꧁ An unexpected betrayal ꧂

Fili was enchanted by the beautiful woman who was serenely sleeping in his arms, wonder and love shone in his eyes, while he played with some of her brown locks, rolling them up between his fingers. He loved her, oh if he loved her! Every fiber of his being, every beat of his heart, every thought, every dream were for her. Erebor's most precious gem, the Arkenstone itself, was worthless compared to Arya.
The course of those thoughts was interrupted by the sudden opening of the door. The dwarf jolted slightly, but relaxed to see Kili at the threshold.

"Morning! You worn her out, brother. Was it good?"

The young dwarf joked, getting a nasty look.

"You really don't know what "knocking" means, do you?! It's none of your business, you little rascal!"

Fili replied in kind.

"Yeah, whatever, Fi. You can't dodge my questions forever."

"Kili, if you don't stop yelling right now, you're gonna get a pillow in your face!"

Arya complained, her voice still kneaded by sleep, capturing the attention of the two dwarfs, who burst into laughter.

"Good morning."

Fili whispered to her, lowering his face to get close to hers.

"Good morning."

She murmured back, raising her head and leaving a sweet kiss on his lips.

"You're really cute, and I'm so very sorry to interrupt, but Thorin needs everyone at the gate: the elves are here."

Kili asserted, with a bit of concern in his voice.
The two lovers glanced at him and nodded, before seeing him turn his back, ready to go out.

"Ah! I almost forgot! I went down to the armory earlier. Check these out, Arya."

He added, placing a bag next to the door, before leaving them alone to prepare.
Arya smiled, and then reluctantly separated from her beloved, slipped out of the blankets and got dressed.
Fili imitated her gestures, sighing melancholy. Then, he approached the bag that his brother had brought and started snooping inside.

"Look what that brat has found. These are perfect for you."

He stated, handing the woman two twin daggers, of medium length and quite thin.

"Well, they're certainly better than the two blades I got at Laketown."

She agreed to take them and put them in the sheaths behind her back.
The bag also contained a longer and thicker sword, with the handle engraved by runes and a white gem embedded on top. It was gorgeous and of an excellent workmanship. Arya immediately hooked it to her belt. Then her eyes rested on a beautiful bow in yew wood, with the edges decorated, which was inserted, along with at least twenty arrows, in a simple leather quiver. Arya tied that too behind her back. She was ready.

When Fili, with the help of the woman, was also clothed in his armor, the two went to the bastion, where the whole company was already assembled.

"Ah! It was about time! Where have you two been?"

Bofur joked when he saw them coming.
Fili merely smiled and walked up to the side of Thorin, opposite to his brother. Arya followed him, remaining a few steps back, close to Balin.

At the foot of the mountain, at the head of an army of men and elves, there were Bard, riding on his white steed, and Thranduil, at his side, on the back of a moose.
Thorin picked up the bow and shot an arrow at the Elf Lord's feet.

"I will put the next one between your eyes!"

He shouted, taking a second arrow. The dwarves exulted in approval and support, while the elves behind Thranduil assumed a good firing position. Seeing the arrows of the enemies pointed at them, the members of the company immediately ceased to rejoice and took refuge behind the walls of the bastion; all except Thorin, who continued to stare at the Elven Ruler with hatred, holding the bow still stretched in his hands, and Arya, who did not fear an attack, certain that Thranduil would not have stooped so low. At the king's nod, the soldiers lowered their weapons, and the dwarves were able to come out into the open.

"We've come to tell you payment of your debt has been offered and accepted."

The Lord of Mirkwood asserted with a firm and resolute voice.

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

Thundered Thorin, always with a bent bow.

"We have this."

Bard intervened, retrieving a fabric envelope from the inner pocket of the jacket and opening it to reveal a wonderful big white gem, which shone with its own light.

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

Kili cried out, filled with anger. For days they had been searching for the gem relentlessly, all in vain! How could it have ended up in their hands?!

"The King may have it, with our good will. But first he must honor his word."

The archer continued, placing the stone back in his coat.

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

The Dwarf King roared.

"I-it's no trick. The stone is real. I gave it to them."

Bilbo's voice came as little more than a sad whisper to the sovereign's ears. The whole company turned in the direction of the hobbit, which took a few steps forward, emerging from behind Dwalin's broad shoulders.

"You?"

Thorin hissed.

" I took it as my fourteenth share."

He halfling tried to peacefully defend himself, but in vain.

"You would steel from me?"

"Steel from you? No, no. I may be a burglar, but I like to think I'm an honest one. I'm willing to let it stand against my claim."

"Against your claim? Your claim? You have no claim over me, you miserable rat!"

Thundered Thorin, now in wrath, moving a few steps in his direction. Arya, too, worried by the situation, advanced towards the hobbit, ready to intervene in his defense if necessary.

"I was going to give it to you. Many times I wanted to, but..."

The halfling try to explain.

"But what, thief?"

"You are changed, Thorin. The Dwarf I met in Bag End would never have gone back on his word, would never have doubted the loyalty of his kin!"

Bilbo reproached him, hoping to restore his lost mind.

"Do not speak to me of loyalty."

The King retorted, beginning to walk towards the hobbit, who looked down, deeply wounded by those words.

"Throw him from the rampart!"

He then ordered, addressing his companions, who watched him appalled without moving a muscle. Bilbo was their friend and through those words he had expressed the thoughts of all, even though no one would have expected Thorin to have even come to doubt their loyalty.

At the command of the King, the hobbit opened his eyes, full of disappointment and fear, while Arya hurried to position herself before him, with her arms slightly open, as a sign of defense.

"Did you not hear me?!"

He repeated furiously, taking Fili by the arm, who immediately wriggled from the grip.

" I will do it myself!"

He then declared, but was immediately stopped by Arya, who took him by the shoulders.

"Thorin Stop! You're not yourself!"

The woman cried.

"Get out of the way!"

The Kind barked, moving her hands from his shoulders and, with a strong elbow, pushing her toward the younger grandson. Then he concentrated on the petrified hobbit in front of him, lifting him up and setting him poised on the wall. While Fili, Balin and Nori fought hard to prevent him from throwing their friend down, Kili grabbed Arya by her waist and gave her a worried look, but she reassured him with a nod, then freed herself from his grasp and headed for the young king

"Cursed be the wizard that forced you on this company!"

Thorin shouted furiously, as he continued to keep Bilbo suspended on the rampart.

"If you don't like my burglar, then please don't damage him. Return him to me."

The King stopped and looked up to the sound of that voice. Gandalf had made his way through the ranks of elves and had stopped between Bard and Thranduil, his stern gaze fixed on the young Dwarf King.

"You're not making a very splendid figure as King under the Mountain, are you, Thorin, son of Thrain?"

He asked him sarcastically.

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

Thorin declared furiously, letting go of Bilbo. The hobbit hurried in the direction of Arya, who was now standing behind the sovereign. She laid her hand on his shoulder and led him to a narrower part of the walkway, where Bofur helped him to climb the walls, thanks to a rope firmly tied to one of the stones. The halfling had to leave the mountain before it was too late.

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

Bard asked him, hopeful.

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

The King growled.

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

Thranduil then suggested to the man, infuriating Thorin more than he already was.

"I will kill you! By my oath, I will kill you all!"

"Your oath means nothing."

The Lord of the Wood Elves replied, unnerved by that useless waste of time. Thorin's behavior confirmed his suspicions: you couldn't reason with dwarves.

"I've heard enough."

He added, then turning to his soldiers to order them to prepare.

"Thorin, lay down your arms. Open these doors. This treasure will be your death."

Gandalf tried to convince him once again. But it was all in vain, the Dwarf did not want to hear reason.

"Thorin, we cannot win this fight."

Balin calmly pointed out to him, approaching him with worry.

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

Bard asked, on the verge of despair.
Just as the King seemed to have regained his reason, a crow rested on the cold stone of the bastion. It was Roäc, the Lord of the Ravens of Ravenhill, with a message for the king.

"I will have war."

Thorin murmured in a grave voice, after having heard the words of the bird.

Author Space

Hi everyone, I'm back! I'm truly sorry for my absence, please forgive me.
Finally, here's the new chapter. We're almost at the end of the story now...are you curious? Excited?
Updates will follow soon, I promise.

Until next time, a kiss
Lis💗