Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
Let's get to it.
The Russian Mig: Okay, psycho. Number one, you're crazy. Number two, I'm an American and live in America, so not sure what authority you think Russia has over me. Go back to your mom's basement, psycho.
Chapter 27- Battle of the Six Armies
In the valley before the Lonely Mountain, the massive battle is raging just as fiercely as ever. However, now, things are not so hopeless for the defenders.
The arrival of the Wakandans thanks to Doctor Strange's magic had proved to be a major turning point for the defenders. With over a thousand new warriors, armed with vibranium weapons, the defenders have begun to gather momentum against the armies of Dol Guldur. By now, they've mostly separated into two forces. The Border Tribe and the Jabari, led by T'Challa himself, are assisting the Dwarves and what few Elves are still in the valley, while Okoye has led the Dora Milaje and Kingsguard into the ruins of Dale to assist the Lakemen and the rest of the Elves. Casualties are rising quickly among the armies of Dol Guldur, which is infuriating both Azog and Schmidt. However, to his greater frustration, Schmidt has no counter prepared for the Wakandans, never having anticipated an army of Wakandans.
In the ruins of Dale, Steve has moved into the city, having mostly barricaded the bridge with dead bodies to make it harder for the enemies to cross over the bridge into the city. A company of the Kingsguard have rallied behind Steve, and now, as they break into a massive courtyard, Steve sees Bucky across the courtyard, leading a company of the Lakemen against the marauding Orcs.
"Bucky!" Steve shouts as he punches an Orc's face in.
Bucky whips his head in Steve's direction and grins. "Steve!" he shouts in return.
"I'm coming, buddy!" Steve shouts before he leads the Kingsguard across the courtyard. The Kingsguard kill a number of Orcs with blasts from their spears before charging forward and attacking them at close range with their spears.
Steve reaches Bucky and laughs a bit as he embraces his friend. The two separate, big smiles on their faces. Then, Steve realizes Gandalf and Bilbo are both fighting not far from where they're standing. Steve smiles brightly, relieved that as of yet, his friends are all still alive.
Suddenly, as Steve is about to turn and engage a formation of approaching Orcs, a familiar voice to Steve shouts, "Gandalf!" Steve turns, along with Bucky, Gandalf, and Bilbo, towards the sound of the voice, and sees Legolas and Tauriel riding up on the white horse they had left on.
"Legolas. Legolas Greenleaf!" Gandalf says in surprise and greeting as he makes his way towards the two Elves.
Legolas swiftly swings off the horse and makes his way towards Gandalf. "There is a second army. Bolg leads an army of Gundabad Orcs. They are almost upon us," he informs the wizard.
"Gundabad?" Gandalf asks before it hits him and he frowns, "This was their plan all along. Azog and Schmidt engage our forces and then Bolg sweeps in from the North."
"The North? Where is the north exactly?" Bilbo asks.
"Ravenhill," Gandalf replies simply.
"Ravenhill. But Thorin is up there. And Fili and Kili, they're all up there," Bilbo says in horror.
Steve and Bucky's blood chills. Both of them know Schmidt is up there, and with a full army now approaching from that hill, they know their friends will die. Then, the two look at each other and nod.
Right then, they hear a sound of a horn. The small group realizes instantly that it's an Elven horn. Tauriel's eyes widen with horror and hurries off, determined to stop Thranduil from leaving. Legolas hurries after her a few moments later.
"I'll go warn them," Bilbo says. Gandalf and the two Avengers turn to him.
"Don't be ridiculous," Gandalf dismisses the Hobbit.
"Why not?" Bilbo asks.
"Because they will see you coming and kill you," Gandalf insists.
"No, they won't. They won't see me," Bilbo says.
"It's out of the question. I won't allow it," Gandalf responds.
"I'm not asking you to allow it, Gandalf," Bilbo responds. He smiles a bit, then turns and runs off, disappearing around the corner.
Steve then looks at gandalf and says, "Gandalf, we need to go. If those Dwarves are going to be trapped up there, let alone by Schmidt, we need to go up there. It's time for us to put an end to Schmidt for good."
Gandalf looks at the two, feeling torn by wanting to protect them but knowing they have unfinished business with Schmidt. Finally, he says, "Very well. Go. Good luck."
Steve and Bucky nod at Gandalf. Then, together, the two turn and start running through the ruins of Dale in the direction of Ravenhill, knowing they have to get there quickly.
The two men reach the bridge extending out of Dale leading towards Ravenhill. The two men continue to sprint, never once breaking pace. The two reach the other end of the bridge and immediately come to the base of the hill. Once again, without breaking pace, they begin sprinting up the pathways leading up the hill.
Down in the valley, T'Challa is still leading the Border Tribe and Jabari alongside the Dwarves. T'Challa is fighting alongside Dain, slashing his way through the Orcs surrounding them while Dain picks off the ones that get past T'Challa with his warhammer. Despite having only a few brief exchanges, the two kings have already begun develop a bit of a friendship, and a definite respect for each other.
T'Challa leaps over a troll he has just killed and slams his fist into the ground, dispelling all the kinetic energy built up in his suit and throwing a number of Orcs in all directions. As he stands back up, he sees an Orc running towards him, only for M'Baku to come out of nowhere and knock the Orc's legs out from under it and stabbing his wooden spear into its face, killing it. M'Baku then looks at T'Challa and says, "It is good to see you alive, friend."
"Thank you for coming, M'Baku," T'Challa says, shaking hands with M'Baku.
As the two prepare to return to the fighting, M'Baku spots Steve and Bucky running up the hill. He points in their direction and says, "T'Challa, are those your friends?"
T'Challa looks in the direction M'Baku is pointing. Immediately, he recognizes Steve and Bucky. He realizes instantly that they are going to assist Thorin. He feels a wish to go and help them, but knows his people need him to lead them in the battle. Therefore, he gives them a mental wish of good luck before he returns to the fight.
In the city, Okoye is still leading the Kingsguard and Dora Milaje against the Orcs in the city. With a fierce war cry, she drives her vibranium spear into an Orc's chest and through the chest of an Orc behind it. She then yanks it out and rushes past the dead Orcs.
As she does, Okoye sees Bard leading a company of Lakemen against a phalanx of Orcs. Okoye lets out a fierce war cry and charges towards Bard to help reinforce him, the Dora Milaje following behind her. Okoye spears three Orcs in her path before she reaches Bard.
Bard spots Okoye coming as she spears the final Orc between the two of them. He watches her in awe at her fighting skill. Okoye looks at Bard in silence for a moment before she asks, "Are you in command here?"
"I am the leader of the Lakemen. Who are you?" Bard asks warily.
"I am Okoye, General of Wakanda. My king, T'Challa, sent us here to assist you," Okoye says formally.
Bard feels a wave of relief and awe as he realizes these people are from Wakanda. "You are most welcome here. I look forward to making your acquaintance more fully after this battle," Bard says before having to turn and hack down an Orc. Okoye smiles a bit at Bard's warrior spirit and lunges back into the fray.
As Dora Milaje join the Lakemen in the fight, atop Ravenhill, Steve and Bucky are finally reaching the summit. As they reach a small outpost across the river from the main fortress, Steve and Bucky see Thorin and Dwalin ahead of them, with Bilbo just appearing and trying to talk to them.
"Thorin!" the two men shout!
Thorin turns to see them, and looks relieved. "My friends! I am most glad to see you!" he says in relief.
"Thorin, you need to get out of here. Azog not only has another army coming from the north, but there is someone else in that tower. My old enemy, Johann Schmidt, the Red Skull. He's somehow come to this world, and he's the one truly in command of this army," Steve says.
Thorin looks at Steve in shock and a bit of horror. Dwalin, not entirely convinced they can't still deal with Azog and Schmidt, says, "We are so close. THose scum are in there. We can…"
Thorin, however, cuts off Dwalin, the truth dawning on him. "No. That's what they want. This is a trap," he says.
Right then, they begin to hear some drums beating from the direction of the ruined fort. The five of them looks at the fort, and see torch light coming from a few passageways. As the five look at the fort's upper levels, they see movement through the mist. Then, side by side, Schmidt and Azog emerge from the mist. Azog is holding Fili, who is bruised and bleeding, by the back of his armor.
Thorin feels fear for his nephew's safet flood his heart. But for Steve and Bucky, their emotions are far different as they finally see their old enemy for the first time since 1945. Anger, shock, and a flood of other emotions surge through them, as well as a determination to see him dead for good.
Speaking Black Speech, Azog shouts across the river to Thorin and his friends, "This one dies first. Then the brother. Then you, Oakenshield. You will die last."
Everyone stares at what is happening, knowing they can't do anything to stop it. Fili, desperate to at least save his kin and friends, shouts, "Run!" Right before Azog plunges the blade implanted in his arm into Fili's back. Thorin lets out a gasp out of grief as he watches this. Schmidt chuckles at Thorin's reaction as Azog shouts, "Here ends your filthy bloodline," and drops Fili's body, letting it fall to the ground below.
Unfortunately, Fili's body lands right in front of Kili, who had emerged from the base of the fort moments earlier. Kili stares at the body of his brother in shock and horror before overwhelming rage swamps him and he races out of his hiding spot, running up the side of the fort, determined to get to Azog and take revenge for his brother.
"Kili, no!" Thorin shouts as he sees Kili. Knowing his nephew's anger will get him killed if he doesn't have help, Thorin starts to sprint across the river as fast as the ice will let him. Azog and Schmidt smirk and turn back into the fort, heading to receive their next guest.
"Thorin!" Steve shouts, and he starts to run after Thorin after a few seconds.
Behind him, Bucky knows he needs to follow Steve. He turns around to Dwalin and Bilbo and says, "I need to go with Steve. Stay here and stay safe, you two." He then turns and runs after Steve.
Thorin reaches the fort first and starts climbing up the stairs leading into it, disappearing into the fort in seconds. Steve reaches the fort a few seconds later. Not seeing Thorin, he starts rushing up the stairs and picks a passage. Unfortunately, not the way Thorin went. Bucky makes the same mistake a few seconds later, going a third way.
As Steve ascends the fort, he suddenly hears a roar and a sound of clashing metal from close by. Steve knows instantly that it must be Thorin and Azog engaging each other once more. However, as he turns his head around to try and figure out exactly which direction the sound is coming from, he hears something coming at him from one side. Steve whips around, bringing his gauntlets up. He only has time to register someone coming at him and a sword swinging down towards him before he has to bring his gauntlets up to block the sound. The sword strikes his gauntlets, the sound of the impact sounding all around them.
Trying to hold back the sword, Steve realizes the strength of his enemy. A second later, Steve recognizes his enemy, even despite the war-helm. The skull like shape of the helm is a bit of a giveaway, not even counting him seeing the red skin through the holes.
"Schmidt," Steve growls in anger.
"A pleasure to see you once more, Captain," Schmidt responds before pulling his sword back and then slashing at Steve's waist. Steve blocks it with one of his gauntlets and responds with a punch aimed at Schmidt's chest, but Schmidt deflects it and sends Steve flying into a wall with a kick. He then draws a knife from his belt and throws it at Steve, but Steve blocks it with one of his gauntlets.
Seeing Schmidt coming at him, Steve grabs a chunk of rubble a foot from him and throws it at Schmidt's head. Schmidt blocks it with his sword, but it gives Steve enough time to lunge at Schmidt, tackling him to the ground. Pinning Schmidt to the ground, he drives his gauntlet towards Schmidt's face. Schmidt's helm protects Schmidt from any injury, but the helm is ruined.
Steve goes in for another blow, but Schmidt manages to get a hold of Steve's leg and throw him off. Schmidt quickly grabs his sword and scrambles to his feet as Steve regains his feet. Schmidt angrily tears off his damaged helm and says, "I prefer this. Now you will truly see my face as I kill you."
"You can try," Steve says, clenching his fists, and the two rush each other again.
A short distance away in the fort, Bucky, who is now holding Anguirel, hears the sounds of Steve engaging in battle against Schmidt. He whips around, shouting, "Steve!" However, seconds later, a number of large Orcs pour out of a passageway, forcing Bucky into a fight of his own.
As Bucky engages the Orcs, Steve is still fighting tooth and nail against Schmidt. Steve dips under a slash from Schmidt's sword and does a kick towards Schmidt's knee. As Schmidt collapses to one knee, Steve kicks him in the chest, knocking him onto his back, but Schmidt rolls out of the way as Steve tries to drive his gauntlet at Schmidt's chest. He kicks Steve aside before he regains his feet.
As Schmidt and Steve prepare to engage again, a number of Orcs swarm out of the ruins to attack Steve, realizing he can't afford to enage Schmidt and Orcs, Steve does a running jump at Schmidt, leaping over his sword, and kicking him in the face, knocking Schmidt falling down a pit next to them. Steve knows Schmidt won't die, but will at least be separated from him long enough for Steve to deal with the Orcs.
Steve ducks under an axe blow from an Orc, then kills it with a jab to the throat. Steve grabs its axe and turns to face another Orc charging at him. With a single downward swipe, Steve cleaves open the orc's head with the axe and kicks its corpse away. Steve dodges a slash from another Orc, grabs it by the head, and throws it through a wall.
Another Orc charges at Steve. But, as Steve is about to attack it, a black sword blade sprouts from its chest. As it collapses, it reveals Bucky behind it, sword in hand.
"Buck!" Steve says in relief before turning to face another Orc and punching its face in with his gauntlet. Bucky beheads another Orc with Anguirel.
"Where's Schmidt?" Bucky asks as he and Steve stand back to back.
"I knocked him down that pit. But he'll be back soon enough," Steve says before attacking an approaching Orc, punching it so hard in the chest he caves its chest in.
"Let's get to the summit of the fort. Better to face him there," Bucky says.
"Agreed. Let's go," Steve insists. The two kill the final Orc in the little opening they are standing in, and then start rushing through the fort, trying to get up to the summit of the fort.
Steve and Bucky reach the top of the fort in relatively short time. As they get to the top, they look down on the frozen river and waterfall beside the fort. Immediately, they see Thorin down there, lying at the edge of the waterfall. Below them, on a fallen tower across the chasm, they can see Legolas fighting with Bolg. As they watch, Legolas, having a temporary reprieve from Bolg, throws Orcrist up to kill an Orc trying to kill Thorin, allowing Thorin to claim the sword. As soon as that happens, Bolg surges up to re-engage Legolas, who draws his knives and continues the fight.
Thorin regains his feet, and right then, the two men see Azog a distance away from Thorin on the ice. However, as Thorin is about to try and make his way towards Azog, a loud horn sounds, and an army appears on the horizon. The army from Gundabad.
Then, they hear footsteps approaching. The two turn towards the sound of the footsteps, and a second later, they see Schmidt ascending a set of steps leading onto the top of the fort, his sword in his hand.
Bucky and Steve both glare angrily at Schmidt and ready their weapons. Then, with a war cry, Steve charges at Schmidt.
Schmidt stabs right at Steve's chest, but Steve deflects it with his gauntlets. He then jumps up and tries to kick Schmidt in the face, but Schmidt grabs his leg and tosses him aside. However, Bucky immediately rushes up to take his place. Bucky slashes at Schmidt's neck, but Schmidt blocks it, their swords clashing with a loud clang. Bucky immediately follows up with a slash at his left knee, but Schmidt again blocks it. The two exchange a flurry of blows, each blocking every blow aimed at them. Then, Steve charges in and punches Schmidt in the side, knocking him back. Schmidt stumbles back into a wall.
Schmidt slowly regains his feet. However, as he is about to engage them, he sees something behind them and stops short. Steve and Bucky see the look on his face and turn around, and all three of them watch in shock as several dozen of the Great Eagles out of the morning clouds. The Eagles fly overhead, their piercing cries sounding through the valley, and fly towards the approaching army. The Eagles fly down and attack the army, tearing up hundreds of orcs with their massive talons. Then, to their surprise, a figure falls away from one of the Eagles. A figure they realize a few seconds later is Beorn as he transforms into his bear form. Beorn lands on the ground, fully transformed, and lunges into the Orcs, tearing through them like a knife through soft butter.
Still in awe at the sight of the Eagles and their arrival, Steve and Bucky refocus on the task at hand. Steve charges towards Schmidt, punching right at the center of his chest. Schmidt blocks it with his sword, then slashes at Steve's shoulder. Steve ducks and rolls, then tries to kick Schmidt's legs out from under him as Bucky charges at him. Schmidt leaps back to avoid Steve's kick, then stabs at Bucky before Bucky can reach him. Bucky deflects the blow with Anguirel, then slashes at Schmidt's waist. Schmidt easily blocks it with his own sword and then crosses blades with Bucky.
Bucky and Schmidt struggle against each other, trying to force the other back. Then, Steve charges in, aiming a blow at Schmidt's hip. Schmidt tries to block it, but misses doing so by a millimeter. Steve's gauntlet hits Schmidt in the hip, forcing him to stumble back. Bucky tries to slash at Schmidt's neck, but Schmidt ducks and avoids the blade, then slashes at Steve's leg, opening a small cut on Steve's leg.
Steve growls a bit in pain, but lunges at Schmidt, tackling him to the ground. Steve punches Schmidt several times, breaking what nose he still has before Schmidt manages to roll Steve off of him and then punching him in the face. However, Bucky kicks Schmidt off of his friend, then lunges forward to drive his sword at Schmidt's head. However, Schmidt manages to deflect it with his bracers, but with the result of a dent in his armor.
Schmidt grabs a rock off the ground and slams it against Bucky's side, forcing Bucky back from the pain. Schmidt then tries to draw another knife and stab at Steve, but Steve grasps his wrist, twisting the knife out of Schmidt's hand, then driving the knife through a gap in Schmidt's armor in his lower stomach.
Schmidt cries out angrily from the pain, then punching Steve in the face. He then swings his body around, kicking Steve away from him. However, Bucky steps in and stabs his sword down at Schmidt. Schmidt just manages to roll out of the way. Then, as he tries to get to his feet, Bucky tries stabbing at him again. This time, Schmidt is not able to react fast enough, stabbing slightly into the flesh of his leg through a gap in his armor.
Schmidt shouts, but raises his sword to block another blow from Bucky. He kicks Bucky away, but Steve charges him and throws a punch at his head. Schmidt blocks it and tries to slash at Steve with his sword, but Steve blocks it with his gauntlets. Schmidt tries three more slashes at his enemy, but Steve blocks every blow. He then jumps up and vaults off a fallen piece of rubble, grabbing Schmidt around the head and throwing him into a wall.
Schmidt scrambles back to his feet, and Bucky rushes him. Schmidt manages to raise his sword just in time to block Anguirel, and the two cross blades again.
Bucky and Schmidt struggle a bit, jostling around as they try to overpower each other. As they do, Schmidt snarls, "You are nothing, Barnes. You will fall before me, because I have the might of Lord Sauron on my side."
Barnes smirks. "But I'm an Avenger. And I'm not alone," he says. He then kicks Schmidt's knee before using Anguirel to twist Schmidt's sword out of his hand, but dropping Anguirel in the process.
Steve then rushes forward, and he and Bucky begin throwing punch after punch at Schmidt, battering him again and again. Schmidt manages to throw a punch at Bucky, knocking him back, but Steve then lunges at him, grappling with him.
The two men look each other right in the eyes, hate for each other evident in their gaze. Schmidt growls, "Your body is far beyond the normal human thanks to the serum, Captain. Mine once was, but I am now even more. I am imbued with power given to me by Sauron himself, and the sorcery I have learned on my own. You are nothing compared to me, Captain. I will beat you down with my bare fists."
Steve smirks. "I can do this all day," he says. He then kicks Schmidt in the knee before driving his knee into Schmidt's stomach. Schmidt's armor mostly protects him, but still slightly winds him.
"And unlike you, I have something worth fighting for. And that is why I'll always beat you, Schmidt," Steve says before punching Schmidt in the chest, knocking him stumbling back. Steve firms his face as he says, "Time to finally send you to hell, Schmidt." He then takes a running start at Schmidt, launches himself into the air, and drives his foot into the middle of Schmidt's chest. The fierceness of the kick knocks Schmidt flying off the top of the fort and off the side. Steve and Bucky watch him go tumbling down the fort before rolling off the edge of the hill. Steve and Bucky watch, listening to Schmidt yelling the whole way, before Schmidt hits the ice at the base of the waterfall, breaking right through it and disappearing from sight into the water below.
The two walk to the edge of the fort, looking below them to the spot where Schmidt crashed through the ice. They watch, but see no sign of Schmidt for over a minute.
Finally, Steve says, "That may have done it. I think we finally beat him."
Bucky slowly nods, hoping they're right. Then, he remembers something. "Thorin!"
The two turn towards the frozen river, and see a sight that horrifies them. Azog is lying dead on the ice, the ice around him stained black from his blood. A few feet from him, Thorin is lying on his back.
"Thorin!" the two shout, fearing for their friend. Steve and Bucky race down through the fort, trying desperately to reach their friend.
It takes them less than a minute to reach Thorin. By that point, Bilbo has also reached them.
"Thorin!" Steve says again as he and Bucky drop to one knee beside Thorin.
Thorin looks at Steve and Bucky, coughing harshly. "My friends. I am glad to see you, before the end," he says.
"No, Thorin. You're not going anywhere," Steve says.
"YOu don't have to lie to me. I know my time is at an end, Steve," Thorin says. He then looks between him and Bucky and says, "I hope you know my actions at the Gate are not my true self. I was sick then. But now I see. I would take back all the words I said about you two, and T'Challa. Please tell him I would beg his forgiveness. I wish to part with all of you in friendship."
Steve and Bucky feel tears coming to their eyes. Then, Thorin says, "I pray, somebody, we may meet again." Then, he looks up, and finally takes his last breath.
Steve and Bucky stare down at Thorin's body, then bow their heads in reverence. Tears come to their eyes, knowing their friend is gone. The battle, they know is won. But to them, it's not a true victory. For they have lost their friend, and Middle Earth has lost a great individual.
And, I'll end there. Hope you liked this chapter. I hope you liked the action sequences.
I hope you especially liked the fights of Steve and Bucky with Schmidt. I tried to do it as much justice as I could.
Now, the story will begin to wind down. There will be at least two, maybe three, chapters left in this story. For now, until the next update, please leave a review and stay tuned!
