Fourteen - The Battle

Gandalf and I watched from afar as Thranduil and Bard rode towards the stone gate when Thorin shot an arrow that landed in front of Thranduil. “I will put the next one between your eyes,” Thorin announced and the Dwarves cheered. 

The elven army aimed their arrows at them. They hid behind the stones except for Thorin, who didn’t even blink. A moment later Thranduil signalled for them to stand down. He truly has gone mad.

“We’ve come to tell you payment of your debt has been offered and accepted,” Thranduil told him. “What payment? I gave you nothing. You have nothing,” Thorin announced. Bard pulled out the Arkenstone and held it high. “We have this,” Bard said.

I heard nothing of what the Dwarves discussed but I saw Bilbo step out. ‘He was supposed to leave with Cleos this morning’ I thought to myself. “Throw him from the rampart!” Thorin demanded. Gandalf and I ran through the soldiers. Thorin grabbed Bilbo and shoved him into the side of the stones as the others tried to stop him from throwing Bilbo. 

“If you don’t like my burglar, then please don’t damage him! Return him to me!” Gandalf yelled as we came to a stop and Thorin looked at us but his grip on Bilbo remained firm. 

“Let Bilbo go! Please, Thorin!” I asked. He let Bilbo slip out of his hands and the others got him over the side safely. “Never again will I have dealings with wizards, Tempests, or Shire rats!”

“Are we resolved? The return of the Arkenstone for what was promised?” Bard asked. “Give us your answer. Will you have peace or war?” He continued. A black crow landed in front of him. “I will have war,” 

I turned to see an army of Dwarves led by Dain. “Ironfoot,” Gandalf muttered as Thranduil ordered his forces to march toward them. “Who is that? He doesn’t look very happy,” Bilbo asked as he ran to Gandalf and I. 

“Dain, Lord of the Iron Hills. And Thorin’s cousin,” I answered as we walked toward the Dwarf army. “Are they alike?” Bilbo asked “I’ve always found Thorin the more reasonable of the two,” Gandalf answered.

“Good morning! How are we all? I have a wee proposition, if you wouldn’t mind giving me a few moments of your time. Would you consider… Just sodding off?!” Dain shouted as Cleos found his way over on a horse. “I can’t find Bilbo,” he whispered and I stepped back for him to see the halfling next to me. 

“Come now, Lord Dain,” Gandalf announced and stepped forward. “Gandalf the Grey. Tell this rabble to leave, or I’ll water the ground with their blood,” Dain demanded. “There is no need for war between Dwarves, Men and Elves. A legion of Orcs march on the mountain. Stand your army down,” Gandalf reasoned. 

“I will not stand down before any Elf. Not least this faithless woodland sprite. He wishes nothing but ill upon my people. If he chooses to stand between me and my kin, I’ll split his pretty head open! See if he’s still smirking then,” Dain shouted and the Dwarves in the mountain cheered.

“He’s clearly mad, like his cousin,” Thranduil shouted from my left. “You hear that, lads? We’re on! Let’s give these bastards a good hammering!” Dain yelled and both armies began to set in position. 

A noise erupted from the mountain. “Were-worms,” just as the word left my mouth, a giant worm-like creature bursted through one of the mountains and was joined by others of its kind.

Azog’s army appeared from the north. “The Hordes of Hell are upon us! To battle, sons of Durin!” Dain redirected his army. 

“The Elves, will they not fight?” Bilbo asked. “Thranduil! This is madness!” Gandalf shouted and I marched over to the stag. “Thranduil,” He looked down at me. “You have to fight. We are cornered,” I said and he scowled. “You turned away once, do not do it again,” I told him as he looked me in the eyes. 

He reluctantly nodded and commanded his army to go to battle. Cleos rode toward me with his arm out. I grabbed his arm and swung around on the horse behind him. “We have to get back to the city,” I told Cleos as I saw Orcs going for it. 

We rode towards Dale with haste and rode in just behind Bard and jumped off the horse. “My children! Where are my children?” Bard asked “They were down in the Old Market!” A woman answered. 

“Find your children. We’ll front the gate,” I told him as I unsheath my swords. He nodded and headed for the market as Cleos and I ran down the street to find Orcs coming at us. “Ready Ver?” Cleos asked. “Always,”

~~~

I heard an Orc horn and stood from the rocks. Another horn sounded in retaliation. I looked out over the side to Erebor. A bell swung through the barricaded opening. Thorin is leading his kin into battle. 

I smiled and Cleos stood next to me and put his hand on my shoulder. I smiled and ran towards Gandalf to fight the masses.

“Verena!” A voice yelled. Legolas and Tauriel rode up the path and stopped in front of us “Legolas!” I shouted. 

“There is a second army. Bolg leads a force of Gundabad Orcs. They are almost upon us,” He said quickly “Gundabad? This was their plan all along. Azog engages our forces, then Bolg sweeps in from the north,” Gandalf explained and I ran my hand through my hair. 

“What? Th-the north? Where is the north exactly?” Bilbo asked “Ravenhill,” I answered. “Ravenhill? Thorin is up there. And Fili and Kili! They’re all up there!” Bilbo shouted. 

“I can’t get up there. Not without being shot out of the sky,” I looked up at the mountain. “What about the water?” Cleos suggested. “There’s not enough down here and what’s up there is frozen, I’d get stuck under it,” An elven horn sounded in the distance and Gandalf went toward it. 

I looked down at the raging battle below. “We can’t win this without something big,” I whispered to myself. “I’m going down there,” I said and began to walk away. “Ver, you’ll die,” Cleos said quickly. “Cleos, we have no other choice,” I said with small flames in my hands and the end of my hair smoking.

“What are you talking about?” Legolas asked and followed us. “She will go completely inferno,” Cleos answered. “It is the only way the Dwarves and Elves down there aren’t overrun. I can get myself down there and far enough to only get the Orcs and the war-beasts,” I explained.

“And your escape plan? Ver, you can’t-” “Warn Thorin, I will be fine.” I stopped Legolas, turning and looking at them. “Fine,” Cleos sighed. “Just be careful, yeah?” Legolas told me and they ran away. 

~~~

I made my way through the Orcs, each of them burning to ashes if they touched me. It took every muscle in my body to contain it, just a little further. 

Once I was out so far I could only see Orcs, I screamed, falling to my knees, releasing the flames I had built up. The wildfire spread far, but I kept it from hurting anyone who isn’t an Orc. 

Once the last of the Wildfire burnt out, I stayed on my hands and knees, breathing heavily. Everything around me was flames or ashes.

The battle is almost over. I ran for Ravenhill and used the air to push myself to the top and stood in front of Legolas and Cleos. 

“Verena!” Cleos shouted as I lost my balance and he caught me. “What were you thinking?” He chastised as I breathed heavily. “We were outnumbered,” I said weakly. “Are you mad? You could have gotten yourself killed!” Legolas shouted. 

“But I didn’t,” I huffed a laugh and he shook his head. “You are impossible, you know that?” he said. “Where is Thorin? Fili and Kili?” I asked and neither answered. “They’re gone,” I answered myself. “I’m so sorry, Ver,” Cleos said.

We stood and walked over to see Tauriel with Kili’s body. I walked away after a moment and they followed me. I’m sure she didn’t want others watching her as she mourned. 

As we walked through the halls, we found Thranduil, looking for Legolas. “We’ll leave you two,” Cleos told them and Thranduil nodded and we continued down the hall.

~~~

We walked back down the mountainside and into Dale. After a while, I sat by myself and watched the sun go down over the mountains. 

“I thought I’d find you somewhere like this,” Legolas said from behind me. I smiled and he sat next to me, looking at the sunset as well.

“I’m not going back to Mirkwood,” He said after a few minutes. “Where are you going?” I asked. “North. My father told me of a Man in the Wild. He goes by the name of Strider,” He answered. 

“When do you leave?” I asked. “Now,” He answered and I looked down. 

“I want you to come with me,” he said and I looked back at him. “You know the Wild better than anyone I have ever met. It has been twenty years since we have spoken. Come with me,” he urged and I sat there, staring at him.

“I can’t,” I told him. “My time here isn’t over yet. I have a few things to discuss with Dain. Bard needs gold to rebuild Esgaroth and I will try to get the Gems of Lasgalen for your father,” I explained. 

“I can wait a day or two,” He said and I smiled. “I have to go home, Legolas,” I sighed. “Nikolas has probably driven himself mad since I haven’t returned. And I haven’t seen my family in over a year,” I told him and he nodded. 

“This is goodbye then,” he said and stood as I stood next to him. “Farewell, Ver,” he said. “Goodbye, Greenie,” I huffed a quiet laugh. I hugged him tightly and he hugged me back. “I hope to see you again soon,”