Chapter 21 : For humans, that's a no

When Aghäte got up the next day, she went straight to the living room, after changing into a new dress. She promised to herself to wash all the dresses she had worn or she will wear once calm returns to Erebor.

In the living room, there was no one but there was still something to eat for breakfast. She settled down and began to eat. She took the opportunity to observe the room in detail.

After a few minutes, she heard the door suddenly open and she jumped. Kíli and Fíli entered the room. The blonde sat in front of her and the other next to her.

- "Have you had a lie-in?" Kíli asked with a smile on his face.

- "Is it that late?!" she panicked.

- "No. Don't listen to him, he's talking nonsense," Fíli said, hitting his laughing brother's head.

- "But, you slept long enough to miss the arrival of the elven army in Dale," the dark haired asserted.

- "W-what?"

Aghäte suddenly got up and ran to the ramparts. Along the way, she saw the entrance hole was now almost completely blocked. From the top of the ramparts, she could see the thousands of sparkling armours of the elves reflecting the rays of the sun. She was shocked at the number of elves present. Thranduil wasn't kidding when he took out his army.

Kíli and Fíli eventually joined her. In the distance, they saw a person on horseback galloping towards Erebor. Kíli ran down the stairs but Fíli stayed with the half-human. She didn't have time to ask Fíli what his brother was going to do when she heard him screaming all over the building that someone was approaching.

Fíli and Aghäte were soon joined by all the others. The rider finally arrived in front of what was used as a door. Aghäte recognized him instantly. Bard. She looked at Thorin to see his reaction but he had none. Bard shouted he wanted to discuss with Thorin. The dwarf accepted and he went downstairs. All the others followed him.

Behind the piled up stones, Bard asked for the gold's part that Thorin had promised to the Lake-town's inhabitants. Settled in Dale, humans would need it to survive this winter. The whole company was watching the future King of Erebor. Even with all the courtesies, Bard fails to recover the promised gold. Thorin started to get angry and ordered him to leave.

Apart from Balin who expressed his displeasure, none of the dwarves commented. Aghäte was furious but she said nothing. How could he leave humans with nothing after their help? Between the cold of winter and the lack of food, they wouldn't survive long. She kept telling herself this didn't concern her and she shouldn't intervene. On the other hand, Bilbo didn't hesitate to speak. He lectured him and finally pointed out that the dwarf he had met in Bag End would never have broken a promise. Thorin ignored him and ordered all the dwarves to follow him to prepare to defend themself.

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Knowing the dwarves would be spending the day at the armoury or the forges, Aghäte took advantage of her free time to continue to visit Erebor. She had to calm down and she was refraining from going to yell at Thorin to pull himself together.

She finally passed by the armoury and saw Thorin offer a sublime mithril coat to Bilbo. She couldn't believe her eyes. She had never seen such a large amount of this material on an object. "He mustn't realize how lucky he is…" she said to herself as she walked away.

She walked all day, taking a break for lunch. She ends up going through the bathroom to wash up quickly.

The sun was setting when Aghäte arrived on the ramparts. She found a quiet spot where she could sit without getting too cold.

Bilbo eventually joined her and sat down next to her. He was observing the landscape before talking to Aghäte.

- "Do you think we are in our proper place here?"

- "I think you belong here more than me, if that can reassure you. You've been with them from the start and you even have a contract."

- "That is true. But I feel so useless here," Bilbo admitted. "And Thorin does what he wants ... I don't understand what's going on with him."

- "Hmm…" she hesitated. "Gold has already lost its grandfather's mind. He and his people have already suffered its consequences. I don't think Thorin will make the same mistake. He will eventually return to his senses."

- "You are very optimistic. I'm not as sure as you ... Alright, let's change the subject."

- "I agree but I don't know what topic we could bring up that isn't depressing," she laughed.

The hobbit laughed too. They looked for a subject on their side while looking at the tiny fires lit in Dale. When a draught of cool air passed, Bilbo shivered and sneezed. Aghäte advised him to go inside. She was going to stay a little longer to enjoy the scenery. The hobbit thanked her then left.

Aghäte was watching Dale. She hadn't set foot there for so many years. As she gazed at the horizon, she thought, "Honestly, what am I still doing here? They don't need me. I better go. Thorin is right: now the dragon is dead, I have no reason to stay here ... Yet, I don't want to leave. I feel like I have something left to do here ...".

She jumped when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She stopped thinking and looked at the dwarf who sat next to her. Fíli smiled at her before turning his eyes to the landscape.

- "Everything all right, Aghäte? You haven't joined us for dinner."

- "Yes, everything is fine. I ate a lot at lunchtime so I'm not hungry," she lied.

- "I know you're worried about our uncle. For his decisions and his reactions."

- "And you're not?" she asked him, surprised.

- "Hmm ... How do you explain that? He is our uncle and our future king. I have complete confidence in him. I'm sure he's doing this for our good."

- "I also think he must have some ideas in his head, but right now he is letting the humans starve to Dale …"

The young dwarf didn't answer. He stood up and looked at Aghäte.

- "Come on, you have to eat something!"

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CHOOSE YOUR ANSWER:

1. Alright, I follow you. I'm starting to get hungry. Go to chapter 22 - Choice 10

2. No thanks. I'm going to stay for a while. Continue reading this chapter.

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- "No thank you, Fíli. I'll stay a while to get some fresh air. But you, go to bed. It's getting late and I'm sure you're exhausted."

- "As you wish," he smiled.

Fíli took off his thick and warm jacket and placed it on Aghäte's shoulders. She wanted to refuse but he didn't give her time to speak. He wished her a good night before leaving.

Pulling Fíli's jacket closer to herself, Aghäte looked back at Dale. She turned it towards Mirkwood. She hoped her father was still there; wishing he wasn't in the king's army. But she hadn't much hope because he is a good fighter.

The night had darkened. She didn't know why, but Aghäte couldn't take her eyes off Dale.

Despite her concentration, she smelled a good smell of food which woke her stomach. Without warning, it began to growl. Aghäte heard a laugh she knew too well getting closer to her. Seeing Kíli's head sticking out from behind the wall, she couldn't help but smile. He sat down next to her with a bowl and a glass of water in his hands.

- "Here. My brother told me you refused to come to dinner."

- "You shouldn't have. Thank you…"

While Aghäte devoured her dinner, Kíli told her about his day. She was only half listening to him.

- "A… Aghä… Aghäte!"

- "Um? Yes, sorry!," she apologized, focusing on Kíli. "What were you saying?"

- "I asked you which side you would choose if dwarves, elves and humans had to fight!," he grumbled because she didn't listen to him.

- "You're always so direct with your questions… I don't know. None, I guess. I'm with dwarves being half-human and half-elf. How can I choose?"

Putting down her finished bowl, Aghäte drank her glass of water. Kíli jumped to his feet. Surprised, she looked at him from the ground. With a smile on his face, he held out his hand to her.

- "There is no point in thinking so much! Come on, follow me. We are going to change our minds!"

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CHOOSE YOUR ANSWER:

1. Alright, why not! Go to chapter 22 - Choice 11

2. Thank you Kíli but I prefer to be alone here for a while. Continue reading this chapter.

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- "Thank you Kíli but I prefer to stay alone here for a while. I hope you understand…"

- "No problem! I'll be in the living room if you want to chat," he explained, smiling.

He bent down to exaggerate a big bow and wished her a good night. Aghäte laughed lightly and Kíli left, taking the bowl and glass he had brought.

Now, it was totally dark. Aghäte could easily observe the stars. Little by little Dale's lights were starting to go out. She thought about Kíli's question. Which camp would she go to? But above all, why did she have to choose a side? She rubbed her head all over the place. Kíli was right. There was no point in thinking so much. After a shiver, she told herself it was time to go inside. It was no warmer between the walls of Erebor but it was less windy.

As she walked up the ramparts, she heard a quiet little noise behind her. After turning around quickly, she was relieved to find that it was Bilbo.

- "What are you doing here? I thought you went to bed?"

- "Oh! I couldn't sleep so I decided to take a bit of a walk."

Aghäte wasn't convinced of his answer, but she didn't want to know more. He was free to choose. If he wanted to leave, now was the right time. She nodded at him in approval, then she left in the opposite direction.

Inside, she realized everyone was in bed; except Bofur who was on duty the first part of the night. There was a worrying silence.

She still wasn't tired. In fact, she preferred to wait until the last moment to go to bed. She didn't want to lie down and think about everything that might happen in the next few days. As she walked down the corridors, she saw a room still lit. Well, if we can call this a room. The huge hall where the treasure was piled up was still lit by many torches or lamps. As if this hall was lit day and night.

High up, Aghäte was walking on one of the large bridges crossing the room. She could barely observe the full extent of the room; even from this high. She stopped and saw Thorin walking on his gold coins, lost in thought. She stared at him for a moment until she decided to join him.

Downstairs, she approached without him seeing her. She cleared her throat to warn him of her presence.

- "What will you do with all that gold?"

The future king under the mountain snapped out of his thoughts and turned his hard and stern gaze to the half-human. He looked her up and down, pausing for a few seconds on Fíli's jacket. Aghäte looked back at him. The look on the dwarf didn't reassure her. She thought back to her discussion with Bilbo. She had to stay optimistic and try to get things moving; but without getting upset. Seeing he still wasn't responding, she leaned down and picked up a coin. She watched Thorin closely and then approached him. He had been staring at her all along. Aghäte took one of Thorin's hands and placed the coin inside it.

- "Don't worry, Master Thorin. I'm not going to rob you."

Smiling at him, she thought she saw Thorin soften up after her last sentence. Did he have any doubts about her after everything she had done?

He straightened up and faced her. He threw the coin to the floor before speaking.

- "And you, what would you do with all that gold?"

- "Me? Um, I have no idea," she said surprised at his question. "I never needed a lot of money. And jewels are not my thing."

- "Really?"

Thorin grabbed her wrist and pulled her to follow him.

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Go to Chapter 22 - Choice 12: Follow Thorin