Lacy

~~~

Bard left along with Bain leaving Sigrid, Tilda, Fili, Oin, and I to try to do something to heal Kili. Alex doesn't really need healed so much as Kili. If Kili is healed she'll stop being affected by the poison. But her eye and face will still be gouged.

I just really wish Tauriel would get here! She knows elvish healing magic and she'd comfort me. I'm not meant for this. I'm not meant to go on journeys, fight, or see such sorrow.

~~~

Emily

~~~

No one moves and the mountain quakes again. Allies scream seems to keep echoing and I look at the dwarves

desperately.

"Give them more time," Thorin says coldly.

"Time to do what? To be killed?" Balin snaps.

"You're afraid," Thorin accuses.

"Yes, I'm afraid. I fear for you. A sickness lies upon that treasure horde. A sickness which drove your grandfather mad," Balin retorts and I shift. They need help and they need it now. We've no time for this!

"I am not my grandfather."

"You're not yourself. The Thorin I know would not hesitate to go in there," Balin counters crossing his arms.

"I will not risk this quest for the life of two burglars," Thorin spits out. I'm floored this is not the Thorin who danced with Allie last night or the one who was crowned flower king.

"Bilbo. Allie. Their names are Bilbo and Allie," I growl out. Turning around I stomp back in and lift my hands ablaze. I will help.

~~~

Allie

~~~

"Oh another thief only this one has wings," Smaug observes coyly and I run across the coins to Bilbo. He grabs my hand and we dash behind a different set of stairs. Luckily Smaug is still playing a game so we aren't dead yet.

"It's Oakenshield. That filthy dwarvish usurper. He sent you in here for the Arkenstone, didn't he!" Bilbo makes me sidestep and that's when I catch sight of the Arkenstone again.

"No! No, no, no. I don't know what you're talking about," Bilbo squeaks.

"We came to see your magnificence," I add.

"Don't bother denying it. I guessed his foul purpose some time ago. But it matters not. Oakenshield's quest will fail. A darkness is coming. It will spread to every corner of the land," Smaug remarks offhanded. I look at Bilbo nervously. He doesn't know it but I do. I know what's coming and I know what I'm supposed I do. Bilbo tugs my hand and pulls me under more stairs to press against them.

Smaug may be playing a game but he doesn't care whether his pawns break or not. His claws grab at us and he hisses.

"You are being used, thieves in the shadows. You were only ever a means to an end. The coward Oakenshield has weighed the value of your life and found it worth nothing." His words echo loudly in my head and I squeeze my eyes shut. Thorin wouldn't say that. Thorin would come for us, for me.

"No. No, you're lying!" I shout.

"What did he promise you? A place on the throne next to him? A share of the treasure? As if it was his to give. I will not part with a single coin. Not one piece of it!" Smaug yells and stomps. The Arkenstone goes clinking away once again. Extending my wings I fly after it dodging Smaugs claws.

"My teeth are swords, my claws are spears. My wings are a hurricane!" Smaug shouts and stretches his body to appear larger. He does not need to stretch to appear larger at all. I land next to Bilbo ready to defend him when he notices the vulnerable spot. A scale gone right where Bain said it'd be.

"So it is true. The Black Arrow found its mark," he breathes out quietly. Smaug's head jerks towards us and I let out a squeak of terror.

"What did you say?!?"

"I-I was just saying, your reputation precedes you, oh Smaug, the tyrannical. Truly, you have no equal on this earth," Bilbo stutters, showering the vain dragon with more compliments. I commend Bilbos bravery and ability to speak in this moment. Taking a step back I catch a glance of the Arkenstone again. It's so close.

"I am almost tempted to let you take it, if only to see Oakenshield suffer. Watch it destroy him, watch it corrupt his heart and drive him mad." In this second I wish we hadn't found the Arkenstone. Smaug is right it will corrupt him. The dragon pauses a long moment before looking right at us. His gaze makes me feel pathetic and weak. "But I think not, I think our little game ends here. So tell me, thief. How do you choose to die?" Smaugs head comes very close and I see his mouth and lungs fill with red hot fire.

Just as its unleashed I do the only thing I can, I pull out my sword and exert my glow. After a second I notice my flesh is not melting I open my eyes to see the fire parted around us.

"Bilbo run!" I order and use one hand to shove him away. He nods, runs behind me scoops up the Arkenstone, and disappears.

I withstand holding my ground despite the burning heat surrounding me.

~~~

Lacy

~~~

I watch the bonds intently as the one connecting me and Tauriel gets bigger and bigger. She's close.

Footsteps and the sound of metal rubbing together makes me look up. I can hear growling.

"Da? Is that you, Da?" Sigrid inquires opening the door and stepping out. Just then I connect the dots.

"SIGRID!" I yell and grab her arm just as an orc drops down outside the door. Tilda screams when one crashes through the ceiling and another through a window. Bain yells and kicks up a bench at the one on the table and Tilda throws a bunch of plates at the one by the door. Sigrid yells and yanks Tilda under a table. I scramble and grab the smithies hammer, smashing an orcs face with it. I have only basic training in combat. Fili jumps up stabbing one with a pike hook just when more come in. Kili yells and tries to hold one off of him, failing in his weakened state.

~~~

Grace

~~~

Following the screams and shouts we find the orcs swarming one house in particular. Grinning wickedly I pull out my daggers and bow. Finally I can kill something!

Tauriel barges in the door stabbing the orc standing in her way. Legolas shoots another orc straight through the neck that was threatening Bofur. I jump through the window and stick a dagger in an orc nearing two human children.

"Well I haven't had the pleasure of murdering an orc in quite a long time," Natalie muses appearing behind Tauriel and stabbing an orc in the stomach. "Congratulations your my first victim," she spits and swings a sword to cut off its head.

"You're here! Thank Valor!" Lacy exclaims and hugs Tauriel quickly before letting her go to make quick work of another orc. With a victorious shout I slash a neck and throw a dagger into an orcs eye. Through the window I see a headless body fall before a head seconds later. I smile knowing Legolas is on the roof. Looking out the window I watch as a group of orcs manages to run away. Legolas jumps down to the door and looks at me.

"You killed them all," a small human boy gasps. I shake my head, so naive.

"Well darn I wanted to kill more," Natalie grumbles, crossing her arms.

"There are others," Legolas says.

"Tauriel stay, heal Kili and Alex. Natalie you stay behind too I have a feeling these dwarves will need you. Legolas and I will hunt the orcs," I explain grabbing Legolas's arm and leaving the house. Legolas and I run after them shooting down a few as we go.