Chapter 9

I saw a white warg come forward, and riding upon it….there was no mistake. It was the Pale Orc, Azog the Defiler. His left arm was missing and a sort of mace had been welded onto it.

"Azog." Thorin said.

Many a time I had been sent to spy on orc camps. I knew their language though I never spoke it.

"~Do you smell it? The fear! Your father reeked of it!~" Azog said.

My eyes widened. Azog had killed Thorin's father. I slowly looked at Thorin. I could se the rage and pain in his eyes. I know not what was think as I placed my hand on his.

"~You?~"

I looked at Azog. How could he know me.

"~There is no mistake! You are the little girl who escaped me years ago. Your parents too smelled of fear! Their screams will forever be a memory.~"

My heart stopped. My parents had not abandoned me. They were protecting me.

He killed my parents!

I never seen such an evil smile nor heard such an evil laugh. I shook with rage and screamed.

"NO!"

I tried to jump from the tree but Fili and Kili grabbed me.

"What is it Tawariell?!" they asked.

I glared at Azog as I said,

"He….he killed my mother and father!"

They gasped and looked at Azog and then back at me.

"You will bring no honor to them if you die!" Kili said.

I knew they were right, but my anger was great. Yet I somehow managed to keep from leaping down and fighting him.

"~Those two are mine! Kill the others!~" Azog said.

"Not good!"

The wargs jumped up towards the trees trying to pull us down. Branches broke under their powerful jaws. Kili almost fell, but Fili and I grabbed hold of him in time. We pulled him back up and then the tree began to shake. The wargs were uprooting the trees.

"GO! GO NOW!"

We jumped from tree to tree. Soon we were all in the same tree as Gandalf. And there was no way for us to get away, for this tree stood upon the very edge of a cliff. Looking down, it was certain death if we fell. I took my bow and drew an arrow. It flew into the head of an orc and the I killed off its warg. They began to smash against the tree and I could not hold a steady aim. I held onto the tree as it shook.

"Fili! Kili!"

Gandalf tossed down a flaming pinecone. Fili threw it, with spectacular aim I might add, and hit a warg. Its coat was lit on fire and it ran around yelping. Gandalf tossed me one and I threw it at the wargs. Just when I though that we might be able to escape the tree fell backwards. I screamed and was hanging off the tree.

"Tawariell!"

I looked up and saw Thorin reaching for me. I grasped his hand and he pulled me up. Fire circled around us and I looked at Azog. None could hold me back this time. I took up my sword and walked forward. As I walked forward I realized Thorin was with me. I knew he wanted revenge for his father and grandfather. The warg jumped forward with Azog and knocked me to the ground. Thorin swung at him but to no avail. I jumped up and ran up behind him but he hit me in the side of my face. I felt blood run down my cheek but I did not care. I screamed when I saw Thorin struck down. The white warg took him in its jaws and tossed him aside. His sword was out of reach.

"~Bring me the head of the dwarf king!~" Azog ordered.

One of the orcs walked forward as Azog turned to face me. I stood up and took up my sword again.

"I do not fear you!" I snapped.

He laughed and jumped off his warg. I ran forward and swung at him. Eradan had always told me to never attack in anger, but I did. Azog dodged me and then I felt a sharp pain in my side. I looked down and found a small knife. I pulled it out. It had not been fatal, but if I did not stop the bleeding…it would be. I covered it with my hand and backed away. I saw the orc going for Thorin.

"NO!"

I went to run but Azog grabbed me. He picked me up and smiled at me.

"~You shall be with your parents soon!~" He said.

I spit in his face. It was all I could think to do. It was a foolish choice. It only served to anger him. He threw me to the ground and placed his foot on my chest. I could not move and now Thorin would be killed.

"No wait! Wait!"

Azog looked to me.

"Kill me! Go ahead! I shall not fight back! Let him go!" I pleaded.

I knew it was foolish to try and bargain with Azog, but I tried. He merely laughed and hit my wound. I screamed in pain. He mounted his warg and watched as the orc walked to Thorin. Then someone very small leaped forward, tackling the orc to the ground and then killing it. Bilbo Baggins.

"Bilbo!" I breathed.

He stood in front of Thorin with his little sword. He swung madly at Azog's warg, but it only growled whilst Azog laughed. Tears formed in my eyes and I gathered all the strength I had left. I picked myself up from the ground and took my sword.

"I wonder…..who…shall laugh…..in the…..end!" I managed to say.

As Azog turned, Fili, Kili, Bombur, Bofur, Dwalin. Balin, Nori, Oin, Gloin and Bifur rushed forward. They attacked the wargs and the orcs. Bilbo jumped forward and joined the fight. I tried my best but I was losing strength fast. I swung in vain at a warg but it was too much. I fell to the ground and knew my death was at hand. Or so I thought. Something very large swooped down and grabbed the warg. It flung it over the edge of the cliff and then gently picked me up. It was one of the Great Eagles. There was still hope!