Chapter 21:

I woke alone in the bed, wondering where Thorin could have gone so early. I made my way through the halls, trying not to get lost because the place was so big. Finally I found him surrounded by treasure, holding up a beautiful necklace of silver and white gems. "Good Morning Elisa." Dori said and I nodded to him as Thorin turned to me. "The White Gems of Lasgalen." "Are they special?" I thought to myself for a moment, "I know that name from somewhere…" "I know an Elf lord that will pay a pretty price for these." he said, turning away and throwing the necklace into a pile of gems.

I realized where I heard them, King Thranduil had something to do with it, he would come for these, maybe even me. Thorin looked around for a few more minutes, then heard a raven croak outside, then rushed for the halls, calling everyone to him. Most of the dwarves were already at the front entrance, which I now saw was completely blocked off with broken stones from Smaug. They all climbed the make-shift stairway that was built for them, I made my way too.

I saw an army of Elves, all dressed in golden armor and awaiting their King's command. They were covering the entire city of Dale, just watching us as we stared back. I heard a grumble from Dwalin and looked down to see Bard riding a white horse toward us. I was so happy to know he was alive, hopefully his family was too. I went to call down to him, but Thorin moved in front of me. "Hail, Thorin, son of Thrain. We are glad to find you alive beyond hope." Bard said, stopping in front of the blocks.

"Why do you come to the gates of King Under the Mountain armed for war?" Thorin barked at him, no warmth in his voice, just that awful coldness that was taking him over. "Why does the King Under the Mountain fence himself in…like a robber in his hold?" Bard asked back, clearly not fazed by Thorin's rudeness. "Perhaps it is because I am expecting to be robbed." I was so confused by Thorin, he acts differently when we are alone, making me think there is hope, then acts like this and makes me realize there is none.

"My Lord…we have not come to rob you…but to seek fair settlement. Will you not speak with me?" Bard tried again, seeming tired, to which Thorin nodded and moved down the stairs to a hole made for people to speak through. We all followed him, the dwarves standing back and allowing Thorin to talk in peace, trusting their leader. I didn't, I wasn't sure about Thorin like this and was standing right in front of him, being able to hear everything and see how Thorin reacts.

As Bard came forward, I watched Dwalin release a raven, although I wasn't sure why. "I am listening." Thorin said in a quiet voice, which made me semi-happy, at least he wasn't shouting. "On behalf of the people of Lake-town…I ask that you honor your pledge. A share in the treasure…so that they might rebuild their lives." Thorin shook his head, saying "I will not treat with any man…while an armed host lies before my door." I was about to say something to Thorin, but Bard cut me off. "That armed host will attack this mountain if we do not come to terms." "And you're threats do not sway me." I was ready to punch Thorin, but Bard once again beat me.

"What of your conscience? Does it not tell you that our cause is just?" I watched Thorin's face changed, almost like he was his old self, as Bard continued speaking, "My people offered you help. And in return, you brought upon them only ruin and death." "When did Lake-town come to our aid but for the promise of a rich reward?" Thorin snapped back and I could hear the frustration in Bard's voice. "A bargain was struck!" "A bargain? What choice did we have but to barter our birthright…for blankets and food? To ransom…our future in exchange for our freedom? You call that a fair trade?" he stared into the opening.

"Tell me…Bard the Dragon-slayer…why should I honor such terms?" "Because you gave us your word." Bard replied, his voice sounding lost and hopeless in talking to Thorin. I noticed the change in Thorin once more, his eyes unsure and confused. "Does that mean nothing?" Thorin moved from his view and turned to his group, seeing them all standing there, watching him, waiting for what he would say. "Be gone! Ere our arrows fly!" he shouting, as if Bard was nothing more than a child. Bard slammed his hand into the rock, then I heard his footsteps fading away.

We made our way to the top again, Thorin wanting to make sure he left. Bilbo called Thorin out, saying he could not go to war. "This does not concern you." "Excuse me…but just in case you haven't noticed, there is an army of elves out there. Not to mention, several hundred angry fisherman. We are, in fact, outnumbered." "Not for much longer." Thorin said to Bilbo, smiling a bit. "What does that mean?" "It means, Master Baggins…you should never underestimate dwarves." he made his way down the stairs, saying we reclaimed Erebor, now we must defend it.

Thorin sent of the dwarves to collapse the bridge by knocking a statue off, cutting off the only known way in or out of Erebor. I watched the bridge fall as the others disappeared, I couldn't understand why Thorin was being like this, Balin seemed to agree with me, but none the less, followed his King. I, however, couldn't just let this go by, I couldn't let this happen. I was heading toward the armory, knowing the dwarves would be getting ready, I was going to try for one last time before giving up.

"I am betrayed!" I heard Thorin's harsh whisper and paused in time to see him speaking with Bilbo. "Betrayed?" "The Arkenstone. One of them has taken it. One of them is false." "Who?" Bilbo asked and Thorin looked away and his shoulders sank, "I do not wish to believe it, but it is most likely, Elisa." I froze and then began to get mad, how could he think that I took that damn rock? I blinked and remembered telling Balin I was going to find it and melt it. "Thorin…the quest is fulfilled, you've won the mountain. Is that not enough?"

They continued to talk, but I didn't want to hear him speak badly of me anymore and moved away, stepping out into the fresh air. I heard the dwarves marching out of the armory and sighed, they were blindly following Thorin, who was completely gone, he was lost. I went back to the room Thorin and I shared last night and waited, perhaps he would come see me soon. I was right and as the sun was setting, the door opened and he walked in with a frown on his face.

"So you believe that I have betrayed you? That I have taken a stupid rock and hidden it from you? You believe I would ever do anything like that? Honestly Thorin…do you?" I turned and looked at him, his eyes showing a bit of emotion, before it was snuffed out. "That was not for your ears. Pay it no mind. Come, I am tired and wish to sleep next to you." he sat on the bed and tried to pull me to him, but I jerked away and stood up. "Why should I share a bed with a dwarf that doesn't even trust me? Why am I even here Thorin!" I almost screamed at him.

"Because it pleases me, this is what you wish for correct?" "No! I do not care about pleasing you Thorin, I wish to go home!" I sighed and took a step back. "And I am…tonight…now…" I said, taking a step back with each word. Thorin jumped up and started toward me. "No!" I yelled and pushed my hands out, filling the gust blow past me and slam Thorin back against the bed. "I am leaving. You will not stop me. I cannot be here with you like this. When you have become your old self, then come find me. Not a moment before."

I let the tears fall, beginning to see that I was never going to see him again, the sickness was too far gone, he was lost. "Elisa, I do not want you to leave." "I know, but I want to. I need to figure things out. I have been practicing my magic a bit, I need help and only a wizard can help. I am lost myself Thorin, only you helped that…or at least, you used to." "I still can, don't go." "You can't even see what the Arkenstone has done to you…what this place has been doing to you. How can you help me when you can't even see that you are broken and lost too."

I turned and ran out the door, fearful that he would chase after me, I honestly had been practicing my magic, but it was still iffy and I still didn't have much control. I ran through the halls, heading to the secret doorway because the front was gone. I made my way down the pathways, down the mountain and was sneaking down to Dale, hoping Thranduil would allow me to get some food and supplies for my trip home, maybe even give me a horse. I saw Archers taking positions, ready to shoot anything they saw.

I snuck around them and made my way to a big tent where I knew he would be. I walked into the tent slowly, trying not to surprise anyone and not get killed. I saw Bard, Thranduil and Gandalf all talking together. "Gandalf!" I cried out and ran to him, hugging him tight. "Elisa?" Thranduil, Bard, and Gandalf all said at the same time. "You're alive?" Thranduil said and I nodded to him, then turned to Bard. "Forgive Thorin, he is not himself." "What do you mean?" Gandalf asked and I faced him.

"He has Dragon-sickness Gandalf, I tried to help him, so did Bilbo and Balin, he won't listen to anyone, I fear he is lost." I said and felt more tears coming, but pushed them away. "Why are you here and not with him?" Bard asked and I sighed, sitting down in a chair and holding my head. "I do not think I can help him, it was hard trying and not getting through, I have a lot to figure out, I just want to go home." I vented and Thranduil touched my shoulder. "Come to Mirkwood with I am finished here, you belong there."

Gandalf looked between Thranduil and myself, then shook his head. "She is not normal, Thranduil." "I am aware of her past. It is a wizard's fault my wife is gone. However, this girl is like her in many ways, she belongs with her people, my people." "She is also part wizard, her powers are strong and she doesn't control them well, she needs to be trained by a wizard." "She is a princess in my realm, my wife would have wanted her there." "She needs to be taught about her powers, then she may do what she wishes." "Stop!" I yelled and gust blew around me like a tornado.

"I am so confused, now Thorin is lost, and you are all fighting about where I am to go! I have a home, it is not Mirkwood or with wizards!" I sank back into the chair with a sigh, the wind disappearing. "I am part elf, part man, part wizard. I am a princess in my own kingdom, princess in Mirkwood, a wizard that shouldn't be, and I am also just a young woman, caught in a quest, feeling so lost…please just stop all of this fighting, I can bear it no more." I said and took off running from the tent, unable to look at them anymore.

I ran to a tower, then stared at the mountain, wondering what Thorin was doing and how I could help. How could I help, I wasn't even able to help myself. I was so set on helping Thorin and being with Thorin that I forgot about my own problems. He took all that away, he made me feel so normal, he was there for me, he was always there…until that mountain was reclaimed. I heard footsteps and turned to see Bard walking over to me, his hands up in surrender.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Bard." "Very well, I am hear to talk…and listen." I faced him as he stood beside me, just waiting for me to speak. "I said everything in the tent, there is nothing more." "You were just a woman before correct." "Yes." "If you were to go back home, would you be happy with them treating you like a normal woman? No powers, just a woman." I thought about it and shook my head, my powers were apart of me, my parents tried to hide them, hide me. "No, my father left me with Bilbo Baggins because of my powers, that is what they did with my mother, dropped us off with Hobbits so that we couldn't use our powers."

"Would you be happy in Mirkwood with the Elves?" "I have always liked elves, felt comfortable with them…but I still wouldn't belong. I know that." "Then where have you felt the most yourself, not hiding, just who you really are." "When I am with Thorin." I said out of reaction and quickly shut my mouth, but Bard just stared at me. "Thorin?" "I mean the company, you know?" "I do not follow, you were always with Thorin, but never really acted as if the two of you were together." "We aren't!" I said, blushing red. "But you want to be?" "I don't know anymore, it's so confusing and tiring and everything. This whole quest has been eye-opening and beyond everything I thought I knew." "You should go to him." "Who?" Bard looked at me with knowing eyes and I looked away. "I can't. He isn't the same, the dwarf in that mountain right now is not the one I set out on a quest with." "He is lost…you must find him." then Bard turned and walked away, leaving me standing in a broken tower, facing a mountain holding a broken King inside.