hello again! Thank you to the follow/favorites/reviews on this story. Unfortunately this chapter is not as long as the first one, but I hope you will enjoy it all the same. It picks up in the middle of Rhia's flashback, where the last chapter left off. Enjoy!

ashes & Electricity

The legion flew over the mountains, proud and strong, talons gleaming in the morning light.

However, when Rhia saw the smoke of battle riding from the mountain, and the gore-crows flying above, fear filled her heart. What if she was too late? What if Thorin had already died?

Signalling to the rest of the legion Rhia pulled into a steep dive, flying low over the battle. The dragon Smaug was there, killing thousands with each sweep of his fiery breath.

A moment before she would have crashed into Smaug's back, Rhia shifted into the dark warrior with the fierce golden eyes. Landing hard on her knees, she stabbed at Smaug's neck with her beautiful twin daggers, a gift from Thorin. Vaguely, she heard dwarves in the background, calling

"The eagles are coming! They are led by Lady Rhia!"

Rhia snarled, her face contorted with such a look of fear that anyone who looked on her at that moment would not have doubted that she was something more than human. How dare this beast take from her the closest thing she had ever had to a home? It would pay for what it had done.

Then, a voice called over the crowd, penetrating Rhia's red haze of animalistic fury.

"Rhia! You can't stop it! The dragon will kill you."

Rhia whipped around, bending her knees to balance on the dragon's thrashing body. Thorin stood a little ways away, blood dripping down his jaw, blue eyes emanating concern for his friend.

Neatly, Rhia leaped from Smaug and onto the blood-soaked ground.

"What do we do," she gasped, watching as yet another one of her warriors was felled in the fire, "My eagles cannot defeat this beast, and neither can your people."

A single tear traced down Thorin's dirty cheek, the only tear Rhia had ever seen him shed. Then,

"Fall back!" He bellowed, "We must flee!"

Rhia turned to him.

"I can distract the dragon for a few minutes. Get your people to safety."

Thorin took her hand and kissed it softly, and Rhia felt something metal press into her palm.

"Go." She said, turning to what remained of her legions.

"Those of you who have strength left to fight," her strong voice penetrated the air, "Rally to me! We give our last gift in the defense of these people!"

Rhia opened her palm, staring for a moment at the mithril locket Thorin had placed there. Tucking it away, she turned and charged at Smaug, yelling. Her legions followed above her in the sky. And Thorin retreated, hatred burning his heart.

/

"Rhia?" Bilbo poked the shapeshifter's arm tentatively.

She started and stared down at the hobbit.

"What happened?"

"All of a sudden you went all strange, like you were standing here but you weren't really you. I was about to go and get help."

Rhia yanked her arm away from Bilbo, snarling.

"Never ask me about my necklace again. It was a gift, and that is all you need to know."

Bilbo backed away nervously, seeing the feral look in Rhia's eyes. Just then, the dwarves appeared on the stairway, Thorin at the front. There was an air of triumph surrounding them.

"We will fight." Thorin proclaimed.

Rhia's features broke into a genuine smile and she walked up to her old friend.

"This time," she smiled, "We will fight together.