Note: Italics is thoughts, unless specified otherwise i.e flashbacks or visions. / is timeskip


THIRD POV

"Go now with our goodwill and good wishes. And may your return bring good fortune to all!" the Master's grating voice declared, making Alexa wince.

She watched the boat with the rest of the company slowly get further and further away from the dock. So, this was happening. It wouldn't be long before the dragon Smaug is released upon Laketown; Alexa could only hope that they all survived the ordeal.

Bofur's yelling brought her back to the moment. She watched as the Dwarf pushed his way through the crowd; calling after the boat. A grimace grew on his usually cheerful face as he saw the Dwarves and Bilbo far off down the canal; turning he meets her eyes and recognition burns within them.

"Ha. So, you missed the boat as well?" Bofur asked cheerfully. Before anyone had time to reply, Kili moaned in pain, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as he collapsed.

"Kili? Kili!" Fili called, catching his brother before he could hit the floorboards.

/

Alexa walked beside Oin, trailing closely behind Bofur and Fili who each had an arm slung around their necks as they carried Kili down the street and to the Masters.

As they walked, Alexa thought back to earlier on: she and Dwalin had nearly kissed. She had almost kissed the very same Dwarf she had yelled at for two straight months, and that didn't even take into account the time during Mirkwood or when they were first imprisoned. In a way she was relieved that nothing had happened, she wasn't here on this quest on a personal matter, no. She was here to save the line of Durin, and with-it Middle Earth, nothing more, nothing less. But some part of her, some small part, wished that Bilbo hadn't knocked. She came out of her reflective thoughts as they approached the Master's home; an uneasy feeling settling in her stomach.

"Please wait! Please! We need your help my brother is sick," Fili said, as they came to stand outside the Master's home, having just caught him and his slimy servant.

"Oh, is it infectious? Get out! Get out! Get out! Don't come any closer," the Master stuttered as he recoiled away from them, his voice muted by the handkerchief he held over his mouth. Bastard! Alexa thought, narrowing her eyes.

"Please we need medicine," Oin begged as he held his crumpled ear trumpet to his ear, as he approached the stairs.

"Do I look like an apothecary? Haven't we given you enough? The Master's a busy man he doesn't have time to worry about sick Dwarves. Be gone with ya, go on, clear off," Alfrid said, a snide look on his horrid face.

A frown etched itself onto Alexa's face at the words that fell from the slimy git's mouth. Clenching her jaw, she placed a hand on Oin's shoulder.

"Don't waste your breath Oin this prick is only in it for the money. They don't care about any of us," she growled,

"And who are you to say such accusations harlot?!" the Master cried, pointing an accusing fat finger at her.

At his words, Oin stepped forth about to give the man an earful; even Fili's face darkened. Seeing this, Alexa cut in. "Don't worry about it Oin this thing doesn't deserve to hear your no doubt colourful words. He's not worth the expel of air,"

"Yes, listen to the wench, Dwarf! " Alfrid hissed, causing Alexa to snap her gaze from Oin to him. Oh, they could insult her all they liked, but not her Dwarves. Also, didn't he realise that her comment before literally belittles his status as a 'man' or was he just that stupid?

"Oh, you don't want to mess with me you low, worthless excuse of a man. But don't you worry, you'll get your comeuppance soon enough," she muttered, her face emotionless as she none to subtly threatened the Master and his servant.

"Guards!" The Master shouted, urging them into action.

A smirk tugged at Alexa's lips at the Master's haste attempt of getting rid of her and her friends. Without protest, she let herself be removed from the square with the others.

Usually, Alexa is a sympathetic and rather kind and caring individual. But what she had heard and seen, those two deserved a slow, painful death. If Smaug or the oncoming battle didn't kill those two, she would.

"Great, now where are we going ta go?" Bofur sighed, swaying slightly as he tried to gain his footing after being shoved out on the street by the guards.

"To the house of the only person who is kind enough to help us," Alexa said, "Bard,"

/

"No. I'm done with Dwarves. Go away," Bard sighed, a hard look on his face as he went to slam the door in their faces.

"No, no, no! Please! No one will help us," Bofur pleaded, catching the door with his hand.

Bofur looked back to Kili who was now being supported by Fili and Alexa. "Kili's sick. He's very sick," Bofur muttered, making Bard look at the raven-haired Dwarf.

"Come in," Bard said, standing aside so they could enter his home.

"Bofur, Oin. Take him," Fili suddenly said, causing said Dwarves to take an arm off himself and Alexa.

Bofur and Oin then followed Bard towards a bed at the end of the room and placed Kili on it. Alexa made to move into the house when an arm stopped her. Looking down at Fili, she watched him closely; waiting for him to explain himself.

"Why are you still here Alexa? And don't give me that 'will of the force' crap," Fili muttered, his arm still blocking her from entering the house.

"First off, way to insult my people and religion. Second, the force works in mysterious ways Fili, but you must trust in the force; someone will save your brother. It just won't be me," Alexa told him,

"I'll believe it when I see it," Fili muttered, dismissing the idea entirely as his worry for his brother overtook him once more and entered the house.

Alexa stood outside a while longer, just watching Fili look after his brother, and the others worry over Kili. Releasing a sigh, she stepped inside the house; hoping that by the end of the night, Fili would have forgiven her.

Several minutes had passed of Oin doing what little he could to help the lad. Alexa helped in holding Kili down, as Oin had rebandaged his leg. The entire time, Alexa had prayed that Tauriel would turn up soon and end Kili's suffering. The young Dwarf lay withered in the bed; moans of pain leaving him as he strained against their hold, his face covered in sweat.

As he continued moaning, Bofur filled a bowl with hot water and rushed towards him. "Can you not do something?" Fili asked Oin, holding his brothers head in his arms.

"I need herbs, something to bring down his fever," Oin told him,

"I have nightshade, feverfew," Bard listed, as he searched through his bag of medicines.

"They're of no use to me. Do you have any Kingsfoil?" Oin asked,

"No, it's a weed. We feed it to the pigs," Bard said matter-of-factly, slightly confused as to why the Dwarf had asked for it.

"Pigs? Weed. Right," Bofur said to himself, nodding along with his words.

Turning to Kili, he pointed a meaty finger at him, "Don't move," he told the sick Dwarf, before running out of Bard's home in search of the Pigs.

Not long after Bofur had left, a disturbance in the force suddenly hit Alexa. A shuddering gasp left her as she grasped her chest. Gandalf was in trouble.

Tilda looked at her, a mix of worry and fear in her brown eyes. Waving the young girl off, Alexa quickly assured her she was fine; telling her that it was nothing but a goose walking over her grave. Gathering her bearings, she remembered the words her Master would tell her time and time again. 'Do not centre on your anxiety, Alexa. Keep your concentration on the here and now where it belongs,' And with that, she went back to the bed; joining Kili's side.

Kili moans in pain just as a rumbling goes through the house, causing dust to fall from the ceiling. Alexa bites her lip and closes her eyes momentarily, knowing exactly what had caused it. The others look up at the ceiling, while Bain looked out the window towards Erebor.

"Da?" Sigrid asked, standing next to the window with her brother and little sister.

"It's coming from the mountain," Bain said, turning to look at his father, at his words Fili leaves his brother's side and approaches Bard.

"You should leave us. Take your children and get out of here," he told him,

"And go where? There is nowhere to go," Bard replied, a hopeless expression on his face

"Are we going to die, Da?" Tilda asked, making Alexa's heart clench.

"No, darling," Bard assured his daughter, putting on a brave face.

"The dragon, it's going to kill us," Tilda continued,

Bard looked at his children, a worried expression momentarily on his features before it morphed into one of courage. Reaching up, he pulls on the drying rack for his plants; revealing a black arrow.

"Not if I kill it first," Bard stated, determined to save his family.

/

"Da? Is that you Da?" Sigrid asked as she stood outside, her hands on the wooden railing as she searched the docks for her father.

The young woman continued to call out for her father, causing Alexa to look at her. After there was still no response from Bard, an unsettling feeling crawled its way up Alexa's throat.

"That's not your father, get back!" Alexa yelled as several dozen signatures overwhelmed her.

The roof creaked, and a scream sounded from Sigrid as an Orc dropped down beside her. Pulling on the knob, Sigrid yanked the door towards her in an attempt to keep the Orc out. Unfortunately, the Orc managed to wedge his weapon in the door before she could fully close it.

Roars echoed around them. Then a bang sounded as a second Orc kicked the door across the room open. Oin swiftly turned towards the noise, tossing what plates and bowls lay before him at the Orc; stunning it.

Before Alexa could help out Sigrid, an Orc came through the ceiling; landing in front of her. Briskly Alexa unclipped her lightsaber from her belt and activated it; slicing through the Orc as it let out a cry of anguish.

Another shriek leaves Sigrid, causing Alexa's eyes to snap towards the young woman. The Orc Sigrid had been holding back had burst through the door, a wicked blade in its hand as it cruised slowly towards the girl.

Seeing the Orc stalk Sigrid like prey Alexa raised her hand towards the Orc, her fingers curling into her palm. Sigrid's eyes widened as she watched the Orc before her drop its weapon and claw at its throat in desperation. With a jerk of Alexa's hand, the Orc dropped to the floor in front of Sigrid; dead.

Scared and confused, Sigrid stumbled back; her knees hitting the table. Grasping the edge of the table, she slipped through the gap between the table and the stool. Another bang sounds as yet another Orc bursts through the ceiling. Tilda screams, throwing a plate at the Orc before her sister pulled her under the table.

At the other end of the room, Alexa impales the two Orcs in front of her like a kebab. Their faces screwing up into one of horror and extreme pain. Wrenching her lightsaber from their dead bodies, she dodged a blow to her head; ducking just in time.

Using the post in Bard's home, she continues to avoid the Orc's sword. As the Orc swings his blade towards her, she raised her lightsaber to meet it; cutting through the metal like hot butter. A shocked look overcame the Orc's features as it looked from its sword which was now more like a small dagger to her lightsaber. Alexa smirked at the Orc, shrugging her shoulders as if saying 'hey you came at me,'.

Hearing yet another scream erupt from the young girls, Alexa narrowed her eyes at the Orc. Making quick work of it, she stabbed it through its armour before beheading it. Snapping her gaze towards the screams, she saw two Orcs standing over the girls; the table flipped over.

Flipping over another Orc that had come through the ceiling, Alexa brought her lightsaber down; lacerating its neck and causing black goo to spurt from it.

"Oin, get down!" she shouted, as the old Dwarf came in defence of Bard's daughters. At her call, the Dwarf quickly ducked; for once having heard her.

Sigrid gawked as a bright green light erupted in the Orc's stomach. She watched, a silent scream on her lips as the green light was then removed and the Orc dropped to the ground; revealing the lone woman in the Dwarven company. Alexa nodded at the two girls and Oin; glad they were alright.

Sensing another form behind her, Alexa twirled towards it, her lightsaber slashing through the figure. She watched as the Orc stared at her, an anxious expression on its horrid features. Humming thoughtfully, Alexa deactivated her lightsaber and pushed the Orcs chest. At her action, the Orc's top half slid from its torso and fell behind it, leaving only the bottom half of its torso behind. Doubt he'll bounce back like Maul

Feeling eyes on her, she tore hers from the half body of the Orc to the door. Her green-grey eyes meeting the shocked ones of the Mirkwood Elf; Tauriel.

Another bang sounded behind Alexa, signalling the arrival of more Orcs. Breaking eye contact with Tauriel, Alexa quickly clipped her lightsaber on her belt. Her fingers then ran over her hip and curled round the handle of the knife that Dwalin gave her. Pulling the blade from its sheath, she swiftly stabbed an oncoming Orc under its chin, through its mouth, and into its brain.

Noting that Legolas and Tauriel were quickly disposing of the Orcs rather efficiently together, Alexa took a defence stance over Bard's kids; protecting them from any Orc that got through Legolas and Tauriel. It wasn't too long after the two Elves had arrived that the fighting finally seized.

"You killed them all," Bain breathed, his gaze wandering over the dead Orcs in his home.

"There are others," Legolas replied, sliding his swords back into their holsters.

"Tauriel. Come," the blonde Elf continued, striding towards the door that Tauriel had originally come through.

"We're losing him," Oin told Fili, as he kneeled next to a groaning Kili.

Hearing the Dwarf's words, Tauriel paused; concern in her eyes. Also hearing the Dwarf's words, Legolas averted his eyes from a wounded Kili to Tauriel. "Tauriel," he repeated, his voice emotionless as he swiftly exited the house and followed after the Orcs.

Alexa watched with bated breath as Tauriel took several steps towards the door, going to follow after Legolas. She observed as the ginger Elf hesitated just before the door and glanced back towards Kili; as if torn between leaving him and joining Legolas.

Tauriel then stepped outside the door, causing Alexa to step forth; worried that she would have to plead the Elf stay. That fear was soon quenched as the Elf remained on the front porch, a green plant now in her hands.

"Athelas. Athelas," Tauriel murmured,

"What are you doing?" Bofur asked,

"I'm going to save him," Tauriel whispered, holding the Kingsfoil close to her chest.

/

Grasping the edge of the table, Alexa lifted it with the help of Bain and kicked away anything that would be in the way as Fili, Bofur, and Oin carried a struggling Kili towards the table.

"Hold him down," Tauriel said, walking over to Kili with a bowl of water and the Kingsfoil.

Following her instruction, Alexa, Fili, Oin, Bofur, Bain, and Sigrid all held parts of Kili down against the table.

The Elf cast her eyes down to Kili's infected wound, a worried expression flashing over her face as she did. Rinsing the Kingsfoil, she chanted words of healing in Elvish as she squeezed the water out and shoved the plant into Kili's wound.

Cries of pain left the raven-haired Dwarf as Tauriel pushed the Kingsfoil into his wound. Alexa stood next to Fili, holding Kili's shoulders down as he thrashed on the table.

"Unh! Tilda," Sigrid cried as she struggled to hold down one of Kili's legs; her cry promoting her sister to help her.

Fili and Oin gazed up at Tauriel, wonder clear on their faces; having never heard such words. As Tauriel continues chanting the incantation, Fili's Durin blue eyes cast down to his brother - who had let out another painful groan. The blonde Dwarf watched as Kili began to calm down; his eyes never leaving the ginger Elf.

Once the procedure was over, Alexa leaned against the bench in the kitchen, watching Tauriel bandage Kili's thigh beside Fili and Oin.

"I've heard tell of the wonders of Elvish medicine. That was a privilege to witness," Oin said, causing Fili to avert his eyes from his brother and the Elf to the medic.

A sigh escaped Alexa as she watched the scene, she had seen with her Master come to pass. Observing the scene, she almost felt sad. Not because she was jealous or anything, no; Kili was like a little brother to her. But, just watching them, their forbidden love, just reminded Alexa of hers.

"Do you understand now, Fili?" Alexa asked; not tearing her eyes away from the scene a sad smile on her face.

"Alexa I am sorry," Fili sighed, stroking his moustache.

"I should not have insulted you or your people. I acted wrongly against you when you were only trying to help," he continued now looking up at the woman.

"Don't worry about it Fili, Kili is your brother it would have been wrong if you acted any different," Alexa assured him; averting her eyes from Kili and Tauriel to look at Fili.

"Truth is Fili I couldn't have healed Kili even if I tried. What I said about Dwalin and Kili's injury being different was true; Kili's wound was infected with poison. Force healing and detoxify poison are two different abilities, and I only possess the former," she told him, a sigh leaving her as she turned away from him to look out the window.

"Oh Alexa, I am so sor-" he began, again.

"Imma stop you right there. Fili, there is nothing to apologize for, okay? So, stop trying to," Alexa shushed him, holding a finger to the Dwarf's lips.

Grasping her finger, Fili gently removed it from his face. "You know your kind of like the aunt I never wanted," Fili admitted, a teasing expression on his features.

"And you're like the nephew I never had," she quipped back, a grin stretching on her lips.

/

Alexa stood where Sigrid had been a little over half an hour ago, her eyes taking in the calm night. A sigh left her as she leaned against the railing; her arms crossed. A blue form materialized beside her and their hand reached out to rest on her shoulder.

"It is time my old Padawan,"


AN: So, that was 'The Desolation of Smaug'. Hope you all enjoy reading this story! Thank you to Death Fury for your constant reviews, always enjoy reading them. Next up, 'The battle of the five armies' XD