I'm back! :D

I seem to say this a lot, but man, has it been a while since I updated! Life just gets crazy xD that and, if some of you hadn't seen already, I got married back in January :) so that's taken up a pretty big chunk of time, getting adjusted to a new life and whatnot. But I've been feeling my writing mojo coming back! I got this whole thing written in a day and a half, which is record time for me lately xD it's great to get back to writing! :)

This chapter is a little shorter than usual and a bit more straightforward, just writing the basics of the scenes, mainly just the fight, though. Hopefully you will all still find it enjoyable.

Happy reading! :)

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Back at Bard's house in Laketown, the Dwarves were still trying their best to find a way to help Kili and, all the while, trying to keep their calm because they knew he was getting worse…and the chances of helping him were looking bleaker by the moment.

But then they began to hear noises; creaking and movement up on the roof of the house.

"That doesn't sound good…," stated Maori, exchanging glances with Fili and Oin.

Right after that, they heard a loud snarl outside followed by Sigrid screaming. They turned their heads in alarm to see Sigrid trying to yank the door shut but there was an Orc wedging its jagged blade in front of it, trying to get to her. Bain and Tilda, who were sitting at the table, jumped up in fright.

The Orcs had found them. They were under attack.

Without warning, the back door behind the Dwarves burst open and another Orc stood in the way. Oin was quick and threw the pots he held in his hands at it to distract it just as yet another Orc came crashing through the ceiling. The first Orc that Sigrid was holding off finally burst through the door and knocked her off her feet onto one of the benches.

"No!" shouted Maori just as Fili leapt to his feet and slammed the same Orc into the wall. "Get under the table!" she shouted to Sigrid, who slid quickly underneath the table.

The Orc Fili was facing also pushed him onto his back with hard force and yet another one came through the ceiling, scattering dust and wood all over. The closest ones to it were Bain and Tilda, who screamed in terror. Tilda stayed as brave as she could and threw a plate at the Orc snarling at them just as Tilda pulled her underneath the table with her. Once he knew his sisters were safe, Bain kicked the bench at the Orc, hitting its legs, and then threw the bench upward as hard as he could, knocking it off its feet. It was then that two more Orcs came falling through the ceiling and into the house.

They were almost completely surrounded. The air was completely filled with the sounds of snarls, growls and screams of terror.

"Maori, look out!" cried Oin as one of them was coming up behind her.

She grabbed a large piece of wood to defend herself, but the Orc was quicker and thrust its sword out across her shoulder, slicing her skin with a large gash, and she yelled out in pain as the force of the blow knocked her down.

"Maori, no!" yelled Fili. The Orc that had pushed him was going for him again and Fili was too busy trying to fight it off, but hearing his beloved cry out the way she did and seeing her fall with blood on her shoulder gave him extra strength and determination and he shoved it back off of him.

The other Orcs that had arrived heard the girls' screams from under the table and, with menacing looks on their faces, flipped the table over to get them. The two girls shrieked in fear.

"No!" Maori shouted weakly from the floor, seeing the girls were in more danger. She was hurt and the Dwarves were being overpowered. There was no way out…they were doomed.

Suddenly, just as everything seemed hopeless, another figure emerged from the front door and started slashing their knives at the nearby Orcs, saving the children.

Fili recognized the figure right away. It was the redheaded female Elf, Tauriel, from Mirkwood. "What is she doing here?" he wondered. He hadn't forgotten how his brother had just about fallen for her back in the dungeons of the Woodland Realm when his mind had been infected and he had lost his memories of Airaním. He had mixed feelings about her. He was suspicious of her and yet here she was, saving their lives, obviously having followed them after their escape down the river. Was she actually there to save them from the Orc pack or was she there to take them back to Mirkwood as her prisoners? He had no way of knowing, but at that moment, he was just glad to see that someone had come to help them.

Just as Tauriel started attacking, someone else dropped through one of the holes in the ceiling and quickly observed the scene before him. This was a male blonde Elf who bore a strong resemblance to King Thranduil. Fili also remembered seeing him when they had brought before the Elvenking. He remembered Aira telling him that she thought he was the Elvenking's son and, seeing the similarities this young Elf had to the King, he believed it.

"Legolas!" shouted Tauriel as one Orc was coming for him.

Legolas jumped down from the table he landed on and began slashing and swinging his own knives at the oncoming Orcs. While the Orcs were occupied with the two Elves, Oin quickly put himself in front of Sigrid and Tilda, who were still crouching on the floor where the table had been, to protect them.

Fili started crawling over to where he saw Maori still lying on the floor behind the knocked over table. She was trying to move over by the wall to hide herself, but was moving slowly due to only really being able to use one arm.

"Maori, are you all right?" he asked as he reached her.

"I'm fine," she answered, "it's just a flesh wound. It will heal. Don't worry about me, protect the children."

Right then, they heard Kili scream loudly in agony from the other room. Fili looked and saw an Orc hoisted up on the banister and was grabbing his brother by the injured leg and trying to drag him out of the bed.

"Kili!" Fili shouted in panic.

But right after, he witnessed Tauriel thrusting one of her knives at the Orc, killing it and saving Kili as he fell off the bed to the ground. Then she was quick on her feet by grabbing one of the poles on the banister, grabbing her knife out of the dead Orc, rebounding off the wall and then kicking another Orc onto the ground before shoving her knife back into the throat of an Orc that was trying to come into the house.

Then Legolas, who was nearby to Kili and Maori, killed two more Orcs by thrusting his knives up right through their heads before dodging another Orc that Bain had shoved away towards him. Then another one growled and aimed his sword for the boy.

"Get down!" cried Fili, jumping up and shielding Bain with his body as he pulled him down behind the table.

Luckily, Tauriel saw it coming and was able to stab the Orc in the chest, stopping its advance. Then, surprisingly, Kili got up to his feet and shoved another blade into the Orc's ribs, killing it for good, before he fell back down weakly and yelled out in pain again.

By this time, only a couple Orcs were left. There was then a loud shout from outside the house and one of them jumped out of the window while Legolas killed the last one. Finally, all the Orcs were either dead or gone and then there was complete silence. Cautiously, Fili, Oin, Bain, Sigrid and Tilda all stood up and observed the room, which was now almost completely destroyed and in shambles with dead Orcs scattered about.

"You killed them all…!" Bain observed in awe and surprise.

"There are others," Legolas replied as he came back from looking out the balcony and rushed to the front door. "Tauriel, come!" he then ordered.

However, Tauriel stayed in place with a worried look on her face. She had seen Kili on the ground, writhing and crying out in anguish and she was frightened for him. She had seen his ghostly white face covered with sweat and his dark, sunken eyes. She knew that he was on the verge of death.

To confirm that, Oin, who was kneeling next to him, looked up at Fili and cried out in alarm, "We're losing him!"

Fili felt his whole body growing cold and numb. The fear of losing his younger brother was overpowering him. Kili was not going to last much longer and Bofur still had yet to return with any kingsfoil. If he didn't come back very soon…Kili would be lost.

"Tauriel," Legolas repeated from the door, signaling her to follow him as he then left the house without looking back.

The she-Elf stayed for a brief moment, but then made her way towards the door. Deep down, Fili was glad that the two Elves hadn't actually come to drag them back to the Woodland Realm, but instead, they were chasing the Orcs. He thought about thanking them, but they both had no interest in staying, plus he figured they wouldn't really accept his thanks, them being Elves and all.

However, Tauriel had stopped at the door, feeling torn between following her Prince…and staying to help the Dwarf she had befriended. She knew that Legolas was set on hunting the Orc pack, but she kept hearing Kili's moans of pain and seeing him lying on the ground kept tearing at her heart. She began to realize that she didn't care that he was a Dwarf and she was supposed to hate him. He was different from other Dwarves and she cared about him. He was suffering; the poison from his wound was killing him and his friends had no way to save him…but yet, neither did she. What use would she be to him if she stayed? She wanted to help Kili, but she had no way to do so.

"What am I going to do…?" she thought helplessly.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming up the stairs and her hands immediately went to her knives on her belt. It was another Dwarf with a floppy hat, carrying a green plant with tiny white flowers on it. Bofur had returned. Upon seeing her standing in the doorway, he suddenly halted in shock.

Tauriel's eyes widened as she spotted the plant in Bofur's hand. She knew this plant well. "Athelas…!" she gasped, taking the weeds from him. She remembered what this plant could do…they now had a way they could help Kili.

"What are you doing?" Bofur asked cautiously.

It was then that Tauriel made her decision and answered, "I'm going to save him."

Without another word, she marched back into the house and called out, "We have a way to save Kili. I need a bowl of hot water now!"

The others were startled to see her come back in as their heads all whipped back around.

"You came back!" stated Sigrid.

"Yes, I have, young one," Tauriel replied, "but time is of the essence now. I need you to fetch me a bowl of warm water. I need it in order for this plant's healing properties to take effect."

"I'll get it!" cried Tilda as she rushed into the kitchen.

Tauriel looked down to Fili and Oin, who was bandaging up Maori's wounded shoulder. "Are you in need to healing as well, lady Dwarf?" she asked.

Maori shook her head. "No, I am fine," she answered a bit weakly. "Kili is the one more in need of healing than I am. And, for the record, I am only half Dwarf."

Tauriel responded with a confirming nod.

"Can you really save him?" Fili asked.

For a moment, Tauriel's face looked unsure, but then she locked eyes with him and answered, "I believe I can. I shall do my best."

"Please…," Fili said, sounding desperate, "…I cannot lose my brother. I know normally Elves and Dwarves don't care for another and I was once suspicious of you, but you have already saved our lives just moments ago and now, I'm begging you…please, do everything and anything you can for Kili!"

Tauriel could not find the right words to say at first. She was caught off guard by Fili's pleas and how desperate he sounded on his brother's behalf. Finally, when she found her voice, she told him, "Do not fear, young Dwarf. I will do everything in my power to help him." Then she commanded Fili, Oin and Bofur, "All of you, get him up onto the table."

The Dwarves obeyed and quickly lifted Kili, who was now kicking, writhing and shouting loudly in even more agony than before, up onto the table that Bain had put back into place. The only thing nearby that Fili could see that could be used as a support for Kili's head was a large bowl of walnuts, so he grabbed it and put it underneath Kili's head. Tilda came back into the room with the bowl of water and Tauriel started picking the weeds apart and soaking them in the water. Kili began fighting the Dwarves, kicking and throwing punches and shoving, while they tried to keep him in place.

"Hold him down," Tauriel told them as she came around to the side.

Oin held Kili's injured leg by the ankle while Bofur and Fili held his shoulders. Tauriel pulled the rip in Kili's trousers apart where his wound was and found that his skin was completely black and wet with blood. For a moment, she felt uncertain if she could actually do what needed to be done. But when she looked to Fili, he gave her a look that said, "Just do it. Whatever you have to do, do it now."

With newfound confidence, Tauriel took a handful of the kingsfoil weed out of the bowl of water, crushed it and rolled it in her hands while chanting an Elven spell before pressing it hard against Kili's wound. The healing effects of the weed burned hot against his flesh and he yelled out in pain, trying to kick and pull away again. Sigrid and Tilda had to jump and hold his other leg down to help out Oin.

"Menno o nin na hon I eliad annen annin hon leitho o-ngurth," were the words that Tauriel chanted and repeated over and over again.

While the Dwarves and the children could not understand anything she spoke, they found themselves drawn to the chant and almost entranced by her words, as if they could feel her Elven magic working.

Fili looked down at his brother, whose breathing was labored and weak. Kili's face was still pale and his eyes were rolling back into his head. But then, as Tauriel kept going with her spell, Kili's breathing slowed and grew calmer, his eyes began to open and his screaming and moaning subsided. Before they knew it, Kili's temperature dropped, his breathing was still a little heavy but overall, it had returned to normal and his body relaxed. The kingsfoil and Tauriel's Elven magic had worked.

Kili had been healed.

"You did it…!" Fili said in amazement.

Tauriel released a deep breath, as if she had not thought to breathe the whole time, and replied, "Your brother is healed. He may still be weak for a short while, but if he takes some time to rest, he should be all right." She looked to Sigird across from her. "Bring me any bandages or cloth that you have to bind his leg." The young girl nodded and ran upstairs to get what Tauriel needed.

"What were you saying?" asked Oin.

She answered, "The words were 'may the blessing that was given to me be sent from me to him, may he be released from death.'"

Fili reached out and took her hand, grasping it firmly. Slightly surprised, Tauriel looked down at his hand and then back up to his eyes, which were staring at her with conviction.

"Thank you," he said to her. "You will forever have my undying gratitude."

A small smile slowly spread on Tauriel's face at Fili's kind gesture. Then she hung her head and said in reply, "I do hope that you can forgive me, Master Dwarf—"

"Please, my name is Fili," he told her politely.

"Fili…," Tauriel then said, "I hope you can forgive me for taking you, your brother and your friends prisoner when you came through our land. In truth, I do not fully believe in the ideals that my King does. He hates Dwarves, but I haven't always believed the way he does about your kind. I was simply following his orders."

"I understand," he said. Then he smiled gratefully. "With my gratitude, you also have my forgiveness. You have earned it." With a final squeeze of her hand, he then walked away into the kitchen as Sigrid came down with the bandages.

As Oin joined Fili in the kitchen while Tauriel wrapped up Kili's leg, he said to the young Dwarf with a grin on his face, "I've heard tales of the wonders of Elvish medicine. That was a privilege to witness."

As Tauriel was finishing up with the bandage, Kili's eyes opened. He was still in a bit of a daze and his mind was everywhere, but as his consciousness returned, he saw Tauriel standing above him.

"Tauriel…," he said, his voice a bit hoarse.

She looked down at him and gave him a little smile. "Lie still," she said quietly.

The longer he looked at her, he remembered everything that had happened between them back in the Woodland Realm; how he had been drawn to her and thought that he had almost fell in love with her at one point when his mind had been infected by the Mirkwood toxins. Of course, he would always consider her a friend, but he knew that he didn't love her the way he once thought.

As the thought of love came to his still foggy mind, one face in particular came to him as clear as day.

"You cannot be her…," he said out loud, causing Tauriel to look puzzled. He continued breathily like he was in a trance, his eyes looking up to the ceiling, "She is far away…she…she is far, far away from me…. She walks…in starlight in another world…my love…my Airaním…."

It was then Tauriel closed her eyes and let out a small sigh. For a moment, she didn't know who or what he was talking about, but then realized that he was thinking of his fiancée; his One whom she had also briefly met. She assumed his mind was still a bit cloudy from being infected by Orc poison and he was just now coming to.

Just then, he felt his fingertips lightly touch the palm of her hand and she turned to face him.

"It was just a dream, Tauriel…you know…," he told her.

She lowered her head a little, knowing that he was referring to the time they spent together in the dungeons. All that time, she could tell that he had been falling for her, but she knew it wasn't real. She knew of his condition at the time and also that he already had someone he loved. She knew it could never be true even if she wanted it. In all that time, she had never fallen for him the way he had for her, but it appeared that Kili didn't know that.

"Yes…I know," she answered him.

He let out a small breath of relief and then asked, "Do you think…we could still be friends?"

She smiled again and answered kindly, "We already are, Kili."

Inside the Lonely Mountain, there was nothing but complete, eerie silence in the air. The members of the company of Thorin Oakenshield were sneaking as quietly as they could through the halls of Erebor to avoid the dragon, Smaug. No one knew where the dragon had gone or even if he was still chasing them.

As they came to one larger hall, Thorin, who was at the head of the line, quietly shushed them, thinking he heard a noise. He peeked his head out from behind a pillar, but there was nothing to be found.

"We've given him the slip," Dori whispered.

"No…he's too cunning for that," Dwalin countered, still suspicious of the quiet.

"Where to now?" asked Bilbo.

"The western guard room," Thorin answered as he looked back at his companions. "There may be a way out."

But Balin responded to that by saying, "It's too high. There's no chance that way."

"It's our only chance," Thorin said back.

"We have to try," added Aira.

On Thorin's command, the company pressed forward along the bridge before them, being as stealthy as possible and staying on their guard. As they went along, they all kept their eyes peeled around them for any sign of the dragon.

Suddenly, a loud ping echoed through the empty hall and they all stopped, holding their breath in fear. They all looked around to find where the source of the noise was. They saw a gold coin lying on the bridge that hadn't been there before. Where had it come from? But then, there was a quiet rumble coming from above them and, when they all looked up, to their surprise, there was Smag climbing along the pillars and higher bridges above them. It startled them how a creature so giant could move so silently.

Luckily, the beast hadn't noticed them below and so Thorin gave the signal for them to keep moving. They treaded softly down the remainder of the bridge until they were in the corridor on the other side and they all began to run. They had to make their way to the western guard room and find a way out.

Within minutes, Thorin knew they were just about to the entryway. "Stay close," he told his companions as they turned into the room.

But, the sight that awaited them when they came in was beyond what they ever could've imagined and their hearts and spirits fell as they laid eyes upon it.

Amongst all the rubble, scattered on the ground, were many rotting corpses; the remains of the Dwarves who had been trapped inside during the attack on Erebor years and years before. And, to add to it, the door on the other side of the room was completely blocked off by large pieces of stone.

"That's it, then…there's no way out," Dwalin stated despairingly.

The others kept their eyes on the remains that were lying on the floor and sorrow filled their hearts as Balin said out loud, "The last of our kin…they must have come here, hoping beyond hope."

Aira covered her mouth with her hand as the horror of what had happened filled her mind and tears fell from her eyes. She had always known how horrible that day had been, from the stories she had been told throughout her life, but now seeing the bodies of some of the dead before her; the aftermath of Smaug's vicious attack, made her realize just how truly terrible it all had been and she felt immense sorrow for those that had been lost in that room. She was overwhelmed and began to cry softly, knowing in the back of her mind that whatever she felt was nothing compared to what those like Thorin, Balin and Dwalin, who had been there that day, were feeling.

After a moment of silence, Balin spoke up, "We could try to reach the mines…might last a few days."

Thorin, just then, stepped forward, keeping his eyes on the bodies before him. "No…I will not die like this…cowering…clawing for breath…," he said in a shaky voice. The others watched him for a moment, wondering what he was going to do.

Then he turned around, his eyes wide. "We make for the forges," he stated.

"He'll see us, sure as death," Dwalin said back.

"Not if we split up," Thorin replied.

"Thorin, we'll never make it," Balin told him, trying to make him see reason.

"Some of us might," said Thorin, trying to sound optimistic.

"Father, we can't split up," Aira chimed in. "We must all stay together. We're stronger that way."

"If we stay together, then Smaug will surely kill us all. None of us will get out of here alive and this quest will have been for nothing," Thorin said to her in reply, his voice growing stronger. Then he raised his gaze to the rest of the company. "This is the only way," he said. "Lead him to the forges. We kill the dragon."

Then in a bold voice, he declared to his followers and friends, "If this is to end in fire, then we will all burn together."

Aira felt stirred deep down by Thorin's determination to see this through and to end the dragon. After everything that they had all been through, this was what they had fought to get to; this moment to finally kill the dragon and take back their home. It was risky and they had known that all along, but she herself knew that this was what they had to do and she would follow her father in any way that she could to help him and the others achieve it.

The Dwarf Princess stepped forward towards her father and, with a look of awe in her eyes and a devious smirk upon her face, said to the Dwarf King in reply, "Lead the way, Father. Let's end that fire-breathing monster!"

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And now things are about to go DOWN in the forges! xD

Sorry the bit with the company was a little short. Like I said before, I was bit more straightforward with this chapter, didn't take too many personal liberties with it. Part of it is just to get through the last little bit of the movie so I can soon start Home Is Part III, which will follow "Battle of the Five Armies" (oh great...)

Did you like the little twist I DID put in with Kili's "she is far away..." in a daze speech, making it about Aira? Personally, I think that was kinda clever, but that's just me xD lol

And the usual bit: leave me a review or PM me with your thoughts, comments or questions!

Stay tuned for the fight against Smaug, coming soon!