Finding Home

Chapter ten

We spent all day trying to think of ways to get Thranduil to not make a war. But he wants this 'Arkenstone' that's so precious to the dwarves. He got what he wanted in the first place, I don't see why he can't just go home. He's not even trying to help the people of Laketown, who haven't gotten their share of the treasure, he's just being selfish. I hate him, he's so cold and just plain rude. Kings are supposed to be caring and noble, but this one is just an Asshole.

Around midday we take a break, finding something to eat. We have a short meal, and then get back to work brainstorming. Around dusk, we get a visitor. A small, cloaked figure comes in and takes off his hood.

"Bilbo!" Sav says, going over to hug him.

"What are you doing here, halfling?" Bard says

"I need to speak with Thranduil, can you lead me to him?" He asks

"Y-yeah. He's in the square. We'll show you." I say, hugging him as well

"I will not be in the presence of that excuse of a man." Sav fumes, crossing her arms

"Sav, He's an asshole, but if we can talk to him and try to make him reconsider, we have to." I say, and she gives in after a few more minutes of talking.

Bard, Sav, Bilbo, and I make our way to the centre of town. The guards are hesitant to let us into the tent, but Bard steps in, and eventually they let us in. When we walk in, we see that Gandalf is sitting on a stool across from Thranduil.

"Lady Patricia and Lady Savannah, how are you?" He says, standing and greeting us. Then his eyes wander to Bilbo. "Bilbo Baggins!" He says happily. The king does not move to greet us, instead, he merely glances in our direction, lounging in a large chair.

"We've been better." Sav answers "Why are we here?" she asks Bilbo, who reaches into his jacket and pulls out a bundle of something. He puts it on a table, unwraps it, and reveals a white gem, with many other colours within. It glows almost as much as the starlight gems.

"This is why I'm here." Bilbo says. Thranduil sees the gem, and straightens up.

"The Arkenstone." He whispers in awe, then looks at Bilbo.

"That's the Arkenstone? Bilbo! You've stopped the war!" I say, picking him up and hugging him. "How did you know what Thranduil wanted?" I ask, putting him back down

"I thought you had already stopped the war by getting the starlight gems." he says

"Well, the pointy-eared queen had other plans." Sav says, looking at the king.

"You forget, Savannah, you are also, as you put it, 'pointy-eared'" he shoots back "And I can assure you, I am definitely that of the male gender."

"Prove it."

"Anyways, Thranduil, you have what you want, will you not go to war now?" I say, putting Sav and the king back on track.

"I was told that a halfling was the one who broke into my kingdom and freed my prisoners. Was that perhaps you?" Thranduil says to Bilbo, completely ignoring my question.

"Oh.. about that.." Bilbo says quietly, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"So it was you?"

"Yes. Sorry about that. But I brought you the stone."

"Indeed you did. The heart of the mountain. The king's jewel." Thranduil says

"and worth a king's ransom. How is this yours to give?" Bard speaks for the first time since we arrived in the tent.

"I-I took it. As my fourteenth share of the treasure." Bilbo says, smiling shyly at Bard

"Why would you do this? You owe us no loyalty." Bard asks