The Witch's Destiny || Thranduil

Chapter XXXI

TW: VIOLENCE AND A LITTLE BIT OF GORE

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In the forty-five minutes before the orcs had arrived, Violet felt she had prepared everything as best she could. The orcs arriving two days before they expected was much, much less than ideal, but they had already planned how to fight without the dwarves – who were almost there anyways. Smaug was dead, and she had spared five minutes for her and each of the wizards to levitate his dead body as a way to deter the orcs from entering the Mountain. She couldn't cut them off totally, as that would also effectively cut the easiest and safest way out of Erebor for the dwarves inside as well.

She hid Flufflepuff in his favorite deep, dark corner next to the Arkenstone in her bag. Ideally, she had wanted him far away, and had all intentions of sending him far away, but the animal had refused, digging his claws into her when she tried to grab him that he drew blood. Thranduil had followed her, quickly helping her attach her armour to her person.

"I will not let you out of my sight," he said then, attaching the last straps of the chest plate, "Not if they are thinking of you as one of their main targets."

She shook her head. "We can't make those kinds of promises, my love."

"I made a vow to keep you safe," he argued.

"And you have," Violet argued back, "What is it you told me, not even one hour ago? 'War is unpredictable'."

He sighed deeply. "Just... stay safe. Soon enough, this will be over, and we can go home. Perhaps we can even visit the rest of your family. I would like to meet them." His voice tapered off, and his next words were whispered in desperation and fear. "Please come home to me."

She kissed him deeply, pressing herself as close as their armour would allow. Their breaths were ragged as they devoured each other with a hunger and the knowledge that this could be their last. Neither had the desire to let go of the other, but they had to, and each stepped back with force.

"I love you," she said, lifting a hand to his face and caressing the cheek that was scarred.

"I love you," he replied, leaning into her touch.

Next, she had sent Belegmorroch off to find the dwarves, with a note attached to him that essentially told them to speed up as much as possible.

She hoped Dáin listened.

The army was set up just as they had planned. Thranduil had already sent the archers to the western ridge days ago, when he was delegating each archer company's position. The ones to be stationed in Dale she had sent off herself a few minutes ago. And the ones that would remain with Thranduil and the main army were behind her.

And that led her here.

Her body was tensed, awaiting the orcs that she could now hear. Draco was on her left, stood in the middle of their group. Harry was on her right, while Hermione and Ron both stood to Draco's left. Bouncing on her heels, she could feel her body buzzing as she looked to Dale. She could see none of the elves that were there, and while she thought it would terrify her, it gave her comfort instead. That meant the orcs couldn't see them either. She looked to the eastern ridge that was behind her next. No sight of elves there, not even Thranduil who would be sat atop Bathor's back.

She knew he was watching her like a hawk, though.

There was no sight of elves on the western ridge either, but there was the first sight of orcs. Bolg was leading them proudly, and even from their front lines she could tell they would be outnumbered. The question of 'how much' remained to be seen still. Regardless, it wasn't enough to dampen their odds of winning by very much, especially with reinforcements close by.