"I have no plans on sending you back to my dungeons. It would be a waste of my energy." Thranduil starts as I stand there in the tent, staring ahead of me without really looking. "I have however heard some concerning news. One of my scouts has seen another of your kind leaving Laketown." he continues, catching my attention. "We know of this one." he states.
"What is it you know?" I ask, getting to the point. He doesn't seem to mind, although it is hard to tell what he thinks. His face remains stoic. "He was much hated among your kin, at least when there were still many to hate him." he says, making me cringe. "He is a servant of Sauron and an undeniable loyal servant at that." This news shocks me. How could I not know of him?
As if reading my mind, Thranduil starts to speak again. "You are too young to remember him or to have heard news of his atrocities. Your kin was already scattered far and wide at the time you were born. Contact was scarce. What matters now, is what the future will bring."
"I will kill him." I say determinately. "With some great amount of luck you could. Are you even strong enough to carry your own weight at this point?" he asks calmly, already knowing the answer. It's true. My feather coat is filling out slowly, but the young feathers aren't very strong. I don't know if I will be able to fly again by the time Orun returns and that could be soon. It could give me a great disadvantage on top of the difference of fighting skill between us.
After a moment of silence I ask: "Do you know if it's true? That he and I are the last ones?" Surely someone who has walked around Middle-Earth for as long as Thranduil would know more. "Most likely." he states bluntly. The words sadden me. "I have studied your kind in the past and I know of no others. It's the sad truth." he continues. It almost sounds like he takes pity on me. After a long moment of silence I finally nod. "So be it."
As I make to part, Thranduil speaks up again. "My son has so easily taken a liking to you. I suppose I can understand." he states, making me glance back at him. "Your son has a caring heart." I tell him. "Too caring." he almost sighs before I take my leave. The conversation left me with much needed answers, but not ones that will settle my nerves.
As I walk down towards the square, the sound of rapidly beating hooves reach my ears and before long a familiar voice calls out. "Let me through! Make way!" it calls before the sound of hooves come to a halt. I rush on to meet the person.
"No, No, NO! Oi! You - pointy hat!" calls the file voice of that dark hearted human that has been lurking about, acting as if he's the master of the town. I believe Alfrid is his name. "Yes, you. We don't want no tramps, beggars nor vagabonds around here. We got enough trouble without the likes of you. Off you go! On your horse." Alfrid ushers.
I ignore him as I run down the stairs, perhaps bumping into him on purpose. "Gandalf!" I call out, rushing into the waiting arms of the old wizard. "Where have you been?!" I ask, noticing his shape as I pull away. "I will tell you soon. Now, I know we have some things to discuss, but right now I need to speak to the one in charge here." he says. I turn to look around seeing Bard approaching, signalling to Gandalf that he's the one he needs. "Hm."
Before Gandalf walks off, he turns back to me. "Could you take my horse for some shelter? Please mind the bags, there is something you need in there." he tells me, making me look towards them in curiosity. Gandalf pats my shoulder before walking off and I take the reins of his horse, leading it away.
Once I reach a place where the elves also left their horses, I find Gandalf's horse a good spot and some food. At last, my curiosity gets the better of me and I look into the large saddle bags. My eyes widen in wonder as I take out an arm gauntlet, the design familiar to me with its soft curves but sharp hooks running over the length of the part that would cover the outer arm.
I snap it on me, gazing at it on wonder. I then pull out the other one from the bag, snapping that one on as well. After finishing putting on shoulder guards and leg guards, I notice something sticking out from behind the bag. Taking the bag off, I notice beside Gandalfs' sword, another long and narrow hilt.
Unstrapping it from the saddle I look carefully at the red lacquered hilt. It's very finely crafted. Taking hold of the hilt, I pull the sword out of its sheet to see a gleaming blade and by the looks of it, quite sharp.
Putting it back in carefully, I pick up the bag, taking out the last object. My hand draws out an unusual looking helmet. It is the same silver colour as the rest of the armour, but it has reddish, golden feathers at each side, forming miniature wings. As I put it on, I'm surprised at how well it fits, the front just touching the bridge of my nose as the back goes down far enough to cover my skull, but lets my neck move freely.
"That looks quite well on you my lady." says a familiar voice, making me turn around startled. "Bilbo! How on earth..." I start, wide eyed. "No time for that now. I need to speak with the Elf king at once!" he says urgently. "Of course, follow me.", I say happily, leading him away. "Gandalf will be glad to see you." I tell him. "Gandalf is here?" I nod, "Just arrived."
"I do hope you came with good news Bilbo. We could all use some." I tell him as we approach the tent. "It is. At least I hope so if all goes well.", he replies making me wonder what the hobbit has up his sleeve.
The guards step away, letting us pass quietly while gazing at my gear curiously. "You, Bowman! Do you agree with this? Is gold so important to you? Would you buy it with the blood of dwarves?!" I hear Gandalf say. "It will not come to that. This is a fight they cannot win." Bard counters before they all look our way as we enter.
"That won't stop them. You think the dwarves will surrender - They won't. They will fight to the death to defend their own." Bilbo informs him, having heard the conversation as well. As expected, Gandalf is happily surprised to see him. "Bilbo Baggins!" he exclaims.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is the Halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons from under the nose of my guards." Thranduil cuts in, not looking all too pleased. "Yes. Sorry about that." Bilbo replies, smiling awkwardly.
It is silent for a moment as we look towards the hobbit expectantly. As if suddenly remembering why he came, he steps forward, stammering as he holds out something covered in a cloth. "I came...to give you this." he says, unwrapping it to reveal a curious looking stone.
Apparently, the presence of the stone shocks all, even the stoic King as he rises. "The heart of the mountain! The King's Jewel." he exclaims in wonder, making me gaze back at the stone, knowing this is what Thorin wants most of all. "And worth a king's ransom. How is this yours to give?" Bard questions sceptically. "I took it as my fourteenth share of the treasure." Bilbo replies as if it's quite simple.
"Why would you do this? You owe us no loyalty." Bard wonders, making Bilbo shake his head. "I'm not doing it for you. I know that dwarves can be obstinate and pigheaded and difficult, suspicious and secretive…with the worst manners you can possibly imagine, but they are also brave and kind...and loyal to a fault. I've grown very fond of them, and I would save them if I can." Bilbo says, making me smile at his passion.
"Thorin values this stone above all else. In exchange for its return, I believe he will give you what you are owed. There will be no need for war!" Bilbo reasons with the King and Bard. I glance at Gandalf, who has a very fond smile on his face. That is one keen little hobbit.
After working out a plan, I walk through the city with Gandalf and Bilbo. "Rest up tonight. You must leave on tomorrow." the wizard tells Bilbo, confusing him. "What?" "Get as far away from here as possible." Gandalf tells him.
"I'm-I'm not leaving. You picked me as the fifteenth man. I'm not about to leave the company now." Bilbo argues. "There is no company - not any more. And I don't like to think what Thorin will do when he finds out what you've done." Gandalf reasons. "I'm not afraid of Thorin." Bilbo counters confidently. "But you should be! Don't underestimate the evil of gold. Gold over which a serpent has long brooded. Dragon-sickness seeps into the hearts of all who come near this mountain." Gandalf warns, before smiling. "Almost all that is." "It will be for the best Bilbo." I pitch in, seeing his doubtful face.
Gandalf sees Alfrid walking by and calls out to him "You there! Find this hobbit a bed, and fill his belly with hot food. He has earned it." Alfrid grudgingly comes over and begins to lead Bilbo away. As they go, Gandalf grabs Alfrid's arm and whispers to him: "Hey. Keep an eye on him. If he should try to leave, you will tell me." He then lets them leave.
Gandalf sighs heavily, looking quite tired. "Gandalf?" I question, making him look back up at me. "Oh, right. I suppose there are some things I should tell you." he says, leading me away to a more private location. There he explains where he was and about his captivity. He then reveals he has seen an army marching this way, which shocks me.
"And what of this Gandalf?" I ask, motioning towards my armour. "Mh? Oh, yes! The lady Galadriel foresaw your unfortunate encounter." he explains. I know immediately who he speaks of. "So you know?" I ask.
Gandalf nods sadly. "As much as I wish it, it cannot be avoided. I can only support you and have trust in your skill and your passionate heart. I am indeed sorry that it will have to come to such means." he says heavily, making me put a reassuring hand on his. "I just hope that the traditional battle armour worn by your kin will give you some extra strength of the mind." he continues.
Taking of my helmet, I look down on it for a moment. "Thank you Gandalf. I know I will need all the strength I can find; for never in the near seventy years since you came upon me, I have felt such fright.", I confess, making him smile sadly.