"They are here." I whisper as I look into the darkness and across the walkway that leads to Laketown. In the distance I see shadows stalking across the roofs of the homes of the residents. "They are searching for the dwarves, but in a human populated area it could lead to unwanted side-effects." Legolas states. "Let's act quickly." Tauriel says before silently rushing forward.
"At times like these I wish I had opted for a sword." I mumble. "Why didn't you?" Legolas asks. "Promise not to laugh?" He nods, hardly concentrating as his eyes follow Tauriel. "The last time I wielded a sword I nearly clipped my wing." I say making him look over wide-eyed before he grins. "Don't." I warn him, making him clear his throat. He motions to the direction Tauriel left. "Come." he says before rushing off, but still making sure I keep up.
Soon we hear the screams of children and my eyes widen to see a certain house being targeted by the orcs. Turning the corner, I nearly run into an orc, but before they can react, I thrust my elbow in its ugly mugg before ducking to let Legolas cut off its head completely.
Tauriel already made it to the house that is being assailed and Legolas quickly follows while I stay outside to deal with the orcs that are roaming loose. I fend them off with my agility and my claws, though it's hardly deadly.
As I get thrown into one of the many boats, I am pleasantly surprised to find a sturdy fishing spear and not a moment too soon as I thrust it forward into the chest of an orc that was about to take a slice at me. Ripping it from its chest, it falls dead in the water and I jump back onto the pier to continue my fight on sturdier ground.
It seems that only moments later that the orcs turn to flee and I take this chance to test the elvish bow. I grin at the power and accuracy behind it and immediately forget all about my old and broken one. The orcs will be dead before ever leaving the town.
I'm about to release another arrow but are stopped by a large hand gripping onto the back of my clothing. I gasp as I'm lifted in the air and look over my shoulder to see a rather large orc covered in a spiky harness and a large scar across its face. I swallow hard as he smiles evilly.
I barely get the chance to scream as my body hits the side of a post before crumpling to the ground, the air knocked out of me. I gasp as I struggle to my feet, barely dodging an axe coming for my head. I try to reach my bow which I dropped, but a foot in my chest sends me flying and I gasp as cold water engulfs me, making water rush into my lungs.
When I reach the surface after a moment of struggling, I cough harshly as I grip onto the side of a boat. When I manage to look up, I am surprised to see Legolas standing in my former place, now caught up in a heated battle with the giant unknown orc.
He stabs at the orc's stomach, but the orc drops his axe and catches Legolas's sword between his arm and ribs. He pulls Legolas closer to him using the sword and then throws him against a wooden pillar, making Legolas drop his sword. Before he can get up, the orc grabs him and throws him again, this time into a wall.
The orc strides over and kicks at the elf, but he manages to grab his leg and knock him off balance and into the wall behind him. He leaps in the air and delivers a punch to the orc's face. He then grabs his head and smashes it repeatedly into the wooden post, dealing a lot of damage.
Next he throws the orc against a wall, but he rebounds from the wall and grabs Legolas in a crushing embrace against his chest. As he squeezes Legolas I can hear him grunt in pain before throwing his head back into the orc's face, forcing him to release him. Legolas manages to pull out a knife and slices the orc shallow on the stomach, but the orc gets a hold of him once more and throws him toward two other orcs that I haven't noticed until then. As Legolas goes to fight the two of them, the large orc limps away.
At this point I have gotten out of the water and retrieved the bow, shooting one of the lesser orcs before Legolas makes way with the other. He makes his way over to me, looking me over concerned. "I am fine." I say wiping my thumb over the bloody cut on his cheek, leaving a wet streak and an elf caught off guard. I hardly take notice though as I look to see where the orc left. "He can't get away." I breathe, turning to go after him if Legolas didn't stop me.
"Stay here. I will take care of the orc." he tells me sternly. "But..." He shakes his head. "Your help might be needed elsewhere. I will return soon." he says before taking off. I frown at the stubborn elf, hoping he will not get himself killed.
Turning around, I make my way over to the slightly wrecked house in the centre of the town. When I enter, my eyes widen in surprise when I see Tauriel fussing over Kili who is out cold. "Therith!" come surprised voices. "How is he?" I ask Bofur who is standing near. "He will be alright thanks to the she-elf." he says before looking me over. "It's good to see you again. Are you alright though?" he asks. I nod. "Yes, do not worry for me." I tell him, before glancing at the others in the room.
Fili is there, as is Oin and three children; a boy and two girls. "Where are the others?" I ask curiously. "They have already reached the mountain." Fili states solemnly, looking down on his younger brother. I put my hand on his shoulder. "Come, let us fix that hole in the roof. We do not want your brother and the young ones to freeze do we?" I ask, urging him on. It will do him no good to wallow in his worry. It kept us busy until the next day...
I smile at Tilda, the little girl, as she hands me some soup before going back inside. I got to know the children a little and heard about what transpired during the stay of the dwarves and Bilbo. It's too bad that their father is imprisoned, but at the time there is little anyone can do about it. It's sad too know that these children are on their own for now, a feeling that I know very well.
I look across the houses, watching for any suspicious movements in the dark, all the while ignoring the suspicious looks from the occasional passerby. Standing guard is all I can do for now as the remaining dwarves are distracted, but Kili is healing up slowly but surely since the night before. Tauriel is a good healer and she surely saved his life.
As I sip on my warm beverage, I freeze as I sense eyes on me. Goose-bumps rise on my arms at the feeling of such evil watching me. It is making me feel physically ill. What could it be that is lurking in the darkness?
Putting the bowl down quietly, I look around inconspicuously, but see little until my eyes happen to glance skyward. My eyes widen at the shadow darting across the sky and follow it until it disappears from my sight around the back of the house. Stringing an arrow, I dart around the corner, aiming to the point where it must be, but to my surprise there is nothing there. The sky has been left empty.
As I slowly lower my bow, I feel my heart pounding and my eyes must be the size of saucers. I double check the sky, but there is truly nothing there and it makes me question my sanity. Surely I saw correctly?
It must have been an hour or so before I finally dare to move again, not being able to feel the presence again or see any sign of it. I wet my dry lips as a cold breeze hits me and swallow hard. I shake myself, turning to head back, but am stopped short by a loud sound coming from the mountain.
Whipping towards it, my heart feels like it's stuck in my throat as a large form bursts from the mountainside before taking to the air in a deadly but silent flight. My knuckles turn white as I grip my bow tightly, watching the form draw closer and seeming to grow in size. Knowing anything I will do against it will have little effect; I can only open my mouth and scream: "Dragon!"