Laurel

Chaos was erupting from every corner and crevice my eyes could take in. Orcs and other foul looking beasts stampeded with swords and weapons raised into Dale. Towards Lake Town. Towards Erebor. Sadly my conscious only cared about one thing—the figure of Kili jumping on an oddly large animal with horns with his family and riding off.

Frozen in place I watched as the creatures carried them higher and higher on the other side of the ridge, towards a cliff that stood out against the other side of the mountain with an odd familiar looking structure. Snow has already covered the ground completely, the horned animals carrying them left a trail of prints in their wake.

Something deep in the pit of my stomach churned, it brought fire to the nerves in my spine. It burned the cold out from around me. Something was not right. The feeling of my throat closing up was enough to have me beat my chest with a closed fist and cough and gasp for breath. Still my eyes never strayed as I watched the Durin's ride through the chaos of a battle field below and up higher on the other side of the valley.

On auto pilot my body moved, feet stumbling at first in the direction they left but slowly finding footing when I started to sprint. Hand reaching down I pulled out the sword at my hip and tried to take deep breaths and I ran down the gates of Erebor and closer to the frey.

"Whatever happens, stay in the mountain!" Kili's words rang in my ears, but still I ran closer to what he wanted to keep me away from.

The sword didn't feel awkward in my grip as I rose it and swung at the first orc that charged me. It felt as though it was the most natural thing I had ever done, even though I had hardly even see a sword let alone touched one mere months ago. My arms were moving in ways I wasn't consciously thinking of having them move. Maybe the one day of sword training with Thorin and Fili at the Were Bear's house was enough to get me through the day.

Blood pumping so loudly in my ears, the scream of the next attacking orc came as a whisper to me, too faint to register clearly as it hit me in the side with its arm. I went air bourne, flying through the masses about fifteen feet. The orc started to stalk me again, prepared to finish what it had started. I scrambled to my feet, raising the sword in my hands and mentally preparing to make it out of this alive.

Blood pumped masses of adrenaline through my body causing my skin to tingle with static electricity. In unison we roared at one another, my throat ragged with the sound I produced—and charged. Just as I was about to swing to parry it's own swords blow, one of the horned creatures came out of no where and rammed the orc in the side to the ground, where it proceeded to stomp on the damned ugly beast until it quit moving altogether.

Gasping for breath I watched amazed when I realized the creature was in fact a ram. Thank the Gods for the small simple things. The ram came back, approaching me and starring. Softly I reached out a hand and touched the coarse hair at its head. "Could you—" I started, "Could you take me to the cliff? Where the others went?"

"Yes."

The resounding voice came out to me. Without more hesitation I slid onto its back, amazed that it could speak and that I was riding a giant ram through a battle of orcs, elves, dwarves man and other odd creatures. It blurred together, almost as a dream that I will soon forget when I woke. I held on for dear life as the ram tore its way through the battle and towards my destination. My fingers itched to do something besides sit and watch, so my thighs clenched tight as I drew my bow and an arrow.

Five orcs met the ground after my arrow pierced their skulls as I rode. Here and there a face would appear that was familiar to me, a dwarf or a human I had met in the last few days—but we didn't stop.

At the top of the back of the cliff, I slid off the ram and found my feet again. My fingers worked into it's fur at the base of it's neck. "Thank you," I whispered, "be careful out there."

I met it's eyes. Normally I would have expected to see the square pupils of a goat, but instead I saw round human looking eyes, enlarged, gazing back at me.

"You be careful as well Laurel Took."

Turning quickly, it fled back down the side of the cliff and towards the battle. My mind was working so erratically trying to find the Durin's again that I still haven't processed the oddness of it all. Something was making me not worry about the obscure and worry about the sick feeling at the pit of my stomach.

Two figures were swinging steel back and forth to one another at the top of that building over the side of the cliff. Something achingly familiar had me crying as I charged. Even as I got closer I knew I wasn't going to find Kili fighting this orc. I knew I was going to find Fili, and I had to stop what was going to happen next.

The orc threw a blow that knocked Fili on his ass. It was going to pick him up and throw him over the cliff, somehow, I knew it. It bent down to pick up Fili who was swinging his sword menacingly, and I flung an arrow to its shoulder. On reflex it twitched to one side to see what had attacked it. It scoffed and snapped the arrow in half and rose. It kicked Fili so hard in the side he slid across the snowy plain and to the edge where I watched him slip over, but his fingers grasping at the edge.

"No!" A ragged masculine voice screamed out at the same time I did. My heart yearned at the sound, knowing without looking it was Kili. Did he see me, or was he watching his brother go over the side? The orc snapped it's head to the right of me and started to charge him instead of myself. My feet were already slapping against the ground towards where Fili fell, there was still hope.

In mere seconds his red and blood smeared face was starring up at me from dangling over the side. I braced myself on the ground as best I could and offered my hands to him. It wasn't easy and took time, but we were slowly able to pull him up over the side and panting next to me on the ground. The distant echo of steel on steel became background noise.

"Laurel," Fili gasped, "what in the Hell are you doing here?"

Kili's face flashed before my eyes.

Scrambling to get up I moved my hands to find my weapons. I had shot the last arrow at the orc who kicked Fili—the orc who was currently trying to kill the love of my life.

There was my sword and a dagger.

Fili was watching with worried eyes at the scene before us. He was slower to try and get up, flinching and hissing through his teeth as he rose, reaching for his own weapons. There wasn't much he could do in the state he was in.

My feet started to stride towards Kili and the orc. They weren't so much as moving around to swing at another. They were simply stepping forward and back one at a time. I was directly behind the orc, in the perfect position to strike. The dagger in my hands was a little heavier than I expected. It was almost obsidian black. It was gorgeous and I was hoping to kill an orc with it. Once I was twenty feet away I took a deep breath and adjusted my grip. My nerves were starting to buzz in a nervous way, fear starting to set in.

"Get a grip," I muttered to myself, "you killed a damned dragon."

At that last thought, I ran. With each pounding step my body became more and more numb. Maybe it was preparing itself for the damage it was about to endure. Maybe it was just that cold and I was just that tired I simply couldn't feel anymore.

Five feet away I lunged, dagger jabbing up and sliding into the back of the orc's head where it met the neck, just as my hips and thighs met it's back. It screetched something fierce as I started to twist the knife around in its head. Hot black blood had already started to spurt and coat my hands. In another second the body dropped down into the snow with me riding it.

Harsh panting breaths started to beat out of my chest. It was true, my body was tired and sore. Every muscle ached as I forced myself up. Kili dropped his sword and was reaching for me. "Laurel," he groaned out, "what are you doing out here? You are supposed to stay in the mountain!"

A chill started at the small of my back and rose up to the back of my neck. It isn't over. The war is not over, but something felt wrong here still.

"I-I can't explain it," I whispered. "I just felt like I needed to be here and help you. The most terrible sense of de-ja-vu I have ever encountered."

"What are you talking about," he huffed out, hands reaching around and checking every part of me for injury. "We need to find Thorin. You darling, need to go back to the mountain."

There was something stuck in my throat. It made it hard to breathe. I had to take a slow breath in and let it out slowly just to get oxygen to my lungs. "There is something wrong still," I said as my eyes raked the area. The sickness in my middle hadn't eased, hair standing up along the back of my neck and arms.

Fili had finally managed to get back to us, limping severely and panting. "I do not think I can fight like this," he sighed.

Both of the brothers started to talk about their next course of action. Deciding it was best to go back to the mountain and get Fili aid before they continue in battle. "You both go," I said, eyes still looking over the plains, "I will be right behind you."

"No," Kili's voice was stern and quick. A tone I hardly have heard him take with me before. "No Laurel. You are coming with us. I am not—"

"Kili," I screamed in frustration. "I was brought here for a reason!"

Just as the words left my mouth, I knew it to be the truth, not just something I said to appease him. I seemed to have died in my world and then brought back to the past. Something happened in the past that needed to change. For some reason I was the one that got brought back to change it. The dream I had of the brothers dying—

Gasping, I clutched at Kili's tunic. The hard metal of the mithril was underneath my fingers. It eased me some, but it wasn't the sole reason peace came so quickly. All the noise around us drowned out to static. Everything suddenly was brighter than before. The smell of the fire and blood was strong, but my skin was numb as ever. It all started to slowly piece together in my head, and all I could do was stare at the sweat, blood and soot lined face of the man in front of me. Those brown eyes lost their twinkle, they were hard and worried.

The line of Durin ended in this battle. First Fili, then Kili and finally Thorin. This war killed them and left Erebor to a fate unknown to me. My dream—though only partial—revealed everything.

"My work's not done yet," my lips trembled. "Take your brother back to the mountain. I will meet you there shortly. There is one last thing I need to do."

This is the moment I decided I would etch into my memory forever. Whether that be for the next twenty minutes, or the next twenty years. Kili's hair was slick with blood and sweat. Half of it was drawn up at one point but quite a few strands had slipped free to tickle at his face. The normal light dusting of scruff that lined his jaw was much darker and thicker than normal. It had been a while since he could tend to his beard. It was slowly growing out.

What broke my heart was the tears that glistened in his eyes and a few streaks that lined his cheeks. Even so, he was devastatingly handsome, so handsome I started to tear up myself.

"Please," his voice cracked, "please come back with us."

"I can't Kili… I'm not done yet—there is one more thing I have to do."

We pressed close and hugged tightly. Our mouths found one another for the most wet and tearful kiss I had ever had. It was also the best kiss I had ever had. It was full of love and longing. For something that may never come to be. In a quick intake of breath between our lips, my mind went blank and I could see something vividly even with my eyes shut.

I was leaned over Thorin while he sat in a chair. He was dressed beautifully, he looked like a King. The room we were in was also extravagant. Bright bold reds and purples were on the walls and carpet. The furniture was lush and expensive. I was wearing a clean simple dress. My hands were holding onto the chair and his shoulder. There was no sound, no smell or feeling to touch—but I could see tears glistening in his eyes. His mouth moved, but I couldn't read the words his was forming. Instead his hands cupped my stomach and his face pressed there as well as he looked up at me. Alive. Well. Happy.

Just as quickly as it came, it was gone.

"Please trust me," I quivered, pulling away from Kili. Trying to push the vision to the back of my mind and worry about it later.

His grasp on my clothes was tight, he didn't want me to leave his side. "I have not come this far and gone through this much to not have had a love with you," he spoke out raggedly. "Laurel Took."

Achingly familiar, yet so foreign. "Neither have I Kili, son of Vili."

Slowly we both broke into smiles. "Go," I whispered, "be careful going back."

"I love you," he murmured, stealing one last kiss before finally stepping away. "You be careful as well."

"I love you too."

After he helped take his brother and limped down the slope, I wiped the tears from my eyes and looked for my sword. It was still laying quite a ways away in the snow. It was silver, but a very light almost white silver. Not as reflective as normal silver. It was beautifully made and given to me by the elves of Rivendell. How is it through every crazy obstacle thrown at us this past journey I didn't loose it?

I wasn't meant to loose it. I was meant to use it to save the Durin's.

All my life I had given up on the idea of things happening for a reason. If that were the case, what was the reason that my father died when I was young? What was the reason for my mother going comatose and leaving me to stay with my grandmother? What was the reason for plaguing me with dreams since I was a child of a non-existent world? To what end did all these tragedies have purpose?

Even with the lack of strong reflection, I still caught a somewhat ghostly image of my vibrant green eye starring back at me through the metal of the sword. It has been such a long time since I had seen my own reflection, if only briefly—and the image grounded me. It brought everything back into startling focus. Just over the past twenty or so minutes I had felt as if I were dreaming and unable to feel in general. Now I could feel the deep ache and pain in my bones and the biting coldness eating at my fingers and toes. It came so suddenly and with ferocity I actually lost balance and fell to one knee in the snow.

There had been a reason for everything. Losing my father left me scared and feeling alone and confused. Giving me the dreams of Kili brought me happiness and yearning. Losing my mother brought me isolation. Slowly over time I came to love Kili and his world, loved them both so much it made me want to escape my own—and that's just what happened.

This sword, the reason I still had this sword is because I was meant to come here and save the life of Thorin Oakenshield, because he was meant to go great things for Middle Earth.

Newfound energy found me, helping me rise to my feet and start walking towards the other side of the clearing. The cliff we had traveled to was large, and I knew I would find Thorin and this attacker on the other side.

My feet brought me to the crest of the clearing, and it dipped down lower for me to see there was lake frozen in ice. There Thorin and the large white orc were swinging swords back at one another.

Taking one deep breath, I centered myself and my sword before charging in their direction. By the Gods, someone help me and guide me through this, because now I will need you all more than ever.

As I got closer I could see the look of surprise grace Thorin's face, and sadly it brought the distraction the orc needed to brandish his sword against Thorin's shield and throw it over to the side where he was unable to reach it. I raised my sword high to swing, aiming to take off the head of the beast. Just as my blade was going to kiss his neck, he turned and used the broadside of his sword to send me flying off to the side.

"Little halfling," it's deep distorted voice cackled as it came closer to where I laid, "you came to me. I will bath in you tonight as part of our victory."

I was finding it hard to breath even as it spoke. It had knocked the wind out of me with that blow. Maybe even cracked a rib because it hurt to even lean one way or another while trying to get up. He was still standing, goading over me while I tried to breathe or even move. Just behind him, Thorin had risen and was slowly approaching. Only his shield in his hand, no sword in sight. With as much energy and strength I could muster, I gripped my sword and raised my up arm up above my head on the ground, crying out in pain, and then flung it out and let it skid across the snow and ice—right towards Thorin.

The orc only just got to look behind him and raise his sword in defense after Thorin sliced down its back.

It cried in outrage and turned to fight back.

My chest heaved up and down with deep breaths. Everything hurt, everything was cold. Was it enough to save Thorin by giving him the sword? While they fought, I did my best to struggle up into a sitting position. Thorin seemed to be doing well, landing bloody blows here and there and using his shield to deflect the ones aimed at him. Slowly I worked to my feet, holding my side where I suspected I had a broken rib, scooting my feet closer to them to watch.

A flash of silver flew through the air and landed a few feet from Thorin—my sword.

The lump built back into my throat as I bit back a cry of pain and started to run in their direction. Thorin was on his stomach, scrambling to get to the sword as the white orc drew closer. In a sense of panic I ran between them, not knowing what it would accomplish but I had to buy Thorin time—

White hot pain like no other I had ever encountered radiated through my middle. Breath couldn't find me either. My head tilted down to see bright red—everywhere. Hot sticky blood met my fingers when they rose to touch my stomach, pressed against the steel sticking out of me. My eyes fluttered as they looked up across from me. The wide brilliant blue eyes of Thorin's met me, panic lacing his features. It lasted for only a second when he turned away from me, roaring loudly as he moved behind me. I tired the best I could to stand, but it was a loosing battle. My knees grew wobbly and weak as they fell to the icy ground.

Breath still wasn't coming to me. Instead my middle was thumping with the effort to fill my lungs but quickly retracts with no air. Blood was still steadily flowing over my hands and clothes. The snow around me looked beautiful in a devastating way with the blood coating it.

That was my blood, and there was a lot of it.

Tears started to work into my eyes. I fucked up. I fucked up in the best way possible, but this was it. Rage poured through me at myself, but with slight satisfaction because Thorin was working his way back into my line of vision. He was alive, that is what I was trying to accomplish and I did it. Maybe I didn't do it the right way, but it was done.

"Laurel," his voice waivered, "what have you done?"

The pain I had felt before was gone. Only numbness met me. I couldn't even feel the coldness anymore, or the stickiness of the blood on my fingers. "I-I saved y-you," I choked out, not realizing how hard it had been to talk.

"No child," he moaned out harshly, "you should not have s-saved me! You should have r-ran and saved yourself!"

The sight before me was one I didn't think I would ever have seen before in front of me. Just a while ago I had a vision of it, but I didn't think it was real. I didn't think I could see it in real life.

The deep blue cerulean eyes of Thorin were wet with tears. The blood vessels in the whites of his eyes were red and irritated, and tears were streaked down his cheeks and into his beard. He was sad, but he was alive.

"I c-couldn't l-l-leave you," I choked out, coughing harshly. Blood filled my mouth so strongly it made me nauseous.

"Help," Thorin's voice screamed out loudly into the air. It was the loudest I think I had ever heard anyone scream a word. Some of the birds in the nearby trees jumped and took flight, black and bold against the blue and white skies. "By the Gods and Mahal someone h-help," he screamed again, sobs leaving him. It was a little heart warming to see him so distraught over me. Especially since we didn't start off on the right foot. We had evolved together, and when I said before I saw him like a father, it wasn't a lie. I just didn't expect him to feel anything as strongly for me.

"If you let her die," his growled to the sky, "I will never forgive you Mahal! You can strike me down here and now as long as you save her damn it!"

"T-th-thorin," I whispered, feeling myself grow tired. "I l-l-love you l-like a father. I just-t want you to-to know."

He turned back to me, hands coming to gently pull my body to his chest. It was heaving erratically as he cried, oddly comforting. "And I feel as if you were the da-daughter I never had," he whimpered. "I love you as well child."

My tears came back full force as they filled my throat along with the blood, "Tell K-Kili I'm s-s-sorry. Tell him…tell him I love him more than my world and Middle Earth combined."

Breath finally came easy to me in that second, I was able to take one full deep breath. My eye lids had long grown heavy but I was fighting to keep them open. Thorin's black and grey hair was in my face, it was all I could see as the blackness started to creep into my vision.

The last thing I saw was a thick deep grey cloak as I tried to remember the warmth of Kili's lips on mine.