Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not my own, yadda yadda yadda. I'm not making any money off of this. (Though I wish I could.)

We did not sleep that night, too full of concern for Kili's welfare to be able to rest. When finally Tauriel came downstairs before dawn, we all picked our heads up tiredly to look at her.

"He will live." She said simply. I felt a tired smile grace my lips, Fili, Oin, and Bofur each with their own looks of relief.

"Thank you," Fili was the first to speak. "For my brother's life."

Tauriel bowed her head slightly.

"He wishes to see you all."

"Go ahead, lad. We can see him once you are done." Oin said, urging Fili on. Bofur nodded, agreeing with the old healer.

Fili nodded once and stood immediately but hesitated, and glanced back at me.

"Come, Talya." I was going to argue, but decided then I was just too damn tired to bother.

I stood up wearily and, wincing as the stitches pulled in my side, followed after Fili as he slowly began to climb the stairs.

When finally we reached the room Kili was in, I slowed until I came to lean against the door way. I watched as Fili rushed to his side, grabbing hold of his Kili's hand and touching it to his own forehead. Kili smiled weakly up at his older brother.

Fili spoke softly in words I could not understand. I felt like an intruder in that moment, as though I did not belong there in a room with the two dwarven warriors, let alone witnessing them at their weakest. I very much wanted to turn and leave, but Fili turned towards me then and beckoned me forward.

I let out a breath that I had not realized I had been holding and slowly walked to Kili's side. Though his face was still pale and drawn, it was easy to see that he was already feeling so much better than before. I stood there awkwardly a moment, not knowing what to say.

"You saved my ass again," Kili said bluntly, with a feeble smile.

"Told you I guys I had to stick around to keep you out of trouble." I replied quietly.

"You knew this would happen." Kili stated, bluntly. I nodded.

"Like I told your brother and Bilbo… One day I will tell you guys everything. But for now… I would just ask that you trust me."

"Do you know, then, whether Smaug is killed? Whether Erebor is truly reclaimed by our people?" Fili asked. By the tone in his voice, I could tell that those questions weighed heavily on his mind.

"I can't answer that, Fili. One wrong word, and I could screw everything up." He nodded and looked back to Kili.

"We all doubted you," Kili said softly, and I frowned down at him. "Every last one of us was sure that you would crumble 'ere we reached out half way mark. But you were as stubborn as any dwarf. You took everything we had to throw at you, and threw it back at us. You brought Gandalf to us when we needed him most. You saved me outside of Rivendell. You faced the goblin horde, stood bravely at our sides when we faced Azog…" Kili trailed off and looked me in the eye.

"I was angry with you for making Uncle leave me behind, but I should have realized that you have only ever done what you thought best to keep us safe. We should never have doubted you. More than once, now, have you saved my life. More than once you have risked your own safety for that of our own.

"You ask us to trust you. And I say to you, how could we not?"

Kili's speech left me dumbstruck. Fili only nodded his affirmation.

"So, Talya Conner, what would you have us do?"

The day was spent carefully planning on how to begin to evacuate the townsfolk, and to where. I knew Bard had to be the one to do it because he already had the trust of so many.

When we decided on Dale, and he had finally figured out on how he was going to approach the situation, he caught my arm gently before he left, tugging me into the common room. He reached up into the rafters and pulled down a great long black arrow.

"Keep it for me." He said, holding it out to me. I cautiously gripped the heavy item in hand, surprised at the weight of it.

"Be careful, Talya. If the dragon comes, take the children and flee. Do not tarry." His tone was flat, but I could feel the underlying emotion behind it. The concern for the children, and for me, was palpable and I swallowed. I only nodded, refusing to make a promise I knew I would not keep.

He disappeared then, and I studied the black arrow for a moment, frowning. Smaug would have already attacked had this been the movie, and I remembered vaguely that Smaug did not decimate Lake Town until nearly the end of October in the books. Hopefully that would be enough time to evacuate everyone and make a plan on how to take down the dragon. I carefully tucked the arrow behind the kitchen hutch and rejoined the rest of the group.

In the meantime, I bade Bain and the girls to begin packing essentials, namely non-perishable food items and warm clothing, as well as having Bain strap on one of his fathers' swords, and each of the girls small daggers of their own.

Night had fallen once more and I found myself worried that Bard had not yet returned. Oin was re-wrapping my ribs after checking on my stiches when suddenly, the ground shook. Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing, each of us straining for any noise. When the ground shook a second time, Tilda let out a cry of fear.

"Shit. No. This isn't supposed to happen yet… No one will have even left yet!" I growled out. Tauriel glanced at me from where she was standing, having been re-wrapping Kili's leg. I tugged myself out of Oin's grasp and tucked the remaining wrap into my waist band.

"Tauriel… You must take the children out of here as quickly as you are able. Take one of the boats outside; it will be faster than trying to pick through the crowds. Kili, Fili, Oin, Bofur… Go with her and protect those children."

"Why do you speak as though you are not coming?" Bofur asked. The others watched me sharply.

"Because I can't. I have to find Bard. I have to take the black arrow to him." I answered.

"A black arrow?" Bain asked, incredulous. "But Father never told me…"

"I know, Bain. It was not something he ever would have thought he would need, in his lifetime or yours." I looked at them. "Please go. I don't know how much time there is until Smaug reaches us."

"Talya, Thorin will never forgive us if something were to happen to you." Fili was deadly quiet.

"And do you think he could forgive me if something where to happen to either of you? Do you think I could forgive myself if any of you," I motioned around to Tauriel, the children, the dwarves. "Were hurt because I screwed up?"

I shook my head.

"You said you trusted me. Please do as I ask." I finished, looking hard at them. Fili nodded.

"Come. We must make haste."

"But… Talya…" Bain stepped forward. "You can't stay here. The dragon…"

"Bain, I have to find your father. I have to bring the arrow to him. I need for you to be the man of the house right now, and to watch after your sisters. Can you do that for me?" Bain let out a soft breath and my heart tightened when I remembered just how young he was. His eyes flashed to me for an instant before he hugged me once, tightly, and stepped back.

"Be careful."

"I will."

I followed them out to a boat outside, helping load their packs and scant belongings. One by one, they stepped into the boat, both Sigrid and Tilda pausing to hug me tightly. Bofur, Oin, Kili, and Fili each grasped my arm in theirs as they passed by, their faces solemn. Bofur and Fili took up the oars as I pushed them off from the path.

"No matter what happens… keep rowing!" I called out.

I watched for only a moment more before I rushed inside, grabbing my bow and sword, as well as the Galadrhim bow I had given to Bard and two quivers. Both bows and quivers I swung over my shoulder, my sword already tucked deftly into its sheath. I grabbed the long arrow from behind the hutch and raced outside just in time for a huge shadow to block the moon.

My heart ceased to beat in my chest as I looked up at the enormity of the dragon above. Its wings blanketed the sky, its great snake like tail whipping behind it so hard it cracked like thunder. A deep reverberating roar tore from the beast's throat and I could feel the wood beneath my feet shake.

I took off then, wracking my brain to think of where Bard would be. When finally I decided to check the prisons, a great burst of fire came raining down from the sky and the first screams pierced the night.

A dull thud, followed by the sound of ringing metal reached my ears through the din and I strained to listen for it again. I jerked to my left and began to run full out now. Ahead of me, I could see light shining through bars, a figure crossing in front, heaving something in its hands. I took off quickly towards it, pushing through frantic people as I went. I took steps two and three at a time, dodging and weaving through the crowds. I hopped up onto a railing and hauled myself to the roof, using a window and its shutters as hand and foot holds. I reached the area above the prison cell just as a rope dropped from the bars onto the barge below.

It wrapped itself snugly around the prow of the boat as well as the neck of the Master' below. As the oar men rowed faster, the rope snapped taut and the sudden weight and jerk from below caused the weak and rotted wood from around the bars to snap and break free. It crashed to the water below with a splash, and I knelt down to offer my hand to a very startled Bard.

He grasped my offered hand and I helped pull him up from the gaping hole.

"Where are the children?"

"Safe. I sent them off with Tauriel and the rest." I answered.

"Why did you not go with them?" He demanded, eye brows narrowed.

"I had to find you and bring you this." I hefted the arrow up and showed it to him. He took it quickly and I handed off to him, too, the golden bow and one of the two quivers slung over my shoulder.

"I have it, now go!" I shook my head.

"No, Bard. I have to see this done."

He was about to argue when there was another burst of dragon fire above us, the vast form of the dragon following after. We both watched the dragon fly past and Bard glanced at me one last time before nodding grimly.

"We must get to that tower!" He called over the screams, pointing into the distance. I glanced to where he was looking and without hesitation, we took off along the roof tops. Around us, the fire raged, quickly consuming the dry and old buildings around us. I jerked Bard back as his foot cracked through a rotten tile and in turn, he snagged my arm and kept me from falling through a collapsing portion of roof.

Smoke was quickly overwhelming us, the air thick with it. My throat and lungs burned with it, my eyes squinting and watering against the stinging pain of it. The heat, too, was becoming unbearable as the town went up in flames around us. I tore off my cloak as we ran, the edges having long since singed and burned away.

Finally, the tower loomed ahead of us. Bard handed the black arrow off to me and climbed quickly, reaching down to take the arrow back once he was up. I quickly followed after him until we both stood at the highest peak in the town, looking down at the destruction wrought by the dragon's fiery wrath. Gold and red flames ate away at buildings until nothing remained but charred embers. Everywhere, people burned and screamed and died. And still, the dragon flew.

"We have to distract him!" I called out, my voice hoarse from the smoke. Bard tugged the elven bow from his back and together, we began to shoot arrow after arrow at the colossal monster. The arrows clicked off Smaug's thick scales and he paid no more mind to them then I would have a gnat. When finally Smaug took notice of us, he swooped down from above, his huge tail crashing into the tower above us. Bard and I slammed to the ground and watched the dragon as he landed precariously on the crumbling buildings. The wood creaked and groaned under his weight, huge chunks of debris cracking under him and falling into the waiting lake below.

"Who are you that would stand against me?!" The great dragon's voice called out loudly. The words were spoken with a low and nearly endless growl, rage filled and hateful. Bard stood first and quickly looked at the wind lance that had, moments before, stood whole. The dragon had, purposefully or not, destroyed it easily upon passing us. Bard grit his teeth.

"Now that is a pity." Smaug growled out, low and almost purring. He took a few steps towards us, using his clawed wings to pull himself forward. "What will do now, bowman? You are forsaken. No help will come."

I struggled to stand, wincing at the sharp pain in my ribs. No doubt that my stitches had been pulled and, had the situation not been so dire, I may have started cursing just for the mere fact that they would have to be redone… If we lived.

My movements caught Smaug's eye and suddenly a single reptilian eye, larger than I was tall, focused on me.

"Is that your mate?" Smaug asked, taunting. "You can not save her from the fire. She will BURN!"

I finally made it to my feet, terror racing through me. Bard was trying to hurriedly piece the lance back together.

"No, Bard! The bow!" He frowned, then picked up the elven bow where he had dropped it. He looked at it in renewed wonder.

"Talya, help steady me!" He snapped as he quickly picked up the arrow and began to draw it onto the bow. The hugely long arrow looked so ridiculous on my small bow, but to the credit of elves, the string held up against the strain easily. I came up behind Bard and, tucking myself against his back, and held onto each of his arms, steadying them the best I could. I could feel his muscles strain as he braced against me and tried to hold the arrow in place.

"Tell me, wretch, how now shall you challenge me?" The dragon taunted once more. I felt more than heard Bard inhale sharply. "You have nothing left… But your death!"

Smaug roared and lunged then, lifting his great head and snarling into the night. Wing over wing, he approached, a bright light beginning to emanate from his chest. Bard was shaking with the effort to aim and I tightened my grip trying to quell the fine tremble.

Smaug came faster, drawing ever closer. The light from his belly began to creep up his throat and when finally, he reared his great head back in preparation to let loose his flame, Bard released the arrow.

The arrow sprung loose and Bard and I watched on as the shaft sung through the air.

It flew straight into the waiting form of Smaug, the large iron point piercing directly where Girion had struck him a more than a century before.

Smaug's head jerked in surprise and he stumbled. Bard reached behind to steady me as the tower we stood on rocked sharply. Smaug stumbled again and careened right into us.

The tower toppled easily under his weight and suddenly, Bard and I were flying through the night sky. We hit the water hard, the large pieces of wood crashing around us. I fought to reach the surface, the air having been knocked out of me when we hit. I struggled to dodge the sinking debris as I kicked to the surface. I felt a familiar edge of panic creep into me and I had to struggle not to choke on the water that was forcing itself up my nose.

Finally my head broke the surface, the sudden clamor of the night crashing over me.

"Bard!" I called out, sputtering. "BARD!"

"Here!" I heard his voice coming from the other side of the fallen tower and I let out a sigh of relief.

"We have to get out of here!" I caught sight of him as he swam around the tower. "The whole town is falling down around us!"

He began to kick and swim towards the edge of town and I followed, already beyond exhausted and breathless. I pushed myself to swim after him, the cold water biting at me and trying to pull me under.

It seemed like forever before we finally left the hell fire behind us. Dawn was beginning to creep into the sky as Bard led us to shore. Ahead, people were gathering, pulling each other from the water and wreckage. Children clung tightly to their parents and everywhere, people cried, pleading for help and for mercy.

I pulled myself weakly to shore and collapsed on the bank, coughing harshly and shuddering in the sudden cold. Bard followed after, collapsing at my side.

"DAAAAA!" Both of us jerked our heads up as the sound of Sigrid's screams reached us.

"Oh thank the gods," Bard murmured. He stumbled to his feet and I waved him on as he glanced back at me in concern. He hesitated, but ran at full tilt. Sigrid, TIlda, and Bain caught sight of him, and suddenly he was mobbed by them.

My eyes searched for the dwarves and I nearly cried in relief when I caught sight of them just past Bard and his family. I stood and faltered as I made my way to them, clutching my side painfully. Between the searing pain in my ribs, and the cramp there, I was all but hobbling.

"TALYA!" Bofur was the first to see me and he rushed forward, Oin, Kili, and Fili following behind. I smiled weakly and closed my eyes as a wave of dizziness passed over me.

"You've done it. The dragon is dead." Fili said softly in awe. I shook my head.

"No… B… Bard made the sh.. shot." I was shaking so hard that I could barely speak. The cold had sapped my strength and I was not sure how much blood I had lost from the gash on my ribs.

"You need to rest now, lass. It is done." Oin said softly, taking my arm gently in his hands. I looked at him sadly and let out a sharp bark of a laugh that held no mirth.

"No. It's not," I whispered desolately. I stumbled then, over whatever debris there was on the ground, and fell forward. Oin saved me from smashing my face into the ground, just barely. Fili and Bofur took me up under my arms and supported my sudden dead weight. They began to lead me towards one of the few boats that had made it through the night undamaged, Bard, Tauriel, and the children following behind. Bofur stepped in first, then Fili helped me in next. I settled myself in and looked up at Bard.

"Lea… lead them to D…. Dale," I coughed, hard, my throat still very much burning from breathing in the smoke throughout the night. "You are the Master now."

Bard frowned as he looked over the group, obviously wanting to protest but, to his credit, he did not.

Oin settled in after me and began to look me over, frowning when he found scald marks or singes that only now began to hurt, a sharp and insistent burning pain.

"Come on!" Fili called out, glancing back towards his brother. "We're leaving!"

I looked up to watch the scene between Kili and Tauriel unfold. I knew how much had transpired between them in Mirkwood and, despite the suddenness of the romance in the movies, I had watched with my own eyes the bond form between the two, from the budding interest Tauriel had showed him in the woods, to Kili's confessed feelings for her in Lake Town. I knew how quickly love could blindside someone, from a begrudging respect, to admiration, to affection, and I ached to think of how it was supposed to end.