3. Life changing decisions

Laerwen thought back on all the events that took place just a few days prior as she sneaked down into the dungeons

to seek out her destination.

When the thirteen dwarfs stood before her and Thranduil, Laerwen knew in an instant that they were trying to sell them lies in hopes that they would just let them go on their journey like this. She mostly kept quiet as her husband tried to get the right information out of them because she knew already. She was very familiar with the story of Erebor and how these dwarfs lost their home to the fierce dragon. She knew that they wanted back what was theirs a long time ago. She just sat back in her throne and watched them plead and struggle to find a way out of their grasps as Thranduil ordered them to the dungeons to prevent this quest from happening.

But Laerwen knew otherwise and tried to talk to her husband as soon as the whole party was out of sight.

"You know we have to let this happen, Thranduil. Not only is it of high importance that they get their mountain back but they also have to slay this god forsaken dragon. He has been sitting on this gold for far too long."

She turned in her throne towards her husband who pinched the bridge of his nose as if he got a headache.

"No Laerwen, we can't let them go. You know just as well as I that nothing but war will come out of this. If they have read the signs don't you think that others would have as well?" He said turning to her as well.

Laerwen leaned a little bit forward in her throne as if she wanted no one else to hear what she was about to say.

"That's exactly my point of reason Thranduil. I know that you too feel this strange evil that emits from the east. I can feel it growing every day. What if this evil decides to point his vision towards this mountain? We both know that it has a strategic position and is highly wanted by many in this world. Then what after that? Mirkwood? I won't lose everything Thranduil. I will prevent all this from happening!"

Suddenly Thranduil stood from his throne "I said no, Laerwen! I won't let them drive everything into death.

Our own quest is to make sure that our people are safe and that we will do! We have nothing to do with the outside world. Let them burn for all I care but in this kingdom we will endure all sorts of evil and will conquer death for all eternity. And now enough of this! The dwarfs will rot in their cells until the day they die. I will make sure that they won't return to their reckless quest." With that Thranduil quickly went down the stairs, out of the throne room and out of Laerwens sight.

After the argument with her husband, Laerwen thought a lot about their fate and destiny within these walls and what plans the Valar had for them to survive on middle earth. She knew that she wanted to keep everyone safe on this planet and that included the dwarfs as well.

And she also knew that if she wouldn't stop this evil from spreading, no one would even care to do so!

She felt it growing stronger with each passing hour and she couldn't stand the thought that her son, her husband or anyone that she held dear on middle earth wouldn't survive this upcoming war. And that was one thing she was absolutely sure of. So she didn't even have another option.

In those few days after the dwarfs imprisonment she would often argue and fight with her husband about letting them go and continue on with their journey but she found herself on deaf ears with her request.

She knew that Thranduil could be just as stubborn as she when he set his mind to something but this time she wouldn't budge to his command for greater things were happening in their lands right now and this was more than just one kings decision alone. If this great evil decided to show itself it would involve all races on middle earth and that included Mirkwood and Thranduil just couldn't advert his eyes from something this monstrous.

After the fifth time they had the same argument over and over again, which led to Thranduil storming out of whatever room they were currently in, Laerwen finally made her decision. She just couldn't stand by and let everything fall apart. She would help the dwarfs escape, and even better, she would simply join their mission!

Laerwen knew that couldn't tell a single soul what her plan so she hid every thought about leaving behind a perfect mask of indifference.

It was the evening of the feast of the stars, mereth an gilith, when she saw the perfect opportunity to escape for everyone, even the king, enjoyed the fine wine and got a little bit tipsy.

The whole day she tried to stay away from as many people as possible to not even get the urge to tell someone what kind of betrayal she was about to do. That's how Thranduil will see it anyway.

So she secretly packed some things, put on some pants and a tunic in which she could walk and ride for months under her dress, and wrote her husband a detailed letter in which she explained why she couldn't have told him what she was about to do, that she loved him like no one else and that she also would promise to return to him as soon as she was able to. Of course she knew there was a good chance that she wouldn't but she would give it her best effort to return to her son and husband.

She took her evenstar off around her neck and placed it with the letter inside her favorite book where he would definitely find it, with a request to look after her heart because she would leave it there with him.

Then she went down to the ballroom with the open roof where they could see the stars and joined everyone else in the celebration, always putting on a perfect mask to hide her nervousness and sadness of leaving everything behind.

After dancing with her son for the third time this evening she pulled away from a very tipsy Legolas and made her way over to her husband who was watching on his makeshift throne with an empty glass of wine in his hand. Laerwen noticed that he got a slight glow to his cheeks and a small smile on his lips as he noticed her approach.

And he never looks as appealing to Laerwen as he did in this moment. Maybe it was the thought of leaving him behind and never seeing his beautiful face again or maybe it was altogether just him. But she knew that she would always remember him like this, gentle eyes that sparkled with love that he only showed to her and no one else, the small smile that she knew meant so much more and the outstretched hand that was just beckoning for her to come closer. It was in these moments that she realized how much she really loved him.

She knew that it was now or never. If she didn't act on her plan now, then there would never be another opportunity to do so. She went to her husbands side who stood up from his throne as if in greeting and softly said:"I think I'm tired from too much dancing and even a little bit tipsy from the wine. Do you mind accompanying me to bed my King?" She slightly tucked on his hand and waited for his reply. "Of course, my Queen. I think I'm a little bit tipsy myself and could use the rest." She smiled up to him and tucked on his hand more forcefully this time and led him up the wooden paths to their bedroom chambers, opened the oak door and led him inside. She pretended to need a minute for herself, went into their bathroom and waited until she heard a soft snoring coming from their bed.

Laerwen smiled to herself, she could not believe that this part was so easy.

She tip toed back into their bedchambers and found her husband already fast asleep on the bed, thanks to the wine that he had already drank. She made her way over to his side, got on her knees in front of him, put a hand to his cheek and whispered as silently as she could:" I'm so sorry, Thranduil, but you would have never let me go. I have a feeling that everything will turn out just right, you only have to trust me this once. And I know that we will see each other again, my love! I love you so much Thranduil, never forget that." She slightly went over her husbands face and kissed him lightly on his lips before grabbing her back, getting out of her dress and moving towards the door. She opened the door, turned around and took one last look upon her sleeping husband and went down towards her destination, the dungeons.

She moved in and out of the shadows. Laerwen knew that if even one of the guards saw her she couldn't explain her reason for being down in the dungeons so she hid behind a wall or a pillar every time someone would cross her path.

Once down in the dungeons she could make out that every dwarf got his one cell. She sought out Thorins cell first and went to open it with the spare keys she grabbed the day before in order to prepare to get them out.

Thorin was one his feet in an instant. He eyed the good looking elve for e second before questioning her.

"What honor to have the Queen of Mirkwood grace our lives with her presence? But the question is why she is here at all?" He sneered at her.

Laerwen went to put a finger to her lips to silent him and quickly opened his cell door before moving on to the next.

"I'm trying to help you escape. I think you're right in claiming your rightful place as king under the mountain back. I simply want to help you getting your home back." She looked Thorin dead in the eye. Thorin was skeptical about what she said but couldn't wait any longer for he knew that they only got seconds before the guards would be chasing them down again. But it was Balin who said:"We don't have any time, Thorin. We need to get to the mountain before the sun goes down on durins day and she is our only option to ever leave this place right now!"

Thorin didn't question her any longer, he knew that he could do that later when they were back on their road to the lonely mountain. So he gave a short nod and Laerwen went to open to other cells and let them free.

They went to go up the stair but Laerwen knew better. "No, don't go up! We need to go down. From there we will escape."

She quickly led them down the stairs and around a corner, to their wine cellar, where she found the elves that should be guarding the dwarfs fast asleep on the table. She knew that they would be in a lot of trouble once Thranduil found out that she was gone and took the dwarfs with her and they could have prevented it but were to drunk to do so!

Laerwen quickly led the dwarfs over to the empty wine barrels which she knew would be send back to Lake Town.

She ordered them to enter the barrels and keep quiet but they wouldn't listen to her so she turned to Thorin who ordered them to do so.

Laerwen quickly went over to the huge lever that would open up a hole for the barrels to slide into the water and down the river to the lake where she knew they would be safe once they got there.

She heard a turmoil going on upstairs and knew that the guard found out that the dwarfs were gone so she pulled the lever and all the barrels slid down plank and into the water. She quickly went after them and got into an empty barrel that had fallen into the water as well. They went down the river and she could see the open gate that would guarantee their freedom when she heard an elve horn and an all too familiar voice call:"Close the gates!"

But it was too late, all the barrels with the dwarfs and herself got out of the gate before they could close it properly. She turned around against her better judgment and saw a shocked Legolas standing on top of the bridge that held the gate and gave him an apologetic look in hopes that he would understand.

…..

So here is the third chapter. I know that it isn't exactly like described in the book or movie because I wanted my own twists in this story, so please bear with me

As usual, if you have any comments or thoughts that you want to share with me, feel free to do so!

Like it? Hate it? Want something changed?

Aaand, as always, I don't own any of these characters…..only Laerwen, she is totally mine ;)