Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter. I didn't expect to have this up so soon, but I just came down with COVID (guess my luck finally ran out), so I have a lot more time on my hands. Hopefully I'll be able to get a lot of writing done the next week or so.

Let's get to it.


Chapter 22- Rescue & Retribution

In southern Mirkwood, the ruined fortress of Dol Guldur is now almost completely silent, unlike it has been for the last few months. The attack launched out of Dol Guldur against the Lonely Mountain had left the fortress empty of all but one of Sauron's forces. A single, large Gundabad Orc known as the Keeper of the Dungeons remained behind. The Keeper was one of the largest Orcs in Sauron's service. He was covered in scars, and hanging from armor were a number a beards from dwarves that the Keeper had killed. Even by Orc standards, the Keeper was rather brutal. It was for that reason Sauron had entrusted him with his duty. The Keeper was a little disappointed he wasn't allowed to go with the army to Erebor, but it was mostly made up for by the task he now had.

The Keeper ascends the stairs leading up to the spot where Gandalf has been hanging in his gibbet for some time. Sauron had heard that Gandalf supposedly possessed one of the Three Elven Rings of Power. The Keeper had been ordered to take it from Gandalf, from whence he was free to do what he wished to the wizard.

The Keeper approaches Gandalf's gibbet, unafraid of retaliation, for Gandalf is too weak to fight physically, and the gibbet contains sorcery designed to prevent Gandalf from using his magic.

"Spells will not save you, old man," the Keeper snarls as he draws his sword from its sheath. He stalks towards Gandalf's gibbet, demonstrating his great physical strength as he pulls the gibbet off its hook with a single hand before throwing it to the ground. The gibbet tumbles across the stone, tossing Gandalf around in it.

"This is my Master's domain," the Keeper snarls as he opens the gibbet and lifts Gandalf out of it with a single hand. He holds Gandalf up in the air for a moment before throwing him down into the ground. Gandalf cries out in pain as he slams hard into the stone. Gandalf tries to fight back by grabbing a chain and swinging it at his tormentor, hitting him in the face. However, the Keeper is relatively unharmed, spitting out a small amount of blood before grabbing Gandalf harshly by the front of his robe.

"You have something my Master wants. One of the Three Elven Rings," the Keeper snarls at Gandalf as he drags the wizard over to a stone table. He then raises one of Gandalf's hands, where a golden ring set with a ruby rests on his middle finger. "The Ring of Fire," the Keeper identifies it with a snarl before asking, "Where are the others?"

Gandalf refuses to answer. Only having the patience to wait for a moment, the Keeper readies his sword as he pins Gandalf's hand to the stone table. He positions his sword just above Gandalf's hand in preparation before he raises it up to strike. However, as the sword reaches its height, the Keeper senses something. Turning his head, he sees Galadriel coming up behind him.

The rest of the White Council and their mortal allies had quickly made their way to Dol Guldur, speeded in their journey by Strange. All of them were in agreement that Gandalf must be rescued and the Necromancer be made to reveal himself, though Saruman did so with some reluctance.

Galadriel had volunteered to be the first one into the fortress. Now, as she comes to the top of the stairs, she fixes the Keeper in her sight before saying to him very firmly, "I come for Mithrandir. And I will leave with him."

The Keeper throws Gandalf aside and makes ready to fight Galadriel. Galadriel, completely unafraid, warns the Keeper, "If you try to stop me, I will destroy you."

The Keeper roars at her, whether in anger or fear, she did not know. However, that was enough for Galadriel. She raises her hand like a lightning bolt, and a wave of power races out from her ring, Nenya. The wave hits the Keeper and disintegrates him instantly before it continues racing outwards and going beyond Dol Guldur, lighting up the sky around the fortress for a moment.

Without hesitation, Galadriel makes her way to Gandalf, who by now has fallen unconscious. Taking only a moment to assess his condition, Galadriel picks him up in her arms with no difficulty. She rightly fears that in Gandalf's current condition, the dark magic that permeates every stone in Dol Guldur will kill him if he is left there for much longer. Without waiting, Galadriel turns and begins to walk back towards the exit of the fortress, carrying Gandalf with no trouble at all.

However, this has not gone unnoticed by Dol Guldur's master. As Galadriel walks down a flight of stairs to a stone courtyard, she hears a fell voice echoing throughout the surroundings, "Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky. Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone."

Galadriel freezes as she hears those lines that she recognizes but wishes she didn't. Despite knowing almost certainly that the Dark Lord was in fact in Dol Guldur didn't make hearing his voice any less intimidating. Frozen in her tracks, Galadriel finishes the verse in the Common Tongue, "Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die."

As if waiting for that cue, the nine Nazgul begin to appear surrounding Galadriel one by one, not in their form of hooded and cloaked phantoms, but of the appearance of their spirits. They all wear spectral armor and wield spectral weapons that can harm the living like any weapon of the living. Galadriel stumbles back and collapses to sit on a stone ring as the Nazgul slowly close in around her.

Unseen by Galadriel, Sauron takes dark glee in what he sees as Galadriel's despair. As the Nazgul slowly tighten their circle, he mocks her as he says, "You cannot fight the Shadow. Even now you fade. One light alone in the darkness."

Galadriel glances down at Gandalf for a moment before she looks up again defiantly, not looking at any of the Nazgul, but rather staring off into space as she addresses Sauron directly and refutes his claim as she reveals their trap, "I am not alone."

At Galadriel's words, footsteps can be heard, coming closer to the courtyard. From an arch leading out of the courtyard, Elrond slowly steps forward. The Lord of Imladris is dressed in his fine golden armor. As he steps through the arch, he draws his legendary sword, Hadhafang, the Elven blade seeming to gleam in the darkness of Dol Guldur. A moment later, Saruman steps out from behind another section of ruins to Elrond's right, looking right at Galadriel.

"Are you in need of assistance, my lady?" Saruman asks calmly, as if they were passing each other on the road and he were asking Galadriel if she needed help carrying something.

The Nazgul standing on each side of Saruman, alerted to him, whip around to face him as they screech. Saruman, now noticing them, looks between the two of them.

Suddenly, there's a sound of another sword being drawn. The Nazgul turn to the sound of it, and from almost directly across the courtyard from Saruman, they see Bucky walking into the courtyard. Bucky is no longer wearing just his Winter Soldier uniform, but is wearing a breastplate and greaves forged by the Galadhrim, the silver-colored armor gleaming bright. In his hands, he is holding Anguirel, a glow seeming to surround the blade. Then, to the further surprise of the Nazgul, just a few feet to Bucky's right a large orange portal opens, and Doctor Strange comes floating through, the Cloak of Levitation holding him just off the ground. He glares at the Nazgul as he forms a pair of Tao Mandalas before his fists.

Elrond smiles slightly as he senses uncertainty from the Nazgul. He then says confidently, "You should've stayed dead," before stepping forward and slashing at one of the Nazgul before him with Hadhafang.

Saruman lets out a war cry and attack the two Nazgul next to him with his staff. Bucky leaps into the battle, engaging two Nazgul with Anguirel, easily blocking their blows and slashing at their bodies, temporarily dispersing their forms.

The Nazgul thought that their opponents were all of relatively equal threat. However, Doctor Strange quickly proves that perhaps they should worry most about him. The Witch-King of Angmar attempts to attack Strange, but Strange easily blocks the Witch-King's first strike with one of his Tao Mandalas. The Witch-King attempts several more strikes, but Strange blocks each one. Strange then conjures a series of red bands of energy that lash out and wrap around the Witch-King. Strange uses them to lift the Witch-King up and then slam down into the ground, sending the Witch-King smashing right through the stone and out of sight.

Strange flies up with the Cloak as two more Nazgul try to attack him before setting down. Strange raises his hands and slams them down, sending a series of energy bolts arcing out. The bolts bounce off the ruins, melting whatever they touch, before striking the two Nazgul that just tried to attack Strange, dispersing their forms.

As Strange is disintegrating those two Nazgul. Bucky engages two more Nazgul. He ducks under the spear of one of them before slashing Anguirel up in a diagonal motion, dispersing the Nazgul. He then throws himself back to avoid a slash from the other Nazgul's sword. Bucky blocks a second strike and uses his parry to deflect the sword off to the side. He then draws Anguirel back and stabs it through the Nazgul's face, dispersing it.

As the Wise and the two Men are engaging the Nazgul, Galadriel now refocuses on Gandalf. "Mithrandir. Come back," she whispers to him. The Lady of Light then leans in and kisses Gandalf lightly on the forehead, pouring her strength into Gandalf through it. Galadriel keeps her lips pressed against Gandalf's forehead for several seconds before slowly pulling away.

As Galadriel pulls away from Gandalf, he suddenly comes to with a gasp. Still gasping, Gandalf looks at Galadriel and says in a tone of alarm, "He is here!"

"Yes. The darkness has returned," Galadriel sadly confirms Gandalf's statement.

Moments later, as the rest of the rescue team is still engaging the Nazgul, Radagast suddenly bursts into the courtyard on his sleigh. Resting in the sleigh is Gandalf's hat and sword, having been retrieved by Strange prior to Galadriel entering Dol Guldur.

"Gandalf! Gandalf, climb on!" Radagast cries out to his friend in concern.

Galadriel, weakened from bringing Gandalf back and needing to save what energy she has left, cannot help as Gandalf, with Radagast's help, drags himself onto the sleigh. "He is weak. He cannot remain here. It is draining his life," Galadriel says urgently to Radagast. Once she sees that Gandalf is settled on the sleigh, she urges Radagast, "Go! Quickly!"

Galadriel starts to turn away from him, but Gandalf grasps her wrist, forcing her to turn back towards him. Gandalf looks at Galadriel with worry and begs weakly, "Come with me, my lady."

The sounds of combat seem to fade out for the two for several moments as they look at each other. Finally, Galadriel forces herself to look away, and shouts, "Go!" For a moment, her image seems to change and a feeling of power comes off of her.

Radagast takes Galadriel's order, and urges his rabbits onwards. The rabbits begin to run, carrying Gandalf and Radagast out of Dol Guldur, leaving Galadriel lying on the ground.

Around Galadriel, the rest of the rescue team is continuing their fight against the Nazgul, and still besting them. Saruman knocks a Nazgul flying through a wall before knocking another down and driving his staff downwards onto its chest and dispersing it. Bucky ducks under a slash from another Nazgul and slashes Anguirel across its chest, dispersing it. Strange lets out energy bands from both hands, wrapping around a Nazgul, and then yanks them apart, pulling the Nazgul apart and dispersing it. Finally, Elrond disperses the last Nazgul by driving Hadhafang through its back. The Nazgul falls to the ground and shrieks as it shakes for a moment before it disperses.

An eerie silence falls over Dol Guldur as the members of the strike team pause to take stock of the situation. Seeing and hearing nothing, Elrond walks over to Galadriel and kneels down beside her.

At that moment, the team is reminded that the Nazgul have their life in Sauron, and cannot die so long as he lives. On the opposite side of the courtyard from them, a crumbling tower bursts apart in a fireball. Elrond and Saruman shrink back slightly as the flame from the fireball moves and concentrates until it forms into the Eye of Sauron.

"It has begun. The East will fall. So shall the Kingdom of Angmar rise," the Dark Lord's voice echoes through the ruined fortress. For Bucky, never having faced such an enemy, the sound of Sauron's voice, coupled with the sight of the Eye, causes him to shake with a fear like he has never felt before. As he watches, he sees the iris of the Eye beginning to shift shape into what looks like an armored warrior, as the Nazgul take shape in front of the Eye.

"The time of the Elves is over. The Age of the Orc has come," Sauron declares as the Nazgul ready their weapons and begin to move forward to attack their foes. Sauron takes sadistic pleasure as he watches Elrond, Bucky, and even Saruman cower slightly in fear.

However, to Sauron's surprise, the other Man in the group is not cowed. Having faced down Dormammu himself, Strange is easily able to maintain his composure despite the fear that Sauron's presence instills in him. Strange floats forward a foot or so, his hands glowing slightly as he summons his magic. Then, behind him, as Galadriel begins to rise, engulfed in an eerie green light as she begins to unleash her power, Strange acts.

Strange thrusts a hand out to the side, sending out a series of Eldritch Whips that destroy a large wall of the fortress. He then opens a sling ring portal under the falling rubble that opens above the Nazgul. The rubble crashes down onto the Nazgul, pummeling them. Strange then summons another spell and slams his hands down onto the ground, sending out a mass of energy tendrils that lance across the ground, disintegrating whatever they touch before they reach the Nazgul. The Nazgul let out a loud screech as the energy tears them apart.

Now, Galadriel raises the phial that contains the Light of Earendil. The phial begins to shine as Galadriel unleashes her power on Sauron. "YOU HAVE NO POWER HERE, SERVANT OF MORGOTH. YOU ARE NAMELESS. FACELESS. FORMLESS," Galadriel declares in a deep, echoing voice. As she does, Strange conjures a pair of powerful Eldritch Whips and lashing them at the Eye of Sauron. The onslaught of Galadriel's and Strange's magic is like agony for Sauron as he tries to resist them.

Galadriel feels a sense of accomplishment as she feels Sauron's strength to resist waning. "GO BACK TO THE VOID FROM WHENCE YOU CAME!" she shouts, unleashing all of her power from within herself and from Nenya as Strange gathers a ball of energy in his hands before releasing it towards Sauron in what appears to be a powerful wind. As Strange's attack strikes the Eye, Sauron is unable to resist any longer, and he gives a roar of defeat before he is ejected from Dol Guldur. Turning himself into a ball of flame, he flies across the sky eastwards. Back towards Mordor.

As Sauron disappears from Dol Guldur, Galadriel stops her spellwork, and returns to normal. However, she has spent so much of her energy that she stumbles and collapses backwards. However, Elrond manages to catch her before she hits the ground.

Everyone sits there for a moment before Elrond whispers in Sindarin, "We were deceived."

"The spirit of Sauron endured," Galadriel confirms.

"And has been banished," Saruman says with a slight victorious tone as he walks towards the spot where Sauron had been.

"He will flee into the East," Galadriel mutters, trying to remain conscious.

Elrond, though concerned for his mother in law, knows there is still a pressing matter at hand. He looks towards Saruman and says, "Gondor should be warned. They must set a watch on the walls of Mordor."

"No," Saruman says as he turns towards Elrond before saying in a more concerned tone, "Look after the Lady Galadriel. She has spent much of her power. Her strength is failing. Take her to Lothlorien."

"My Lord Saruman, he must be hunted down and destroyed once and for all," Elrond insists.

"Without the Ring of Power, Sauron can never again hold dominion over Middle-Earth," Saruman responds to Elrond's persistence. He pauses, then says, "Go now," before turning towards the East as he says, "Leave Sauron to me."

A few feet away, Doctor Strange narrows his eyes slightly as he looks at Saruman. He had earlier sensed that Saruman felt indignant that a mortal man could possess magical powers possibly stronger than his own. Now, he feels even more that Saruman is not necessarily someone to be trusted.

Strange turns to Elrond. "I will send you and the Lady Galadriel back to Lothlorien. Stay there for a time to keep an eye on her," he says. Elrond nods in agreement. Strange raises his hands and opens a portal. Elrond helps Galadriel up and helps her through. Once they get through, Strange closes the portal.

Strange then turns to Bucky. "Barnes, I'm going to send you to Rhosgobel to wait for Gandalf to arrive. Go with him to Erebor. They will need your help and warning if they are to survive," he says.

"You're not coming with?" Bucky asks Strange.

"No. I need to make sure Sauron didn't try to flee to our world, and prepare to bring you and your friends home when the time has come. However, I won't leave you just high and dry. Tell your Avenger friends that you will be getting some help before the battle for Erebor is over," Strange says.

Bucky feels a bit frustrated Strange isn't going to come help, but also recognizes that Strange has a very important task to tend to. So, he just nods once in understanding. Strange nods in response before saying, "I'll be seeing you soon, Barnes." He then raises his hands and opens another portal. Bucky steps through it, and the portal closes behind him.

Bucky looks around and sees that he's standing next to a large dwelling built around a tree. He recognizes this must be Rhosgobel, the home of Radagast. Knowing Gandalf will be arriving soon, he sits down on a stump close by to wait.

By the time Gandalf and Radagast arrive, Bucky has become a bit bored. He's now sitting at the foot of the stump, lying against it, twiddling his thumbs and whistling the old 40s song "American Patrol". As Radagast's sleigh comes to a halt, Bucky gets to his feet. "There you are. I've been waiting for you," he says.

"Good," Gandalf says. He is now relatively recovered. He turns to the horse tied up beside Radagast's house and says, "I need that horse."

"What? Where are you going? Gandalf?" Radagast.

"To warn Erebor. They have no idea what is coming," Gandalf says before turning to face Radagast as he says, "I saw them, Radagast. I saw them with my own eyes. Rank upon rank of Moria Orcs. You must summon our friends. Bird and beast. The battle for the Mountain is about to begin." He then turns away again and starts walking towards the horse again with Bucky.

"Wait!" Radagast calls to them, and the two stop, turning back to Radagast. The Brown Wizard steps forward, holding out his staff. "Here. Take this," he urges gandalf. Gandalf slowly steps forward and takes the staff from Radagast as the Brown Wizard says, "If what you say is true, then you'll need it more than I."

Gandalf looks the staff up and down, then back at Radagast. "Thank you," he says before turning away once more and heading towards the horse with Bucky.

As Radagast calls after them with some warning about his staff, Bucky turns to Gandalf, "Out of the frying pan and into the fire, my friend?"

"Indeed," Gandalf says. He swings himself up onto the horse, with Bucky climbing on after Gandalf. Gandalf then snaps the reigns and gallops away, heading for Erebor.


T'Challa sighs in frustration as he sits down in a chamber not too far from the Front Gate. Over the last few days, he has been growing increasingly frustrated with Thorin. It has become abundantly clear to T'Challa that Thorin is no longer the same dwarf he met in the Shire, and is becoming what Elrond feared that he would.

T'Challa has tried to maintain his relationship with Thorin, but its clear that Thorin's mental state has affected their friendship. However, Thorin is not yet so far gone that he has cast aside the relationship they have built. When not arguing with him, Thorin has still been rather pleasant with T'Challa. He had even told T'Challa he didn't have to join the rest of the Company digging through the hills of gold for the Arkenstone, instead sending him out to survey Erebor. He had asked T'Challa to search halls of Erebor to chronicle which areas had suffered damage from Smaug, which other halls had parts of the treasure hoard, and also to see if there were any more spots where their kin at the time of Smaug's coming had fled to hide and died there. In a way, this was good, because it gave T'Challa some time to relax and limited the amount of time he and Thorin had together, preventing excessive arguments between the two kings.

However, it still hasn't calmed all of T'Challa's nerves. He is growing increasingly worried about Thorin. He has seen Thorin growing increasingly short tempered, and even doubting the loyalty of the Company, suspecting that one of them taking the Arkenstone for being a possible reason why it hasn't been found. T'Challa knows that if Thorin gets too far gone, he has the strength to restrain Thorin until he returns to his senses, but recognizes doing so may strain his relationship with the rest of the Company. He just hopes it won't resort to that.

Footsteps entering the chamber draw T'Challa's attention. He looks up, coming out of his pondering, and sees Balin entering the chamber, looking grave.

"Still being unreasonable?" T'Challa asks. Balin doesn't answer with words, but he does give a very slight incline of the head.

Balin sighs for a moment before he says, "Dragon sickness. I've seen it before. That look. That terrible need. It is a fierce and jealous love, T'Challa. It sent his grandfather mad."

T'Challa nods once. Finally, he asks a question that has been on his mind, "Balin…is there anything we can do to help Thorin? Is there a way to cure dragon sickness?"

"Nay, laddie. Dragon sickness takes terrible hold upon anyone it touches. The only individuals I know of to have fallen under it either died or faded into obscurity," Balin responds to T'Challa's question. He pauses for a moment, then says, "Bilbo asked me if finding the Arkenstone would help Thorin's condition. But I think not. I fear that would only make him worse. I fear that if there is any change within Thorin, it will only be for the worse. I fear for him, T'Challa."

"As do I, Balin," T'Challa responds. They sit in silence for several moments before T'Challa says, "But if it grows worse, to where it threatens others, then I will ensure it doesn't."

Balin looks at T'Challa, feeling a bit worried for the other king in the Company. Then, they hear in the distance the echo of Thorin shouting, "To the Gate! Now!"

T'Challa and Balin look at each other before T'Challa stands up and the two head for the Gate.

As the two reach the Gate, they see Thorin is standing there, looking out through the hole where the doors of the Gate used to be. As they walk up, Thorin turns to them and says, "We must fortify this Mountain. I want all of you to gather stone and use it to block off this entrance."

T'Challa glares at Thorin, anger rising in him again. "You promised the people of Lake-Town a reward for their help! They have suffered just what your people suffered when Smaug attacked this Mountain! And now you wish to fence them out?!" he demands.

Thorin glares in turn at T'Challa. "The people of Lake-Town did not want to come to our aid but for the promise of rich reward! This gold is ours, and ours alone!"

"Really, Thorin? You have so lost your honor that you will hoard this gold to yourself?" T'Challa says angrily. He glares at Thorin for a moment before he says, "You've claimed so many times that you are not your grandfather. Well, it seems you have become like him after all." He then turns and stalks away from the Gate as the rest of the Dwarves are starting to reach the Gate, with Thorin glaring after the Wakandan.


Steve slowly stands up, smiling at the woman he had just helped with a twisted ankle. He and Bard have been making the rounds all night, trying to help everyone that they can. However, Steve is getting very concerned about the lack of supplies they have.

Steve turns to follow Bard as Bard walks past him. As he does so, Percy, who is helping another injured civilian nearby, looks over at Bard and says, in reference to their stock of supplies and food, "Bard, we don't have enough."

"Do what you can, Percy," Bard says in response as he moves on, Steve following close behind.

"He's right, Bard. We don't have enough supplies. We're gonna have to send people out to hunt and gather in the forests soon if we want to have any chance of surviving for long. Even Erebor isn't gonna have much food as of right now," Steve points out.

"I know, Steve. But I worry hunting and gathering will not produce enough," Bard says. He then leads Steve up some steps to where Alfrid has been sitting. "Good morning, Alfrid. What news from the night watch."

"All quiet, sire. Not much to report," Alfrid says, having been leaning up against a wall with his arms folded, almost looking as if he was half asleep. He stands up to follow Bard and Steve as they pass him and adds, "Nothing gets past me."

Bard and Steve step out of the building they're in and into the courtyard outside, and slow to a stop, staring at the sight that has met their eyes. They stands there for a brief instant before Bard responds to Alfrid's statement, "Except an army of Elves, it would seem."

Sure enough, the courtyard is filled with rank upon rank of Elves clad in magnificent golden armor. The Elves stand there motionless as Bard and Steve slowly walk down the steps. Then, as they reach the first rank of Elves, the Elves before them part to form a path for the two Men. Bard and Steve exchange a look before moving down the path, the Elves closing it up behind them as they go.

As Steve and Bard reach the other side of the Elves in the courtyard, they see several riders approaching. All Elves, most of them on horseback. Their leader, however, is riding on a large elk, and dressed in exceptionally fine armor. Steve doesn't recognize the leading Elf, but Bard quickly identifies him.

"My Lord Thranduil. We did not look to see you here," Bard greets the Elven King in surprise.

"I heard you needed aid," Thranduil says, reigning in his elk before glancing back the way he came. As he does, everyone else looks in the same direction and sees several wagons pulling in, filled to the brim with food.

The Lake-Men begin to cry out in relief as they see the supplies that the Elves have brought.

As the townsfolk begin to swarm towards the wagons, Steve turns towards Thranduil. Given his budding friendship with Legolas, who had left the Tauriel days earlier to ride to Gundabad, Steve opens his mouth to introduce himself to the Elven King. However, Thranduil beats him to it. "You are the one called Captain America," he says matter of factly.

"T'Challa told you about me, I'm guessing?" Steve asks.

Thranduil nods in confirmation before he says, "He said you were a man of high honor, and one of the greatest warriors he has ever met." He then inclines his head slightly in respect, which Steve returns.

Now having overcome his awe, Bard turns to Thranduil. "You have saved us! I do not know how to thank you," Bard says with great joy in his voice.

"Your gratitude is misplaced. I did not come on your behalf. I came to reclaim something of mine," Thranduil says firmly.

Both Steve and Bard give Thranduil confused looks. The Elven King quickly elaborates, "Shortly before the sack of Erebor, I commissioned Thror to craft a necklace with the heirlooms of my people: the White Gems of Lasgalen. However, Thror's greed had grown so great that he refused to return them to me, wishing instead to keep them for himself. Now, I will at last reclaim what is mine." Thranduil then reigns his elk around and rides out of the courtyard.

The Elves in the courtyard and throughout the city begin to form up and march towards the exit leading out of the city in the direction of Erebor. Steve and Bard look at each other in horror before Bard starts to run after Thranduil, Steve following behind.

"Wait! Please wait!" Bard yells as he runs after Thranduil. Upon reaching the Elven King, Bard demands, "You would go to war over a handful of gems?"

"The heirlooms of my people are not lightly forsaken," Thranduil responds calmly, without even looking at Bard.

"We are allies in this. My people also have a claim upon the riches in that mountain. Let me speak with Thorin," Bard pleads with Thranduil.

Thranduil now looks at Bard, feeling the bowman is acting rather naive. "You would try to reason with the Dwarf?" he asks.

"To avoid war? Yes," Bard responds, as if finding Thranduil a bit stupid for not thinking of it himself.

Bard goes off to find a horse, then rides out of Dale towards the Mountain as Thranduil instead orders his army to deploy along the walls and buildings of Dale facing the Mountain as intimidation towards the Dwarves. Meanwhile, a sinking feeling is growing in Steve's stomach. He had offered to go with Bard, but Thranduil had refused to allow it. Although Thranduil hadn't said why, Steve knew it was because he feared Steve joining Thorin and making his efforts to retrieve the White Gems of Lasgalen even harder.

Steve waits on the bridge leading out of Dale along with Thranduil, waiting for Bard to return. It's almost half an hour before Bard finally returns, riding on his horse along the bridge towards them.

As Bard reaches the two, he says, "He will give us nothing."

Steve feels a sense of despair, as well as anger at Thorin, hardly believing that Thorin has fallen so far. He also wonders where T'Challa is, and if he's trying to get Thorin to back down.

Thranduil, however, is not surprised. "Such a pity. Still, you tried," he says.

"I don not understand. Why? Why would he risk war?" Bard asks, looking back towards the Mountain. As Steve follows his gaze, he sees something falling. A second later, he sees that the head of one of the massive Dwarf statues beside the Front Gate fall from its position, crashing down in front of the Gate, breaking the bridge leading into Erebor in the process.

"It is fruitless to reason with them. They understand only one thing," Thranduil says, drawing his sword as he finishes. He looks at his blade for a moment before informing Bard and Steve, "We attack at dawn." He then turns his elk back towards Dale before asking, "Are you with us?"

Bard and Steve are quiet for almost a whole minute before looking at each other. Finally, Bard says, "We will join the Elves. If we maintain pressure on them, the Dwarves will give in. Be that as it may, my people cannot remain here and do nothing."

Steve stares at Bard, not wanting to believe that Bard has given in to, but also realizing the tricky position he has been put in. However, after a moment, Steve says, "You do what you want, Bard. But I won't be a part of this. Thranduil is not handling this the way he should, and I think you know that. Whatever the reason, I won't be involved in this." Steve then walks away from Bard. Bard stares after him, a bit of doubt filling his heart, wondering if the First Avenger is right.


And, I'll end there. Hope you liked this chapter.

I hope you liked how I did the rescue from Dol Guldur, and that you liked seeing Doctor Strange in action against the Nazgul and Sauron. Given what we saw from him during his duel with Thanos on Titan, I think such a fight would be absolutely epic.

Next chapter should be up soon. Until it is, please leave a review, and stay tuned!