Hello!
Many thanks to those that have followed and reviewed in the past few weeks since I came back to this story. I greatly appreciate it and you spur me to continue :)
Decided to add a new chapter today as I'm flat out this weekend so won't have a chance to update then.
Enjoy xo
Valisilwen opened her eyes slowly. Her inner animal told her the sun would soon begin to creep over the horizon. She looked around her surroundings slowly, before remembering where she was. She looked beside her to see Rilien still sitting by the stretcher, fletching himself some more arrows.
She watched the elf for a moment. He had stayed inside the tent with her the whole night while she slept. And a peaceful one it had been. She had not slept that soundly in awhile, nor for so long.
She watched as the elf's hands carefully and quickly feathered the end of a new arrow. The same hands that had stroked her hair the night before, calming her rather fragile nerves. She gave an involuntary shiver, although she was not cold. She lay there for a moment, thinking about her reaction, and the previous reactions towards him the night before.
It made her sigh as she thought of him embracing her, his strong arms holding her against his chest.
"Good morning, Princess," Rilien said looking back at her, with the slightest of smirks on his face.
"Ugh, it's too early for those kinds of jokes, Rilien."
"Whose joking?"
She gave him a soft whack with the back of her hand, which did nothing but make him laugh.
He returned back to his arrows. "I'm glad to see you slept well."
"Yes, thank you for that."
He looked back in surprise. "What for?"
"Staying."
He gave a small smile. "I said I would."
She got up and began collecting her things and replacing her cloak, before pulling her hair from her pony tail to reset it. She could feel Rilien's eyes on her as she did so, but ignored him as best she could. "Hopefully we can talk some sense into Thorin today."
"You think we can?" Rilien asked, gathering up his newly fletched arrows and carefully placing them inside his quiver.
She sighed, stopping at the entrance to the tent. "Honestly, I think today we are going to war." She walked out onto the hill overlooking the legions of elves. The sun was beginning to climb higher into the sky, noise was starting to sound from within the city and camps as men and elves began to prepare for what lie ahead.
oOOo
Rilien joined Valisilwen watching out over the camps to the gates of Erebor below. He noted how clear her eyes were this morning. There was no fear, no shadow, only determination. He thought she appeared quite liberated. He turned back to look over the camp as the sun climbed higher.
As they continued to watch the legions of Elves and men, Rilien noted how extremely different they were. Every movement the legions of Elves made was deliberate and precise. There was not a hair out of place on the Elvish troops, even as they now prepared for war, whether they were practicing or assisting with the men's training. The men on the other hand, it was quite obvious these were not natural born soldiers or fighters for that matter. Most held their weapons with such ineptitude it made Rilien internally cringe.
"This is going to end very badly," Valisilwen commented in an offhand manner, speaking what Rilien thought.
"I agree," Rilien murmured. They began moving to join the legions in front of the gate. He saw someone running up the hill towards the tent them before they had even gone but a few feet.
"The Hobbit!" It was Alfrid. "He's gone!"
oOOo
Valisilwen and Rilien urged their horses faster, trying to get through the legions to where Gandalf sat watching Thranduil and Bard approach the gate.
"Gandalf! Bilbo returned to the mountain in the night!" Valisilwen exclaimed as she drew her horse to a skidding halt beside him.
"What? That fool of a Took!"
All three turned to watch the exchange at the Mountain entrance. They could hear much shouting from within the gate, Valisilwen moved to hurry towards the gate, fearing for the Hobbit's safety, but Gandalf put a hand out to stop her.
"Throw him from the rampart!" she heard Thorin shout.
"Gandalf!" Valisilwen urged, impatiently.
"Do you hear me?" came Thorin's demanding shout. Valisilwen raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I will do it myself!"
"I don't have time for this." Valisilwen ignored Gandalf and Rilien's protests and urged her horse forward, sprinting for the mountain gate. As she approached the entrance, to where Thranduil and Bard stood, she launched herself from the back of her horse. They looked behind them to see what all the noise was, and before she had even hit the ground running, she had transformed into the Great Wolf.
She streaked by the Elf King and Bowman, leaving both stunned and spooking Bard's horse and Thranduil's Elk, causing them to rear, before reaching the stone wall within the gate of Erebor, that the dwarves had built, clambering up the side using small footholds and her own great agility.
She soon launched herself over the rampart and landed between the dwarves, who were pulling Thorin away, and Bilbo. She growled deeply, eyeing off Thorin and the dwarves.
"Valisilwen!" Kili breathed, eyeing her off as he wrestled to hold his Uncle. Her eyes didn't leave the would-be Dwarf King. He reeked of dragon, as did they all, but him moreso. She could see in his eyes, he was affected by something more than greed.
"Thorin Oakenshield, the Dragon-sickness reeks on you," she growled, flaring her nostrils from the stench of the dragon.
"Curse you!" Thorin shouted, trying to shake the dwarves from him. "Cursed by the Wizard that forced you on this Company!"
Suddenly, Gandalf's voice could be heard. Valisilwen watched as the dwarves looked around in awe, obviously surprised at the magically amplified voice of the wizard.
"If you don't like my burglar," he began, before reducing the amplification. "Then please don't damage him! Return him to me! You're not making a very splendid figure as king under the mountain, are you? Thorin, son of Thrain."
Thorin and the dwarves looked over the rampart to see Gandalf standing before the Elf King and Bowman.
While their attention was averted, she turned back to look at Bilbo who was being protected by Bofur. "Come on, on my back. Help him, Bofur." Bofur ushered the Halfling towards the great wolf, helping to lift him onto the now crouched wolf's back.
"Never again will I have dealings with Wizards..." Thorin spat angrily. Valisilwen stood again, the Hobbit clinging to her back now. "Or Shire-rats, or..."
Valisilwen growled and took a step towards Thorin before he could continue. She saw him gulp, and heard his heart beat quicken as she did so, causing her to smirk. She looked around to the other dwarves. "Take care." With her final words, she launched herself back over the rampart, with Bilbo crying out as she did so, and to the ground below before the Elf King and Bard, the Hobbit clinging to her back for dear life.
Bard, satisfied with Bilbo's safety now, looked back to the top of the gate. "Are we resolved?" he called. "The return of the Arkenstone for what was promised." There was no response for a moment. "Give us your answer! Will you have peace or war?" Bard demanded.
Valisilwen allowed Bilbo off of her back, before looking back up to the gate expectantly. She saw Thorin look down to them, before looking towards the hills expectantly. It was then that she heard it. The sound of many heavy but small feet making their way towards them.
Thorin bowed his head before a large raven flew up to the rampart and perched before him.
"Gandalf! Get Bilbo out of here! We have company!" Valisilwen growled, before turning to run behind a legion of Elves.
oOOo
Rilien watched as Gandalf ushered Bilbo back towards the rear lines of the soon to be battle field. He moved his horse to follow Valisilwen as she moved towards a hill to the East of the Mountain. Clearly, she had sensed something was coming, his thoughts returned to the Orc threat they were expecting. When she emerged from behind the legion, she was back in her normal form. She stopped at the base of the hill, beside the ranks of the elves who faced the entrance to Erebor.
He rode to join her, skidding to a stop when she did. And not a moment too soon.
"I will have war!" Thorin shouted challengingly. Rilien heard the rumbling in the distance as did the rest of their company. They looked up to the ridge to see heavily armed dwarves, led by a huge dwarf riding a battle-pig.
"Heh, Ironfoot," Rilien heard her mutter under her breath. Clearly, from the grimace on her face and mutter of disdain, she had past dealings with this dwarf. They heard the tell tale sounds of the armies behind them turning to face the new threat.
"Friends of yours?" Rilien jokingly asked, as he dismounted his horse, pulling his bow from his back and knocking a bow at the ready.
"I wouldn't even consider that a possibility." She pulled a sword from its sheath. "It is Dain, lord of the Iron Hills, and Thorin's cousin."
"Ah, same angry personality, then?"
"Thorin is much more likeable."
As the armies came to a halt, Dain rode his pig to a rocky overlook to address the Elves and Men. "Good morning! How are we all? I have a wee proposition, if you wouldn't mind giving me a few moments of your time."
"Wait for it..." Valisilwen whispered to Rilien, earning her a raised eyebrow in return.
"Would you consider...just sodding off!"
Rilien heard gasps behind him, and guessed that his attitude had probably put all the men right off. He also heard the familiar swish of Elves as they readied their bows.
"All of you, right now!"
Valisilwen sighed, before walking towards the angry dwarf. "Now, now Dain." His attention turned to her as she moved forward, swinging her sword around nonchalantly. "We've discussed your LITTLE temper tantrums before, remember?"
"Well, well, The Lady Ranger. And how are you, you pretty, little thing?" Dain said, a tone of sarcasm in his voice as he addressed her. "I see you haven't brought your little Ranger friends to play this time?" Rilien gaped at the dwarf's audacity to talk to Valisilwen in such a way, but she took it in her stride.
"You know as well as I do, Dain, that my Rangers need me, not the other way around. Now what's say you just calm down, and let us discuss this?"
"Ha!" he laughed heartily. "That's one thing I'll give you, Ranger. You're great for a laugh."
"Come now, lord Dain!" called Gandalf, stepping forward and drawing Dain's attention from the Ranger.
"Gandalf the Grey," he said recognising him instantly. "Tell this rabble to leave, or I'll water the ground with their blood!"
"I'd like to see you try," Valisilwen muttered under her breath. Rilien smiled grimly beside her.
"There is no need for war between dwarves, men and elves. A legion of Orcs march on the mountain. Stand your army down!" Gandalf pleaded.
Dain screwed up his face. "I will not stand down before any elf," he retorted in disgust before motion towards Thranduil. "Not least this faithless woodland sprite!"
Rilien bristled at the disrespect of this dwarf. He raised his bow a little higher and drew the bowstring a tad tauter. "Easy," Valisilwen whispered. He glanced sideways, she wasn't poised to attack yet, instead she looked very relaxed, still resting the one sword she had drawn on her shoulder and her spare hand resting on her hip.
"He wishes nothing but ill upon my people! If he chooses to stand between me and my kin, I'll split his pretty head open!" Dain bellowed. "See if he's still smirking then!"
Even Valisilwen couldn't resist looking back at the Elf King then, as they glanced at each other before both turned to see his reaction. He appeared to be smiling furiously, that couldn't be good. A cheer went up from within Erebor, as Thorin's company egged on Dain.
"He's clearly mad, like his cousin!" Thranduil retorted. Rilien turned back to look at the angry dwarf, a slight smirk at his King's own jab back at the arrogant dwarf.
Dain turned his battle-pig and ran back towards his own army. "You hear that, lads?" Valisilwen groaned. "Come on! Let's give these shits a good hammering!"
"God damn it," Valisilwen groaned, pulling out her other sword as one of Dain's dwarves yelled commands, causing the Iron Hills dwarves to raise their weapons and cheer. At this action, Rilien looked behind him as the Elven army began to perform their drill movements to move their shield and spear bearers to the front of their ranks, while the archers raised their bows to the ready behind them.
Valisilwen sighed. "Why must it always be the stubborn ones who end up in command of armies," she groaned, shaking her head, causing Rilien to smirk. Even in the middle of a rather dire situation, she was making light of the situation. She turned back to Dain's army before freezing and looking around.
Rilien noticed she had frozen in place and moved closer to her. "Ranger, what is it?"
"They're here..." she breathed.
Rilien looked around expectantly, trying to find what it was the Lady Ranger was speaking of. She was frozen in her place and it seemed like her eyes were glazed over slightly. "Valisilwen, where are they?"
"So...many..." she breathed in awe again. He watched in surprise as her swords dropped from her hands. Rilien realised he would not get a concise answer from her.
"Gandalf!" Rilien shouted calling his attention to him, before motioning to Valisilwen. It was enough for Gandalf to understand what was happening, but he needn't have bothered.
As both armies were preparing to fight, a rumble began to be felt throughout the hills. The armies of Men, Elves and Dwarves fell silent as they looked around in confusion.
"Were-worms!" Gandalf shouted, catching Rilien's attention.
From the mountains that skirted the hills, massive worms broke through the rocks. They had chewed through the mountains, creating large tunnels through. The armies looked on in shock.
Rilien moved closer to the Lady Ranger. She was still frozen in place. "Valisilwen, we need to move." When she didn't respond to him, he put his bow and arrow away and moved before her, grabbing her about the shoulders. "Princess, snap out of it!"
Her eyes looked to him, but there was no focus in them. He gave her a little shake. Her eyes focused again, on him. "Rilien, there's so many!" she said in awe, putting her own hands on his arms and squeezing slightly. He looked behind, the worms had withdrew back through the holes they had eaten away, but there were no Orcs marching through.
As the mist cleared atop the furthest hills near the mountains, he spotted an orc of pale white, with a missing arm replaced by a crude weapon, positioned a top an old fortress, some large wooden structures behind him.
Rilien heard Valisilwen take a sharp breath and shudder within his hands that still held her shoulders, drawing his attention back to her. "Azog the Defiler..." Valisilwen murmured. "Not again..."
Rilien looked to the Ranger, she looked pained in some way. "What is it?"
"Azog the Defiler," she repeated louder this time, she seemed to have snapped out of her stupor. "He did this to me." She moved her hand to the scar around her neck. "I owe him one," she growled, her eyes seemed to be blazing now. She shook his hands from her shoulders, picked her swords back up and began to swing them, her eyes never leaving Azog.
"Come forth my armies!" As Azog gave the order, one of the wooden structures positioned behind him opened up in a particular position and a horn was sounded. Immediately, legions of Orcs began pouring from the tunnels.
"The hordes of hell are upon us!" Rilien heard Dain shout, turning to see him run along the front of his army, his hammer raised above his head. "To battle! To battle, sons of Durin!" Part of his army turned to face the Orcs upon his order.
Rilien looked to his king. Thranduil had not moved, nor had he made any command to his army, instead staring in awe at the approaching orc army.
"The elves?" Rilien's sharp hearing heard Bilbo ask Gandalf. "Will they not fight?"
Gandalf looked to Thranduil. "Thranduil! This is madness!"
Rilien saw the Elf King look back to the Iron Hills dwarves. They had stopped and built a shield wall with their massive spears pointing outwards. The Orcs were fast approaching them. "My lord!?" he shouted expectantly.
"Don't bother," Valisilwen sneered, looking over her shoulder at the King as she moved to join the front of the dwarves. "Thranduil is not the King he once was." With that, she ran for the dwarven army, her swords poised to attack and her cloak flowing behind her.
Rilien was torn, while with his kin, he knew he should listen to the command of his king. However, he was also charged to protect the Lady Ranger, although it was his will to do so anyway. Aside from that, he also felt the urge to assist the dwarves, who were quite clearly outnumbered by the mass of Orcs charging towards them.
Valisilwen's words to him in the Greenwood came to mind. 'I myself am about doing what IS right, not what you're TOLD is right.'
He looked back at Thranduil one last time, whose eyes met his. Rilien saw anger as well as uncertainty there. "I'm sorry, my King."
Rilien turned on his heel and ran after Valisilwen.
To battle, my friends!
Yes, I'm about to do my laundry...a battle in itself.
xo
Krayzee