Hello everyone! Yes, we are finally here at the battle of the five armies. What will happen? Who lives and who dies? Sorry this is a bit late. I just went through finals week and I am officially done with this semester. Just waiting on final grades but I won't know about those until next Wednesday.
Without further ado I will let you get to the chapter, I am sure you all are dying to know what happens. As always anything that comes directly from the Hobbit belongs to J.R.R Tolkien.
xoxo Mels
Third Person POV
In Dale, the screaming townspeople fled from the oncoming Orcs. Lyssaria pulled Sigrid and Tilda into a building, hiding them and hurriedly whispered to them to be quiet as a troll climbed over the wall near them breaking it in the process. People screamed all around them, running for their lives from the Orcs that flooded into the city. Lyssaria looked up from where she was hiding the girls, swearing under her breath as she realized that Bain was once again missing. Out on the street, Bain, holding a sword, looked for his sisters among the fleeing people.
"Sigrid! Tilda!" Bain shouted, trying to be brave. He hadn't meant to get lost from Lyssaria. He had just turned the wrong way.
Bard rode into the city and dismounted swiftly, drawing his sword and he ran against the flow of the fleeing people, looking for his children frantically. He knew Lyssaria would be with them, the Dwelf having stayed behind with them when he rode off to Erebor that morning, but anything could have happened to them.
"My children! Where are my children?" Bard asked the fleeing people frantically, but no one was willing to stop, too afraid for their own lives.
"I saw them. They were down in the old market," A woman shouted out to Bard then as she ran and Bard felt the blood freeze in his veins.
"The market?!" Bard said to himself, that would put them exactly where the Orcs were attacking the city. "Where are they now?" Bard shouted, looking back but the woman was already gone. "Tilda! Sigrid!" Bard shouted, looking around for his daughters. Percy ran up to him then at the head of a company of the Laketown soldiers
"Bard, Orcs are storming over the causeway!" Percy informed Bard who had to put aside his fear for his children for the moment in order to coordinate the attack.
"Get the bowmen to the eastern parapet. Hold them off for as long as you can!" Bard told Percy, laying a hand on the man's shoulder and Percy nodded before leading on some of the soldiers.
"Archers, this way!" Percy ordered and those who had bows followed him.
"The Orcs have taken Stone Street! The market's overrun!" A fleeing man shouted to Bard as he passed and Bard's face fell as he once more thought of his children. Please he thought. Please let them be with Lyssaria.
"The rest of you, follow me!" Bard told the soldiers behind him and they ran through the streets of Dale, heading towards the market. As they ran around the corner they ran right into the Orcs and the Lakemen yelled out a battle cry as they began fighting, pushing back against the Orcs as they tried to reclaim their city.
Elsewhere in Dale, Gandalf and Bilbo were also fighting the orcs. Gandalf fought them with staff and sword, Bilbo staying close by the wizard as he took down as many Orcs as he could, the Orcs overlooking him as he was beyond their notice. A group of townspeople ran towards the Orcs, and Alfrid was running with them, having surprisingly not fled from the battle.
"Charge! Onward! To the death!" Alfrid shouted having decided to stay behind and fight so that he might find glory in battle. Unfortunately it seemed that battle was not for him and while still shouting, he stopped running, bending over and panting for breath. On second thought, fighting in battle meant possibly dying. Seeing that no one was watching him, Alfrid hid in a building, his back pressed up against the wall as everyone ran past him. What was glory anyway? Only the smart lived to reap the rich rewards.
Lyssaria grunted as she fought off Orc after Orc on her own, protecting Sigrid and Tilda who screamed behind her as they ran around a corner. Lyssaria drove her Dwarven sword into one Orc, spinning around to drive her Elven sword into another before those Orcs fell to be replaced with two more. She fought viciously, already covered in blackish blood. She heard a strangled sound behind her as she drove both her swords up under an Orcs armour and saw Bain behind her, wielding a sword which had used to kill an Orc which had snuck up behind her. Another Orc kicked him and knocked him down, swinging his sword at him and Lyssaria kicked the Orc in front of her, freeing her swords.
The Orc attacking Bain had gotten his sword stuck on a statue above him and Lyssaria shoved her swords into it's back just as Bain used his chance to thrust his sword up into the Orc, killing it. Sigrid was hunched over Tilda and Lyssaria drew her swords free from the Orc before reaching down to help Bain to his feet, the four hugging each other quickly before they rounded the corner and saw Bard fighting further up the lane, uphill from them.
"DA!" Sigrid shouted as she helped her sister over rubble.
"Da! We're down here!" Tilda shouted and Bard turned, having heard them and he looked relieved. Lyssaria sighed herself, but frowned when she saw his expression change to shock, for Bard had seen a troll enter the lane behind his children and Lyssaria, throwing men many feet away with a single blow of his mace.
The troll saw the children and Lyssaria and it growled. Lyssaria turned around, throwing herself in front of the children as the girls screamed, Bain holding his sword at the ready. They were too far away for Bard to reach them in time, and he looked around frantically trying to find a way that he could help them.
"Back up!" Lyssaria shouted at the children as she held up her swords, not knowing what she could do against a troll, but she wasn't going to let it touch the children. As the troll approached Lyssaria and the children, Bard tilted a cart that had been laying sideways in the courtyard upright. He scrambled into it and launched it down the avenue towards his family. The troll raised its mace to smash the four of them, but it paused in surprise when it saw Bard hurtling towards it in the cart.
"BAIN, SIGRID, LYSSARIA - GET DOWN!" Bard shouted and they all threw themselves to the floor as the cart bounced over them. It smashed into the troll and sent it flying. Bard was also thrown forward, and he managed to thrust his sword into the troll's heart in a flying strike, killing it.
On the battlefield, Thranduil and Dain fought close to one another, Dain smashing down Orcs with his hammer. An Orc riding a troll controlled the beast with two hooks on chains, the hooks buried deep into the trolls eye sockets and the troll turned this way and that smashing the ground and any Elves or Dwarves nearby with its giant maces. In Dale, Bard, his children and Lyssaria ran up an empty street and Bard crouched down in front of Bain and his daughters as he pulled them up short, putting a hand on Lyssaria's shoulder.
"Listen - I need you to gather the women and children. Take them to the Great Hall and barricade the door," Bard told them firmly and Alfrid, who was hiding in a doorway nearby, heard them speaking. Bard gently took Bain's sword from him looking into his son's eyes. "You understand - you must not come out for any reason!" Bard told his children and then he looked at Lyssaria who nodded even though she did not like it.
"We wanna stay with you!" Tilda told her father then as she grabbed onto him and that was when Alfrid chose to step out of the door way.
"Show your father some respect!" Alfrid spat and Lyssaria glared at the man in disgust as Bard and his children turned to him. "You leave it to me, sire," Alfrid told Bard before he grabbed Tilda and Sigrid and began rushing them away. "You heard him, we make to the Great Hall!" Alfrid added and Bard called after him.
"Alfrid, women and children only. I need every man fighting. See that you return!" Bard told Alfridd before he thrust the sword he had taken from Bain into Alfrid's hands.
"I'll get them to safety, sire," Alfrid assured Bard and seeing Orcs appear behind Bard, he nervously hurried away. "Then my sword is yours to command," He added before he began rounding up the people he saw on the street.
"Get up!" Alfrid shouted, pulling people roughly to their feet and Bard reached out and held Bain's face earnestly
"Look after them!" Bard told Bain who nodded and rushed after Alfrid. Bard turned to Lyssaria and before either of them could say anything he pulled her to him and he kissed her roughly before pulling away from her. "I'll come back," He promised her and Lyssaria glared at him.
"You'd better," She threatened him before she turned on her heel, not trusting Alfrid for one minute. Bard threw himself back into the battle as Bain caught up to Alfrid.
"Shift it, granny!" Alfrid shouted as he rudely tossed Bain the sword and Bain looked at him in disgust. Lyssaria came up behind both men and took the sword gently from Bain before she shoved it roughly at Alfrid nearly bowling over the man.
"Shift it," Lyssaria told the man dangerously and he was cowed under her implied threat. Bain and those who were able bodied helped the weak and elderly away from the fighting.
"Make for the Great Hall!" Bain told those he passed and as the throng of people approached the Great Hall, Alfrid ran and pushed his way through the people, knocking many of them over in his haste to reach the doors.
"Out of my way! Abandon the cripples!" Alfrid shouted only to be tripped by Lyssaria who stuck out her boot in his path and he fell flat on his face before he could sprint for the stairs.
As more and more Orcs and trolls entered the city, Thranduil rode his Elk into the city by crossing one of the bridges. As he crossed the bridge, his elk trampled many Orcs by lowering its horns and knocking them back and forth off of the bridge. The Elk speared five Orcs at the same time upon its horns, lifting them up so that Thranduil could behead all of them with one swing of his sword. As Elk and Elven King thundered into the city, the Elk was suddenly killed by multiple Orc arrows to the chest. As it fell, Thranduil leapt clear of its falling body and he rolled, coming up from his roll to find himself surrounded by Orcs. He pulled out both of his swords and began fighting the Orcs, his blades whirling quickly in a dance of death and soon he was reinforced by his Elven foot troops.
In the city, the Men, Elves, and Orcs all fought one another. Despite the reinforcements from the Elves to help the Men of Laketown, the Orcs had the upper hand because of their massive numbers. Elves and Men fell in numbers untold while Azog watched from his hilltop vantage point, rejoicing in the carnage that his legions rained down upon the three armies.
"They cannot hold the city. The Dwarves are almost spent," Azog said gleefully as he pointed to the Dwarves on the plains in front of Erebor where the Iron Hill dwarves were being driven back by the Orcs. An Orc managed to kill Dain's war pig, unseating him and Dain quickly rolled back up to his feet, his helmet lost.
"You buggars!" Dain said as he begins killing orcs left and right with his hammer and by headbutting them. "Where's Thorin?! We need him! Where is he?" Dain asked as from his vantage point, Azog gloated as both battlefronts were being won by the Orcs.
"Let these lands run with blood! Slaughter them all." Azog shouted as another horn blared and in Dale the Orc pushed the Lakemen back.
"FALL BACK!" Bard shouted as the Orcs drove them back, their numbers too great and the streets too narrow to fight them. People we slaughtered as they tried to escape, the streets paved in bodies as the Elves fell, Thranduil continuing his assault close to Gandalf who looked around him, feeling as though hope truly was lost.
Adaira's POV
I raced down the stairs and through the halls of Erebor now finding that I had an easier time of it as I had cut the long train from my dress. I could worry about Balin being angry about it later. I took the stairs two at a time discarding jewelry as I went not really carrying all too much about that either. Descending into the dungeon this time was easier seeing as I knew what it was that was going to greet me there. I angrily strode forward and placed myself in front of Thorin's cell. He was at the back of it, his back turned to me.
"Thorin," I said firmly and I saw his shoulders stiffen at my voice and he turned slowly around his eyes blazing with anger. "You will not talk, you will listen for once in your life," I told Thorin angrily and he growled lowly under his breath. "Outside this mountain, at this very moment, our people are dying. Dain's army has come and so has Azog's. Dain is surrounded. They are being slaughtered," I said and Thorin cut me off before I could continue.
"Many die in war. Life is cheap. But a treasure such as this cannot be counted in lives lost. It is worth all the blood we can spend!" Thorin said and I laughed at that bitterly.
"You would sit here in these vast halls, with a crown upon your head, and yet you are lesser now than you have ever been," I told my Uncle shaking my head in disbelief.
"Do not speak to me as if I was some lowly dwarf lord…," Thorin said, clearly mentally affected as he stared at me. "As-As if I were still...Thorin...Oakenshield," He said as he looked down at himself, his voice breaking as he began to almost cry and I looked at him pityingly. "I AM YOUR KING!" Thorin roared and he rushed at the bars and reached out at me and a tear slipped down my face.
"You were always my king, adad. From the first moment my father told me the story about Thorin Oakenshield. I was just a little girl and it was my favourite story," I said shaking my head as tears ran down my face and I inched towards the bars as Thorin stared at me breathing heavily. "Then I met you and Balin told us that story again that night and again, you were my king, but more than that you were my Uncle and like a second father to me," I said and I bowed my head in sorrow. "You can't see what you've become," I said as Thorin frowned deeply and I saw some inner turmoil in him. "I'm glad for that," I said before I reached into my pocket and pulled out the Arkenstone and Thorin's eyes went to it like a moth to a flame.
"Give it to me," Thorin demanded immediately and I shook my head.
"No, because this was never a gift. It was a curse and I will not let you become like great grandfather. I will not let this be your death," I said and I heard Thorin yell out for me to stop as I screamed in anger and slammed the Arkenstone as hard as I could into the stone wall beside his cell. There was a loud crack and I repeated the action, driving the Arkenstone into the wall repeatedly until the Arkenstone cracked and broke apart into several pieces and the light coming from within it died.
I looked at Thorin who was on the floor clutching his head and I realized that as I had been breaking the Arkenstone he had been screaming in pain. "Adad," I cried as I grabbed onto the bars of his cell and I looked around quickly for the keys, spotting them on a hook nearby and I grabbed them, trying several keys in the lock before I found the right one. I flung open the door and knelt beside Thorin, a hand on his back as I tried to get Thorin to uncurl from around himself.
"Thorin? Adad?" I asked my Uncle frantically, hoping that I had done that right thing and Thorin slow began to lift his head and lower his hands. Our eyes met and when they did he stared back at me with utter clarity and I flung myself at him and hugged him tightly. "Adad!" I cried, tears springing to my eyes and I pulled back quickly afraid that I had hurt him when he flinched. "Sorry, sorry," I told Thorin quickly and he chuckled and I sighed in relief at the familiar sound.
"Mizimith," Thorin said as he blinked back at me and I helped him to his feet.
"Are you back with us?" I asked my Uncle and he nodded once and then more firmly.
"My mind is clear," Thorin assured me before he stared down at the broken piece of the Arkenstone and he frowned. "What happened?" He asked me and I made a face at that.
"Long story," I told my Uncle and I shook my head. "There's not enough time. Dain's fighting a legion of Orcs led by Azog outside the gates of Erebor. They're being slaughtered. The others went to prepare themselves for battle. They might already be out there," I told Thorin as I began to pull him from the cell and Thorin's eyes widened and he rushed to follow me out of the dungeons.
"Dain's here?" He asked me as we took off towards the armoury.
"Turned up with an army of Dwarves while I was discussing terms of peace with Thranduil and Bard," I quipped back to my Uncle. "Thanks for that," I added and Thorin looked back at me sheepishly. When we came to the armoury it was empty and we skidded to a stop and I went straight for the armour I had discarded earlier.
"What are you doing?" Thorin asked me as he pulled on his own set of armor behind me.
"I'm going out there," I answered Thorin who turned around and put a hand on my shoulder and shook his head.
"It's too dangerous. Before it was just a minor skirmish, this is war," Thorin told me and I nodded at that.
"I've seen what happens in this battle. I've seen a fate where you, Fili, and Kili die and quite frankly I don't trust you not to do something stupid. You're not tying me to a tree this time," I told my Uncle firmly and he looked properly cowed by the reminder. "I know how to fight, you've seen to that. I'm a Durin, our people are dying out there and I will not hide behind these walls," I told my Uncle fiercely and he finally nodded in understanding.
"Let me help you then," He told me and he began to help me put my armour on properly. We both forewent the heavy armour and stuck with chainmail. I had to stop Thorin from putting on any more reminding him I wasn't used to fighting in armour and finally he gave up.
I walked over to a stack of discarded weapons and pulled a large war hammer from amongst the pile which was surprisingly light enough for me to lift. Oh yes, I liked this, I thought as I took a few practice swings with it before I turned around, finding Thorin similarly armoured and ready. We made for the front gates and I hoped that the others had not left yet.
Third Person POV
Outside of Erebor
Meanwhile, outside the gates of Erebor the battle was going kept coming in droves and no matter how many they killed more just took their place. Dain looked about him, knowing that they couldn't hold the Orcs off forever. Their only hope would be if they could receive aid from the mountain from Thorin.
"FALL BACK! FALL BACK! TO THE MOUNTAIN! FALL BACK!" Dain shouted to his soldiers and the remaining Dwarves began retreating toward the gates of Erebor, with the Orcs in pursuit.
"Now comes their end. Prepare for the final assault," Azog ordered and a signal horn sounded, the Orcs regrouping to march on the Dwarves.
Third Person POV
Inside of Erebor
Just inside the gates of Erebor, the Dwarves of the Company were waiting, listening desolately to the cries of battle outside. When they had returned to the gates from the armoury they could not find Adaira and they did not want to leave without seeing her one last time. They turned their heads as they heard footsteps approaching them and they saw Adaira approaching from further in the mountain. She was no longer dressed like a queen, but in chainmail and leather, dressed for battle.
"I'm coming with you," Adaira said and instantly the Company began to protest this, rising to their feet and she raised her hand that was not carrying a massive war hammer, stopping their protests. "And I am not alone," She said smiling widely and she turned her head back and they all saw as Thorin approached, with his sword drawn. He was no longer dressed in his royal robes and arbor, but in a simple leather outfit. Upon seeing his Uncle, Kili approached both Thorin and Adaira.
"I will not hide behind a wall of stone, while others fight our battles for us!" Kili instantly began shouting at his Uncle in grief and anger and Thorin and Kili continued to approach each other. "It is not in my blood, Thorin," Kili said as they stopped in front of each other.
"No, it is not," Thorin said as he laid a hand on Kili's shoulder, smiling and Kili smiled back at him through his tears. "We are sons and daughters of Durin. And Durin's folk do not flee from a fight," Thorin finished and Thorin pulled Kili slightly towards himself as he touched his forehead to Kili's and when Thorin pulled back Kili had a look of determination on his face. Balin looked at Adaira knowingly and she nodded in confirmation as Thorin turned to the rest of Company.
"I have no right to ask this of any of you," Thorin said as he walked to them, Adaira walking beside him, her husband coming to stand next to her and Kili standing on her other side behind Thorin. "...but will you follow me one last time?" Thorin asked the others and the Dwarves all raised their weapons, ready to follow their leader, friend, and kin once more. Fili quickly walked to Thorin's side and Thorin drew Fili to him and touched his forehead to Fili's as he had to Kili.
"How?" Fili asked as he looked to Adaira questioningly.
"Later," Adaira said quickly before she looked to the barricade. "Gentlemen, think you can break this down as quickly as you built it?" Adaira called to the others who laughed at the question before they moved to dismantle the barricade. "By the way," Adaira said offhandedly as she looked to her Uncle. "You can have your crown back," She told him and Thorin barked out a laugh at that.
"Did she make a good Queen?" Thorin asked Fili playfully and Fili smirked.
"The best. She actually did manage to make peace with Thranduil for what...fifteen minutes or so was it Kili?" Fili asked as he looked to his brother in askance.
"I'd say it was more like twenty," Kili said with an equally impish smirk on his face.
"And what did you have to give him?" Thorin inquired as he raised an eyebrow at Adaira and she stared down at her feet sheepishly.
"I gave him the white gems of Lasgalen," She said quietly and Thorin snorted.
"Gaudy thing," He remarked and she looked up at him, her eyes blazing.
"You never had to wear that thing!" She accused him and he frowned at her in confusion and she groaned. "You actually made me wear that necklace," She explained and he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Forgive me," He said instantly and she waved him off.
"I meant it in jest, adad. I'm not mad at you," Adaira assured her Uncle and that was when she noticed her grandfather lingering near them watching their playful banter and she swore under her breath. There was just too much to remember. "Adad," She said and she held up a hand for him to wait and he frowned in confusion. Adaira walked over to Thrain who looked far better now that he had bathed. She hadn't gotten to really see him much earlier between worrying about Bard and Thranduil and then the war beginning.
"It's now or never," Adaira told her grandfather who seemed a bit unsure and she offered him her hand. He nodded and slipped his hand into hers and she led him over to Thorin who looked down upon the Dwarf not recognizing him at first before recognition filled his eyes.
"Adad?" Thorin asked, Thrain in shock as he stared down at Thrain and Thrain smiled up at his eldest son.
"Inùdoy," Thrain said and Thorin reached out and crushed his father to his chest tightly and Adaira smiled. When Thorin pulled back both he and Thrain's eyes were suspiciously wet.
"How?" Thorin breathed out in shock.
"Gandalf," Thrain said by way of explanation for now and Thorin shook his head at that, muttering something about meddling wizards. At that moment, Bombur who had climbed to the top of the wall with a large trumpet began blowing hard on it, signaling their charge and Adaira gripped onto her hammer tightly, rolling her shoulders as she prepared for her first great battle. A Battle of Five Armies.
Third Person POV
Dain and his surviving Dwarves set up a desperate shield wall in front of the moat by Erebor's gates; the orcs lining up by rank by rank, readying to attack them. The Dwarves chanted and clashed their spears against their shields as Azog suddenly stopped the Orcs with him on the hill from signaling the attack.
"Not yet! Wait...wait," Azog told the Orcs as several heavily armored trolls shouldered their way to the front of the Orc ranks. They got down on all fours, the Orcs on the wooden platforms attached to their backs readying the catapults. "Attack...now!" Azog shouted as more trolls stepped out in front of the Orcs and brought their maces down upon the ground, dislodging dirt.
The Orcs sounded their signaling horn, and the Orcs and trolls began to march forward towards the last of the surviving Dwarven army. Suddenly, another horn sounded, this time from the gates of Erebor and the Orcs and trolls came to a halt, stopping their advance in confusion. In Dale, Bilbo and Gandalf heard the sound of the second horn, this one different from the Orcish horn and they looked up in surprise.
"Adaira," Bilbo said in relief as he heard the horn, knowing that the Dwarven woman was not leaving them to fight this battle alone. Suddenly the barricade of rocks in the gateway of Erebor smashed outward as it was hit from inside by a giant golden bell which tolled loudly before it drew back inside the mountain. The rocks fell forward and made a rough bridge across the moat and the Company of Thorin Oakenshield ran from the mountain and through the ranks of the Iron Hill dwarves while Azog looked on in shock.
"TO THE KING! TO THE KING!" Dain began shouting to his troops as Thorin ran point, Adaira to his right with Dwalin beside her and Fili and Kili running together at Thorin's left side.
"Du Bekâr!"(To arms!) Thorin shouted and Adaira raised her war hammer high in the air.
"Du Bekâr!" Adaira shouted, a cry that was taken up by all the Dwarves behind her as they smashed their weapons against their shields. "Baruk Khazâd!" (Axes of Dwarves!) Adaira shouted then with a grin on her face, remembering her father shouting that particular phrase several times as she was growing up.
"Khazâd ai-mênu!,"(The Dwarves are upon you!) Dwalin shouted beside her, a shout that was echoed by the Dwarven army in stereo and Adaira lowered her head as they got closer to the army of Orcs that was lined up in front of them.
Thorin led the way as all the Dwarves formed a wedge behind him and they smashed their way through the Orc ranks, releasing their pent up anger and hatred. Adaira yelled out her grief at knowing she had truly lost her father forever as she smashed her hammer into the nearest Orc's face, black blood spraying back at her and coating her face and hair. Her eyes were wild as she pushed ahead of her, rage filling her as she smashed her hammer into another Orc.
"Bekhazê ra 'aktzu zatâtîn bahâ galikh haga," (My hammer and your face will be very good friends) Adaira said as she continued to smash skulls in beside Dwalin who was laughing as he shoved his axe into Orcs beside her.
In Dale, Bilbo and Gandalf looked out at the plain from an abandoned causeway, Bilbo watching the battle in shock, not knowing why the Dwarves were suddenly fighting back with such renewed vigor, destroying the Orcs like they were nothing more than flies, driving them back across the plains. It was Gandalf who saw what he could not, spotting Thorin upon the battlefield.
"They are rallying to their king!" Gandalf said in joy as he watched the sight and Bilbo's eyes widened in surprise and he looked back to the battle, his eyes scanning over the plain as he tried to possibly spot Thorin from this distance. He could see him then in the distance, not clearly, but where the battle was thickest at the point of where the Dwarves were driving back the Orcs, that is where Thorin had to be.
On the battlefield, Nori and Ori approached one of the trolls that was on all fours and the two of them smashed their weapons down into its hands as the Orcs on its back prepared to fire the catapult. Bofur smashed it in the foot and the troll hopped around off balance and fell onto its back and the catapult went off launching the troll in the air and smashing it down on its head. Bombur used his gut to push an Orc back and Bofur and Bifur hurried in and killed the Orc before it could rise, grinning at one another before they went back to the fight.
In Dale, Bard looked around at his remaining men, of which there were only a handful of able bodied men left. With the Orcs on the plains being driven back by the Dwarves there was still a chance for them to reclaim Dale. They just needed the same courage that the Dwarves were showing out on the plains. Bard steeled his resolve before speaking, this was their home and he would fight for it until his last breath.
"Any men who want to give their last - follow me!" Bard told his men and they all followed him, charging through the city and clashing with the Orcs once more, fighting with reckless abandon now that they knew that the Dwarves were back at it.
On the battlefield, Bombur smashed an Orc with his morning star, bringing it down before he used it to jump up, smashing his legs into another Orc's stomach and kicking it away from him. He fell on the Orc he had just used as a stepping stool that was just beginning to rise back to its feet and he floundered as Bifur and Bofur ran to help him to his feet.
"Come on, Bombur. Get up!" Bofur shouted to his brother as he and Bifur grabbed one of Bombur's arms and pulled the rotund Dwarf back to his feet.
Nori found himself in a spot of trouble a little ways away from them, an Orc bringing his sword down at Nori who blocked the blow with his mace, pushing back against the Orc as Bofur bent down and grabbed an Orcish axe and threw it. It lodged itself deep in the Orc's head and Nori was able to push the Orc away from him and he grabbed the Orcish axe from the Orc's head as Ori cried for his help, a troll attacking him. Nori tossed the axe towards his brother and the axe lodged itself in the troll's head and the troll fell to its knees, dead and Ori grabbed the axe and threw it back to Bofur who caught it just in time before the blade could smack him in the head.
One of the massive trolls that was being controlled by an Orc on its back, dragging it this way and that by chains attached to hooks buried deep in its eye sockets began smashing its way across the battlefield and came close to where Thorin, Fili, and Kili were fighting together, flinging Dwarves and Orcs in the air. One of Dain's men was able to lodge a spear in the troll and it turned away from Thorin and the princes and closer to where Nori, Bofur and Bifur were fighting.
"Nori!" Dori shouted as he found his brother on the battlefield, lifting his shield over his head.
"Dori!" Nori shouted, lifting his shield too.
"Right, behind you brother!" Dori assured him as both he and Nori made a series of steps with their shields that Bofur ran and jumped up before flinging himself at the troll, landing on it's massive arm.
He managed to grab onto one of the chains and climbed up the troll and onto its back, killing the Orc that was controlling it before strapping himself into the seat on the troll's neck as the massive creature flailed about beneath him. Bofur then began steering the troll through the ranks of fleeing Orcs, laughing as the troll flung its massive maces down upon them.
In Dale, Orcs swarmed towards the men of Laketown and Bard and his soldiers met them with zeal, slaying them as Gandalf and Bilbo fought alongside them. In the Great Hall, the women, sick and injured hunkered down, listening to the sounds of fighting just outside of the doors. Having had enough of hiding, the woman who had spoken out against Alfrid by the shores of the lake grabbed a spear and turned to the others who were huddling inside in fear.
"I say we stand with our men in life and in death!" The woman said as she held her spear tightly in her hands and the others began murmuring their agreement., rising to their feet as many of the women and older men began grabbing their weapons. "Arm yourselves!" She shouted as they followed her and Bain grabbed his sword, Lyssaria instantly stopped him as she rose to her feet.
"You're staying here," She told Bain firmly, the boy looking up at her.
"No, I want to fight," Bain told her and Lyssaria laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Your Da needs you to look after your sisters," Lyssaria reminded Bain who looked to his sisters then and Lyssaria sighed. "I'm going out there. I promise you, I'll bring your Da back to you," Lyssaria told the children, Tilda and Sigrid getting to their feet and hugging her tightly and Bain finally lowered his sword and hugged her.
"Be careful," Sigrid, pleaded with Lyssaria, and she nodded.
"Be good, help those here any way you can. Bain, look after them. I'll find your Da," Lyssaria told the children as she unsheathed her swords and the children agreed.
Meanwhile, a woman spoke to an old lady who was sitting hunched over under her shawl which covered her head entirely.
"Come with us, love," The woman tried to encourage the older woman to fight.
"No, no, no! You leave an old woman be," The older woman protested in an oddly high falsetto voice.
"Don't be afraid," The woman tried to sooth her and the "woman" under the shawl suddenly stopped using the fake voice and spoke in a male voice, revealing that it was actually Alfrid, who was trying to disguise himself as an old lady.
"I said get off!" Alfrid angrily told her, pushing her off of him and the woman who was leading them and encouraging them to fight reached over and yanked off the shawl covering his head, revealing Alfrid to everyone.
"Alfrid Lickspill, you are a coward!" The woman accused him as Alfrid rose to his feet and turned to face her.
"Coward?! Not every man is brave enough to wear a corset!" Alfrid shot back at her as the woman sneered at him.
"You're not a man, you're a weasel!" The woman told him and as the others grabbed whatever tools or weapons they could find to join the battle, an urn fell over, and Alfrid saw it fall. It broke open to reveal that it was full of gold and silver coins. The women and old men ran out of the great hall and into the fight, facing the Orcs in a deadly battle in the courtyard in front of the Great Hall fighting with everything they had, standing with their men, unwilling to give in.
On the battlefield, Thorin and Adaira fought side by side, Dwalin and Adaira having gotten separated and Fili and Kili fighting together not far away. Adaira let out a yell as she smashed an Orc in the knee and then in the head, Thorin spinning around her to defeat an Orc that was sneaking up behind her.
"Dain!" Thorin called out, seeing his cousin who was not far away before another Orc approached him and Adaira and he brought his sword up to meet the Orc's as Adaira spun to protect his back with curses flying from her lips.
"Thorin!" Dain shouted back as he slew an Orc. "Hold on! I'm coming!" He added before he used a fallen Orc to jump up on another, getting his hammer around its throat. As it tried to throw him off it slew Orcs around him and finally Dain jumped off of it, slamming his hammer down into its chest while Thorin and Adaira protected one another, fighting together. "Hey cousin, what took you so long?!" Dain asked Thorin as there was suddenly a brief respite in the middle of the battle. Thorin and Dain laughed and the two hugged "Ah, and here's the self proclaimed Queen Under the Mountain," Dain said as he looked to Adiara at Thorin's side suspiciously.
"My niece and heir Adaira, Frerin's daughter. She was doing what she had to," Thorin explained to his cousin who finally nodded in understanding.
"Well lass, it's good to see yah," Dain said and he drew Adaira into a hug too. It was awkward for only a moment and then Adaira laughed before seeing the Orc sneaking up behind Dain and she broke the hug quickly, the Dwarf frowning in confusion as she slipped under his arm before braining the Orc behind him. "Not bad lass," Dain laughed before he looked at Thorin, turning serious. "There's too many of these buggars, Thorin. I hope you've got a plan," Dain told his cousin as he and Thorin, and Adaira looked around at the battle being waged around them and Thorin looked up and saw the hilltop on which Azog's wooden machines and signalling orders were, Adaira following his line of sight.
"Aye - We're going to take out their leader," Thorin answered Dain who stared up at the hilltop with a frown.
"Azog…," Dain said and Thorin strode forward and mounted a large goat that Dain's army had brought.
"I'm gonna kill that piece of filth!" Thorin angrily vowed his eyes ablaze as Adaira whistled and singled to a Dwarf who was riding another goat and he quickly came over and dismounted, offering up his goat to her. She awkwardly mounted up on the goat, wondering how in the heck she was meant to do this before settling onto its back.
"Thorin, you cannot do this," Dain told Thorin as he approached Thorin worriedly. "You're our King," Dain added as he switched his war hammer to his other hand.
"That is why I must do it," Thorin told Dain as Adaira realized Dain was right. Thorin was planning to go after Azog virtually alone. He was King of Durin's folk. It was more than just Thorin going after Azog.
"And how do you plan to fight your way single-handed to Ravenhill?" Dain inquired, gesturing to the hilltop with his hammer and behind him, Dwalin, Balin, Thrain, Fili, and Kili pulled up on a battle chariot driven by a team of goats.
"It's been awhile since I've done this," Balin announced at the reins as Dwalin looked to Adaira, a look passing between them and Adaira shook her head, Dwalin growling under his breath.
"On! To Ravenhill!" Thorin shouted as he pointed his sword towards the mountain and he spurred on his mount, Adaira kicking the sides of her goat which instantly began to bolt forward.
"Hold tight lads!" Balin shouted as he snapped the reins and followed after Thorin and Adaira.
"You're all mad bastards!" Dain shouted as the chariot moved past him and he quickly sidestepped the spinning metal attachment to the wheel. "You might make it," He added to himself as he watched the chariot begin to push through the battle. "May Durin save you all," Dain said in prayer.
Leading the charge, the chariot raced towards Ravenhill, Fili and Kili hanging off of the sides with swords ready to fight the Orcs that drew near to the sides. Thorin and Adaira bent down low in the saddle as they approached the Orcs, Thorin racing through their ranks first, the goat's horns plowing through them while Thorin used his sword to cut them down. Adaira plowed through them in the exact same spot only seconds behind Thorin, using her hammer to do the same.
As the chariot plowed through the Orcs, Dwalin used a crank system to shoot arrows at Orcs as Fili and Kili slashed and hacked at them and the metal bits attached to the wheels grinded into the Orcs. Another horn balred from Raven hill and a troll roared and began to move through the rank of Orcs, several trolls heading for the Dwarves.
"Watch out!" Kili shouted in warning as five trolls began to approach them quickly, pounding their clubs upon the ground and Balin directed the chariot over a large set of rocks, the chariot flying through the air and over the heads of the five trolls, the metal attachments to the wheels decapitating all of them as they flew overhead. Dwalin, Thrain, Fili, and Kili yelled out in joy as they watched the sight of the trolls falling down headless.
"Eyes front lads!" Balin told them, reminding them of the battle and they turned to find an even larger and more deadly looking headed straight for them. The troll tried to swipe at them and Balin hung a sharp turn, the troll missing them by mere inches.
"Hold on!" Dwalin shouted, as they were forced down a rocky incline and onto a frozen river. "I'm out," Dwalin said and Fili handed him another bolt of arrows for the crossbow contraption as the massive troll roared and began running the length of the river on the incline above them.
It jumped down onto the river behind them, breaking the ice and it forced its way towards them, continuing to break the ice just behind them. "Bring it down! Shoot it!" Dwalin shouted to Kili as they raced across the frozen lake, the troll right behind them.
"Where?!" Kili shouted as he aimed his bow at the troll.
"Aim at its jambags!" Dwalin shouted to him and Kili lowered his bow and turned back to Dwalin in frustration.
"It doesn't have any jambags!" He told the older Dwarf and as the troll lifted one of its arms to smash down on them Kili quickly turned back to the troll and shot it in the arm. It reared back, giving them time.
"Move it!" Dwlain shouted to his brother as the ice behind them continued to get smashed up by the ever approaching troll.
"Hang on lads! I'm coming!" They heard Bofur shout then as he appeared on the incline above the river with the troll that he was still controlling and he directed his troll to smash the one approaching them in the face. It's mace got caught up in its shoulder and the other troll pulled the one Bofur was on down into the river, the two trolls beginning to fight viciously with Bofur still attached to one of the troll's backs. When the other troll was pushed back from him he directed his troll to smash the other in the face with its mace.
"Bofur, you beauty!" Fili shouted back as the other troll grabbed onto the mace and flung the troll Bofur was on forward the chains on it breaking and Bofur went flying out onto the ice as the chair on the back of the troll he was on broke.
Now safe from the troll, the chariot continued down the frozen river onto to find that another troll was ahead of them, carrying a bridge that was being used to ferry Orcs back and forth over the river. The ice was broken in front of them, the troll in the river itself and Dwlain began cranking the lever of the crossbow contraption once more, sending arrows at the troll and the Orcs. The trolls turned around in anger, Orcs flying off of the bridge it was carrying as it roared.
"Come on, yah hairy hedgepig!" Dwalin shouted as he shot arrow after arrow into the troll's throat until the last went in more deeply and the troll fell backwards, tossing the Orc's on the bridge into the water. The chariot used the fallen troll to cross the water and back onto the ice as the Dwarves laughed in delight. Wargs snarled ahead of them then as they came skidding down onto the ice of the river.
"Wargs!" Kili shouted, just before the Wargs jumped on the goats taking out two of them as Orcs on Wargs descended upon them. Dwalin continued to crank the wheel, taking out the front Orc and Warg with the crossbow while Kili and Fili took out the Orcs coming up alongside them with their swords. Balin slid across the ice, pining one Warg against the rocks and spinning metal contraption attached to the wheels, but even with those Wargs down, they were not out of the woods yet.
"There's more coming!" Dwalin shouted to his brother as he looked behind them at the Wargs who were quickly gaining on them. "We're pulling too much weight," Dwlain said as he realized that with the loss of the goats, they wouldn't be able to pull the chariot for much further. "We won't make it," Dwalin told his brother knowing they wouldn't be able to make it to Ravenhill, to Thorin and Adaira in time.
"Cut the tracers," Balin told his brother who looked up at him in shock. "Ride them to Ravenhill," Balin told him and Dwalin quickly put a hand over his brother's as he realized what his brother was saying. There were only four goats remaining.
"No, Balin," Dwalin told his brother firmly.
"My goat-riding days are over." Balin told his brother with a bit of a smile on his face as he shook his head. "Adaira needs you. As does Thorin," Balin told his brother firmly as he continued to steer the chariot. "Durin be with you brother," Balin told Dwalin who gripped his arm more tightly before he, Thrain, Fili and Kili quickly walked out onto the metal beams and fought the Orcs that came alongside them before they hopped onto the goats and cut the tracers, riding away from the chariot which was now a sitting duck.
"Mahal be with you brother," Dwalin said to himself as he rode for Ravenhill, the chariot spinning completely around on the ice and Balin quickly getting behind the crank of the crossbow.
"I am too old for this!" He said to himself as he shot down the Orcs and Wargs. Dwalin, Thrain, Fili and Kili spotted Thorin and Adaira on a bridge above the frozen lake as they all finally came together once more.
"Onwards!" Thorin shouted to them and Dwalin raised his axe.
"Lead on!" He shouted to Thorin as they mounted the rocks and came to ride behind Thorin and Adaira. Thorin cutting down Orcs in front of him as they rode for Ravenhill, Dwalin once more at Adaira's side.
In Dale, Alfrid carried a bunch of silver and gold coins in the bosom of his dress. He snuck through the streets, trying to edge around the fighting, but as he moved away from where the Orcs were running down one street, he edged closer to the wall of the city, not seeing that a troll was just climbing up the wall behind him. The troll roared and Alfrid jumped and turned around, a few coins spilling from his dress and he stood still in shock before screaming in terror, not noticing Bard behind him, aiming his bow. Bard released his arrow as Alfrid turned and tripped over the hem of his dress, falling to the ground as the gold spilled from his dress, the troll falling dead behind him.
"Get up," Bard ordered Alfrid in disgust as Alfrid crawled forward, trying to collect the coins he had lost.
"Get away from me," Alfrid told Bard as he got to his knees, stuffing coins in the bosom of his dress. "I don't take orders from you. People trusted you. They listened to you. The Master's mantle was there for the taking," Alfrid said as he added more coins to his bosom before adjusting it and standing. "And you threw it all away. Boom," Alfrid said, a hand on his hips and Bard turned around to where his children and Lyssaria were standing in a doorway staring at Alfrid and Lyssaria snorted at the man who turned after he sneered and began walking away.
"Alfrid…," Bard called after the man, who stopped and turned back. "Your slip is showing," Bard told him and Alfrid readjusted his dress before hurrying off. "Lyssaria," Bard said as he turned back to his children in the doorway. "Thank you for getting them out of there," Bard told the Dwelf as he kissed the heads of his daughters. The Great Hall had been overtaken by Orcs and trolls were now in the city.
"Of course, Bard," Lyssaria said and Bard rather liked the way his name rolled off her lips.
"Get them to safety, please," Bard told the woman as she looked back at him and she hesitated for only a moment before nodding.
"I will," She promised him and Bard drew her close for only a moment, kissing her before pulling away, his children watching the exchange with wide eyes.
"Go," Bard told them and Lyssaria nodded, gathering the children together before ushering them away from the fighting that Bard was about to head back into.
On the other side of Dale, Gandalf watched as human spearmen and archers fought a massive troll that was attacking the city. One of the archers was Percy and he reached for an arrow as the troll used its massive club to fling the men through the air. Gandalf approached the troll cautiously, his hand on the top of his new staff which glowed blue and he spoke a spell the blue light on the top of the staff flaring for a moment before petering out. The spell did nothing and the troll only roared in anger, continuing to approach Gandalf.
Gandalf ducked the blow of the troll's mace repeatedly as he continued to try and fiddle with the top of his new staff. The men retreated from the attacking troll and Alfrid who had hidden himself in the net of a catapult that was hanging high up, looked out of it at Gandalf who raised his staff up and brought it down, once more nothing happening. Gandalf looked dismayed at the staff, ducking the troll's mace once more.
"Oh!" Gandalf grunted as he moved this way and that, bending down to avoid the attacking troll which was getting closer and closer to Alfrid's hiding spot.
Alfrid, seeing this screamed in terror, leaning forward as he squirmed in his net and his large, coin filled bosom popped out of the net, one coin falling onto the mechanism that would release the catapult. It bounced and then spun around on its side as Alfrid said no under his breath. Gandalf looked up at his staff, panting for breath as the troll raised his mace in the air once more. The coin stopped spinning then and clattered onto the mechanism plate fully which began to lower and Alfrid closed his eyes, getting flung through the air and right into the troll's open mouth.
Gandalf opened his mouth open wide in shock as he stared at the sight of Alfrid squirming in the troll's mouth, the troll rearing back and clutching at its throat before falling forward dead, both it and Alfrid still. A few coins tumbled from the trolls mouth as Gandalf stared down at it in surprise. Gandalf quickly moved then towards the walls of the city, another troll that was making its way towards Dale being taken down before it could enter the city and falling back on the Orcs that were behind it.
"We may yet survive this," Gandalf said to himself hopefully as he fought an Orc that approached him, Bilbo, who had been fighting in the city coming towards the wizard.
"GANDALF!" Bilbo shouted, spotting the wizard at last and after Gandalf killed the Orc he hurried over to where Bilbo was standing at the wall and watching Thorin, Adaira, Dwalin, Fili, and Kili ride up a spur of the mountain to where Azog was. "It's Thorin and Adaira!" Bilbo told the wizard, the darrowdam's red hair unmistakable even from this distance.
"And Fili, Kili, Thrain...and Dwalin. He's taking his best warriors!" Gandalf said with a slight smile on his face and Bilbo frowned in confusion.
"To do what?" Bilbo asked the wizard as Gandalf's voice took on a different tone.
"To cut the head off the snake," Gandalf answered Bilbo, his face pulled down in a deep sneer.
Atop the hill, Azog could hear the sound of goat hooves, and he snarled. Thorin and the others reached some ruins on top of the hill, killing Orcs along the way as they plowed into them first with their goats. There was a frozen river between them and where Azog was and they dismounted, Adaira jumping sideways off her goat and onto an Orc, bashing it in the head with a headbutt. She roared in anger, smashing it with her war hammer as Thorin and Dwalin joined her, the two of them grunting as they killed Orcs around her.
Fili and Kili came next, rolling off of their mounts and they closed in around Adaira, everyone lending her an extra hand if needed, though it rarely was. So lost was she in battle rage by this point that her anger helped fuel her fight. When at last the Orc's lay dead she looked upon the stone ruins and she felt fear clutch at her heart as she realized this was the place she had seen in the waters. This was the place where Thorin, Fili, and Kili died.
Third Person POV
Dale
Legolas and Tauriel arrived back in Dale together on their horse and they charged through the streets, killing Orcs on their way. Finally, they came to where Gandalf was standing, having sought out the wizard and Gandalf who had been leaning against his staff, taking a respite from the battle in the part of the city that had been won back from the Orcs, started to look over his shoulder at the sound of the hooves.
"Gandalf!" Legolas shouted from atop the horse and Gandalf's mouth fell open slightly in shock and he started towards the horse.
"Legolas... Legolas Greenleaf!" Gandalf said, Bilbo looking on in confusion as Legolas dismounted from his horse and approached the wizard.
"There is a second army! Bolg leads a force of Gundabad orcs. They are almost upon us!" Legolas informed the wizard as Tauriel dismounted from the horse as well and Gandalf's face fell.
"Gundabad…This was their plan all along," Gandalf said as Tauriel turned about in shock at the battle waging all around them. "Azog engages our forces, then Bolg seeps in from the north," Gandalf said and Bilbo started at that, knowing a thing or two about maps.
"Wha...the north...where is the north, exactly?!" Bilbo demanded of Gandalf hurriedly in fear as he set his hands upon his hips.
"Ravenhill," Gandalf answered the Hobbit reluctantly and he turned and strode over to the parapets to look at the hill where Thorin and Adaira had gone; that was Ravenhill.
"Ravenhill…Thorin and Adaira are up there! And Fili and Kili - they're all up there!" Bilbo exclaimed and at the sound of Kili's name, Tauriel was instantly alarmed. Together, they all looked out toward the top of Ravenhill, which was shrouded in mist.
Khuzdul:
Adad- Father
Mizimith- Little jewel
Inùdoy- Son
