Back in Erebor, life was tense, but everything stayed under control. For Amayla and Dwalin, they alternated keeping watch on the ramparts and running drills with the dwarven and Dale troops. The only interruptions to their schedules were to attend the funerals for the fallen. The full ceremonies couldn't take place for all, but Princess Dis and soon-to-be crowned Queen Caileen made certain that all the fallen were properly honored.
On the fifth day of the siege, Amayla was standing on the wall watching the Easterlings with Captain Luth when both dams noticed strange activity in the enemy's camp. Amayla immediately called for a meeting with the two kings and the military commanders to share the information. Once gathered, she began, "Either they're about to attack or they're getting ready to leave."
A guard at the door interrupted the discussions. He brought a raven message with him and handed it to King Fili. Amayla assumed it was a note from their children at the outpost so she was surprised when Fili handed it off to Bard to read.
While Fili had kept his composure, young King Bard did not. "Sauron has been destroyed?!" he shouted and questioned at the same time, eyes wide and mouth hanging open.
Fili broke into a smile as Kili rushed over to take the note out of Bard's hand to red it himself. He whooped out a cheer, grabbed Tauriel and swung her around.
"Care to share the news with us, your majesty," Dwalin grumbled, hating to be left out.
"The note came from Thranduil. They received word that the ring and Sauron have been destroyed. Their battle with the orcs of the Misty Mountains has been won. He asked how our battle fares and if we need his assistance."
Everyone in the room broke into smiles, cheers, and a few tears. Amayla and Dwalin held each other's faces as they bumped their heads together.
Fili called the room back to order and they got down to strategic planning. Ravens were sent back and forth to Thranduil, and the everything was set.
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Three days later as the sun spread its first rays into the sky, the army of the Woodland Realm was in place to the south and a very large contingent of dwarves led by General Galen had snuck out in the night and was deployed to the north. Amayla was stationed on the ramparts to oversee and give the orders. She accepted her orders reluctantly as she desperately wanted to lead the charge into the battle. That honor went to the two kings, with Dwalin, Kili, Tauriel, and Farrak at their backs.
At the sound of the eleven horn, Amayla ordered the Erebor's great horn blown, blasting the sound all the way to Dale. Immediately, after the sound faded, the catapults on the ramparts launched flash fire into the middle of the Easterlings camp. The surprise launch had the intended effect. The enemy scrambled in confusion as the doors of Erebor swung open and the armies of Dwarves and Men rushed out. In a short time, the mounted elves and the hidden dwarves rushed in on both flanks, sealing the trap.
It was a rout. Within an hour, the Easterlings were defeated or on the run.
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As the victorious troops returned to the mountain, Queen Caileen found Amayla. After celebratory hugs, she asked Amayla to bring their children back as soon as possible. With tears in her eyes, Amayla readily agreed. She gathered the dwarves she knew were the best on horseback and asked Tauriel, who happily agreed, to go along and left quickly. She hoped that by travelling at speed and pushing the horses, they could make the outpost and get back by nightfall.
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They blew a horn as they entered the outpost, not wanting to worry anyone, and were greeted by all five occupants. The extra guards took care of the horses while Amayla and Tauriel hugged their family. Amayla thanked Walum and Frid and asked that they gather in the mess hall for to talk to for the newcomers to eat something while their horses rested. It was in there that Frid insisted on telling Amayla and Tauriel about what happened at the outpost.
"Your children, General, and especially Princess Caileen were so brave. You should be very proud of them. The princess managed to trick a large group of Easterlings into going down the false tunnel. And she trapped them there. There were probably 50 of them! And your son took quite a beating and even your daughter here was struck, but it was part of the ruse; they could all be fine minstrels with their acting abilities! I would like to go tell King Thorin himself about their bravery, if you would take me with you."
Amayla and Tauriel looked at each other, both downcast. "If only you could Frid," Amayla choked out. "Sadly, King Thorin died from wounds he sustained during the battle. Fili is now king under the mountain."
There were gasps. Lin and Hilaeg hugged, until Lin pulled back to ask, "Anyone else? Uncle Kili? General Dwalin?"
Tauriel went over to put a hand around Lin while Amayla moved next to her children before beginning, "Prince Kili and your adad are fine. However, there were losses. King Brand, Lord Dain, Captain Veddeg, both Sarna and Gorlen, and Tuthek lost a leg."
Amayla comforted her children with a group hug where all three of them sobbed and let their tears flow freely. They then all ate, packed, and mounted horses for return ride.
They rode swiftly once again. The sun was high in the sky headed downward and they wanted to get home as quickly as possible. They were all on high alert as the possibility of stray Easterlings fleeing the conflicts worried all, so when Amayla noticed and heard something odd near a small stream, the guards all drew their swords. She held up her arm to halt them and called for quiet. As they all strained to see what she was looking at, a large black bear with two small cubs trailing behind lumbered into view. The bear lifted her head for a moment, looked straight at the group, then turned and led her family off into the trees. Amayla sat up a little taller in her saddle and a large grin lit her face. She turned and smiled to her children and everyone else in the group.
The battle won, Sauron gone, her children safe, going home to join her husband, and now bears on Erebor's land. Life is good.
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********Author's Notes *********
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Short but sweet. I tried to stick to canon on this as much as possible in an AU, except for the elves coming back to help out. I just like the idea of the three kingdoms sticking together, and the elves and dwarves unquestioningly getting past the Smaug attack aftermath. I was always going to end this with bears returning to Erebor, except that it isn't actually the end. There is still the epilogue – which was supposed to be one chapter, but no surprise, will be two.