Once A Rebel, Always A RebelThe RebelThe Rebel and Her King

The Rebel

"I do hope you understand what I'm trying to say here Lady Bellethiel." A male's voice spoke out, the voice belonging to an elderly dwarf that was sitting across from me in a table in the library. "It's nothing against you and your kin; it's just what a lot of us think would be best for the kingdom."

"I understand." I replied plainly, staring right into the eyes of the dwarf in front of me.

"Then I hope you think about what you do from this point on." The elderly dwarf said, getting up from his chair and bowing his head to me. "Think wisely Lady Bellethiel, and I hope you choose what is right for our people."

The elderly dwarf got up and left, leaving me alone by myself in the library to ponder my thoughts and my next course of action.

(Several Hours Before)

"Bellethiel?"

I turned around at the sound of my name to see Thorin smiling at me while he made his way toward me.

"Hello Thorin." I greeted as I smiled happily back at him, watching as he made his way to where I was standing in the balcony area that overlooked the open field in front of us.

"What, may I ask, are you doing here?" Thorin questioned. "I would've assumed that you would be with your nephews and your niece."

"I was, but I was needed elsewhere and was pulled away for a bit." I replied, looking down to Thorin. "What are you doing here my King? First time your grandfather's counselors left you alone for the day?"

Thorin sighed as he looked sadly out into the field in front of us.

"You could say that..." Thorin mumbled and I could only chuckle when I realized what actually happened.

"Thorin, shame on you," I scolded playfully. "Sneaking away from important meetings is not becoming of the future King of Erebor. They will become your counselors one day, and even as King you could get a severe talking to if you keep this up."

Thorin turned to glare at me, but there was no anger behind it as he simply scoffed and smirked slightly.

"I'm starting to consider finding myself new counselors." Thorin mumbled sadly after a while. "They keep insisting that once your work is done here that you and your kin must leave this mountain."

"We will only leave if you order us to leave Thorin." I assured down to my dwarf King.

"You know I will never order such a thing..." Thorin replied. "I will do everything in my power to make sure you never, and I mean never Bellethiel, leave my sight."

I smiled down to Thorin, feeling a slight flutter in my chest at the protectiveness he was showing toward me. I leaned down and placed a feathered kiss to his forehead, causing him to snap out of his thoughts. The lines of stress on his forehead disappearing and his face relaxing as he was caught completely off guard.

"For as long as I live Thorin," I said, not leaning back to my full height, staying just leveled with Thorin. "I do not plan to leave your sight."

Thorin turned his head toward me, inclining his head back just a bit to look back into my eyes and he smiled. He leaned close to me, not needing to push himself higher, and placed a kiss to my cheek. Our faces were close to each other and I felt him reach out and cup my cheek as well. I looked to Thorin and placed my hand over his, the two of us standing still in content.

"I am..." I mumbled as I turned toward his hand and placed a kiss to the inside of his wrist. "happy that you are safe Thorin...I do not know what I would have done if I did not make it to you in time..."

"You are a foolish elf for pulling such a stunt." Thorin mumbled as I felt him shift so he was fully facing me. "Did you not realize that if you were to die, you would've left me alone as well?"

"But, you would not have been alone." I stated plainly. "You would have your company, your sister, your nephews, and your people who all depend on you."

"You know that's not what I meant Bellethiel." Thorin grumbled causing me to look back at him.

"I am sure you would have found another who would catch your eyes and capture your heart." I brushed it off. "You would have moved on, after all...I am but a lowly elf."

"No," Thorin stated firmly. "you are anything but lowly. There may have been others who would've caught my eye, but would've never captured my heart the way a certain elf had. And none...who has sacrificed so much for my family, for me...Bellethiel."

"Thorin..." I breathed out, taken a bit back at the sudden passionate emotion that shown through in my Kings eyes.

"I would've been left alone if you died saving me." Thorin stated. "I would've never allowed myself to move on...I would always be comparing other suitors to you, because they would have such large shoes to fill." Thorin sighed before I felt his thumb rubbing my cheek. "Please Bellethiel...if it's at all possible. Don't do anything so reckless again; you are so very precious to me." Thorin looked a bit lost in thought as a sad expression took over his features. "Your life...is worth more than all the wealth in this mountain...even worth more than the Kings Jewel."

I felt touched, extremely touched at Thorin's words...and even proud to hear him say that. It not only showed me how much I meant to him...for a dwarf who once would've gone to war for the Arkenstone and say that I was more important then that jewel. And I was proud because it made me realize that he will not succumb to the dragon sickness anymore.

I closed the gap between us and caught Thorin by surprise once more as I placed my lips upon his. I couldn't help myself...my heart fluttered when I heard him say I was more important than the gold and jewels in the mountain. His lips against mine...kisses...I could get used to this feeling, it's quite addicting. His lips were soft, his scent was intoxicating, and in those times when we were alone I would run my hand through his hair.

I pulled away and smiled at how out of breath Thorin was and I laughed a bit.

'If my sister saw me now...and heard what I was thinking. She would laugh and tell me she told me so.' I thought as I stared down to Thorin. "Left you speechless?" I teased causing Thorin to cough just a bit as a cover up as I saw a red tint on his cheeks.

"No." Thorin stated, looking away a bit in embarrassment which only caused me to laugh more.

"So, aside from annoying counselors and meetings, is being King exactly how you imagined it to be?" I questioned curiously.

"Yes, and much worse." Thorin stated. "I'm...happy to have reclaimed the home for my people and I am happy to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather and sit on the throne as King...but I feel like my father should've been on there before me." Thorin looked down a bit sadly. "I don't even know if he's alive anymore..."

"Through my travels," I added in, standing to my full height and looked down to Thorin sadly. "After the battle in front of the gates of Moria, I have heard nothing of Thráin...no news or sightings, if he is alive or not...we may never know." I said reaching out and placing a hand on Thorin's shoulder, spreading my fingers out over the fur lining before giving it a gentle squeeze. "But what I do know...is that alive or not, he would be proud of his son."

Thorin looked to be contemplating my words before he reached up and placed his hand over mine and giving it a squeeze back to tell me that he would be okay.

"I'm sorry my love." Thorin said as he lifted my hand off his shoulder and turned back to me, my hand still in his. "I'm afraid I must be going...I have possibly been away for too long and I'm sure they are looking for me."

"Do not be sorry Thorin, duty calls." I assured with a smile. "I should get back to my kin; we need to talk more about restoration details with the kingdom and assisting Bard in Dale."

"I'll be joining you in the room tonight." Thorin said with a sigh. "I haven't had a decent night's rest since the battle was declared victorious."

I blushed a bit at the thought of Thorin and myself sharing a room, and I could feel my cheeks getting redder when I realized there was only one bed.

"Is that a problem?" Thorin questioned with a sly smirk on his face, clearly seeing the flush in my cheeks.

"N-no!" I squeaked...squeaked? And I placed a hand over my mouth, coughing slightly. "No."

"It's not as if we haven't shared a room before." Thorin continued to tease as I heard clear humor laced through his words, his smirk only growing as I'm sure my face became redder the more he spoke so blatantly and outright about the situation.

"It is not a problem," I mumbled, turning to look away in embarrassment. "go and return to your duties."

Thorin only chuckled as I felt my hand being lifted and his lips lightly placed on the back of my hand, giving it a quick kiss.

"I will see you soon Bellethiel." Thorin said as he turned to leave, still with that infuriating, smug smirk plastered on his face.

"I will be looking forward to seeing you, my King." I called out as I did a slight mock bow, even though I knew Thorin would not see.

'It's strange...' I thought as I smiled at the sudden memory of our first encounter in Bag End, watching as Thorin disappeared out of my sight. 'how much has changed in the past two years.'

"Excuse me...are you Lady Bellethiel?" A firm but gentleman voice called out.

I looked to see an elderly dwarf with a kind smile on his face, a carefree smile, with gray in his hair and beard outnumbering the black. His attire reminded me somewhat of Balin's, the way he dresses and the design...I can only assume the fabric of the clothing was of the highest quality any could find in Middle-Earth.

"Yes, what can I help you with?" I answered, returning the kind smile.

"My name is Gamil, I was once a councilor to Thorin's grandfather Thrór and now I am part of Thorin's council." The dwarf, Gamil, introduced. He did not move toward me, but simply nodded his head in a different direction. "I've been meaning to speak with you about some important matters at hand, if you don't mind...could we speak somewhere private."

I looked at the dwarf a bit skeptically before nodding my head.

"Of course Master Gamil," I said. "Lead the way."

Gamil took the lead and I followed close behind...it seemed like he was leading me toward one of the many library's in the kingdom if I remember path correctly as we moved and passed familiar hallways.

And my assumption was correct, Gamil led me into one of the many libraries, possibly one that barely anyone goes to and he led me to the very back area of the library. He sat down at one of the tables and gestured for me to take the seat across from him.

"Please have a seat Lady Bellethiel." Gamil said. "And we can get right down to business."

I didn't question anything for now and just obliged with his request, quietly dragging back the chair and sat across from Gamil. The two of us sat in silence, an awkward tense silence on my part as I felt my fingers twitch at my side.

Due to my status I patiently waited for Gamil to speak first due to respect on my part, with him being the Kings counselor and I a simple elf captain it would be considered very disrespectful to speak up without first being spoken to in my opinion. Though, if we were to get technical, then I'm nothing more than an ordinary elf compared to a Kings counselor.

"Sorry, no beating around the bush yes? I shall come right out and say what I need to say." Gamil said as he moved forward, placing his arms on the table, and lacing his hands together. "You, your kin, and the elves in this mountain need to leave immediately."

I was taken back a bit before I sent a dangerous glare in Gamil's direction, prepared to say a few choice words at the dwarf before he held up his hand to silence me.

"Let me speak before you decide to say anything. So please, allow me to finish before you decide to add your two cents." Gamil said, still with a smile on his face. "The King knows nothing of my meeting with you. So I would appreciate you not telling anything to the King. If you are asking why you should listen to me, then perhaps everything I say after this will answer why this conversation should stay between us, and knowing how you are...you'd agree as well."

"I will hear you out, but I do not think it is in your right to tell me, my kin and my people to leave...you hold no power to order us out." I said with a glare. "We will only leave if Thorin orders us to leave."

"And we both know the King will never order you, his precious jewel, out of his sight." Gamil added in. "That's why after our talk, you will leave the King...leave this kingdom on your own accord."

"You say that like you are so sure I will leave once this talk is over." I stated, still glaring at the dwarf.

"The King is in love with you, that much I have seen. Even the young prince is in love with an elf captain. Some have said the elf our King is in love with, and the elf the young Prince is in love with are one and the same. But after meeting you, I know that's not true, you're too loyal to be the same person the King and young Prince is smitten with." Gamil stated. "But tell me this Lady Bellethiel, what good would come from the union between a lowly elf captain and one of royal blood? What good will your union do for my people?"

I couldn't answer Gamil, because our union would indeed benefit no one, but I didn't think that would matter.

"If the King were to court you, an elf becoming Queen? Not to mention you have no ties anymore to the kingdom of Mirkwood, so your union wouldn't even be able to unite the kingdoms. If you were per say, the daughter of Lord Thranduil and was to join with Thorin then may be it would be considered...but you're not even that! You're just an ex-Mirkwood captain...you don't even have that title anymore if I were to be more specific." Gamil said. "What can you do to provide for my people? What do you have to your name that can benefit us compared to a dwarf princess who can bring together two kingdoms and bring forth a new alliance to make our kingdom stronger?"

"I may not be able to provide the benefits a royal member could provide, but I did not think it mattered, or that Thorin and my relationship was any of your business Master Gamil." I said as I leaned back into my chair, blankly staring at the dwarf.

"As the Kings counselor it is my business, and it is my duty to guide the King in the right direction even if he doesn't see the correct path to take." Gamil said. "I'm sure you've heard the rumors and gossip through the kingdom, due to your relationship with the King...the dwarves in Erebor are questioning him as King. Questioning his capability to make good decisions for his people."

"Yes, I have heard the rumors, and I am repulsed by how badly you and many others would think so badly of just because of our relationship. He created a home for you and his people after the dragon overtook your home, took only a company of thirteen dwarves back to reclaim your home when many denied his call for help, many still have the nerve to question him?" I shook my head in shame. "Back in Mirkwood it was considered uncivil to question their ruler and I quickly squashed any doubt anyone had of Lord Thranduil...a shame that some people in this kingdom cannot simply just trust their King. Not to mention, who the King courts is no one's business but his own, and even if he were to choose me or not, it is still none of my business as well."

"Lady Bellethiel, surely you see why the people in this kingdom is upset. You come from Mirkwood; you used to serve under Lord Thranduil, the very elf who turned his back on us while our home was ablaze...who turned his back when we called for help." Gamil retorted. "With Thorin choosing to so lightly care about an elf with that background, some would see it as betrayal."

"And you see it that way?" I questioned. "I am sure Balin's told you and the other counselors our story."

"Yes, Balin has told us stories of your good deeds, and these stories are only known by the council group as far as I know." Gamil said.

"Then how, Master Gamil, is me being with Thorin seen as a betrayal?" I asked.

"I do not see it as betrayal, and don't get me wrong here Lady Bellethiel. I am grateful that you helped my King and the company to reclaim the mountain, helped fight in the war, but the rest...with you returning to the mountain when Smaug attacked to help any of my people well; to us it's simply unbelievable. To us, it's just a story." Gamil said causing me to shoot up from my seat in anger, the scrapping of the wooden legs against the floor seemed to echo loudly in the silent library.

"You dare call everything I lost a story that we made up just to make us look better?" I growled out angrily, all politeness and respect I was trying to uphold thrown out the window. 'I guess, assuming from what he listed, he doesn't even know how close Thorin was to losing his own life if it wasn't for me.'

Gamil shook his head and motioned with his hand for me to sit back down.

"I'm not saying that what happened is true or false, I'm simply stating that it's just a story until we know for sure." Gamil sighed.

"You mean you need proof that what we did was true?" I glared angrily.

"Calm yourself Lady Bellethiel; I would like to address this as calmly as possible." Gamil said, not even flinching at the harsh stare I was sending his way. "Now, I know you care a great deal about the King, so much so that I think what I say next will make you think carefully on your next move."

"Speak now before I lose my patience completely." I threatened even with a calm voice, but there was still bite to my words, enough to show that I wasn't just saying things...that I would follow through if this continues.