Chapter 2

Jupiter Bellerose

I saw Alfrid raise Bard's hand.

"All hail to the dragon slayer! All hail king Bard!"

Bard twisted from his grasp and I continued forward.

"I have said it many times, this is a man of noble stock! A born leader!"

"Do not call me that. I am not the master of this town. Where is he!? Where's th master?"

"Half way down the Anduin. With all our coin, I do not doubt. You would know."

I reached the front and saw the blanket woman pointing at Alfrid.

"You helped him empty the treasury!" she accused.

I looked at Alfrid.

"No! I tried to stop him!"

"Liar!"

"I said master, no!"

They started screaming at him.

"Think of the children!"

He turned and started to go towards Bard's children. I got in his way and narrowed his eyes.

"You keep away from these children!" I snarled.

He stepped back and the people grabbed him. They were talking about hanging him but Bard stopped them.

"Let him go! Let him go!"

They dropped him and I looked at Bard.

"Look around you. Have you not had your fill of death? Winter is upon us. We must look to the sick and the helpless. Those of you can still walk follow me, we must salvage what we can."

He started to walk away.

"What then? What do we do then?" blanket woman asked.

He looked at her very seriously.

"We find shelter."

He walked off again and I ran after him.

"Mr. Bard, sir!"

He stopped and looked at me. He didn't seem used to being addressed that way. I held out my hand.

"I'm Jupiter Bellerose."

He slowly shook my hand.

"Look I uh, I want to help you and your people. Any way that I can."

"Why?" he asked.

I sighed in frustration.

"Because I'm a good person and I want to help. I wouldn't have helped a wounded woman or keep that man from touching your children if I wasn't. Let me help. You don't have to tell me why or how this happened, I just want to make myself useful for once in my life."

I knew I'd said too much but I didn't care. He looked at me sympathetically.

"Are you strong enough to help salvage?"

I smiled and nodded.

"Very well then, come with me."

I nodded again and followed him.

Legolas' POV

As the day went on, I saw how hard Jupiter was working. I could not help but smile. She was eager to help.

"You saw something out there." Tauriel said.

"The orc I pursued out of Lake-Town, I know who he is. Bolg. Spawn of Azog the Defiler. An orc pack was waiting for him on the outskirts of Esgaroth. These orcs were different from the others, they bore a mark I had not seen in a long time. The mark of Gundebad." I said.

"Gundebad?"

"An orc stronghold in the far north."

"Hir nin Legolas."

I turned and faced the rider.

"Celin 'winiath o adar lin. Can i hi danwenidh na le." (I bring news from your father. You are to return to him immediately.)

I nodded and looked at Tauriel.

"Tolo, Tauriel."

"Hir nin," I stopped. "Edlennen Tauriel."

I was angry then.

"Edlennen?" I asked.

He nodded and I narrowed my eyes.

"You may tell my father, if there is no place for Tauriel, there is no place for me." I said.

I was about to walk off to find Jupiter when Tauriel spoke.

"Legolas, it is your king's command."

I turned to her.

"Naw aran nin, mal u-gan innas nin." (Yes he is my king, but he does not command my heart.)

I walked off again to find Jupiter.

Jupiter's POV

Alfrid was getting on my nerves. I knew he was just trying to save his own ass by staying close to Bard. I rolled my eyes and put some dry cloths in a basket.

"Lady Jupiter."

I hated it when people called me that. I put a strap on the basket so I could carry it on my back.

"Look, I'm not a lady I can assure you. Just call me Jupiter or Jupe or whatever."

"Will you turn around please?"

I growled in frustration and turned. Legolas was standing there along with a red haired woman.

"Legolas, do you need something?"

"This is Tauriel, another elf of the woodland realm."

I smiled and held out my hand. I guessed she was his girlfriend or something.

"Hello. I'm Jupiter Bellerose."

"Interesting name. Does it mean something in your native language?"

"Um my native language is French, and Jupiter is the name of a planet."

She didn't seem to know what to say.

"Yeah I know, it's a weird name. My grandmother gave me my name. She said I was special, so I needed a special name."

She smiled gently.

"She must be a wonderful woman, but I've never heard of this language before. Did you come from Rivendell or Lothlorien?" she asked.

I raised my brow in question.

"I came from France and then from Chicago." I said slowly.

"Are those elven settlements?" she asked.

"Um no, I've never met an elf in my life. I don't believe they exist. I didn't think dragons existed until about an hour ago. I'm just trying to help out here and then get home. A pleasure to meet you. Legolas might I have a word with you?"

I pulled him aside.

"Look, I don't mean to be rude but I'm tired of this bullshit. I want to go home. If I'm in Europe tell me how to get to France and I'll get there."

"Jupiter, I do not know where these places are. I do not know what you think, all I can tell you is that you are in the middle of a war. Now you can stay with these people or you can come with me and I will keep you safe."

I was angry now.

"I don't need anyone to protect me! I just need to go home…well…not that I really have a home. But Chicago is all I know. But these people need help, and I will do whatever I can to help."

He looked worried.

"I do not think there is much you can do. The dwarf king will never give them the gold they were promised. And my father….he wants something in that mountain that was taken from him long ago. Something my mother left him."

I looked down sadly.

"It must be nice to have parents. If the gold is what these people need then I'll get it for them. There are families here who have lost everything."

He grabbed me roughly.

"Jupiter no! That dwarf has gone mad. He will kill you."

"You can't change my mind!"

He gave me a curious look.

"Why would you risk dying for people you do not know? People who are not your own?"

I looked into his eyes. They were the most beautiful blue I'd ever seen.

"It doesn't matter. Now in case I do die, I'm glad I met you Legolas. Take care of yourself, and Tauriel."

I winked and then left.

Legolas' POV

I watched her walk away. I wanted so much to stop her. I knew if I did not I would probably never see her again.

"Jupiter! Wait!"

She stopped and looked at me. I took my knives and held them out to her.

"Take these. A gift."

She smiled a bit.

"Legolas I can't take these from you."

I put them in her hands and smiled at her.

"This way I have a better chance of seeing you again. Be careful."

She smiled and threw her arms around me.

"Merci." she whispered.

I guessed this meant thank you. She let me go and then left again.

"Who exactly is she?" Tauriel asked.

"I found her lying on the road. I saw her ears and knew she was an elf, but she does not act or dress like one. She is…unique."

I saw Tauriel smiling softly and I smirked.

"I ride north. Will you come with me?"

She walked with me.

"To where?" she asked.

"To Gundebad."

Jupiter's POV

Bard said we were heading for the mountain. I turned and looked back to where I'd left Legolas. I saw him and Tauriel mounting a horse. For some odd reason, I could see them as though they were standing in front of me. He looked up and saw me looking at him.

"J'espère vous revoir." (I hope I see you again.)

"My lady can you help me?" came a small voice.

I turned and recognized one of Bard's children. She was carrying a large basket and I smiled.

"Here, let me." I said.

She smiled and I picked up the basket.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Tilda, my lady."

I smiled.

"You can just call me Jupiter, or Jupe if you prefer. I'm pleased to meet you."

She smiled and walked beside me until we reached Dale.

"Sire! Sire!"

Bard ran up and I ran up with him.

"Look sire! The braziers are lit."

"So, the company of Thorin Oakenshield survived."

"Survived? You mean there is a bunch a dwarves in there with all that gold?"

I narrowed my eyes. He really was a greed ridden bastard.

"I should not worry Alfrid, there is enough gold in that mountain for all."

I looked at the mountain. I remembered what Legolas told me and it made me worry. I remembered what I'd said I'd do and started to make my way towards the mountain. I came to the gate and saw the barricade.

"Impressive." I said.

I kept walking and looking around.

"Um, hello? Anyone in there that can help me?" I asked.

"What do you want?" came a rough voice.

I scowled at his rudeness.

"You know you could be a little more polite. I haven't given you any reason to be rude."

"What do you want?" he repeated.

I walked closer.

"I'm Jupiter Bellerose. I'm looking for someone named Thorin? Thorin Oakenshield?"

I heard movement behind the barricade and stepped a bit closer.

"We do not treat with elves."

I sighed in frustration.

"This elf thing again?! Wow you people have the wrong idea. I'm not here to hurt any of you. I could've snuck in but I decided to be polite and talk to you face to face….well sort of. And also to ask if you know how I can get back to Chicago or France."

More muffled movement and someone else came to the hole. I walked up and saw a small man.

"Hi, I'm Jupiter. Who're you?"

"Bilbo Baggins of Bag End. I think you should get out of here. Thorin is not himself and he might hurt you." he whispered.

"I'd like to see him try. But why are you whispering? Wasn't I talking to Thorin before?"

"Oh no! That was Dwalin. Thorin will not help you. And unfortunately we have no idea what Chicago or France is."

"One is a city and the other is a country. Well then will you help the people in Lake-Town? They really need food and medical supplies."

He looked at me sadly.

"If I could I would. Thorin will not give anyone any gold."

"Look I don't care about gold! I just need food and medical supplies for them. Please Mr. Baggins I-"

"Master Baggins!"

This voice was deep and commanding.

"Go! Quickly!" he said.

I saw someone coming up behind him and flattened myself against the wall.

"You! Elf!"

I jumped and looked up. A man with a crown stood there.

"What do you want elf?" he snapped.

I narrowed my eyes.

"For the last time, I am not a damn elf! I'm just here to help the people of Lake-Town. They need food and medical supplies. Can you help?"

"Why would I help you?"

"I don't need your help! They do. There are women and children over there!"

"They want my gold-"

"Oh for the love of god! Are you stupid or something?! I never said anything about gold."

"Be gone elf! And do not come back. If you do, I will kill you."

I glared at him.

"Vous êtes un peu la merde!" (You're a little shit!)

I turned on my heel and left. When I got back I guessed Alfrid was on the night watch. The only problem was that he was asleep. I slapped him awake and quickly disappeared.

"Bard?" I called.

He came and found me.

"Where have you been?" he asked.

He sounded concerned.

"I went to that mountain. I wanted to see if I could get your people food and medical supplies."

He smiled a bit.

"While that was very kind and brave of you, I must ask you not to go to that mountain again. It is too dangerous."

I just nodded and he put his hand on my shoulder.

"Thank you Jupiter."

I smiled and he walked away. I looked back towards the lake and sighed. I wondered where Legolas was now.