The road to Gundabad was coarse and harsh, but we had to endure. We had called Tauriel's horse to us and were met with an unexpected surprise. Aurêl, my morning star had found me. He came barrelling down the hill as soon as he had caught sight of me. It was nice to see an old friend. After a passing remark about loyalty from Legolas, we began our journey.

***

We left our horses behind cover and scrambled up a rocky outcrop; a good scouting opportunity. A black fortress stood before us, denying anyone unfamiliar entry to the valley.

"Gundabad. What lies beyond?" Tauriel questioned.

"An old enemy - The ancient kingdom of Angmar. This fortress was once its stronghold. It is where they kept their great armouries, forged their weapons of war." Legolas seethed with disgust.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a flickering light but it passed into darkness.

I wasn't the only one who saw this "A light! I saw movement." Tauriel exclaimed.

"We wait for the cover of night. It is a fell place, Tauriel." Legolas quelled her racing mind with a warning, "In another age, our people waged war on those lands."

"Were many lost here?" I asked, aware of the sensitivity of the topic.

Legolas paused, a pained expression painted across his face. Tauriel and I looked to each other, unsure how to respond.

"My mother died there. My father does not speak of it. There is no grave, no memory, nothing." he scrunched his eyebrows together, as if not understanding why. Neither I not tauriel pressed the matter.

We stayed in silence, waiting for the sun to sink beneath the shards of rock. There were no more signs of life since.

Tauriel grew impatient, "If we are going in - we should move now." She rose to a crouch before falling back out of the way of a shrouded giant. Screeches sounded in the air, infernal and tortured. They looked like bats, but bigger than any species I had ever encountered. "Dúilith secherig."

{"They are swarming."

"These bats are bred for one purpose," Legolas spoke, cutting through the silence.

"For what purpose?" I was terrified, these bats could lift one of us and carry us to our doom with ease, "are we still safe here."

"For war." Legolas answered, disregarding my second question."

A dreadfully familiar figure rode out of the keep on a warg, Bolg. He was suited for battle, metal shards peaking out from his infernal flesh. With the sound of a horn, the gates to the fort opened once more. Rank upon rank of orc legions emerged with armour and spears.

A growl ripped out from Bold and they began to march. Straight to the mountain.

"Din methithar i phain." Tauriel's nerves returned to her.

{"We must warn the others."}

I nodded in agreement, sensing the urgency of the matter.

"Penim lû. Tolo!" Legolas rose from our cover.

{"We may be too late - hurry!"

We mounted our steeds and made haste straight for Dale. We would beat the army at our backs, but would we give the people of Laketown enough time to prepare? None of them could fight and there were so few of them left.

***

There was such a small chance for success. I hadn't taken the time to reflect on the past couple of months. I had learnt so much from my time with the company. I was quick to make friends with most of them. Thorin took his time thawing out but eventually he was nice enough. I could have held back my anger in the cells. But I am allowed to have an opinion. I hoped he could forgive me. Bilbo was certainly braver than before. Perhaps he discovered his courage somewhere along the road. Had he completed his task? Based on the dragon corpse resting on top of the former Laketown, one can assume it didn't go well.

***

When we finally arrived in Dale, chaos was the only word that came to mind. The initial battle was in full swing, friend and foe both scattered the battlefields. There were already so many losses. Were we already too late?

Up ahead was a familiar grey figure. I cantered up to Gandalf, glad to see him again, "Gandalf!"

He turned around, surprised to see me, "Caladhiel!" he exclaimed, "you are alive and well, I hope. And you have brought allies"

"Gandalf!" Legolas echoed, equally as glad to see him.

"Legolas... Legolas Greenleaf!" he chuckled merrily despite the chaos surrounding us.

Legolas cut to the chase, "There is a second army! Bolg leads a force of Gundabad Orcs. They are almost upon us!"

"Aye, we must act quickly," I seconded.

"Gundabad... this was their plan all along. Agog engages our forces, then Bolg seeps in from the north." He was as sharp as ever, quickly sensing the peril that followed us.

"Wha...the north...where is the north, exactly?!" Bilbo appeared from behind the grey pilgrim.

"Bilbo Baggins." I sent a stern stare his way which he avoided, "I am glad you are safe. For now, at least." I strode over to embrace him in a hug.

"Ravenhill." Gandalf piped up, resuming the strategic plan. He strode over to a nearby parapet to peer out at the hill where Thorin was currently located.

"Ravenhill...Thorin is up there! And Fili and Kili - they're all up there!" Bilbo paced back and forth.

"We must help them, they will be surrounded!"

Mist covered Ravenhill like a cloak, obscuring visibility.

After taking a few moments to catch up on events from Bilbo's perspective, there was a lull in the battle. Not much progress had been made, but at least we still held the city. Tauriel and Legolas left me to Gandalf so they could go and fight.

A flash of silver glinted in the corner of my eye, then a horn sounded in the air. My eyes followed the slither of silver to meet eyes with none other than King Thranduil himself. His face scrunched up into a glare. He took one step towards me.

"My lord, dispatch this force to Ravenhill!" Gandalf intervened, "The dwarves are about to be overrun. Thorin must be warned." Thranduil stopped in his tracks, averting his glare.

He knew the dwarves were important to me, "By all means, warn him. I have spent enough Elvish blood in defence of this accursed land - No more!" angered, he stomped away, before turning on his heel.

"Thranduil?!" Gandalf called, I placed myself behind him hoping to spare my eyes from the icy King's wicked gaze.

"That elf belongs in my prison, Mithrandir," The quiet rage was brimming over in his eyes. "I will have her locked away once again."

"You will do no such thing," Gandalf came to my aid, "Caladhiel is indebted to me, and thus will remain with me."

Thranduil assessed the situation, poised like a serpent. Then he backed down; releasing me from the confines of his hold.

"We have to warn them Gandalf." Determined to be of some use today, I got involved.

Bilbo was all too eager, "I'll go!"

"Don't be ridiculous! You'll never make it!" he dismissed Bilbo in an instant. He was right, Bilbo would be killed on sight.

"Why not?"

The hobbit insisted. But so did Gandalf, "Cause they will see you coming and kill you!"

"No, they won't."

Both Gandalf and I speculated at the meaning behind that.

"They won't see me." He persisted.

"It's out of the question - I won't allow it!" I stood by, spectating this argument. I planned to go up to Ravenhill regardless of whether Bilbo joined me or not.

"I'm not asking you to allow it, Gandalf." Bilbo laughed nervously, he was finally getting his way.

"I am going with him," I said. Gandalf didn't seem very impressed but he couldn't allow Bilbo to go and not me.

"I suppose the likelihood of Bilbo being harmed decreases with you beside him," he finally gave in.

Bilbo and I made our way through the city, Gandalf at our backs. I paused, turning to Bilbo, "Stick to the shadows. Make sure you aren't seen."

Bilbo looked up to me, "Don't tell anyone." His hand delved into his pocket and emerged with a small shiny object. It was a gold ring. He winked before slipping it onto his finger. Then he vanished. I didn't know what to say, when did he get this object? Was it dangerous? I stood still, in shock. Then he reappeared, "come on! We have no time to lose!"

I snapped out of my daze and we made our way up to Ravenhill. The ring was a problem for later.

I made my way up to Ravenhill, appearing alone spare the occasional tumbling stone from behind me. Bilbo followed my lead as we scaled the rock.

A few moments later I could hear the ring and clatter of swords, "We are close by."

Thorin was stood looking out over a frozen river. Dwalin paced back and forth behind him, both were unscathed for now.

"Thorin!" I jogged over, glad to see them.

Dwalin was taken aback, his mouth hung open and his eyes bulged likening him to a fish. He closed his mouth at a loss for words.

Thorin looked... ashamed. He was a different Dwarf even to his pre-dragon sickness self. He no longer held himself high and mighty, he was more humbled. He looked more like a king now than he ever had. He would rule well.

"Thorin..." Bilbo caught up to us.

Thorin's eyes snapped from mine to the hobbit, "Bilbo!"

Bilbo stumbled up to us, short of breath, "You have to leave here! Now! Azog has another army attacking from the north. This watchtower will be completely surrounded. There'll be no way out."

"This place is far from safe," I added in a desperate attempt to conclude this before we ran out of time.

Dwalin was still determined, "We are so close! That orc scum is in there. I say we push on." They had been fighting for so many years, I could understand why the temptation was so strong.

"No! That's what he wants. He wants to draw us in." at least Thorin had a clearer head. His eyes widened in realisation, "This is a trap!"

"Where are Kili and Fili?" they were up here too!

Thorin turned to Dwain, "Find them! Call them back!"

Dwalin was still torn, "Thorin, are you sure about this?"

"Do it. We live to fight another day." But he wouldn't defy his best friend.

As we left to find Kili and Fili, a fell drumming sound erupted from Ravenhill. Torches illuminated the tower, Azog emerged from the top, skin cold as ice. He was dragging Fili behind him; battered, bloody and bruised. Clinging to consciousness, he struggled against Azog's grip.

I sank to my knees before the sight. This couldn't be.

"This one dies first, then the brother, then you, Oakenshield. You will die last." It spat out words that would never leave me.

"No! RUN!" Fili was still brave, tears streamed down his face.

There was nothing we could do as Azog lifted Fili by his neck like a cub.

No, not again! I can't lose another one. Not again. Not again. Please. Not again.

But despite my prayers, a slither of silver shot through his chest.

Despite my throat aching, I couldn't hear my own screams. Everything was so silent. All I could hear was a ragged breath as Fili clung to life. We had failed him. Memories, I wasn't even aware I possessed flooded into my mind. So many empty faces, hollow eyes. I wasn't a stranger to death. My own family, my kin. All dead. Perished by fire. Conjured by evil himself. I only survived because I was a child; able to fit into small spaces, able to remain hidden. It wasn't just Fili I mourned on this day.

"Kili!" their voices were so distant, like whispers, submerged in the sea. I had never been to the sea. Perhaps I never would, for I would most likely meet my end here today.

I hugged myself tightly, trying to stop myself from falling apart. Ice was replaced with fire a raging inferno. Someone ran past me, across the river.

"Thorin!"

"Thorin...no!"

My legs carried me as I followed him, into certain death, to rescue. To avenge.