A War Not Yet Won {Thorin Oakenshield Sequel to My Heart My Mountain My King}

Chapter 16 - Back to Erebor

We arrived in Dale. The battle had somewhat ceased. There weren't any orcs about, but people were scarce.

The armor that had been made for me was much lighter than I had expected. I ran with swiftness instead of being dragged down.

Legolas, Aragorn and I went to find Bard. He was in the center of the town.

"Bard," I said. He looked toward me.

"Jaedda Oakenshield," he spoke. "What brings you to Dale?"

"I wish to enter the mountain and take my husband and nephews back."

"How do you expect to reason with Azog the Defiler?"

I pulled Thranduil's jewel out of my pocket. Gandalf had put a spell on it so that it resembled the Arkenstone even more than it did before.

"With this."

"But...that stone is the birthright of the Dwarvish people of Erebor! You cannot trade that even for their own king!"

"Quell yourself, Bard," Aragorn said in a soothing voice. "There is no reason to get upset. This is not the Arkenstone. Thranduil volunteered his jewels as a replacement for the Arkenstone to deceive Azog."

Bard furrowed his brows. "What exactly are you planning to do?"

"We are sending in Jaedda," Legolas informed. "She is going to try to make a "deal" with the Defiler."

Bard nodded. "You're going by yourself, then?"

"Yes," I replied. "But I have this armor." I gestured to myself. "We made it out of Smaug's scales. Nothing will be able to pierce it. I'll be quite safe."

"Well, if you think it will work, I won't stop you," he returned. "But let me warn you. There are hundreds of them in there."

"How did the Orcs raid Erebor in the first place?" Aragorn asked. "Do you know?"

"The Earth-Eaters." We looked at each other, confused. "In the Battle of the Five Armies. They are those great worms that made holes for the orcs to travel through. They snuck up through the mountain and the mines, making an entrance for the Orcs to enter."

I shook my head. "This is madness."

"Let's hurry," Legolas said. "Before Azog does anything too rash."

I nodded as we set off towards Erebor. I mentally prepared myself for what I was going to do, what I was going to say. Did Azog even speak Common Tongue?

"We're here," Aragorn said. The doors to the mountain were wide open. There was no one in sight.

"Are you certain?" Legolas asked. "Are you sure you want to go in alone?"

I nodded. "This is something that I have to do on my own."

I hopped off my pony and walked inside of the great hall.

"We'll be waiting out here for you if trouble arises," Aragorn said. I nodded and continued walking.

It was eerily quiet. I shivered. Walking down to the gold room, I finally spotted him. The Defiler. He was wandering about amidst the gold.

"Azog," I breathed, louder than expected. He sharply looked up, an evil grin curling across his lips.

(In Black speech) "Well, if it isn't the nymph, Oakenshield."

For some reason, I could understand exactly what he was saying. I raised my head, a sudden confidence washing over me.

"Yes," I replied. "I have come to reclaim my husband and nephews."

He laughed. "And what makes you think that they're still alive?"

I pursed my lips. "Because they know what you want. What you need. But they won't tell you where it is."

His eyes narrowed. "And what do I need?"

"Full right to the mountain." He furrowed his brows. "And I can give it to you."

He grinned. "And how would you do that?"

"I have the Arkenstone," I claimed. "And I will only give it to you once I have all the prisoners back."

"And I will give the prisoners back once I have the Arkenstone."

I shook my head. "Try me."

He threw a spear that went right to my chest, knocking me over. I gasped, for it knocked the air out of me, but immediately rose back up. His eyes widened. He couldn't tell that I was wearing armor. As far as he knew, I was immortal.

"You cannot kill me," I claimed. "Give me back my family. And I will give you the Arkenstone. I promise."

He paused and gestured for me to follow him. I reluctantly followed. He led me through a dark hallway, where other orcs watched us. I felt disgusted under their gaze.

We made it to a dark dungeon. Thorin, Kili and Fili were all chained to a wall in a stone room. There shirts were tattered, and their skin didn't look much better. I let out a gasp.

"Thorin!"

He looked up slowly, his eyes widening. Adrenaline took over him as he struggled to get out of the chains.

"Jaedda!"

"If you want Oakenshield," Azog said. "Go get him."

He opened up to barred door. I ran to Thorin and kissed him. I tried to figure out how to take his chains off, when I heard a loud "SLAM" behind me. My heart sunk. I looked over my shoulder to see that the prison door had been slammed shut, with Azog's smiling face on the other side.