Legolas and I rushed past the city walls, easily avoiding the guards. Night had fallen, and even from this distance I could see that the braziers at the mountain gate had been lit. The thought of the dwarves going to war, fighting against my people, being killed… Bile rose in my throat at the thought. I had experienced too much pain, too much death, to see them die as well. I could see elven archers posted in the shadows, aiming for the mountain, but nothing moved, and so they did not shoot.

As soon as I had retrieved my armor and weapons from beneath the bush outside the city, I led my brother towards the mountain. Thankfully, he did not question my decision to head towards the mountain, and we moved as silently as shadows across the rocky plain that stretched between Dale and Erebor. We headed straight towards the gate, and I was devoutly thankful that there were so many shadows to hide in; even a half-blind human would have been able to see us in the light of the moon that shone that night.

We reached an overhang a quarter mile from the gate and climbed up the opposite side to perch on top of it. From our vantage point, the entire valley was visible. I could see every archer, every peasant, and every rabbit that moved within or around Dale. Miles away, directly across from me, stood Ravenhill, a silent sentry. Nothing stirred there. Legolas and I moved back to rest in a stone hollow far enough from the ledge that we could not be seen.

"Maladernil should be here by morning," I yawned.

Legolas nodded absently, then stared at me in confusion. His dark blue eyes seemed to glow in the moonlight. "You're… tired?" he questioned, sounding shocked.

"Yes? Oh." I guess I hadn't told him about my giving up my immortality. "I forgot to tell you, didn't I?"

His expression turned dangerous as his eyebrows furrowed together. "Tell me what?"

I took a deep breath. "When Kili proposed to me, I… I chose a mortal life." His eyes widened in shock. "He did not ask me to do this, Legolas. I chose it."

"Aeyera, if he dies tomorrow—" he began, sounding pained. He picked up a stone from the ground and gripped it tightly in his fist, his knuckles turning white. I could imagine how he felt, facing the very real possibility that he would lose someone he loved. I had lost so many friends, and although I had no younger siblings as he did, I could imagine losing someone I had sworn to protect: Kili, Fili, and Thorin. To have sworn to protect someone… it was a need, a drive that engulfed your soul, the core of your being. I had it. It was why I was willing to do the things I had, the things I was going to do.

It was different for Legolas though. If I failed to protect my betrothed and his family, it would be because I had fallen protecting them, and my promise would be fulfilled. Legolas had promised our mother that he would keep me safe, that he would protect me, and he had failed. He had failed many times over, and though he hadn't known I was in danger, he still was anguished at the thought that he had broken his promise. He was trying to make up for it now by keeping me from the battle, making me see the consequences of my actions. He didn't seem to realize that I would suffer the same crushing guilt and pain that he did should I desert the ones I had sworn to protect.

"If he dies tomorrow, it will mean that I had already fallen," I cut him off gently, placing my cold hand on his arm. I spoke as quietly as I could; I had no desire for a dwarf or elf to hear me and go running to Thranduil to turn us in. "I will protect him with my life. I dearly hope it will not come to that, that something will happen to make null the battle before it begins, but… if worst comes to worst, I will fight and fall for him. I would do anything for him."

"Even giving up your immortality. Aeyera—"

"Without him, I will die anyway," I snapped, losing my temper. I kept my voice low as I scrambled to sit on my knees, my hands on my hips. "Legolas, do you know where I was when Mithrandir found me to ask me to join this quest?" he shook his head. His eyes were shadowed. "I was on my way to the Grey Havens, but he stopped me and asked me to join the company. I was dying, and I knew it, but I went with the company to fulfill my debt. I believe that the Valar saw this and chose to heal me so that I might see the quest through, so that I might save Kili. He means everything to me, Legolas. Without him I would be dead a hundred times over, and if he falls, my heart falls with him. If…" I swallowed. "If Tauriel were to fall tomorrow," his blue eyes widened in shock, and I could see my own pain mirrored back at me, "how would you feel?"

"I would be devastated," he murmured. "Heartbroken."

"And you are not betrothed to her like I am to Kili," I told him softly, sitting back and leaning my head against his shoulder. "Kili will be my husband when the battle is over. I will not leave him, and I do not regret choosing a mortal life to be with him. If giving up your immortality was the only was to be with Tauriel, would you do it?" He nodded without hesitation. "Do you understand, then?"

"I do." He took my hands in his as the wind grew colder. "I understand. But you must understand also that I promised our mother that I would take care of you, and I have failed."

"You have not failed, Legolas. You saved me from the orcs when we were attacked, without you I would be dead."

"And I left you after you were exiled. I left you, and you were tortured and alone, and then I allowed you out of my sight so that Thranduil might hurt you. I failed, Aeyera." He placed his hand on the back on my head. "I'm so sorry."

"You have not failed, brother. I chose to leave you. I chose to stand up to Thranduil. None of what happened was your fault. Had you kept me with you, my imprisonment at Thranduil's hands would only have come that much sooner."

"But if I had not tried to stop you from helping the dwarves, you would have gone on with Aicanar to Rivendell, safe, or perhaps gone to Lothlórien to be with Maladernil. Or perhaps—"

I touched my finger to his lips. "Hush, Legolas. You must not dwell on the past. What had happened cannot be changed, and there is no need to focus on something that brings only pain. We do not know what the future holds, only that we each have a choice. I have made mine. I will stand with Maladernil to protect my family within the mountain. I will fight until the battle is won or until I fall." He winced. "Legolas. You have a choice as well. You can stand with me or with your father." My tone made my meaning clear. Your father, not mine. If you choose him, you will not be in my good graces, and although I will always love you as my brother, I will never trust you, and you will never see me again.

I yawned again, and he grew concerned. I wondered if he purposefully took this opportunity to avoid my question. "You must rest. When did you last sleep?"

I tried to think back as my eyelids drooped closed. "Two days ago, I believe." I yawned again and curled up beside my brother. He wrapped his cloak around me and held me tighter, his warmth seeping into my skin through my thin tunic.

"Rest, little sister," he whispered, kissing my temple gently. "When Maladernil arrives, I will wake you."

I nodded, my eyes drifting shut. The last thing I saw was my brother's face as he stared up into the sky, his eyes swirling with emotion. My last thought: please choose me.

It seemed like moments had passed when someone began to shake me awake. "Aeyera. Sister, wake up. He's here."

My eyes snapped open, and I sat up quickly. The sun had not yet risen, but the moon had long since set. Legolas had his hand on my shoulder, shaking me gently. I wondered if he had ever had to wake someone up before. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, then looked around. Maladernil and his army were approaching from behind, ensuring that they would not be seen before I was ready to reveal them. My brother rode at the army's head, a golden eagle perched upon his shoulder. All of the elves were on horseback, and there were two white horses without riders that ran next to my brother.

I stood, watching in disbelief as they came closer, then snapped out of my shock as a grin spread across my face. Feeling as though I were dreaming, I moved out from behind the outcropping and rushed forward. The army stood still, the only sound the horses' stamping and neighing. I stood still, my eyes on my brother. He stared at me, astonished, before a joyous smile appeared on his timeless face. He leapt from his horse and sped forward as soon as his feet touched the ground, the eagle moving from its perch. Before I knew it I was running as well.

When we reached each other, I ran straight into his arms, and he lifted me into the air with a laugh. He held me close, arms around my waist and a hand on my hair. My feet couldn't touch the ground, but I had wrapped my knees around him to keep from falling off, my arms around his neck. It had been decades since I had last seen him. I had missed him so, so much, and now he was here. He was here.

He set me back on my feet and drew something out of his side pouch: Legolas's ring. I look it gently and slid it back onto my finger. "Thank you," I whispered.

He smiled softly at me, green eyes glinting in the starlight. "You are welcome, baby sister. Anything for you." He lifted his head, looking past me, and his smiled grew wider. I didn't have to look to know that Legolas had moved to stand behind me. Maladernil moved past me, and the brothers embraced, gripping each other tightly. They had not seen each other in two hundred years, I realized. Thranduil had kept them apart. Their hug broke, and the three of us stood facing one another, enjoying each other's presence for a few moments.

Maladernil spread his arms wide. For the first time I noticed the white-gold crown that glinted on his forehead and the pale silver cloak he wore that resembled moonlight. I realized in that moment that this battle was more than a battle for the mountain. The people had chosen their king, and they fought for him and for his place upon the throne. They would not kill Thranduil; no, it stood against all that we were to kill another elf. They wanted to prove that Maladernil was the rightful king, to remind their brothers and sisters of the tyrant Thranduil was. However, I knew also that they fought first for me, and that they would put aside their prejudices until the battle was won. "Your army has come, Celebhiril. What would you have us do?"

I turned to face the army and smiled when I saw Aicanar and Gwenithil on the front line, riding beside one another. I spoke clearly, no longer caring if any elves in Thranduil's army heard me. They had heard the horses approaching already. "My friends," I began, standing tall. "I stand before you an exile. I am no more than you; not a princess, not a soldier… I am one who has lost everything, and who has also found it." I swallowed. "I am engaged to be married. My betrothed is inside the mountain. I fight for him. Thorin Oakenshield is one whom we all have fought for, once. He needs us again, though he does not know it. The sickness within the mountain has stolen his mind, and he has all but declared war. Should he choose to fight, there will be a slaughter. Thranduil does not know it yet, but an army of dwarves led by Dain Ironfoot is nearly here. They come to defend Thorin but know not of his sickness. The dwarves and the elves of Mirkwood hate one another. They have not made amends as we have; there will be a bloodbath if we cannot stop it. The men of Dale will join the elves and be slaughtered. They want only the gold that is promised them to rebuild their lives."

I paused. "I called you because of who you are. You are the elves of the Greenwood of old, warriors who have defended our land from darkness for centuries. You are not biased and prejudiced like Thranduil and his people are. You fought for the dwarves in their hour of need, not once, but twice. You followed me once when I was a child. You followed me into battle against a dragon, and although I was dragged from the fight, you fought on.

I call on you one last time to defend the dwarves, but more than that, to defend Middle Earth." I swallowed. "Azog the Defiler marches on the mountain. He plans to catch us unawares. I will not let that happen. We must delay the battle; keep the dwarves and elves from attacking. If they fight, Azog will wait until there are few or none left and then seize the mountain. I have seen firsthand the darkness that dwells within Dol Guldur. It is no mere Necromancer, but the soul of Sauron the Deceiver. He is in league with Azog, and if this mountain is taken, the east will fall as well. The Greenwood. Lothlórien. Gondor. Rohan. All will fall."

I turned to those whom I knew had fought against Sauron ages before. Their faces were pale but determined. They would not allow Middle Earth to fall; I knew it. "I ask you to fight. Not for me, not for yourselves, but for the future of Middle Earth. Will you fight with me?"

As one, the army drew their swords. The sound of a thousand blades leaving their sheathes rang through the night. The starlight glinted off the swords as they pointed towards the sky. They would fight. Maladernil turned to me with a smile. "We are the royal family. They are loyal to us." He called his horse forward and pulled a pack from the saddle. He opened it and removed two matching bundles. He handed one to me and one to Legolas. "I thought you'd come around," he told our brother, clapping him on the shoulder. I unfolded the bundle, revealing it to be a light silver cloak like Maladernil's, with a chainmail shirt and an intricate, white gold circlet within it. Maladernil removed the crown and gently placed it upon my head.

"You were wrong," he told me softly. "You are a princess. You always were, and you always will be."

I nodded, my throat too tight to speak, as my brother moved to place Legolas's crown upon his head. Legolas gazed at me for a moment before speaking. "Where will we go?"

"We must stand between the elves and dwarves, but far enough from the gates that the dwarves cannot hit any of us with an arrow."

"You said your betrothed was within the mountain," Maladernil reminded me. "Will he not stand up for you? Keep Thorin from attacking?"

"He is Thorin's nephew." Maladernil's eyebrows rose in surprise. "And he has tried. He and his brother have both tried their utmost to make Thorin see sense. It is thanks to them that I was able to escape. I fear—I fear that Kili will think I am betraying him."

"Why?"

"Because I am leading an army to the gates of Erebor," I answered with a sharp laugh, trying to force my emotions down. "Because I am with the elves and not with him. I am afraid, Maladernil. I have seen this battle a hundred times over. I have changed the outcome by bringing you here; I can only hope that the future has been changed for the better. I must believe that good will win the day; that Azog will be defeated once and for all. I will not allow Middle Earth to fall."

"And it will not. We will win this battle; and, Eru willing, your fiancé will not feel betrayed. He will understand your actions and what they cost you. He will love you still, and when the battle is over you will be married."

"Will you hand me off?" I asked suddenly. "At my wedding, will you give my hand to him? You are my brother. You and Legolas are the only family I have left. I would be honored if you would do this."

Maladernil nodded his head, humbled. "I would be honored, little sister." He pressed his lips to my temple. "First we must win the battle."

I armed myself as Maladernil directed the army into the valley. I hid behind the boulder and stripped, then donned the leather undergarments to protect from the silver chainmail before donning the mail and the rest of my armor. Throwing knives were hidden in various places in my armor and boots. I swung the new cloak across my shoulders and fastened its white gold clasp, adjusting it to make my weapons easy to reach. I strapped my knives to my back and my sword belt to my hips, sheathing the blade as I did so. I strapped my quiver to my chest, tightening the straps, and tied my bow to it.

At the end, I stared at the circlet I had removed to dress. It rested in my hands, glinting in the starlight. It had been built to be worn into battle, to stay on one's head even when moving around and fighting. It was meant for a warrior. I replaced the circlet, allowing it to rest on my head once more. My clothes and old cloak were tucked inside my pack, which rested against the boulder, useless.

It was strange. I was not used to wearing a crown, not used to claiming my title. But now… it felt right. I had spent so long running from whom I was; trying to be someone else… maybe this was who I was meant to be. A princess, not an exile. A warrior, not a coward.

Legolas appeared around the corner of the stone, fully armed. The armor shone in the starlight. "Are you ready?" he asked me. The sky began to lighten as the sun prepared to rise, and I took a deep breath as fear threatened to overcome me.

"I'm terrified," I whispered. Legolas pulled me into his arms as mine went around his chest. We stood there as the clouds turned pink and gold and the sky grew bright, darkness burned away by the light of the sun.

"Do not fear, Aeyera," he murmured, resting his chin on my head. "You fight for your family, and for your world. You fight alongside your brothers who love you. We will win the battle, should there be one at all. You need not fear, little sister. I will not let any harm come to you."

"Nor I." I looked up to see Maladernil standing against the stone. He pushed off and placed his hands on Legolas's shoulder, then on mine. "We fight for you." He looked out over Dale, squinting slightly. "Dawn is breaking. We must be swift." He looked down on me with smiling green eyes: my eyes. My mother's eyes. "Fight hard, little sister."

I nodded, mouth dry. "I will."

"Then let us ride together one more time."

Legolas, Maladernil, and I turned and made our way into the valley and onto our horses, our backs to the mountain and our faces turned towards the rising sun as Thranduil's army began to descend from Dale. My brother and I, and our army, stood as the final defense between the armies of Thranduil and Azog and of the dwarves. I could only pray that we were enough.