p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha," Sigrid whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The quarter breed lifted her furry head from where she had been resting it on her front paws and considered Sigrid with her bright violet eyes./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I know you're hurting but you're going to make yourself sick," the girl pointed out. "You have to eat and sleep. You haven't since you came here. Besides that, you haven't morphed back to human either."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha didn't reply but laid her head back down. Sigrid sighed. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""And you haven't spoken since you got here either."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha shook her head. Honestly, she didn't have anything to say. Food was tasteless to her and rest could never come. She was sitting at the very far back of Dale, as far from the mountain as possible and most of the time, she had all the children of lake town playing around and over her. She would occasionally get up from her lying position to help carry things or to give the children wolf rides around the city but not once did she let her violet eyes lay on the mountain that stood at their doorstep./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She didn't even bark, growl or even purr. Once, Tilda had found her soft spot behind her ears (in human form it was her back) and scratched there, reaching the parts that were hard to itch when in wolf form. Sepha had thought that she would naturally purr at the comforting feeling but she couldn't... it was like her body didnt want to make a noise anymore./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Father has gone to speak with the dwarves," Bain said, hurrying over./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sigrid tried to give her brother a warning look but Bain missed it and Sepha slowly turned so that she was hiding her face behind her large body./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sorry Sepha," Bain whispered. "I forgot."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha shook her head and gave the boy a soft look with her violet eyes, telling him that she wasn't upset with him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bain came and sat down beside the girl and Sepha laid her large head on Bain's knee, allowing the boy to stroke her head (which was her hair in human form)/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Finding that she wasn't needed, Sigrid went off to look out for her father./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha," Bain whispered. "Do you love Thorin?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was a long painful silence. Did she love him? Sepha knew that at one time or another she did love him... but did she still love him even though the sickness had destroyed the good in him? Did she still love him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She taught back to two nights prior when she had managed to get THorin to rest. She had seen a spark of the old Thorin in there...it was like he was still there but something... something big had to break him free./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Slowly, the girl nodded her head and Bain smiled. He wrapped his arms around the girl's furry neck and hugged her./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm glad."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha lifted her eyes and looked at the boy, puzzled./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bain smiled, "I'm glad because I see bits of da in Thorin. You might not see it because you don't know my da like I do but... after ma died, da would get this faraway look. His eyes looked like they were in another world and he would zone out. Then whenever he looked at me or the girls... his eyes would light up. Whenever Tilda or Sigrid did something that reminded him of ma, his eyes were start to shine like stars. THat's when I knew he was happy because he could still see ma in us."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha found herself smiling in spite of herself at hearing those words. Bain was so young, yet so wise and observant./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It's the same with you and THorin," Bain continued, "For the short time you were in lake town, whenever you weren't around Thorin would look just like my da when he was thinking of ma... kind of far away in another world and all zoned out and almost unhappy. Then when you came into the room, it was just like when da saw ma in Tilda or Sigrid. Thorin's eyes would shine the exact same way and he would look like the happiest man on earth."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The girl turned her head and looked at Bain a moment, sitting back on her haunches. Bain smiled up at her./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""That's how I know that THorin loves you... because my da loved my ma more than life... more than anything. He looked at her the same way Thorin looked at you... with love."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smiled sadly but she felt a deep pain wash over her. Bain seemed to notice for he continued./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""But it wasn't just the look. Da was overly protective of me and the girls after ma died. At first I thought it was because he was afraid to lose us too or because it got his mind off of losing ma... but then I realized that he wanted to protect us because it made him happy knowing we were safe and happy." the boy explained. "And no one can deny that THorin is overly protective of you. I don't know what happened before you reached lake town and I know things got hard and painful afterwards but just that one day and night that you were in lake town, it was like Thorin didn't want you out of your sight for fear something would happen... and when he saw you happy and safe, he looked like he couldn't get happier."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha had laid back down and had her head resting on her front paws when Bain reached over and stroked her head behind her ears, then her fur all so gently, "Thorin loves you Sepha. It might be hard to see with the sickness... but he still loves you. You might be the only thing that is keeping him as sane as he is."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Maybe I shouldn't have stayed behind then," Sepha breathed. "Maybe I should have gone with him and he might have not fallen to the sickness."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bain shook his head, "My ma once told me to never dwell on what could have been. We don't know what could have happened if you had gone. You and Thorin might have not admitted to your feelings...Fili and Kili might have died..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""But Thorin got sick," Sepha objected./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bain nodded, "There's no way we could have avoided it. opposites of the world balance out. You cannot have hate without love because without love, there would be no hate. There would only be a blank feeling. You cannot have up without down because if there was no down, there would be no up to go up to. You cannot have happiness without pain because if there was no pain, there would be no happiness... only blankness. They balance each other out and create life...THorin has to fight this evil... with good. And that good that he needs to fight the evil can be found in you Sepha."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha looked at the boy and Bain smiled, "I should go see how the meeting went with the dwarves."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded and watched the boy go. When she was sure he wasn't listening, she followed discreetly./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""How did it go father?" Bain asked his dad./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""They refused to agree to the terms," Bard replied. "Thranduil has declared war. we attack at dawn."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha felt her heart sink. Thorin, what have you done? With that, she spun on her paws and charged out of dale. Just like she did every night since she left Erabor, she climbed to the highest tower of Dale where the dwarves had watched the burning of lake town. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When she reached the top, she slammed her paws on the ground in frustration and let the tears flow. She felt sobs overtake her and let out a loud yell (however, in a wolf form it was just a loud painful howl)./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Little did she know that in Erabor, Fili and Kili had been on watch and had seen the girl rush to the tower and lift her head and howl. She did it every night and every night it got worse. Her howl became more painful and it almost sounded like she was crying. Even from Erabor they could hear the pain. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili remembered to earlier that day when Thorin had stepped away from the peephole and had told Bard to leave. Bard had called to FIli and Kili and they had gone to the hole to listen to him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"em'Sepha is in pain,' he had said, 'she doesn't eat or sleep. She hasn't spoken since she has arrived and wont morph back to human. It's like she has given up on being a human. The only one she'll talk to is Bain but she will barely speak except a few words each day.'/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It's like she is becoming uncle," FIli whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili shook his head, "No she isnt... she is sharing in his pain," he explained. "Uncle doesn't sleep or eat and he barely speaks to anyone. She is doing the same and if I know Sepha, she will keep doing it till Uncle stops."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""But why?" Fili insisted./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili sighed and shook his head, "Because she thinks she's responsible for his falling to the sickness."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"What they didn't know was that a dark figure stood in the shadows listening to their conversation. When they finished talking, they headed down to rouse Dori who had the next watch. When they were gone, Thorin stepped out of the shadows onto the wall and looked at Dale. He could see the dark outline of Sepha sitting on the high tower before descending into the depths of Dale./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin reached to his belt and fingered the bead that still rested in his pouch there. HIs fingers grazed across his family crest and he felt tears spring to his eyes. He turned and headed back down, hoping to get some rest. Instead of lying down with the other dwarves, he went to his private quarters. The moment he stepped in he could just see himself and Sepha lying there, Sepha telling him to get some rest... him telling her that he loved her...her falling asleep next to him.../p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"His ears still rang with the sound of her pained howl and he felt tears prick his eyes. He opened his mouth to whisper something but nothing came out. He removed his hand from his pouch and turning, he slammed the door and headed back to the treasure chamber./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha didn't realize she had dozed off until she felt Tilda shift above her. Tilda had fallen asleep with her head on Sepha's furry back with Bain next to her. Sepha found herself smiling in spite of her pained mood. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She was about to lie back in order to not rouse them when Sigrid came sprinting towards them, waking the two children./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Hurry!" She cried./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What is it?" Bain asked, helping his little sister up./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Da and the elf king have gone to Erabor. All the elves have moved out and all the men too! They're going to offer an agreement one more time before they attack the mountain," Sigrid replied./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha was up in an instant and after telling Bain to protect his sisters, she bolted out of Dale./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Meanwhile, things were not going well on the wall of Erabor./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""We have come to tell you that payment for our share has been offered and accepted," Thranduil remarked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Payment with what?" Thorin hissed, still having his bow drawn. "I gave you nothing! You have nothing!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thranduil turned to Bard who reached into his coat and pulled out the arkesntone, "We have this."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin's face went ashen white and he could barely speak./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""They have the arkesntone," Kili whispered. "Thieves! How came you by the heirloom of our house? That stone belongs to the king!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""The king may have it," Bard replied. "With our good will but first he must honor his word."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin shook his head, "THey're taking us for fools. it's a ruse. a filthy lie. The arkesntone is in this mountain! It's a trick!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It's no trick," Bilbo said, coming out from hiding, "The stone is real. I gave it to them."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin turned and his eyes darkened with hate, "You..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I took it as my fourteenth share," the hobbit replied./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You would steal from me?" THorin asked, his voice dripping with venom./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Steal from you?" Bilbo asked almost laughing. "No. I may be a burglar but I'd like to think I'm an honest one. I'm willing to let it stand against my claim."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Against your claim?" THorin asked, smirking, "You're claim. You have no claim over me you MISERABLE RAT!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I wanted to give it to you," Bilbo admitted. "Many times I want to but..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He stopped and Thorin interrupted. "But what thief?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You are changed Thorin!" Bilbo said, his voice firm. "The dwarf I met in Baggend would never have gone back on his word! WOULD NEVER HAVE DOUBTED THE LOYALTY OF HIS KIN!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Do not speak to me of loyalty," THorin hissed. "THROW HIM FROM THE RAMPART!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was dead silence and everyone on the ground, even Thranduil stared in horror./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Did you not hear me!?" THorin yelled, grabbing FIli but the dwarf pulled away from his uncle./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'll do it myself then," Thorin said, grabbing Bilbo./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He had just hauled the halfling onto the wall and was about to push him over when something cold and sharp struck his hand and he snapped his hand back, yelling in pain. He looked down and saw that there was a long cut on the back of his hand. Looking down at the wall, he saw that the object of his injury was an arrow... long and delicate with white feathers.../p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin felt his heart stop in horror as he lifted his eyes just as a loud growl split the air./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""If you do not like the hobbit then don't hurt him!" Sepha yelled, pushing through the crowd of elves and coming to stand in front of Bard and Thranduil, still in wolf form. "Return him unharmed!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin slowly released the hobbit who at once was ushered to the rope and he began to climb down./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You all are mad to think that I will ever deal with shire rats Aga..." he never finished./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Right as those words began to escape him Sepha morphed back into human and drawing her sword she drove it into the hard stone in front of her. Surprisingly, it didn't break nor did it crack the stone... just cut clean through it like cheese. When she did this, a deep rumble sounded and a huge gust of wind knocked at the dwarves, sending most of them falling back. it was stronger than any gale they had ever felt./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When they had recovered their footing, they looked down to see Sepha standing there. She looked horrible. The bags under her eye were noticeable even from that distance. Her hair was down (she still hadn't rebraided it since she left), her face pale and she looked like she hadn't eaten in a while and tears were staining her cheeks. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She looked so beautiful... yet so undernourished. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""There was a time when it thought I knew you Thorin Oakenshield," she said, glaring up at him. "A time when I thought I knew everything about you."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You know nothing about me!" THorin yelled back, nothing but anger in his voice./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded, "Of course I don't... because you LIED TO ME! You showed me a side of you that didn't really exist! A side of you that everyone trusted! the company followed you because they thought that the good side of you was the real you... gosh were we mistaken. No THorin, I know everything there is to know about you... I know that all you are thinking of right now is the treasure behind you. I know that you haven't slept since you arrived in Erabor and barely eaten anything. I know that your mind is laced with greed and aggression. Three days ago... I thought there was still a part of you left... I was wrong."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was a pause while all the dwarves looked at THorin to see that his eyes were glossy and he looked like he was ready to cry... but he looked so sick... dangling between good and evil./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I gave you everything THorin! I gave you my heart... my trust, my loyalty, my life! I gave you everything because I thought that I knew you! The only reason I followed you before I fell in love with you was because I trusted you! I trusted you because I saw a dwarf who cared. I saw a dwarf who loved his comrades and his friends. He loved his nephews more than life. He would do anything to see them happy and safe. That dwarf is gone. Honestly... I don't even know who I am talking to right now because I am most certainly not talking to THORIN OAKENSHIELD!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When she raised her voice, even Thranduil jumped at how much pain and hurt was lacing her voice./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thorin Oakenshield is dead!" Sepha yelled. "He died the moment he entered this mountain! This person who looks like Thorin and sounds like THorin... isnt Thorin. He is just a beast that has taken over the real Thorin... the THorin I loved!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When Sepha finished, she morphed back into a wolf and pulled Bilbo onto her back before turning and running off back to Dale in search of Gandalf. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Give us your answer!" Bard yelled. "The return of the arkesntone for what was promised!? Will you have peace or war?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was a long silence until suddenly a crow flew onto the ledge by THorin and he turned his eyes to the hills, "I will have war."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm going over the wall," Kili remarked. "Who's coming with me?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin shook his head, "Stand down."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What?" FIli asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Are we to do nothing?" Ori asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I SAID!" THorin snapped. "STAND DOWN!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"A moment later, Thorin was sitting upon the throne when Dwalin came storming up to him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thorin, we have to go out there. Dain is surrounded. THey're being slaughtered Thorin."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""There are halls beneath halls within this mountain," Thorin whispered. "Places we can fortify. Hold up make safe, yes... that is it. We must move the gold further underground to safety."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Did you not hear what I just said?" Dwalin insisted. "They're dying out there."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""May die in war," Thorin replied. "Life is cheap. But a treasure such as this cannot be counted in lives lost."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Dwalin shook his head in disgust, "There was a time when you said that Persephone was the greatest treasure in the world. Now, you treat her as dirt."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It was her choice," THorin remarked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""She left because you were hurting her Thorin," Dwalin pointed out. "She left because she couldn't bear to see you so sick. She is out there risking her life to fight those orcs alongside your cousin. Do you remember nothing of all the things you told Sepha? Do you remember nothing?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Do not speak to me as if I were some lowly dwarf lord," Thorin hissed. "As if I were still... THorin Oakenshield."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"His voice broke at that and Dwalin knew why. Sepha's words at the gate were eating into THorin's mind... slowly chewing away at the evil inside of him and just saying his name hurt... because Dwalin knew SEpha's words were working./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I AM YOUR KING!" Thorin yelled./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You were always my king," Dwalin remarked. "You used to know that once. You cannot see what you have become."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Those words dug so deep that Thorin felt his mind spin. He could see SEpha standing at the gate... her face streaming with tears.../p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Go on. Get out before I kill you."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"TIME SKIP /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was too much running through Thorin's head at that moment. He slowly strode into the gallery of the kings where the melted gold had hardened, covering the floor in a thick layer of gold./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Suddenly, voices began to jump into Thorin's head and he felt himself consumed by each word. He recognized Bilbo, Dwalin, Balin, Bard, Gandalf and even his own voice./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emYou sit here in these vast halls with a crown upon your head. You are lesser now than you have ever been./em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emA treasure such as this cannot be counted in lives lost/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emA sickness lies upon that treasure/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emThe blind ambition of a mountain king/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emAM I NOT THE KING!?/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emThis treasure is ours and ours alone/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emI will not part with a single coin/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emHe could not see beyond is own desire!/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emAs if I was some lowly dwarf lord. Thorin Oakenshield./em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emA sickness which drove your grandfather mad/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emOakenshield.../em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emThis is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emI am not my grandfather/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emYou are the heir to the throne of durin/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emThey are dying out there/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emTake back ERabor/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emDain is surrounded/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emThey're dying/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emTake back you're homeland/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emYou are changed Thorin/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emI am not my grandfather/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emIs this treasure truly worth more than your honor?/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emI am not my grandfather. /em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Suddenly, Sepha's soft voice came in and THorin felt his heart stop./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongI'm glad I'm not immortal because I couldn't stand watching people I know grow old and die in front of my eyes while I love on!/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongYou know nothing about me Thorin Oakenshield!/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongYou don't know what I have seen or what I have gone through!/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongI have a say in my life, especially my love life Thorin Oakenshield!/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongI didn't want to be a burden/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongYou wouldn't understand. When you become a healer you take an unspoken vow to protect whoever needs your help./strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongWhen we rejoin you, I want to see the Thorin you are now... Not a different THorin. /strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongNi mela tye/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongThere was a time when I thought I knew you Thorin Oakenshield./strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongThorin Oakenshield is dead! He died the moment he entered this mountain!/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin reached up and grabbing his crown, he threw it down hard on the ground and he felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders...then a deep pain grabbed his heart./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Aramalime... what have I done?" he whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha drove her sword into another Orc and turned to make sure Bilbo was alright./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Just when she was about to drive her sword into another orc, a huge axe appeared out of nowhere and cut the orc down. Standing before her was none other than Dain himself./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Hello lass," he greeted. "I don't think we've met."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smiled and held out her hand, "Persephone ANatello at your service. You can call me Sepha."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Dain smiled and shook her hand, "Dain Ironfoot at yours. So you know my cousin?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha froze a moment before nodding and killing another orc, "I know your cousin... not the sick person in the mountain."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Dain nodded, "I'm worried. THorin hasn't appeared yet and my men are getting tired."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha looks around, "We should retreat back to the mountain. That will give the men a moment to catch their breath."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Dain nodded. he was just about to run off when Sepha morphed into a wolf and grabbing him by the belt, pulled him onto her back./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Need a lift!?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Dain hooted with glee as the girl charged through the battle field. Dain called to his men to fall back and Sepha plowed through Orcs as they went. Finally they reached the gates of Erabor and Dain hopped off of Sepha's back but she stayed as a wolf./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The orcs all lined up in front of the dwarves and the trolls came forward. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Steady," Dain called./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Just when the orcs began to approach, a loud horn sounded and Sepha felt her heart jump... she knew that sound. The horn sounded again and then a huge bell rang, knocking down the stone gate in front of Erabor. A half second later, the whole company came charging out of the mountain and all the dwarves moved back to give them room./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""To the king!" Dain yelled. "TO THE KING!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Before Sepha could even offer, Dain had leapt onto her back and held onto her neck hair like she was a rodeo horse./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Charge!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha just chuckled to herself and ran after all the others. Blood splattered all over her and she got a rather bad cut on her forehead but she ignored it. Dain's rather heavy weight began to weigh down on her but she ignored it. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Dain!" a familiar voice called over the din./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha felt her heart soar. She knew that voice... Thorin! And not the sick Thorin of before... the real Thorin!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""THorin!" Dain called, urging Sepha to run faster. "I'm coming!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha ran in the direction of the sound and pulled to a hard stop, allowing Dain to jump off her back and take down two orcs. Sepha didn't morph back for she was set upon by orcs. While she dealt with them, she saw the two cousins greet each other./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""How did you get over here so fast?" Thorin inquired./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Oh I got a ride," Dain replied, nodding at Sepha./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha took down another orc who had raised his sword to kill Thorin and threw him across the battle field. She turned and at once felt her heart stop. Thorin was standing before her, his eyes wide and a soft smile on his face. She slowly walked over but kept her eyes down. In wolf form, her head came level with his. Thorin slowly approached the girl and Sepha bowed her head./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Please..." Thorin whispered. "DOnt hide from me."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Dain left the two alone while he busied himself killing the orcs that surrounded them. Sepha took a deep breath and morphed back to human. She looked horrible, covered in orc blood, her lip bleeding and her forehead wounded but to Thorin, she was beautiful./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin smiled and slowly taking a step towards her, he reached out and placed his hand on her cheek, stroking her face with his thumb. Sepha leaned into the touch as THorin trained his finger around her wounded forehead... then across her swollen lip. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm so..." Thorin began but Sepha cut him off./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Grabbing his neck with one hand, she drew his head down to her level and crashed her lips to his. She didn't care that her lip was sore and bleeding... she missed THorin and that's all she cared about. Thorin wrapped his free hand (that wasn't holding Orcrist) around her waist and hugged her close as he kissed her back./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When they parted, they were out of breath and THorin was smiling brighter than Sepha had ever seen him smile./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It wasn't you who said those things," Sepha whispered. "What are we going to do about that pile of white orc filth?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin smiled, loving it how her eyes glowed violet when she was determined, "We're going to cut his head off."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin quickly grabbed a ram and climbed on. A second later, Fili, Kili and Dwalin were behind him on rams./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Hey Sepha!" Fili and Kili shouted in unison, grinning./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smiled, "If you're going, I'm coming with you."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha..." THorin warned. "It's too dangerous."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha snorted, "And please enlighten me as to the time I listened to you and admitted something was dangerous?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was a pause and THorin realized she had him there. Dwalin, FIli and Kili snorted while Dain chuckled./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Feisty one you've got here cousin."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili and Kili outright laughed at how red THorin's face turned and the smug look Sepha had on her face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Yeah... she is," Thorin admitted, "Okay come on."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha grinned and allowed THorin to pull him onto the ram behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his back./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm not leaving you again." She whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin smiled and his shoulders relaxed. That was a good enough answer for Sepha./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"This doesn't feel right," SEpha whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"They had reached raven hill... but Azog was nowhere to be seen./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I think Azog has fled," Kili whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I don't think so," Thorin replied, worry lacing his voice./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha sniffed the air. She could still smell the stench of the beast... where was he?/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Fili," Thorin said. "Take your brother and scout the tower. Do not engage do you understand?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The two nodded and scurried off./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thorin," SEpha whispered. "I have a bad feeling about this."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin walked over to the girl and stood beside her, watching Fili and Kili walk across the ice. He laced his fingers with hers and squeezed her hand./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Me too."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Goblin mercenaries," Dwalin interrupted. "no more than a hundred."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""We'll take care of them," Thorin replied. "Sepha... follow the boys. Make sure they are alright."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded and morphed into a wolf before scurrying off quietly across the ice. She soon realized there were orcs everywhere and she began to battle them... then she heard the voice of Azog somewhere above./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Meanwhile, Thorin and Dwalin were waiting for SEpha and the boys to return./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""THorin," Bilbo's voice cried from behind them./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"They spun around and Thorin's eyes widened, "Bilbo!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""We have to get out of here," Bilbo panted. "Bolg has another army attacking from the north, they'll be upon us in minutes."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""That stinking filth is up there," Dwalin hissed, "I say we push on."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""No wait," Thorin remarked, stopping Dwalin, "That's what he wants... this is a trap."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"he looked up at the tower. There was no sign of Kili or Fili... and SEpha was nowhere to be found...Sepha... where was she?/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Find Fili and Kili, call them back," Thorin ordered Dwalin, "I'll find Sepha."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thorin what..." Dwalin started./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Do it," Thorin said, noting the sense of concern in Dwalin's face, "WE'll live to fight another day."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bilbo nodded and was just about to head off with Thorin when they heard a deep drumming sound. They all turned and saw the most horrifying thing... Azog was walking to the edge of the tower and in his grip... was fili!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""No!" Thorin gasped, rushing to the edge of the platform they were on./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""This one dies first," Azog yelled in black speech. "Then the brother. Then you Oakenshield. You will die last."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""No!" FIli panted./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin felt tears spring to his eyes... Fili... his nephew. He had begun to look upon the two boys as his sons and now... Fili was dangling over the side of a cliff... a sword pointed at his back. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Run!" Fili screamed. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin felt all the air escape him as Azog raised his sword to end his nephew's life when... a huge object struck Azog square in the shoulder. Fili fell from his grip and went falling down towards the ground below him. The object that struck Azog didn't stop but sprang over the side and grabbed the young dwarf by the collar, gripping it tightly in one hand while holding the rocky side with the other./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""SEPHA!" Bilbo cried./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"For it was Sepha. She looked horrible, a knife in her hand that wasn't holding Fili. The blade was driven into the side of the rock, the only thing keeping them from slipping. She had a huge gash on her side and her lip was bleeding worse. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin let out a gasp, realizing the danger the two were in. He literally felt like he himself was on that cliff... two of the people he loved the most were dangling on that side... their lives on the edge of a knife... literally./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Fili! Sepha!" Thorin cried, rushing across the ice to help them. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Kili!" Dwalin yelled at the same time, rushing to find the younger Durin./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin and Dwalin hurried up the stairs towards the tower, trying to find a way to get to Sepha and Fili and also to find Kili... but the orcs had other plans. Azog appeared out of an archway and attacked Thorin. Dwalin ducked to the side and began to deal with the orcs that were pouring over the wall./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Bilbo!" Dwalin yelled. "Help Sepha and Fili!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Meanwhile, Sepha and FIli were struggling to hold on. Sepha usually had no trouble dangling but she was holding Fili's weight and she was wounded. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Hold on Fili," Sepha panted. "Can you grab one of your knives?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili felt around his coat and finally found one. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Drive it into the rock," SEpha ordered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili obeyed and soon got a grip on the stone ledge. They both hung there, holding onto their knives and panted./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thanks," Fili whispered. "I seriously thought I was done for."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha grinned, "The line of Durin isnt that easy to get rid of. Come on."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"With that, they began to slowly climb down, using the knives as they went. When they reached the bottom, Fili gasped./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""KilI! I have to find him! And uncle!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded, "You find Kili. I'll find THorin."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili nodded and quickly pressed his head to Sepha's before running off in search of his brother. Sepha stood there a moment, listening and trying to find out where Thorin was. She felt a hand on her shoulder and jumped, turning around. Bilbo and Tauriel stood there./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Tauriel!" Sepha cried, hugging the girl. "Where is Legolas?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Tauriel pointed upward, "At the top of the waterfall. Where is Kili?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""That's what I was trying to find out," Sepha replied ."Fili went to go find him."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What about Thorin?" Bilbo asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha shook her head, "I was going to find him."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You two find Thorin, I'll help Fili find Kili," Tauriel instructed./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"SEpha nodded and morphed into a wolf. Bilbo climbed onto her back and SEpha charged up the stairs towards the waterfall in search of the dwarf prince while Tauriel ran in the other direction where Fili had run off. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"epha skidded to a stop when she and Bilbo reached the top of the waterfall. They saw Dwallin and he was fighting orcs who had just arrived afresh with Bold. Great!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Stay here and help Dwalin," Sepha told Bilbo. "I'll find Thorin."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bilbo nodded as Sepha charged off. When she finally reached the ice, she saw a sight that made her blood run cold. Thorin and Azog were stuck on a piece of ice that was only staying afloat because Azog's huge stone ball was balancing Thorin's weight. Azog tried to take a swing at Thorin but had to rush back to his side so they didn't fall./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha held her breath when she saw a sight that made her smile. Eagles began to fly from behind Thorin, atop them were Radagast and Beorn! They flew clear over their heads and began to attack the orcs that had arrived from the North./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She heard a clanking and saw Thorin throw down Orcrist onto the ice. He reached down and grabbed the stone mace and threw it to agog who caught it. Thorin gave him a pathetic cock of his head before stepping off the ice. Sepha found herself smiling when she saw what Thorin was doing. The ice tipped and Azog went slipping into the water!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin let out a deep sigh and picked up Orcrist. He lifted his eyes and caught sight of Sepha who was on the other side of the ice from him. A smile spread across his face. He strode in her direction when he suddenly stopped and cried out in pain. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha let out a gasp of horror at the sight of the knife that appeared through the top of thorin's foot! Azog came crashing through the ice and stood over Thorin who now lay on the ground with Orcrist being the only thing keeping Azog from running him through. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""THORIN!" Sepha cried./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin was losing strength... Azog had the upper hand. Sepha knew there was only one thing that could happen other than Thorin dying... and she had to./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Morphing into a wolf she let out an infuriated growl and pounced at the pale orc. Azog turned at the sound of her hard paws hitting the ice and his eyes widened with the massive wolf crashed into him, sending him flying off of Thorin. Sepha crashed the orc against the stone boulder and quickly morphed to human, pressing her swords to Azog's neck and glared into his eyes./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You will never harm another member of the house of Durin ever again."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Azog glared and pushed her off but Sepha spun around and drew out her swords, lashing both of them out and driving them into Azog's chest. The pale orc froze and stared into her eyes... he let out a soft rumble before he fell limp and crumbled to the ground... dead./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Seph," Thorin's voice /Sepha turned around and Thorin's eyes widened in fright. She was wounded! During her scuffle with Azog, he had managed to give her a huge gash across her belly, cutting deep./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The girl's eyes drooped closed and she crumbled, just as Thorin grabbed her and held her close./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha... stay with me. Please stay awake."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""UNCLE!" Fili's voice yelled as he rushed at them. He took in the sight of Azog's body, Sepha half awake and Thorin holding her./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Kili... he's..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Dont tell me," Thorin said, tears building up in his eyes./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""He's not dead yet," FIli replied./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha felt life leaving her. She pressed her head against THorin's chest, "Take me to Kili... please..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin obeyed and lifted her up. He quickly followed Fili around Ravenhill till they came onto the ledge where Kili was. Tauriel was there, crying as Kili's head lay in her lap./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha," Kili gasped weakly as Thorin and Sepha approached./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin knelt down beside his nephew and Sepha gently crawled out of Thorin's arms and to Kili's side. Tauriel allowed her to pull Kili's head into her lap while THorin knelt on the other side of his nephew, gripping his arm. Kili squeezed, trying to fight the pain./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha," Kili gasped. "You're hurt."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm fine," Sepha replied, even though the color in her eyes was fading and her cheeks were going pale./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm sorry," Kili gasped. "I'm sorry..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Dont say that," Sepha whispered, stroking Kili's hair, "You have nothing to be ashamed of. I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili shook his head, "If you had been here, you might have not saved Fili and Uncle. I'm glad you saved them..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Kili," Thorin whispered, pressing his head to his nephew's, "You're going to be fine. I promise."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili shook his head, "I'm sorry but I can't."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin gasped as tears sprang to his eyes, trying to not choke on his silent sobs. Sepha squeezed Fili's hand as the boy knelt down beside her and buried his face in her shoulder./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Can you sing to me?" Kili whispered. "One more time."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha felt tears bite her eyes as she nodded. Kili closed his eyes and leant his head against her chest so he could hear her better./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha was surprised she didn't break down in sobs but her voice was cracking as she sang for the last time to the young dwarf./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"With a sigh you turn away/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"With a deepening heart/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"No more words to say/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"You will find that the world/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Has changed forever/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"And the trees are now turning/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"From green to gold/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"And the sun is now fading/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"I wish I could hold you closer/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When she finished, Kili smiled and looked up at her, Fili and his uncle./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I love you all," he whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Then... his eyes closed and he faded. FIli let out a strangled gasp and Sepha pulled him close to her chest. She stood up and pulled FIli away from his brother's body so that Tauriel could kneel down in her place. She watched as Thorin gripped his nephew's head and pulled the boy's forehead to his firmly as tears poured down his cheeks and he tried to not sob. When he released him, he reached to his wrist and pulled off one of his own wrist guards. Sepha recognized it as one of the ones he had worn since Baggend. It had the Oakenshield crest on it. Slipping it off, he slipped it onto Kili's wrist and tied it on snugly./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Rest Kili," he whispered. "We will meet again in a better place."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha felt tears prick her eyes and she was just about to hug Fili tighter when her legs gave way./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha!" Fili cried, moving to catch her so she didn't hit the stone ground./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin jumped to his feet and helped his nephew. Fili lifted the girl into his arms as Sepha's eyes lulled shut./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""We need to get her to Oin," Thorin said urgently./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili nodded, "We need to hurry."br /"I'll take her," a deep voice /The two dwarves turned to see Beorn standing over them, in his human form. He held out his arms and Fili handed the girl to him. Sepha looked so small in Beorn's arms... but protected. Beorn morphed into a bear and held SEpha close to his chest with one giant paw./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I will get her to the mountain. Take care of the dwarf," Beorn said, nodding to Kili./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Beorn took off at a run, Fili and THorin watching him go. When he was out of sight and his heavy footfalls had disappeared, they turned to Tauriel who was crying over Kili's body. Fili was about to approach but Thorin stopped him and pulled him to his chest in a hug, allowing his nephew to cry into his chest./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Let her stay with him a while," he whispered. "She has lost her one."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He drew Fili away but Tauriel spoke up, "What do your customs wish to do with him?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin looked at her sadly and felt tears stream down his face, "We would like to have a funeral for him and bury him."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Tauriel nodded, "Please... Can I just have a moment?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin nodded with a sad smile and stepped away, leading his crying eldest nephew with him. He found a staircase that was empty where no bodies were littering the place. He sat down and Fili sat down beside him, leaning his head against his uncle's shoulder. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Why must people die?" The young dwarf asked/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin shook his head, "I don't know. All I know is that when people die, it gives us all the more reasons to not waste our lives. They die to help the rest of us live. Don't waste your life like I have."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili sat up and looked at his uncle, "you haven't wasted your life uncle."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Yes I have," thorin replied, "I have let myself get consumed and I neglected you and your brother... the company, Bilbo and Sepha. If I hadn't Kili might still be alive."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili shook his head, "like Sepha always says: "it's in the past". You have a second chance uncle to live a life full of adventure, life, excitement and love."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin looked at his nephew to see the boy smirking knowingly at him. Thorin smiled and pressed his head to Fili's./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm sorry we could t save Kili."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili nodded, "he's in a better place now."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Suddenly, Legolas came around the corner. He had no weapons on him, having used them all in the battle. He looked at the two dwarves who has risen to their feet, at Tauriel nearby and Kili./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha?" He asked/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""She's hurt bad," Fili replies, "Beorn has taken her back to the mountain."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Legolas nodded. "We should hurry. Come on, my horse is nearby."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"After whistling up his horse, Legolas mounted and pulled the two dwarves on behind him. Just when Thorin was about to climb on, Bilbo and the rest of the company arrived./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Who was Beorn holding?" Dwalin asked/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha." Fili replied, "we're heading that way now."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""We'll se that Kili is brought back," Balin said, placin a hand on Thorin's shoulder./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The two nodded and hopping into the horse behind Legolas, they hurried back to Erabor/p
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p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The quarter breed lifted her furry head from where she had been resting it on her front paws and considered Sigrid with her bright violet eyes./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I know you're hurting but you're going to make yourself sick," the girl pointed out. "You have to eat and sleep. You haven't since you came here. Besides that, you haven't morphed back to human either."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha didn't reply but laid her head back down. Sigrid sighed. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""And you haven't spoken since you got here either."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha shook her head. Honestly, she didn't have anything to say. Food was tasteless to her and rest could never come. She was sitting at the very far back of Dale, as far from the mountain as possible and most of the time, she had all the children of lake town playing around and over her. She would occasionally get up from her lying position to help carry things or to give the children wolf rides around the city but not once did she let her violet eyes lay on the mountain that stood at their doorstep./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She didn't even bark, growl or even purr. Once, Tilda had found her soft spot behind her ears (in human form it was her back) and scratched there, reaching the parts that were hard to itch when in wolf form. Sepha had thought that she would naturally purr at the comforting feeling but she couldn't... it was like her body didnt want to make a noise anymore./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Father has gone to speak with the dwarves," Bain said, hurrying over./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sigrid tried to give her brother a warning look but Bain missed it and Sepha slowly turned so that she was hiding her face behind her large body./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sorry Sepha," Bain whispered. "I forgot."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha shook her head and gave the boy a soft look with her violet eyes, telling him that she wasn't upset with him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bain came and sat down beside the girl and Sepha laid her large head on Bain's knee, allowing the boy to stroke her head (which was her hair in human form)/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Finding that she wasn't needed, Sigrid went off to look out for her father./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha," Bain whispered. "Do you love Thorin?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was a long painful silence. Did she love him? Sepha knew that at one time or another she did love him... but did she still love him even though the sickness had destroyed the good in him? Did she still love him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She taught back to two nights prior when she had managed to get THorin to rest. She had seen a spark of the old Thorin in there...it was like he was still there but something... something big had to break him free./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Slowly, the girl nodded her head and Bain smiled. He wrapped his arms around the girl's furry neck and hugged her./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm glad."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha lifted her eyes and looked at the boy, puzzled./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bain smiled, "I'm glad because I see bits of da in Thorin. You might not see it because you don't know my da like I do but... after ma died, da would get this faraway look. His eyes looked like they were in another world and he would zone out. Then whenever he looked at me or the girls... his eyes would light up. Whenever Tilda or Sigrid did something that reminded him of ma, his eyes were start to shine like stars. THat's when I knew he was happy because he could still see ma in us."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha found herself smiling in spite of herself at hearing those words. Bain was so young, yet so wise and observant./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It's the same with you and THorin," Bain continued, "For the short time you were in lake town, whenever you weren't around Thorin would look just like my da when he was thinking of ma... kind of far away in another world and all zoned out and almost unhappy. Then when you came into the room, it was just like when da saw ma in Tilda or Sigrid. Thorin's eyes would shine the exact same way and he would look like the happiest man on earth."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The girl turned her head and looked at Bain a moment, sitting back on her haunches. Bain smiled up at her./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""That's how I know that THorin loves you... because my da loved my ma more than life... more than anything. He looked at her the same way Thorin looked at you... with love."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smiled sadly but she felt a deep pain wash over her. Bain seemed to notice for he continued./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""But it wasn't just the look. Da was overly protective of me and the girls after ma died. At first I thought it was because he was afraid to lose us too or because it got his mind off of losing ma... but then I realized that he wanted to protect us because it made him happy knowing we were safe and happy." the boy explained. "And no one can deny that THorin is overly protective of you. I don't know what happened before you reached lake town and I know things got hard and painful afterwards but just that one day and night that you were in lake town, it was like Thorin didn't want you out of your sight for fear something would happen... and when he saw you happy and safe, he looked like he couldn't get happier."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha had laid back down and had her head resting on her front paws when Bain reached over and stroked her head behind her ears, then her fur all so gently, "Thorin loves you Sepha. It might be hard to see with the sickness... but he still loves you. You might be the only thing that is keeping him as sane as he is."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Maybe I shouldn't have stayed behind then," Sepha breathed. "Maybe I should have gone with him and he might have not fallen to the sickness."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bain shook his head, "My ma once told me to never dwell on what could have been. We don't know what could have happened if you had gone. You and Thorin might have not admitted to your feelings...Fili and Kili might have died..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""But Thorin got sick," Sepha objected./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bain nodded, "There's no way we could have avoided it. opposites of the world balance out. You cannot have hate without love because without love, there would be no hate. There would only be a blank feeling. You cannot have up without down because if there was no down, there would be no up to go up to. You cannot have happiness without pain because if there was no pain, there would be no happiness... only blankness. They balance each other out and create life...THorin has to fight this evil... with good. And that good that he needs to fight the evil can be found in you Sepha."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha looked at the boy and Bain smiled, "I should go see how the meeting went with the dwarves."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded and watched the boy go. When she was sure he wasn't listening, she followed discreetly./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""How did it go father?" Bain asked his dad./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""They refused to agree to the terms," Bard replied. "Thranduil has declared war. we attack at dawn."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha felt her heart sink. Thorin, what have you done? With that, she spun on her paws and charged out of dale. Just like she did every night since she left Erabor, she climbed to the highest tower of Dale where the dwarves had watched the burning of lake town. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When she reached the top, she slammed her paws on the ground in frustration and let the tears flow. She felt sobs overtake her and let out a loud yell (however, in a wolf form it was just a loud painful howl)./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Little did she know that in Erabor, Fili and Kili had been on watch and had seen the girl rush to the tower and lift her head and howl. She did it every night and every night it got worse. Her howl became more painful and it almost sounded like she was crying. Even from Erabor they could hear the pain. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili remembered to earlier that day when Thorin had stepped away from the peephole and had told Bard to leave. Bard had called to FIli and Kili and they had gone to the hole to listen to him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"em'Sepha is in pain,' he had said, 'she doesn't eat or sleep. She hasn't spoken since she has arrived and wont morph back to human. It's like she has given up on being a human. The only one she'll talk to is Bain but she will barely speak except a few words each day.'/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It's like she is becoming uncle," FIli whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili shook his head, "No she isnt... she is sharing in his pain," he explained. "Uncle doesn't sleep or eat and he barely speaks to anyone. She is doing the same and if I know Sepha, she will keep doing it till Uncle stops."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""But why?" Fili insisted./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili sighed and shook his head, "Because she thinks she's responsible for his falling to the sickness."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"What they didn't know was that a dark figure stood in the shadows listening to their conversation. When they finished talking, they headed down to rouse Dori who had the next watch. When they were gone, Thorin stepped out of the shadows onto the wall and looked at Dale. He could see the dark outline of Sepha sitting on the high tower before descending into the depths of Dale./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin reached to his belt and fingered the bead that still rested in his pouch there. HIs fingers grazed across his family crest and he felt tears spring to his eyes. He turned and headed back down, hoping to get some rest. Instead of lying down with the other dwarves, he went to his private quarters. The moment he stepped in he could just see himself and Sepha lying there, Sepha telling him to get some rest... him telling her that he loved her...her falling asleep next to him.../p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"His ears still rang with the sound of her pained howl and he felt tears prick his eyes. He opened his mouth to whisper something but nothing came out. He removed his hand from his pouch and turning, he slammed the door and headed back to the treasure chamber./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha didn't realize she had dozed off until she felt Tilda shift above her. Tilda had fallen asleep with her head on Sepha's furry back with Bain next to her. Sepha found herself smiling in spite of her pained mood. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She was about to lie back in order to not rouse them when Sigrid came sprinting towards them, waking the two children./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Hurry!" She cried./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What is it?" Bain asked, helping his little sister up./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Da and the elf king have gone to Erabor. All the elves have moved out and all the men too! They're going to offer an agreement one more time before they attack the mountain," Sigrid replied./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha was up in an instant and after telling Bain to protect his sisters, she bolted out of Dale./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Meanwhile, things were not going well on the wall of Erabor./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""We have come to tell you that payment for our share has been offered and accepted," Thranduil remarked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Payment with what?" Thorin hissed, still having his bow drawn. "I gave you nothing! You have nothing!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thranduil turned to Bard who reached into his coat and pulled out the arkesntone, "We have this."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin's face went ashen white and he could barely speak./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""They have the arkesntone," Kili whispered. "Thieves! How came you by the heirloom of our house? That stone belongs to the king!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""The king may have it," Bard replied. "With our good will but first he must honor his word."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin shook his head, "THey're taking us for fools. it's a ruse. a filthy lie. The arkesntone is in this mountain! It's a trick!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It's no trick," Bilbo said, coming out from hiding, "The stone is real. I gave it to them."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin turned and his eyes darkened with hate, "You..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I took it as my fourteenth share," the hobbit replied./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You would steal from me?" THorin asked, his voice dripping with venom./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Steal from you?" Bilbo asked almost laughing. "No. I may be a burglar but I'd like to think I'm an honest one. I'm willing to let it stand against my claim."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Against your claim?" THorin asked, smirking, "You're claim. You have no claim over me you MISERABLE RAT!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I wanted to give it to you," Bilbo admitted. "Many times I want to but..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He stopped and Thorin interrupted. "But what thief?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You are changed Thorin!" Bilbo said, his voice firm. "The dwarf I met in Baggend would never have gone back on his word! WOULD NEVER HAVE DOUBTED THE LOYALTY OF HIS KIN!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Do not speak to me of loyalty," THorin hissed. "THROW HIM FROM THE RAMPART!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was dead silence and everyone on the ground, even Thranduil stared in horror./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Did you not hear me!?" THorin yelled, grabbing FIli but the dwarf pulled away from his uncle./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'll do it myself then," Thorin said, grabbing Bilbo./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He had just hauled the halfling onto the wall and was about to push him over when something cold and sharp struck his hand and he snapped his hand back, yelling in pain. He looked down and saw that there was a long cut on the back of his hand. Looking down at the wall, he saw that the object of his injury was an arrow... long and delicate with white feathers.../p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin felt his heart stop in horror as he lifted his eyes just as a loud growl split the air./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""If you do not like the hobbit then don't hurt him!" Sepha yelled, pushing through the crowd of elves and coming to stand in front of Bard and Thranduil, still in wolf form. "Return him unharmed!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin slowly released the hobbit who at once was ushered to the rope and he began to climb down./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You all are mad to think that I will ever deal with shire rats Aga..." he never finished./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Right as those words began to escape him Sepha morphed back into human and drawing her sword she drove it into the hard stone in front of her. Surprisingly, it didn't break nor did it crack the stone... just cut clean through it like cheese. When she did this, a deep rumble sounded and a huge gust of wind knocked at the dwarves, sending most of them falling back. it was stronger than any gale they had ever felt./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When they had recovered their footing, they looked down to see Sepha standing there. She looked horrible. The bags under her eye were noticeable even from that distance. Her hair was down (she still hadn't rebraided it since she left), her face pale and she looked like she hadn't eaten in a while and tears were staining her cheeks. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She looked so beautiful... yet so undernourished. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""There was a time when it thought I knew you Thorin Oakenshield," she said, glaring up at him. "A time when I thought I knew everything about you."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You know nothing about me!" THorin yelled back, nothing but anger in his voice./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded, "Of course I don't... because you LIED TO ME! You showed me a side of you that didn't really exist! A side of you that everyone trusted! the company followed you because they thought that the good side of you was the real you... gosh were we mistaken. No THorin, I know everything there is to know about you... I know that all you are thinking of right now is the treasure behind you. I know that you haven't slept since you arrived in Erabor and barely eaten anything. I know that your mind is laced with greed and aggression. Three days ago... I thought there was still a part of you left... I was wrong."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was a pause while all the dwarves looked at THorin to see that his eyes were glossy and he looked like he was ready to cry... but he looked so sick... dangling between good and evil./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I gave you everything THorin! I gave you my heart... my trust, my loyalty, my life! I gave you everything because I thought that I knew you! The only reason I followed you before I fell in love with you was because I trusted you! I trusted you because I saw a dwarf who cared. I saw a dwarf who loved his comrades and his friends. He loved his nephews more than life. He would do anything to see them happy and safe. That dwarf is gone. Honestly... I don't even know who I am talking to right now because I am most certainly not talking to THORIN OAKENSHIELD!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When she raised her voice, even Thranduil jumped at how much pain and hurt was lacing her voice./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thorin Oakenshield is dead!" Sepha yelled. "He died the moment he entered this mountain! This person who looks like Thorin and sounds like THorin... isnt Thorin. He is just a beast that has taken over the real Thorin... the THorin I loved!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When Sepha finished, she morphed back into a wolf and pulled Bilbo onto her back before turning and running off back to Dale in search of Gandalf. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Give us your answer!" Bard yelled. "The return of the arkesntone for what was promised!? Will you have peace or war?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was a long silence until suddenly a crow flew onto the ledge by THorin and he turned his eyes to the hills, "I will have war."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm going over the wall," Kili remarked. "Who's coming with me?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin shook his head, "Stand down."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What?" FIli asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Are we to do nothing?" Ori asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I SAID!" THorin snapped. "STAND DOWN!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"A moment later, Thorin was sitting upon the throne when Dwalin came storming up to him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thorin, we have to go out there. Dain is surrounded. THey're being slaughtered Thorin."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""There are halls beneath halls within this mountain," Thorin whispered. "Places we can fortify. Hold up make safe, yes... that is it. We must move the gold further underground to safety."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Did you not hear what I just said?" Dwalin insisted. "They're dying out there."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""May die in war," Thorin replied. "Life is cheap. But a treasure such as this cannot be counted in lives lost."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Dwalin shook his head in disgust, "There was a time when you said that Persephone was the greatest treasure in the world. Now, you treat her as dirt."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It was her choice," THorin remarked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""She left because you were hurting her Thorin," Dwalin pointed out. "She left because she couldn't bear to see you so sick. She is out there risking her life to fight those orcs alongside your cousin. Do you remember nothing of all the things you told Sepha? Do you remember nothing?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Do not speak to me as if I were some lowly dwarf lord," Thorin hissed. "As if I were still... THorin Oakenshield."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"His voice broke at that and Dwalin knew why. Sepha's words at the gate were eating into THorin's mind... slowly chewing away at the evil inside of him and just saying his name hurt... because Dwalin knew SEpha's words were working./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I AM YOUR KING!" Thorin yelled./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You were always my king," Dwalin remarked. "You used to know that once. You cannot see what you have become."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Those words dug so deep that Thorin felt his mind spin. He could see SEpha standing at the gate... her face streaming with tears.../p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Go on. Get out before I kill you."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"TIME SKIP /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was too much running through Thorin's head at that moment. He slowly strode into the gallery of the kings where the melted gold had hardened, covering the floor in a thick layer of gold./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Suddenly, voices began to jump into Thorin's head and he felt himself consumed by each word. He recognized Bilbo, Dwalin, Balin, Bard, Gandalf and even his own voice./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emYou sit here in these vast halls with a crown upon your head. You are lesser now than you have ever been./em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emA treasure such as this cannot be counted in lives lost/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emA sickness lies upon that treasure/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emThe blind ambition of a mountain king/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emAM I NOT THE KING!?/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emThis treasure is ours and ours alone/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emI will not part with a single coin/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emHe could not see beyond is own desire!/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emAs if I was some lowly dwarf lord. Thorin Oakenshield./em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emA sickness which drove your grandfather mad/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emOakenshield.../em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emThis is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emI am not my grandfather/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emYou are the heir to the throne of durin/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emThey are dying out there/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emTake back ERabor/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emDain is surrounded/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emThey're dying/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emTake back you're homeland/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emYou are changed Thorin/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emI am not my grandfather/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emIs this treasure truly worth more than your honor?/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"emI am not my grandfather. /em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Suddenly, Sepha's soft voice came in and THorin felt his heart stop./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongI'm glad I'm not immortal because I couldn't stand watching people I know grow old and die in front of my eyes while I love on!/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongYou know nothing about me Thorin Oakenshield!/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongYou don't know what I have seen or what I have gone through!/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongI have a say in my life, especially my love life Thorin Oakenshield!/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongI didn't want to be a burden/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongYou wouldn't understand. When you become a healer you take an unspoken vow to protect whoever needs your help./strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongWhen we rejoin you, I want to see the Thorin you are now... Not a different THorin. /strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongNi mela tye/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongThere was a time when I thought I knew you Thorin Oakenshield./strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"strongThorin Oakenshield is dead! He died the moment he entered this mountain!/strong/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin reached up and grabbing his crown, he threw it down hard on the ground and he felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders...then a deep pain grabbed his heart./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Aramalime... what have I done?" he whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha drove her sword into another Orc and turned to make sure Bilbo was alright./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Just when she was about to drive her sword into another orc, a huge axe appeared out of nowhere and cut the orc down. Standing before her was none other than Dain himself./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Hello lass," he greeted. "I don't think we've met."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smiled and held out her hand, "Persephone ANatello at your service. You can call me Sepha."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Dain smiled and shook her hand, "Dain Ironfoot at yours. So you know my cousin?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha froze a moment before nodding and killing another orc, "I know your cousin... not the sick person in the mountain."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Dain nodded, "I'm worried. THorin hasn't appeared yet and my men are getting tired."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha looks around, "We should retreat back to the mountain. That will give the men a moment to catch their breath."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Dain nodded. he was just about to run off when Sepha morphed into a wolf and grabbing him by the belt, pulled him onto her back./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Need a lift!?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Dain hooted with glee as the girl charged through the battle field. Dain called to his men to fall back and Sepha plowed through Orcs as they went. Finally they reached the gates of Erabor and Dain hopped off of Sepha's back but she stayed as a wolf./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The orcs all lined up in front of the dwarves and the trolls came forward. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Steady," Dain called./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Just when the orcs began to approach, a loud horn sounded and Sepha felt her heart jump... she knew that sound. The horn sounded again and then a huge bell rang, knocking down the stone gate in front of Erabor. A half second later, the whole company came charging out of the mountain and all the dwarves moved back to give them room./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""To the king!" Dain yelled. "TO THE KING!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Before Sepha could even offer, Dain had leapt onto her back and held onto her neck hair like she was a rodeo horse./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Charge!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha just chuckled to herself and ran after all the others. Blood splattered all over her and she got a rather bad cut on her forehead but she ignored it. Dain's rather heavy weight began to weigh down on her but she ignored it. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Dain!" a familiar voice called over the din./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha felt her heart soar. She knew that voice... Thorin! And not the sick Thorin of before... the real Thorin!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""THorin!" Dain called, urging Sepha to run faster. "I'm coming!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha ran in the direction of the sound and pulled to a hard stop, allowing Dain to jump off her back and take down two orcs. Sepha didn't morph back for she was set upon by orcs. While she dealt with them, she saw the two cousins greet each other./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""How did you get over here so fast?" Thorin inquired./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Oh I got a ride," Dain replied, nodding at Sepha./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha took down another orc who had raised his sword to kill Thorin and threw him across the battle field. She turned and at once felt her heart stop. Thorin was standing before her, his eyes wide and a soft smile on his face. She slowly walked over but kept her eyes down. In wolf form, her head came level with his. Thorin slowly approached the girl and Sepha bowed her head./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Please..." Thorin whispered. "DOnt hide from me."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Dain left the two alone while he busied himself killing the orcs that surrounded them. Sepha took a deep breath and morphed back to human. She looked horrible, covered in orc blood, her lip bleeding and her forehead wounded but to Thorin, she was beautiful./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin smiled and slowly taking a step towards her, he reached out and placed his hand on her cheek, stroking her face with his thumb. Sepha leaned into the touch as THorin trained his finger around her wounded forehead... then across her swollen lip. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm so..." Thorin began but Sepha cut him off./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Grabbing his neck with one hand, she drew his head down to her level and crashed her lips to his. She didn't care that her lip was sore and bleeding... she missed THorin and that's all she cared about. Thorin wrapped his free hand (that wasn't holding Orcrist) around her waist and hugged her close as he kissed her back./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When they parted, they were out of breath and THorin was smiling brighter than Sepha had ever seen him smile./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It wasn't you who said those things," Sepha whispered. "What are we going to do about that pile of white orc filth?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin smiled, loving it how her eyes glowed violet when she was determined, "We're going to cut his head off."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin quickly grabbed a ram and climbed on. A second later, Fili, Kili and Dwalin were behind him on rams./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Hey Sepha!" Fili and Kili shouted in unison, grinning./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smiled, "If you're going, I'm coming with you."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha..." THorin warned. "It's too dangerous."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha snorted, "And please enlighten me as to the time I listened to you and admitted something was dangerous?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was a pause and THorin realized she had him there. Dwalin, FIli and Kili snorted while Dain chuckled./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Feisty one you've got here cousin."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili and Kili outright laughed at how red THorin's face turned and the smug look Sepha had on her face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Yeah... she is," Thorin admitted, "Okay come on."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha grinned and allowed THorin to pull him onto the ram behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his back./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm not leaving you again." She whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin smiled and his shoulders relaxed. That was a good enough answer for Sepha./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"This doesn't feel right," SEpha whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"They had reached raven hill... but Azog was nowhere to be seen./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I think Azog has fled," Kili whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I don't think so," Thorin replied, worry lacing his voice./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha sniffed the air. She could still smell the stench of the beast... where was he?/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Fili," Thorin said. "Take your brother and scout the tower. Do not engage do you understand?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The two nodded and scurried off./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thorin," SEpha whispered. "I have a bad feeling about this."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin walked over to the girl and stood beside her, watching Fili and Kili walk across the ice. He laced his fingers with hers and squeezed her hand./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Me too."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Goblin mercenaries," Dwalin interrupted. "no more than a hundred."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""We'll take care of them," Thorin replied. "Sepha... follow the boys. Make sure they are alright."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded and morphed into a wolf before scurrying off quietly across the ice. She soon realized there were orcs everywhere and she began to battle them... then she heard the voice of Azog somewhere above./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Meanwhile, Thorin and Dwalin were waiting for SEpha and the boys to return./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""THorin," Bilbo's voice cried from behind them./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"They spun around and Thorin's eyes widened, "Bilbo!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""We have to get out of here," Bilbo panted. "Bolg has another army attacking from the north, they'll be upon us in minutes."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""That stinking filth is up there," Dwalin hissed, "I say we push on."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""No wait," Thorin remarked, stopping Dwalin, "That's what he wants... this is a trap."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"he looked up at the tower. There was no sign of Kili or Fili... and SEpha was nowhere to be found...Sepha... where was she?/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Find Fili and Kili, call them back," Thorin ordered Dwalin, "I'll find Sepha."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thorin what..." Dwalin started./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Do it," Thorin said, noting the sense of concern in Dwalin's face, "WE'll live to fight another day."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bilbo nodded and was just about to head off with Thorin when they heard a deep drumming sound. They all turned and saw the most horrifying thing... Azog was walking to the edge of the tower and in his grip... was fili!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""No!" Thorin gasped, rushing to the edge of the platform they were on./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""This one dies first," Azog yelled in black speech. "Then the brother. Then you Oakenshield. You will die last."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""No!" FIli panted./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin felt tears spring to his eyes... Fili... his nephew. He had begun to look upon the two boys as his sons and now... Fili was dangling over the side of a cliff... a sword pointed at his back. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Run!" Fili screamed. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin felt all the air escape him as Azog raised his sword to end his nephew's life when... a huge object struck Azog square in the shoulder. Fili fell from his grip and went falling down towards the ground below him. The object that struck Azog didn't stop but sprang over the side and grabbed the young dwarf by the collar, gripping it tightly in one hand while holding the rocky side with the other./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""SEPHA!" Bilbo cried./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"For it was Sepha. She looked horrible, a knife in her hand that wasn't holding Fili. The blade was driven into the side of the rock, the only thing keeping them from slipping. She had a huge gash on her side and her lip was bleeding worse. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin let out a gasp, realizing the danger the two were in. He literally felt like he himself was on that cliff... two of the people he loved the most were dangling on that side... their lives on the edge of a knife... literally./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Fili! Sepha!" Thorin cried, rushing across the ice to help them. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Kili!" Dwalin yelled at the same time, rushing to find the younger Durin./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin and Dwalin hurried up the stairs towards the tower, trying to find a way to get to Sepha and Fili and also to find Kili... but the orcs had other plans. Azog appeared out of an archway and attacked Thorin. Dwalin ducked to the side and began to deal with the orcs that were pouring over the wall./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Bilbo!" Dwalin yelled. "Help Sepha and Fili!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Meanwhile, Sepha and FIli were struggling to hold on. Sepha usually had no trouble dangling but she was holding Fili's weight and she was wounded. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Hold on Fili," Sepha panted. "Can you grab one of your knives?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili felt around his coat and finally found one. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Drive it into the rock," SEpha ordered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili obeyed and soon got a grip on the stone ledge. They both hung there, holding onto their knives and panted./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thanks," Fili whispered. "I seriously thought I was done for."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha grinned, "The line of Durin isnt that easy to get rid of. Come on."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"With that, they began to slowly climb down, using the knives as they went. When they reached the bottom, Fili gasped./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""KilI! I have to find him! And uncle!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded, "You find Kili. I'll find THorin."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili nodded and quickly pressed his head to Sepha's before running off in search of his brother. Sepha stood there a moment, listening and trying to find out where Thorin was. She felt a hand on her shoulder and jumped, turning around. Bilbo and Tauriel stood there./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Tauriel!" Sepha cried, hugging the girl. "Where is Legolas?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Tauriel pointed upward, "At the top of the waterfall. Where is Kili?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""That's what I was trying to find out," Sepha replied ."Fili went to go find him."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What about Thorin?" Bilbo asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha shook her head, "I was going to find him."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You two find Thorin, I'll help Fili find Kili," Tauriel instructed./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"SEpha nodded and morphed into a wolf. Bilbo climbed onto her back and SEpha charged up the stairs towards the waterfall in search of the dwarf prince while Tauriel ran in the other direction where Fili had run off. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"epha skidded to a stop when she and Bilbo reached the top of the waterfall. They saw Dwallin and he was fighting orcs who had just arrived afresh with Bold. Great!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Stay here and help Dwalin," Sepha told Bilbo. "I'll find Thorin."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bilbo nodded as Sepha charged off. When she finally reached the ice, she saw a sight that made her blood run cold. Thorin and Azog were stuck on a piece of ice that was only staying afloat because Azog's huge stone ball was balancing Thorin's weight. Azog tried to take a swing at Thorin but had to rush back to his side so they didn't fall./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha held her breath when she saw a sight that made her smile. Eagles began to fly from behind Thorin, atop them were Radagast and Beorn! They flew clear over their heads and began to attack the orcs that had arrived from the North./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She heard a clanking and saw Thorin throw down Orcrist onto the ice. He reached down and grabbed the stone mace and threw it to agog who caught it. Thorin gave him a pathetic cock of his head before stepping off the ice. Sepha found herself smiling when she saw what Thorin was doing. The ice tipped and Azog went slipping into the water!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin let out a deep sigh and picked up Orcrist. He lifted his eyes and caught sight of Sepha who was on the other side of the ice from him. A smile spread across his face. He strode in her direction when he suddenly stopped and cried out in pain. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha let out a gasp of horror at the sight of the knife that appeared through the top of thorin's foot! Azog came crashing through the ice and stood over Thorin who now lay on the ground with Orcrist being the only thing keeping Azog from running him through. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""THORIN!" Sepha cried./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin was losing strength... Azog had the upper hand. Sepha knew there was only one thing that could happen other than Thorin dying... and she had to./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Morphing into a wolf she let out an infuriated growl and pounced at the pale orc. Azog turned at the sound of her hard paws hitting the ice and his eyes widened with the massive wolf crashed into him, sending him flying off of Thorin. Sepha crashed the orc against the stone boulder and quickly morphed to human, pressing her swords to Azog's neck and glared into his eyes./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You will never harm another member of the house of Durin ever again."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Azog glared and pushed her off but Sepha spun around and drew out her swords, lashing both of them out and driving them into Azog's chest. The pale orc froze and stared into her eyes... he let out a soft rumble before he fell limp and crumbled to the ground... dead./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Seph," Thorin's voice /Sepha turned around and Thorin's eyes widened in fright. She was wounded! During her scuffle with Azog, he had managed to give her a huge gash across her belly, cutting deep./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The girl's eyes drooped closed and she crumbled, just as Thorin grabbed her and held her close./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha... stay with me. Please stay awake."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""UNCLE!" Fili's voice yelled as he rushed at them. He took in the sight of Azog's body, Sepha half awake and Thorin holding her./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Kili... he's..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Dont tell me," Thorin said, tears building up in his eyes./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""He's not dead yet," FIli replied./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha felt life leaving her. She pressed her head against THorin's chest, "Take me to Kili... please..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin obeyed and lifted her up. He quickly followed Fili around Ravenhill till they came onto the ledge where Kili was. Tauriel was there, crying as Kili's head lay in her lap./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha," Kili gasped weakly as Thorin and Sepha approached./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin knelt down beside his nephew and Sepha gently crawled out of Thorin's arms and to Kili's side. Tauriel allowed her to pull Kili's head into her lap while THorin knelt on the other side of his nephew, gripping his arm. Kili squeezed, trying to fight the pain./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha," Kili gasped. "You're hurt."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm fine," Sepha replied, even though the color in her eyes was fading and her cheeks were going pale./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm sorry," Kili gasped. "I'm sorry..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Dont say that," Sepha whispered, stroking Kili's hair, "You have nothing to be ashamed of. I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili shook his head, "If you had been here, you might have not saved Fili and Uncle. I'm glad you saved them..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Kili," Thorin whispered, pressing his head to his nephew's, "You're going to be fine. I promise."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili shook his head, "I'm sorry but I can't."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin gasped as tears sprang to his eyes, trying to not choke on his silent sobs. Sepha squeezed Fili's hand as the boy knelt down beside her and buried his face in her shoulder./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Can you sing to me?" Kili whispered. "One more time."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha felt tears bite her eyes as she nodded. Kili closed his eyes and leant his head against her chest so he could hear her better./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha was surprised she didn't break down in sobs but her voice was cracking as she sang for the last time to the young dwarf./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"With a sigh you turn away/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"With a deepening heart/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"No more words to say/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"You will find that the world/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Has changed forever/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"And the trees are now turning/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"From green to gold/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"And the sun is now fading/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"I wish I could hold you closer/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When she finished, Kili smiled and looked up at her, Fili and his uncle./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I love you all," he whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Then... his eyes closed and he faded. FIli let out a strangled gasp and Sepha pulled him close to her chest. She stood up and pulled FIli away from his brother's body so that Tauriel could kneel down in her place. She watched as Thorin gripped his nephew's head and pulled the boy's forehead to his firmly as tears poured down his cheeks and he tried to not sob. When he released him, he reached to his wrist and pulled off one of his own wrist guards. Sepha recognized it as one of the ones he had worn since Baggend. It had the Oakenshield crest on it. Slipping it off, he slipped it onto Kili's wrist and tied it on snugly./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Rest Kili," he whispered. "We will meet again in a better place."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha felt tears prick her eyes and she was just about to hug Fili tighter when her legs gave way./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha!" Fili cried, moving to catch her so she didn't hit the stone ground./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin jumped to his feet and helped his nephew. Fili lifted the girl into his arms as Sepha's eyes lulled shut./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""We need to get her to Oin," Thorin said urgently./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili nodded, "We need to hurry."br /"I'll take her," a deep voice /The two dwarves turned to see Beorn standing over them, in his human form. He held out his arms and Fili handed the girl to him. Sepha looked so small in Beorn's arms... but protected. Beorn morphed into a bear and held SEpha close to his chest with one giant paw./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I will get her to the mountain. Take care of the dwarf," Beorn said, nodding to Kili./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Beorn took off at a run, Fili and THorin watching him go. When he was out of sight and his heavy footfalls had disappeared, they turned to Tauriel who was crying over Kili's body. Fili was about to approach but Thorin stopped him and pulled him to his chest in a hug, allowing his nephew to cry into his chest./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Let her stay with him a while," he whispered. "She has lost her one."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He drew Fili away but Tauriel spoke up, "What do your customs wish to do with him?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin looked at her sadly and felt tears stream down his face, "We would like to have a funeral for him and bury him."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Tauriel nodded, "Please... Can I just have a moment?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin nodded with a sad smile and stepped away, leading his crying eldest nephew with him. He found a staircase that was empty where no bodies were littering the place. He sat down and Fili sat down beside him, leaning his head against his uncle's shoulder. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Why must people die?" The young dwarf asked/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin shook his head, "I don't know. All I know is that when people die, it gives us all the more reasons to not waste our lives. They die to help the rest of us live. Don't waste your life like I have."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili sat up and looked at his uncle, "you haven't wasted your life uncle."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Yes I have," thorin replied, "I have let myself get consumed and I neglected you and your brother... the company, Bilbo and Sepha. If I hadn't Kili might still be alive."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili shook his head, "like Sepha always says: "it's in the past". You have a second chance uncle to live a life full of adventure, life, excitement and love."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin looked at his nephew to see the boy smirking knowingly at him. Thorin smiled and pressed his head to Fili's./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm sorry we could t save Kili."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili nodded, "he's in a better place now."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Suddenly, Legolas came around the corner. He had no weapons on him, having used them all in the battle. He looked at the two dwarves who has risen to their feet, at Tauriel nearby and Kili./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha?" He asked/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""She's hurt bad," Fili replies, "Beorn has taken her back to the mountain."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Legolas nodded. "We should hurry. Come on, my horse is nearby."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"After whistling up his horse, Legolas mounted and pulled the two dwarves on behind him. Just when Thorin was about to climb on, Bilbo and the rest of the company arrived./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Who was Beorn holding?" Dwalin asked/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha." Fili replied, "we're heading that way now."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""We'll se that Kili is brought back," Balin said, placin a hand on Thorin's shoulder./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The two nodded and hopping into the horse behind Legolas, they hurried back to Erabor/p
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