'It's dangerous outside, sweetheart.'

Little Enya was in Ailva's arms, not daring to look into her mothers eyes. Oh yes, she was mad, but crossing her mom wasn't an option. She remembered the consequences she would have to face for being rude only too well… Her butt still hurt from the punishment she received yesterday. And only because she called mrs Adams from next door a whale. Enya couldn't understand why her mom had been so pissed about it, it wasn't like she told a lie?! She had been perfectly honest. The woman just looked like the whale in her picture book, and Enya had told her that. Needless to say, she would never do that again…

'Come on.' Ailva cooed while she carried Enya inside.

'Mom I'd like to play.' Enya protested weakly, not liking the fact that she had to stay indoors for the rest of the day.

'No tyllerö, you're going to help me make dinner.' Her mother replied.

'My name is Énya.' She remarked, feeling a bit annoyed that her mother insisted on giving her all kinds of nicknames.

Ailva chuckled. 'I know that, tyllerö.'

Enya crossed her arms. 'Why did you call me Enya then? I don't like it.'

Ailva heaved a sigh. 'Do you know what tyllerö means baby?'

'No.'

'It means little girl…' her mother touched her cheek and smiled. 'It's Finnish. I grew up there.'

Little Enya nodded eagerly. She might not like the nickname her mother gave her, but she did love it when her mother told her about Finland. She adored the stories about the ruthless Vikings, the demigods and the fairies that hid in the beautiful landscapes. Once she was all grown up, she would visit it one time and find out if fairies really lived in hollow trees, like Ailva told her.

'Can you tell me about the little mouse that was a princess*?' she asked.

Ailva laughed. 'Of course I can.'

She put Enya on the kitchen counter and began the story. Enya listened intently, like she never heard the fairytale before. She watched her mother peel the potatoes and cut them into pieces.

'Of course I can weave! Said the mouse.' Ailva recited. 'It would be a strange thing if Veikko's sweetheart couldn't weave, wouldn't it, Enya?'

'Yes!' Enya answered. 'And what did she do next?'

'Don't you remember?' Ailva teased. 'I've told you this story at least a hundred times!'

'But maybe it's different this time!' Enya countered. 'What if Veikko lost the nutshell with the cloth? Then he couldn't show it to his father…'

'Do you want Veikko to lose it?' Ailva inquired.

'No!' Enya said hastily.

'Alright!' Ailva replied as she put the pan filled with potatoes on the brand-new gas stove. She put on the gas and got a match-box to lit one, but it wasn't cooperating.

No spark. No fire.

'The little mouse rang a tiny silver bell and-' her mother stopped mid-sentence and frowned. 'Wait, why isn't it working? I thought that… Has Gigi dropped the matches in the sink again and didn't tell me about it?'

Ailva tried to lit another match, but still to no avail. 'Enya, can you go and ask your grandmother why she bought those cheap matches again?'

But Enya wasn't paying attention to her mother. Her little hands were shaking violently and she felt a burning pain in them.

'Mommy…' she complained. 'It hurts…'

'Not now, baby.' Her mother muttered. 'I'm trying to…'

Little Enya started to sob uncontrollably as fire flames shot from her palms. It hurt so much and she wanted it to go away, but she didn't know how! She flapped with her hands in an effort to cool them down, but it only made the flames fly into the room. Ailva took a surprised step back when suddenly the gas stove was on and then yelled when she realized her dress was on fire too. With a quick move she threw the content of the pan on her dress, the water successfully extinguishing the fire. The potatoes rolled over the kitchen floor.

'ENYA WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?' she shouted when she saw flames coming from her daughters hands. 'ENYA?!'

Enya jumped from the counter and ran outside, sobbing. She didn't understand what was happening to her. But above all… she didn't understand why her mother was angry at her, again. What did she do wrong?

'Enya! Tyllerö! Come back to me! What have you done?'

Enya opened her eyes. Darkness surrounded her and the sound of clattering hooves and rattling carts made it hard to determine where Ailva's voice was coming from. It sounded vague… like she was out her mother's reach. Nevertheless, Enya could hear the annoyance lingering under the surface, the demanding haughty tone that all the Blueheart princesses used so well. Boy, usually when her mother went all royal highness like that, it meant trouble. Although… she wasn't certain anymore if SHE or her little toddler counterpart had a problem.

'Mom?' she called back, not knowing if her mother could hear her reply. The sound of her mother's voice made her, trouble or not, yearn for a conversation. She wanted to talk to Ailva so badly, to ask all the questions that she had been left with. Her body started trembling as she went over the memory she just visited. Details flooded in her mind again. That beautiful dress her mother wore, with a bright purple color and daring neckline… It was her absolute favorite when she was a kid. She adored how the color complemented her mother's features. It made her look like an angel. Enya smiled faintly when she remembered that her mother had gained quite the attention with that dress. Gigi of course hated the dress with a fiery passion and didn't even try to hide her pride when she found out that five-year-old Enya ruined it with her fire. Even if it was just by accident. Enya bit her lip in an attempt not to giggle when she remembered the face Gigi made once she discovered that the fire witch powers finally were showing. Her mother's outraged screams. Her own confusion, because at the time, she didn't comprehend why there were flames shooting from her palms…

Wait.

Fire.

Enya frowned. She had been five when her powers awoke. Eighty-four years ago. Gigi had been so proud and had told little Enya on that hot summer day how special she was. Gigi wanted to teach her, to make sure she…

Then how on earth could Gigi have been cool with Ailva erasing Enya's memories every few years? Gigi knew Enya was the next fire witch in line, she knew her granddaughter had a destination, why would she allow Ailva…? Why? Why would Gigi risk the possibility that Enya wouldn't discover her full potential when it was already too late? Or even worse: not even learning about her powers. Enya shook her head and let out a deep sigh. The noises around her were making it hard to think. She tried to cover her ears and shut the sounds out, but it was to no avail. The darkness was suffocating, making it hard to breathe. She could feel it invading her body, slowly swallowing all the happiness and love inside of her.

'Enya?' Ailva's voice lifted her up again.

'MOM?' she tried again, her voice trembling.

'Here… Come…' Ailva's voice, now feeling a bit closer, replied.

The faint response made Enya spin on her heels. Hope sprung in her chest. 'Mom? Where are you?'

There was nothing but echoes.

Whispers in the dark.

'Mom? I'm coming, stay right where you are!' Enya cried out and she started running. 'Mom please! Don't leave me…'

An agitated voice, one she never heard before, made her stop in her tracks.

'He cannot do that, can he? Gigi said-' The voice was strained, thick with worries.

A second lower voice answered. 'Screw what Gigi said! He's a fire warlock, and a powerful one too. He can't die. He has to try.'

The first person heaved a sigh. 'I don't think he's ready... He told me himself that he still isn't as comfortable to accept water as one of his powers… We shouldn't push him.'

'Yes, we should!' the second person insisted. 'He owes it to our people to TRY! God damnit, where is your gut, soldier?!'

Enya listened carefully and tried to determine where the sound came from. Ahead? She sneaked further and blinked when a tiny light source shone in her eyes. There. Light. Was this her way out of this black void?

'We should've allowed him to leave with the princess…' the first voice sounded clearer now, close. 'The city is already lost…'

Enya heard some sounds that looked like a scuffle, and she wondered if the second person had lost his temper.

'We will NEVER give up on our city, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?! NEVER! WE ARE GUARDS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY AND WE SWORE TO PROTECT THEM AND NOGROD!'

'And the family escaped…' the first voice muttered. 'Leaving us here to die…'

'We should be proud to die in service! It is a great honor!' the second person said venomously. Enya could hear him loud and clear now, and she took a few steps towards the light. It became brighter with every step, to the point where it almost blinded her. She reached out.

A low hissing sound reached Enya's ears, making her body tremble. The air around her was blazing hot, steam almost scorched her skin. It deprived her from her sight, but she heard massive boulders being crumbled into dust all around her. Enya inhaled slowly, trying to calm her heart that almost drummed out of her chest. She couldn't stay here like this. Although she had no idea in what kind of hell hole she had landed now, she knew one thing: even her fire witch powers wouldn't protect her from this kind of heat. Or those rocks crashing around her. She had to move, and fast. Enya tried to crawl away, but her body refused to function. It trembled uncontrollably and every single muscle felt like chewing gum. She swallowed hard and managed to shift herself a little until she was behind a large boulder. It wasn't perfect, but at least she was safe from the prying eyes of the person who tried to crush her with stones.

Well… person… Enya's hands clasped her mouth as it started to dawn on her what kind of creature could radiate THIS kind of heat AND make a mountain come down around it… No… It couldn't be, could it? She hoped that this inkling was wrong, that-

'You think you can hide from me?' A hiss, close by.

Enya's eyes widened and she pressed herself against the rock as if she wanted to disappear inside the stone. She never encountered such a creature in real life before (thank god), but it was unmistaken what she thought it was.

A dragon.

'Come out of the shadows… sorcerer…'

A foul breath tickled her face and it almost made her gag. The stench was overwhelming, like five hundred rotting corpses were in there.

'Jeez… that thing could really use a toothbrush… OR thirty bottles of Listerine, for that matter…' her mind chatted.

'Shut up!' Enya hissed to herself. Why wouldn't her mind just get lost, just once? She had more serious matters to worry about than how to improve a dragon's dental health. To stay alive, for example. To find out how she even got in this place, because the last thing she remembered was…

'How many times did Thorin make love to you, darling?' her mind asked happily. 'Because I cannot remember…' A twitch went through her lower body, her thighs suddenly yearning again for his touch. Her cheeks flushed in a deep red color when she recalled fragments of their night together. But she couldn't remember how many rounds they had either…

'I do recall the speed at which he was ready for a next time!' her mind grinned. 'That dwarf king has got quite the stamina! Did I mention before how cute his butt is?'

Enya rolled her eyes furiously, wondering if there ever would be a day her brain… Wait. Whatever the hell she was wishing for, it wasn't going to happen. Enya sighed and forced herself to focus on her surroundings again. Her inner convo's were going to be the death of her one day. She pushed herself up a little and peered from behind the rock.

It was unmistaken a dragon. And it was massive, its height easily beating the tallest skyscraper in the world. It stood proudly on top of one of the mountains, golden catlike eyes scanning the area for prey. Its hide consisted of tiny scales in all shades of a bright green color, protecting the soft flesh underneath. Enya looked down and shivered when she saw the huge claws crumbling the rocks the dragon was standing on. Meat hooks, as Bofur painfully accurate described them.

Meat hooks indeed.

Along its spine large spikes ran down all the way to the tail. Although the wings were folded, Enya could imagine how majestic it would look like when the beast flew through the sky. If Smaug was anything like this beast, she was… well… fucked. To say the least. Enya clasped her hands before her mouth when she realized that there was a possibility that this in fact, was Smaug. She had no idea how long dragons could live. Or how he looked like. Could this be Smaug the stupendous?

'Show your face, you coward!' the dragon demanded, steam blowing from its nose. Enya swallowed hard. Right. She had to stop hiding and face that thing with…

'I'M RIGHT HERE!'

The low voice sounded coarse. Enya turned around to see who joined the fight. The dwarf lord stood majestically on top of the other mountain, way out of Enya's reach. She couldn't see him clearly, but he had long dark chestnut hair with strands of grey in it, accompanied by a bushy beard. His mouth was curved into a wry smile. He wasn't wearing any heavy armor, just some leather worn clothing. The blueish color was smeared with dirt and the fabric was ripped. It looked like he had a rough day. For how long had he been fighting this beast? The warlock filled his hand palms with fire and gritted his teeth. Enya held her breath when she realized this sorcerer looked too familiar. Her brain was processing the information slowly, but the idea was daunting on her.

Emrak.

Emrak, her powerful fire warlock grandfather, who died trying to save her kin and their city.

'Ah! Emrak!' the fire-drake purred. 'There you are. Tired already? I thought I finally had you this time...'

'You guessed wrong, you foul beast. It takes more than that to kill me.' Her grandfather hissed. 'You killed my loved ones, my kin! You destroyed my city, and you will pay for that!'

Nogrod.

Enya looked beneath her and saw total chaos. Homes burned to the ground. Piles of ash, that presumably once were living and breathing members of her kin. Enya took a deep breath as she took in the severity of damage that had been done. Nogrod was gone, beyond any repair. How could this beast, this devil do this? Was it really just born and bred with the sole purpose to destroy all life in middle earth?

'Tsssk.' The dragon scoffed. 'Where are your manners? We've been fighting for the past few hours, and you never asked me my name. I do have one, Emrak, fire warlock of the firebeard clan. My name is Shissa, the powerful.'

Emrak scoffed. 'I don't care about your name… the spawn of Ancalagon the Black are all the same. You kill innocent people in the name of your foul master Morgoth. You defile our beautiful middle earth with your existence.'

'Innocent?' Shissa opposed. Impressive fire flames escaped through her teeth as she talked. 'You call yourselves innocent? You dwarves are greedy, blind. You already destroyed this beautiful middle earth- as you call it- all by yourselves.'

Enya's grandfather spread his arms, his face red with fury. 'We didn't create this chaos!' he sneered. 'We had NO part in this!'

'Your people were no match for me, no.' Shissa mocked. 'And I'm guessing you're not much better, are you?' With those last words, the fire-drake opened her mouth and a raging fire scorched over the mountain.

Enya lunged forward in an attempt to shield her grandfather against the flames, but the fire went straight through her. For a single moment, she was utterly confused and stared at the dragon. The beast didn't seem to notice her… How was that…?

The realization hit her like a bomb. Right. She was reliving a memory. There was nothing she could do, but watch.

Emrak hadn't noticed his granddaughter as well and laughed as he countered her fire with his own. 'I master fire into perfection, beast.' He growled. 'You cannot hurt me with your flames.'

Shissa smiled, baring her sharp pointy teeth. 'Dwarves never seem to stop surprising me…' she purred. 'Their arrogance is blinding them.'

Emrak moved quickly and as he muttered words Enya could not understand (she suspected Khuzdul), a large whip made entirely out of ice appeared in his hands. Shissa hissed and took a step back, the move making Enya's grandfather grin.

'Arrogance, eh?'

'You think that can kill a mighty fire-drake like me, warlock?' Shissa growled. 'You need more than that little rod.' With her enormous claws she lifted herself off the mountain she had been standing on, spreading her dreadful wings in the sky.

A sharp cracking sound was heard and Shissa roared as the whip wound around her neck and pulled her down. Enya gasped when she saw the fire-drake crashing down in the valley. That had to hurt! The mountains around it shook in their foundations, and rocks broke off the slopes. They tumbled into the void, landing on the now furious dragon. Enya had to admit that the situation was quite hilarious, a livid mighty fire-drake on her back, flouncing inelegantly like a turtle…

This meant 1-0 for Emrak… But somehow she doubted if it was a good idea to fuel the anger of a huge reptile in this way. She glanced over at her grandfather, but he didn't look concerned all. He just stood there, whip in his hand, and smirked. The fire-drake hissed and turned her neck around, the move successfully pulling the whip towards her. Emrak cursed when he lost his balance and followed his whip downwards. Enya peered over the edge and heaved a relieved sigh when she saw her grandfather had been able to soften his landing by creating a large cushion of soft forest soil. Shissa wasted no time and opened her mouth to release her flames on her. Emrak groaned as he protected himself against her fire with his own burning shield.

'Fire against fire will never WORK, filth!' he roared.

The fire-drake answered by shooting more flames at him, but then continued by whacking her claws in his direction. She seemed to have a change of hearth and tried a different approach: getting her grandfather in her claws. Enya bit her lip worriedly when smoke and fog made it hard to follow the fight. She heard the dragon hissing numerous times and Emrak screaming things at the beast. She couldn't understand what he was saying, but it sounded unfriendly to say the least…

A terrifying yell made her fear for her grandfather's life. Was he dying? What was happening? Enya howled when a human body flew into her direction. Emrak shouted as he crashed into the mountain above her. Luckily he was still breathing.

'Come on, get up grandpa…' she muttered as she watched him scrambling himself together. There was a wound on his head and he was bleeding like stuck pig.

'Giving up yet, fire warlock?' Shissa mocked in the distance. 'If you surrender, I'll give you a quick death.'

Emrak didn't reply, as stood on the top of the mountain. The slope looked slippery from all the blood and damage it had suffered and Enya could see it took all her grandfather's energy not to collapse and fall down. Her great fire warlock grandpa seemed weary. From the stories Balin had told her, Enya remembered that the battle of Nogrod had lasted more than a day. Emrak had been one of the last ones alive, and his dessert was fighting against one of the biggest fire-drakes alive for hours. He was doomed.

Nevertheless, her grandfather just smiled as he listened to the nearing thunder. Dark clouds filled the skies and lightning started to rip through the air. Enya shivered, her arms suddenly covered in goosebumps. The sky above Nogrod was loaded with electricity, waiting to be unleashed. The world beneath it seemed to hold its breath as it watched the inevitable coming. Enya gasped, as her body reacted to the storm. It called to her, begging her to take its powers and make it her own. A yearning deep inside of her told her that she should give in, to do what she was born for.

A fear of dying because she wasn't ready to yield this force hold her back, but she knew instantly that Emrak wouldn't back down. Unpleasant thoughts shot through her mind. The conversation between the guards… They had said that Emrak failed to master water. He too had to be aware that his powers weren't balanced enough to do this. There was a big chance that he wouldn't make it, but he was going to try anyway.

He was going to channel the most powerful source of nature. The thunderstorm. Electrocute a terrifying fire-drake.

Blood rushed through her veins and Enya shot up. Fuck the fact that this was supposed to be just a memory. There was no way he was going to do this alone. She could try. She lunged forward and climbed the last bit of the mountain as fast as she could. The storm was getting closer, the very air she breathed felt tensed and loaded. Her body started to shake again, making it almost impossible to coordinate her movements. Enya gritted her teeth. Just a few steps... The odor of sweat and fire hung heavily in her nose and she found herself gasping for air.

'GRANDPA!' she screamed. 'WAIT FOR ME! I CAN HELP, I CAN…'

She almost tripped when suddenly a flash of light struck into the mountain, followed by a blow that made the whole thing shake in its foundations. Enya clung unto the rocks like a lifeline. The thunder clanged in her ears, accompanied by a agonized scream and sinister laughter.

'GRANDPA?!' Enya cried out. 'PLEASE TELL ME YOU ARE ALRIGHT?'

But there was nothing. Enya scrambled herself together and clambered the last few steps towards the top. Smoke once again surrounded her, making it impossible to see what was going on or where she was going.

'Grandpa…' she rasped as she crawled on all fours over the top. 'Where are you? Grandpa…?'

A shiver went down her spine when Enya's hands detected a solid form.

'Oh please…' she muttered. 'Please don't be…' She swallowed hard, her fingers carefully stroking Emrak's face. Enya whimpered as she felt a sticky fluid running over her hands. That better not be… She started to freak out, because she couldn't see a damn thing and for all she knew, her grandfather was dying beneath her.

'Fire witch…' her mind commented. 'You are a fire witch, remember?'

Enya bit her lip. Oh yeah. Calm down. Because fire and ice came to her quite naturally, she often forgot she controlled air and earth as well. She closed her eyes, her mind focusing solely on the storm. She imagined herself being a powerful gush of wind, blowing patiently against the dark clouds until they floated into another direction, making room for the sun to shine upon the mountain top. When Enya felt sun rays shyly shining on her face, she heaved a deep sigh. Her eyelids fluttered open and she looked down.

She bit on her tongue in an attempt not to let a sound escape her mouth. Tears ran down her cheeks. Her breath hitched in her throat. Emrak lied beside her, staring up at the sky. His hands were burned badly, covered in blood and loose skin. Along his neck run a pattern of Lichtenberg figures. Somehow the lightning had left his body at his heart, leaving a gaping wound in his chest. His wasn't breathing. There was no pulse.

He was dead.

Her grandfather had been electrocuted, and she had failed him. Enya sobbed as she gently closed his eyelids, her heart overflowing with grief. She could have saved him. If she had not doubted her own powers, she could have reached him in time and helped him channel... Surely both of their strengths would have been enough to stand a chance?! A pained cry left her. How could she ever deal with Smaug and save her kin if she wasn't even able to do this?

'NO! Shissa, you killed him!' A high-pitched voice cried out, and the sudden sound startling Enya. She got up and gazed around her. No dragon.

'Don't be a baby, Dracarys!' Shissa replied, her voice sounding distant. 'He did it all by himself, little one… I was down here…'

'No, you were mean! You couldn't leave him alone!' The high voice stressed. Enya turned around and saw a tiny green dragon arriving on the top of the mountain. Its hide consisted of dark green scales and the pointy plates on its spine looked impressive, but because the little drake was no bigger than a small dog and its eyes were a friendly dark brown that reminded her much of a terrier, Enya couldn't fear it. Her hearth swelled with love for this little creature and its tiny feet with cute claws and…

Shissa groaned irritably, like she had this conversation many times before and was done with it. 'Dracarys, my boy…' she sighed. 'We are dragons… that's what we do… When will you learn?'

'Then I don't WANT to be a dragon!' Dracarys cried as he neared Emrak. 'I want to be GOOD, not mean!'

'You are, in fact, a dragon.' The fire-drake told him. 'You better behave like one. What will uncle Ancalagon say when he hears about this?'

A shiver went through Dracarys and he looked like he was about to cry. Enya frowned, because it was a weird sight. Animals, especially dragons, didn't usually cry, right? Right?

'I'm sorry.' Dracarys said to Emrak as he sat next to his lifeless body. 'She didn't mean to. I know she's good inside… I tried to stop her destroying your home, but she wouldn't listen…'

Dracarys reached under his wing and pulled out a beautiful blue rose. He solemnly laid it on Emrak's chest and rest his front claw on top of it. Enya reached out to lay her hand over his paw, but when she tried she went straight through him. How was that possible again? She had just touched her grandfather's face just minutes ago!

'What the hell?' she muttered when she discovered her body was transparent, like a ghost. The ground under her feet disappeared, turning into a gaping hole that was more than ready to swallow her alive. Enya screamed when she felt the void pulling on her body. This wasn't right, this couldn't be. She was wasn't weightless, but yet she wasn't…? She tried to hold on to the edge, not ready to be separated from her grandfather yet, but the pull was too strong and send her tumbling into the darkness.

'ENYA!' A deep baritone voice pulled her into reality again. 'Mahal, Enya!'

Enya's eyelids fluttered open, realizing she was in reality again. But which one? Thorin's sturdy arms supported her and his blue eyes were filled with worry.

'Enya…' he breathed, a relieved smile opening up his face.

'I was five…' she stuttered as her mind revisited her recently gained memories. 'I was five and I set my mother's dress on fire…'

'You had a memory?' Thorin asked softly while brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Enya nodded. 'I did… and then I saw my grandfather…' She swallowed hard, trying to reign in her emotions. Although her grandfather died dozens of years ago and she unconsciously knew there was nothing she could've done to save him, her grief was still fresh. The memory hurt.

'My grandfather…' she tried. 'He… I saw him…'

Thorin said nothing, but she knew he understood what she was trying to tell him. He slowly shook his head. 'I'm so sorry that you had to witness that, âzyungel. It's devastating to watch loved ones die…'

Enya looked up, suddenly realizing that over the course in his life, Thorin had lost so much. His kin, when Smaug took Erebor. His grandfather, who was slain by Azog in battle. His father that went missing… All people who he loved dearly. No wonder he went all protective around her during this journey. He cared deeply about her, and he had made many attempts to keep her safe. A vague smile appeared on Enya's face. She understood now why they had been quarreling that much, aside from the fact that they both were too stubborn for their own good. He had been terrified to lose her and she had been too blind to see that, though it had been displayed right in front of her.

Thorin gently put her down on her feet, his large hands supporting her. Enya groaned, feeling a bit unsteady and unsure if she could walk already.

'How am I going to be able to defeat a dragon?' Enya whispered to herself. 'He was the most powerful fire warlock that ever existed and he died!'

'You are not your grandfather…' Thorin told her. 'You are different.'

Enya looked up, her pale blue eyes gazing intently into the depths of his sapphire orbs. 'How do you know?' she asked. 'He's a part of me. What if I…' She didn't finish that sentence, nor did she have to.

'You're not going to kill it.' Thorin said softly. 'We all will be there.'

Yeah, they would be there. But none of the dwarves carried the responsibility Enya had. None of them possessed her powers, and no one could tell her if she would be able to do what was necessary. Of course she should be the one who killed the dragon. She had to protect all of her beloved dwarves, and she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if one of them died. She had to prevent that, at all costs. She paced forward and opened the backdoor to the balcony. She sat down on the balustrade and closed her eyes. The sharp, cold air calmed her nerves for a bit.

'Enya.' Thorin's hands slid around her waist and he pulled her against him. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and Enya melted in his embrace.

'We have to leave within an hour.' Thorin breathed. 'We need to be prepared when the last light of Durin's day strikes. We cannot afford to lose more time.'

'I know.' Enya murmured. 'Leave without me. I will catch up.'

'No, you won't.' Thorin countered. 'You-'

'And I tell you that you have to.' Enya interrupted him. 'I want to get myself together before I face that dragon. I need my time.'

Thorin watched her, his expression pained. His left hand stroked her cheek and his thumb ran over her lower lip. 'I meant that you are not coming with us, Blueheart.' He rasped. 'You will stay here and wait until Erebor is safe. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if you got hurt.'

'Oakenshield, we are not doing this!' Enya protested. 'The whole point of me joining your company was that I alone will stand a chance against a fire-drake!'

Thorin shook his head, clearly not impressed by her reasoning. 'Fíli and Kíli will stay behind as well. You'll be protected here.'

'But you won't!' Enya stressed. 'I need to-' She was cut off by his lips that claimed hers and pulled her into a kiss. It was desperate and demanding. His hands slid down her back and cupped her ass. Enya's fingers grabbed his coat and her legs wound around him. Thorin bucked his hips against her and a low growl left his mouth. She could feel her own desire spreading through her like fire, spurred on by his throbbing arousal pushing against her. A disapproving whimper came across her lips when Thorin broke the kiss, but it turned into a soft purr when he turned his attention to the crook of her neck. His beard rasped against her pulse point and the feeling drove her insane.

'Enya…' Thorin panted in her ear. 'I need you, my queen. You have to be safe. Alive.'

'And I need my king!' Enya pressed, her hands trailing over his chest. 'I cannot bear to lose you.'

'We will defeat Smaug.' Thorin said, his tone certain. 'He will suffer for what he did. We will take back Erebor.'

'Smaug is a FIRE-drake, Thorin!' Enya exclaimed. 'And I'm a FIRE witch…'

Thorin clenched his jaw, and Enya knew it was a lost cause. He would not allow her on the last part of the journey. She could try every trick she had up her sleeve, but he wouldn't give in. She wasn't coming with them. Well… Too bad for him she matched his level of stubbornness. She would let him go now and follow the company later, like she already planned to. Did he really think that she would allow him to face a dragon without her?

Besides, she felt like it wasn't his call. She was born to be out there, to face dangerous situations. But first she needed to get herself together.

'You are also my wife.' Thorin said and his expression was determined. 'You won't put yourself in danger. I will not allow it.'

'Thorin.'

It was Dwalin's voice that made an ending to their little rendezvous. 'We have to go. The master of Laketown has arranged a boat for us to reach the other side.'

The dwarf king heaved a sigh, not ready yet to let go of her.

'There will be hell to pay if you don't come back to me.' Enya told him.

Thorin rest his forehead against hers and a smile went across his face. 'I know, uzfakuh.' His hands cupped her face and their eyes met. Enya's body quivered and Thorin groaned. Their mouths crashed again, his tongue seeking hers. His hands were in her hair, fingers tangled in her locks and pulling her closer to him. Blood rushed through her veins again, making Enya forget where she was and who were potentially watching them. She wanted him, needed him, like she hadn't been with him at all last night. Talking about being insatiable…

'Mahal!' Thorin bit out as he abruptly let go of her. 'I'm tempted to…'

Enya's lip caught between her teeth and she blushed, because she knew exactly what he meant. If their kiss had lasted a little bit longer, he would have made love to her right on this spot. No matter who was present. And shameless as she was, she would have let him.

She watched Thorin and the others as they left the house, ready to fulfill their mission. Enya crossed her arms. She hoped she would see all of them alive again.

Enya didn't go to the docks to wave the company goodbye. She just couldn't bring herself to watch her one sail away from her. Besides, she too was heading towards a deadline. She needed to feel somewhat stable again before she could go after them. The muscles in her chest tightened when she thought of the fact that she had to battle a dragon within the next 48 hours. Her fire was useless against a drake, so she had to rely on the other elements to stand a chance.

Earth. Air. Water. Enya heaved a sigh. Right. What did Gigi and Emrak tell her about her powers? She frowned. She needed to be in sync with herself. As Emrak told her, water needs a strong yet gentle and loving leader…

Well, that was fucking great and all, but how did she get there? How could she combine those traits together? Absentmindedly she walked to the outskirts of town and paused when she reached the open water. The quietness around her was almost eerie, with only the sign of the blacksmith making a screeching sound. Enya assumed that the inhabitants of Lake town were more interested in seeing a company of dwarves and one hobbit leave their city than minding their own business. She sat down and watched the water ripple against the dock, wondering how she ever could work with such a gentle and seemingly useless element. As a person she could be described as many things, but gentle… Her approach in life was more aggressive, fiery. No wonder that flames and ice resonated easily through her. Using those forces were as easy as breathing. Even yielding air and earth went without too much thinking, but water in a liquid state… Enya clenched her fists, frustration flowing through her body. She had been meditating every day during the journey and it didn't help her one bit. She was sick of trying to calm herself down before taking it on… If it hadn't helped before, why would it now? Her heartbeat raised and Enya gritted her teeth. The lake reacted immediately to her doubt, the water in it becoming restless and splashing against the docks. The waves froze right on the spot, leaving a capricious landmark of icicles.

'No, I'm sorry!' Enya cried out. 'I apologize. Please. Show me how we can make this work…'

Nothing happened.

She didn't know what she had expected instead, but anger flared up in her abdomen. The urge to jump up and walk away was almost unbearable, but she forced herself to stay on the dock. She steadied her breathing, and lay her hands flat on her lap.

'Let's start over.' She muttered as she closed her eyes. 'I am Enya Blueheart, the last fire witch of the fire beard clan. I'm a princess of Nogrod and the future queen of Erebor. Thorin Oakenshield's one. I'm 89 years old, but I spent most of my life on earth.' She briefly stopped talking and smiled awkwardly, feeling stupid for talking to herself. 'Before I came to middle earth, I didn't know about my powers. My mother used to erase my memories every now and then, in a vain effort to give me a normal life. I do not want to, but I'm mad at her for refraining me from my real self. I've always felt like a part was missing…'

She swallowed, her mind pondering over all the new information she recently had gained. 'I think that's why I told myself not to feel at all. To work harder than anyone else, to strive for perfection… But when I landed here in middle earth, I… I found out who I really am and…' She shrugged and took a deep breath. 'I still cannot believe that someone as breathtaking and perfect as Thorin Oakenshield would even look at me, let alone single me out as his queen! My real self is scaring me to death and I'm afraid to fail the love of my life, to fail the world. I resent myself for being insecure and frightened, but I cannot help it. It's there…'

Something cold landed on her hand palm. Enya hissed from the sudden contact and carefully opened her eyes. There was a drop of water in the size of a coin, resting on her palm. Enya watched it in amazement and a sudden calmness overwhelmed her senses. She let it glide over her fingertips, accouraging it to float in the air. She smiled as she heard the ice in the lake melting down into liquid form again. Maybe if she-

'Missed me, pretty face?'

Well, fuck! If there wasn't that annoying warrior woman who just kept crawling back like a cockroach… Enya wanted to turn around and tell that bitch to back off and leave her in peace, but before she even could make a movement she was violently thrown out of balance. She tipped over the dock, almost diving into the cold water, but luckily her fire witch instincts were faster than her bodily movements. Enya groaned as she landed flat on her face on the ice. God damnit, how could that redhead have caught her by surprise? She got up and took a few paces backwards towards the open lake, forcing Dolvira to get on the frozen lake too. A smirk was written on the warrior woman's face.

'I told you you would pay for what you did.' She growled as she reached for her sword.

Enya cursed under her breath. She was unarmed this time, unprepared to face an angry dwarrow. She quickly scanned her surroundings, thinking of some sort of an escape route, but she was out of options. Fleeing away over the ice would make her vulnerable to a knife-attack and the only way back to town meant crossing Dolvira anyway. Enya heaved a sigh, preparing herself mentally for another face-off with the redhead. She needed a weapon, and fast. She cocked a brow as ice appeared in both her hands, slowly growing into two short but solid swords. Enya tightly gripped the hilts. At last she was, in a way, united with her sai again…

'It's nice to see you too, Dolly.'

'Stop. Calling. Me. Dolly!' the warrior woman hissed.

Enya shrugged. 'Not a chance, my lovely lady commander… Why are you still lurking around Lake town? I thought Thorin had sent you away. As in, for good?'

'He will come around.'

'Yeah?' Enya mocked. 'I gotta admit that I admire your persistence, Dolly. Even cockroaches know when to back off. He told you to get lost, what of that part don't you understand?'

'Gloat all you want, pretty face.' Dolvira muttered as she took a step forward. 'But I'm the one who will be his queen, not you. I will protect what's mine and you will not get away with...' she paused, hurt crossing her face.

'Get away with what?' Enya inquired, smiling sweetly.

'You took away his honor. You forced yourself upon him!'

A giggle escaped Enya's mouth, unable to react normally to such an outrageous claim. 'Me? I can assure you that the desire was mutual, Dolly…'

Dolvira yelled and lunged forward. Their swords clashed with a massive force, metal against ice. Enya was somewhat relieved when she noticed that her weapons were as strong as Dolvira's. The warrior woman took a step back and waited for her opponent to move, but Enya wasn't taking the bait. She narrowed her eyes, the muscles in her body tensed as she awaited the next charge. Dwalin had taught her many things about battle, and a skilled warrior shouldn't lose her temper in fights. Go in with a clear mind and take the advantage. Dolvira would definitely try to overpower her again, so she instead of measuring up to that, she had to be smart this time.

'Care to repeat our last fight?' the redhead asked.

'Which one?' Enya scoffed.

Dolvira growled and jumped into her direction. Enya dodged the attack, striking the redhead effectively in her back with one smooth move instead. Dolvira groaned and fell down, the ice cracking around her. Enya smirked and took a few steps back.

'Did I hurt you, Doll?'

'SHUT UP!'

The warrior woman got up, the ice under her protesting against her movements. She muttered something under her breath, but Enya couldn't make up the words.

'You what, Dolly?' she inquired as she inspected her sai. The ice shone brightly in the sun, almost reflecting her image. They were remarkable, almost as perfect as the ones that she lost in Mirkwood… Maybe she could persuade Thranduil to give them back to her...

A low battle cry from Dolvira made Enya came into reality again. She shook her head and felt a little ashamed because she had lost her focus far to easily. Dwalin would kill her if he ever found out…

'I should've killed you while I got the CHANCE!' the redhead screamed as she stormed at Enya again. Enya's body stiffened, her muscles tensed as she held her sai before her. She grunted as their swords clashed again and she used all her strength to counter the attack. Dolvira revealed her teeth, pushing her blade a little bit harder against Enya's. Enya cried out in frustration when she realized there was no way she was going to stand against Dolvira's strength. She let go and ducked to the side, escaping the swing of the warrior woman's sword just in time. Enya panted as she scurried a few paces away from her opponent again, and tried to catch her breath. So far for being in an excellent shape… Sword fighting was relying on a different kind of endurance.

'You fool!' Dwalin shouted in her head. 'What are you doing, Blueheart? You should be outsmarting her, instead of challenging her strength! Don't be an arrogant lass, will ye?'

Enya groaned, knowing he was right. She narrowed her eyes as Dolvira was approaching her again. A grin was displayed on her face.

'Tired already?' she purred. 'What kind of fire witch are you?'

Enya didn't reply, but instead glanced down at her feet. She was standing on the cracked ice where Dolvira had lain just minutes ago. She licked her lips and steadied herself on the crackled ice, not having the luxury to repair it in time. She had to trust that it would hold her, that it wouldn't break… She screamed when Dolvira lifted her sword again, coming straight at her, the blade zipping through the air and ready to slice her open…

Everything seemed to happen in slow-motion. Enya almost saw herself jumping away from the trajectory of the sword, floating in the air. Dolvira's face, that was reddened with anger as she came about to realize that she had failed to injure Enya. The warrior woman's sword that crashed into the ice, cracking it up further. How the gravity pulled Enya towards the cracks. Her weight being too heavy, falling right through the ice and the water sucking her down into the darkness.

Enya gulped a vast amount of the stone-cold water and she panicked as she was pulled down. Air, she needed air! She struggled to get to the surface, the heavy water not allowing her to move swiftly. But it seemed the closer she came to it, the faster the ice grew back again. Her eyes widened, her brain not being able to comprehend what was happening. How could it grow back? How was that possible? Who did that? Dolvira?

Enya finally reached the surface and put her hands on the ice. It was thick, thicker than before. She moved her hands over it, trying to melt it down, but it only made more ice growing against it. Enya yelled in frustration.

She was doing this herself!

She had to make this stop, but there was no time. How could she get calm in a situation like this? Enya lost herself and smashed her fists on the ice, anxious to be able to breathe again. But she couldn't break it. The ice wouldn't give in. Her mind blabbered nonsense to her, totally being blocked by the fear of death. Her lungs burned as her breathing reflex made her swallow more water. She couldn't breathe… She couldn't get out. The water was so cold…

Was this how she was going to die?

Suddenly her fighting response disappeared and an overwhelming sense of acceptance invaded her body. Enya slowly blinked and her surroundings became hazy. She laid her hand on the ice again, asking Thorin to forgive her for being weak. She smiled when a warmth spread through her body, like she was melting. Like the ice was melting too. But it didn't matter anymore… She was suffocating.

Everything went black.

He was just walking towards his home after he had seen the dwarves taking off when he saw her. She was laying on the docks. He frowned when he noticed that she wasn't moving. She was a small woman, her fine curves being complemented by her strange clothing. The man carefully approached her and kneeled beside her. She was dead-cold, but she still seemed to breathe. The man sighed, torn between his options. He could just left her here to die, because he was done with aiding strangers. The dwarves he had helped out the other day had caused nothing but trouble. No doubt they would bring Smaug upon his people in the next few days…

But on the other hand… She was a living being, probably innocent. She wouldn't survive without him. He stroke the hairs from her face, revealing a strange bead that was tied in her hair. It looked familiar. Didn't those dwarves from the company adorned their hair with these heavy accessories? The man frowned. She had to be a female dwarf, or a dwarrowdam as they liked to call them. But why didn't she have facial hair? Rumors went that all dwarves had that, even females… He remembered the stories his mother had told him all too well.

'More dwarves then…' the man muttered to himself as he took Enya carefully in his arms. 'And I thought they all left this morning…'

He watched Enya's pale face as he carried her to his house. When he opened the door, his two daughters came to greet him enthusiastically, but stopped dead in their tracks when they saw what he was carrying.

'Yeah, don't ask.' He groaned irritated. 'I found her at the docks nearby. I know we're done with dwarves, but she will die without us. Sigrid, will you turn up the heat?'