Hello once again everyone! I am back with another chapter. School is wrapping up for me and then I will have a bit of a break until I start the next semester. Keeping up straight As is not easy but I am working it this semester. If anyone is curious, I am a Graphic Design major. Lots of projects.
As for this story, I've been continuing to write it and plan to continue it past the battle so I'm working on that now. As always. anything that comes directly from the Hobbit belongs to J.R.R Tolkien. Please enjoy!
Mels xoxo
Third Person POV
Erebor
The plan to help Thorin went into motion very quickly after their meeting with the others returning to Thorin's side and carrying out his orders without question while Balin went to scout out the dungeons to find a suitable place to keep Thorin. The dungeons were thankfully undamaged by Smaug and Balin saw to it that a cell was cleaned thoroughly and necessities such as blankets and small comforts were added. He also ensured that the bars and every inch of the cell were impossible to escape from. The keys were located easily enough, and since the Dwarven locks were intricate, there would be no chance that Thorin could escape once he was locked inside.
Balin hated to do it to Thorin but it was for his own good. Adaira scouted out the rooms in the Royal Wing and found in her father's childhood room, breaches and a tunic that would fit her and she changed into them and out of the long velvet dress that used to belong to her aunt Dis. Once she was properly outfitted she reconvened with Balin who told her that a place had been found to keep Thorin. With that in mind, Adaira sought out Oin, a plan formulating in her mind already.
"Master Oin," Adaira said in a low voice as she approached the older Dwarf who was thankfully unneeded by Thorin at the current moment. Thorin himself was sharpening his sword as he muttered to himself, going between the armory and the treasury.
"Aye lass," Oin said, looking around before answering her.
"I need you to make something that would put Thorin to sleep. A tea. I think I can get him to drink it," Adaira whispered to the healer who nodded in understanding.
"I'll have it ready in a jiffy," He told her before he left to make it. Adaira paced the long room, hoping that her plan would go off without a hitch so that they could begin to help Thorin and she could hopefully repair the damage Thorin had done in the negotiations with Bard. She hated to do this to Thorin, but it was for his own good.
Adaira started then as she heard a voice call out to her. It was not one of the Dwarves, that much she was sure of as it sounded feminine and she turned about in the room off of the treasury as the siren like call sounded again. It was the same voice she had heard when she had awoken after fainting. Adaira frowned and walked out of the room, stepping into the treasury and she looked up the stairs one way and down the stairs the other way. The siren-like call came again, echoing down the stairs and Adaira turned that way and she started to follow the voice, carefully walking down the stairs.
When she came to the landing the siren-like voice called out to her once more, leading her out of the treasury and into a long hallway that opened up into the cavernous mountain. She was about to head up the stairs in the direction the voice was trying to lead her when Bofur quite literally ran into her as he ran down the stairs she was about to ascend.
"Bless me!" Bofur exclaimed as he stumbled back from Adaira before reaching out to catch her. "Sorry lass," He apologized and Adaira waved him off, smiling.
"No harm done," Adaira assured him as she heard the siren-like voice sigh as if in exasperation.
"Best not go that way, lass," Bofur said as he grimaced, pointing behind him and Adaira frowned. "Thorin's in the throne room and he's not in the best of moods," Bofur explained and Adaira nodded in understanding.
"Our plan should commence within the next hour or two," Adaira told Bofur as she sighed slightly. "I'm just waiting for Oin to make something to knock him out," She supplied and Bofur nodded, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"It'll be alright lass," He assured her and Adaira nodded, smiling slightly. "Come on, Bombur is sure to have something ready for lunch and you need to eat," Bofur told Adaira and he herded her away to the kitchen they had cleaned, Adaira allowing herself to be cared for in that moment. It was nice to have a family.
Third Person POV
Dale
Bard and Lyssaria rode back to the gates of Dale, where Thranduil was waiting for them to learn of Thorin's answer, not that Thranduil was under the impression that Thorin would ever bargain with them. Thranduil stared at the mountain with a cold gaze as he zeroed in on the barricade that had been hastily made in the night. Oakenshield could barricade himself in his mountain all he liked. Thranduil could wait him out.
"He will give us nothing," Bard told the Elven King as he reigned up his horse in front of Thranduil's Elk.
"Such a pity. Still, you tried," Thranduil said coldly, as he stared at the mortal man. Thranduil did not think it to be a pity at all. He wanted a war with Oakenshield.
"I do not understand - Why? Why would he risk war?" Bard asked Thranduil and as the three of them looked back toward the Mountain they saw the Dwarves dislodging the head of one of the massive stone statues, causing it to fall and break the raised bridge to the gate, thus disabling any attackers from approaching the gates.
"It is fruitless to reason with them; they understand only one thing," Thranduil told Bard and he pulled out his sword and gazed at it while Bard looked at him uneasily and Lyssaria shook her head and looked back at the mountain. "We attack at dawn!," Thranduil informed Bard before he turned his Elk around to ride back into Dale. "Are you with us?" He asked Bard and as Thranduil rode back toward the city, Bard and Lyssaria looked over their shoulders at Erebor.
"Our people need that gold to rebuild their lives," Bard said then to Lyssaria as he dismounted from the horse and turned to look up at her. Lyssaria dismounted as well, standing close to Bard as she looked up at him through her long lashes.
"I do not think war is the way," Lyssaria told him, shaking her head and Bard sighed deeply, looking towards the mountain.
"A war is unavoidable. Thranduil will attack the mountain with or without our help," Bard told Lyssaria and she nodded, making an annoyed sound in the back of her throat. "And Thorin cannot be reasoned with," Bard added and Lyssaira nodded in agreement.
"We haven't tried reasoning with any of the others. I may not have known Adaira long, but this doesn't sound like something she would agree to," Lyssaria reasoned and Bard shook his head at that.
"As if the King Under the Mountain would let anyone else bargain in his place. It is done," Bard told Lyssaria and she made a noise of frustration. "I like it no more than you, but our people will not survive this winter without a way to rebuild our lives. We have the hospitality of the Elves for now but that will not last for long I am sure," Bard said and Lyssaria nodded in agreement at that.
"Thranduil is not known for being kind or generous. As soon as his interest in your cause wanes you will no longer have his aid. I do not like it, but you are right. It isn't like I have a great love for Oakenshield. The Dwarf could barely stand me. It is Adaira, my cousin who I care for. She at least made an effort to get to know me," Lyssaria said, biting her lip and Bard took one of her hands in his own.
"I will speak with Thranduil and ask him to spare your cousin," Bard told Lyssaria who looked up at him with a smile creeping up on her face.
"You would do that for me?" She asked Bard and the man nodded, looking a bit sheepish.
"I have not known you long, but I feel it in my heart," Bard said, placing Lyssaria's hand that he held over his heart and holding it there. "There is something there. Something that has awoken for the first time since my wife's passing," Bard told the Dwelf whose eyes widened slightly and she curled her fingers on his chest, gripping his shirt.
"I feel it too," Lyssaria told the man as she drew slightly closer to him. "In my Fae, it reaches out to you," Lyssaria said as she stared up into Bard's brown eyes. Bard reached with his other hand then and wrapped it around her hip as he held on to her other hand, still pressed to his chest and he gently rubbed his fingers between his own.
"Your tale of Beren and Lúthien," Bard said as he gently rubbed her lower back. "Was it true?" Bard inquired and Lyssaria nodded at that.
"Yes, she was real. I am only half Elven. I'm not immortal like the Elves," Lyssaria told Bard with a smile.
"But still you are older than me," Bard said and Lyssaria grimaced and nodded at that.
"There is something my father told me, that Mahal, crafts for us a One, our soulmate. I never believed him up until now. I...I've grown to care for your children. Tilda especially. And when I saw you on the bell tower I felt something. It's grown every moment we're together," Lyssaria confessed as Bard looked down at her in surprise. "I understand if you do not feel the same way, but I should like to stay with you. I've never been accepted anywhere before. I've always been a Halfbreed, not belonging anywhere and yet your people have welcomed me," Lyssaria said, looking down at her feet. "They do not see me as a freak. My own grandfather...my own uncle see me as unworthy of being their kin because I am unnatural," Lyssaira said and Bard took his hand from her waist and put it under her chin, lifting her head so that she was looking at him once more.
"I'd like for you to stay," Bard told the woman in front of him honestly and Lyssaria smiled at that as she grasped Bard's hand that was in hers more firmly.
"Then I'll stay," Lyssaria told him and the two spent only a moment more together before they mounted back up on their horse and rode back into Dale.
Once back in the city, Bard and the Lake people began collecting and distributing any weapons and armour they could find stored in the city. Percy was next to Bard and Lyssaria as the Lake people prepared to fight back. None of them had experience fighting, but they were not fighting for glory or for vengeance they were fighting for survival. Winter was upon them and without the wealth stored in the mountain they all were likely to perish. They had but one choice, fight or die.
Third Person POV
Gundabad
Legolas and Tauriel left their horse and began to scramble up a rocky outcrop. Once they reached the top they crouched behind some rocks from which they could see a fortress beyond. It was quiet, no sign of activity coming from it.
"Gundabad. What lies beyond?" Tauriel inquired from Legolas in a quiet voice as Legolas stared at the fortress.
"An old enemy - The ancient kingdom of Angmar. This fortress was once its stronghold. It is where they kept their great armories, forged their weapons of war," Legolas informed Tauriel and as they watched, a light flickered in a window of the fortress, then disappeared.
"A light! I saw movement," Tauriel said as she and Legolas leaned slightly closer in, both of them seeing what looked like someone passing in front of the window before the light disappeared.
"We wait for the cover of night. It is a fell place, Tauriel. In another age our people waged war on those lands," Legolas said and he paused, looking pained and Tauriel looked to him as Legolas turned away from the sight of the fortress. "My mother died there. My father does not speak of it. There is no grave, no memory, nothing," Legolas told Tauriel then shaking his head sorrowfully as Tauriel frowned and reached out to put a hand on Legolas' shoulder to comfort him.
Third Person POV
Dale
In Dale, the people were preparing for war, sharpening swords which had been dulled by the ages they had sat unused and collecting what supplies they could find amongst the ruins of the city. The sounds of hoofs reached their ears and they hastily jumped out of the way as a horse galloped into the town, the rider directing his horse through the people.
"Let me through!" The rider, Gandalf shouted as the people jumped out of his way. "Make way!" Gandalf shouted as he galloped through armoured Lakemen, riding into the center of Dale before he reigned up his horse and quickly dismounted in the main courtyard. He aided Thrain in dismounting as well, the Dwarf stumbling slightly before he regained his footing.
Both the wizard and Thrain were surprised to see men drilling with swords and companies of Elves marching through the city. Thrain held fast to his own sword, keeping close to Gandalf as Alfrid spotted the two of them and came out of a building, yelling.
"No, No, NO! Oi! You - pointy hat and shorty!" Alfrid yelled, upset and Gandalf and Thrain turned to look at him. "Yes, you. We don't want no tramps, beggars nor vagabonds around here," Alfrid told Gandalf and Thrain as he approached the two. "We got enough trouble without the likes of you. Off you go! On your horse," Alfrid ordered as he waved Gandalf off, the wizard frowning deeply before he glared down at the little man.
"Who's in charge here?!" Gandalf demanded of Alfrid angrily and Bard having overheard the altercation walked up to find out what was going on.
"Who is asking?" Bard asked Gandalf as he looked the wizard up and down, trying to figure out who the man might be. He looked down at Thrain then and frowned as he realized the man with Gandalf was a Dwarf.
"I am Gandalf the Grey and this is Thrain son of Thror," Gandalf answered Bard as he turned to the bargeman. "What is going on here?" Gandalf asked as he gestured with his hand to the men drilling in the courtyard and the Elves who were marching through Dale.
"Thrain?" Bard asked as he looked down at the Dwarf in surprise, his eyes going wide. "You had best speak to Thranduil," Bard told the wizard who harumphed and Bard led the two to Thranduil's tent which had been set up in the city.
Gandalf was the first to enter Thranduil's tent, walking ahead of Bard, Thrain hot on his heels. Bard followed them in and they found Thranduil sitting in a throne like chair drinking wine as he held court. Gandalf was not pleased to see the Elven King who looked surprised to see the wizard for only a moment before his expression returned to something akin to boredom.
"Gandalf the Grey," Thranduil said as Gandalf entered his tent and he raised his goblet to his lips and drank deeply.
"What is the meaning of this?" Gandalf demanded as he stood in front of the Elven King.
"Oakenshield has shown his hand and now I will play mine. I will not bargain with him," Thranduil replied as he set his goblet aside and Gandalf looked at the Elven King in frustration as he put his hands on his hips.
"You must set aside your petty grievances with the dwarves. War is coming!" Gandalf said and Thranduil rolled his eyes as Gandalf spoke, Bard frowning in confusion at Gandalf's words. "The cesspits of Dol Guldur have been emptied. You're ALL in mortal danger!" Gandalf warned them and Thranduil shook his head as Bard approached Gandalf.
"What are you talking about?" Bard asked Gandalf in concern as Thranduil rose from his chair.
"I can see you know nothing of wizards. They are like winter thunder on a wild wind rolling in from a distance, breaking hard in alarm. But sometimes a storm is just a storm," Thranduil said as he walked over to a table and poured Bard a goblet of wine, handing it to the man who accepted it as Thranduil poured himself another goblet of wine before he looked to Gandalf who was looking down and opening and closing his mouth.
"Not this time," Gandalf told Thranduil firmly as the Elven King turned away from him. "Armies of Orcs are on the move. And these are fighters! They have been bred for war. Our enemy has summoned his full strength," Gandalf insisted as Bard frowned and listened to him. Thranduil turned back unalarmed by Gandalf's words.
"Why show his hand now?" Thranduil inquired of the wizard almost boredly.
"Because we forced him! We forced him when the company of Thorin Oakenshield set out to reclaim their homeland," Gandalf replied firmly with his hands on his hips before he turned and walked outside of the tent to a spot from where they could clearly see the gates of Erebor, both Thranduil and Bard following him and Thrain. "The Dwarves were never meant to reach Erebor; Azog the Defiler was sent to kill them. His master seeks control of the mountain. Not just for the treasure within, but for where it lies, its strategic position," Gandalf said as Thrain gazed at Erebor for the first time in years his mouth falling open slightly as he gazed upon his homeland. "This is the gateway to reclaiming the lands of Angmar in the north. If that fell kingdom should rise again, Rivendell, Lothlorien, the Shire, even Gondor itself will fall!" Gandalf said as he turned away from the sight of Erebor to look at Thranduil and Bard.
"These orc armies you speak of, Mithrandir - Where are they?" Thranduil asked the wizard and Gandalf opened his mouth and sighed, unable to answer the Elven King. While he knew they were coming, he knew not where they were or why they were biding their time.
Third Person POV
Somewhere Near Erebor
An Orc rode out of a tunnel on a Warg, the tunnel glowing with an orange light behind him, and it approached Azog, who was feeding his Warg meat on the tip of the metal sword that had been shoved into the stump in his arm at the entrance to the tunnel.
"Our army will be in position by dawn. The attack will be sudden and swift!" The Orc informed Azog as he approached the pale Orc.
The fools! They have forgotten what lives beneath these lands," Azog said as he mounted his Warg and spurred it away from the tunnel. "They have forgotten the great Earth-eaters," Azog added and as they rode away, the hill behind them, covered in giant holes, each the entrance to a tunnel, began to rumble with the sound of the earth being drilled and crushed. The tunnels were pointing toward the Lonely Mountain in the distance, which was not so very far away.
Third Person POV
Gundabad
At Gundabad, night had fallen and the fortress was dark. Like earlier, nothing stirred. Besides for the light Tauriel had seen earlier, they had seen no other signs of life. If not for their belief that something evil was held in the fortress they might have already moved on from where they crouched behind some rocks, waiting.
If we are going in - we should move now," Tauriel told Legolas in Sindarin and after she spoke, massive bats suddenly began screeching and flying over their heads. Legolas and Tauriel pressed themselves flat against the rocks they were crouched down behind as the bats flew over their heads and back towards the fortress. "Dúilith secherig." (They are swarming.) Tauriel said in surprise as she and Legolas looked to the fortress where the bats were swooping around the stronghold.
"These bats are bred for one purpose," Legolas said as he stared at the fortress with a deep frown on his face.
"For what?" Tauriel asked Legolas in confusion as she turned to her friend.
"For war," Legolas answered her and as the bats swarmed overhead shrieking, a figure rode out on a Warg. From their vantage point, Legolas could see that it was the Orc Bolg, dressed for battle.
Bolg raised his mace and shouted out a command in the Black Speech of Mordor and horns blared loudly from the fortress before the gates at the bottom of the fortress opened, releasing rank upong rank of massive Orcs, each carrying a giant spear at least three times longer than the Orcs' height. Their armour clanked loudly as they marched out of the fortress seemingly without end. Thousands of Orcs marched out of Gundabad armed for war and as the massive company began marching away, the bats followed, wheeling overhead.
"Din methithar i phain," (We must warn the others.) Tauriel breathed out in shock at the sight of the legions of Orcs.
"Penim lû. Tolo!" (We may be too late - hurry!) Legolas told Tauriel and both he and Tauriel hurried away as Bolg yelled out a command and the ranks of Orcs parted to let smaller, lighter, and faster Orcs run ahead of their companions, snarling.
Adaira's POV
Erebor
Thorin called us all to the armoury and the others looked to me in askence of what to do. I nodded to them, telling them to do what Thorin told them to do for now. Thorin ordered us to ready ourselves for battle and it was with grim faces that we all chose armour and weapons. Strangely enough there was armour made for darrowdams amongst the armoury. Dwalin found a suit of armour that would fit me and he helped me into it. It was heavy, the plate mail made of thick iron with a chainmail vest. There were too many pieces of armour to remember from vambrances to faulds. Dwalin found a helmet for me that I thought was a bit flamboyant given the fact that it had horns on it, but it would protect me if it came to war.
Balin found his own set of armour and he looked down at it nostalgically, Gloin nodding at the older Dwarf. The others began chosin weapons from what the armoury had to offer, everything covered in a layer of dust and cobwebs. I felt absolutely bulky by the time that I was properly outfitted for war and my range of motion was limited as I was not used to fighting in armour. I heard Thorin call out to Bilbo who had not joined us in the armoury but was lurking just outside and I put a hand on Dwalin's arm and spoke to him lowly that I would be back. I didn't trust Thorin with anyone alone at the moment. I saw that Thorin was holding up a tunic of white mail as Bilbo walked up to Thorin.
"You are going to need this. Put it on," I overheard Thorin telling Bilbo who began removing his jacket leaving him in just his shirt and vest. "This vest is made of silver steel - "Mithril" it was called by my forebears," Thorin told Bilbo and my mouth fell open slightly in shock as Thorin held up the mithril vest so that Bilbo could slide into it. Mithril was very rare. The fact that Thorin was willing to give such a thing to Bilbo was outstanding. "No blade can pierce it," Thorin added as he let go of the vest and Bilbo finished putting it on. Bilbo looked down at himself then before looking up at the others as the Company watched behind me.
"I look absurd. I'm not a warrior; I'm a Hobbit," Bilbo told Thorin, slightly exasperated as he pulled at the hem of the mithril vest.
"It is a gift. A token of our friendship," Thorin told Bilbo, Bilbo's mouth quirking up slightly. "True friends are hard to come by," Thorin said and although he had started off smiling at Bilbo, he looked toward the others and frowned before he grabbed Bilbo by the shoulder a little roughly and pulled him away. I crept closer to where they were, still trying to hear what Thorin was saying.
"I have been blind. Now I begin to see. I am betrayed!" Thorin said and I inhaled sharply wondering if Thorin knew about what we were planning.
"Betrayed?" Bilbo breathed out, staring at Thorin uneasily.
"The Arkenstone," Thorin said and I breathed out in relief as Thorin moved closer to Bilbo before gasping slightly as I remembered that Bilbo had it. Had Thorin figured it out. Bilbo looked extremely uncomfortable and worried and I leaned in even closer as Thorin whispered to Bilbo. "One of them has taken it," Thorin whispered and Bilbo almost sighed audibly in relief as I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding. "One of them is false," Thorin continued, his voice taking on a very strange tone.
"Thorin...the quest is fulfilled. You've won the mountain. Is that not enough?" Bilbo asked Thorin as he blinked and Thorin frowned and shook his head slightly.
"Betrayed by my own kin," Thorin breathed out and Bilbo leaned in to Thorin slightly as I hid in the hallway, trying to calm my racing heart. I looked behind me and saw the Company all standing there watching me.
"No eh...You...You made a promise...to the people of Laketown. Is-Is this treasure truly worth more than your honor? Our honor, Thorin. I was also there, I gave my word," I heard Bilbo tell Thorin as the Hobbit tried to reason with him and I sighed heavily
"For that I'm grateful. It was nobly done. But the treasure in this mountain does not belong to the people of Laketown! This gold...is ours...and ours alone," Thorin told Bilbo sounding possessed as he breathed heavily. "By my life I will not part with a s-s-s-s-s-single coin! Not...one...piece of it!" Thorin said in a distorted voice which grew deeper as he hissed out the word single and I realized who he sounded like as he spoke, Smaug. In fact...his very words sounded like Smaugs. It was clear that he was mentally affected and while Bilbo stared at him in shock I decided that enough was enough.
I reached up and took off my heavy iron helmet and rounded the corner, stepping up behind Thorin and I grimaced before I brought my arm back and swung it quickly, smacking Thorin in the back of the head with the helmet. He let out a pained sound but he didn't black out like I hoped he would. He wheeled around, his eyes wild as he turned an angry gaze upon me. He began advancing towards me and I backed up, terrified as he stared at me looking possessed and my back hit the wall behind me, Thorin still advancing towards me. Thorin reached towards me, his hand sliding around my throat and he squeezed tightly as I closed my eyes, the air strangled out of me.
I heard a loud thump then and the grip on my throat was released and when I opened my eyes I saw Thorin's eyes cross slightly before they rolled back in his head as he slid towards the floor. Ori stood behind him, a sword in his hands, the pummel of which he had hit Thorin in the back of the head with. Thorin fell on the floor hard and Ori squeaked loudly, looking alarmed.
"I hit him," Ori squeaked nervously as we looked down at Thorin who was between us on the floor, Bilbo and the rest of the Company drawing closer. "I actually hit him," Ori continued and I reached out and put a hand on Ori's shoulder squeezing it lightly.
"It's okay Ori. Thank you," I told Ori, having to clear my throat a few times, my voice a bit hoarse. Dwalin was instantly at my side, lifting my head and looking over my throat which was throbbing in pain. "Take care of Thorin," I coughed out to my husband, poking the knocked out Thorin with my boot. "He won't stay out for long. He has a hard head," I said and Dwalin nodded, he Fili, Kili, and Dori picking Thorin up and carrying him off to lock him safely away before he woke up.
"Come here lass," Oin told me and he had me sit on a little bench in the hallway and he lifted my chin and inspected my throat. "You're lucky lass," Oin told me with a sigh. "It'll bruise most like," Oin told me, stepping away from me as I cleared my throat once more.
"We have more to worry about than that," I told him hoarsely as Balin approached me, he surprised me by gathering me in his arms and hugging me before pulling back and looking down at me, frowning as he no doubt saw the red marks from Thorin's hand on my throat. "He didn't mean it," I reminded Balin who nodded in understanding and I stood from the bench.
"That's done then," I said before I began to try and remove my armour. Gloin saw my battle with it and stepped up to me and helped me remove the heavy iron breastplate in Dwalin's absence. I kept the iron chainmail on along with some of the leg and arm armour, taking off only what was too heavy to be comfortable.
"We all must be ready for war. Negotiations have gone badly so far and Thranduil is not a patient man," I said as I looked to the Company. "Bilbo," I said as I turned to the Hobbit who looked surprised as I addressed him. "I need you to carry a message to King Thranduil and to Bard," I told the Hobbit who pointed to himself as his eyes widened.
"Me?" Bilbo asked me,shocked and I nodded in confirmation.
"You're not a Dwarf, you're a Hobbit and in this case that makes you a natural party. We must extend the white flag to Thranduil and hope he accepts. I hope to negotiate peaceful terms with him. Perhaps the surprise over the fact that Thorin is no longer in control of the mountain will make him stay his hand long enough to listen," I said, sighing deeply. I hoped that Thranduil and Bard would listen. Thorin had burned many bridges with the both of them, but there still might be a chance to repair relationships between the people of Laketown and the Woodland Realm.
"Bard said the Elves would attack if we could not come to terms. They haven't yet which might mean they are waiting until the cover of darkness or until dawn. We have until then I reckon. I need you to go tonight, Bilbo. There is no time to lose," I told Bilbo as I thought it through, Balin at my side and I looked to him for guidance.
"What should I say?" Bilbo asked me and I frowned slightly at that and held up a finger to him and paced back and forth with my hands on my hips as I thought about it.
Obviously we needed to negotiate and that would me talking things over. Perhaps the best show would be to allow them into the mountain seeing as Thorin had barricaded us inside to protect the gold. I could offer Thranduil what it was he most wanted as a sign of good will. Which reminded me, I needed to ask Balin why Thranduil wanted the white gems so badly. As for Bard, I could offer him a share of gold up front before negotiations continued.
"Tell them...Tell them I wish to negotiate terms of peace with them. That I request that they stand down their armies until we have a chance to speak with one another. That Erebor is to be open to them. A meeting shall be held inside the mountain," I told Bilbo and Balin raised an eyebrow at that.
"Inside the mountain?" Balin asked me in surprise and I nodded at that.
"It shows that we aren't afraid of them. That we welcome them even. Thorin was the one who wanted to barricade us inside the mountain to protect the gold. We need to prove to them we aren't fencing ourselves in like robbers," I said, recalling Bard's words from earlier and Balin sighed before nodding.
"You might be right namadith," Balin told me and both he and I looked to Bilbo.
"Can you do it?" I asked Bilbo and Bilbo stared back at me, his nose twitching slightly and he looked down at himself for a moment before nodding.
"Of course I'll do it," Bilbo answered me, smiling back at me and I smiled as well, sighing in relief. Bilbo slid his mithril vest off then and tried to hand it back to me but I shook my head quickly. "No, it's yours," I told Bilbo as I pushed it back towards him. "Thorin was right about one thing. It is a token of our friendship. You may need it yet," I told Bilbo who looked sort of awkward as he looked down at the mithril vest.
"It's a bit much," Bilbo said and I laughed at that.
"We're Durins" I said by way of answer and Bilbo chuckled at that before he put it back on, putting his coat back on over it.
Bilbo readied himself to leave the mountain as night fell and the moon came out, rising high into the sky and casting its light between Erebor and Dale. With the cover of night I had thought it a bit safer for Bilbo to cross the distance from the mountain to Dale alone. I walked Bilbo to the blockade and we climbed the stairs to the platform together. The bridge into the mountain had been destroyed that morning upon Thorin's orders and so the others were going to work to create an entrance into the mountain and a pathway that Thranduil and Bard might enter through.
Bofur who had been up on watch on the platform informed me that the Elves had been moving their archers into position which was bad news for us. I was ready to call off everything altogether, but Bilbo vehemently assured me that he could make it to Dale unseen. I had seen his disappearing act and while I didn't understand how he had done it, I trusted him. We secured a rope to a large metal ring secured to the stone of the mountain and threw it over the edge of the blockade. I pulled roughly at the rope, ensuring that my knots would hold tightly and when I stood up Bilbo was staring at me. I smiled and put my hands on his shoulders.
"You don't have to do this if you don't want to Bilbo," I told the Hobbit, not wanting him to do anything that he felt he couldn't do. I wouldn't force him.
"No, I-I want to," Bilbo stammered and he looked up at me. "I don't want this to come to war either," Bilbo told me as he turned and stared out at Dale where many fires were lit. "These are dark days," He said, looking down at his feet. "But we have a chance to change things," Bilbo said and I nodded in agreement.
"Be careful," I told the Hobbit before I pulled him to me and hugged him tightly and Bilbo was very stiff for only a moment before he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly back. He smiled up at me ruefully as he pulled back and his nose twitched for a second before he reached into his coat which he had pulled back on and he pulled out something from inside it.
He held it out to me and I heard Bofur gasp from behind me as Bilbo held up the Arkenstone, the white stone glowing with patterns of light from within like and aurora borealis.
"Here, I want you to have it," Bilbo told me as he held out the Arkenstone to me. "I-I didn't trust you before. I was afraid the gold would start affecting you too," Bilbo told me as I reached out and gently took the Arkenstone from Bilbo, cradling it in both hands. "You'll need it. To unite the Seven Dwarven Armies," Bilbo said before he put a finger to his nose and smiled at me. "I was listening,'' He said and I smiled and chuckled at that. "Besides, you might need it to convince Thranduil you're in charge," Bilbo said and I shook my head and hugged Bilbo once more.
"Thank you, Bilbo. For everything," I told the Hobbit, shaking my head once more. "You've done so much for my family. I don't know how to thank you," I told him and Bilbo shrugged his shoulders.
"We're friends," He told me and I nodded in agreement at that.
"We are most certainly that, Bilbo Baggins," I told the Hobbit and I sighed heavily as I looked at Dale in the distance, wondering if this was the right thing. Before I could talk him out of it Bilbo grabbed onto the rope and climbed over the edge of the clambered hand-over-hand down the rope, slipping along the way and I cried out in fear as he managed to catch himself.
"I'm alright!" Bilbo shouted to me and I sighed in relief, putting a hand to my chest to calm my racing heart as Bilbo continued to climb down, sliding down the last few feet of rope before he managed to climb across the moat using some of the rubble. He looked back up at me and waved once before he began running towards Dale. I looked down at the Arkenstone in my hand and slid it into a pocket of my breaches.
I turned away from the platform, knowing that I could stay out there worrying the entire time Bilbo was gone and as I turned back to head inside I heard that siren-like voice calling out to me once more. I frowned as I heard the voice which seemed to want to lead me somewhere. I looked over my shoulder at Bofur who was staring out at Dale, still watching Bilbo's progress as if he hadn't heard the voice at all.
"Did you hear that?" I asked Bofur and the Dwarf looked away from Dale and towards me with a frown on confusion on his face.
"Oh sorry lass, did you say something?" Bofur asked me with a cheerful smile on his face.
"No, did you hear that voice?" I asked Bofur who frowned deeply in confusion as he looked around.
"What voice?" Bofur asked me and I whipped my head around as I heard the voice calling to me once more.
"That voice," I told him as I pointed in the direction the voice had come from.
"I don't hear anything," I heard Bofur say as I began to inch forward and I threw caution to the wind and hurried off down the stairs, following the voice, needing to know where it was leading me. I heard Bofur call for me to wait behind me and somewhat registered that he was following me as I twisted and turned through the halls of Erebor, following the siren like call.
Third Person POV
Dale
In the city of Dale, the Lake people gathered around the fires, finding whatever comforts they could and what rest they might be able to. Dawn would be upon them only too soon and with it, war. In Thranduil's tent, Thrain paced back and forth as Gandalf confronted Thranduil who was once more sitting upon his throne.
"Since when has my council counted for so little? What do you think I'm trying to do?!" Gandalf demanded of the Elven King, one hand on his hip as he smoked his pipe, trying to calm himself.
"I think you're trying to save your dwarvish friends. And I admire your loyalty to them, but it does not dissuade me from my course," Thranduil said coldly as he stared at Gandalf unblinkingly. "You started this, Mithrandir. You will forgive me if I finish it," Thranduil said, rising from his throne and drawing in close to Gandalf before he walked to the archway of his tent and called to one of his Elves standing just outside. "Are the archers in position?" Thrandil asked and the Elf moved to stand in front of him immediately
"Yes my Lord," The Elf answered him with a slight bow of his head.
"Give the order. If anything moves on that mountain - kill it!" Thranduil ordered and the Elf bobbed his head before he turned and walked away to give the order to the archers as Gandalf's mouth fell open in shock, smoke coming out of his mouth. "The dwarves are out of time," Thranduil said, staring at Erebor from the mouth of his tent and Gandalf stormed towards Bard who was just outside of Thranduil's tent.
"Bowman! Do you agree with this? Is gold so important to you? Would you buy it with the blood of dwarves?!" Gandalf demanded of Bard as Thrain sighed heavily wondering what it was that he might be able to do. Both he and Gandalf had been arguing with Thranduil since their arrival and while Thranduil knew him to be Thrain son of Thror, he refused to listen to him. As Gandalf spoke to Bard, Bilbo who had already entered Dale with the aid of his ring, snuck past some of the Laketown guards.
"It will not come to that. This is a fight they cannot win," Bard told Gandalf as Bilbo crept up to Bard and Gandalf, the Hobbit having sought out Bard directly, surprised and relieved to have found Gandalf as well.
"That won't stop them," Bilbo said as he approached Bard and Gandalf and the two men turned to look at him in surprise. "You think the dwarves will surrender - They won't. They will fight to the death to defend their own," Bilbo said honestly, knowing that Adaira was just as stubborn as the rest of them and would protect her kin with her life if need be.
"Bilbo Baggins!" Gandalf said in surprise as he pulled his pipe from his mouth and Bilbo smiled happily at the wizard. "What on earth are you doing here?" Gandalf asked the Hobbit who was panting slightly.
"And how did you get past the guards I wonder?" Bard inquired and Bilbo tapped the side of his nose as he chuckled.
"I have a message for King Thranduil and for you Bard," Bilbo said as he looked to the bargeman who frowned slightly in confusion as Gandalf raised an eyebrow.
"A message? From Thorin?" Gandalf asked and Bilbo shook his hand back and forth. Bard gestured behind him to Thranduil's tent and led the Hobbit to it. Bilbo ducked inside with Bard and Gandalf behind him and he frowned in confusion as he saw not only the Elven King that he had seen when he had snuck about the halls of the Woodland Realm, but a strange Dwarf whose beard was grey and white, highly unkempt and whose face was covered in tattoos.
"King Thranduil might I present Bilbo Baggins of the Shire," Gandalf announced, presenting Bilbo to Thranduil as Bilbo stood stiffly in front of the Elven King.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is the halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons from under the nose of my guards," Thranduil said as he sat down in his throne and Bilbo looked extremely uncomfortable at this, clenching and unclenching his hands as his nose twitched.
"Yesh. Sorry about that," Bilbo told the Elven King awkwardly as Bard smiled at him from where he was now sitting looking somewhat amused. The older Dwarf let out a bark of laughter and Thranduil turned an icy stare at him. "I came…," Bilbo began stepping forward as he took a deep breath. "...with a message. The Queen of Erebor has requested a meeting between the King of the Woodland Realm and Bard of Laketown to discuss peaceful negotiations," Bilbo said hurriedly and Thranduil raised a brow to his hairline as Bard's eyes widened in shock. Gandalf choked slightly on the smoke of his pipe as the Dwarf looked up at him in confusion as well.
"The Queen?" Thranduil inquired of Bilbo as he rose from his chair, his long robes sweeping around him.
"I thought Thorin was King Under the Mountain," Bard said as he also stood, looking down at Bilbo in confusion as he drew closer to Bilbo and Thranduil.
"He is or he was, but none of us are blind to the fact that he has been affected by the mountain, by the gold," Bilbo told Bard honestly with a small shake of his head and the older Dwarf stood looking shocked at that and also worried.
"So it is true then. Thorin has been taken by the goldsickness," Gandalf said and Bilbo nodded in confirmation at the wizard's words.
"Yes. Thorin attacked his own kin. He's a danger to himself and others. For the best interest of everyone he's been overruled and his heir has taken over the burden of the throne in his place," Bilbo said honestly and Bard frowned deeply at this as he reached up and rubbed his chin.
"I have never heard of such a thing," Bard said and Thranduil inhaled deeply.
"Because it has never been done in Dwarven history," Thranduil said as he stared down at Bilbo suspiciously.
"I know that dwarves can be obstinate and pigheaded and difficult, suspicious and secretive…with the worst manners you can possibly imagine," Bilbo listed off as he looked to Gandalf as he mentioned the last bit before he smiled to himself. "... but they are also brave and kind...and loyal to a fault," He told Bard and Thranduil as he thought of the Dwarves he had grown very close to. "I've grown very fond of them, and I would save them if I can," Bilbo told the Elven King and Bard firmly as the Dwarf looked at him almost fondly. "The Queen is looking for peace. There will be no reason for a war," Bilbo told them and Gandalf, Bard, and Thranduil looked at one another before Thranduil turned around his robes billowing around him and he sank back into his chair.
"What are her terms?" Thranduil asked Bilbo who sighed in relief at his words.
"She wishes to negotiate with you herself. The doors of Erebor are to be opened to you. The Queen calls for a proper meeting of negotiation and only requests that your armies stand down until a bargain can be struck," Bilbo told the Elven King who seemed to mull it over for a long moment.
"Surely she does not think me so foolish as to enter that mountain alone," Thranduil said and Bilbo spoke again without thinking.
"No she thinks you will because she does not think you to be afraid of thirteen dwarves," Bilbo said before he clapped a hand over his mouth, looking sheepish as Thranduil glared at him. Gandalf chuckled slightly as the Dwarf barked out a laugh once more.
"What do we have to lose?" Bard asked as he looked to Thranduil, looking hopeful.
"She will negotiate with you unlike Thorin. This does not need to lead to war as I have been repeatedly telling you," Gandalf told Thranduil firmly and Thranduil turned his glare off of Bilbo and looked at Gandalf icily.
"You know her, Mithrandir," Thranduil accused Gandalf before his eyes narrowed. "The darrowdam who was captured with Oakenshield's Company. She was rude and belligerent, I doubt there will be any resolution," Thranduil said as he realized whom Bilbo had been speaking of.
"Her kin had been captured and threatened," Gandalf cut in, speaking up in Adaira's defense. "Adaira is fiercely protective of those she loves. She is quick witted and has a good head on her shoulders. She is also loyal and kind," Gandalf told Thranduil who seemed unconvinced and Bilbo knew that it was up to him to convince the Elven King.
"She cried," Bilbo said and Thranduil and Bard looked at him, Bard frowning in confusion as Thranduil raised an eyebrow. "She was sobbing as we watched Smaug destroy Laketown. She could barely hold herself up. She blamed herself because of the promise she made to you," Bilbo told Bard, looking at the bargeman who looked startled by Bilbo's words.
"If anyone wants to help your people, it's Adaira. She's been running herself ragged. Thorin wasn't eating or sleeping, but neither was Adaira; she was so worried. She's already…," Bilbo said, cutting himself off before he could say too much. "Adaira doesn't want the crown, she never has, but she's accepted the burden of it so she can do what needs to be done for her people. Surely as a king you can understand that," Bilbo said firmly as he drew himself up to his full height and looked at Thranduil. Thranduil stared at him for a long moment, just studying him before he finally spoke.
"You may tell the Queen that I will stand down my archers until we have spoken," Thranduil finally said and internally, Bilbo sagged in relief but on the outside he just nodded. "We shall meet with the Queen of Erebor to negotiate our terms," Thranduil said and Bilbo sagged in relief at his words.
"Thank you," Bilbo told the Elven King graciously, bowing his head slightly in respect and Thranduil waved his hand signalling that the meeting was over.
Gandalf led Bilbo away from Thranduil's tent, the strange Dwarf trailing after the two of them as Gandalf walked with Bilbo through the ruins of Dale. Bilbo wondered who the Dwarf was as it was obvious that he was neither with Thranduil or Bard, but he didn't have much time to think about it as he had to return to the mountain soon to tell Adaira of Thranduil's decision.
"So Adaira has taken control of the throne," Gandalf said as they walked and Bilbo nodded in confirmation.
"She's had to," Bilbo told the wizard who hummed slightly.
"And Thorin?" Gandalf inquired of the Hobbit and Bilbo frowned at that.
"He's being kept as far from the gold as possible. None of us liked the idea of locking him up, but it was for his own good. We couldn't allow Thorin to start a war with the Elves and Men of Laketown," Bilbo answered Gandalf as they stopped walking and Gandalf nodded,
"How do they all fair in the mountain?" Gandalf asked Bilbo then and Bilbo sniffed slightly, his nose twitching.
"Well enough," Bilbo told Gandalf honestly before he pointed over his shoulder at Erebor in the distance. "I should be getting back. I promised Adaira I would let her know how it went," Bilbo told Gandalf who nodded in understanding.
"Be careful, I wouldn't put it past Thranduil to attempt to have you followed," Gandalf told Bilbo lowly and Bilbo nodded and tapped the side of his nose.
"I'm good at going unseen if you remember," Bilbo told the wizard who hummed at that and looked down at Bilbo strangely as Bilbo fingered the ring that was in his pocket without realizing that he was.
"Lad," The old Dwarf said gruffly then and Bilbo looked to the strange Dwarf, his eyes widening slightly. "I'd ask to come with yah," He said and Bilbo frowned at the request. Gandalf made an "ah" sound in the back of his throat and he placed a hand on the old Dwarf's shoulder.
"Bilbo Baggins, might I introduce to you Thrain son of Thror," Gandalf introduced the older Dwarf and Bilbo's eyes widened as large as dinner plates as he stared at the strange Dwarf.
"Thrain a-as in…," Bilbo stammered as he stared at Thrain.
"Thorin's father," Gandalf confirmed with a nod of his head. "Held prisoner in the fortress of Dol Goldur all these years," Gandalf added as the Dwarf looked down at his feet.
"But this is good news, surely this could help Thorin," Bilbo said as he looked up at Gandalf.
"Perhaps," Gandalf said thoughtfully as he patted Thrain on the back. "In any case, Thrain longs to see Adaira. She was only a babe when last he saw her," Gandalf said and Thrain nodded in agreement with Gandalf's words.
"Of course," Bilbo told the older Dwarf, smiling slightly.
"I shall see you on the morn," Gandalf told Bilbo then with a nod and Bilbo agreed to this before both he and Thrain set off for Erebor. Bilbo led the Dwarf through a more secretive path he had found always being careful to watch that they were not being followed.
When they reached the mountain, Bilbo helped Thrain to cross over the moat and to the rope he had descended from. Bilbo tugged on it and it was Ori, not Bofur who poked his head over the side of the barricade to see who it was. Bilbo called up to him and Bilbo tied the rope first to Thrain, Ori pulling him up before the rope was lowered once more, Bilbo being pulled up himself. When Bilbo reached the top, Ori hurriedly told Bilbo that everyone else was down below and he shared the news with him, Adaira had found her father, Adaira had found Frerin.
Khuzdul:
Namadith: Little sister
