Chapter 18

As Thorin went to go tell the others what the plan was, I focused on what I had to do. I pushed for what I wanted to become, and slowly but surely my body started to change. First were the scales that lined my body, a glorious gold and then my hands and feet changed as I grew in size. Claws replaced my nails, and I was soon standing on all fours. Wings pushed from my back, and spread wide to help me keep my balance. I was used to flying, so a dragon would be no problem for me. It wasn't painful, it was a natural thing for me. It went quicker than what I was expecting and soon I was something I had never been before.

When I was done, I opened my eyes and looked at the dwarves who had gathered to see what I had become once finished. They were suddenly so small compared to me, and I bared my teeth in a smile. Thorin was smiling, and the others were quite shocked. I was the same size if not bigger than Smaug with not just my scales to protect me. I felt magic cloak around my body in a protective cocoon. Glancing down at myself, I took in the brilliant gold scales that lined my body. My claws were thick and deadly, and I curled my tail around me for a moment. I couldn't see what I looked like fully, but I was sure I would soon enough. Rumbling, I looked back to the dwarves before me.

"Oh my," Balin said softly.

Arching my neck, I bared my teeth in a smile. "This is all for you," I said softly, lowering my head to look at Thorin.

Thorin looked at me with an unreadable expression and pressed his hand against my nose. Bombur had hurried off when the dwarves had finished hoisting a bell up to the ceiling. They were planning on using that to break the wall that they had made. Outside, I could hear the dwarves being backed up toward the mountain as the Orcs advanced on them. I knew to them, all seemed lost at this point but it was far from it. They would have victory today, and I would make sure that they would. I glanced down at Thorin again, meeting his gaze. He nodded toward me and turned around to get ready.

Looking at the company that gathered before me, I watched Thorin walk to the front as a horn sounded loudly. I heard the enemy outside pause in confusion and then Thorin cut the rope that held the bell in place and I watched it break through the stone with a mighty crash, ringing as it did so. I watched them charge forward, going past the rest of the dwarves and I noticed Dain raise his axe in joy. This was going to be the turning point in the battle. Even though outnumbered, when dwarves rallied they could prove to be unstoppable.

"To the King!" he screamed. "To the King!"

The dwarves rallied at Thorin's battle cry, and I listened as the fight slowly took a change, but I knew it wasn't going to be long before it would turn against them again. Lowering my head quietly, I watched the battle for a moment, when Thorin suddenly spun around and yelled for them to fall back and regroup. I watched as the dwarves moved instantly, putting some distance between them and the Orcs. It confused the enemy just long enough for Thorin to look back at me. There was the faintest of nods, and he raised his sword. I took that as my cue and leaped forward and left the safety of the mountain. I spread my wings to glide past the river and the stone platform where Thranduil had been standing just a few hours ago.

Landing behind the dwarves easily, I swung myself so that I stood facing the armies and it had the Orcs shuddering. Tilting my head with a snarl, I let loose a mighty roar that echoed through the field. The dwarves tried to hide their shock at what they were standing in front of and it almost made me laugh. Thorin roared another battle cry and I leaped in to the air with his charge. It was the most exciting thing I had ever done in my life. They stood no chance against me, and they all knew it. I felt fire gather in my belly and I let it go, burning through several ranks of Orcs. The ones that were coming down the hill burned within minutes, and I swung my tail down to kill several trolls.

Circling around, I came back to aid the dwarves and another roar left my jaws. It scattered several more Orcs, making it easy to kill them. Thorin spun as a huge troll came after him, but I plucked the beast from the ground and threw him in to the rocks of the mountain and headed for the other army that was going to flank the others in the city. Many of the Orcs had already made it into the city. The enemy's goal was to make this valley our grave. My flames took care of the other part of the army that I had missed, before I circled around to see that the others were now gaining the upper hand.

While we had sat inside the mountain waiting for Thorin to come back to us, the devastation was nothing short of horrifying. It made me snarl as I flew one last time over the main valley where Thorin was fighting. I noticed our reinforcements had arrived, which surprised me, but I wasn't going to complain. Roaring loudly, I swept my tail along a line of Orcs as dwarves rallied around Thorin and Dain. I blinked as a large spear hit me right on the muzzle, but did nothing and smoke shot from my nostrils. Turning my eye again, I watched Thorin smile at me, clearly having been the one to throw the spear. He lifted his sword and pointed to Ravenhill, letting me know of his plan. Changing my direction, I went toward them so that I could hear if Thorin spoke.

"I'm going to kill that piece of filth," he said to Dain, but I heard it clearly.

I circled around them for a moment as my heart filled with icy fear, but they were off. He took Dwalin, Fili and Kili with him. Rumbling, I turned back toward Dale with a pump of my wings. Diving toward the city, I turned human when I spotted Gandalf and landed near him as he confronted Thranduil about sending the rest of his men up to Ravenhill. I grabbed a sword from a dead elf and killed an Orc running at us.

"Thorin must be warned," Gandalf said.

"By all means then, warn him. I've spilt enough elvish blood over this accursed land," he snapped and I looked at him as he turned to walk off.

"Thranduil!" Gandalf exclaimed, surprised by the other's reaction.

"I'll go," Bilbo said suddenly.

Gandalf looked down at the hobbit as I walked past Thranduil and over to the wizard. "Don't be ridiculous, you'll never make it."

"Why not?" Bilbo demanded.

"Because they'll see you coming and they'll kill you!" Gandalf snapped turning his head to see me.

"No they won't," Bilbo promised. "They won't see me."

"It is out of the question," the wizard snapped. "I won't allow it."

Bilbo shifted slightly. "I'm not asking you to allow it, Gandalf."

"Let him go," I said seriously and nodded to Bilbo who ran off. "That gives me the element of surprise."

"What?" Gandalf asked spinning to face me.

"Azog plans on killing all of them Gandalf," I said seriously. "He won't see me coming with Bilbo going up there. I can take him by surprise."

"Arina," he breathed.

"I will not let them die," I said fiercely and glanced at Thranduil as he turned to look back at me briefly. "They are going to live, and I'm going to make sure of that."

"How can you be so sure?" Gandalf demanded.

"I just know," I said softly smiling at him. "I know they'll make it. I...I love him to much to let him die now."

Turning from him, I ran through the city and paused and pressed against a wall when Thranduil stood, confronted by Tauriel. She had drawn her bow at him, which surprised me. No one usually ever threatened the Elf lord. I was almost tempted to join her, but I knew that it wasn't the way to go. She glared at him from her spot, where she stood in defiance.

"You think your life is worth more than theirs when there is no love in it? There is no love, in you," she hissed.

I jumped when he broke her bow with a simple swing of his sword and threatened to kill her. Legolas suddenly came in to view and swung his own sword to stop his father and spoke something to him. I was surprised to see the tears suddenly gather in the elf king's eyes as they both walked off from him. Walking out of where I was hiding, I watched him turn to me.

"Immortal or not," I said flatly. "You are older and wiser than me. At least I'd like to think so, about the wiser part. Love kept me alive, Thranduil. And look where we are now."

I watched him flinch at my words and so I turned and ran from the city. Turning in to a raven, I soared up to Ravenhill. I got there just as Bilbo did, and I heard Thorin gasp his name in joy. No doubt he was happy to see him after what had happened at the gate. Circling around, I tried looking for Fili and Kili and was only rewarded with Kili who was hiding against the bottom stairwell. I landed quietly where the Orcs were and watched as Thorin went to send Dwalin to retrieve the boys and bring them back. He looked over the seemingly abandoned look out, searching it. I heard the dragging of metal against stone and a gasp of pain and I felt my heart skip a beat. I knew that voice.

I looked down to see Azog appearing through the hall, dragging a terrified Fili. He was beaten slightly, and a trickle of blood was running down the side of his mouth and a nasty cut on his head was also oozing blood. I felt anger surge through me at the sight of it, and I knew Kili was listening from where he hid below. I ruffled my feathers when Azog shouted and Thorin spun around and I saw Bilbo's eyes fill with sudden tears. Azog came forward and I looked at his back to see he was flanked by two other Orcs. Looking across the river, I spread my wings and saw Thorin move his eyes from his nephew to me. I knew he saw me, but that didn't take the terror off his face. I took flight and tried to think of how I was going to do this.

Azog shouted something with a smirk, and moved to hoist Fili in to the air, holding him by the back of the neck. I knew he planned on killing the young prince in front of us all. I wasted no time then and dove straight down as the Orc raised his arm. I had the element of surprise, and it worked. He startled when I dove between them and I turned human and grabbed his arm as he went to drive his blade into the dwarf prince. I managed to yank it off course, and instead of piercing his back, it sliced across his shoulder. I heard Fili cry out from the attack, and suddenly Azog threw him from us as I kicked the pale Orc in the stomach, making him stumble.

Azog snarled loudly at me as he came down and thrust his sword forward. I flinched when the sword slid across my stomach. My quick thinking had me turning so that instead of being pierced, I was simply cut. It was just as painful though, and I cursed loudly. Some where behind me, I heard Thorin shouting for us. Kicking him again, I put my power forward and sent him down the hall. Spinning around, I saw Fili had slipped and was hanging on to the rock ledge. If he fell he'd surely die. Rushing forward, I grabbed his arms and went to pull him up when his eyes widened.

"Arina!" he gasped, and I turned my head as an Orc came running forward.

"Come on!" I ushered, as he braced his feet on the rocks and climbed up.

An arrow flew past my cheek and right in to the Orc's head, making me sigh with relief and pull Fili on to the ledge with me. He stumbled to his feet and I fell on to my back for a moment as Fili drew his swords. My stomach hurt, but it was surely healing so I wasn't too worried. I took a huge breath as Fili pulled me to my feet and into a brief but tight hug. Two Orcs came forward, so I pushed my transformation into a large wolf. I swung and snapped my jaws on an Orc who came at Fili.

"We have to find Kili!" I snarled, and paused when I heard myself say it.

"You can talk!" Fili exclaimed, as he struck down another Orc.

I paused for a moment at the words and I looked at him with shock. "Well then," I bared my teeth in a grin. "That's going to be handy!"

I ran with him as we hurried down the fortress tunnels in search of Kili. I could hear him fighting, his howl of anger easy to follow. Fili lifted his swords and charged out to aid his brother. We ran out just in time to see Bolg throw Tauriel to the ground and bend Kili over his knee to go stab him. Rage consumed Fili and the prince jumped forward with a war cry. It distracted Bolg enough that it spared us precious moments, and Fili's sword's sliced across the Orc's back. He howled with pain and threw Kili from him, his sword slicing across his chest. I briefly heard his cry before I turned human and rushed forward to help.

Fili ducked from the attack of Bolg's heavy axe, and I grabbed a sword from a dead Orc nearby as he went to attack Fili after he had kicked him back. I rushed forward and swung my sword up and felt it cut through flesh. Suddenly, Bolg was screaming and taking several steps back, but not after he hit me with the hand he had left. I stumbled from the force of it, and knew that was going to leave a bruise. Gasping, I fell back against the rocks painfully.

"Arina!" Fili cried, as Bolg spun to glare at me.

"You'll die first, slave," he hissed.

I glared back at him, and swung my sword to get ready for his advance. As he charged toward me, he threw Fili back and punched Kili in the head. His blade came down on mine, and though I had cut off his arm he was still strong. I kicked him in the chest making him grunt, but his attack had me crying out as the blade cut across my leg. It was deep enough to make me stagger back and he smirked and kicked me back again against the rocks. I felt the breath leave me and I hastily pulled my sword up to stop him from cutting my throat. Bolg smiled at me and went to step forward, putting more pressure on my arms.

Suddenly, something stuck in his back making the Orc choke with agony and Kili jumped down from above me and cut Bolg's head off in one simple swing. I dropped the sword in my hand as our enemy fell dead. Kili panted for a moment, and we smiled at each other before he spun suddenly as Tauriel slowly pushed herself up. From the looks of it, he had hurt her back more than she had thought.

"Tauriel!" Kili cried as he ran from us to help her.

Leaving against the rocks, I tried to catch my breath as Fili rushed over. He checked my leg but I waved him off. Instead, I reached forward and hugged him tightly. He gave a half laugh, half cry when he hugged me back. Looking down at Bolg who was dead, I felt a sort of heaviness lift from my chest. He was dead, and he couldn't haunt me anymore. I backed up when Fili and I parted, but I kept a hold of his arm while I looked over at Kili and Tauriel. The wound on Kili's chest didn't look life threatening, but I knew it hurt. He had a look on his face that gave it away.

"This isn't over yet," I whispered as they joined us. "I've kept you both alive, and we killed this one...now stay alive. Get back safely."

"Tauriel!" Legolas yelled, jumping down and I turned my head to see him.

"Keep them safe," I said, stepping forward to look at him. "Please."

There was a fight going on below on the ice of the river, and when I looked down, I saw Azog fighting Thorin. I felt my heart race even more as I turned to the others. Other Orcs were running down to aid their leader and I tensed as Thorin kicked Azog back only to get attacked by the others. He was outnumbered and I had taken to long to get to him. I had been hoping to join his side in battle before he got onto the river.

"Go," Legolas said, drawing his sword. "We will get back just fine. Take this."

Nodding my head to him, I took the sword he offered me and ran. I ran through one of the halls and on to the rock steps that led down to the ice. The ice was slick, and hard to run on. I was trying to stay human, my strength draining and I knew I needed to turn in to a dragon again. Thorin was battling several Orcs as Azog stood back in hopes that the dwarf would meet his end. Gripping my sword, I slid on the ice, and attacked two of Orcs going for him. They were easy to kill, and I sliced the head off of one after I was struck across the arm while I had been trying to dodge him.

Spinning around, I watched in horror as Thorin was flung back by a huge Orc. He slid along the ice to the edge of the waterfall. He stabbed one in the neck and threw the dead body off the ice. Thorin lost his weapon then, and as another one came up to him, I saw fear fill his gaze. Looking around hastily, I looked at the sword in my hand. It was Orcrist, the same sword Thorin had before we had been captured by the elves. Focusing, I gripped it and threw it with all my strength. The sword landed right where I wanted it, killing the Orc. Thorin had prepared himself for the blow, so when it didn't come he looked up again.

As Thorin managed to grab the sword from the dead Orc, he met my gaze briefly as he got to his feet. Relief flashed across his face before he turned back to his enemy. I hastily went to grab another sword as another Orc jumped down and I gasped as he kicked me, and sent my body flying. I briefly heard Fili and Kili but I was scrambling back to my feet, ignoring the pain in my back. An arrow suddenly stuck in the Orc's head, and I looked up to see Kili with a bow. Sighing gratefully, I pushed myself up as I heard Azog go on the attack again. I spun around to see them and tensed as Thorin was tripped, and struck.

"Thorin!" I cried as Azog swung his battle arm and caught him in the back.

Thorin couldn't help but give a snarl of pain from the blow. He spun, and cut across Azog after dodging another swing of the brick and suddenly the ice broke. All the times Thorin had dodged his attacks, it had slowly cracked the ice around them, resulting in the break. Thorin caught his balance and hurriedly jumped back as Azog swung one more time and got the weapon stuck in the ice. I breathed out softly seeing the eagles appear behind Thorin and fly past to go attack the second army that would soon surround us. I spotted a small wizard on one, and Beorn was with them as well.

Azog snarled loudly as he watched them and then glared back at Thorin who rushed forward and picked the brick mace up and threw it at the Orc. He caught the brick, and then grunted in surprise as he fell for the trick. Thorin gave him a slow smile and took several steps away to ensure that his enemy wouldn't take him down as well. We watched him lose balance as the ice tipped and he suddenly fell in to the water below, the weight too great for him. I met his gaze, and he let out a breath of relief and slowly picked his sword up as I moved around to join him.

Thorin looked my way as I walked over, before he glanced down at the ice. He moved slowly, his sword ready as he walked. I followed his gaze, and blinked when I saw the pale Orc floating beneath the ice. I closed my eyes to remember what I saw, and then gasped loudly. As it became more clear, I could feel magic working its way through me. Lord Elrond was there briefly in my mind before he was gone again. This wasn't over yet, not even close to being over. As everything had fallen into place, the visions had become clear.

"MOVE!" I cried, but it was too late.

And the battle begins. I had fun writing this, even though it was deleted and written then deleted again...it took a while. I always write the story before I post it so I have lots of chapters all ready to go. So enjoy this!

Not much feedback review wise :(

But oh my goodness SO many followers and favorites! Thank you to everyone who did so! Thanks so much!