"Wait! Please wait!" Bard yells as the two of us run toward where Thranduil had gone. When we arrive I scowl at Thranduil while Bard says, "You would go to war over a handful of gems?"

Thranduil stares forward not meeting our eyes as he says, "The heirlooms of my people are not likely forsaken."

"We are allies in this; my people also have a claim upon the riches of that mountain. Let me speak with Thorin." It isn't until Bard says Thorin's name does Thranduil turn toward us.

"You would try to reason with the dwarf?" He asks and I nod as Bard says, "To avoid war, yes."

"Then I am coming with you." I say as I interject into their conversation causing them both to stare at me. "If anyone can get Thorin to understand it's me."

Bard slowly turns toward me as he whispers, "I do not think this wise."

"Who knows him better than I? I have been with them for months; I can get him to understand." I could sense that Bard was not a hundred percent happy with my coming along but I was right. I could help.

"You will remain here Lady Melethril." Thranduil says and I narrow my eyes at him as I say, "My name is Randír, and I do not take orders from you." Turning back to Bard I could sense he was curios to our relationship but he just shakes his head as he says, "Come with me." I follow him over to a horse and after he climbs into the saddle I take his arm and pull myself up behind him. I glance over to see Thranduil looking at me with worry and sadness in this eyes but I just ignore him.

We ride through the city and the plain below until we come upon doors of Erebor. I look around Bard's shoulder and smile as I see Fili standing a few feet away from his uncle. "Hail Thorin son of Thrain, we are glad to find you alive beyond hope."

"Why do you come to the gates of the King under the mountain armed for war?" I hear Thorin call out and my heart clenches. There is something wrong; I can sense it in his voice.

"Why does the king under the mountain fence himself in? Like a robber in his hold." Bard calls out and I instantly have the urge to step in.

"Perhaps it is because I am expecting to be robbed."

"My Lord we have not come to rob you, but to seek fair settlement. Will you not speak with me?" Bard asks and I watch as Thorin nods. I smile as I climb down off the back of Bards horse and a familiar voice makes my heart flutter. "Randír?" I hear him say and I smile as I turn toward Fili who is staring at me in shock. "Randír," I hear Bard say and I reluctantly pull my eyes away from Fili and back to him and nod.

As we walk up to the barred gates I see a lone raven fly out of the mountain and head toward the east. When we reach the wall I see a hole in the center and follow closely behind Bard as he nears it. "I am listening." I hear Thorin say and I follow Bard's gaze through the hole to see Thorin standing on the other side not looking at us.

"On behalf of the people of Laketown, I ask that you honor your pledge. A share of the treasure so that they might rebuild their lives."

"I will not treat with any man, while an armed host lies before my door."

"That armed host will attack this mountain if we do not come to terms."

"Your threats do not sway me."

"What of your conscious? Does it not tell you our cause is just? My people offered you help and in return you offered them only death and ruin."

"When did the men of Laketown come to our aid in promised of wealth and gold?"

"A bargain was struck!"

"A bargain? What choice did we have but to barter our birthright for blankets and food? To ransom our future in exchange for our freedom. You call that a fair trade? Tell me Bard the Dragon-Slayer why should I offer such?"

"Because you gave us your word? Does that mean nothing?" Bard says and I watch as Thorin leaves the sight of the whole before he yells out, "Be gone! Let our arrows fly!" My heart drops and Bard smacks his hand against the cold stone before he turns away.

"Wait!" I call as I look back through the opening. "Thorin please listen to me. We do not need to go to war."

"But we do Randir," He replies still not showing his face.

"Thorin please, remember how I told you that my father was done in by his pride, you are doing the same please stop this madness. I cannot lose you like I lost him."

"I offer you a chance Randír, rejoin us or return with Bard and become our enemy."

"You cannot ask that of me." I say as I feel my heart being torn in two.

"I can and I am, what say you?"

My heart clenches as I slowly look back toward Dale; all those people who had just lost their homes and were on the borderline of starvation. I let out a heavy sigh as I realize that my choice would take me away from my family. "I am sorry, but the people of Dale need my help."

"Then you are my friend no more." He says and I feel tears threaten to fall from my eyes. "Be gone!" he yells out again and I feel a sudden anger fill my body.

"Can you not see that this is not you? You have the dragon sickness and it is tearing you down making you a shell of your former self."

"I said 'Be gone' Elf wretch!"

"Fine I'm leaving!" I yell out as I slowly start to walk away from them mountain. I fight the urge to cry as I look back toward the mountain to see Fili staring off after me. "I'm sorry," I whisper as I once again climb onto Bard's horse. I clutch to his sides as we ride of at a full run back to Dale. As we reach the city Thranduil is sitting right outside its gates upon his elk.

"He will give us nothing." Bard says when we reach him.

"Pity, although you tried."

"I do not understand, why? Why would he pick war?"

"It is fruitless to reason with them. They understand one thing," Thranduil says as he draws his sword and stares at it for a moment before exclaiming, "We attack at dawn!" As he starts to ride away I hear him ask, "Are you with us?"

I follow Bard's gaze back to the mountain and I can once again feel my heart longing for a certain dwarf inside. "Come we must prepare." Bard says and my heart clenches at the thought of fighting my friends. "If you don't mind, I'd like a moment alone." I say as I slowly slide off the back of his horse. He gives me a knowing glance before he rides off into the city. I slowly turn back toward the mountain and I contemplate whether or not I had made a mistake.

The wind blows around me causing my hair to thrash around my face. I feel a single tear stream down my face as I turn and slowly make my way back to Dale. I watch halfheartedly as the men of Laketown ready for war. I glance over at the Elves and see them raise their noses at me. My hear clenches as I realize I am once again alone. I chose wrong.

"Make way!" I hear a familiar voice and I turn to see Gandalf riding into the square. My heart lifts a little in my chest and I smile as I start to walk toward him when Alfrid yells out, "No, No, no! Oy! You! Pointy hat!" I roll my eyes as I quickly start to walk over to him. "Yes you!" he yells out and I grab his arm silencing him.

"That is enough Alfrid!" He slowly turns toward me and I jerk my hand away from his arm as I walk to my old friend. "Gandalf my friend I have missed you." I say as I wrap my arms around him.

"Where is the rest of your company?" He asks and my smile fades.

"They are in the mountain, I fear Thorin has lost his mind to the Dragon-sickness."

"Who's in charge here!" Gandalf cries out as he stares Alfrid down.

"Who's asking?" Bard says from behind me and I slowly turn to him as I say, "Bard this is Gandalf they Grey, Gandalf this is Bard." The two of them quickly get acquainted before Bard leads us to where Thranduil is camped. When we enter his tent I keep my eyes from his as Gandalf speaks.

"You must set aside your petty grievances with the dwarves, war is coming. The cesspits of Dol Guldur have been emptied. You are all in mortal danger." Gandalf says and my heart clenches.

"What are you talking about?" Bard asks but is instantly interrupted by Thranduil as he stands and walking over to a small table pours a glass of wine as he says, "I can see you know nothing of wizards. They are like winter thunder on a cold wind rolling in from a distance. Looking hard an alarmed, but sometimes the storm is just a storm."

"Not this time!" Gandalf interjects and I feel my heart clench as the suddenly memory of my father fills my mind. "Armies of Orcs are on the move. These are fighters; they have been bred for war. Our enemy has summoned his full strength."

"Why show his hand now?"

"Because we forced him! We forced him when the company of Thorin Oakenshield set out to reclaim their homeland." I clench my fist closed as I follow Gandalf out of the tent followed closely by Thranduil and Bard. "The dwarves were never meant to reach the mountain. Azog the Defiler was sent to kill them; his master seeks control over the mountain. Not just for the treasure within but for where it lies. Its strategic position, this is the gateway to reclaiming the lands of Angmar in the north. If that failed kingdom should rise again, Rivendell, Lorien, the shire, even Gondor itself will fall."

"These Orc armies you speak of Mithrandir, where are they?" Thranduil asks and I feel something come over me as I turn and slowly look toward the hills my eyes glossing over with a silver film. "They are coming," I feel myself say as I can clear as say see them before me. I look around to see thousands of them all around me and say fear filling my voice, "So many,"

"Where do you see them my lady?" I hear Gandalf's voice ask and I look around but I can't tell because we are underground.

"It is dark, the stench of Orc is strong for there is nowhere for the scent to escape. They are underground." I turn to see Azog riding his white Warg toward me and I feel my body burn with anger. Then as soon as I saw them the vision was gone. I shake my head as I slowly turn toward my companions to see them staring at me. I feel a familiar feeling that I had felt in centuries wash over me causing me to smile. I knew this feeling. I look around me as I sense a familiar presence. "Ada?" I say barely above a whisper as the feeling once again washes over me it was as if he was there hugging me.

As soon as his voice was there it was gone again. He was right; it was time for me to move on with my life. I had a lot to be grateful for. I was alive and well and as a bonus I was in love with a wonderful dwarf.

I smile before I turn back to Gandalf as he says, "Something has changed about you my lady."

"I feel like I haven't in many centuries," My heart warms in my chest and I slowly turn toward the Mountain and say, "I have a feeling before this is all over with Thorin will beat his sickness and the battle against the Orcs will be won."

"How do you know?" Bard asks and I smile softly as I turn to him and say, "Because I have hope." Bard nods before he returns to help his people. I slowly turn to Thranduil and Gandalf and follow after them as they walk back inside Thranduil's tent. I watch as Thranduil pulls something from behind his chair and my face lights up as I see the familiar sight of my father's blade, Ithildin.

"If you are to join in the fight you will need a proper sword." Thranduil says as he hands Ithildin to me. I smile brightly as I pull him from his sheathe to see that he had in fact been clean. I turn toward Thranduil and say, "Diola lle mellonamin." I slowly turn and walking away tie Ithildin's sheath to my belt. I walk back over to look at the mountain and I silently say to the wind, "I will save you from yourselves."