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


Removing her hand from under Dwalin's, Alexa took a step backwards and glanced over the company who all had sad smiles on their faces. Turning back towards the ramparts, she climbed on top of one of the stones and looked down. Bilbo was about halfway down by now. Sparing one last look at Dwalin and the Dwarves she had grown to see as family, Alexa sighed and began her descent; quickly catching up to Bilbo.

Whilst she was abseiling down the rope, she could hear Thorin yelling from above, his tone furious. "Never again will I have dealings with Wizards! Shire rats! Or Jedi scum!" the words caused a pained sigh to leave her. But she knew it was all for the best.

Alexa didn't bother looking back at the company as she led Bilbo across the decapitated statue of the warrior Dwarf; lending a hand when her friend needed it. The frozen grass crunched beneath her boots as the pair approached Gandalf who stood beside Bard and the Elf King Thranduil. The latter having a rather smug look on his face.

"So, the newly crowned Dwarf King, Thorin Oakenshield has cast you aside just as I expected. Not that a weak, pathetic human such as yourself deserves any less," Thranduil sneered from upon his Elk.

Alexa sighed at his words, not letting herself be affected by them just like she hadn't in Mirkwood. No matter how true they were. However, Gandalf was another story. His eyes had widened, his jaw had become slack, and he was looking between a nonchalant Alexa and a pleased Thranduil.

"The question now," the blonde Elf continued, "Is how will you die?" he hissed with a gleam in his eyes as if silently saying he'd have something to do with her demise.

Recovering from his shock, Gandalf cleared his throat before addressing the Elf King. "I would advise you not to threaten Miss Alexa like that again King Thranduil. Not if you want to keep your head."

Now it was time for Thranduil to be shocked, not that he showed it beyond an eyebrow raise. "I think you are mistaken Mithrandir," he scoffed, "This... girl is nothing but a lowly servant with a defiant flare and a smart tongue. Nothing more," he affirmed, unable to believe that Alexa could do anything to harm him.

To put it simply, Gandalf was flabbergasted. Bilbo was just as astounded by the blonde Elf's words. Had he like, not met Alexa?

"Ouch," Alexa replied, finally speaking up. "You wound me." she continued, the sarcasm dripping from her tongue as she laid a hand over her heart. "Now, go tell your stupid speech to someone who gives a shit." she finished, smirking back at the Elf who now sported a scowl.

"How ironic, you were to be killed by the Dwarf you try so desperately to protect, and for what? Nothing. You must be almost as mad as him," he spoke, ignoring her previous words.

At that, Alexa lost the smirk and clenched her jaw. Which should have been a big enough warning for Thranduil to shut the hell up, but he didn't know Alexa like Bilbo and Gandalf did. Who had both just exchanged a worried look, that was caught by a now anxious Bard.

After finally gaining a reaction from the woman before him, Thranduil was... for a lack of a better word elated. The same feeling urged him to continue, "What did you think was going to happen? That you'd reclaim Erebor and live happily ever after?" he paused for effect, "Whoever raised you was clearly dimwitted." he finished, not realizing that he had just sealed his fate.

At his final comment, Bilbo inhaled sharply, Gandalf shook his head, and the once-raging Dwarves became as silent as death. Alexa however, well she could and did take Thranduil's previous comments without care, she had been trained to do as much. But this? Oh, he was in for it.

Ever so slowly did Gandalf lay a weathered hand on Alexa's shoulder that was as tense as a bowstring. "Don't" he whispered, hoping that the woman wouldn't act on Thranduil's harsh words.

Breathing deeply, Alexa allowed the force to envelop her and therefore calm her. She could not lose her cool, not now. They needed his army after all, but that did not mean that she would do nothing. "You should be grateful, King Thranduil." she began.

As she muttered her next words, her voice became a low, almost deadly tone. "Grateful that I have bigger fish to fry. Had I not... Well, let's say that you'd regret saying such things."

If Alexa had previously thought that she had pissed off Thranduil in Mirkwood, she now realised it was only the tip of the ice burg because he was furious now. His nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed to slits, "How dare you threaten me!" he began, "I'll have your head, you worthl-" his sentence was cut short suddenly, surprising everyone. They all looked towards the Elf King, who had abruptly stopped speaking.

"You do like to hear yourself talk, don't you?" Alexa spoke, slowly moving her thumb and forefinger closer as her other three curled into her palm.

She watched as the blonde Elf grasped at his throat, a rare look of shock and a hint of panic in his eyes. His troops looked at their King and then at each other, not understanding what was happening to their leader. Only Gandalf, Bilbo and the Dwarves knew what was happening, though Bard had a pretty good idea from what he had heard from his children.

Deciding it had gone on long enough, Alexa uncurled her fingers and lay her hand by her side once more. At her action, Thranduil starting gasping for breath; sucking in as much oxygen as he could.

A silence followed. The only sound being Thranduil's spluttered breathing. However, it was shortly broken by the Dwarves of Erebor.

Cheering erupted above them all as the company, elated from Alexa's action, celebrated finally getting back at the Elf who had held them captive in a dungeon for weeks. Even Thorin looked pleased – for a moment before he seemed to remember who had done it to Thranduil.

The Elf in question seemed to have finally caught his breath. Holding his throat, he glared at a now smug Alexa. Though he couldn't prove that she had been the one that had attacked him and he didn't know how exactly she had done it without moving, but he did know that somehow, she had. He had known back in his Kingdom that there was something different about the girl who said she was only a cook, and now he knew. But he didn't dare say anything.

Bard cleared his throat, his eyes flickering from Alexa to Thorin, "Are we resolved? The return of the Arkenstone for what was promised?" he asked, getting back to the issue at hand.

Thorin paced the ramparts, his eyes wandering from the hill and to Bard, "Why should I buy back that which is rightfully mine?" he replied, his voice cracking as he said the words.

"Keep the stone, sell it. Ecthelion of Gondor will give you a good price for it." Thranduil told Bard, his tone steady. You would not think that the Elf had just been attacked by how calm his voice was and by how blank his expression was. It was as if the last five minutes had never occurred.

Hearing his words, Thorin yelled down at the pair, "I will kill you! By my oath, I will kill you all!"

The blonde Elf snapped his gaze to a pacing Thorin, "Your oath means nothing. I've heard enough." he muttered, turning his head to order his army to get ready for the short battle. His troops held their bows and aimed at the company with notched arrows, ready to fire at his command.

Gandalf walked a few paces towards the gate, "Thorin lay down your arms. Open these doors. This treasure will be your death." the Wizard said,

"Thorin, we cannot win this fight," Balin told his King, making him sigh; for he knew that Balin was right.

"Give us your answer. Will you have peace or war?" Bard questioned, causing a heavy silence to fall upon them as they awaited the Dwarf King's answer.

As Thorin thought over his answer, a raven cawed, breaking the silence. They all watched on as Thorin gazed intently at the bird, before looking east, towards the hill. "I will have war," Thorin muttered, causing Balin's eyes to widen in shock.

A rumbling sounded from the east, causing everyone to look towards the hill. Alexa watched as a short armoured figure rode on a boar, a war hammer in his hand. It was a Dwarf, and he wasn't alone. Behind him was an army of heavily armoured Dwarves, their clinking armour and booming footsteps reverberating in the ears of all.

"Ironfoot," Gandalf murmured, clearly recognising the Dwarf leader.

Alexa watched as the Dwarves marched towards them. Their army was seemingly never-ending. Cheers erupted behind her as the company welcomed their brother-in-arms, their Kin. Thranduil shouted in Elvish as his Elk charged between his troops; commanding them to face the Dwarf army.

The clinking of metal was soon the only thing to be heard as the two armies marched towards one another. Alexa hung back with Bilbo and Gandalf. The latter of which did not look pleased.

"Who is that? He doesn't look very happy." Bilbo asked Gandalf nervously, picking up his pace to match Alexa and the Wizards.

"It is Dain, Lord of the Iron Hills. Thorin's cousin." Gandalf muttered lowly, seemingly displeased with the arrival of the Dwarf.

"Are they alike?" Bilbo asked, making Gandalf pause in his step.

"I always found Thorin the more reasonable of the two," he admitted as he glanced down at the Hobbit.

"Well, isn't that just fantastic," Alexa sighed, speaking the words they were all thinking. Not waiting for the two, she continued to walk towards Thorin's cousin; leaving Gandalf and Bilbo behind her.

"Good morning!" The ginger Dwarf called out, "How are we all?" he asked, as his boar came to a standstill on a rock that stuck out of the ground. As he came to a stop, the army behind him followed; ceasing several meters down the hill.

"I 'ave a wee proposition if ya wouldn't mind giving me a few moments of yer time. Would ya consider... Just sodding off? All of ya! Right now!" Dain yelled, causing the people of Lake-town to back away; all frightened of the Dwarf.

"Stand fast!" Bard commanded, in an attempt to settle his people.

"I like him," Alexa murmured. She was now in direct sight of Dain and the Dwarven army, as the men previously in front of her had cowered behind herself and Gandalf.

Shrugging at Gandalf's irritated look, she watched as he walked towards said Dwarf, "Come now, Lord Dain," he said, trying to reason with the Dwarf.

"Gandalf teh Grey," Dain muttered, causing Gandalf to bow and making Alexa's eyes widen in surprise; she had never seen the Wizard bow before any Dwarf. But then again, she hadn't met any Dwarves beyond the company. So, who knows?

"Tell this rabble ta leave, or I'll water teh ground with their blood!" the ginger Dwarf yelled, causing hushed whispers of doubt and fear to echo around Alexa.

Gandalf marched towards the Dwarf, leaving the safety of the Elf army that was now at the front lines behind Alexa and Bilbo. "There is no need for war between Dwarves, Men, and Elves. A legion of Orcs march on the Mountain. Stand your army down." he told him, his words making Alexa frown. How did he know? She wondered, her eyebrows crinkling in thought as she stared at the Wizard.

"I will naut stand down before any Elf," Dain began, shifting on his boar to point his war hammer towards a smirking Thranduil, "Naut least this faithless Woodland spite. He wishes nothing but ill upon my people, if he chooses ta stand between me and my Kin. I'll split his pretty head open! See if he's still smirking then." Dain declared, causing cheers to erupt from the company.

Alexa laughed at his words; oh, how she would love to see that. Ignoring Bilbo's confused look, she walked towards Gandalf who was seemingly at a loss for words.

"The Wizard is right Lord Dain," she paused. "And I can't believe I'm saying this. But we have to work together, or we will all be slaughtered!" Alexa revealed, exchanging a quick look with Gandalf. The small gesture telling him everything he needed to know. That she too knew of the battle that comes.

"And who are ya lass? Some friend of teh Elf?!" Dain asked, his tone accusing.

Alexa cringed at his words, "Oh, don't you go aligning me with that bastard. You can kill the bugger if you want. Hell, I might even join you!" she stated, earning some hoots and hollers from the company behind her.

Feeling his stare on her, Alexa turned to face the Elf King; who was glaring daggers at her. "Oh, shut up you. Or I'll make well of my earlier threat," she said, her hands dropping to her groin and making a show of cutting off his balls. Her comment made Dain and the company laugh. She turned back to the laughing Dwarf, a grin threatening to break on her face.

Thranduil was not amused, though he was wary of her from their previous exchange and so said nothing. He didn't know who this woman was, nor how powerful. What had that Dwarf called her? Jedi scum? He had never heard of such a thing and that shocked him as he was well educated on the world of Middle-earth - having lived so long. So, this was not to be taken lightly. Either way, he wisely decided not to pick a fight with the woman and instead elected to ignore her entirely.

"He's clearly mad, like his cousin," Thranduil stated, a cocky grin forming on his face; irking Dain. No longer laughing, Dain glared at the Elf before turning his boar towards his army.

"Dain, wait!" Gandalf called, but to no avail as the Dwarf continued on his way; riding his boar towards his awaiting army.

"Let them advance. See how far they get," Thranduil sneered, obviously thinking this would be a quick battle in their favour.

"Ya think I give a dead dog fer yer threats ya pointy-eared princess?" Dain retaliated, his boar slowing to a trot as he approached his army; his words making said pointy-eared princess glare at him.

Oh, they're in for a good thrashing now, Alexa thought to herself. A chuckle left her as she imagined the look on Thranduil's face after being beaten by the Dwarves. They had the high ground after all.

"Ya hear tha', lads? We're on! Let's give these bastards a good hammering!" Dain called, making the company shout in agreement; all wanting to see their Kin fight the Elves that had locked them up.

A single Dwarf shouted in what Alexa gathered was Khuduzul before similar-sounding shouts erupted from the Dwarven army. They all raised their weapons and began banging their swords and spears against their shields and the earth beneath them.

Thranduil led his massive Elk over to Bard, "Stand your men down. I'll deal with Ironfoot and his rabble," the Elf King told him, thoroughly annoyed with the Dwarf who had insulted him.

"Are you not going to do something, Alexa?" Bilbo piped up, making her look down at the Hobbit who now stood beside her.

"No, this is between them," she replied, the pounding of metal on earth echoing in her ears as the Elven army marched past them.

Bilbo looked at her confused, before asking the question that had been on his mind for the past few minutes, "Why did you tell Dain that we are going to be slaughtered?" he asked, slightly afraid of her answer.

Alexa glanced at Gandalf, who looked knowingly back at her. His dark eyes reflected the worry that she felt; for what they both knew what was coming. "Because I saw it," she replied, looking away from Gandalf to Bilbo; whose eyes almost popped out of his head.

"Ex-excuse me? An-and how do yo-you know of-of thi-is?" he stuttered, briefly watching as Gandalf walked with great haste through the army of Elves.

The rumbling noise when the Dwarf army had arrived sounded again as their forces descended, this time on goats. "I have told you a great deal Bilbo. More than anyone else in the company. But I have not told you everything and for a good reason," she admitted over the noise. Her answer remaining vague as Qui-Gon's warning echoed in her head. None must know of her visions, not when it has yet to happen. She was on the borderline of crossing that warning when she had told Dain and the others about what was awaiting them just moments prior.

Before Bilbo could reply, several crashes and screams sounded in front of them. The pair watched as the Elven forces were thrown back with the impact of massive arrow shafts that the Dwarves had fired; dirt flying from the ground.

"How do ya like tha', teh old twirly-whirlies?" Dain shouted over the stomping of goat hooves.

Shifting her attention back to the battle at hand, Alexa watched as an appalled Thranduil commanded his forces to release more arrows. Though it was all for nothing as Dain lifted his war hammer; Khuduzul leaving his lips in a shout. At his command, several more massive bolts were shot. The arrows whirled over the Dwarves on goats and broke the Elvish arrows once more before they descended into the Elves ranks; killing many in their path.

The Dwarf battalion on goats was now less than ten meters away causing the Elven army to ditch their bows in exchange for their spears and shields.

Alexa and Bilbo watched, not quite knowing what to expect as the goats climbed and leapt over the Elves' shields. Many fell. Both Elf and Dwarf. The fighting between the two races went on for several minutes before a great cracking and crunching noise erupted from a hill not far from the one the Dwarves had previously been on. The noise was so great it sounded clearly over the sounds of war cries, metal-on-metal and just general battle.

A loud moan followed by a roar sounded as four giant earth eating beasts with massive teeth as long as a great pine tree, and as thick as four Dwarves combined burst through the ground. Upon their entrance, the battle not that far away between the Elves and the Dwarves stopped. All eyes looked towards the pale beasts, startled.

"Wha-at ar-ar-are th-those?" Bilbo asked timidly, clutching his letter opener sword tightly in his hand.

"Were-worms," Gandalf muttered, his eyes never leaving the beasts.

Several ear-shattering roars left the were-worms before they vanished just as quickly as they had arrived. It had barely been four seconds of complete and utter silence before it was broken once more. A horn sounded in the distance, followed by a shout of black speech. But no one had time to look where it had come from. Ghastly roars sounded from the four holes in the ground, followed by the crunching of dirt and the clanging of metal.

Delicately stroking the hilt of her lightsaber, Alexa unclipped the deadly weapon from her belt. "So, it begins," she muttered.


AN: Ooooh exciting, next chapter will be the offical beginning of the Battle of the Five Armies as the fighting is about to start. Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! And peace out! XD