Katniss wasn't sure why she had decided to follow Bilbo on his likely useless attempt to make amends with the elves and the survivors from Lake Town. Maybe there was a glint in Bilbo's eyes that made her believe the hobbit had some mysterious plan to get them out of that situation, like when he freed the Company from Mirkwood's dungeon. Or perhaps, it was her own frustration with the whole situation, combined with the possibility of finally doing something, that was too alluring for her to let it slide. Despite her uncertainty, she didn't ask the hobbit about his plan. She wasn't in the mood to talk, and the hobbit seemed more than willing to oblige and remain silent for a change.
They walked for an hour or so quickly through charred and blackened trunks that stood as a painful reminder of the past fires that ravaged that land. For most of their journey to Dale, Bilbo was muttering to himself, shaking his head and looking displeased. The hobbit kept putting his hands on his waistcoat and looking behind his shoulders as if he expected to be attacked at any moment. Katniss frowned at his behaviour but didn't feel like confronting him. Instead, Katniss did her best to keep her bow loaded and her senses sharp as if she was hunting a particularly hard-to-catch game.
However, even a skilful huntress like she was, Katniss lacked Bilbo's stealthiness, and unfortunately, they weren't invisible. Therefore, when they were on the outskirts of Dale, they were both surprised by elven blades against their necks. Katniss knew straight away that fighting against them would be a fools' errand. Therefore, no protests came from her lips when they disarmed her and tied their hands and led them through the no-longer deserted but still rubbled city. She kept her head proudly high as she tried to ignore the Lake Town survivors walking away from her elven captors, throwing resentful glares at their new prisoners and whispering among themselves.
Katniss recognised one of the villagers as the child of the bargeman who had brought her and Tauriel to the city what felt like a lifetime ago. He was hugging two girls - one about Katniss's age and the other a few years younger than Prim. As she observed them, she thought about the bargeman urging her to change Thorin's mind about reclaiming Erebor – "You must stop them from entering that mountain. If they wake the dragon, this whole city will be burned into ashes!"
It felt like a knife was twisting her chest as she recalled Bard's exact words. And just like that, she could no longer face the villagers, focusing her attention on her own feet instead. She never tried to persuade Thorin and the others not to reclaim Erebor, and now all these people were homeless because of her. Thorin's gold-sickness was all because of her. It was Twelve burning to the ground for a second time. It was like watching Peeta's mind-hijacking come again. She fought with all her might against the tears that were trying to escape her eyes. Katniss knew that tears would only make her look weak. And she couldn't afford to be seen as soft. But it was too much. She couldn't take it anymore.
Katniss barely noticed when the guards led them inside a luxurious tent that stuck out like a sore thumb in that ruined settlement. As she lifted her head to face the one responsible for deciding their fates, she saw Bard talking to the Woodland king himself. There was also the shadow of a third occupant–
"Gandalf!" Bilbo squeaked before Katniss could register who the third occupant of King's Thranduil tent was.
"Bilbo Baggins and Miss Katniss Everden. How nice to see you alive and in good health," Gandalf replied warmly.
"We caught those two sneaking on the outskirts of Dale, your highness. Our escaped prisoner and a halfling who we believe to be ligie with the dwarves," said the guard restraining her.
"Of course, how could I forget Miss Everdeen, who fleed my halls with a traitor. Or do you have a new title now? Although… I suspect you wouldn't know that either," he said, glaring at Thorin's bead in her hair, making Katniss' mouth twitch as she turned her face to avoid looking at the elven lord. "And if I'm not mistaken, this is the halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons from under the nose of my guards."
"Yes. Sorry about that." Bilbo started, taking his time looking from the wizard to the elf and the man. "We came because… we came because we want to strike a deal."
Hearing that made Katniss return her attention from a table full of fresh and mouth-watering fruit to the hobbit with a snap. Despite their time together walking to Dale, they didn't take the time to discuss what they would say or do when there arrived.
"A deal, you say? Well, now I am intrigued."
"Yes. A deal. I have something you could use to exchange for whatever demands you want from the dwarves. Just… just don't attack them."
Thranduil gave an almost imperceptive nod to the guards who had brought them and were standing at attention at the entrance. They freed the hobbit, who immediately rubbed his wrists, chaffed by the ropes tying them. Katniss was not given the same courtesy, not that she was expecting them to do that anyway. She noticed Bard's frown as he looked from her to the guards and then to her bindings. His indignation over the unfairness only made her feel worse about the pain she inflicted on Lake Town's people. She looked down at her feet to avoid catching his eyes again.
"Well?" Thranduil asked after a few moments of silence.
"Yes, yes…" Bilbo fumbled to get something out of his pockets and showed them.
"The heart of the mountain! The King's Jewel!" said Thranduil with a glint in his eyes.
Hearing this was enough to bring Katniss' gaze back up. The brightness of the stone made her gasp.
"You found the sodding stone! Bilbo, you are a genius!" she said, unable to hide the surprise in her voice and face.
Every pair of eyes in the tent moved to where she was standing, making Katniss realise that she had revealed more of herself than what would have been prudent. Immediately she turned her excitement into something more composed, and as everyone seemed to be expecting her to voice her thoughts, she cleared her throat and did precisely that.
"Trust me, the Arkenstone is probably the only thing in the world that will make Thorin depart from some of that bloody gold. Gandalf, he has not been himself lately. You must help him."
"Goldsickness…" the wizard stated, and she confirmed with a nod.
"He won't eat, he won't sleep, and he refuses to let anyone do anything apart from searching for this…" She looked at the stone with fury in her eyes and taking a deep breath, she continued, "Our food supplies are running dangerously low; I fear he won't do anything about it until it is too late."
"Well, let him!" said Bard. "Such a fool deserves to starve."
Katniss frowned and looked back at Bard as if she was looking at him for the first time.
"I'm really sorry for what happened to Lake Town. I should have tried to persuade them against reclaiming the mountain as you asked me, but I didn't. This blame I will carry with me for the rest of my days." She took a deep breath, trying to restrain the tears that were fighting to escape her eyes.
"Thorin's latest behaviour has been deplorable, yes, but you must know he is sick. I saw a glimpse of the real Thorin yesterday. He is still there, I swear it. There must be something we can do because… I can't lose him too." She closed her eyes as a last attempt at stopping her tears from flowing out, but it was all in vain.
Gandalf approached her and lifted her chin. "If he is still there, then all is not lost, my dear. Goldsickness is an evil thing, and it is almost impossible to overcome. But with your love and some luck, there might be a way to have him back." Gandalf said as he touched her shoulders in a paternal way. "Now, Lord Thranduil, if you could please…"
Thranduil nodded, and his elf guard cut the bindings that were still restraining her hands on her back. She immediately lunged forward to hug the wizard, who carried on comforting her like he was her elderly grandfather. There was a moment of silence where she recomposed herself and cleared her eyes with the back of her hands.
"This is all very touching, but it doesn't settle Bard's dispute and my claims on the white gems of Lasgalen."
Katniss sighed.
"I will give you your gems if you provide me with everything you stole from me and our company when you had us arrested."
"Now, these are some serious accusations, young Lady."
"I can understand why you would have to take my weapons when you had me in your home, but was there a real need for you to take my locket? Or my clothes?"
There was a moment when Thranduil squinted his eyes, looking deep inside hers, and she returned the glare. After a moment that felt like forever, the Woodland King waved his hand, and in few moments, an elf came forth carrying all Katniss' confiscated belongings.
"A token of good faith, Katniss Everdeen, or should I say, Queen Under the Mountain?"
Katniss snorted and rolled her eyes after hearing her new title but nodded and accepted everything after whispering a thank you to the elf. She immediately went for her pendant and put it on with a sigh of relief as if whole again.
"I also would like to ask your people's help to restore the vegetation around the Mountain and here at Dale," Katniss' eyes briefly met Bard's, who gave an almost imperceptive smile.
"Any more demands or that's all?" Thranduil asked, impatiently flickering his fingers.
"Very well. On your head, be it. Needless to say, failure to deliver my prize will result in war."
Katniss closed her eyes and clenched her fist. She had to take a deep breath to control her temper and cheek, and not to say exactly what was on her mind upon hearing his threat.
"If it is in my power, you will have your jewels. Just bear in mind that it might take me some time to locate them. There is a ridiculously large amount of shiny trinkets inside that blimming hoard. I am sure nobody will miss it, whatever those damn gems you want so badly are."
To this comment, the elf laughed wholeheartedly before adding, "I would not be so sure about that, young one. You clearly don't know dwarves as well as I do. But I believe that if there is someone who can get ahold of my gems, it will be you. I shall ensure you know exactly what you are looking for to aid your search."
"How about my people's claim? Winter is coming, and we need proper shelter!" Bard asked her with a frown. She merely looked at the hobbit who was still displaying the Arkenstone.
"I am sure that Thorin will notice if I invite your people to camp down the hallway. I am afraid you will need to strike a deal with him."
"Why would you do this? You owe us no loyalty."
"We are not doing it for you." Bilbo started, "I know that dwarves can be obstinate and pigheaded and difficult, suspicious and secretive… with the worst manners you can possibly imagine, but they also brave and kind... and loyal to a fault. I've grown very fond of them and would save them if I could."
Bard and Thranduil exchanged a meaningful look, and then Bilbo quickly added.
"Thorin values this stone above all else. I believe he will give you what you are owed in exchange for its return. There will be no need for war!"
"I will accept the payment. And you both are welcome to stay at our campsite as long as you wish or need." Bard gave them a small nod.
"Thank you very much", said Bilbo with a bow. "But I don't think I ought to leave my friends like this, after all we have gone through together. And I promised to wake old Bombur who is supposed to be on the watch too! I must be going, and quickly."
"I'm going back with Bilbo." Katniss said, bowing to Thranduil and Bard in the same way Bilbo had done. Then she adjusted her old knives, sword, bow, and quiver on her body and held the remaining of her gear.
"Very well, let's ensure that you at least have some hot stew in your bellies and some supplies before you return. You both earned this," Gandalf said, wrapping his long arms around Katniss' and Bilbo's shoulders and guiding them outside Thranduil's tent.
Gandalf marched them around the campsite in large steps, forcing Bilbo to run to accompany him. Katniss noticed that he passed straight through the queue of villagers waiting to get a bowl of stew, and she threw a suspicious look at Gandalf, who did nothing to explain his intentions to them. Only when they were in a deserted area of Dale, the wizard gave a last scam to their surroundings before he addressed them.
"Were you both out of your minds? You are playing with fire! I don't like to think what Thorin will do when he finds out what both of you have done. And he will realise your betrayal straight away," the wizard said the last part looking straight at Katniss, but it was Bilbo who answered.
"I'm not afraid of Thorin."
"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. Rest up tonight. You both must leave on the first light tomorrow."
"Thorin is ill, Gandalf! You told me yourself. I can't abandon him!" Katniss said with a shaky voice.
"Thorin will kill you! He will kill you both when he finds out what you have done."
"He still there! Didn't you say my love could save him?"
"That was before I knew the extent of your foolishness! The disagreement on the gems of Lasgalen is older than Thorin himself. He won't willingly depart from those gems, not even if it is a request from his Queen."
"Then I will do like Bilbo and claim that as my fifteenth share!"
"Katniss, listen to me," Gandalf said, holding both her shoulders and bending to her eye level like a father trying to explain the most basic thing to an unhelpful child. "You must leave, and so must him!" Gandalf turned his head to look at Bilbo, who was about to open his mouth, but the wizard silenced him with a nod. "It is not safe for you here."
Then Gandalf stood straight and looked around until he saw three children, to whom he waved, calling them to come forwards.
"Ensure these two receive some hot food, a proper bed, and provisions for a long journey. They've earned it."
Katniss and Bilbo were about to open their mouth to protest, but the wizard had already gone. Only then Katniss had a better look at the children.
"You are Bard's boy. You took me and my friend to Lake Town."
"Aye. The name is Bain, Miss. And these are my sisters, Tilda and Sigrid."
"Is it true that you are the mountain Queen? What is it like being a Queen? People want our Da to be King now, do you think that if it happens, Sigrid and I will become princesses?" Bain's youngest sister asked, making Katniss widen her eyes, and the older sister hide her own face with her palms.
"How about we go and get the stew for Milady and her companion?" The oldest girl began to stir the youngest girl away from Katniss, who couldn't help to stare at them from afar, thinking about Prim and herself.
"Sigrid, get the provisions as well. I will find them a spot for the night." Bain said. "Are you all right, Miss?" Bain asked her after brief silence.
"Yes. And thank you," she answered, rubbing her eyes. "But we'll only need one spot for the night."
"Are you staying?" Bilbo asked her with a frown.
"No. But you will." Bilbo was about to protest, but Katniss silenced him by raising her hand. "Listen to me; Gandalf was right. Thorin could do something stupid when he figures it out. And he will figure it out."
"I can't abandon them…"
"You won't. I will be there."
"What if he does something ill to you?"
"I will be fine. I can look after myself," she said while touching the pommel of her sword. "You know I can. If Thorin attacks me, I will be ready for him." She tried to display a confidence she lacked, to which Bilbo frowned and then shook his head. "And don't worry. I will wake Bombur for you."
After a few minutes, where Bain tried to make some small talk while he found a bed spot for the hobbit, Tilda and Sigrid returned with two bowls of hot stew and a bag of supplies.
"But this I will accept," Katniss said, grabbing the provisions and adjusted them on her shoulders. She completed by grabbing the bowl with food from the younger girl's hand. "Thank you for the food; and please, look after him."
The three children nodded, and with a last glance at Bilbo, Katniss walked away from Bard's children and the hobbit without looking back.
Even though Katniss was now carrying quite a lot of gear, somehow, her journey back to the Misty Mountains felt shorter than her way to Dale. The food parcel Bard's children had gifted her included fresh and dried fruits, meats and vegetables, alongside some bread and a bottle of milk and another bottle of wine.
She ate the stew they gave her on the way, which was a nice change to their cram biscuit diet. She knew there would be no way for Thorin and the others not to notice these goodies she was bringing home. She blinked a few times, thinking how odd it was that she was considering that desolate mountain to be her home now. The plus side was that she knew that at least Bilbo would be free from his wrath, as he had remained in Dale as she had requested.
With some difficulty, Katniss climbed back the rope she and Bilbo had used to escape their fortress. Once inside the mountain, she hid most of her newly recovered gear and food provisions inside Thorin's old childhood bedroom. Then she returned to the fortified gatehouse to pull back the rope before she could go and wake Bombur up. After eluding his questions regarding Bilbo's whereabouts, Katniss returned to her sleeping mat, which was slightly far away from the others and fell asleep almost instantly.