Chapter 8: The Clouds Burst

The dwarves from Erebor, the men of Lake-town and the Elves of Mirkwood watched as Dáin Ironfoot came down with his pig while his men stayed on the hills. Violet couldn't actually believe the image that was going on right now, or what was going on in her head right now. She looked as Ironfoot came to confront Thorin's enemies.

Bilbo from below wondered about that dwarf man.

"Gandalf, who is that?" Bilbo asked. "He doesn't look happy."

"It is Dáin, lord of the Iron Hills, Thorin's cousin." Gandalf answered.

"Are they alike?" Bilbo asked.

"I always found Thorin the more reasonable of the two." Gandalf answered.

Oh great, Bilbo thought as Dáin came down. The lord of the Iron Hills began to speak to the enemies that dared try to steal the treasure from Thorin Oakenshield and his company.

"Good morning! How are we all?" Dáin said sarcastically. "I have a wee proposition, if you wouldn't mind giving me a few moments of your time. Would you consider...just sodding off! All of you, right now!"

"Stand fest!" Bard shouted to his men. Gandalf made way as he told Bilbo to stay with the armies as he confronted Dáin Ironfoot.

"Come now, lord Dáin!" Gandalf shouted.

"Gandalf the Grey." Dáin said, looking at the wizard, who gave him with a slight bow to the head. Tell this rabble to leave, or I'll water the ground with their blood!"

"There is no need for war between dwarves, men and elves!" Gandalf shouted. "A legion of orcs march on the mountain. Stand your army down!"

"I will not stand down before any elf!" Dáin shouted. "Not least this faithless woodland sprite! He gestures toward Thranduil, who he saw was smirking. "He wishes nothing but ill upon my people! If he chooses to stand between me and my kin, I'll split his pretty head open! See if he's still smirking then!"

Everyone on the Lonely Mountain laughed.

"Let them advance," Thranduil said. "See how far they get."

"Ya think I give a dead dog for your threats, you pointy-eared Princess?!" shouted Dain.

"He's clearly mad, like his cousin!" Thranduil said, causing a deranged Dain Ironfoot to grow mad.

"You hear that, lads?!" Dáin shouted to his army. "Come on! Let's give these bastards a good hammering!"

Thranduil on his deer stopped Bard from going further.

"Stand your men down," Thranduil said and advanced towards the dwarves as Dain went up to his men. "I'll deal with Ironfoot and his rabble."

"Right, then. Let's get this done. Send in the goats!" Dáin shouted.

The dwarves rode down as the Archers went into position.

"Oh, Valar from above," muttered Violet, who was standing in between Fili and Kili.

"Thranduil! This is madness!" Gandalf shouted to the Elf king. The archers fired at the Dwarves. However, Dáin had his weapons thrown into the air. As the whirling weapons broke the arrows, they came back, killing several of the Elves and Thranduil giving a "hey, no fair" look.

"Hey! How do you like the old twirly-whirlies?! Ha ha, you buggers!" Dain shouted

The dwarves and the elves engaged each other when the world began to tilt. The were-worms were upon them. Out from the holes came out an army full of Orcs.

"You've got to be joking," Violet muttered. Bofur's eyes and mouth went wide as Thorin stood there, terrified of the wereworms.

"Oh, come on!" Dain shouted in anger. "The hordes of hell are upon us! To battle! To battle, sons of Durin!"

As the orc army advanced, the dwarves stood up against Azog's army. They backed up to form one single shield while the Elves and the men stayed behind.

"I'm going over the wall! Who's coming with me?" Fili said.

"Definitely," Violet said. She and the other dwarves began going ready to climb down the gate. However, Thorin would not allow it.

"Stand down!" Thorin yelled, going down the steps.

"What?" Dori said outraged.

"Are we to do nothing?" Fili asked his uncle

"I said STAND DOWN!" Thorin yelled again

Violet shook her head. She just couldn't believe Thorin was actually going through this ridiculous plot. She was close to going to attack him, to stop him from going down the steps. However, Dwalin quickly grabbed onto her arm before she could grab him.

"lassie, let him go, there's nothing you can do to make it better right now." Dwalin told her.

"But he will not fight!" Violet cried.

"The elves, will they not fight?" Bilbo asked.

Meanwhile, down below, Bilbo noticed that the dwarves would not yield to helping the Dwarves fight off the Orcs and Wargs. Dáin's forces made sure they were standing strong. He looked mercifully at Gandalf.

"The elves, will they not fight?" Bilbo asked.

"Thranduil, this is madness!" Gandalf shouted at the Elf king. However, he still would not command the others to get into position. Just as the Orcs were a few inches from the Dwarves, the Elves quickly positioned themselves behind their former enemies turned allies and attacked the orcs by jumping over Dain's army.

And thus, the Battle of the Five Armies had began.