A note: Since this is a crosspost, you can read it on Ao3,- same title and username.

"'It is a foreboding place', thought Thorin, as he and his company took their first, tentative steps into Mirkwood. The trees seemed to close in around them, enfolding them in a secret realm where neither light nor dark reigned, only shadow. They wandered through, on a path that seemed neither straight nor curved but designed to confuse even the most experienced adventurer, cautious and on guard. But after many hours, when nothing leaped out of the shadows, they relaxed slightly. They were still wary, but no immediate danger threatened. Their illusion of peace shattered when they heard the first scream. It was a horrible, wrenching sound, piercing as the wind rattling though the mine-shafts, concentrated through twists and turns to emerge as a warning cry, piercing bone-deep and causing all to shudder. It reminded Thorin of the great danger they were in, as dwarves traveling through the cursed forest. It was an old tale, one that was spoken about in quiet voices in tavern corners, for the words of the tale were treason against the king.

"The tale spoke of how a bargeman from the town of Dale was collecting the barrels from those who dwelled in the forest palace, when he found two beautifully carved wooden chests, and a note. The first chest was filled with gems that seemed made of pure starlight,such was the beauty of them. The second chest was filled with gold and jewellery, and precious stones of many colours and sizes. The man rejoiced at his good fortune, but then he read the scroll that lay next to the chest. On the scroll was written: "Take these to the dwarves. Tell them that the Lord of Mirkwood has commissioned that a necklace be made of the gems, and that the gold is for payment. The necklace is to be made by the finest craftsman, and finished within three months of receiving this notice. When the necklace is complete, it is to be placed back in the chest and left where you first found it. You will be rewarded if the necklace is considered satisfactory." The bargeman took no heed of this, and loaded the chests onto his barge, talking to himself about how he would now be rich, and he could become master of the town.

"It is said that as soon as the words left his lips, a hail of arrows descended on his barge, and all of the arrows dripped crimson with blood. One of the arrows had a message attached to it- "Disobey and the blood that will cover the next arrow that flies will be yours." The man was frightened by this, and that day he walked to Erebor and told the dwarf-king the wishes of Mirkwood. The dwarf-king was suspicious, but he did not know what sort of dark magic the creatures that lived in that forest would use on him, so he thought it wisest to obey. But when the necklace was finished, the dwarf-king could not bear to part with it, for its dazzling light enthralled him, and he wished to keep it. So he commissioned the craftsman to make another necklace, one that looked precisely like the necklace made with the true gems. He gave this false necklace to the bargeman, who in turn placed it in the chest and left it on the riverbank.

"It is said that scarce hours after the bargeman had unwittingly given the necklace to the wood-creatures, a horrible wailing arose from the forest, and it was so loud that it could be heard for miles around. All who heard those eerie howls shivered and huddled next to family, praying that the wrath of the dark folk who lived among the trees would not fall upon them. The tale says that the creatures of the dark wood put a curse on the dwarf-king, and for life eternal he would hear that eerie, bloodcurdling shrieking, and no music could drown out the terrible chorus of their voices. The dwarf-king went swiftly down to the treasure halls deep in the bowels of Erebor, the ghastly cries of the elves thrumming through his head, and he took the necklace of white gems from its place in the halls

But as he gazed upon it, its beauty enraptured him again, even though looking upon the necklace magnified the unearthly keening in his skull by a hundredfold. It is said that the cries of the elves drove the king mad within a week, and he spent his days roaming the treasure-halls, the necklace in his hands. No one knew what happened to the dwarf-king when the dragon came, for none dared go down into the treasure-hoard after that day. But it is said that the necklace still lies in the treasure-halls, and if any of the line of the dwarf-king gazed upon the necklace, they too would be cursed to hear the lament of the fey folk, and wander the halls like the dwarf-king of old, the shining gems of the cursed necklace in their hand.

The second scream was no less jarring than the first, and all looked around them for the source. Then it seemed as though an entire legion of the elfin folk joined in, for suddenly the forest was alive with their shrieks and cries. For all that is said of the fortitude and bravery of the dwarves, none that day hesitated to flee, tripping and stumbling, across the uneven forest floor. Roots trapped their feet and branches stung their faces, but all was ignored in favour of flight. They did not know where they were going, for the sounds seemed to come from all around them, but Thorin did his best to lead them in a relatively straight line towards their destination, wherever that may be. At last they came to a river, but the shrieks still followed them, and Thorin could see no way out. But it was their burglar who saved them. "Thorin!" Bilbo cried. "This must be where they send the barrels out!" And indeed it was, Thorin thought, for a second scan of the river revealed a gate through which the water flowed, and, just visible behind the bars of said gate, were several barrels, waiting for the gate to be opened so that they could float downriver to be collected.

"Get everyone into the barrels!" He shouted. "We can float downstream!" Thorin was going to argue, but then he realised that it might be the only way to get out of the woods alive. "Everyone into the barrels!" He cried, and all quickly obeyed, for they were all eager to get away from the oppressive darkness of the forest. Of course, it was then that the orcs showed up. Thorin sighed and grabbed a nearby branch from the forest floor as he raced to get into the barrels and open the gate. Between the unnatural screams of the elves and the orcs, Thorin preferred the orcs. He tightened his grip on the stick as the gate opened, and prepared to smash a few heads.

The refugees of Lake-Town did not know where the wagons full of food came from, but it was a blessing. Bard silently thanked whoever had delivered the goods, trying to keep the rumours down as to where the goods came from. He turned to the dark trees of Mirkwood, and knew that whatever lived in that forest had gifted them the food. But already, the rumours had started to spread, and many refused to touch the food, saying that it was tainted with evil. Bard had no such problem, but could not convince those who believed in the poison. Bard sighed, and hoped that they would soon see the truth. Either that, or they would starve

(Thorin reclaims Erebor, and instead of the elven army being parked outside the gates, it's Dain's army of dwarves. Bard and Dain have a council with Gandalf, Bilbo gives them the Arkenstone, and Thorin says it's a trick, and declares war. The dwarves and people of Dale fight Azog's army and are winning, when Bolg's army attacks. Suddenly, another contingent of dwarves arrives from the Iron Mountains (Probably composed of many dwarf women and some dwarf men) along with Beorn and the Eagles and help turn the tide of battle. Fíli, Kíli and Thorin survive. Also, Thorin recovers from the gold sickness. Bard keeps the necklace of Girion, too.)

Thorin sighed as he approached the chest that contained his fate. He had asked the others to search the treasure halls and try to find the cursed necklace of the elves. Thorin did not know whether the tale was true or not, but the magic of those who lived in the dark woods was strong, and get had no desire to become like the dwarf-king, fated to roam the treasure-halls for the rest of his days, bound by the enchanting radiance of the gems. As Thorin picked up the chest, he thought he heard a faint wail, like the ones that had chased him and the company through those dark woods. He resisted the urge to open the chest, though something in him screamed to open it, to gaze upon the gem's mystical light. The chest seemed to weigh more than it should have, as though it contained the anguish and torment of a thousand souls, instead of a necklace made from the finest mithril. Thorin loaded the chest onto his pony, and set out for the Long Lake. Bard waited as Thorin walked onto the deck of the barge, chest securely tucked under his arm. Neither spoke as Bard guided them up the Forest River, each musing on their own thoughts as they glided through the water. At last Bard drew the barge up near the riverside, and stood silently as Thorin jumped out onto the bank. Thorin walked forward and gently placed the chest on the grass. He murmured a quick prayer of forgiveness in Khuzdul, and turned back to the barge. But before Thorin had gone more than a few strides, something whistled past his ear. He looked down at the ground.

A red arrow was buried in the dirt.