Warrior's Heart

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Thorin cradled Arielle against him as Elrond and Thranduíl both joined him. The two elven kingdoms answered Gandalf's call, as did Dáin Ironfoot, by sending their armies full force to end the battle with the Orcs for once and for all.

Around him, dwarves and elves worked side by side, setting fire to the orc corpses while Thorin whispered, "Princess, open your eyes, love. It's over. For good."

But she remained limp and lifeless in his arms, his gut clenching at the blood still seeping from her wound. She was deathly pale, even more so than usual, and when both kings approached, Elrond said, "We should get her to Rivendell."

"No," Thranduíl broke in, "she comes to Mirkwood."

The eagles' screeches brought Thorin back to the Battle of the Five Armies, and he glared at both elves. "This not the time to battle over this. She goes to Rivendell."

"She is of the Woodland realm," Thranduíl began.

"I do not give a damn!" Thorin turned to Elrond. "Can Amara fix this?"

"I cannot promise you anything, Thorin." Elrond gestured to Lindir. "Get Queen Arielle to Rivendell and tell Amara she is to drop whatever she is doing and tend to her."

Thorin shook his head. "I go with her."

"Thorin, you will meet us there. She is in good hands."

"What about Tauriel?" Kili called, emerging with the unconscious elf in his arms.

Thranduíl glared at Elrond. "She comes to Mirkwood."

"I'll not argue that." Elrond swung back to Thorin as Lindir came up to take Arielle from him. When Thorin refuse to release her, Elrond added, "You need to bring your daughter, Thorin. If anything happens, Tiriana should be there as well."

"If anything—anything happens," Thorin looked down at Arielle, her face blurred as unexpected tears stung his eyes. "No. Nothing can happen to her. Amara will right this. She must."

"Only if you let go of her, can she even try," Elrond said softly.

Thorin pulled Arielle closer to his chest, bending to kiss her chilled lips. "I will be there as soon as I can, love. And I will have our daughter with us. Do not do anything foolish, princess. I love you."

And with that, he reluctantly set her in Lindir's arms, and the elf, without a backwards glance, brought her over to the now-familiar eagles. Thorin's throat tightened as the enormous bird took off with a shriek.

Bofur's hand came to rest on Thorin's shoulders. "We need to return to Erebor and fetch the princess," he said softly.

Thorin nodded. "I know." He peered over his shoulder at the eagle in the distance. "Please... Amara, you must be able to do something." He looked over at Bofur now. "I—I don't know what I will do, if she perishes."

"It won't happen," Dori said, shaking his head. "The fates will not allow it."

"If they do," Thorin growled, "I will destroy every last Orc in existence."

***

Upon his return to Erebor, Thorin made his way below, to the apartments Glóin and Narnerra shared, and rapped on the door. Glóin tugged it open. "Thorin? Did you find the princess?"

Thorin swallowed hard, tried not to think of how badly Arielle had been wounded even as he nodded. "She is on her way to Rivendell and I need to bring Tiriana to her."

"How badly is she hurt?"

"Papa?" Thorin's heart broke at the sound of his daughter's voice. He didn't want to bring her to Rivendell, didn't want her to see her mother in the condition she was in.