Chương 44: Make Ready!
Lonely Mountain
Tiberius POV
"Never again I will have dealings with wizards or shire rats!"
Approaching Erebor they heard Thorin's shout.
"Oh no..."
Hearing the furious shout Tiberius knows something bad might have happened, and as he looked towards Ironfoot he sees the dwarf riding his boar towards the front of the dwarven army probably preparing to support his cousin in whatever conflict he has.
Ironfoot's back paused for a while when he arrived at the front, his head looking down at something before urging his pig down the slope followed by his army.
Tiberius hears the sound of a rhythmic march and knows it wasn't the dwarves. When he and his legions arrived near the edge of the slope he sees why Ironfoot paused, looking down he saw an army of ten thousand elves marching towards Ironfoot and the dwarven army. The elves stopped just a few meters in front of them. They wore golden armor while holding long spears and large shields, while some also carried either longbows or curved blades with both hands.
At the center of the elven army, he sees a militia of five thousand men and women from Lake-town carrying a variety of weapons like swords, spears, axe, and pitchforks while being led by Bard who was riding a white horse.
"This doesn't look good, the elves must be here for the gems."
He observes the army when suddenly he spots Melody and Legolas standing at the side of their father King Thranduil who was riding a large elk just in front of the formation. He looked at Melody in worry knowing that if a conflict occurs she will be in danger.
The elves and northmen eyed the dwarves before realizing their arrival. They observed the legions before quickly realizing who they were, probably when they saw the standard-bearer carrying a pole with an eagle on top of it.
"Romans..." murmuring voices can be heard at the sight of their arrival.
As the legions marched down the slope Tiberius sees the elves and northmen looking at the legions in wary as if they were enemies.
"What the hell happened?!" He shouted loudly in his mind seeing their reactions before quickly looking towards the gates of Erebor, he sees it blocked by a wall boulders while Thorin and his company stands above it, cheering at their arrival.
"LEGIONS HALT!"
The legions stopped their march just a few meters behind the line of dwarves. The field was silent before Tiberius sees Ironfoot trot his pig towards the front of the opposite army while smiling gently at the elves and northmen.
"Good Afternoon! How are we all?... I have a wee proposition if you wouldn't mind giving me some moments of your time." He paused while still smiling. "Would you consider...JUST SODDING OFF! ALL OF YOU RIGHT NOW! BEFORE I WATER THE GROUND WITH YOUR BLOOD!"
The elves lifted their shields and pointed their spears towards Ironfoot in caution while the Lake-town militia retreated back in fear.
"Stand fast!" Bard shouted towards the militia.
As the northmen calm down they saw a familiar old man with a pointy hat walking to the front of the army of elves and northmen.
"Come now, Lord Dain. There's no need for war between elves, dwarves and men."
Ironfoot eyed the wizard: "Gandalf the grey.."
"Gandalf's right Ironfoot, you need to calm down. No one here wants unnecessary bloodshed." Tiberius rides his horse towards them.
"KILL THEM COUSIN! THEY STOLE THE ARKENSTONE!"
They looked towards the voice and see Thorin shouting angrily while pointing his finger at Bilbo. Looking towards Bilbo they see a glowing stone on the hobbit's hand.
"THIEF!" Ironfoot screamed when he saw the stone. The line of dwarves lifted their shields as they pointed their spears towards the elves and northmen.
Tiberius looked at the glowing stone then at the dwarves reaction, he curiously observed the stone before asking Ironfoot about the stone's origin.
"The Arkenstone is a wondrous gem that was found inside the mines of Erebor. Its beauty and uniqueness made it become the heirloom of the Durin's. Anyone bold enough to steal it would face the wrath of the entire Durin's no matter who they are."
Tiberius finally understands why the dwarves are furious. Looking at Bilbo's position it's obvious he was under the protection of the elves and northmen. A battle between elves and dwarves would be catastrophic. Darius and some of his Praetorians are still inside the mountain, they would be endangered if a battle occurs.
He stared at Ironfoot before looking towards Thorin: "I understand that it's an important heirloom to you Durin's, but the legions will not be a part of this conflict. I would appreciate it if you return my men and give us part of the share from the mountain's treasure.
The field was silent before he heard Thorin's laughter: "Don't worry Tiberius they are under my protection, as for the treasures I promised, I can't give it to you just yet."
"You take my men hostage and dare break your oath?!" Tiberius points his finger at Thorin accusingly.
"No no no, I would never do such a thing to the Romans who helped us in reclaiming our mountain. It's just they are still injured after the battle with the dragon and are unable to move. As for the treasures that I promised I can't give it to you with this army of elves blocking the gate. I will give an additional ten percent if you help us take back the Arkenstone and remove these beggars and thieves off of my mountain. What do you say, prince of Rome?"
"LIES!" Bilbo suddenly intervened."Thorin has dragon sickness! All that gold changed him. He did not give the promised share of the people of Lake-town like he said he would! The dwarf I met on Bag's End would never gone back on his words, and only a mad man would go to war with the elves over a handful of gems!"
Thorin glares at the hobbit before looking towards Tiberius: "Would you really believe this thief? Do you know why Smaug woke up when it was supposed to be just a scouting mission? It's because he took the Arkenstone which at that time was near the dragon, alerting it. He killed your men! It was this shire's rat fault that Darius was severely injured!"
Thorin pause before pointing his finger at Bard: "And you, beggars of Lake-town, you allied yourselves with the elves and dared to threaten me to give you your share along with the white gems of Lasgalen? Who the hell do you think you are? The elves did nothing and you demand I give them back their gems?! BAH!"
Bard speaks up for the elves: "They helped us! If it wasn't for the elves we wouldn't have driven off the invaders and injured the dragon!"
Tiberius listened to their arguments when suddenly he remembered the bulging pocket of the hobbit that night on the mountain. The realization made him furious at Bilbo's lies and reckless actions. He also looked at Thorin noticing his changed personality, the dwarf he met on the misty mountains was friendly, brave and honest, but now he has taken his men hostage and broken his oath with the townspeople just so he could antagonize the elves.
He doesn't want any conflict with the elves for the sake of Melody. He looked at her before shaking his head, his duties as the commander of the legions comes first. He needed to make decisions that would benefit them. He cannot let his personal feelings get in the way. The dwarves are important allies and the legions badly needed their gold to construct their foothold. They would also need the dwarves to forge them new gears as their armors and steels started to rust and break down with all the fighting they've been doing.
He looked towards Melody's pleading eyes before making his decision: "The legions stand with the Durin's. Thranduil, Bard, and Bilbo give back the Arkenstone then leave at once or there will be bloodshed here today!"
Tiberius clenches his fist when he saw the disappointment in Melody's eyes, he knows how important the gems are to her and her family, its the only memory left of Thranduil's wife and Melody's adoptive mother. But he still made the decision for the sake of his legions future.
"An army of orcs is marching towards the mountain. All of you stand down!" Gandalf stands between both sides trying to prevent a war, yet no one cared.
"I Dain Ironfoot, Lord of the Iron Hills will not stand down before any Elf. Not least this faithless woodland sprite. He wishes nothing but ill upon my people. If he chooses to stand between me and my kin, I'll split his pretty head open! See if he's still smirking then."
Thranduil smirks while staring at Dain: "Enough Gandalf, He's clearly mad, like his cousin. If they want war they will have it. I'll get what I came here for, no Durin's or Romans will get in my way."
"You hear that, lads? We're on! Let's give these bastards a good hammering!" Ironfoot shouts towards his army while Tiberius rides back towards the legions. He paused and looked back towards Melody in regret before continuing.
"YANAD DURINUL!"(Sons of Durin!)
"LEGIONS AT THE READY!"
ROAR!
Tiberius looked at the armies of elves, dwarves and men make ready for war, as they were about to launch their attack they suddenly heard a rumbling noise from the mountains at the distance.
CRACCCKK!
"Were-worms!"
Gandalf voice can be heard as they looked towards the mountains in realization on what was causing the sound.
Everyone continued to look towards the mountain as the rumblings gets louder.
BOOOOM!
Ironfoot:"Oh, come on!"
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
NightCrusade
NightCrusade Gonna be busy in RL either slow or no updates.
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