Misty Mountains ch. 8 the wedding and the aftermath
Introduction:
the wedding and the after math
“Fili, what is going on?” she asked shocked when she recognized them.
“Arnial I wish we were seeing you again under better circumstances.” Fili said with a tight smile.
“Oh, my dear we have some bad news I’m afraid,” Balin said bringing his horse right to the front. “The Arkenstone has been returned to Thorin.”
Arnial stiffened “I had heard what he was like when he had possession of the stone before the battle for the mountain. So he has taken to dragonsickness again, is that why you are leaving?”
The dwarves exchanged looks with each other than Fili spoke “It is only a small part of why we are leaving. A dwarf female by the name Dithinia is the one who returned the stone, in exchange Thorin agreed to marry her. They are to be wed as soon as the preparations are completed”
Arnial took a step back as if she had been struck by a hand and she looked away from him for a few minutes, her eyes turned the way the dwarves had come. She reached into her travel bag pulling out a silver chained necklace and stared at it hard for a few minutes, she sighed shaking her head slowly.
“Take this Fili,” Arnial said softly. “I don’t have a use for it anymore I’m afraid.”
“Why not?”
“Because Thranduil was right,” she said stepping past him on the trail. “Be safe on your journey my friends we will meet again.”
“Where are you going?” Seraph asked reaching for her as she passed.
“I have a wedding to attend.”
********
Arnial arrived at Erebor just before the ceremony was to begin, she knew because there was very few in the way of guards at the gate. When she snuck into Erebor through one of the many secret dwarven doors she could tell everyone was gathering in one place deep in the halls. She knew that if the Arkenstone was back and the wedding was taking place it would happen in the throne room, Thorin would want to show off the stone. It was his greatest symbol of power.
She had stopped at the city of Dale to purchase the things she would need a dark cloak, a quiver of arrows, and a bow. She had asked for the strongest arrows that could be forged by man and had been given small arrows made from the same metal as the Black Arrows that had brought down Smaug.
Walking through the halls she took the back stone stairs to the balcony furtherest away from the throne but still overlooking it, knowing the dwarves would all gather much closer for the wedding then that. She walked up to the dark balcony and looked out over the throne room where all of the dwarves of Erebor were gathered. She looked at them and noticed that there was a noticeable few missing because they knew Thorin for what he was an Oathbreaker.
Arnial knew that after today the name of Oakenshield would die and in it’s place she would see the name Oathbreaker take form. Arnial stood in the darkness waiting, she could see Thorin standing before the throne of the mountain the empty place for the Arkenstone had been repaired and was waiting. She could also see a new slightly smaller throne had been erected beside Thorin’s throne, no doubt for the living queen of Erebor.
It wasn’t long before music started to play and the procession for the bride began. At the front of it was the women who had not been good enough for Thorin to marry and behind them would’ve usually been the bride’s trusted ladies in waiting. Oddly enough that spot was empty save for a box two young male dwarves carried slung between them. Then right behind them was the bride to be herself, a smug look of victory on her face as she passed the crowd of onlookers.
The ceremony began with the dwarf woman presenting her gift to her groom, the Arkenstone was handed to Thorin who affixed it over his throne to many loud cheers from his subjects. The ceremony then moved on to the vows between the king and his new queen.
It was while they were saying their vows that Arnial took the bow and arrows from her back. She took many collected breaths, making sure to take careful aim in preparation for her shot. She gave Thorin one last look before she released the arrow which zipped across the space between them, reaching it’s target in the space of a breath.
The arrow hit the Arkenstone dead center and the jewel shattered into a bunch of small pieces scattering over the floor. Screams filled the air at the sight of the arrow which was immediately followed by Thorin’s yells of rage. The arrow was seen as a failed assassination attempt more than the attack on the Arkenstone.
People turned pointing towards Arnial’s cloaked figure as soon as they figured out where the arrow must have come from and she lowered her hood.
Thorin turned from the shattered stone holding some of the pieces in his hand, his grey eyes widening in shock at the sight of Arnial. At first he was shocked, hurt at the attack, and then furious. He turned his red angered face towards her pointing one hand at her demanding the guards seize her, a thousand gold pieces to the dwarf that could put her in chains.
“Five thousand gold for the one that brings me her head!” Dithinia yelled over the crowd then turned to Thorin. “She has made you look like a fool to spare her would be to make you a bigger one!”
Thorin stared at her then nodded. “Bring me the elf’s head.”
The soldiers took off for the balcony but by the time they reached it she was already on her way out of the hidden door. She looked back one last time and felt only anger, Arnial knew that was all she would feel for Thorin that and scorn. She could understand the distaste most elves felt for the dwarves, if all of them would so easily succumb to shiny objects then they were not worth knowing. The days of knowing dwarves that were true warriors were over.
*******
Word was sent by the dwarves demanding to know who had sold the elf the small black arrows to the city of Dale and they sent word back that they were not resposible for what happened at Erebor to the Arkenstone the only one responsible for that was Thorin’s oathbreaking. So Erebor vowed that they would do no trade with the people of Dale until the smith was brought to the KIng and Queen’s justice for aiding a criminal against the dwarves.
Word also reached Thranduil in his palace asking him to surrender the location of Arnial Stormblade on peaceful terms to dwarven justice. He sent back a firm refusal of the request saying he would have no dealings with the city of Erebor so long as Thorin was king and Dithinia his queen. He would protect Arnial should she seek refuge with him in his home but he did tell them that she had not come to him for aid as of yet. He did not tell them he had received a letter from her assuring him that she was well and had settled in the forest where no dwarf would ever come across her.
Legolas also heard whispers of the incident in his travels but knew from what was said that she remained safe or his father would have sent for him. So he did not return.
Fili,Kili,Tauriel,Seraph, and Laurel heard of what happened from their home in the lands close to the home of Elrond. They had no desire to return to the mountain even with the stone missing from the throne.
No one knew if Gandalf or Balin heard of the incident as it had happened after they had all parted ways.
Bilbo returned to the Shire and knew that he would continue to correspond with Thorin awhile longer if for no other reason then to try to bring him around to realize he had been in the wrong.
It was not long before the name Thorin Oathbreaker replaced that of Thorin Oakenshield. With the new name he grew angry and spiteful, his new wife only encouraging the horrible new attitude he carried.
In the days and months after Arnial hid herself in the forest with her friend Thrimdal, who welcomed her with open arms after hearing her tale. They remained in close companionship for a time before it was finally proposed that they marry to one another and word was sent on to the elves that they were wed.
Years passed quickly and things changed little in Erebor, the King’s dark hair had gone grey and his resentment to the other races only grew. He and his queen grew to hate one another as well to the point where he could only say for certain one of their three children was his child. He knew she took lovers when she grew particularly spite and sometimes he would do the same. He never heard of any fathered bastards though so he knew. Only the eldest son looked even close to his appearance.
He heard in the years from his sister that his nephews had fathered many children of their own. Kili had grown to favor him in appearance from when he was young he was told while Fili had grown stronger and seemed healthier. He was happy for them about as much as his cold heart would let him be but he never made to contact them after they left Erebor.
Thorin had three children with his wife Dithinia he named them Thrain (a son), Scala (a daughter named after Dithinia’s mother), and Vigi (another son named after her fallen father). He had named Thrain his crown prince the next to take the throne, he was the most level headed of his children with an even temperment. Scala was promised in marriage to the son of a dwarf of the Iron Hills already and Vigi was to marry the daughter of a blue mountain dwarf.
Thorin grew more bitter each year and his sorrows gave him no rest which Dithinia saw to endlessly. Finally one night Thorin had had enough from her, he was tired of her hateful speech to him, he was tired of the endless string of lovers she kept, and he was just tired. He waited till Scala and Vigi had been sent abroad to marry their betrothed before he put an end to it. He came to her bed chamber while she slept and strangled her.
He left her body in the bed and returned to his room packing a small travel bag and taking his sword, he left Erebor through a secret door. He left only a note to be found by his chief advisors. He name Thrain King Under the Mountain bidding him not to make the mistakes of his father and not to search for him, it would only grant him heartache. He would simply disappear as his own father had done so many years ago that Thorin wrote he could not even remember what he looked like any longer. Thorin Oathbreaker was soon forgotten in Erebor just as Thorin Oakenshield had been.
Arnial lived a quiet life with her husband Thrimdal, she gave up the sword and settled in living as an herbal healer. She found that living a simple life with him was the peace she had truly needed in her life, she even gave up using her glamour to hide her scars. She gave birth to his children having four in the first few years of their lives together. They called them Valoria (Daughter), Arn (daughter), Galatea (daughter), and Tiri (Daughter) all with hair of gold like their father with eyes blue as sapphires.
The four grew up learning healing from Arnial and archery from their father. They taught them all they knew before the four left in turn to go join the rest of the elves watched over by Thranduil.
Their daughters were already adults and left the nest by the time Arnial gave birth to one more child this time a son called Thrimdal II. He was the only of their children to take after their mother hair a fiery red with eyes like emeralds. A son to carry his father’s name and when he was old enough Arnial gave him her sword.
Thrimdal II went out into the world just as his sisters before him with all the knowledge of his parents before him. Though he would visit Thranduil and his sisters he was born to wander the world just as his mother had once done in her youth.
He was in a town of man when he came across a grey haired dwarf whose stormy eyes watched him closely. The dwarf asked him while he was in the inn who his parents might be and he gave the names without worry.
“I thought so,” the dwarf said “I knew your mother once. You have her look about you.”
“I don’t believe she ever mentioned you.” Thrimdal said “Nor my father of you.”
“Never met your father by the time your mother married we were no longer on speaking terms.” he said dismissively coughing into his hand.
“Who are you?”
“Names don’t matter now, just an old dwarf. I should have loved her, truly loved her but I was a fool.” he said chuckling. “I wish I could have seen her one more time, tell her I’m sorry. I became so bitter and hateful, now my years are coming to an end soon and all I feel anymore is regret. Regret at the man I was, at the man I might have been. So many bad memories.”
“You could see her again I’m sure I could take you to her or even send for her.” Thrimdal said softly “Let you say your fair wells properly.”
“No old as I am my bones will be laid to rest before then. No I thank you though,” he said “If you would do an old dwarf one kindness see that she gets this for me.”
The old dwarf pressed the note into the elf’s hand and they parted ways with no further word.
Thrimdal did not see the dwarf again before he left and asked around to find him only to learn he had left town without further word to anyone that very night.
Thrimdal returned to his mother and father’s home within a few days giving her the note.
No one ever learned what was in the note for she went to read the letter and when she was done burned it. Arnial told her husband that there was a small trip she had to make and he bid her safe journey till she returned home. Their son remained with his father until his mother returned almost a week later from her journey. She would not speak of where she went with him but he knew that his father must know where she had went.
*******
Arnial told Thrimdal where she had been just as she promised when he let her leave and later in the year they went there together. To lay flowers upon a grave beside a river at the base of a tall tree. They left flowers there every year until they and their children left for the Undying Lands.
The stone read: Thorin Oakenshield- Oathbreaker King under the Mountain first of his name, son of Thrain. He retook the mountain with a party of fourteen, survived the battle for the Mountain and ruled into his elder years. Friend, father, leader, oathbreaker, forgiven.
