Big thanks to crazygirlg and KashinaKairi for following/favouriting.

Nice Egan – I figured it was about time. As for the duel that gets discussed more in this chapter.

Celebrisilweth – Well given they have no real leader anymore and Azog is dead chances are they'll walk away. This is more about Sol being a bit of an arse.

Thatgirl2002 – Maybe she will? Maybe she won't. You'll have to read on and find out.

Littlemissthunderbird – I love writing them as well!

A Fight to the Death

Fira glanced out over the barren landscape. Three months on and it was completely void of any signs of a battle. Yet if she closed her eyes – even for a few seconds – she would see them. Hear them. It would all come back to her.

"Fira?"

At Kili's voice Fira opened her eyes. Turning round she forced a smile onto her face. The entire company had joined Kili who wrung his hands nervously.

"Fira please! For the last time let me do this."

"Kili stop it," turning on him Fira couldn't stop her dragon eyes from forming. Letting them revert back to normal she placed her hand to his cheek.

"This is my business to sort out. I won't have you risk your life for me. Not this time."

"But…"

"No Kili. Let me fight my own battles."

He nodded; taking her hands and caressing her knuckles.

"I love you," he whispered, "With all my heart."

"I love you to," Fira kissed him. Unable to let the mood remain sombre she giggled.

"Have some faith in me Kili. I could beat him."

She had been joking but Kili's eyes lit up at the prospect.

"Could you? I mean do you honestly think he might lose?"

"I…" Fira sighed, "I don't know. I guess I..?"

Not wanting Kili to lose hope she nodded, "Anything is possible Kili."

He opened his mouth but before he could try and protest again Fira wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him against her. Kissing him firmly but gently she felt his arms tighten around her waist. Kili's lips left her mouth and he smiled

"You'll beat him," he whispered, "I know you will."

Kissing him one last time Fira turned and stepped into the circle. Like Sol she wore no weapons. She wouldn't need them after all. Sol cleared his throat.

"The rules. No use of magic beyond shifting. Anyone who steps outside the circle; be it accidental or not, will automatically lose. As you know Fira," he grinned, "this is a fight to the death."

Fira realised Sol was staring over her shoulder. Turning round she saw Kili staring at her with pleading eyes. Both Fili and Thorin stood close; no doubt ready to stop him if he tried to move. Turning back to face Sol, Fira refused to let herself be baited. Sol hurriedly tried to mask his disappointment before moving on.

"First to fall will lose."

Fira held her hand up, "If I win I want an assurance that nothing will happen to Erebor. No repercussions of any kind."

Sol bowed, "This is nothing to do with what Tharos asked of you. This is because you're a piece of half breed filth who should have died years ago."

He cleared his throat, "Shall we?"

Fira's answer was to shift.

It felt good to be a dragon again. Obviously having to fight against another dragon did take away some of the enjoyment. Unfurling her wings Fira faced Sol who snapped his jaws at her.

"What would you prefer Fira? To die here in front of him? Or alone and afraid? Executed as a common traitor?"

"I'll take the other option," Fira lunged forward but Sol twisted away before spinning and kicking at her with his hind legs. Taking a blow to the neck Fira coughed.

"I beat you and you never come near this mountain again."

"I like your optimism," Sol's moved forward, jaws wide open. Doing likewise Fira grunted as their teeth caught each other's face. Breaking apart she could see the fire glowing in Sol's belly.

"I will watch you burn!"

Fira shot towards her. Spinning upwards Fira screamed as the tip of her tail got caught in the flames. Ignoring the pain she turned and nosedived onto Sol's back. Hooking her claws in she fought to stay on as he rolled in mid-air. Tearing huge gashes into his back Fira suddenly let go. Sol was unprepared for the sudden weight loss and his body flew through the sky. Fira took the opportunity to let her own fire shoot towards him. However at the last second Sol changed position.

"I like your optimism. Please keep it when you're kneeling on the scaffold."

"Shut it," Fira snapped. Roaring she dove, trying to catch Sol's stomach. However by doing so she left her own back open. Sol's claws dragged along her ridges and Fira threw her neck back in a howl. Using her tail she managed to knock Sol off. He winked at her.

"I wonder if you'll beg like your father did?"

Fira froze at his words. Sol nodded.

"He had to be dragged up the steps; he was so afraid. And your mother. She couldn't stop screaming. She begged Tharos to let him live," Sol glanced her up and down.

"Afterwards they made her kneel in his blood."

"Stop it," tears pricked at her eyes. However Sol shook his head.

"He cried when they tied his hands. He was shaking so much he needed help kneeling. It was pitiful. You almost wanted them to take his head so he stopped crying."

"STOP IT!"

Jets of fire flew from her mouth. Sol moved but his hind legs were too low to avoid the flames. Sol writhed in pain whilst Fira slammed her whole body into him. The idea was to osuh him to the ground. But Sols claws lashed out at her face. Leaning back Fira screamed as Sol's jaws clamped over her snout. His hind legs tore at her wings and she could feel herself growing heavy in the air.

"Would you like to know something Fira? I've always had a soft spot for you. I knew I shouldn't after all. You were a freak of nature. But you were so beautiful I couldn't stop myself," he released her snout. But Fira was struggling to keep her head up.

"And I guess I felt guilty."

"Guilty?"

As Sol nodded Fira wanted to be sick.

"Yes Fira. You see I was the one who did it. Tharos wanted to do it but I volunteered. After all; I had denounced them. It seemed fitting I carry out their punishments."

"You…" Fira shook her head, "You killed him?"

Sol nodded, "It was a shame your mother died giving birth to you. I wanted to see the fear on her face when she died."

Tears crawled down Fira's face. She heard the others calling out to her but she didn't pay any attention to them.

"They were my parents."

Sol shrugged, "They were filth. Your mother was a traitor and your father…"

He trailed off. Fira opened her mouth when pain blossomed in her stomach. Looking down she saw Sol had slashed her skin just below her chest. She shook her head.

"You…"

She didn't know why this was affecting her. She had known for a long time how her parents had died. But to be face to face with the man who had killed them was something else. Sols' head landed in her stomach and she doubled over. A tail to the back sent her forwards and a bite to the face had her hovering just above the ground.

"You are weak Fira. You were always destined to die this way."

Licking her bloodied lips Fira turned to where the others were watching. Unsurprisingly Kili was being held back by Fili and Thorin. He fought like a mad animal in their arms. Fira burst into tears as she caught snatches of his desperate pleas. She looked down at herself as Sol laughed.

"How does it feel to lose this time Fira?"

"I don't know," slowly Fira turned, "you tell me."

Roaring she leapt at him. Unprepared Sol had no time to move as she split his stomach open. Flying upwards Fira bit down on his neck, tearing at him wildly. Letting go she let the fire in her stomach form.

"You filthy, cruel, sadistic murderer!"

Sol was bleeding from various wounds now. Smiling to her self Fira slammed her body into him.

"That was for my mother."

Letting the fire form she opened her mouth.

"This is for my father."

Sol screamed as the flames engulfed him. Fira did nothing as his burning mass fell to the ground. Ignoring the pain running through her body she let her battered wings lower her down. Once her feet were safely on the ground she could feel everything morphing. Her scales vanished and as her body shrunk she could feel her wings going back into her body. Not caring she was naked she stepped away as Sol stopped burning. Falling to her knees she let her tears fall.

The second Fira dropped to her knees Kili finally freed himself from Fili's grip. Running forward he didn't even give Sol's body a second glance. Fira was shaking and Kili could remember watching on as Sol opened her stomach. He'd never felt so helpless as he did in that moment.

"Fira?"

She made no sound other than raspy sobs. Slowing his pace Kili stopped a few feet from her. She had her back to him; sitting on her knees, hands covering her face.

"Fira? Fira are you..?"

She shook her head. Not saying anything Kili moved to sit beside her. As he did so Fira turned and he pulled her onto his lap. She curled up against him.

"He killed him!"

Kissing her forehead Kili tried to stop his own tears from falling. Whether Fira knew it or not he had heard every single thing Sol had said to her. He knew if he came face to face with the orc who took his father from him then he wouldn't have been able to control himself. Fira's sobs were getting more and more hysterical. Wrapping his arms around her Kili was aware of how small she was compared to him. They might have matched in height but right now his arms could fit around her body several times. Something hit his chest and he realised Fira was beating her fists against him.

"He killed him! He was my father and he killed him!"

Kili wanted to say something. He wanted to say that it would be alright. That he was here for her. But he knew Fira didn't want words. And so he gently rocked her back and forth; stroking her hair and gently shushing her.

Fira wasn't sure how long they sat there like that. Kili said nothing as she cried and cried. Instead he simply held her close against him. After a few minutes Fira took a deep breath and leaned back.

"Kili?"

Nodding he caressed her face. Fira forced herself to smile.

"My stomach hurts."

Kili's face went white as he looked down. However Fira was aware he was trying to stay calm.

"Well when you're sliced open pain is a side effect."

Nodding Fira realised she had nothing on. Kili kissed her forehead before shedding his coat and slipping it on her. Holding it over her chest Fira let him pick her up and carry her towards the others. Burying her face against his shoulder she tried to silence the last of his sobs. Kili gave her a soft squeeze before lying her back on the ground.

"Lad maybe we should go inside," Oin whispered. Nodding Kili picked Fira up again. Not saying anything Fira let herself fall limp in Kili's arms. She should be happy shouldn't she? She had just killed the man who had made her life hell. The man who had gotten her parents sentenced to death. The man who had killed her father.

But she just couldn't. She couldn't bring herself to smile or even look at anyone. She was aware of Kili taking her inside and laying her down whilst the others crowded round. She knew they wanted to talk to her. But Fira couldn't move. She just wanted to stay with Kili.

"Should she be like this?" Kili asked someone.

"She's in shock," Oin knelt before her and opened the coat up.

"But she wasn't badly hut. Was she?"

"Not from her wounds," the cream he used was cold and stung. But still Fira didn't move.

"You heard what Sol said to her. She's still trying to deal with what happened."

"But she'll be alright?"

Oin said something but Fira ignored him. Instead she reached out for Kili's hand and gave it a tight squeeze. Oin nodded.

"I think that answers your question lad."

Kili smiled sadly at the sleeping figure of Fira in their bed. He'd taken her to the room they'd used last time they spent a night in Erebor. Only this time it would be permanent. Fira shifted under the blankets before turning over. Blinking back his tears Kili blew her a kiss before shutting the door. He glanced over at Thorin.

"You wanted to talk to me?"

His uncle nodded, "Kili I…I have a lot to make up for. I understand that."

"Thorin," Kili shook his head. He was still angry with Thorin yes. But the three months with Beorn had calmed him. However Thorin was still talking.

"I'm not just talking about the gold sickness. I mean before all of that. I never showed you how much I loved you. How proud I was of you. I made you think I preferred Fili over you when that was never the case. I'm so sorry for that Kili."

Kili shrugged; not sure how he was expected to respond. Thorin took his hand.

"I had no experience with children when you and your brother were younger. I tried my best but I made mistakes. But when you got older I began to fail you. Fili was heir. I believed I should focus on teaching him and training him for when he would become King. But in doing so I neglected you and made you feel inferior. I never meant for that to happen and if I could change things I would."

Kili nodded, "But you can't."

"I know."

Kili smiled, "What I meant was; you can't change the past so let's forget about it. Thorin we have almost died so many times since leaving Ered Luin. You are my uncle and I love you. I forgive you for everything. I swear. Let's just start over okay?"

Thorin nodded and pulled him in for a hug. Returning the embrace Kili stepped back with a bashful smile. Thorin eyed the bedroom door.

"Fira's really matured you hasn't she?"

Blushing Kili nodded, "She's made me a better man uncle. Every change is down to her."

"Well I hope myself, Fili and the others may take some credit," Thorin winked. Chuckling Kili moved towards the door. However before he entered a thought struck him.

"Uncle?"

"Yes Kili?"

"Do you…" Kili bit his lip, "Do you think I'm a good enough heir?"

"Of course you're good enough," Thorin smiled, "Never think for one second that you aren't."

Smiling through his tears Kili turned away and entered the bedroom. Silently undressing he slipped under the blankets and pulled Fira against him. Kissing her forehead lightly he settled down to sleep.

So boom! Sol is dead and now everyone can start to move on with their lives. However things won't be completely plain sailing just because the present dangers have gone. Let me know what you think xxx