The fateful note read,
"Prince Legolas Thranduilion of the Woodland Realm,
You are receiving this note in place of your father and baby sister. Do not fret so, princeling. They are still alive, but for how much longer rests entirely on your shoulders. Turn about is fair play. Your father did wrong by us before, so now it is time for him to pay up.
We have something you want. And you have something we want! In exchange for your father, I want the white Gems of Lasgalen, hidden inside the Lonely Mountain! Yes, that's right. The very ones! Bring them to me, and you shall have your father back, as much as I would rather see him rot away here in the darkness underground, assassination of a king wouldn't look very good on my record while trying to establish my own settlement. The gems will be more than enough to recompense for all the humiliation your grand father has caused me! Bring them or I will personally kill him.
And what of the princess? Well, I'm afraid the white gems won't be enough to get her back. But have no fear, I have connections and know of someone who would pay a handsome price to own a pretty little lady like her in his mansion! She will want for nothing, if she falls into the hands of the right buyer. Or else I'm afraid she may suffer immensely! And I would hate to see that happen, wouldn't you?
I would being getting started right on if I were you! I truly wish you luck. I am eagerly awaiting your arrival. Trust me, you want to do this!
Lord Devlin, accompanied by Master Malcolm
P.S.
Oh, did I forget to mention? Two important things-
Your little family is somewhere deep inside the Misty Mountains, and
You have one week!"
Elrond as well as the others had seen Legolas read the note. He looked so sick. Legolas, normally so brave and collected under even the most trying of circumstances, trembled like a frightened elfling. "This cannot be happening." He gulped and began breathing heavily.
"Legolas," Elrond came to him, gripping his arm.
"We'll never make it! He says I only have a week. That is not nearly enough time!" Legolas panicked. "He's going to kill Ada if I don't meet his demands! And Alasse..." Legolas was on the stage of hyperventilating and nearly collapsed except that Elrond and Elrohir caught him first and held him up.
"Easy there, mellon." Elrohir told him, helping him to a bench to sit. "Breathe, Legolas. Just breathe." Elrond took the note from the shaking elf's wringing hands and read it. His face clouded over in disgust and he swore darkly.
"He's going to need our help." He said angrily. "This is of the most vulgar nature I have encountered in a very long time." He showed the letter to Erestor and the others. "Take Legolas to the house." Elrohir and Elladan helped their friend to his feet and made back for the Homely House.
Although Bilbo was very worried about his friends Fili and Kili, he was hopelessly drawn in by Rivendell's tranquil beauty. The very air was peace, and the endless songs of nature, of birds singing and waterfalls spilling was pure music. Surrounded by so much wonder, it nearly made him forget the dark reason they were even here, to inquire of Fili and Kili. Thorin, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than to fulfill their urgent errand and be on their way. The sooner they were out of this Elven realm, the better!
Gandalf looked around curiously for a friendly face. "Mithrandir!" Lindir exclaimed, hurrying down to him from the steps.
"Ahh, Lindir." Gandalf smiled. "It is good to see, lad."
"Mithrandir, what a great relief it is to see you!" Lindir gulped, not even noticing the dwarves.
"Relief?" Gandalf began to frown.
"The entire household is up in arms over a serious matter." Lindir replied.
"Indeed?" Gandalf creased his bushy brows, then glanced back at the suspicious looking dwarves. "Where is Lord Elrond? I must speak with him. I'm afraid it's rather urgent."
"You are not the only one to bear ill tidings, my friend." Lindir breathed in relief and led them up.
"I believe we shall remain out here in the courtyard, Gandalf." Thorin said.
"You will do no such thing." Gandalf glared at him.
"Matters of the elves be none of my concern." Thorin grumbled.
"But Fili and Kili are. And we must use every ounce of information we can find. Not to mention Lord Elrond is the only person within walking distance who is able to read the map of the Lonely Mountain!" Thorin rolled his eyes stubbornly.
"Come on." He relented to the others.
Gandalf marched quickly after Lindir who led him to the library. Many of the servants and guards stared at the dwarves but the little men ignored them. But poor Bilbo had to canter to keep up with everyone. "My lord Elrond! Look who is here!" Lindir announced when they reached the library. Elrond, his sons, and Erestor all turned.
"Gandalf!" Elrond hurried over to his friend. "We were not expecting you, but I am so glad you've come."
"Lord Elrond," Gandalf nodded, "Lindir told me there was some trouble about. Unfortunately, that is why we are here, as we've run into a spot of trouble ourselves."
"We?" Elrond cocked his head then saw the dwarves. They all glared at him except Balin who merely appeared wary. "Welcome, Thorin, Son of Thrain." Elrond greeted politely though he felt impatient about their serious mission being delayed.
"I do not believe we have met." Thorin replied dryly.
"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the mountain."
"Indeed. He made no mention of you." Thorin hissed. Elrond merely shrugged.
"What is this all about?" Gandalf asked. Then he noticed the young elf prince looking quite disturbed. "Legolas? Legolas Greenleaf, what brings you here?"
"Gandalf," Legolas looked at his old friend sadly, "we have been here on a holiday for a rest. My father has been captured by a group of hooligans who are holding him for ransom!"
Thorin's ears perked up at this. So, the grand Elven king had gotten himself into a scrape, huh? Well, served him right and good riddance! Well, the traitorous elf would have to weasel his way out of this one alone! However, Gandalf did not share in Thorin's gloating in the least.
"Ransom?" Gandalf frowned hard. "Who are these cowards?"
"I do not know." Legolas shook his head. "But he obviously knows my father, because he has asked the Gems of Lasgalen for his life! And he knows where they are hidden too."
"Inside Erebor, in the Lonely Mountain." Balin spoke up.
"Ai." Legolas bit his lip. "Gandalf, he says I only have a week to reach there and back or he will kill my father!" Legolas was so frantic and worried that he hardly noticed the dwarves.
Gandalf sighed in frustration. "Lord Elrond, this is grave news indeed. I am afraid we are here to inquire if you have spotted or heard of two young dwarves near here recently? A blonde and a dark one."
"Other dwarves?" Erestor echoed him. "We have heard or seen no dwarves besides the Company of Thorin Oakenshield."
"Ah, Thorin, this is addressed to you." Elrond stepped up and handed him the envelope. "We believe it is from the same people who took King Thranduil though I have not opened it. It was sent this morning by a stray arrow shot into our valley. It arrived with the note for the Elven king. I cannot imagine why someone would send it to us, unless they were expecting you to be here."
Thorin looked up at the elf lord confused, grabbed the note and tore it open. Dwalin and Balin stood next to him, reading it. The others stood behind their leader trying to make out the words. Thorin's face morphed from worried to angry to fearful mixed with rage. "What is it, Thorin?" Gandalf asked.
"Fili and Kili, they have also been kidnapped and are being held against their will for a price." Thorin said dismally.
"In exchange for their return, these badduns are demanding the Arkenstone." Balin shook his head.
"The Arkenstone?" Gandalf, Elrond, Erestor, and Legolas all sputtered. "Thievin' wretch!" Gandalf growled. "Who does he think he is, as if he were personally entitled to the kings' most precious jewels?!"
"It says that we only have a week to reach the mountain and return!" Oin exclaimed.
"We'll not be handing over the Arkenstone to no good thieves." Dwalin snarled.
"Not even for our own kin? Brother, it is Fili and Kili whose lives are at stake!" Balin reminded him sharply.
"Also says they are somewhere deep in the Misty Mountains." Gloin pointed out.
"Which means inside the mountains." Dori added.
Thorin was at a loss for words. He loved Fili and Kili dearly. He would die for them in a heartbeat! But such a price, the Arkenstone? Even if Thorin agreed to this to get his nephews back, they could not possibly make the deadline on time! "This is impossible." Thorin muttered sadly. "There is no way we can make it." At those hopeless words, Legolas began to shed tears again. He felt so absolutely helpless. He was going to lose his family for sure!
"Now, now, Legolas, do not give up." Gandalf told him.
"Oh, Gandalf!" Legolas cried. "You do not understand! They also have Alasse!"
"Your baby sister?" Gandalf gasped. That explains why the little elfling did not rush up to see me! The dwarves and Bilbo all gaped up at those words, wide-eyed.
"Wait!" Thorin huffed, straightening up. "You telling me that these scum-eaters have abducted a child as well?"
"Yes, Thorin Oakenshield. She's my little sister. She's so small, she can't defend herself. If they hurt her...They already said I will not see her again. Gandalf, they are taking her away, to be sold as a slave!" Legolas choked. There were tears in his eyes. Gandalf looked to Elrond in dismay who nodded grimly.
"Well, what are we standing around here for then?" Bilbo spoke up. "There is no time to lose! We must away now!"
"But we do not know exactly where they are being held, Master Baggins." Balin said. Legolas cleared his throat, trying to brave it out. But he didn't know what to do.
"Courage, my dear boy. We'll get her, and your father, and Fili and Kili back." Gandalf spoke soothingly. "Somehow."
"At your service, elfling prince." Balin bowed, stepping forward, astonishing his friends...except one.
Legolas blinked in disbelief. "You...you would do that for us? You would help?" Legolas gaped.
"They have two of our own, Wood Elf. We do not turn back on family." Thorin said sternly, his predatory gaze boring into the prince, very much like Thranduil's when he was seriously displeased. "I may not care much for elves, they're a haughty lot."
"Here now! I object. What about us?" Elrohir interjected. Thorin ignored him and continued.
"And I have the most unfavorable opinion of that father of yours, after what he did to my people." Thorin said emphatically. Legolas winced, biting his cheek."But...we dwarves have our honor to uphold. We shall help you get them back, along with my nephews."
"You will?" Legolas sputtered skeptically. "Why would you do that?"
"As much as I despise King Thranduil, I will not be accused of doing the same thing he did." Thorin said firmly. "I may hate him, but I will not turn my back on someone in need as he did.
And, greedy and selfish you may all label us, but...we do not approve any b-s that would dare to raise their hands against a child!" Legolas stood there, speechless, and hardly able to breathe. Gandalf merely smiled at him.
For the longest time, Legolas had been raised to despise dwarves. And he certainly didn't appreciate hearing those less than favorable words regarding his dad. But, now here was Legolas, in a similar position as Thorin and the people of Dale had been all those years ago, backed up against the wall and nearly helpless without assistance. The dwarves knew the mountains well-the caves really-, and had more experience exploring them, while the elves spent their excursions in forests. If Legolas did not accept their help, he might never find his father or his sister! He needed them! And although they had previously viewed each other as adversaries, here was Thorin Oakenshield, freely offering his service, something Legolas had never seen coming! And with the position his family was in, the elf prince started to feel that maybe he could sympathize with Thorin's bitterness over the desolation of his kin by Smaug.
Thranduil had been trying to protect his men, a personal victim of dragon fire himself. But, he'd also had an arrogant motive too when he'd turned his back on the dwarves, leaving them to a fiery fate. He'd warned Thrain what his greed would do, but the insane dwarf king would not listen to reason. So, when Thranduil had arrived and seen the people fleeing for their lives from the dragon's wrath, and begging him to save them, Thranduil had decided to let them stew in their own juice. After all, they deserved it. The king wouldn't heed his words, why should he risk his neck for them? And so, he didn't. The rest was history.
However, Legolas now found himself in the same shoes Thorin had been and he could not do this alone! As sour as it was to swallow, Thorin was doing now the exact opposite of what Thranduil had done. And without a blade being held to his throat! The elf prince was deeply moved. Legolas swallowed to find his voice. "Th-thank you."
"Don't thank us yet, Blondie." Dwalin growled.
"Perhaps...perhaps we've misjudged you...for a very long time." Legolas sighed. Balin spoke up first.
"We all make mistakes, Laddie." He smiled warmly. "But that is not what matters now."
"Balin is right." Gandalf added. "Lord Elrond, do you have any inkling as to pinpoint exactly where our captive friends may be located?"
So maybe Legolas was a little too easily swayed to put aside his prejudice, not like in the movie. But this isn't the movie, and I really wanted him to be a bit more open-minded than Thranduil, especially where his little sister is concerned. And right now, maybe Thorin is being selfish with his motives for doing this, just to show up Thranduil, but every word he said was true: he won't turn his back on a child or someone in need no matter how much he despises them-as demonstrated on the film when they were riding the barrels and he saved Legolas when he didn't have to-!
How is this going to go down? Will they save them? Or will they be too late?
