Hello there!

I apologize for the delay in this update, but I have had some serious struggles with some writers block and just having to many ideas of how the ending of this first pic could go.

I am not completely happy or sold on how this chapter has unfolded. There is a very big chance that I may rewrite/revamp this chapter in the near future.

This entire story is just my rough draft, mind you. This is no where near where I want it be, but publishing the rough draft on here and A03 has helped a lot with the creative process. It's nice to get feedback from all of you who are enjoying it so far.

So, this chapter has been seen and edited by my eyes only. It is extremely rough and choppy in parts, I have tried to clean it up to where it can still be enjoyable to read.

I hope this update is worth the wait for all of you. Any feedback will be much appreciated. Thank you again for your support. 3

Happy reading friends.

*Mistlynn

It had been difficult to sneak out, but many years of practice aided her success. She had managed to distract the guards as she and Luna had silently slipped out under the cover of darkness.

Luna ran with neck breaking speed through the tall grass, until she could see the countless tents of her people. She slid off Luna's back noiselessly. "Stay Luna." She stroked her head comfortingly. "I need to start looking for my father's loyalists."

She drew her hood up over her head, casting her kohled eyes and cheekbones into shadows as she slunk effortlessly through the grass. Several Dire Wolves were resting on the outskirts of the massive silent camp. Dawn was quickly approaching, the darkness of the night gradually fading into a steely gray as the sky lightened.

She was crouched close to the ground, observing the wolf sentries to see if she recognized any of them from their distinctive markings of their coats. It was pointless to remove her bow from its position on her back if she maimed one it would instantly alert the others, and she would be overpowered in seconds.

She took a deep breath in through her nose as she weighed her only option, and that was entirely based on the hope that she would be favored over her brother. She shivered with dread, hoping her brother was despised more than her.

Dire wolves chose their dwarven riders and were treated with reverence and equality. They were fiercely loyal companions and would fight to the death for their rider. If a rider was lost in battle, the wolf would rarely, if ever, bond with another. They would remain with the kingdom, as a pack, following orders from the King and his Alpha dire wolf. In rare cases they would go rogue.

She felt the dread settle in her gut, Valinn's white wolf, Olos, had a notorious mean streak and couldn't be more different than her beloved Luna, even though they were litter mates. The cruelty of that correlation was not lost on her, it had been in front of her this entire time, and she had been too blind, too distracted by her own goals and daydreams to see the vileness that Valinn had dwelling in his heart. Now, it remained to be seen if his darkness had spread to the rest of her people, and consequently the Dire Wolves of her kingdom.

She slunk forward, stealthily like a predator towards the edge of the grassy field that was cloaking her. The wind was blowing towards her, shielding her scent from the wolves' acute senses.

The wolf directly before her lay resting with its head resting on its crossed front paws, and as she got closer, she could make out its russet mask and back that blended it with a thick creamy white fur on its muzzle, chest, and legs. Her throat tightened as she recognized Argo's wolf, Caran. Her heart quickened as she remembered the drake's tail striking and throwing Caran across the ice-covered lake. She had just assumed that he had been killed on impact.

She pursed her lips, and whistled quietly, making Caran's ears perk up in alertness. His golden eyes instantly found her dark shadowed figure, and their eyes met. She half expected a growl of warning to ripple from the wolf's muzzle but was instead greeted with a soul-searching gaze. The wolf rose slowly and approached; head held low inquisitively.

"Caran." She soothed, only loud enough for the wolf's ear to catch. Caran stopped at the edge of the field, only inches away from where she was concealed.

She heard a faint whimper before Caran tongue flicked out, wetting the fur of his muzzle. "I need to stop him." She whispered. "I need to find those who will stand with me."

The russet-colored Dire wolf eyes were keen, brimming with knowledge beyond his years. An old soul, as Argos had been. Caran lowered his head, not taking his gaze off Mistlynn before he turned and started to walk back towards the camp.

The other Dire wolves turned their attention towards Caran, watching him disappear into the camp.

Mistlynn held her breath, not quite sure if she should follow the wolf or not. She rocked slightly on the balls of her feet, still crouched as close as possible to the ground. Her eyes traveled the outskirts of the camp, seeking an entry point before she saw Caran coming back towards her, a couple of crouched warriors following silently behind him.

"Princess, we had hoped you would come." She heard a deep tone whisper, as the three cloaked figures stopped close to her hiding place. They pulled their hoods back, revealing their identities. They were some of her fathers most trusted warriors.

"I am not your Princess, the King made sure of that." Her eyes narrowed as she studied the dwarves before her. "How did you survive my brother?" she whispered suspiciously.

"Many of your father's guard was slain. The king knew he would not survive the fight with Valinn. He told us to remain in the shadows, to feign fealty to Valinn until you came back to take your rightful place as our Queen." The leader, Markos, spoke with such conviction she had to control the emotion that threatened to choke her. She could only hope that after her and Valinn's death, Thorin would offer asylum to those who would survive this impending massacre.

"How many side with him?"

"Many serve because Valinn has threatened the lives of their family's and somehow has manipulated many of the riders. Once we inform them of your return, more than half will rally to you."

"Even though I was removed from the line of succession, and left in disgrace?"

"The disgrace is not yours to bear, but Valinn's and his alone. He is unworthy his own breath, he must atone for the murder of your brother and father, and of all those he has killed in the name of Sauron."

Mistlynn felt her blood turn to ice. "Sauron? Surely you are mistaken."

Markos shook his head grimly. "He has been corrupted by the ring of your forefathers and of the ilk your grandfather aligned with. He stole it from your mothers possessions, and your father did not know of it until it was too late, after Argos was dead, and you gone. Valinn and his generals are under the control of the dark lord, and he is using us as his means to control the North while his allies begin their invasion of the West."

Mistlynn felt a familiar anger flow through her veins as her mind raced with this new information. She couldn't allow herself to get distracted. "He must be stopped; he cannot be allowed to touch my husband or his family. If the dark lord wants them dead, that it exactly what must be prevented, at all costs. And it must be done quickly. Their lives take precedence, even over mine."

Markos's brows furrowed in abhorrence. "Surely, your husband does not consent to this…"

"He does not know and will never know we spoke of this. Valinn will die this day by my hand, and you know he won't let me walk this earth beyond him. It will take everything that I am to ensure his death." Her voice was flat, emotionless. The perfect warrior her Adad had molded with her harsh upbringing. She couldn't allow herself to let the weight of this sink in her bones.

Markos studied her, as if seeing her as she truly was for the first time. He had always seen her as the princess, her parents precious daughter, the reincarnation of her mother despite the Kings dismissal of her. Now, here she was before him; a warrior Queen, unyielding and unafraid to protect those who she loved most and save her people. To right all the wrongs that had been done in her absence. "Very well. I will honor your wishes. Your mother's spirit lives on through you, she would demand the same."

The three males nodded in silent agreement. "We will spread the word immediately. Stay hidden and we will send Caran to you once it has been done, and we shall confront the scum."

Mistlynn nodded, her eyes ablaze with a regal fire. Soon her family and their honor will be avenged. "I need you to make haste, we must turn the tides against Valinn before my husband comes with his army in search of me."

"His assistance would be advantageous, Valinn would have no choice but to surrender." Markos felt the need to try, one last time, to steer her away from this path of sacrifice.

"No, I must have Valinn's blood spilt into the earth below us before my husband even sets foot here. This is our battle and ours alone. We must contain this before Erebor, Dale, and Mirkwood even raise arms. We must be swift so that we can prevent bloodshed in the Iron Hills, word must be sent as soon as possible for them to stand down and convene here."

"I understand. Await my signal."

As dawn approached, the tent city began to stir with life.

Mistlynn watched from afar as she sat prepared on Luna's back. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she controlled to fight her hands from shaking. Each passing moment meant Thorin was closer to reaching them, she knew how resourceful he was when properly motivated. She also knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that being tied to the bed by his wrists would be plenty of motivation, and he would be livid at her blatant defiance.

If she was to save her people, the innocent, the young warriors fighting for her brother only to save their own families from his maniacal threats and coercion, she had to overthrow Valinn before Thorin and their allies reached them.

They may be many, but she knew they didn't stand a chance in comparison to Erebor's battle tried and true warriors.

She heard raven's crying out above her, prompting her to look up in the painted sky as the sun rose above the horizon. Hundreds of ravens flew above her and the camp in a perfect circle. She cursed under breath. Thorin was on his way and was sending his loyal eyes ahead to scout.

She looked from the sky back towards the camp, to see Caran standing at the edge of the camp, staring in her direction. She prompted Luna forward urgently. "It's now or never Luna."

She wasn't sure what to expect as she rode into camp, following Caran's lead. She kept her hood up, but she knew by the way the people stopped and stared at her as she rode past that they knew who she was.

It was odd to see her people in light gear, less bulky and agile in their finely fitted armor of tanned leather and frost drake scales. She also noted that many now carried Dwarven iron, finely made swords, axes and hammers, and it hit her with a renewed force that her people had the blood of Erebor's innocent subjects on their hands.

Her stomach clenched and soured at the thought. Mutters and whispers of awe and hope spread like wildfire as many of the warriors followed her as she followed Caran to what she knew was Valinn's tent.

As she came to the front of the encampment, in front of Valinn's fine tent she noticed an alarming amount of her father's warriors along with their Dire wolves were gathered, heavily armed on both sides of her. Markos was at the forefront, sending her an affirmative nod.

They were all gathered.

Now was the time.

She clenched her jaw as she looked ahead, taking note of the menacing warriors that stood in front of her brother's tent with their own wolves standing at attention. They had a lethal look about them; a dark presence was oozing from within them as they stared coldly at her as if she was a pest to be exterminated.

She grabbed her hood and pulled it back, revealing herself to them as she sat proud and regal upon Luna's back. Her hair was styled in an intricate warrior's braid down the center of her head to proudly showcase her marriage braids and beads, giving her a vicious yet refined appearance as khol smoked out her eyes, making their shade of green glow with a fierce light. On the sides of her face, a paint the color of Durin's blue ran down from her temples to the edge of her jaw in jagged lines.

"Inform my brother that I am here and require his immediate presence." She spoke with an icy, hard tone.

"You are foolish to come here alone." One of Valinn's mean growled menacingly, a cruel snarl twisting his lips into a sadistic smirk.

Olos, emerged from within the tent, his large stature silent and lethal like that of a predator. His snow-white muzzle split into a low snarl, a menacing growl rumbling from the wolf's powerful chest.

Mistlynn could feel Luna's answering growl from underneath her. She placed a comforting hand onto Luna's neck, digging her fingers into her silky fur. "You are the foolish one's, leaving our lands to raid those of Erebor's. Your bodies will become a feast for my husband's ravens by the time the sun sets this evening."

"Such hostility, dear sister." Valinn emerged, sauntering out from behind the tent flap, dressed for impending battle. "I am quite disappointed, seeing that Oakenshield has sent his whore in his stead." He drawled, his sadistic grin not reaching his cold eyes.

"He has more important things to deal with than your misplaced inferiority issues." Mistlynn scoffed, enjoying the way her brother bristled at the brush off. "Besides, this is a family matter, and by the laws of our forebearers and honor of our people, I am here to demand satisfaction for the murders of the King Valos, Prince Argos and for crimes against the subjects of The White Kingdom and Erebor."

Valinn threw his head back and laughed, thoroughly amused. He shook his head as he rolled his shoulders than his neck before he cocked his head at her, studying her with a critical eye that made her skin crawl.

"Big words for such an insignificant, spoiled brat. Oakenshield really should have put a muzzle on you, as every husband should, especially a so-called warrior King of such repute." He ran his hand down Olos's neck, as if comforting his snarling wolf. "After I let you watch Olos eat your pathetic excuse of a wolf, I'll take you to the gates of Erebor myself. I'll be sure to give Oakenshield a good show. Who knows, maybe he will thank me. You always were a worthless whore, a shameful excuse of a daughter and sister. No dwarf, in his right mind, would bind himself to you."

"You will step nowhere near Erebor again, you are the one who is unworthy to step foot on its soil." She withdrew her one sword from its sheath on her it back and held it at ready. "Now, surrender your title and answer for your crimes like a real dwarf. Or face your death."

The warriors and their wolves that were standing to the side of her fell in alongside of her, their weapons held at a ready.

Valinn couldn't help the unsettling surprise that flashed through his eyes as he watched countless warriors surround and flank into his sister's ranks.

"You all will face death after I take the lives of your families in front of you!" he seethed, his handsome face contorting into an ugly sneer. "The moment I have purged your filthy traitorous blood from his earth I will march on Erebor and the Iron Hills and wipe them out!"

Mistlynn smirked, as she felt Luna shift into a fighting stance, reading herself for battle. "You always talked too much for your own good Valinn. Let's see if you can make good on those empty threats."

Thorin*

Thranduil and Bard watched with raised brows as Thorin rode out from the gates of Erebor on his black steed, flanked by most trusted warriors, leading their superiorly armed and organized army.

"Is it not considered an ill omen to be late for your own battle?" Thranduil sniffed from the back of his majestic elk as Thorin approached, earning him a dark scowl from the Dwarf King.

"I had to deal with some unforeseen issues." He growled. "Now, if you don't mind, we must make haste and cut off Valinn's army."

Thranduil and Bard looked at each other in surprise. "While we were waiting for you, a battle has already begun. We thought you sent out forces ahead of us."

Thorin became pale as he looked back at Dwalin in alarm. Dwalin turned back towards his captains and yelled out urgent commands.

Without saying a word to his allies, he urged his horse into a gallop towards the distant battle only Thranduil could hear.

"Move out!" Bard commanded with an urgent yell, as he fell alongside Erebor's army.

"Curious." Thranduil muttered as he nodded at Legolas to instruct their army to follow. Thranduil looked up to see Tauriel break away from the front of the dwarven army, accompanied by the younger Durin prince.

"Prince Kili, Tauriel. I assume things are not going according to plan this morning?" Thranduil spoke over the sound of his marching troops.

Tauriel glanced over at Kili, seeking permission to speak. Kili nodded, his expression grave. "Queen Mistlynn snuck out early this morning undetected, to face her brother alone."

"That is grave news indeed." Thranduil acknowledged with a slight nod of his head, his mouth turned down in a slight frown. "In that case, lets catch up and put an end to this before it gets out of hand."

Thorin rode like a madman, pushing his horse to its threshold. Dwalin, Fili, Balin, and the rest of the company struggled to keep up with him.

The sound of battle grew louder as they approached, the shrill screams and howls of dwarves and wolves alike crackled through the air with a foreboding heaviness. Thorin commanded his horse to a sudden stop at the top of the hill that looked down into the rolling grassy valley below. In horror, he watched as a bloody civil war unfolded before him. He couldn't tell whose side was whose, dwarves in similar armor fought against one another as wolves tore at warriors and other wolves alike.

"Mahal help us." He barely heard Balin groan out beside him as he scoured the battle below for any sign Mistlynn or Valinn.

He heard an outraged growl emit from both Dwalin and Fili, alerting him to a group of what appeared to be dwarflings and some older Dams running away from the battle, being chased by a dwarven rider on his wolf.

"Filthy laggard!" Dwalin seethed as he held his axe aloft, as if getting ready to intercept before several well aimed arrows embedded into the Wolf and its rider's chest, dropping them instantly in a heap.

Thorin looked over to see Kili and Tauriel ride over with Thranduil, lowering the bows as they approached.

"Disgraceful." Thranduil spat, showing his blatant disgust.

"Kili, Tauriel, take a few other riders and get the woman and children out of there." Thorin commanded, nodded in the direct of the crying children that outnumbered the elderly dams.

"Other than that bastard, I can't tell one side from the other." Gloin spat.

Thorin's eyes narrowed as he studied the warriors below them. "Those loyal to Mistlynn and her father will be fighting for their lives, and those of their families. Valinn's warriors will be under the influence of that ring, they will be showing no mercy. Try to disarm and contain those who you can. Those who fight back, kill."

Thranduil nodded to Legolas, "Instruct the archers to protect those fleeing. Shoot to maim, not kill."

"What about the wolves?" Bard questioned.

"Maim to the best of your ability. Until we know who is bloody who."

Mistlynn*

The deep sound of horns rent the air over the valley, over the roaring dim of the battle. The fighting ceased momentarily as dwarves and wolves alike stopped to look up on the ridge of the hill where the sound came from.

The ridge was lined with the armies of Erebor and Mirkwood. Mistlynn tried to not let the panic set in as her eyes fell upon Thorin astride his black steed alongside Thranduil on his impressive elk. A startled scream sounded as the sound of hoofbeats came from the other side of the valley ridge. The soldiers of Dale led by King Bard along with more of Erebor's warriors on their battle rams.

Mistlynn realized at that moment that she and her people were surrounded. She looked back at Markos who was on her left, weapons still held at the ready as he watched Valinn's warriors weighed their options.

"Well! Isn't this just awkward!" she heard Valinn's voice carry over the valley. She looked up towards the source of his voice to see that he was higher up on the hill, looking in Thorin's direction.

"Here I was thinking you sent your bitch to do your dirty work Oakenshield."

"Lay down your weapons and surrender or I will make sure you and your men will breathe your last in this field."

"I'm a little busy at the moment, squashing a rebellion and all that. So, if you don't mind butting out for a moment." Valinn's malicious laugh didn't fool anyone as Olos started growling as he crouched in preparation.

"I SAID STAND DOWN!" Thorin thundered in a rage as he stared down Valinn with murderous intent.

Valinn's sadistic grin broadened. "Kill the women and children of the traitors." He ordered cockily to his men, not once looking away from the enraged Thorin. "Let's see how well your men and your so-called allies can keep up. Nothing like a good old purge to keep the people in line."

Mistlynn felt Luna snarl underneath her as she began to see red at her brother's words. She sheathed her sword swiftly as she pulled out her bow in the same move and took aim. The arrow cut through the air, effectively embedding into the throat of one of Valinn's generals dire wolf. With an enraged snarl the rider tumbled to the ground. Before he could jump up in retaliation another arrow found its mark, Valinn's general fell into a crumpled heap, an arrow sticking out of his eye, dead before he hit the ground.

Her brother's eyes found hers, a cold death glare not matching the smirk that played on his face. "Now that wasn't very nice Sister."

Mistlynn drew another arrow from her quiver. "Get the women and children up to the men, now!" She growled to Markos and his men.

"My Queen …" he began as he watched Valinn's warriors turn towards them in preparation to strike.

"They are priority! Get them to safety now!" she spat. She could feel Thorin's eyes on her now that she had drawn everyone's attention on her.

Valinn urged Olos forward into a fierce dash towards her. He was way closer to her than Thorin was, and she knew he was going to try to lure Thorin in by using her. She forced herself not to look in Thorin's direction as she urged Luna into a sprint in attempt to draw Valinn and his men away from where Marko's and his warriors were trying to get the women and children to safety.

Thorin*

"Get the women and children out of there!" Thorin shot the command over his shoulder to Balin, Bofur, and Dori. "The rest of you, with me. YANAD DURINUL! DU-BEKAR!"

'DU-BEKAR!" the roar that answered the dwarf King's cry was thunderous as he led the charge. His eyes were trained on the area that Mistlynn had led Valinn away to before she had been swallowed up in a tumultuous sea of war.

The smell of copper was sharp in the air as his horse charged towards the battle, Orcist held at the ready at his side as he focused in on the enemies that now stood between him and Mistlynn.

A fierce terror had seized him the moment he saw her, drawing Valinn's attention from him to her. A novice's mistake, Valinn had no idea the monster that he had reawakened deep within him. And that monster was going to be his undoing, for even daring to harm a hair on Mistlynn's head.

As Thorin and his warriors were quickly able to tell apart those who served Valinn, and those who were standing with Mistlynn. They found themselves coming to the aid to many young warriors who were struggling to fight against Valinn's warriors, the weapons they held were unknown and proving to be more of a hinderance as they fought for their lives.

The wolves of Valinn's warriors were vicious and were harder to take down than a warg. They bore an intelligence that rivaled wargs and many an orc. They were fast, and vicious. Natural killers.

As Thorin pushed ahead, he soon found the drake scaled warriors along with their wolves falling back to join the ranks with his warriors. The divide had been made, jagged and gaping.

Thorin saw a grey wolf launch itself in Fili's direction as he struck down an opponent. "Fili!" he shouted, knowing that Fili wouldn't be able to dodge the fangs of the dire wolf's massive jaws. Before he could react, another wolf latched onto its neck, driving it down into the torn, muddy earth.

Before any of them could react, the grey wolf stopped moving, its muzzle open in a final gasp before death. The other wolf, of the boldest russet color on its face and back raised its bloody muzzle to look directly at the shocked dwarves before it. The wolf's golden eyes stared unflinchingly into Fili's. It all happened within a blink of an eye, before the wolf turned its eyes to Thorin, a low growl rumbling in its throat. It wasn't menacing, but rather direction. Thorin had grown accustomed to Luna's mannerisms, and he couldn't fight the feeling that this wolf would lead him to Mistlynn.

"Take me to her." Thorin couldn't help that his words came out as a growl themselves. The wolf turned abruptly and sprinted forward, the dwarf king following closely behind.

"What just happened?" Fili shouted, as they fought their way through.

"It saved your neck, and judging by the look on Thorin's face, its leading us to Mistlynn." Gloin was the first to answer, his war axe singing above his head as he wielded it swiftly against their oncoming enemy.

"The tide has turned! They are starting to lay down their arms!" Dwalin's roar cut through air, as the sound of Ereborean horns crashed down around them.

Mistlynn*

She was bleeding, but all she could feel was the rage that sang in her blood as her twin blades locked with Valinn's. He was just as bloody, she noted with smug satisfaction.

A vicious sneer twisted her lips as she looked into eyes identical to her own. "Letting your lackies do all the killing has made you soft, brother." She taunted; her voice sickly sweet.

Valinn snarled. He swung, allowing an opening for Mistlynn to send a well-aimed kick into his ribs. An infuriated shout escaped him, enflaming him further as his body caved to the bone breaking kick. Their swords sang as they dueled with vicious accuracy. Neither one heard the horns sound as they sought to spill more of each other's blood.

"Getting tired, sister dearest?" Valinn grinned savagely as he managed to make Mistlynn lose her footing. She recovered swiftly, spinning quickly to deflect his blow.

"I'm just getting warmed up." She shot back coolly.

"Good. We still have a lot of time to play. This time Father isn't here to save you from me." His wicked grin made her focus waiver as he let out an ear-piercing whistle. Olos launched seemingly out of nowhere and darted somewhere behind her. "Let's see how long Oakenshield can last against an Alpha wolf."

She couldn't help herself from turning to look behind her, eyes wide in fear. She saw him instantly, running towards her with Caran leading him. Caran was tackled by one of Valinn's generals, granting Olos a direct path. "THORIN! LOOK OUT!" she found herself screaming out to him, her blood turning cold with panic.

She felt a sharp, searing pain in her side before she found herself flying into the air. She hit the ground hard, her side blazing as if on fire. She felt her breath stutter in her chest as she opened her eyes, her gaze immediately meeting Thorin's glacial blue that were burning with a terrifying rage deep from within them.

Thorin*

He hadn't been able to tear his gaze away from her as he watched her fight her brother with a focused ferocity. She was just as breathtaking, if not more so in her battle worn armor as she maneuvered her swords lethally. The war paint on her face made her eyes gleam, her teeth flashing bright in a murderous snarl.

The battle was already won, Valinn's warriors vastly overwhelmed by the turn of their own people aided by Thorin and his allies forces. Only a few continued to fight back, and he knew with absolute certainty they would walk away the victors.

As he quickly approached, Valinn saw him, and a wicked sneer appeared on his face. He saw the massive white wolf that he had been riding earlier launch itself towards him. He grit his teeth in preparation, his grip on Orcist tightening as he stared the wolf down.

He heard Mistlynn's fearful scream of his name, drawing his attention towards her just in time to see Valinn plunge a dagger into her side before throwing her to the ground.

It was at that very moment, when he locked his gaze into her pained filled eyes that he became engulfed with a rage he unlike any he had felt before. He felt a fire flare up on his side, a phantom pain of what his One was feeling, fueling his rage as red bled into his vision.

With an animalistic roar, he charged the white wolf. He grabbed the bottom jaw of the wolf and twisted with his entire strength, making it yelp in shock and pain as its body was forced to twist midair before slamming into the ground with a bone shattering force.

With the other hand, Orcist was raised, its bloodied blade glinting in the late morning light before it cut through the air, slicing through the neck of the white wolf, and severing its head from its body.

Still holding its bottom jaw, Thorin held it aloft for all to see. The battle around them ceased at that very moment, as two kings stared each other down with unfathomable hatred. It was at that moment, Thorin realized that he had just taken from Valinn the only thing the heartless bastard had ever loved.

Valinn's pale face flushed crimson as the shock wore off, realizing then that he had greatly underestimated Thorin Oakenshield. He bent down, grabbed Mistlynn by her braid and dragged her up until he was holding her aloft, her feet dangling uselessly in the air. She couldn't help the pained cry that escaped her, her hands reaching up trying to grasp the hand that had her braid fisted cruelly in its tight grip.

Thorin stalked towards him, one hand holding Orcist while the other still held the severed head of Olos. He stopped when he was just mere feet away from them, before callously tossing the wolfs head towards Valinn.

He watched Valinn's gaze land on each one of his warriors that he knew flanked him, before he scanned further along the field. He watched an understanding dawn upon Valinn's face that his army had surrendered, and that he had lost the battle. He now stood alone.

Valinn's nostrils flared with pent up fury before he regained his composure and retained a carefree smirk on his face. "You think you've won? This is only the beginning." He taunted with a hollow chuckle. "I still have the upper hand, so to speak." He gestured sharply with the arm still holding Mistlynn up, eliciting another sharp cry at the harsh tug of her braid.

"Release her." Thorin grit out, teeth clenched. His eyes drifted down to her side, where he saw it was dark with blood as it leaked and dripped onto the sole of her boot.

"She's already dead. And you know it." Valinn crooned as he lowered her down to ground. "Come to think of it, it would be a mercy to slit her throat rather than let her bleed out." He brought the dagger up to her exposed neck, pressing it directly under her jaw.

Thorin's jaw clenched painfully as he took another step forward. "You are already a dead dwarf walking. If you release her now, I will make your death swift."

"I think it would be worth the slow death, making you watch as I cut her." Valinn cackled gleefully. "She's your One, right? Tell me, do you really feel what she feels? Her fear? Her pain?" he twisted the hand still holding her braid, yanking her head back cruelly. He watched Mistlynn bite her bottom lip, as if trying to stop herself from crying out.

Thorin bared his teeth, snarling as he took another step forward, prompting Valinn to step back and drag Mistlynn with him.

"Ooh ho ho, I think that is a yes." His laugh was high pitched, almost manic. "My my, how romantic. I don't even think dear old mother and father were soulmates. And you saw how the old bastard lost his mind when Mother died." He cooed, his eyes not leaving Thorin's once. "Love makes you pathetic. It turns you into a sniveling, weak, old fool." His laughter turned into a poisonous sneer as he pressed the dagger harder into her skin.

A small trickle of blood ran down Mistlynn's throat as the metal blade pierced her soft skin, prompting everyone standing behind Thorin to take a step forward, their eyes trained on the Queen being held captive by the madman. Thorin's throat bobbed as he swallowed thickly, allowing Valinn a brief glimpse of the utter terror that had a chokehold on him.

"I want you to beg, Oakenshield." Valinn spat. "I want you to beg me, on your knees, for her life."

Growls of fury rippled through the crowd that had gathered. He felt his loyal company step forward to stand behind him. Thorin's eyes were transfixed on Mistlynn and her captor. His eyes jumping from her injured side to the dagger that was pressed hard into her neck. The ribbon of blood on her neck had grown slightly in size. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that he would kill her without batting an eye, and that terrified him.

They were in a stalemate.

"Let her go, and my life is yours." Thorin's voice was deceptively calm, as if the rage within him had been doused.

"Uncle no!" Fili gasped as he stepped forward as enraged protests rippled throughout the dwarven ranks.

"I'll do it. Let me." Fili urged, his voice resolute with his heartfelt declaration.

"No." Thorin's tone was flat, as he shot a pointed look back at his nephew. "It has to be me. You must lead now, Fili."

Thorin stepped forward, avoiding Mistlynn's incredulous look before kneeling onto the ground, laying Orcist down alongside him.

"Thorin no! Don't you dare!" Mistlynn hissed as she wiggled against her brothers grip.

"Shut up and appreciate this moment! You have two Sons of Durin willing to give their lives for you! My, my sister, what depths of deprivation did you sink into to accomplish that?" Mistlynn couldn't help the sob that escaped her lips as tears gathered in her eyes.

"Enough! I've done as you asked; now release her!" Thorin glowered from his knees up at Valinn, icy contempt making his pale eyes glow.

"I'm so sorry Thorin." Mistlynn wept, her voice choked both by emotion and the pressure of the dagger against her throat. "Forgive me." Before anything else could be said, her hands grabbed ahold of Valinn's hand that held the dagger and forced it back, cutting her neck further in the process.

She twisted her body, kneeing a shocked Valinn between his legs before she aimed to drive the dagger into his body, her aim true as the blade plunged into his chest. Time seemed to stand still as her gaze locked onto Valinn's, sea green merging with an identical sea green as their shared blood poured freely from their wounds. Valinn's mouth was agape in shock, as his hand slowly reached up to feel the handle of the dagger before he coughed on the blood that was filling his throat. His knees buckled as he started to succumb to the injury.

"Well done, Mistlynn. I didn't think you had it in you." Valinn croaked, blood oozing from between his white teeth, foaming from between his lips as he spoke. "He's coming. He's coming for them, for you." His eyes rolled into the back of his head as his body went limp, collapsing to the ground in a heap.

She stared at Valinn in shock as her own body grew cold, as if the life was seeping out of her. She barely felt his arms encircle her, lifting her as her legs buckled, cradling her against him as if she was something precious and fragile.

She felt pressure on her neck and against her side as she let her eyes drift up at the sky that was still filled with ravens circling gracefully on the mid-summer breeze. She couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes, to see the anguish she knew she had placed there.

She felt so light, as if she could float upwards, to meet them, to fly with Thorin's ravens.

She felt herself sigh, as peace flooded her in a heavy, enveloping embrace. She felt wet drops hit her face, as if the sky was beginning to open up to rain, tears from the heavens to wash away the blood spilt upon the earth. More drops, pressure on her neck; to her side.

She heard distant cries of absolute agony, of Thorin's voice begging her to stay with him as her eyes began to grow heavy, as the blue sky filled with ravens began to fade into a snowdrift like haze.

Flashes of memories flitted across her mind's eye, of his beautiful ocean eyes twinkling as he smiled unguardedly at her; of his deep boisterous laugh as he chased her in the courtyard after dinner; of the love in his eyes as he looked down at her as they danced on their wedding night; or of his sleepy, sexy smile as they lay in their bed holding onto one another, gazing into each other's eyes while whispering sweet nothings into the air around them.

She felt tears leak out of her hazy eyes as she tried to hang onto those memories as they began to fade, now mere reflections scattering across a disturbed surface of water. 'I love you Thorin, I'll love you always.' She heard her own voice, breathy and faint as if it was a mere echo of a thought.

That's when she heard it, the low and steady notes of singing. It was beautiful, reminding her of her mother and of the songs she would sing when her and Valinn were sick as children. It made her body tingle as if she was being submerged into warm waters, to float away on the same tide that scattered her and Thorin's memories.

A faint cry of unfathomable anguish thundered in the distance as she floated away, her body now weightless.

And then, there was nothing. Nothing but thick, heavy, bittersweet oblivion.