Flames

3.3

Azalea stood outside a few minutes later, leaning against the wall. Both Thranduil's and Bard's voices drifted up to them.

"You owe us money!" Bard exclaimed.

"Bard, patience," Thranduil said calmly. "Perhaps this will persuade you."

The mood of the entire group switched to surprised and angry.

"That does not belong to you," Thorin said. "Where did you get that?!"

The hostility in his voice hurt Azalea, even thought it wasn't directed at her. This isn't him.

Maybe this was always him. He just never showed this side of him.

"I gave it to them," Bilbo's small voice piped up. He sounded absolutely terrified. Azalea realized Thranduil must have the Arkenstone Thorin had been obsessing about for ages.

"What?" Thorin growled.

"I gave it to them to try and end this. You are not yourself, Thorin!" Bilbo exclaimed, trying to stay calm. "I thought that if they had the Arkenstone, it would persuade you to trade them the money they need for the stone! I thought you would be you again."

There was another pause.

"Throw him over the wall."

"No!" several people exclaimed, including Azalea.

"I'm going!" Bilbo yelled over the noise. Azalea assumed he climbed over the wall, because after that she couldn't hear him.

"Think about this, Thorin! Will you have peace or will you have war?"

There was a tense pause. Every second that passed felt like an hour. Then, Thorin replied,

"I will have war."

He walked past Azalea, and everyone followed. She turned her head to the ground, pretending to stare at her feet. After everyone had passed, she turned to follow them. Thranduil's voice drifted up to her.

"Remember what I told you, Azalea," he reminded her. "You'll have to choose a side eventually! Make sure it's the right one."