Hummingbird Heartbeat

Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Maranda flew as silently as possible across the river. She then moved quickly, bounding through the halls, wings stretched out like she was gliding and kicking off the walls and floor to drift almost soundlessly. She could hear the foul breathing of Orcs not far off, and she went towards it. Then she ran right into them. Literally. She crashed into an Orc as she bounded around a corner and they both went tumbling. It came down to this and this alone. Maranda was used to being tricked. Her brothers were real tricksters and she was used to avoiding their trap. So she recovered well from surprise. So she was able to cave in the Orcs skull and break the legs of the one beside her before anyone else had time to think. She broke the other's skull as well and turned, fists up and glowing blue, dark and sinter like a stormy sky.

"Who's next?' she snarled and two Orcs charged her. She easily dealt with one and had to dodge around the other, but he fell in the end as well. So did the next tree and the one after that. She was so fixated on not getting killed, she almost forgot who was in the room. As she broke the neck of the last Orc, someone grabbed her wings by their base and yanked her up. She yowled in pain and fought but after a feather was plucked she stopped squirming, shaking in pain. Bolg walked menacingly around her, snickering and glaring with his one good eye.

"Little birdie came to us, see?" snarled a voice. She gritted her teeth and fought down the terrible burning panic. No. Not again, please not again. She squeezed her eyes shut as an evil, awful chuckling rang out. She was being carried along hallways, a small blade pressed to her stomach all the while. How could it just end like this? She had tried so hard, done so much! How could it just end with a  surprise and a blade in the belly. She felt cold air on her face. "OAKENSHIELD!" roared Azog and she heard, oh Vala no.

"MARA!"

"Maranda!" She opened her eyes and Fili and KIli stared in horror. Bilbo had his hands over his mouth as Thranduil battled a group of Orcs. Dwalin swung his hammer and shouted in rage. Gandalf was no where in sight, big surprise.

"I'm going to kill you, do you hear me? For them, I am going to cut off your head!" roared Maranda, struggling. Azog only laughed.

"Birdy so brave until she cannot fly," he murmured and she clenched her jaw. No, no no.

"NO!" it was not her voice that cried out in agony as Azog wrenched out her wing. She sobbed and struggled and failed but with a loud ripping sound her other wing was extracted. She gasped and wailed in pain. Flightless, yes, but the pain, oh the pain.

"See they who stand in my way! I come for you next Oakenshield!" Azog roared in joy as Orcs all over howled and yowled in joy and ecstasy.

"Run, Thorin, run!" Maranda screamed. But then the air left her. She was so breathless she thought maybe her lungs were gone...and why was she so cold all of a sudden. She noticed, vaguely that her armor was gone. What? When had her chest piece disappeared. She looked down and saw the blade protruding from her belly.

"Oh," she said hoarsely. She looked up and time slowed down. Her eyes locked with Thorin. He had a hand extended towards her, eyes wide and shocked, mouth agape. She smiled faintly. I'm so sorry. But he couldn't hear her. But a movement caught her eye. Legolas? Yes, there he was. He was throwing her one of his short swords. Like that would help. But, no. Yes. Timing. Timing. She grabbed it and twisted on her hook. Azog screamed as his good hand fell to the ice and he twisted his blade in her stomach. She gasped and she fell and fell and hit the ground so hard something snapped.

Oh yes, great. Like father like daughter, you numbskull. Looks like Thorin was right. One day I'll get myself killed protecting the ones I love. Wait. That's today. The air turned dark and cold and she was fading...