Chapter 22: To Barter a Mountain

When it was close to midnight Bilbo and I got our weapons and cloaks making our way to the gates as I quickly began tying a rope around a pillar for us to climb down as he looked around wearily. I heard footsteps stepping in front of the rope watching Bofur give us a strange look seeing Bilbo start to fidget.

"You both should be inside and out of the wind." Bofur said kindly while Bilbo replied, "We uh needed some air, the place still stinks of dragon."

Bofur gave a curious nod looking over towards Dale saying, "The elven archers have been moving into position."

"Oh?" Bilbo replied trying to distract our dwarven friend but he simply smiled with sadness in his eyes saying, "The battle will be over by tomorrow's eve… though I doubt we will live to see it."

I frowned taking a step towards him saying, "These are dark times."

"Dark days indeed, no one could blame a soul for wishing themselves elsewhere." He said knowingly looking between us then staring up at the room finishing, "Must be near midnight, Bombur's got the next watch but it will take a bit to wake him."

Bofur began walking down the wall as I took a step forward saying, "Bofur… we will see you in the morning."

He nodded sadly looking between us saying, "Goodbye you two, I wish you all the happiness in the world."

He disappeared from the wall as I grabbed the rope throwing it over the edge as I scaled down first holding the rope in place as Bilbo followed. I put my hood up as we walked toward Dale slipping past the guards that were preparing for battle seeming to be too busy worrying. I noticed a large tent in the distance sneaking past the elves that were walking around preparing for war to focused to worry about us.

I saw Gandalf first staring at him surprised while Thranduil came into view beside Bard hearing him say, "It will not come to that, this is a fight they cannot win."

I stepped into the tent taking my hood off as Bilbo said, "That won't stop them! You think the dwarves will surrender but they won't. They will fight to the death to defend their own."

"Bilbo Baggins and Lossëa, what a surprise." Gandalf said giving us both a smile as we returned it seeing Thranduil stare at us.

"If I am not mistaken, this is the Halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons from under the nose of my guards with the help of her." Thranduil said with distaste as Bilbo looked around nervously saying, "Yish… yes sorry about that."

Thranduil was clearly seething in his chair while Bard gave us both a small smirk of admiration as Bilbo reached into his jacket saying, "We came to give you this."

Bilbo took the Arkenstone out placing it on the table seeing all the men in the room stand in awe and utter surprise.

"The heart of the mountain… the King's jewel." Thranduil said astonished as Bard looked at it saying, "It's worth a king's ransom."

He looked towards Bilbo and I saying, "How is this yours to give?"

"I took it as my fourteenth share of the treasure." Bilbo said matter-of-factly seeing Gandalf smile with admiration at him.

"Why would you do this, you owe us no loyalty." Bard said surprised while I crossed my arms saying, "We aren't doing it for you."

Bilbo smiled towards me putting a hand on my arm to calm my anger saying, "What we mean is we know that dwarves can be obstinate and pigheaded and difficult. Suspicious and secretive, with the worst manners you can possibly imagine, but they are also brave and kind and loyal to a fault. We've grown very fond of them, and we would save them if we can."

I frowned lightly saying, "But Thorin values this stone above all else. In exchange for its return, we believe he will give you what you were owed. There will be no need for war."

They all looked towards one another as Thranduil said, "Very well we will try your way but if it should fail we will not hesitate to bring wrath upon them."

Bilbo and I nodded as Gandalf put his arm around both of us bringing us outside the tent looking over the both of us smiling saying, "I'm so very proud at how courageous the both of you have been, this must have not been an easy choice."

"No, but it was the right choice." Bilbo said seeing Gandalf nod looking down at my hand saying, "It seems you both have grown quite close."

Bilbo and I looked at one another smiling with a light blush nodding as he laughed replying, "I am glad, for the both of you."

He looked around the camp saying, "We will get you both someplace to sleep safely tonight."

"No, we must go back to the mountain before dawn." Bilbo said but Gandalf frowned saying, "I would strongly suggest against that, once Thorin knows you have both betrayed him I fear his wrath will not be kind."

"I'm not afraid of him, he's still in there somewhere." Bilbo said with certainty seeing Gandalf shake his head replying, "I'm sorry but I do not have the same faith you do, he could kill you both."

I looked towards Bilbo seeing him stare towards me with concern as Gandalf stopped the sleazy man that had been by the master saying, "Get these two a room for the night and food."

He nodded angrily as Gandalf whispered something to him before he looked towards us saying, "This way."

He brought us to a still intact house opening the door to a small room with a single bed before grabbing food from a passing woman shoving it into my hands saying, "Have a pleasant night."

He closed the door quickly making me flinch sighing heavily as I looked down at the basket of fruits and vegetables. I sat the basket down sitting on the bed hearing Bilbo walk towards me putting a comforting hand on my own.

"We cannot just sit here and hope things will be okay." I said sadly feeling him sit on the bed beside me replying, "Do you not think Thorin will agree to the terms?"

I looked up seeing the moon through the window replying, "I hope he does but I worry if he doesn't and I feel like a coward for hiding here."

"I'm with you there, it's not fair to the others." Bilbo said agreeing while I looked towards the door saying, "We could sneak back… when they are preparing to march out."

"Gandalf won't be too happy." Bilbo said but I saw the small mischievous smile he held smiling back saying, "He will understand."

In the very early hours of the morning, I opened the door to the house the man brought us to seeing him sleeping not too far away smirking. I motioned Bilbo to follow me as we easily crept by all the people and elves too busy with what today held. Either we'd all be at war or they'd have what they all truly desired and I hoped for the second choice. Bilbo and I could hear them marching in the distance as we decided to take the hidden passageway to not alert either side of our presence.

As we began walking the halls into Erebor Bilbo grasped my hand stopping me for a moment as I looked towards him concerned.

"I just want to say that if this doesn't go over well the time I've spent with you has been the happiest I have ever been and I wouldn't trade it for anything." Bilbo said seeing him blush looking up towards me with a kind smile.

I kneeled down saying softly, "I feel the same way my enda."

"What does that mean?" he asked curiously while I leaned in closer to him saying, "My heart."

I eased my lips towards him capturing them in a breathtaking kiss feeling him return it with as much feeling until we both pulled away leaning our foreheads to one another. We stood back up and held hands again making for the gates to face whatever fate had in store for us now.