Note: Italics is thoughts, unless specified otherwise i.e flashbacks or visions. / is timeskip
"Wait so survivors of Lake-town are here looking for shelter and in response, we are building the wall back up?" Alexa asked, needing clarification after what Nori had told her.
"Yes, Al. Now we're a bit late, so we best hurry." Nori said, ushering Alexa through the halls.
"Great, just great," she muttered, squinting through the darkness as Nori led her back to the gate.
What Alexa hadn't realized until she and Nori had made it to the gate was just how long she had been gone. It was now night time with the moon nowhere in sight. The only sources of light being from two braziers that the company had lit.
Shaking her head at Thorin who looked at her expectantly, she joined the Dwarves at the gate. With her shoulder, Alexa was unable to do any of the heavy lifting. But with the force? Well, the Dwarves were glad she was there that's for sure.
/
"Up it goes," Bofur said, his eyes following a large chunk of debris from Smaug's exit up the growing wall. His brother Bombur, Balin, and Dori's muscles strained as they yanked on a rope attached to the pulley system that had been put in place; hoisting the stone up.
Coming to rest on top of the growing wall, the Dwarves standing at the ready secured the stone so it would not loosen and guided it to its place.
Whilst this was happening the rest of the company were collecting the rubble from Smaug's exit into wagons, with Gloin smashing some of the larger stones into ones that could be lifted.
"That's it," Dwalin grunted, shifting the stone, so it nestled firmly wedged between those already there.
"I want this fortress made safe by sunup. This mountain was hard-won. I will not see it taken again." Thorin commanded, overlooking the company who was doing all the heavy lifting.
At his words, Kili dropped the cart he was pulling; his eyes full of disbelief as he looked upon his uncle. "The people of Lake-town have nothing. They came to us in need. They have lost everything." he told him, trying to reason with Thorin.
"Do not tell me what they have lost. I know well enough their hardship," Thorin replied, turning to look over what wall the company had built, "Those who have lived through dragon fire should rejoice. They have much to be grateful for," he said, his tone filled with disdain and no remorse as he looked upon the fires burning in Dale.
"More stone!" he shouted, "Bring more stone to the gate!"
"That's it," Dwalin grunted, watching as Alexa used the force to lift and secure a rather massive stone onto the growing gate.
The company worked throughout the night and into the early hours of the next day. Exhausted from the hard labour, many had collapsed near the gate they had built; all too tired to walk back to their rooms. The only one awake now was the leader of said company: Thorin Oakenshield. The Dwarf King stood before the wall, dark bags under his sullen eyes as he examined their work.
The wall in question was about fifty feet high and had a platform at the top, which stretched long enough for the whole company to stand on. Bofur, Nori, Dori, and Alexa had also built a staircase leading up to the platform. With Dori and Alexa moving each stone that Nori and Bofur had carved into position.
- Time Skip -
A groan escaped Alexa as she was shaken awake, "What time is it?" she moaned, rubbing her tired eyes.
"A few hours after dawn lass." Balin sighed, his joints cracking as he stood from his crouched position next to her.
Yawning, Alexa pushed herself up from the stone floor. A wince left her as she bumped her left shoulder against the wall that she had slept against. Placing her hands on either side of her, she pushed herself up with her palms. Getting to her feet, she nodded to Balin, who smiled sadly at her and walked back with her to the gate.
As they were about to join the company, Balin halted in his step, causing Alexa to do the same. She glanced towards the Dwarf curiously, wondering why he had stopped.
A sigh left Balin, his light blue orbs meeting hers, "I'm aware lass, that with you being a Jedi you have been brought up under different... Circumstances and traditions so to speak," he began, making Alexa's face scrunch into one of confusion; not quite understanding why he was bringing it up now.
"Nonetheless I am happy to call you sister." he finished, resting an aged hand on her right shoulder, his lips curving in the first smile Alexa had seen since arriving in Erebor.
Before she could ask why he was bringing up such things and what he had meant, he had joined the rest of the company; leaving her even more confused than before. Closing her mouth, the words died in her mouth as she watched the old Dwarf converse briefly with his brother, a chuckle leaving him.
A smile soon twitched at her lips as it dawned on her what Balin had called her; she ducked her head as her smile grew. When she had joined the company, she hadn't expected to find a family. She had been a bit of a loner after all, with only her Master, Obi-Wan, and Anakin there to call family; and well, we all know how that went down.
"Not a bad night's work," Gloin grunted, staring up at the wall, a proud look in his tired eyes.
The company all stood clustered before the great wall they had built, waiting for their leader. "Come on," Thorin ordered, causing several of the Dwarves to pick up weapons ranging from war hammers to spears.
Following her counterparts up the stairs, she stood between Bifur and Bombur on the platform they had all made some hours ago.
Glancing over the wall, Alexa's eyes roamed over the thousands of Elf soldiers all armed at the ready. Their presence only added to the worry she felt, as she knew that the battle would arrive within the day. Alexa's fingers hovered over her lightsaber; she knew that once that battle came, she would use it. However, she had no clue as to if Thorin would command her to use it sooner; she could only trust in the force that he wouldn't.
The sight of an army of Elves in Dale worried all but Thorin, who did not seem concerned in the slightest. A couple of hundred angry fishermen they could easily handle. But an army of Thranduil's men? Yeah, not so much.
However, the presence of the Elvish reinforcements did not hold their gaze for long as the constant thumps of a horse's hooves approached the mountain. Alexa watched as Bard rode towards the mountain upon a white horse; a relieved sigh left her at the sight of the unscathed man.
Halting just before the bridge, Bard spoke, "Hail, Thorin, son of Thrain! We are glad to find you alive beyond hope." he declared, obviously trying to flatter Thorin in some way.
"Why do you come to the gates of the King under the Mountain armed for war?" Thorin asked, the man's words not impressing him in the slightest.
"Why does the King under the Mountain fence himself in like a robber in his hold?" Bard asked, replying with a question of his own.
At his words, Thorin's eyes narrowed, "Perhaps it is because I am expecting to be robbed." he growled,
"My Lord, we have no come to rob you but to seek a fair settlement," Bard tried to reason with Thorin, "Will you not speak with me?" he asked, hoping that the Dwarf King would agree with him.
Surprising Alexa and the rest of the company, Thorin nodded lowly. His head tilted back slightly in motion for Bard to come to the gate. Seeing the invitation, Bard hopped down from his horse and approached the gate. The crunching of frost beneath his boots and the caw from a raven above were the only sounds in the otherwise quiet landscape as he neared the newly built gate.
As Thorin turned to walk down the steps, he glanced back at Alexa; his milky sapphire eyes wandering over her form. Unnerved, the woman shifted in her spot, not wanting in the slightest to follow his silent command.
Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she glanced at Bombur who nodded slightly at her, a frown on his round face; for he also did not want her to go either. Yet with Thorin being held under the sickness, he was like a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode. So, they had all learnt to go along with what he wanted, lest they face his wrath. Knowing this, Alexa sighed and nodded.
She glanced around the company; her eyes falling on Dwalin who had a deep scowl on his face. It was no secret that the burly Dwarf had not liked how Thorin had been acting around her since her arrival in Erebor.
Amidst Thorin's borderline possessive need to keep her by his side or in his sight for most of the day. The sick state of his King made the burly Dwarf worry for the woman's safety. Though he had yet to hurt her, Dwalin knew that it would not be long before he snapped.
Averting her eyes from Dwalin, Alexa reluctantly joined Thorin's side and walked down the steps to the peaky hole in the wall. As this was happening, the rest of the company all either moved to stand a few meters from the hole in the new blockade Thorin and Alexa had stopped before or remained listening from the staircase.
Holding her breath, Alexa leant against the stone, her body opposite to Thorin and out of view of Bard, "I am listening." Thorin stated, his voice calm and steady as he looked at the man on the other side of the wall.
"On behalf of the people of Lake-town I ask that you honour your pledge," Bard began, "A share of the treasure so that they might rebuild their lives." he pleaded,
Thorin shook his head at the man's words, his eyes darkening at the mention of his treasure; making Alexa cringe, "I will not treat with any man while an armed host lies before my door." he replied, his voice a low murmur.
"That armed host will attack this Mountain if we do not come to terms," Bard said calmly, the only sign that he was growing impatient being the deepening lines on his forehead.
"And your threats do not sway me," Thorin muttered, shaking his head.
"What of your conscience? Does it not tell you our cause is just?" Bard asked, pausing for his words to settle in Thorin's mind. He rested an arm against the opening of the hole they spoke through, "My people offered you help. And in return, you brought upon them only ruin and death." he exclaimed, anger in his voice.
At that, Alexa bit her lip, knowing that Bard had not chosen his words wisely, "When did Lake-town come to our aid but for the promise of a rich reward?" Thorin spat, remembering the town they had escaped from.
"A bargain was struck!" Bard remarked, reminding Thorin of the settlement they had agreed to in Lake-town.
"A bargain? What choice did we have but to barter our birthright for blankets and food? To ransom our future in exchange for our freedom? You call that a fair trade?" Thorin scoffed, his voice filled with a mix of passion and pain.
Alexa watched as Thorin dipped his head slightly, his eyes darkening till only a thin circle of blue remained, "Tell me, Bard, the Dragon-slayer why should I honour such terms?" he asked, surprising Bard with the title.
Despite the conversation not going his way, Bard looked at Thorin and calmly said, "Because you gave us your word. Does that mean nothing?"
At his words, Thorin moved away from the hole and effectively left Bard's sight. His back rested against the stone wall as he peered up at the company, who were all awaiting his answer. Thorin then glanced towards Alexa, who was staring at him intently; a worried look on her face. She shook her head, in silent warning. Don't do it Thorin, she pleaded.
"Begone! Ere our arrows fly!" Thorin shouted, ignoring the woman's warning and causing Bard to thump the wall with his hand; a frustrated grunt leaving him. Oh, fuck me, Alexa sighed, pinching her nose with her thumb and forefinger in frustration.
The company then made their way back up the stairs and stood on the ramparts. A pit of uneasiness settled in their stomachs as they all watched the man's departure.
"What are you doing? You cannot go to war." Bilbo said, his tone faltering as he stared at Thorin, who was overlooking Dale.
"He is right Thorin. We cannot win this one." Alexa backed up from beside Bilbo,
"This does not concern you." Thorin dismissed the two, his gaze lingering on Alexa; who scowled at his words, a fire burning in her eyes. That was the last straw. She couldn't take it anymore.
Sickness be damned, she thought, "Right, because if it comes to war, I will be sitting at home looking after the children," Alexa replied dryly, "No! Exactly, I will be on that battlefield fighting alongside you all!" she asserted,
"You will not! I forbid it! I will not allow MY jewel to fight in any battle!" Thorin roared, his words angering Alexa. That's what he saw her as, a jewel, an object, a possession.
"I am not yours to command and do with as you see fit! You are not my father, and you are certainly not my husband!" Alexa snapped, sick of the gold sickness that loomed over Thorin.
At her words, Thorin's stature became rigid, and his expression grew dangerous. A snarl crawled its way up his throat as he stepped towards her, fury in his eyes. Seeing this, Alexa faltered. She could not bring herself to fight Thorin, no matter how sick he was. Just as Thorin was about to step any closer, a figure stood in front of the woman; shielding her from an enraged Thorin.
Dwalin stared at his friend, his brother, his King as he stood in front of the lass; blocking her from his sight and protecting her from his wrath. He would not stand by and watch him harm Alexa, even if it meant Thorin would hurt him instead.
A deathly silence hung over the ramparts as everyone held their breath. Their eyes all wide as they watched the two Dwarf's stared the other down, neither yielding to the other.
"Get out of my way," Thorin growled lowly. A shiver raked its way down Alexa's body at his words even as Dwalin stood firmly in front of her, his stance unrelenting.
"No, Thorin," Dwalin replied, his voice a low rumble as he curved his arm back to rest around Alexa's hip; making sure she kept behind him.
Neither Dwarf backed down as the air grew heated around them all. Alexa stood nervously behind Dwalin, her lip between her teeth. She knew that she should have just remained quiet and not said anything. But the stress from the upcoming battle and mission had caught up with her all at once; causing her to snap at Thorin.
Frightened for his friend, Bilbo tried to get Thorin's focus off of her, "Excuse me but in case you haven't noticed, there is an army of Elves out there. Not to mention several hundred angry fishermen. We are, in fact, outnumbered." Bilbo informed, his eyes shining with disbelief at Thorin's earlier dismissal.
Bilbo's plan had worked as his words had made Thorin's attention shift from Dwalin. The Dwarf's milky eyes snapped to the Hobbit before moving to settle on the city of Dale. As soon as Thorin had turned away, a shaky breath left Alexa.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she raised a trembling hand to rest on the thick arm around her hip. Feeling her hand on his arm, Dwalin peered back at Alexa, who squeezed his arm; in silent thanks for protecting her.
Nodding slightly in reply, Dwalin shifted her in front of him as a precaution. That way if Thorin decided to turn, he would not see her. The Dwarf then walked her towards the other end of the rampart, his hand not once leaving her hip as he led her away from Thorin; who was still looking out towards Dale.
A sly smile grew on Thorin's lips as he stared out at the city, "Not for much longer." he replied, turning to look at the Hobbit.
"What does that mean?" Bilbo asked, his brow creasing in confusion at the Dwarf's words.
"It means, Master Baggins," Thorin began, walking to stand in front of him, "You should never underestimate Dwarves," he told him, a smirk on his face.
Turning back to the company, Thorin stared at his Kin; a grave expression now on his face, "We have reclaimed Erebor. Now we defend it."
AN: Sorry to all you Thorin fans, but he sick man.
