In the Shadow of Mountain Kings

King Under the Mountain

Firiel and Tauriel stood in the center of their pile of bodies, panting as they watched the orcs retreating. As soon as the Eagles had passed overhead to the north, every orc and goblin on that field had stopped fighting, staring after the birds on baited breath. Then, one of their high, ugly horns had blasted through the valley, and every one of them turned to flee. Which only meant one thing.

"I think they did it," Firiel whispered, looking up at Tauriel, "They're retreating. We won."

As Firiel realized it, so did every dwarf on that battlefield. The shouts and cries began to ring out around them, those few who had survived filling the air with their joy and relief, as the armies rushed back into their wormholes. Tauriel couldn't stop herself from giving her halfling friend an open-mouth grin, and she started laughing.

"We won," she giggled, hands on her knees, "We're alive . By Eru..."

Firiel didn't know why, but she too broke down into a fit of giggles, the two women sliding to the ground. They were surrounded by bodies, barely able to stay upright, but they were alive. They had run through hill and dale, mountain and madness, and here they were, alive. Those they loved were alive. It was more than either of them had expected, and the tears soon came with the laughter.

And that was how Legolas found them, giggling and crying with relief on the ground, in the middle of a pile of orc and goblin corpses. He had come running when he saw them lying in the dirt, covered in blood and filth, but slowed when he heard their laughter. He stood over them, bending and blocking the sun from their eyes.

"I take it you two are alright?" he tilted his head, though he was smiling.

"Y-yes," Firiel could barely speak through her chortles, tapping Tauriel's arm, "We're okay, right?"

"Yes, yes," Tauriel cleared her throat, wiping her tears and doing her best not to smile, "We're fine, Legolas. Just fine."

"Then you should stand," Legolas told them, extending a hand, "Enjoy the victory."

Legolas helped them up, and led them towards the gates of Erebor. The elven soldiers had returned with him, and had begun conversing with the dwarves, who welcomed all of them quite merrily. They knew these few elves had remained to fight, and were glad for it, no matter the tension between their people. Firiel saw a dwarf giving one of the guardsmen a mighty slap on the back, and the elf actually started laughing at whatever it was he had said. What a day. They had been ready to murder one another this morning, and now they were getting along. They were alive.

Of the company, Bofur and Bombur found her first, with Balin not far behind. Tauriel headed off with Legolas towards the other elves, as the dwarves came running to their little hobbit.

"Lass!" Bofur cried, arms wide, "You're alive!"

Firiel rushed at them, meeting Bofur for a running hug. Her friend spun half-way around to stay upright, and they were both laughing hysterically.

"As are you!" she squeezed Bofur vigorously, before doing the same to Bombur, "You're all alive! Where are the others?"

"Ori, Nori, and Dori are about, as is Bifur," Balin told her, coming for his own hug, "Óin and Glóin were with Dáin, last I saw. Where is-?"

" Oy, umral! "

Firiel knew that voice. She whipped around from Balin's embrace, and nearly cried when she saw Fíli. He was limping, Kíli supporting him under his arm, but he was most definitely alive. The others were following close behind, tired and worn, with no major wounds. But she barely noticed them. Those blue eyes called to her like the summer sky. She couldn't hear what the others were saying anymore, and took off running.