Run It Back Again (Part 2)

Chapter 44

"Era, you can stop Sauron..."  I smiled as I looked up at Fili.

"But I can't do it alone, cousin."  He smiled as his eyes glowed gold with the energy that he would use to shift.

"You won't be..."  With that, he lunged over my head and at Kili, who had sleeked behind us.

I backed away, growling and eyeing Mother and Father.  Both roared as they flanked Sauron, who was watching me as I smiled a little while Mother swatted at me when I got to close.  Finally, he roared at them.

"Stop them!  Stop them both!"  Kili, Mother, and Father charged, roaring as they changed into wolves.  Fili braced himself, but I knew we wouldn't be able to face them alone.  Sensing motion to my right, I turned and saw Boromir.

"We have your back, Era...  Work your magic."  I nodded and closed my eyes.

Immediately, I saw all the figures around me, each with a different color aurora around them, based on the nature of their energy and how it was used.  The first one I approached was Kili, who's form was tangled with Fili's.  I roared and attacked him, knocking his energy away from Fili.  Taking a deep breath, I reached out and curled my fingers into a fist around the red aurora, yanking it from him as I would a blanket.  Red dust dispersed from his energy, and I released it.  When I opened my eyes, Kili looked as though he had just woken up.

"Where...?  What...?"  I smiled.

"You're a shapeshifter, and you were under a spell."  He turned and looked towards Mother and Father, who were fighting Fili and Boromir.

"Who's next?"  I thought for a moment before answering.

"Father..."  He nodded and lunged to Boromir's aid.

I closed my eyes and started to focus in on Father's energy, but a large amount of the red energy was approaching me.  I braced myself, blocking my own energy from it and continued to focus on Father's.  Just before I could reach it, I opened my eyes and cried out, gasping for air.  Behind me stood Sauron, both his forearms wrapped around my neck, choking me.

"You won't win, shapeshifter!  Not this time!"  Calming myself, I took a deep breath and held it in, ignoring the crushing pain.

I instantly focused in on Father's energy and reached out for it.  Shaking it the same way I shook Kili's, I withdrew and opened my eyes, not waiting to see if it worked.  I released my breath and began struggling to free myself from Sauron's grasp.  However, the more I moved, the tighter his grip became.  Before long, I couldn't get a single breath in or see straight.  I knew I was beat...

"NO!"  Something, or someone, blindsided Sauron, sending us sprawling.  As soon as I was free, I gasped for air, trying to catch my breath, shaking as I rose to my hands and knees.  Beside me, someone knelt.  "Era..."  I looked up and found myself face to face with Father.  "Are you alright?"  I shook as I tried to stand, nodding.

"Yes..."  He helped me to my feet and smiled.

"I'm so sorry, Era.  I thought Sauron was going to hurt you through the vision...  If I had know what would come next, I...  I..."  A series of angry roars cut him short as I stood.

"I have to free Mother.  After that, we can deal with Sauron..."  Father shook his head at me.

"No, Era...  Let me deal with her."  I looked him in the eye.

"She's under a spell, Father.  She only sees what Sauron wants her to see.  I have to shake off the spell."  He huffed and nodded.

"Then do it...  I'll protect you."  I smiled at him as I closed my eyes.

Focusing on Mother's energy, I reached out and yanked at it, but nothing happened.  Instead, the red tried to rub off on me.  I backed off and opened my eyes.  Mother was staring right at me, growling, as Sauron rose to his feet.

"You'll never manage, young halfling shapeshifter.  I'll see to that..."  With that, Mother lunged for me, knocking aside Fili, Kili, and Boromir.  Father's eyes widened as he leaped out of the way.

"Run, Era!"  I shifted into a falcon and flew up into the air, weaving in and out of the mess of dragons around me.  However, I couldn't shake Mother off.

I flew, my heart pounding as I considered what had happened.  Mother taught me how to block anyone from attacking my energy...  Which meant that she must have been doing the same and sensed me when I tried to free her from the spell.  Which meant that Sauron noticed, too, and was using her to attack me in order to make sure he got me, too.  However, I knew how to get around the energy block...  Physical contact.

I flew up higher and higher, waiting for Mother's angry roars to get closer and closer.  When she was right behind me, I shifted into a huge eagle and nose dived at me.  Right when I collided with her, I shifted into my dwarf form and began to absorb her energy.  She roared and reared back, flying and trying to shake me off.  However, I only absorbed the red part of her energy, releasing it into the bright red sky, where it dispersed.

Soon, she nose dived at the ground, roaring weakly in defeat.  I held on until all the red was gone, then, I released her, shifting back into a eagle.  Catching her in my talons, I eased her to the ground and shifted back, checking to see if she was alright.  Father, Fili, Kili, and Boromir rushed over to us.  Kneeling down beside her, Father checked her for wounds and smiled.

"She'll be alright...  She's just low on energy."  I nodded, trying to catch my breath, and looked back towards Sauron, who was coming for us.

"She needs protected."  Father looked up at me, frowning.

"You don't mean you're...?"  When I didn't respond, he rose to his feet, towering over me.  "No.  It's too dangerous."  I stared him down.

"I have to...  I'm the only one, with the exception of Mother, who has full control over my shifts as well as a good idea on what I can do.  If any of you tried it, there's no telling what could happen.  Besides, you're all low on energy.  I have enough energy for a few more minor shifts and then some."  When he started to protest, I shook my head.  "I have to do this, Father.  I'm the only one who can..."  Finally, he nodded.

"Very well, but be careful."  I nodded and turned away from him, running right towards Sauron.