Grace

~~~

Bard instructs the people to gather everything left that's useable. Tilda clings to Sigird shaking violently. Bain helps an old woman pack up the small items she managed to rescue.

I just stare at the town. It's utterly destroyed.

I feel awful for them.

"Take only what you need, we have a long march ahead," Bard yells.

"Where will you go?" Legolas inquiries to Bard.

"There is only one place," Bard replies sending a long look to the Lonely Mountain.

"The Mountain? You are a genius, Sire. We can take refuge inside the Mountain. It might smell a bit of dragon, but the women could clean that up. It's be safe and warm and dry, and full of stores, bedding and clothing, the odd bit of gold," Alfrid muses greedily. His voice makes my skin crawl.

"What gold is in that Mountain is cursed. We will take only what was promised to us, only what we need to rebuild our lives," Bard snaps back and hands dry wood to Alfrid. Alfrid glares and stomps off.

"Pathetic man," I mutter under my breath.

"News of the death of Smaug will have spread through the lands," Legolas points out and Bard nods.

"Aye."

"Others will now look to the Mountain for its wealth or its position," I add. There is sure a scuffle to come of this.

"What is it you know?" Bard asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing for certain. It's what I fear may come," Legolas answers.

"Keep your family close Lakeman," I advise.

~~~

"You saw something out there?" Tauriel whispers to Legolas and I.

"The orc we pursued out of Lake Town, I know who he is. Bolg, the spawn of Azog the Defiler. A wargpack was waiting for him on the outskirts of Esgorath. They fled into the north. These orcs were different from the others, they bore a mark I had not seen for a long time. The mark of Gundabad," I relay darkly.

"Gundabad?" Tauriel inquires with a titled head. That is right she is younger than Legolas and I.

"An orc stronghold in the far north of the Misty Mountains," Legolas explains.

Suddenly loud hoofbeats interrupt our conversation. Feren, a messenger for Thranduil, rides up.

"My Lord Legolas and Lady Grace I bring word from your Father. You are to return to him immediately," Feren reports in elvish. I tilt my head in understanding to him and glance at Legolas.

"Come, Tauriel," Legolas says to her and she turns.

"My Lord...Tauriel is banished," Feren stammers. I stop short and stare. No way Thranduil banished Tauriel.

"Banished?" Legolas and I gasp. Feren nods with a scared look.

"You may tell my father if there is no place for Tauriel, there is no place for me," Legolas snaps.

"Don't be so angry Legolas. Your father was probably drunk when he decreed that," I murmur. Thranduil sometimes makes irrational decisions when Natalie isn't around. If I had to guess he's just mad Tauriel helped the dwarves escape. Legolas and I helped too but he cannot exile us.

"Legolas, it is your King's command," Tauriel states.

"Yes, he is my King, but he can't make any decree I will listen to without Natalie," Legolas counters.

"Feren you may go. Tell Thranduil to stop drinking and trying to make decisions without Natalie," I order in a clipped tone. Feren rides off extremely quickly after that.

"I ride north. Will you come with me?" Legolas questions to Tauriel and I.

"To where?" Tauriel asks.

"To Gundabad. Let's go kill some Orcs," I rally with a smile. Hopping on our horses we take off riding.

Allie should be safe in the mountain.

~~~

Allie

~~~

"Your wings will they ever work again?" Thorin asks gingerly running a hand through the feathers. I wince when he touches them.

"Maybe." I know what I'd need to do to fix them and it's something I can't.

"Did you see the Arkenstone when you were facing down Smaug?" Thorin questions.

"Yes I did. But I quickly lost sight of it. Smaug was stirring the gold and stopping around like mad," I reply, hesitant. Bilbo grabbed the Arkenstone, I saw that. But if he hasn't given it to Thorin there must be a reason.

"Thank you for your help," Thorin says stiffly suddenly all gentleness gone and stomps away. I sigh deeply when he leaves. There's definitely something wrong with him.

~~~

Alex

~~~

I watch as the dwarves aimlessly search from my perch on a high bridge. My depth perception is extremely fucked to hell but if I close my bad eye it's not too bad.

Finding one small rock in all this is fucking hopeless.

"It is here in these halls, I know it!" Thorin exclaims and angrily kicks gold coins about.

"We have searched and searched-"

"Not well enough," Thorin booms, cutting Dwalin off.

"Thorin, we all would see the stone returned," Dwalin assures. His voice is tinged with sadness.

"And yet it's still not found!" Thorin yells. He is acting like such a child.

"Do you doubt the loyalty of anyone here?" Balin growls it and Thorin glares. "The Arkenstone is the birthright of our people."

"It is the King's jewel. Am I not the King?!" Thorin shouts and stomps his feet. He looks like a toddler who didn't get to eat a cookie before dinner.

"It has taken him," Smaug utters from behind me. He is watching with worry.

"Know this, if anyone should find it and withhold it from me, I will be avenged," Thorin threatens and turns stalking away. Dwalin follows him leaving Balin alone.

"Yes the dragon sickness has taken that idiot dwarf," I grumble. "We are fucked."

~~~

Sam

~~~

Balin sits in an old study crying. Bilbo and I watch from the doorway not knowing what to do. I hate to see the old advisor so sad.

"Dragon sickness. I've seen it before. That look, the terrible need. It is a fierce and jealous love. It sent his grandfather mad," Balim murmurs and turns around to see us standing there.

"Balin, if-if Thorin had the Arkenstone. Well, if-if it was found, would it help?" Bilbo stutters. I ruffle Bilbo's hair in a comforting manner.

"That stone crowns all. It's the summit of this great wealth, bestowing power upon he who bears it. But stay his madness? No, lad. I fear it would make him worse. Perhaps it is best it remains lost."