Chapter 13
The company of 20 marched up to the gates of Erebor. Brethilorn, Thalion, Legolas, and Ithilwen marched before the elven and human guards. In front of them went the Elvenking and Bard. And before them was Gandalf, wrapped in an old grey cloak and hood, and bearing a casket.
They laid down all arms at the beginning of the narrow path to the gates.
"Hail Thorin!" called Bard. "Are you still of the same mind?"
"My mind does not change with the rising and setting of a few suns," answered the dwarf. "Did you come to ask me idle questions? Still the elf-host has not departed as I bade! Till then you come in vain to bargain with me."
"Is there then nothing for which you would yield any of your gold?" asked Bard.
"Nothing that you or your friends have to offer."
"What of the Arkenstone of Thrain?" At that moment Gandalf opened the casket, and held aloft the stone. Light of pure brilliance leapt from his hand.
None said anything for a while until Thorin spoke again. His voice was thick with wrath. "That stone was my father's, and is mine. Why should I purchase my own?" Then he added with wonder and confusion, "But how came you by the heirloom of my house – if there is need to ask such a question of thieves?"
"We are not thieves," answered Bard shortly. "Your own we will give back in return for our own."
"How came you by it?" thundered Thorin in rage.
"I gave it to them!" the company heard Bilbo squeak, who was peering over the wall in fright.
Thorin turned to the hobbit and grabbed him with both hands and shook him. "You! You! You miserable hobbit! You undersized-burglar!" he yelled.
Legolas and his siblings were at a loss for words, torn between laughter at the dwarf's rage and pity for poor Bilbo.
"By the beard of Durin!" growled Thorin. "I wish I had Gandalf here! Curse him for his choice of you! May his beard wither! As for you, I will throw you to the rocks!" he cried, lifting Bilbo.
"Stay! Your wish is granted!" cried Gandalf, tossing aside hood and cloak. "Here is Gandalf! And none too soon it seems. If you don't like my Burglar, please don't damage him. Put him down, and listen first to what he has to say!"
"You all seem in league!" grumbled Thorin, contemptuously dropping the hobbit on the wall. "Never again will i have dealings with any wizards or his friends. What have you to say, you descendant of rats?"
"Dear me! Dear me!" said Bilbo. "I am sure this is all very uncomfortable. You may remember saying that I might choose my own fourteenth share? Perhaps I took it too literally – I have been told that dwarves are sometimes politer in word than deed. The time was, all the same, when you seemed to think that I had been of some service. Descendant of rats, indeed! Is this all the service of you and your family that I was promised, Thorin? Take it that I have disposed of my share as I wished, and let it go at that!"
"I will," said Thorin grimly. "And I will let you go at that – and may we never meet again!" Then he turned and called over the wall, "I am betrayed! It was rightly guessed that I could not forbear to redeem the Arkenstone, the treasure of my house. For it I will give one fourteenth share of the hoard of silver and gold, setting aside the gems; but that shall be accounted the promised share of this traitor, and with that reward he shall depart, and you can divide it as you will. He will get little enough, I doubt not. Take him, if you wish him to live; and no friendship of mine goes with him.
"Get down now to your friends!" he said to Bilbo, "or I will throw you down."
"What about the gold and silver?" asked Bilbo.
"That shall follow after, as can be arranged," said Thorin. "Get down!"
"Until then, we keep the stone!" cried Bard.
"You're not making a very splendid figure as King Under the Mountain," said Gandalf, "But things may change yet."
"They may indeed," said Thorin in a low voice, so that only the elves could here him with their sharp hearing. A strange light came into his eyes.
Bilbo swung down from the wall, calling "Farewell!" to the dwarves.
"Be off!" growled Thorin, coming out of his trance-like state. "You have mail upon you, which was made by my folk, and is too good for you. It cannot be pierced by arrows; but if you do not hasten, I will sting your miserable feet. So be swift!"
"Not so hasty!" cried Bard as Bilbo hurried toward the company. "We will give you until tomorrow. At noon we will return, and see if you have brought from the hoard the portion that is to be set against the stone. If that is done without deceit, then we will depart, and the elf-host will go back to the Forest. In the meanwhile, farewell!"
With that, the company departed, returning to their own camp with the hobbit in tow.
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The day passed into night, and the night back into day. As the wind shifted west, the next day, the day turned to become dark and gloomy.
Runners reported the coming of a large host of dwarves heading towards Dale. Dain had come.
Men and elves came to arms, waiting for the dwarves to come. Before long, they came into sight.
They were strong-looking folk. Each was clad in a hauberk of steel mail with hose of flexible mesh. They wielded heavy two-handed mattocks, with a short broad-sword and a roundshield. Their heads were capped with helms of iron.
The dwarves laid down their weapons and raised their hands in gestures of peace.
Bard and Bilbo went out to meet them. "Pray tell, who and where do you hail from? And what is your business here?" asked Bard, though he knew the answer.
"We are sent from Dain son of Nain," said they. "We are hastening to our kinsmen in the Mountain, since we learned that the kingdom of old is renewed. But who are you to sit on the plains as foes before defended walls?"
"We are no foes, for we have business here with your kinsmen."
Bard set guards about the camp and road, not allowing the dwarves to pass on to the Mountain. He then sent messengers to the mountain, and he called council with the Elvenking.
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Bard sat across from Thranduil in a tent. Brethilorn, Thalion, and Ithilwen were, as usual, standing behind their father. The messengers Bard had sent had returned with news of no gold – and a few dwarf-arrow injuries.
"They obviously mean to stretch our forces as they open new gates," said Bard thoughtfully.
Before Thranduil could speak, Legolas burst forth into the tent. "The dwarves are advancing along the eastern bank," said he.
"Fools!" laughed Bard at the news, "to come thus beneath the Mountains arm! They do not understand war above ground, whatever they may know of battle in the mines. There are many of our archers and spearmen now hidden in the rocks upon their right flank. Dwarf-mail may be good, but they will soon be hard put to it. Let us set on them now from both sides, before they are fully rested."
"I would not be so foolish as to underestimate the dwarves' skill at battle, be it above or below ground," said Legolas wisely.
Thranduil sighed, and said, "Long will I tarry, ere I begin this war for gold. The dwarves cannot pass us, unless we will, or do anything that we cannot mark. Let us hope still for something that will bright reconciliation. Our advantage in numbers will be enough if in the end, it must come to unhappy blows."
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Legolas and Ithilwen stood upon a high ledge, each with fifty or so elven archers. Looking up, they saw their twin brothers on the ledge above them with their own troop. The elves strung their bows, and prepared to shoot, aiming at the dwarves below.
"Hado!" came the call. Two-hundred elven arrows flew down, joined by arrows and spears launched by the men of the Lake. Many were blocked by stout shields, others found their marks.
Battle was upon them. The elves launched volley after volley of arrows as men and dwarves battled below them.
Thunder rolled across the land, chased by a wild wind. Darkness hurled swiftly toward them. A dense cloud of bats soared toward them. Upon the horizon a black sea rushed toward the Mountain from the North.
"Halt!" cried Gandalf in a loud voice. He appeared suddenly, standing alone, arms uplifted between the advancing ranks of dwarves, men, and elves. His staff blazed like a flash of lightening. "Dread is upon you all! Alas! it has come more swiftly than I guessed. The Goblins are upon you! Bolg of the North is coming, O Dain! whose father you slew in Moria. Behold! the bats are above his army like as sea of locusts! They ride upon wolves and Wargs are in their train!
"Come! There is yet time for council. Let Dain son of Nain come swiftly to us!"
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Hado = Fire/Shoot
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PrincessEvenstar – Thnx! :P
spastikLeggyluver – Thnx for the review! lol. yes, plenty more Bilbo coming…
ElenwenDutari – Thnx! I thought it'd be interesting to see elves practicing William-Tell-Style. lol. Cool name.
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