AN/ Two words: Brace yourselves.
Chapter 10
A sword slashed through the air, blood gushed from the wounds. From that moment, a life was torn apart. A life was ruined.
The ashes of Laketown, swirled in the air. Bard stood on top of roof, gazing forlornly at his home. The people offered to make him their king after he saved them. But he couldn't save all of them. Men, women, children and the elderly had died in the chaos of the dragon. It lied in the midst of it's destruction, like a jewel on a crown of death.
He declined. He was already the king of Dale, he doesn't need two kingdoms. But he still cared for this place, it had been his home for many years. Surely Thorin would pay for the rebuilding of Laketown and Dale? He killed the dragon, Thorin owed it to him.
Before he could ponder on this for long, a loud trumpet horn, rang through the air, shaking him out of his rumination. His eyes widened slightly, trying to take in the magnificent sight.
Elves. An army of elves. An army of elves led by King Thranduil. He quickly jumped from the roof and kneeled before the King.
" Great Elf King, what might you need in the ruins of Laketown?"
" Rise son of Dale, I merely seek justice. Justice for the both of us. We have been wronged by Thorin Oskenshield. I do not seek revenge but a simple payment. But I know he will be too stubborn to meet our demands. So we have to use other means. I do not require anything of you other than your men and yourself."
" How do you plan on getting the gold?"
" Oh, I have a burglar on the job," Thranduil smiled slyly.
He knew that this was the right thing to do. He knows about the consequences. But there were people suffering because of the trail of destruction they left behind. Thranduil first contacted him by sending a letter by a bird. He explained the scenario and what he needed to do. At first, he considered handing the letter to Thorin but began to question himself. What about the people? So, he kept in contact with Thranduil and tonight was the night that everything was about to change, for the better or worse.
He was told that they would be just a few miles off from the base of the mountain. His hand went to his pocket, fingering a golden ring and a bright blue jewel. The arkenstone.
Creeping carefully, he started running down the secret path. A path he found that led to the foundation of the mountain in just a few hours.
His breath was hitched and his body burning. He ran a few miles until he felt the need for a little break. That's how he made his journey, the pumping blood keeping his eyes awake.
At last he reached the bottom. His eyes searched for soft lights among the rough terrain. He could see them behind thousands of knolls.
He allowed himself a smile, he was at his destination.
Tents were scattered in no particular order and elves carrying weapons could be seen everywhere. There stood Thranduil, ready to welcome Bilbo. The hobbit stumbled into the campsite, hastily kneeling before the Elf King.
Thranduil placed his hands on Bilbo's shoulders and spoke", Rise Bilbo Baggins of the Shire. For the great deed you have done for the elves, I name you
Elf-friend."
" I was only doing what I thought right," Bilbo humbly answered.
" It's good to see that all this hasn't gone to your head. I was afraid you would end up like Lobelia Sackville-Baggins," a familiar voice rang as sharp as the early morning air.
" Gandalf! What are you doing here?!"
" A war is about to start, . Dain Ironfoot is marching here, with a dwarf army to aid Thorin but we hope to talk sense to Thorin so he can stop the war before it begins."
" I knew that. Answer my question, why are YOU here?"
" Because I'm the only one he'll listen to. He won't listen to you, after he finds out you stole the arkenstone and he most definitely will not listen to Thranduil."
" Come now my friends, they will be here soon," Thranduil interrupted.
A blood red sun rose over the mountain, casting it in a crimson glow. Lara woke up to see the strangest sight. A wide grin spread across her face before she burst into laughter. One by one, almost everyone woke up and soon joined Lara in staring. Some started to laugh while others just gaped in shock, then there was Thorin who only raised an eyebrow.
The laughter finally woke the pair who were sleeping peacefully beside each other, with their hands entwined.
Dewni was the first to shoot up, followed by Kili.
" Uncle! You see...um...uh...I...um..we...uhhh."
After a very awkward conversation, they settled down for breakfast. It was only then, they noticed Bibo was missing. The sky had darkened and rain threatened to pelt. Thunder boomed and flickers of lightening could be seen in the distance. They wandered around, calling his name but nothing productive was found until Fili's sharp eyes, picked up a trail of hobbit feet, leading down a winding path.
" This way," he called out to the others before following the footprints. " What is that hobbit up to?"
After hours of tripping over roots and scrambling in mud, they stopped not quite at the base but a bit higher up, for a good view.
" The tracks lead towards those hills. What is he doing?" Fili muttered.
As if an answer to his question, a small bird perched on Thorin's shoulder, chirping happily away, into his ear. The company watched in horror as Thorin's face grew redder and redder and they could've sworn, he popped a vein.
" THAT TRAITOR! TELL THRANDUIL THAT HE WILL GET NO GOLD FROM ME!" Thorin bellowed so loud, that the bird fled in terror.
Thorin disturbingly resembled a madman, eyes wild, hair berserk and his hands tightly clutching his sword. Very unlike the calm, collected king they knew.
" Our burglar has betrayed us and joined the elves," Thorin's voice was steely calm.
Gasps of shocks and outcries echoed one another.
" They have the arkenstone and we must get it back."
" How?"
" We're going to follow the army of course," Thorin gestured to the Elf King's marching troops.
" We're going to take on an entire army? You're overestimating our fighting abilities ever so slightly," Lara voiced her opinion.
" Who says we're going to take them on ourselves? Dain Ironfoot, my second cousin is coming to our aid."
They followed his eyes, to an army of dwarves, slightly smaller than the Elf King's, making their way to a large plain. The exact same place the army of elves were tramping to.
Tension was high in the camp of the elves. Many walked back and forth, their weapons pressed close to them, shooting suspicious glances at every crack and crevice.
At last, order came from King Thranduil that they would march to meet the dwarf army at the plain near the mountain.
After a long argument with Gandalf, King Thranduil had allowed Bilbo to come with them.
When they arrived at the vast plain, Thorin and his army were already there.
" Give up, Thranduil. Give me the arkenstone, that is the only way for this war to stop," he greeted.
" You can have the arkenstone as soon as you have paid for the havoc you caused," King Thranduil greeted back.
" Heed him, cast aside your pride and cease needless bloodshed," Gandalf advised.
" So, you have joined them Gandalf. I wonder how many other allies are going to betray me."
Thorin didn't look at them but they knew his words were directed at them. Already, Dewni and Lara were faltering, wandering about their loyalties. Thorin or Bilbo? They knew they would have to make a choice soon and it made it all the more harder.
Every second felt like an hour, hearts wild and minds in conundrum. The pressure was forcing down on them, crushing their lungs. But their moment of decision was delayed.
A howling wolf drew their attention, and there on top of the hill were an army of orcs. Hundreds of them, and at the lead, a pure white wolf, the steed of Azog, the defiler. Beside, them two pure black wolves on each side, and on top of them were two humans. A male and and a female, they seemed strangely familiar.
" Helena and Gerard," Dewni gasped.
" Who?" Lara questioned.
" The servants at Laketown. They must've been on the orc's side," she answered.
Thorin glanced at Thranduil, a mutual understanding flickering between them.
" We fight together in this war. This war only," Thorin addressed Thranduil, who simply nodded his head.
Together they turned to meet the wave of bloodthirsty orcs.
Metal clashes against metal, one wrong move and their lives would be over. Already, the air stank of the putrid stench of dead bodies and sweat. Thunder boomed and lightning crashed, but rain still did not pour.
Lara was engaged with an orc. He had a huge gash down his left eye, thanks to her, but he still kept trying to hack off her limbs. He slashed repeatedly, she bided her time, waiting till he raised his sword, in an arch, to stab her. Too slow, her sword already made its way through his unguarded stomach before moving on to fight another orc.
One made a swing at her head, cutting off a piece of her hair.
" Hey! Believe it or not, I like my hair," she growled before killing him.
Dewni, who was close by, almost burst out laughing at Lara's comment. Her momentary distraction, nearly cost her life.
A sword aimed for her waist only left a small cut on her stomach. It would've separated her in two, if she hadn't bent backwards, her ponytail grazing the ground. Since she had the shorter sword, she moved in closer dodging and blocking the attacks until her sword pierced his throat.
Another attack came to her side, she lurched out of the way but the sudden movement made her wound, open wider. She gasped in pain, her blurry eyes clearing just enough to see the sword coming at her. She hindered the strike but the sword was knocked out of her hand.
Another blow was aimed, to split her skull in half but she rolled to the side, grabbing her sword, and thrusting it up into the orc's stomach, still in her kneeling position.
" Why do orcs try to split me in half so much?" she muttered to herself.
Everything was going well for them; they weren't harmed too bad, their friends were safe, they were winning, Thorin was defeating Azog.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Thorin mercilessly pounding Azog to the ground. He was just about to eradicate Azog when he, for his last act, pulled out a dagger and drove it deep into Thorin's right shoulder. Screaming from fury and pain, Thorin decollated him, just as he fell onto his knees and onto the ground.
Everything slowed down, Fili and Kili jumped in front of him, ready to defend their uncle but they were surrounded by orcs. Dewni's body was paralysed as she watched Gerard, push past the orcs, quickly moving his spear in and out of Fili's heart. She watched Kili scream and face Gerard but Gerard lodged his spear, right above his heart.
The sight of Kili plummeting shook her out of her stupor. She screamed, her heart wrenching with pain. She ran to him, she heard Lara calling her name but she ignored her. Blinded by fury, she massacred the orcs. Taking pleasure in slowly, filling the weapon-less Gerard with pain, until his body was limp.
She fell to his side, her face flooded with tears. He smiled gently, his eyes full of love and pain. He placed his hand on her cheek, remembering her warmth. She gripped his hand with both of hers, her eyes pleading. He smiled one last time, his eyes open but they couldn't see her.
" DEWNI!"
Her head shot up, a tip of a sword, close to her face. A body was the only thing stopping the sword from harming her. The body of her sister. The sword was drawn out and blue eyes met here for a second, before permanently falling asleep.
It was too much, the people closest to her, taken away in one day. Her eyes met her sister's murderer's. Helena. Her cold brown eyes and cruel smile, mocking her.
She grabbed her sword and stood up.
" Why? Why did you join them?" her voice shook.
" Dark times are coming, I didn't want to be on the losing side," she answered. " You killed my husband, it's only fair that I take your sister."
" Your husband?"
" Yes. Gerard," her face contorted with pain and she lunged straight for Dewni. She simply side stepped and drove her sword into Helena's back.
" Guess what? You joined the losing side," she whispered venomouslym in Helena's ear before she drew her sword out of Helena's body.
The war was over. The pain was not. It took all her strength not to cry at the funeral. Thorin, was to be buried amongst his ancestors, Fili and Kili with him. Even though Lara, was not a dwarf, she was to join them there. Thorin was buried with arkenstone and his sword.
Before Kili was entombed, she took of her moon necklace, which she had grown to love dearly and placed it on his heart. He would always have piece of her, even with death.
Dain Ironfoot was the new king of Erebor and Bard of Dale. Bard spent months in depression, grieving over Lara. Dewni offered him Lara's share of gold, he refused at first but she insisted. He rebuilt Dale and Laketown and after many years, he fell in love again.
Bilbo gave his share to Thranduil, who claimed that Thorin would be honoured by the elves. Bilbo and Dewni moved back to the Shire, using her share of gold to leave a luxurious life. But it wasn't a happy one. Not for her.
Every night she cried to sleep and in the morning she would wake up, expecting a pillow to attack her. Then she would remember and cry again. Years passed and she never improved.
One morning Bilbo woke to find a beautifully carved pipe on the dining table. A note beside it read:
' We bought this for your birthday. But, that night made us forget. I'm sorry you have to know this way but it hurts too much. Lord Elrond promised me a way to make it stop. You were an amazing father to me. I love you.
Love,
Dewni'
His eyes pricked with tears and he stared out into the distance. To his surprise, he smiled. He knew that this would be his favourite pipe.
She climbed up the spindling stairs, her white dress trailing behind her. She came into beautiful chamber with a domed roof and columns. In the centre was a large, glass coffin. An enchanted coffin. She opened the lid and laid down.
She moved her hands to close the lid, and then placed them on her stomach. She tilted her head, the silvery moonlight on her face. She smiled softly. She closed her eyes and slipped into dreams. Dreams of her family, her friends and her sister.
Dreams of her moonlight lover.
