I watched the morning's sunrise, noticing how deeply the clouds blazed with red whilst the sun remained low. In the early hours Thranduil had moved his army to stand before the great doors of Erebor and as the sun continued to rise, the army of Bard came to take their place, both of them riding their mounts forwards to speak with Thorin as I slowly moved my way through the ranks, carrying my weapons upon my hip and back, though my mind was trembling with apprehension for the negotiations. From this moment onwards I was in the dark with no visions to guide me except for one forewarning of my possible demise, but that I could not think on a this moment whilst the eerie silence continued to swell around us all.
Listening as Thranduil and Bard bartered with a near mad Thorin Oakenshield I deftly moved forwards, the cool morning air working upon my lungs as I halted beside the men of Esgaroth, their weapons clutched tightly in their hands. Upon hearing Thorin's raging voice I gasped lightly as Bilbo announced himself, having returned in the night against Mithrandir's wishes. He confirmed that the Arkenstone was indeed real and that he had given it to him, however upon trying to reason with Thorin he had flown into a fit of rage and ordered the hobbit be thrown from the rampart. My heart froze in my chest. "Do you hear me?!" The dwarf king bellowed to his own who had not moved a muscle, unable to obey. "I shall do it myself!"
"Bilbo!" An unearthly screech rose from my lips as I darted forwards in fear for the hobbit, Thranduil's head turning sharply to see me as I flew between he and Bard, intending to catch Bilbo if I must though the other dwarves wrestled with their king to stop him.
"Curse you! Cursed be the wizard that forced you upon this company!" Thorin declared until a great booming voice of magical power called out upon the king, making everyone halt as Mithrandir himself strode forwards with his staff lifted high.
"If you do not like my burglar then please!" He reached my side as I too had stopped, looking back upon him as he then softened his voice. "Do not damage him. Return him to me!" With a heart full of relief I watched as Bilbo was pulled away from Thorin and ushered away, the little hobbit scurrying over the wall and I rushed to meet him despite Thranduil speaking my name to stop me. I jumped from the hard and cold ground onto the statue's head, going to meet Bilbo as he slid down his rope and tightly gripped onto his jacket to keep him anchored at my side, shielding his body with my own for fear that arrows might follow. "You are not making a very splendid figure as King under the Mountain, are you? Thorin, son of Thrain!"
"Never again will I have dealings with wizards or Shire rats!" Thorin declared as together Bilbo and I jumped from the statue head and I ushered him back to Mithrandir's side where he would be safer.
"Are we resolved?" Bard called upon the dwarf king as he lifted the Arkenstone. "The return of the Arkenstone for what was promised." He bartered however Thorin turned his head away, looking towards the distant ridge and I frowned, slowly turning my head and watching as I began to feel small vibrations slowly rising through my feet and legs. Marching. Something was marching towards us. "Give us your answer! Will you have peace or war?"
"I will have war." He decided upon the arrival of a raven and my soul filled with dread as the first of the dwarf armies from the Iron Hills arrived, led by Dain Ironfoot. His arrival was cause for my celebration for Thorin and his company however Thranduil immediately wheeled his great elk about with Bard following as he ordered his soldiers to rush the shield walls.
"Ribo i thangail!" Together the armies of Elves and Men turned to face their new foe and I walked quickly beside Mithrandir, hand straying to my sword though I was reluctant to use it against the kin of Thorin Oakenshield.
"Who is that? Gandalf? He doesn't look very happy." Bilbo said a little nervously as he hurried to keep up with both Mithrandir and I.
"It is Dain, Lord of the Iron Hills and Thorin's cousin."
"Are they alike?" Mithrandir pursed his lips, sounding more than a little unconvinced as he spoke.
"I have always found Thorin more reasonable of the two." He said and I sighed with a heavy heart. The stoutness of dwarves can honestly be quite troublesome when attempting to reason with them. As Mithrandir broke through the ranks I halted among the army of Men, placing my hand upon Bilbo's shoulder to keep him from following after Mithrandir with my hand sliding down to his chest, pulling him closer to me and preparing to pull him to safety should the negotiations once more turn sour. The poor hobbit had been traumatised enough for one day. Dain himself came down from his ranks riding upon a large and heavily armoured war pig, stopping upon a jutting rock to address us all.
"Good morning! How are we all? I have a wee proposition, if you wouldn't mind giving me a few moments of your time. Would you consider...just sodding off!" The thick accent of his voice and deepness was enough to make the people of Man retreat back a few steps, murmuring in fear which left Bilbo and I exposed as we did not move a step. "All of you! Right now!"
"Come now, Lord Dain!" Mithrandir addressed, attempting to negotiate peace.
"Gandalf the Grey. Tell this rabble to leave, or I'll water the ground with their blood!" Dain declared with a thrust of his large war hammer towards my own kin and I was torn. I wanted no blood to be spilled this day, especially not that of my own kin, but when the hot call of battle roared in their blood, how were we to avoid it? It seemed that no matter the course of negotiation, battle was the only answer that anyone truly wished for. The heated tempers and iron will to maintain their own righteousness would lead many to their deaths, and I had to wonder what was the point of it all? For a mere stone? Some gold? One could not buy life with jewels.
"There is no need for war between dwarves, men and elves! A legion of orcs march on the mountain. Stand your army down!"
"I will not stand down before any elf! Not least this faithless woodland sprite!" At Dain's address against Mithrandir's request I looked across to Thranduil who tightened his jaw in silent anger, the grip upon his reins constriction a little which caused his elk to grow restless underneath him. "He wishes nothing but ill upon my people! If he chooses to stand between me and my kin then I'll split his pretty head open! See if he's still smirking then!"
"He is clearly mad, like his cousin!" My father declared and I almost wanted to smack him with my bow. Such petty insults would do no good here, especially against a proud people such as the dwarves. Dain called back towards his men before bringing his mount around and galloping back to them, the company upon the rampart cheered in agreement as the army of Dain responded by readying their weapons. "Let them advance." Thranduil challenged arrogantly. "Let us see how far they get."
"You think I give a dead dog about your threats you pointy eared princess?" I shall admit, a burst of laughter escaped me at the amusing insult, a hand rising to cover my mouth and stifle down the reaction as I blushed faintly and looked away. Where was Legolas? He had been gone far too long already and I had hoped he would have been back by now, perhaps he would be able to convince father of his folly and make him see reason. "You hear that lads? Let's give these bastards a good hammering!"
As the dwarf warriors from the Iron Hills chanted out in Khuzdul Thranduil moved his own men forwards, ordering Bard to stand his men down before then he looked to me from where he sat upon his tall mount, looking to me with a stern and kingly gaze. I understood then that in this moment, Thranduil was not my father, he was the Elven-King of Greenwood, and he saw me as nothing more than a troublesome elf child that did not know her place and would most likely interfere in his own plans to gain the spoils of war. "Eleniel, leave this field at once. You have no place here." He ordered but I remained standing firmly in place and refused to move with a defiant gleam in my gaze. "Eleniel! Obey your king's command!"
"I have never once in my life called you my king, Thranduil." I answered him, making his face drop slightly in surprise. "I have always called you father." With that said I turned my head, signalling that I did not wish to speak with him further. With a sound of irritation Thranduil called out an order in elvish and I blinked as six of his warriors broke from their ranks and formed a circle around me for my own personal guard, caging me in with Bilbo standing before me and I hastily drew him back with my hand still pressed against his chest. "Stay close to me Bilbo and I shall keep you safe." I told him softly and I saw his head nod anxiously as the two armies faced one another.
Dain sent forth his goats and their riders and I watched as Thranduil commanded his archers to draw back their bows, arrows aimed high before giving them command to release. "Leitho!" Hundreds of arrows flew into the air with a quiet whistle however Dain gave another command in Khuzdul and to my horror I watched as great wind lances were fired into the air, blades spinning rapidly and sliced through the multitude of arrows to then hammer into the ground like huge javelins and I flinched as the earth trembled under the power of their strike. Never before had I seen such a weapon, ingenious as it was, it posed a huge threat to our elven archers who were the pride of every elvish army.
"Hey! How do you like that? The old twidley widdleys!" Dain called out with laughter as Thranduil's face fell in shock. Commanding for another volley to be released I watched as once more the attempt was thwarted, the goats bearing their heavily armed dwarf warriors and the archers fell back into the ranks, the shields dropping to form a protective wall and the moment the two forces clashed I jolted, hand gripping onto Bilbo's jacket tightly in fear until he gently pulled my hand free and patted it for my comfort, though he too was shaking.
Violent quaking underfoot began to rattle my bones and threatened to topple us all over as the ground trembled, making me immediately draw my sword and hold Bilbo behind me as the fighting began to cease, all eyes turning towards the rocky hills and peaks where an eruption forced through the earth and huge twisted worms with chomping jaws snatched at rocks and soil to puncture a hole in the ground. "Were-worms…" Mithrandir breathed as I watched with wide eyed horror. More of them burst through the crust of the earth, wailing sharply before retreating back into the dark caverns of their home, revealing the distant sound of harsh speech and chanting that turned my blood to ice.
Legions of orcs spilled forth from the wounds of the earth like sickening pus, oozing in a black mass as they formed ranks in an endless stream of deadly force. Dain quickly brought his people to turn face, riding forwards and bellowing in Khuzdul to form ranks and defend the mountain whilst the elves stayed put, watching as the dwarves all hammered their shields into a firm formation to face the orcs alone. "Ada…" I whispered, searching for him but his back was turned to me. Will he not help them? Surely he cannot think to let these dwarves face the orcs alone when they are now so easily outnumbered. A loud horn sounded and my eyes turned to Ravenhill where Azog himself stood, thunderous voice rising across the open plain as he gave the signal to attack and the forces of orcs surged forwards with blood thirsty roars. "Bilbo, stay with Mithrandir." I ordered him, quickly pushing him towards the wizard before I broke free from my guard and started to run. When Thranduil saw the dark curling locks of my hair as I sprinted across the field with my sword in hand, I heard his voice cry out to me with pure fear.
"Eleniel!" I would not turn back and I shall not quake in fear. Perhaps I shall die this day but if that is to be my fate, then I shall at least die whilst taking a hundred of these foul creatures with me! They shall not hold sway with their dark intent, I refuse to allow evil to be stronger than my own force of will. It was a little lonely, however, running across a wide open plain with only my own breath to be heard, racing towards the backs of the dwarves until slowly, I heard the quiet thrum of footfalls behind me. They grew louder, then louder, until suddenly I was flanked on both sides with an entire host of my kin as they ran with me at their head like an arrow set loose upon the orc hoard. With a flame burning bright within me, I lifted my sword high so that it caught the light.
"Gurth a chyth vín!" I exclaimed with a battle roar that I did not know I possessed and my kin answered, proclaiming death to the enemy before all at once we sprung from the ground, climbing with light steps over the dwarves and their solid shield wall to hammer down with heavy blows upon the first wave orcs and I felt a brief rush of terror before my sword began to dance. This was the first time I would face real conflict in close battle and quickly I began to feel as if I were drowning. All around me there were bodies that pressed against one another, fighting down to the last tooth and nail whilst I constantly turned my body, using all of my senses to feel when an attack was coming. A flicker on the air which made my neck tingle urged me to turn and I grasped the jagged spear that came towards me, drawing it from the orc's grasp before I sliced it down, whirling the weapon in a spiral with one hand before I threw it with all my strength into the fray, killing three orcs at once as it speared through them and delivered a dwarf from where he was about to meet an ill fate. Soon my silvery grey coat was stained with vile black blood and I felt sickened by its presence, taking no joy in slaughtering so many even though they were orcs. My constitution for battle is not yet hardened.
Upon Ravenhill Azog roared in his cruel voice and another signal rose with the sound of the war horn blaring from above and when I heard different animalistic bellows sounding as they crawled out from the earth, I looked to see numerous of trolls of varying sizes appearing from the depths of the earth, each of them towering and wielding weapons that would effortlessly break through even a dwarvern shield wall. "Leitho i philin! Hain dago!" I cried out, pointing my sword towards the trolls as they began to crash through the waves of Elves and Dwarves, beginning to significantly weaken our defences. "Kill the trolls! Slay them with arrows!" Although Thranduil commanded his own legion, I had acted without thinking and to my shock, a regiment formed up before me and began to shoot at the trolls, making them roar and shrink back slightly as the dwarvern war machine driven by goats flew through the orc ranks, cutting them down with the spinning blades on each wheel.
With my kin managing to slay one or two of the trolls we were unable to stop them from going after the dwarf machines at Azog's command and I gasped for a moment of respite, seeing them tearing down the dwarves that rode them and beginning to crush them. With an elvish cry I surged forwards, exchanging my sword for bow and I began to rapidly fire upon the trolls, aiming for the eyes and hitting each mark which made them scream, partially blinded and once I managed to embed the arrow so deep it killed them, though their hides and skulls were tough against the sharpened points. Pushing my way forwards I had to duck and dodge a blow, several orcs surrounding me however with a grimace, I faced them all head on. The first I shot through the narrow gap of its helm, reaching for another which I stabbed into the neck of the next, spinning around the body to use it as a shield before I then drew my sword also and metal clanged as I fought for my life.
As I fought, my eyes scanned my surroundings, searching for Thranduil. I saw him some distance away, fighting upon his elk with a battle hard snarl, drawing my focus towards him momentarily before I snapped myself awake and returned my bow to the quiver, gripping my sword with both hands as I made to finish my enemies quickly so that I could conserve my strength. A third bellow of the horn blasted through the sounds of war and I quickly realised that Azog intended to attack the city also in a bid to cut us off as another legion of orcs turned and marched towards the ruined city. My first thought were of Bard's children and then all of the sick, wounded and elderly that lay undefended. "No!" With a panicked cry I began to run forwards, pushing my way through the confusing masses before I broke free and joined with Bilbo and Mithrandir as they ran with Bard and his men back to defend their people. "Mithrandir! Bilbo!" Upon my fleeting voice they looked to see me coming, sword sheathed as I picked off the outside of the orcish ranks with my arrows, steadily making my way through them so I conserved what I could.
"Asta my dear, look after Bilbo and get him to safety!" Mithrandir called but Bilbo protested though he was panting heavily to keep up, his small elven blade in hand. Not answering Mithrandir's request I merely ran at Bilbo's side, keeping close to him as we entered the city and immediately began to meet our foes in battle.
"Bilbo, stay low and strike from underneath, they will not see you so easily!" I exclaimed as I lifted my shining blade, slicing a wide arc to open the space around us. "Strike for the chinks in their armour and their legs, thrust upwards under their arms where the armour is weak, do not stop moving and do not stray from my side!" I instructed him whilst we fought, telling him how to best effectively fight and I was impressed with how well he handled himself though I could tell that he was deathly afraid. In truth so was I, however the sheer willpower to keep on living overshadowed that fear as I momentarily slowed, eyes clouding over to visualise and seek out the path that would lead me to Bard's children. "This way, hurry Bilbo!"
Grasping his arm I drew him to me, blocking a sword that had descended for his head and killed the foul creature before it could try again. Together we broke free from the crushing mass, circling around before I then drew my bow and shot down the orcs that came running towards us in a splintered group of three, fixing three arrows to my bow and shooting them all at once so that they dropped in a line. "How did you…is that even possible?" Bilbo questioned in numb bewilderment as I had him follow me. We fought our way down to the market, going around the main body of fighting before we were down a side street where I saw Tilda and Sigrid huddled together, Bain managing to slay two orcs but more were coming.
"Hold fast!" I commanded, making a running jump and sprung from a foothold in the wall, spinning high into the air as the troll that had started to come after them turned its head, blinking at me stupidly before I then plunged my sword into its head, making it cry out horribly before it dropped to the ground and I rolled to my feet, slicing out my sword before sheathing it. "Are you all unharmed?"
"Asta!" Tilda sobbed with relief, her arms being flung around me and I gripped her jacket, looking over all three children as Bilbo trotted to my side also. Bard was racing down the street towards us, shouting in warning so I pushed Tilda aside and turned, grasping the weapon that had been flung towards me, finding it to be an axe so I narrowed my gaze, stepped into battle and used only the quickest of movements as the next wave of orcs came. Bilbo held up his sword whilst trembling, standing in front of the children in a bid to protect them until Bard slammed into one of the orcs, throwing it upon its back and stabbed it through the chest to assist me in cutting down the enemy until they all lay felled. My arms were aching by this point but I ignored the sensation, nodding to Bard as he then rushed to his children.
Looking to Bilbo I gave him a questioning look, wanting to know if he was alright. He did not look injured, just a little nauseous so I wiped off my blade and returned to him, murmuring softly as I smoothed back his hair. "How…how are you not afraid?" He asked me quietly, voice wavering as he spoke though his question confused me. Did I seem unafraid in all this? How mistaken my sweet hobbit was.
"I am very afraid, my dear Bilbo, the idea of death is a strange and terrifying concept to me." I told him gently, my fingers warmly holding his head as I knelt down before him. "But that fear is exactly what keeps me alive. It is alright to want to survive, dear mellon, and there is no shame in being afraid." Kissing his brow I stood up, suggesting to Bard to gather those that could not fight somewhere they could barricade themselves away from the fighting before I grasped Bilbo by the hand and took off back towards the fighting where I could see Mithrandir on the other side of the orcs. "Be strong and courageous, my dear Bilbo, estelio nîn." With these words we both charged back into battle, swords lifted and gleaming with a bluish tinge which soon became marred by blackened blood.
We pushed our way through and Bilbo reached Mithrandir's side, however as the overwhelming forces of orcs began to push back the defences I was separated from them both, my yells being lost in a sea of noises before I had to think of my own survival. I was outnumbered, nearly surrounded. All I could do was run. I fled for my life, diving down an ally which then brought me upon Stone Street, a cluster of orcs hounding after me with braying voices as I attempted to find more even ground in which I could defeat them, however when a flash of silvery white caught my eye I immediately turned towards it. "Ada!" My undignified shriek of alarm made Thranduil turn his head sharply to see me rushing towards him with more than a dozen orcs thundering behind me with brandished blades. Swiftly he gave a command, ordering his archers to shoot them before they could reach me.
They quickly stepped forwards and lifted their bows as I streaked ahead, forgetting all history between us and as the orcs were felled with numberless arrows, my arms stretched outwards and I flew into Thranduil's embrace as he curled one arm around my back and gripped onto his cloak, whirling me around and completely folding me into his robes so that I was shielded from the enemy as the last of them were slain. His grip was firm and powerful, almost lifting me off the ground as I became enshrouded in the warmth of his cloak almost as if I were once more a child. "Eleniel…henig…" At the endearment I inhaled quickly, opening my eyes as he drew back to place his hands upon my face, looking to me to find injury with a troubled gaze. "This is why you were not meant to be here, my child."
"I would rather be here with you and face all the dangers in the world than be safe and alone." I whispered to him softly before I sought comfort in his arms, resting my head against the cool metal of his armour whilst his hand curled around the back of my head. I finally understood. He sent me away to keep me safe, to keep me away from danger and everything he did he did for me, because of his love. "Gerich veleth nîn, ada." I whispered to him, giving him my love before I reached up and placed a kiss upon his cheek, sealing my love for him before I pulled back with an emotional smile, the cloak falling from around me the further I stepped away. Suddenly a deep, resonating horn sounded that was not of orcish make, turning my head towards where it originated from. The mountain. "Oakenshield." I murmured before rushing forwards despite Thranduil calling for me to hold. Climbing up for a higher vantage point I looked towards the mountain, my sharp eyesight watching as the great bell smashed through the blockade and Thorin's entire company rushed out to battle, bearing arms as the dwarves rallied to their king, the King under the Mountain. He had returned, the lord of silver fountains had returned and was breaking through the ranks of orcs like a wave upon sand.
Upon the dwarves rallying, however, more orcs were pushed towards Dale and soon we were overrun and Thranduil was desperately calling for me, ordering some of his men to keep me safe from harm as I swung up and climbed to a partially destroyed tower and used it to shoot arrows from above, carefully selecting my targets until without warning the entire tower shuddered. It threw my balance slightly and I yelped, arms stretching out to help keep myself from falling until the building shook again. Below me a heavily armed cave troll roared, beating against the weakened stone and I quickly jumped down onto the connecting bridge, moving with light footed steps as I fired an arrow upon the troll but it bounced off the hardened metal of its helm without any effect. The armoured blades slashed at the brickwork, making it crumble underneath me and I fell to the ground with a roll, rising back up to my feet quickly to throw myself back a step, a bladed bracer slamming into the ground which rattled my legs and made them numb from the sensation as I cut through a small portion of flesh with my sword but the creature was too well armoured to deal any significant damage.
The troll's movements were heavy and slow but that did not mean I was willing to underestimate it, gasping for breath as I weaved in and out of its attacks, waiting for the right moment as I led it back towards the large buildings which had once been the merchant guild. Waiting I watched the troll's eyes carefully, holding my breath as I sheathed my sword and drew my bow, noting that I was beginning to run low on arrows. With a decadent roar it stabbed its bladed arm towards me but I rolled forwards underneath the blow before then lifting up on my knee, arrow trained directly for the beast's eye which was only a foot in front of me and the rank breath washed over my face as I released.
Piercing the air with its screech it tore backwards, clutching its face where it bled from the wound and I then immediately went for its exposed neck, shooting three more arrows into the softer flesh and finally I brought the beast down, its body crushing a cluster of orcs beneath it. Rushing forwards I slid upon my knees, grasping the arrows from a fallen kinsman and replenished my supply, murmuring silent prayers to the Valar to guard the souls of the fallen as my other hand picked up a sword, crossing it over my own before I then went forth like a hurricane, carving a direct line through the orcish ranks with a yell that swelled within my breast like the thunder over the mountains.