Boy, am I glad I got this one done as quickly as I did. I originally was kinda stuck because I couldn't remember quite how everything in the battle went, but then I had a "Hobbit" marathon with my brother and my husband yesterday, which helped me piece together everything and put it the way I wanted, now that I remembered how the whole battle went down.

Fun challenge: there's a little foreshadowing through here. I'm wondering if you can figure it out before the end.

Here's the newest chapter for you! Forgive me if it seems a little rushed. Writing battles is not my forte xD

PS: to the anon who left a rather unkind review (which has since been deleted), I dare you to get off anon and message me privately about exactly what problems you had with my story. That is, if you're actually still reading. You said you didn't like my character anymore and gave no reason as to why. So quit being a coward, get off anon and tell me what problems you have with my story instead of just being a troll.

That aside, to the rest of my continually loyal fans who actually appreciate this story still, read on!

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Together, Thorin and Aelin urgently made their way from the gold hallway back to the main gate, where the others were anxiously waiting. They were either seated on the ground or pacing back and forth.

As the company came into view, Thorin asked Aelin, "Do you think they will forgive me?"

"They have to," she answered. "They're your friends; your family. Once they realize you're back to normal, that will be all that matters to them."

"I hope you're right," he replied.

With a deep breath, Thorin slowly walked towards his companions.

Ahead, Kili, who was seated on the stairs, saw him coming and bolted up to his feet, causing the others to become aware of Thorin's presence.

As he approached, Kili walked towards him and cried out in an angry voice, "I will not hide behind a wall of stone while others fight our battles for us!" Then he calmed down and said emotionally, almost as if he was pleading with Thorin to understand, "It is not in my blood, Thorin."

"Kili, wait…," Aelin spoke up, emerging from behind Thorin.

Everyone was surprised to see her with him, given the terrible fight they had gotten into earlier. Kili looked confused for a moment and then looked back at Thorin, wondering if this meant what he thought it meant.

Thorin looked his youngest nephew right in the eyes and answered, "No...it is not." He laid a hand on his shoulder. "We are sons of Durin...and Durin's folk do not flee from a fight."

Then, for the first time in what felt like a lifetime, Thorin smiled brightly.

Kili's eyes welled up immediately with tears. He knew that smile. He knew the look he was seeing in the deep blue eyes that were staring back at him. He knew the touch of the hand that was on his shoulder.

This was his real Uncle Thorin whom he had been eagerly awaiting his return.

A tiny, quivering smile of gladness and relief came up on his lips as he looked back at his uncle. Thorin then grasped the back of his head, gently urged him forward and pressed their foreheads gently together.

When he pulled back, Kili turned his attention to Aelin and asked her, his voice shaky, "You did this...didn't you, Aelin?"

With a smile of her own, she shrugged and said back, "Unintentionally, this time...but aye, I did."

Immediately, he grabbed her and took her in his arms. "Thank you," he whispered in her ear.

She said nothing, but simply hugged him back.

Thorin proceeded forward towards the others and said in a low, remorseful tone voice to them, "I have no right to ask this of any of you...but will you follow me...one last time?"

Without hesitation, everyone silently stood up and raised their weapons in compliance, each of them beaming gladly to finally have their leader back.

"All of you forgive me that easily…?" Thorin asked.

"You're finally your old self, laddie," commented Balin. "That's all we've wanted for days. That's all that matters to us."

Thorin couldn't help but grin. Aelin had been exactly right.

"First thing's first: we can't go out to battle with this barricade in the way," Bofur pointed out, gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder to the wall of stone behind him.

"I've got an idea for that," then replied Dwalin.

Outside, during the ensuing battle, Dain, his army, the Elves and the Men were all fighting for their lives against the giant Orc army and armored trolls. Azog had pressed forward at the front of the mountain and then sent another battalion to attack the city of Dale, cutting them off on two fronts. Bard and his men had retreated to Dale to defend the city while Thranduil and the Elves assisted in defending the mountain gates. However, the Orc army was great in numbers were wearing the Elves and Dwarves thin and they were on the brink of defeat. Dain cried out desperately where Thorin was and that they needed his aid. Before long, he was calling to his troops to retreat to the barricade to make their final stand. It seemed as though the end was upon them.

Suddenly, the sound of a deep, mighty horn sounded from the mountain. Bombur had climbed atop the barricade and was blowing a horn curved around his body. Then seconds later, after Bombur got down, a massive golden bell came swinging and smashing through the barricade, destroying it and making it crumble into a thousand pieces. As it went swinging back inside, right then, the company of Thorin Oakenshield, with Thorin at the head, came charging through the gate, shouting their readiness for battle. The fire in their eyes was unmistakable: they were ready for a fight.

"To the King! To the King!" shouted Dain with such Dwarven pride as he and his soldiers followed behind the company.

Then, in a loud, bold voice, Thorin let out his Dwarven war cry, "Du bekâr!"

Seconds later, the company of Thorin Oakenshield and the Dwarves of the Iron Hills clashed forces with Azog's Orc army with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation to win this battle. Swords flew with vengeance, axes swung with fiery strength and hammers rang with boldness.

In the middle of the fray, Aelin had found Nori, Bofur and Ori and was helping them fight a group of Orcs. Within seconds, though, she was shoved away from her companions just as Nori was caught in a weapon lock with another Orc, calling for help. Bofur reacted quickly and threw an axe at the Orc embedding it in its head.

Aelin had ended up on her back with an Orc attempting to bring its jagged weapon down upon her. She dodged by rolling out of the way, but it was quick to take another strike.

"A little help, lads!" she called out as she rolled again.

As if on cue, an axe suddenly appeared in the shoulder of the Orc, causing it to fall to the ground next to her. To ensure it wouldn't get back up again, Aelin turned over and plunged one of her knives into its chest. She looked up to see Ori coming towards her.

"I got it pretty good, didn't I?" he asked with a grin as he helped pull Aelin to her feet.

"Aye, you did," she said back.

"Aelin!" Nori then cried out to her from a few feet away. When she turned his direction, he came running up to her and said, "We've got things handled here, sister. Get to Thorin."

"On it," she responded. "But promise me one thing?"

"What?" he asked.

Suddenly, she reeled back and threw one of her knives over his shoulder. A second later, there was a shriek and a nearby Orc facing them dropped dead in its path. She looked back at Nori and told him with a smirk, "Don't die."

With a chuckle, Nori replied, "As long as you don't, either."

She smirked back. "I'll die one day...but it is not this day."

Aelin gave Nori a squeeze on the shoulder and then took off, retrieving her knife from the Orc corpse as she did. Her eyes darted back and forth, trying to spot Thorin amongst the fray. Soon enough, she spotted him some yards away and she dashed off in his direction, slashing at any Orcs who came at her or dodging any swings from a troll. As she came close to where Thorin was, she slid down to her knees and sliced the calf of the Orc Thorin was fighting and then shoved her other blade into its side, killing it.

Thorin said nothing and simply smiled at her, pleased to see her there fighting beside him. He then threw his sword down into the shoulder of an incoming Orc. As he looked up, he spotted Dain coming their way and he called out to him.

"Thorin! Hold on, I'm coming!" Dain shouted as he suddenly threw himself on the back of another Orc. As he distracted that one, Thorin continued to fight other Orcs that came towards them. Aelin sheathed her knives, took out a bow that she had taken from the armory and fired arrows at the rest.

Soon, Dain took down the Orc he was piggy-backing, crushed its head with his warhammer, turned around and greeted Thorin, "Hey, cousin! What took you so long?"

Thorin went up to his cousin and embraced him fondly.

Dain's eye caught Aelin firing her arrows and asked, "And who is this warrior beauty with you?"

Aelin fired one more arrow as he said this. Then she turned and smiled proudly at him.

"This is Aelin," Thorin introduced her. "She is the reason I finally got myself into this fight."

"A pleasure to meet you, Aelin," Dain said, bowing his head.

"The pleasure is all mine, Lord Dain," Aelin replied as she then fired another arrow at an oncoming Orc without even looking.

Impressed by her skills, Dain smirked at Thorin and told him, "I like her." Then he looked around at the chaos surrounding them. "There's too many of these buggers, Thorin. I hope you have a plan."

Thorin's gaze diverted to the tower in the distance where Azog's battle signals stood atop it. "Aye...we're going to take out their leader," he answered.

"Azog?" Dain asked.

"Wait, what?" added Aelin. "You cannot be serious!"

Thorin didn't respond. Instead, he walked up to an unattended mountain goat and climbed right up into the saddle. "I'm going to kill that piece of filth," he declared with conviction.

"Thorin, you cannot do this. You're our King!" Dain tried to tell persuade him.

"That is why I must do it," Thorin said back.

"No, that is exactly why you shouldn't do it!" said Aelin. "Your people and your friends need you. If you go against Azog, you will die! He nearly killed you already!"

Thorin looked to her and replied, "I have learned since then; I will not fall so easily to him this time. If I do not face him, then no one will, and none of this slaughter will end. I have to do this."

"No…," Aelin whispered, dread and fear overtaking her heart over what could happen to him after what he had suffered at the hands of Azog in the past.

Then Dain asked, gesturing to the tower, "And how do you plan to fight your way single-handed to Ravenhill?"

Right then, a battle carriage driven by a line of goats pulled up behind them with Balin at the helm with the reins. In the carriage was a ballista that Dwalin was manning and on the sides by the wheels on either side was Fili and Kili.

Dwalin had given Balin a funny look and Balin retorted, "It's been a while since I've done this!"

Aelin turned back to Thorin and declared, "I'm coming with you."

However, he responded, "No, Aelin. I need you stay here."

"Are you joking? I'm not about to leave you now," she said back. "If you're taking these four with you, you can certainly take me, too."

"If you come with us, my only focus will be on you and your safety instead of the task at hand," he explained to her. "And I cannot risk Azog getting to you. If anything happened to you, I would never forgive myself."

"That's ridiculous! You know I can handle myself!" she said, frustrated.

"Aelin, please…," he now begged, "...for once, just listen to me. Stay here...for me."

Every fiber of Aelin's being wanted to argue even further and persuade him to change his mind, but she knew time was of the essence at that point. She hated having to say it, but she exhaled sharply and begrudgingly answered, "Fine. I will stay here."

Thorin leaned over, reached out laid his gloved hand on her cheek. "I love you. I will come back," he promised.

"You had better," she replied.

He pulled back and then turned to Dain. "Look after her for me, Dain," he told him.

"I doubt she will need me, but you have my word: she will be kept safe," Dain responded.

With a nod, Thorin lifted his sword and yelled to the Dwarves behind him, "To Ravenhill!" He gave the goat a nudge in the sides and speedily took off.

Balin snapped the reins, crying out, "Hold tight, lads!", and the goat-pulled carriage followed behind Thorin.

"Go, my bastards! I like it!" cried Dain. As they drove away, he said aloud, "May Durin save you all." Then he turned to Aelin, who was staring after them, looking very dejected for having been left behind. "You're a fiery one, I can tell," he said to her. "You've given Thorin quite a bit of hell, haven't you?"

She scoffed a little. "Like you wouldn't believe," she answered.

Dain swung his hammer to the side, taking out an approaching Orc effortlessly. Then he went on, "I can see that you are the special woman of his life, judging by how protective he is of you and, of course, the fact the I heard him say he loved you. You must be quite the woman to have won his guarded heart."

Aelin fired an arrow at another enemy and said in return, "It was certainly a battle of a different kind, I'll tell you that."

He chuckled and then proceeded to smack another Orc in the face with his hammer. Then he said rather coyly, "You know...there are some unattended goats over there." He gestured with his head to her other side.

She looked and there was, indeed, a couple of mountain goats standing around in the midst of the battle. As she was about to ask why he was pointing that out to her, he went on to say, "And if I just turn a little the other way, not paying attention, you could easily sneak away and get on one of those goats...and go after Thorin."

He turned his head back towards her and she noticed a mischievous grin and a devious look on his face. Her confusion turned to realization as she noticed what he was trying to do: he was letting her go and giving her a chance to follow Thorin, after all.

As she came to this realization, Dain noticed it, as well, and said to her, "I don't need to be a wizard to know that this is not where you need to be. Your place is with him."

A relieved smile crossed Aelin's face at Dain's generosity. "Thank you," she said to him.

He nodded and said, "Go after Thorin, lass. Protect him."

"By my life, I will," she vowed. Then, without hesitation, she whipped around and ran to one of the goats, climbing up on it right away.

"May Durin guide you, Aelin!" Dain cried after her.

As she got up onto the saddle, Aelin responded, "And may Durin guide you, as well, Dain! We will meet again when this is over!"

"Aye, you bet we will!" he cried.

With that, Aelin kicked her goat in the sides and they ran off in the direction of Ravenhill. By this time, they would have already gotten well ahead of her, but she knew she had to go as fast as she could to get after them. She knew her knives wouldn't work well against the Orcs; they were too short to reach them atop the goat, so she kept her bow out and shot at as many as she could as she rode onward.

She and the goat continued on up the steep hill, going over bumps and bends in the rocky cliffside. As she got higher up, she saw a huge, frozen waterfall separating the Ravenhill tower from another smaller fortress. Soon she got to the top and could hear grunting, shrieking and swords ringing. From what she could see, through the swirling, icy fog, Thorin and Dwalin were fighting Orcs on the right side.

However, as she looked to the left side at the tower, she caught sight of Fili and Kili heading into the tower.

"What are they doing?" she thought to herself worriedly. "Azog is in there! If Thorin couldn't last in a fight against him before, they won't stand a chance! I've got to go after them!"

Aelin jumped off her goat and sprinted quickly but carefully across the ice. There was no way she was about to let Fili and Kili possibly go up against Azog alone. What was Thorin thinking sending them in there?

She got to a set of stairs and carefully made her way up, making sure there were no other Orcs were around. She took out her bow and an arrow, keeping it at the ready in case of an attack. Stealthily, she snuck into the tower. It was somewhat dark inside, but the light from outside at least made it easy to see. She could hear faint noises from the upper levels, so she figured that was possibly where all of the Orcs were, but Aelin kept on her guard.

It was almost dead silent on the lower level and it made Aelin a bit nervous. It was too quiet, in her opinion. However, just as she thought this, she heard light footsteps coming from around the corner. She tightened her grip on her arrow and bowstring, ready to fire at whatever was coming.

She pulled the arrow back, jumped around the corner...and found herself facing a rather startled, wide-eyed Kili.

Sighing in relief that it wasn't an Orc, Aelin lowered her bow and whispered, "Kili, what are you doing in here?"

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" he whispered back in surprise. "Thorin told you to stay behind."

"You really thought that after everything he and I have been through, I would start listening to him now, of all times?" she asked, annoyed. "I'm not about to let him get himself killed against Azog, not after what happened last time in the Misty Mountains. Aside from that, why did he send you over here? And where is your brother?"

"We couldn't see any sign of Azog, so Thorin sent us to scout out the tower and report back to him. Fili went to search the upper levels," he explained to her.

"Alone? You two separated?" she asked in disbelief.

Kili was unsure how to answer, but in that moment, they could hear the distant sounds of drums above them. That definitely was not a good sign.

Aelin turned back to Kili and told him urgently, "Kili, you need to get out of here. Go back to Thorin. Now."

"No! I'm not leaving you," he protested.

"Your brother is in danger and I can't risk losing the both of you," she countered. "I will rescue your brother, but I need you to get to safety. There is no time. Go now!"

Kili looked about to protest again, but then he had to admit that she was right. There was no time for this. With an unnerved look, he gave her a nod and ran out.

Quickly and quietly, Aelin readied her bow in hand and ascended up the nearest set of stairs. She had to find Fili before it was too late.

On the opposite side of the hill, Thorin and Dwalin had finished taking care of the Orcs that had attacked them and had been waiting for Azog to show himself when suddenly, Bilbo had appeared and informed them of some grave news: Azog had a second army on its way to attack from the north by way of Ravenhill. When Thorin realized what this meant, he knew there was greater danger than he had thought.

"Find Fili and Kili. Call them back," he ordered Dwalin.

"Thorin, are you sure about this?" Dwalin asked.

"Do it. We will live to fight another day," Thorin answered.

However, as Thorin and Bilbo prepared to retreat and Dwalin was going to fetch Fili and Kili, they heard the loud boom of a drum from across the way. They waited with bated breath to see what it meant. Within moments, to their utter horror, they beheld Azog appearing near the top balcony of the tower, followed by a handful of Orcs...and dragging Fili behind him.

Dread overtook them all as they rushed to the edge of the cliff where they stood. Azog lifted Fili up and held him over the edge of the tower, speaking words in Orcish that they didn't understand. What they could comprehend was that Fili was in trouble and their hearts fell in despair because there was nothing they could do.

He was going to die in front of them...and there was nothing they could do to save him.

"Go!" Fili called out to them desperately. "Run!"

Azog raised his arm with his jagged sword…

And suddenly, he reeled back in pain and an arrow was sticking out of his sword arm. In the process, his hand let Fili go and he dropped to the floor of the balcony.

"Get your hands off my boy!"

Right then, Aelin appeared in the entryway and began firing arrows at the other oncoming Orcs, taking them out one by one.

"Run, Fili!" she cried to Fili.

Despite the fact he was startled to have been saved by Aelin from what had seemed like his imminent death, Fili did as she told him and booked it for the door, dodging the remaining Orcs.

On the other side, Thorin, Bilbo and Dwalin were shocked to have seen Fili's death averted and by Aelin, of all people.

"It's Aelin!" Bilbo cried out.

Bewildered at what he had just seen, Thorin took off for the stairs immediately without hesitation. His nephews and the woman he loved were all in harm's way and all that was on his mind was getting them out of there.

"Thorin, wait!" Dwalin shouted, going after him. As he caught up to him, he said, "She really is a stubborn one, that woman of yours!"

"More than I may care to admit," Thorin replied.

"But, in this case, it's a good thing she disobeyed you, because if she hadn't-"

"Do not say it, Dwalin."

Right then, they heard noises and shouts coming from behind them. They turned to see that Azog's other army was coming up over the walls of where they had just come from.

"Go back and protect Bilbo. I will get Aelin and the lads," Thorin told Dwalin. Dwalin nodded and right away ran back the other way.

As he turned back, Fili came running towards him and Thorin grabbed him immediately.

"Aelin is still in there and I don't know where Kili is!" Fili exclaimed in a panic, clutching his uncle's arms.

"I will find them," Thorin promised. "Go now, Fili."

Without any argument, Fili ran to the other side.

Thorin got himself up the stairs, but just as he got to the top, Azog materialized from the shadows and, with a roar, took a swing right at him, knocking him back. As Azog went to strike again, Thorin ducked away and attacked back.

Right then, Aelin suddenly appeared again, jumping from an upper wall and lodging one of her knives into his shoulder, emitting a painful roar from him. As the force of the blow forced him downward, she swung herself around until her feet touched the ground and pulled the knife out, taking a step back and brandishing her weapons.

Azog bellowed in anger and went to swing his mace at her. Swiftly, she ducked and rolled towards Thorin, slashing at Azog's leg as she rolled back to her knees.

"Run, Thorin!" she yelled at him.

Azog reeled back around and brought his mace up, but Thorin jumped in front of Aelin and blocked the oncoming blow with his sword.

"You and I are going to have a serious talk when this is over," he scolded her as he pushed Azog away.

"Save it. You're glad I came and you know it," she shot back as she then put herself in front of him and parried the pale Orc's next blow, raising both knives above her head and catching the handle of the mace in between them. Then she gave a swift kick into Azog's stomach, saying as she did so, "Fili would be dead if not for me!"

Just then, Azog took another swing at Aelin, but was quicker this time. He caught her off guard and his mace made contact with her stomach, sending her flying over the edge of the rampart.

"Aelin!" Thorin cried. He dodged Azog's next attack and jumped over the edge after her. He lifted her to her feet and pulled her into one of the alcoves, hiding themselves from Azog temporarily.

As they moved along the small tunnel, Thorin told Aelin, "I must face Azog and I cannot risk him harming you. Go find Kili and get yourselves away from here."

"Kili?" Aelin repeated. "Did he not come find you?"

"No, I have only seen Fili," he replied.

She growled quietly in irritation. "Oh, that lad! I caught him as I arrived and I told him to go back to you!' she exclaimed. Then she sighed. "Very well, I will find him."

He grasped her shoulders firmly. "Promise me that, when you do, you both will retreat from this place."

"No, I will fight with you," she said back.

"Promise me, Aelin!" he repeated more emphatically, tightening his hold on her shoulders.

Aelin knew Thorin was only doing this to protect her, but she wanted to be there to fight with him and protect him. But there was no time for arguing, so she responded, "All right, I promise I will get us both away from here."

Thorin then brought Aelin's head towards his and kissed her urgently. As he pulled away, he said to her, "Stay strong, my love. All of this will be over soon."

"None if it will be worth it if you don't come out of this alive," she replied, "so you had better go kill that wretched monster and get back to your family and friends who need you."

He gave her an affirming bow of his head, squeezed her hand and ran forward out of the alcove.

Aelin left the alcove shortly after him and went looking for Kili, calling out his name and taking down any Orcs that came her way. Eventually, she found him battling a few Orcs on his own. She withdrew an arrow and fired at one of them and then took a shot at another as Kili killed the one in front of him.

"You fool, why didn't you listen to me and go to Thorin?" she demanded.

He simply shrugged and replied with a witty grin towards her, "I just took after the best."

She opened her mouth to retort, but she had to admit, he had a point. "You're clever. Clearly, I have been a bad influence on you," she replied, smirking.

Then his tone grew serious as he informed her, "I cannot leave now. Tauriel is here."

"That she-Elf from Mirkwood you fancy?" she clarified.

"Yes," he answered. "She's here; she was calling for me and then suddenly I heard her cry out in pain. I fear she's in danger and I have to save her. "

"Very well. I will help you," she said back.

With that, the two of them ran off, with Kili leading, in the direction where he had heard Tauriel's voice coming from.

Moments later, Kili came to a ledge and leapt off, landing on the back of a giant Orc and putting his sword in front of its weapon. Tauriel laid prostrate on the ground by a wall, injured and dazed. While Kili kept the Orc distracted, Aelin went over to Tauriel and helped her to her feet.

"You're hurt. Stay back, we'll handle this," she ordered the Elf.

Before Tauriel could protest, Kili called out and they saw him get thrown from the Orc's shoulders and onto the stairs. Aelin withdrew her battle knives, ran, jumped onto its back and plunged her knives into its back. He let out a roar and swung around to try and grab her.

"Run, both of you! I'll take care of this filth!" Aelin shouted.

Kili got off the stairs and darted to Tauriel, crying out, "Come on, Tauriel!" as he grabbed her hand and pulled her away and the two of them ran off.

Just as they left, the giant Orc reached back and got hold of the back of Aelin's armor. He pulled her forward, making her withdraw her knives painfully from his body in the process, and threw her to the ground. She tumbled along the floor and got dangerously close to the edge. She quickly got back up, readying her knives. The Orc roared and took a charge towards her. However, Aelin was a quick thinker and, instead, sidestepped at the last second, and the Orc went tripping over the edge of the cliff, falling down a few feet until he landed head first on a stony ledge below.

"Now, if only Azog were so stupid…," she commented out loud.

Seeing that her work there was already done, Aelin took her leave and went running back the direction she remembered the outside of the tower was. Strangely, she came across no Orcs, but later realized that they were all out on the frozen river, attacking Thorin, who was now no longer in combat with Azog. Up ahead of her, she spotted Kili and Tauriel reaching the other side and going up the stairs, where Fili was waiting for them.

Now reassured that both of Thorin's nephews were all right, Aelin sheathed her knives, withdrew her bow and arrow and began firing at any Orcs she could see as she went along to give Thorin a little bit of help. One arrow hit an Orc in the back, another hit one through the neck and her last one went straight through an Orc's head. Then she dashed for the stairs, where more Orcs were waiting for her. Although, Dwalin, Fili, Kili and Tauriel were all fighting plenty of others themselves. One came at her and she immediately sliced its neck before shoving it out of her way. Just as she did, she noticed Bilbo lying on the ground.

"Bilbo!" she exclaimed, dropping beside him. She felt his head and checked his pulse and, to her relief, he was still alive. He was just unconscious. Now knowing he was okay, she had to get him out of harm's way, she pulled him into a small alcove off to the side where he wouldn't get accidentally trampled by friend or foe.

As she set him down, she heard a guttural shriek behind her and immediately thrust a knife back, stabbing the Orc in its chest. As it fell backwards, she rushed forward to join in the fight before her.

For however long, she knew not, Aelin fought hard beside her friends on the opposite side of the Ravenhill tower, killing Orc after Orc and gradually dwindling their numbers, even though it seemed as though they just kept coming. Before long, they all were growing weary and their strength was slowly fading, yet they continued to fight.

After some time, they took out what seemed to be the last of the Orcs and, as they began to take a breather, they could see movement in the sky and all of them stopped to look. Then, emerging from the clouds, came the giant Eagles, soaring through the sky towards the massive army down below before the gates of Erebor.

"The Eagles have come!" exclaimed Kili as they watched the massive birds fly overhead.

"We may yet survive this!" added Dwalin.

"We still have things to do here, lads," then said Aelin. "Fili, Dwalin, go check and make sure there are no other Orcs lurking about."

The two of them voiced their agreement and did as she told them.

She then turned to the other two and said, "Kili, get yourself, Tauriel and Bilbo back down to the mainland. Tauriel is badly hurt and Bilbo is unconscious. They will need medical attention immediately. Either find Oin or, at least, get them somewhere safe until the battle is over."

"What will you do?" asked Kili.

"I'm going to find Thorin and make sure he's all right," she answered.

Kili looked to Tauriel and told her, "There are mountain goats further down the hill. Get yourself and Bilbo out of here. I am going to stay and help her."

"I will," answered Tauriel and she turned away to go get Bilbo.

Aelin, seeing Kili make this gesture, said back to him, "If you want to help me, stay here and keep watch in case anymore Orcs come this way."

He nodded in compliance and she turned away from him.

She went towards the edge of the platform and was surprised to see both Thorin and Azog down on the ice, standing on a broken piece of the frozen water. Azog now had a stone flail and it was stuck in the ice. However, Thorin quickly crouched down, pulled it from the ice and threw it into Azog's arms. Before the Defiler could react, Thorin took a step back off the broken ice and, now that all the weight was on Azog's side, the ice tilted and the pale Orc slipped, slowly slipping into the water and underneath the ice.

Aelin stood speechless in amazement. Surely, there was no way Azog could have survived that, not with the weight of his armor and the stone flail to drag him down.

"Thorin!" she cried. When he looked up to her, she added, "You did it! You killed him!"

He mustered as best a smile as he could, but heaved a heavy, tired sigh. In the moment, it seemed as though it was all over.

However, in the same moment, both Thorin and Aelin realized that there was movement underneath the ice. They watched as Azog's body came floating through the water underneath Thorin, his eyes still open wide. Thorin turned and followed the direction the body was going, slowly walking away.

"Thorin, leave it!" Aelin called out to him as she started descending the stairs to go get him. "He'll be dead any moment! Come on, let's get out of here!"

He stood in place for a brief second and then, all of a sudden, he let out a loud yell of pain. Aelin reached back to grab one of her arrows...and there were none to be found. As she threw her bow to the ground in frustration, she saw Thorin fall to the ground and Azog suddenly bursting through the ice in front of him. In the spur of the moment, Aelin simply sprinted towards Thorin, her only thought being to stop Azog and save Thorin.

The pale Orc swung his sword arm down at Thorin and he deflected the blow, but barely. Azog took another swing and Thorin once again parried, but his strength was failing him. Then, with another roar, Azog pulled his arm back and plunged downward.

His sword made contact...but instead of with Thorin's body, it was with Aelin's.

She had thrown herself between Azog's sword and Thorin.

Seeing Aelin suddenly appear and standing motionless above him, groaning in pain, Thorin's heart and the world around him stopped.

"NO!" he shouted.

Azog, seeing that his sword had not hit his intended target, growled with irritation, lifted his arm up and threw Aelin's body off to the side. She hit the ice hard and rolled, letting out a pained cry. As she stopped, however, she turned her head and cried out as loud as she could, "Now, Thorin!"

Even though he was still in a state of shock, Thorin knew this was his chance as Azog was distracted. He gripped his sword tightly, moved up to his knees and thrust his sword upward, piercing through Azog's armor and straight into his heart. As Azog looked down at the weapon with shock in his eyes, Thorin jumped up and forced him onto his back and, as he did so, shoved the sword further down into the pale Orc's body, breaking through the ice underneath him. Within seconds, Azog let out one last gasp and then breathed no more.

Thorin let out a sigh of relief. His lifelong enemy was now finally dead for good.

Unfortunately, his victory was short-lived as he remembered Aelin.

In that moment, he heard Kili cry out to him, who was standing back up on the platform and had seen the last of what had happened after hearing Thorin's shout.

"Aelin is badly wounded! Get help quickly!" Thorin ordered him.

Needing no other explanation, Kili rushed off without delay.

Thorin rushed to Aelin's side and dropped to his knees beside her. She was clutching her stomach, coughing and groaning in agony.

"Aelin!" he exclaimed as he gathered her into his arms. He looked down at her broken, bloodied armor and saw her wound. It was quite a deep, fatal wound. "No…," he groaned upon seeing it. "Why are you not wearing the mithril armor I gave you, Aelin?"

Aelin gasped shakily and replied weakly, "I gave it…to Bilbo. I felt he…would need it…more than me."

Thorin held Aelin closer to him and said to her, trying to calm the both of them, "Stay with me, Aelin. Hold on. You're going to be all right. Kili is getting help; we'll get you out of here. You're going to live."

With another moan, she shook her head, looked up at him and replied, "It's all right, Thorin. I'm not afraid to die. If I die, it would be saving your life...and I couldn't wish for a better way to go."

"No...I can't lose you, my love," he said back, almost through gritted teeth as he tried to keep the tears in his eyes at bay. "I only just got you back. I will not let you die. I am going to save you."

She mustered a tiny smile. "You already did," she told him. "You showed me what it means to love and to be loved in return..." Then she coughed hard and afterwards reached a hand up to touch Thorin's cheek as she said through wavering breath, "Thank you...for giving me such true happiness...that I had never before known. I am grateful...I was able...to find it before the end. I love you, Thorin Oakenshield."

Now, Thorin could feel his will to stay strong failing. His lip quivered as he replied back to her in a strained voice, "And I love you, Aelin."

Aelin released another moan of pain and gasped for air. Thorin tightened his arms around her, holding her close. Where was Kili? He had to get back soon or else he would lose her!

She heaved a heavy sigh and then spoke, "Farewell, Thorin. The Lonely Mountain is yours again. You are home, at last...where you belong." Another small smile inched on her lips and a single tear fell from the corner of her eye. "Thank you for giving me a home…not just in Erebor…but with the company and with you. I always felt at home with all of you. If more people valued home above gold, this world would be a merrier place."

"No... Aelin, no…," he pleaded, knowing that she would only be speaking that way if it meant she was already fading.

Her emerald eyes met his sapphire ones once more as another tear fell and she breathed out, "I would have followed you, my love...my captain...my King…." She traced his cheek and sighed quietly, "I love you…."

Then, in that moment, her hand went limp and fell against his chest, her eyelids slowly closed, one last long breath left her lips and she moved no more.

Thorin worried one of his worst nightmares had come to pass as he grasped her limp hand. "Aelin? Aelin?" he asked aloud.

She didn't move nor gave any answer.

"No...this cannot be…!" Thorin cried out in his mind. "No...Aelin, no!" he cried, lightly shaking her body. "Hold on! Come back! Please, come back to me." He lifted a hand to her face. "Aelin, I love you! Please, come back," he begged.

Still nothing.

"I need you...don't leave me. You can't leave me now. Come back to me, my love. Please...no...Aelin...I love you...Aelin…."

Finally, Thorin couldn't hold back anymore. He threw his head back and released the loudest, most agonizing scream into the wind before burying his face into Aelin's lifeless body that he clutched close to him and rocked back and forth, his tears now falling freely from his eyes. There he stayed, mourning over his true love, for what felt like an eternity to him.

Very soon, the rest of company came to the tower, especially after most of them heard Thorin's anguished cry. As they gathered close, they all halted in complete and utter shock as they beheld their King on his knees holding Aelin's body against him and weeping.

"No...no!" cried Fili as he and Kili ran over to their uncle.

"Please tell me it's not true...it can't be true…," gasped Nori to his brothers as they, too, followed after the lads.

Fili fell to his knees in front of Thorin and he looked down at Aelin. "Aelin? Aelin…?" he asked, full of fear.

Thorin's head lifted and Fili met his gaze. His uncle's eyes were red, swollen and had tears still falling from them. Seeing his uncle this way confirmed his worst fear.

"No…," he moaned as his face fell and his eyes filled with his own tears. "No, it can't be true. It can't be true!" He moved to his feet and crashed into Dwalin behind him. "She can't be dead! She can't be!"

Dwalin took the shaking boy into his arms and whispered, trying to stay strong, "She's gone, Fili...she's gone."

Nori had also gotten onto his knees and stared down at the face of his sister. His heart had ceased beating inside him. His whole body was numb. All he could see was his motionless sister lying in Thorin's arms in front of him. He wanted to believe he was dreaming, but when he took her hand nearest to him, he knew he couldn't be.

"This was not supposed to happen…," he spoke, his voice shaking. "This was not how the battle was supposed to end…." Then he too broke down as he cried aloud and buried his face in her arm, "Aelin, no!"

After that, the rest of the company joined in their grief as they all fell to their knees and wept, holding each other to try and comfort one another as best they could, but to no avail. There was no comfort to be found in that moment for any of them.

Their beloved companion, Aelin, was dead.

.

If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go barricade myself and sob in a corner...

Seriously, I hate myself for thinking of this twist in the story...and if any of you hate me now, too, I completely understand.

As it happens, Aelin is now dead, having sacrificed herself to save Thorin. The next chapter will be the aftermath of the battle as well as the funeral the company holds for her. Man, I'm really going to hate writing that...

I urge you to still continue reading this because there is more that I have in store for this, even though the turn of events is sad and depressing. There is still more to come, so please stay with me.

That is all I have to say, other than again, I apologize if things seemed rushed with the fighting. I don't write fights well and so I just kinda wanted to get through everything.

Leave a review (a nice one, if you please) or PM me!

See you next time!