SoulBlind

Chapter 22

Dwarves had come over the hill, fully armored and ready for battle. Thorin and his company cheered beside Bilbo and Tauriel. Gandalf was already walking over to talk to Dain.

"I have to talk to him.." I said, shifting to hop off.

"You will do no such thing!" Thranduil said using his arm to block me.

"Thranduil, please. I may be the only one to keep him from fighting...we have worse things to worry about. I've had enough of people not listening!" I said.

"I know your a Traveler. Gandalf told me. But what if you can't convince him? Then you'll just be in the line of fire. I won't risk that. Your place is with me...so stay with me." Thranduil pleaded.

When he said things like this I couldn't argue. It hurt too much to even think about it.

"Then I urge you not to fight him." I said, pulling at his arm.

Thranduil looked back it me. "An orcish army can't be that bad..."

"This one is! Plenty of elvish blood will be spilled. Don't waste any of it on trying to fight Dain." I urged, looking into his eyes desperately.

Thranduil took on a look of thought, glancing between Thorin and me before then glancing between Dain's army and his own. Thranduil said nothing before turning the stag and the army to face Dain.

"I will not back down unless you all just bugger off!" Dain yelled after Gandalf urged for peace.

I could see Thranduil's jaw working, as though he was trying to make a choice. But then he looked to Thorin who as already another arrow in our direction. Thranduil went to pull his sword but I grabbed his wrist.

"Don't you dare." I hissed.

I felt Thranduil let out a sigh before he relaxed. "I am not here to fight you. It appears there are...bigger problems on the way."

"Yes..." I said. "Don't stop."

"I'm not here to take what is mine. I'm only here to defend it, in hopes of earning it back." Thranduil called out.

I let out a sigh setting my head against is shoulder. "Thank you..."

Thranduil smiled and reached back, taking my hand in his and pulling it up to set on his leg as he held it.

"I know that wasn't easy for you.." I whispered to him.

It really couldn't have been. He swallowed his pride for me. But I could feel his pain in doing so. I don't think...I could ever ask him to do that again.

Dain sat there a moment thinking, before looking to Thorin. Everything in me hoped he accepted our truce. Thorin had looked to Dain before pulling back another arrow, the other dwarves shouting in protest at him. Thranduil noticed and nudged the stag to move, his arm flying back to guard me.  But before Thorin could release it the earth trembled as massive worms burrowed holes out of a hillside. He lowered his bow and smirked before retreating further into Erebor.

"Bard! Take your men and go back to Dale! Before they retry to cut you off! Go!" I yelled to Bard.

He seemed hesitant but led his company back to Dale as Dain's group dwarves recollected themselves between a horde of on coming orcs and the elves. And so the battle began.