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WITHIN THE WALLS OF EREBOR, THE DWARVES WORK TO BLOCK up the entrance that Smaug had broken through to attack Laketown. They carry rocks both by hand and with the help of various pulleys and other machines while Bilbo and Maristela watch on in uncertainty and disbelief. "I want this fortress made safe by sunup. This mountain was hard won, I will not see it taken again," Thorin ordered his kin. "The people of Laketown have nothing. They came to us in need. They have lost everything!" Kíli exclaimed to his uncle.
"Do not tell me what they have lost. I know well enough their hardship. Those who have lived through dragonfire should rejoice. They have much to be grateful for," Thorin expressed to his nephew before looking out to the city of Dale, where many fires can be seen lit by the people. He turns and shouts to the Dwarves, "More stone! BRING MORE STONE TO THE GATE!" Bilbo looks on in despair while Maristela lowered her head, she knew not of how else to help Thorin overcome the sickness that seeps through his mind. She twisted the ring on her finger knowing that no matter what she was blessed with by the Valar, nothing could work.
Soon night came and a large stone wall blocked the entrance to Erebor and Maristela found Thorin looking at a pile of white gems, he slowly pulls a necklace from the pile and looks at them in mockery. "The white gems of Lasgalen," Thorin says as he holds them in his hands remembering the deal in the Woodland Realm. "I know an Elf-Lord who would pay a pretty price for these," Thorin added before tossing the necklace back into the pile of jewels, scattering many of the tiny gems. "A price he shouldn't pay upon the reasoning they are already of his ownership," Maristela spoke.
Thorin turned to her with a sneer, she held her head high knowing that the White Gems of Lasgalen were fashioned by Dwarves for the Queen of Mirkwood before she fell in Gundabad. "He holds no--" Thorin was cut off by the bright light that shone from Maristela, "He holds every right to what was made for the wife he had lost." The light faded, the action reminded Thorin of Gandalf, the very wizard who had not shown himself. "You are falling prey to the very sickness that took your grandfather, Thorin Oakenshield. And it will take you too," Maristela warned harshly before storming away not wanting to deal with the King.
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After Bard's attempt to reason with Thorin, Maristela had turned to the young Hobbit with a plan that he didn't seem to like. "I'll take it to them," Bilbo whispered to her. "No, Bilbo, he needs you here. Someone who needs to remind him of who he is and you can do that," Maristela replied to the Hobbit. "They'll notice that you are missing," Bilbo expressed in a last attempt to convince her to let him take the Arkenstone to Bard. "No, they won't. They are too busy following Thorin's commands. He believes he is being betrayed by he trusts you, so let me do this," Maristela reassured.
Bilbo was still hesitant but ultimately, he complied knowing it may be better for her to do this allowing him to, as she had said, be there for Thorin. Maristela ruffled Bilbo's hair before stashing the Arkenstone into the hidden pocket of her coat, Bilbo assisted her in the dark to sneak out of Erebor. Maristela stops and looks back at Bilbo who seemed to be having a mini debate before moving to climb down after her, she shook her head and allowed him to accompany her this time; both planned to return to Erebor no matter what may happen.
The two moved quickly and quietly in the shadows unnoticed by anyone in the streets of Dale, a familiar voice gains their attention. "You, Bowman! Do you agree with this? Is gold so important to you? Would you buy it with the blood of Dwarves?!" Gandalf questioned Bard, his worry for the Dwarves and Bilbo was immense but he feared for his daughter. "It will not come to that. This is a fight they cannot win," Bard replied before Bilbo stepped out of the shadows to speak, "That won't stop them. You think the Dwarves will surrender ─ They won't. They will fight to the death to defend their own."
"Bilbo Baggins!" Gandalf cheered in relief before the next person stepped out, Gandalf was relieved to see Maristela standing there. "Hello dad," Maristela greeted before hugging Gandalf, Bard's eyes were wide at the reveal before glancing at Bilbo who was smiling fondly at the father and daughter being reunited. Bard lead them into King Thranduil's tent where Maristela bit her tongue to not say the things she wished to say. "If I'm not mistaken, this is the Halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons from under the nose of my gaurds," King Thranduil spoke leaving Bilbo feeling uncomfortable.
"Yes he is. Get over it," Maristela spoke up protectively for the young Hobbit she saw as family. "And the Daughter of Stars," King Thranduil addressed before noticing the bead within her braid. "The one you tried to keep as a prize... or was it a bargaining chip?" Maristela snarkily asked while Gandalf placed his hand on her shoulder, the room filled with tense air. "We came... to give you this," Bilbo spoke as Maristela placed the wrapped up Arkenstone on the table, revealing the King's Jewel to King Thranduil. "The Heart of the Mountain! The King's Jewel," King Thranduil exclaimed in surprise.
"I took it as my fourteenth share of the treasure," Bilbo informed them, Maristela and Gandalf sharing a small smile for the Hobbits cheek. "Why would you do this? You owe us no loyalty," Bard spoke up. "I'm not doing it for you," Bilbo told him before looking at Thranduil, "I know Dwarves can be obstinate and pigheaded and difficult, suspicious and secretive... with the worst manners you can possibly imagine, but they can also be brave and kind... and loyal to a fault. I've grown very fond of them and I would save them if I can." "Thorin values this stone above all else. In exchange for its return, I believe he will give you what you are owed. There will be no need for war," Maristela expressed.
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Maristela and Bilbo snuck their way back into Erebor against Gandalf's wishes knowing it would be better for them there rather than sending them away. It was early the next morning that Thranduil had commanded his Elves to be ready alongside the Men standing with Bard. Thranduil and Bard ride together to the front of the armies and approach their side of the broken bridge over the moat. From above the blockade, Thorin draws a bow and shoots an arrow at the ground directly in front of Thranduil and Bard, who immediately halt in surprise.
"I will put the next one between your eyes!" Thorin warns as he draws his bow again causing the Dwarves to cheer and shake their weapons in support of Thorin; along with their hatred for Thranduil for locking them up. Thranduil stares at Thorin angrily then tilts his head slightly, instantly, several rows of Elves near the front of the army pull out their bows, nock their arrows, and aim at the Dwarves, all in one fluid motion. The Dwarves' cheering cuts off abruptly as all of them but Thorin duck behind the ramparts. After holding the pose for a few seconds, Thranduil raises his hand, and the Elves put away their arrows.
"We've come to tell you: payment of your debt has been offered... and accepted," Thranduil expressed to King Thorin, a smirk upon his face. "What payment? I gave you nothing! You have nothing!" Thorin shouts at the Woodland King. "We have this!" Bard announces, reaching into his robe before pulling out the Arkenstone, holding it above his head; Thorin, shocked, lowers his bow. "They have the Arkenstone? Thieves! How came you by the heirloom of our house? That stone belongs to the King!" Kíli sneered down at Bard while Maristela and Bilbo shared a look, the latter knew what the Elleth was going to do.
"And the King may have it ─ in our good will," Bard put the Arkenstone back into his robe, "But first he must honor his word." Thorin lowers his head slightly, whispering, "They are taking us for fools. This is a ruse, a filthy lie." Balin looks shocked that Thorin's mental state has deteriorated to the point at which he would even consider this. "THE ARKENSTONE IS IN THE MOUNTAIN! IT IS A TRICK!" Thorin shouts at the auidence below. "It is not a trick, Thorin Oakenshield," Maristela spoke up, stepping through the crowd of Dwarves gaining Bard's attention who worried for her. "The stone is real. I gave it to them," Maristela added.
The Dwarves are shocked by her betrayal while Fíli fears what his uncle may do to the woman he loved. Thorin's expression changes to a mixture of sorrow and anger, Maristela keeps eye contact with the King not wanting to see the betrayed expressions of her friends. Thranduil and Bard looked worried as they had believed Maristela to be safe back in Dale with Bilbo, they assumed the Halfling was in Erebor but silent. "You..." Thorin trailed off as Maristela spoke, "I saw what you are becoming. And I believed I was owed price of payment." Her voice was steady but fear struck her by the way Thorin's eyes hardened at her words.
"You would steal from me?" Thorin asked in clear anger and betrayal. "Steal? Steal from you?! No. I am trying to help you but you are refusing to acknowledge it and I know that is what Dragon Sickness does but I truly believed you were stronger than this, my friend," Maristela exclaimed to Thorin. "Friend!? Do not speak of friendship nor loyalty in front of me, She-Elf!" Thorin snapped as everyone watched on. "Perhaps you shouldn't speak loyalty, Oakenshield, for you doubted the loyalty of your own kin!" Maristela threw back in his face, the Dwarves were stunned to hear that, Balin heartbroken at how damaged the King had become under Dragon Sickness.
"You are not worthy of my nephew, you were never a friend to us. You are no friend of mine. You are just another Elf scum trying to take what is mine. I am a KING!" Thorin shouted as he stood in front of Maristela whose eyes were misty with tears that would not fall. "You were my King but that disappeared with your greed, hunger, and desire. Smaug is your predecessor and you will be Erebor's fall," Maristela warned harshly, Thorin's eyes blazing with pure anger directed at her. "Throw her from the rampart!" Thorin ordered his kin but no one made a move to do anything, all were stunned by what they had witnessed and learned.
"DO YOU HEAR ME!?" Thorin shouted at his kin who simply watched, Thorin grabbed Fíli's arm but he shakes him off and reaches for Maristela's hand instead. "No! I forbid it!" Thorin shouted as he stood between Fíli and Maristela before turning to the Elleth, "I will do it myself!" He lunged forward and grabs a hold of Maristela's coat shouting, "CURSE YOU, SHE-ELF!" Fíli rushed to get between them, he grabbed Maristela and pulled her into him as the others grabbed Thorin to pull him off of her. "Cursed be the wizard that forced you on this Company!" Thorin screamed reaching for Maristela to throw her off the rampart.
Suddenly, Gandalf appears, striding through the armies. His voice is magically amplified to incredibly loud, deep, and powerful tones as he speaks "IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY DAUGHTER--" His voice returns to a normal volume and tone, "--Then please don't harm her. Return her to me! You're not making a very splendid figure as King under the Mountain, are you? Thorin, son of Thrain!" Thorin slowly backs away from Maristela allowing Fíli and Bofur to assist her towards the edge to climb down the walls. "I'm sorry..." Maristela whispers to Fíli who gives her a chaste kiss before letting her climb down.
"Never again will I have dealings with wizards... or worthless Elves!" Thorin snapped back at Gandalf. "Are we resolved? The return of the Arkenstone for what was promised?" Bard asked. Thorin, breathung heavily, looks to a ridge in the distance, as if looking for someone or something. "Give us your answer! Will you have peace or war?" Bard asked as Maristela approached her father, Gandalf pulled her up onto the back of his horse. As Thorin bows his head, a large raven flies up to the ramparts and perches beside him. Thorin and the raven stare at each other before Thorin speaks, "I will have war!"
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「 ✦ 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 ✦ 」
Okay, okay... Before you comment about Maristela stealing Bilbo's spotlight, I just want to point out the changes I made to adapt to my version of this story. However, Thorin will find out that Bilbo was the one who actually took the Arkenstone and he does get angry with Bilbo but not as angry as he did with Maristela because she was the one who handed it over.
Anway, it's fanfiction, shit changes. If you wish to see the normal story, watch the movie or read the actual books, otherwise shut up and enjoy!
Any thoughts on this chapter?
Theories? Suggestions? Predictions?
See you in the next chapter!