Fight and Flight

A deep and terrifying voice came onto the line; his voice was dripping with venomous hatred. "Oakenshield," it spat. "You will come alone, to where she lives, or she dies. You have an hour."

Thorin stared at Gandalf as the line went dead and the phone dropped out of his shaking hand. "He has her," Thorin began, fear gripping him. "Please stay away or he'll kill her."

"That is a tactic to get you to go to him," Kili said. "We will follow on behind."

With no further words spoken, Thorin began to run down the street. There was no way he could ever risk Leah's life, and if it meant him going against Azog and his followers alone, then so be it. His heart was thundering in his chest and he felt the fear grip him so tight, taking all breath out of his lungs.

Thoughts of the night he held her by the fire circled in his mind as he ran.

Thorin felt the warmth of Leah's body radiate through him as she lay against his chest. An overbearing urge to protect her washed over him, and he ultimately knew why it was his desire to protect her, and it was because she was his One. Women had come into his life, staying for but a fleeting second, and then were gone. None of them had took hold of his heart as she had.

This strange woman from a far and distant land had come to the Company randomly, appearing in the clearing one night. She was dressed strangely and spoke with a dialect unlike anything he'd heard of before. At first she'd been scared of the men before her and was calling out for someone called Rachel. There was only sincerity on her eyes; she was certainly no distraction of the enemy.

Gradually she had settled somewhat with the life the Company were leading, as if she was running from her old existence. There seemed to be pain in her eyes when she spoke of home, but she'd opened up to Thorin that night, trusting him. However, Thorin had found it hard to bare any part of himself to her. It had taken having his life saved by Bilbo for Thorin to trust him, yet Leah was different. He'd pushed aside the gut instinct to trust her for the first few days, and instead put up towering walls of suspicion.

Over the last few days she'd effortlessly chipped away at his walls with her kindness, honesty and naivety. Part of her seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the journey despite the terrifying situations which they'd got themselves into.

"I don't miss home that much," she'd said. "Only really my sister. She looks after me."

Thorin had smiled at that comment, sensing that she needed guidance in her life from someone. She seemed to thrive when she had someone else to steer her down the right path. Maybe a very slight immaturity on her part.

"Do you always need someone to look after you?" he'd asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"It certainly comes in handy."

Even if she never loved him in return, he would never allow himself to commit to anyone else.

At first he'd tensed when she snuggled up to him, placing her head against his fur pelt. Then, with deep breaths, he'd put his arms around her.

Thorin felt tears well in his eyes as he thought back on that conversation with her as he continued running, getting closer to her. There was no way he would ever see her be alone; he'd always look after her. And he'd sworn that very thing from the night they sat by the fire. She would never be alone. That, he knew, he'd already partially failed her on.

xxx

Leah was sat on a wooden seat in her own living room, electrical chord from appliances, which had been ripped from the wall, wrapped around her ankles and wrists. She remained silent for now, but looked up at the ugly face before her. He had bright purple and red scarring down his face, old battle wounds, and what looked like self mutilating body modification, which followed him even to this world. His eyes were like ice, freezing and lifeless. Three other men stood guard by the door, all dressed in dirty jeans and jackets with sneering smiles on their faces.

Azog came face to face with Leah, his stinking breath wafting across her cheeks. "The King has other treasure besides jewels in the mountain," Azog chuckled, his voice heavy with sheer evil and malice. "He will stay dead this time."

Leah glared at the filthy thing in front of her, not even able to recognise any humanity inside him at all. He had been forged from the darkest place of Middle-earth and that darkness had passed through to this world with him. She couldn't deny that she was absolutely terrified; she felt nauseous with the fear, but held onto her thoughts of Thorin. Maybe if she faced her fears, but kept hold of him, more memories would return?

The three men who accompanied Azog began to raid through Leah and Rachel's cupboards, searching for food to eat while they waited for Thorin. Boxes and tins became thrown across the floor in a desperate struggle to feed their guts and silence their growling guts.

Azog took another chair and placed it in front of Leah, grinning at her, and then sat down. "That piece of dwarf shit should be here any minute. Get ready for some entertainment tonight."

"Are you actually waiting for me to scream and beg for you not to hurt him?" Leah asked sarcastically. "I know Thorin can look after himself quite well. And an ugly fucker like you certainly won't stand in his way."

"Oh, really? You say that and completely disregard the fact that I sliced through his gut last time we met. I bet your face was a damn picture!"

Azog moved in again, his lips only an inch or so away from her ear and cheek. "I'll rip his fucking heart out this time and take his head off his shoulders," he whispered. "And then I'll show you exactly what kind of animal I am." The words tore through Leah, making her shiver in both disgust and horror.

A shadow ascended down the hallway which lead from the front door, and slowly Thorin appeared. He took one sad glance at Leah, swallowed hard, and then looked upon Azog. "You finally decided to join us," Azog sneered. As Azog got up from the chair, he leaned in and let his tongue trail up the side of Leah's face, enjoying as she pulled back. He dragged at her, keeping her tied wrists in his strong hands. "Come on, Oakenshield. I plan on having fun tonight."

Thorin's face grew dark with disgust and hate for the pale figure before him. With no word, Thorin flew at Azog, his fist instantly aiming for his enemy's face. But as he was almost on top of Azog, he was thrown into the air, and catapulted straight into the wall. "Come on!" Azog screamed. "Give me a challenge!"

Leah began to struggle against her ties as she watched Azog approach Thorin's body which was strewn across the carpet, seemingly lifeless. Battle cries and screams of pain began to ring in her ears as the memories of a great battle suddenly hit her, like a hammer between the eyes. In her mind she saw Elves, dwarves and orcs racing against opponents, weapons raised. Huge birds soared high in the air and gigantic beasts crushed bodies beneath their feet. As the sounds of the battleground became louder in her mind, Leah closed her eyes, rising up from the chair, only to feel the bindings slip away from her as she let them slip away into another time and place. The cries stayed with her, resounding around her head as she stepped towards Azog who was ready to bring his fist down against Thorin.

Thorin looked up, blood dripping from a gash on his head, and watched in silence as Leah approached Azog from behind. Suddenly a knife appeared out of nowhere in her hand, materialising instantly. The silver blade sliced through the air and straight into Azog's neck, then dropped to the carpet. He growled and thrashed like a wild animal, blood pouring from his wound. Then his hand reached out and grabbed Leah by the throat.

Thorin pulled himself up from the floor, ready to finish the creature before him. But as he reached out, Azog and Leah disappeared. Thorin screamed at the empty space before him, calling her name. The three men who had stood back from the fight now approached Thorin, closing in around him. They watched the anger flare in his eyes as he ran forward, his fist knocking the first man to the ground in one. He then picked up the blood-drenched knife and swung it at the second man, slicing through his neck. The adrenaline and hatred was filling him up, pushing him forward. The last man looked at Thorin, terrified, and raced to the door, escaping. To make sure the first man he'd attacked was dead, Thorin drove the knife down into his chest, watching him squirm and choke on a mouthful of blood.

"Leah," Thorin whispered, falling to his knees. Tears dripped down his cheeks and he stared at the empty space where she'd last stood.

"Thorin!" a voice came. Gandalf, Fili and Kili all ran into the room, surveying the dead bodies and endless blood which was covering almost every surface in the living room. "Where is Leah?"

"She disappeared, taking Azog with her," Thorin wept.

"We must find Bilbo and get back to Middle-earth. Chances are she's taken him there," Gandalf said boldly. "I will send you three back and I'll go in search of Bilbo."

xxx

Once Gandalf had worked his magic upon Thorin, Fili and Kili, speaking ancient words over them, they saw a blinding light and once it had passed, found themselves standing in a wooded area. For a second Thorin looked around and recognised the place immediately – it was where he had shared the evening with Leah by the fire.

"Gandalf must have known she'd be here," Thorin said, looking at his nephews to see that they finally looked as they once did. They'd transformed back to their shorter and broader stature. "Find her."

Thorin searched frantically for her, racing between trees. A lump was rising in his throat again as he tried desperately to curb his tears. "Leah!" he began calling, not caring if anyone else heard him. Surely after the blow to his neck, Azog wouldn't have survived.

A low voice came from behind him, which he followed to find Leah slumped against a tree. She was clutching her throat which was badly bruised from her struggle with Azog. Thorin slid onto his knees in front of her. "Oh, my love," he said breathless and took her into his arms. Leah sank into him, finally remembering every encounter she'd experienced alongside him. Gently, Leah pulled back from his arms and looked upon his majestic form. She pushed herself against him, her lips tightly against his. His hand drifted down her face, feeling the warmth and smoothness of her skin.

"I missed seeing you like this," Leah whispered, her face but an inch away from his. She looked into his eyes, feeling every single emotion which burned for him suddenly re-ignite. Some of her feelings had still remained unlocked along with her memories, but not any more. "I remember everything. Azog disappeared as we appeared here; he ran off that way." Leah pointed south.

"Surely he cannot survive long," Thorin told her.

"If I brought you, Fili and Kili back to life, maybe he's healed," Leah suggested, her face growing pale in panic.

"Do not think on him for now," Thorin told her. "I must get you home."

"Thorin, Azog is not here," Kili said, suddenly appearing from behind bushes.