24. IF YOU WANT PEACE, PREPARE WAR
"So, do elves fall into some kind of deep sleep for two hours?! Is that why Thranduil was vulnerable the night of the attack?!" Sara called herself a fool for not having noticed him until then.
"Actually I think it's not the first time I've witnessed that particular moment!..." Hanna said recalling the years of the rebellion "I just thought it was due to fatigue if he sometimes slept so soundly!" She unveiled and then laughed at herself "What an idiot I was!".
"Come on, you couldn't have known! Do you remember that we were also surprised by his super hearing?" Hanna remembered well how useful Thranduil's ability had come in during the war, but if she knew the elf well she couldn't say the same about the race to which he belonged.
Elven culture and traditions were fascinating, and had it not been for the glances that many cast at her, being immortal, she would have felt completely one of them.
But life is never all downhill!
She had lived a dream until then.
It was time to create the future with your own strength!
For the moment he concentrated on changing Elanor. The twins were three and a half years old and as they grew older they became more and more exuberant.
She smiled as he saw Lucilla and Aranel happily playing with Galador who imitated his older sister's every move.
Their harmony had strengthened.
The twins saw the older sisters as a point of reference and a model to imitate and the two did not mind such attention.
"Don't touch it!" Aranel took his favorite doll from Galador's hands and dropped him sitting on the ground. The little boy did not seem to feel sorry or intimidated by his sister's outburst and tried to take back the stolen goods.
Hanna finished dressing Elanor to place her on a warm blanket next to Lucilla who was finishing making a wreath, completely ignoring the fight.
"Stop fighting otherwise I'll take the doll off!" That was enough to quell the annoyed cries of the brothers. Only then did Hanna realize that Sara was missing.
Calien who was able to follow their every move even though she was not physically present, told her that she had an appointment with Audial to witness her first day on the job.
She did not understand if Sara wanted to become a healer or if she had fallen madly in love with that charming novice elf.
That day there were no lessons for the children to follow and they sat at the table happy to see their father who seemed to be much busier since they had moved home.
Aranel approached Legolas timidly, trying to hide the surprise behind his back. Useless since it was too big a piece of parchment to go unnoticed.
"Big brother..." Hanna stiffened more than the Prince not at hearing that word, but at seeing his indifference in front of his little sister.
"I gave you a gift!" Aranel said handing him the drawing made in which the entire family was portrayed.
"I don't have time for this nonsense!" Hanna felt anger explode inside her and would have pulled it out if a hand hadn't landed on hers.
Thranduil calmed her with his eyes and finally realized what he meant.
They were brothers, they had to relate to each other alone.
If the King had taken his daughter's side, the already delicate situation would have precipitated.
And if Legolas wanted to ignore her and treat her badly, apart from a reprimand, Thranduil could not have done much, he was an adult elf by now ...
A great disappointment was painted on Aranel's sweet face and before she cried her father called her "What is Lelig (my daughter) in your hand?".
The compliments and support of the father immediately made us forget the disappointment given by their brother and after lunch, Lucilla and Aranel ran into the garden to see who would make the most beautiful crown of flowers.
Luthien and Calien followed them, carrying the twins by the hand.
"Why were you so hard on her iôn nin (my son), she's just a little girl!" Said the father annoyed by his son's behavior.
"And your daughter. She has to learn her place soon, I don't have time to teach her!" The cold Prince replied.
"And your sister!" The sovereign stated firmly as if his son had not yet understood it "You have duties towards her and try to control your temperament with her!" He took it back severely.
"You have never done it with me!" Legolas accused him venting "You denied me your love because you were suffering! Because of them I lost my partner, forgive me if I can't be kind to those who have denied me happiness!" He said referring to the girls he wouldn't hesitate to hunt if it weren't for the King. Thranduil narrowed his lips, his eyes flashing with blind fury.
He got up and left the room, perhaps to avoid saying things he didn't think just because of his own temperament.
Hanna and Sara looked at each other confused.
They hadn't finished their meal yet, too focused on the children, but was it wise to stay?!
"Your parents would be proud to see where you've come!" Incredibly, it was Legolas who broke the silence. "What do you know?!" countered Hanna who would never get over the trauma.
Talking about his was not the best choice.
"Nothing, I don't know anything about you..." strange, hawkeye looked disappointed as he stated the simple truth!
"But I am much of you!" Hanna said, fondly recalling the moments when Thranduil's eyes would light up when he spoke to her of the lost son she longed to find.
"Do you admit it's suspicious then, the fact that we live in the same place but I don't know anything about you?" Legolas was able to turn speeches in his favor.
"Why should I tell you?! You haven't already made up your ideas! Like Tauriel!" Hanna defended herself by deciding to go hard.
"Enlighten me and leave my thoughts to me!" He answered toneless.
"There isn't much to say. My family members are no longer alive and I left in search of a better future!" Hanna smiled slightly knowing that she hadn't looked for anything, it was just luck that made her meet her soul mate, bad luck that made her end up in chains.
"I see you've found a better future!" Legolas teased her cheekily.
"Yes, you're right, I was very lucky!" recognized her knowing full well what thoughts were stirring in the Prince's head.
He believed he wanted to take advantage of his father's position.
Although she had always known the elf's true identity, she never cared what he would do once they returned to the elf realm.
As usual, he only worried about problems when he hit us in the face ...
"Too bad that not everyone has had such luck!" Legolas continued turning the food on his plate without intending to eat it. His appetite had passed.
"Who are you referring to?!" He gave in to asking Hanna not understanding what she was referring to.
"To the royal guards who perished at the hands of your fellow men!" Hanna felt Sara stiffen.
Here is another delicate topic and he had to thank the Valar that Thranduil was not present.
"Similar as humans, because the similarities end there!" She answered in kind, hating how the elves considered her to be deprived of any honor just for the reputation of others.
"You know who I'm talking about!" It was not a question, but a statement from Legolas.
"Did you know them?!" He asked suddenly attentive and eager to hear the answer.
"Yes, but not good!" This was true.
The elves were very reserved. It had taken her years to soften Thranduil!
"What do you mean?!" Legolas looked suspicious. You know a person well or not at all.
There is no middle way!
"That I've only seen them!" Hanna said annoyed, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"Where?" The friends looked at each other wondering if that had been the Prince's goal from the beginning.
Make them make a mistake to reveal too much!
"In face!" Hanna replied with a satisfied smile pointing to her face.
"My father has given you too much. I am not like him. Don't make fun of me or you won't like the consequences!" Legolas threatened her visibly offended.
"Do you know what the difference is between you and a mirror? The mirror reflects without speaking and you speak without reflecting!" Hanna continued to tease him with Sara repeatedly hitting her arm in a vain attempt to make her stop "If you treat us stupid, don't expect me to let you do it, or you won't like the consequences!".
Sara put her hands on her face vaguely remembering the discussion that took place with Thranduil years ago.
Even then she was terrified of the outcome of that confrontation!
Fortunately, in this case, the final kiss was excluded ...
"You seem awake...show me that you are by listening to what I just told you!" growled at Legolas.
"Do you show shameless behavior towards us and expect us to be okay? You should learn to control yourself because I will not remain silent to suffer your irreverence!" Hanna protested, not afraid, determined to make the Prince understand once and for all who she was dealing with.
"I can say the same about you. If I had kept your insolence in check, perhaps the dwarves would have been more indulgent!l Legolas said, drawing a double-edged sword.
He knew very well that the traumatic experience still troubled Hanna!
"If they were, they wouldn't be dwarves!" She pointed out "I'm used to physical injuries, so much so that they can be called gentle!" She boasted even though she knew very well that she was lying to herself.
The injuries received during the war had never been so bad.
And she had always been surrounded by friends ready to support and protect her, without ever having found herself alone in front of the enemy.
"If you're used to it you shouldn't be so upset!" Legolas mocked her.
"Oh ..." Hanna pretended to be surprised. The acting skills had strengthened over the years.
"Oh, do you think that's the cause of my nightmares!?" Yes, Hanna was having a great time "You elves sin of excessive pride, you always think you know the answers to everything!" she recognized.
"Are you convinced that Tauriel is gone because of us..." Legolas clenched his fists while clenching his jaw "...but remember that it was only her actions that brought her where she is now!" Hanna concluded.
"If I'm bothering you, tell me I'll continue!" She decided to add before going out boldly.
She was not a girl with selfish desires, but a strong and combative woman.
Legolas must have realized that by now.
Thranduil found himself smiling in spite of himself.
Legolas, after the joke of the mustache, he found the eggs in his boots, the honey in the bathtub, the salt in the coffee and certainly other events had happened which he had remained unaware of.
He opened the doors of the study urging his daughter to precede him.
She was cheerful, unaware of the impending reprimand.
Thranduil sighed and sat down in front of his daughter who had become nervous, perhaps sensing her intentions "Aranel, why do you continue to spite your brother?" He asked calmly.
"Is very funny!" Aranel replied assuming the satisfied expression of his mother.
"It isn't anymore if you do it all the time!" He decided to enlighten her while remaining serious.
"Okay..." the daughter said shyly, lowering her gaze, immediately raising it with a mischievous light in her eyes "...can I make a last one like Mereth-en-Gilith?!".
Thranduil rolled his eyes even though it was good that he had asked "Aranel..." "Okay, I don't do it anymore!" The distraught little girl corrected herself.
"There is another issue I would like to talk about!" The father resumed becoming more serious.
"Your teachers tell me that you often quarrel with Fanon ..." Thranduil raised a hand, blocking the protest of his daughter who remained with her mouth open for a second before closing it again offended "...I don't care if she provokes you. You have to control your temper!" He told her without admitting a reply.
"But I can't let him tease me without doing anything!" Aranel protested to feel compelled to add "Sometimes you have to fight!".
"For real? Who says that?" The King asked, exasperated to see that his daughter had inherited her mother's worst defects.
"Milo always said that!" Thranduil stiffened, his eyes widening in surprise.
Aranel ... did she remember?!
Elves have a good memory from an early age, but never talking about them, he was convinced that it was lost!
"And sometimes you even have to not do it!" He replied trying to hide his surprise.
Milo continued to create problems even in death.
He smiled, seeing the young man's boldness in his daughter again.
That boy had always faced him head on, devoid of the fear that he had sometimes been able to see in Atticus's eyes.
"But you never stopped fighting!" Aranel insisted.
"Now I'm not doing it!" Her father tried to calm her down.
"Is that why the dwarves hurt Nana?" Thranduil made a face. Her daughter was too smart for them to be able to hide such a serious fact from her...
"No! Think about doing your homework. Protecting Nana is my job!" He scolded her by changing the subject.
"And what are they?" Aranel asked as he began to exhaust his parent's patience.
"Take lessons and study!" He replied dryly.
"I'm bored! Can't I train myself to fight?" The ruler smiled, remembering when he too found meaningless many of the lessons he had been forced to follow.
"No, you are just a child. You have to learn your place in the world!" He decided to make her understand his thinking, instead of making studying seem like a rule that she could very well have broken!
"I want to be a warrior!" And now he saw Legolas again.
His little leaf that burned with the desire to see pride in his father's eyes, shine for him.
"To fight it takes discipline..." the King said, being interrupted "That's not true! Training only! Milo trained a lot, I remember it well!" Thranduil frowned.
The gladiators trained continuously because they either fought or died, there were no other options.
"And in fact he is dead!" He immediately regretted the answer given full of anger at the memories that had resurfaced, as soon as he saw how much he had shocked his daughter.
"LIAR!" Aranel screamed with tears in his eyes.
Thranduil's eyes widened in outrage.
Any desire to remedy that error faded as soon as he heard his daughter use that disrespectful tone of voice against him "Don't you dare address me in this tone!".
"Atticus and Milo have promised me they will come back!" Aranel said starting to cry.
"Not gonna happen! Aranel..." Thranduil wondered why those two had made such an idiotic promise if they knew they were going against certain death!
And he wondered how he had not noticed!
"It is not true!" Aranel yelled before running out of the room.
Thorin kicked like a fury as the guards hauled him up the stairs.
When he was young, relations with the Wooded Realm were strained but for the sake of the kingdoms both rulers showed apparent calm during official meetings.
Even though both sides knew it was just a facade.
But the young Prince clearly perceived anger as well as contempt in the two guards who were bringing him before the King.
Having no stable footing, as soon as the two elves left him, he fell on all fours on the cold marble of the throne room.
He got up immediately with a growl. He wasn't going to give that damned King the satisfaction of being in a position that made him appear weak.
Thorin, despite himself, could not contain his amazement when under the crown he knew well, he did not see the elf he expected and against whom he was ready to unload all the anger he felt burning inside. Fortunately, the lessons of the old Balin, in addition to being fundamental for his training, also ranged a lot on the history of the elves, being curious about them.
This interest of his, Thorin had never understood, but it had come in handy since he was now sure he knew who that elf was.
Shortly before embarking on this long journey, he had heard that an elf had returned for dead.
Many hearing such news dismissed them as fantasies and being dwarves, they didn't care about the elves. In Bree, while returning from a business trip, humans, being attracted to and admiring the elves, never missed an opportunity to talk about it.
The Elven King paced quietly, as if his presence in motion might frighten the noble dwarf.
"Some would imagine that a noble enterprise is imminent, an enterprise to regain a homeland and annihilate a dragon. Personally, I suspect a much more prosaic reason!" As he turned, Thorin looked him straight in the eye without any fear.
"Attempted theft or something of that nature. You have found a way in. You seek what would bring the right to reign over you, the jewel of the king. The Arkengemma!" The dwarf looked away trying to avoid that even the slightest sign of uncertainty could be caught in his gaze.
How did he know the intentions of the company?
Thorin grimaced as he felt the unpleasant feeling of bewilderment work its way through him.
He had to be cautious.
A conscious smile appeared on the elf's face "She is precious to you beyond anything. I understand this.
There are gems in the mountain that I too desire, white gems of pure starlight. I offer you my help!" Though Thranduil's heart was beating again he had decided to try to take back something that had been unjustly taken from him years ago.
Mindful of the Thingol affair, he was aware that he had to use great caution.
"I listen to you!" Thorin replied with a mocking smile.
He thought he was a fool! Poor dreamer!
"You will be free to continue, if you return what is mine!" The King's eyes were cold and piercing, but the dwarf didn't look away.
"By what right does the King of the Elves claim such a jewel? If it is in our rooms then it belongs to us and only a generous fee could make me think about a possible exchange!" Although in chains, Thorin would not let that elven fop corrupt him.
Thranduil remained impassive.
The dwarf was no different from his fellows. Greedy and merciless, they would not seal a pact even if it meant saving their fellow men.
The ruler, aware that he was in full control, spoke with open contempt "How dare you, a member of a nomadic race, demand something from me, Thranduil Oropherion, Lord of Mirkwood, whose life began in Beleriand now bathed by the great sea, countless years before the fathers of your stunted people awoke!" He growled perceiving the anger given by the attack a few months earlier, still deep and merciless. Thranduil closed his eyes, breathing heavily, forcing himself to calm down.
"I'll let you go. This is my payment!" He decided to explain to a mind too inept to understand.
"Let us go!?" Thorin screamed livid with rage "Is it a crime to get lost in the forest, to be hungry and thirsty, to be trapped by spiders?".
The Elven King did not seem at all disturbed by the tone used and this infuriated Thorin more than he already was.
"It is a crime to wander my realm without permission. Do you forget that you were in my kingdom, and that you used the road made by my people? You have excited the spiders with your noise, endangering my people!" He accused him by raising his chin haughtily.
"After all the hassle you have given I have the right to hold you back!" The King said, starting to walk again "I will keep you in prison until you give me a good reason to let you out!".
"You will have nothing from us or great King Thranduil!" Thorin shouted stubbornly.
The sovereign seemed amused by a reaction that should have offended him.
The dwarven prince could not have known that the one who had witnessed the downfall of Menegroth firsthand stood before him.
Aware that the dwarves reasoned in one and only way.
"You have lost the chance to reach your goal!" The King decided to close the conversation.
With a nod, the guards grabbed the prisoner again, dragging him to the dark cells where his stubbornness would fade over time.
"Stay here if you want and rot. A hundred years is but a blink of an eye in the life of an elf. I am patient. I can wait!" Thranduil greeted him, sitting comfortably on the throne.
That evening the royal chambers were empty when he arrived there.
As soon as Hanna entered, from his gaze, Thranduil realized that he had spoken to Aranel.
"I didn't think he remembered!" She too seemed troubled by that discovery.
She went to her rooms wanting to talk about the dwarves she had just captured, but meeting her daughter in tears made her forget that first goal.
"We elves have a good memory!" The sovereign replied as he removed the crown from his head, placing it delicately on the dresser.
"So...Legolas remembers his mother?" Hanna asked, having to give up on taking off that elaborate dress, accepting Thranduil's help.
"No. He was very attached to her but he was too small!" He replied while undoing the knots of the splendid dress "You never mentioned her. Who told you about it?" He asked when Hanna had taken off her dress, remaining only with the slip.
"Is it true that you will meet her again in Valinor?" She asked, avoiding having to answer, shifting her attention to the night gown.
"No!" Thranduil said peremptorily "Why are you asking me?" He asked as they pulled back the covers of the big bed "I'm not going there!" Finally he decided to say.
"How?" Hanna had just stretched out that she had to sit up again because of the surprise.
"I made a choice! I promised I would never abandon you!" He answered her as she put on her night gown. "But..." "I'm sure you will understand! He always had a big heart!" Thranduil interrupted, lying down beside her "Did they compare you to her?" He asked urging her to come closer.
He feared it would happen and he couldn't ignore it.
Hanna lay down in his arms, hesitating to answer "Tauriel...".
As expected, he felt his companion stiffen at the mention of that name "...she said I remember her!" She whispered feeling the impatience to know the answer grow quickly.
"A part of me will love her forever. But now, you are here next to me and I have chosen to open my heart to you!l Thranduil replied, holding her in a warm hug.
"She was energetic too, but she had other ways to keep up with me! I've never made comparisons and never will!" He said quietly "They are two different loves, but both strong and real!".
Thranduil turned his head slightly towards the door.
He thought he heard footsteps in the corridor, stealthy and light.
He smiled thinking when it was Legolas who sneaked out of the room to fetch something hidden in the kitchen, convinced he was going unnoticed.
For that time, he would give Aranel a free rein, feeling that Hanna needed him.
A shift in the air caused the guard who controlled the entrance to the royal rooms to turn around.
The corridor was dimly lit, but that did not prevent his prodigious sight from detecting any intruders.
He sighed in exasperation.
It would be a long time before the Princess could move around the palace unnoticed ... Bilbo started walking again as soon as he was certain the guard was no longer paying attention to him.
Hidden by the ring he had relied too much on the spell that made him invisible and had risked being discovered by the refined hearing of the elves.
He snorted in annoyance, knowing that rest had to wait. It was essential that he learn to orient himself if he wanted to have even the slightest chance of letting his friends escape.
And getting lost all the time wasn't a good start.
Moving slowly he decided to aim down.
His curiosity had been satisfied and now, he knew very well where they absolutely should not go!
Another morning of training had ended. Hanna was finishing getting ready after having dressed the children, fortunately Calien had arrived accompanied by other maids, aware of having to check that the Princes did not dirty the elegant clothes they had just worn and help her to wear a dress that was impossible to put on without help.
"Nana, where are we going?" Aranel's curiosity was unmatched and he always wanted to be in control of the situation, traits inherited from his father.
"In the throne room Lelig. We have to meet some guests for tonight's party, so make sure you behave yourself!" He said pointing to both girls who exchanged complicit glances.
Once they arrived at dedtination and respectfully greeted the sovereign, they remained at the base impatient to find out who these distinguished guests were.
Thranduil had been vague when he informed them of this necessary meeting.
The amusement imprinted in his eyes did not bode well!
The great doors opened, causing the girls to gasp, but it was just a hasty Galion.
"Lorien's elven delegation has come my lord!" The butler announced bowing, to retrace his steps when the King ordered him to let the guests in.
Hanna and Sara widened their eyes.
The first remembered well that Thranduil had been in correspondence with Lorien's cousin Celeborn but had been very vague in answering his questions about the kingdom he would have liked to visit.
When the doors reopened a group of fully armed elves made his entrance and the girls gasped staring at the elf who preceded everyone: Haldir!
Lorien's captain bowed low before the King's throne "I pay my respects to the King of Mirkwood!" as soon as he raised his head, he continued "It is a joyful day, when a noble elf like you reappears bringing hope in this bloody war!" He said in a firm voice, yet his eyes fully expressed his feelings, confirming those words.
"My lord regrets that he was unable to attend Mereth-en-Gilith. Meeting you in person is an honor that I accepted with joy!" Haldir eyed the ruler, noting how much he hadn't changed despite his long absence. "You are welcome. Your lord had already warned me of his absence. You will be able to inform him that what you have in front of you is not an illusion!" A smile was painted on Hanna's face, Thranduil never missed an opportunity to film someone.
She too had noticed the captain's surprised look.
The King's response was a sign that the surprise had been badly concealed and had bothered him.
"My lady did not appear surprised when news of your return reached us and for all of us it was a sign of hope. Not that our loved ones are alive, but that this evil can be defeated!" Haldir was able to extricate himself from unpleasant situations.
"We have more serious issues to discuss, but perhaps it would be better to wait until the morning. Tomorrow we will celebrate Mereth-en-Gilith. Galion will show you your accommodations!" The king concluded the meeting by indicating the butler with a wave of his hand.
Before retiring, Haldir only then noticed the two humans at the foot of the throne, wondering why he hadn't done so earlier.
The presence of the children only increased the questions, but having been dismissed, he followed the butler, hiding his amazement.
The party was surprising in Sara's eyes.
She still had to get used to the various elven traditions, though perhaps they would never cease to amaze her. He walked around the gardens admiring the various plants that grew there.
Although it was winter, the colors were numerous.
"Would you like something to drink my lady ?!" Audial asked, coming out from behind a bush.
"Very gladly thank you!" Sara accepted taking the goblet that the elf handed her.
"Have you thought about what I said?" He asked, proving very determined.
"Yes i did it!" Sara replied not really wanting to bring up that topic "Yet I still see myself as more suitable as a warrior than as a healer!" Sara said bitterly.
Modern human medicine and elven medicine were two completely different worlds between which she felt lost ...
"Ours is a different kind of battle!" Audial said wisely.
"So I feel unsuitable!" She insisted.
"I don't know the reason that brought us together, but I don't think it's a coincidence. Your knowledge could help us!" Sara called herself stupid.
At first she believed that he felt something for her, but the more he was together, the more she realized that he was only attracted to her acquaintances.
"Even on this I would have to complain!" Sara decided not to give up "Aren't you suspicious of how it is possible that I can know the human body so well ?!" She teased him.
"Not if that can help me save lives!" Audial replied admiring the tenacity that transpired from every word of that human.
"You always have the last word!" Sara laughed, not catching the elf's gaze.
"Forgive me but now I have to go find Hanna! The time has come to put the Princes to bed!" Sara decided to save herself, finding the perfect excuse.
"Don't you have a handmaid?" Audial asked, sounding displeased that he was in such a hurry to retire.
"We are not used to it and we will never neglect children just because we have such privileges!" Sara said walking away.
Audial was left alone in the garden, worried about what was right to do.
Ask the King for Sara's hand and end up forcing her to stay together, not sure she felt the same, or declare herself risking the wrath of the king and a possible refusal?!
Sara walked fast, with a thousand thoughts on her mind.
As usual, he bumped into someone and smiled at the thought that lately they only met in that way.
"I was looking for you..." the words died in her throat when looking up, she saw the blond hair, the blue eyes, but realized that it was not who she thought it was.
"See where you go human!" Sara raised her eyebrows in amazement.
The mannerisms of Lorien's captain reminded her a lot of Thranduil the first few times she had met him. The look of self-sufficiency was very similar.
"Well have you lost the ability to speak?" With that question, Haldir took her away from her thoughts.
"I never forget a face but in your case I would be happy to make an exception!" Sara said wondering why that elf reminded her so much of the Legate Claudius Glaber.
"A real lady doesn't respond in kind!" He scolded her, making her blush.
"If I had answered you in kind, you would have known!" Sara managed to recover enough to fight back.
"I don't have time to play with the girls, I have a meeting to attend!" He said walking away from her.
Sara crossed her arms over her chest.
Only Crisso had always been able to get on her nerves so much "For an elf I may be a child, but among my fellow men I am a grown woman!" She declared tired of how the elves treated her "Don't disrespect me anymore, you were the first to be rude!" She took it back before turning and leaving, satisfied with having had the last word.
"Aranel, let's go back! If the guards find us Ada will be very angry!" Lucilla called her, looking around scared. That morning Aranel had woken her up very early to make her participate in a discovery.
This had thrilled her, until she discovered that they had to go to prisons.
The dungeons frightened her.
"If you are afraid, you come back! Didn't you want to see the dwarves?" Aranel asked her trying to encourage her.
Lucilla nodded.
Fear, overcome by curiosity.
"Then follow me!" Her sister said taking her by the hand.
"Are you sure? The last time you went out you got lost!" remembered Lucilla who only realized in the evening that her friend had disappeared.
"But this time I know where they are!" Aranel replied, pausing for a moment to make sure they didn't cross the guards.
"How can you be so sure?!" Lucilla whispered not believing her.
"Because I've already seen them!" Aranel said starting to walk again.
Lucilla objected when her sister pulled her by the sleeve, dragging her to the opposite side of the road taken by the crossroads in front of which they had found themselves.
"Why do you..." a hand over her mouth prevented her from ending her protest and her eyes widened when she saw four guards come up ignoring their presence.
They continued on that path as soon as the Princess realized that other elves were heading towards them. The catch lasted a few minutes and in the end Aranel gave up to cut through the cellars, but voices caught his attention halfway.
They were far from the patrolling guards and the tone was too deep to belong to the elves.
"Who is talking? We got lost right?!" Lucilla asked as curious as her sister.
"They are the dwarves!" She realized Aranel glad that despite the change of direction, she had managed to find them anyway.
As soon as they reached the cells they stopped abruptly finding themselves in front of a dwarf who had managed to get out.
The surprise increased when they saw that he was not alone in being free.
One in particular caught their attention.
The girls stared at each other and looked at him dazed.
That was a very strange dwarf.
A simple detail made him different: he didn't have a beard!
Yet he was as short as the dwarves!
The intruder returned the surprised look, interrupting what he was doing.
Aranel saw that he was freeing the prisoners. But who was he?!
A friend of his father's since he had the keys ...? !
Bilbo felt infected by the euphoria of his companions as he opened all the cells.
The start of a dwarf made him look up and he was stunned to see two little girls staring at him with equal curiosity.
Perhaps they were attracted to him because he was different from the dwarves.
A presentiment made him take a step forward feeling compelled to convince them to leave "Go back to your parents!".
"I am a princess, you cannot give me orders!" Aranel replied "Was it my dad who gave you the keys?" She asked making the two turn towards her.
"Your dad?" Bilbo asked confused looking at Thorin finally free who had a look on his face that he could not decipher.
"Yes, our Ada is the King! He doesn't like dwarves!" Lucilla said and Aranel pointed to Thorin with a finger, accusing him "And you are rude too!" Remembering when that dwarf had yelled at her father and she had watched by staying hidden eavesdropping.
"Where do you think you're going?" The dwarf growled as he saw her head for the stairs.
"I'm going back to my Ada! So he will punish you!" Aranel replied before feeling grabbed badly.
Bilbo got in the way, but only managed to free the child clearly of the human race, urging her to leave.
"Run away, quick!" This was enough to make the little girl disappear at the top of the stairs.
"Leave me! Las..." Thorin covered the elf's mouth with one hand and snatched the keys from the hands of a distraught hobbit.
"What are you doing?" He asked in horror.
But the friend firmly grabbed the little girl, preventing him from even groped to free her.
"What are you doing? Now that little girl will warn the elves! You shouldn't have let her go!" Thorin scolded him, keeping a firm grip on the baby.
"They are just little girls! Let her go!" Bilbo said trying again to free the little girl from his friend's grip, without success.
Many protests arose from the dwarves and a few bites from the child, but they were not enough to make the Prince give up.
Bilbo led them to the cellars and sighed in relief at the sight of elves, which turned to bitterness when he realized they were sound asleep.
"Thorin will sentence us to certain death if you don't let her go!" Hissed Dwalin trying in vain to stir the conscience of his friend.
"On the contrary, I got the key to get out of the kingdom!" Thorin grinned as he pushed him into a barrel with one shoulder.
Aranel got agitated preventing him from entering and the dwarf lost his patience "Stop crying and fidget if you don't want me to give you a good reason to do it!" He growled grabbing her wrist and squeezing it hard enough to make her cry in pain.
With that threat, the little girl became even more agitated forcing him to cover her mouth with one hand, lift her weight and push her inside with force before he too enters it.
"Now …...now what do we do?" Gloin asked uncertainly.
Bilbo stood still, giving Thorin a hard look.
"What are you waiting for !? We trusted you, now get us out!" The dwarf took it from his barrel.
"Let go of the baby and I'll get you out!" Bilbo imposed himself by deciding to try one last time.
"Now stop!" Thorin growled putting a hand on the girl's neck.
"Let us out or I'll kill her!" He threatened, startling all members of the company.
"What are you doing?!" Balin yelled in horror.
"He left me no choice!" Thorin justified himself by pointing an accusatory finger at the hobbit.
"In life you always have a choice! But sometimes it's easier to believe it's not there!" Balin said furious at the behavior of what he had always thought, to be a good King.
"Because of the elves I have seen many innocent people die! The fault lies with their King who turned his back on us, ignoring our suffering!l Thorin remembered feeling an overwhelming anger build up inside him.
"But she has nothing to do with it! It was Legolas..." "I don't care! I'll take back the mountain and the elves won't be able to stop me!" Throin hissed interrupting Dwalin "Thanks to her we can get out of the kingdom and prevent them from attacking us until the purpose is achieved!" He said looking at the little girl as if she were a precious stone to be exchanged.
"So you're going to free her?!" Bilbo felt a little hope ignite within him.
"It depends..." Thorin said, after a long moment of silence, grimacing.
"Promise me you'll free her!" The Hobbit insisted.
"I promise!" But Bilbo no longer trusted Thorin.
This wasn't the dwarf he'd left the county with.
The closer they got to the mountain, the more it had begun to change and the kidnapping of an innocent was the confirmation of his worst fears.
Bilbo promised himself that he would do everything possible to bring the Princess back home.
After that he pulled the lever. They fell into the water and everyone screamed, no one excluded!
"For Durin Thorin's beard! Let that innocent child go!" Bofur screamed in anguish as he saw how the little girl tried in vain to escape his grip.
"Are you taking it too?" He growled at the other.
"Yes, until you come back to reason!" The dwarf replied, horrified at such a petty action.
"This little girl will slow us down!" Balin hissed against that absurd idea, looking for a reason that would push his pupil to let her go.
He had studied and read a lot about that race and was aware of the elves' attachment to their children and the fury that would overwhelm them as soon as they realized what they had dared to do.
Apart from that, he found it a disgraceful deed and devoid of any honor to blame a defenseless young man in order to achieve their goal.
"You are wrong!" Thorin said with a smirk on his face "The elves won't touch us if they wish me to live!" She recognized by tightening her grip on the little girl's mouth to keep her from screaming and attracting unwanted attention.
Thorin ignored everyone's opinions, starting to paddle with one arm towards the exit.
Several times they tried to steal the child from their Prince but she was afraid of them too and with Thorin holding her firmly by the arm, it proved impossible.
Just outside the walls the waters became agitated throwing them from one side of the barrel to the other, the cry of the little girl overwhelmed the sound of the water.
The sound of an elven horn anticipated the sighting of the border where the river was controlled by a group of elves.
The gate was closed not interrupting the flow of water but blocking the company.
The elves drew their swords recognizing Princess Aranel and one of them started to lean towards the barrels to remove her from Thorin's clutches, but a Morgul arrow struck him in the back causing him to fall dead into the stream.
About thirty orcs suddenly attacked and Kili took advantage of the momentary distraction to climb the wide steps that separated him from the lever that would allow them to escape.
He was hit by an arrow in the leg just as he was about to lower the lever and death would have been immediate if the orc that pounced on such an easy prey had not been killed by an elven arrow.
Numerous elves came to help, but too focused on those unclean creatures did not have time to stop the young dwarf from opening the passage to his companions who fell into the next rapids.
"Legolas!" Feren's anguished scream forced the Prince to carefully observe the group of fugitives and he felt the blood freeze in his veins as his gaze met that of his little sister.
As soon as Aranel saw him he stretched out his hands towards him, shouting desperately "Muindor! Muindor tua amin!" (Big brother! Big brother help me!).
Legolas was surprised at himself when he jumped into the river and on the heads of many dwarves with the sole intent of pulling his sister out of the river, but as soon as Thorin approached her he hid her behind him and waved an ax stolen from an orc.
The Prince returned to the shore empty-handed but filled with anger.
The dwarves would have paid!
Only one orc was brought to the palace and after a brief interrogation he reached his fellow men slain by the elves as a warning to any beast that dared to cross their borders.
"I hate dwarves! They are really rude, no doubt about it!" Hanna commented as she stirred the sugar into the tea she had just taken.
That morning the dwarves' flight had thrown them out of bed.
And unlike usual she had decided to follow the King and stay close to him in order to check the situation and see if the events would unfold as she knew them.
For the moment she was not disappointed or surprised!
"Ada!" Legolas whispered, as soon as he arrived, not finding an easy way to say it. It didn't exist!
"May the doors remain closed!" Thranduil said rising from the throne and starting to descend.
Hanna greeted him at the base, handing him a glass of wine and starting to drink his.
"The dwarves have taken Aranel!" Legolas said in one breath.
Hanna, with a loud raspberry, spat the entire contents of the glass on the ground and coughing vigorously, looked at the young man as if he had just said that Mars also existed in Middle-earth.
"What did you say?" The stunned sovereign asked.
"I saw Thorin in the river! He had Aranel with him, he used her as a shield!" He recounted grieving at not being able to do anything.
"Galion!" Thranduil screamed livid with rage.
The butler stepped forward fearfully.
"May the army prepare to march immediately!" He ordered "My lord, it is mandatory..." "As soon as possible!" Thundered the King before leaving the room like a fury followed by his wife who had not been able to articulate a single word.
Hanna was reliving like a dejavù and as if she didn't want to resign herself she ran to her daughter's rooms, finding them empty.
Not content, she went to those of the twins, sighing with relief and taking Elanor in her arms as if to make sure she didn't have a mirage.
But a further question increased the anguish: where was Lucilla?!
She and her sister were inseparable!
Why hadn't Legolas mentioned her when he talked about the dwarves?!
Calien smiled and went out unconsciously avoiding the hurricane that would soon hit.
"Oh, oh. Mum missed someone a lot!" Sara joked, but her smile faded as she saw Thranduil enter with equal excitement with a weeping Lucilla in her arms.
"The guards found her. She hid near the dungeons!" He explained.
Hanna was unable to articulate a word and just took the baby from her father's arms, hugging her, gently stroking her back trying to stop the sobbing that made the baby jump.
"Who was there with Aranel and Lucilla?" Asked the furious ruler.
Sara looked at him confused, was he there?
"Me, but they were playing and I took the opportunity to check the twins! Calien went to get them to take them to school!" She answered uncertainly.
Often the sisters played alone in the room, there was no problem with the guards running around the building and they had always been very obedient, staying in their own room all the time.
"Can you explain to me what is happening?" She asked clearly feeling the tension increase with each second.
"It happens that Richard Armitage is officially on my blacklist!" Hanna screamed as she left, with a sleeping Lucilla in her arms, taking care to slam the door as hard as possible.
"The dwarves took Aranel on the run!" Thranduil explained before heading to his rooms to put on his armor.
Sara was extremely quick and coordinated in calling a handmaid for the children, ordering two guards to guard the door and not getting lost heading to her room intending to remedy the disaster she had partly created!
Obedient or not Aranel and Lucilla were still little girls and it had been irresponsible to leave them alone in a room knowing full well that the company of dwarves would soon escape!
Aegnor galloped fast.
The horse was energetic, feeling that he could finally let off steam as he was no longer confined to a small stable. Yet his master's anger made him stiffen.
He felt the urgency coming from his own rider not understanding if he wanted to go faster or if it didn't depend on him.
He braked abruptly and rears up due to the surprise and lack of delicacy used by the elf.
An unnatural silence had descended in the forest and apart from a few orc bodies they encountered along the way, the banks of the river did not seem to have been the site of the deadly confrontation that took place shortly before between elves, dwarves and orcs.
Thranduil, for once, had to agree with the girls, he was experiencing a déjà vu.
He remembered well the Romans retreating at breakneck speed with Aranel.
And the exact same fury felt in being deprived of one of the most precious treasures he possessed.
His birth had brought hope, as well as spurring them to fight for freedom, but especially for his future.
And if she believed there was no worse shame, now a dwarf had dared to kidnap her.
Aranel, the Princess of Mirkwood, had been used as a shield to facilitate the escape of beings who had the nerve to proclaim themselves brave, faithful and who knows what other pretentious adjectives they used to use to strut.
Thranduil remembered well.
He remembered everything.
He had seen Menegroth fall by the hand of that race which had too easily made itself the master of the worst heinous and merciless deeds.
They were just a treacherous, shrewd, and lousy mass to keep away from.
And with their foolishness and greed they would awaken the dragon, bringing fire and death upon them all!
Giving legs, he urged Aegnor to go back. He completely ignored the royal guard who crossed halfway, they had to arm themselves for war.
He couldn't stop the dwarves from awakening the beast, their advantage was considerable, but he would save his daughter.
Even at the cost of living!
"But do you feel when you speak ?!" Sara couldn't believe her ears.
"Can you hear me when I speak?" Hanna turned the question around.
"Listen, it used to be completely different!" Sara began to speak as she paced the room like a fury.
"On this I agree!" Hanna said remaining comfortably seated on the rich embroidered armchair as if the argument was deciding what kind of service to use at dinner.
"You reacted differently!" Sara remembered waving the index finger of her right hand in the air.
"I recognize him!" Her friend's composure only increased her mood.
"And now you have such a position that you cannot afford to do nonsense!" She tried to make her think. "Nonsense?! Are you kidding me!?" With little success unfortunately.
"Talk with him. It's already moving!" tried Sara again.
"Not fast enough!" Hanna didn't understand why Sara hesitated so much.
She had never bothered to take part in dangerous expeditions.
"What do You know? You know nothing of what he intends to do!" The friend stressed.
"Whatever you decide, timing is of the essence!" Hanna replied remembering that the first time, Aranel had returned safe and sound only because Thranduil had acted, instead of letting fear and despair take over.
"Yes, but acting behind his back will only bring dire consequences!" Sara declared exasperated.
"It's true, you're right about that!" He had to recognize Hanna.
"Thank you!" Sara said, happy that her friend had understood the reasons behind her hesitation.
"But I ask you to support me anyway!" The verses that Sara made, bringing both hands clenched into fists on her forehead, clearly expressed the frustration felt in front of a stubbornness against which she had slammed several times.
"Okay...okay!" Sara yielded, lowering her arms "Let's start...we have to give them an alternative..." she said crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'm not following you!" found himself admitting Hanna.
"Do you think he will not notice our absence!? Are you convinced that Calien agrees to lie in order to cover us ?!" Hanna cursed herself for not thinking about such important things.
"She is the only one who could do it. Luthien is too old, too faithful!" She reasoned aloud.
"Ancient!" Sara corrected her.
"Do not change topic!" Hanna snarled as she couldn't stand her mania for correcting people anymore. "Well, then go convince her! I'm getting ready to leave..." Hanna smiled, preparing to finalize the preparations for their secret mission "...following the King!" The statement made her stop.
"You..." she turned slowly, not understanding why Sara was doing it "….you never had the intention of helping me!" She said feeling for the first time being deceived by the one she considered to be a sister. "Betraying the King's trust ?!" Sara asked, looking at her as if she had lost her mind "Never!" She said furiously.
"We have always been accomplices!" reminded her of Hanna "Why do you abandon me in time of need?!" She cried out feeling he had to let off steam.
"Because fear makes you act like this! Don't think clearly!" Sara answered.
"But you are your own mistress!" The friend mocked her.
"Insulting me won't change my mind!" Sara said without giving in.
"Hanna...she welcomed us and treats us like queens! I...I don't feel like acting behind his back!" She had to recognize Sara feeling torn apart.
She didn't want to go against Thranduil, but if Hanna went out alone she was in great danger.
How could he not realize it?!
The first time she went out on patrol she had risked dying between the legs of a spider, and she was with twenty other elves!
Sara was aware of the risks that Hanna seemed unable to assess due to her apprehension for her daughter. "He did it with Spartacus!" Hanna was climbing the mirrors.
"And he found himself doing it alone!" Sara stiffened as she realized what she had said.
"So now you are punishing me for my past choices!" Hanna was furious.
Bad choice of words! Sara's conscience made itself felt harshly.
"Why are you distorting my words!?" Sara said trying to heal the damage.
"On the contrary, now I have clear ideas!" Hanna screamed in her face before stomping out of the room.
Once they landed on the shore Thorin had lost his grip on the child and she had run to climb a tree.
The dwarf was not quite as agile and after a couple of failed attempts he had decided to stay at the base insulting her in Khuzdul.
In the end, Bilbo had intervened in a much gentler manner.
"Please, my name is Bilbo Baggins, what's your name?" He asked trying to be welcoming. Unsuccessful as a deafening silence came in response.
"I want to make friends! Don't you want to find new friends?" He asked laughing as if to ease the tension. "He is bad and scares me!" Finally he got an answer.
Not that one hoped for, but it was a start.
"Yes, no...he's just...very angry, that's why it's scary!" Bilbo explained uncertainly.
"Even my Ada is very scary when he is angry!" Aranel said drawing general attention.
"Exactly! But it's actually good, right!" Bilbo decided to catch the ball on the fly.
"No, Ada is the best in the whole world!" The little girl corrected him.
"Good!" Said the Hobbit unsure how to answer "Do you want to go down so we look together for a safe place to wait for your dad?" The little girl looked at him but still looked unsure.
"I promise you we won't hurt you!" He added.
"He hurt me a lot!" Said the little girl pointing to Thorin who seemed to get more and more impatient.
"Yes, it's true! But…..he didn't know you're a Princess! Now that he knows he will behave well!" Balin came to his aid.
"But if I've told him so many times!" Aranel protested, sobbing.
"He didn't understand!" He tried to retrieve Bilbo "We were too busy fighting the orcs!" He justified it.
"My Ada doesn't like dwarves!" Aranel pointed out.
"I'm not a dwarf, but a hobbit!" Bilbo specified. Aranel came down as fast as a ripe apple, but landed gracefully on the ground.
"A county hobbit?" He asked happily.
Her mom had told her many stories about hobbits.
Bilbo was stunned to stare at her.
If he had known that that was enough to get her off, he would have said it right away!
"Exactly! I come from a respectable family and we usually offer guests hot tea accompanied by biscuits!" He boasted.
"Where am I?" Aranel asked clapping his hands with glee.
"What?" Bilbo asked confused "The cookies!" She answered looking for them.
"Oh well...no...I don't have them here with me!" He tried to explain, regretting not having been able to keep his mouth shut.
"But you said you give them to guests! And I'm a Princess!" She pointed out as if he hadn't repeated it enough.
Hanna abruptly stopped her brisk walk by pretending to be busy walking.
Despite everything, her position gave her enough freedom to go unnoticed most of the time.
The elves had got used to her and perhaps she could have succeeded in reaching the stables to run after the dwarves, preventing her daughter from coming face to face with a dragon.
Quick footsteps made her nervous and she had to force herself to stop to avoid the growing panic.
She could only hope they weren't guards!
Her eyes widened when she was nearly run over by a young man on the run.
"Kalos, what are you doing here?" She was amazed to believe that he was with the wizard or had left for some unknown destination.
The boy widened his eyes as soon as he saw her "I could ask you the same question!" He said hinting a small smile.
Hanna pulled him away from the guards who escorted him for a semblance of privacy.
"Your visit is very welcome, even if we weren't expecting you!" Hanna welcomed him.
"You certainly don't! Where are you going?" Kalos asked noting how she was dressed and the weapons she carried with her.
"A misfortune has happened..." she replied distraught.
As soon as he thought of his daughter he felt a tightening in his stomach and he tried to hope that she was well. May the Hobbit at least protect her!
"The King has thrown you out!" The horrified young wizard ventured.
"What nonsense are you saying...?!" Hanna asked, recovering her good mood thanks to the absurd assumptions of her friend "The dwarves have escaped...and they took Aranel to get an exit ticket!" She said darkening.
"But...if they needed it to get out...why didn't they release her once they reached their goal?!" Kalos wondered.
"I don't know if they would have done it...but both orcs and elves found themselves on them, I don't think they even thought about it. At this point I hope they have taken her with them, without abandoning her in the forest!" Hanna said as she started walking again.
"However they are dwarves. We should not be surprised by their way of acting and we should not waste useless time trying to understand them!" She felt compelled to add.
"Then I'll come with you!" stated Kalos as if he had made up his mind at that moment.
"Look, I don't think it's necessary! The dwarves are in pontelagolungo and I know some people who will be willing to help me!" He said thinking only and exclusively of Bard.
"When someone refuses help, it is the moment when they need it most..." "Radagast's company has influenced you from the beginning!" Hanna interrupted him with an elementary remark.
"Now it's my turn to make an observation: I thought Sara would also be by your side in this rescue!" He said looking around as if to make sure that the other was around.
"I just discovered that he respects a wooden crown more than friendship!" Hanna replied, masking her disappointment with anger.
"So the King doesn't agree?!" He deduced Kalos by unconsciously turning to the guards.
"He doesn't know anything! In these cases, the timing is decisive and I couldn't wait to be received to ask for a permit!" Hanna hoped Thranduil would understand.
Yes, once he got his daughter back he would forgive her.
"And how do you think you are doing with them?!" Kalos asked pointing to the two guards who escorted them, patiently waiting to be able to lead him in the presence of the sovereign.
"I'll handle that!" Hanna decided as she walked over to the guards.
"The magician and I have to go to the stables, escort us there, then you can take your leave!" She said trying to sound bossy.
"My lady, we have orders to escort the intruder in front of the King!" A guard replied, not hiding his annoyance.
"He is not an intruder, but a guest. Maybe I have to repeat myself!" Hanna couldn't take it anymore.
In the presence of the King, the guard would not have dared to be annoyed.
The guards exchanged glances before turning and heading for the stables.
Hanna had just reached Aegnor's stable, when the sound of hooves preceded the horse's entrance, not giving her time to realize that the stable was empty.
"Hanna, what are you doing here?" Thranduil's voice made itself heard strong and decisive.
Sara was more amazed at the stormy temper that shadowed Hanna's face, rather than seeing her return shortly after, an unmistakable sign that she had failed in her suicidal intentions.
Not that she minded! Hanna was furious at Thranduil's coldness towards her and how he had treated her. By sending her back to her own rooms as if she were her daughter!
"I have to recognize it. My plan was flawed!" Hanna said after a long moment of silence.
She sat on the bed with a sigh of pure defeat.
"Ok, for the record, this is the first time you ever agree with me. It's awful!" Sara observed.
"Sometimes, we have to do things we are not proud of!" Hanna said realizing that her friend was trying to cheer her up even though they had just had a bad fight.
"Yes, but...this cannot become a habit for us!" That sentence caught Hanna's attention and she was forced to look up. "Yes, I know!" She admitted sincerely.
"We have to make the decisions together. We are a team!" Hanna wondered if she was referring to the two of them or if she was considering the King of Darkwood a member of the club.
"I got carried away, I'm sorry!" Hanna apologized again.
"Forgiven!" Her friend reassured her.
"Then?" Hanna asked as if they had never argued.
"So..." Sara began "...if you had had the patience to wait ..." she said adoring how Hanna was waiting for the continuation of the sentence holding her breath "...you would have discovered that we are not in departure because the army is still preparing!" Sara concluded by making her friend's eyes widen in amazement.
"Army?! But how many do you need to run after the dwarves?!" Hanna complains, stunned, putting her hands on her head as if to pull her hair out.
"The army that will fight for the Princess!" Sara calmed her down "Will you agree with me that if what we know happens, it is better for us to be as numerous as possible?!" She tried to make her think.
"Right! Can you believe it had crossed my mind?!" Hanna lost the urge to laugh when she remembered the dragon sleeping in the mountain.
"I don't struggle to do it!" Sara smiled.
"I just want to free our daughter!" Her friend said that she was considering options that would allow her to remove her daughter from the impending carnage.
"The King is ready to declare war!" It revealed Sara, even though it was predictable.
"The dwarves will awaken the dragon!" Hanna decided to voice her worst fears.
"And the King wants to be sure not to go against certain death!" Sara said she was worried that her friend might commit other nonsense.
"Aranel cannot enter that mountain!" Hanna regretted.
"He will not! I don't think Bilbo would allow it!" Sara mentally recovered.
She didn't even believe in this remote possibility.
If he hadn't stopped Thorin earlier, why should he have done it now?!
"How can you be so sure?" Fortunately, Hanna's motherly anxiety did not allow her to see her friend's concern.
"We can only pray!" This time Sara told the truth "We need the army! Going into disarray won't help Aranel!".
"Since when did you get so wise?!" Asked Hanna who had decided to try not to lose her head.
There was nothing he could do for the moment.
It was tough, but waiting would allow her to have a clearer picture and think with a clear mind.
At least he hoped ...
"Is it the influence of the elves?" Sara wondered "However, there is something important you need to do!" She said relieved she hadn't forgotten.
"That is?" Hanna was curious.
Sara's tone foreshadowed something important.
"Convince the King to bring provisions for the inhabitants of Pontelagolungo!" Sara dispelled the doubts. "But we'll get there before the dragon's attack! I believe, I think, I hope!" Hanna corrected herself.
"If everything goes as we know tonight the lake will shine and since we know what is about to happen it would be unforgivable to ignore it!" Sara took it back.
"If Thorin takes my daughter to the mountain...if the dragon kills her..." Hanna felt the fear inside her grow stronger.
"Thranduil will not allow it! Trust him! He has always protected his children!" It reminded her of Sara.
"I have to find a way to be forgiven!" Hanna decided. He had acted behind him, even risking big.
In addition to regaining his trust, it was his duty to be forgiven.
"Yup. I would opt for chocolates..." Sara advised her "But Thranduil prefers wine!" Hanna interrupted, not understanding the reason for that suggestion.
"Look, I expect a thought that accompanies the apology!" Both girls burst out laughing.
A shadow alerted Kili busy dressing his wound who was quick to throw a stone at the intruder who, however, deflected with an arrow, Dwalin grabbed a stick in which another arrow stuck.
"Do it again...and you're dead!" The man threatened them.
With a quick nod from Thorin, the other dwarves crowded around the child, intending to cover her as long as they were within range.
His death would doom them too.
"Excuse me, are you from Pontelagolungo?" Balin asked as he approached with his hands raised in surrender.
"What makes you think I'll help you?" The man asked as he retrieved the barrels to load them onto his barge as soon as he realized they were unarmed.
"I suspect you have mouths to feed! We will pay you well!" Balin tried.
"Let's stop wasting time with useless chatter!" Dwalin protested impatiently.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" The stranger asked "Why are you interested?" He counterattacked the dwarf.
"I would like to know who you are!...and what are you doing in these lands with an elf?" The man asked noticing the little girl looking at him with a toothy smile.
"We are simple merchants of the blue mountains, traveling to see our relatives on the iron hills!" Balin explained, remembering only after the presence of too many.
"Simple merchants? Do you think I drink it? What's an elf doing with dwarves?l The man asked, not taking his eyes off the girl who hid behind the Hobbit.
"We need shelter, food and weapons. You can help us?" Thorin interjected.
"I know where these barrels come from. And I don't know what business you had with the elves, but I don't think it ended well!" The man replied.
"No one enters the city without the governor's permission! All his riches come from exchanges with the Wooded Realm, he would put you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil!" He continued as he seemed to be evaluating how to act.
As unusual as the little girl seemed to be at ease with dwarves ...
Bilbo motioned for Aranel to shut up, placing a finger in front of his mouth as he saw his gaze light up as he heard his father's name.
"Offer him more!" Thorin insisted to Balin.
"I bet there are other ways to enter unseen!" Said the dwarf.
"Sure, but for that...you need a smuggler!" The man reasoned aloud.
"For which we would pay...double!" Balin said stopping him to evaluate the deal well.
"Why is there an elf with you?" He asked how to get rid of that annoying doubt.
"She is the daughter of an acquaintance! He comes from a distant kingdom!" Thorin hastened to answer before anyone or the little girl herself answered.
"And why did the elves attack you despite his presence?" The man persisted.
"Because they are uncivilized among themselves too!" Thorin growled.
"May a light shine on the moment of our meeting, my name is Aranel, who are you human?" The little girl introduced herself.
"My name is Bard!" He replied returning the funny bow "Are they your friends?" He asked suspiciously. "Everyone except him!" Aranel replied pointing to Thorin himself, making the others laugh.
Relations with Legolas are still strained.
Hanna takes a stand, Sara is confused.
Aranel has always been lively despite her difficult early childhood years and I think she finds other ways to try to get noticed by her older brother.
The dwarves have been captured and I have changed something in the speech between Thorin and Thranduil as events unfolded differently than we knew them.
Haldir is an addition that I put on my own initiative. And the final twist is also my idea.
What will happen to Aranel ?!
The treasure Thranduil will claim is truly priceless!
Soon,
X-98