Golden Thrones and Moonlight Veils (HOBBIT FANFICTION)

The Great Eagles

Talessa ran as fast as she could. She heard branches breaking behind them, the wargs' growls growing closer. She tried hard to focus on the terrain ahead, but it was difficult to spot the protruding roots, loose stones, and holes. She kept stumbling, her skirts tangling around her legs, but Ýrdor was there, pulling her upright and dragging her along when she faltered. Eline, faster and stronger, had already gotten ahead, and Talessa was infinitely relieved for that. The sun was sinking fast, and the trees' thick foliage filtered out what little light remained.

Sounds of fighting reached her from up ahead, and she heard Gandalf's voice commanding them to climb the trees. Everything felt distant. Then she fell, hitting the ground hard, trying to brace herself with her hands. A beast's growl rumbled above her, and as she rolled onto her back, she was met with the sight of a warg's enormous fangs. Its foul breath hit her, and before it could bite, a flash of movement appeared in the corner of her eye—Ýrdor was upon the beast, his sword slashing through its side with practiced ease. But another warg was already attacking him.

Talessa scrambled to her feet, backing away in fear. She saw a third warg approaching behind Ýrdor, this one with a rider on its back. Before she could shout a warning, the rider—a cruel-looking orc—thrust his sword into Ýrdor's back. Frozen in shock, Talessa watched as the elf fell to his knees, his eyes hollow. The orc turned his gaze to her.

Panicking, she spun to flee but ran straight into a blue-gray warg, its fur lighter than the others she had seen. Dread filled her as she looked up to meet the eyes of a pale orc. His face contorted into a malicious grin.

"Look at what we have here," he sneered in the common tongue, his accent thick and twisted. Before Talessa could react, the orc hauled her up onto the warg, holding her tightly.

"And who might you be?" he asked mockingly, ripping her veil from her head to scrutinize her face. He let out a harsh, cruel laugh before tossing the veil back onto her.

"The half-elven lady of Rohan," he said, and all the blood drained from Talessa's face. Does he know her somehow?

She squirmed, trying to break free, but the orc's grip was unyielding. They began moving forward, and in the distance, she could see more wargs circling trees, trying to climb and leap. The dwarf company was barely holding on.

"I killed your parents, girl," the pale orc continued, his voice filled with malice. "They came too close to my den, so I ripped them apart. I'll never forget your mother—such beauty. But she screamed so harshly when I finished off her husband. You look just like her." He leaned in and took a long, revolting sniff of her neck. "Your fear smells just like hers."

Talessa barely registered his words, her world spinning. The image of her parents, their eyes weeping blood, filled her vision. She had a sinking feeling they'd tried to warn her of this all along. If she had stayed at home, none of this would've happened. Eline would be safe. What would Eline's parents think if their daughter never returned? What would the household think?

"I will keep you," the orc said, his voice dripping with malice. "Once I've finished with this dwarf scum, I'll take you to Weathertop Hill. It'll be a pleasure to break your pretty face... slowly. Until you beg for death."

Talessa turned her head away, numb, catching the scent of burning wood. She realized the dwarves had only one tree left, hanging at an odd angle over a cliff. The fire held back the wargs for now. She counted the dwarves and felt a sliver of relief—they were all still alive.

Eline's frantic scream pierced through the battle, calling her name. Talessa spotted her friend, clutching a branch of the tilted tree. But before she could respond, the pale orc spoke again, this time in Orkish. Though she couldn't understand his words, she realized he was addressing Thorin Oakenshield. It hit her then: this orc was Azog, the one who had killed Thorin's grandfather and her own parents.