Grace

~~~

Allie has been on my thoughts as of late. She must be in some kind of distress if I keep feeling uneasy. I haven't had much time to worry. Legolas, Tauriel, and I have been traveling to Gundabad trying to track down Bolg.

"We're close," I call out as we approach the dark fortress. Tauriel and Legolas jog up closer to me and together we crouch down and sneak closer.

"Gundabad. What lies beyond?" Tauriel asks quietly. We hid behind a rock to observe the fortress.

"An old enemy. The ancient King of Angmar. And this fortress was once his stronghold. It is where he kept his great armories, forged his weapons of war," Legolas replies. Suddenly my eyes catch a light.

"A light. I saw movement," I report and clutch my daggers tighter.

"We wait for the cover of night. It is a fell place." I nod intently and Tauriel watches the stronghold keenly. She is young and unaware of the history here. "In another age our people waged war on those lands," Legolas states listlessly. I shut my eyes tight. Legolas's mother fought there.

"My mother fought there. My father does not speak of her," Legolas mutters with a sad look in his eyes. Legolas still hurts from the loss of his mother.

I shoot a look over my shoulder at the foreboding place and exhale. We can't take the whole place ourselves.

~~~

Natalie

~~~

I observe the men as they grab weapons and armor hopelessly. I barely hear the whir of his wings or him land behind me but I sense he's there.

"Has the company been warned?"

"No need they were already preparing. I decided it'd be best if I returned to your side rather than stay there," Smaug responds. He sits down next to me and carefully wraps an arm around my shoulders. "You've done all you could."

"Have I though?"

"Yes."

Loud hoofbeats disrupt the almost quiet emotional moment Smaug and I had.

"Let me through! Make way!" Gandalf shouts as he rides into Dale.

"We'll look who has arrived just in time," I huff sarcastically and get to my feet. Gandalf stops dead when he sees elves teaching the men how to fight.

"No, no, no! Oi, you! Pointy hat!" Alfrid shouts.

"Wait let's watch this before I interfere," I say and hold up my hand. Alfrid is a prat but Gandalf is very late so I'll let Alfrid make him mad.

"Yes, you. We don't want no tramps, beggars nor vagabonds around here. We've got enough trouble without the likes of you. Off you go. On your horse," Alfrid shouts at Gandalf. Gandalf doesn't even roll his eyes.

"Who's in charge here?" Gandalf questions.

"Who is asking?" Bard inquires walking up behind Alfrid.

"Alright now we can go," I utter and stalk forward to face Gandalf.

"Bard, Thranduil, and I are the ones in charge. Come on now Gandalf I believe we have things to discuss," I interject and stare down the wizard.

"I see well then let's go. May I ask who this interesting fellow is here?"

"I'm Natalie's bodyguard," Smaug answers before I can even brush off the question. I shoot Smaug a quizzical look and he just gives me a sheepish smile.

"Uh yes, yes he is. Now come on."

~~~

"So you're my bodyguard now?" I comment with a smirk. We stand side by side in the royal tent and Gandalf drinks some water. I can tell he's prepping a big lecture in his head. Bard and Thranduil watch him skeptically.

"Of course. You're my soulmate, you saved me from the curse, I shall protect you with my life and assist you in anyway I can," Smaug replies. I can't help but smile at his words. I don't mind having a big dragon on my side at all.

"You must set aside your petty grievances with the Dwarves. War is coming. The cesspits of Dol Guldur have been emptied. You're all in mortal danger," Gandalf reports and sets his water aside. He looks very sincere and worried. I am too. Adding more armies into the mix of the conflict now is just king to make things worse.

"What are you talking about?" Bard questions worriedly.

"I can see you know nothing of wizards. They are like winter thunder on a wild wind, rolling in from a distance breaking hard in alarm. But sometimes a storm is just a storm," Thranduil points out with a smirk. He seems keen on impressing Bard. I hold back an eye roll at his actions towards the man.

"Not this time. Armies of Orcs are on the move. These are fighters, they have been bred for war. Our enemy has summoned his full strength," Gandalf counters. Our enemy? He can't mean...can he?

"Why show his hand now?" Thranduil asks and crosses his arms.

"Because we forced him. We forced him when the company of Thorin Oakenshield set out to reclaim their homeland. The Dwarves were never meant to reach Erebor, Azog the Defiler was sent to kill them. His master seeks control of the Mountain, not just for the treasure within, but for where it lies, its strategic position. This is the gateway to reclaiming the lands of Angmar in the North. If that fell Kingdom should rise again Rivendell, Lórien, the Shire even Gondor itself will fall," Gandalf explains. My eyes widen in surprise. This is not good at all.

"These Orc armies you speak of, Mithrandir, where are they?"

"Thranduil now is not the time to be coy. You know this danger is real," I hiss and step forward. "I believe Gandalf's warning is true."

"If it is we will fight them as we fight the dwarves. This doesn't change our plans to take the mountain," Thranduil says coldly. Gandalf let's out a loud huff and stomps out.

"Thranduil I just want you to know this is not what Eleni would have wanted."

~~~

Grace

~~~

I squint at the dark palace to examine entrances and exits. We've been keeping watch for hours now. It's finally gotten dark.

"If we are going in we should move now," Tauriel says in Sindarin.

"I ag-" Legolas is cut off by loud squawking as a horde of unnaturally large bats ascends from Gundabad.

"They are swarming," I observe nervously and whip out my bow.

"These bats are bred for one purpose," Legolas's murmurs as he gazes at the swarm.

"For what?" Tauriel questions. We all know the answer to that question.

"For war." My eyes follow the swarm of bats to find Bolg himself summoning them. An army is gathered around him.

"We must warn the others," I mumble in Sindarin.

"We may be too late - hurry!" Legolas yells and we take off sprinting.

I hope to the Valar we aren't too late. I'd hate for Allie to see a battle like this.