Hello once more to all readers. Thank you once again to all of my loyal reviews and those who read this story. Please keep it up and also read killlthepain62's fanfiction Welcome Home!

And also, regarding the person who keeps bugging me about my review goals. Your point was made the first time and I'm not going to change the way I manage my story no matter how many times you complain about it; make your own story if it bothers you so much. I take constructive criticism when it comes to my story not how I manage it.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hobbit or it's characters, I do however own my own characters and the artwork I put into the series. I also own all song lyrics featured in this chapter.

Chapter Nineteen: Warriors Of The North

Luke's head rolled lifelessly to the ground, fresh blood glistening across flesh and earth in thick pools of crimson. The deed was done.

(YOLO! Lol just kidding!)

Lian's axe flew over Luke's head, tousling his dark locks and once clear she brought her axe down to her side. Her breathing heavy as she examined the pale complexion of the man along with the fear shining in his eyes but despite this he never broke eye contact.

"There will be enough death to last us a lifetime soon enough." She clipped out, looking down at the man; having fallen over when she had swung and he could easily see the pain reflected in her eyes. He knows the woman, she was violent but she'd never kill her kin or cause them great harm. Though he nearly lost his confidence of that when she actually swung her axe at him, he was truly afraid she would kill him without a bat of an eyelash.

He hadn't realized how much she had changed, now she held an air around her that wanted, no, demanded respect. She changed from her usual self in a split second and he couldn't tell if the power had gotten to her head or if she was taking action as their leader.

"Pick yerself up and show some dignity." She growled, yanking Luke to his feet before shoving him into Gordon.

"If that's all then it's time to prepare for war, time for doubts are over." Lian rasped out, lips set into a bleak line as a cold expression hardened her usually open and wistful demeanor.

"We all know what we must do, may fate be on our side." She called, looking into every pair of eyes around her, almost seeming to bore into their souls. She stopped on Luke's grey pools, her expression twisting into a hard scowl before she turned to the walk into the tent containing the armory.

She sat upon a small portable wooden stool, reaching into the open sack full of handheld grind stones and began to sharpen the dulled edge of her axe by hand. Her lips were firmly pressed into a grim frown, eyebrows furrowed deeply as she tried to distract her mind with the task at hand.

The tent flap opened, her father stepping in to stand beside her hunched over form but she didn't look up and kept up the constant downward strokes. She was forced to stop though when her father placed a firm hand on her arm, she did not however look up. "Lian, what has happened?" He asked, kneeling by her smaller form and she flexed her jaw at the question. Everything was wrong, nothing was right; nothing was sacred or beautiful anymore when it was clouded by the mask of lies.

"I finally saw the world for what it was." She bit out, her voice sounding strained to her own ears and almost alien like with amount of malice it contained. Anger seemed to be the only thing she could rely on, love was for fools and she had fallen into its trap one too many times.

"Lian, look at me." Her father ordered softly, turning her chin towards him so he could look into her face. It pained him to see his daughter this way, he could tell that she was attached to the child from the first time he saw them together but he knew that losing the child wasn't the only thing that she hurt from.

"Just because the world tells you to change doesn't mean they're right, don't let the world shape you to be something you aren't. Life is far too short to live in discontent, if you truly want something then you take it cause it won't always be there." He took her face into his rough hands, rubbing his thumb over her cheek as he looked into her green eyes, resembling his own but he knew that the fire they could contain was all from her mother.

"I love you, my sweet bumble bee. Don't bring more pain on yourself." He murmured; calling her by her nickname he had given her when she was young. Lian's expression can't help but soften upon looking at her sweet father, he truly was a man of honor and forgiveness. She can't bear the thought of losing him in this war and she even felt the urge to back down so they could all live another day.

Sadly she knew she could not go back on her honor, life may beat her down to nothing but bruised bones but she would die with her honor intact. So with that she took her father into a tight hug, burying her face into his fur collar as she tried imprinting this moment into her heart forever.

"I'm sorry I've doomed us all." She whispered, tears seeping into the fur.

"Never apologize for what you feel in your heart is right." He scolded tenderly, holding her tight as he too knew if could be the last moment they'd be able to share together like this. So much had happen and yet it all felt like it had gone by so fast; too sudden.

"I love you." She whispered, voice brittle with emotion.

"I love you too." He breathed; tears of his own rolling down his worn face as he stroked her soft hair, pressing his salt and peppered beard to her forehead while rocking them both too and fro. Slowly her tears ceased, leaving her to just stay in her father's protective arms, the arms that she had run to when she was hurt or scared. How she only wished she'd have more time to appreciate them and show just how much she loved him.

"Sweet child, go to bed, it's time to sleep now. May your dreams be sweet and warm; just like your heart and soul." Her father rumbled out, his deep voice singing the old nursery rhyme from her youth. It was her favorite and she always loved to hear her father sing it to her over her chambermaid who couldn't sing to save her life.

"Sweet child, lay yer head, may ya find peace within yer bed. Hear this song and find rest here, so ya may dream in bliss." She softly sang the end, a feeling of nostalgia gripping her heart as she basked in the tender moment. Maybe love was still plausible in this forsaken world, maybe there was more to it than she thought there was.

Lian's eyes fluttered open, vision hazy as her pupils tried to focus through the fog of sleep, she sat up and looked around the barren tent; seeing her metal plating neatly set on the ground along with her weapons. Her father must have carried her into her tent, she couldn't even remember falling asleep. Though sleep was a gift from above considering she had gotten none in the past two days, she wasn't feeling completely up to par but she was better than she was before.

Standing she felt her muscles flex, stiff from her deep slumber and she could feel the toll her constant stress had taken on her body. Using her shin guard as a mirror; she saw that she looked about four years older than when she last remembered. She hadn't looked in a mirror since she was back in Forochel and it almost shocked her how much she changed.

Her face was a bit thinner, not holding quite the plumpness it did before nor the same childlike demeanor. You could see the faint laugh lines along with the beginning of crow's feet on the corners of her eyes from squinting so much towards the sun. It's not like she looked like an old hag or something but she did look certainly at least twenty-six instead of twenty-four. She'd still even be counted as pretty if not for the deep circles under her eyes, indicated the lack of sleep she had been suffering from for the past two days. It'd take a good few days of beauty sleep to get rid of those.

Sighing she cut a thin leather tie from one of the bags that had been stored there for the moment, hastily she twisted her long brown hair into a sloppy bun that looked more like a birds nest. It had grown to her waist whereas when she had met the company it was only to her mid-back. Usually she kept it a certain length so it wouldn't get in the way too much but she hadn't had time to before she left home and certainly hadn't found the time on their quest. She'd only taken the time to trim her bangs twice and already they were covering her eyes.

After strapping her plating on she secured her belt, holstering her weapons to their new strap before she stepped from her tent. It was at least another two hours before dawn, an evident nip in the air and Lian could see every breath she took.

Already where her kin up and about, securing extra armor to themselves along with more layers of cloth considering they had traveled light. She followed, replacing her travel worn clothes for thicker ones. The only thing she kept was her green sash, boots and brass knuckled gloves.

Now she wore a layer of chain mail over her under shirt with her breast plate in place considering there was no chest plates that could fit her smaller form. Fur adored her right side heavily and her pants were more dense then her other ones, she felt far warmer than she did before.

Nellia walked into the tent just as Lian finished holstering her extra weapons to her side and back, she had taken up a sword and bow just in case she needed them; not like she was good at using a sword anyways, much less a bow. She remembered how Thorin had tried to teach her but so much had happened that they only ever did it once, now she had them more for security than anything.

"Princess." Nellia bowed and she nodded back, standing to tighten and secure all her equipment as Nellia entered to grab a spare dagger. Lian had never really spoken with the woman much, she was quiet and kept to herself; she never bothered Lian and Lian never bothered her. They were what you'd call polar opposites. Nellia read books, wore dresses and was well mannered while Lian was more into brawling, rolling around in mud and trying to out gas the boys.

"Nellia." Said girl looked up from examining the blade, cool blue eyes meeting her own green ones. "I spared Luke for yer sake, ya'd better take advantage of it before it's too late. Who knows if we'll even be alive by nightfall." Lian murmured; running a hand through her bangs, the too long strands falling in front of her eyes.

"I don't know what you're talk-." Nellia tried to defend and she was doing a good job of lying but she didn't let the woman finish.

"I am no fool nor am I blind so don't try and lie to me." Lian bit out, annoyed that the woman was trying to deny it. Funny how she'd once been the one to deny her feelings, life certainly had a way of repeating itself.

"I…" Nellia trailed, her calm composer cracking to show bewilderment; they'd hardly even spoken and yet here they were having a chat about the woman's love life or lack thereof. It felt awkward that the younger woman was scolding her like a child, princess or not.

"You and Luke are engaged." She tried to reason, furrowing her dark brows as a deep frown adored her slender features.

"Nonesense! I don't know what he told ya but whatever it was is wrong, he just won't grow a backbone and stand up to this father to tell him no." Lian scoffed, a look of disgust twisting her face crudely. "There is no engagement, no love or even fondness between him and I. So stop making excuses and just tell him."

She walked past the woman, prepared to walk from the tent but she's stopped. "May I fix your hair?" Nellia offered awkwardly and she was confused for a second when she caught on that it must be a way to thank her. Lian would have denied but she could feel her sloppy bun coming undone and she knew it wouldn't hold for long.

"If ya insist." Lian grumbled rather sheepishly and the woman led her to the confines of her own tent, on the way there she saw Luke look up from sharpening his knives, a bit of panic in his eyes as he darted them between her and Nellia. What did he think she was gonna do, kill her? She scoffed at this before entering the tent.

Her tent was bare except for a few books beside her sleeping mat along with a nearly burnt out candle. She only had a small stool that was more like a foot rest with how close it was to the ground, she sat down, feeling her sword drag the earth.

Nellia made quick work on her hair, pulling the leather strap loose so her tangled locks would fall down her back, the only time she'd bothered to comb her hair was when she was bored and she used her fingers for the job. She hissed in pain as Nellia raked a small wooden comb through her hair, tugging at the stubborn knots and tangles; ironic how even now she was still as tender headed as when she was a child.

"Your hair has grown long." Nellia murmured, beginning to twist and loop her hair into a simple braid down her back after she brushed the tangles out into neat waves. Lian raised her eyebrow at the sudden small talk, she didn't know if the woman was trying to get on her good side or just fill the awkward silence or both.

"I'm planning on cutting it shorter soon enough, it gets in the way." She replied, looking down at the rounded iron knuckles that adored her gloves. She remembered how she had adored a plain iron ring on her thumb when she met the company but it had been lost for so long she can't even remember when.

"That's a shame, you have very beautiful hair." The woman said though Lian didn't really think so, hair was hair and she had never really paid attention to hers other than washing it or getting it out of her face.

"Why so friendly?" She asked bluntly; not wanting to waste time beating around the bush, she was always more suspicious of women than men. Most of the women she dealt with just wanted to use others and not do the dirty work themselves, they complained plus always tried to get something for nothing. Not like all of the women she'd met where like that but the vast majority of them kept her leery.

"I simply want to become more acquired with you since we never really spoke growing up." She answered; her tone sincere enough but there was a lingering hint of envy in it.

"Aye, I never did see ya play outside much, seemed like ya were always reading yer books." Lian hummed, not like she saw many of the girls playing outside anyways. Her chambermaid once told her that Nellia and her would often play as toddlers but that did little to improve their relationship growing up.

"Mother didn't want me to get dirty or rough house with the other children, said it was unladylike." She paused now, a look of embarrassment coloring her cheeks lightly. "I'll admit that I was very envious of you as a child. You were the princess yet you would play with the other kids and explore. Whatever you wanted to do you'd do while I was kept on my mother's tight leash."

"Now look where my defiance has led us." Lian said rather breathlessly, a lump forming in her throat. "Fighting a war based on petty differences."

"I…think it's very noble that you'd stand with the dwarves, even if we hadn't joined you." Nellia praised lightly.

"I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't. I rather die young with honor then die old with regrets. I know they'd do the same for me." Lian sighed.

Nellia finished braiding her hair, securing the leather strip around the end to keep her hair from coming loose. Lian stood, turning to face the other woman and she felt a sense of understanding for the woman. If they'd only spent more time together, she was sure they'd have become friends with one another.

"I hope that ya find peace of mind before we march out." With that Lian left the tent and the woman inside so she may have time to collect her thoughts. Dawn was no less than thirty minutes away, soon it would be time for them to march out to what may be their graves.

"Where are the elves and lakemen?" She asked, joining her father to watch the bridge leading from Dale to the planes before the mountain, all snow nearly melted from the landscape. They had made camp far enough away from the city so they may watch to see if they had any ideas about ambushing them, she doubt the lakemen would but the elves she was cautious about.

"Still in the ruins but they won't be long though, dawn will be soon." Gordon told her from his watch point, having taken the last watch for the night. The man had sandy blonde hair with brown eyes, like most of the men he was a hulking mass of muscle, second biggest to Stevvin though he was not quite as tall.

"We'll make for the gates of the mountain in twenty minutes; I want to be there before them." Lian told him, directing him to tell the others so they may be aware.

"Will the dwarves welcome us or think we're the enemy?" Her father asked and she pursed her lips at this. Gandalf told her that the gold was affecting Thorin's judgment so it wouldn't take much for him to think she was trying to go against him too.

"I'm not sure but let's deal with that when we get there." She sighed, brushing her hand through her bangs. "Let us just gather everyone and move out. This is going to be a long war." Her father nodded, placing a kiss upon her forehead before he left her on the lookout.

Lian sent a glance towards the Lonely Mountain, her heart tugging in her chest; she hoped Thorin wasn't too far gone yet. Her gaze lingered for only a moment before she finally looked away; taking up a horse that Trelkin gave her. She mounted the mare, making sure to secure all of her weapons and such before she took her place in the front of their formation.

"Let us move!" She bellowed, setting in motion the long march to the mountain just as the sky began to tint red with the rising sun. The rumble of heavy foot falls and clinking metal the only sound as they trekked forward. They were indeed not much of an army with only eight people since they had only brought a small search party, they were even more outnumbered than the dwarves.

"Keep it together, Lian." She murmured to herself, trying to calm her frazzled nerves that twisted in the pits of her belly the closer and closer they got to the mountain.

"Steel against flesh, blood runs thick across the ground, like a river it flows on down to the gates of death." Her father sang, his deep voice echoing over them with the weight of his song.

"We take our places now at the foot of this mountain, we hold onto our honor and prepare for one last stand. May our deeds go down in history after our kin have wept, after our flesh has been sent to rest beneath the snow." The song was ghostly, sorrow etched into every note and then into a thundering thrum as her kin joined in.

"We march on; face the claws of death til we breathe no more, til we bleed no more, Brothers and Sisters, let us fight for those who lay beneath the stone and protect their golden home."

"We march on to war, death is sure to come but we do not stand down, death shall not rule us. Fear shall have no hold on us. Mercy shall not be shown to us so we shall not bow." It ended with a deep rumble and every word weighed on their conscious, burning the embers of their soul's fire with passion.

War is coming and they were ready for it.

This will be the last T rated chapter of the series and I'll be upping it to M when the next chapter comes out. And my review goal is 5 this time.