Time passed frighteningly quickly yet at the same time much too slowly as the dwarven and human army crouched on the high pass of the mountain. At their vantage point and position on the high rocks they would be nearly invisible to the enemy when they reached Erebor. And that would be very soon indeed.

At the same time the elves still rode from the opposite direction. Once the orcs met with elvish steel, Thorin's and Bard's forces were to rush forward and surprise them from behind. Or at least that was the plan. They could only hope that the elves did what they expected them to do.

In uneasy silence Kili crouched beside Fili, sword in hand and heart beating much too quickly. He had been in many battles, but never a war. Wars were tales told my his uncle and Balin. Wars were where heroes were made and grand deeds were done; epic battles and amazing feats of bravery. But right now all Kili could think about was how afraid he was. That unbreakable armor of youth and ego smashed at the sight of the massive army approaching.

He swallowed, glancing nervously over at Fili. His brother didn't seem to be taking it any better but at least he put on a brave face. "We've got nothing to worry about." The tawny haired dwarf whispered to his brother. "Not while the elves march to help us. Tauriel's probably with them."

Kili nodded, shooting his brother a smile. Yes….Tauriel was probably with them. And thinking back to the way they fought those spiders back in Mirkwood….the elves would surely be the deciding factor they needed to win this war.

Yet his calmed nerves didn't last long as the sound of the enemies march round the bend of the mountain right below them. They were here. It was nearly time.

Banners still high in the wind and horns hitting their last notes before battle, the elves were almost upon the enemy.

Expression nearly unreadable Thranduil drew Orcrist, halting the horse he rode. Behind him his army stopped as well. For a moment he wondered why he had agreed to answer the call at all, but that was only until his son rode up beside him.

Legolas would never have admitted it, or perhaps he didn't even realize it, but Thranduil could see the flicker of fear pass over his face. Never had he seen his son fear battle, or death. Not until recent events; events that were brought on by the horrid creatures that were quickly approaching over the mountain.

Hand tightening over his weapon, the elf king narrowed his eye, noticing something; or rather….not noticing. "I see the enemy but not the army that was supposed to meet it." Thranduil could feel the fury building within him. Was this some kind of trap after all? A trick?

"No. This cannot be…" Tauriel rode up to join the king and the prince, eyes wide. She swallowed in fear as she scanned the mountain. They had to be here. They could not just have left…

"Wait." It was Legolas to speak next, blue eyes sharp and focused on something high on the mountainside. Both the king and the ex-guard captain followed the prices gaze and to their shock realized what was happening. High upon a ridge a grey robed man crouched, motioning to them urgently; and those with the sharpest of eyes could make out the gleam of armor and weapons behind him. "It's a battle strategy."

At the revelation, it took not but a second for the elf king to take action. "Archers take aim!" He narrowed his gaze at the man on the mountain. Whatever they had planned it had better work. "Release at will!"

Behind them thousands of blows released their fire, and as the rain of arrows fell upon the enemy the orcs broke rank and began to sprint towards the elves. Growling and yowling the enemy closed it.

"Adar." Legolas suppressed the spark of fear within him, replacing it with anger as the second wave of arrows struck the enemy.

The orcs got even closer, a force that even the elves could not outnumber, weapons raised.

Thranduil glanced at this son, expression grim. And although he did not speak, what he wanted to say passed through his gaze. His love….His regrets….Of how proud he was….and that he could not bear to lose his son again.

Closing the gap, the enemy was nearly upon them, murder clear in their eyes.

"Legolas." Tauriel turned to her friend, about to speak. There was so much she wanted to say. But she never got the chance. For just as her thoughts were about to pass her lips the king gave the order and the elven army rushed to meet their foe. Riding forward, Tauriel considered what she had wanted to say. She had failed her prince once. She would not fail him again. Even if it cost her life, Legolas would not fall in this battle.

As the sound of thundering hooves and screaming orcs filled the air there seemed to be a moment of silence. In the second just before the first weapons met the world seemed to take a breath. Perhaps it was the universe in mourning for what was about to occur, but it was soon gone and forgotten as chaos took over.

...

As the two forces met below them, Thorin watched in sick fascination at what was occurring. Thranduil himself had actually led the forces of elves against the orcs, and as the dwarf watched he wondered what had spurred the cold and heartless elf king to get off his throne. In a moment of dark and cruel spite, he found himself hoping that Thranduil was cut down in the battle to come.

Quickly his thoughts were interrupted as Gandalf, followed closely by Bard, readied to join the war. The dwarf king glanced out over his people before drawing his own weapon and following the old wizard and the dragon slayer. Flooding over the ridge, dwarves and men alike let out a loud battle cry as they dove into their enemy. Not expecting the attack, many a surprised orc fell to the weapons of the second army that appeared over the ridge.

But the coordination of the strike last not ten minutes before the battle quickly made way to chaos. The three sides mingled, the cries of dying men, dwarves, elves and orcs filling the air soon enough. But even as the forces of good cut down an enemy two more seemed to take his place.

As the battle waged memories of the war at Moria filled the dwarf kings mind. It had been just as hopeless and just as difficult. With bared teeth he cut down an orc before turning to the next. It was a never ending stream of enemies. The difference was this time his nephews fought but his side.

Breathing hard, Kili turned to strike down one more enemy, driving his weapon into the orcs gut before wrenching it out and turning to the next. Already he was tiring, his leg actually beginning to hurt. Gritting his teeth, he blocked a weapon that was headed towards Fili's back, knocking the orc away. He could barely tell what was going on, where one orc started and the next began. It was growing harder and harder to watch his brothers and uncles backs not to mention his own.

Turning to bring his sword down across the approaching head of a warg a sharp and sudden pain cut through his leg, nearly bringing him to his knees. An orc that hadn't been so dead had managed to stab him through his injured leg.

Noticing his brother's distress, Fili ran the creature through before coming back to back with his brother. "Kili?!"

"I'll be fine." The young dwarf grit out, forcing himself to stay standing and continue on. He had to be fine. Any falter here and he would surely fall.

Behind them, Thorin fought his own battle. A small group of wargs had managed to corner him. Growling and snarling, he slashed his weapon around him, praying to catch one of their muzzles. Making a choice, he threw himself at one, driving his sword through its skull. But this also left him vulnerable to the others. He shouted in pain as teeth sunk into his shoulder, but as quickly as it came, it was gone.

Pulling his weapon free with a grimace he turned only to see his kin driving away the wargs, slaying one and then two and then three…. Muscling through the pain in his shoulder Thorin rejoined them.

Breathing hard and in pain, the dwarf did a quick assessment of the situation. Kili was limping horribly and as white as a sheet. Fili seemed to be ok as of now but was quickly running out of stamina. As for he, his left arm was not doing well at all. Where the rest of his company had disappeared to in the battle? He knew not; and from where he stood the dwarves of the iron mountains seemed to be slowly thinning out.

A massive thundering crash suddenly drew his attention, sounding further along the mountain as part of the barricade at the gates of Erebor crashed heavily onto a battalion of orcs. Stepping onto the heaps of rubble, Thorin could make out the form of the wizard, cutting down any orc that came within reach. But more amazing, from around the broken blockade a large force of men, led by Bard rushed out.

Having regrouped, the man of Dale led another charge against the foe. Swords and shields locked, their charge went well. But the enemy slowly breached the attack and again, the battle turned to chaos.

At the loud thunder of falling stone, Fili's attention had wavered. And as he glanced towards the sound it had been just enough time for the bolt from a black crossbow to drive into his shoulder. Crying out in pain, he barely even had a moment to register what had happened before he had to raise his sword in defense. The orc's attacks came mercilessly and gave no room for attacking. Blocking a strike that was meant to run him through, Fili felt himself stumbling backwards.

Grinning maliciously, the attacking orc dived forward as the young dwarf stumbled, weapon ready to kill. But just as the fatal blow was about to be delivered, it was blocked and the orc fell dead to the ground. Pale and breathing hard, Kili freed his blade from the body of the orc that was about to kill his brother and turned to meet the next attacker.

But as he looked up, the crowd of enemies parted, and through it came their worst enemy. Backing away, both Kili and Fili fell to their Uncles sides, weapons raised. It took Thorin a moment to notice what was happening, as he was finishing off an orc, but when he looked up his face paled visibly.

Coming upon them, Azog, raised his sword. "King under the mountain." His voice rumbled cruelly, the words not matching the horrible grin he wore. "Now I get to kill you."

With each step the massive orc general took forward, the three dwarves took back. Finally, finding the courage and resolve within him, Thorin threw himself forward, but his blade did not go very far.

Blocking the dwarf's attack easily, the pale orc threw one of his own. Dodging the blow, Thorin stepped heavily to the side, swinging upwards in an blow which was quickly deflected. The two went on like this for a minute, the orc general only toying with the injured dwarf king before stepping forward in a hard and violent slash which sent Thorin flying backwards.

Shocked, Thorin hit the ground with a shout of pain. Mind and body fueled by adrenaline, he did not notice the horrible slash across his chest until he tried to get up again and could not. Even as blood seeped through his clothes and down his body, it was still unreal. It could not end like this. Not like this. Not by the hands of the same orc that had already brought death to his line.

Azog approached Thorin, grinning wickedly but was halted by the battle cry of two desperate brothers. Moving together Kili and Fili dived at the massive Orc. Because he was not expecting the attack, Fili's blade actually managed to find its mark across the generals thigh, but the wound did nothing more than make him angry.

Blocking Kili's second blow with his weaponized arm, Azog spun, and with a powerful slash of his sword flung back Fili as he had Thorin.

"FILI!" Fear gripped Kili's heart at the prospect of losing his brother. He didn't know if he could continue on if the tawny haired dwarf fell. Relief flooded Kili when he saw Fili get up and throw himself forward to crouch over Thorin, sword raised as if to shield him. Realizing what his brother was doing, Kili fell back to do the same. If they were to die here, on the side of the lonely mountain….they would all die together.

At the sight of his cowering and wounded prey Azog laughed. Teeth bared in a grin of satisfaction. Finally….after all this time Thorin Oakenshield and his kin would finally come to an end. Raising his sword he savored the moment. His victory.

And then he brought it down.

...
AUTHORS NOTES
Let's kick off the new year with a little death and mayhem shall we?

I feel like this chapter isn't quite up to par with the rest and I'm sorry about that. Like I keep saying I'm not great at multiple perspectives. But there are so many perspectives that I want to write. I reeaally hope it's not to jumbled or confused because of that.

Also. The battle of five armies is such a massive and great battle I feel that I will never be able to do it justice. There is so much that is supposed to happen and wow it's really hard to write. So much. So I'm doing my best.

This chapter mostly focuses on our dwarves but I swear the next one will focus on our elves. Fear not. Actually wait. Yes. Yes fear. Fear lots. There are a lot of characters and not all of them are going to make it.

Gah. Again. Characters are hard. Bleh.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! And again! Thank you oodles and oodles for reviewdles. No seriously, I love to hear your feedback, be it what you thought of certain events or characterizations or just that you liked my tale. I send all of my wonderful readers my love and well wishes for the new year.

Hopefully I will have the next chapter out later today or tomorrow.

PS. And I forgot to mention this in earlier chapters while it was still entirely relevant. Look up 'no light, no light' by Florance and the machine. It matches so well wow.