Angels on the Moon (A Hobbit Fanfiction)

Chapter 37

ALISSYANNA POV

"Where are we going?"

"Father had news, urgent news he felt too important to share with me."

"But you're his second!"

"Exactly." The flight was much shorter than the journey to Laketown had been, we arrived two evenings after, ready to rest, eat, and bathe. We were denied all three. Borim had met us at the gate, he was dressed in armor, the thick leather stretched across his broad chest had just been shined, as had the axe in his hand.

We entered the throne room, Sadeon and Jarin were bent over a table, several maps and tomes spread across it. They seemed in deep concentration, but not deep enough to keep them from grinning upon seeing Ali. Carak strode into the room at the same time, arms full of scrolls and leather bound books.

"What, pray tell, was so important you forced Ulric to drag me from my quest."

"He's back." Jarin offered her a glass of water, she gratefully accepted.

"He? Who's He?" Ali tipped her glass back.

"Sauron." Glass sprayed the floor. Ulric's face twisted in horror.

"No, this is a mistake no, Father you-"

"I am certain, I have received work from one Gandalf the Grey, said he's a friend of yours."

"Sauron?"

"Yes."

"That's not good..." Ali's voice trailed off.

"No shit." Borim spat, leafing through a book in search of something.

"What are you looking for?"

"Any history of ours that will help kill him-" Carak began.

"There's no way. The only way to destroy him is by destroying the ring and seeing as though it's been lost for centuries, that not bloody likely." Ulric barked, his tone angrier than it had been in years.

"Why does it matter anyways? Aren't we on the same side?"

"It matters," Carak rose to his full height, towering over even Ulric. "Because when he runs out of elves to kill, of humans, dwarves, he will look to the only remaining people." Borim stared for a moment too long. "US you blithering idiot!"

"And without the ring," Sadeon started.

"We can't kill him." Jarin finished slamming closed a book.

At that precise moment, a small incubus clambered through the door, his thin form shaking with exhaustion. He raced toward the table bowing clumsily to us. Quickly he handed Carak a note and began briefing them.

"This was sent by Glux, an army scout, he noticed some unusual activity on the border and-"

"Leave us." Carak ordered. The demon bowed rushing back out of the room. Father unfolded the paper, eyes flitting over the message before slowly meeting mine.

"What? What is it?" I questioned.

"An army of Orcs marches this way."

"Orcs?" Jarin and Sadeon moved to read the message over his shoulders.

"They are heading to the mountain." My breath caught in my throat.

"Of course." Ulric's quiet whisper almost echoed in the silence of the room. "It all makes sense." He pulled a map of Middle-Earth from below the stack of scrolls. "If he claimed Erebor, he'd have a secured stronghold in the North."

"And a dragon." Jarin remarked.

"And a fuckton of money." Sadeon added.

"But the dragon is dead, he has no allies." I shook my head, not believing what I was hearing.

"With that position, he could easily wipe out Thranduil and his people." Carak bent over the map.

"And then of course move west, Lorien, Imladris," Borim pointed out the locations.

"He'd have the entire western world." Ulric looked up from the map.

"I'm gonna be sick." I fell to my knees as a wave of nausea washed over me. Father knelt beside me, his arm encircling my shoulders. He excused my brothers, but none of them moved.

"Ali, did you really thing you could hide that babe forever?"

"It's not that." My voice cracked, tears stung my eyes. "All my friends are there. My claimed, the father to this babe." I choked back a sob. "I can't fight them all."

"That's why we're here." Borim knelt before me, taking my hands in his. His unusual act of tenderness was almost uncomfortable, but I said nothing.

"But what about here? Who will protect your home?"

"Hey, ye of little faith, this isn't our first battle." Jarin smirked.

"Yeah, we've led dozens of campaigns across the heavens, did a lot of damage too!"

"Of all things to be proud of that is not one." Father couldn't help his smile. "I told you to leave them intact."

"And they were!"

"Sort of..."

"The point is," Ulric knelt beside me. "We are here for you." A horn blasted in the watch tower.

"They're here."

"Why are they attacking us?" Ulric questioned.

"Because," I rose to my feet. "The army is undoubtedly led by Azog and his spawn,"

"Bolg, that little filth." Borim growled. "He nearly killed me on our last go around."

"If they are attacking then they know you are here, you must leave." Carak rose to his feet, drawing a great broadsword from his hip. "I will follow you to the edge of the wood, from there you must make haste. Warn the others. Go. Hurry!" I sped off out the front door, dodging arrow after arrow.