Kili

The erratic beating in my chest did not still. Breath was coming and going so quickly I was sure to faint if I did not slow. Throughout all the mayhem I worried for Laurel. I did not see her while we were being corralled before the Great Goblin, nor did I see her as we fought our way out of the mountain and into the sunlight.

"Five, six, seven, eight…Bifur, Bofur…that will be ten… Fili, Kili….that will make thirteen. Where is our hobbit," Gandalf called strongly through the small meadow we were in.

"Where is Laurel," I gasped, eyes still scanning the surrounding area in hopes of seeing her.

"Damn the halflings! Now they are lost," Dwalin yelled in anger.

"Where did anyone last see them," Gandalf asked.

"In the cave," Thorin muttered darkly. "They were both long lost since they joined us in this journey. Master Baggins saw his chance and he took it! He's thought of nothing but his soft bed and his warm hearth since he stepped out of his door!

"As for Miss Took," he chuckled darkly, "he sought to take her with him, for company. He knew as well as all of us, neither of them belonged here. They are long gone."

Rage filled me to the brim, almost bubbling out over the edges and steam leaving my ears in earnest. Just as I meant to take one step forward, Fili firmly grabbed my shoulder to hold me back. A subtle shake of his head kept me in check.

"No they aren't."

We all turned to see Bilbo standing before us, covered in dirt and looking just as tired as we. Just behind him Laurel stood holding her side and breathing heavily. A sigh of relief left me, peace finding me soon after. I could not beat the smile off my face. She sure was able to take care of herself. In seconds I was embracing her, holding her close and breathing in her familiar floral scent.

"Bilbo Baggins and Laurel Took! I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life," Gandalf beamed down at them.

With Laurel still in my arms I murmured softly for her to hear, "Neither have I. Thought they had captured you."

Fili chuckled and patted Bilbo on the back before offering a soft squeeze to Laurel's shoulder, "How on earth did you get past the goblins?"

"What does it matter? They are both back unscathed," Gandalf chuckled, trying to ease the tension.

I spared a glance at uncle, only to confirm my suspicion of his anger. If he had it his way neither Laurel nor Bilbo would be here, and he did not like my ease of relationship with the woman.

"It matters," Thorin bellowed, "I want to know, why did you both come back?"

Bilbo planted his hands on his hips as he rocked back and forth on his feet. "Look, I will not act as if I do not know your true feelings for me. You have clearly voiced them from the start. It is true that I miss Bag End. I do miss my hearth and my books, my armchair and my garden. That's where I belong. That's home.

"That is why I came back, cause you don't have one, a home. It was taken from you unrightfully. But if I can help you take it back, I will. And Laurel," he gently grabbed her elbow to bring her forward to Thorin's eyes, "helped me realize this. She may be human, elvish, and part Hobbit, but she doesn't dare act as if she is truly a burden. She did not ask to be thrown into this mess, she merely appeared. She was determined to find you all, not just Kili. I know I am grateful for her, because if she were not here we might all have been in someone's supper. If anything she is loyal."

With each word every dwarf dropped their head in shame. It was truthful, the words he spoke. I also had my doubts about the small Hobbit. What he spoke of Laurel made my heart light, she was someone to be grateful for.

A familiar howl caught in the wind, sliding down the mountain a little close for comfort.

"Out of the frying pan," Thorin muttered.

"…and into the fire! Run," Gandalf yelled.

Suddenly everyone was moving with one another, darting down the mountain as fast as we could. I clutched Laurel's small hand within my own to pull her along with me. The running seemed to go on for ages, and at times I had to urge her to keep running.

"Kili," she whined, "I can't go on, my legs are liable to break."

At the back of the company we lagged behind. "We cannot stop," I urged, pushing her forward evermore. "We will be killed. Keep running, I will not be parted from you again."

Overtime the sun started to set. When the moon took over the sky is when the first warg jumped into our sights. It snapped its jaws at Bilbo, but he was quick to put his sword up in defense. The beast lunged right into the blade and sagged with death. Laurel snatched her hand back to pull her own sword out for battle. There was no choice but to keep running. Unfortunately our journey of escape came to an end as we approached a cliff.

"Up into the trees," Gandalf roared over the oncoming wargs cries.

I watched marveled as Laurel sheathed her sword and ran up the tree, where she grasped the branch and lifted herself into the safety above. I followed her into the same tree. My eyes sought out Fili in the tree next over to us, my spirit resting slightly knowing my brother was somewhat safe as well.

In moments the pack of wargs and orcs alike were upon us below.

The largest white warg had a pale white orc on its back, the sight causing an eerie feeling to settle in my spine.

Uncle's voice bellowed from another tree, outraged, "Azog!?"

Azog laughed, showing off his arm covered in blade, "Do you smell it? That is the smell of fear. I remember your father reeked of it, Thorin son of Thrain."

The orcs eyes raked over all the trees, nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air. He pointed to uncle and then to my tree, "Spare the female and son of Thrain. They are mine. Kill the others!"

I could smell my own fear at his words. All the wargs jumped to life, scrabbling at the trees to attempt to climb higher into them to reach us. The one we were in started to shake and bend. A small scream escaped Laurel as we slowly were falling sideways still in the tree. When I looked down I saw that it was the tree that was being pushed and uprooted. "You have to jump into the next tree," I yelled. Her hesitance angered me, so I did not hesitate myself to snag her up into my arms. "Fili," I bellowed capturing his attention.

"Sorry little doe," I whispered. Without a response I threw her in the air towards my brother, following her moments after. Once I was in the next tree I could see the previous on the ground covered in wargs. It started all over again with the tree we were in. Laurel did not hesitate to jump this time. The process repeated itself until we were in the last tree in the cliff with the entire company.

A ball of fire flew from above and landed in an explosion in the mist of wargs. Laurel laughed, and I watched as she caught what seemed to be a pine cone on fire. Taking stance on the branch she threw the cone right at Azog's warg, hitting it in the eyes. It wailed and flailed it's head back and forth. Soon more fire cones flew through the air and into the battlefield below. Shortly after our cheers of success we were crying out as the tree started to fall towards the edge of the cliff. Some dwarves were trying hard to hold on with Gandalf's assistance.

Thorin rose from the base of the tree, drawing his sword as he approached Azog. With a familiar battle cry he stormed the ground right at his enemy, who was welcoming him with open arms. Once he was upon Azog, Thorin rose his sword high, only to have it knocked from his hand. My throat closed, breath not finding me.

Next his shield flew from his grasp to scatter against the cliff floor. Uncle was then hit forcefully in the face with Azog's large menacing mace, throwing him to the ground. The white warg snatched uncle on command, snapping him back and forth like a rag doll. He was flung onto the edge of the cliff.

"Bring me his head," Azog sneered.

Ice filled my chest once more.

"No," Laurel whispered suddenly standing. Instinctively my hand tried to find hers and pull her back down, but she snatched it away. Suddenly her lips were on my own for a brief moment, "I'm so sorry Kili."

Before I could try to comprehend what was happening she was up and jumping down the trunk of the tree with her bow brandished. Her arrow finding the head of an orc stepping forward towards Thorin. Heart pounding erratically in my chest I rose to follow her, watching as Bilbo did the same.

Quickly she threw her bow back over her shoulders to grasp her sword and swing it out as she stood over Thorin. The orc she just killed lay at her feet as more started to close in. "If you want his head," she growled fiercely, "you will have to have mine first."

Azog laughed, pointing his bladed arm at her, "Leave her for me. She is fierce. I will break her."

A roar tore itself from my throat at his words. My own sword out, I sliced everything in my path warg and orc alike. In efforts to reach her I had to take my eyes of off her.

Soon I could hear the cheers of other dwarves that rose to the challenge. There was fire on the cliff side, screams and hollers of pain and battle. All I could think of was killing as many monsters as I could so I could reach Laurel and help her.

The caw of a bird drew my attention behind us. Dori and Ori had slipped from the grasp of Gandalf, but were soaring into the night sky on the back of an eagle. A hoarse laugh escaped me while I watched members of the company one by one run to eagles. One snatched me out of the air with it's claws. My eye searched for my fiery haired Laurel, watching as she heaved Throin into the grasp of the claws of another eagle. She turned and slashed at yet another orc. When I looked around, there were no more eagles turning around for her, just the last lone eagle waiting for Bilbo to scramble onto it's back.

No. She could not be left behind. As we flew farther away my heart ached at the sight. The eagle Bilbo was one rose into the air away from the cliff, to dive and circle around again. Laurel sheathed her sword, sprinting with speed I've never seen her use to launch herself off the cliff and onto the back of the eagle that circled back.

A cheer left me full heartedly, soon the majority of the company following my lead.

Time passed as we road on the backs of our saviors. I thought about everything that just transpired. Even with all the negative things that uncle uttered about Laurel, she stepped to defend him. She could have died.

Finally the eagles started to land on another mountain side. Fili grabbed me by the shoulders and embraced me before ushering me over to Thorin. We leaned over him as Gandalf whispered something to our unconscious uncle. In moments his eyes were opened, trying to get up on his elbows.

"Where is she," he muttered, groaning as he rose to his feet. We all turned to find her slipping off of the back of the large bird onto her knees. Even with the long ride she was panting and trying to get to her feet. Thorin stormed over to her, starring down with a fury in his eyes.

"I said you do not belong amongst us," he muttered. "Why did you jump to become my shield?"

Laurel sighed, pressing her hands into the earth and breathing softly. "Without you," she whispered, "none of these dwarves would stand a chance completing this journey. You're they're leader. I am not essential to this mission, I can offer a sacrifice for someone who is important. Whether he likes me or not."

How could she think that? Though she is not important to the journey she has offered amazing aid to it. Not to mention she is important to me. If something had happened to her in that fight just now I do not know how I would have moved on.

Thorin offered both his hands to her, in which she accepted, letting him lift her to her feet. Though his hands did not leave her, he placed each on each of her shoulders, "Thank you Lady Laurel. For your actions I am within your debt. You and Master Baggins both will be welcome in the halls of Erebor to come and go as you please. I was wrong, you do belong amongst us."

I was almost horrified to see him embrace her in a tight hug. Laurel awkwardly hugged him back. It was the most compassion I have seen uncle bestow upon anyone in ages. When he released her, she walked towards me with purpose, throwing her arms around me in another embrace. My hands found their way into her locks, squeezing the softness and pressing my nose into her hair once more. "You did well," I whispered, "just do not leave me like that again."

The softness of her cheek traveled across my rough chin, where I felt the softness of her lips press to my jaw.

The urge to pull her closer and kiss her properly raged in my veins, but died as Bilbo jumped quickly. "We need to keep moving. They will have gained closer on us by now," he whispered.