Sliding back along the blade Ali swallowed a mouthful of iron liquid. It didn't feel like she thought it would. There wasn't the overwhelming pain she expected, or the crushing terror. Slowly she freed the blade from her chest, holding onto it with her free hand, letting it leave crimson streaks along her fingers.
*Flashback*
"Dain!" Thorin roared across the field, dropping an orc with a single swing of his sword.
"Thorin!" Dain yelled back, grabbing an orc by the collar of his armor and pulling him down into a headbutt. "Hold on! I'm coming!"
Thorin caught an incoming blow with the broadside of his sword, kicking the knees back on the orc, then shoving a dagger deep into its throat.
"Hey cousin, what took you so long?" Dain caught another orc off guard before embracing Thorin.
"I'm looking for a girl, about yay tall, human," Thorin held up his hand to signal her height, then kicked another would-be attacker away.
"Would she be a fiery one? Inclined to spout nonsense?" Dain deflected a sloppy blow and scratched his beard with the other hand.
Thorin's heart jumped, "Yes! Have you seen her?" Thorin was pushed out of the way when Dwalin jumped up to block an attack he didn't seen coming.
"Aye, hard to miss that one." Dain grumbled. "What you need her for?"
"She's his one!" Dwalin shouted.
Dain took a step back in shock, nearly earning an ax to the head if it weren't for Thorin intercepting it this time. "Should'a known you'd find yerself the crazy one!"
"Where is she!?" Thorin asked one last time, he was getting a sinking feeling in his gut.
"Last I seen her, her and an elf where flyin' off ta try and, as she put it, 'cut the head off the snake'." Dain headbutt another orc then turned to grab Thorin's arm. "But I'd put my gold on her goin' up there ta take on Azog. Strange one, but I'd not underestimate her."
Thorin pushed the question aside for now about what he meant by that. There would be plenty of time later. Curiosity was pushed aside by dread. There was no way Ali would have rushed off to take on Azog. She couldn't have thought she'd live to see then end of that battle.
"Are we goin'?" Dwalin asked, but Fili, Kili, and Bofur were already clearing the way. They had to get up there faster than this. Thorin looked around quickly, spying a deserted cart still hooked to goats racing around the battlefield. He couldn't let his last words to Ali be ones filled with hate.
Ali's throat felt like sandpaper, each breath grating through her chest. Crouched behind a crumbling pillar she struggled to fill her lungs properly. She only had seconds to rest. Crunching across the patches of snow and scattering small stones without thinking twice, Ali could hear Azog's heavy footsteps approaching.
Clutching her small sword clumsily to her chest with both hands, she rocked slowly from her heel to her toes, curled over into a fetal position. She would have thrown up if her stomach would only un-clench long enough. The footsteps were so close now. Ali squeezed her eyes shut, willing it all away, willing herself to feel even an ounce of bravery that she'd felt before.
Then she ran, her sword flailing wildly in her hand, the sound of footsteps dying behind her. She could keep running, she told herself, perhaps she could outrun even this responsibility. Without meaning to she darted back onto the ice, into the open. Gasping, Ali's heart jumped a beat.
What felt like forever ago, Legolas and Bolg had battled off into a crumbling tower. He'd taken the challenge head on, he was brave. Ali's feet slowed, she wondered if he made it out alive. If he didn't than at least he'd faced his challenge full force. Ali's feet came to a stop near the middle of the lake. The sound of Azog's footsteps forever behind her. This wasn't something she could run from forever.
Turning slowly she clenched her numb fingers around her sword. Running away was only putting this off, not getting rid of it. Her hands trembled, Azog continued to approach, sneering down at her. He knew he had the advantage, dragging his heavy mace across the ice, cutting a deep groove.
"RAAA," Azog roared, hefting his mace and swinging it up over his head towards her.
Ali ducked out of the way, but just barely, a spike caught her arm and split the sleeve on her jacket, slicing through her skin. Shocked, Ali stumbled, her other shoulder hit the ice. Luckily the mace was a slow weapon, giving her a second to scramble to her feet while he dislodged it and swung it towards her for another attack.
Chest heaving, Ali crouched, ready to dodge again. Icy water pooled up by her feet, bubbling up from the newly chipped mace holes in the ice. She had to think this through, she reminded herself. Ranged attacks were out of the question. So was getting within his arms reach. She doubted that she had the strength to wedge her sword deep enough in his chest to make a killing blow without some help.
Ali lurched to the side, nearly slipping in the growing pool of water. Water! Ali sucked in a sharp breath. She didn't think she could create enough force to fully lodge her sword into his chest, but he probably could if he fell on it.
Heart hammering in her chest Ali breathed deep. Trying to calm herself down. Holding out until the world around them silenced, until Azog himself stopped advancing on her. Everything halted, except the continuous hammering in her chest.
There was limited time. Ali dropped her sword lazily by her side, sliding forward to try and pry the mace from the ice. It was lodged too deep. Scrambling back she grabbed her blade, silently apologizing to Legolas for what she was about to do.
Dropping to her knees she took the fine elvish blade in both hands and rammed it down into the ice like a chisel. It worked surprisingly well. In half the time she expected she'd chipped out a chunk. Lining up her blade with Azog, she shoved the handle down into the ice, wedging it into place.
Ice water flowed freely around them now, making the ice slick. Ali slipped when she stood, soaking her side. What she needed now was something to pull him forward. She guessed the weight of his body would be enough to pull him down entirely.
Yanking off her soaking jacket, Ali desperately tried to throw it around the back of his neck. In no universe would it be long enough from sleeve to sleeve for her to get enough leverage.
"FUCK!" Ali threw her jacket down onto the ice, her head slowly beginning to become fuzzy. There had to be something, anything. Ali gripped her hair in her hands, yanking on it hoping that the pain might clear her head. It did.
As she spun she noticed an orc by the lakes edge, frozen, attempting to climb up the stone wall to wear another battle had broken out. A rope stretched up the side of the wall. Skidding across the ice, she used a dagger in his belt to cut off as much of the rough rope as she could. This would work.
Throwing it up over Azog's head, Ali felt a warm trickle coming from her nose. Ali yanked with all her strength on the rope, rocking him forward.
It felt like cheating. Killing him while he was defenseless. Ali rocked him forward again, reminding herself of the vision Galadriel had given her a lifetime ago. His footing slid easier on the wet ice, Ali stumbled to the side more than dodged out of the way. Black spots blurred her vision.
Sound blasted back into reality. Metal clashing on metal. Wind whipping past her ears. An elvish blade scrapping up through orc armor. Azog gurgling as he sank down onto the ice. Fine white metal pushing up through the back of his crude armor.
Ali gasped in air, not realizing she'd been holding her breath. She had to make sure this was finished. Still gripping the dagger she'd taken from the orc, Ali knelt next to Azog's head that lolled limply on his shoulders. Just to be sure.
In the same moment she wedged the blade through his ear she felt her body being shoved back. Cold metal sinking into her stomach. Azog's blade arm fell limp in a second, wrenching her back down to her knees.
Sliding back along the blade Ali swallowed a mouthful of iron liquid. It didn't feel like she thought it would. There wasn't the overwhelming pain she expected, or the crushing terror. Slowly she freed the blade from her chest, holding onto it with her free hand, letting it leave crimson streaks along her fingers.
She felt the next wave of blood beginning to fill her mouth, with each slowing beat of her heart. Carelessly it dripped down her chin, staining the ice by her feet. Ali turned to walk away, but there wasn't anything left for her to do. Azog lay at her feet, blood beginning to freeze on the icy lake. There wasn't anything left. Ali clutched her stomach. The slow ooze of her own blood warmed her fingers.
Numbly her feet shuffled off to the edge where the waterfall froze down the mountain side. Her head lolled around, her strength waning so far that she wasn't sure she could hold it up. The ice under her feet boiled red. Was it her blood? Was it Azog? Was it…Thorin?
Ali stumbled around, her shoulders leaning too far, nearly throwing her off balance. Azog lay in a blurry pile where she had left him. Thorin was no doubt still in the mountain, safe. Ali's knees smacked down onto the ice, she heard the small cracking noise but didn't feel the pain.
She was alone.
The silent breeze pushed her hair in front of her face, sticking to the congealing blood that dripped from her lips. One hand still clutched her stomach, but it no longer felt warm. Around her the silence screamed in her ears, louder than her thoughts.
She was always alone.
Ali's cheek bounced off the ice, trapping her hand under her stomach. Yet still she didn't feel the cold beginning to permeate her skin. Bleary eyed she watched Azog's lifeless form through her shifting hair.
She didn't want to be alone. More than anything she wanted to feel someone's warm hand on hers, telling her everything would be alright. Not anyone though, she wanted Thorin. She wanted to tell him that she did all this for him. That she loved him no matter how he felt about her. The lonely ache in her chest was all she could feel, thumping slower with each failing heart beat.
Azog's body grew darker each second, the ice fading away under them. Perhaps it was fitting, being as cold and alone at the end of this life as she was in the last. Ali felt nothing more as the last tendrils of light escaped her vision.
Thorin could only vaguely hear hobbit's voice as he stumbled against the rock wall, having left the goat at the edge of the fortress. He clutched his chest where his heart was, checking to see if he'd been hit by an unseen force. Everything was there, his skin untouched, but the searing pain permeated through his chest.
Far away he heard his name being called. The pain dulled, the thud of his heart growing dimmer, echoing in his chest as if it were a void. Yet he didn't fall. His chest felt as if it had been ripped open, yet he still lived. How?
"Thorin!?" Dwalin shook him roughly, trying to bring him back to the present. Thorin's eyes darted to each of those who had followed him, none of which glanced at his chest.
He was fine. But if he was fine…then… "Ali." Her name rasped through his lips as he ran past them without explanation.
Fear stitched his gut the entire journey up the mountain side. As he approached the fallen figures on the ice he slowed. He didn't want to see this. He knew what he was seeing was true, but he prayed to Mahal his eyes were lying. Thorin stopped at the edge, turning his back on the scene before him, praying that when he turned back it would be gone. The hollow beating in his chest reminding him of reality. Numbly he stumbled to her.
Softly he fell to his knees, almost afraid to touch her. Thorin wanted to call her name but when he tried his throat tightened. Was this Aule's way of telling him that he didn't deserve the right? Her name was too precious a word to ever be spoken by the like of him.
Carefully he pushed the hair out of her face, they stuck ever so gently to the still wet tears that had run down her cheek and frozen to the lake. In her last moments she had wept, lying here, unable to move. She had wept alone.
Thorin's own tears rolled silently into his beard. He didn't know what to do. This was the woman who had loved him, forgiven him, fought for him, and for what? To die while he sat among his riches, no better than Smaug. His fingers ran along the braid he'd placed in her hair. She hadn't removed it. Even though he'd cut his off in front of everyone, she still wore her's.
"Thorin," Bilbo placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. It was meant as comfort, but it did nothing. Not when she had no one by her side in her last moments. "The battle is over. We should bring Ali down the mountain."
Thorin opened his mouth to say something but he didn't know what. He didn't want to move her, yet he couldn't leave her.
Her eyes were glazed over now, though they weren't lifeless and dull. It seemed as if they were sad, looking right at him, making sure he knew the loneliness she felt by being cast out.
"Thorin Oakenshield, you have wallowed in your pity long enough." Gandalf chided him, finally beginning to pull him back into the world. "There is a great deal we must discuss about Ali now that the journey is over. A great deal indeed."
Thorin understood. He was King now. He needed to put himself back together, if not for his men, then for her memory. As gently as possible he turned her body over, freezing at the sight of her stomach. It was torn open, the wet skin frozen and ripping from the ice. Thorin's jaw clenched as he cradled her close.
The men parted as Thorin moved silently between them, Bofur pulled his hat off as he looked at her. Thorin clenched his jaw against his tightening throat and threatening tears. If he could do nothing else, he would uphold his last promise to her.
The trip down the mountain was somber. Surly half of them expected Ali to sit up suddenly, mumbling something obscure about Batman. The other half knew that those empty eyes that stared into the heavens would never smile at them again.
Bilbo felt the tears on his cheek, but he didn't bother wiping them away with his sleeve, he knew more would flow regardless. Even the Elven King Thranduil stepped aside and bowed his head as they passed. Legolas and Tauriel doing the same on either side, a tear even graced Tauriel's cheek.
As they passed through the now silent battle ground, Bilbo knew that the numbers of their own fallen were great, but still dwarf and man alike stepped out of their way.
To Bilbo's surprise Thorin stopped at the ruined gate and turned to Dwalin. "Tell the dwarves from the Iron Mountain to camp tonight. We will begin rebuilding as soon as possible."
Dwalin jerked a nod and turned to leave at once.
"Also tell the elves that they may have the jewel they desire as thanks for their help. And the men from Laketown that we will be rebuilding Dale, and they will get the gold that is owed them." Thorin turned then and began making his way back into the mountain. "Also that I'm sorry."
Bilbo was not surprised really. This change of heart had everything to do with Ali. It seemed that most good things now-a-days had everything to do with her.
Thorin leaned down and placed her on a table as though her body was made of glass. It hurt Bilbo that her eyes were not yet closed. If this were Thorin's way of trying to hold onto her then it was wrong.
"What is it that you needed to speak to me about?" Thorin fell heavily into a chair beside Ali, finally pulling his eyes from her, Fili and Kili walked up to stand somberly at his sides. There was no way they were going to take this well.
Bofur must have mirrored his thoughts since he came to stand next to Bilbo, hat still in hand.
Gandalf's tale was short, finally telling Thorin and the rest who Ali really was. Everyone stayed quiet, Gandalf's voice sounded alone, echoing off the empty walls. For once he sounded old, the mirthful spark no longer present.
When his word finally ended, the hall stayed silent. That was until Fili broke it.
Slamming his fist down onto the table he growled, "We didn't ask her to do this."
"Fili-" Gandalf began.
"We could have helped! We could have saved her, if she had told us!" Kili cut him off, rage twisting his face.
"Kili-" Gandalf tried again.
"Surely there was another way, if we had all rushed up there," Gloin leaned heavily on the table.
"Gloin-" Gandalf warned, beginning to get upset.
"If we all rushed up there what?" Thorin pounded his fist on the table, silencing the rest. "Don't you believe that if fate would have allowed, then she would have found a loophole. She was smarter than the rest of us put together, and braver than I. She did what she had to, and I won't allow any of you to belittle her actions."
Bilbo rushed up and put a hand on his shoulder for comfort. He had grown rather fond of Thorin and it hurt to see him in this state. "You know, if Ali were here, she would say we needed to think more like Batman."
"Then I would respond with 'Batman is make believe'." Dwalin muttered from the doorway, surprising Bilbo that he had returned so soon.
"Then Ali woulda pertended ta look all shocked, and say sumthin bout Santa Claus." Bofur chucked quietly.
"She once told me they had an Easter Bunny, which is a magical rabbit that hides painted eggs for children to find." Ori chimed in.
"She said that in her last world there were giant metal birds that people used to fly." Balin sighed.
"For a place that has no magic, it sure sounds magical," Fili murmured.
"It's time now Thorin," Gandalf pushed.
His hand hesitated, clenching and unclenching on the table top. Bilbo held his breath, unsure why, but unable to stop himself. Carefully his hand hovered over Ali's face, almost as if her were unable to do it. Bilbo squeezed Thorin's shoulder to let him know he was here for him. Then gently, like a butterfly touching a flower, he pulled her eyelids down.
Alright, before anyone gets upset, this is not the end. I have an epilogue that I need to post. I really do tend towards cliffhanger chapter endings but I won't leave you guys hanging quite like this...all though I did think about it :) But if you're still with me at this point then wait a few days and see how the company is fairing after a few years have passed in middle earth!