Chapter 7

Leanna ran after the two elves racing towards the misty hill ahead of them, cutting down orcs that moved to attack them. Their numbers grew as they got closer to the mountain and it would only be a matter of time before they were surrounded.

She screeched to a halt. Tauriel and Legolas turned back to look at the woman who had offered help but Leanna urged them onward.

"Go! I'll hold them off…" Leanna said as she drew out her sword and engaged more orcs as they got close, she turned to them. "I'll be alright, now hurry…he needs you" she said as she looked to Tauriel. The elleth's heart shone through her eyes and Leanna felt hers clench in ache, she had seen that look before and understood now what it meant.

"Thank you" Tauriel whispered and ran after Legolas who had moved on ahead of her.

The battle raged on for hours with field muddled with blood, torn flesh and filth. Leanna drew in deep breaths to keep her stamina up, the orcs were slowly flanking her in a bid to catch her unaware and subdue her. Her empty hand jutted to the ground and ice shards erupted around her, impaling her enemies with their foul cries ringing in the air.

Her breath ran rugged, heaving in the foul air around whilst uncaring of its stench. In the corner of her eye, several orcs fell to the ground and with her hand gripping her sword tightly, she turned to meet the cold gaze of The Elven King. Leanna hid her confusion for she had expected he would be well on his way to his homeland by now.

Thranduil and his warriors returned to the heat of battle and began to cut down orcs around them mercilessly. The Elven King while despairing over the ever growing rift with son, used the opportunity before him to let his frustrations and anger loose.

All for the favour of a foolish elleth in love with a dwarf! His son had chosen to give her his undue support. Thranduil would laugh at the outrageous nature of the situation, but The ElvenKing had no humour in him at the moment, only rage.

Leanna who fought not too far off from the elegant elf and his warriors, couldn't help but admire his skills on the battlefield. The ElvenKing fought with an equal mix of grace and ferocity, each stroke of his sword delivering swift death the moment it met with the enemy and Leanna decided it was best she stepped aside to avoid being caught up in his lethal dance.

The orcs were growing more in number, with more coming from the deep tunnels and war beasts crashing through the field as they engaged the forces of three armies put together. They were outnumbered, anyone could see that but still the fight raged on and Leanna ran to higher ground.

Over seeing most of plains as far as her eyes could reach, she turned to the ravine which had frozen over, its ice still spreading towards the mountain. Cutting down the orcs that came near her still, Leanna breathed in deeply and felt the magic in her blood, calling it forth to do her bidding.

The ground shook as a loud rumble was heard, something was happening, something big. Thranduil had looked at the ground beneath his feet and frowned at the trembling. Turning around, he wondered if a far greater and fouler enemy had come forth and drew his warriors back. The orcs were screeching in fear, as confused as the others at the occurrence happening.

Leanna held her hands out by her sides and groaned as the force of the magic had her knees bending under pressure. Ice crystals formed on the ground and began jutting out into shards as they spread rapidly across the field. Thranduil turned to the woman standing on elevated ground and his eyes grew alarmed at what he saw…ice, in its enormity was flowing from her.

The screeching grew even louder as the orcs scrambled to escape the impaling ice springing up on the ground. Leanna did not know how long she could hold on for, the vision in her eyes was growing dark, trembling as she struggled to hold the momentum she had built. Forcing out as much of her magic as she could dispense, Leanna screamed as she exhausted the last of her energy, the ground beneath her solid ice from all the magic she had used.

A piercing cry rang through the air and Leanna staggered before her vision went black. Long slender hands stopped her from hitting the hard ground. Thranduil had reached her just in time and lifted her limp body up, noting her faint breathing as he took her away from the battle. His warriors provided the much needed escort to see their King safely out of the bloody warfront.

Another piercing cry filled the air and he glanced back at the sky behind him and Thranduil turned away in relief. The war had ended…The Eagle Lords had come.

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The next morning welcomed Leanna with a blistering headache. With a loud groan she rose from the makeshift bed in one of the broken down houses in the city, blinking out her eyes to see clearly. She stumbled before getting a better footing and maneuvered around the room, careful not to step on the injured that sat around the floor.

Moving outside, she looked around to see the rest of the townsmen and women scrambling about the place, some tending to the wounded, others piling dead bodies of orcs and other creatures around to burn them out in the large field. She sighted some dwarves which had come to give a hand in cleaning the battlefield up. Leanna looked around for any sign of Bard or the children and proceeded to ask one of the men for directions.

Dealing with dwarves was a headache that Bard wanted nothing more than to go away, and Dain the newly crowned King of Erebor was proving to be every bit of a headache as the rest of his kin. While he understood the dwarves of Erebor were in a state of grief over Thorin and his nephews deaths, Bard was also left in a situation where he had to look out for his people.

Leanna walked up to the tent set up, there she saw Bard and another with him, a dwarf with red hair and grey beard sat with him while he held a large mug in his stubby hands. She made her presence known to them, bowing slightly in greeting.

"Pardon my intrusion my lords" Leanna said looking from Bard to Dwarf who watched her intently. Bard stood from his chair and extended his arm to Leanna and introduced the two.

"My Lord this Leanna, a dear friend of mine and Leanna, this is Dain of the Ironhills…King of Erebor"

"King?" Leanna turned to the dwarf with a frown. The clear question in her eyes spoke for her silence.

"Aye Lassie King!" said Dain, he chugged his mug before slamming it on the rickety table then stood up and walked out. Bard drew a seat close and bid Leanna to sit, Leanna who obliged him waited for him to speak.

"A lot happened while you were unconscious Leanna" Bard said. He sighed in dismay, not knowing the best way to speak the events that had occurred the day before but he spoke nonetheless and Leanna who had been waiting, listened to the events of the war she had missed.

Bard had decided to forestall any more talks with Dain who agreed to a later date to discuss their kingdoms affairs, they would mourn their losses for a period of time and return to settle their business properly. Bard declared a week of mourning in Dale and then sought out his children who were in the grand hall.

"Da" His children said as they came up to him. Bard enquired about their welfare and when he was satisfied with their answer, he asked for Leanna to which they shook their heads.

"She hasn't come back yet…Da is everything alright?" Tilda asked, clearly worried about the turn of events.

"Yes darling, everything will be fine, she just needs some time alone" answered Bard who smiled at his children, drawing them closer.

Leanna stood quietly at the edge of the cliff pointing towards Erebor, the weather was chilly this night and there was no moon in sight, the stars shielded by the clouds above. The night sky was a dark as the feeling in her heart. Thorin was dead, his sister sons as well, she barely knew the dwarf and yet her eyes stung as her tears spilled. Her shoulders shook silently as she crumbled to the ground in a sobbing heap.

In her vanity, she had indeed been foolish, foolish to believe she was different, strong enough to save everyone. The tears dropped, hot and salty as they sank into the snow beneath her, despite all her efforts so many had perished and she blamed herself still, for not being able to do better. The rest of the night, Leanna spent the night grieving in pain for the mistake she had made, the price of her overconfidence and self-indulgence had cost people and the dwarves their lives and it tore at her from within.

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Three months had passed and Bard who had been acknowledged as the new master of the townspeople, settled with his people in Dale and decided to rebuild their home there. In the time they had stayed there, they struggled greatly with the task of feeding and warmth what with the winter fully upon them.

Leanna knocked on the door on the wooden door and waited for an answer. Hearing a response from the other side, she entered and the closed the door behind her whilst clutching some scrolls in her arms.

"Good morning" Leanna said almost cheerily. Bard sighed and looked at her before continuing on with his task on the table.

"Morning" Bard grouchily answered in return, he never looked forward to the mornings any more, ever since he became Lord, it was from one task to another, problems rose up faster than he had time to solve them. And yet Leanna would gleefully appear in the mornings with more scrolls in her arms to pour over his desks, mornings such as this one.

"We've received eight more carts of iron, twelve carts of dark wood, and fifteen carts of limestone" Leanna reported to Bard who answered without looking from his scroll.

"And the dwarves?"

"Grumpy as ever, but they're moving as fast they can" Leanna brought a large scroll and unrolled it on the table. It was a layout of the city which she had consulted over with the dwarves in charge of rebuilding the city.

"They've completed the houses on the upper level whilst the men have taken to dealing with some on the lower levels. They're currently reconstructing the arch ways and the fountain at the city center" said Leanna, pointing to different areas in the map. Bard sighed and leaned back in his chair, he was truly grateful to Leanna who had pointed out a valuable opportunity to him. He had intended to collect the promised share of the gold but she had offered instead to take only half of the treasure which was much still while the other half would be paid in exchange for the grand services of the dwarves.

"And the food stock, how long will the stores last us?" asked Bard.

"I was with Percy earlier, if we are cautious it could last us till end of winter" Leanna said gently, noting the wrinkles on Bard's brow.

"All that remains now is to reach trade agreements with the Woodland realm, everything else seems well in order" Bard's tone indicated it was not an encounter he was particularly looking forward to.

"What were the people of LakeTown trading to the elves before?"

"Wine…It was what the ma-former master traded in exchange for gold" Bard covered his slip up, reminding himself that he was now the master and not that sleazy moneybags. At his statement, Leanna frowned, dismayed at his words.

"We don't have wine My Lord" Leanna stated the obvious.

"Aye, we don't which is why striking a deal with someone as shrewd as King Thranduil would be difficult"

"What type of King is he? I never really got the chance to know anything about him" Leanna asked as she arranged the scrolls lying about on his desk.

"He's a king who cares not for the outside world or its affairs, the only exception would be when such affairs cross his borders or if something of great value lying beyond his realm had caught his interest"

Bard looked at Leanna who seemed momentarily lost in thought. He had never told her everything that had occurred on the battlefield that day, about how he had watched The Elven King carry her in his arms back into the city or how he asked about her from him on the day he left. Bard looked down to his scroll and inhaled deeply, he didn't think he would ever tell her, he was certain enough Thranduil would try to search for the truth regarding Leanna. He would rather endure Dain's stubbornness on any day than deal with Thranduil's interest in Leanna's powers.

A knock sounded on the door and Bard responded with an answer. Percy entered and behind him were elves, most likely messengers from the Woodland realm. He exchanged looks with Leanna before turning to the elf in question. The elves bowed and one gave his greetings to the Lord of Dale.

"My King sends his regards and a message for the Lady of Dale" the elf that seemed to be in charge spoke and turned to Leanna. Leanna felt her cheeks grow hot and flush red against her pale skin.

"Forgive my impertinence, but I am not the Lady of Dale" Leanna quickly corrected much to the slight amusement of Bard who watched the exchanged before finally speaking up.

"And what is it you want with Lady Leanna?" Bard asked with an air of authority. The elf turned to him, his nose slightly lifted in the air, a show of pride that Bard knew was common with elves, especially in the midst of men.

"King Thranduil wishes to present a gift to the Lady as payment for saving Tallahir's life" The elf spoke and signaled another elf forward, the elf came forward with a small jeweled chest and opened it. Leanna looked at the item in the chest and gasped before looking up.

"Tallahir?" She asked, she did not recall saving any elf in particular, or ever receiving a name during the duration of the battle.

"It is his Elk my Lady" The elf explained. Leanna nodded before swallowing thickly, looking at the silver necklace with a large blue diamond as it pendant, resting against the dark blue velvet cushion. Leanna looked at the necklace again before responding to the elf that had come as The Elven King's messenger.

"Please let his majesty know that while I am truly honored and grateful for being offered such a kingly gift, I am afraid I have to refuse, a simple thank you would do" Leanna said and watched the incredulous looks on both the faces of Bard, Percy and the elves as well.

"You mean to return the King's gift?" The elf asked in bewilderment, he spoke as though he was asking if she was mad. Bard looked at Leanna and felt worry well up, he did not wish to provoke Thranduil's wrath by refusing such a precious gift.

"Not at all, however If his majesty would permit me, I would like to extend an invitation to him instead" Leanna said as she looked at Bard who suddenly realized what she intended.

By the accounts of Bard and the facial expressions of the elves, it was clear King Thranduil would not be at all pleased with her response and that was what she counted on. No prideful king would ever grant a simple 'thank you' to honor a debt bestowed on them, and if all that she had heard about The Elven King were true, then he would not risk his pride as King by dishonoring his debt.

There was silence as Leanna made it clear to the messengers that she would not be accepting their gift, she almost felt pity for them as they would be the ones who would face their King's anger. The elves bowed once more and dismissed themselves along with Percy who served as their escort. The door closed with a thud and Leanna turned to Bard who was clutching his temple in between his fingers.

"At this rate you will cause me to age faster than I hope to Lady Leanna" Bard said groaning out his frustration as he looked at her. Leanna smiled innocently, Bard only called her that when he was upset and right now he was rightly so.

"I merely felt giving me a jewel of such beauty was a bit too much my lord" Leanna responded cheekily.

"It is as if you enjoy the suffering you cause me, summoning the King of the Woodland realm is also bit too much don't you think?"

"But it got you an opportunity yes? I think now would be a good time to set up contracts for a new trade agreement before the ElvenKing's arrival" Leanna said opening the door.

"How are you so certain he'd come?" Bard asked as he watched her leave. Leanna turned back and smiled at Bard, but for some reason it unsettled him.

"Oh you needn't worry, he will" and with that she left. Bard stared at the closed door for some time, as entrancing as she was to look at, sometimes she scared him.