What's up, my lovelies?
I hope everyone had a great week.
A reviewer from the last chapter asked me to add in some more from Tosur's POV
and I will be trying to do that soon.
Also, don't be surprised if you get an extra chapter tomorrow because tomorrow's my birthday and I want to share it with y'all by giving you a bonus chapter.
Also, soon I will be forced to update once a week instead of twice a week. :(
I'm starting my new job soon.
Nothing glamrous, just housekeeping at a nice resort and I am super excited! :D
Anywho, please review!

~ Rachel

Eraveth sat in darkness and felt the wetness that surrounded her. Her fingers touched the thick liquid as she tried to identify it. Suddenly, as if someone had lit a torch, she was bathed in a yellow light. She gasped at the deep red color that stained her fingertips and looked down at herself. She wore a dress that had once been white but was now drenched in the dark liquid causing the fabric to stick to her skin. Just then, the sickening metallic smell hit her and she realized what the liquid was. It was blood.

She was sitting in a pool of blood, but it was not her own. She let out a scream as she took in the sight around her. Thousands of bodies of dwarves, men, elves and orcs surrounded her. The bodies closest to her were familiar and caused tears to spring to her eyes. All around her were the lifeless bodies of the company with the exception of three, Thorin, Eärwen, and Bilbo. She cried as she stared into the glassy eyes of her brother. His face was ashen and covered with blood. She shut her eyes to the sight, but they snapped open again when she heard a familiar voice call her name.

Two figures stood above her on a hill. One was that of Thorin Oakenshield and the other was that of Azog the Defiler. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her toward them. She stumbled to the top of the hill just as Thorin fell to his knees. She felt unable to move as Thorin reached out his hand to her. Azog stood over him and pushed him to the ground. With a wicked sneer, he looked at Eraveth and said, "Watch as he dies!" Eraveth screamed as she watched him plunge his sword deep into Thorin's chest.

The company was awakened by Eraveth's first scream and tried to wake the poor girl up. Tears ran freely down her cheeks as she thrashed back and forth. Tosur tried to stop her from moving, but just as he reached for her shoulder, her hand shot out as if to stop something and hit him on the jaw. He fell backwards just as she screamed the second time and her eyes shot open, but everyone could tell that she was still in the dream. The absolute fear and sorrow that they saw in her eyes caught them all by surprise. Thorin immediately dropped down to the ground beside her and drew Eraveth into his arms. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, trying to stop her thrashing.

Azog began to advance toward Eraveth. She backed away as far as she could until Azog stepped on the skirt of her dress, halting her escape. A wicked smile crossed his face as she tried in vain to free herself. He wrapped his hand around her throat and pushed her to the ground.

As she watched his hook rise above her, Eraveth clawed at his hand and pleaded, "Please! Please don't do this!" She continued to plead until his grip tightened and she could no longer draw a breath. With one final laugh, Azog plunged his hook into her chest.

The company watched in horror as Eraveth continued to thrash in Thorin's arms. As he listened to his sister's pleas, Tosur's heart constricted with pain. The many attempts to wake her had failed. She appeared to be too deep in the dream. Suddenly, she let out a final scream as her whole body convulsed.

Eraveth looked up at the people surrounding her and saw the concern etched into all their faces. Poor Bilbo was deathly pale. Their pity overwhelmed her and she turned her face away and let all of the sobs she had been holding back out. She felt strong arms tighten around her and she felt almost safe in them. She didn't have to look up to know who was holding her. She forced herself to calm down and inhaled deeply. She caught the scent of wood and mint and let it comfort her.

The others backed away from Thorin, Eraveth, and Tosur. They did not want to embarrass the poor girl. Many of them knew how realistic nightmares could feel and that peace and quiet was the best thing for Eraveth right now. Thorin felt her fingers softly entwine in the fabric of his tunic as she buried her face in the fur trim of his coat.

"I'm so sorry," Eraveth whispered as she lifted tear-stained eyes to meet Thorin's. She tried to push away from him, but Thorin did not release her. He loosened his grip on her slightly and she sat back against his chest. He rested his chin on the top of her head and stroked her hair as she listened to the steady and rhythmic sound of his heartbeat. Eraveth felt completely comfortable in Thorin's arms but more than that, she felt safe.

Eraveth tilted her head back slightly and looked up into Thorin's face. He looked down at her and gave the slightest hint of a smile. She felt her face heat up and she pushed away from him.

"I should let you get back to sleep," she said as stood up. "I truly am sorry for waking everyone. I don't usually have nightmares."

Thorin glanced down at the female who had just been in his arms. The loss of her body heat caused his arms and chest to become slightly colder. He turned slightly to return to his bedroll but stopped and turned back to Eraveth.

"I will take the watch," he said, gesturing to a rock that sat on the edge of their little clearing. "Try to get some sleep. I will wake you if I see that you are having another nightmare."

If it were even possible, Eraveth's face grew redder at the unexpected and uncharacteristic act of kindness that Thorin was offering her. She ducked her head away from the King under the Mountain in order to conceal her blush as much as possible. Her stomach was doing odd things to her and she risked a glance up into Thorin's eyes. Her breath hitched when she looked up into his icy pools. Nodding once in acknowledgment, she turned quickly and sat down beside her brother. She pulled her cloak up around her shoulders and laid her head on her pack.

Thorin watched Eraveth lay down to sleep and thought back to the events of the night. When the company had awakened to Eraveth's screams, he was reminded of when Kili had had nightmares after his father died. He had comforted his nephew in similar fashion to how he had pulled Eraveth into his lap and wrapped his arms around her to keep her from hurting herself. However, when he had held Eraveth, something stirred deep inside him and seemed to ignite a small fire within him.

The campfire had slowly waned and now only glowing embers remained, casting a soft glow on the sleeping forms of the company. Thorin's gazed settled on Eraveth once again and watched as the low light cast shadows upon her tired face. The shadows seemed to accentuate her thin cheeks and weary face. He was reminded once again of what had happened to her and the other female of the group. Eärwen still had not been seen and most hoped that she was away from the foul creature that she had been sent to, be it by escape or death.

As he thought back to the strange woman who had helped them escape Rivendell, Thorin remembered what she had said about her father. He had been awake that night she had told Bofur her story. He had heard the pride in her voice when she spoke of her father and he was suddenly stricken to think of how that elf would react when he discovered that his beloved daughter was taken by goblins and delivered to Azog. He couldn't help but imagine how he would feel if Kili or Fili were taken from him and handed to one of the most horrid creatures on the face of Arda.

He had not wanted Eärwen to join them but he could not help but feel guilty about what had happened to her. He silently hoped that she had escaped and was with her father again, but he somehow knew that she was still being held by Azog.