Leminkaiya

Disclaimer: I do not own either "The Hobbit" or "Avatar: The Last Airbender" but the wonderful lady firebender in the story is my precious.

NOTE: The end is here at last. Thank you for joining me on this wonderful journey. And now here is the conclusion. I will express my gratitude more extensively at the end of the chapter.

Enjoy.

CHAPTER TWENTY

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Thorin and his company stood by their allies as the dawn broke the next day. They had marched from the mountain up to Ravenhill to make their last stand. In the hand of the dwarf king was his sword, Orcrist, having been restored to him by the elves since he had proven more than worthy of it. No one now could deny the nobility of the dwarf king.

Despite the carnage of the previous day, the orc and goblin armies still had the most fearsome of leaders to keep them fighting. They still had a troop of giant mountain trolls at their beck and call as well as a herd of evil bats bred for the sole purpose of war. And many of the valiant elves, men, and dwarves had already fallen in the first waves of the battle. Those who were left were all exhausted, some injured, and though much of their courage had been restored, this might not be enough to sustain them for the final rally. But they would not go down without a fight.

Thorin's powerful presence continued to bolster the troops and with his battle cry, he rallied elves, men, and dwarves to his side. All now recognized the glory of the King under the Mountain and they were happy to fight with him against the legions of filth who had marched from Dol Guldur.

The army of dwarves from the Iron Hills followed the lead of Dain, Thorin's cousin and a mighty leader in his own right. They had come to the aid of their kinsman and now continued to fight and show that a dwarves army was a force to be reckoned with. They advanced with proud battle cries in their noble tongue, mercilessly cutting down goblins and orcs who were foolish enough to underestimate them.

The Elvenking led his army and this time he no longer rode his majestic elk but joined the battle himself, showing his skills as an experienced swordsman. Something had disturbed his calm demeanor and he now fought with a rage that made one's blood run cold. He was resplendent with a dangerous beauty and many orcs realized too late how quickly he could cut them down.

The Lake-men continued to follow the lead of Bard who, true to his ancestor's legacy, proved to be a fearless leader and skilled fighter. Gone was the humble bargeman who did the Master's bidding. In his place was a kingly figure, noble and courageous, inspiring faith in all his fellowmen. No one hesitated to fight by his side.

And in all this, there stood the wise and impressive figure of Gandalf the Grey. The wizard continued to inspire the three armies not just with his words of counsel but also with his immense power that sent many of the enemies cowering in terror. With sword and staff, he marched on the orcs and goblins and many were shocked that such an old man had such strength in him.

Once more, swords and spears clashed against shields, arrows filled the air, and axes fell upon the weak. And in the midst of all this, fire spread through the enemy's ranks, the dragonslayer unleashing her fury on the goblins and orcs who were daring enough to remain on the battlefield. As she charged, she carried the shield given to her by Thorin, it was light to carry but made of the sturdiest of steel. With one arm she raised up her shield to deflect any arrows shot at her as she extended her other arm and blasted fire all around.

Now that the enemy was aware of her presence and her power, they took special pains to get rid of her. They knew that much would be turned to their favor if they could but slay the dragonslayer. But this proved more difficult than they could have foreseen since not only was Ainara capable of defending herself, she was also well-protected by her friends and even some loyal soldiers who appreciated her support in the battle. She was quick enough to dodge arrows that were being shot at her and none could get near her without getting burned. And even when several vicious bats tried to attack her from above, she would set them ablaze with a swift motion of her hand.

"Kill them all!" the orc leaders bellowed in their harsh tongue, "None must leave here alive!''

And so on Ravenhill, the battle raged. More and more fell from both sides and no victory was forthcoming.

But even the mightiest can falter. And though the goblins and orcs were easily killed, there seemed to be no end to them. Hordes continued to swarm into the battlefield replacing their fallen comrades while the numbers of the elves, men, and dwarves dwindled without hope of replacements or reinforcements. The exhausted warriors had to contend with fresh troops of foul goblins and there was no time for respite.

For all her ferocity, even Ainara's knees began to buckle and she felt the strain of the battle take its toll. The flames she shot out were smaller and she launched fireballs less frequently. She decided that she had been imprudent in her use of energy at the start because she had hoped that the battle would soon be concluded. She now tried her best to conserve the little energy she had left so that she could still fight. But she was no longer sure how much time she would be able to do so. Even before they had left the mountain, she had sensed that this might be her final battle and she did not want to waste the limited time left to her.

The firebender looked around her, checking on the state of the rest of her companions. They had been scattered to different parts of the zone of combat. In addition to all she already felt, she was worried about them because if she was weighed down by the fatigue of hours of incessant fighting, then surely they were in a similar predicament. And her goal had always been to protect them from all harm as much as she could.

On one side, she saw Balin and Dwalin keeping up the fight, the latter loud and fierce but less so than he had been earlier on. The older dwarf's movements were slow but still quick enough to outwit his enemies. The firebender caught brief glimpses of Oin, Gloin, Bifur, and Bofur running across the field as well as the unmistakable figure of Bombur warding off goblins left and right with an axe in one hand and a spear in the other.

Ainara raised her shield to deflect some arrows and as she threw fire in the direction of her attackers, she scanned the field for the others. She noticed Dori, Nori, and Ori fighting side by side with the two older dwarves standing protectively in front of the younger, who had grown quite skilled with a slingshot and sword.

Kicking some flames into the face of an approaching orc, Ainara heard the fierce war cry of Fili as he advanced, sword cutting through more orcs. She then heard the twang of Kili's bow as he loosed arrow after arrow on any who approached his brother. And to her surprise, Ainara recognized the tall, slender figure of Tauriel who loosed arrows and stabbed with orcs with her dagger while standing beside the dark-haired dwarf.

The firebender threw a fireball at a handful of bats who had been about to attack her and she noticed a large troll fighting a duel with the light-haired elf warrior she had learned was the son of the Elvenking. But even the graceful elves were moving slower than they used to, their pale faces were smudged with the dirt of the battlefield, and their armor torn and dented in places.

There was one other in the company whom the firebender had not yet noticed and she grew more concerned even as she hit a leaping goblin with her shield. But after scanning Ravenhill one more time, she saw him and to her relief, he did not seem gravely injured. Thorin was valiantly holding his own against a large troll and despite the disparity in size, the latter was beginning to falter after the relentless blows of the dwarf king's Goblin-Cleaver.

But like everyone else, Thorin looked tired and it seemed like he was drawing energy from his determination rather than any physical reserve. He too kept an eye on the members of his company and it brought some comfort to see that none had fallen yet. But he also noted that all were growing weary and even the flames shot by Ainara were beginning to flicker. With a decisive blow, Thorin finished off his current opponent and taking the moment of calm, he came up with a plan. He ran to the center of the rocky outlook and raised his glimmering sword in the air.

"To me! To me! My loyal companions!" he cried out fiercely, "This journey has proven that we are strongest when we are together! So let us fight side by side once more!"

He finished with a rousing battle cry in his native tongue and this was echoed with the same cry by twelve other dwarves. And even Ainara managed to answer since they had taught her this cry during their journey and she taken pains to learn it since she hoped to have cause to use it one day. And so that day arrived and she was proud to share in their valor.

Thus the company of Thorin Oakenshield rallied together and formed a near unbreakable formation with Thorin at the front, his nephews on one side, Ainara on the other, their weapons raised, their expressions grim and determined. Together they marched and broke through the dense orc battalions. They smashed and slashed, stabbed and shot arrows, and unleashed fire upon all who faced them. Their dauntlessness gave heart to the rest of the troops to retaliate with grater ferocity. They knew that this show of strength would not last very long but fortunately it lasted long enough.

For the sky was filled with the shadows of majestic winged creatures who had come to join in the fight. The Eagles had arrived and many wondering eyes watched in wonder as these noble creatures swooped down, grabbing goblins with their talons and tossing them against the rocks or over nearby cliffs. With their giant beaks they gave frightful cries and with powerful flaps of their wings they sent the bats away in fear.

"Our luck has turned at last," Bofur remarked as he and the others gazed at the might of the eagles.

But they were disrupted by the sound of beating drums that announced the arrival of a new and fearsome foe. The orcs sneered with glee as they made way for Azog the Defiler. The pale orc brandished his spiked club and glared challengingly at the company, and at one in particular. Thorin returned his gaze and stepped forward.

"We have some unfinished business," declared Azog menacingly, pointing at the dwarf king.

"Today, we end this," Thorin replied resolutely, raising his elven-forged sword.

Though worried, the others let him pass. They all understood that they were not to interfere and this was strictly between Azog and Thorin.

Fili and Kili simply nodded and silently wished their uncle well. Ainara suppressed the urge to fight with Thorin because she very much understood that this was a matter of honor.

"Let us have faith in him," Balin said solemnly as the duel began.

"He is strong, he will succeed," Dwalin acquiesced gravely and the others agreed.

They did not have long to witness that decisive duel since there were still orcs and goblins that needed slaying. But as they fought, they were always conscious of the movements of their king.

For some this proved to be too distracting and in letting their guard down during a crucial moment, Fili and Kili were almost hit by orc arrows. Someone leapt in front of them and the arrows crashed against a metal shield and their archers had to contend with a blast of fire in their direction.

"Be careful!" Ainara scolded the stunned brothers, "This battle is not over yet!"

"Thank you," they replied in unison and they promised not to be so careless again.

"I don't blame you for being worried though," the firebender added with a gentler tone as she punched fire ahead of her, no longer at aiming at anyone in particular, since there were only orcs in that direction. Her movements grew slightly erratic, the fatigue weighing down every step.

The two young dwarves also noticed with horror that some of the orc arrows had found their mark on her legs and even on her sides. Before they could feel guilty about her risking her life for them, they noticed that what had hit her were no ordinary orc arrows such as those that had been shot at them. These were smaller darts that had undoubtedly been shot without her noticing them.

"Those are certainly laced with poison," Kili remarked in alarm, "how can she still manage to stand?"

"Her strength is remarkable," Fili said, "but she cannot keep this up for much longer."

"Ainara, you've been hit, let us help you," Kili told her with concern.

"Thank you," the firebender relented weakly, "and I know I've been hit. We cannot risk the battlefield now."

"But you need medical attention!" Kili protested, shooting an arrow at a nearby goblin.

"It doesn't matter," the firebender muttered in response, "there's nothing we can do. It's not as bad as it looks so let us keep fighting."

The brothers would have protested more but the warrior was stubborn and still proved capable of fighting. She was determined to protect them and she would not let anything stop her, not even their good intentions. The truth was she had felt her strength waning long before she had been struck by the poison darts. These would accelerate what was coming but not by much. Ainara knew what Fate had in store for her and she had already accepted it.

As the battle wore on, they were joined by another unexpected ally. The massive figure of a bear tore through the ranks of hapless goblins and the company recognized Beorn in his most ferocious form. They were grateful and infinitely relieved that he was on their side.

A loud cry was heard and at once, Ainara and the dwarves turned to see Azog fall to his knees, vanquished at last. Thorin stood over him, chest heaving, his sword coated in the orc's blood. They all let out a cheer except Ainara who had noticed something amiss about Thorin. He was exhausted and his face and armor were streaked with blood, whether his or Azog's Ainara could not be sure. All she saw was that he had not the strength to even look at his comrades. Instead, he fell to his knees and then his whole body hit the ground.

"No!" the firebender cried as the other dwarves stared in shock.

But before anyone could run to Thorin, the gigantic bear Beorn reached him first and gently carried him away from the thick of the battle to safety. But nothing was the same after that moment. With the fall of Azog, the outcome of the fight had been all but decided. The remaining orcs and goblins attempted to fight back but they were easily retaliated. And indeed they were no match to the lone firebender who seemed to have lost all control.

Ainara was screaming in rage and sorrow as she threw flame after flame around her, shooting and blasting haphazardly at anyone who so much as approached her friends. Her wounds deepened and she began to bleed but she took no notice. She spun around, creating a ring of fire around the other dwarves who had gathered around her to fight and also out of concern for their friend. They had never seen her in such a state but none of them dared approach her just yet.

There was fire, wild and terrifying, spread across the battlefield, driving away the remnants of the enemy forces. It was only when the warrior was certain that there were none left to challenge them that she finally collapsed to the ground in utter exhaustion.

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Ainara blinked her eyes and everything slowly came into focus. Vague memories of what had happened stirred in her mind but she was too tired to make any sense of them.

"Is it over?" she whispered weakly.

"Yes, it is," replied a familiar, kindly voice and the firebender turned to see Gandalf leaning over her in concern. They were in a tent where all the wounded had been taken. She was covered in bandages and she smelled all sorts of ointments and salves that would at most simply lessen the pain but nothing else.

"And they are safe? All of them?" Ainara asked, grabbing the wizard's arm, her expression turning slightly frantic.

"All of them are safe," the wizard told her reassuringly.

"And Bilbo?"

"Bilbo as well," Gandalf said truthfully, reluctant to reveal that the hobbit had yet to be found and not wanting to agitate the worried warrior, "but he is resting."

"Then I shall not disturb him," the firebender said with a smile, much to Gandalf's relief. But knowing that she would not be at peace until she was certain the old man gave someone some instructions all the while holding the firebender's hand.

"I need to know," Ainara insisted, "I need to see them."

"And so you shall," Gandalf said gently. A few minutes later, the tent was crowded with dwarves, and they heaved a collective sigh of relief upon seeing their friend alive.

Ainara smiled weakly at them and thanked Gandalf. She frowned when she counted ten but soon the others were making way for the injured Thorin who was being supported on either side by Fili and Kili. He was covered in bandages as well and looked in no better condition than she. But he smiled when he saw her. Gandalf stepped aside and the others made room for him. Thorin's nephews laid him down so that he was kneeling by her side. He took one of her bandaged hands in his.

"You're here," Ainara whispered tearfully, her voice strained, "I'm glad to see you alive and well."

"But not for much longer, I'm afraid," Thorin told her sadly.

Already he was barely clinging to life. His injuries were taking their toll on him and he knew that he would soon meet his fate. And seeing that she was in a similar, if not worse, state, he did not want their last meeting to be shadowed by deceit of any kind.

"I see," she replied, suppressing a sob and keeping a brave face, a soldier to the last, "So I've failed. I could not save you."

"You already have," Thorin told her, squeezing her hand tightly, "more times than you realize."

Faintly, she nodded in response, and her breathing grew labored. Now she felt certain that her moment had come.

"Gandalf," the firebender whispered, "You saved me and then, gave me something to fight for. Thank you, for everything."

The wizard nodded sadly. Long he had lived and though he had seen many friends depart from this life, every new parting remained as painful as the first. But he saw that she was content with this end, that she was proud to leave on her own terms.

"I'm sorry that Bilbo is not here," Ainara remarked, "but you will say good-bye to him for me, won't you?"

"Of course," the wizard replied reassuringly.

The others immediately sensed what was happening and though some turned to the wizard, he shook his head and they knew that there was nothing he or anyone could do. Thorin continued to hold her hand firmly.

"We will never forget you," sobbed several of the dwarves.

"Do not look so sorrowful, my friends," Ainara told them with a smile, "this is where my road ends but what a road it has been thanks to all of you! I have known such glory in your friendship and that is more than I could have ever hoped for. But now my fire is extinguished."

The warrior turned her gaze to Thorin and a look of understanding and gratitude passed between them. Closing his eyes, he leaned forward until his forehead was resting on hers. She closed her eyes as well and sighed.

"It was an honor to fight by your side, my king," she said softly.

"My friend," Thorin said, correcting her with gentleness.

"My friend," Ainara repeated with a smile, glancing up at him before closing her eyes for the last time.

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Many years later, when Bilbo Baggins decided to tell the tale of his adventures, he made certain to honor the memory of the two who had fallen and who would always remain very dear to his heart: Thorin Oakenshield, the noble leader of the company, and Ainara, the fifteenth companion.

-FIN-

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Thank you very much for joining me on this emotional journey!

I have been mapping this story out in my head for more than a year and I didn't think I would have the energy to write it all down but here we are. It even ended up longer and more detailed than I had initially planned. And I've never finished so long a story in such a short period of time. I've been unusually inspired by this and I've been very proud to share this with you all.

And in case you were wondering, the title is the Eldarin word for "fifteenth" which is pretty self-explanatory.

Ainara is my most developed OC so far and she will always have a special place in my heart. I am very fond of her and this is how her story was meant to end from the very beginning. So I hope you find it satisfying.

(But I'm going to try something I've never done with any of my stories before: an alternate ending. I have several alternate endings for this that I don't intend to write but I got an idea when the second trailer for the movie came out and I just could not let it go. So I'll be posting a short, three-chapter story which changes the ending and picks up from Chapter Sixteen of this story, if anyone is interested. It's called "Guardian of the Mountain" and it was such a fun idea not to execute.)

I decided to stick with this ending, tragic though it may be, because that was the original plan and I think that this is what the character always wanted. And it's been hinted in several previous chapters so I hope it doesn't seem too surprising.

Thank you so much to everyone who has read this story! I just can't be thankful enough to you all for taking the time to read and even review this crazy creation of mine. It's a crossover and with an OC so I didn't expect it to have much of a following and yet there were still many of you who decided to give the story a chance, for which I am most grateful.

And apparently, someone added this story to the "Can't Get Enough Of" community so I'm very flattered about that!

Now, some individual thanks are in order because I just love showing my appreciation.

Thank you to everyone who added this story to their alerts: Atea1793, BrieKayee, Centh97, Freebooter 4Ever, Imagenary26, Kiley S. Snape, Kuro Neko to Kuro Bara, MYSTERYGEEK, MonsterSlut, RurouniSakura, SakuraDragomir, Sparks67, TheNoWhereMan, animebella09, norseseeker, and pinky-pie.

Thank you to everyone who added this to their Favorites: Atea1793, BrieKayee, DarkMoon010, Imagenary26, JollyLoser, LCluvanime, MonsterSlut, PyroGrl94, SakuraDragomir, WheeljacksGril, animebella09, kale yoga, momopanda95, and pinky-pie.

Thank you to the anonymous guest who left a review at the start.

And a HUGE thank you to SakuraDragomir and Freebooter4ever for reviewing every single chapter! I've looked forward to reading your comments after posting every chapter and I love that you've taken the time to send me lovely feedback.

This has been really long but I just wanted to properly thank everyone for sharing this adventure with me!

Till the next story!