Chapter 10
Night had fallen when the host of elves and men reached the ruins of Dale. Tents were pitched, torches were lit and camp was set up in Dale. Elves and men alike were weary and went quickly to sleep after dining, setting sentries about the camp.
The next morning, Brethilorn and Legolas led a small host of elves and men to Erebor. They scrambled up through the rock, up to the mountain's front gates, only to find that it was blocked by a stone wall and a pool of dammed water.
"Are they still alive in there?" asked Brethilorn quietly to his brother.
Before Legolas could answer, a loud dwarven voice called out from behind the wall.
"Who are you that come as if in war to the gates of Thorin son of Thrain, King under the Mountain, and what do you desire?"
Legolas rolled his eyes at the dwarf's call, murmuring to his older brother, "There's your answer. They are apparently live and well, and their stubbornness intact."
No one answered the dwarf, and many of the host, both elves and men, left and returned to the camp. Legolas and Brethilorn stayed for a few more moments, looking at the wall, and then left as well.
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"The Noegyth are still alive, you say?" asked Thranduil.
"And as stubborn as ever," answered Legolas. "They've barred their main gate, and dammed up the river."
"Barred their gate?"
"With a stone wall. They have left a few holes as well, I suppose to shoot and peep out of," said Brethilorn.
"We will move the camp closer to Erebor," decided Thranduil.
"We are besieging the Noegyth?" asked Legolas.
"No. We are simply moving camp closer, it makes travel more efficient," answered the Elvenking.
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The camp was moved my dusk. The elves pulled out their harps and began playing sweet elven tunes as fires roared and food was cooked. The mood at the camp became festive and joyful, the dwarves in the Lonely Mountain temporarily forgotten. The smell of cooking food mingled with the scent of sweet woodland flowers and wafted up in the air, around the mountain.
Legolas sat with Brethilorn, Thalion, and Ithilwen around a fire feasting and listening to the music of elven harps, their backs to Erebor. Suddenly, behind them they heard harps and other instruments, as well as deep dwarven voices.
"The sword is sharp, the spear is long,
The arrow swift, the Gate is strong;
The heart is bold that looks on gold;
The dwarves no more shall suffer wrong."
Legolas smiled slightly, "Seems our music and feasting has struck a nerve there."
"They seem to have found a way to counter it," said Brethilorn.
"Then let our dancing strike another couple of nerves!" said Thalion, rising to his feet and leaping about comically, resembling a monkey.
"Are you sure we're related?" Ithilwen asked her other two brothers as they laughed at the monkey-elf.
"He's supposedly my twin, so I suppose so," answered Brethilorn.
"On the contrary, I know I couldn't possibly be related to you in anyway, so I'd suppose not."
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Noegyth = Dwarves
Ion-nin = My Son
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