Chapter 16

In the morning, we were greeted with elves lining Dale in large numbers. Numbers that far exceeded our own and I knew we wouldn't win this if Thorin went to war. I couldn't help but feel surprised that Thranduil even had come out of hiding. It was unlike him to leave the Woodland Realm, not matter what it meant. I was sure the only reason he was here was to retrieve his precious gems. I knew that he was entitled to them, but Thorin didn't believe so. I sighed and crossed my arms as I stared over the ruined city. Bilbo came to my side quietly from where we stood with the others.

"Look," Bilbo said quietly.

Following his pointing, I watched Bard riding up on a white horse. I met his gaze when he got to the gate, and I lowered my eyes quietly, hoping to let him know this wasn't the time. He didn't catch the obvious look and instead, he turned his attention toward Thorin.

"Hail Thorin, son of Thrain. We are glad to find you alive beyond hope!" Bard said loudly.

"Why do you come to the gates of the King under the Mountain armed for war?" Thorin asked coldly.

"Why does the King under the Mountain fence himself in like a robber in his hole?" Bard asked in reply.

"Perhaps it is because I'm expecting to be robbed!" Thorin snapped back.

I lowered my gaze to the floor, and looked at Bilbo who stood next to me with a look of despair on his face. Reaching out, I laid a hand on his shoulder, and let him grab for my fingers. He clenched them for a moment before letting his arm fall back to his side.

"My Lord, we have not come to rob you, but to seek fair settlement. Will you not speak with me?" Bard asked evenly from the back of his horse.

Thorin glared a little, but nodded his head and walked down the steps. It was not a surprise that he didn't come to a deal with Bard. The talk didn't go so well and he sent the man off in anger. I couldn't help but be angry with him. He had made a deal with them and now wasn't honoring it. I stood quietly next to Fili, as he rested his hands on the axe he was holding while Thorin turned around to walk up the steps. We all quietly joined him and I watched Bard ride off in anger.

Bilbo watched them and then shook his head from where he stood with me. "What are you doing?" he asked, horrified at Thorin's actions. "You cannot go to war."

"This does not concern you," Thorin muttered firmly.

"Excuse me!" Bilbo snapped loudly, his voice shaking. "In case you haven't noticed, there is an army of Elves out there. Not to mention several hundred angry fishermen. We...we are in fact out numbered."

Thorin turned with a slight smile on his face. "Not for much longer."

The hobbit looked at him for a moment and confusion played across his face. "What does that mean?"

"It means Master Baggins, you should never under estimate Dwarves," Thorin replied firmly as he began to walk down the stairs.

He turned back to us after I snorted and he looked over the company. "We have reclaimed Erebor," he said lowly. "Now...we defend it."

As he left my sight, I tensed and then transformed into a hawk and flew off. The company stayed silent with my departure, and left the stairs. I flew after Bard and came to a landing just as he approached Thranduil.

"He will give us nothing," Bard said quietly.

"Such a pity. But still, you tried," Thranduil replied, not appearing bothered.

"Why?" Bard asked quietly. "Why would he risk war?"

"It is fruitless to reason with them," Thranduil snorted as he slowly drew his sword to look at it. "They understand only one thing."

I pushed my transformation to human then and came around the back of Bard's horse with a glare. "That's a down right lie and you know it," I said coldly.

"Well, well, Lady Arina," Thranduil smiled.

"Don't play nice," I snapped. "Had you not come here with your army, Thorin would have been more likely to send out what was owed."

"I highly doubt it," Thranduil replied.

"No, I know he would," I hissed. "You are going to attack that mountain knowing full well that Thorin isn't himself."

"I told him that I warned his grandfather about the greed and sickness that lies in that place," Thranduil answered shortly. "He is no different from them."

"Yes he is," I answered. "And he will prove it to you before this is over. If you attack that mountain, Thranduil you will find much more than dwarves behind that wall."

"You would join him?" Bard asked softly.

"Of course I would," I replied looking at him. "But not for the reasons he is using. Your people I have nothing against, and they do not need to be involved with this."

"What do you mean?" Bard asked.

"She's just trying to sway you," Thranduil smiled icily.

"No. You come here for those gems that Thror held back from you," I replied smoothly. "That is why you are here. That's the only reason you are here. You're just using the fact that Thorin owes Bard's people something to gather more aid."

The elf glared at me and turned his stag around and walked off. He twirled his sword down to his side. "We attack at dawn. Are you with us?" he threw over his shoulder to Bard.

"I'm sorry, Arina," Bard said lowly. "Let's hope it doesn't come to war."

"So am I," I replied. "Before this is over, I'm sure you will see that Thorin is not your enemy. The curse that lies on that mountain can infect even the strongest of people. I know he will break from it..."

Bard sighed quietly and watched as I turned into a raven and flew back to the mountain. Landing inside, I turned human and went to find the others. Following the sounds of talking, I found myself down in the armory. I watched as they all grabbed weapons and armor to get ready for what had to be done. They had all changed in to finer clothes they had found in the mountain and I watched Balin pick up a chest plate with a sad look on his face. When Gloin reached out to him in comfort I knew that the company didn't agree with what was going on. I met Balin's gaze when he found me and I nodded my head to him quietly.

Fili was helping Kili with some of his armor, and he looked up when I walked in. Thorin glanced up at me when I came in and I saw his gaze narrow slightly. I ignored that and walked over to the brothers. Kili gave me a smile, so I forced myself to return it for his sake. The armor didn't suit any of them, not even Thorin.

Fili looked at me as he finished helping his brother. "Arina, you should arm yourself with something," he said quietly.

"No, I'm armed with all I need," I replied quietly.

"Master Baggins," Thorin said loudly. "Come here."

I glanced over to see Bilbo at the end of the hall, and slowly the hobbit made his way over to us. Thorin walked over to him, and I watched him reveal a mithril shirt to him as a token of their friendship. I looked away sharply and looked at all the weapons and armor. Bilbo didn't need to be a part of this either. I sighed quietly and stared at the swords for a long moment.

"This is...this is so stupid," I muttered.

Balin looked over at me, "You know he isn't himself, Arina..."

"I know that," I said softly. "But this is over the top. This...this is exactly what Thror did with Moria."

"Aye..." Balin said sadly. "It is..."

Dwalin looked over at me when when he grabbed two axes, and we shared a look. I remembered him returning from Moria, and the look of devastation on his face. Dwalin walked over to me in silence and reached out to press our foreheads together. I felt like we were reliving a horrible memory, watching them get ready for a war that wasn't worth it. Knowing he felt the same made it hurt even worse.

"Stay strong, lass," he rumbled.

He leaned away from me before I could answer and walked off to join the others. I watched the company finish preparing themselves and then they gathered and walked off. It was a painful sight for me to see, and I crossed my arms quietly as a chill went down my spin. Turning my back to them, I gazed over all the weapons in the room and the armor that was left. It was covered in dust and spider webs.

"Why did you not prepare yourself?"

Jumping at the sound of Thorin's voice, I turned my head to see him gazing at me. The look on his face had me standing up a little straighter. Glancing at everything behind me again, I turned back to look at the dwarf.

"Since when, have you ever known me to dress up for war?" I demanded.

Thorin gave me a cruel look and smiled. "I forgot," he said lowly. "That you always ran away from a fight."

I felt myself flinch at the insult. "You know I was never made for war, Thorin," I replied quietly.

"Well we have one at our doorstep," he replied walking forward. "And like it or not, you will prepare for it. You cannot run from it this time."

I stepped back from him as he approached, but I wasn't able to go very far. Calling on the anger that was there, I gave him an icy glare. He wasn't going to get away with it this time. I was done being shoved around by him. Someone needed to take him on, and I decided I would for the moment.

"Our doorstep?" I asked coldly. "Last I checked this was your doorstep, not mine and not ours. I owe you nothing."

"I saved your life," he snapped glaring at me. "You owe me a debt that is to be paid."

"You are drowning in this!" I laughed incredulously. "This sickness has you in its grip so much that you cannot even control what comes out of your mouth. If you were yourself you would have realized how awful all of that just sounded."

"Pick your next words very carefully," Thorin muttered, his hand resting on his sword hilt.

A snarl that wasn't human suddenly left my lips and I used it. Stepping forward, I sent him several paces back. "You think that you could harm me?" I hissed. "I did not come all this way with you for nothing. I have not spent almost a hundred years being your friend, being more than that...to have it end like this. If you raise a blade at me Thorin Oakenshield I will break it, and you."

There was a brief moment of silence as he stared at me, obviously shocked by the words that came out of my own mouth. I had never spoken to him like that, and he knew it. We stood there, facing off until suddenly the shock was gone and replaced with a vicious stare.

"I should have let you die in those woods," he growled lowly.

"Well with how things are going you pretty much have done the equivalent," I snapped at him and pulled my braid out for him to see. "Maybe at the end of this I will be dead, or so will you."

"Better if you will be," Thorin snarled.

Without another word he turned and walked off, leaving me stunned. I kept telling myself that it was the sickness that was making him this way, knowing that it was the truth. If it wasn't, he never would have felt that way. Laying my hand on the table, I felt my heart began to pound and the sound rang in my ears. Taking a few deep breaths, I tried to calm myself down.

"It's the sickness," I whispered. "It's the sickness. Don't cry...he didn't mean it. It's the sickness."

I could feel the tears threatening to spill and the hurt he had caused from words alone threaten to take over. Closing my eyes tightly I felt my nails dig in to my palm when I suddenly heard footsteps.

"Arina? Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Nori," I said quietly to the dwarf as he appeared in the doorway. "Did you need something?"

"Just had to grab something else," he answered reaching to grab an axe. "Do...do you need anything?"

"Is Thorin nearby?" I whispered.

"No, no he's not," the thief shook his head.

"Will you fetch Fili and Kili for me?" I asked. "Tell them to come down here?"

"I will," Nori nodded his head. "Did...did he say something to you?"

"He said lots of things," I choked out. "I need to calm down. Tell Balin too..."

He nodded quickly and hurried off to go do as I asked. I was grateful he didn't press on any further because my heart was ready to burst from holding everything in. Thorin was never one who would be cruel to those he loved, this wasn't him. I wasn't alone for very long and hurried footsteps echoed down the hall. Opening my eyes I saw Fili and Kili coming towards me.

They rushed back into the armory and I let out the breath I had found I had been holding. Fili reached out, and I immediately grabbed on to his gloved hands. Kili laid a hand on my shoulder and leaned his forehead against the side of my head. He frowned in anger and I gripped Fili's hands tightly. The eldest prince looked at me with a look that was a mix of sadness and anger.

"He's gone isn't he?" Kili asked quietly.

"Very much so," I whispered. "He expected me to be ready for war, and when I refused him...I can't even get past what he said. He told me he should have let me die the day he found me."

"He never felt that way, Arina," Fili said fiercely. "Uncle never felt that way about you. It's the sickness talking. That is not the Thorin we know."

"I know, I just...I needed to hear it from someone else," I murmured.

"Arina," Balin said coming in to the room.

I looked up when he came in to view, only having to raise my eyes. Fili let go of one of my hands so that he could stand on my other side as the older dwarf came over. Balin sighed quietly, his look matching my own.

"They are right," he said sadly. "He never felt that way. He loves you...more than you could possibly know."

"I just...need to hear it from someone other than myself," I replied pressing the side of my head against Kili's.

"You know it to be true lass," Balin said taking my hand and patting it. "You know it."

"What do I do, Balin?" I asked quietly. "Do I suit up for war? Or do I defy him?"

"Do both," Balin answered instantly. "Be ready, lass because I fear it will happen. Be ready for it, but do not show him that. Find your courage lass, you'll need it."

I closed my eyes at his words and then slowly nodded my head to him. Fili looked Balin for a moment before the older dwarf bobbed his head again and walked off. I was able to get my heart under control, and suddenly I gave a soft laugh that startled the brothers.

"I remember a point in our life...where you two needed me more than I needed you," I admitted. "Funny how the tables have turned."

"We still need you just as much as before, Arina," Kili replied firmly. "You are our family. We will never abandon you."

"We'll always be here," Fili nodded. "And we'll protect you, should you ever need it. Even if it's from our own Uncle."

"Now come on," Kili smiled at me. "Let's go join the others."

When I nodded, we left the armory together only to be brought to a dead halt by Thorin once we hit the stairs. I shifted slightly and clenched my jaw when he glared at me. He then looked to his nephews who were beside me.

"She better not be filling your heads with lies and making you want to abandon your King," he said darkly.

"I don't think I need to help them make a choice if it came to that," I replied hotly and then shut my mouth instantly.

Thorin looked at me and he made a motion to move forward when Fili suddenly tensed and stepped forward. He shielded Kili and I both from Thorin and walked up the steps to be level with him. The King stopped, obviously a little surprised that his nephew would even try to take him on.

"Actually Uncle we were trying to give her a good reason as to why she should continue supporting you," he snapped back. "Why should she? You've been nothing but cruel to her since we entered this mountain. You told her to stick with Kili and I and that's exactly what she is doing. If you wanted her to be an ally maybe you should have treated her better. Now move, so we may join the company."

Thorin's eyebrows rose, shocked that his oldest heir spoke back to him. Kili and I were also stunned into silence, and I glanced at my feet. Fili stood there taking on the harsh look Thorin was giving him. There were several tense minutes, before Thorin finally tipped his head in acknowledgement and stepped aside. Fili rolled his shoulders quietly, shaking himself slightly and reached back to take my hand. He led us forward and we left Thorin on the steps.

Gosh I loved this chapter!