Chapter 2: The Meeting

They really needed to clear a way to get out through the front, Bilbo thought to himself. He stumbled a few times on the rocks leading down the mountain path, his body still trying to fully come to. If he hadn’t been watching his feet to see where to step, he would have noticed Thorin slightly turning back every time the hobbit made so much as a noise of annoyance. They managed to safely make it down the path, and started to make their way to the front of Erebor. It didn’t take long, and as they neared the bridge they noticed that most of the elves had dispersed, leaving a handful with Thranduil. Bilbo assumed they were his personal ‘security’, and took notice of the red-headed elf woman he had seen Kili talking to in the dungeons. His eyes were also able to help him see another elf that looked familiar, with a striking resemblance to Thranduil. He could also see Bard and Gandalf talking, Bard having dismounted from his horse. Gandalf turned as they approached closer, and smiled when he noticed Bilbo had joined them. “Bilbo! I am glad to see you are alive my friend, we were quite concerned when you fell. Bard and I were just discussing what had been promised to the people of Laketown, and any help they would need to repair Dale thanks to the dragon.” He turned to Thorin and Balin before continuing, “I take it you are here to discuss these matters as well? I am certain there is enough gold under that mountain for you to part with and still have enough to rebuild Erebor.” He leaned against his staff, looking down upon the dwarves with a mixture of light-heartedness and stern.

Thorin was glaring daggers into Gandalf, he knew he should keep his end of the deal but that didn’t help to soothe his pride. Before he could speak, Balin stepped forward. “We would be happy to discuss our payment to Laketown, and will lend our assistance to rebuild Dale once our kin have come back to Erebor.” He clasped his hands together and smiled, showing his sincerity. Thorin dropped his shoulders, and could hear Kili and Fili grumbling behind them. He turned to Bard, trying his best to offer a voice that didn’t sound too annoyed. “We are grateful for your generosity, and I will not go back on my word.” He noticed Bilbo smiling out of the corner of his eye, and felt a wave of relief wash over him. He straightened his back and continued, “Once we have opened the gates to Erebor and we send word to our kin to arrive, we will be able to go through the treasury properly and give you what you are owed.” Bard nodded his head at this, which Thorin was happy for. This was short-lived though, as Thranduil came over, still mounted on his elk.

“And what of which is still owed to the elves, Oakenshield?” Thranduil drew out his words, disdain dripping from them. Thorin’s face contorted into anger, ready to spit out a string of Khuzdul at Thranduil. Before he opened his mouth, Bilbo piped up. “What, exactly, is owed to the elves? I don’t remember this being discussed, unless I was missing from that conversation.” Thorin looked at Bilbo and could see the serious look on his face, his nose twitching. Pride swelled through Thorin’s chest, realizing that the hobbit would still do anything to defend him and the company. ‘Mahal above, thank you for giving us this burglar,’ he thought to himself quietly. He looked back to the elf king, who had turned to face Bilbo. He could see the smirk on Thranduil’s face, taking delight in the hobbit trying to stand his ground. “Do not fret, Master Baggins. I merely want the white gems of Lasgalen, something promised to me long ago by King Thror. I’m sure a reasonable hobbit such as yourself would find no reason as to why I shouldn’t still collect them.” Thranduil tilted his head down towards the hobbit, as if trying to placate him.

Bilbo shuffled his feet, immediately uncomfortable with the conversation. He twitched his nose, unsure of how to respond. If all the elves wanted were some gems, who was he to argue? But no, he had to go and stick his nose in places where it didn’t belong, he truly was his mother’s son. He looked between Thranduil and Thorin, and could see how Thorin’s face had softened slightly. It was hard to pick up, but there wasn’t as much fire behind his piercing blue eyes. He looked back to Thranduil, a defeated look on his face. He cleared his throat before speaking, “I guess I am in no place to argue, but I do believe you could have approached this better.” He shook his finger at the elf king, because as much as he respected his authority, he knew the king had no power over him. Bard laughed at his actions, a short bark. “Master burglar, you are truly honest and brave. I can see now why Gandalf had you accompany the dwarves on their quest.” Behind Bilbo, he could hear the princes chuckling and Dwalin letting out a snort.

Thorin rubbed at his face, still angry with Thranduil and his kin, but realizing he needs the alliance if he wishes to restore Erebor to its former glory. “Fine,” he spits out, “We will give you your gems, but only on the condition that you re-establish trade routes with us as well.” He glares at Thranduil on his elk, despising the fact that he has to turn to the elves for assistance after they abandoned them all those years ago.

That was when they heard it, the battlehorn of the dwarves of Iron Hill. Thorin turned towards the sound, a great smile spreading across his face. He could hear the dwarves on the ramparts cheering, along with Fili and Kili. Dain and his soldiers breached the top of the hill, Dain mounted on his war pig. He turned back to Thranduil, still grinning. He had a face of slight disgust, which Thorin took great joy in. “We will be staying in Dale to discuss trade and rebuilding. We will discuss our trade routes with the dwarves once you return to me the gems.” With that Thranduil left, leaving Gandalf and Bard behind. Bard mounted his horse, turning to leave as well. “I look forward to our alliance in the future, master dwarf. Thank you.” He smiled warmly at Thorin before kicking his heels into his horse and riding off to return to his children.

Thorin turned to Gandalf, the wizard still leaning against his staff but now having an amused look on his face. He raised his eyebrow at Thorin, before realizing what the dwarf would be asking for next. “I suppose you are wanting the Arkenstone back, but you need not worry,” he reached into his robes, pulling out the glimmering stone, “I will hold onto it, until the mountain has been reopened.” Thorin’s blood boiled at this, lunging for the stone which was held just out of reach. “I will not play these games with you, wizard! Hand over the stone, or I will pry it from your cold, dead, hands!” Thorin growled at the taller being, reaching for his sword. Bilbo jumped in between Thorin and Gandalf, holding his hands up. “Thorin, do you really need the stone right now? You have the mountain, and there are more dwarves coming!” The halfling gestured wildly in the direction of Dain, who was nearing the group, “You’re acting like a right git! If you want to be king so badly, then act like one!” Bilbo’s brown curls bounced on his head, his green eyes piercing into Thorin’s with a fire behind them that Thorin had grown accustomed to. Thorin seethed at the hobbit, moving to shove him out of the way just as Dain rode up to them.

“Cousin! I see ya made it without dyin’!” Dain eyed Thorin, taking notice of the anger in his face. His eyes wandered to the wizard as he was putting the Arkenstone back in his robes. “Tharkun, ya tall bastard! Didn’t expect to see you here!” Dain dismounted from his war pig, patting her head with his calloused hand. He surveyed the other dwarrow surrounding Thorin, noticing they all had either worry or anger etched onto their features. “Alright, what’s the problem ‘ere? Shouldn’t we be celebratin’ and drinkin’?” That’s when he spotted a halfling just behind Thorin. “Who the hell is this? Some pet you picked up along the way?” Dain laughed to himself, wondering why there would be a hobbit this far east.

Bilbo stepped out from behind Thorin, his anger rising again at being called a pet. “Excuse you! I have a name you know! I am Bilbo Baggins, and I am part of this company! Who exactly are you!?” He spat out at the dwarf, because of course he had to be cursed by Yavanna to have another arrogant dwarf to deal with. He could hear his heart pounding in his chest and started to feel woozy. He tried to take deep breaths to calm down as his vision began to swim, and he could barely make out the ginger dwarf laughing as he said his name. He shook his head as pain shot through him, his hands and feet starting to go numb. He tried to turn and speak to Thorin, Balin, any of them to communicate that something was wrong, but his tongue wasn’t cooperating and all that came out was a garbled mess of words. He thought he could see panic sweep through the dwarrows’ faces before feeling a pair of strong arms wrap around his torso. The last thing that crossed his mind was ‘not again’ before his eyes rolled to the back of his head.