Fire Has No Mercy, B1

Chapter 17: Hold on!

All they could do was sit there and watch the Black Wizard try to fend off the Wargs as they themselves tried to not get killed.

Gandalf lay on the tree trunk, holding his staff down for Thraina and Kili to dangle over the seemingly neverending drop from the cliff. He looked over at Allassia as she let out a loud yelp. Tears sprung to his old blue eyes, knowing what the Wargs were about to do to her. He then glanced over at Thorin who fought Azog the Defiler as other Orcs watched on. Not being able to continue to watch, he looked down to the Dwarves hanging desperately at the end of his staff.

"Dad, no," Thraina screamed, tears streaming from her eyes.

Kili looked up at him, "Don't let us fall, Gandalf!"

"Just hold on a little longer," he called down.

All hope seeming lost, Kili's grip began slipping from Gandalf's wooden staff. He grunted in effort to hold on longer, but knew it was no use in the long run. He looked down at his crying cousin as she watched her father take the beating of his life.

"It's going to be alright, Thraina," he assured, "We're gonna make it outta this! We all will."

Thraina's teary gaze struck him in the heart. Never had he ever seen her hazel eyes so dull and hopeless.

A brown moth flew past Gandalf. He had to do a double take. Just as he looked down at Kili and Thraina, Kili's grip finally gave way. Gandalf froze as the two screamed, hugging each other tightly as they plummeted to their death.

Suddenly, a large light brown eagle flew beneath them, catching them on its back. He smiled, sighing with relief.

One by one, eagles came to collect the Oakensheild Company. One gently grabbed Thorin in her large talons as he fell to the ground, unconscious. Lastly, a grey eagle - much bigger than the others - grabbed the badly bleeding black wolf in his claws.

"Thorin," Fili called.

No answer came from the Dwarvish King.

Thraina cried into the back of Kili's coat, still hugging him as tightly as they were falling, if not more so.

"He's going to be okay, Thraina," he began, patting her arm comfortingly, "Gandalf will fix him, I'm sure."

"The last thing we did was fight, Kili," she sobbed.

Kili gulped down his tears as he sighed.

•••••

The eagle carrying Thorin carefully placed him on a small mountain top overlooking the lush forest below. Thraina looked at him hopefully, trying to see if he was breathing even though she was quite far from him.

Gandalf's eagle dropped him off first. He rushed to Thorin's side, beginning to silently chant a spell to heal him.

Next, Kili and Thraina jumped off their eagle, running to Thorin who lay on the cold stone. Thraina knelt next to him, tightly grasping his gloved hand in hers.

"Come on, dad," she whispered.

Everyone else gathered around them as Gandalf finished. There were a few moments of silence before Thorin gasped. Everyone sighed with relief.

Thraina hugged him tightly, tears of joy streaming from her eyes. Thorin didn't hesitate to hug back. Kili and Fili helped them up, bright smiles on their faces. However, Thorin's once joyful demeanor darkened once Bilbo caught his eye.

"Dad-"

Thorin held up a hand, cutting off his daughter as he made his way over to the worried Hobbit, who had actually helped save him from the Pale Orc.

"Did I not say that you were a burden? Did I not say you weren't one of us? That you did not belong here," he questioned darkly.

A few moments of tense silence passed before Thorin smiled.

"Never have I been so wrong," he continued, hugging a surprised Bilbo.

Thraina chuckled. Something told her to turn around. When she did, her jaw dropped. A mountain off in the far distance stood on its own in the horizon. She could just make out its snow-capped peak. Her jaw dropped, lost for words as she slapped the person closest to her.

Fili turned to her, only to then get slapped in the face. He grabbed her arm, turning to look in the direction she was staring.

"Oh, what is it no-?! Everyone, look!"

All turned to face the west. There it was, Erebor the Lonely Mountain, in all it's glory.

"Wow," Bilbo breathed, eyes wide.

A bird sounded over head, grabbing everyone's attention.

"Look," Kili began, "A raven!"

Thraina snorted, "That's a Thrush, you numbskull."

Kili glared at her. Thraina poked her tongue at him.

"Well, let's take it as a sign," Thorin stated.

Suddenly, an eagle's screech called from behind them, ruining the moment. They all turned to see the great grey eagle carrying the black wolf in his talons.

"Quickly! Down the mountain," Gandalf ordered.

By the time the company got to the ground, the eagle just set her gently on the grass.

"Thank you, my friend," Gandalf said as the bird took off.

The she-wolf's raspy breaths wheezed in and out of her lungs. Gandalf went up to her face, studying her eyes. Their amber colour now dull, and dulling further, pain filling them. Fili went up to her and placed his hand on her cold dry nose.

"Is there anything you can do, Gandalf?"

Gandalf nodded slowly, "But it won't heal her completely. Being of this size, I can only do this once."

Allassia looked at Gandalf, a whimper escaping her lips.

"However, she has family to get back to," he continued, before adding, "And Wizardry lessons to get back to."

He placed a hand on her right back leg - her broken leg. Her amber eyes suddenly ablaze, her ears pinned back on her head as she yelped. She half rose up to turn and snap at him. The company jumped in fright, Fili falling to the ground.

"Sorry, my dear," Gandalf cringed.

With a huff, Allassia weakly laid on the ground once more as the Grey Wizard began chanting the same spell he did with Thorin.

Everyone's eyes widened as some of her wounds healed to form more deep scars. The bones in her leg snapped and cracked as they came together again. Once Gandalf had finished, Allassia stood, giving him a look.

"Yes, I know. You won't be able to transform back until you've properly healed."

"So, what? Now we have to have this big oaf following us around," Dwalin questioned, "As if we weren't a target enough!"

Allassia growled, stalking up to him until his back was pressed against the mountain, her snarling muzzle just inches from his face. Dwalin shook with fear.

With a shake of her head and a chuff, Allassia laid on her haunches, gesturing her head to her back.

Everyone carefully clamored up to sit on Allassia's back - Gandalf at the front, Balin at the back. Gandalf looked back at everyone.

"Hold on!"

Reflexes kicking in, everyone put their arms around the person in front of them, holding on for dear life as the big black wolf sprinted off into the forest...