Middle Earth Gamer

Shattered Allegiances

The next day, the armies of the Elves and the armed people of Lake-town stand before the entrance of the Lonely Mountain. Taranis stands among the Dwarves, the tension in the air palpable, as Thorin glares down upon the approaching forces.

Thranduil and Bard lead the charge at the front, their horses steady as they come to a halt before the gates of Erebor.

Thorin:
"Stay back! Do not come any closer! This is a dwarf's war!"

Bard:
"It is a war for all of us."

Thorin:
"I said stay back!"

Taranis (to himself, whispering to his sword, Anguirel): "I thought Thorin had more sense... This obsession with the treasure is going to destroy us all."

Bard, holding the Arkenstone high, reveals it to Thorin. The stone glints in the sunlight, and all eyes are on it.

Bard:
"Thorin, I bring you the Arkenstone."

Thorin's expression hardens with disbelief.

Thorin:
"A ruse... This is a trick. No! You dare bring this into my home?"

Taranis (stepping forward, voice firm):
"Thorin, listen to reason! This is not the way."

The tension reaches a boiling point as Bilbo steps forward, his face filled with regret, yet determination.

Bilbo:
"I gave it to them, Thorin."

Thorin glares at him, disbelief turning to fury.

Thorin:
"You gave them the Arkenstone? You betrayed me?"

Bilbo:
"No, Thorin. I didn't betray you. I only wanted to help. But greed has clouded your judgment. The Arkenstone is not worth the lives of all those outside."

Thorin (his voice rising):
"You dare lecture me, Bilbo Baggins? You took what was mine!"

Taranis watches the exchange, his eyes narrowing. He takes a step closer to Thorin, his voice quiet but stern.

Taranis:
"Enough, Thorin! This madness ends now. You are not the dwarf I came to know. You are a shadow of your former self. You've let the treasure consume you."

Thorin's anger turns to icy fury as he turns on Taranis.

Thorin:
"Stay out of this, Taranis. You have no say here. I am the King under the Mountain!"

Taranis' gaze hardens, his voice quiet but filled with conviction.

Taranis:
"You may be King, but I am no longer following you down this path of destruction. You've lost your way, Thorin."

Taranis looks around, the Dwarves behind him unsure of what to do as the tension between their King and the others grows ever more dangerous.

Thorin (growling, voice low with menace):
"I should have you thrown off the ramparts just like Bilbo. You want to betray me too?"

Before Thorin can act, the other Dwarves step in, holding him back. They're torn, unsure of how to handle their King's outburst.

Gandalf (riding forward):
"Thorin, return Bilbo to me. This madness needs to end now."

Thorin struggles against the Dwarves holding him back.

Thorin:
"No! This is my kingdom! And I will defend it!"

Bilbo, seeing the situation escalating, takes a step back. Taranis, who had been watching with increasing concern, walks to Bilbo's side, his hand on his shoulder.

Taranis:
"Let's go, Bilbo. We cannot stay here any longer."

Bilbo:
"Taranis, what are you...?"

Taranis:
"We're leaving, Bilbo. Thorin's lost his mind. He's not the dwarf you knew. I'll not stand by while he destroys everything."

With that, Taranis and Bilbo turn to leave. The other Dwarves stare after them in confusion, but none stop them.

Thorin, enraged and shaken by the betrayal, shouts after them.

Thorin:
"You can't leave! You owe me your loyalty, Taranis!"

But Taranis does not turn back. He leads Bilbo down from the ramparts, past the tense Dwarves, towards the growing chaos outside the gates.

Taranis:
"Your loyalty lies in what is right, not in blind obedience to a king consumed by greed."

As Taranis and Bilbo make their way toward the battlefield, the air crackles with the approaching danger.

Suddenly, a horn sounds—Dáin Ironfoot and his Dwarven army arrive, ready for battle, their war cries echoing across the valley.

The ground shakes as Dáin Ironfoot and his Dwarven army arrive, their war cries shaking the very earth beneath them. Dáin, leading his massive army, rides forward confidently. He shouts orders to his warriors, his voice booming across the battlefield.

Dáin Ironfoot (shouting to his army):
"Dwarves of Erebor! To me!"

The army responds with a thunderous cheer, raising their axes and weapons in unison as they form ranks at the entrance of Erebor.

Dáin Ironfoot (to Bard and Thranduil):
"There is no time for talk! Only battle now! We fight for our home!"

Thranduil, his elven army arrayed behind him, stands beside Bard, his expression as cold as ever. He glances toward the battlefield, his eyes sharp, calculating the situation.

Thranduil (stoically):
"The battle is already lost for some. I will fight as needed, but I am not here for your treasure. I am here to protect my people."

Bard (nodding):
"Then let us fight together. We may all lose if we do not unite."

Thranduil (with a cold glance toward Bard):
"We are not allies. But for the sake of peace, I will fight beside you."

Taranis (to Bilbo, whispering as the armies prepare to clash):
"It's all gone wrong, Bilbo. This was never supposed to be about treasure. Thorin's obsession with it has made him blind. We'll fight for what's right, but I'm not following him any longer."

Bilbo nods, looking toward the battle, his face full of concern.

Bilbo (to Taranis):
"Then what do we do now?"

Taranis (determined):
"We stand with those who still have honor."

As the battle continues to rage, the air is filled with the clash of weapons, the cries of men and dwarves, and the roars of Orcs. Taranis grips Anguirel tightly, his eyes scanning the battlefield. He watches as Azog's army charges, and the battle erupts into chaos.

Azog (yelling as his forces charge):
"For the glory of Azog the Defiler!"

As Taranis prepares to face the oncoming wave of Orcs, Thranduil steps forward, his bow in hand, and his piercing gaze locked onto the battlefield.

Thranduil (to his Elven warriors):
"We will not fall here. The enemy will taste defeat at our hands."

Taranis watches as Thranduil and his Elves launch into the fray with deadly precision, arrows flying like a deadly storm.