Disclaimer: Not mine

Sorry for the very long wait.

www dot thelandofshadow dot com was used for Bolg's words.

Chapter 10

Bilbo crouched behind a wall, struggling to get his breathing under control. His knives were long gone, as was his bow and quiver, all he had left was his elven blade, the blue glow hidden under layers of black blood. He was shaking from cold, pain and utter exhaustion. He didn't know where the others were and that terrified him. The building they'd made their stand in had been torn down around them as they fought, the enemy driving them apart to make killing them easier and as of a while ago the ground had begun trembling which couldn't be good at all. He looked up at the mountain, bathed in the light of the setting sun and he knew, Smaug had awoken. He jolted, sword rising as a hand grabbed his shoulder, only to pull back as he recognised silver laced black hair and blue eyes. "Thorin," he gasped in utter relief.

"Are you injured?" Thorin demanded in a harsh whisper, kneeling to remain hidden.

"Nothing serious," Bilbo answered, shoving his curls back with his free hand.

Thorin saw the action and managed a tired smirk, it had become a game among the Company to keep the hobbit from cutting his hair during their journey. He pulled a strip of leather out and quickly tied the mess back for his friend who nodded tiredly, managing a tired smile. He glanced at the mountain as the ground shook again, so much for their sneaking in to get the Arkenstone while the dragon slept. ""Have you seen the others?" he asked, and Bilbo shook his head, worry clear in his eyes. A feminine scream had them spinning to face the direction before breaking cover and running towards it. No matter his dislike for the elven king, his son and his companion had shown honour and he would not leave her to die alone.

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Kili snarled and struggled against the orcs holding him down even as a scream was forced from Tauriel. The elf maid gasped for air as the blade was yanked free of her side as Kili hurled insults in Khuzdul as Bolg laughed. Kili jerked free as one of those holding him fell, an arrow through its eye. He drove his knee into another before grabbing a blade, fighting free as two more fell to the elven Prince's bow.

Legolas threw himself into the battle, he would not let her die. It was his fault she was here, she should be safe back in the forest and not bleeding in the ruins of Dale. He saw the young Dwarven Prince go on the attack as he was freed, and he heard Dwarven battle cries nearby, the Company drawn by Tauriel's cry. He was glad they had come to aide her, despite their dislike of elves.

The capture of Tauriel and Kili had forced them into a battle of their enemies choosing but they had no choice, they could not leave them to torture and death. Despite all the enemies they had killed while separated they were still vastly outnumbered.

Ori fell first, a slingshot fairly useless in such a battle, but they did not kill him, just knocked him out. Nori and Dori went made, fighting to reach their baby brother. Bilbo killed several of those watching the downed dwarf before a warg tossed him aside and he hit a crumpled wall, blacking out.

"Bilbo!" Fili yelled in alarm at seeing that, but he couldn't get free. As the fight continued it shifted away from the unconscious Hobbit. Kili yelped and then fell silent and Fili looked around wildly for his brother, not seeing the warg behind him until it had him pinned under a paw.

Finally, only Thorin and Legolas were still fighting but they stopped as Fili and Kili were dragged up, Kili unconscious, Fili awake and furious but held tight. A blade rested at each brother's throat, the threat clear. Thorin lowered his sword, glancing at Legolas, would the Prince accept defeat to save his nephews? To his relief the twin blades were dropped alongside his own sword and soon they were bound along with the others.

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Bilbo groaned, hand going to his throbbing head as he blinked blearily. It was dark, but he could hear noise nearby….voices…growls…the battle! He sat up and his head swam so he forced himself to breath deeply. He slowly got to his hands and knees, looking around, but he was alone. His hand slipped to his pocket and he hesitated briefly before slipping on the small gold ring. Safely invisible he got up and slowly made his way towards the noise, horrified to find the Company and the elves bound in front of the orcs. The one in the lead had to be Bolg, Azog's son. He shuddered, doubting the son was any better than the Father. He moved cautiously closer, employing all the stealth of his people and making sure to stay downwind of the wargs, he doubted the ring hid his scent. He didn't understand what they were saying, he didn't know Black Speech, but obviously Prince Legolas understood at least some, as did several of the dwarves.

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Legolas didn't fight his bonds, there was no point at the moment. It wasn't looking good, most of their group was injured if not unconscious and they were vastly outnumbered. Though…yes, the Hobbit was missing, dead or still free? He glanced at Tauriel, fear curling in his gut as he saw the amount of blood staining her tunic. He could survive such a wound, could she? He listened as Bolg taunted and threatened Thorin and his nephews, glad the exiled King was managing to keep his temper. And then Bolg was in front of him, a hand in his hair pulling his head back and he glared defiantly up at his captor. The orc leered and then its expression shifted, and it sniffed the air, confusing Legolas. Bolg leant in and Legolas fought down the urge to gag at the stench as the orc continued to sniff him and Legolas' blood ran cold. It couldn't….could it? He always knew when orcs were around, it had never seemed to be mutual and those he met tended to die rather swiftly. Could Bolg smell his mixed heritage?

"Kranklûk," he hissed in Legolas' ear and the elf went white.

Brother. It wasn't possible, was it? No, he had to mean it simply as they both carried cursed blood, not that Azog was…had… but how would he know? He'd been too young when his Mother died and if Thranduil had ever know who had violated his wife he had never told Legolas. He heard Bolg laugh cruelling at his obvious shock.

Thorin had not heard what Bolg said to Legolas but he saw the elf go so pale he looked white. What could cause such a reaction in so seasoned a warrior? He let his gaze wander over his people and came to the sickening realisation that Bilbo was missing, praying to Mahal that he had managed to slip away, not that he was dead somewhere. He had slipped away in the Goblin tunnels after all, perhaps he had managed again. Where was the Wizard when they needed him?

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Gandalf leant on his staff, exhausted, even as he looked over the gathered armies of Rivendell and Lothlórien. Already, Lord Elrond and others moved amongst the wounded, tending to them while the dead were gathered. The cost had been high, but they had prevailed, and Sauron had been banished from Dol Guldur. If they had made their assault centuries ago, perhaps Mirkwood would not be in its current state but Saruman had long opposed assaulting the fortress. Thranduil and his army were absent from the battlefield, despite the nearness to his Realm, he had thought at least young Prince Legolas would have appeared with those he could bring. Unless he was still with the Company? Surely, they were well past Mirkwood by now, Durin's Day was approaching fast. He turned and went to help with the wounded, joining Radagast as Saruman had already left to return to his tower.

"Mithrandir!" Lord Elrond called, and Gandalf turned at the tone, seeking out the Elven Lord to see him staring into the distance, Galadriel at his side.

Gandalf hurried to join them, and his eyes widened in horror and fear, the mountain was lit with fire. Smaug had woken.

TBC…