Pov narrator

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The sound of you hitting the ground echoes throughout the land, all the way to the dwarves on the mountain. They jump up in surprise. "What was that? What happened?" Ori asks, jumping up. Bilbo goes to the cliff's edge and looks towards lake town. He sees a dragon's form on the outside of the city and another beside it. "one of them fell. One of the dragons fell," he says. All the dwarves peer out at the town in the early morning light. Bilbo gasps as he sees it's you who lies there.

"it's Midnight! She fell!" he exclaimed, and all the dwarves gasped in surprise and sorrow. the only one who doesn't care is Thorin, who is still staring at the Lonely Mountain and not at the town, who has a strange expression of happiness cross his face. "By my beard! Look there! The ravens of Erebor are returning to the mountain!" Gloin says. Even though Smaug isn't dead, several birds can be seen cawing and approaching the Lonely Mountain. The dwarves say nothing, only staring at the figure of black night scales. Finally, Thorin hurries down from the lookout point and closes the gates of Erebor.

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In Dol Guldur, Gandalf disappears into his cage. Suddenly Galadriel's voice is heard in his head, and he looks up with a start. "You are not alone, Mithrandir ..." "... (Ae boe) I le eliathon, im tulithon." [not translated on screen: If you ever need my help, I'll come.] »

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It is early morning. You are still lying on the outside of lake town. You start to wake as you hear the screaming and cries of the refugees as they are looking for the injured. You stirr and begin to sit. a sharp pain vibrates from your neck and down your back. You wince and intensively take a hand to feel what's wrong. On your neck are bandages that run down over your back and stomach. You cant fully remember what happened, but when you see the black arrow laying close with its head snapped off and a puddle of blood around you, you start to remember.

It was you who got shot by the arrow, you who took the blow of the hand who could kill dragons. You immediately start looking around for signs after Smaug since you knew you took him away from Bard and the burning town.

You then spot claw marks. You stand up but winces in pain as the bangades stretch around you. You sigh, knowing you have to bite the pain away and get up to see if everyone's okay. You sniff once in the air but find no scent of Smaug. 'he must've fled,' you think and start to walk towards the people of lake town who still save their kin. When you arrive, you see Tauriel talking to Kili. you smile and close in but stop far enough for them not to notice you. "They are your people - You must go." you hear Tauriel say. You see the sadness n her eyes as well as his. Then, suddenly, the presence of Legolas enters your line of sight. "Come with me. I know how I feel; I'm not afraid. You make me feel alive." kili says, and your smile.

"I can't." tauriel says and turn her head away. kili grabs her hands and says softly while smiling. "Tauriel, amralime" Hearing this, Tauriel looks at Kili, shocked and surprised. "I don't know what that means," she says. Kili smiles.

"I think you do." Tauriel smiles and begins to lean toward Kili, but then suddenly straightens up and makes her face blank. She addresses Legolas, whom she sensed approaching behind her. "My lord Legolas." you sigh as you see the two males look at each other with hostility. You walk closer, making sure your presence isn't known. Not yet.

"Take your leave of the dwarf," Legolas begins. "You are needed elsewhere." he then adds. He says all this in Elvish, so Kili can't understand. You are behind him, looking at the scene in front of you.

Tauriel looks at Kili for a few more seconds, then, torn by her duty, begins to turn away. Kili sadly turns toward his friends launching the boat. He suddenly pauses, then turns around and hurries back to Tauriel. He takes her hand and places his black stone into it, folding her fingers closed over it. She gasps and looks at him as he gets close to her face and holds her hands to his heart. "Keep it. As a promise," he says. They smile at each other, then Kili runs toward the boat. Legolas looks on, confused. Tauriel looks down at the stone in her hand, then looks after Kili and the dwarves in the ship; her eyes are wet. Kili looks back at her for several moments, then begins rowing.

You make yourself known by saying. "your bond is strong, lady Tauriel. may love come your way" Tauriel and Legolas whirl round to face you, both eyes widening in surprise. "You?" she says, and you nod with a smile. "I never introduced myself; I'm Midnight," you offer your hand, which she takes. "an honor meeting you, my lady," she says and bows her head. You huff, smiling. "don't call me what I arent." you say softly, then turn to Legolas. "prince Legolas, an honor to meet once again." Legolas nods his head. "come, the men will need us," you say and start to turn to the people of lake town, helping those who need it. Legolas and Tayriel follow suit.

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onshore, the Woman from earlier who spoke about the prophecy hurries about, handing out blankets to the survivors. "These are dry. You need them," she says kindly, and a man thanks her. Alfrid pushes between people as he approaches the Woman. "Oi! Give me one of them! I'll catch my death in this cold!" he yells. the Woman glances at him but continues going. "Oh, find your own! You're not in charge now, Alfrid Black spell!" she says. "That is where you are wrong - In the absence of the Master, the power cedes to his deputy, which in this instance is my good self. Now give me that blanket!" Alfird hisses and tries to take the blanket from the Woman, but she restrains, shouting angerly, "Master's deputy? Don't make me laugh." Finally, she manages to pull the blanket away and begins hitting Alfrid with it. "You're a sneak-thief, more like. I'll be dead before I answer to the likes of you!" she says, and as she turns to walk away, Alfird grabs her.

"Maybe that can be arranged!" he says and raises his hand to strike her, only to have someone else grab his upraised arm. It turns out to be Bard, who leans close to Alfrid. "I wouldn't go turning on your own, Alfrid. Not now!" he hisses. You from helping some people and sneers at Alfrid, your fangs showing and your eyes blazing. Bard looks at you and then backs at Alfird, who stares at you, scared. He then spins Alfrid around, and Alfrid trips and falls over Bain's outstretched foot. Bain and the Woman smile. Sigrid and Tilda come running out of the crowd.

"DA!" they call, and Bard opens his arms. You smile as they embrace in a huge hug. as he stands, he clutches them to himself as the townspeople look on. "It's alright," he whispers. Then a man, Percy (who used to check the papers of the boats entering town), steps out of the crowd and exclaims loudly. Your face falls. Still, he's not talking bout you; he's talking bout Smaug. he did fall together with you, that much you remember. But if he's dead, that would be wrong to assume. you let the man talk, allowing him to praise Bard. "It was Bard! He killed the dragon! I saw it with my own eyes. He brought the beast down. He shot him dead with a black arrow." The people begin cheering for Bard and laying their hands on him, exclaiming their thanks.

Bard looks at you, and you lock eyes. he looks torn. He knows the truth is far from this. You only smile at him and shift your weight at your foot. None should know that you were the other dragon. They're not ready. Alfrid suddenly appears, raises Bard's arm, and then cheers loudly. you frown, growling quite loudly as he cheers. "ALL HAIL - TO THE DRAGONSLAYER! ALL HAIL - KING BARD!" The people grow silent, and Bard yanks his hand away from Alfrid's. Alfrid, still with his hand up in the air, speaks to the crowd. "I have said it many times - This is a man of noble stock. A born leader!" he says. You then decide to help Bard out here. "keep your tongue, mortal," you snarl, making the black-dressed man look at you. The fear returns in his eyes, and he takes down his hand. "don't say lies, don't tell tales. You never believed him. you loathe him." you say, your voice full of poison.

Slowly you close in on him, Bard still standing beside him, looking at you. Your eyes are ablaze. Rage, hatred runs deep. "you disgust the raze of men," you end with a growl. You then back away from him, turning to Bard. "bard, the new lord of lake town," you say and bow your head. instead of snapping at you to not call him that, he nods and then asks out to the people. "wheres the master?" the Woman from before answers, her voice cold. "Halfway down the Anduin, with all our coin, I don't doubt. You would know!" She points at Alfrid, who looks scared. You helped him empty the treasury." she adds.

that little rogue of a man tries immediately to cover by protesting helplessly. "No - I tried to stop him." Alfrid raises his voice and addresses all the people, scared and pleadingly. The people yell at him angrily, calling him a traitor and a mongrel. Alfrid hides behind Bard, keeping Bard between himself and the Woman. "I pleaded. I pleaded. I said,' Master - NO!'" As the people continue to yell abuse at him, Alfrid looks terrified. you look on, face blank. "Think of the children." he then says, and you raise a brow. Alfrid grabs Tilda and holds her in front of him. "Will nobody think of the children?!" he yells, but Tilda angrily stomps on Alfrid's foot, forcing him to let go of her. The people cry for Alfrid's head. You roll your eyes, then snap as they grab Alfrid and raise him, preparing to hang him with a rope. He screams with fear. "Enough! Let him go! Let him go!" you roar.

The people quiet down and let Alfrid fall to the ground. you continue, addressing the people. "Look around you! Have you not had your fill of death?" Alfrid pops beside Bard, but he pushes him back down. Bard then takes the word, glancing and nodding thanks at you. "Winter is upon us; we must look to our own, to the sick and the helpless. Those who can stand tend to the wounded. And those who have strength left - follow me. We must salvage what we can." he turns and begins to stride through the crowd. the Woman calls out, fear vigilant in her wavering voice. "What then? What do we do then?" First, Bard, look at her, then at you. you nod. "We find shelter."

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so chapters up:)

-Saph