Differently *Fem!Bilbo/Thorin Oakenshield*

Chapter 8: I love you

We ran from the orcs and climbed onto the trees on the mountainside. It was either that or jump off the cliff which didn't seem like the best option. The orcs pursued the wargs circling the base of the trees. That was when we saw him. Azog the defiler. The pale Orc that had killed Thorin's grandfather. I saw first the look of sorrow on Thorin's face and then the look of anger.

"Azog, it cannot be." Thorin muttered. The pale orc ordered the wargs and that was when they  began to charge down and butt the trees. One by one the trees fell until we all perched on the same one. Ori slipped and grabbed onto Dori's foot but Dori was also losing his grip on the tree branch his brother's added weight not helping things. Gandalf thankfully was ablie to throw down his staff and Dori caught ahold of it. I was frightened and believed that there wasn't a thing I could do, this was until I spotted the pinecones. 

"Gandalf!" I shouted and tossed up a pinecone. He immediately knew what to do. setting it on fire.  We all began throwing them creating a wall of fire around our tree and it effectively held the wargs and orcs back.  But what I was truly focused on was Thorin, he had climbed down from the fallen trees among the fire. "No!"I shouted but I knew in his rage he couldn't hear me. He pulled out his sword and began to charge. He was mowed down and grabbed into the jaws of the white warg. I was shocked. I went to leap from the tree ready to protect the leader of the company but A hand held me back. It was bofur. "I'm sorry Bofur."I said before throwing a leg back to hit him in his parts. I couldn't let Thorin die, and as I saw what Azog had prepared from him I knew what I had to do. I ran down the tree with my sword in hand. I ran towards the orc that was going to behead him. I swung my sword and It plunged into the flesh of the orc his black blood covered the sword and a small part of myself in the process.

 "Don't you touch him!" I said waving my sword around. "You will not lay a hand on him whilst I draw breath Defiler!" I shouted. Azog looked at me as though I were crazy.  He shouted something I was sure was a death order. But if  I was going to die I was happy that I would die for the dwarf I happened to fall in love with. I never expected this to happen. That was when the dwarves that could, Fili, Kili, Dwalin and some others fought with me. 

"Excellent work lass!"I heard Dwalin say but had no time to thank him as I began to wound the orcs that charged at me. All those years working with a dagger certainly seemed helpful as a sword was similar only a bit longer.  Suddenly I saaw them, the great Eagles. They picked up Wargs and Orcs throwing them off of the cliff. Then they each took us and one picked up Thorin in his large talons. Flying was a sensation I'd never experienced beforeand it was amazing but the others looked downright terrifed.

"Thorin!"I heard Fili shout for his uncle. I looked back at the two lads as we flew. They looked devastated. The eagles deciding we were far enough from Azog's pack deposited us onto a carrock. 

"Thorin." Gandalf walked over to him and I was so concerned. He had to be okay. I loved him, I knew that now.  Gandalf whispered some words before Thorin came to. I only knew because I heard him speak. 

“The halfling? Where is she?”He asked and I perked up at his words my cheeks heating up.

“It’s alright. Bella is here. She’s quite safe.” The dwarves cleared a path and he walked towards me.

“You! What were you doing? You nearly got yourself killed! Did I not say that you would be a burden? That you would not survive in the wild and that you had no place amongst us?” He asked and I was so scared and then he placed his large hands around my small face. “I’ve never been so wrong in all my life!”He said and kissed me and once I got over the initial shock I kissed him back. “I am so sorry I doubted you. And that I've doubted my feelings for you. I know now what I feel for you and I am truly sorry for upsetting you the way I did. I love you my queen."He said and I knew my eyes were as wide as saucers and my face and ears a lovely shade of red. Finally, I gathered the courage to speak.

“No, I would have doubted myself too. I’m not a hero or a warrior...not even a burglar." I let out a small chuckle. But I know that I feel stronger when I'm with you. That this company you're my family and perhaps I like the sound of Queen Belladonna." I joked. That was when I looked at the tohers and saw them staring off into the distance. "Is that what I think it is?"I asked standing next to Thorin.

"Erebor—The Lonely Mountain. The last of the great dwarf kingdoms of Middle-earth."Gandalf explained.

“Our home.”Thorin said wrapping an arm around me. Suddenly a bird flew by going towards the mountain.

"A raven! The birds are returning to the mountain."Oin exclaimed. More birds followed.

“That, my dear Oin, is a thrush.”Gandalf explained.

"But we’ll take it as a sign - a good omen.”Thorin said looking down at me.

“You’re right. I do believe the worst is behind us.” I replied. But I was never more wrong in my life.

We were only one step closer to much more danger.