Aeonian [Legolas]

31

It wasn't until the following night did anyone see any movement on the outskirts of Erebor and when they did, it was to find the people of the once Lake-town in Dale, rallied around with hopes to find shelter in the abandoned town.

"Barricade the entrance! Use anything you can use!" Thorin had ordered without another thought.

The Dwarves followed the order without much resentment besides the wary glance at their leader. Loyal to their core they began heaving broken slabs of sculptures of once mighty kings and parts of the broken entryway created by Smaug to stack them against one another.

Viridis helped too, helping with the taller areas while the Dwarves made alternate steps to reach higher when they had built up to their heads in slabs. He saw no fault in the barricade. It was protection, as every person was entitled to. It was only if things got out of hand would he have to forsake his duties and intervene. The journey was over. They had reached their goal. Any addition they got was just an additional chance for Viridis to level the playing field.

"Viridis." Thorin grumbled, beckoning him over no sooner than he had slid into place a particularly heavy stone slab that left the company wondering where he could summon so much strength from.

"Thorin." Viridis said, cautious as he left the main group in favor of a more secluded area. There was no telling which way this conversation would go. As much as he figured he would be banished, there was also Thorin. He was too unpredictable as of late to the point that even the Dwarves never knew if he was plotting their murder or genuinely smiling at them.

"You have offered much strength and protection to us on this journey." Thorin began, and though he was several feet shorter than the Elf, he had no problem conveying his superiority.

"I'm glad to be of service." Viridis replied.

Thorin hummed. "You would be." He said. "You were in the prince's guard. It is drilled into your nature. To protect."

"It is true that I have not known much else in my lifetime, Thorin. But I have also spent many years away. If you are looking for a reason to trust me it is as plain as is. I was in Legolas' personal guard and his closest confidant. No amount of disloyalty could ever build up to such a title."

Thorin regarded him, dark eyes twinkling against whatever prospect was swimming through his sickened mind. Viridis remained still despite his body's protests.

"You killed for him." Thorin said, recalling his story.

"Yes." Viridis found no shame in admitting it once more.

"Will you kill for me?"

Viridis didn't miss a beat though the question itself almost required him to. "If the cause is just."

Thorin's voice rose and somewhere outside, a crow shrilled. "This is just!" He looked around as if being caught red-handed and then lowered his voice. "We have fought for this. And to finally reclaim our homeland only for others to stand in the way of that? I am not daft, Elf. I can see the way the townspeople look at this mountain. I can tell the Elves are well on their way as they seek their gems." He practically spat the last word out and Viridis clenched his jaw, recalling the deal he had struck with the king.

"Fighting in a war that could be prevented is not a just cause." Viridis said as calmly as he could manage. "Those are my people out there, Thorin."

"You're people have forsaken you." Thorin growled out. "We have not."

"Perhaps. And for that I am grateful. But the journey is over. You have reached your goal. What you do beyond it is out of my control."

"The Elves will have bloodshed."