The beast's head lifts into the sky and he lets out a furious roar that stretches my ear drums to the max. His wings splash up water as he spreads them out over the lands and brings them down, pushing the air under us and pulling his legs from the lake of fire that burns out once his foot leaves the waves.

We are plunged into the air with the mighty wings of a city-sized monster pulling us towards the clouds. He roars again, tasting the air of the world he hasn't known for over sixty-five years.

Legolas is secure to the left of me with a hand at my waist for my benefit I suppose, because I am not as balanced as elves...

Smaug lifts higher and higher until we reach the low clouds, lighting cracking in the sky to the left of us about a mile away, sending the thunder mixed with the sound of the dragon's wings into an earthquake in the sky.

We soar over Middle Earth faster than I could ever imagine.

And soon we see men, elves, and dwarves gathered on the plains of Rhovanion; four armies ready to taste orc blood.

As we get closer I can imagine them terrified, but I can't tell from this height. Smaug circles around them and faces north. I wave my hand across the sky to open the portal, a wormhole in space creating an illusion of another world; one that is reachable.

It stretches out so wide it looks like a backdrop. From here we can see the tower of Sauron and his army that take residence in the city of ash.

The red glow from the setting sun leaves a sinister feel on the black and grey clouds as we gaze in front. But no more hesitation. I'm finishing this.

I lean forward to let Smaug bring his wings in as we charge for the portal, the dragon calling out in a roar of terror as we fly over our army.

Then soldiers of Rohan, Gondor, Rivendell, Lothlórien, Mirkwood, Rhûn, and Erebor collide from where they stand, and follow me, into the darkness to spread the fires of white into the heart of Morgoth.

Battle cries even more fearsome than the ones that rang in our ears at the Battle of the Black Gate roar through the wind of the hills of Middle Earth and into a city of Earth.

The orcs below are caught in an unexpected attack from us and are run down by the seven armies have become one.

I can hear the ground shake with their footsteps like thunder in the sky.

When my focus returns to ahead of me I realize Smaug is headed straight for the huge tower that is small in diameter compared to him.

The dragon roars and speeds to structure like a raging fire in the wind.

I clutch onto his horn as he charges straight forward then hold my breath as Smaug roars into the air furiously and misses the tower by a hair from his head, letting his wing smash into it like it was a house of cards, shattering the skyscraper to huge pieces that blow into the air and fall on the orcs beneath.

My head was down but I lift it to see the orcs emerging from the buildings and from the streets and colliding with our army of silver, brown, and gold.

Legolas has taken the sniper rifle from his back and is taking out the orcs firing arrows from the roof tops. He hits every shot beautifully.

I look across the ash wrecked city and the destruction that left it unrecognizable... until I see a statue near the water's edge; a statue that has seen better days and even has the torch broken off. This was New York City.

The dragon banks around as our eyes gaze upon the battle field and once we pass over a tall building my elf leaps off to set up sniping there. I steer Smaug around to the bottom and slide off his wing when I see Thranduil firing at orcs and goblins.

After my tumble roll forward I pull out my pistol that I grabbed ammunition for from Aragorn's backpack, and run forward, holding it out in one hand and pulling the trigger four times to bring down a heavily armored orc charging this way.

The king ducks behind a broken wall to dodge a few arrows. I do the same.

"How's your armor working for you?" I ask while cocking my gun again.

"Much better than my old one," he smirks. As we run back out an arrow smacks against his chest but bounces right off.

His eyes look past me and I whirl around, catching Niniliath slashing the flesh of four orcs at once.

I pick up my weapon and fire at three of them, letting them fly to their backs dead immediately.

She looks at me, startled.

"Saved your life," I grin.

"Well there you are I was beginning to think you'd died," she remarks.

"Who else could bring Smaug back from the dead?"

She laughs. "What are you wearing?"

"My uniform. Step aside elf, let a mundane handle this."

I load my pistol again and pull it up as two more armored orcs charge at us. With a careful aim a bust one in the unarmored part of the face and then fire at another exposed spot of the neck on the other demon.

"Have you seen Sauron yet?" I ask her quickly.

"No..." she frowns in thought. "Behind you."

I whirl around to dodge a mace and stick my barrel on the orc's neck, firing the black blood out of the other side and turning again.

"Nin..." I warn as she looks up at a troll headed this way. I'm not sure if my bullets would pierce its skin enough to kill it but I can hear my own heart beat as he lifts his enormous mace hand into the air with a roar.

But a loud gunshot startles us both that hits him in the head and he slowly falls over backwards. I was right to leave Legolas the sniper.

A monstrous thunder from the sound of Smaug's lungs as he bellows catches my attention. I watch him land on the old city buildings as the orcs try to fire arrows at him.

He looks at them and doesn't even have to do anything for defense. But he does. Slowly I notice his belly glow behind his scales. Orange travels up his neck and sets ablaze his throat. With a loud roar he buries the orcs and goblins at the base of the tower in fire.

I turn around to see Faramir running up but he sees the dragon in the distance and freezes, staring at the monster with fear.

But Nin slashes a goblin that runs at her snarling. And Faramir and I face the orcs headed towards us that Thranduil left over.

I pull up my gun and fire at the head of one a couple times after a bullet bounces off its helmet. The other is taken down by Faramir and his sword of Gondor.

I do a combat roll forward to another wall, avoiding a few arrows in the process. I stick my back against the concrete and peek around the corner. It's clear.

I charge from my place and run through the street, letting a few orcs ahead taste bullets.

I can see Gandalf fighting from here, slashing away at orcs and goblins with strength that the old wizard surprisingly has.

But ahead approaches three gate trolls, the largest of the species in the crowd I can also see Arwen and Elrond together fighting.

A scream catches my attention above and I see the flying nazgul soaring over the crowd of enemies. When the creature catches my eye it dips down and pierces its claws into the back of the troll headed for Gandalf. The monster roars in pain as the winged dragon tears at its flesh, the rider letting a high pitched scream escape while pulling back on his fell beast.

But the dragon grabs the troll's shoulder with a nasty bite, flapping its wings and throwing the monster over to his back before taking off.

Legolas has shot down the other with a sniper bullet.

I run over to where they are, passing an orc on the way and deciding to jump into the air and kick across his head, then finishing him with a bullet into the throat.

I stand by the white wizard just as Aragorn joins his lover's side in battle. She gives him a weird look at his attire and weapon but doesn't do anything more.

The last troll is here with the army of orcs behind him. The beast charges straight towards Aragorn and raises his nasty mace high into the air ready top swipe away him and Arwen.

Without thinking I run forward and merely catch the monster's eye for it to stop and turn around, roaring fiercely and hammering orc scum to pieces.

I smile with relief and Aragorn looks to me with the same expression. Arwen seems confused and surprised but I look back towards the battle field.

More surround us and I pull out my knife in my left hand, keeping my pistol in my right. I fire ahead as an orc charges for us, the impact of the bullet sending him to his back. I whirl to block the sword of an approaching one to my left, my blade locking with his. I spin in the air kicking him hard across the face and freeing my knife to stab him from behind.

Aragorn's rifle takes demons behind me and a throwing blade from Arwen pierces the neck of another heading to strike him down.

I shoot to my right, catching a lone orc but turning around when a few get too close. I whirl around to miss the blow of a large beast and smack him in the side of the head with the butt of my knife before pressing my pistol against his ribs and shooting straight through his heart.

I fling my dagger ahead, letting it spin through the air and stab the incoming monster right in the eye. I let another taste a bullet in the thigh as it runs towards a soldier of Erebor.

I watch as Smaug destroys the pests with fire and anger, and our army takes the orcs from this realm. Crowds of black demons fly at us from the broken buildings that surround us. Colors of our warriors weave through the dark monotone armies of the city of ash, underneath the haunting skyscrapers kissed by the bright sun behind the sheet of white clouds.

Blood spills on the cement, cries pierce the wind, and shouts of the dauntless fill the city. I bend down and thrust my leg across to knock an orc back onto the ground, his head hitting the rubble and breaking open. I stand to finish off the other I had blocked a strike from, sending my small blade into his black gullet and thrust him down. I look up to see my new troll run through, taking out the demons with-

I am flung to the side. I see the ground move under me. I see concrete. And then I see nothing once I feet the stab in my head that hits rubble, landing on my shoulder and arm.

My limbs scramble without me telling them to as they try to lift my body from the helpless position. A blurred vision can see who came from behind me and did this... a humongous figure as tall as a cave troll, with a towering posture and a crowned head, spiked armor of dark silver covers he, a black cloak on his shoulders. This figure that looks like a silhouette against the fire... this is Morgoth's puppet Sauron.

The presence of the devil is menacing, taking hold of whatever breath we have left and keeping it...

He holds up a mighty sword with one hand that could lop the head off a fell beast with one easy thrust.

He makes no noise. But the battle field is quiet. He steps towards the king of Gondor slowly. But from the corner of my eye an enraged elf runs to him after observing the attack against me... or victory.

But before I can speak he swings his blade out, knowing exactly where the person is without moving his head, not letting the pest come close to him.

I scream out in horror as I watch Nin get thrown to a crumbled building wall, her stomach sliced open and her eyes staring at the clouds. All I can hear is my pathetic choking as I try to call for her but nothing changes. It is like a dream. Is it a dream? No it can't be. Even dreams don't hurt like this.

I can't even cry. I can't breathe.

I reach for the sword of a fallen Lothlórien elf to my left, watching the dark lord approach Aragorn.

My fingers feel the concrete until they can reach the hilt... and I pull the blade up as quickly as possible.

Aragorn lunges forward, clashing swords with the black king, the sound ringing in my ears. The king brought Andúril with him. I stare at them and realize there are orcs headed this way. I pull myself to my feet as the king struggles to fight this enormous monster.

I try not to cringe as I lunge out, baring my sword and thrusting it sideways, knocking a demon over to let his throat spill blood on the pavement.

I spin it in hand and pull it upwards, disarming the orc fiercely and then plunging it across his abdomen with a heavy blow.

I look over my shoulder as Aragorn bares his teeth with his sword collided with Sauron, pain in the king's eyes. 

I try to get to them but my legs feel weak and from the left of me a goblin charges ahead. I throw my sword up but my balance is fragile. Though I muster as much strength as I can I only manage to dent the creature's chest plate.

I grip my blade harder as he stumbles and faces me. He lunges at me with his sword thrust down and I hold mine up quickly to block the blow and swing his weapon aside. As he is off balance I shove my sword into his stomach and kick his rib cage to the ground.

My head flashes right and I find myself darting towards a fallen elf. I kneel down by Nin as her eyes barely glance over at me with the last strength left.

I begin to feel that lump in my throat and she turns her head towards me, a look of regret on her pale face.

"That was stupid, you know?" I tell her with a smile that holds back the emotional pain.

The corners of her lips twitch. "Most people would not try to take a bullet for you, Vil," she struggles.

That makes my eyes burn with tears, remembering back in the Woodland Realm... in that old tree where we would sit and talk... the days before the darkness.

Without thinking my eyes search the battle grounds for a familiar elf... but there is no sign of any. Sauron presses in on Aragorn behind me that makes me panic even more. "Just hold on, Nin," I beg, glancing at the wound that was leaking blood but now it has stopped.

"With all the power in me I wish to heal her..." I breathe as my fingers shake. Frantically I try to think of any healing spells I know... but I was never taught any... maybe if I repeat the words... what were the words?!

"Nin-" I start but I am cut off by the sound of a scream behind me.

My head turns to see a ring wraith standing there with its sword ready to strike me dead, the haunting figure of death at my doorstep.

A battle cry from an elf shatters the darkness and brings me back home as I watch King Thranduil leap out between the demon and I, with an elven sword in hand and the rifle on his back.

He swings his blade up in a twirl and clashes it with the nazgul's dark weapon with strength.

He moves elegantly and quick, knocking the sword from his hand in no time and then stabbing through his empty head to finally send him to oblivion.

I see more of them appear-wait no that's just my eyesight.

I blink a few times and then eerily look back at Nin who is gone from this world...

I have no energy to fight the darkness... until I see Sauron and Aragorn... He struggles to end the monster... the god of despair. But he cannot win this fight alone.

I get up onto my feet with a new found strength and whistle into the air.

Thranduil is looking at me with worry and I notice he is now at my side helping me to stand. I pull my arm from him so I can do so on my own. My legs are weary. But I refuse to give up.

At my call, Smaug flies to me after blasting the orc army with a vicious hell fire.

I run to him as he lands on goblins and a troll, killing them instantly.

Sauron turns around to look into the humongous eyes of the beast of flame and death. The dragon moves his head upwards in an intimidating stretch towards the sky as the growl rumbles deep within him like a rolling thunder.

But Sauron turns suddenly, whipping out his mace to smash Aragorn on the side.

I can hear a scream come from my mouth as I watch him fall backwards.

Smaug takes matters into his own hands and he roars like the terrifying demon from hell, a sound so deep and thunderously horrifying it sends shivers down my spine. He brings his head down upon the puppet of Morgoth and clasps him in his teeth, crushing the being instantly and flinging him across the city like a dog with chew toy.

  I run to the king of Gondor with haste and fall to my knees beside him. He looks at me surprised and sits up. The mace barely made a scratch in his armor.

I want to smile but the sorrow cannot bring it forth. Even though I am so relieved he is okay.

A clinking sound beside me catches my attention and fox-like ears.

From the corner a shiny, golden object bounces down from the rubble and rattles to a stop on the concrete.

"Aragorn... hurry!" I say and help him to his feet.

He takes the One Ring firmly in his hand. And I turn to Smaug.

"Clean this place up will you?" I command him.

I can almost see a reptile-like smile on the dragon's face as he roars and leaps into the air again, blasting a powerful flame upon the evil creatures below.

A flying fell beast passes by but once I wave to it it comes to me and lands quickly. I hop onto its back and Aragorn does as well.

Opening a portal back home ahead we launch ourselves into it.

I tried to get it to open right inside MountDoom but it opened at the Black Gate.

Even so, I command my beast forth and we rocket through the wormhole and to the mountain of fire. Wind pierces our ears and face as we shoot like an arrow over the lands of Mordor, past the empty tower  of Barad-dûr.

The black plains move from us as we travel. But I clutch onto the reins, urging my creature forward. He speeds up, flapping his wings against the humid air as the mountain ahead spews lava into the ash thickened wind.

Black clouds fog up over our heads that makes my palms sweaty with nervousness. MountDoom flies to us as we ride and the dragon plummets down to the entrance before we head straight into the fires from the top.

The feet of the beast land down upon the stone and I leap from the saddle. Aragorn runs into the entrance carved by the hands of demons, the glowing orange walls consuming his figure.

I chase after him as fast as I can, entering the mountain with the air so thick it rests on my weary skin with a heaviness of heat and humidity.

I find myself not able to breathe as well but I still charge forward into the furnace where Aragorn stands on the edge of the long walkway... hesitating.

Why is he hesitating?

Immediately my eyes fall to the ground of lava beneath us, the lava that spits up towards us with a bubbling anger.

I look towards the king there, his silhouette painting a haunting picture of fire and shadow, the end of all resting on his fingers... begging to not be dropped. The evil within one object cannot be broken... it rests in the mind and causes beings to go mad with power and greed... the battle that fights to take us all... but this time it takes the form of a ring.

So much rests in such a small thing...

As he stares at it... not able to let go, the object fighting with all of its power...

"Aragorn!" I call to him over the sound of the fire. "Just drop it already! Everyone will die!"

There is no response.

"Arwen is counting on you! If you keep this she dies! Don't listen to it! Morgoth knows your fears but only Eru Ilúvatar knows your strength! Listen to him only!"

The fires blaze up and suddenly the ground shakes. I am thrown to my hands and knees for balance, crying out from a sudden pain when I fall.

I look up at the king who turns around to eye me... a strange look in his eye that I cannot tell is heroism or anger.

I wait for something to happen... for him to kill me perhaps... with the right acquired weapon.

"...Save me," I plead to him quietly...

He twitches his mouth and pulls his brow together, turning around with a spring in his arm and throwing that gold ring as far as he can into the fire with fury.

I let out a breath that resembles a grateful smile and he pulls me to my feet... as the ground beneath us begins to crack like thunder beneath the earth.

I run with him holding me up as rocks fall from the roof of the mountain and break from under us. We thrust our bodies out of the doorway and he throws me onto the back of the fell beast.

I clutch onto the saddle as he jumps on behind me and takes the reins.

The dragon leaps into the air just as lava bursts from the mountain's entrance. Stones explode from the rock wall as we barely make it away before being obliterated.

My eyes watch Mordor as the towers collapse and the lands crumble into shadow... cracks form in the ground and it caves, taking any structures with it down into the abyss.

With struggling finger I lift the air ahead and open the portal back to Earth, feeling as if the skies themselves might even collapse on us.

Our dragon lands there not too well and I end up falling onto the ground and tumbling, despite Aragorn's best efforts to hold us both there.

I stand up quickly... watching the world around me crumble... watching the orcs fall into a death that took control of the bodies of a once free race... but corrupt they became. And so they fall.

But it spreads like a virus, killing any left over from Smaug's dinner.

I look around at them and the darkness that seems to just die before our eyes, the fortress behind me collapsing into shards of glass and stone, caving in upon the ground and crushing itself with the sound of a building exploding from land mines, a mighty thunderous echo of the enormous lair.

Aragorn had done what his ancestors had failed to do.

Some of the men raise their fists in victory.

I almost smile but my eyes fall upon the dead being on the ground. I watch as Éowyn falls on her knees and weeps over her uncle's body... the King of the Golden Halls has fallen like her brother...

And at this I cannot celebrate.

That's when I cringe... and I look down at my side, realizing that I had been bleeding out this whole time...

.

LEGOLAS:

      .

I walk past the others and see my wife standing there with a frown upon her eyes... and that is when I watch her fall before me, falling to the ground, the blood from her wound dripping onto the stone beneath her.

I flee to her as fast as I can, my knees giving in once I reach her.

The stars fall... my heart drowns in the tears of the heavens. My love looks so pale that I feel myself begin to tremble.

But I must think rationally.

I look at the cut in her side, a rib visible through the red flesh.

I could close it... but I could I do it quickly enough...? What can I do? My thoughts begin to panic. Emotions tear my mind to pieces. And I cradle my darling in my arms, keeping her fragile body close to mine.

Words cannot express the darkness my mind is tormented with. And the pain is too much to bear...

I begin to feel the begging tears behind my eyes that behave like prisoners behind the bars of a dungeon cell. And my soul cries like night after it loses the moon.

All I can feel is her shoulder in my hand and her soft skin against the tips of my rough fingers as I touch her cheek.

She looks into my eyes and smiles. "Here we are again..." she says in an informal way.

I don't smile... I cannot. Even if it were a happy moment. I feel my eyebrows pull together as I fight the salty water burning within.

My eyes lock with hers. I breathe... I try to. "I will not leave you," I say to her with a determined tone, a shaking voice peeking through as I speak.

"I don't think you have a choice..."

I shake my head, not accepting this. I will not.

I swallow hard and place my hand on her cut. "Tanka tel' taurnin," my voice speaks that sounds as if I am drowning...

When I shut my eyes I can feel a warm trickle down my cheekbone. I repeat the healing spell over and over, the eyes of my sweetheart leaving me as I do.

I begin to let the tears flow down as they please... but this is a sadness that no emotion in the human form can express.

"Legolas," she chokes.

I feel my brows lift as I hear her voice and I look into her eyes with sensitivity...

Her trembling hand stretches to mine and I take it, wrapping my bloody fingers with hers and holding it close to me. I stroke her cheek with a more than just worried gaze upon my eyes.

She stares up at me with peace... "I love you... Remember... that even death cannot separate us..."

"It will not... because there will be no death... not as I live will I let you die... Vilora..."

"Don't make a promise you can't keep... I want you to have this before I leave you..."

"Vilora, my dearest you... cannot-"

"Take my rune. Take my power... please... Live on without me. Find another... Raise a family... and never forget the times we had."

Warm tears drip from my skin. "If I could give you my life I would... I promise I would... Please Eru Ilúvatar take my life instead of hers..."

"No Legolas..." she breathes, her tender eyes showing the deepest pain and sorrow. "I chose this..." she whispers to me, her big innocent eyes locked with mine. "I told him to take me instead and he granted it... This what I want... Let me go."

The lump in my throat rises as I try to swallow it away. "There is something I was told... 'Love creates bonds that even death cannot break'. While there is still love in my heart I know that you will not leave me."

She tries to speak, the look in her expression telling me she doesn't believe my words.

"When you married me... on that battle field... we became one... if I live you cannot die. And if you die I cannot live. If I have become anything worth credit, may Eru Ilúvatar strip me of it. May he cast me into an eternal void. As long as I can keep you here and happy... I want nothing more... Vilora..."

She clutches my hand tightly... shutting her eyes.

"Vilora no..."

A pain comes from my palm as she holds onto me, the light blinding it... and white taking my sight from me.

But the world returns... and I look at her face, a peaceful sleep taking my beloved... taking her away from me.

There is nothing left... the pain eclipses my soul and takes the happiness that she had brought to me. The sun is blinded by darkness.

There is nothing but sorrow in my weary being...

I shut my eyes and grasp her head, holding her close as I curve my back over and begin to weep silently over my dead love.

And even though the clouds are swept away... the clouds in me will forever stay, for this day and this night I will be until the end a wandering sight. A sight of darkness and loneliness. A sight of a lost soul.

There is nothing more for me. Only death.

Something catches my attention and I look behind where I sit in the dust. An elf I have met before in the Woodland Realm, named Kelindol falls on his knees over the body of Captain Willow, realizing she has passed on. He weeps bitterly over her with a heaviest of hearts.

                                                                                    .

.

THRANDUIL:

      .

All around me the crying of taken souls fills my weary ears. I stand with weak legs on the fields of a won battle, the wind moaning like the rest of us. Our troops wander in pain without a meaning of happiness.

I look around until a catch my son... who kneels around the body of someone with curly white hair like the moon, beauty like that of stars, and a soul so gentle...

My sword drops from my hand as my eyes hold her lifeless face. My heart shatters like glass smashed with a mace. Darkness takes my mind and body. I stare with complete shock in my expression... and then anguish in my eyes that tears like claws until it pulls dreaded tears from my eyes.

My heart cannot unsee this sight. My little girl lying in the ash where life left her... forever.

And this wholly kills me.

              .

.

.

.

.

.

.

LEGOLAS:

.

Hours pass as the light is washed away by the black of night.

I am urged from my place by my father. Others need my help... and with this I leave my place... unwillingly. But I know that I must leave now or forever I would stay.

I help Éowyn along as she tries to stop crying from the death of King Théoden.

There is no way back home...

But then I remember the gift I was given.

Ahead I try not to recall who did this before I, but I stretch out my hand to open a portal back to Middle Earth... But I cannot.

I close my eyes and push away any sorrowful emotion left.

I frown and look down at my hand... my hand that holds no rune.

                        .

.

.

.

.

.

.

_______________

PS: please please please COMMENT and tell me anything on your mind or what you think. I REALLY need reviews if i am to grow as i writer! thank you!