The Eyes of Emerald

Chapter 32

Over the hill suddenly marching was heard. Marching of an army. And to everyone's surprise, an army had appeared. A dwarf army. One with goats, machinery, master warriors, and even the critically acclaimed IronFoot. Dawn and Bilbo, now on the ground and with the Laketown troop, looked in amazement and horror. They could not tell if it was good or bad that it could be a fair fight. Bard look down to the girl and then met eyes with the hobbit. He was not exaggerating anything. She looked awful. Much worse than the last time he saw her. And now she had a fresh mark on her face from Thorin.

"Are you alright?" Bard asked the girl. She looked up to the man. Although she wanted to say she was fine, she couldn't help but feel like she wasn't. She couldn't believe what was happening. Seeing how lost Thorin had become. To the extent of publicly hurting her, and more importantly, nearly killing Bilbo, his closest ally. Then there was the fact that Dain was approaching them.

"Good morning! How are we all?" he said in a cheery voice. His army and himself went to a halt. "I have a wee proposition if you wouldn't mind giving me a few moments of your time. Would you consider...JUST SODDING OFF!!! All of you! RIGHT NOW!!!"

"Stand fast!" Bard ordered.

"Come now, Lord Dain," Gandalf said as he made his way to the front of the army.

"Gandalf the Grey. Tell this rubble to leave, or I'll water the ground with their blood!" Dain said.

"There is no need for war between dwarves, men, and elves! A legion of orcs march on the mountain. Stand your army down!"

"I will not stand down! Not least this faithless Woodland sprite," Dain said directing to Thranduil. He wishes nothing but ill upon my people. If he chooses to stand between me and my kin...I"LL SPLIT HIS PRETTY HEAD OPEN!!!" Thranduil only gave a smirk. This, of course, enraged the dwarf lord.

"See if he's still smirking then!" Dain then turned and began to approach his army.

"Let them advance. See how far they get," Thranduil said slyly.

"You think I give a dead dog for your threats, you pointy-eared princess!" Dain yelled. "You hear that, lads? We're on! Let's give these bastards a good hammering!"

Bard looked down to Dawn, knowing that now was the time to get her out. "I need someone to take her back to Dale!" he yelled. From the crowd came Alfred, enthusiastically raising his hand. Of course, the others knew he was only doing this service so he could get out of the battlefield.

"I'll do it, sire. You can count on me!" he said.

"Fine," said Bard. "Take her to my children. And hurry."

Without question, Alfred took grasp of the girl's arm and began to run back to the city. Dawn felt like she was being dragged, but she still ran. When they reached the city, their pace finally slowed down. Alfred then led Dawn to one of the damaged homes, where Bard's children were. Bain stood up and gave a disgusted look to Alfred, and then a shocked expression to Dawn.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Your father sent me to deliver this," Alfred replied as he showed Dawn to him. She stumbled like a domino into Bain. The coward then ran away, probably to find a hiding place.

"Dawn! What happened to you!" exclaimed Sigrid as she saw Dawn. "Tilda! Get the ointment. NOW!!!" The little ran to another room and brought back a little jar of ointment. Sigrid helped Dawn to a seat, and she began to place the ointment on some of her bruises.

"Dragon sickness," Dawn said.

"Was this...Thorin?" Sigrid said in hesitation. Dawn only nodded. Sigrid looked down, sinking the idea into her head.

"Thank you," the girl said with a smile. Sigrid smiled in return.

While in the shelter, it was hard to block out the sound of warfare nearby. The sound of shouting, metal clanking, arrows being shot. The sounds of death approaching. And all because of Thorin's uncontrolled greed. Dawn covered her ears like a child trying to muffle out the sounds, but it was no use. Nothing she did would quiet the sounds.

But suddenly, there was a rumble from the ground. Dawn stood up and went to what used to be a window and saw the nearby mountains. And to her horror, a least a dozen were-worms emerged from the ground giving an unbeatable cry. And from those holes and many other pathways, armies of orcs emerged. And the sound of war horns were heard.