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


THIRD POV

It was not long after Alexa had proved herself to Dain, that they had rejoined the battle. Dain had charged through the ranks of orcs, killing many in his path. Alexa had at one point been targeted by orcs, goblins and trolls alike; having been identified as a major threat. Because of this, Dagur and several of Dain's men had stayed behind, fighting alongside the woman in strange clothes with an even stranger weapon.

As Alexa fought alongside them, she couldn't help but think back to a few hours ago. Before Dain had charged towards the midst of battle, he had, in between fighting, chatted. And oh, force if Alexa wasn't ready to whack him over the head with the hilt of her lightsaber. He was a talker, alright.

/Flashback Begins/

"I never asked lass, where are ya from?" Dain piped up once again.

Alexa sighed, somehow in the middle of the battle, the Dwarf had managed to ask her at least a dozen questions. First, if her weapon was for sale. Then her name. Then how she was there, which she told him that she had travelled with Thorin Oakenshield and his company. Then if there were more weapons like hers. When she said no, he had then asked if she was sure that she didn't want to sell her weapon and how he'd pay a fine price for it. Oh, then he almost did the unspeakable.

"So wha' are ya lass? A wi-" he began,

Alexa cut him off before he could say anymore. "Don't you dare say witch," she warned, sending him a fierce glare that could rival Dwalin's.

Dain's eyebrows rose into his hairline, he nodded slightly in reply and gulped, "Okay lass, so wha' are ya then?"

Alexa sighed, "I'm a Jedi," she told him.

/End of Flashback/

Coming out of her thoughts, Alexa, sensing that one of Dain's men was in trouble, swiftly gripped the weapon on her belt and unsheathed the blade; forgoing the use of her lightsaber in such short range.

Dagur breathed heavily, orc blood splattered across his face. "Thanks, miss," he panted.

Alexa nodded, "Don't mention it," she then wretched the knife from the orc's throat. The action causing some blood to spurt out at Dagur. She grimaced at the sight, "Sorry about that,"

Sheathing the blade, she spun to slice the orc behind her in half with her lightsaber, only to see a cautious Dain who had already killed it. "Where did ya get tha' lass?" he asked, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the knife now on her belt.

Alexa looked at the Dwarf, puzzled at his sudden mood change and his accusing tone. Hadn't Thorin asked the same thing? "Erm Dwalin gave it to me," she said, her cheeks heating slightly as she thought of the Dwarf and what she had seen them do.

She watched as Dain's wary expression became baffled, "Dwalin son of Fundin?" he managed to choke out, shortly after headbutting an orc.

"Yeah, Dwalin." Alexa paused for a moment, glancing around at some nearby soldiers who had also stopped to stare; before they all remembered where they were and continued to fight.

"Something wrong?" she asked in between fighting, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion; not understanding what was so strange about Dwalin giving her a knife.

Guess Dwalin isn't one to do such things, she pondered as she disembowelled the orc before her. I mean it makes sense. She thought, stabbing another orc through its chest. After all, she knew how reserved and stubborn Dwalin was; that he found it hard to trust anyone. From Dain's reaction, Alexa quickly gathered that the burly Dwarf hadn't given anyone a weapon before, let alone one he had made.

"No, no lass. Jus' never thought I'd see teh day. Though it makes sense, seeing as yer both warriors." he told her, laughing heartily; almost unable to believe what Alexa had just told him.

"Um, right," Alexa mumbled, somehow even more confused than before.

"But what does that have to do with him giving me a knife?" she shouted over the sounds of battle, as Dain's answer didn't really explain why they were making such a big deal about it. Must be a Dwarf thing, she mused, force throwing several orcs into the hill; the intensity of the push killing them upon impact.

She then turned to stare at Dain, who was looking at her as if she had just slapped him; his mouth agape. She waited for him to answer her question, but Dain didn't get the chance to reply as the horn from before sounded again; breaking the silence that lay between them.

"That can't be good," Alexa muttered, swiftly pushing all thoughts about the knife and the Dwarves reaction to it, to the back of her mind.

She watched as the other half of Azog's army turned on their heel and began marching away from the battle and to Dale. Seconds later, animalistic roars came from one of the four holes in the ground. Trolls with catapults strapped to their backs exited the tunnel and stomped off behind the army of orcs heading towards the city.

Alexa's heart pounded loudly in her chest as she realized what the pale orc was doing. He was directing the other half of his army to Dale in a tactical move to flank them. In other words, they were trapped.

Raising her lightsaber, she leapt over several orcs and sliced their heads off with one fell swoop before advancing, never looking back. Stabbing yet another orc, Alexa managed to catch a glimpse of Bard leading his forces back to Dale over its shoulder; with Gandalf and Bilbo following after.

She could only hope that they could hold back the orcs. Concerned with the Line of Durin's fall, she had skipped past the rest of the battle and focused on the Dwarves. Therefore, her visions hadn't shown her any fighting in Dale. So, she had no clue as to if Bard's army were going to their deaths or what. Hell, she didn't even know if that blonde prick Thranduil died! Though let's be real, she wasn't that lucky. I mean, come on.

/

Alexa breathed heavily as she slashed cleanly through yet another orc. This had been going on for hours. Dodge, cut, twirl, slash, jump, push, duck, stab and repeat.

Alexa honestly didn't know how much longer she could wait for Thorin to come to his senses, or more importantly how much longer she could keep this up.

During the Clone Wars, she was able to fight for hours without barely breaking a sweat. But that was when she used to train all the time. Leading up to the quest, she hadn't trained nearly as hard as she had when she was at the Jedi Temple; barely even strained herself, if she was being honest.

In the end, it was her fault that she was tiring so quickly. That she was slowly taking more and more blows; none too fatal, however. Not including the wound on her back, she only had a few minor cuts across her arms, right thigh, and a shallow slit across her right cheek.

With the rush of battle flowing through her, she had managed to ignore the pain pulsing through her injured shoulder. So, overall, she wasn't going too bad. Not to mention that she is a form II duelist, with this form she was continuously probing at her opponent's defences. All the while retreating and advancing in response to the intensity of their offence. In saying this, her lightsaber easily beat what scrap metal the orcs had for swords. So, safe to say it was mostly advance.

Despite this, the constant moving, the jumping and swirls, the attacking and defending was taking a lot out of her. As after every strike, she had to step and flow to the next orc. Which was great at the beginning, she had stepped along as if to a waltz; killing many in her path. But as the hours ticked by, it became harder and harder for her to balance herself after striking an opponent. In doing so, this made her more vulnerable to being injured, and she couldn't have that. She couldn't die before Thorin, and the remaining company joined them; because that would mean... NO!

She wasn't the only one who was tiring either, Dain had since lost his pig and had been calling out for his cousin; asking where he was. She had lost sight of Dagur ages ago, and worse, Thranduil had called his forces away to help Dale. They were on their own.

It wasn't long before Alexa found herself overwhelmed; for every orc she killed, four more would take its place. The woman quickly found herself and her newly acquainted companions surrounded. The orc army continued to march out of the holes in the ground, their forces never-ending.

- Scene: Erebor -

Dwalin exhaled deeply, before entering the throne room. He had to try for all their sakes. A scowl replaced his look of worry as he stormed towards the sick King; Alexa's words from earlier echoing in his head.

"Since when do we forsake our own people?" he demanded, as he walked up the steps; stopping just before the throne. "Thorin, they are dying out there,"

Thorin gave no sign that he had heard the Dwarf; his crazed eyes too busy wandering beneath his boots. He leaned forward as a thought suddenly came to him. "There are halls beneath halls within this Mountain. Places we can fortify," At his words, Dwalin's expression became grave. "Shore up, make safe. Yes. Yes, that is it. We must move the gold further underground to safety," Thorin continued, his eyes unseeing through the haze of madness.

"Did ya naut hear me?" Dwalin yelled, "Dain is surrounded. They're being slaughtered, Thorin," he told him, his voice wavering as he said the words.

Thorin's eyes shifted to the burly Dwarf, his expression cold. "Many die in war." he muttered, "Life is cheap. But a treasure such as this cannot be counted in lives lost. It is worth all the blood we can spend,"

Dwalin shook his head in reply, a hopeless look falling upon his face; she was wrong. "Ya sit 'ere in these vast halls with a crown upon yer head and yet ya are lesser now than yer 'ave ever been,"

The reaction in Thorin was instant. His mad eyes hardened, "Do not speak to me as if I were some lowly Dwarf Lord." Thorin replied, hobbling backwards to his throne, "As if I were still... Thorin... Oakenshield," he whimpered, his hand clutching his crown as if trying to remember something important.

Dwalin watched as the mad King brandished the sword at his hip, "I am your King!" Thorin yelled, aiming for Dwalin. Yet he lost his balance and swung the blade at least a meter out; almost falling over in the process.

The tattooed warrior stepped closer to the Dwarf who stood, hunched before him, "Yer were always my King. Ya used te know tha' once. Ya cannot see wha' ya 'ave become," he told him, unshed tears in his eyes as he knew that the Thorin he had thought of as a brother, was gone.

"Go. Get out. Before I kill you," Thorin muttered lowly, making Dwalin inhale sharply; the words piercing his heart.

Turning around, Dwalin staggered down the stairs before rage overcame him, causing him to turn around. "Alexa is out there fighting fer ya!" he roared.

His tone faltered as he went to continue, "Yer can't let her die like this," he rasped, his voice hoarse.

Thoughts of the ongoing battle outside the walls ran through his head. He had since decided that with or without Thorin he would soon join it. As he was unable to just sit there watching his Kin and Alexa fight, whilst he sat within the walls of Erebor. He was a warrior, born and bred. He lived for battle. Besides, he can protect her out there, not in here, behind these walls.

At his words, Thorin fell back against his throne as if physically struck. The madness in his eyes faded slightly, and a concerned look replaced it. "Where is Alexa? Is she safe? Is she alright?"

Despite his words, Dwalin remained just as hopeless as before; in his mind, Thorin was beyond saving. "She's been fighting alongside Dain. They are surrounded Thorin," he replied, sorrowful.

He glanced one last time at Thorin, who was back in his mad state; eyes unseeing. He knew then that his words had fallen on deaf ears. Releasing a shuddering sigh, Dwalin left the throne room; his boots somehow feeling heavier than before.

THORIN'S POV

Not long after the burly Dwarf had left, Thorin heard voices coming from nearby. But they weren't coming from the treasure room, and so he set off to find them; anger coursing through him. He stormed towards the voices; mutters of ways those not searching for the Arkenstone would pay. The voices became louder as he rounded the corner and wandered down the corridor.

He soon found himself inside a dark, empty room with a shining golden floor. He could hear shouts clearly in the room, yet he could see no one. As he walked across the solid gold floor, the calls only grew louder; taking shape into voices, he swore he's heard before. Yet, he couldn't remember who they belonged to.

"Ya sit 'ere with a crown upon yer head. Ya are lesser now than ya 'ave ever been." a gruff voice said,

"But a treasure such as this cannot be counted in lives lost" a cold voice muttered,

"A sickness lies upon that treasure," another voice said,

"The blind ambition of a Mountain King," someone yelled,

"Am I not the King?!" a deep voice exclaimed,

"This gold is ours. And ours alone," the cold voice said,

Seeing something out of the corner of his eye, Thorin glanced down at the floor; the gold shining in his mad eyes.

"I will not par-rt-tt with a ssss-single coin," a demonic, snakelike voice echoed in his ears.

"He could not see beyond his own desire!" a voice yelled,

"You are just like Anakin, Thorin." a weak voice croaked,

"As if I were some lowly Dwarf Lord... Thorin Oakenshield," someone whimpered.

"You have succumbed to this gold sickness and therefore the dark side," the weak voice sounded again, it's tone sad.

"A sickness which drove your grandfather mad," A familiar voice said, though he could not place it.

"Oakenshield," A weak voice said. He knew that voice!

"This is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror!" The gruff voice sounded again. He had heard it before, but who was it?

"I am not my grandfather. I am not my grandfather," the words he had said echoed in his head.

"You are the heir to the throne of Durin," A different voice said,

"They are dying out there," Dwalin?

"Take back Erebor," Erebor. The journey. The company.

"She's been fighting alongside Dain. Dain is surrounded. Dying. Is surrounded. Dying," Dying? How had this happened?

"Take back your homeland," a low voice said. He remembered.

"You are changed, Thorin," Bilbo's soft voice sounded,

"I am not my grandfather," Thorin said, his voice louder and stronger than before.

"Is this treasure truly worth more than your honour?" Bilbo asked,

"Yer can't let her die like this," Dwalin rasped, his voice hoarse.

"I am not my grandfather!" Thorin heard himself yell. He could not let this sickness beat him. I am not my grandfather!

The voices suddenly seized, and a deafening silence falls upon the room. Looking over his shoulder, Thorin's eyes widen as he watched a great serpent slither within the golden depths of the floor. Suddenly he feels the floor dip, causing him to flinch. The voice he now recognized as Gandalf's echoed around him as he got sucked into a golden hole.

"This treasure will be your death!"

A yell left Thorin as he fell to his knees. The room began to spin, and yet while he can feel himself falling, then running up the side of the hole that had formed, he was really seeing it occur. He stood watching himself being pulled into the golden abyss where the serpent lay. Then instantly, it stopped, and everything was silent once again.

Thorin looked around the room with clear eyes; it was the Gallery of the Kings. He could remember walking there, yet he couldn't remember realizing where he was. All the actions of his gold sick self came to the forefront of his mind. What have I done? He grasped Thror's crown from his head and hurled it aside. He felt sick.

- Scene: Battle -

THIRD POV

Alexa swung her lightsaber in controlled, swift strikes. If she thought they were overwhelmed before, now they were overrun. Screams echoed around her as the Dwarves were stabbed, crushed, and beat to death. She wanted to help but was busy fighting for her own life, as she too was being rapidly pushed back.

"Fall back! Fall back ta teh Mountain! Fall back," Dain yelled, lifting a soldier to his feet.

Alexa followed his command, retreating to the mountain. Along the way, she helped as many Dwarves as she could. It was as she was lifting a Dwarf with a dislocated shoulder up from amongst the dead that Azog's war horn rang once again in her ears.

So, there was good news and bad news. The good news was that Azog's army had stopped advancing and so the remaining Dwarves and Alexa had gotten back to the mountain safely. The bad news is that they were now cornered and Azog's forces were getting back into ranks ready to kill them in one fell swoop. Oh, and Thorin, the King, was nowhere to be seen.

Alexa looked at the snarling army; lightsaber humming in her hand. "This can't be the end," she whispered.


AN: Those of you who are Star Wars fans might have noticed that I placed a Darth Vader quote in there. When I first wrote it, it sounded so similar before I realised why it did. So, I changed it to be exactly what Darth Vader said in ROTS. I couldn't help myself. XD

Till next time.