Chào các bạn! Vì nhiều lý do từ nay Truyen2U chính thức đổi tên là Truyen247.Pro. Mong các bạn tiếp tục ủng hộ truy cập tên miền mới này nhé! Mãi yêu... ♥

Chapter 59. Final Goodbyes.

Hey! Thank you for all the entries into my competition! They were all amazing! The competition is still open so keep sending in your entries!!

PLEASE GO AND FOLLOW MY AMAZING FRIEND DREW BLAKE!! @Creative_Dude_17

HE IS THE MOST AWESOMEST GUY I HAVE EVER MET! You will love him! And he's so nice to everyone! Go and message him as well! He will make you laugh! ;D AND HE LOVES LOTR AND THE HOBBIT AND HE'S CURRENTLY WRITING A HOBBIT FANFIC!!!! :):)

Anyway! Here's Chapter 59! I really hope you like it! Please comment, vote and follow! Thank you! :)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Cassy's POV*

Three weeks. Three weeks since I had talked to Thorin. Two weeks since he had taken his last breath. And one week since the King Under the Mountain's funeral.

I attended the funeral although I left early as I couldn't bear the pain of seeing Thorin, Nori, Bifur and Caspian's tombs being sealed. I regretted not saying my goodbyes now and I planned to visit their tombs today if I could. That's why I was outside in the middle of winter, in the snow, trying to clear my mind.

I sighed in content as I took another deep breath, revelling in the fresh yet cold air that the wind was carrying towards me. My eyes closed for a moment and I could feel my nerves relaxing, my mind calming even if it was merely for a few minutes. I took a few steps further away from the main gate, the snow crunching lightly beneath my booted feet. I held my head high then as I inhaled deeply.

I looked up to the sky that was covered in light grey clouds. I buried my hands in the pockets of my coat to keep them warm and once again gazed up to the sky. I stood like that for a while, simply staring into the clouds above.

I smiled once again as my gaze was focused on the sky, when a snowflake suddenly landed on my forehead. I chucked lightly as more snow began to fall and I scrunched up my nose as a snowflake hit me right on the tip of it. I heard deep, rumbling chuckle from behind me, the sound warming my heart and I turned around to give Kili a soft smile.

*Kili's POV*

I pulled her towards me then, taking in the sight of her in the white around us and the snowflakes that were creating small white shimmering crystals in her pure black hair before they melted away. Cassy snuggled into my embrace as I wrapped my arms around her, whilst she buried her face in the fur of my coat collar for a short moment.

"You really shouldn't stand out here for so long." I murmured against the top of her head as I felt her shiver lightly in my hold, and I rubbed her arms slightly to give her some warmth. "You're freezing." I added.

She just nodded and pulled back, smiling slightly as I took her hand to lead her back inside the walls of the mountain.

Cassy nodded to the guards as they nodded in respect to her as we passed them. "Dain's guards sure do respect you." I mumbled as she smiled.

"I earned my place as the Head of Dain's guards, I proved myself to them on countless occasions." She replied softly before her expression turned to a sad one.

I shot her a questioning look upon her expression that had suddenly become more thoughtful again and less light. I raised my eyebrows at her as she stopped walking, preventing me from going on, too, as she was still holding on to my hand. I felt my heart thump nervously in my chest as I saw the look on my beloved's face, one that spoke of uncertainty and sadness, though there was also something determined in it.

"Can I see them?" She asked.

My brows furrowed slightly, as for a moment I wasn't sure what she was talking about. But it became quite evident when she cleared her throat almost nervously and slightly pressed her lips together, waiting for my answer.

"I... are you sure that you want to?" I asked as I realized that Cassy was talking about our lost companions, our friends that lay buried deep down in the mountain's chamber tombs. Cassy just nodded in reply to my question and I sighed quietly. I wasn't sure whether bringing Cassy down to the tombs of our friends was such a good idea. It would hurt her, and remind her of the horrible things that had happened. I hesitated, shortly pressing my lips together as I thought about it.

But Cassy interrupted all of my thoughts with only two words that sank into my heart like an anchor, keeping me from back-pedalling any further.

"Please, Kili." She said, her voice low and tired as she looked at me. She hesitated for a moment but she continued quietly. "I just... I just want to say farewell. I need to say farewell to them, they are my friends... and my brother."

I sighed deeply, pulling her closer to me again. I hesitated a moment before I brought her hand up and pressed a small kiss to her knuckles.

"Tomorrow." I murmured, making a promise even though I still felt unsure about the whole situation. "We may go tomorrow. You need to get some rest beforehand."

Cassy sighed in relief quietly as she pressed a light kiss to my jaw. I smiled at her before I pulled her along and we moved down the corridor together. We walked in silence for a moment before Cassy spoke up from beside me, "Thank you, Kili."

I shot my beloved a sideways glance, then smiled lightly at her and just nodded as I led her back through the many corridors of the mountain towards her bedchamber.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Cassy's POV*

I couldn't quite decipher how I felt when I waited for Kili to pick me up the next day as he had promised. Sitting on my bed, my hands folded in my lap, I felt nervous and scared. I wasn't sure what would await me down in the chamber tombs but all I knew was that I had to see them in order to process what had happened.

I never really had the time to think about the aftermath of the war, but I knew that the dwarves around the mountain as well as the people of Dale and Laketown had by now given it a name. The Battle of the Five Armies, they were calling it. I didn't like the name, although it was quite fitting. I didn't like giving something a name that had caused so much pain and damage. But I understood that they wanted to remember the battle in which their mountain had been protected and truly reclaimed, in which their king had fallen for his people. I knew that one day, all the pain and all the loss, all the blood and all the death would be nothing more but words in a history book. And I would probably be dead by then, the pain that plagued me now forgotten and carried away by a gentle wind. But that day had not yet come, and the pain was much too great to ever be forgotten.

A soft knock on the door ripped me out of my thoughts and I quietly called for the person on the other side to come in. I recognized the hatted head that popped through the opening door immediately.

"Bofur." I greeted the dwarf with a small smile as he entered and closed the door behind him. Bofur shot me a smile that mirrored mine as he came closer. I stood from the bed, holding on to the bedpost with one hand.

"Good afternoon, lass." The dwarf smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, you know, as good as I can be after being impelled with arrows three weeks ago." I answered, with a joking manner.

"Still sore, I take it?" Bofur asked as he sat on a nearby chair and raised his eyebrows at me. Sighing silently to myself as I followed my friend's example and sat back down on the bed, looking at him quizzically.

"What are you doing here?" I asked then. "Dwalin told me you would be down in the mines all day today."

"I was supposed to be." Bofur nodded. "But plans change, and now I'm here to pick you up."

"Pick me up?" I frowned slightly, sending the dwarf a confused look. "But I was just waiting for -"

" - Kili, I know." Bofur smiled kindly. "He sends his apologies, he was delayed. He asked me to see after you in his stead."

"Delayed?"

"Oh, you know, they are all going crazy down in the throne hall because Fili's coronation will be held in five day's time and nothing's quite ready yet. Dain is ordering everyone about, Fili is trying to keep up with all the work that is still to do and Kili got caught in between somewhere."

My frown deepened slightly as I nodded. Kili had many duties, so did I, but I still couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed. He had promised, after all. Bofur seemed to sense the change in my mood and he shot me a warm look.

"The downsides to being royalty, I guess." He joked lightly, and I knew that he was trying to lighten the mood. "Shame you've taken a fancy to a prince, eh? An out-of-work toymaker at least has time on his hands."

I couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped my lips as I shook my head at Bofur. The dwarf just grinned and shot me a small wink. "I might not be your first choice, but rumour has it that I can be quite entertaining, as well."

My smile widened in agreement to his words before it faltered slightly and I shook my head again, averting my gaze from Bofur's as he furrowed his brows at me in question.

"It's not that." I said quietly, another sigh escaping my throat before I looked back at the hatted dwarf that slightly leaned forward in his chair, placing his elbows on his knees as he looked at me questioningly. "He was supposed to take me to the chamber tombs today."

A knowing look crossed his face and he sobered quickly, slightly clearing his throat as he leaned back on the chair.

"Oh." He said. I nodded silently, and I watched as the cheerful look on my friend's face was replaced by a sad one crossing his features. Immediately, I felt bad for even bringing it up. I swallowed tightly, not sure what reaction I should be expecting from the dwarf before me, but I didn't count on Bofur nodding slowly after a moment and looking at me in understanding.

"I can take you." He said quietly then, shooting me an uncertain look. "If you wouldn't mind my company over Kili's. I mean, I would understand if you -"

"You don't have to feel obliged to do this." I interrupted lowly and Bofur pressed his lips together slightly.

"I don't." He answered, standing up and walking the few steps over to me to extend his hand towards me. "Really, lass. I can take you."

I hesitated shortly as I looked up at Bofur, but seeing nothing but sincerity in his gaze I slowly took the hand he offered and let him pull me to my feet. Bofur placed my hand in the crook of his elbow, allowing him to lead me along. I shot the hatted dwarf a grateful look as he led me out of the chamber and down the first corridor of many.

We didn't talk much on our way to the tombs, but the silence between us wasn't tense and it wasn't uncomfortable. It was filled with something, a certain sadness maybe, an understanding of how the other felt on both sides. We passed a few dwarves on our way, and Bofur and I greeted some of them with a short nod or smile.

My thoughts halted abruptly as Bofur led me around another corner and down a flight of broad stone stairs. Another dark corridor awaited us at the end of them, torches lighting the way as we walked towards the wide opening in the wall before us. The entrance to the chamber tombs had no door wings and as we passed it, my eyes widened slightly upon seeing the large chamber that awaited them behind it. The walls were high and torches cast a calm light over the whole room, causing faint shadows to dance on the tombs that lay before my eyes. I halted in my tracks, and Bofur shot me a small sideways glance as I looked at the graves silently. I swallowed hard, unconsciously gripping Bofur's arm a bit tighter before I let go of him and slowly stepped forward, hesitant steps carrying me to the nearest tomb. It was made of dark, almost black stone and as I stepped closer, I saw small lines and curves carved into the tomb. Cautiously, I brought my hand up and let my fingers trail lightly over the signs that I recognized as runes until I heard Bofur translating it from behind me.

"Bifur." He murmured, putting one large hand flat on the stone of his cousin's tomb as he read the runes beneath my fingertips out loud. "Son of Bòr. A valiant warrior."

I swallowed thickly past the lump in my throat as I acknowledged Bofur's words with a small nod, gently tracing my fingers over the runes of Bifur's name once more before I forced myself to turn away. Slowly, I crossed the distance to the next tomb.

"Nori..." I whispered, my throat dry and my words choked as read the dwarf's name on the tomb. I felt Bofur's gaze on me from where he was still standing a few steps behind me and I smiled sadly at the runes on Nori's tomb, feeling my eyes sting with tears. "My dear Nori... I'm so sorry I couldn't save you. I -"

I broke off as tears choked my voice and it was just a second later that I felt Bofur's warm hand on my shoulder, squeezing slightly as to comfort me. I shot the hatted dwarf a short look and saw him staring down at Nori's tomb as well, his eyes glazed over with a thin veil of tears.

"Nori, brother of Ori and Dori. A loyal companion and a skilful combatant." He said then, reading the runes.

I lifted my hand to squeeze Bofur's on my shoulder, unable to stop the few tears that escaped my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. We said nothing for a while as we merely stood by Bifur and Nori's graves, mourning our friend and cousin in silence and yet completely understanding how the other was feeling. I knew that Bofur would never get over his cousin dying and leaving him on his own, just as I would never forget my brother dying trying to protect me. I would never be able to forget the moment that I had seen Nori fall, and yet we somehow had to get on with our lives and live the rest of our time in a way that would make our loved ones proud, in a way that would honour their deaths.

I took a shuddering breath as I finally turned away from the tomb and walked further into the room, passing more graves.

"Where's Caspian's?" I asked Bofur.

He smiled sadly and led me further in until we came to a stop beside a tomb with my family crest engraved on it.

"Caspian, son of Marcus. A brave comrade, a fierce fighter and a loving brother." Bofur read the runes.

I smiled as I rested my hand on top of the tomb. "I miss you, Cas... I miss you so much. Why did you have to be so heroic and jump in front of me?" I mumbled as I stared at the runes. "Thank you for being the perfect brother. No matter how stupid you were at times I still and will forevermore love you until the day I die." I smiled as I fiddled with Caspian's braid in my hair.

I stayed beside Caspian's tomb for a long while. Just absorbed in my own thoughts before I tore myself away.

My gaze fell on another tomb that stood a few feet away, elevated on a small platform. The stone on this one was carved more delicately, and it bore more intricate details, I noticed as I stepped closer. My throat became dry as I took the small step onto the platform to look at the runes engraved on the lid of the tomb. I shot a look back at Bofur who had stopped a few feet behind me, shooting me a small encouraging nod, though his eyes were sad and dark.

"Thorin." I muttered quietly, my hand only hesitatingly finding its way onto the dark stone of the dwarf-king's tomb. It felt cold beneath my fingers but smooth as if it had been sanded carefully. My fingers flexed on the stone for a moment as I thought about what Dwalin had told me about the king's burial when I left early. Thorin had been laid to rest with the Arkenstone and with Orcrist placed on his chest, and I could only imagine the large dwarf's body lying in this tomb now, hands folded over his broad chest and eyes closed forever. Another tear escaped my eyes then, and as it rolled down my cheek I closed my eyes, not seeing it drop onto the dark stone next to my hand as I inclined my head.

I began muttering an old elvish prayer as my fingers traced the engravings.

"What's that?" Bofur asked quietly as he walked up to me.

"It's an elvish farewell." I muttered, sighing quietly as my fingers trailed over the intricate engravings again. "What do these say?"

"Thorin II Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror." The dwarf beside me provided slowly. "A true king, and a just leader."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REMEMBER TO FOLLOW @Creative_Dude_17 !!!

I really hope you liked it! Please comment, vote and follow! Thank you!! :)

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro