Authors Note: First off, Happy Birthday to ZabusasGirl! Take this as my gift to you :D I totally just started working on this the moment I got you PM *hands out internet cookie* Hope you have a wonderful day!
Lots of love from Sylwen n Bard!
Before the couple could reach their destination, Sylwen caught wind of Alfrid's raised voice from the courtyard, grabbing Bard's hand as she stopped him. "Wait.." She stood there for a moment, Bard casting a questioning glance in her direction. "Somethings going on." She said, before letting go of his hand and scurrying around the corner, Bard close behind her.
"Who's in charge here?" The voice cut over the crowd, Bard stepping round the corner as he caught sight of Alfrid and an older man. "Who's asking?" He stepped in, stopping as he watched the man, Sylwen stepping in beside him.
The old wizard's gaze lingered on Bard before landing on the elven woman at his size, reorganization seeming to flash across his face before he pursed his lips. "I am Gandalf, the grey." He introduced himself, before glancing back at Bard once again. "You are the dragonslayer, are you not?" He inquired.
Bard hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I am." He answered finally. "What is it here that you seek?" He asked him.
Gandalf let out a sigh. "I need to speak to Thranduil."
Sylwen had parted with the group at Bard's request, wanting to save her from the war talk that was mostly likely to come. She stared down at the fire in front of her, rolling the meat over it absent minded. She had returned back to the house they were occupying, checking up on the children and to make a meal for them. After Thranduil and the elves had given them food and supplies, she could finally make an actual meal for her family. There hadn't been much meat, due to elves having a more natural diet, but Sylwen had managed to dig up something.
Sigrid had offered to make supper, but Sylwen opted in and let her relax for an evening. Meat was one of the things she had learnt to cook, finding a small smile tugging at her lips as she thought about how far she had strayed from her born heritage. It was almost laughable.
"So where were you last night?" A voice came from beside her, startling Sylwen as she glanced up to find Lucy settling in beside her.
"You were awake?" Sylwen inquired, trying to keep her composure after the events of last night began to fill her head again, feeling the heat begin to creep up her neck.
"Sort of. I heard you get up but it didn't take very long for me to pass out again." Lucy stated, grinning lightly as she leaned her elbows on her knees, staring into the fire again. Her eyes darted to Sylwen again, staring at her for a moment before she grinned. "He left a love bite." She reached over, poking her neck where there was a faint mark against her pale skin.
Sylwen's hand flew to her neck, eyes wide as she circled around on Lucy. "Is there?!" She squeaked out, cheeks burning with embarrassment. The thought didn't cross her mind the previous night, and she couldn't remember off hand how long she had been walking around outside already and didn't want to think about how many people already caught sight of it.
She only groaned, shoving her face into her hands as her ginger hair fell around her, wanting to curl up in a ball..
Lucy couldn't help but smile at Sylwen's reaction to it, tilting her head to the side a bit as she watched her. They had come so far and yet she still got so embarrassed over something so completely normal. Though, some normalcy was rare now a days so she'd take it when she could get it.
"You two are cute." Lucy said finally, stretching out her legs in front of her as she leaned back on her hands, watching the fire once again. "The food is gonna burn." She added in, causing Sylwen to panic. Lucy grinned.
"You must set aside your petty grievances with the Dwarves." Gandalf warned Thranduil. "War is coming. The cesspits of Dol Guldur have been emptied." Gandalf did not miss the exasperated look Thranduil cast in the bowman's direction. "You are all in mortal danger." He cast a pointed gaze at Bard, who seemed to worry more than the Elven king.
"What are you talking about?" He stepped forward, an uneasy feeling brewing in his stomach at his warning. If the Dwarves were not the only enemy they were going to face, he needed to know about it. He would not; could not; risk loosing his children and Sylwen.
Gandalf was about to speak but Thranduil beat him to it. "I can see you know nothing of wizards." He stated, walking to the table as he poured two glasses of elven wine. "They are like winter thunder on a wild wind rolling in from a distance." He handed a glass to Bard. "But sometimes the storm, is just a storm."
Thranduil refused to listen to reason. That much was clear.
But Gandalf pressed on. "Not this time. Armies of Orcs are on the move. These are fighters that have been bred for war." He glanced between the two, the only one who seemed to be taking his words seriously was Bard. "Our enemy has summoned his full strength."
Thranduil glanced back at Gandalf. "Why show his hand now?" He asked, giving into his warning, if only out of curiosity of what else he might speak.
"Because we forced him!" Gandalf stated loudly, before pausing. "We forced him when the company of Thorin Oakenshield set out to reclaim their homeland." This, seemed to catch Thranduil's attention finally as he followed him outside and onto the overlook.
"The dwarves were never meant to reach Erabor. Azog the Defiler was sent to kill them." He paused to turn around, both men trailing behind him. "His master, seeks to control the mountain." Gandalf continued, stopping as he looked upon the mighty mountain. "Not just for the treasure within. But for where it lies. Its strategic position. This is the gateway to reclaiming the lands of Angmar in the north." He shook his head. "If that fell kingdom should rise again. Rivendell, Moria. The shire! Even Gondor itself will fall!"
Thranduil's lips set in a thin line. "These Orc armies you speak of, Mithrandir, where are they?" He asked, all but seriousness in his voice now.
Night had begun to fall once again, Sylwen's gaze lingering on the young brunette that laid sound asleep against her, a small smile crossing her lips as she gently brushed some hair out of Tilda's face. She had spent the day at the house, occupying her time with the children and putting Tilda to sleep for the night.
She felt she hadn't seen them much over the past days with everything that's been going on, and felt like she needed to see them...be with them again. For if she were no longer here when the war was over, she did not want them to think ill of her.
Gently as she could, Sylwen tucked a pillow under Tilda's head and fixed the blanket on her once again, standing up as she tip toed across the room, finding Sigrid outside. "You alright?" She asked her, standing beside her as she gazed up at the moon that hung in the sky.
She didn't answer right away, Sylwen glancing in her direction worriedly. "Sigrid?"
Sigrid finally sighed softly and nodded, looking up at Sylwen. "We're all going to be alright, aren't we?" She asked softly, the worry in her voice masking over the assured nod.
Sylwen couldn't help but smile softly. "Of course we are." She said, pulling the teenager into a hug as she rested her head atop hers. She felt her arms wrap around her, squeezing her tightly. "Dwarves are just stubborn and greedy, I'm sure somehow someone will get through to them finally and this war will end. I'll make sure your father doesn't do anything stupid." She reassured her.
"And in return I'll do the same for you." A voice spoke up from behind them, both girls glancing back as they found Bard standing there.
"Da!" Sigrid's face lit up, running into his arms as she hugged him tightly. Sylwen couldn't help but smile softly. Bard had been so busy lately it was hard to come by and check on the children. He kissed her head softly. "I'm sorry for not being around as often." He told her, hugging her tightly.
Sigrid shook her head, looking up at him. "We know you have things to do Da. Its alright." Bard couldn't help but chuckle at his eldest daughter, ruffling her hair. "That's my girl."
"I just put Tilda to sleep and I think Lucy and Bain are off gallivanting again." Sylwen told him, walking over as she received a quick kiss from him.
"Thranduil wants to speak to you." He told her, his voice taking on a more serious tone. He saw the hesitance flash in her eyes once before he smiled softly. "I'll be right there with you. Don't worry." He told her.
Sylwen reluctantly nodded, Sigrid heading back inside to keep an eye on Tilda before they headed back to the courtyard.
They barely arrived though when Gandalf came storming out of the tent. "Bowman! Did you agree with this?"
Sylwen cast a questioning glance at the wizard before looking up at Bard, unsure what was going on all afternoon.
Bard pressed his lips together at his question. "Is gold so important to you?" Gandalf pressed him, causing him to shake his head. Of course it wasn't. There was things far more precious to him than specks of gold. "Will you buy it with the blood of Dwarves?"
"It will not come to that!" Bard finally stopped him, voice heavy. "This is a fight they cannot win."
Before either could speak up, another voice had joined the que.
"That won't stop them! If you think the Dwarves will surrender, they won't. They'll fight to the death to defend their own."
Sylwen was surprised to find the little hobbit in front of them suddenly, not having seem him since they had left for the mountain.
"Bilbo Baggins!" Gandalf exclaimed, relief washing through his voice as the little hobbit gave a weak smile.
Thranduil stared down upon the small hobbit that stood in his presence, slightly miffed that yet again he was dissuaded from the questions he had for the ginger elf that now stood at Bard's side.
"If I am not mistaken, this is the halfling that stole the keys to my dungeons from under the nose of my guards." Thranduil said, more of a state than a question as he sat down in his chair, eyeing the hobbit.
Sylwen watched as Bilbo shifted uncomfortably in his presence, muttering a weak 'yes' from between his teeth. She had to cup a hand over her mouth from the mild amusement, catching even a faint smile on Bard's lips at the current situation. "Sorry about that." He spoke a little clearer.
She found it highly amusing that such a little hobbit could outwit Thranduil's mighty kingdom. Not that she'd ever speak it aloud in fear of her head being presented on a silver platter of course.
Bilbo cleared his throat, setting that matter aside as he stepped forward. "I came." He paused, pulling something from his coat as he set it on the table and began to unwrap it. "To give you this."
Sylwen's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the shimmering white stone that was revealed, feeling her heart turn heavy and an uncomfortable lump begin to form in her throat. "The Arkenstone.." She whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Do not touch that!" The voice rumbled through the entire cavern, shaking the floor beneath her as she was startled out of whatever trance she had been under. At her feet, sat a shimmering white stone, the light of it glaring off the golden treasure.
Smaug's claws wrapped around Sylwen's midsection easily, lifting her clear off the floor as his tail gave one might sweep, burying the jewel under mounds of gold. Her gaze flitted across the floor, before lifting it to the dragon. "What was that?" She asked, her feet touching ground once again as he put her down.
A low rumble vibrated in his throat. "The Arkenstone.."