.
.
"Oh honestly Haldir Im fine!" Elira grumbled, shifting impatiently on the stool
"No you're not fine. And if you would hold still this wouldn't be taking as long" Haldir sighed as he wound a clean bandage around her arm.
"There finished." he said tying off the last one.
As soon as the words left his mouth, she shot up from the stool and strapped her weapons back on and hustled out of the tent. "Come on we need to find the company !" she called
Haldir only sighed and followed after her.
Elira Strode through the makeshift camp that had been erected around the battlefield, picking restlessly at the bandages that covered her arm and thigh.
The rows of tents seemed unending as she made her way through row after row.
"Miss. Elira!" a familiar voice squeaked
She stopped, turning on her heels . There outside of one of the tents sat Ori, bandages wrapped around his head.
She ran over to the young dwarf hugging him "are you alright?" she asked looking him over
He nodded " What about you?
"some cuts and a few cracked ribs" Elria said, unconsciously picking at her bandaged arm
"Have you seen any of the others?" she asked anxiously
Ori nodded "My brothers are in this tent getting patched up" he said gesturing behind him
"How are they?"
He shrugged "Dori's missing a finger and Nori get a pretty nasty gash on his back"
Elira gasped
"Dwarves are harty people miss Elira.. Its not as bad as it sounds really" He added quickly.
At that moment Nori's voice rose out of the tent "Bed rest my great round...ouch! What was that for?"
"Can you not behave for one moment honestly" Dori's voice scolded irritably, then more politely he added "I'll see that he doesn't strain himself thank you"
The tent flaps opened and Dori stepped out followed by a disgruntled looking Nori who was rubbing the back of his head.
Their faces lit up when they saw Elira standing with Ori. "Oh Elira thank Mahal you're safe" Dori said
Elira smiled "How are you?"
He waved a heavily bandaged hand at her "Just fine... that is if my brother would stop pulling his stitches every other minute."
"Well maybe if ya didn't cuff me on the head every time I wouldn't. " Nori grumbled "Have you seen any of the others?" he asked turning to Elira
She shook her head
"you guys are the first I've seen"
"Well they've got to be around here somewhere" Dori said trudging forward as Nori, Ori, and Elira followed after him
..
They searched through most of the camps before they found the one Dori was looking for
"They'll most likely gather at Dains camp to regroup" he had told them as they searched "just go to find the blasted place"
Finally they could see the banner of the Iron hills just ahead of them, flapping in the breeze.
"Well bless my beard"
Elira turned at the familiar voice to see Gloin standing behind her.
"Thought it may have been you lot" he said cheerfully
For someone who had just been in a battle he looked surprisingly well Elira thought.
"Have you found any of the others?" he asked them
Dori shook his head "we were searching through the other camps for a while before we found this one"
.
As they walked Gloin filled them in on how the battle had gone for him, describing in great detail his most impressive kills.
She tried not to cringe as he described some of his more creative kills in detail for them, gesturing wildly as he spoke.
Elira was only half listening, keeping an ear out for any sign of the others. It paid off luckily as neared the edge of the camp.
Gloin was in the middle of a story involving three orcs an ax and a broken arrow when Elira's ears pricked up.
"Do you hear that?" she asked them stopping as she listened.
"No" Nori huffed
"I think its Balin" she said excitedly "Over there" she pointed to the direction the voice came from
They followed the sound to a row of large tents set away from the others.
As they neared Elira caught sight of a familiar white beard. "Balin!" she yelled, waving as she ran towards the dwarf
The old dwarf's eyes widened as he saw her "Oh bless you lass you're alright" he said as she hugged him.
"I'm alright too thanks for asking" Nori chipped, sauntering in behind Elira.
"Thats cus we didnt care, ya big git" Gloin laughed.
Elira looked around excited to see Balin, Oin, Biffer and Bombur all sitting around near the tents. They all looked just as beaton as Gloin and some were sporting bandages, but as a whole they seemed to be alright. Elira breathed a sigh of relief.
"And who is that?"Oin asked pointing behind her.
Elira looked at him confused for a moment before remembering the elf standing behind her.
"Oh this is Haldir... My grandmother sent him here to look after me"
THe dwarfs looked at the elf warily but said no more.
She looked around "Who's still missing?" she asked
"Well those four up until now and Bofur went off to go help look for survivors"
"What about..." She started feeling panic beginning to set in as she looked around
Balin chuckled ,putting his hands up to stop her "I was just about to get to that. Thorin and the boys are alive... a bit worse for wear but alive. They're in the tents now getting treated."
"What happened to them?"
"Thorin is much worse off than the rest.. seems he found Azog on the battlefield. His victory came at a cost, He was stabbed in the stomach during the fight. They've managed to stop the bleeding so far and from what we've heard they believe they'll be able to patch him up. Kili was shot in the thigh with an arrow. seems it went in pretty deep... He'll have to use a crutch for a while but the healers say its nothing permanent. And as for Fili, on top some deep cuts he has a broken arm and a few broken ribs. The lads should be out soon in fact"
"What about Thorin... is he still..." Elira asked quietly
Balin shook his head placing a hand on her shoulder "He overcame the madness just after the battle began"
He looked at her sadly "We're sorry lass... for everything that happened. You and Bilbo were right to have done what you did"
Elira smiled "Thank you" she said quietly
"So when will Fili and Kili be done with the healers?" she asked looking at the tent.
As if on cue Kili poked his head out of the tent "What about me?" he asked curiously.
His eyes widened when he saw Elira.
He attempted to run to her, stumbling in the process before remembering his crutch.
Elira met him halfway. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly -tears brimming in his eyes. "I was worried I would never see you again" he breathed "are you alright?" he asked brushing his thumb over the cut on her cheek.
She nodded her eyes trailing over his bandaged leg "does it hurt?" She asked, wiping away a tear with her sleeve.
"Na. Wont be running races anytime soon but it will heal eventually" he said giving her a lopsided grin
"Promise we wont be apart again" she said burying her face in his coat.
He smiled down at her, kissing the top of her head "I wouldn't dream of it"
"Well arnt you lot a sorry sight!"
Elira looked over to see Dwalin coming out of the second tent, clapping Gloin and Dori on the backs.
He smiled as he saw Elira "Good to see you lass" he said clapping her on the back lightly
She smiled at him, wincing a bit at the impact.
He looked around expectantly.
"Is Rowan with you?" he asked
Elira shook her head "She may be off with Gandalf helping in the tents... Oh no shes going to kill me when she gets back" she remembered suddenly
"Whys that?" Balin asked
"I broke my promise" she said sheepishly "I promised I wouldn't go off the overlook... but after the initial charge I ordered my men to go to the lower levels to get better shots"
Kili raised his eyebrows "Your men? You mean you were in the battle..."
Elira looked at him sheepishly "Well not exactly no...I mean I wasn't in the charge with Rowan... Its a long story but somehow I ended up in charged of a group of archers from Thranduil's army who I lead in the fight.." She said finishing the last part quickly
Kili opened his mouth but was cut off by Balin
"That was you leading those men?" he asked
"mmhmm" Elira nodded
"Im impressed lass. I'm sure many people owe you their lives today" Balin said smiling
All at once the dwarfs began asking her to tell her story, questions flying a mile a minuit
"Don't think you're off the hook just yet" Kili whispered to her, sliding his arms over her shoulders "You and I are going to have a long talk about your disregard for personal safety very soon"
As she told the dwarfs the story of her adventures in the battle- Fili emerged from the tent, struggling to pull on his tunic. His left arm was wrapped in a sling and his chest was covered in tightly wound bandages.
"Well the gangs all here then" he said looking at the dwarfs assembled outside the tent. His smile grew when he said Kili and Elira. Instantly he began looking around.
"Wheres Rowan?" he asked anxiously
"I was hoping to find her with one of you..." Elira started
Before she could finish the thought a loud voice called to them
"look who I found lads!" Bofur called
Elira's face brightened as she saw Gandalf and Bilbo following beside him.
"Found him out on the field" Bofur said "Poor lad got a big knock to the head it seems"
"Thank goodness Bilbo" ELira said hugging the hobbit
Gandalf came alongside of them smiling "its good to see you Elira"
He then turned to look at the rest of the company "..Eleven...oh theres Oin... Thirteen... fifteen..." he counted "It seems we are short one"
Elira's face fell "You mean you haven't seen Rowan?"
The old wizard shook his head
"I thought she was with you" Elira said quietly
"She could be helping the healers somewhere" Gandalf suggested
Elira shook her head "I know Rowan and... even if she was, She wouldnt go this long without trying to find us... somethings wrong"
"Did anyone see her during the battle" Dwalin asked worriedly
"I did for a brief moment" Bofur piped up "she looked fine when I saw her, But it was towards the beginning of it all"
"We need to go look for her" Fili said
"I looked checked out a lot of the tents on the other side before I found Ori and I didn't see her there"
"Alright we'll divide up the remaining areas of tents and look. We'll meet back here when we're done" Fili said
Everyone nodded
..
"Any luck on that side?" she asked Bofur
he shook his head
"none on mine either. This was the last row... She has to be here somewhere" she said frantically
"We'll find her don't worry." Kili said taking her hand
"Master dwarfs, Lady Elira I'm glad to find you well"
Elira looked over and spotted Bard walking over to them
"You look troubled" he frowned
"Bard have you seen Rowan" she asked urgently
His frown deepened "Not since the initial charge... Why? have you not found her yet?"
Elira shook her head "No... The rest of the company are looking around the other areas now. Were about to go meet them now"
"I'll come as well and help" Bard said Picking his coat up off the ground near by.
..
.
Elira could feel her heart sinking as they neared the camp. The look on Fili's face when he saw them told her how their search went.
"Anything?" Bofur asked
"Nothing"
"I think its time to expand our search lads..." Balin said slowly as he cast a quick glance off to the battlefield.
"I'll gather some men to help" Bard said walking off back where they had come from.
Balin left too and soon returned with a dozen or so dwarfs, around the same time bard returned with some of his men.
As they began to divide up into groups Balin placed a hand on Elira's shoulder "I think its best you stay here lass"
"But why? I want to help look for her...I have to...I need to know that shes alright"
"The carnage of war...Its not something for the light of heart...seeing things like that... stays with you forever"
"But..."
"Hes right" Kili said putting a hand on her shoulder "I don't think Rowan would want you to have to see that"
"The same goes for you too lads " Balin said pointing at Kili and Fili "you're in no shape to be out and about"
"Balin you cant...Shes my...I need to..." Fili protested, almost pleading.
"Lad I'm sorry... But you're not going to be doing her any good by injuring yourself further"
"Balin..."
"Make sure he stays here " Balin said to Elira and Kili before heading off with the others.
Kili squeezed her hand reassuringly before going off to calm his brother.
Elira watched as The search party left from view. She had never felt so helpless before in her life.
...
.
Balin sighed as they searched the field. The blank faces of the dead staring lifelessly back at him as he searched.
"sir"
he turned to see two people approaching him "Sir this dwarf said that he has something that may help"
Balin and Bard looked anxiously at the wild dark haired dwarf in front of them.
The dwarf bowed before speaking "My lord I heard through the camp you are searching for a wee dark haired lass"
"We are ... you have seen her then?" Balin asked hastily
The dwarf nodded "Aye during the battle she saved my life towards the end... came out of no where..."
"Where did you see her" Bard urged
"Over there towards the edge of the fighting" he said pointing off into the distance"
"Thank you" Balin said before he and bard set off
...
.
When they reached the area the dwarf had spoke of they began to search again.
For a while they found nothing until they reached the very edge of the field.
"This is where we found Thorin" Balin said pointing up the hill "The ravens hill"
They made their way around to the opposite side of the hill, Fanning out around the area.
"What's that over there?" Bard asked
The old dwarf squinted, In the distance he could see a body.
They hurried over to where they body lay.
"its just an orc..." Bard said disappointedly
"Theres another over there" Balin said
"This was at the very edge of the battle field. What were they doing so far from the fight?" Bard asked as they walked over to the second body
Balin paused stooping down to pick something up off the ground. He frowned as he looked at the pices of the bow in his hands."this is no Orc bow"
"You think Rowan may have been here?" Bard asked looking at the broken weapon
"Its possible"
"What would she be doing all they way out here with these two orcs?" Bard asked as they reached the second orc
Balin frowned as he saw the large black bow in the orcs hand. He looked around them then paused.
"There." He said pointing across from them. From where they stood they could see Raven hill. "They were trying to kill Thorin"
Bard looked back at the orc nudging it with his foot. A speck of red caught his eye "Balin look" he said pointing to a few small drops of blood leading away from the body.
They followed the drops of blood, watching as they became closer and closer together, then smearing along the ground "They crawled from here" Bard said stooping down to look at the trail.
The two followed the trail in tense silence unsure of what they would find. The stopped as they came to the side of the hill.
"Oh lass" Balin breathed
In a shallow cave laid Rowan, curled up into a small ball against the wall of the cave.
Bard stooped down, gently pulling her out from the furrow, carefully laying her on the ground.
Her usually tanned skin was now ghostly pale, her eyes tightly shut.
Both men felt their hearts sink as they saw her blood soaked tunic, a long black arrow jetting out from her stomach.
"Is she..?" Bard asked
Balin looked her over watching her chest for movement. his heart sank further as he watched her still chest. He slowly leaned over her,carefully listening for any sign of life.
He waited as the tense seconds ticked by. Then he heard it- a Quiet shuttered breath escaped her lips.