We are the champions, we are the champions... of the world! And yes I watched Chicken Little on netflix. So a quick update for this one, sat and kept hitting play and pause on my hobbit movie with this one.

Chapter 7 I Will Have War

Bilbo was ushered into Thranduil's tent and presented before the Elf King.

"If I'm not mistaken, this is the halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons from under the nose of my guards." Thranduil was now sitting and staring at Bilbo with Bard in a chair to the Elf's left also watching him.

Bilbo looked away appearing extremely uncomfortable. "Yes. Sorry about that." The silence that followed had Thranduil and Bard staring at him, although the latter wore a small smile from Thranduil's words. Summoning up his courage, Bilbo walked forward and set a wrapped package on the table. "I came...to give you this." As he spoke, he unwrapped the clothe to reveal the Arkenstone, making Thranduil rises in surprise.

"The heart of the mountain!" His voice was breathless when he spoke, Gandalf and Bard approach to look at it in awe. "The King's Jewel."

Stepping to Thranduil side and looking straight down at the jewel, Bard was almost speechless. "And worth a king's ransom." A thought came to him and Bard looked down at the hobbit with a crinkled brow. "How is this yours to give?"

"I took it as my fourteenth share of the treasure."

"Why would you do this? You owe us no loyalty."

"I'm not doing it for you. I know that dwarves can be obstinate and pigheaded and difficult, suspicious and secretive…with the worst manners you can possibly imagine, but they also brave and kind...and loyal to a fault. I've grown very fond of them, and I would save them if I can. Thorin values this stone above all else. In exchange for its return, I believe he will give you what you are owed. There will be no need for war!"

Gandalf, Bard, and Thranduil look at each other, coming to a decision without speaking out loud. Gandalf stashed his pipe away into his robe and approached Bilbo, setting a hand on his shoulder to steer him out of the tent and into the streets of Dale.

"Rest up tonight. You must leave on tomorrow."

Bilbo looked up to the wizard. "What?"

"Get as far away from here as possible."

"I'm-I'm not leaving. You picked me as the fourteenth man. I'm not about to leave the company now."

"There is no company - not any more. And I don't like to think what Thorin will do when he finds out what you've done."

Bilbo stopped walking. "I'm not afraid of Thorin."

Gandalf was only a few feet ahead when he turned around to the Halfling. "But you should be! Don't underestimate the evil of gold. Gold over which a serpent has long brooded. Dragon-sickness seeps into the hearts of all who come near this mountain." The deliberate look aimed at Gandalf made him look at Bilbo appraisingly. "Almost all." Looking down the lane, Gandalf saw Alfrid walking by and called out to him. "You there! Find this Hobbit a bed, and fill his belly with hot food. He has earned it."

Alfrid rolled his eyes and grudgingly went over to lead Bilbo away, the hobbit in front of him, as he made to pass the old man, Gandalf grabbed his arm and whispered "Hey. Keep an eye on him. If he should try to leave, you will tell me." Alfrid walks off, cursing as a group of people walk in front of him. He pushed his way between them and shoved the hobbit forward. "Move it! Stupid..." His grumbling followed them all the way to a small room where Bilbo was given a fair share of food and a little cot to sleep. He was left alone immediately afterwards with a shut door.


Helena sat in a window ledge the entry ramparts Gavin and her had been occupying since Bard had come and gone the day before. He had seen Bilbo leave and now they were taking turns watching the grounds below for the return of their favorite hobbit. However, Helena was distracted as the gold Valar flower she always had with her was twirling between her fingers in her left hand as she looked out into the night thinking about everything; most specifically about the Valar and the gold flowers that they were all insisted to wear for luck. She had no idea still what they were for, but there was an inkling of a thought in the back of her mind from different instances with some of the members in the company.

"You are getting closer."

Helena jumped and nearly shrieked at Aulë's voice echoing in her head. Gavin looked over at her in curiosity and she just shook her head at him. She barely had time to wonder about answering him out loud as she had done in the past when he spoke to her again.

"No need to speak for I just wanted to warn you that today will bring about events that will change everything. Make sure that those flowers are still held by those you care for.

If she didn't know any better, it was another clue to what the floral was going to be used for in the time to come, but her attention was taken away as his presence left her mind and Helena saw Bilbo running up to the makeshift bridge and up the same rope he had left down some hours ago. While she couldn't pinpoint the time, Helena guessed it to be at best a hour before dawn. As Bilbo disappeared from her sight, Helena tucked the flower back into her clothes and leaned her head back into the stone and closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath, Helena relaxed her body the best she could to catch some light sleep before whatever was going to happen today that was already partially predetermined.

Her eyes snapped open early the next morning at the touch of Gavin's hand to her shoulder and the first thing Helena saw and noticed was the plains before the Mountain covered in legions of approaching Elves and men, armed for battle. Looking to the blockade almost directly below her, she saw the dwarves were also prepared for war and watching the impending army.

"What should we do?"

"Get ready, I don't like the looks of this and we are already in way over our head." Gavin pulled her from the window. "We need to get our weapons and better suited clothes."

Setting off quickly to the room they had accompanied briefly, they both changed into more appropriate battle clothes and adorned any and all weapons that could fit on their person without hindering movement. Gone was the simple dress she had changed into while walking about the castle and the outfit that replaced it was the last one the Ri brothers had made for her in Laketown. Gavin had simply added to his simple outfit of a shirt, breeches, and boots with a vest, long coat, and a mail shirt underneath them both. Something he had lifted back in Laketown just in case. Both adorned the weapons they had picked up, some here in Erebor, strapping knives into various holsters and straps before buckling a sword at their waist. Two in Helena's case as it was her fighting style.

She looked down at her bow and arrow, wondering if she should take it with her when the decision was made for her. The quiver was picked up and she looked to her side to see Gavin crouching down to put it on her. He placed the bow in her waiting hands and held it there, his fingers closing around hers. "Promise me you will be careful."

She placed her forehead against his, feeling everything he did and taking comfort in the similar emotions. "Of course."

They stay in that position for only a moment before separating. Helena checked inside of her coat for her flower and gave a small smile upon noticing Gavin had done the same after her. He gave her a small nod and together they left the room towards the direction of the front gate.

By the time they arrived to a near vicinity of the dwarves, Thranduil and Bard were approaching their side of the broken bridge over the moat in front of their armies. From above the blockade, Thorin drew a bow and shot an arrow at the frozen ground directly in front of Thranduil and Bard, who both immediately halt in surprise. Helena slapped a hand over her eyes at Thorin's following words.

"I will put the next one between your eyes!"

Thorin notched his bow again, and the dwarves on the wall cheered and shook their weapons. Thranduil stared at Thorin angrily, then slightly tilted his head which instantly had several rows of Elves near the front of the army pull out their bows, nock their arrows, and aimed at the dwarves, all in one fluid motion. The dwarves' cheering cut off abruptly as all but Thorin ducked behind the ramparts. After holding the pose for a few seconds, Thranduil raised his hand and the elves easily put away their arrows even though Thorin still had his bow drawn.

"We've come to tell you: payment of your debt has been offered...and accepted." Thranduil spoke the words easily, as though to a friend.

With his weapon still aimed at the elf, Thorin demanded an answer. "What payment? I gave you nothing! You have nothing!" The other dwarves were standing again and looking down at the Elf King in curiosity. Mostly.

Thranduil looked to Bard who resisted the urge to make a face. "We have this." He pulled out the Arkenstone from inside of his coat to hold it above his head, and Thorin, shocked, lowered his bow.

Behind the dwarves, Helena and Gavin squinted at the stone Bard was showing. "At least now we know what Bilbo was up to last night."

Helena looked up at her brother, "You knew he had it?"

Gavin wasn't given a chance to answer as Kili's enraged voice rang out.

"They have the Arkenstone? Thieves! How came you by the heirloom of our house? That stone belongs to the king!"

"And the king may have it - in our good will." Bard tossed the glowing stone into the air once, catching it and stowing the Arkenstone back into his robe. "But first he must honor his word."

Thorin began whispering to himself, and the dwarves near him could hear. "They are taking us for fools. This is a ruse, a filthy lie."

Balin looked at Thorin in shock, realizing that Thorin's mental state has deteriorated to the point at which he would even consider this. Thorin then shouted so everyone could hear him. "THE ARKENSTONE IS IN THIS MOUNTAIN! IT IS A TRICK!"

Bilbo stepped out from the dwarves and towards Thorin. "It-It's no trick. The stone is real. I gave it to them."

"Oh crap…" Helena and Gavin readied themselves.

As Bilbo spoke, Thorin's expression changed to a mixture of sorrow and anger. Thranduil and Bard look worried, as they thought Bilbo was still safely in Dale. Thorin and the other dwarves look at Bilbo in shock.

"You…"

"I took it as my fourteenth share."

"You would steal from me?" Thorin's voice almost sounded disappointed and lonesome at the thought of the one he considered a friend, even in his confused mental state, to betray him.

A short laugh came from Bilbo as well as an almost playful smile. "Steal from you? No. No. I may be a burglar, but I like to think I'm an honest one. I'm willing to let it stand against my claim."

"Against your claim?! Your claim!" Thorin now wore a scornful grin as he threw down his bow an advanced on Bilbo. "You have no claim over me you miserable rat!"

"I was going to give it to you. Many times I wanted to, but..." His words trailed off but Thorin had no patience for such a thing.

"But what, thief?!"

"You are changed, Thorin! The dwarf I met in Bag End would never have gone back on his word! Would never have doubted the loyalty of his kin!"

"Do not speak to me...of loyalty!" As he spoke, his voice and words were broken, almost as if the King was saddened. His mind took another direction as did his expression as Thorin shouted to the other dwarves. "Throw him from the rampart!"

Bilbo looked up in shocked and the other dwarves, rather than obeying Thorin, stepped away from Bilbo in confusion. Thranduil and Bard continued to watch on in concern. Thorin looked around him at the others, surprised that no one had obeyed him.

"DO YOU HEAR ME?!" Thorin grabbed Fili's arm but was shaken away. "I will do it myself!"

As Thorin lunged forward, shouting and cursing at Bilbo, Helena appeared in front of him and punched Thorin square in the jaw. Thorin staggered a step back, blinking at the small woman in front of him in confusion. Indescribable anger made him attack the girl he had banished from his kingdom.

"Curse you!"

"No!" As Fili yelled at his Uncle, Gavin appeared as swiftly as his sister with a sword pointed at Thorin's throat as one of the dwarf's hands closed around the neckline of Helena's shirt.

"Release her."

The demand was quiet but deadly. All of the dwarves could hear it clearly as did the two leaders on the ground. However, at the moment Thranduil though only had eyes for the girl sent by the Valar who had escape his kingdom.

On the ramparts, Gavin and Thorin were locked in a staring contest and none of the others dared to speak. Suddenly, Thorin swung his arm that was holding onto Helena and threw her to the side. This distracted Gavin long enough for Thorin evade his sword and grabbed onto Bilbo, struggling and pushing the hobbit to the edge as the dwarves became aware and leapt forward to unsuccessfully pull Thorin away.

Helena was on her feet and forcing her way through the dwarves to Thorin's back where she immediately jumped on him and wrapped an arm around his throat, causing his head to lean back so she could look at him. "Let him go." The same deadly voice that Gavin used came from Helena, but had no effect on Thorin.

"Cursed be the Wizard that forced you on this Company!" Thorin said as loud as he could through gritted teeth and the pressure on his throat.

Once again, no one dared to move and simply watch. It was then Gandalf suddenly appeared striding through the armies, his voice magically amplified to incredibly loud, deep, and powerful tones. "IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY BURGLAR…" his voice returns to a normal volume and tone, "Then please don't damage him. Return him to me!" He stopped behind Thranduil and Bard, looking up at the commotion happening on the ramparts. "You're not making a very splendid figure as King under the Mountain, are you? Thorin son of Thrain!"

Thorin released Bilbo and he fell to the stone on his knees and Helena loosened the pressure of her forearm. Bofur grabbed Bilbo and dragged him away while Fili lifted his One of the back of his Uncle. Turning his eyes from the wizard, Thorin looked at Helena, to Gavin and back again.

"I sent you away before, banishing you from my Kingdom, and yet here you are. I hereby officially terminate your engagement to my heir and if you or your brother ever set foot on dwarf land again, you will be executed." The coldness of his voice stopped the heart of almost everyone who heard it as it carried over the morning air.

"Thorin, you cannot…"

Balin was unable to finish his sentence as Thorin continued, his next words driving into Helena like a knife. "My nephew will not marry someone as unclean as this fake dwarf."

Bofur gently pushed Bilbo towards the rope he'd hung the night before to climb down the walls and looked back at the scene where Thorin stood. He could see the fury growing on Gavin's face as well along with the despondency on Helena's as she and Fili stared in disbelief at the leader along with the rest of them. Coming up to Fili's side, he pulled on the blond's sleeve.

"Let her go, it will be safer for her elsewhere."

Having over heard the dwarf with the floppy hat, Gavin couldn't agree more and snatched Helena up and away from Fili. "NO!" Fili was held back by Bofur.

"It is the right thing to do, she can't stay here." The two dwarves watched Gavin walk away with their only female companion. Fili felt as though his heart was being ripped from his chest. His emotions were waring against each other, his rational thought banging on his need to be with her and to hit his Uncle.

He went over to the rope, sheathing his sword on the way, and patted an almost comatose Helena on the cheek. "You need to climb down." Nodding her head, she went to the side while putting her bow on her back when handed to her and swung herself over the edge. Looking one last time at Fili, her eyes began to well up with tears as their eyes met and she all but fell to get down the side of the wall. Gavin went after her and listened to Thorin as he descended.

"Never again will I have dealings with wizards, Shire-rats, or strangers from another world!"

"Are we resolved? The return of the Arkenstone for what was promised." Bard shouted.

Thorin, breathing heavily, looked to his left at a ridge in the distance, as if looking for someone or something. "Why should I buy back that which is rightfully mine?!" He continued to pace back and forth, continuously looking at the ridge.

"Keep the stone, sell it. Ecthelion of Gondor will give you a good price for it." Thranduil suggested easily to Bard who look at him in disbelief.

"I will kill you!" Thorin paced back again, this time with all the eyes of his company on him in shock. "By my oath, I will kill you all!"

"Your oath means nothing!" Thranduil's words cut through the air like a knife as he took in the Valar girl standing by Mithrandir. "I've had enough." Pulling at the reins, Thranduil turned his steed to the side and looked to his army who responded by pointing their arrows once again at the dwarves.

"Thorin, lay down your arms." Gandalf stepped closer to the entrance. "Open these doors. This treasure will be your death.

"Thorin." Balin grabbed the attention of his distressed leader and long-time friend. "We cannot win this fight."

"Give us your answer! Will you have peace or war?"

As Thorin bowed his head, a large raven flies up to the ramparts and perched beside him. Thorin and the raven stare at each other and Thorin looked once again to the ridge. "I will have war." A rumbling is heard in the distance and everyone, on the plains and in the mountain, looked up to see the ridge being covered by troops of heavily armored dwarves.

"Ironfoot." At the grumbled name provided by Gandalf, the three outcasts looked back up again at the advancing dwarves while most of the Erebor dwarves began cheering and screaming as they see their backup arriving.

"Ribo i thangail!" [Rush the shield-fence!] Thranduil turned his steed and rode through his army as his Elves and the Lakepeople turn away from the gates of Erebor and begin marching quickly toward the oncoming Iron Hills dwarves.

"Hey, Thorin!" Shouted the leading dwarf on a war-pig.

"Ironfoot has come!" Shouted one of the dwarves in Erebor.

Gandalf strode alongside the elf army, Bilbo rushing to keep up with Helena and Gavin behind them. "Who is that? He doesn't look very happy."

"It is Dain, lord of the Iron Hills - Thorin's cousin."

"Are they alike?"

Gandalf paused in his walk to look down at Bilbo. "I always found Thorin the more reasonable of the two."

"Thorin is reasonable?"

Helena rolled her eyes at him. "There is about to be a war and you want to crack jokes?"

"Until the fighting starts, possibly."

Still following Gandalf, she looked thoughtfully at the lone dwarf approaching and then to Bard riding off to the left. "I think we may need to split up again."

Gavin stopped and then so did Helena, he locked eyes with her. "And go in what direction? You can't go back there."

"You go to Bard and I'll stay with Bilbo or Gandalf. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Well your instincts have rarely been wrong." Gavin set a hand on her head and they stopped walking. "Go to Bilbo, I'll take the Dragonslayer. Stay alive My Lena."

She pushed her head against his hand and smile. "We will see each other again." And with those parting words, Gavin left her in search of Bard amidst the Elves and townspeople.

From above the crowded plain, Daemyn made his appearance and dove to her shoulder. Helena smiled at the robin. "I have a job for you my friend."


So once again, hope everyone enjoyed it, please review if you can and let me know how it was. I feel like part of it isn't quite right.

ATTN: I need tattoo idea's for Helena and Gavin. I have some but trying to finalize what they are for a future chapter discussion.