Italicized words will mostly be thoughts. But of course some are for emphasizing. Long lines of italic words in quotes will be singing/reading from a book.
Starting in Chapter 8, full lines of Italics in conversations will be another language being spoke. So as not to take away from the story with a bunch of untranslated elvish or black speech, but the emphasis that the others do not know what is being said.
I do not own any of the characters except for Christianna, my OC. Aeyanna belongs to AshysnnaStarlight (Archive of our Own). Everything else belongs to Tolkien!
"Out of the frying pan..." Thorin whispered.
"...and into the fire! Run! RUN!" Gandalf screamed.
The company reacted instantly, running down the mountain as fast as they could, the Wargs practically on their heels. The setting sun soon fell beneath the horizon and turned the day into night. A few Wargs caught up to them, but they were quickly dispatched by the Dwarves. Though the group soon reached a large outcropping of land with a few trees growing on it; no way out besides a great fall down the mountain.
"Your Dwarves led you right into another trap!" Aeyanna snarled, pushing Christianna behind her as she turned to face the oncoming pack.
"Up into the trees, all of you! Come on, climb! Christianna, Bilbo!" Gandalf ordered them, panic clear in his voice.
Aeyanna immediately grabbed Christianna and ushered her after the Wizard. The Dwarves followed too, using each other as steps and boosts to grab onto the lowest branches.
"Bilbo! They're coming!" Thorin shouted, running away from the trees.
Christianna turned to see Bilbo still fighting to pull his sword from a Warg's skull.
"Don't even think about it!" Aeyanna screamed, forcing her onto the first branch of the tree Gandalf was in.
Thorin reached Bilbo before the rest of the pack arrived, removing his sword with ease and dragging him by his jacket towards the others. "Hobbits!" He cursed, all but throwing Bilbo into a tree. "Useless creatures. Have no place in the wild! No place among us!"
Dozens of Wargs, with and without riders, closed in on the company; circling the trees they were perched on. Jumping and snapping at the lower branches.
Christianna looked around to see where each of her Dwarves were. Holding onto the trunk of her tree for dear life. But her attention was soon drawn as the Wargs quieted, turning around. The orc she knew as Azog, atop his white Warg, approached slowly.
Thorin looked on in disbelief, moving a tree branch out of his way. "Azog?"
The pale Orc stroked his warg ominously, sniffing at the air. "Do you smell it? The scent of fear?" He inhaled sharply, starting to smirk. "I remember your father reeked of it... Thorin son of Thrain."
Thorin shook his head, realization hitting him, as did grief and pain. "It can not be."
"That one is mine. Kill the others!" Azog roared his commands to his Wargs and riders, waving his mace in the air.
The Wargs leapt forward and tried to climb the trees. Jumping as high as they could, scrambling at the tree trunks and breaking apart branches in their jaws. The trees started to shake violently at the assault, the company struggling to hold on.
"Drink their blood." Azog shouted, watching the scene unfold from a rock nearby.
The tree furthest from the edge began to lean; the weight of the Dwarves, and force of the Wargs pouncing, uprooted it. The members of the company that had sought refuge in it, braced themselves as it tipped over, landing against the next tree. They quickly had to jump to it, in order not to fall. But the impact caused this tree to fall as well. It became a domino effect, each tree toppling into the next; everyone jumping for their lives until they were all on the last one.
The entire company now stood on the tree at the very edge of the cliff. The one that Gandalf, Christianna, and Aeyanna were in all along. Azog laughed as they were completely trapped now. The tree not falling, but the Wargs relentless in their efforts to reach them.
"Oh my god." Christianna whispered, scanning to make sure they were all still there. Watching the fear in their eyes, and hearing it in their voices.
Suddenly, a pine cone on fire flew from above her, falling to the ground. It caught some dead brush on fire, scaring the surrounding Warg's back.
"Fili!" Gandalf called. He had two more lit pine cones, dropping one to Fili.
Between the company, they kept passing fire between pine cones, throwing them to the ground and creating a barrier to keep the Wargs at bay; angering Azog immensely. The Dwarves cheered, but their victory was short lived, as their combined weight finally became too much for the tree.
The roots gave way, and it fell slowly, everyone holding on for their lives, and keeping others from falling if they could. The tree coming to rest sticking straight out from the edge of the cliff.
Christianna clung to the trunk of the tree, moving herself in time so that she was sitting on it, not hanging like many of the others.
"Aahh! Oh! Oh no!"
"Ori!" Christianna shrieked, seeing the youngest Dwarf losing his grip. She lunged forward and caught his hand at the last moment. Cringing in pain as he was so heavy. "I've got you Ori, just hold on."
"Chrissy! Laisidhiel!" Bofur and Aeyanna shouted simultaneously.
They pulled themselves up and moved for her, reaching and freezing as they caught each others' eyes. Glowering at one another.
"Can we do this later please!" Christianna cried out. "I have not got my full powers back here!" Her eyes widened as she noticed Thorin charging through the flames.
The two glared for a moment more before nodding, reaching down and grabbing hold of the small Dwarf's arms. Taking him from Christianna and pulling him safely onto the tree.
"Ori are you okay?" Christianna hugged him fiercely.
"Thank you Miss Chrissy. Bofur. Miss A-" He met the disapproving look of Aeyanna and pulled away, looking at the ground far below them.
"Nooo!" Balin's pained voice echoed, drawing the small group's attention.
Thorin was brutally flung to the ground as Azog smashed him in the face with his mace. He struggled to roll over and push himself up. But the Orc roared and closed in on him. Bilbo stood shakily; and they all watched helplessly as the white warg clamped its jaws around Thorin.
"Thorin!" Dwalin bellowed, trying to pull himself up but the branch snapped, dangling him in the air.
The Warg chomped on the King a few times, causing him to yell in pain. He managed to hit its head with the pommel of his sword, causing the beast to growl and toss him like he weighed nothing.
"Get the others up!" Christianna ordered, frantically getting to her feet. "Now!"
"You are not going anywhere!" Aeyanna hissed, grabbing the other girls' arm.
She watched on in horror as Bilbo drew his sword, ran through the fire and threw himself at an Orc that was about to decapitate Thorin. Stabbing and killing it before standing protectively in front of Thorin's unconscious body.
Christianna turned to Aeyanna; there was a faint glow about her. "I'm not just Laisidhiel anymore. I'm Christianna. And I joined this company as the fifteenth member. Besides the fact that, like you, he is my best friend. You can scold me later." She pushed passed the other Elf, drawing her blades as she ran down the trunk of the tree.
The Hobbit reached for her without looking. Holding his glowing sword before him. "Chrissy, is he..."
She glanced over her shoulder at the King. If she didn't already know any better, she'd be worried. "He is fine Bilbo. We have more important things to worry about right now." She looked up to meet the eyes of the pale Orc.
Azog sneered, urging his Warg to move forward a few steps. "Kill them."
The Wargs and riders on each of Azog's sides started inching towards them. Snarling as they got closer. The pair braced themselves, standing fierce and tall, holding their weapons tight. They were ready to jump forward and fight when Fili, Kili, and Dwalin plowed into the Wargs from the side. A few of the other Dwarves not far behind them. Christianna watched Bilbo leap into the action, wounding a Warg before Azog himself cornered him. She moved to aid him, but an arrow came flying past her and into the shoulder of the Orc.
Azog howled in pain, grabbing the arrow and pulled it from his arm. Tossing it to the ground as his eyes narrowed. Focusing on the girl it came from.
"Laisidhiel you are absolutely out of your mind!" Aeyanna said low, coming up beside her with her bow drawn. "You are done here, we are going back to Rivendell."
"Don't you order her around!" Bofur warned Aeyanna as he stepped in front of Christianna, holding his mattock up.
"Is that a threat Dwarf?" The Elf spit, drawing an arrow.
"Stop it both of you please!" Christianna screamed, pushing between them. "Really you two are like children fighting over the same crayon!" She pushed them apart, rolling her eyes when she saw their confused looks. "Just fight you idiots!" She moved, dashing into the heat of the battle; her eyes set on Azog. If she could kill him, the story would change. Everything bad that happened at the end.
Suddenly, a Warg jumped in front of her and she reacted immediately, her blades connecting so deeply with the beasts face. It snarled and howled in pain, jerking around and backing away from her. Another one responded to its cries. Coming up behind her and giving her nowhere to go. For if she kept moving back she'd fall to her doom. She started recalling some magic she could use. Raising her hands nervously as she was still so uncertain each time if it would work. Or if her body could even handle it. What would be her breaking point?
Christianna looked up when movement in the sky caught her attention. "The Eagles." She sighed relieved. Bracing herself as one came by and grabbed hold of both the Wargs next to her, then tossed them over the cliff. She looked around to see everyone being saved from their own predicaments.
Eagles were everywhere, knocking down trees, fanning the flames of the fires. The members of the company looking around confused and alarmed, then the Eagles started swooping in and plucking them up, flying them to safety.
She ran to Bilbo, plucking Thorin's shield from the ground, grabbing hold of his hand and dragging him reluctantly to the edge. "No no no, what are you-"
Bilbo's sentence was cut short as she jumped, pulling him right along. His obnoxious cries echoing against the mountain, coming to an abrupt halt when an Eagle caught them on it's back.
"You have been around Dwarves for too long! The girl that came out of my ceiling would never have tried that!" He shouted, clinging to the feathers of the great bird. Looking over at the one that held onto Thorin. His expression that of desperation and worry. "Chrissy can you heal him?"
She nodded and looked down, watching as the Eagles carryied them all over a great distance. But it did not take long for her to spot the Carrock; the stony eyot in the upper reaches of the River Anduin. The staircase leading all the way down from it's peak.
Thorin's Eagle was the first to land, placing him delicately atop the stone structure, before pushing off and flying away.
Christianna couldn't help but giggle as Bilbo emitted a squeak when their bird suddenly turned into a descent. Landing gracefully and lowering its head to allow the pair to slide off. She immediately moved for Thorin's unconscious body, Bilbo stopping not far behind her. The rest of the company gathering around as they were sat on their feet once more.
Her hands moved slowly over the King's body. Murmuring part of a spell but she soon went quiet as her powers were growing. The Elf in her did not need to chant for something so simple. She opened her eyes and watched Thorin's wounds heal. Smiling when he gasped for air as he woke. He blinked as he took in his surroundings. Finally settling his eyes on her.
"Bilbo?"
"I'd tell you not to worry for him the entire journey, but I know you still will." She grinned at him, standing and watching as Dwalin and Kili helped their King to his feet. She turned around as he approached an extremely relieved looking Hobbit.
Thorin had the most vulnerable look on his face. "You... What were you doing?" He whispered pained. "Did I not say that you were useless? That you had no place in the wild? No place among us?" He was face to face with the halfling, his gaze so intense as he stared down at him.
Bilbo blushed faintly, clearing his throat. Unable to pull his eyes from the dwarf. "Thorin?"
He reached up, brushing his fingers gently over Bilbo's cheek. "Never do something like that again." He said seriously, throwing his arms around him and embraced him fiercely.
Bilbo stood with wide eyes. His gaze meeting Christianna's, who had a lone tear fall down her cheek. Cheers came from all around, a few whistles or smart remarks. Laughter once the Hobbit broke from his surprise and hugged Thorin back.
"Now what's all this for?" Bofur said softly, mimicking his King as he brushed his knuckles over her cheek.
She blinked rapidly as she turned to him. Giving him a tender smile. "Happy tears." She whispered, looking up as the eagles screeched and started to fly away.
But everyone's gaze fell on an outline on the horizon. A single, solitary mountain.
"Is that what I think it is?" Bilbo murmured as he stepped towards the edge.
Gandalf nodded as everyone followed the Hobbit. "Erebor, The Lonely Mountain. The last of the great Dwarf kingdoms of Middle-Earth."
Bofur was replaced with Aeyanna at her side, the other Elf maiden looking her over carefully. "I am taking you back to Lord Elrond."
Christianna furrowed her brows. She had missed Aeyanna, but was now filled with such conflict at her presence. "You are more than welcome to go back to Rivendell. But I am not leaving them." She said sternly, her heart beating nervously as they stared each other down.
"These Dwarves have brought this madness upon themselves. I will not let you get hurt due to their own faults! Since when do you care so much for them? They are Dwarves Laisidhiel! We hate them!" She almost growled.
"No Aeyanna. You hate them. I love them so much that it brought me back to this world. Where I met the love of my life. And I promise, if you do anything to any of them, or stand in their way. Or stop me from changing the ending. I will order you to leave and never return." She spoke with a low, harsh voice. Gliding quickly over to Bofur.
That is not the Aeyanna I remember. Or am I not the same Laisidhiel? Well. If it means that I hated Dwarves, and would not stop to help those in need, I will gladly stay Christianna. No matter what that means.
