The goblin king mocked us as his men brought up all sorts of of nasty looking machinery. He sneered and drew close, grabbing the chains that held Skyrena and I to his throne.
"Designed for your race... Whatever form you take, they will change in order to accommodate each form. This is how they were enslaved." I looked desperately at Thorin as a goblin took his blade. Gazing upon the blade, the goblin shrieked and threw it to the ground. I recognized it. "The Goblin Cleaver!" Goblins everywhere panicked. "Kill them! Kill them all!" When some approached Skyrena and I, but he batted them away. "Not these two... The others!"
I swallowed hard as Skyrena roared with rage and tried to free herself, but neither of us couldn lift our arms off the ground anymore. I watched as the dwarves were wrestled to the ground and prepared to be killed. While they fought the best they could, they were no match for the hundreds of goblins. I watched helplessly as a blade was raised over Thorin's head.
Suddenly, a blinding, white light seemed to blast everyone off their feet. I held onto the chains, trying to stay where I could see Thorin, when I noticed a key. I reached down and tried to grab it before it blew away. Maybe it was the key that would free me... Gandalf stood in the midst of the cleared room. The dwarves stood up as he spoke.
"Fight... Fight!" At his call, all Hades broke loose.
In the middle of all the racket, I found the key on the ground nearby. Grabbing it, I set to work, trying to fit the key into the shackles. Fili, having freed himself from his attack, rushed to my side and grabbed the key. Fitting it in the key hole, he unlocked the shackles and helped me to my feet. He passed the key to Thorin, who helped free Skyrena. As soon as she was free, she shifted into a wolf. Thorin caught Fili's arm before he took off.
"Watch over Era!" Fili nodded and grabbed my arm.
"Come on!" I nodded and followed him.
*Skyrena's Pov-
The goblins shrieked and jumped on my back from all sides, trying to stop me. I shifted into my dwarf form and picked up my blade. Almost instantly, I killed off 5 goblins with as much ease as when I was in Mirkwood. It had been so long since I used a blade. Shouldering my quiver and bow, I followed the dwarves and Gandalf, trying to escape this labryinth. Thorin stayed by my side, leading us and seeming to protect me.
Era was lead by Fili, who fought off any goblin who got within 5 feet of her. She stumbled every so often, but Kili helped her stay on her feet. I couldn't help but smile as she lifted her own blade, shouting for the others to keep going. Soon enough, she stumbled and hit the grround. Both Fili and Kili stopped to help her up, but we were all surrounded by goblins.
*Era's Pov-
One of the goblins pushed me from behind, causing me to fall again. This time, just before Fili and Kili help me up, we were surrounded. I swallowed hard as we all froze and waited for a moment. The goblin king smirked at us all.
"What are you going to do now, wizard?" He and Gandalf faced off, the dual ending when Gandalf sliced his throat. "That would do it..." The boards creaked below our feet before the bridge broke, sending us all free falling. When we landed, I rolled off the bridge and brushed myself off, trying to sound calm.
"Is everyone alright?" Bofur shrugged as he caught his breath under the bridge.
"That could have been a lot worse..." Suddenly, the dead goblin king fell onto the bridge, causing it to crash on a few of the dwarves. Dwalin groaned and grumbled.
"You have got to be joking!" I tried not to laugh as I turned to examine the walls. Goblins were crawling down them like insects. Gandalf helped me pull everyone free.
"The only chance we have is the light!" My eyes widened.
"You know the way out!" He nodded as he took off. We all followed, and the light soon shined at the end of the tunnel. As soon as we were out, we didn't stop running until we were a few miles away from the cave. I doubled over, gasping for air, as Gandalf did a head count. Fili came up beside me.
"Are you okay?" I nodded and attempted to stand. My knees locked a little as I nearly hit my knees.
"I don't think I've got enough energy to carry on like this, but I'm okay." Thorin came over, staring at me with relief.
"I'm glad you're okay..." I smiled and lowered my head.
"I'm glad you didn't leave me behind. I'm sure I've been a bit of a burden these last few days..." Balin chuckled as he shook his head.
"Only on our minds, Era... Only on our minds." I smiled until Gandalf started shouting.
"Where's Bilbo?" While the others frowned, Bofur, Skyrena, and I exchanged looks. Finally, Thorin spoke.
"I'll tell you where he is... He turned his back on us and went back to his hearth and books. Our burglar is long gone." I hung my head, feeling horrible. Had Thorin woken to hear our conversation? If so, what else had he heard? Suddenly, Bilbo appeared.
"No! He's right here." I heaved a sigh of relief as the others asked him why he came back. He admitted to being homesick and wanting to go back, but he also said he had something to go back to. "And, that's why I came back. I have a home, and you don't. It was taken from you." He looked at Skyrena, Thorin, and I. "And, I want to help you get it back." I smiled and looked at Thorin, who seemed a little surprised. Before I could say anything, we heard Wargs on the mountain side. Thorin paled aand gulped.
"Out of the frying pan..." Gandalf finished the sentence.
"...And into the fire! Run!"
YOU ARE READING
Run It Back Again (Part 1)
FanfictionFor 45 years, Era has been alone. Upon reaching the Grayhavens, she found that she really was the last shapeshifter. When the elves leave her behind, Era decides that things were better long ago, when she had her mother and her friends. But, she...
