Note: And I missed another deadline LOL. Sorry about that, I was sick for the past few days. But hopefully I'll finish the story by August and release Part II.

Chapter XVII

Bard walked past the survivors of Laketown. Children wept, men and women laid wounded and those who could stand were tending to the wounded. Despair hung heavy in the air. "These children are starving", shouted one. "We need food", another chimed in. "We won't last three days. Bard, we don't have enough!", Percy said to him. "Do what you can Percy", Bard responded.

He walked into another area. "The children, the wounded and the women come first", he reminded everyone. He walked up to Alfrid Lickspittle. "Good morning Alfrid", he said. "What news from the night watch?"

"All quiet, Sire. Not much to report. Nothing gets past me", the man got up and followed Bard.

Bard walked into a clearing. "Except an army of elves, it would seem."

Tall elves in golden armor stood at the ready, as if they were waiting for commands. Bard turned around and left in a hurry. He searched for the elf, Feren, as was his name. Feren was a military Captain in service to King Thranduil. From what Bard knew, he had come to summon the King's son, Prince Legolas. Yet, Legolas had gone off with that red haired elf and left Feren to guard his daughter instead.

Eruanna Úlumiel, Princess of Mirkwood, Lady of Imladris and Lothlórien, King Thranduil's granddaughter who had found herself on a journey with thirteen dwarves, who had joined to help Bard and his folk in any way she could after deducing that the dwarves had no more use for her. The elleth with five elemental dragons and three powerful elven realms at her back. She was an otherworldly figure, an enigma of profound beauty and power. She could possibly have an explanation. Or Feren himself.

Bard found the elf pacing outside a nearby tower he had taken the Princess to. "Feren?", Bard came up to the elf who turned to face him. "Where is Eruanna?"

"My lady is sleeping. I do not wish to disturb her. Is it urgent?", Feren asked. "Yes, I'm afraid so", Bard said. "An army. An elven army has arrived." Feren's eyes went wide. "You did not know", Bard concluded.

"An... elven army?", Feren asked.

"Gold armor, red cloaks", Bard described them. Feren nodded. "It must be King Thranduil's army. Go. I will get the Princess immediately."

Eruanna had a restful night but was woken by Feren gently shaking her. "Goheno nin, Princess, but Bard is asking for you. Something has arisen. Your daeradar, King Thranduil, has led his army here", he informed Eruanna.

"Did you know about this?", Eruanna asked, rising to her feet and gathering her weapons. "I have no knowledge of this, hiril nin", Feren answered honestly. "The royal army is meant to answer any threats to the realm."

Feren was only a few minutes and Eruanna came out, her dragons loyally following her. Her dragons were nothing like Smaug. Calm and loyal, they guarded Eruanna and her folk. They had taken a smaller form so they could fit into small areas and not scare away anyone.

"Yes, but you know as well as I that hundreds of fishermen are no threat to the Woodland Realm", Eruanna said, walking out to meet Bard. Her dragons followed her and Bard turned to see them approach, bowing his head in respect.

"No need for that", Eruanna waved away the gesture. "We just need to find out what my grandfather wants", she said. "You had no knowledge of this?", Bard questioned. She merely shook her head. Bard saw no reason for her to lie.

They made their way to the clearing and the elven soldiers saluted the Dragon Princess. They made way for Eruanna, who motioned to Bard, her dragons and Feren to follow. King Thranduil, Eruanna's paternal grandfather, came riding on a majestic elk, surrounded by his guards.

"My Lord Thranduil, we did not expect to see you here", Bard said. "I heard you needed aid", Thranduil said. He spoke in such a deep, commanding voice, he could intimidate anyone. A wagon full of food and drink came in and the people cheered. They eagerly went to get their fair share.

"You have saved our lives. I do not know how to thank you", Bard said in relief. Truth be told, he hadn't expected a word from the Elvenking, knowing how the wood elves liked sealing themselves off. But they had been trading with Thranduil's realm for quite a while. Eruanna's grandfather dismounted his elk and nodded to Bard, proceeding to step towards me. "Man cerig, daeradar (What are you doing here, grandfather)?", Eruanna asked.

"Princess", Thranduil acknowledged her in his deep voice, taking her hand and kissing it, his eyes holding a certain fondness that he had for his only grandchild. There was a certain connection between them Bard could never understand.

"Why lead your army here, daeradar? To deal with fishermen and seamstresses?", Eruanna jested. No ordinary man (or elf) would jest with the stern Elvenking but Bard could tell that the Princess played around with him without a care. It made sense, Bard thought. He couldn't do anything to her as she was his heir. Eruanna knew it and took full advantage of it. "What are you hoping to gain? Fish and tapestries?", she questioned him further.

"An act of courtesy, Úlumiel", Thranduil responded. Eruanna narrowed her eyes at him. "Tell me", Eruanna said. "Does it have to do with King Thror dishonoring you?"

Bard's ears perked up at this new information and he listened in. Eruanna licked her lips and crossed her arms. "Tell me then. The whole story." Seeing the power in her deep blue eyes, Thranduil would be pressured to cough up his reasons.

"Back when Erebor was at its height, before you and before Smaug, King Thror and I had an alliance of sorts. I commissioned the dwarves to make a necklace for your grandmother. When she died, I went to get her gems back but they refused me", Thranduil said.

"So this is all to retrieve grandmother's necklace and gems?", Eruanna asked.

Thranduil dismounted his elk and walked up to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "By all rights, those gems should have passed to you", he said, running his hand over her talisman on her chest. "The dwarves stole it. They stole from us."

Eruanna was not convinced. "Still no reason to bring in an army. Thorin has promised me my share. If I could ask for it from him, he should give it to me. And hopefully some gold to help these poor people", she suggested an alternative. However, Bard could see that even she wasn't sure if her plan would work.

"You put too much confidence in that dwarf", Thranduil responded, shaking his head. "Maybe", she shrugged.

"Feren", Thranduil turned to his Captain who bowed his head. "I thank you for watching over my granddaughter. But I see that Legolas is not here. Where is he?"

"He has left, my King", Feren stammered out.

"For Gundabad. Possibly to spy on the enemy forces. It is almost as if he felt something stirring there but knowing my father, his intuition is nearly as good as mother's. The only thing that angers me is that he took that traitor with him", Eruanna said, a raging inferno blooming in her eyes.

"You mean the red haired elf I saw?", Bard said. He certainly didn't know that part.

"Yes, Tauriel. Curse that traitorous fool", Eruanna snarled. Bard didn't know much about Tauriel but he could tell that she probably had some bad blood with the Princess prior to her coming to Laketown. Beefing with royalty wasn't a wise move.

"But Lord Thranduil", Bard looked to the King as a few troops marched past them. "You would go to war over a handful of gems!?!", Bard cried out.

"The heirlooms of my people are not lightly forsaken", Thranduil responded.

"We are allies in this. My people also have a claim to the gems in the mountain", Bard pleaded. "Let me speak with Thorin."

The King looked at him as if he was mad. "You would try to reason with a dwarf?", King Thranduil asked.

"To avoid war? Yes", Bard was firm. Eruanna tugged her grandfather's hand. "We must at least try", the Dragoness said.

"The Dwarf King will not concede", Thranduil argued back.

"To us, he will", Eruanna said. She smiled. "He can't be stupid enough to think that we'll back away. After all, you've surely heard of how Bard and I defeated Smaug", she gestured towards Bard.

"Come with me", Bard said, looking at Eruanna. "Maybe you can help." "I will try to", she responded. Eruanna looked at her grandfather who nodded. "Both of you, meet me at the front of Dale after", her grandfather said. "Yes, Aran nin", Eruanna bowed her head to him. "Watch over us."

Bard frowned. People only said that when they were in prayer. Just then, the dragons roared. Bard looked up to see that they had taken on a larger size. Helegiel landed and the white she-dragon roared. She stared down at the Elvenking who smiled up at her.

Eruanna smiled at Bard. "Let's go."

Bard and Eruanna galloped to the entrance. Thorin and the dwarves looked down at them. "Eruanna!", Kili shouted with delight. "Are you joining us lassie?", Balin asked. "Unfortunately not Balin", Eruanna said with a slight smile.

"I thought you were with your kin", Thorin said, coldly. "Fate has led me here", Eruanna responded.

"Hail Thorin, son of Thrain. We are glad to find you alive beyond hope", Bard called out. "Why do you come to the gates of the King Under the Mountain armed for war?", Thorin demanded. "Why does the King Under the Mountain fence himself in like a robber in his hole?", Bard asked.

"Perhaps it is because I am expecting to be robbed!", Thorin said. "My lord we have not come to rob you but to seek fair settlement", Bard said. "Will you not speak with us?." Thorin nodded and Bard took Eruanna, walking up to the gate the dwarves made. The Dragoness saw a raven fly out but focused her eyes on the rocks shutting the dwarves away. They peeked through a hole in the gate.

"I am listening", Thorin said.

"On behalf of the people of Laketown, we ask that you honor your word. A share of the treasure so that they might rebuild their lives", Bard said.

"I will not treat with any man while an armed host lies at my door", Thorin said.

"That armed host is ready to attack", Eruanna snapped. "At any time!."

"Your threats do not sway me", Thorin said.

"You gave them your word, shouldn't you pay them back after everything they've done for us. They trusted you Thorin, you can't break this promise", Eruanna tried to make him see reason.

"Why don't you fulfill it!?!", Thorin snapped.

"You made the promise NOT her! Fulfilling it is your responsibility!!", Bard snapped.

"Why did the people of Laketown come to our aid but for the promise of rich reward!?!", Thorin shouted.

"A bargain was struck!", Bard snapped.

"A bargain!?! What choice do we have but to barter our birthright for blankets and food, to ransom our future in exchange for our freedom!?! You call that a fair trade? Tell me, Bard the Dragonslayer, why should I honor such terms?", Thorin asked.

"Because you gave us your word?", Bard said. "Does that mean nothing?."

"You are not the Thorin I once knew. The Thorin I knew always kept his word", Eruanna said. Thorin moved away from our sight. "Begone! Ere our arrows fly!", Thorin shouted.

"Curse you!", Eruanna shouted as Bard hit the walls of the gates. They went to their horses and galloped off.

The duo went to the entrance of Dale where Eruanna's grandfather was waiting for them on his elk. "He will give us nothing", Bard said.

"Such a pity. Still you tried", Thranduil responded.

"I do not understand, why would he risk war?", Bard asked.

"Tis what I feared", Eruanna said. "He has the Dragon Sickness." Both men looked at Eruanna.

"It is pointless to reason with them. They understand only one thing", King Thranduil said, drawing his sword. "We attack at dawn. Are you with us?", he asked Bard as he rode away on his elk.

"What will we do?", Bard asked.

"We may have no choice", Eruanna sighed. She would remind them who rules the skies.