I can't believe it. We're already at the last chapter! And still nine months to go before The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug comes out. It's so far away! *Sigh* I can do it, I can wait!... maybe. I need a TARDIS... But I would dearly like to thank Marana, sarahsmithysweet, eamarszalek0822 , NavyReservist, PouringRain-BlazingStorm, Sophie Alice Rosalie Potter, Littlelots, blackestnight10, and CandyEatingZebra for your reviews! And now, for the last time this FanFic, I own nothing recognizable as Tolkien's works or characters. I only own Elva, Isil, and Elva. Reviews welcomed, enjoy! :)
Chapter 12: Into the Fire
The company rushed through the forest as the sound of the Wargs grew closer and closer. There would be no way to outrun them, not here. They were built for nearly any terrain. Elva kept behind the company; acting much like a sheep dog as she made sure everyone kept together as they ran. She wracked her brain trying to think of anyway to stop or hinder the Wargs, but nothing sprung to mind. Suddenly Elva was bowled over by a larger male. The Wargs had caught up to them. The wolf woman twisted underneath her attacker and clamped her jaws around its throat. The Warg collapsed dead on the spot. She wriggled out from under the corpse and continued to run behind the others. But finally they ran out of places to run. They had reached the edge of a great cliff.
"Up into the trees!" Gandalf ordered. "Come on all of you!"
One Warg sprinted away from the pack and straight towards Bilbo. Dwalin threw a knife at it and tripped it up and it broke its neck in the tumble. The Dwarves began to scurry up the pine trees. But Bilbo was trying to get his sword from the skull of a Warg he had killed on accident. Elva knew the Warg pack would be on him before he could climb a tree, so she did the only thing she could think of. Rushing past him, the wolf woman faced the oncoming pack. Her head held high and her tail proud. Bofur called her name frantically, but she ignored him without even the twitch of an ear. The Wargs snarled at her maliciously, but Elva stood her ground. She took in a deep breath and raised her head in a mighty howl. The Warg pack froze momentarily, not sure of what to do. Her howl was one of a leader and an alpha, and the alpha was to be obeyed. But she was not the alpha of their pack; the White Warg was. But something about this wolf was unnerving. It was as though she held back the powers of ages of life. After a long moment of hesitation they rushed forward again, snarling and snapping. Elva growled at them and quick-shifted into her human form to climb a tree.
Everyone else was already up in the, relative, safety of the branches. Azog strode forward on his White Warg, and the other Wargs pinned their ears submissively. The wolf woman could feel the malice emanating from the Orc and his Warg. Thorin looked on in horror and unbelief. He had believed the Orc dead until that point. Azog spoke in their black tongue, no one understood what he was saying. But Elva knew he was insulting Thorin and his line. The Pale Orc ordered the attack and the Wargs tackled the trees. They clawed, and bit, and snapped the trunks and branches; trying to shake the Dwarves down or knock the trees over. Finally all the trees began to fall until the company was stuck in the one, solitary tree at the very edge of the cliff. Then an idea struck Gandalf. He grabbed a pinecone and set it ablaze. Then he threw it at the Wargs, sending them scampering back. He lit more and tossed them to the Dwarves, who grabbed unlit ones and set them ablaze as well. They drove the Wargs back with the fire. Just then the tree they were on fell as well. Its roots were firmly implanted in the stone and it held over the sheer drop off the precipice. A few of the Dwarves slipped from their spots and clung to the very end of the branches, dangling over the open air. Dori clung to the branch and Ori slipped from his perch of safety. He just managed to catch Dori's boots and hold on.
"Ori!" Elva shouted in worry. "Don't let go!"
"That hadn't really crossed my mind." Ori called back.
Had the circumstances been different, Elva would have found his quip amusing. She clambered across the tree and as far down as she could go without breaking any branches and falling to her own death. Elva reached for Ori, but even at the farthest she could go there was still too much space between her and the young Dwarf. Elva glanced up looking for any other way she could reach him. Then she noticed Thorin at the other end of the tree. And she knew, with the look in his eye, he was going to attack Azog. Elva mentally cursed as he rushed out to face his old foe. The White Warg leaped at the last moment and laid Thorin flat on his back. Azog wheeled his mount around and hit Thorin square in the chest with his mace. Then the Warg clamped his jaws around the Dwarf prince and lifted him like a prize kill. Thorin would not be finished so easily. He hit the Warg's muzzle with the hilt of his sword and the Warg threw him onto a rock in anger and pain. Thorin was helpless, and no one was in a position to save him in that moment. No one, save Bilbo.
The Hobbit drew his sword, steeled himself for what he was about to do, and charged the Orc that stalked towards Thorin. Bilbo tackled the Orc and stabbed it multiple times in the chest. Then he staggered to his feet and stood protectively in front of Thorin. The other Wargs stalked towards him, prepared to finished the pair of them off. Elva glanced at Ori and Dori, then up to Gandalf. He gave her a look and she knew they would be fine. Help was coming for them. Elva nodded and clambered back up the tree. Several of the Dwarves drew their weapons and rushed for the Wargs. Elva did a quick-shift and bolted after them. She collided with a Warg and raked her claws deep into its side. The Orc on its back swung his sword at her, but she twisted out of the way and crushed its skull in her jaws. Then she tore out the Warg's jugular and whirled around to find another. She saw Azog and his White Warg stalking towards Bilbo, who was sprawled on the ground defenseless. The wolf woman was about to jump to his aid when she heard a welcome sound.
Elva looked to the sky when she heard the telltale screech of great Eagles. Landroval, one of the Lord's of the Eagles, and his army had come. They swooped down and attacked the Wargs, picking them up and dropping them over the cliff or causing trees to fall on them. While others flew to the tree everyone else was and picked them out of the branches. One of the Eagles picked Thorin up in his talons gently and lifted off into the air. Azog howled in fury as his prey was taken away to safety. He kicked his mount and the White Warg ruched for the Eagle. Elva snarled and leaped in front of them, forcing the White Warg to focus on her as a target rather than the Eagle and Thorin. The White Warg clamped down squarely on her shoulder and she yelped in pain. Elva twisted her head and snapped at the Warg's wrist. He snarled and released Elva. They limped back from each other, snarling and growling. Just then a great Eagle swooped down and lifted Elva in its claws gently. The White Warg snarled angrily and snapped his jaws at the Eagle. But he couldn't leap high enough.
The great Eagles soared high over the clouds as they flew the company to safety. Elva looked between each of the Eagles and counted everyone. She gave a sigh of relief when everyone was there. Then she looked towards Thorin. And for the first time since her punishment began, she sent up a prayer to the Valar. She laughed humourlessly as she realized the amount of firsts that were increasingly happening in her life. But still she sent a prayer to Nienna to show her mercy to Thorin. She whined when Fili cried out for his Uncle. The fear and pain in his voice was heartbreaking. The Eagles flew for many hours to bring the Dwarves to their eyrie. The Eagle that carried Thorin set him down gently on the eyrie and took off. Landroval had allowed Gandalf to ride on his back. The Lord of the Eagles alighted upon the end of the eyrie and Gandalf leaped down. The Eagle that carried Elva set her down, and the others followed suit. The wolf woman trotted over to Thorin and Gandalf. The Wizard whispered healing words over him and the Dwarf prince's eyes fluttered open. Elva sighed in relief and padded over to Bofur.
"The halfling?" Thorin whispered.
Gandalf sighed in relief.
"It's alright." The Wizard informed Thorin. "Bilbo is here. Quite safe."
There was a collective sigh of relief when everyone saw Thorin would be alright. The Dwarf prince struggled to his feet, aided by some of the others. He stared at Bilbo incredulously and Elva flicked her ears. Something was off. There was a hostility in Thorin's eyes as he looked at the Hobbit.
"You." He growled. "What were you doing? You nearly got yourself killed. Did I not say that you would be a burden, you would not survive in the wild, you had no place amongst us?"
Elva curled her lips back in anger and Thorin. Dwarves were certainly proud and stubborn creatures, but this was too far. Blibo looked at the ground, downcast and solemn. Suddenly, Thorin's gaze soften to thankfulness and respect. He embraced the Hobbit and held tight.
"I have never been so wrong in all my life." Thorin told him.
The Dwarves cheered and Elva felt happiness swell in her chest. Her tail thumped on the rock without her realizing it. Bofur laughed at her and she glanced up at him quizzically. He gave a pointed glance toward her tail and she looked to where he indicated. The wolf woman pinned her ears in irritation at him and tucked her tail under her paws. Bofur chuckled and Elva forced herself to admit it was becoming a little endearing. Thorin held Bilbo at arms length.
"I'm sorry I doubted you." He said sincerely.
"No, I would have doubted me too." Bilbo replied. "I'm not a hero, or a warrior." He glanced up at Gandalf. "Or even a burglar."
Elva glanced up at the sky and watched as the Eagles flew away. She trotted to the edge of the eyrie, lifted her head, and let a long howl. Landroval screeched in reply and circled back. He alighted on the edge of the rock and pressed his beak to the wolf woman's head. She crouched in a respectful bow and licked the Lord of the Eagle's claws in respect. She looked up to the great Eagle and twitched her ears. He fixed her with a piercing, golden eye and waited to see what she wanted. Elva spoke privately to his mind.
"Tell Aiwendil that I am learning that sometimes, even the little things can bring comfort." She asked.
"It will be as you say, Daughter of Stone." Landroval nodded. "Farewell wherever you fare, till your eyries receive you at the journey's end."
"May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks." Elva bowed again and padded back to Bofur's side.
Landroval pushed off of the eyrie and soared away with his companions. Thorin looked across the land before them and stared in awe and reverence.
"Is that what I think it is?" Bilbo asked.
Everyone looked towards where the Hobbit stared at. In the distance loomed the Lonely Mountain, as strong and proud as ever.
"Erebor." Gandalf declared. "The Lonely Mountain. The last of the great Dwarf kingdoms of Middle Earth."
"Our home." Thorin whispered.
Elva flattened her ears and backed away from the others quietly. She turned and sat facing back the whole way they had come. Such a great distance they had traveled. Their journey was half over. And now the Dwarves were almost home. And then what? If they defeated Smaug and reclaimed Erebor, the Dwarves would have their home restored. And Elva would leave. There was no place she could call home. Fangorn was not it, but no longer could she call Valinor home even were the Valar to restore her. So she would leave and wander. Perhaps she would not allow herself to grow cold again, but there might not be enough room for love in her heart once she were to leave. Perhaps she would make herself a silent guardian of the peoples of Middle Earth such as the Dunedain were. She would have no ties to anyone, no chance to let her heart come to hurt again. Elva heard the stomp of boots behind her and glanced at Bofur, for that's who it was.
"What is it?" He asked softly.
"It is nothing." The wolf woman replied. "You are almost home again. That is cause for rejoicing."
"Aye, that we are." Bofur nodded, giving her a look. "So why do you appear downcast?"
"I... am going to miss you all when I leave." Elva told him haltingly.
"Leave?" The Dwarf questioned. "You can't go. We're halfway there."
"I shall stay until Erebor is reclaimed." Elva stated. "But after that...Erebor is not my home. I have no right to it, even if I wished to stay."
"Do you really think Thorin would send you away?" Bofur asked. "You could have a home there with me... us, if you wanted it."
Elva twitched her ears at his cover up, but let it slide. She glanced up at him and then looked to Thorin. The wolf woman pondered it for a moment. She could have a home again, a home with those that she was coming to care for. Elva looked back at Bofur.
"I would not be... opposed to the idea." She replied.
"Good." Bofur grinned. "It isn't like you had a choice in the matter anyway. You're stuck with me- us."
"Oh how shall I survive?" Elva deadpanned.
Bofur laughed at her. Just then a bird chirped merrily past them.
"A raven!" Oin said. "Birds are returning to the mountain."
"That, my dear Oin, is a Thrush." Gandalf corrected him.
"We'll take it as a sign." Thorin stated. "A good omen."
"You're right." Bilbo agreed. "I do believe the worst is behind us."
And the company took in the wondrous sight of the great figure of Erebor that stood before them. Their journey was coming to a close. Elva sat next to Bofur and looked out across the great expanse that still lay between them and the Lonely Mountain. There were many miles yet to cover before they reached the Dragon's lair. Beorn, Mirkwood, and the men of Dale were still ahead. Elva knew the worst had not yet come to pass. That would happen when it came time to face their great, scaley foe. For even in death, Dragons had several tricks up their sleeves. Only time would tell how their tale would end. The only question was, would it be romance or tragedy?
The farewell that Landroval and Elva share is in the book itself. I always liked that farewell, it was just awesome. And here we are at the end. Again, thank you all so much for being amazing readers! You've really made me feel good about my story :) keep being awesome, and have a cybercookie! Until next time! *Gives a sweeping bow*
Your faithful author, ShadowFire.