Chapter 25

POV Change

Gandalf came back from his ride on Blackjack just before dawn. I chuckled. "How'd you like it?"

"It's just like riding the eagles, except…more exhilarating!"

I laughed. Some of the dwarves were stirring. Blackjack folded his wings against himself, and the Mist did the rest.

I sighed. They packed up camp. I helped Bilbo do his own things, showing him how to pack tightly, saving more space and making it easier to carry. He thanked me profusely.

I just smiled and mounted Blackjack. I wondered what was happening with Leo and Nico. I cursed the slow dwarves. Every second was a second closer to Nico dying!

Thranduil's Palace, POV Change – Leo

I pounded the metal in anger. Thranduil wasn't allowing me to leave the smithy. My food was brought here. My bed was in a small room off to the side of the shop. I was being kept a prisoner.

The reason I was cooperating?

He kept threatening to kidnap Calypso, and I didn't like that gleam in his eyes as he said it. He would do it too. Wood Elves were more savage than the other Elves. Travis and Connor had said so.

I finished the sword and balanced it. It was flawless. Perfect. The metal that the Elves had was exceptional. The tools were exquisite. I had to keep reminding myself, at times like these, that I didn't want to be here.

The doors opened, and Thranduil himself strode in. He looked around and a pile of what I had already finished. He smiled. "You work quickly and efficiently." He fingered a bridle, frowning at the design. "I have not seen this style."

"It doesn't cut into the mouth as much."

He nodded and looked at the sword I just finished. "Do you name your creations?"

I shook my head. "They only deserve the names that the owners give them."

He tilted his head slightly and then picked up a shield. He frowned. "There is something different about this."

I smirked slightly. Travis and Connor told me about what happened to Thranduil. "I made it on a whim. I was told that the mountain close by is inhabited by a sleeping dragon." I shrugged. "I enchanted the shield to deflect dragon fire, any fire actually, but even to the point of the inferno of dragon flame."

He stared at me in silent shock. "And can you do this with my men's shields already made?"

I frowned. "I've never done that before. I can't guarantee it working."

He nodded. "I have a standing army of six thousand. A cavalry of four thousand. It would take you years to complete such a task." He looked at the shield again. I sighed.

"Give me one of their shields, and I'll experiment. I can at least do it with a select few men for you."

He smiled down at me. "Thank you, Smith."

I only nodded brusquely. "Let me walk out of this room for once, and maybe I'll do more for you." He nodded slowly.

"Very well, there is a garden just nearby. Everyday, at your desire, you will be escorted on your walks."

I sighed. That was the best I could hope for at the moment. "Thank you, Thranduil." He didn't show any frustration at me not giving him his appropriate title. He had long since acknowledged that I wouldn't do it.

The Elf-King walked out of the room, the door closing firmly behind him. I sighed and pick up more metal. Time to start on another of the swords.

Edoras, POV Change – Hazel

I didn't know what was going to happen. I was worried sick for my brother. Annabeth had told us what Percy had told her. Travis and Connor had hesitantly said that Percy might not reach Dol Guldur in time. I refused to believe that Nico would die. I refused to believe it.

It just couldn't happen.

It just couldn't.

I stared at my reflection on the glass in my room that I was sharing with the others. We were all packing up to go to Bree. Travis said that since Bilbo was just about to go on his adventure, the wraiths wouldn't come to Bree until nearly eighty years.

I sighed. At least, we didn't have to deal with orcs. They sounded terrible.

Annabeth was worried that Percy would somehow get himself involved in the Battle of Five Armies. She was right though. Percy had a habit of getting into trouble.

The door opened and Thalia entered. She nodded to me. "We're ready to go. Annabeth's paying the inn keeper our debts."

I sighed. "Will we ever get back home?"

She smiled. "Lady Artemis would never abandon us. She and others, will find a way to bring us back. Zeus' only two children are trapped here. Hades' only two children are trapped here. Athena's favorite daughter is trapped here. And let's not even mention how loyal the Sea is to his own. Even if we don't find a way to escape, the gods will find a way to bring us back."

I smiled and released a breath. My body relaxed. Some of the stress left me. I nodded. "Thank you."

She grinned and gave me a hug. "Come on. We need to go." I nodded, grabbing my bags and following her out the door.

POV Change – Percy

I sighed and looked at Gandalf. The old Maia didn't know about Nico and Leo. I growled a little and chafed to move faster.

"What's stopping me from just leaving this company?" I muttered.

"The old guy is, Boss. You ain't just leaving these dwarves either. You're too softhearted for that."

I scowled. "No, I'm not." I urged Blackjack forwards and cut between Gandalf and Thorin. "Gandalf, a word with you."

Gandalf looked at me and sighed. He spoke quietly. "You have it."

I smirked. "The dwarves travel too slowly. I need to leave."

Gandalf sighed. "Stay with us for the night at least and leave at early morning."

I couldn't look at Bilbo. I was the only person in this company who was friendly to him, besides Gandalf. I sighed. "Very well."

We rested at a broken down house of sorts. I didn't like the vibes I was getting from it, neither did Gandalf. He had a small argument with Thorin and then stormed off. I shrugged at Bilbo's questioning glance.

"I honestly don't blame him for wanting some quiet time away from these dwarves."

Bilbo snickered and then became serious quickly after. "I don't like Gandalf just leaving like that. He's the wisest of us. If he goes then our primary source of information is gone too."

I sighed. "Yeah…" I straightened and looked around. "Something…isn't right." I stretched out my senses for Blackjack.

"BOSS! THERE ARE SOME KIND OF MONSTER CREATURES STEALING THE HORSES! ONE'S COMING RIGHT AT ME. SHOULD I FLY AWAY?! I WANNA FLY AWAY!"

"Yes! Fly, Black! Fly!"

"Don't have to tell me twice, Boss. I'm gone. Pity about the horses though. They were nice."

I frowned and opened my mouth to tell Bilbo, but another dwarf shoved two bowls into Bilbo's hands. "Give these to Fili and Kili, Bilbo."

Bilbo looked at me. I didn't look back, too busy trying to mentally contact Gandalf. He shrugged and left.

"Bilbo, I need…" I looked around and blinked. "Where'd he go?"

"To give food to Fili and Kili." Biffer said. I blinked.

"Fili and Kili…" I blinked rapidly. "Dammit! They're right next to the horses!"

Thorin looked up. "So what?"

I glared at him. "Did Gandalf say where he was going?"

Thorin straightened with a growl. "No, and I don't care where he went! Arrogant, Elf-loving, old man!"

I rolled my eyes. "How old are you? Five? Listen, something's out there. I sense it."

Thorin chuckled. "The boy fancies himself a psychic!" The other dwarves laughed. I pinched the bridge of my nose in irritation. These guys were far, far worse than the Ares cabin.

"Screw you all." I moved quickly through the brush and then ducked out of the way to avoid being trampled by a monstrous looking thing. The only word I have for it would be 'troll'!

"You're right, Percy. That's a troll. And they have Bilbo." Ouranos' voice filtered into my mind.

"What?!" I growled, but suddenly, the entire area was filled with dwarf war cries. I sighed. "Way to be subtle, boys."

I cursed and flipped out of the way and watched as the dwarves hacked their way through. I smiled slightly when Bilbo succeeded in freeing the horses. I frowned in thought and then paused when I sensed Gandalf approaching.

"Over here, my neglectful friend. The dwarves are all trussed up by three overly friendly trolls. How soon till dawn?"

"Fifteen minutes yet. Are you captured too?"

"Nope. I stayed back and waited. They aren't in danger of dying just yet."

"I asked you along to protect them, Percy."

I chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll attack when you fail."

"If…"

I smirked and then poked the mind of one of the trolls. He became belligerent and poked another troll back. They started bickering. I heard Gandalf's voice join in and urge them on as well. Bilbo smiled slightly in relief when Gandalf turned them to stone.

Of course, Thorin would turn on Bilbo and myself. Gandalf defended Bilbo very well. I merely watched the antagonistic stares in apathy.

Bilbo moved closer to me, after he had freshened up a bit. "Why didn't you help?"

I smiled. "Gandalf had everything well in hand, Bilbo. Why mess up a perfectly good plan?"

Bilbo paused and then nodded. "I suppose. Though this does give the dwarves a very poor sight of you."

I smirked and shook my head. "What the dwarves think doesn't matter. I honestly couldn't care less. They think I'm a coward. Well hoot hoot horray! Fuck them."

Bilbo blinked at my sudden crass talk. He chuckled. "You're not really a coward, are you?"

I smiled gently. "Even the best, most brave men, are cowards sometime in their lives, Bilbo." I turned to Gandalf. "I'll leave first thing tomorrow morning."

He sighed and nodded. "There is nothing that can change your mind?"

I shook my head. "No, I've lost too much time. A friend of mine might be dead already."

Bilbo stared and started to say something, but I was already walking away, calling Blackjack back to me.

Thorin smirked at me. "It seems that your pretty pony bolted."

I frowned slightly. Blackjack wasn't replying. "No. He's too well trained." Looking up at the night sky, I wondered where he could be.

Thorin just smirked. "Or he wasn't trained by you."

I stiffened. "Are you insinuating something?" I smirked slightly and turned to completely face him. "Little King?"

His eyes flashed. Thorin sprang to attack me, but Gandalf stood in his way. "Do not antagonize him, Percy." He looked at Thorin. "And do not wrongly accuse your ally."

Thorin sneered. "Ally?! He stood and watched as the trolls attempted to eat us!"

I sighed and shook my head. "So I'm no better than an Elf? Who cares? I knew Gandalf was there. If Gandalf failed, then I would step in."

Thorin passed Gandalf and moved right up into my face. "You are a liar, and a coward!"