Bargaining Chip

The next morning legions of Elf warriors stood before the Mountain. Thranduil and Bard rode through the crowd. The Elven King on a stag and Bard on a horse. The soldiers moved aside creating a path and stepping back into line closing the gap as the two passed through.

I had tried so many times last night to get away but I was stopped each time. I was worried about what Kili must be thinking. Does he think I abandoned him? Does he think I ran? Is he mad at me? Does he hate me? Then there was the other question that made my heart ache, did anyone even notice I was gone?

It wasn't until this morning I was able to finally get away when Alfrid went to fetch me breakfast.

I watched from the shadows as Thorin fired an arrow in front of Thranduil's stag.

"I will put the next one between your eyes." He threatened.

The Dwarves began shouting and the Elves readied their arrows. They moved in perfect unison. The yelling stopped as the Dwarves ducked. All but Thorin.

With a wave of Thranduil's hand the soldiers disarmed themselves.

"We've come to tell you, payment of your debt has been offered, and accepted." Thranduil said ignoring the arrow still trained on him.

"What payment? I gave you nothing! You have nothing!"

Thranduil looked to Bard who pulled the Arkenstone from his coat pocket.

"We have this."

"They have the Arkenstone. Thieves!" Kili yelled. "How came you by the heirloom of our house?! That stone belongs to the king!"

"The king may have it with our goodwill. But first he must honor his word."

"They're taking us for fools, this is a ruse, a filthy lie! The Arkenstone is in this Mountain! It is a trick!"

"No, Thorin. It's not." I said stepping out of the shadows behind him. "That is the real Arkenstone. They got it from me."

The look of betrayal from the Dwarves nearly killed me.

"You?"

"I took it as my share."

"You would steal from me?"

"No, I would never steal from you. In fact I was going to give it to you the moment I discovered Bilbo had found it and about a million times after he'd given it to me, but..."

"But what thief?" Thorin snapped.

"Thorin, you've changed. You're not the Thorin I know anymore. The Dwarf I spent all this time with, the one I now call family, would honor his word. He never would have doubted the loyalty of his kin!"

"Do not speak to me of loyalty." He growled. "Throw her from the rampart!"

I looked at him wide eyed. The darkness in his eyes was more prominent then ever. It no longer faded for me. Thorin is truly gone and I'm afraid we may never get him back.

The Dwarves didn't move. Kili kept his eyes locked on me, I could tell he was prepared to protect me at all costs.

"Did you not hear me?!" Thorin roared as he grabbed Fili.

Fili ripped his arm from his uncles grip.

"I will do it myself. Curse you!"

Next thing I knew Thorin had me by the throat. Kili wasn't fast enough to get between us in time. Kili and Fili grabbed at Thorin as the other Dwarves yelled in protest. They were rallying against him, for me. They were all willing to face his wrath in order to save me.

"Cursed be the Wizard that forced you on us."

"If you don't like my choice, then please, don't damage her. Return her to me." Gandalf's voice boomed through the courtyard. "You're not making a very splendid figure as King under the Mountain, are you Thorin, son of Thrain?"

Thorin let go of me and Kili pulled me into his arms.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." I replied still quite shaken up.

"Never again will I have dealings with Wizards! Or Shire rats!"

"Get her out of here." Kili said passing me off to Bofur.

"But Kili."

"I will find you after the battle has been won."

He kissed me once before nodding to Bofur.

The Dwarf grabbed me and ushered me away. I grabbed the rope from last night and took my same route to the ground.

"Are we resolved?" Bard asked. "The return of the Arkenstone for what was promised?"

Thorin looked to the hills in the west, as if he were waiting for something.

"Why should I buy back that which is rightfully mine?!"

Thorin paced. Thranduil turned to Bard.

"Keep the stone, sell it. Ecthelion of Gondor will give you a good price for it."

"I will kill you! By my oath, I will kill you all!" Thorin roared.

I hated this. I hated seeing him this way.

"Your oath means nothing." Thranduil shot back. "I've heard enough."

He made to leave.

"Thorin lay down your arms!" Gandalf yelled. "Open these doors. This treasure will be your death."

I could see Balin trying to reason with him but couldn't hear what he was saying.

Thorin looked to be struggling with himself.

"Give us your answer." Bard ordered. "Will you have peace or war?"

A raven landed near Thorin. The sight sparked something in him, but it was nothing good.

"I will have war."

***Sorry this one is so short, this just felt like a good place to end the chapter.***