Heart Of Stone

Chapter Seventeen

Thranduil stands in a tent with Bard and the wizard Fawn calls father. He was dirty, with dried remnants of blood on his beard. As he spoke, his voice was urgent and grave. "You must set aside your petty grievances with the dwarves. War is coming! The cesspits of Dol Guldur have been emptied. You're ALL in mortal danger!"

Bard frowns. "What are you talking about?"

Thranduil sighed. "I can see you know nothing of wizards. They are like winter thunder on a wild wind rolling in from a distance, breaking hard in alarm. But sometimes a storm is just a storm."

Gandalf shook his head. "Not this time. Armies of orcs are on the move. And these are fighters! They have been bred for war. Our enemy has summoned his full strength."

Thranduil's brows furrowed. That's...unsettling. "Why show his hand now?"

"Because we forced him! We forced him when the Company of Thorin Oakenshield set out to reclaim their homeland. The dwarves were never meant to reach Erebor; Azog the Defiler was sent to kill them. His master seeks control of the mountain. Not just for the treasure within, but for where it lies, its strategic position."

As Gandalf talks, they leave the tent and walked outside to a spot from where they can clearly see the gates of Erebor.

"This is the gateway to reclaiming the lands of Angmar in the north. If that fell kingdom should rise again, Rivendell, Lothlorien, the Shire, even Gondor itself will fall!"

Thranduil looks to Gandalf, caution settling within him. "These orc armies you speak of, Mithrandir - Where are they?"

Gandalf looks away, as if he is unable to answer.

They return to the tent and Thranduil seats himself. "Since when has my council counted for so little? What do you think I'm trying to do?!"

"I think you're trying to save your dwarvish friends. And I admire your loyalty to them, but it does not dissuade me from my course. You started this, Mithrandir. You will forgive me if I finish it." Thranduil exits the tent and calls to one of the elves. "Are the archers in position?"

"Yes my Lord."

"Give the order. If anything moves on that mountain - kill it!"
He looks to the mountain. To where is prize awaits. "The dwarves are out of time."

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At the blocked off entrance to the gate, a rope is suddenly thrown over the edge. Fawn clambers hand-over-hand down the rope, slipping along the way, Bilbo clinging to her back. Fang watches them and Fawn motions for him to go. He whimpers but obeys.

Once her feet touch the ground, Bilbo hopped off and Fawn looks around.

They manage to climb across the moat using some of the rubble. They begin running toward Dale, their footsteps light.

Once in Dale, Fawn and Bilbo sneak past some of the Laketown guards, searching for Bard and Thranduil. Fawn and Bilbk stop and duck behind a wall, Fawn's ears perked.

"It will not come to that. This is a fight they cannot win."

Fawn smiles and grand Bilbo, tugging him along with her, toward a tent. Bilbo enters first, then Fawn.

"That won't stop them. You think the dwarves will surrender - They won't. They will fight to the death to defend their own."

"Thorin has completely lost it."

"Bilbo Baggins! Fawn!"

Bilbo smiles happily and Fawn runs up to her adar. The two embrace and Gandalf kisses the top of her head.