Hey all! Next chapter all ready for upload! Gotta say my little sneak peek didn't get noticed like I had hoped :(. Oh well, it'll be in this chapter anyway, hope you all enjoy! Xx

Review Responses;

misslesmis13 – Thank you!

Pallysdeeks – Yup. He is too far gone. . .he'll pull through soon though. And Kili is alive for now. . .

mchurch1992 – The beginning is quite sad, but had to put a nice ending and let Vi and Kee have some time alone before the big battle :D


The Beginnings of War

The next morning, I see myself standing on the ramparts with the others, the elven army and the men have already gathered in the plains between Dale and Erebor. Thranduil and Bard ride together to the front of the armies and approach their of the broken bridge over the moat. Thorin draws a bow and shoots an arrow at the ground directly in front of Thranduil and Bard, who immediately halt in surprise.

"I will put the next one between your eyes!"

Thorin draws his bow again, and the dwarves on the wall cheer and shake their weapons. Thranduil stares at Thorin angrily, then slightly tilts his head. Instantly, several rows of Elves near the front of the army pull out their bows, nock their arrows, and aim at the dwarves, all in one fluid motion. The dwarves' cheering cuts off abruptly as all of them but Thorin duck behind the ramparts. I also don't move as I watch the Elven and Dwarf King stare each other down. After a few tense seconds, Thranduil raises his hand, and the elves easily put away their arrows. Thorin still has his bow drawn, though.

"We've come to tell you: payment of your debt has been offered. . .and accepted." Thranduil informs Thorin.

"What payment? I gave you nothing! You have nothing!"

As Thranduil looks to Bard, a terrible thought enters my mind. The plan Bilbo spoke of the night before. . .he could not possibly have meant. . .

"We have this."

Bard confirms my fears as he reaches into his coat and pulls out the Arkenstone, holding it above his head. Thorin lowers his bow in shock.

"They have the Arkenstone? Thieves! How came you by the heirloom of our house? That stone belongs to the king!" Kili yells out to the man.

"And the king may have it - in our good will." Bard tucks the Arkenstone back into his coat after tossing it into the air. "But first he must honour his word."

"They are taking us for fools. This is a ruse, a filthy lie."

Out of the corner of my eye, I Balin looking to Thorin in shock. Shock that his mental state has deteriorated to the point at which he would even consider this. I agree with his shock. Balin told Bilbo and I himself there's only one Arkenstone. Thorin then yells out.

"THE ARKENSTONE IS IN THIS MOUNTAIN! IT IS A TRICK!"

"It-It's no trick. The stone is real. I gave it to them." Bilbo's quiet voice speaks up nervously.

As Bilbo speaks, Thorin's expression changes to a mixture of sorrow and anger. Thorin and the other dwarves look at Bilbo in shock. I just look to the hobbit in worry. I have no idea what Thorin could do in the state he is in now. . .but I know it won't be good.

"You. . ."

"I took it as my fourteenth share."

"You would steal from me?"

"Steal from you? No. No. I may be a burglar, but I like to think I'm an honest one. I'm willing to let it stand against my claim."

"Against your claim?! Your claim! You have no claim over me you miserable rat!"

Thorin throws down his bow in anger and begins walking toward Bilbo. I move to stand with Bilbo but Kili holds me back.

"I was going to give it to you. Many times I wanted to, but. . ."

"But what, thief?!"

"You are changed, Thorin! The dwarf I met in Bag End would never have gone back on his word! Would never have doubted the loyalty of his kin!"

"Do not speak to me. . .of loyalty!" he then shouts to the rest of us. "Throw him from the rampart!"

Bilbo looks to him in shock. My eyes go wide as I turn to the dwarf. Throw him from the rampart!? How could he suggest we do such a thing!? The other dwarves, rather than obeying Thorin, step away from Bilbo in confusion. Thorin is surprised that no one obeys him.

"DO YOU HEAR ME?!" Thorin grabs Fili's arm, but Fili shakes him away.

"I will do it myself!"

He lunges forward and grabs Bilbo, shouting.

"CURSE YOU!"

"No!" Fili shouts.

"Cursed be the Wizard that forced you on this Company!"

As Thorin struggles with Bilbo, the other dwarves and I leap forward, shouting, trying to pull Thorin away. Thorin manages to grab Bilbo and begins pushing him over the rampart. I am about to turn into my wolf form to force him off when Gandalf's voice booms out.

"IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY BURGLAR. . ." His voice returns to a normal volume and tone. "Then please don't damage him. Return him to me! You're not making a very splendid figure as king under the mountain, are you? Thorin son of Thrain!"

Thorin slowly lets go of the hobbit, making him drop to the floor. Fili, Bofur and I help him up.

"Never again will I have dealings with wizards. . ."

Bofur gently pushes Bilbo toward the rope he'd hung the night before to climb down the walls.

"Go."

"Or Shire-rats!"

I stand by the wall as Bilbo throws his coiled rope over the wall and clambers down. I lean over and watch as he make it safely to the ground. Bofur and I exchange a look of relief and worry before joining the others, Kili taking my hand.

"Are we resolved? The return of the Arkenstone for what was promised." Bard speaks up.

Thorin looks out to the hill to our left as if searching for something.

"Why should I buy back, that which is rightfully mine!"

Thranduil turns to Bard. "Keep the stone, sell it. Ecthelion of Gondor will give you a good price for it."

"I would kill you! By my oath I would kill you all!"

"Your oath means nothing! I have heard enough!"

He shouts something to his elves and they all aim their arrows at us.

Gandalf walks closer to us. "Thorin, lay down your arms. Open these doors. This treasure will be your death."

I look up and see Balin stand next to him. "Thorin, we cannot win this fight."

Looking to Thorin, I see him looking down, disheartened and defeated.

"Give us your answer! Will you have peace or war?" Bard asks.

We watch as a raven flies and lands on the stone in front of him, cawing away. I cannot understand what he is saying, but it must have been something good as Thorin's eyes widen in hope and relief.

"I will have war."

I look to the hill as I hear a rumbling sound to see an army appearing over the ridge. The troops are heavily armoured dwarves, lead by a huge dwarf riding a battle pig.

"Ribo i thangail!" Thranduil calls out.

The elves turn away from Erebor and begin marching quickly towards approaching army, the men behind them. The dwarves stop just over the hill while the dwarf continues riding towards those of the ground.

"Hey, Thorin! Ironfoot has come!" the leader calls out, making the dwarves by me all cheer.

"Who is that?" I ask Kili.

"That's Dain, Lord of the Ironhills. He is our cousin."

I internally groan. Great. That's all we need. More elf hating dwarves.

Dain rides his pig onto a rocky overlook to address the Elves and Men, who have stopped.

"Good morning! How are we all? I have a wee proposition, if ye wouldn't mind giving me a few moments of yer time. Would ye consider. . just sodding off!"

The mean and woman, clutching their weapons, step back in fear, while the Elves pull out their swords and step forward.

"All of you - right now!"

"Stand fast!" Bard calls out to his people.

Gandalf strides forward. "Come now, lord Dain!"

Dain looks to the wizard. "Gandalf the Grey. Tell this rabble to leave, or I'll water the ground with their blood!"

"There is no need for war between dwarves, men and elves! A legion of orcs march on the mountain. Stand your army down!"

Orcs. . .A legion of orcs marching towards us? Then why are we fighting among ourselves when we should concentrate on those filth?

"I will not stand down before any elf! Not least this faithless woodland sprite!"

He gestures toward Thranduil, who looks angry.

"He wishes nothing but ill upon my people! If he chooses to stand between me and my kin - I'll split his pretty head open! See if he's still smirking then!"

Dain turns and rides towards his men.

"Dain, wait!"

"Let them advance, see how far they get." I hear Thranduil say.

"Do you think I give a dead dog for your threats, your pointy-eared princess! Ya hear that lads!? We're on! Let's give these bastards a good hammering!" Dain yells out as he reaches his dwarves. "Send in the goats!"

The dwarves part to allow mounted rams through, charging towards the elves.

"Ribo i thangail!."

The elves prepare their bows to fire.

"Thranduil! This is madness!" Gandalf shouts out.

Thranduil gives the order and the arrows soar towards the dwarves. Dain shouts out an order and just over half a dozen twirling bolts flew through the air, cut the arrows and landed in the middle of the elves. When they do land, the force of the land sent the elves flying back, maimed or dead no one knew.

Dain laughs. "How do you like that, the old twirley-whirlies? Ha, ha, you buggers!"

Thranduil gave the order to fire again, but ending up with the same result. The rams get closer as the elves perform a complicated manoeuvre to put their shield-and-spear bearers at the front of the army, while the archers stand behind them, just as their rams run up their shields and into the army of elves, thus beginning the battle between elves and dwarves. Dain charges in on his pig, the foot soldiers just behind. I just watch as the elves and dwarves fight. Many already having blood spilt as they die, and for what? A few meaningless coins?

As they fight, a rumbling is heard at the base of a spur of the mountain. The armies stop fighting and grow silent as they turn to look. On the gates, we also look around, wondering what is causing the sound.

All of a sudden, giant worm-like creature burst out from the base of the mountain near Ravenhill. Their mouths are essentially giant drilling machines, strong enough to crush the toughest rocks in their jaws. Everyone looks on in shock as they retreat back into the holes.

"Oh, come on!" I hear Dain call out.

On top of Ravenhill, are several massive contraptions made of wood, rope, and cloth meant as signalling devices. I also see Azog standing by the contraptions as he commands the few orcs with him.

One of the wooden structures opens up in a particular position, and a horn sounds. Immediately, legions of orcs begin pouring out of the tunnels. There must be thousands or orcs just pouring out onto the fields.

"The hordes of hell are upon us! To battle! To battle, sons of Durin!" Dain calls out.

Dain and part of his army turn and rush toward the oncoming orcs.

"I'm going over the wall! Who's coming with me?" Fili speaks up.

The other dwarves and I cheer, all of us in agreement and we prepare to climb down.

"Stand down!"

We turn to Thorin as he gives the order, beginning to make his way back inside.

"What? Are we to do nothing?"

"I said STAND DOWN!"

As Thorin walks away, the others look on in shock and surprise. I look back to the field to see the dwarves running across the plain towards the advancing orcs. The elves do nothing while the dwarves stop running, and create a shield wall with their massive spears pointed outward, lead by the chants of the leader. After a few moments, the elves charge forward, jumping over the wall of dwarves and fight the oncoming orcs, the dwarves joining in. I stand and watch as the fight continues, the lives of the elves and dwarves at risk and what are we doing? Just standing here, watching it all happen, because one dwarf has lost his mind.

Such anger and determination fills me like nothing I have felt before as I turn and run down the stairs, Kili shouting after me as I run to the dwarven king, standing in front of him to block his path. He stops as he looks to me in surprise.

"Get out of my way, wolf." he growls to me.

"What are you doing? Thorin, your people are out there fighting your battles, losing their lives for you! Are you really just going to stand back and do nothing? Is gold worth so much more than that of your people? So much so that you are willing to hide away while your kin die?"

He scowls at me calling him a coward. "I would not expect you, a lowly Skin-Changer, to understand."

I admit, that insult hurt, but I push my feelings aside. "Lowly Skin-Changer I may be, but at least I know that nothing is more important than kin. I could not save my kin, which pains me so that you are willing to stay back while yours are dying."

He just scoffs as he steps around me and walks on. I sigh as I look down.

"I never realised how alike you and Thranduil really are."

I can practically feel the temperature drop dramatically as Thorin halts in his steps.

"What did you say?" Thorin asks, sounding dangerous.

I do not back down as I turn to face him, his thunderous expressing pinned on me.

"He was your ally once, didn't he abandon you when you needed him the most. When Smaug had driven you out of here, did he not just stand by and do nothing, watching it happen, watching all the needless deaths. Are you not guilty of doing the same thing? Just standing by as your people, your kin, die in battle?"

Before I can say anymore, Thorin grabs my throat and pins me up against a wall. I grip his arm, trying to get him to let go as his hand becomes tigher.

"You will be silent! How dare you compare me to that elf! I have never, nor will I ever be like him!"

As he stops talking, I notice his gaze drifing towards the courting braid, his eyes growing darker as he sees the bead.

"A courting braid? Who gave that to you?"

It is at the moment the others run over, probably after hearing Thorin shouting.

"Violet! Let her go, Thorin!" Kili calls out, his eyes filling with anger.

After glancing at his nephew and realising he is the one to gift me with the braid, he sneers at me.

"You really thought I would accept you among us? That you would be worthy enough to court a Son of Durin?" He shakes his head. "No. You are nothing but a lowly wolf."

Before any of us can do anything, he whips out his dagger and cuts the braid from my head.

"NO!" Kili cries out in anguish, the others letting out noises of shock and disblief.

I just look at Thorin in shock and heartache as he holds the braid, bead still attached. For just a second, a split second, I see his eyes flash with shock and disbelief, as if he cannot believe what he has done. But that is soon replaced by the sneer he held moments before.

Flinging his arm out, he tosses me away, a clang ringing through the halls from my manacle as I hit the ground, taking in deep breaths of air now I have been released. Feeling arms around me, I look up to see Kili lifting me to him, holding me close. Looking back to Thorin, I see him looking at me in disgust, still clinging the braid in his hand as he steps away.

"You will never be one of us." he then turns and leaves us.

Kili gives me words of comfort as Oin checks me over for injuries, but I hardly pay them any attention and Thorin's words vibrate in my head.

"You are just a lowly wolf." "You will never be one of us."

Is he right? Am I really unworthy of Kili's love?

As if he's reading my thoughts, Kili takes my face in his hands, forcing me to look at him. His face now blurry thanks to my tearful eyes.

"Violet, do not listen to anything Thorin said. You are not unworthy, or just a lowly wolf, you are much more than that. I love you, Violet, and nothing nor no one is going to stop us. Not Thorin, not my mother, no one. I am not going to leave you. I promise."

I slowly nod as he repeats the words we spoke to each other last night, our promise to never leave each other. I wrap my arms around him as he holds me close, both of us just holding each other as the battle rages on outside.


Well, there we have it, a few stumbles in their relationships, but let's hope they can get through this together. Please keep your reviews coming, I love hearing from you all xx

Translations;

"Ribo i thangail!" - Rush the shield-fence!