Bard
[The people of Lake-town are on the brink of starvation. Bard sees an army of Elves. Thranduil walks through the army over to Bard]
My Lord Thranduil, we did not look to see you here.
Thranduil
I heard you needed aid.
[The Elves bring in carts of food, wine, and supplies, to which the people of Lake-town happily take] Bard You have saved us. I do not know how to thank you.
Thranduil
Your gratitude is misplaced. I did not come on your behalf. I came to reclaim something of mine. [at Erebor, Thorin picks up a necklace of white gems and recalls Thranduil's words to him] [voice over] There are gems in the Mountain that I too desire. White gems of pure starlight.
Thorin
[laughs]
The White gems of Lasgalen. I know an Elf-lord who will pay a pretty price for these. [throws the necklace down into the white gems]
Bard
[Back in Dale Thranduil's army of Elves starts marching off towards the Mountain]
Wait! Please, wait! You would go to war over a handful of gems?
Thranduil
The heirlooms of my people are not lightly forsaken.
Bard
We are allies in this. My people also have claim upon the riches in that Mountain. Let me speak with Thorin.
Thranduil
You would try to reason with a Dwarf.
Bard
To avoid war? Yes.
Gandalf
[Gandalf is in a private meeting in a tent with Thranduil and Bard in Dale]
You must set aside your petty grievances with the Dwarves. War is coming. The cesspits of Dol Guldur have been emptied. You’re all in mortal danger.
Bard
What are you talking about?
Thranduil
I can see you know nothing of wizards. They are like winter thunder on a wild wind, rolling in from a distance breaking hard in alarm. But sometimes a storm is just a storm.
Gandalf
Not this time. Armies of Orcs are on the move. These are fighters, they have been bred for war. Our enemy has summoned his full strength.
Thranduil
Why show his hand now?
Gandalf
Because we forced him. We forced him when the company of Thorin Oakenshield set out to reclaim their homeland. The Dwarves were never meant to reach Erebor. Azog the Defiler was sent to kill them. His master seeks control of 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 fell Kingdom should rise again, Rivendell, Lórien, the Shire, even Gondor itself will fall.
Thranduil
These Orc armies you speak of, Mithrandir, where are they?
Gandalf
[Inside a tent in Dale] [to Bard]
Bowman. [Bard turns around] Do you agree with this? Is gold so important to you? Would you buy it with the blood of dwarves?
Bard
It will not come to that. This is a fight they cannot win.
B Bilbo
[enters the tent]
That won't stop them! You think the dwarves will surrender? They won't. They will fight to the death to defend their own.
Gandalf
[in surprise and relieved]
Bilbo Baggins!
Thranduil
[Bilbo smiles at Gandalf] [sees Bilbo; later sitting down]
If I am not mistaken, this is the Halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons from under the nose of my guards.
B Bilbo
[pauses, then speaks just audibly]
Yish... [Yes...] Sorry about that. [approaches the table in the middle of the tent with a bundle] I came to give you this. [opens the bundle, revealing the Arkenstone]
Thranduil
[in awe]
The Heart of the Mountain! The King's Jewel.
Bard
And worth a king's ransom. [looks at Bilbo] How is this yours to give?
B Bilbo
I took it as my fourteenth share of the treasure.
Bard
[Gandalf smiles at Bilbo]
Why would you do this? You owe us no loyalty.
B Bilbo
I'm not doing it for you. [Thranduil and Bard look at him] I know that dwarves can be obstinate and pigheaded and difficult. And suspicious and secretive, with the worst manners you can possibly imagine; but they are also brave and kind...and loyal to a fault. I've grown very fond of them, and I would save them if I can. But Thorin values this stone above all else. In exchange for its return, I believe he will give you what you were owed. There will be no need for war.
Thorin
[Thranduil and Bard with their armies arrive in Erebor; Thranduil and Bard ride to the gate when Thorin shoots an arrow in front of Thranduil]
I will put the next one between your eyes!
Thranduil
[The dwarves cheer when Thranduil's Elf army aim their arrows at them. All the Dwarves except for Thorin duck down, Thranduil indicates for his army to stand down]
We've come to tell you payment of your debt has been offered...and accepted.
Thorin
What payment? I gave you nothing. You have nothing!
Bard
[takes out the Arkenstone and shows them]
We have this.
Kili
[to Thorin, in pure shock]
They have the Arkenstone. [to Bard and Thranduil] Thieves! How came you by the heirloom of our house? That stone belongs to the King!
Bard
The King may have it, with our good will. [puts the Arkenstone away] But first, he must honor his word.
Thorin
[to the Company]
They are taking us for fools. It is a ruse. A filthy lie. [to Bard and Thranduil] The Arkenstone is in this mountain! It is a trick!
B Bilbo
It...It's no trick. [Thorin is surprised] The stone is real. I gave it to them.
Thorin
[Thranduil and Bard look on in concern as Thorin discovers Bilbo's bargaining with them] [turns to Bilbo]
You?...
B Bilbo
I took it as my fourteenth share.
Thorin
[accusingly]
You would steal from me?
B Bilbo
[nervously smiles]
Steal from you? No, no. I may be a burglar but I'd like to think I'm an honest one. I'm willing to let it stand against my claim.
Thorin
"Against your claim"? Your claim. You have no claim over me, you miserable RAT! [throws his bow down to the concrete]
B Bilbo
I was going to give it to you. Many times, I wanted to, but-
Thorin
But what, thief?
B Bilbo
[firmly; angrily]
You are changed, Thorin. The Dwarf I met in Bag End would never have gone back on his word. Would never have doubted the loyalty of his kin.
Thorin
Do not speak to me of loyalty. [to the Dwarves] THROW HIM FROM THE RAMPART! [Bilbo widens his eyes in terror. The Dwarves stand still; none of them obey Thorin's order as Bard and Thranduil look on in disbelief and shock] DID YOU NOT HEAR ME?! [pulls Fili, who pulls back; Thorin turns back to Bilbo angrily] I will do it MYSELF! [grabs Bilbo and lifts him up, the other dwarves rush to stop him] CURSE YOU!
Fili
No!
Thorin
CURSED BE THE WIZARD THAT FORCED YOU ON THIS COMPANY!
Gandalf
[walks to the bottom of the wall, magically magnified voice]
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY BURGLAR, [normal voice] then please, don't damage him. Return him to me. [Thorin stops at the sight of Gandalf] You're not making a very splendid figure as King under the Mountain, are you, Thorin, son of Thrain?
Thorin
[slowly puts Bilbo down]
NEVER AGAIN WILL I HAVE DEALINGS WITH WIZARDS...
Bofur
[to Bilbo, escaping down the wall]
Go.
Thorin
...OR SHIRE RATS.
Bard
[to Thorin]
Are we resolved? The return of the Arkenstone for what was promised?
Thorin
[looks to a nearby hill expectantly, not responding. Then paces]
Why should I buy back that which is rightfully mine?!
Thranduil
[Gandalf looks at him in disbelief] [to Bard]
Keep the stone. Sell it. Ecthelion of Gondor will give you a good price for it.
Thorin
[shouting furiously]
I WILL KILL YOU! UPON MY OATH, I WILL KILL YOU ALL!
Thranduil
Your oath means nothing. [pause] I've heard enough.
Gandalf
[The Elven Army readies to take fire]
Thorin, lay down your arms. Open these doors. This treasure will be your death.
Balin
Thorin, we cannot win this fight.
Bard
[The company and Gandalf look at Thorin, who still doesn't respond]
Give us your answer. Will you have peace or war?
Thorin
[after the raven from earlier arrives, signaling that Dwarves led by Dain are approaching]
I will have war.
Gandalf
[sees the army]
Ironfoot.
B Bilbo
[referring to Dain]
Gandalf, who is that? He doesn't look very happy.
Gandalf
He is Dain, Lord of the Iron Hills. Thorin's cousin.
Gandalf
[sighs]
I've always found Thorin the more reasonable of the two.
Dain
[Dain and his army from the Iron Hill have just arrived; Dain is riding a pig]
Good morning! How aaare we all? I have a wee proposition, if ye wouldn't mind givin' me a few moments of yer time. Would ye consider...JUST SODDING OFF?! All of you! Right now!
Bard
Stand fast!
Gandalf
[steps forward]
Come now, Lord Dain.
Dain
Gandalf the Grey. Tell this rabble to leave, or I'll water the ground with their blood!
Gandalf
There is no need for war between Dwarves, Men, and Elves. A legion of Orcs march on the Mountain. Stand your army down.
Dain
I will not stand down before any Elf. [looks at Thranduil] 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! [rides back to his army]
Gandalf
Dain! Wait!
Thranduil
[Dain ignores him; the Dwarves cheer, Gandalf looks on distressed]
Let them advance, see how far they'll get.
Dain
You think I give a dead dog for your threats, ya pointy-eared princess? [to his army] You hear that, lads? We're on! Let's give these bastards a good hammering!
Tauriel
[As Thranduil and his remaining forces leave Dale in the midst of the battle, Tauriel stands in their way] [in Elvish]
You will go no further. [in English] You will not turn away. Not this time.
Thranduil
[glaring]
Get out of my way.
Tauriel
The dwarves will be slaughtered.
Thranduil
Yes, they will die. Today, tomorrow, one year hence, a hundred years from now. What does it matter? They're mortal.
Tauriel
[aims her bow and arrow at Thranduil, who looks on in shock]
You think your life is worth more than theirs, when there is no love in it? There is no love in you!
Thranduil
[Thranduil hesitates, then swiftly and mercilessly cuts Tauriel's bow in half. Tauriel is taken aback in shock] [raises his sword to Tauriel's face]
What do you know of love? Nothing! What you feel for that dwarf is not real. You think it is love? Are you ready to die for it?
Legolas
[Legolas deflects Thranduil's blade and defends Tauriel] [in Elvish]
If you harm her...you will have to kill me. [Thranduil lowers his head in sadness at his son's defiance; Legolas turns to Tauriel, in English] I will go with you.
Legolas
[about his defiance, in defense of Tauriel]
I...cannot go back.
Thranduil
Where will you go?
Legolas
I do not know.
Thranduil
Go to the North. Find the Dunedain. There is a young Ranger among them you should meet. His father, Arathorn, was a good man. His son might grow to be a great one.
Legolas
What is his name?
Thranduil
He is known in the wild as Strider. His true name, you must discover for yourself. [Legolas makes to head to the north as suggested, but stops short] Legolas, your mother loved you...more than anyone; more than life.
Tauriel
[Touched by the apology and the fact that his mother loved him, Legolas exchanges a gesture of affection with Thranduil and makes off to the north to find the ranger, with Thranduil looking on and having accepted the fact the elven prince is now independent and a grown man. Then Thranduil walks up to Tauriel, who's weeping over Kili's body]
They want to bury him.
Thranduil
Yes.
Tauriel
If this is love, then I do not want it. Take it from me. Please. [Thranduil does nothing. She sobs harder] Why does it hurt so much?
Thranduil
[uncharacteristically empathetic]
Because it was real.
[Tauriel, with tears in her eyes, was surprised what Thranduil had said, and kisses Kili]
