These mountains were infested with the stench of goblin and there were numerous nooks and crannies in which they would crawl out of in the night. I found one suitable for my size before sliding down, remaining silent and sure footed as my bow remained ready in my left hand as I found my way through the darkened tunnel until it emerged onto a rudimentary rampart that looked crude and poorly built. "Disgusting goblins." I mused quietly as I glanced around, noticing that all goblins were gathered at the centre of the underground city where I saw the most grotesque creature imaginable.
The goblin king was more than thrice the size of a man with a fleshy neck that flapped with every word he spoke, spotted with boils and warts as the oversized hulk of his body threatened to break through the boardwalks under his feet. With an expression of revulsion I turned my head away, hurrying forwards as I took one of the tunnels to make my way through unnoticed. I knew that Mithrandir would appear at any moment to free the dwarves, so I continued my own path as I heard the sudden burst of furiousness from the goblin king, demanding the heads of every dwarf. An arrow quickly found its way to my bowstring as I stepped out upon a ledge with a good view of everything that occurred. From the flash of light to Mithrandir's bellowing voice calling upon the dwarves, I watched as they fought their way through the goblin hoard, the repulsive king falling over the edge of his throne and disappearing into the chasm. Lifting my bow I aimed for one of the oil lamps that flickered above the walkways, releasing upon my exhale and the arrowhead pierced through the twine that held it aloft.
Silently the lamp fell as I shot down two more and upon impact with the walkway, the oil exploded into flame and burned over the wooden boards, cutting off the goblins that were attempting to follow the fleeing company and were crawling out from various holes from which they seemed to spawn. Brilliant flames burned a deep red in the murky darkness of the goblin kingdom, the screeches of the creatures ringing in my ears as I then took a leap, using the rope of one of the floating ledges to swing down and arch over the flames with ease, summersaulting through the air to land gracefully on my feet before I landed at the centre of the trapped goblins.
They shrieked in shock and alarm, leaping back from fright but before they could recover my blade was pulled from my scabbard and with the blade glowing a shimmering blue, I began to slice my way through them, wetting the sword with its first taste of blood. They fell one after the other, forming a circle of bodies around my feet though with their number only being a score and ten at most, they fell easily and the rest were forced to retreat back into their holes away from the flames that were beginning to eat their way through the old wood. My goal was the hoard of items that had been stolen from the dwarves and as my blade sang with each slice and swing, I moved towards it with my intentions clear.
Haldir's teachings murmured through my mind as I used my blade to full effect, surprised by the relative ease of how I cut down my opponents without feeling any remorse for their corrupted souls. They were evil creatures, however if they chose to run from me I did not pursue them. Eventually they had sense to fall back, baring their fangs and hissing angrily as they attempted to regroup, however with that brief moment of rest I swooped down and picked up the key of Erebor, the cord that had held it around Thorin's neck broken from where it was ripped away from him. Also there lay Oin's hearing trumpet, squashed and flattened under foot so I retrieved this also and tucked both into my garments, ensuring that they were safe before I then turned and rushed towards the flames, the goblins following with unearthly shrieks but when I vaulted over the flames they stopped, fearful of its hot bite as they parted their heated veil for me before closing once more, allowing me to land on the other side and take off once more.
All focus was turned towards the dwarves as I ran upon abandoned walkways, my steps quick and careful as I returned to using my bow. My visions guided me, eyes momentarily clouding over as I saw the way to go before I followed its direction, prepared for the three goblins that I would meet. With a sharp hiss of my bow I smacked them aside, blade cutting through their necks and as I continued to run their bodies remained aloft, standing like statues before all at once they crumbled. I will not die in this battle, so I felt no fear as I stopped upon a ledge and fixed an arrow to my bow. It flew through the air, arching with masterful precision to pierce through the twine of more lamps, causing mass bursting of fire that blazed upwards and reduced the number of goblins able to pass through to reach the company.
I kept pace with them upon parallel ramparts, predominantly out of sight before I then reappeared, leaping with a powerful spring from one embankment to one down below some distance away, my hair flaring upwards as I released a flurry of arrows upon the archers that were shooting at Kili. I think when the elven arrow cut through the goblin archers, Kili could not have been more surprised, staring with recognition at the particular arrow as he ripped it from the deceased body, identifying it quickly by its make but had no time to dwell on the question as he and his companions used a ladder to block the way of an oncoming rush of goblins.
Licking my lips I was slightly alarmed by how calm I felt. It were as if my body knew it should be frightened with so much danger cavorting around me however the calmness of my soul was unfamiliar, when many years ago as a child I had felt such intense fear when faced with enemies such as this. Perhaps it is time that I accepted that I am no longer a child and I was strong enough to keep myself and even others alive. Turning my head I continued running, using my sword to slice through the goblins that shared the walkway with me and they yelped, flailing as they fell over the edge or to my blade which rung clearly as it cut through the air.
With a final jump, the long rope that swung over the open abyss captured my weight as I pushed off the rocks, slicing the counterweight so that as I flew through the air I also dropped, sword returning to my scabbard so that I could push with my feet against numerous foul smelling goblins, kicking them out of my way before I took their place. The air was thick and repugnant to the taste, making me want to retch with each breath but I kept myself in check, following after the dwarves as I ran overhead of them, their stomping footsteps sounding below before all at once I dropped, arms spread as I landed upon two goblin archers and swung them around by their necks, using all my strength to toss one aside before I then turned, gripping the bow of the other to sling it around his neck, grasping one of its arrows before I knocked the shaft against the string as it shrieked in rage.
At such close range, the arrow went straight through its skull and out the other side, shooting another goblin through the chest and they both dropped, allowing me to continue forwards, destroying more of the bridges so that the dwarves were able to break free and run for their freedom. Slightly out of breath I parted my lips, taking in as much air as I could though the darkness of this underground monstrosity was beginning to take its toll upon me. I disliked being so far away from the open skies and this air was barely breathable to me, but now is not the time for semantics.
Knowing that this chase was nearing its end I melted into the shadows, disappearing from sight before following one of the tunnels that spiralled downwards to the bottom of the mountain's terrain, going deeper and deeper into the belly before I then guided myself through the complicated network, pausing at every tunnel to use my gifts and find whether or not it was the right one to pick. My foresight never once failed me, leading me a safe way around the goblins as they crawled like cockroaches and insects down the sharp decline after the dwarves who had murdered their king, allowing me to exit without so much as a scratch.
The sky was bright and full of colour, however the sun was quickly falling below the horizon and as I watched it begin to disappear, another vision swamped my mind. Burning trees of pine with one collapsed on its side, a dwarvern king standing against the pale orc as a sworn enemy, rising against the blackened sky. "Thorin." Feeling the sensation of urgency rush through my chilled blood I took off running, knowing that I still had plenty of ground to cover if I were to reach them in time. Although the path I had chosen had indeed been safe, it had taken me further away from Mithrandir, Bilbo and the dwarfish company. Time was slipping away, at this rate I might be too late.
Although my body was weaker than the average Elf, I pushed it to its limits, refusing to allow myself to fail now as I carried the key to Thorin's quest against my breast close to my heart, feeling the heavy iron as it warmed slowly against my flesh. In the distance I heard the howling of wargs so I lengthened my strides, leaping down from a cluster of rocks as the sunlight faded and dusk passed into night, the clouds shielding the moon and stars so that nothing but darkness enshrouded the land until I saw the flickering of bright flames in the distance.
With a breath I pulled an arrow back on my bowstring, watching as the fallen tree burned with flames and Thorin rushed to meet Azog, his enemy. I was too far away and my time was up, the trees obscured my path. I heard the pained cries of Thorin as he was beaten down and tossed aside, a tragic scene for one as regal as he. It caused me fear, watching helplessly from afar as the white warg flung him aside after clamping its powerful jaws over his body. Bilbo was clambering up onto the fallen tree and I looked to the skies, searching for the eagles. I knew they were coming, but the dwarves were barely able to hold on as the fallen tree groaned, the roots shifting and struggling to maintain the added weight.
Pushing off from the path I dropped down below, sliding down the earthy bank before taking flight once more, pushing myself to run as fast as I possibly could. The brave little hobbit thwarted the attempt to cleave Thorin's head from his shoulders, killing the orc that had attempted to take Thorin's life however as Azog turned his attention towards him, I finally came within range and with less foliage in my flight path in which I could shoot, I finally took aim. My arrows flew through the air almost in complete silence, three or four soaring forwards within a heartbeat as I raced up a jutting cluster of rocks and as the arrows struck, I burst from the shadows with an announcing cry, slamming my foot against the pale orc's face to throw him from his warg as I shot down two more, landing with a roll to then turn with a sweeping movement, arrow trained on Azog in warning.
Behind me Kili, Fili and Dwalin all roared in fury, rushing forwards to attack the enemy as I heard Mithrandir murmur my name in complete surprise. A warg lunged for me so I dodged, graceful movements never ceasing as I shot it through the neck then drew my sword, twirling it in a sweeping arc that almost mirrored the swirling of water, cutting down it's rider as Azog bellowed in fury, turning his attention to us as we fought to protect Thorin's now unconscious body. "Uh…uh Asta?" Bilbo chattered fearfully and my head snapped towards him quickly, seeing him on the ground where he had been thrown by the white warg.
"Azog!" I cried out fearlessly as my blade sang harmoniously, pointing towards the orc who looked towards me. "Come meet my blade, orc-filth, it shall be your end should you dare lay a hand upon my dear friend." With a dark voice that I did not know I possessed I challenged the defiler, slinging my bow over my quiver upon my back to then lift my arm and rest my already bloodied blade against it with the flat side, my stance already moved into a prepared position. Azog breathed darkly, scarred lips turned into a smile however as he wheeled his great mount around, I heard the beating of wings upon the air.
We faced one another, though with his attention diverted Azog did not see the arrival of the eagles until their enchanting cries filled the air over the crackling of flames. Huge talons snatched away the warg to his side, making it yelp as it was dropped over the side of the mountain and it disappeared from sight within the blink of an eye. Leaping backwards as an orc came at me from the side I turned, my blade slicing through his weapon effortlessly before I swung I back in return, opening the foul flesh of its torso before I lashed out with a foot to kick it away from me, moving swiftly as another eagle tore up a tree as it burned and dropped it upon more of the orc pack.
"Bilbo!" Calling him I rushed to his side, sheathing my blade and lifted him quickly to his feet, ducking our heads as a warg lunged for us but it missed, scrambling against the ground as I quickly drew Bilbo back from its snapping jaws but before it could leap again, an eagle swept down and knocked it over the mountainside, the fearful cries echoing into the distance as one by one, the dwarves were gathered. "Stay close to me." I whispered, stooping down slightly and picked Bilbo up under one arm, making him squeak as I rushed forwards, watching Thorin be lifted up from the ground where he lay but as his shield strap broke I caught it, the oaken shield falling into my grasp as I ran for the cliff edge.
Bilbo gave a panicked and slightly strangled yell, gripping onto me the best he could as with a call towards the eagles, I leaped over the side as another of the wargs chased after us, the ugly maw of its snout snapping shut just behind us as we flew into open air before dropping. With a powerful sweep an eagle flew underneath us, catching us both upon its back and I gave a joyous laugh as I felt the soft feathers of such legendary eagles that Elrond had told me stories about when I was young. Under my arm Bilbo shivered, staring in blinded horror at the realisation that we were flying so high above the ground so I wrapped my arms around him, pinning him to my side so that he did not have to fear falling. "It is alright now my dear Bilbo, I am right here."
With soft whispers in the elvish tongue Bilbo fell into a dreamless sleep, my voice humming in his mind until he fell out of consciousness and I held him in my arms as we flew breathlessly into the night away from the incensed roars of Azog. I was glad to leave him behind, my attention focused on Thorin who remained unconscious throughout the night, but as I requested in the lilting elvish tongue to the eagle that carried Bilbo and I, he flew closer until we were directly underneath the great eagle that carried Thorin. All I had to do was stretch up my hand I could reach him, my fingers holding onto his hand and whispered what incantations and blessings that I knew in every tongue that I had learned, wanting to prevent him from succumbing to his wounds but there was little I could do whilst in the air.
The night continued on and I knew that few of the others were able to sleep but I remained close, holding onto Thorin's hand whilst also keeping Bilbo tucked against me, giving him the strength that the Valar had gifted to me with pleading prayers. His fingers were cold and weak but at one point in the night, I felt them twitch to close a little closer around my fingers as I continually held onto him, a smile rising to my face as my eagle then steered away, gliding with wide spread wings and with each beat I could feel the muscled power down its feathered back. They carried us until dawn, covering more ground in a single night than any could cross in a long week and when the spark of light dawned that morning, I felt a flicker of hope burning richly inside my heart as I allowed myself to savour each and every moment as I flew through the air upon the back of a giant eagle.