoped that someone could get news to them soon.

The feeling was all that sustained him when his dreams did not hold his One in them, but Irmo had come to him to explain that she was being treated for injuries, requiring potions that made her incredibly dotty. He did promise that the dreams would continue once she was off of her medications, and the king had accepted the explanation.

His hope was answered two days later when Bifur brought a small bird to the room cleared for the company to use as a meeting room. He’d been eating a light meal, reading over reports brought to him, and the interruption was a welcome one.

“What is this,” Thorin asked, accepting the roll of parchment from the other dwarf.

“Messenger bird,” he answered.

The monarch nodded, unrolling the parchment to find two letters waiting for him. The first was from Kili, and he straightened in his seat as he began reading.

~Uncle,

I wanted to write to assure you and the others that the task we were sent out on has been successfully completed. The journey was not an easy one and even with our help, it took a toll on Hawthorn’s strength. Near the end of it, we were having to do everything we could to ensure she ate something as she had no appetite at all and was barely sleeping.

The first bit of it was fairly easy, if long, and I am grateful for the help the eagles provided. I doubt we would have made it so quickly to Mordor without them; it gave us the chance to face that horrible land as fully rested as possible once we landed at the borders. It was agreed we would take the last part of the journey through the country without our feathered friends, but they would be waiting to get us once the mission was complete.

Uncle, even with the evil one having been in Dol Guldur for so long, Mordor was still active with orcs and other foul creatures. We were lucky that our group was small enough to sneak through most of the areas without being seen. I never thought an elf could sneak, but it seems Glorfindel was able to do so with the rest of us. Given how large he is and bright his hair is, I was afraid he’d be spotted but we weren’t.

Our luck ran out as soon as we began climbing the mountain; Hawthorn was having a hard time keeping up. The item she carried was weighing heavier on her by the hour, and her old injuries were acting up. She said she could hear it whispering to her, and we did what we could to help her ignore it. We ended up taking turns carrying her when her leg couldn’t support her anymore. We were very nearly at the top where the entrance into the mountain was when we were attacked.

During Balin’s history lessons, I remember reading about the Nine and wondering if the books were over-exaggerating the descriptions. Uncle, they weren’t; if anything, the books were nowhere near close enough in describing them. The sound those things made was horrifying; it made my blood run cold, and I felt as if my heart would stop from fear. Even now, I can hear it in my dreams and wish I could block it from my memory.

Glorfindel called one of them the Witch King of Angmar, directing most of us to attack the orcs it had with it. He told me to go with Hawthorn into the mountain, saying that they would give us time for her to destroy the burden she carried. I carried her on my back, hurrying through the battle as our friends bought us the time we needed to get to the entry into the mountain.

We were stopped by more orcs at the entrance, and I set her down so I could fight them to try to clear the way. She slipped past them as I fought; I did take some injury but was able to keep going. I killed the last one in time to see her throw the ring into the pit, and I could hear her yelling at it to “shut up and die already.”

Not moments after she did this, everything went from crazy to chaotic. The mountain erupted! I got thrown back and ran to her as soon as I was able to get back onto my feet. I’m sorry I wasn’t fast enough, uncle. She was burned due to the explosion, and I carried her back down to where we had left the others behind.

Some were injured, but we were all able to start down the mountain. We didn’t have to go too far since the eagles, seeing the explosion, came to retrieve us despite the risk to their own safety. We landed a while later, once we were safely away from Mount Doom, to tend to injuries and make a decision on where we should go. Since Hawthorn was burned as she was, we decided to head to Gondor first since it was the closest place to get help.

As I write this, we’re in Minas Tirith and waiting for everyone to regain enough strength to return home. Hawthorn is doing her best to push for the return journey to happen soon; I agree with her as do the others so I believe we shall be leaving as soon as the eagles deem they are ready for the journey. All of us wish to return home and be with our families once more.

I miss you all.

Kili, son of Dis.~

Thorin leaned back in his chair, frowning as he thought over his nephew’s letter. He was grateful for news and was hopeful the injuries the group had sustained were not too bad. The king set the letter down and reached for Hawthorn’s, smiling at the beautiful handwriting that flowed across the page.

~Dearest Thorin,

I have no doubt you are worrying about all of us; I’ve been able to sense it through our bond as well as the strength and love you have sent to support me during this quest. Cariad, you have no idea just how much that has aided me while we’ve been parted. There have been quite a few times when the burden I was carrying tried to make me believe that I was not wanted so having the bond enabled me to remember that I am a part of something very special. So thank you for that and for being so supportive during our shared times in our dreams.

I doubt this will be as long as Kili’s missive as the pain relief potion they give me keeps me very tired. Most of our little company is unharmed save for cuts and bruises. Kili took a sword through the shoulder, but I was informed by Glorfindel that it did not hit anything crucial and will heal without causing any limitations to his archery or sword play. I’m afraid I was burned when the mountain decided to erupt after I dropped the wretched ring into the lava. Kili pulled me out of harm’s way as soon as he could so the injuries could have been much worse than they are. I’m forbidden to do any walking at the moment and despite that, I am being as insistent as I can that I wish to return home. As much as I have wished to visit the libraries in this great city, I am driven with a need and longing to return to our mountain home.

Mithrandir has communicated with the eagles, and I am told that we shall be leaving as soon as the healers put together packs so that my care and Kili’s will continue after departing the city. He agrees that the best place for me right now is home with my family and loved ones.

You will be quite proud of Kili; according to Glorfindel and the others, he has conducted himself with the dignity and bearing of a son of Durin during our time here. I daresay you will have a letter from the Steward as I heard Kili speaking of it the other day; he mentioned a treaty of some sort so I hope this will aid our home and people.

I hope that by the time this missive reaches you, we will be on our way home. Please rest and try not to worry, Cariad. We will be together soon.

Yours,

Hawthorn~

“Good news,” Oin asked, making Thorin start slightly since he had not heard the group enter.

“They were successful, but there were injuries,” the king stated. “Kili took a blade to the shoulder, but Hawthorn reports that it will heal well enough and without causing any issue to his archery or other fighting skills.”

Fili gave a soft sigh of relief, glad to hear his brother would be all right. Thorin continued once he knew his eldest sister-son was no longer fretting.

“Hawthorn was burned; she said the healers are adamant she stays off of her feet. Neither she nor Kili have stated how bad the burns are or where they are. Apparently, she was hurt when the mountain erupted.”

The healer winced, not liking that.

“I’ll make sure to have everything needed to treat burns in her room,” he said to his cousin. “I know she won’t want to be in the infirmary, and she’ll be more comfortable in the King’s Halls.”

“Do what you need to see to her comfort and healing,” Thorin said to him. “Ori, see if you can find a few books to keep her occupied while she recovers. I know you’ll be working with her on learning Khuzdul, but she’ll need something to distract herself while the rest of us are busy with the restoration.”

Ori nodded, already putting together a list of books she might find interesting.

“In the meantime, ensure the watch keeps an eye out for our returning family members,” the king told them. “They’ll be tired and ready to rest, and I want to be certain that everything they’ll need or want will be ready and waiting for them when they arrive.”

The group nodded, hurrying to start planning as well as starting to work on what their returning family members would need. Thorin handed the letters to Balin, knowing he’d want to read them.

“I’ll need to write Dis and let her know we have heard from Kili,” he said, rubbing a hand over his face. “She won’t be pleased he was injured, but she’ll be proud he handled himself so well during the journey as well as in Minas Tirith. Your lessons did not fall on cold iron, old friend.”

“It would seem not,” Balin answered, smiling proudly when he spotted the report from Hawthorn about Kili’s behavior. “I am very proud of him.”

“As am I,” Thorin replied. “I will make sure he knows it too.”

The pair spoke for a while longer, feeling lighter in spirit that the ring had been taken care of and that their family would soon be home.

Author’s End Note – I’m fairly certain that the dwarrow of Erebor wouldn’t see Mount Doom erupt, but it was something that I’m taking artistic license with. Another made up dwarven saying – falling on cold iron. I think it’s like us saying seeds falling on fallow ground. I hope that makes sense? Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it! Please let me know what you thought of the chapter. See everyone next time! ~ Laran
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Mending the Broken Pieces