Thank you to: HotRanger69, Nelia-Mira, thundercracker011, China hetalia, LindaBelikov, lpsycb, Avloth, and Nelia-Mira for the new F&F. It means the world to me, you guys are awesome!

This chapter is a bit meaty and feels like absolute chaos, but everything does when you stare at it long enough. I hope that the feeling and chaos are sort of organized. Please enjoy.

Chapter 11- Courage

They took off down the hill, weapons drawn, and haste carried their feet after Gandalf. Eryn's chest was on fire, and she could barely keep up as the company ran for their lives. She'd had quite enough of running, but now they were being chased by something far worse than goblins, Wargs.

Eryn stumbled and swayed as she ran, she tried her best, but her muscles spent. Her mind was cloudy, and her limbs shook from the events that took place in the goblin cave. She had killed something. Even if it was a goblin, she had killed it, it's blood-stained her jacket and was probably elsewhere. She shook her head, trying to focus on what was unfolding around her.

Just a little more, she kept telling herself. Bombur noticed her struggle and grabbed her arm in passing, pulling her along. He offered her a hand when she had to jump and guided her to the path of least resistance. Unfortunately, in their haste, there weren't many options, but Bombur at least helped her keep up.

One of the wargs caught up with them leaping over their heads, cutting them off. It snapped its threatening teeth and growled, lunging for Bilbo, but Bilbo was ready with his sword. He stabbed it upon impact between its eyes. Eryn gave him a nod of approval as more wargs came barreling down the hill. This one was bested by Dwalin and Thorin, while Ori's hammer bludgeoned another.

They ran until they reached the edge of the cliff, trapping them. They all turned and looked at Gandalf, fear sparked in their eyes as they saw an insurmountable problem.

"Into the trees!" Gandalf demanded, "Quickly, all of you, climb!" He repeated, and the dwarves followed suit. They lunged one by one, those up first reaching out to help one another.

"Can you climb?" Bombur asked.

"I don't know," Eryn admitted. She was never good at climbing trees. "I'll try, though."

"Balin!" Bombur called up the tree. "Help her!" He knelt and linked his hands together, making a place for Eryn to step. She nodded and climbed up into his hands. He then proceeded to hoist her upward, far quicker than expected. She lunged upward, arm outstretched, trying to grab the nearest tree branch. She grasped it, clinging there for dear life. Her arms grew hot with pain, and she didn't know how much longer she could hold on. She looked down, and Bombur was already climbing the tree adjacent to the one she was on; if she fell, she was on her own. Eryn grunted, trying to lift herself.

"Take it!" a gruff voice commanded when she looked up, she saw it was Thorin outstretching a hand to her. She took it gladly, but as she did, his eyebrow shot up, almost amused.

"Not a word." Eryn groaned through gritted teeth.

Thorin hauled her up with ease, and Eryn clung to the tree trunk, watching as the onslaught of wargs approached the trees below.

As he stood with her, his body stiffened, the look in his eyes was one of disbelief and rage. "Azog." he breathed.

Eryn followed his gaze to the monstrous figure sitting atop a white warg. "What?" Eryn exclaimed, "But, Dain killed him! At the gates of Moria." Racking her brain as to what was going on. Then she remembered, there were more than just books, they made three freakin' movies. Eryn cursed.

Thorin looked at her, confusion and anger painted his face. "Dain did not kill him. I killed him..." Thorin corrected. "It cannot be," he said with a whisper, so soft Eryn almost couldn't hear.

Azog began saying something in a tongue Eryn did not know, but it caused every hair on her body to stand on end. It was purely defined as vile, causing Eryn shutter.

"Stay close, you will not be harmed," Thorin said, putting his arm around Eryn, anchoring her closer to the trunk of the tree.

"It isn't me I'm worried about." She said firmly. "He's going to bate you. Please, I'm begging you, don't go out to him!"

Thorin looked at her, war was laying siege in his mind, and it played out frantically in his eyes. "You do not command me." He proclaimed.

"I agree," Eryn sighed, stunned at his contrary nature, "But as your Adviser, I must say that it would be a hazardous move. One that could result in you being injured, or worse, dead." She pleaded diplomatically. She hadn't used the "advisor" card yet, and she wondered if it would hold any merit here, but it was worth a shot.

Azog laughed and began speaking again; whatever he said had Thorin tense, and he quickly looked at her, his jaw clenched. Azog raised his weapon, pointing it at Thorin. His voice grew, and he swung his mace over his head, signaling for the wargs to attack.

They charged, growled as they collided with the trees, biting and clawing, trying to make their way up the tree. The dwarves shouted and climbed higher and faster, trying to give as much distance as possible between them and the beasts below. Thorin gripped Eryn tighter, for which she was thankful.

The wargs climbed, and they pushed, causing the first tree to topple, hitting the tree behind it. The attack from the wargs below caused a domino effect, forcing the Dwarves to jump to the next tree as it was falling. Quicker than Eryn expected, their tree was about to be hit. She yelled and turned to jump, praying her limbs would cooperate.

"Fili!" Thorin yelled, "Catch her!"

She jumped, and a strong arm reached out, guiding her to the next tree. "Thanks, Fi," Eryn said, turning to make sure Thorin was behind her; He had made it to a branch below her. Eryn counted heads, making sure no one was left behind as the tree they were once in toppled over the side of the cliff. Eryn turned and saw they were on the very last tree, with nowhere to go; Azog laughed maniacally.

They seemed to be stranded. Everyone looked around frantically, searching for some solution. Until a blaze of fire shot out from above Eryns head, causing the ground to burst into flames.

"Fili!" Gandalf yelled, throwing him a flaming pinecone. Fili held out his pinecone to Bilbo, who had his pinecone, as well as lighting one and handing it to Eryn. They were hot, and Eryn tossed it between her hands before she got a good grip, throwing it at the ground below; she admittedly was a poor shot. One by one, they dwarves distributed flaming pinecones to each other and hurled them at the wargs.

The ground was ablaze now, and the wargs all retreated towards Azog. Some of them fled, their coats ablaze. Azog let out a roar as his horde of fiendish, distorted wolves was fled. The company gave many triumphant shouts, Eryn included.

She looked down at Thorin again, and the fire was still in his eyes, this worried her very much. It had been a very long while since she had watched the movies, and she couldn't recall how far he fell down the lunatic well. But seeing as it was Thorin, she guessed far; she did remember a pretty good beating, though.

"Fili," Eryn pleaded, "We have to stop him."

"Stop who?" He said concern overtook whatever joy he had gained.

"Thorin! I think he's going to fight Azog." She said, grabbing hold of his arm.

"How do you know this?" His eyes were overtaken now by fear.

"It's your Uncle, Fi." Eryn dodged, and he didn't seem to be buying that answer, but before he could press further, they heard a loud creak, and they began to lurch. They were falling backward.

The shouts of joy turned to cries of fear as their tree toppled backward, dangling them over the cliff. Eryn clung for dear life and gripped her eyes shut, the view below her was enough to make her entire body tense and her head to spin. Thanks to her and Fili's dumb luck, they were stationed at the front of the tree, giving them a little more of the trunk to use as leverage to hold. She reached out for Kili's hand, helping him get a better hold of the tree.

The situation was quiet, too quiet. Apart from the scattered grunt and yell, Azog was not as vocal, and that scared Eryn. She looked to Thorin, who was on her left, and saw their eyes locked. She knew the challenge in Azogs eyes as he widened them, beckoning Thorin off the ledge and when Thorin rose to stand, picking up a piece of the shattered tree on his way up; he had taken the bait.

"Thorin, that's the bait!" She screamed at him.

He looked down at her with a sideward glance, and Eryn couldn't decipher the look in his eye. Thorin Charged, his sword drawn and an oak branch in his other hand. Azog remained motionless as he beckoned him with his eyes and his arms outstretched, issuing him a challenge.

The flames licked at Thorin's heels as he charged, alone, to face Azog as he did so many years ago. This time, Azog had him right where he wanted him, and Eryn knew that. As Thorin approached, Azog's smile turned into a snarl, and he leaped off his perch, sailing over Thorin's head, but not before Azog's white warg collided with his skull.

Thorin laid there, stunned, the company yelled and cried for him to get up. After a few agonizing moments, he slowly rose and prepared himself for battle again. Azog charged, swinging his mace, and it collided with Thorin's jaw, knocking him to the ground once again. He had raised his shield just in time to take most of the force, but his jaw still took more of the impact than Eryn wanted to see.

She didn't want to see any of it, truthfully. She clung to the tree, helpless. She was silently cursing her inability to fight or do anything productive. She looked around, seeing the agony on everyone's faces. Balin cried, and Dwalin was in a fit of fury while he tried to get Bofur in a self-sustainable position.

Eryn looked to Fili, then Kili, their faces contorted with anger. Her eyes finally rested on Bilbo, who had a look she had yet to see before this day. It was then that she remembered one precious piece to this chaotic puzzle, Bilbo Baggins was going to save the day. He looked towards her, hesitance in his eyes, but there was a new passion there. One Eryn recognized as courage. She, too, had found that fire in her soul while she stumbled around in the goblin cave, and that was the greatest weapon they had. She wanted to encourage Bilbo to embrace that and carry that weight, even though it was too great. Encourage and motivate. Eryn sighed and looked to Gandalf, who gave her a firm nod. Eryn, in turn, looked at Bilbo and passed that encouragement on to him.

Bilbo got to his feet and began advancing towards the battle. The warg had picked up Thorin now in its giant jaws, biting him. It held him there, taunting the Dwarves hanging from the tree, they shouted and cried, trying to scramble to get to him. Thorin lifted his sword to strike the beast, but it failed, and the creature threw him to the ground with a great force. His body hit the stone with an audible thud.

Azog smiled and called to another orc. It smiled and dismounted its warg, sword drawn.

Bilbo drew his sword, his jaw set, and he quickly but carefully moved down the tree.

"What is he doing?" Kili asked, frantic. "He'll get himself killed!"

Eryn knew that Bilbo was more than capable, and she couldn't stand by while he did this alone. So, she did what any unstable person would do in this circumstance, and she slowly pulled herself up. "Bilbo! I'll be right behind you!" Eryn called after him.

"Have you both gone mad?!" Fili accused.

Eryn didn't bother to answer. Instead, she stood and carefully began walking down the length of the tree towards the fire. Eryn had no idea what her plan was, but Bilbo needed help; Thorin needed help. She fought a goblin! How much harder could this be? She shook her head, knowing herself to be daft at best. She looked at the fire, bouncing on the balls of her feet. She then looked to Thorin now, the orc stood above him, sword placed at his throat, it lifted its sword, and Eryn's breath caught. She was long past the point of mental preparation; this was the time for action.

Suddenly Bilbo lunged for the orc knocking him to the ground; both Thorin and Azog gasped. Eryn jumped as well, diving towards Thorin. She knelt over him, and his eyes grew wide when he saw her. Eryn looked up in time to see the orc throw Bilbo off him, rising above him, his sword raised. Just as the orc's sword came down, Bilbo shoved and swung his sword, cutting the arm of the orc atop of him. Bilbo now wrestled atop the orc and plunged his knife into its chest, killing it quickly. Azog stood shocked as to the chaos playing out before him.

Bilbo looked behind him, assessing Thorin's current status, his eyes grew wide as well when he saw Eryn was right behind him. She looked at Bilbo with respect and admiration, giving him an encouraging nod. Eryn was learning the language of "the nod" from the Durin's she guessed. He looked as if her nod said a thousand words, and he stood taller.

Azog laughed, amused by the sight before him, a hobbit and a woman. He looked between the two; his piercing eyes grew wide, giving Eryn a wicked smile. Bilbo bowed up to him, swinging his sword frantically, and Eryn reached into her jacket, removing the dagger, cutting her clavicle as she pulled it free; it hurt, but she tried to remain stoic.

Thorin groaned, and Eryn looked down at him, his eyes began to roll backward, and panic sat like a stone in her gut. She had never seen someone this injured before. Eryn had never been this wounded, though she had come close. She began firmly patting his face, "Hey, hey, Thorin? Will you look at me, please?" His eyes snapped back to attention, and he struggled to speak. "Don't say anything. I just need you to stay awake for me. Ok?" she begged, pulling him.

The wargs began to encroach upon them now, biting and snarling. Eryn braced for the onslaught of teeth, but like music to her ears, a shout of Dwarves filled the air. Fili, Kili, and Dwalin had arrived, swords drawn, turning the tide of the battle. Bilbo too jumped into action slicing the first warg that dared step into his path, but soon it was Azog in his way, and Bilbo froze a moment too long. It threw Bilbo at the foot of Eryn, clutching Thorin. Azog slowly approached them, his warg snapping its teeth and drooling at its potential meal.

Eryn raised the dagger Dwalin had given her and pointed it at Azog. "You won't touch him." She demanded, causing a wicked smile to spread across his face like a plague. She didn't know when she turned into a lunatic, but she blamed Bilbo, his courage was infectious.

This past day Eryn had thought a lot about dying. It was concerning how comfortable she was with the idea of her murder being committed by a giant White-Out Stick of war. The pain itself wasn't appealing, and it wasn't the idea of dying herself that was comfortable, It was the thought of dying for a friend that was the more powerful. She was almost joyous to be able to participate in this manner, even if it cost her everything.

The battle seemed overwhelming, and she gulped as Azog accepted her challenge, creeping closer and closer. Her thoughts were interrupted, though, but the cry of the Eagles.

They descended like a wave of chaos on the battlefield, throwing the wargs and orcs like confetti on a windy day. The company cheered and stood in awe of the scene playing out before them. The eagles threw them from the cliffs in clusters, screeching and circled back for more until those that were left retreated or thrown from the cliffs. An eagle descended and beat its wings, fanning the flames pushing the remaining orcs back. Azog stood alone on the battlefield with his few allies and growled.

Eryn saw an eagle approaching and backed away from Thorin, tucking his sword back into its sheath. "Just hang on," she murmured, "Help is here." She backed away from Thorin, and a large mahogany eagle scooped him up in its talons, sailing away. She noticed that many of the dwarves were disappearing from the scene. Some were mounted on the eagle's backs, clutching to their feathers, the less fortunate were gripped in their talons. But Eryn noticed that no matter where they sat or hung, there was an abundance of screaming.

She moved next to Bilbo now and offered him a hand, which he gladly took, but his eyes diverted to something behind her. He shook his head vigorously, and he began to mutter, "No, no, no, no…"

Eryn turned to see a brown Eagle descending upon them. She started shaking her head and waving her hands in aggressive refusal. It proved fruitless, however, because Eryn and Bilbo alike were lifted off by the eagles, both screaming like children.

The ground disappeared beneath them, and Eryn clamped her eyes shut. The wind stung her eyes, and the quick motion made her stomach churn. As they reached a safe distance, the eagles released them from their claws. Both her and Bilbo were sailing towards the ground, screaming. Eryn's stomach was in knots, and she'd had enough falling and lurching for one day, probably for life.

Another eagle soared beneath them and caught them on its back. Eryn gripped its feathers tightly, her face smooshed into the dusty surface, and she sneezed. She had forgotten how dirty birds were until one hit a window or, in this case, or if she was laying on one in this case.

They left Azog behind, and Eryn let out a sigh, although she knew that this wouldn't be the last they saw of him. She felt like she had been holding that sigh in for ages; with that exhale, she allowed herself to reflect on their previous circumstances finally, first the stone giants, then the goblin caves, lastly Azog. That was more than enough adventure for one day. She was exhausted, and now that she was allowing herself to relax, her body began to shut down. Her arms and legs felt as though they were cement, and her head was splitting. She didn't want to consider her mental state yet, the pent-up frustration and emotional turmoil coiled in her like a spring that was stretching beyond its limit. Finally, it would reach its threshold and snap, causing her mind to sway. She was already well versed in her mental stability, knew her limits, and when she could let go, this was not the time to let go. She would leave that until she was alone, whenever that may be.

She looked down at the eagle carrying Thorin and sighed, how could she have helped better? Had she done all she could? He had taken such care in assisting her and making sure she knew she was safe, and yet she couldn't even do her part and encourage him to do differently. Granted, he didn't trust her, however, so why would he take her words of advice, but she had hoped that after the stone giants, she had proved herself reliable enough. She gripped the bird tighter and felt a tear roll from the corner of her eye. She wiped it away, shocked. Bilbo saw this and leaned closer to her.

"He's going to be alright." He encouraged, but that wasn't what had Eryn in tears; it was her regret and self-obsession that made her angry.

Eryn looked to Fili and Kili, and the agony hadn't left their faces since she last saw them hanging from the tree. They yelled for Thorin, but he was asleep.

The sun began to rise over the mountains, and it split the sky like fire. Eryn shuttered, thinking about the flames dancing in Azog's cruel eyes. She stopped herself, though; she would not let something beautiful spoil by the wickedness of one vile creature. Eryn saw the sunset and instead thought of the new day it beheld. She wanted another chance to prove that she could help, she wanted another chance to save Thorin; Fili and Kili too for that matter. Eryn wanted an opportunity to change both herself and the timeline of events, but she wasn't sure how.

She rested her head on the eagle and watched as the world around her grew to light. The trees were deep green, the hills a fond yellow with wildflowers peppering its peaks. She saw waterfalls, and when the clouds thickened, it looked like a white see of candy floss. Eryn longed to reach out and touch it. She outstretched her hands and grasped at the air. To her delight, as they descended, they moved through a cloud but was quickly disappointed that it was wet and cold inside. Even so, Eryn laughed, when could she ever experience this in all her life on earth?

The jolting of their landing jostled Eryn, she sat up, looking around to assess where she was. The eagle had landed on a tall perch, one covered with straw and brush. It crouched low and looked back at her, nodding for her to dismount. She slid from the eagle, she soon recalled that she hated her legs, but the feeling seemed mutual.

Gandalf was already on the ground assessing Thorin. He called to him, but there was no answer. Eryn stood back with Bilbo while the others grew restless around Gandalf as they each dismounted their eagle, one by one they gathered around him.

Gandalf placed a hand on Thorin's forehead, and he dragged his hand over Thorin's face and chest while he whispered something inaudible to Eryn's ears. Before Gandalf even finished speaking, Thorin's eyes began to flutter, then finally opening. Gandalf heaved a sigh of relief, as did everyone else.

"Bilbo?" Thorin whispered.

"It's alright, Bilbo is here, and he is quite safe," Gandalf answered, giving a warm smile. "As is Miss Fey, you have her to thank as well, though I'm sure you weren't awake for her assistance." He looked gave Eryn an approving smile; it makes her cheeks warm. Bilbo looked more than relieved.

Thorin began to rise, Dwalin offered him a hand, and he took it. When he rose, his eyes were burning, and Eryn's narrowed at the scene about to play before her.

"You," Thorin began, stumbling like a drunk. "What were you doing? Do you know you could have gotten yourself killed?" He accused. Eryn was taken aback by the ferocity in his words; she had forgotten where this conversation ended. "Did I not say that you would be a burden and that you would not survive in the wild?" Bilbo blinked, clearly confused and hurt by the questions thrown before him. "That you were not one of us?" he finished, standing before Bilbo.

Bilbo simply looked down towards his feet, but regained his composure; he looked far more hurt than he was letting on as he swallowed audibly.

The group behind Thorin looked more than offended for Bilbo. Kili looked downright disappointed in his uncles' actions, while Fili was harder to read, though he did look as though he was about to jump to Bilbo's defense. They all did. Dwalin was turning read, and Balin was pursing his lips, his eyes glossy.

You could cut the tension with a knife, and Eryn thought the silence would never end before a tender smile broke across Thorin's face, "I have never been so wrong, in all of my life." Thorin breathed before embracing a stunned Bilbo.

The group of Dwarves cheered, "I am sorry I doubted you." Thorin looked at Bilbo now with admiration, and Bilbo heaved a sigh of relief.

"I would have doubted me too." He chuckled. "I'm not a hero or a warrior. I'm not even a burglar." Bilbo addressed Gandalf with this statement, who had a good chuckle over it.

Eryn took notice of the smile on Thorin's face and the soft tone in his eyes; he was genuinely grateful and kind towards Bilbo. It was a look she had never seen before. For lack of better words, he was beautiful, cuts and all. This was the first time Eryn had honestly looked at his face; she blushed and looked at her feet.

Then Bilbo turned to Eryn and placed a hand on his shoulder, causing Eryn to jump, she looked up slowly; hoping the blush had subsided. "I really should thank you as well. Eryn, your help was invaluable."

"I didn't do anything, Bilbo," Eryn admitted, thinking back to the events that had played out.

"That's not true at all," Bilbo began, "If you hadn't encouraged me…" He paused, trying to think of an outcome where he couldn't have been brave, but Eryn knew that just wasn't possible.

"Bilbo, you have no idea how brave you are. I promise you, if I weren't there, you would have done the same thing." She patted his hand and gave him a warm smile.

"Miss Fey," Thorin said, his voice was soft but commanding. "I have you to thank as well." Fili and Kili approached her now, placing an arm around her.

"As do we." They said, "To both of you." Eryn shrugged their arms off and chuckled, looking down at her feet.

"Miss Fey, I am beyond indebted to you for the bravery you showed towards me and my kin this past day."

"Thorin, I think we've misunderstood each other once again." Eryn looked up and searched his eyes, "We're on the same team, I want to be here, even though I didn't exactly plan on being here…" Eryn digressed but caught herself before she chased that thought down the rabbit hole. "See, this is more than just a means to get home for me. You're my friend, and I want to help you. I want to help all of you. So, please don't misunderstand. I do them because I care deeply for you, all of you." Eryn looked at everyone else now, and she saw looks of admiration adorn their faces. "You're all trying to reclaim your home, that road is long, and it's hard to carry that fire when you're walking through constant storms. Trust me, I get it," her voice grew thick, "I want to help all of you carry that fire, to encourage and motivate you, with intent to keep it alight, together." She looked downward at her shoes, embarrassed that she had spoken her mind so liberally, but she was growing fond of this new Eryn, this Eryn was becoming brave. She was also fond of the newfound sense of comradery she had with her leader.

Thorin reached out and placed both of his hands on her shoulder, and it was when he did this, she winced, forgetting that she had nearly run her body into the ground and had two injured shoulders. Thorin noticed this and looked at her with concern, "Let's get you tended to as well; your injuries look worse." He nodded towards the bloodstain on her shoulder that had increased in size, not surprising Eryn in the slighted.

As he walked with her over to Oin, she noted something that she hadn't realized before, and she had yet to have one conversation with Thorin that wasn't a question in passing, or confrontational.

Eryn tilted her head away from her bloodied shoulder so that Oin could get a better look. He pulled the neckline of her shirt away and hissed at the sight. She guessed it was terrible but wasn't sure the extent of the damage. Eryn looked and saw Thorin patiently waiting his turn, intently staring at something on his shoe. "Hey, Thorin," she called for him, he turned to look at her and hissed himself at the injury on her shoulder. "Can I talk to you?" she inquired, much to his surprise.

"About what Miss Fey?" He asked eyes narrowed.

"Anything!" She smiled and shrugged, much to Oin's disapproval. "And now that we're friends, please call me Eryn." She suggested.

Thorin's eyebrows rose playfully, and his mouth curved upwards slightly. "Very well, Eryn." He said her name slowly, seeming to inspect it for error. Eryn smiled, pleased with their progress.

This marked the start of her first cordial conversation with Thorin Oakenshield.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the flow worked.
Thanks for reading!

-B