Saving Durin {Hobbit/Thorin}

Chapter 15: "One Doesn't Simply" charge Azog without back-up...oh wait..he did.

Chapter 15:

"One Doesn't Simply" charge Azog without back-up...oh wait...

Ya he did.

And thus, we are running...and running...and running. Down the mountain, we travel as a pack to an unknown destination. My eyes wander over to Gandalf, hoping he has a plan for our escape. However, his eyes hold the same fear as the rest of the company. It is not reassuring, that I can tell you.

The pounding of warg paws becomes louder with each elongated second of our sprint, forcing me to run faster than ever before. Around us, the sky quietly fades into a gentle night as the chase continues. Just as I begin to believe that we will be running forever, the company reaches a dead-end, in the form of a cliff. I then realize that escape is futile.

Turning around, I notice a warg's approach behind Bilbo, who is in too much of a panic to recognize the danger. My blood runs cold at the sight.

"Bilbo! Watch out!" I shout to my hobbit, horrified as I realize I am too far away to help him. To mine, and surely his, relief Bilbo impales the enemy on accident. It collapses to the ground in death. I have no time to breath a sigh of relief as the wargs continue to circle us. We take out the enemies that draw too close, but for no purpose, as we are trapped.

"This may be a good time for a plan, Gandalf," my voice yells over the chaos to the wizard. I acknowledge the nodding of his head before turning my attention back to the growing enemy presence.

"Up into the trees, all of you! Come on, climb! Bilbo, climb!" Gandalf commands the company. It may not be the best of plans, but it is better than serving ourselves up as a warg buffet here on the ground.

I jump into the tree that is closest to the cliff, using my phoenix strength to hoist me onto one of the higher branches. My small weight works to my advantage as I am able to sit comfortably on a thin branch near the tree's top. From where I sit, my eyes can see for miles in all directions. The Misty Mountains lay to the West, and Mirkwood to the East. The deep clouds still lie over the mountains, and the dark woods of the elven homeland reach heavenward. I would take greater appreciation of the sight if the company's lives weren't sitting on the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and we will fall...to the ruin of Durin.

The dwarves follow my lead; up into the trees, they climb. Within seconds, only Bilbo is left on the ground, as he attempts to remove his sword from the warg's skull.

"They're coming!" Thorin yells from my right, though we all can see the approaching mass of wargs and orcs. Bilbo, finally pulling the sword from the warg, scrambles up the nearest tree as wargs bite at his toes. I witness Gandalf, close by, calling for the eagles, my friends, through a moth messenger.

But what really shocks me is the sight that lies straight in front of my eyes. There rides my long-time enemy, Azog, upon the white warg, looking as bloodthirsty and terrifying as ever. The white beast makes giant strides towards our "hiding-places," drawing close within a few paces. Thorin's face bears a look of shock and denial as he looks upon his "dead" grandfather's murderer. Yes, I knew the pale orc was alive, though never told Thorin, hoping to save him from the pain found in truth. Oftentimes, lies and ignorance elongate sanity.

"Azog?!" Thorin questions his eyesight. Fear and sorrow flash in his eyes, dulling the normal sapphire color to that of the misty sky.

"Nuzdigid? Nuzdi gast? {Do you smell it? The scent of fear?} I remember your father reeked of it, Thorin son of Thrain," Azog says. I know that my face now mirrors that of Thorin's. Thrain, my beloved father...dead. My knowledge regarding Azog acknowledges that Thrain probably suffered before his ultimate demise. It is a painful reminder, but gives me strength. I will get my revenge, for Azog has now killed both of my fathers.