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The dwarfs gathered around the gate to Erebor watching as the people of Laketown made their way down the path from the city of Dale to the gate of the dwarf kingdom in the early morning. The air smelled of sweet dew and the sun was just starting to raise. Thorin felt a bit like an aged bitter dwarf aunt for making the children get up so early to move with their parents to the safety of Erebor. It was really for the best though and the king under the mountain was going to protect the people of Laketown as he promised Bard he would.
Bilbo couldn't stop smiling at the people marching toward Erebor for sanctuary. He was a part of history and Thorin was letting him in on such an important moment. The hobbit was glad they spent the dawn hours cleaning out rooms further in the kingdom for the people of Laketown. They hoped to have Thorin's cousin from the Lonely Mountain help secure the mountain more before the Orki arrived. The rest of the dwarfs were in the mountain looking for any other ways aside from the one they entered that they Orki could try to use to penetrate the mountains defenses.
Bard looked at the gate entrance to the dwarf kingdom in awe. Even though it was cracked and broken in a lot of places you could still make out the complicated design curved into the stone. Bard couldn't help but admire the hard work and artistry that went into craving the symbols that adorn it. The mountain air was crisp but warm as the people of Lake Town were shown were they would be staying while the battle rage. Some people were still weary of the ghost of the dragon Smaug even though rational they had all witness the death of the last great dragon in middle earth. The people however had faith in their leader, sure of Bard's judgement and the character of Thorin.
The winds were calm as night fell upon Erebor the people of Lake Town asleep with full stomachs and secure dreams. Bard and Thorin taken the quite hours of the night to hold consul with those most important present. The warmth of the fire in the small meeting room kept the men and women warm from the chill of the mountain. Thorin spoke in hush whispers with a forlorn Kili before he turned to address the room.
"Kili has just informed me that Azog army of orcs have been spotted a day away from the mountain." Thorin states.
The consul is murmurs in fear and anticipation. They aren't fully ready to deal with an orc army. Bard face is a blank slate that Bilbo cannot read. The uneasy of the consul is stopped abruptly as Fili and Kili run back into the room the sound of horns following them.
"Elves…." Kili breathed out.
"Elves on the horizon." Fili adds.
The dwarfs and humans in the room rejoice as the all quickly run to the front gate. The picture the elves make takes their collective breathes away. In the backdrop of the dark night the moon stands out big, bright, and pale white illuminating the elves in an ethereal glow. Rows and rows of them in perfect symmetry lined up at the front gate of Erebor. Thranduil trotted in front on his white elk perfectly cold and regal. His face betrayed nothing of the fire burning in his gut towards the dwarf king.
Thorin resisted the urge to pinch the brim of his noise to keep the oncoming headache at bay. The last thing he needed was grudge holding elves, even if it was his family's fault they held a grudge in the first place. Thorin sighed, somedays he wondered why he got out of bed at all.
"Let the Elven King in, he commanded, we have much to talk about."
Thranduil face was a perfect mask of indifference as he trotted into Erebor on his majestic elk his troops in perfect symmetry behind him. Bilbo eyes widened in surprise at the smooth formation of the elven warriors. The hobbit bugler swallowed a lump of nervous that had built up in his throat. He shared a look with Thorin hoping to the Valar that the Elven king didn't remember his face.
Legolas eyebrows raise in amusement as Tauriel tried to downplay the fact she was searching for the 'pretty' dwarf. Tauriel did her best to ignore her friend and bother in arms as the relief washed over her. The dwarf was alright running about helping so his injuries weren't as serious as they'd been. It seemed odd to both young elves that the proud dwarf king would let them in his home without fuss. The unspoken agreement between Tauriel and Legolas went through a small glance communicating that would keep an eye out for any deception.
Thorin would have found the situation humorous if he didn't have orcs to worry about on the horizon. The Elven King in all his armored finery and his unnaturally large brown elk all making for a dramatic entrance. The fierce need to throw an insult weighed heavily on his tongue. One hard glare from Bilbo had him swallowing into down. Now was not the time to antagonize the elves. Thorin would have to begrudgingly get help from them if he could get the stubborn Elf King to meet him halfway.
"Legolas, Tauriel stay sharp I will convene with the dwarf king alone."
Thorin counted backward in his head from hundred as he leads Thranduil to a private room. Bilbo and Bard would be a part of the discussion. Mostly Bilbo new to be a buffer even though Bard had a part in this too both hobbit and man knew that without them there it would turn into a brawl that would benefit no one. Thorin handed Bilbo and Bard a drink offering one to Thranduil who declined.
"It would seem that I may have been a bit presumptuous in my opinion of you, Thranduil says breaking the silence, you are doing things your forefathers would not have had the clear mind to do."
Bilbo baffled look was highly amusing to Thorin who covered the laugh that escape him with a cough. It was about as close as the Elven King would get to an apology or a complement, Thorin wasn't about to question it. Bard looked solemn and lost though Thorin felt this to be an act. Under that sour expression laid a keen mind that the Dwarf King was sure of.
"Your words are most welcomed, Thorin says humbled taking great pleasure in the flicker of puzzled surprise of Thranduil's face two can play the civil monarch game, I wish to make an alliance of sorts like that of the days of old between man, dwarf, and elf. The dark forces are coming and I fear I may need all the help I can get."
Bard placed his cup down on the small round table in the middle of the room.
"My people have lost their home because of your need to reclaim the mountain, Bard states looking at Thorin, I am angry at being deceived but I am also grateful for your help as far as my people are concerned. We will fight if we have to but I warn you many of the able body men have no skill with a sword."
Thranduil looks at Bard like he just realized the man was there and was something new and interesting. Thorin ignores the look feeling guilty about the deaths that he and his kin cause from awaking the dragon.
"Sir Bard I most humble apologize for our deception, Thorin replies, when all is said and done I will personal help you bury your dead and rebuilt for the oncoming winter."
Bard looks satisfied with the answer and Bilbo eye's shine with pride. Thorin is really trying to make up for his grandfather folly. Thorin left the room for two minute the soft sound of dwarf language following through the opening in the door. When he came back he carried a box of familiar nature. Thranduil eyes were like that of a hawk following the movement of the box.
Clearing his throat Thorin looked Thranduil straight in the eye.
"I always felt like my grandfather did you a great wrong keeping this from you, he opened the box as Bilbo and Bard gasped at the beauty of the diamonds, I won't claim to know the reasons for why this is so important but I do know the face of loss when I see it. So in good faith Thranduil son of Oropher King of the Greenwood realm I give you your necklace back in good faith."
Thranduil face was a blank mask but Bard new how to read eyes and the kings eyes shined with a multitude of emotions; sadness, grief anger, and relief. As if the box was made from fine glass the Dwarf King past it to the Elven King. Bilbo sniffed using a hanky to wipe his wet eye's he knew this was a big deal for Thorin and it gave the Elven King a great advantage should he not want to help. With the necklace returned to the king the elf had no real need to help. Minutes past in silence as Thranduil traced the necklace with his eyes before the box disappear in his robes.
"Thorin Oakenshield son of Thror grandson of Thor the late King Under the Mountain I own you a great debt for fixing the wrongs of your grandfather, he says, if the orcs are truly coming then this affects us all and the old wizards who I am sure has a hand in this is nor where to be seen. It is high time those scum of Mordor be reminded of the might of an alliance between men, elf, and dwarf."
Thorin shared a nasty grin with Thranduil making both Bilbo and Bard felt slightly uncomfortable. It didn't escape Bilbo that the Elven King held no love for Gandalf and he wonder why that was. In a rare show of foot-in-mouth syndrome Bilbo would later blame on spending a year with the dwarf on he speaks what's been on his mind.
"Um…excuse me but what off Gandalf then, he asks looking at the others in the room, he's a good wizards and friend he wouldn't leave us to rot."
Thranduil rolls his eye giving Bard an exasperated look that has the man puzzled. Bard know nothing but rumors of the Grey wizards and thus he had no opinion of the man either way. Someone like Thranduil however had lived many centuries and would have come across his enough to know of his character.
"Aren't you the same Halfling that broke the dwarfs out of my prison, Thranduil asks his stare heavy on the hobbit, it matter not, he waves off Bilbo's look of horror looking back at Thorin, I know of Mitherander and his meddling. The wizards has no doubt disappeared when you needed him most. Leaving cryptic messages in his wake. I would bet he is using you as a means to an end."
Bilbo looked scandalized and Thorin didn't even seem surprised. He knew when the wizards had approach him almost a year ago something was amiss. The darkness was growing and the need to reclaimed Erebor seemed vitally important to the old wizard.
"I had an inkling that was the case, Thorin states, it however changes nothing. We have reclaimed the mountain. Word had already spread and my cousin from the Iron Hills and orcs are on their way to fit a battle of epic proportions."
Bard frowned and Bilbo glared at Thranduil who ignored it.
"We will do what we have to, Bard says, to protect ourselves."
Gandalf pushes his horse faster he need to get to the dwarfs and Bilbo as soon as possible. His horse swiftly going through the empty ruins of Dale. The wizards paused a moment too looked around. Sensing that the dwarfs would be in the mountain he didn't linger in the city. He stopped some ways away from the gate.
"Oh look Kili it the wizards who left us to the tender mercy of a dragon."
"Aye Fili I think you might be right."
Gandalf frowned at them.
"I have no time for you games you foolish dwarfs I need to speak to your uncle so let me in and be quick about it."
Kili and Fili huff opening the gate way as Gandalf disappearance into the mountain.
"So demanding for someone who left us on our own for four months."
Fili snickered.
End Note: I didn't remember the name of Thorin's grandfather so I just kept with the theme. On a side note yes I did call Gandalf on his cryptic the 'dwarfs are my diversion' bull poop.