"Italics" - Elvish, Sindarin
'Normal' -thoughts to one's self
'Italics' - thought speak (thought speak only applies with Galadriel)
Sorry again the last chapter was posted with all bold text for the first day.
Also Confringo and Expulso are both Blasting Charms according to hp wiki. The difference is Confringo is an explosion of fire and Expulso is an explosion of pressure and force.
Some reviewers misunderstood in my last author's note when I said Gandalf still gets Orcrist. I meant since I'm giving Glamdring to my MC, Gandalf still gets a badass elven sword. I know Gandalf carried Glamdring in the original story. Sorry if I chose my words poorly.
A/N: I do not own Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, or The Hobbit.
Everything was going so well. Radagast led the wargs, about half of which carried orc riders, on a merry chase. Gandalf guided the company from one large rock formation to another as the wargs and riders passed by. When they finally made it to the last boulder before the terrain turned into rolling hills and a few trees sparsely dotting the land, it seemed their luck ran out. An orc rider apparently caught their scent and was investigating from the top of the boulder they were hiding against.
Kili was forced to step out and fire an arrow into the orc's chest. Victoria stepped out as well, killing the warg, that was now barring its teeth with a snarl, with Sectumsempra horizontally through its open mouth. The orc fell from the dead mount and stood up with an arrow protruding from his chest. He charged in a rage at the company, letting out loud, echoing war cries. The dwarves quickly surrounded him, but the orc died slowly, bloody ear-piercing screams coming from him before Victoria could get a clear shot to cast Silencio.
She could hear the wargs stop their chase and turn to run towards them. Apparently Gandalf heard it too because he shouted, "Move! Run!" They followed Gandalf, sprinting as fast as they could for the most part, as he led them over the hills. Victoria hoped they could make it to this Hidden Path, but she dropped back to the rear of the group to protected them if they were overtaken. She looked over to see Kili doing the same.
"If they catch us, leave them to me. Follow Gandalf and Thorin. You need to protect Thorin," Victoria shouted to him, hoping his sense of duty would compel him to follow her instructions.
They group stopped for a moment to look around. Quickly Gloin spotted a few wargs coming over a distant hill. "There they are!," he shouted. "This way," Gandalf commanded, leading them toward a large stone outcrop. They ran for a few minutes, following Gandalf. When they all reached outcrop, Gandalf seemed to disappear for a moment before popping up over a smaller boulder. "This way." He then disappeared again.
"Go," Victoria shouted, "I will cover your retreat." She watched as the dwarves all made it down whatever passage lay in the rocks, drawing out her sword, her wand already in her left hand. Turning, she found herself slowly being surrounded by wargs, eight with orc riders and six without.
Victoria saw one of the orcs shout something and swing his black sword to point at her. The unmounted wargs moved forward cautiously, while she thought it was a good idea to take out the leader again.
"Expulso," she thought, pointing the Elder Wand at the orc who spoke. The blue curse struck the orc in the abdomen as the wargs began to charge at full speed. Victoria watched as the orc's stomach exploded and it was sent flying. The warg he was riding was slammed to the ground under the force of the wave of pressure released in the explosion. She didn't have time to wonder if that warg was out of the fight or just stunned as the unmounted wargs grew closer to her.
Jabbing her wand forward, Victoria let out a bolt of lighting that consumed two of the wargs in crackling electrical energy. Hearing the pounding of paws to her right, she dropped the point of her sword down and to the left and turned to see a warg leaping at her, mouth open to tear into her. Victoria swung her sword with all the strength she processed in a sweeping arc from left to right. The edge of the blade bit into the side of the warg's face and continued on, slicing the top of its head off.
Victoria pivoted on her left foot, bringing her right foot back to avoid the corpse of the warg, and used the spinning motion to initiate disapparation. She apparated behind the line of orc riders, the two loud cracks cause by apparation so close confused the orcs. The three unmounted wargs were not fooled and began running at her from her old position, on the other side of the orc riders. Another lightning blast between the riders took out one more unmounted warg before Victoria heard a horn blow.
Arrows rained from the sky as elves on horseback bared down on the orc raiding party. Victoria was surprised she didn't hear the horses coming, but wasn't going to look a gift elven-horse in the mouth. Quickly orc and warg both fell to expertly placed arrows and Victoria turned to meet whoever these elves were.
She was grateful to see Elrond and his two sons leading the party. "What brings the Lord of Imladris out so far from his hidden valley?" she called as they approached.
"We are not so far from my home, my dear wizard. We heard tale of an orc hunting party coming up from the South. Strange for them to venture so close to Imladris." Elrond dismounted and greeted Victoria by placing both hands on her shoulders. "It is good to see you well, Arwen will be glad of your safe return to us."
"I travel still with Gandalf the Grey, and we are, uh, escorting as party of dwarves across the Misty Mountains. I believe they have taken some hidden path to Imladris over there in those rocks. And it might be our fault the orcs came this close to your lands," Victoria added at the end, sheepishly. She trusted Elrond, but the Quest of Erebor was not her story to tell, even if she was along for the ride.
Elrond gestured with his hand and the elven party moved their horses, allowing a black horse at the back to walk forward.
"We found your horse a league west from here. It was her who led us to you. Some elven-trained horses bond with their first rider after training. It seems this horse has developed quite a fondness for you."
"What is her name? I never thought to ask," Victoria said, looking at the horse as the horse stared back at her with large, soulful eyes.
"It is customary for the first rider to give a horse its name," Elladan said walking up next to Victoria to greet her as his brother did the same.
"I think I will name her Luna," Victoria said switching back to English. Those eyes of her horse just reminded her of Luna Lovegood.
"What does that name stand for?" Elrond asked.
"It's an old word for the Moon."
Two days passed before the elves and Victoria approached Rivendell. She led the group across the narrow path and was grateful to see the company and Gandalf waiting near the stairs that led to the city proper. Victoria led her horse to the side of the stairs and dismounted, turning around to see the elves circling the dwarves. The company didn't seem to appreciate being surrounded by mounted elves. Victoria was about to yell at the elves for their display but she held her tongue when Elrond dismount and spoke to Gandalf and then Thorin respectfully.
Victoria caught sight of white light in her peripheral vision, turning to gaze up the stairs, she saw Arwen standing at the top. Adorned in a dress of pure white, which contrasted beautifully with her raven hair, and a silver tiara, she looked amazing in Victoria's opinion. Ignoring the company and the elves, Victoria quickly climbed the stairs and crushed Arwen in a hug.
"I have missed you, mellon."
"And I you. It is good to see you well, my dear wizard. Come, lets you and I retire to my room.
Victoria made a gesture with her hand while saying, "Lead the way."
Arwen slipped her arm through Victoria's and guided her to the elven crafted building that held her room.
"I have a new idea for a prank we can play on my brothers."
"You want me to hide under my cloak and make your brothers trip during the duel you're going to challenge them to? You're going to fight them both at the same time?"
"Yes," Arwen said, looking at Victoria with the puppy dog eyes.
"You taught me that look. Why does it still work on me?"
"Because I am your best friend, and you and mine."
"OK, I'll do it. But lets talk of something else. Anything new going on at Rivendell?" Victoria asked, laying down on Arwen's bed.
"The Lady Galadriel is on her way to Rivendell as we speak. She should arrive after sunset two days from now."
"It will be nice to finally meet her in person. So far, she is just a voice in my head."
"Come," Arwen said, "Your room is how you left it, I believe you will want to bathe and change clothes before the feast tonight."
"Feast?"
"To honor the coming of two wizards and a company of Dwarf-lords, Thorin Oakenshield among them."
After cleaning up, Victoria made her way to the open air dining patio. She found herself seated next to Gandalf, who was next to Elrond at the head of the table. Thorin sat opposite Gandalf. Elrond asked questions of Gandalf about their travels. Gandalf gave truthful answers for the most part, but his answers were vague and evasive when it came to the goal of the journey. Victoria didn't think that this slipped by Elrond like Gandalf hoped.
When the topic of the battle with the trolls came up, Gandalf asked Elrond if he could inspect the two elven swords.
Elrond gazed long at the bone-handled sword Gandalf produced first. "This is Orcrist, the Goblin-Cleaver. A famous blade, used in battle by Ecthelion against the Lord of Balrogs. Forged by the High-Elves of the West, my kin. May it serve you well, Mithrandir."
Victoria passed over her new sword as Elrond handed Orcrist back to Gandalf. "Turgon, King of Gondolin has, holds, and wields the sword, Glamdring. Foe of Morgoth's Realm. Hammer to the Orcs," Elrond said, translating the runes across the guard. "This is Glamdring, the Foe-Hammer. These were made for the Goblin Wars of the First Age."
As Elrond handed Glamdring back to Victoria, he raised an eyebrow and said, "You seem to have a knack for collecting relics of my kin, Victoria. Are you sure we shouldn't call you Treasure Hunter."
Victoria snatched Glamdring back. "The first relic was given to me," she said looking at Elrond pointedly. "Though I don't mind the title Treasure Hunter, sounds cool."
"How could something sound cold?" Thorin asked.
"Uh. It's just an expression from my original world."
After dinner, Victoria returned to her room ready to lay down on a nice bed and sleep till noon the next day. She didn't get her wish as Arwen was waiting, sitting in front of the mirror and water-filled basin, brushing her hair that was the same color as Victoria's.
Upon hearing Victoria enter, Arwen turned and said, "I thought you might like for me to brush your hair like we did months ago."
"That sounds brilliant." The horse hair brush always felt like a scalp massage to her. "Though I don't usually find such a serious look on your face, my friend."
"Galadriel thinks you might be unhappy."
"And why is that? I've found purpose with Gandalf. The opportunity to help and have some adventures on the side." Victoria thought her old self might have disliked the idea of another authority figure butting into his life. But now she kind of felt gratitude toward Arwen and Galadriel being their for her.
"Purpose may appease the heart for a time. But only love can do it forever."
"Please don't tell me you and Galadriel plan to play matchmaker for me. I'm still a man up here, mostly," Victoria said, pointing to the head. "I'm still drawn to the female gender. It might be hard to find a woman to love me in return."
"While it is expected of high-born elves to find a husband they love and bear children, and even though more elf-maidens leave Middle Earth for the West, less elf-maidens chose the path of the warrior and so less die in combat. In Imladris alone the count of females outnumbers the count of males by half again. So, it is not uncommon or looked down on for two elf-maidens to find love and comfort in each other's arms. I do not know if the Race of Men or Dwarves practice this kind of love." Victoria looked over to Arwen to find her gauging Victoria's reaction to the words.
After a few seconds, Victoria said, "Do male elves, uh, practice this kind of love as well?"
"Maybe," Arwen answered, "It may be that it does happen and is kept more private. We are a private race with our romantic affections."
"What was that story you told me of the elf-maiden who fell in love with a mortal and forsook her immortality to love him?"
"The Tale of Beren and Lúthien."
"You want me to play Beren to some version of Lúthien? It would mean the death of an immortal being."
Arwen hung her head at these words, "Since you left Imladris, I have been attempting to use my gift of foresight, focusing on you. Hoping I could uncover some piece of information that my help you."
Raising her eyes to meet Victoria's, she continued, "My gift is not a strong as my father's. The only image that was clear was of you and an elf, glad in the leather armor of the elves of Mirkwood. She had beautiful auburn hair that glittered as the sunlight passed through it. You both stood back to back, fighting off monstrous spiders."
"I have never put much faith in fortune telling, but I have faith in you. I will think on what you have said," Victoria stated, smiling a small smile at her friend.
"That's all I can ask for."
Victoria spent two days training and chatting with Arwen. She occasionally ran into Gandalf and Thorin. Gandalf seemed to be trying to convince Thorin to show Lord Elrond the map. From what Victoria overheard, Thorin was considering the decision. Victoria merely thought his dislike of elves was warring with his need to understand the map.
On the night Galadriel was supposed to arrive, Victoria was summoned to Elrond's study. Upon entering she found Gandalf, Bilbo, Thorin, Balin, and Lord Elrond waiting for her.
"I do not know if this is the right decision, Gandalf." Thorin looked up at the Grey Wizard.
"For goodness sake, Thorin, show him the map."
"It is the legacy of my people. It's mine to protect, as are its secrets," Thorin replied evenly.
"Save me for the stubbornness of Dwarves. You stand in the presence of one of the few in Middle Earth who can read that map. Show it to him."
Victoria walked forward and placed a hand on Thorin's shoulder. "Trust me," was all she said.
Thorin stared at the floor for many seconds before walking forward and handing the folded map to the Elven-lord.
As Elrond opened the map fully he said, "Erebor." His gaze turned to Thorin. "What is your interest in this map?"
"It's mainly academic. As you know this sort of artifact sometimes contains hidden text," Gandalf said, looking down with a small smile at Thorin while Elrond moved to look at the map in the moonlight.
"You still read ancient Dwarvish, do you not?" Gandalf asked Elrond as Elrond held the map up into a direct beam of light from the moon.
"Moon runes," Lord Elrond stated.
"Moon runes?" asked Gandalf. "Of course." Turning to Bilbo he said, "An easy thing to miss."
"Well is this case that is true. Moon runes can only be read by the light of a moon of the same shape and season as the day on which they were written," Elrond said, turning back to the others.
"Can you read them?" asked Thorin.
"Follow me."
Elrond led them up a long set of stone stairs outside his study, which led to a cave off to the left. Following the comfortable sized tunnel, they took another left and found themselves under Rivendell's waterfall. On the far side of the ledge they were all walking on was a crystal dais.
"These runes were written on a Midsummer's Eve by the light of a crescent moon nearly two-hundred years ago. It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell," Elrond said, laying the map on the dais. "Fate is with you Thorin Oakenshield. That same moon shines upon us tonight."
Victoria watched as the crescent moon revealed itself from behind the clouds, sending moonlight through the water cascading down. Some of the rays of light struck the dais, making it glow soft white. Looking over Thorin's shoulder, she could see blue runes appear in a previously blank portion of the map.
"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole."
"Durin's day?" Victoria and Bilbo asked together. "And what the hell is a thrush?" Victoria asked by herself.
"A thrush is a small type of bird. And Durin's Day is the start of the Dwarves' new year. When the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together," Gandalf explained.
"This is ill news," Thorin stated as Victoria said, "We are suppose to follow around birds to find the door?"
"Summer is passing. Durin's day will soon be upon us," Thorin continued as Victoria asked, "Are these magic birds?"
"We still have time," Balin said, taking a step toward Thorin.
"Time? For what?" Bilbo asked.
"To find the entrance," Balin said over his shoulder to Bilbo. Now looking at Thorin he explained, "We have to be standing in exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened."
"So this is your purpose, to enter the mountain."
"What of it?" Thorin asked in almost a challenging tone.
"There are some who would not deem it wise," Elrond stated in a tone that urged caution.
Victoria, remembering something McGonagall once said stated, "Those who dare, win." Elrond looked into her eyes. She thought he was trying to gauge her full power.
"Who do you mean?" asked Gandalf, drawing Elrond's attention to him.
"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle Earth." At this, Elrond turned and headed back into the tunnel and toward Rivendell.
The group followed Elrond through the tunnels and down the stairs, but Victoria noticed Gandalf slip back to speak in hushed words with Thorin. When they reached Elrond's study, the dwarves and lone hobbit slipped over toward their guest rooms. Victoria decided to follow Gandalf and Elrond to wherever they were headed. She caught up to them on a pathway outside.
"Of course I was going to tell you. I was waiting for this very chance. And really, I think you can trust that I know what I am doing," Gandalf said, continuing on the path.
"Do you? That dragon has slept for sixty years. What will happen if your plan should fail? If you wake the beast?"
"That's what I'm here for. I'd like to think I'm the magical muscle here. No offence, Gandalf. If the dragon awakes, Gandalf and I should be able to handle it," Victoria said, making her presence known behind the two males.
"And what if we succeed?" asked Gandalf, "If the dwarves take back the mountain our defense in the east with be strengthen."
"It is a dangerous move, Gandalf."
"It is also dangerous to do nothing," Gandalf replied, "The throne of Erebor is Thorin's birthright."
"I must agree with Gandalf, this dragon must be dealt with. These dwarves deserve their home back," Victoria stated with conviction.
"What is it you fear?" Gandalf asked his old friend.
"Have you forgotten?" asked Elrond. "A strain of madness runs deep in that family. His grandfather was consumed with dwarfish gold-lust. Can you swear Thorin Oakenshield will not also fall?"
"Thorin is not his grandfather. From what I've heard in our travels, he built a new life in the Blue Mountains for his people through hard work and good leadership. His will is strong enough to not give into greed. Trust me on this, my Lord." Victoria could see in her mind Thorin reuniting the dwarven clans and creating something prosperous.
Elrond considered Victoria's words before saying, "Victoria, these decision do not rest with us alone. It is not up to you or I to redraw the map of Middle Earth."
"No, but it is up to me to help those who ask for it," Victoria stated emphatically, echoing a sentiment of Dumbledore's. None of the three noticed Thorin and Bilbo listening in on their conversation.
As they began to ascend a spiral set of steps, Gandalf said, "With or without our help, these dwarves will march on the mountain. They're determined to reclaim their homeland."
At the top of the steps, Gandalf continued on, "I do not believe Thorin Oakenshield feels that he is answerable to anyone. Nor for the matter am I."
The three entered a circular gazebo when Elrond stopped and said to Gandalf, "It in not me that you two must answer to."
Gazing between the two men, Victoria saw an elf-maiden with blonde hair, adorned in soft grey robes, and with a tiara of silver above her brow. This Elf Lady was beautiful beyond description. Victoria's mouth might have hung open if she wasn't so used to Arwen's ethereal beauty. Victoria had to give the edge to Arwen but only just.
Gandalf moved forward, happiness radiating from him. "Lady Galadriel."
"Mithrandir, Victoria, it warms my heart to see you both, one for the first time." Turning to Gandalf she said, "It has been a long time."
"Age may change some but has not changed the Lady of Lorien." Galadriel smiled sweetly at Gandalf's words.
Victoria pushed her was passed Elrond and Gandalf to stand before Galadriel.
"So you are the voice in my head. I must say you are prettier than even I imagined," Victoria said, hoping her gazed looked appraising and cold.
Suddenly, her face broke into a huge smile. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, my Lady," giving Galadriel a small bow.
Galadriel stepped forward, and to Victoria's surprise, pulled her into a hug. "Long I have waited to meet you in person. I would very much like it if you would consider me your friend as well as ally."
"Haven't you been looking in my head," Victoria said, slightly pulling back. "You should already know I think of you as my friend."
"That is good to hear. Thank you, mellon." Galadriel brought her mouth close to Victoria ear and said, "If you should ever need my help, I will come."
Gandalf stated after Galadriel and Victoria seperated, "I had no idea Lord Elrond had sent for you."
"He didn't," came a voice out of the shadows, "I did." Gandalf looked like a child caught by his parents, but quickly schooled his face before turning around to the new comer.
"Ah," said Gandalf bowing, "Saruman."
"You've been busy of late, my old friend."
At this those present started moving toward another circular patio with a table in the middle. Victoria moved to follow but found Gandalf in her way.
"Victoria, would you mind terribly looking after the company while I try to plead our case."
"What aren't you telling me?" ask Victoria.
Bending down to whisper next to Victoria's ear, Gandalf spoke, "The dwarves must make for the path northeast immediately. You must tell Thorin this. I will delay this meeting as long as I can. Go with them. Thorin and I have already discussed this possibility."
"Ok, Gandalf. But I want you to tell me everything that was said of importance in your meeting. I don't like being in the dark."
"Agreed."
Victoria waiting until she was alone before apparating into the dwarves' guest rooms. She was surprised to find them all naked, barely covered by towels. Upon asking they said they went for a swim in one of the bigger fountains. 'That must have scared some nearby elves," Victoria thought.
Finding Thorin in his room, fully clothed thankfully, she entered and said, "Gandalf says it is time to leave. We should use the northeast path out of Rivendell."
"Yes, Gandalf said we should sneak out and wait in the mountains for him. I'll inform the others."
"Ok, I have something I must do first, but it will not take long. I'll meet you at the beginning of the path." And with that said, Victoria apparated to her room, packing, cleaning, and dressing in her wizard robes and hat for the road. She then apparated to Arwen's room, hopefully able to see her friend one last time.
"Arwen," she called over to the bed, seeing Arwen stretched out reading an old tome. "I have to leave. Now, as I matter of fact. I do not know when I will see you again."
Arwen rose from her bed and enveloped Victoria in a hug, which she returned gratefully. "If you do not make it back in one piece and whole, I will be very cross," Arwen said, resting her head on Victoria's shoulder.
"Oh, you know, danger just seems to find me. I can make no promises." Victoria pulled back and drew her wand, waving it in a half circle at her pack saying, "Accio."
Arwen's sword flew from the expanded pouch and into Victoria's hands. "You lent this to me for protection, but it is yours and I have found my own sword."
When Victoria tried to hand the sword back to Arwen, she declined with a gesture and said, "I gave it to you to protect you, you may find yourself in need of a spare blade."
Here Arwen's eyes turned mischievous as she said, "Or you could give it to your new auburn-haired friend and she can protect you with it."
Victoria apparated to where she knew the path began. She could see the party of dwarves making their way toward the path, sticking to the shadows.
"All set?" Victoria called as they approached. She could see Bilbo bringing up the rear, turning to gaze back at Rivendell. She would not have blamed him for staying, Rivendell was tempting in its peaceful atmosphere. Especially when the sapphire ring on her finger was within the city.
"We must walk through the night, lets us start on, Master Wizard," Thorin said, nodding his head toward her.
For two days they walked, Victoria wishing almost once an hour she could have brought Luna with her. But the terrain of the Misty Mountains of her map suggested high mountain passes over deep valleys and she would not risk her beautiful horse.
After the sun set on the second day, the company found themselves walking along a narrow ledge on the side of a sheer rock face in the pouring rain. After walking a while, Thorin held his fist up to signal to stop. Bilbo must have not been paying attention because he bumped into the dwarf in front of him and stumbled over the ledge. Victoria could see Bilbo grasp the side of the ledge, holding on for his life. Before she could move into place to levitate him, Thorin had already jumped down, holding the ledge with one hand, and hoisted Bilbo to safety before being pulled up by Dwalin.
"I thought we'd lost our burglar," Dwalin stated, relieved Bilbo was fine.
"He's been lost ever since he left home. He should never have come." Thorin looked to continue but he noticed Victoria glaring daggers at him. "There is a cave here. We shall check it to see if we can camp here tonight and get out of this downpour."
Victoria was so mad at Thorin she cast an Impervious Charm and a Warming Charm on herself and took up watch outside the cave in a conjured chair. Why would he belittle poor Bilbo? Thorin had the dwarves search the cave for any occupants and none were found and then he ordered the dwarves to get some sleep. He planned to leave at first light. Victoria thought the plan was to wait for Gandalf, but she guessed Gandalf would be able to find them. He knew their destination anyway. Thorin instructed Bofur to take the first watch, probably not noticing Victoria hadn't entered the cave.
Two hours passed, Victoria could hear the dwarves snoring every once in a while over the thunder of the storm.
"Where do you think you're going?" Victoria heard Bofur ask someone.
"Back to Rivendell," Bilbo answered softly.
"No, no, you can't turn back now, eh? You're part of the company. You're one of us."
"I am not though, am I?" Bilbo asked. "Thorin said I should never have come and he was right. I'm not a Took, I'm a Baggins. I don't know what I was thinking. I should have never run out my door."
Bofur said, "You're homesick. I understand."
What Bilbo said next was so low Victoria couldn't hear it over the storm. And Bofur's reply was drowned out by lightning. But she did her Bofur ask, "What's that?" then the sound of Bilbo drawing his dagger and Thorin shouting, "Wake up! Wake up!"
Victoria raised from her chair drawing sword and wand and moved inside to see the floor of the cave swing down in sections on hinges, dropping the dwarves and the hobbit down into the unknown before the sections swung back up into place.
"What the hell?" Victoria said aloud before pointing the Elder Wand and firing three Expulso's into the floor in the middle of the cave. The blast were enough to create a hole big enough to jump down through.
"Well, here going nothing." Victoria felt like second year, jumping down the entrance to the Chamber. Casting a Cushioning Charm on herself, she jump down into the black.
Victoria landed on her feet in what looked like half a metal cage after a wicked fun slide down. Probably better for her with the Cushioning Charm, but whatever. She drew out her cloak and covered herself looking around.
Most of the dwarves were being herded by goblins down a wooden path. Bilbo had managed to sneak to the back and was stalking after the pack before being attacked by a lone goblin. Victoria rushed to help but by the time she got a clear shot, both goblin and Bilbo careened over the edge. Running and dropping to her knees at the edge, with tears in her eyes, Victoria shouted, "Leviosa! Arresto Momentum! Accio Bilbo!"
None of the spells worked, Bilbo had already fallen to far. She had failed him. Anger built in her, barely kept in check by Vilya. 'I may have lost Bilbo, but the others are still within my ability to help,' she thought to herself.
Pulling her invisibility cloak tight around her, she crept forward after silencing her feet. For ten minutes she moved as quickly as she could over wooden paths and bridges before coming to a big open cavern with a large wooden platform in the center. A goblin as big the trolls they faced earlier sat on a throne of wood and bone. As Victoria continued creeping forward, the true scale of this 'city' came to the front of her mind. This place could host tens of thousands with wooden walkways snaking everywhere and wooden platforms covering almost all the interior walls.
Victoria heard the giant goblin call out so all the assembled goblins could hear, "Bring up the mangler! Bring up the bonecrusher!" As the Goblin-King began to sing a horrendous and gory song, Victoria saw a grey figure holding a sword and staff across the cavern from her. She immediately knew who it was but was not prepared for the flash of light and wave of force Gandalf unleashed. Luckily the magic only knocked down the goblins, as Victoria took careful aim and started banishing the dwarves' weapons to them.
"Stand up. Fight. Fight!" Gandalf shout. The dwarves easily dispatched the goblins nearby with their weapons at hand. Gandalf moved forward onto the center platfrom swinging staff and sword with an agility Victoria did not know he possessed.
Victoria ripped off her cloak, stuffing it into her robes with her wand hand, before casting Confringo curses at the platforms along the cavern walls.
"He wields the Goblin-Cleaver, the blade that sliced a thousand necks," she heard the Goblin-King shout. "And she wields the Foe-Hammer, the Beater, bright as daylight!"
In between trying to blast as many goblins off the walls as she could, she saw Gandalf swing Orcrist to meet a blow from the staff the Goblin-King carried. As sword met staff, Orcrist pulsed and the Goblin-King was sent flying over the edge of the platform, hopefully to his death. Victoria began firing Snape's Cutting Curse at the goblins remaining on the center platform as she slowly made her way to it.
"Follow me. Quickly!" Gandalf said to the dwarves and Victoria watched as Gandalf led them away from her position. Stopping her assault on the goblins, she cast a Tracer Charm on Thorin before he was too far away and then continued with the Blasting Curses. When she finally reached the center platform, only goblin corpses remained as all the others still alive gave chase to the company. But there was still many goblins on the walls watching the Black Wizard with the sword shining pale white, and if she heard correctly, some goblins climbing up from below the platform. 'This place needs to be destroyed,' she thought to herself, casting Incendio at a couple wooden pathways.
After half a dozen Fire Charms, Victoria found herself surrounded by the goblin that climbed up onto the platform. The first three to charge her received blue flames in the face, and taking a cue for Dumbledore in the Inferi Cave, she brought her wand over her head without canceling the spell and sweep it around in a circle. Victoria was now surrounded by blue flames and burning goblins. Only about a dozen goblin were caught in the fire, another dozen were slowly backing away from the flames.
"Confringo!" Victoria shouted at the retreating goblins over and over until she felt the Tracer Charm on Thorin about to reach its limit and spun and disapparated to Thorin's location.
Fortunately, Thorin and company had exited the cave and Victoria appeared about two feet off the ground not far from the cave exit.
As Victoria moved toward the cave exit, she could have sworn she felt something brush passed her, but her mind quickly returned to destroying the Goblin-town. She didn't particularly like using this spell, but it would be the most effective.
Walking a few steps into the cave again, Victoria thought of Bilbo falling down into the abyss as she held the Elder Wand aloft shouting, "Fiendfyre!" A wave of dark magical fire poured from her wand tip like liquid, rushing down the passage. Victoria could see birds the size of her eagle patronus rise out of the liquid fire only to crash back into it. Hoping to insure the notoriously dangerous fire didn't rebound on her or the company, she brandished her wand like a whip thinking, 'Ventus." The Wind Charm burst from her wand as she felt Vilya pulse with magic. The wind met the back end of the fire and pushed it further down in the caves. Victoria knew the Fiendfyre would burn until there was nothing left to burn.
Victoria exited the cave to see the company grouped together about a hundred feet from her, down a slope. Apparating down to the group, she heard Gandalf taking a head count.
"Where's Bilbo? Where's our hobbit?" asked Gandalf frantically.
"I'll tell you what happened. Master Baggins saw his chance and he took it. He has thought of his soft bed and his warm hearth..." Thorin began, angry.
"No," Victoria said softly, but her tone was grave enough for all to turn and look at her. "I followed you all down into the caverns after I blasted a hole in the floor. I saw Bilbo sneak to the back and draw his dagger to creep after you and presumably help. But he was attacked by a goblin and fell over the side with the goblin on his back. I don't think he could have survived the fall."
Thorin looked down, ashamed of assuming the hobbit had abandoned them. The rest hung their heads, mourning their new friend.
"No," said a voice from behind them. "I am fine." All turned to see Bilbo, covered in dirt, but otherwise uninjured.
"Bilbo Baggins," said Gandalf with a smile, moving forward. "I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life."
Victoria swept the tears from her eyes and put a hand on Bilbo's shoulder. "How did you survive that fall, my little friend? And that fire I unleashed?"
"I fell onto a patch of large mushrooms and I must have made it outside before this fire you mentioned," Bilbo answered simply. Victoria thought she saw the shadow of a lie on his face but was just too happy to see him alive.
"Bilbo, we'd given you up," Kili said, smiling at Bilbo's luck.
"How on earth did you get past the goblins?" asked Fili.
"How, indeed," muttered Dwalin. Bilbo just gave an unconvincing chuckle at the questions and didn't move to answer them.
"Well, what does it matter? He's back," Gandalf stated with a nod.
"It matters," Thorin said, "I want to know. Why did you come back?"
"Look, I know you doubted me, you always have. And you right, I often think of Bag End. I miss my books and my armchair and my garden. See, that's where I belong. That's home. And that's why I came back. Because you don't have one. A home. It was taken from you. But I will help you take it back if I can."
Bilbo's words warmed Victoria's heart and she stood there and pondered them for a moment. Was she doing this to help the dwarves, or for the adventure, or the challenge? Probably a bit of all three, but mostly helping the dwarves.
Suddenly she felt something that had grown foreign to her, exhaustion. The Fiendfyre was dark magic, not just a little grey like Sectumsempra, but dark. And Victoria found while casting that she couldn't put any of Arda's magic into the spell. Casting that spell and all the rest in the cave had drained her own core by half in her desire to destroy that town and the ambient magic was rushing to fill the emptiness, but it was a slow process.
She wasn't at full strength at the moment, but it would have to do because the growl of a warg was heard clearly by the company. Thorin and Gandalf mentioned something about fire and a frying pan, but Victoria was trying to gather what she could of her power and to think of a plan.
When no plan readily presented itself, she followed Gandalf's shouted advice to run. Downward they ran on the slope with the howls and thumping of paws on the ground behind them. They ran for thirty seconds before the wargs caught up, two jumping off a rock ledge over Victoria and Bilbo. The two wargs turned and charged at them. Victoria cracked her wand like a whip thinking, 'Ventus.' The warg that chose to charge at her flew off the ground and over the edge of the slope they were running down, to its death. That's when she realized they were running to a dead end. Victoria didn't like the idea of fighting with a fall to the death at their backs, but she trusted Gandalf had a plan and she trusted her own resourcefulness. Looking over, she saw Bilbo barely manage to pull his dagger from the head of the dead warg. Giving him a smile of encouragement, she pulled him further down the slope as Thorin and Dwalin killed a warg each.
The party reached the end of the slope to see a long fall should one stumble over. After a minute to catch their breath, Victoria looked around. The slope they were on was narrow and to her that meant defensible.
Turning to the company she shouted, "We make our stand here. I will make a line a fire between us and them. Gandalf and I will be in front with Thorin and Dwalin to our side. Kili, climb a tree and don't stop firing arrows. The rest of you form a line behind the four of us with the oldest slightly in the back and take down anything that makes it past us."
Looking over, she saw Gandalf apparently in deep conversation with a butterfly. "Are you listening, Gandalf?"
"Huh? Oh, yes. Brilliant plan," Gandalf said, moving into position.
Seeing Kili had already climbed the last tree on the slope, she conjured a quiver full of arrows used by the elves of Rivendell next to him on the branch. It was the only type of arrow she felt she had seen enough to be comfortable to conjure. Getting into position herself, Gandalf was several steps away to her right and Thorin beyond him. Dwalin stood just a step behind and to her left. The rest of the company, minus Kili, formed a wall behind the wizards eleven wide.
Victoria waved the Elder Wand in a horizontal arc in front of her, letting out a jet of Bluebell Flames, covering from one edge to the other. She even managed to catch a couple far away trees on fire.
Orcrist and Glamdring began to glow pale white and Victoria noticed Bilbo's dagger start to glow bright blue behind them. 'That dagger is not very stealthy,' she thought as she saw the first warg jump through the blue flames followed by half a dozen more. Gandalf jabbed his staff forward sending out a wave of force, sending two wargs stumbling that Thorin and Gandalf quickly killed. Victoria stabbed her wand toward two wargs charging her down, a lance of electrical energy blasting forth and impacting in between them. The ground exploded, send rock shrapnel into the wargs and blasting them into the air sideways. Dwalin smashed the warg that got the closest to them across the face with his war hammer, denting the beast's head in and sending it to the ground, unlikely to get up. Victoria slashed her wand horizontally over Dwalin's head thinking, "Sectumsempra," killing the sixth warg while it was in a mid-air leap. In the corner of her eye she saw both Gandalf and Thorin finish off the seventh with their swords.
"Incendio," Victoria shouted three times over the blue flames, trying to build up more fire. She saw Gandalf raise his staff and sword into the air and mutter something in elvish she couldn't make out. Suddenly the magical flames she produced, both normal and blue, rose higher into the air as if they found some new source of fuel.
"Take should keep them from overwhelming us completely," Gandalf said, taking deep breaths.
"Yeah, nice work. But don't overextend yourself, old man. This fight isn't over."
"I could say the same to you, Victoria. You're not looking exactly at the peak of strength."
Victoria gave him a cheeky smile saying, "Obviously no one ever taught you how you should speak to women. Never mention they aren't looking their best." She laughed mentally at her own joke as five more wargs jumped over the flames, all five coming through burnt and moving slower than the first. Both Victoria and Gandalf refrained from using magic as Kili killed two from above and Dwalin and Thorin took the lead on the ground. Five more dead wargs joined the others in short order.
Victoria was beginning to feel like they might be alright, until she saw close to fifty orcs riding wargs through her magic fire. One orc stood above the rest with his warg standing on a flat boulder. His warg's fur was white and his skin was as pale as milk. He was missing an arm, a crude hooked hand in place of the lost appendage.
"Azog," Thorin said with hatred laced in his voice, "It cannot be."
Azog shouted something in what sounded like an evil, corrupted form of elvish, pointed his large mace at Thorin. Azog gave a yell and the orc riders charged forward. Ten riders were the first wave to jump through the fire and Victoria jabbed her wand forward three times, letting loose bolts of lightning, killing both orc and wargs. Two more wargs fell quickly to Kili's arrows. Their riders were dispatch with haste by Gandalf and Thorin.
Dwalin had remained in front of Victoria and brought is his hammer back and to the right. Suddenly he left loose with a power sweeping strike from right to left, knocking two wargs with their riders off the cliff. Victoria thrust Glamdring out into the head of an oncoming warg, using her wand the blast the rider thirty feet into the air. She gazed over at the line of fire again to see fifteen more rider leap over. And they hadn't even finished off the first wave.
"I don't think we can hold out much longer," she shouted at Gandalf as he and Thorin killed another orc and warg. Dwalin and Kili's arrow downed the last of the first wave.
"Do not give up hope, my dear wizard," Gandalf said, unleashing another wave of force at the changing wargs. "Help may still come."
'What help?' Victoria wondered to herself.
And so they fought on, Victoria sure that she would have fallen long ago if Dwalin wasn't by her side and Kili wasn't raining down arrows. She noticed Azog looked ready to join the battle as the odds looked to be in his favor. Deciding she couldn't have that, Victoria aimed her wand at Azog shouting, "Expulso." Blue light arced from her wand, racing at the pale orc. At the last second, Azog jerked the reins of his warg to the left and it jumped down off the boulder, Victoria's spell flying into a tree behind the orcs, exploding is a shower of wood shards. 'Just my luck I finally meet an orc smart enough to dodge my spells and it's him,' Victoria though to herself. 'Fine, lets try this a different way.'
Aiming her wand at Azog's white warg she thought, 'Confundo.' The Condundus Charm produced no light, so the spell hit without fail. Next she thought, 'Oppungno,' again casting a jinx that produced no light. Azog's warg, upon being hit by the second spell, leapt at the closest orc rider and ripped its throat out. Satisfied Azog's warg would be unresponsive and a distraction for them, she turned back to the battle.
Kili's arrows took down wargs after wargs and Dwalin or Thorin would finish off the rider as Victoria and Gandalf moved purposefully around the battle field, swinging their glowing swords and letting off spells. But they were still being pushed back, and Fili and Gloin had moved forward to help secure the front line.
Looking up, Victoria saw Azog dismounted and moving right for Thorin. Thorin blocked the first blow of Azog's mace with his reinforced oaken shield but the second sent him flying backwards. Victoria turned to start firing spells when a large shadow passed over her. Suddenly the air was filled with giant birds.
The eagles had come. Victoria watched in amazement as the giant eagles swept down, picking up orcs and wargs, and dropping them over the edge. One eagle flew down and hovered, flapping his wings vigorously, fanning the flames. Azog, seeing his forces outmatched, knocked a nearby orc from his warg, mounted it, and rode off.
Even with over a dozen eagles for back-up, a few riders still tried to attack the company. Victoria was still unleashing cutting curse, after lightning bolt, after blasting curse. She felt the strain of battle sweep through her. Stumbling towards Thorin's prone body, Victoria was glad to see him still breathing. Exhaustion took her and she fell to the ground, her gaze on Gandalf still fighting off the stragglers.
The last thing she saw before her eyes closed was Bilbo standing over Thorin protecting him from an orc as a giant pair of talons gently lifted her off the ground.
A/N: I changed how the words are ordered in the translation of Glamdring's runes, just cause I think it flows better.