Bring On The Wonder[Thorin Oakenshield]

Chapter Eighteen: A Long Night Ahead

It had only been a couple of hours since the company had barely escaped Azog and what was left of his pack of hounds. Bella was still unconscious, resting against Fili's chest. The Dwarf had ran over to her once the eagles started swooping in and taking out the Pale Orc's reinforcements. Fili could feel the top layer of his clothing, already soaked with Bella's blood that was running from her head injury. Kili hadn't let go of the young woman's hand since they had been lifted into the air on the back of the eagle, praying she would make it through the night but even as dawn approached he felt her hand go slack in his.

Fili was looking around frantically for the eagle who carried his uncle and finally found him up ahead. "Thorin!" Bella even though she was unconsciousness, she could faintly hear the sound of Fili's voice calling in desperation for his uncle. Once Gandalf was sure they were far enough from Azog and his ferocious beast's he gave signal for the eagles to drop them off on a unique rock that was oddly in the shape of bear, with stone steps leading down, surrounded by a river, it was better known as Carrock.

The eagles began circling above the rock. Thorin was the first to be placed on the rock and he laid their with no sign of movement. The Wizard was the next to reach the rock and climbed off the eagle and rushed over to Thorin's still form. Bilbo was just approaching as Gandalf called yet for a second time Thorin's name and he received no answer. The wizard placed a hand over the Dwarf's face and whispered an incantation. The leader eye's opened, blinking a few times to see he was no longer on the battlefield. Thorin thought back to the last thing he saw before everything went completely dark and his form went tense. " Bella?" his voice sounding rough as he asked. Gandalf looked up at the eagles as they continued to drop off the other members and flashed Thorin a sympathetic look and the Dwarf feared something worse had become of her after he fell unconscious. Hiding the pain he was in, the Dwarf forced himself to stand up, Dwalin came to his aid, seeing him struggling and he was shoved off. Thorin searched amongst his men and saw his two nephews were not among them. He was about to demand what happen to them when the last eagle landed behind the company. Fili jumped off first and the two brothers carefully carried her body off the back of the eagle and placed her on the ground.

Blood, that's all Thorin saw as he looked down at her still form. He hardly recognized her when Kili moved the strands of hair off her bloody face from the brutal orc attack. The young dwarf started shaking her by the shoulders, calling her name to wake her up, but she made no movement. Thorin was so lost in his own thoughts as to why the young woman had risked her life to protect him when she was already wounded because of his own doing and now because of it, it may of just cost her, her own life. Still in a daze, the leader barely felt someone shove by him as Oin came to Bella's side shoving Fili out of the way to look her over.

The company stood their in silence for the longest time, for Oin to tell them the final status of their friend. "Sh..she's dead isn't she?" Ori choked out.

" No, she's not dead!" Kili snapped. "Oin do something!"

"Laddie, I'm afraid they'res nothing I can do. She's lost too much blood. She most like passed on during the night. I'm sorry laddie." Oin pressed, placing a gentle hand on Kili's shoulder but he brushed it off. Thorin felt a lump in his throat. She was dead because of his doing. It was his fault she had been tortured by the goblins because he refused to reveal their intentions. It was his fault for the brutal attacked she received for protecting him for a second time. She risked her life for him and this is how he repaid her? By letting her die.

The dwarves slowly turned and walked away to mourn the loss of their friend. Bilbo could barely contain the tears that were coming down his face. Bella had been his friend since the beginning and the thought of her not continuing on with them sadden him. Thorin hadn't taken his eyes off her. Was this really happening? He whirled around and looked at the wizard. " Save her." He ordered.