Anybody mad yet?
o0o
Edward and Tauriel stood like statues as the elves held the pirates.
"Surrender yourselves and I will consider letting these men live." Thranduil ordered.
"Thranduil stop this madness." Gandalf bellowed as he walked into view.
"Stay out of this Mithrandir. This is no concern of wizards." Thranduil replied.
"All of you stop this!" Tauriel shouted.
Everyone turned and stared at Tauriel.
"Orcs are mobilizing for an attack. They were setting up battle signals on Ravenhill." She explained.
"And why should I believe you?" Thranduil spat.
"Did none of you dunderheads hear the explosion?" Edward cut in, earning a glare from Thranduil.
"I did." Bard said as he approached the group.
"That was us interrupting orc plans." Tauriel said.
"If they are interrupted then why do you worry?" Thranduil replied.
"Interrupt, not stop." Tauriel explained.
"It matters not. We will attack the mountain at dawn and we will leave." Thranduil said. "Put them all in the dungeons."
The elven warriors pulled the pirates to their feet and started pushing them off towards the dungeons. Six elves then advanced on Edward and Tauriel in order to take them prisoner. Edward drew his swords and Tauriel drew her bow. Before anyone made a move a brilliant flash blinded everyone and knocked them off their feet.
"Stop with this madness!" Gandalf bellowed, sending shivers down everyone's spines. "We will not fight with one another while the darkness advances!"
The elves got up and were about to resume their task.
"Let them go!" Thranduil sharply ordered.
The elves let go of the pirates, who quickly ran for their confiscated weapons.
"You must all work together. If not, we will all be destroyed." Gandalf chided as if he talked to children.
"We may not kill each other but I will not work with them." Edward said.
"Save me from your petty grievances!" Gandalf exclaimed.
Thranduil and the elves marched off and the pirates returned to their tasks.
o0o
Edward looked out upon the fields of Erebor as it was filled with rank upon rank of elves. Thranduil and Bard were in front and they were conversing with Thorin. Tauriel had been working with a few Esgaroth soldiers to prepare for battle. Adewale made sure that every cannon, musket and pistol was cleaned and loaded. Swords were sharpened, walls and gates were reinforced. Dale was not fit for living but it was fit for siege.
"The women and children are in the great hall with a small soldier guard." Tauriel informed Edward.
"Nothing more to do then. I guess we wait." Edward replied.
He lifted up his spyglass and peered out at the gate of Erebor. Thorin was staring at Bilbo and then flew into a rage. He grabbed the hobbit by his collar and tried to throw him over the edge but the other dwarves stopped him.
"That's not good." Edward said.
"What?" Tauriel asked.
"Well Bilbo almost got thrown over the gate. How is your arm?" Edward said, changing the subject.
"Numb." Tauriel replied.
Edward focused again on his spyglass. Thorin looked back at Bard, Thranduil and Gandalf. He said something just as a raven landed next to him. Instantly all eyes turned to the hill next to the elvish army. A single silhouette appeared on the hill but was followed by hundreds of others. Dwarves.
Hundreds of dwarves with spears, shields and battle carts. A single rider astride a boar rode down towards the elves and men.
"Dwarves. An army of them." Edward said as he put away his spyglass.
"Things will escalate. You know that." Tauriel stated.
"I can be stubborn and aggressive but these dwarves are something else." Edward replied.
Then the elves drew and fired a hail of arrows towards the dwarves. The dwarves replied by launching ballistae bolts. The bolts then released a cable that spun around with speed. They shredded the arrows as they passed and collided with the elvish infantry.
Edward and Tauriel just stood there as the dwarves and elves slaughtered each other. The leader of the dwarves was rampaging through the elvish lines. For a while they fought each other but the ground began to rumble. Every pair of eyes turned from the skirmish to the hills. Suddenly enormous worms broke out of the surface. They pulled back into their holes and orcs poured out from the opening.
"I guess you were right lass." Edward said. Tauriel just rolled her eyes. The orcs on the Ravenhill tower raised their signals and blared their horns.
"Ade, give the order." Edward said.
"Signal the housing wall to fire." Adewale ordered. A pirate got up onto an elevated perch and waved a pair of small flags in a code. Then cannon fire roared from the right side of Dale.
"Fire!" Edward shouted. Cannon fire erupted from the walls of Dale sending deadly projectiles into the orc ranks.
"Mortars now!" Adewale bellowed. The mortars that were held in the courtyard made their presence known as they fired a hail of metal onto the orcs. Even though their frontlines were shattered, the orcs advanced on the dwarves and elves. The dwarves had marched forward and created a Phalanx shield wall. The orcs were about to collide with it but waves of elves leapt over the dwarven wall and engaged the orcs.
"Feeling useless yet?" Tauriel asked.
"Yes." Edward replied.
Adewale shouted again and the cannons were adjusted and fired, tearing holes into the orc flank. Then on top of the hill, trolls appeared. They dropped to their fists, revealing catapults on their backs. The volley flew towards Dale. A cannon was hit and it and its crew were flung from the wall. Others slammed into the walls and houses. A smaller troll slipped through between the catapults and charged forward. There was a stone wedge strapped to its head. The cannons fired again and the troll was hit four times. The cannon balls ripped holes in the troll and it fell dead before it could complete its task.
"They are getting creative." Edward remarked.
Then four more of the trolls with wedges came rushing up towards the cannon wall. Two went down in the first volley but the other two kept going. One reached the wall before the other but before he attacked a cannon took his head off. But the other wasn't stopped. It jumped towards the wall and it busted an enormous hole in the wall. The cannons were still supported by what is left of the wall. They were out of commission until the pirates could move them. Orcs poured into the city through the hole and the men of Esgaroth and the pirates had their hands full.
"Captain, the orcs have breached the north wall!" A pirate shouted. Edward turned around with Tauriel and they both made their way down the wall.
"Open the gate!" A pirate shouted. The gate opened and a large battalion of men came through, led by Bard.
"Orcs have breached the north wall. The women and children are barricaded in the hall but the guards can't hold it for long." Edward said.
"Right. Men we are going to defend the great hall." Bard said.
"Ade!" Edward shouted.
"Yes captain." Adewale replied.
"Stay here and protect the guns. I am going to engage the orcs." Edward said.
"I am going with you." Tauriel said.
"Not with your arm." Edward said as he signaled pirates to gather to him.
"You think that will stop me?" Tauriel said.
"Not really. Cooper! Get out the armor!" Edward shouted.
"Aye captain." The pirate replied. He ran over to a nearby storage locker and he opened it and started handing out chest plates and shoulder guards.
"What armor is that?" Tauriel asked.
"Dragon." Edward replied. "Right follow me. We are making for the north wall!"
The entire party ran through the streets. They were getting closer to the wall but Bard and a great deal of men came running up.
"The orcs overpowered us. We need to get to the market." Bard said.
"Where are your archers?" Tauriel asked.
"North towers with the cannons." Bard replied.
"Weston! Take your shooters and get to the rooftops!" Edward shouted. "Tauriel go with them."
Several pirates who carried muskets broke off and ran for the buildings with Tauriel in the lead.
"I'd wager we are off to the market." Edward said.
Everyone the turned right at the next intersection and began running. They had reached sight of the market but it was swarming with orcs which moved to engage them.
Bard and Edward gestured a charge and the battalion let out a roar and charged forward to meet the orcs. The collided with a crash and they fought viciously. Swords whirled in flurries of motion. Edward shouted to the pirates and they all pushed the orcs back which gave them a small gap with which they all whipped out their pistols and slaughtered their front line. Tauriel and the pirate snipers reached the rooftops near the fight and they reigned death upon the orcs. The orcs were eventually routed.
"Don't pursue! Regroup!" Bard shouted.
The battalion reformed. They had lost almost twenty men.
"We were lucky." Bard said as he looked at one of the fallen men.
"We need to move." Edward said as he sheathed his swords, which were black from orc blood.
Edward signaled Tauriel to move towards the market and the entire battalion made off towards the market.
Cannons blared and reigned destruction upon the battlefield. Smoke billowed from destroyed buildings and bodies lay all over the town and field of Erebor. The elves had abandoned the dwarves and had made for Dale. The dwarves were being slaughtered by the orcs and trolls. The men of Dale were trying as hard as they could but the orcs were pushing them back. They were losing.
Edward and his pirates had gotten separated from Bards men and had made their way back to the gate cannons. When they got there they found Thranduil making quick work of fifteen orcs as other elves came into Dale.
Thranduil stood up and faced Edward.
"We need to push them from Dale in order to fight them." Thranduil said.
"We are losing so many men that we can't hold ground without being slaughtered." Edward replied.
"Edward!" Bard shouted as he ran up with Alfrid and his son Bain. "The northern cannons have been taken. Your men were all killed."
Edward growled and signaled his men.
"Stay here and guard these cannons. Under no circumstances do you leave them." Edward ordered his men.
Edward and Bard then ran off to meet up with Tauriel and the snipers. They found them being attacked by a pair of trolls.
Edward broke into a sprint and jumped up onto a wagon and then onto the trolls head. He drew one sword and he shoved it through the trolls head. He pulled it out and jumped off as the troll fell dead. Bards archers then came running up the stairs and then turned around with arrows drawn. They shot at the troll that appeared behind them. They riddled it with arrows and it fell back and crushed an entire squad of orcs.
The snipers and filled another trolls head with bullets.
Tauriel sheathed her blades and approached them men.
"The elves have entered the city but the dwarves are being routed." Bard said.
"We must retake the north wall and towers." Tauriel replied.
"Yes, we need those cannons." Edward said.
The entire group then started moving and started cutting through scores of orcs. They had reached sight of the wall but they were then attacked from all side by orcs. They fought for their lives as the orcs tightened the circle.
Tauriel managed to start weakening a section of the orcs line and eventually she broke it but once they escaped they realized that only four men of Dale survived with Bard, Edward and Tauriel.
"We have got to get out of here." Bard said.
The seven of them started running back to the gate. The archers then regrouped with them and two other battle groups joined them in the retreat. They were running from the orcs who ruthlessly pursued them. Elves then burst around the corner and covered the retreat. Eventually they reached the gate but there was a problem. The cannons and the crew were being overrun by orcs. Adewale was trying his very best but there were too many orcs.
Edward then without thinking ran forward and engaged the orcs. They had no idea of his fury and it was the last thing many of them knew. Bard, Tauriel and the other men of Dale attacked to and started to beat the orcs.
Edward moved forward an orcs throat and pushed it aside as another attacked. He parried and put his other sword in its gut. Adewale and only five other men were left and they were fighting with extreme fury. Adewale blocked an orc and shot it in the head with a pistol. He turns around and dodged an attack and he beheaded the orc. The man next to him went down with a sword in his throat. Another pirate was thrown off of the gate and he broke his neck upon impact with the ground.
Edward was trying desperately to get to his quartermaster. He was shooting, slicing and punching his way through dozens of orcs. Adewale cut into an orcs stomach but another sliced his arm. He turned and shoved the orc off the gate and stabbed another. But now the other men are dead and Adewale was wounded. Edward was fighting hard but Adewale was taking more hits. Adewale shoved his sword into an orcs face. Another orc ran at him but he went down with a knife in his throat but as Adewale turned and locked blades with an orc another plunged his sword into his back.
Edward roared and threw three orcs off the gate and cut down two others but the orc Adewale was fighting then cut Adewale's throat and the quartermaster fell down onto his face. Edward then jumped and stabbed both of the orcs. The others quickly fled as the men of Dale attacked them.
Edward knelt down next to Adewale and turned him over. The man eyes were closed and his hands were already cold. Edward shouted in agony and hatred. Tauriel couldn't say or do anything. She turned and noticed Thranduil and another elf walking away from the battle and she quickly ran off.
Then a horn blared across the entire battlefield. All eyes turned towards Erebor. An enormous golden bell smashed through the main gate of the mountain. Thorin and the dwarves then appeared out of the mountain and rallied with the failing dwarves. They then charged towards the orcs and let out a fearsome battle cry and they smashed into the orcs.
"Any man who wants to give their last, follow me!" Bard shouted.
Edward got up from Adewale's dead body and ran for the rooftops.
His rage knew no bounds. He attacked the orcs in a flurry of steel. He single handedly destroyed twenty man size squads of orcs. He rampaged all throughout Dale. He eventually slaughtered a squad of orcs but then heard a voice.
"Fili, Kili and Dwalin. Thorin is taking his best warriors." Edward turned and saw the dwarves charging up Ravenhill.
Edward then started running back to the eastern gate in order to reinforce Thorin. He was then cut off by a horse. He looked up as Legolas dismounted the horse.
"A little late." Edward said.
"What is happening?" Legolas asked.
"I need to get to Ravenhill in order to help Thorin." Edward replied.
"I will go as well." Legolas said.
"Just don't try to kill me this time." Edward said.
The pair started off through Dale towards the eastern gate. Then several orcs engaged them. As Legolas and Edward fought Edward noticed something in the next street over. Tauriel was standing there with an arrow drawn but she didn't fire. Edward broke off and ran towards her.
"There is no love in you." He heard her say. Then her bow was broken in half and an elven sword was held up to her neck.
Edward walked up but wasn't seen.
"Your love for that dwarf is nothing. But are you ready to die for it." Thranduil said.
Edward had enough. He ran at Thranduil and collided with him. The elf flew to the ground and he dropped his sword. Thranduil got up and retrieved his sword as Legolas walked into view. Thranduil motioned for the elves to stand down.
"We better leave now." Edward said as Legolas ran up.
"Legolas you are coming with us." Thranduil said.
Edward and Tauriel had already started running to Ravenhill.
"I cannot." Legolas then started off after them.
o0o
The trio was in a full sprint as they approached Ravenhill. Legolas had informed both Edward and Tauriel of a second army that is coming down through Ravenhill.
They were on the bridge that crossed between Dale and Ravenhill when Legolas stopped. Edward and Tauriel turned around and saw him looking at something. They looked up and they saw a massive swarm of gigantic bats. One was swooping down towards them and Legolas jumped and grabbed onto its legs. The bat instantly gained altitude and flew off with Legolas in tow.
"Show off." Edward muttered. Then he and Tauriel started sprinting again.
Eventually they had reached the tower and broke off onto the outer hall. They saw light up ahead and then four orcs.
Tauriel drew her twin blades and parried an orcs sword to the side. She brought up her other blade and blocked another attack while at the same time cutting the first orcs throat. She plunged her free dagger into the second orc then whirled around and beheaded a third. The fourth swung but she blocked and put both of her blade into his neck.
"Now that you're done lets go." Edward said. They walked out onto the balcony.
"Kili!" Tauriel shouted.
"Tauriel!" A distant voice shouted.
Then a roar sound through the tower and Edward was sent towards the cliff edge and Tauriel into the staircase. Bolg grabbed a hold of Tauriel after his surprise attack and threw her against the wall. He drew his mace as he walked over to her but Edward rushed at the orc. He collided with Bolg and they both fell to the ground in the tussle. Bolg grabbed Edwards arm and punched the Assassin in the face. Edward fell back onto the stone ground as Bolg got up. Tauriel then attacked Bolg by leaping onto him. She tried to stab him in the chest with her blade but he diverted the blow. Tauriel did manage to sink her blade into Bolg's lower shoulder but he howled in rage and threw her off. He picked up his mace and knocked Edward back with it as he advanced on Tauriel.
Bolg raised his mace to strike Tauriel, who was on the ground, but another person jumped onto Bolg's shoulders and tried to stab him. Tauriel recognized Kili as Bolg flipped him onto the staircase. Kili whipped up as Edward recovered. Tauriel rolled out of the way as Bolg brought his mace down. Kili seized the moment to leap at the orc and he grazed his arm but Bolg bashed the dwarf aside sending him right off the balcony. Tauriel dodged a swing from Bolg as Edward jumped onto him and when his mace came around again Tauriel brought up her remaining knife and cut off two of Bolg's fingers.
Bolg's mace fell from his hand as he roared. He grabbed Edward and threw him against the wall. Tauriel attacked but Bolg grabbed her wounded arm and bent it back and punched her in the stomach. He grabbed her around the throat and pulled her dagger from his shoulder. Tauriel was fighting him but she couldn't escape. Edward slid underneath her and brought his sword up to swing at the orcs leg but Bolg kicked him away. Then, using Tauriel's dagger, he stabbed her in the stomach.
Tauriel felt the blade enter her core and then it came out. Bolg stabbed her again and again. Tauriel's vision was being chocked by pain and loss of air. She tasted blood on her tongue and felt more coming up her throat. Bolg stabbed her a fourth time, released the dagger and threw her onto the stairs.
Edward ran at him and jumped towards the orcs head. He grabbed on and Bolg lost balance causing them to fall off the balcony. Kili ducked his head as the orc and pirate fell down the rocks. He noticed Tauriel wasn't there and he started climbing faster.
Edward landed with a thud on a small rock ledge. He looked up just in time to see a stone tower which lay across a river fall and bridge the gap. Bolg jumped down onto the tower as Legolas appeared. Legolas drew Thorin's sword and attacked Bolg.
Edward got up and jumped onto the bridge and started running. Bolg noticed the Assassin and grabbed hold of Legolas and swung him around at just the right time to send Edward off. Legolas escaped Bolg's grip and landed on the bridge. Edward had grabbed an outer lantern mount and pulled himself up. He got a small distance behind Bolg as Legolas fought him and threw a rope dart. Edward ran up as Bolg wrestled with the line and leapt up. He punched the orc across the face and dazed him. He then whipped around with a pistol in hand. He fired and lodged the bullet in Bolg's eye. The orc fell off of the makeshift bridge and Edward tied the dart. He stood up as Legolas looked down on Bolg's hanging corpse.
"Is that what they do?" Legolas asked.
"Aye." Edward replied.
They heard a clash of swords and they looked up to the rivers waterfall and saw none other than Thorin wrestling with and orc. Legolas without a second thought threw Thorin's elven sword into the orcs chest. Thorin pulled the sword out and sent the orc down the frozen waterfall. He got up and started running. Edward and Legolas felt a small shake in the bridge and they started running towards one end. They leapt off onto the rocks as the bridge collapsed.
"Come on." Edward said as he started climbing.
He and Legolas climbed up to the stone balcony and found Kili.
With and unmoving, bloodied Tauriel in his arms. Her own dagger protruding from her stomach.
o0o
There is a big twist for you. Please review.