Hey guys! Thanks for all the feedback on the last chapter!

Onwards with the next chapter!

P.s sorry for all the Lion King references.

"Because what better way to spend time with friends than being chased by a pack of man eating, rabid wolf things?! Really, guys, this is the best time ever! I'm so happy I came - "

"Libby! Less talking, more running!"

I swear to God, Kili, if I wasn't running for my life -

The sun is dipping lower and lower into the darkening sky, the moon waxing as it rises. Behind me, the snaps and snarls of the Wargs sound out through the early night. My trusty bag bounces painfully on my hip as my legs begin to turn to jelly and my heart drums in my chest, pounding in my ears so I can hardly hear anything above it. I manage to catch the sound of branches being snapped and torn underneath the feet and bodies of the Wargs and the possible Orc riders they bore.

Howls sound out through the air with the ferocious growls being followed; my breathing rasps in my throat as I try to keep telling my body to keep running, to stay alive. I feel like crying - not out of fear, but from just how frickin' tired I am of being in life and death situations every single day if not minute. The cold air stings my eyes, forcing them to water and blur my vision.

Beside me, Kili is running without so much of a problem showing; his feet thump on the ground in a steady pace while his arms swing beside him in wide arcs. My muscles burn with each step as I feel my body clench up, screaming at me to stop and to lie down even if it means I could - no, will die.

I just hope I look as good as Angelina Jolie did whenever she got out of a near death situation in Tomb Raider.

Risking the chance - and possibly my footing - I glance back, seeing nothing but darkness as it swallows up the trees; my eyes search for anything that might give me a hint as to where and how far the Wargs are from us. Seeing nothing but rays of moonlight shimmering through the evergreen trees, I turn around to face the front when two things happen at once:

One: I've noticed that I've managed to run up with ramp of a rock (it's kinda like, y'know, the one from The Lion King where Simba is lifted up into the air after being born) and

Two: something very smelly and, well, fluffy smashed into me from the side and I get flung from the rock and onto the not very soft ground beneath.

"Libby!"

My body rolls on the ground, blades of dead grass falling into my mouth as I groan in pain, rolling onto my side. I can hear the thumps of feet on the ground and there's a strong grip on my bicep as I'm pulled to the ground; ignoring the rush of blood to my head as everything turns blurry and tipsy, I look sideways to see Kili doing a once over on me to see if I'm alright. I hear shouts of bright alarm and I look away from Kili's eyes see poor Bilbo being eyed by the humongous Warg beast. My mouth falls open as I watch it charge at him, hunger in its eyes with its saliva frothing at the mouth.

"Bilbo! No!" I shout, going to aid him or to at least push him out of the way before I'm tugged back, an arm going around me. I look back to see Kili's blank face as he gives me a look as though to say 'Don't you dare'. I glare back at the Dwarf, anger clear in my own narrowed eyes before tearing my gaze away and back to Bilbo as I see the near him.

Step by step, the Wargs bounds forward before a very scared Bilbo pulls his blue glowing sword from its scabbard and, holding it awkwardly in front of his chest, waits with wide eyes while the Warg runs into him, the sword jamming straight into its skull with a loud sickening crunch.

Excuse me while I vomit, thank you.

I slump in Kili's chest before I realise my anger at him for not letting me help Bilbo. I mean, granted, I didn't have a weapon, but better me than their burglar, right? I push Kili away by jabbing my elbow into his stomach and pushing his arm away from me, stepping far from his as I glare at him with as much rage I can muster.

Unfortunately, during the little stare off between Kili and I, Bilbo's Warg isn't the only Warg; quickly after the death of the first one, more than I can count in the very dim light burst through the trees, snapping and snarling at the Dwarves. Quickly turning away from Kili just as he turns away to thrust his sword into the neck of a Warg, I open my bag and there - resting snugly in the bottom next to a pack of tampons - I spot the dagger Fili had given me. I grab it in my hand and just in time too as a small - big but smaller than the rest of its pack - Warg rushes towards me.

Step siding from the attack, I let out a slight short yell and thrust the end of the dagger in the underside of its belly, dragging it backwards so that I can feel the blood dripping onto my shoes. The Warg falls dead at my feet with my dagger stuck in its belly; I breathe through gritted teeth before glancing up to meet the quite shocked eyes of Kili. Is it really that shocking for me to kill something and defend myself? Goddamn gender roles for making girls appear to always be helpless and a damsel in distress.

Gathering my senses and looking around, I see that, with Ori making the final strike to his own Warg (well, more like he literally just swung his big ass axe over his head and the bloody thing embedded it self into the skull of a Warg that was chasing Ori; seriously, what the bloody Hell?), the Dwarves along with Gandalf have quickly disposed of their own attacker and ran forward to wherever this bloody forest leads us.

I glance down at my own dead Warg, letting out a frustrated hiss as I bend down to grab the slick hilt of the blade and pull it free from the belly of the dead Warg. A disgusted moan escapes the back of my throat as I see not only black blood dripping from it, but some kind of slimy goo. I make a noise before slipping the knife into the top of my pants, picking up my feet and running after the others, ignoring Kili as I run past him. My legs are taking longer strides as I easily catch up (wow, who the Hell would have thought that would happen) and try to even out my breathing.

I squint my eyes to see through the trees and, to my horror, I see that there is a cliff up a head and there is no way down.

I did all this running for nothing then? For fuck sake.

Breaking out from the darkness of the trees and into the silver light of the waxing moon I manage to clumsily pull my legs to a stop, stooping over with my hands on my knees; I stare with wide eyes at my black blood covered hands, seeing that the ends of my sleeves are just drenched with it. Shaking my head, I reach up to wipe my sweaty forehead and wipe it away with the back of my wrist. I am totally positive that there is a humorous black line sweeping across it now.

I stand up, gulping in as much air as I can into my lungs, as Gandalf looks around us almost helplessly before turning to face us, uncertainty flashing across his face before it's replaced by sheer determination. "Up into the trees! All of you! Come on; climb! Bilbo, climb!"

I glance back to see that Bilbo is still very much standing from where he had killed the Warg with surprise still on his face. Oh yeah, it's his first time killing something. We'll celebrate it later if we're not dead; we'll make it The Lion King themed since those frickin' Wargs remind me of those hyenas from it.

Picking up my weight with a groan I race to the trees, quickly stopping underneath the bark when I realise: I'm too small to reach the branches.

I stand underneath the tree, bending my knees before leaping up; my fingers barely graze the branch. My breathing starts to pick up as I try again and again before I pull back, fear clawing in my throat as my eyes desperately search for a tree to climb. I watch as the others climb up the trees easily - Hell, even Bombur manages to do alright. Glancing at Kili, my pride reels me back from asking for help as my lips curl in, as though something unpleasant stains my mouth. I turn back near the forest with my mind freaking out as the words "What do I do?" repeat fast and full of fear races through my thoughtss I hear the growls of the Wargs pick up. Peering up through my eyelashes, my breath catches in my throat as I see more Wargs than ever before - and they're heading right this way.

As I'm about to break down (hey! You would too if you realised that you were going to be eaten; oh god, all that's flashing through my mind is Attack on Titans except it's going to be more like Attack on Libby now) a sudden force from above grabs a hold of the scruff of my neck and, with a "Oi!" from me, I'm pulled up into the safety of the trees.

I'm pulled close to someone and, in return, my arms wrap around them. If I peek my eyes open, I can see strands of blonde hair. Fili.

Peeping through, I turn my eyes towards the forest and I can see the small and stiff figure of Bilbo as he gawks at the beasts heading his way. Run! Run, you small Hobbit! Run, Bilbo, run! I might as well call myself Jenny now after that accidental Forrest Gump reference.

Instead, my mouth remains glued shut as continue to gawp at Bilbo who, after a quick shake of his curly head, runs to the nearest tree and scuttles up it with surprising skill and grace. More than I can say for me. Just as he gets high enough from the ground, the Wargs gather around the base of all the trees, smugness in their eyes as they realise they've got us and, this time, we can't run.

I can feel my mind breaking down as a lump of lead forms in the base of my throat, making it impossible to breathe without feeling irritation or that I'm going to cry or throw up any moment. As a sob silently slips out through my throat, I soon pick up that I'm going to be stuck with the second of the three. I smother them by burying my face into Fili's chest, ignoring the smell of sweat and tobacco. I just want to slap myself, shake myself by the shoulders and scream, "Hold yourself together, woman!This isn't the time to be getting all bloody emotional and girly!"

I can hear the frightened yelps of some of the other Dwarves (is it bad that I sort of internally sniggered at the thought of Thorin and Dwalin being scared and making little warbled cries? I can't really say much myself but I guess it won't be looked down upon since I'm a girl - no sexism please) as the Wargs snap and bark, even some of them climb onto their back legs and dig their front paws and nails into thick, rough, brown bark.

The branch underneath my feet gives the sense that it would snap and viciously give us to the creatures below to be devoured and torn apart and - and -

"Oh, God, I'm going to throw up," I mutter as I stare down, meeting the glinting eyes of the Wargs as they foamed at the mouth and I swear, I swear, one of them gave me this look as though to say 'bitch - I'm - going - to - eat - you - slowly - and - painfully.'

"Hush, Libby," Fili's voice whispers in my ear; I can hear the uncertainty in his voice, sounding out of breath. "It will be alright; we will be fine."

I shake my head, releasing one of my arms around his stomach to let it hang beside me; staring down at the ground causes my tummy to turn over. I never really was good with heights. I would make a joke out of that but honestly, I can't be bothered. My heart chatters nervously in my chest as my one hand gripping onto Fili fists his clothes in my palm.

Then, silence.

The Wargs beneath us turn away to peer at something below. My eyes drag up, following their line of sight before landing on the most gruesome sight I have ever yet to behold. Well, apart from the Goblin King and a few other things, but it's defiantly in the list of Top 10 Worst Things to See.

His skin is the colour of curdled milk; shining and paling in the moonlight with the rays of light reflecting the scars - three jagged lines across his right cheek, two across his left and one slashing down over his left eye. His ears pointed and stick out from his skull, reminding me vaguely of an Elf's. His chest is bare with very deep scars across his torso that start from the end of his shoulder to the bottom of his rib - cage. The skin is stretched across the old wounds and can make the brightest silver seem grey. He wears a brown, plain leather kilt (I can't really say skirt now, can I?) that ends in tatters around his knees (still more class than I can say for some people but hey, whatever).

But what disturbs me out of everything is that he doesn't have a left hand - from elbow on - wards, there's nothing but a stump with a hook cruelly shoved into it in replaced of a hand; in the only other hand is a mace that probably looks like it weighs as much as I do if not more. I can feel a lump rising in my throat as I see a sneer flash across his face, his crooked teeth sharp and gleaming. Below him is a very white (I'm starting to see a pattern here) Warg with yellow teeth and pitch black eyes. Its snout is deformed, pushed back so that its teeth is always on show. My stomach drops dramatically when I hear Thorin whisper with shock and anger.

"Azog."

So, that's the Pale Orc?

Well, I can see where he got his name from.

With bated breath, I watch in silence and wide eyes as everything stops - the growling, the yelps of the Dwarves and I feel even Fili stop breathing - as Azog leans forward from atop of his Warg, bringing his deformed arm to graze the blades of the twisted hook across the pale fur of his beast. Azog's voice grates as he speaks roughly in a language that makes my stomach knot together. I can just tell his eyes are on Thorin - oh, poor Thorin; I really can't imagine what he must be thinking. This is all some really twisted Disney film - Lion King, anyone?

I shake violently as Azog pulls back, putting his pale and bald head up in the air and takes a deep breath before continuing his speech, an almost coy yet sly smile on his face with smug evident in the curls of his thin lips. With each word, I can see Thorin from the corner of my eye as his face darkens and his jaw clench. My free hand flies back to Fili, gripping his arm in alarm as rage blooms across Thorin's face.

"Fili - !" I try to warn him in a hushed whisper, clutching his arm in sheer panic as my eyes begin to burn from how long I haven't blinked. Fili ignores my whisper as Azog raises his voice to a shout, turning his torso back slightly to the Orcs that flank beside him. I know it isn't a good sign when he points the mace in his good hand at Thorin before swinging it behind his head in an arc.

At that moment, the Wargs that had retreated back behind their master without my notice charge forward, blood lust more clearer in their pitch black eyes than ever before. This time, they don't lurk near the bottom of the trees instead, they begin to jump, digging their nails into the bark in hopes of climbing up. The branches below us are pulled away, leaving the tree more and more bare and dead. One Warg practically flings itself up into the air and its mighty jaws clamps down on our branch; I pull slightly away from Fili to bring my foot down once, twice, a third time on its snout. It squeals in pain before dropping itself onto the rock below, snarling and hissing at me as I turn back to holding Fili.

"Fili! I'm scared!" I admit in a dry voice, my eyes wet as I watch the ground below. This is it: this is how I die; we can't run, we don't have any Elves to save us and I'm damn near sure that these Wargs are getting higher and higher with each leap. Fili squeezes me back having heard my words.

"I promise you, Libby, that we will get out of this!" Fili promises, his voice full of surety and honesty. It's hard to believe him, I mark as I stare back down at the Wargs.

At that moment, a Warg from below rages forward and slams its head into the base of our tree. It tremors up the bark, causing the branches shake and the entire tree to tilt slightly. My heart leaps into my throat as I feel my footing almost being lost before Fili corrects both him and I. Above all the noise, I can hear Azog's voice again as he speaks that language that sounds as horrible as when you scrape your nails on a chalkboard.

There's a jolt again and I gawp in horror as the Wargs begin to chew at the roots of the tree, causing it to tilt more and more and in the direction of the bloody fucking cliff. As I stare at the Wargs chewing at our tree's roots, I fail to notice the two two trees up ahead as they clash, falling and tangling together as they're uprooted. The tops of the trees smash together first, causing the pine needles to rain down over Fili and I (I'll say this: a few of them appeared in some very intimate areas) before the branches above us began to crack. The Dwarves from the two previous trees leapt to ours, looking as winded as I feel.

At first all is good before our own tree starts to fall towards the other. My mouth falls open as the Dwarves on our tree leap to the very last one - the one on the edge of the cliff. My stomach flips over as I realise Fili is going to jump. The gap is too big and I just know that I won't make it.

"Fili! I can't make it! I won't be able to jump!" Hell, I'd rather be eaten than risking jumping and then over achieving and ultimately dying by falling off the cliff if that makes any sense which I'm sure it doesn't. The tree edges closer and closer as Fili glances down from my scared self to the tree. I can hear a sigh escape his lips.

"Libby, do you trust me?" Fili tests, looking me straight in the eye. I feel my face scrunch up as I stare at the Dwarf, trying to fathom his words as my inevitable doom inches closer and closer with each second. If I had been paying attention, I would have felt his hands move from around my upper waist to slipping underneath my arms. What kind of a question is he asking me?

"Of course I do!" I reply, my eyebrows furrowed together. "What kind of question is - ?!"

Before I can finish my ill sentence, Fili literally picks me up from the branch and throws me. My mind is reeling as the air whips around my head, biting at my exposed flesh. I fly through the air approximately for 1.5 seconds when another pair of hands grab a hold of me, slipping under my arms and across my upper chest. My mouth is in the shape of a plump 'O' as my feet are placed securely on the branch at the bark.

My mouth is still open as I turn up to see Kili's smirking face. My mouth closes once, twice as I try to form words. I turn back to the tree I was on just a few seconds ago only to see it falling off the cliff. Fili lands on the branch on the other side of the back, hauling himself up as I turn to him, an accusing look on my face. I step away from Kili, pressing the side of my body against the rough bark of the tree and peek around it to glare at Fili.

"You fucking bastard!" I gasp, managing to form the words as the choke out through my throat. "There was a million things wrong with that plan! Do you know how stupid that was?! What if you missed, huh?! What then?! I swear to God and the Virgin Mary, Fili, I am going to kill you - !"

I'm cut of by a pine cone - no, wait, a pine cone on fire flying past my head. With a squeak, I pull back from glaring at Fili to grab a hold of Kili around his tummy as I watch the pine cone hit the ground. Fire starts to spark from the dead grass and the Wargs let out terrified squeals and titter back behind the small line of fire. Oh, this is so not going to end good for us; seriously, what idiot thought it would be a good idea to start a fire when we're up in a tree - ?

"Fili!" I hear Gandalf from above; peering up, I watch as he throws said Dwarf a lit pine cone, another one in his hand. My mouth gapes open as I go to tell the Wizard about ten reasons why he should not he handling something on fire in a tree when a two pine cones drop down over me only to be caught by Kili. I pull back as the instant heat nearly scorches my face; Kili shoves one of the pine cones into my hands, sparing me a wicked grin as I still have the very confused look on my face.

He quickly throws the lit pine cone, hitting a Warg on the forehead. After deciding that this is probably our only chance of escaping (and that my hands are really starting to burn) I throw the pine cone in my hand, watching it as it disappears i he sea the flames on the ground engulf around it. A slight smile appears on my face as I watch the Wargs retreated, their tails between their legs with their hackles raised.

Through the smoke and the fire, I can make out Azog's enraged face as he watches the Wargs retreat behind the Pale Orc. A grin stretches across my face as the Dwarves let out yells of triumph, smiles of their own lighting across their faces. I nervous yet genuine laugh falls past my lips as I turn to Kili to, I don't know, high - five him or whatever when my breath catches in my throat; the flames flicker across his face, casting shadows where the light cannot reach. His smile is wide, as hollers at the beasts below us. His cheeks are red and I can feel the warmth of his body from where I stand; all previous anger at him melts away as my eyes are glued to him. My smile slowly slips off my face and a mask of horror is replaced instead.

Oh, dear God; I like Kili. I like like him.

Kili, with the smile still on his face, turns to me before the smile slips from his face at the sight of my horror. As he goes to open his mouth I feel the branch underneath my feet tremor, causing me to lose my footing. My legs part and I land on the branch, a sharp intake of breath catching in my throat. Thank God I'm not a guy.

I can hear a ripping sound from below, causing my eyes to stray down; the roots of the tree have been uproot, escaping the clutches of the rock and falling more and more towards the edge of the cliff. My heart jumps into my mouth as, with another jolt, my leg swings over from the branch and both of my legs are hanging in the air over the cliff. I wrap my arms around the branch, pulling my weight up so that my stomach nearly rolls over it. Due to my position, I'm forced to stare at the space below; down, down, down the chasm goes until everything disappears into darkness.

"Oh God, oh God, oh God . . . " I hyperventilate as my arms begin to become strained. Beside me, Kili holds onto the branch with his breathing rapid as he stares down into the pit below. His face pales and I swear I can see a tinge of green. I go to say something encouraging but all that's running through my mind is 'we're going to die, we're going to die'and that's not really, well, encouraging.

"Mr Gandalf!" A voice breaks through the air. As I risk turning my head, I catch sight of Dori hanging onto a branch with Ori clutching onto his boot. Slowly, Dori's fingers start to slip and soon enough, he's briefly in the air before Gandalf thrusts down his staff. Somehow, Dory grips the end of the staff, literally hanging with just his fingernails. My heart beats nervously in my chest as a pit forms in my stomach; I know for sure that if I even let go no one will be there to save me.

"Jesus, please let me live; I promise I will remain celibate for the rest of my - "

There's another tremor in the tree and I lose my grip slightly, fall a bit. A squeak leaves my mouth and I turn to glare at the sky, mouthing profanities before another jolt brings me from my thoughts. From peripheral vision I can clearly see Thorin stand up, brandishing his sword and a - wait a moment.

Is that a frickin' log on his arm in replace of a shield?

Wow.

Dwarves are weird.

Anyway.

Thorin had managed to pull himself up onto the horizontal tree, the light of the flames licking across his enraged face. He makes his way down the tree, the anger gleaming in his eyes as he grips the hilt of the sword. My mouth drops open as I try to wheeze out a warning for someone to stop him because I'm pretty sure that Dwarf plus really tall Orc on a Warg only equals bad.

"What the fuck? Fuck, someone fucking stop - " I choke out the words before my arms start to slip on the branch. My hands are red and raw, almost burning. My stomach is in pain from my position of bending over the branch with the hilt of my knife digging in to the flesh just under my rib - cage. A sheen of sweat glistens over my forehead as I try to hang on or at least pull myself up.

Sparing a glance, I scan around to see that the other Dwarves are just staring after Thorin - shock on their faces as their King moves closer and closer to almost certain death. I let out a frustrated hiss before facing up to see Thorin rushing through the thick orange and yellow flames of the fire. Thorin raises his sword over his head as my eyes peek up to a sneering Azog.

A strangled cry leaves my mouth as I watch Azog urge his Warg to leap from where it stood, jumping over Thorin. The move is unexpected and Thorin swings his sword too slow; the white Warg knocks him down onto his back. A brief sliver of hopes ignites as Thorin gets to his feet before Azog charges forward, swinging his mace and smashing it into Thorin's chest, sending the Dwarf back onto the ground.

I try to force myself up but my arms are weak; I know for certain that my eyes are wet as I continue to stare at Thorin's crumpled form. I turn to a scared Kili, with his face slack and his own eyes wet. He's going to see Thorin die in front of him.

"Kili! We have to help!" I order, my voice surprisingly steady and strong. Kili tears his eyes away from the brutal scene to stare at me, his brown eyes bright with alarm and fear. He doesn't answer me even though his mouth falls open like he wants to. "Come on, Kili! We can't just let him die!"

I really don't know why I'm saying this or why I want to help Thorin; in all honesty, Thorin's a bit of a dick to me and I kind of hate him for that. He goes around griping and hissing at everyone and goes on a childish rampage when something isn't done his way. But maybe it's the fact he's Fili and Kili's uncle or that I'm sick of people dying that I want to help him. Kili doesn't move and continues to stare at me, helpless.

Turning away with determination blooming, I gather all the strength I can muster; I dig my nails into the branch and try to haul myself up. I can feel the bark tearing at my fingertips as I manage to swing on leg over the branch, instantly feeling a weight being lifted off of me. I hunch over from where I sit, ignoring the heat from the fire that continues to creep further towards us.

The wind stings at my exposed wounds on my head with the image of salt on wounds coming to mind. I turn slightly towards where Thorin lay when, to my astonishment, I see Bilbo - Bilbo Baggins of all people - stand up on the thick bark of the tree with his feet unsteady beneath him and the shock evident on his face - probably shock at himself. A sudden yell pulls my eyes away from Bilbo and towards where the fight was happening.

A gasp claws its way through my throat as I watch the white Warg underneath Azog pick Thorin up in its might jaws. My mouth falls open as I see it clench it jaw shut, causing Thorin to yell out in pain. A rattle breath shakes me as my face loses all blood. I vaguely hear Dwalin cry out for his friend, trying to climb up and aid Thorin before the branch cracks beneath him, only hanging on to the tree by a splinter.

I stare with terror and dismay as Thorin slams his sword against the deformed snout of the white Warg, causing it to fling him from its grip; Thorin rolls on the ground, landing near the edge of the cliff before ultimately stopping. I wait with bated breath but he doesn't get up. Come on, Thorin, you sack of grumpiness, get up! I struggle with my raw and numb hands as I try to edge back to the bark of the tree, ignoring the prickling in my hands from the splinters and multiple tiny cuts. My legs are jelly as I try and move back along the branch, my eyes flickering slightly to see an Orc moving towards Thorin with it's sword on its side.

I hear the scraping noise of metal against metal and I look up to see Bilbo holding his sword with shaky hands. Oh no, he's not going to do what I think he's going to do, is he? Sure enough, the Hobbit runs forward with his large feet padding very silently. My face slips into one of disbelief as he runs towards the Orc that stood near Thorin, raising it's curved sword over its head. I can't help but look as Bilbo smashes into the Orc from the side, knocking both him and it to the ground.

For a brief few seconds, it looks as though the Orc has the upper hand before Bilbo drives his blue sword into the armored chest of the Orc. A shriek escapes its throat as Bilbo continues to stab his sword into it until the Orc is not moving and, finally, dead. Bilbo rushes to his feet, standing before the unconscious body of Thorin with his stained sword held high.

After shaking my head from the astonishment that Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit from Bag End who preferred to stay in his garden and read books, had risked his life and single handily killed an Orc that was twice the size of him. With a smile and new found strength, I pull myself up onto the trunk of the tree with my knees unsteady as I pull my knife from where it was hidden in my pants. The other Dwarves have regained their senses as they too manage to get themselves to stand on the trunk of the tree and withdraw their weapons.

Kili edges himself up along out branch, grunting as he tries to pull his weight up. Bending down, I grab his elbow and draw him up beside me, sharing a slight smile with him which he returns. Turning back to Bilbo, the Wargs edge closer, snarling giddily at the trapped Hobbit. Resisting the urge to shout something stupid - like, oh, I don't know something along the lines of 'For Narnia!' - the Dwarves I start to rush forward. It's only until that I'm a foot away from the first Warg that I realise that this is a very bad idea.

Ignoring my thoughts and doubts, I manage to step side it's massive mouth and thrust my knife into it's temple, instantly killing it. Wow, who would have thought that I would be an awesome fighter? Not one lesson, people. Stooping down to grab the hilt of the knife, I manage to pull it free in time to catch sight of an Orc as it runs towards me with its sword raised high above its head. With a girlish squeal, I duck just in time as the Orc swings the curved blade where my head was a few moments ago; a few milliseconds after ducking, I stab my blade into the Orc's thigh, hearing a screech in return. Pulling my black blood stained knife free, the Orc falls to its knees, its hand going to the wound. With the Orc distracted, I thrust my stained knife into the crook of its neck, the result being a spray of warm, black blood all over my face.

I gag slightly as I pull the knife free, letting the body of the Orc clatter to the rock. With a satisfied smile, I turn away to watch as the Dwarves slay the other beasts and their riders. Due to the distraction of my mind counting the dropping amount of Wargs and Orcs, I don't see the Warg as it charges at me. My body is flung helpless to the ground, my head cracking on the rock. Through the blurred vision, I can make out the rows of crooked teeth and the dirty grey fur surrounding it. The smell of death, blood and rotting food fans over my face causing me to gag.

Taking the precious moment of the Warg being distracted, I raise the hand with the knife and thrust it into the muzzle of the Warg. A sharp howl nearly shatters my ear drums as I crawl out from under the belly of the Warg. Clumsily getting to my feet, I spy a thick yet small branch not too far off from me. Stooping, I pick it up in my sensitive and sore hands before swinging it down, bashing it on the snout of the Warg.

Before I can make another attack, a sharp caw shatters through the air above causing me to look away from the soulless, black eyes of the Warg in front of me - who looks scared and ready to shit itself might I smugly add. With disbelief, I gawp as a large shape swoops down and clutches the Warg in its talons, throwing it far away from me. I watch the body of the animal get flung over my head and falls over the edge of the cliff.

I stare with wonder and amazement as the birds - Eagles, I would think, except a lot larger - swoop down, picking up the Wargs and the Orcs in their claws and flinging them over the edge of the cliff. The branch in my hand clatters to the ground as one bird fans the flames of the fire towards a group of very scared Wargs. The smell of burnt fur and flesh soon fills the night.

Another caw breaks me from my thoughts as I whip my head around to see Thorin's unconscious body being picked up unusually gently by an Eagle, his body slumping in the grip. Wait, what are they - ?

Before I can finish my train of thought something slams into me and my feet aren't touching the ground. A muffled screams claws its way out of my throat as I'm lifted up higher and higher into the air and far away from the fire. Just as quickly as I'm picked up, I'm dropped suddenly with my body tumbling through the air. My own scream pierces my ears as I flip and turn over in the air with the ends of my jumper and scarf flapping in the wind. My bag has slipped from under my arm to the strap just resting behind my neck, causing the leather bag to slip and turn and be turned inside out as I tumble.

Sure that I'm going to die, I clench my eyes waiting for death; but instead of death, I land on something very soft and fluffy. Peeking my eyes open, my mouth falls open when I realisethat I'm on the back of an Eagle. Awe fills me as the bird stoops lower and lower. Shouldn't it be flying up - ?

A yell from above catches my attention and I snap my head up to see a bundle coming closer and closer until -

Thud!

I try to smother my laughter at the sight of Kili with his eyes closed shut and a very constipated look on his face. Unfortunately, it doesn't work and a burst of giggles escape my mouth with my arms over my tummy while I double over. Through the fits of laughter I can see Kili peek one eye open then, slowly, the other as he stares in terror at the massive Eagle. His hands fist the feathers in his palms while he looks at me helplessly.

"O - Oh my God! Y - Your face!" I giggle as I hold my already sore stomach. The air whips from behind me, causing my now short hair to fly in a tangled mess. I know for sure that Kili is glaring at me but, as he opens his mouth, and shout from above garners both of our attention. The next mess to join us is Fili - who doesn't look as so much scared as out of it. His face is blank as he sways from where he sits on the bird.

Oh, if only I had a camera.

"Fili? Are you alright?" Kili asks, concerned for his older brother as the said Dwarf continues to stare mindlessly ahead.

"The bird - the bird dropped me and now I'm on another bird," he mutters, a shiver going through him. Fili shakes his hair, the mane of golden blonde hair shaking with it, before he blinks a few times and comes to his sense. His bright blue eyes slide from Kili to me to Kili and to me again before they drop to the bird. His face instantly pales as he too scrunches the feathers of the bird in his hands.

I snort and role my eyes, turning back around to face ahead where I can actually see the moon shining in the sky. I let out a short laughter, spreading my arms out just as the bird spread out its wings. It didn't really creep me out as it should have; having been on planes and ships, it wasn't scary. I mean, the bird doesn't come with seat belts and one wrong mistake and bye - bye Libby, but this is so awesome.

"This is amazing! It's like another version of How To Train Your Dragon!" I giggle wildly as my grin starts to hurt the muscles in my cheeks. I can vaguely hear Kili uttering 'How to train you what?' but I ignore him as I let the wind blow my hair away from my face. The image of Jack Dawson shouting 'I'm King of the World!' flashes into my mind. Taking a deep breath, and pushing away all embarrassment of shouting something as stupid as that, I stand up on my knees. "I'm King of the World!" Okay, now I feel like my bucket list is complete.

"Don't you mean Queen?!" I hear Kili say with his teeth chattering; I turn back slightly to see the sight of him hunched over and gripping the feathers of the Eagle while his his face is practically the colour of Casper the Friendly Ghost. An unladylike snort escapes my mouth as I roll my eyes.

"Hey! If a girl wants to be a King and a boy wants to be a Queen then who's to say we can stop them?!" I retort as a confused expression flashes over Kili's face.

"Can you two please be quiet?!" I hear Fili snap as he looks ready to vomit. Oh, the Eagle will not be happy about that. With a shrug, I turn back to the front as I watch valleys pass below us in a blur. I clutch onto the feathers of the bird lightly as I stare with wonder and awe, trying to come to grips with the fact that I'm on a bird; not an airplane, not a ship, but a real Eagle. A sliver of fear wraps around my heart as I keep as stiff and rigid as possible.

We stay in silence, watching as the sky turns brighter and brighter with each passing minute. The rays of the sun peek up from around the mountains, hinting that dawn is close. What with not having a proper nights sleep in nearly two days, my eyes are heavy and they threaten to drop any moment. As I struggle to keep my eyes open, the sun rises for a new day; its warmth and light spreads across the land beneath us and across my skin. The feeling of the sun's warmth has my eyes drooping even further, making everything turn blurry.

"Thorin!"

Fili's shout causes me to bolt up straight and my eyes to fling open. A string of coherent words stutter past my lips as I turn around to glare at Fili. But his eyes are else where; following his attention, I focus in on Thorin - his body is still in the clutches of an Eagle up ahead, his arms swinging by his side. My heart sinks to my stomach; shouldn't he have woken up by now?

My hands clamp over my mouth as negative thoughts swirl in my head; Thorin can't be dead, he - he just can't; I mean, I know he's a dick and all, but he isn't that bad. I think. My lower lip trembles as my arms wrap themselves around my waist, trying to ignore the thought that Thorin Oakenshield could be dead. Shaking my head, I turn back slightly to see Kili looking forlorn with his eyebrows furrowed. My palms began to sweat and my heart beat raced at the sight of him; Jesus, liking someone is really not cool. His brown eyes meet mine as a frown settles on the corners of his lips.

"It'll be fine, I promise," I say to him though I didn't even believe myself. Kili doesn't answer, dropping his eyes back to the feathers of the Eagle as a sigh bleeds past my lips.

The sun goes higher and higher as puffs of clouds start to mix in with the sky. The birds fly around and over small mountains, cawing occasionally to each other. They pass over a cliff before stooping down with their wings spread wide; my heart lurches into my throat as my eyes water from the air. The sound of rushing water over smooth rocks sounds in my ears, hinting that there is a stream nearby.

With another caw, the Eagles start to round together, turning slightly onto their sides while circle a very high stone pillar. The first bird that goes in is the one carrying Thorin; the Eagles drops Thorin down softly onto the stone with the Dwarf's sword clattering onto the ground. Slowly, one by one, each Eagle goes forward to either drop the Dwarves they are carrying or to stoop low enough for them to jump off.

When it's our turn, I practically leap from where I sat along with Fili and Kili, the impact of my landing stinging the soles of my feet. I walk nearer to Thorin's unmoving body with Fili and Kili either side of me, my mind teetering on the edge of the worst. Gandalf hunches over the Dwarf King, his hand passing over Thorin's eyes as he mutters under his breath. My eyes flicker from Gandalf to Thorin, hoping that what ever gobbledie - gook the Wizard was doing would help.

Slowly, but surely, Thorin's eyes flicker open causing relief to balloon in my chest with a slight smile on the corner of my lips. Even though I'm a bit far away I can make out Thorin's first words. "The Halfling?"

Instantly my eyes fly to Bilbo who sports a nervous and dreading look on his face. Gandalf's face slightly falls before an instant smile stretches across his face. "He's alright," Gandalf assures Thorin. "Bilbo is here and he's quite safe."

Thorin goes to move onto his knees, struggling slightly; Dwalin and Kili instantly rush forward to help him, each taking an elbow as Thorin stands on his feet, his bright blue eyes landing and the slightly relieved Hobbit.

"You!" Thorin spits in an accusing tone, the smile on Bilbo's face slipping away. Well there goes Bilbo being relieved. Thorin shakes of Dwalin and Kili's hands, standing unsteadily. Kili moves back to stand beside me as his eyes are glued to his not very happy looking uncle. This cannot be good. "What were you doing? You nearly got yourself killed!" Wait, is he concerned about Bilbo or what is happening?

A frown settles on my face as my eyes narrow at Thorin; I don't think this is how you're supposed to react to someone who just saved your ass. Bilbo's mouth opens three times, a scared and disbelieving look on his face as his eyes flicker from every Dwarf and I. Thorin steps forward, a menacing look on his face as he stares down at the Hobbit.

"Did I not say you would be a burden?" Thorin hisses, the venom practically dripping from his tongue. My eyebrows furrow together as I glare at the back of high and mighty Thorin Oakenshield. "That you would not survive in the wild? That you had no place amongst us?" Okay, that is so not cool; when he take his head out of his ass, I am going to slap him. Bilbo's face falls as his eyes drop to the ground, an ashamed redness on his cheeks as everyone stares at what is happening.

It is silent for a few moments - with Bilbo glaring at the ground, Thorin glaring at Bilbo and me glaring at Thorin, it's quite tense. Or, well, it is between them.

"I have never been so wrong, in all my life."

Mouth, drops, on the floor.

I probably look like a cartoon character as my jaw falls open as Thorin goes in to wrap his arms around Bilbo. My eyebrows are raised as silent words splutter and I blink furiously. Thorin Oakenshield is hugging the one person I thought he hated - Hell, nearly everyone thought he hated Bilbo, even Bilbo himself. A smile stretches across my face as the others look around, smiling awkwardly at each other from the display of affection. I let out an internal squeal as I grab a very shocked Kili and squeeze him from the side.

"They're hugging!" I practically fan girl in a whisper as my smile stretches even further across my face. A slight burst of nearly silent laughter explodes within me as I hug Kili tighter trying to point out the growing bromance between Bilbo and Thorin. "This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!"

Thankfully the other Dwarves are too busy clapping each other on the backs and whooping to notice my current fan girl freak out. I can feel Kili's chest rumble as he wraps his arms around me too. I'm caring too much at the sign of affection between the Dwarf and the Hobbit to blubber about the one between Kili and I.

Too soon, Thorin pulls pack, a smile across his face while Bilbo has this 'what - the - fuck - just - happened?' one across his one. I resist the urge to shout at them to kiss before I realise that I'm still hugging Kili - and pretty tightly. With an embarrassed squeal, I jump back, blushing red and stuttering as the warmth creeps up my neck.

"S - sorry; just thought it would be a good idea to hug since everyone is in the hugging mood," I splutter in a rushed voice as I cough awkwardly, adverting my eyes to up ahead as my cheeks steadily grew redder and redder. From the corner of my eyes, I can still see Kili's eyes on me but I refuse to meet his gaze as I hear Thorin's rough voice.

"I am sorry I doubted you," he admits, his voice hoarse yet sincere as he looks down kindly at Bilbo. Said Hobbit shakes his head at Thorin's words, running a tongue over his chapped lips.

"I - I would have doubted me too," Bilbo sighs, his eyes flickering across Thorin's face. "I'm not a hero; or a warrior; or even a burglar." Bilbo os sheepish as he glances to Gandalf, a half smile on his mouth. The Wizard scoffs with a grin of his own. A whoosh of wings garners my attention as a shadow looms over us. Ahead, the Eagles flap their wings, cawing a farewell as they fly off into the distance. A rush of wind leaves my body as a tired smile cross my mouth.

"Well, that was . . . adventurous," I comment slyly as I hear Fili and Kili groan silently beside me.

"That was absolutely horrible; I wish never to travel that way again. I think I nearly vomited," Fili mutters darkly as he all but glares after the Eagles. I let out a scoff as I elbow him slightly, a smirk replacing my smile. What a wuss.

"Is that . . . is that what I think it is?"

I turn around with a quizzical look on my face; Thorin and Bilbo stare ahead, far off into the distance with awe on their faces. My eyebrows knit together as I step forward along with the rest of the Dwarves. my eyes scan the horizon, trying to see what ever they were seeing. As we come closer towards the very pointed end of the flat stone, my eyes catch something on the edge of the line of sight. From this distance, it's a small bump in the land, ending in a sharp end.

"Erebor, the Lonely Mountain; last of the great Dwarf Kingdoms of Middle Earth," Gandalf announces, his voice airy and full of relief. So, that's the place they're trying to take back? Hm, that place looks pretty awesome from here.

"Our home," Thorin says, his tone lighter than I have ever heard it. Well, it's good to see that there isn't a stick up his ass anymore.

A sudden light tweeting snatches me from my thoughts, causing me to turn my hear. A small black bird, tweeting sharply and brightly, flutters over us. "A raven! The birds are returning to the Mountain!" Oin says, as everyone watches the bird flittering off into the distance and in the direction of the Lonely Mountain.

"That, my dear Oin," Gandalf intercedes, "is thrush!"

What's the difference? I mean, it's a bird and it's going towards the mountain. Let's just be happy about that.

"We'll take it as a sign; a good omen," Thorin comments, sparing a glance with Bilbo. I smother a smile at their new found friendship while sighing out through my nose while wrapping my arms around myself.

"You're right," Bilbo agrees with a slight nod of his honey curls, "I do believe the worst is behind us."

I snort inwardly at his words. I'm sorry, has he forgotten about the Wargs that are probably tracking us down and chasing us and the distance between here and the Lonely Mountain and the fact there's a fucking dragon in there?

"Whatever, man," I shrug, "all I know everything will be alright with me as long as I eat something."

And, for once, the others agree with me.

Hello! So, I actually wasn't going to write this chapter for another month or two at least because I really did not want to write it; then I saw this cute adorable fan made picture of Thorin holding a baby Fili and my heart broke because someone said underneath it "I think one of the many reasons Thorin cares so much for Fili and Kili is because maybe he lost a sweetheart when Smaug came and you know that thing about Dwarves only falling in love once."

Like, no.

No, no, no.

NO.

I actually broke down in tears and ta - da! I wrote this chapter! I would have finished it yesterday but my brother took the laptop and, yeah, it was 11 at night anyway.

Also: I'm starting school in five days and this year is going to be all exams and what not and I probably won't/won't be allowed on the laptop as much. So updates are going to be fewer and fewer.

I've also decided I'm going to try and do 15 chapters on each movie or whatever.

Anyway, thanks for all the reviews and follows and favourites! Sorry this one isn't as good but I quite like it, y'know? I did over 9,000 words in less than 16 hours.

Please, please, please, please review, follow and favourite!

(p.s: if you wanna follow me on tumblr my username is legolashasthebooty - link in bio!)

-tateslangdon