Orcs streamed into the city, a nightmare horde sweeping through the streets in rusted metal armor, holding crudely made weapons. A bloodlust miasma hung in the air creating an oppressive atmosphere.

I crouched on a high wall, Aelfric beside me. He fired an arrow, striking one of the monsters in the neck. It dropped dead, its corpse immediately stampeded by the others.

With my arm still in its sling Legolas had ordered me to avoid close combat for as long as I could. With the elven, dwarf, and human armies outside the city, there were only a handful to defend the city. With half of the Orc army battling in the valley it'd be some time before our allies could get to us.

Everything relied on us until then.

No pressure or anything.

Aelfric took out two more Orcs in rapid succession. "You are remarkably calm." He drew back the string near his mouth and fired again. "Are you not frightened?"

"I'd be crazy not to be." I acceded, deliberately ignoring the tremors running through my limbs. "However, now isn't the time to fall apart."

Our strategic demolition created a minefield of blocked alleyways and narrow streets, forcing the enemy to split up in smaller numbers. When the next Orc fell from Aelfric's deadly aim ten sets of orange eyes lifted to our perch.

Two versus ten.

Showtime.

I picked up a makeshift Molotov cocktail from a basket at my feet and lit the fuse with the torch and hurled it at the Orcs below.

The explosion rumbled the foundation of the wall forcing me to bend my knees to keep my balance. Fire roared in the street, devouring the group of Orcs.

When the smoke cleared a few were still alive, on fire. Their ululating shrieks raised the hairs on the back of my neck, and I was unable to suppress a shiver. There's something disturbing about watching something burn alive, even evil monsters like Orcs. Taking life chipped away pieces of my soul in a way I doubted to recover from.

The scent of burnt hair and cooking flesh made me nauseous. I breathed shallowly but didn't turn away, bearing witness to the death I'd wrought.

Aelfric seemed mildly impressed by the results. "Combining wine with the cooking oil was an ingenious idea."

I shrugged nonchalantly, hiding how unsettled I felt. "People in my world have been inventing new ways to kill each other for thousands of years." Hurling another Molotov, I struck at the center of a group of Orcs storming into view. They were engulfed by smoke and flame. "Besides, you were the one who built them. I didn't."

For all their wisdom elves were too honorable to conceive of something like a bomb on their own. Humans were much more practical.

I was just glad they were working, for the most part. Protecting the non-fighters from slaughter was the only thing that mattered.

Aelfric and I chipped away at their numbers like an artist chipped away at stone. The elf fired his last arrow and sagged against the wall, out of breath.

"I didn't think an elf could get winded." I panted, collapsing beside him when we had a lull in battle.

The corners of his lips curved with humor. "My lady, even elves require rest. Especially I, who is not accustomed to being at the forefront of a battle."

"I'm out of cocktails and you're out of arrows. What now?"

Heaving himself to a low crouch, Aelfric peered over the wall at the armies battling in the valley. "We hope our allies make haste to our aid."

The elves had cut a swath through the Orcs and were steadily closing in on the city thanks to the dwarves who divided the attention of the enemy.

Sweat dripped down my forehead as I watched Bard break through and charge through the main gate with a few hardy fishermen in his wake. "Looks like help is on the way." I dragged the back of my hand over my forehead. "Maybe we should go down and join them?"

Aelfric opened his mouth to reply, when the wall swayed violently beneath us. I grasped his shoulder for balance, heart in my throat. "What's going on?"

The elf scanned the street below and found no cause for the tremor. He returned his focus to outside the city. "Troll." One long finger pointed at a hulking shape lumbering toward the city at a run, a hunk of rock affixed to its head.

"What's it doing?" I gasped, tightening my hold on Aelfric. "Its not going to-"

The troll slammed into the wall. Blocks of stone collapsed beneath its weight. The wall jostled violently, the stone cracking and breaking apart. I launched myself at Aelfric just as it collapsed beneath my feet.

My momentum was too great and pitched us over the side. The healer's reflexes kicked in and he spun us in midair, taking the brunt of the impact of our landing. We rolled, tumbling amid the Orc bodies and debris until we crashed into a pile of rubble.

Pain was muted by adrenaline, but I felt something go in my shoulder and my leg. Moaning, I tried to lift my head and failed.

Roaring, the troll lumbered in our direction, beady eyes fixed where we lay. Aelfric stirred slowly with a moan, his eyelashes fluttering.

I patted the elf's face. "Aelfric, wake up!"

A shadow fell over us, blocking out the weak sunlight. I swore as looked up into the troll's ugly face.

Raising an anvil-sized fist, the troll punched down toward the elf. Frantic, I yanked the canister from my pocket and sprayed the troll in the face.

Rearing back, the troll screeched, clamping its massive hands over its eyes.

Sooner or later I knew the mace would come in handy.

The troll lashed out. I lunged side to side to avoid the clumsy blows, not noticing its foot until it crashed into my hip, sending me careening into a wall. Fire raced through my body as I slowly slid to the ground. Through blurry vision, I saw Aelfric climb to his feet and hurl a dagger at the troll.

The blade sliced through the creature's exposed throat, the gash opening in a torrent of black blood. Aelfric side-stepped the splatter, rushing to my side as the troll's body landed behind him with a final thud that shook the street.

"My lady?" Aelfric carefully turned me over, laying me out on my back. The line of his left shoulder was out of place, dislocated from the fall. He paid his condition no mind and examined me. "We need to get you somewhere safe?"

A bitter laugh spilled from my lips. "Safe? We are overrun." I shook my head. "With that troll our fortifications won't mean a damn thing!"

"Not true, you have fought well, my lady." He cupped my cheek gently. "Now, it is time to rest. Your leg is broken and your shoulder is out of joint."

"But the others...." I faltered and swallowed around the dry lump in my throat. "Thorin, Fili, and Kili will die if I'm not there to stop it!"

Aelfric's green eyes widened for a second. "What have you foreseen?"

My head sank back to the ground. "Nothing. I'm useless." My friends were going to die and I couldn't stop it! I banged my fist on the stone, ignoring the pain throbbing in my knuckles and the pain that echoed through the rest of my body. I'd feel the full effects soon enough. "I went through all this hell only to fail when it mattered." I whispered, my vision blurring again, this time with tears.

Aelfric jostled me. "Tell me what is to come to pass, and I will see that aid is provided."

I blinked back tears and stared up at him in disbelief. "What are you saying?"

Clenching his jaw, fierce determination filled his eyes. "I will go myself if necessary."

"Why? You aren't fond of dwarves."

"They are your friends and I do not wish to see your heart broken." Leaning forward, Aelfric rested his forehead against mine. "Tell me, and I will go to them if you but command me."

His face was so close to mine, I couldn't look away from his eyes, noticing the intensity of their color, as vivid as crushed emeralds. His lips softened as he looked at me, his sweet breath caressing my cheek.

I closed my eyes for a second. "Alright."

Rallying, I sat up, sliding my arm over his shoulder and cupped the nape of his neck. "Another army is coming from Gundabad. Their plan is to hit us from both sides. Thorin will take a small unit to face Azog, ignorant of this plan. They are led into a trap. Fili dies first. Kili dies saving Tauriel. Legolas turns up and saves her from Bolg but no one is there when Thorin battles Azog. He kills the Orc but it also costs him his life."

Aelfric listened intently to every single detail. I relayed everything I could remember scouring my memory for every scrap of information, relieved to finally spill the truth. To share the burden.

His gaze hardened as he absorbed every detail. "I will remember. Now, let me get you to a safe place." Without waiting for my reply, Aelfric hoisted me into his arms, sliding one beneath my knees and bracing the other against my back.

The elf released a soft grunt, the only sign his dislocated shoulder was paining him. His jaw clenched and his eyes glittered as he carried me through the streets, dodging the chaos until we reached the Great Hall, only to find it largely emptied save for a handful of elderly folks.

As he lowered me onto a cot, I recalled a critical piece of information. I clutched his fingers. "Radagast the Brown and Beorn will be coming from the East astride eagle back."

Aelfric nodded and pulled a faded gray blanket over my shoulders. "I would remain and tend you if I could, so please hold on until the battle is over."

I summoned a smile, concealing the agony I was in. "I look forward to your return."

Aelfric leaned over me and kissed me softly on the forehead and in a blink was gone.

OoO

Aelfric sprinted through the streets cutting down every Orc that crossed his path. Healer though he might be, like every inhabitant of Thranduil's halls he was trained in battle. He wielded his daggers like an extension of his arms, none of the filth of Sauron was a match for him.

In the distance he spotted horned mountain goats, the hardy breed dwarves favored, climbing the rocky precipice where a tattered battle flag, whipped in the wind.

Incredibly, it was exactly as Adelaide described. Thorin had taken a small group of dwarves to confront Azog the Defiler unaware of the trap laid for them. He ran faster, catching a flash of white out of the corner of his eye.

Aelfric ran toward Legolas who swung into the saddle of his white mare. "My prince, if you are going after the dwarves allow me to accompany you!"

"Tauriel has gone to rescue them alone!" Legolas grabbed the reins. "What news have you, my lord?"

Aelfric swung up behind him without asking for further permission. "I shall tell you on the way, we cannot delay."

The mare flew through the narrow streets unimpeded. Aelfric told his prince everything. Legolas listened without interrupting until he finished.

The prince was resigned. "If I am destined to slay Bolg then I will. What will you do?"

The battle in the city was winding down, the enemy forces struggling to slay the combined forces of elves, dwarves, and men.

A strand of golden hair blew into his eyes. The three races had always been strongest together. To think their ages long bond had been broken for greed. Aelfric hoped that after the battle was over the wounds would heal and they would be friends once more.

"I will go to Thorin Oakenshield and his kin and join them in battle against Azog." Aelfric replied at last.

They reached the foot of the broken tower, its crown shrouded by an impenetrable fog. Aelfric dismounted, a faint throb in his shoulder joint. He dismissed it.

Legolas clasped his forearm. "May you find victory in the battle ahead, mellon."

Aelfric returned his fierce smile. "Go swiftly, and may your arrow aim true."

The elves parted company. Legolas took the mare north. Aelfric climbed the tower, the drums of war lashing down the chiseled walls of the tunnel as he ran.

Spotting the light ahead, Aelfric dashed out of the tunnel in time to see a young blond dwarf in the grasp of a tall, scarred Orc, with a missing limb. Azog. The bridge between towers had been broken, a wide deep gulf now existed between them.

On another ledge beside Aelfric was Thorin and a handful of older dwarves who were forced to watch helplessly as Azog taunted them.

The blond was the first of Thorin's line destined to die this day at Azog's hand. Aelfric's mouth thinned. He could feel the watchful gaze of the Valar upon him as readied to challenge fate's hand.

Flipping the dagger in his left hand, Aelfric hurled it at Azog. The blade drilled into the Orc's shoulder, forcing him to release the dwarf.

"Fili!" A dark-haired youth roared frantically as the dwarf plummeted over the edge.

The young one tumbled to the level below, crashing hard on the ledge beneath the other dwarf. Aelfric assessed his condition in a glance. He was injured but would live.

With a savage grin, Azog pulled Aelfric's dagger slowly from his shoulder and pointed the tip at Aelfric. "Elf!" He spat and said something in Black Speech.

Black blood dripped from the dagger's steel edge. Aelfric ignored the taunt, scanning his surroundings for a way across. There was none. Time was running out. He singled out the other young dwarf. "You! The archer!"

The dark-haired dwarf's head whipped around. He stared at the healer with fearful eyes.

"The prince comes to Tauriel's aid. Do not risk yourself heedlessly against the orc known as Bolg."

"How do you know this?" The dwarf demanded.

"You have no reason to trust me. Know this, these words come from Lady Adelaide herself! She has seen the future and if you do not listen you will perish!" Aelfric volleyed back, irritated with the dwarf's stubbornness.

The blond dwarf rolled over slowly on his side. "Kili, listen to him. Adelaide would not lie to us, not about this." Pale blue eyes caught Aelfric's. "My gratitude for your aid...and your warning to my brother...friend." The last word sounded slightly uncertain.

Aelfric pressed his hand to his chest and bowed his head then dashed back down the corridor, heading down another branch. The watch towers were a confusing maze. He had never been here, not even before Dale's destruction.

The minutes flew by and just when Aelfric was considering a different approach, he reached the end of a short tunnel and came out on a frozen river of ice. It had taken him so long to find the way Thorin was already battling Azog.

Azog lost his footing and slid into the water beneath ice. Thorin walked slowly, following the floating Orc. Orcrist gleamed in his hand.

Aelfric spotted Legolas engaged with Bolg, wielding only his dagger against the powerful Orc.

Roaring, Azog exploded from the ice, knocking Thorin to his back. He slammed his heel into the dwarf's middle pinning him to the ice.

Skidding over the ice, Aelfric swept out his leg behind Azog's knees forcing the Orc off-balance. Thorin used the opportunity to surge to his feet and plunge Orcrist into Azog's heart.

The Dwarf King had emerged triumphant and alive.

Resting his hands on his knees, Aelfric was suddenly exhausted. He caught Thorin's gaze and the dwarf inclined his chin in gratitude.

Tilting his head back, Aelfric smiled as a flock of eagles flew across the sky, a wizard and a skin-changer on their backs and....

He frowned spotting a tall elderly man in blue robes riding in formation between the first two.

Who was he?

A/N: Phew, this chapter drained me but I wanted to get it done. I hope you liked it. Aelfric proved to be more useful than either any of you or I expected.