Chapter 14:
Looking warily at the wizard, Bard couldn't help but feel a stab of concern. It was clear he was in a bad way and was really too weak to be taking this strenuous journey over the mountain rocks to Erebor. But, Bard supposed, he was Gandalf the Grey and was probably far stronger than he seemed.
It had been simple for Bard to get a boat they could use to get them to the shore, although the journey had taken far longer than when Bard had come to ask Thorin for the money for Laketown.
Trying to swallow his concern for the wizard, Bard waited outside the front gate of Erebor while Gandalf slowly approached, hobbling feebly and leaning heavily on Radagast and a walking stick Bard had found for him.
"So this is Erebor." Legolas said, not even bothering to hide his distaste.
"The Kingdom of Durin's folk, yes." Radagast answered, nodding so wildly his hat almost fell off.
"Gandalf!" Came an eager shout from the doorway, where Kili jumped out from behind the rock and ran towards the wizard, a wide grin on his face. His happiness was short lived however, because as soon as he saw Legolas he froze and panic spread across his features.
"Kili, you're alright." Gandalf smiled, relief clear in his tone and on his face. "So you've met our elven friend here?"
"Friend?" Kili asked stiffly, putting his hand on the sword as his side, glancing to Bard to gage the situation.
"Aye. For now. Where is Tauriel?" Legolas said sharply, glaring at Kili as if he were a bug merely in the way.
"She's inside, helping with Fili." Kili took a few steps back and gestured to the group to follow him. Leading the way inside the mountain, Kili stopped every so often to check on Gandalf's progress as he was still weak and slow. He felt a sort of panic surge within him at the prospect of Tauriel and Legolas' reunion. He had seen for himself how Legolas had looked at Tauriel, and although he was not worried about his own relationship with Tauriel being at risk, he did feel conflicted.
Kili was in love with Tauriel, that much he knew, but how would Legolas react to them? He did not doubt for a second that the elf's fury would not be dissimilar to that of Thorin if he found out and Kili could not deny the prospect frightened him.
"Is Fili alright?" Gandalf called out. For a second Kili said nothing, biting his lip and trying to quell the storm of worry inside him. Turning, Kili simply smiled at Gandalf in an attempt to reassure him before leading them into the main halls where the dwarves were busy scurrying about.
Some were readying themselves for battle, whilst others were sorting through the treasure still. Thorin and Bilbo were nowhere to be seen and Kili casually noted that they had still not come back from their walk. His uncle and the burglar had taken to going on long walks in the darkness alone together and although no one said anything Kili could tell everyone was curious as to what exactly they spoke about on their secret councils. If indeed they did any talking at all.
Busying himself sorting swords and shields into separate piles, Dwalin glanced up as the group walked into the room and, upon seeing Legolas, grabbed an axe from the floor and strode towards the elf snarling.
"Easy." Kili said a warning in his voice. "Gandalf obviously brought him for a reason, and I doubt that reason was for you to kill him."
"Nice of you to show up." Dwalin sneered, looking at the group with distaste whilst he gripped his axe tightly.
Legolas seemed to match Dwalin's distaste as he peered about himself, taking in the grand columns and glittering gold everywhere.
"Legolas, what are you…?" Tauriel stood up from where she had been perched next to Oin and Fili and bit her lip, clearly caught off-guard by the appearance of her friend.
"I am here to take you home Tauriel."
"You can't!" Radagast squealed, his eyes widening with disbelief. "What about the orcs?"
"Orcs?" Tauriel asked, tilting her head at Legolas as she waited for an answer.
"There is an army of orcs, led by Azog the defiler, heading this way." Legolas asserted blandly, his voice devoid of all feeling.
"And what proof do you have?" A voice from the dark seemed to echo through the hall and everyone turned to see Thorin stood atop the pile of gold, Bilbo at his side and the Arkenstone in his hand.
"Thorin, he's telling the truth." Gandalf's voice was severe but there was a calmness and softness to it. It was clear that he was relieved to see the entire company here, alive and mostly well.
Not on purpose, but somehow they had managed to stand in a sort of circle, all looking up to Thorin who stood majestically outlined against the gold and gloom.
Fili attempted to stand up but flopped back to the ground, sweat on his forehead. He was indeed getting better but it was a slow process and it was clear to any who looked at him that his journey to recovery had barely begun.
"Is he indeed?" Thorin sat down and glared at Gandalf, contempt clear in his face. "Is that where you've been? Off with the elves while we fought a dragon?"
Gandalf flinched and anger filled his expression. Normally this would have stopped Thorin in his tracks but now he just grinned, triumphant in his success in irritating the wizard.
"Thorin." Bilbo said, disappointment thick in his voice. "Perhaps it would be wise to listen to them, the raven said the same thing and they can't all be wrong…"
"I was in Dol Guldur and I saw the army with my own eyes Thorin Oakenshield. There are legions of them, you must call upon Dain. Or you will be destroyed."
Thorin looked at his nails and sighed, as if everyone had conspired just to make his life a bit more difficult.
Looking to Bilbo, Thorin shifted uncomfortably as he saw that the hobbit was glaring at him.
"Very well, where's that damn bird."
Just as the words left Thorin's mouth a squawk was heard from high above them and Roäc flew gracefully down, landing on Radagast's shoulder. The wizard proceeded to grin at the noble bird with his crooked and stained teeth, delight clear on his face.
"My King?" Roäc asked, his manner solemn and his tone respectful.
"Would you do me the great service of alerting my kinsman, Dain, of the imminent danger threatening us and ask his help to fight our enemy. Tell him that the King under the Mountain, Lord of Silver Fountains, King of Carven Stone and Owner of the Arkenstone desires he keep his oath of assistance."
Roäc bowed.
"It will be done as swiftly as I can, my King."
The raven flew off and the company watched as he soared above their heads. Gandalf smiled and nodded; glad they were back on the right track.
"Dwalin, organise the preparation needed. Find us weapons and armour and get everyone suited up. I want us ready when Dain arrives."
Dwalin nodded and began ordering the others about, getting some to find weapons and armour whilst others organised it to make sure that each person in the company had a full set of gear.
As he sauntered down the treasure pile, Thorin stopped and picked up a small shirt of mithril. Twisting it in his hands, Thorin raised an eyebrow and inspected the craftsmanship.
"Here, Master Baggins, this is your size." He handed the shirt over without another word and continued down the pile to join Balin who stood surveying the work of the others.
Bilbo weighed the shirt in his hands and looked down at Thorin, his guarded expression softening to a look of fondness.
Kili grinned at his uncle's kindness and turned to tell Tauriel, happiness bubbling inside him that he might be getting his uncle back. For the past few days Thorin had been strange, contained and angry all the time. He constantly kept the Arkenstone with him and Kili often saw him check his pocket, as if to make sure the stone was still there.
But Kili turned and faced empty air, as Tauriel was not there. Looking around wildly, Kili saw her in a corner with Legolas, her back against the wall and her expression uncomfortable.
Kili felt a panic clench his heart and he bit his lip, wondering whether he should go to her rescue. Knowing Tauriel could take care of herself, Kili was reluctant. But still… Legolas did look as if he was making her truly uncomfortable.
Picking up a quiver of arrows from the pile, Kili walked towards the two elves and hoped Tauriel would not be angry with him for intruding.
As he got closer to the two, he heard their conversation and felt his heart freeze in his chest.
"No, I will not leave them."
"Tauriel, you do not have a place here. We have done all we can but surely you can not intend to fight alongside the dwarves in this battle."
"I do not intend to leave them. I will fight, if they will have me."
"And what makes you think they would want you to stay?"
"Actually, we do want her to stay." Kili asserted, trying not to shiver as Legolas turned to glare at him menacingly.
"Aye, if the lass will help us we'd be glad of her. She'd be deadly in a fight, and sure enough there's a big one coming." Oin said, looking up from where he was next to Fili.
"If you'd like to stay, we'd be happy to have you." Fili said kindly, smiling at the red haired elf.
"You have a place with us as long as you want it lassie." Balin said, smiling from his place next to Thorin.
"You could be useful." Thorin said shortly, glancing up briefly before returning his gaze to the labours of the others.
Tauriel blushed at the words of the dwarves and felt more confident because of them. Giving Legolas a defiant look, Tauriel walked away from him and stood next to Kili, clearly signalling to him that she wished to remain in Erebor.
"It is our fight." She said softly, hoping that Legolas would not make things any more difficult. She had been glad to see him at first, relieved that he had not been injured after her decision to stay with Kili instead of joining him, but now he was pressuring her to leave with him she was not so sure him being back was the best thing.
"Very well." Legolas snapped, surveying the mountain of treasure with interest.
Clearly dismissed, Tauriel looked at Kili, who offered her the arrows with a blush and a nervous blink. Taking them from him, she smiled and discreetly put her hand on his cheek for a brief second. Legolas, intent upon the hoard, did not notice this gesture of love and thanks but Fili, who was the only one still watching the couple, did and felt a something gnaw at him. If he was reading the signs correctly, nothing good was to come of his brother's relationship with the elf. And if he was indeed correct, a relationship was exactly what it was.
Work resumed and soon the only sound was the chinks of gold as the dwarves sifted through the treasure to find items useful for the oncoming attack.
"Watch him." Thorin whispered to Dwalin before nodding to Legolas. Sharing a look, they both nodded. Wary that Legolas might look for his the jewels his father so desired word was spread through the company that Legolas was not to be left alone with the treasure at any time.
It was in this atmosphere of mistrust that trust was born as Thorin and the dwarves watched Legolas closely they forgot Tauriel and accepted her presence completely.
In this comfortable acceptance Kili and Tauriel did not worry about being watched and frequently went off on their own, as Thorin and Bilbo often did, calm in the knowledge that the dwarves were too busy to concern themselves with their movements. This left the watch of the couple to Legolas alone, who saw more than most and was quiet enough to sneak up on Tauriel herself unseen. As they soon found out.