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.)
I was woken up the next morning by Gandalf. He touched my shoulder gently and in an instant I was awake, my heart in my throat. He smiled sadly at me and squeezed my shoulder gently before waking Bilbo. The two of us pulled ourselves wearily out of our beds, barely speaking a word.
Before long, an elf had brought a light breakfast of fruits and bread to us, but neither Bilbo nor I could stomach the thought of food. We sat in silence as we looked out the tent at the rising sun. Bilbo puffed quietly on a pipe he borrowed from Gandalf and I drew my knees up to my chest as the camp broke out into a bustle around us.
"Talya. Bilbo," Gandalf said as he entered.
"Is it almost time?" I asked quietly, glancing up at the tall wizard. He frowned slightly and nodded his head gradually. I sighed softly and stretched my legs out. I pushed myself up and out of the chair, and made my way to my chest.
"May I come in?" I glanced behind me to find Bard standing at the entrance to the tent.
"Sure," I said mildly. Gandalf and Bilbo glanced at each other, then Gandalf turned to me.
"We will meet you outside." He said shortly. I watched them go and turned to face Bard. I looked him over, finding him dressed in a long and thick leather coat, a shirt of mail hanging loosely under it. His sword was strapped at his side, his hair pulled back and knotted behind his head.
"You should not ride out with us today," He finally said, voice quiet. "Not against the dwarves, and not against the orcs that our way come."
"I have no choice, Bard." I shook my head.
"There is always a choice, Talya. You should stay safe in Dale, with the other women and children. No one would hold it against you."
"You don't understand Bard. I would hold it against me. I can't let everyone I care about go up against this army while I stay tucked away."
Bard looked like he was about to argue, then sighed.
"I am not going to talk you out of this, am I?" He finally asked, defeated. I gave him a wry smile and knelt down by the chest, throwing it open.
"Now you are learning," I said over my shoulder.
Bard shook his head and walked over to stand next to me. He looked down at the contents of the chest.
"You've been outfitted for war," He commented quietly. I nodded.
"Isn't that what this is?" I asked rhetorically. He furrowed his brow, then looked at me. He held out a hand.
"Allow me to help you?" He asked sincerely. I fidgeted a moment. While the offer was innocently stated, the gesture smacked me as too intimate. I frowned at him.
"As one soldier to another, Talya. Nothing more."
"Alright," I answered. I stood up and Bard began to deftly help me into my armor, tightening the straps much more quickly than I had managed the day before. When finally everything was in place, I slipped the dwarven bracers carefully over my wrists and slowly tied them into place. Bard stepped back and gave me a once over.
"I don't think I have ever seen a woman dressed so."
"There is a first time for everything."
"If you don't mind me saying so, I think I prefer you in a dress." There was a small smile on his lips and I frowned at him.
"Why? Because it's the proper thing for me to wear?" I snapped. The smile turned into a smirk.
"No. Because you have no ass in this."
I let out a sharp laugh and rolled my eyes at him. He smiled warmly at me and once again I was struck with the fact that I could have loved him if Thorin had not come first. The thought gnawed at me and left me feeling empty and bitter.
Once my sword was strapped tightly to my side and I had both bow and quiver over my back, I turned to face Bard.
Bard handed me my helm and I tucked it under my arm. He pushed back the tent flap.
"Shall we?" He asked, raising an eye brow.
"We shall," I answered. I walked past him and together, we made our way to where our horses were being held by a couple of men, already tacked up and ready to ride. Bard walked to his white stallion and took the reins from one of the men, then grabbed Grey-manes' as well and brought the gelding to me.
"Are you going to need help getting up?" He asked, raising an eye brow at me almost teasingly. I glared.
"No," I grumbled. I tossed my help into his chest and he grabbed it, grinning. I took Grey-manes reins in hand, and swung them up and over his neck. He shifted ever so slightly and tossed his head and I was reminded of my mounting practice outside of the Shire. I laughed then, a surprisingly light sound, and patted Grey-manes neck.
"We've come a hell of a long way, huh, boy?" I asked softly. "And still so far to go."
I gripped the saddle in hand and lifted my foot up into the stirrup. I deftly hauled myself up, swinging my leg over his back as I did so. I settled myself into the seat and adjusted my sword and bow. I tilted my head to look back at Bard who inclined his head towards me.
"Duly impressed, Talya." He said. He tossed my helm up to me and I caught it easily. I pulled it over my head and tucked my braids back under it so they would stay out of my face.
Bard mounted his horse and we shared a brief, somber look, before we started toward the head of his assembled men. Thranduil was already mounted on the back of his massive elk, dressed in full battle gear. The elves around him stood stock still and I thought, momentarily, that even my old drill sergeants would have been impressed with their form.
Bard and I reached the head of the column of men and a horn sounded. Thranduil started forward, his warriors falling into seamless steps behind him. Though I could not see them, I knew Bilbo and Gandalf were in the crowd somewhere.
The gates of Erebor loomed ahead of us and I felt my stomach tighten as we rode near. I could make out the forms of the dwarves on the ramparts, weapons bared and at the ready. I slowed to a stop just ahead of the column as Bard rode ahead.
"You have been given two days, Thorin, son of Thrain." Bard called out as he reached Thranduils side. "Give us your answer. Will you have peace? Or war?"
Thorin was glaring down at us all and my heart ached to see his face. I was so glad that I was dressed in the elven armor, glad that it hide me from his view.
As Thorin made to answer, a massive black bird flew to him and landed on the crumbling rock. It chattered and quirked, hoping from one foot to the other. Thorin glanced out to our left, far over the hills and I knew what he was waiting for. It wasn't long until the sound reached even my ears.
"I will have war." Thorin called out.
"Damn that pig headed ass!" I cursed, loudly. One of the neighboring soldiers gave me an odd look and I ignored him. I waited, instead, for the approach of Dain's army. I didn't have to wait long. The massive spears rose over the hills first, followed by the glistening silver of the dwarven armor. Cheers rose up from the gates of Erebor and I rolled my eyes in frustration.
Thranduil called out a single command, and suddenly the entire army was shifting around to face the new threat. I squeezed my legs around Grey-mane and he began to trot forward. I pulled him to a stop once I could clearly see the scene in front of me.
Dain led his army, riding on a massive boar, its tusks thick and tipped in glistening iron points. "Good morning!" He called out, his voice nearly cheerful. "How are we all?"
The dwarf lord raised his massive war hammer and the army stopped behind him as he trotted the boar forward. He paused on a small outcrop and surveyed the elves and men before him.
"I have a wee propositions, if you wouldn't mind giving me a few moments of your time."
He paused and looked over at us, his face earnest.
"Would ya consider…" He paused a moment, then his face split into an angry grimace. "JUST SODDING OFF?! All of you! RIGHT NOW!"
The soldiers of Lake Town murmured and shuffled around me.
"Stand fast!" Bard called out, his horse prancing and pawing at the dirt in front of him. I glanced down over to him before returning my eyes to the angry dwarf in front of us.
"Come now, Lord Dain!" Gandalf called out. I finally spotted the wizard as he pushed his way from the center of our column. He stopped just ahead of us and Dain snapped his head to look at him.
"Gandalf the Grey," He growled out, disdainfully. Gandalf bowed his head to the dwarf. "Tell this rabble to leave! Or I'll water the ground with their blood!"
Even from here, I could see Gandalf frown, irritated. He pressed forward again.
"There is no need for war between dwarves, men, and elves! A legion of orcs march on the mountain. Stand your army down!"
"I will not stand down before any elf! Not least, this faithless woodland sprite, who wishes nothing but ill on my people! If he chooses to stand between me and my kin, I'll split his pretty head open! See if he's still smirking then."
More cheers from the gates of Erebor and I could feel my patience wearing thin. Thranduil was watching Dain, a self-righteous smirk on his face and Dain was huffing on the top of his pig. I let out a long breath and tried to count to ten.
"He's clearly mad!" Thranduil yelled out. "Like his cousin."
"You hear that, lads? We're on!"
I watched as Dain jerked the head of his mount and I felt something in me snap as he turned away.
"Oh, for fucks sake…" I muttered. I dug my heels into Grey-manes side and he leaped forward, men and elves alike dodging out of our way as we went. I felt the eyes of thousands on my back and I suddenly wondered just what the hell I was doing.
"Lord Dain!" I called out, halting next to Gandalf, Grey-mane tossing his head and snorting. The dwarf lord turned to look down at me and I tugged my helm off and tucked it under my arm once more.
"Oh, and who is this?" He called out, his voice sickly sweet. "Do Men now send their women-folk to talk for them?"
"Lord Dain, please. Listen to Gandalf. There is an…"
"Did you not hear me the first time, wee chippy?" He snapped, interrupting me. I bit the inside of my cheek and literally felt my eye twitch.
"Talya…" Gandalf said, warningly from my side.
"He just called me a prostitute, Gandalf." The wizard let out a pained sigh.
"Yes," He answered. "That he did."
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"My Lord, if you would please listen to reason…"
"Look, lass. Why don't you go back to making sandwiches in the kitchens and let us get on with our war?" The assembled dwarves laughed heartily, none louder than Dain himself.
A fucking sandwich joke, in fucking Middle-Earth.
"Oh, for fucks sake!" I snapped out for the second time. Dain leveled a sharp look at me.
"I was going to be polite, but seriously? I am SO god damn tired of all you stubborn ass, butt-hurt mother fuckers."
Dain opened his mouth to speak, but I pointed a finger at him.
"No. You keep your mouth shut." I snapped. His mouth worked silently, a look of absolute shock on his face. To his credit, he didn't say a word.
"Now that you two are done comparing dick sizes," I yelled. "You all are going to listen, and you are going to listen good. There is a massive army of orcs heading in our direction, led by Azog the defiler. As we speak, there are weir-worms digging tunnels under those very hills and soon, we are going to be overrun with orcs and trolls and god knows what else."
I glanced from Thranduil, up to Thorin, and back to Dain.
"You guys have bad blood between you, yeah I get it. But what's more important? Your petty grudges? Or facing the real threat to not only you, but all of Middle-Earth?"
Dain grit his teeth.
"You would have us work with elves?" He snapped.
"Don't take that tone of voice with me, Lord Dain of the Ironhills." I snapped back. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Thranduil smirk. I turned Grey-mane to face him.
"And don't you smirk either, you pointy-eared prick. None of you are in the right in this."
Gandalf let out a sharp breath.
"So? What are you going to do?" I shouted. "Are you going to waste the blood of your people on a grudge until no one is left standing? Or are you going to face Azog, a common enemy, together?"
The ground suddenly rumbled beneath us and I glanced off towards the hills as giant worms erupted from the ground, dirt and rock and debris showering down around them.
"I suggest you decide." I yelled one last time. Gandalf shook his head at me and hauled himself up behind me on Grey-mane. Together, we rode back to the column of men.
"Did you really tell Lord Dain Ironfoot to shut his mouth?" He asked wearily.
"Yup."
"And did you really imply that King Thranduil of Mirkwood, and Lord Dain of the Ironhills were… comparing the sizes of their genitalia?"
"Yup."
"Oh, Talya." He groaned behind me.
Behind us I could hear the steady march of feet as the enemy army came closer.
"The horns of hell are upon us!" Dain called, finally remembering himself. He kicked his boar into action and the dwarves began to fall in behind him, ready to meet the enemy head on.
Thranduil stayed in place, watching with solemn eyes as the dwarves dug themselves in. Gandalf frowned and slid himself off of Grey-manes back. I tugged his reins to face the elf-king.
"Thranduil, this is madness!" Gandalf called out. Thranduil paused and slowly turned to look at me. We met eyes. For a long moment, we watched each other before finally, he nodded his head once to me.
He pressed his elk forward and called out in elvish. The warriors around us tensed and, suddenly, were in motion, running forward so swiftly I could hardly keep my eyes on them. Grey-mane tossed his head and pulled at the bit in his mouth. I looked down at Gandalf and, next to him, Bilbo, who had finally caught up.
"Bilbo! When the time comes, go with Legolas and Tauriel!" I called out. Bilbo looked confused, considering we had not even seen the two yet, but he nodded his head.
"Where are you going, Talya?" He called out, frowning. I smiled sadly at the hobbit.
"To fight, Bilbo."
"You can't!"
"I have to. I have to find a way to save them, Bilbo. "
"Even if it means death?" He bit out, his voice full of emotion. I nodded, a lump in my throat.
"Even if,"
Tears were in his eyes and I felt my heart go out to him.
"Take care, my friend." I looked from him to Gandalf.
"Are you going to argue with me?" I asked. The wizard shook his head slowly at me.
"My time for guiding you has come and gone, my dear. You press on now to your own fate." He offered a misty smile. "May the Valar watch over you, my dear girl."
He bowed his head lowly to me and I returned the gesture before pressing my helm over my head once more.
I dug my heels into Grey-manes side and once more charged forward.
A/N; And so starts the Battle of the Five Armies. Don't hate me for the ending of this chapter!