Chapter 29
When Annelise woke from her rest, she sat up and noticed that she was laying on her bedroll in the room the Company had set up so they could sleep together.
Seeing that there was no one else in there, she assumed it was still day and that she had not slept for very long. She decided to go and try to find the others and stood from the ground, brushing the stray dust and dirt from her pants.
She then began to make her way back to the front gate, figuring that it would be the most likely place for the others to be.
Before she could make it to the gate though, she heard the sounds of scrapping metal coming from one of the hallways she passed. She decided to change her course and headed in the direction of the noise.
She saw the golden red light of torches ahead of her and saw the moving shadows of the others against the firelight.
She stopped in her tracks at the sight that met her once she rounded the corner.
Moving around in the room before her were the members of the Company. She had stumbled upon the armoury.
She saw Bilbo standing back trying to hide, watching as the others passed shields and weapons to one another in preparation for the battle that was ahead.
Deciding to stay out of the way as well, she moved to the small Hobbit's side and nodded at him before turning her eyes back to the others.
She saw her father standing just outside the armoury door, fully dressed in battle armor holding something in his hands. He turned towards them when he caught her movement in the corner of his eye and called out to Bilbo.
"Master Baggins. Come here."
Bilbo looked at her with uncertainty before moving towards the dwarf as instructed, with Annelise following closely behind.
Once they reached her father, he held out what looked to be a kind of chainmail shirt though Annelise had never seen one made of the same metal as the one in front of her.
"You're going to need this," Thorin said to Bilbo, moving to meet them as they neared. "Put it on."
Bilbo hesitated a moment before quickly removing his coat.
"This vest is made of silver steel," her father explained holding it up for them to see. "Mithil, it was called by my forebears."
Annelise couldn't help the small gasp that escaped her when she finally processed her father's words. She had heard many things about the properties and strength of the rare metal, and knew just how significant this gift was.
"No blade can pierce it."
Bilbo moved to pull the shirt over his head, and Annelise couldn't help the small smirk that came to her face at the sight of the peaceful Hobbit dressed in armor. Bilbo looked down at himself once it was finally on properly and Annelise knew he was likely thinking the same thing.
"I look absurd. I'm not a warrior. I'm a Hobbit."
"It is a gift," her father answered. "A token of our friendship."
Annelise saw the slight twinge of guilt that crossed the Hobbit's face at that comment, and couldn't help the surge of guilt that ran through her body as well.
"True friends are hard to come by," Thorin continued before turning to Annelise and placing his hand gently on her arm. "Go join the others. Fili and I set aside a few things for you. You should get ready."
Annelise smiled down at her father before doing as he said.
She paused as she neared her cousins though when she heard shuffling behind her. She grew concerned when she saw that her father had pulled Bilbo out of hearing range and was speaking to him forcefully. Some of her worry faded when she saw Bilbo relax his tense posture, and she moved to Fili's side.
"Here," her cousin spoke when he saw her next to him.
He handed her a quiver full of arrows, and she saw that he had placed all of her weapons out on the table in front of them. As she started strapping on her weapons, Kili moved toward her and stopped her.
"Uncle wanted you to have this," he said handing her a shirt of mithril almost identical to the one that Thorin had given to Bilbo, but larger.
"He said it was made for the Lord of Dale as a gift from Thror, but they never got to deliver it," Fili explained as Annelise looked at the shirt in wonder.
She quickly took off her leather jerkin and pulled the protective armor over her tunic. Fili then moved to help her put her leather vest back over it and to strap her quiver onto her back. As he slid her twin blades into their sheaths on her quiver, Kili stood before her helping her strap her belt around her waist with her sword hanging from it.
"Dwalin sharpened them for you while you slept," Kili said as he worked and Annelise nodded to the aforementioned warrior standing nearby in thanks.
Once she was ready, she moved to help Fili hide the various knives that he always carried. She couldn't help but be reminded of the many times she had been in this same position with her cousins, helping each other strap on their weapons and armor.
Although their life in the Blue Mountains had been peaceful for the most part, Annelise had seen her fair share of skirmishes by her father and cousins' sides. Although she knew that nothing she had experienced in the past would compare to the battle that approached.
"I can't fight them," Annelise whispered under her breath so only her cousins could hear her. "The elves are my friends, and the people of Lake-town only want our help."
Fili moved to stand in front of her next to his brother and placed his hand firmly on her shoulder, a look of understanding in his eyes.
"All we can hope is that it will not come to war," he spoke softly. "And if it does, then we will protect one another."
Annelise looked into his eyes sadly, before nodding her head slightly in acceptance. She would fight to protect her family, not because she agreed with what was happening.
Seeing that everyone around them was ready, Dwalin, Fili and Kili began making their way out of the armory with Annelise and the others following behind them.
Her concern grew once again when they walked between her father and Bilbo and she saw the dark look that had crossed her father's face once more.
Just when she thought that maybe the dragon-sickness had not completely consumed him, something would happen to make her doubt if she would ever get her father back to the way he was when she was a child.
As night fell, Annelise found herself unable to sleep. She decided to go to the gate and sit for a while with whoever was on watch at the time.
On her way to the wall, she came across Bilbo trying to walk quietly through the halls.
"Is everything alright, Bilbo?," Annelise asked and would have laughed under different circumstances at how high the Hobbit jumped when she spoke.
"Oh Annelise, it's just you," he breathed in relief.
"What's going on?"
Bilbo looked around suspiciously to make sure they were alone before answering.
"I'm going to Dale."
"Dale? Why?," she asked in disbelief.
"I have to try and stop this, Annelise. Thorin will not surrender in this fight. Nothing I say will change his mind."
"What are you going to do?," she asked, knowing that what he said was true.
"I'm going to make a deal," he said simply and Annelise realised exactly what it was he meant to do.
"Do you think it will work?"
"I'm not sure," he said sadly. "But I think I must try."
"Then I will come with you," she said spinning on her heel and continuing on to the gate.
"No, Annelise, you can't," Bilbo protested, following after her.
"I will not sit quietly in this mountain if there is a way for me to save my family," Annelise spoke determinedly.
"I can avoid being seen leaving the mountain. What if the elves are watching the mountain for signs of movement and see you?"
"The elves know me and know how important I am to their king and prince. They would not harm me."
"And what of your father?," Bilbo continued quietly. "What will happen to him if he knows that you left the mountain to speak with those he views as his enemy?"
"Then I won't tell him," she answered stubbornly. Bilbo couldn't help the small smile that came to his mouth involuntarily as he caught a glimpse of the stubbornness of her father shining through on the young woman's face.
"You are definitely Thorin's daughter," Bilbo said finally shaking his head, and Annelise smiled, knowing that he was done fighting with her on her decision.
When they reached the gate, Annelise saw that Bofur was on watch.
"We need to get past him. How?," Bilbo asked.
"Stay here and be quiet. I will take care of him," Annelise whispered before moving around the rock they were hiding behind.
"Evening lass. You should be inside. Out of the wind."
"I couldn't sleep," she shrugged coming to stand next to him.
They stood in silence for a moment before Annelise decided to begin her plan.
"Why don't you go inside? I won't be sleeping any time soon. I'll wake Bombur to watch whenever I get tired."
"Are you sure, lass? I could at least wake Bombur to stay with you. His watch is about to start anyway."
"I'm sure. I promise I'll wake Bombur if I get too tired," Annelise reassured him, although she did feel bad that she would be leaving the mountain unguarded while she and Bilbo were in Dale.
"Alright then," Bofur acquiesced finally after a moment of silence. "Thank you, lass. I will see you in the morning."
"Goodnight, Bofur."
Annelise watched the dwarf retreat for a few moments, and then motioned for Bilbo to come out once she could no longer hear Bofur's footsteps.
Bilbo instantly grabbed a rope that was lying on the ground and tied it off before throwing it over the side of the wall.
"Are you sure you want to come with me?," Bilbo asked just before he climbed over the wall, wishing she would stay behind.
"If this will give me my father back, I have to do this," Annelise resolved.
Bilbo simply nodded his head in acceptance before going over the wall, Annelise following close behind him.
Once they were down on solid ground, they began the long trek to Dale.
"Are the archers in position?," Thranduil asked sternly, moving out of his tent after speaking with Gandalf and the man, Bard.
"Yes, my lord," the guard answered quickly.
"Give the order. If anything moves on that mountain, kill it," Thranduil spoke coldly.
"What of the Lady Annelise? Is she not in the mountain?"
The guard's question caused the Elvenking to stop in his tracks.
"She is not to be harmed," he spoke finally, turning back to the guard. "If Annelise comes to her senses and leaves those pathetic dwarves, she will be welcomed here by me with open arms."
"As you wish, sire."
"The dwarves are out of time," Thranduil said and Gandalf moved toward Bard.
"Bowman, is gold so important to you? Would you buy it with the blood of dwarves?"
"It will not come to that. This is a fight they cannot win," Bard answered the wizard.
"That won't stop them."
Gandalf turned in astonishment toward the voice that interrupted their conversation.
"You think the dwarves will surrender? They won't," Bilbo continued with Annelise standing behind him. He and Annelise had been met at the gates of Dale by an Elven guard and were promptly escorted to the king's tent.
"They will fight to the death to defend their own."
"Bilbo Baggins! And Annelise!," Gandalf exclaimed in shock to see them standing before him, before gesturing for them to enter the tent where Thranduil was.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is the halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons from under the nose of my guards," the elf spoke upon being introduced to Bilbo.
At this comment, the Hobbit stood awkwardly in the entry before sheepishly saying "Yes, sorry about that," in response to the king's comment. Annelise couldn't contain a tiny smile at the small sign of amusement that appeared in Thranduil's eyes at Bilbo's words.
"We came to give you this," Bilbo continued, pulling out the cloth wrapped Arkenstone that was in his pocket. He uncovered it and Thranduil stood from his chair in astonishment.
"The heart of the mountain. The king's jewel," he spoke reverently staring down at the jewel.
"And worth a king's ransom," Bard put in.
"How is this yours to give?," the man asked the hobbit in confusion.
"I took it as my 14th share of the treasure," Bilbo answered simply.
"Why would you do this? You owe us no loyalty."
"And you, Annelise?," Thranduil asked turning to the girl. "You call that dwarf your father. Why would you help us against him?"
"We're not doing this for you," Bilbo spoke, answering for both of them. "I know that dwarves can be obstinate. And pigheaded and difficult. They're suspicious and secretive, with the worst manners you could possibly imagine. But they are also brave and kind...and loyal to a fault."
This last part was said with a large degree of guilt in his voice, and Annelise reached over and placed her hand firmly on the small hobbit's shoulder in silent support.
"I've grown very fond of them," Bilbo soon continued, "and I would save them if I can."
"My father values this stone above all else," Annelise spoke sadly.
"In exchange for its return, I believe he will give you what you are owed," Bilbo continued for her. "There will be no need for war."
Annelise watched as Bard looked toward Thranduil in consideration, and she knew that their plan had worked.
"Very well, we will try this your way," Thranduil spoke finally, accepting their deal.
Gandalf sighed in relief and motioned for Bilbo and Annelise to follow him out of the tent.
"Hold a moment, Annelise," Thranduil requested causing the woman to motion for her companions to continue on without her. She turned back to see the elf lord indicating for her to take a seat in one of the empty chairs in the tent.
She moved to take a seat and Thranduil passed her a glass of water before leaning back against the table still containing the Arkenstone.
"Your friend said that you came to save the dwarves from war tomorrow, but I cannot help but feel that there is more to this story than you have spoken."
"What do you mean, my lord?," Annelise asked, confused by the elf's words.
"The hobbit spoke rightly when he claimed that dwarves were extremely loyal, especially to the people they call family. Although you are of the race of Men, you were raised with those same principles and I know that it would take something drastic for you to go against your family in this way. What has happened?"
These words caused Annelise to think back on the interactions she had had with her father since reuniting with him in the mountain and she subconsciously reached for the bead that Thorin had braided into her hair just a few hours before. Tears quickly began forming in her eyes and Thranduil watched in alarm as the young woman sitting in front of him began to shrink in on herself before his eyes.
When he saw the first tear fall from her lashes, he quickly knelt before her and pulled her tightly to his chest. This gesture caused whatever walls the girl had to fall as she began sobbing loudly into his shirt.
When it seemed she had finally been able to compose herself, Thranduil pushed her away from him slightly to look into her eyes.
Annelise could see the concern and questions in his eyes and knew she would have to explain her breakdown to the Elvenking kneeling on the ground in front of her.
"You know of dragon-sickness?," she asked, knowing that he did but hoping her question would answer his own.
"I do," he spoke solemnly, understanding why she was asking him just as she knew he would.
"I'm losing him," she said sadly, speaking so quietly that Thranduil likely would not have heard her without his sensitive hearing.
"And you are here to save him," the elf responded, nodding his head in understanding.
"I have to at least try."
Thranduil stared up into her eyes for a moment, before nodding his head sharply and standing up from the ground. Once on his feet, he reached his hand out to Annelise and helped her onto her own.
"Come," he spoke leading her out of his tent. "I'm sure Mithrandir has found a place for your companion to rest and no doubt you are tired as well. I have another tent set aside for me to rest in but I will not be sleeping this night. You will use it."
Annelise knew from the tone of his voice that it would be pointless to argue with him. She decided that she would just have to find Bilbo and head back to the mountain once she was left alone to rest.
She was worried for a moment when she saw that there were two elves guarding the entrance to the tent but let out an internal sigh of relief when Thranduil dismissed them.
"Get some sleep, my dear," he said when she moved to enter the tent. "I will see you in the morning."
"Goodnight, my lord," she said quietly, slipping into the tent to wait for Bilbo to find her.
Annelise was relieved when Bilbo showed up not long after she had entered the tent, and the two of them quickly began making their way out of the city.
They were stopped for a moment by the men guarding the gate, but Annelise quickly told them that Thranduil and Bard had told them to go back to the mountain before dawn came. Luckily the men did not question them and they made it back to the mountain a couple hours before dawn.
Once back in the mountain Annelise quickly woke Dwalin who was supposed to take over watch after Bombur, and she and Bilbo laid down next to each other to try and get what little rest they could.