*MALIA*
At night, Thorin told us to brick up the entrance, which Smaug had balanced when he flew straight into the town. So we collected boulders and carried them on wheelbarrows. Half of the dwarves pulled them on ropes to the top and laid them out, and the other half carried the necessary things. The remains of the statues were terribly heavy so boys took care of them, and I with Bilbo and others carried stones and helped. Those who carried the boulders swapped with those who dragged them upstairs. I also wanted to help upstairs, but they said it was too hard work for the girl and told me to stay downstairs. I wanted to protest, but there were too many of them. Besides, when I was looking at Thorin how angry he was, I decided that I wouldn't be annoyed him even more. I decided to let go.
"I want this fortress made safe by sunu[! " Thorin shouted and walked past Kili, Bilbo and me. "This mountain was hard-won. I'll not see it taken again. "
I walked past Kili and saw how angry he was at the Oakenshield, but I didn't have time to stop him and dwarf let go of the wheelbarrow, which we had to catch with Baggins later. Brunet approached Thorin.
"The people of the Lake-Town have nothing..." He said to Oakenshield. "They came to us in need. They have lost everything. "
"Don't tell me what they have lost. " Thorin repiled sharply. "I know well enough their hardship. Those who have lived through dragon fire should rejoice. They have much to be grateful for. "
"And they are! " I shouted to him, because I couldn't stand it anymore. I put the wheelbarrow and stood on a par with Kili. "They lost their homes, their family, everything. " I said. " They're glad that they survived, but they have nothing to go back to. Kili's right. " I glanced at brunet. "They need help... "
"Silence! " Thorin interrupted me. "Go back to work! More stone! Bring more stone to the gate! "
"Thorin! " I insisted.
"I said, go back to work! " He shouted at me.
I didn't want to let go, but Kili took my hand and said it didn't make sense. I agreed with him, but I didn't want to leave it so easy. We went back to work.
We worked hard until Thorin told us to follow him. We took up our weapons and followed him to the top of our fortress.
I stood between Thorin and Kili. In the city of Dale, there was an army of elves everywhere. There were plenty of them.
I looked nervously at Kili and then at Thorin. Something else, however, caught the attention of Oakenshield, so I looked in that direction and saw that someone was going towards the mountain on a white horse. At first I hoped it might be Gandalf, but it wasn't him, it was Bard.
"Hail, Thorin, son of Thrain. " Bard called. "We're glad to find you alive beyond hope. "
"Why do you come to the gates of the King Under the Mountain armed for war? " Thorin asked dryly.
"Why does the King Under the Mountain fence himself in like a robber in his hold?" Archer answered.
Let's hope Bard doesn't say too much, because it can end really badly. In part, man spoke the truth, but this truth could have very bad effects.
"Perhaps it's because I'm expecting to be robbed. " Oakenshield replied to him.
"My lord, we have not come to rob you..." Archer said. "But to seek fair settlement. Will you not speak with me?"
Thorin nodded as a sign that he agreed. So we went down and Oakenshield went to the hole in fortress through which he was supposed to talk to the Bard. Moments earlier, a black raven flew out of Erebor, I didn't know where it came from. However, when I looked at Thorin, I knew it was his doing, but I didn't know what it meant.
" I'm listening. " Thorin began.
"On behalf of the people of Lake-Town... I ask you to honor your pledge. " Bard said. "A share of the treasure so that they might rebuild their lives."
Oh, that's not good. I thought. Kili glanced at me and seemed to think the same.
"I'll not treat with any man... While an armed host lies before my door. "Thorin replied.
"That armed host will attack this mountain if we don't come to terms. " Bard said.
"And your threats don't sway me. "
"What of your conscience? Does it not tell you our cause is just? My people offered you help. And in return, you brought upon them only ruin and death. "
"When did Lake-Town come to our aid but for the promise of rich reward? "
"A bargain was struck! "
Bard won't get along with Thorin, that's for sure. He tried to negotiate with him for a good few more minutes, but it didn't help. It was no longer the same Thorin we knew.
"What are you doing? " I asked as he turned toward us.
"You cannot go to war. " Bilbo supported me.
"This doesn't concern you. " Oakenshield replied.
"Excuse me, but in case you haven't noticed, there's an army of elves out there! Not to mention several hundred angry fishermen. We're, in fact, outnumbered. " Hobbit said.
"Not for much longer. " Thorin replied with a sly smile.
"What does that mean? " Bilbo asked in disbelief.
"It means, Master Baggins... " Oakenshield approached him. "You should never underestimate dwarves." Said and then turned towards us. "We have reclaimed Erebor. Now... We defend it. " He added and then went somewhere. But before that, he ordered Dwalin, Bombur, Bifur and Bofur to knock a huge boulder on the bridge. The bridge collapsed and there was no longer access to Erebor.
I looked at my companions, each of them had disappointed faces. We didn't know what to do to get Thorin to finally come to his senses.
***
Everyone parted, and I found a quiet corner and sat on the ground. I wrapped my hands around my knees and started crying. Finally, I let my emotions explode. I wanted to help Thorin, I wanted to get him back, but I didn't know how. No one knew. I had already lost one father, I didn't want to lose another.
"Hey. " I suddenly heard a familiar voice behind me so I quickly wiped away my tears.
I didn't look in the direction so as not to show tears, but I still knew that it was Kili.
"I was looking for you, and you hid here, little mouse. " He said and sat down next to me.
At his words, I laughed softly.
"Did you cry? " Dwarf asked.
"N-no. " I replied stuttering.
"Lia..." He brushed off a lock of my hair and wiped away my tears with his hand. "Do you want to talk? "
For a long time I didn't say anything, because I didn't really know what to say. Maybe it's finally time to complain. I hid all my emotions deep in my heart, which caused me terrible pain. I knew I could talk to him about anything. I knew he would listen to me and support me as always.
"I'm scared..." I whispered. "And worried... "
"About Thorin? " Kili asked.
"About you. " I replied and looked at him with tears in my eyes. "About him too, of course, but... I'm afraid it will get you too... "
"This sickness? " Dwarf guessed.
"Yes. I see what it's doing to Thorin, how it's destroying him and poisoning his heart. He's now unpredictable and nothing or no one matters to him. Only the treasure and all this lust for power. He doesn't care if someone is worried about him, all in all... He doesn't notice us at all. It was as if he considered us his enemies. I've already lost one father and I don't want to lose Thorin either... Not you, Fili, or others from our Company. " I said and felt more tears running down my cheeks. "What if you get sick too? I-I can't lose you too. I've almost lost last time and I don't want to go through it again. I... "
"Shh.... Shh... " Kili whispered and locked me in his arms. I cuddled into his torso and he leaned his beard against my head and he said. "None of these things will happen, little mouse. Listen... Nothing is more important to me than you, you hear me? Or maybe Fili, but you know... " He laughed softly, and I joined him. "But you know what...?" Dwarf told me to look at him. "My treasure is you. Only you matter to me, not some lust for power. I don't care about it. "
"For now, you say so, and later... "
"No, no, and once again no. " He interrupted me and took my face in his hands. "I'm from Durin's folk, it's true, but this sickness doesn't work for me. Do you know why? " Asked to what I shook my head. "Thanks to you. "
"Me? " I asked in a whisper.
"Yes, Lia." Kili brushed off another strand of my hair. "You're the one who keeps me on the ground, it's because of you that I haven't gone crazy yet. As I said before, you give meaning to my life and it is for you that I'm still alive. "
"Y-you... Remember what you said then? " I asked uncertainly. After all, he spoke the same words when he was lying sick in the Bard's house.
"Every word. " He smiled. "And every word is true. And yours? "
"You heard? " I blushed.
"Yes, but I would like to hear it again. " He said with a smile. "So I'll repeat the question: Do you think she could've loved me? "
I smiled shyly at him.
"She could. " I replied after a long while. "I love you. "
"I love you too. " Kili said, then moved closer and kissed me.
I kissed him back. Brunet embraced me at the waist, and I put my hands around his neck.
Finally, I was able to say it out loud.