Pov narrator

In Erebor's halls, Throin, Dwalin, Balin, and Bilbo are gathered in front of the throne. The Arkenstone is still not given by Bilbo, and he remembers Midnight's words bout not giving it to Throin. But, he wants to be sure, so when they're done talking here, he'll ask Balin. "Thorin, we all would see the stone returned." Dwalin's voice brings Bilbo back from his thoughts, and he looks up.

"And yet, it is still not FOUND!" Throin bellows. There's a silence, then Balin asks something nobody had thought of. "Do you doubt the loyalty of anyone here?" Throin turns and walks towards him, looking angry beyond measure.  "The Arkenstone is the birthright of our people." Balin ads.  "It is the King's Jewel," Throin says flatly, then he starts shouting.

"AM I NOT THE KING?!" As he turns away, Balin, Bilbo, and Dwalin look uneasy. Bilbo misses Midnight. She would know what to do and how to calm down the furious dwarf king. He sighs and turns his attention back when Throin says lowly, but they all hear it. "Know this - If anyone should find it and withhold it from me, I will be avenged." Balin and Dwalin leave Bilbo alone in the throne room when the king finally leaves.

He looks torn between following Midnight's words or giving the stone to Throin. Finally, he sighs and decides to find Balin. Bilbo finds him in a quiet corner somewhere in the Mountain. He's breathing heavily as if he has just wept. Balin looks up briefly then starts talking. "Dragon-sickness - I've seen it before. That look. That terrible need. It is a fierce and jealous love, Bilbo. It sent his grandfather mad." Bilbo smiles a little, sympathetic smile before it vanishes, and he says what's on his mind.

"Balin, if-if Thorin...had the Arkenstone..." Bilbo cocks his head, and Balin looks entirely at him, surprise shining in his eyes.  "...if it was found - Would it help?" Bilbo ends. Balin sighs and says, "That stone crowns all. It is the summit of this great wealth, bestowing power upon he who bears it. Will it stay his madness? No, lad; I fear it would make it worse. Perhaps it should remain lost."

⚔︎

Bilbo is now sitting on a bench in a hall. After a few minutes, he pulls out the Arkenstone but hears something as Throin bursts up beside him. "What is that?!" He says. Bilbo looks surprised and hurries to hide the stone as Throin comes in front of him. "In your hand!" The dwarf king continues sharply.  "It-It's nothing." Bilbo stutters, but Throin won't fall for it and says a simple order "Show me." Bilbo sighs and holds out his hand.

In it lies an acorn. "I picked it up in Beorn's garden," Bilbo says lightly. "You've carried it all this way," Throin states, his anger fading.  "I'm gonna plant it in my garden, in Bag End," Bilbo says, and Throin smiles fondly at him. "That's a poor price to take back to the Shire." He says and titles his head slightly. "One day, it'll grow. And every time I look at it, I'll remember - Remember everything that happened, the good, the bad. And how lucky I am that I made it home." Bilbo says, and they smile at each other.

Dwalin suddenly walks up to Throin, his anger returning when he hears his friend's words.  "Thorin, survivors...from Laketown. They are streaming into Dale. There are hundreds of them." Throin turns and barks out an order, "Call everyone to the gate."

⚔︎

In Laketown, you help the people as much as you can when Alfrid suddenly calls for the bard's attention. You excuse yourself from the woman you're helping who smiles at you. You hurried up the steps after Bard and stopped beside him. "Look, sire, the braziers are lit," Alfrid says; you smile. "So, the company of Thorin Oakenshield survived," Bard says, and your nod. Alfrid turns to Bard, a shocked and discussed expression on his face.

"Survived? You mean there's a bunch of dwarves in there with all that gold?" He says, and you roll your eyes, using one claw to sting him. He yelps And looks aorund but he sees none. You smirk as you follow Bard down the steps and call back to Alfrid. "You shouldn't worry, Alfrid. There's gold enough in that Mountain for all."

Bard calls then out to the people, "Make camp here tonight. Find what shelter you can. Get some fires going." He turns up the steps again and calls to Alfrid, "Alfrid, you take the night watch."

As Bard goes, so does you, but you feel the sour look Alfrid gives you. Finally, when you're stopped, you look at Bard to see him looking uneasy at the Mountain. You place a hand on him. "What's wrong, Bard?" You say softly. He glances at you, then back to the Mountain and shakes his head with a sigh. "Nothing" you let him go and turned o look at the hill yourself.

You're not sure if you should join your friends or stay with the people of Laketown. Smaug, you should find, but that's a case for another day. So you sigh and follow Bard even tho he's long gone.

⚔︎

Within the walls of Erebor, the dwarves work to block up the entrance that Smaug broke through. They carry rocks both by hand and with the help of various pulleys and other machines. "I want this fortress made safe by sunup. This Mountain was hard-won - I will not see it retaken." Throin orders. Kili then suddenly speaks up, dropping the things he's been holding.

"The people of Laketown have nothing. They came to us in need. They have lost everything." He says, his voice wavering of sadness. Throin turned his head and had no emotions on his face. "Do not tell me what they have lost. I know well enough their hardship. Those who have lived through Dragonfire should rejoice. They have much to be grateful for." He says and then turns to look at dale, where the refugees find shelter.

He then turns to the dwarves and shouts, "More stone! BRING MORE STONE TO THE GATE!" Bilbo looks on in despair. Midnight should've been here. She would do something about this.

⚔︎

It's night in Dale, and the people sit aorund. Some are tending to wounds. You hear infants crying as you walk through with bard at your side. "These children are starving! We need food!" A man calls out, and another answer, "We won't last three days!"

Percy then comes up to you two and says to Bard. "Bard, we don't have enough." Bard pats him on the shoulder and says softly, "Do want you can, Percy" you watch them talk, saying nothing. Your mind is on the Mountain. You have to go back and talk to them. Of what you know of the dragon sickness, it's going to make Throin mad, and he's not going to give a single coin to the people of lake town, nor anyone else.

"Come midnight," bard says, breaking you out of your thoughts. You look at him and nod. "We need more water." A woman calls out as bard says to another, "The children, the wounded, and the women come first." You walk over to where Alfrid is standing and freeze. Bard comes soon after, greeting the half-sleeping man. "Morning, Alfrid. What news from the night watch?" Alfrid stands and says lazily, "All quiet, sire, I must report. Nothing gets past me."

He yawns and follows the bard, who comes up beside you and freezes himself. "Except an army of elves, it would seem." You snark. Outside, the courtyard is packed full of Mirkwood elves dressed in full battle gear, standing in perfectly ordered lines. The people of Laketown begin coming out of their buildings and see the elves. 'King Thranduil,' you think. No hate, no fear runs through you as you think of that name.

He hadn't exactly been on his best when he met you, but after a bit of talk, he had given you what you deserved. Only if the dwarves could've gotten the same thing. You sigh and follow Bard down the steps. As you approach and come near enough, some lines of elves turn and step back to make a pathway for you two. You are impressed indeed. As you exit the bank of eleves, a familiar armor-dressed elf king rides in.

"My lord Thranduil, we did not look to see you here," Bard says. You stand a little behind him, so Thranduil doesn't notice you. Of course, you have no grudge against him, but it's maybe not the best to meet the king in his full gear. "I heard you needed aid," Thranduil says and turns to face a wagon that is pulling up; it is loaded with food and drink for the people. The people of Laketown smile and cheer and begin unloading the cart with the elves' help. Bard approaches Thranduil gratefully.

"You have saved us! I do not know how to thank you." Bard says. You decide you could show yourself. "He doesn't need your gratitude, my friend. He merely wants his heirloom back." You say. Thranduil notices you and looks surprised to see you and well alive. But he gets his cold demeanor again and says, "indeed, I came to reclaim something of mine."

Meanwhile, Thorin picks up a beautiful necklace made of tiny, shining, and white gems in the Mountain. He looks at them for a moment before saying, "The white gems of Lasgalen." He looks up, and an evil grin on his face. "I know an Elf-Lord who would pay a pretty price for these." He says and tosses the necklace back into the pile of jewels, scattering many of the tiny gems.

⚔︎

Back in Dale, Thranduil watches his troops march out of Dale. Bard runs up to him, and you appear beside him, startling his steed, but it calms down as soon as your eyes meet. Thranduil's eyes and attention are on the troops, so he doesn't notice you. Bard speaks up; his voice is quivering. You look at him, and your eyes meet. He then turns to Thranduil again, saying, "Wait! Please, wait! You would go to war over a handful of gems?" Thranduil turns to you; his icing blue eyes tell his answer. he turns back to the troops. "The heirlooms of my people are not lightly forsaken," Thranduil says, cooly. "We are allies in this. My people also have a claim upon the riches in that Mountain! Let me speak with Thorin!" Bard says, and you appear beside him. "I will, too," you say, your voice strong and leaving no room for arguments. Bard looks at you with an expression you cant read.

Thranduil also looks at you then says, "You would try to reason with a dwarf?" you nod. To avoid war? Yes!" you say.

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chapters up

I will write more on this story. I might be going to make this a more romantic story or something. Like Thranduil is going to be closer friends with Midnight, and Bard is also going to get closer, along with Legolas. as for the other dragon in this story, I've to see. I would like a love story between them, but I'm already working on an account for that. So yeah,... ill see how this book will turn out. I hope you're going to like it anyway and tell me if you want anything to change.

-Saph