Chapter 13

Dain's Desperation

A few days later I went out for a ride alone. I realized later I should have taken Gimli with me. Something spooked Wind and she reared up. I fell off and she ran away. Someone put a bag over my head and grabbed me. I screamed and struggled but there was more than one person.

"Put her out!" came a rough voice.

"What are you doing!? Who are you?!" came a voice.

Someone his my head hard.

Haldir's POV

The sun was starting to set and Merida still had not come back. When I heard a horse I ran out and found Wind, but Merida was not with her. I looked at Wind.

"~Where is she? Where is Merida? You must take me to her.~"

I mounted her and she rode away. She brought me just outside Dale. I jumped off and looked around. I found a locket on the ground, it was Merida's!

"MERIDA!" I shouted.

I called her name over and over.

"You!"

I turned and saw two women and a young man riding forward.

"How do you know the princess?" the man asked.

"I am her husband! She did not come back and I have reason to believe she was taken."

The older of the women bit her lip.

"She was taken. I saw a couple of dwarves run off with her. She was struggling but I think one of them hit her. They took her to the east. I held her locket in my hand and glared.

"Dain."

"What?"

"I need you to go to Erebor and tell the Queen and her husband that Dain has taken Merida. Go!"

They nodded and the youngest girl looked determined.

"I am going with you."

"No! Return to Dale and tell Lord Bard of this as well."

"I am his daughter! I want to help Merida."

"You will help her by telling your father. Now go!"

She scowled but did as I asked. I mounted Wind and squeezed her side. She galloped forward and I held on.

"I will find you Merida."

Maetharanel's POV

"My queen, Bain and Sigrid children of Bard request your presence."

I walked out and they both had worried expressions. I frowned.

"What is it?"

"Merida has been kidnapped. Sigrid saw several dwarves grab her and drag her off. Her husband, the elf went to find her."

I clenched my fists.

"Dain! LEGOLAS!"

He came running out with Fili, Kili, aunt Dis and Dwalin.

"What happened?"

"Dain has kidnapped Merida. Haldir went after her."

I had never seen Legolas so angry.

"Bring me my horse!"

He ran outside and I looked at my aunt.

"Aunt Dis, I need you to take over for me, at least for a while. And to keep Thorin and Tawariell out of trouble."

"I will. You just bring Merida back."

I nodded. I looked at Dwalin.

"Gather the company, and a group of 200 soldiers. We ride for Mirkwood and then for the Iron Hills."

"Aye lass."

I took my weapons and put on a Mithril coat of armor. Legolas looked at me.

"Please tell me this time we will kill him."

"If he does not give her back willingly yes. But I will not kill him unless I must. Now let us go."

He groaned but nodded. The company gathered and I looked at them.

"Merida has been kidnapped. We go to bring her back, but we must be prepared for a battle if need be."

"Aye!" they said.

The soldiers joined us and we rode for Mirkwood.

Merida's POV

I heard voices when I came around.

"But my lord, Maetharanel and her elf will come for her."

"Let them come. We have an army and she will not be going anywhere."

I opened my eyes and found myself blindfolded.

"Whose there!? I demand you release me now!"

"You have no power to make demands here cousin. Remove the blindfold."

They took it off roughly and there was Dain. I glared at him.

"How dare you!"

He laughed.

"You have no right to the throne, nor does your mother. No elf shall rule Erebor."

"You are mad! My parents will come for me and so will my husband! Haldir will shoot you from miles away!"

"So you followed in your mother's footsteps and married an elf. Thorin tainted the line of Durin by marrying that elf woman! I will not allow it to continue! The line ends with you! Lock her up!"

They came for me and I jumped up.

"Come on then!"

They came forward with determined smiles and I kicked one in the face and then the other in the chest. I jumped up and brought my arms up. A few more dwarves came and I hit them and fought as hard as I could. But more and more came and I could not fight them all, even though I did try. They got me and threw me in prison. I grabbed the bars and shook them.

"My husband will find me! He will make you regret taking me!" I shouted.

Haldir would come for me, I knew he would. I could feel him getting closer to me.

Legolas' POV

Maetharanel Fili, Kili and I rode to my father's gates.

"Edro!" I said.

They opened and we walked inside.

"Adar!" I called.

Tauriel came to us. At first she was smiling but then she saw the looks on our faces.

"What has happened?"

"Dain has kidnapped Merida. We need the army of elves."

She nodded. We went to my father and he smiled, and just like Tauriel it faded.

"~My children, what is it?~"

Maetharanel ran to my mother and hugged her. I told my father what had happened and the rage burned in his eyes.

"~I will make him regret the day he laid a finger on my grandchild! Vanya, you must look after…..~"

"~Oh no! I come with you! Tauriel can watch over things while we are away. Merida is my grandchild too. I will have that dwarf's head!~" she snarled.

My father and I looked at each other and then slowly nodded. She smiled and nodded and my father sent for the soldiers to prepare to leave. My father hugged Maetharanel.

"~We will get her back. I was not there for your father when I should have been. I will not let you do this alone. You are my daughter as well and Merida is my granddaughter. We stand with you, elves and dwarves together.~"

She smiled and hugged him. It warmed my heart to see things like this. I saw Tauriel walk off with Kili and I smiled. I knew they loved each other.

Haldir's POV

I rode for many days and nights. When I finally reached the Iron Hills, I dismounted Wind. I looked at her.

"~You must wait here. I will find Merida and you are our only means of escape.~"

She bobbed her head and I smiled. I turned and started to walk off. I hooves and a lot of them. I turned and saw a large army riding towards the Iron Hills. They would not arrive for at least another hour, but I knew it was Maetharanel and Legolas. I made my way through the cold until I found Dain's stronghold. I narrowed my eyes and took my bow. I moved around until I found a window to a room I knew was Dain's. I decided I would scare him a bit. I let several arrows fly through the window and waited. When I saw him come forward I let my arrow fly, but another dwarf pulled him back. I believe I still got his shoulder though. I had to get closer, and getting closer meant I had to be extra cautious. I made my way down the mountain side and into the city. I pulled up my hood and kept my head down. I slipped through the city quietly and made my way to the gates. They were too heavily guarded for me to get in that way. The walls were too steep to climb but there was damage to them. Certain parts had holes or loose bricks. I smiled and knew that was my way in. As I made my way there, several groups of soldiers went running towards the gates. I smiled knowing Maetharanel and Legolas had arrived.

Maetharanel's POV

I had the legion halt and I looked down at Dain's stronghold.

"They have a large army Maetharanel."

"Numbers do not win a battle, strength, cunning and skill do. We have plenty of that here. I want the archers in the back and I need swordsmen in the middle. Spearmen in the front line. Now Kili you will be in charge of the dwarven archers, Fili you are in charge of the rest of them. Legolas, you and I are going to ride to the gates and demand an audience with Dain. I want to avoid a fight if we can. Thranduil, I need you and Vanya to take a small group of elven archer around the stronghold and see if you can find where they are keeping Merida. Do not fight unless you must."

They smiled at me.

"What?"

"Your father would be so proud of you. You have become a fine queen."

I smiled and nodded. I looked at Legolas and we rode forward. We arrived at the gate and saw several soldiers there with swords and bows ready.

"I am Maetharanel Oakenshield, Queen of Erebor. I demand and audience with my cousin Dain."

"Lord Dain is wounded and in no….."

"ARE YOU DEAF!? I SAID GET DAIN! NOW!"

They jumped a bit and a couple of them ran off. Dain did come and his shoulder was injured.

"What happened to you cousin?" I asked.

He glared at me.

"As if you did not know! You are the only archer who could have shot me from so far! You or your elf!"

"I have only just arrived. And I know you have Merida. Giver her to us now and there will be no need for a fight."

"Ha! You give me what is mine and I will give your mongrel child to you."

I glared.

"The throne of Erebor does not belong to you! It never has and never will!" I snarled.

"Then you will never see her again!"

He walked back inside and Legolas and I rode back.

"They would not give her freely. Fili I want you to take your group down the left of me and Kili you stay here with the archers. Move forward when you must but stay a good distance away." I looked at the elves. "~All of you follow me down the center and then you over there follow Legolas down the right side! There is a strong army down there but we are stronger! We can and will defeat them and they shall know to fear us! Elves and dwarves stand together as one! DEATH!~"

They elves shouted and so did the dwarves. I turned on my horse and drew my sword. We rode forward and smashed through the gates. I hoped Haldir had found Merida.