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.)
The hill loomed ahead of us and I could make out the crumbling towers ahead of us. My chest tightened as we neared, and the scene of Fili's death played out in my head as I gazed on the tower.
"Dwalin, let me off up here." I called out. "I don't want to be a distraction."
He glanced behind me and frowned.
"You'll be a sitting duck out here, Talya." He argued, the smallest bit of concern coating his words.
"Don't worry about it, Dwalin. Legolas and Tauriel will be here soon. Go. And please… make sure Kili and Fili stay away from that tower. I don't care what Thorin says. And don't leave his side."
My voice broke and he narrowed his eyes further.
"What do you know?" He asked lowly. I was shaking and I closed my eyes tightly. I wondered if it even mattered at this point that I keep my mouth shut.
"They are supposed to die, Dwalin. All three of them. Azog is supposed to wipe out the direct line of Durin." I finally said. He looked over his shoulder at me severely, eyes searching. He slowed the ram down.
"I have never trusted you, Talya. I always knew there was something that you were not telling us." He shook his head. "Now I know that was true."
"I'm sorry, Dwalin. I wish I could have told you guys… But if I said the wrong thing, did the wrong thing… Then I could have ended up killing all of you."
"I will not pretend to understand, Talya Conner. But…"
He hesitated.
"I trust you now."
The words made my chest ache and, as we neared the sharp turn ahead, I readied myself.
"Keep them safe." I said softly. He nodded his head once and I jumped.
I threw myself to the side and let myself roll down the small hill. I flopped to the ground, groaning. The ride on the back of the ram had been too mellow and I felt myself beginning to crash. I ached all over. My cheek burned and every time I moved my mouth even the slightest, it pulled at the wound. I reached up and gingerly touched it and thanked whoever had been watching over me. Though the cut spanned from under my right temple down towards the tip of my nose, ending an inch above the corner of my mouth, it was shallow.
I slowly rolled myself so that I was sitting. I leaned against a rock and let out a long breath. I wasn't sure how long it would take for Tauriel and Legolas to show up, but I knew that during the time they were supposed to show up, Fili was supposed to die. I hoped like hell I had done enough to make sure that he and his brother were safe. I agonized over each action, each word until I felt an unbearable ache in my chest. I felt tears threaten for the millionth time, and I wipe them away angrily, forgetting until too late about the cut on my cheek.
"Fuck!" I snapped, jerking my hand away. Fresh blood was on the back of my hand and I let out an irritated huff.
"Who is there?" A male voice demanded, and I glanced up to find Legolas standing next to Tauriel on the bridge. I let out a breath of relief and slowly stood up.
"It's Talya." I called out. The two exchanged glances and frowned as I walked up to them.
"Talya?" Tauriel asked, stepping closer. "What in Valar's name are you doing here?"
I tugged my helmet off, a braid sticking wetly to the inside. I pulled away and it fell into my face. I let out a puff of hair and Tauriel shook her head at me.
"You are in a sorry state, mellon nin."
"No worse than some. Less so than others." I said with a shrug. Legolas reached out and gently grabbed my chin to look at him. He turned my head this way and that, looking over the cut on my cheek.
"The Valar must be looking out for you, Lady Conner." He said softly, dropping his hand. "For such a large wound, it is shallow."
"Funny, I thought the same thing…"
I trailed off and we all jerked our heads up as screams were heard in the air. Above us, huge winged creatures swooped down and around. Legolas narrowed his eyes and glanced behind him as one of the large bat… things dove after him. He lifted his arm up and snagged the creatures leg as it clasped its talons around his forearm. Tauriel and I watched him be pulled up to the top of the hill.
"Show off," I muttered softly. Tauriel smiled down at me.
I waited a moment, waited for the sight of Kili to spur Tauriel on, but it did not come and my heart leaped into my throat and I could feel myself dare to hope.
"Come on, Talya!" She called out. I pulled my helm back on and, together we ran, taking the same trail up as Thorin and the others had. We both had our swords out and at the ready as we ran. Tauriel easily pulled ahead of me and I wanted to hate her natural elvish speed and stamina just a little at that point. I was way passed winded, but still I pushed on.
We started to come across the first of the orcs that had begun to swarm Ravenhill. Tauriel's blade flashed faster than I could ever hope to follow. As she knocked aside orc after orc, I followed behind, dispatching those that she had not dealt a deadly blow. More orcs poured over the battlements and I began to feel the edge of fear creep up in me. I was so tired and swinging my sword was becoming more and more difficult as we went. My left shoulder ached, as did the wrist Thorin had bruised.
I was beginning to lag further and further behind Tauriel. She paused for a moment.
"Talya, come!" She called. I shook my head.
"I can't," I took a deep breath.
"Go on ahead. Find Kili and," I swallowed hard around the sudden lump in my throat. "Fili. Make sure they are safe!"
She hesitated for a moment before nodding and dashing on ahead. I turned sharply and made my way to the right, towards the direction I guessed Bilbo was. When I finally found him, he was hefting huge rocks up into his hands and chucking them solidly at the orcs. He nailed one on the back of the head and went to grab another rock. Bolg whipped around the corner.
"DUCK!" I screamed. Bilbo hesitated, still bent over, and Bolg careened right past him, his head whipping to my direction. He growled loudly at me.
"Oh, fuck." I muttered with feeling. The son of Azog, while not as tall, nor as built as his father, was still massive. His cold eyes glared down at me as he approached and suddenly, I felt like I could run a marathon.
"Come on, you ugly fuck!" I called out, a hell of a lot braver than I felt. If I could distract him long enough, then maybe, just maybe, Kili would live.
He snarled and charged at me. My eyes widened and I turned to haul ass down the stairs in front of me. Amazingly, I managed to not trip as Bolg thundered down behind me. He was gaining steadily on me and fear spiked through me. Ahead, the steps came to a small platform before turning suddenly to the left. I made a split second decision and, once I reached the platform, skidded to a halt and jumped down. I landed solidly, the jolt traveling up through me, and I pressed myself against the rocks. As I had hoped, Bolg tried to stop too suddenly and went crashing over the edge of the platform.
"Yes!" I hissed out as he slammed solidly to the ground. The thrill of success was short lived, however, because he regained his footing a hell of a lot faster than I would have given him credit for. I paled and he laughed cruelly. I edged myself towards the stairs and he took a few steps forward menacingly. I had no hopes that I could go against him and win. The only reason I had managed to even cut through the orcs as well as I had was the sheer fact that the majority of them were dumb as fuck and had no real skill other than swinging wildly and hoping like hell they hit something. Bolg, however, I knew was a cut above the rest. I swallowed hard.
He growled out something and, though I did not understand him, I hardly needed to. I understood the threat well enough.
With no warning, he charged. I yelped and stood in place for as long as I dared. I dodged at the last possible second and Bolg crashed, hard, into the rocks. He snarled and whipped around to face me. I held my sword out in front of me and braced myself.
Bolg was approaching slowly, a sneer on his face, when suddenly he jerked. A rock thudded to the ground at his feet and we both looked up in surprise to find Bilbo at the top of the steps. He saluted me with a rock before chucking another one down at Bolg.
"USE YOUR RING!" I screamed. Bolg turned his attention to me just in time to catch another rock to the head. Bilbo nodded once to me, just to let me know he heard me, then chucked a third rock. Bolg roared and, while his attention was turned, I ran. Probably like a little bitch.
I skid around a corner, my chest heaving. I coughed and swallowed, trying to suck in enough air to sate my burning lungs.
I lifted my head slowly to the sound of feet dragging and I caught sight of a pack of orcs heading my way. The leader caught sight of me and pointed his sword in my direction, growling out something.
"Aw shit…" I muttered. I turned and began to run again, the orcs following after. I had no idea where I was going at this point and I quickly became lost in the twists and turns of the hall ways.
I turned one last time and skidded to a halt as the path before me stopped and crumbled. I looked down and winced, then glanced back at the eight or so orcs following after me. I shoved my sword into its sheath and let out a sharp breath.
"I'm getting real sick of this shit," I grumbled. I leapt down to a nearby wall, managing just barely to catch myself on it as fell. I felt my hand snag on a sharp rock and suddenly, my hand was slick with blood and I slipped. I landed on the ground and rolled, glancing up at the orcs above me. They snarled and quickly turned to find a path down to me.
CRASH!
I rolled quickly to my stomach and popped my head up to find a massive armored troll swinging his huge… mace… arm… things at the bottom of a crumbling tower. Legolas was at the top, shooting orcs down. He caught sight of me below with his sharp elf-eyes as well as the impending orcs. He threw his bow over his shoulder and did a swan dive off the tower, pulling a blade free as he fell. He came down, hard, on the trolls head, the blade sinking deeply into its skill. It stumbled and Legolas lunged his weight forward. The troll stumbled and crashed into a nearby tower. It collapsed and I watched him nimbly step off of the troll as it slid, dead, down the cavern.
The orcs that had been following me found their way down to our level. They roared out their battle cry and Legolas immediately launched himself into the fray. I pulled myself to my feet tiredly and pulled my sword free once more. I charged after the orcs, catching one off guard as I slammed my blade through its back. I pulled my sword free and made my way to Legolas. He glanced at me only briefly before the two of us began to dispatch the orcs one by one. Or, in Legolas's case, two by two.
I dodged a particularly vicious blow that knocked my helmet clean off my head and I fell solidly to the ground. I heard a pair of boots hit the precariously balanced tower behind us and I lifted my head to find Bolg standing there.
"Legolas!" I called. He stabbed the last standing attacker and whipped around to face the monstrous orc. His lip curled in disgust as his eyes met Bolg.
"Stay here," He called to me. I frowned, but didn't argue. I watched him quickly step forward. Bolg swung at him and he easily dodged, swinging his own sword at the orc. Bolg dodged, too, and for a moment, the two ducked and parried each other's blows. Bolg swung his mace overhead and Legolas side stepped it. The mace crashed into the tower and it began to crumble under their feet. Legolas's eyes widened in shock before the stones under his feet gave way and he fell below.
I stumbled to my feet for the hundredth time and ran forward in time to watch Bolg fall through as well. The two landed solidly on the bottom layer of the tower. They wasted no time in crossing their weapons again. Legolas dodged blow after blow, Bolg's mace leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Legolas and Bolg began to make their way back towards me and I scrambled backwards, trying not to get in the way. Legolas took the last step on to more solid ground and caught Bolg's mace with his sword behind his back. He swung his blade free and whirled around, nicking Bolg with his blade. Bolg snapped his teeth at the elf.
The orc swung his mace at Legolas and the elf stumbled. I started forward again, only to freeze as an orc came crashing down behind Bolg. Both Legolas and Bolg glanced backwards in surprise as the ground crumbled under the son of Azog.
I realized what was happening and I shot my eyes up. Thorin was at the edge of the ice and I had to restrain myself from calling out to him. I looked down at Legolas.
"Your sword!" I called out. Legolas frowned, then realized what I meant. He flung the blade artfully and it caught the orc towering over Thorin in the chest.
I was so busy watching Thorin above in concern that I didn't even think about Bolg. The orc let out a roar as he stumbled after Legolas. Legolas whipped out his knives and once more, the two traded blows. They were a blur of movement until, in a heart stopping moment, Legolas fell into a crevice. Bolg sneered and picked up a hunk of rock and threw it at him.
"LEGOLAS!" I called out. The boulder careened towards the elf and he managed to regain his footing in time to dodge the rock. He began to run as the tower crumbled behind him. He made a final leap just as the last ground fell away and he crashed hard into Bolg. The two sprung apart, Legolas slamming hard to the ground and skittering to the edge. I watched Bolg stumble, but he did not lose his footing. I frowned and realized that somewhere, I had fucked up. Legolas was going to die if I didn't do something quick.
Bolg stomped towards Legolas who was fighting to regain his grip. I felt a moments of indecision before I ran forward, tugging my sword free as I ran. I tackled the orc, plunging my blade into his side. He howled in pain and I dropped to my feet. I felt a moment of pride as the orc faltered but that was short lived.
With all the strength he possessed, Bolg whipped around and smashed me in the chest with his fist. I went flying and slammed hard against the rock face. I felt something snap and, suddenly, I could hardly breathe. I slumped to the ground and watched dimly as Bolg crashed towards me, holding the gaping hole in his side.
Legolas finally regained his footing and charged at the orc. He pulled out his last short sword and leapt up. In a move very much reminiscent of the one he had made on the troll, he brought the blade down into the top of Bolg's skull. Legolas kicked off from him and suddenly, the entire tower began to crumble.
Legolas took one look at me and made his way to my side. I tried to move, but it hurt too much to do so.
"Talya," He said softly. "Don't move."
I tried to laugh, but choked on something thick and coppery. I exhaled painfully and felt a wet foam at my lips.
Legolas cursed softly in elvish and began to tug at my armor. The side that had hit the rocks was dented inwards and he finally tugged a small dagger free of his boot and cut the fine leather workings that held the sides together. He tugged it apart and I cried out dully.
"Your ribs are broken," He said softly. "And I believe a lung is punctured."
I blinked slowly, my vision growing fuzzy.
"So… tired, Le..golas." I managed to whisper.
"Hush Talya. Save your strength." He slowly pulled me so I lay flat and I grit my teeth as my world swam. Grey crept behind my eyes and I felt as though I was drifting.
Legolas looked up at something and he smiled slightly. My ears were ringing and I could not tell what it was that he heard that made him so relieved.
"The Eagles," His voice was distant. "The Eagles are here…"
Legolas looked down at me, his face pained.
"Do not die, Talya. Thorin will never forgive me."
"If I am to.. die in exchange for their lives," I coughed hard and closed my eyes tightly, trying to breath evenly. It hurt to inhale and I could not draw enough breath to keep me from feeling like I was suffocating. "Then I can die at… at peace."
"Come now, Talya. Open your eyes."
I tried to do as he asked, but my eye lids were so heavy. Everything felt so heavy. I swallowed thickly, realizing that blood coated my tongue. Legolas squeezed my hand and said something that I could not hear over the buzzing in my ears. I tried to tell him it was fine, that I hardly hurt any more, but I couldn't make any sounds.
I exhaled and looked up at the elf one last time. I could barely make out his face, his features distorted. I took a strained breath and gave a tired smile.
I exhaled and slowly, blackness crept over my vision.
I exhaled.
And nothing.