(Bre's POV)

Dwalin let out a small laugh. I jumped up at the sound of his laugh breaking the silence. Thorin placed a hand on my shoulder, calming me.

Dwalin snarled. "Now is not the best of times to be getting engaged."

Thorin smiled. "It is the best time to do so. After all, I want her to know how I feel before it is too late."

Ori said, "I still think Kili would have been a better suitor."

Thorin rolled his eyes. "The best is who she deems so."

Dwalin crossed his arms as he leaned against the mountain. "So tell me Thorin. Did you plan the wedding day?" He smirked.

Thorin simply  smiled and looked at him. I let out a small laugh. Everything felt right, and if everything was going to be in my favor, Thorin would return home with me. But then I paused, feeling something strange from the ground, like a small tremble. Then, the whole mountain shook.

"Was that an earthquake," Nori asked.

"That my lad," Balin stood up and faced us, "was a dragon."

My eyes widened, and I looked at Thorin. "Shouldn't we help him?"

Thorin looked away. "He is not screaming, so he must have all his limbs."

My eyes widened more. "What? But he's against a dragon!"

"And he has not screamed for help." Thorin looked back at me. "He is fine."

Dwalin laughed. "I couldn't agree more. Knowing him, he'd scream so loud that we'd hear him across the world if he was poked by a needle."

I looked at Thorin, pursing my lips. "What if he can't scream? What if he can't call out for help?" I stood less than a foot from Thorin now. "Will we help him then?" Balin was in the corner of my eye, frowning.

Thorin paused. "We shall see."

__________________________________________

(Caleniel's POV)

"Now for dessert--"

"Dessert?" Tilda raised a brow. "What is that?"

I let out a small laugh, but then I paused remembering how hard of times this town had. The times had been hard for years. It made sense they never had money for dessert. I cleared my throat and looked at Bard. He simply nodded. I turned to Tilda. "Dessert is a dish that's usually sweet and not big. It is usually eaten after dinner."

Bain turned to Bard with furrowed brows. "Can we have that?"

Bard nodded. "Of course we can."

I smiled. "Why don't you all cut the fruit? That'll make it sweeter."

"Okay." Sigrid gleefully began to chop an apple.

I took a seat at the table across from where Bard stood. "Are you sure it's all right to make dessert? I wouldn't want you to run out of food," I whispered.

Bard let out a small laugh. "Bah, it's fine," he whispered. "I'm simply glad that they are smiling in such a crucial time."

I paused and lowered my eyes. "You speak of the Dwarves, not the food."

Bard locked his gaze with mine. "Who else would I speak of?" He smiled. "The Elves are what help us live this well. Without them, we may not be here."

I nodded, and Bard smiled.

Kili grunted, and the ground began to shake, making the house shake and have sand enter the house through the roof. I paused, feeling smaller trembles. "This is no earthquake," I whispered.

"Da," Sigrid said.

"It's coming from the mountain," Bain said after he looked out the window.

Bard and I locked gazes with each other, but his eyes were shifting. He wasn't afraid for himself. He was afriad for his children and many of the people of Laketown.

"You should leave us." Fili took a few steps toward us. "Take your children, get out of here."

Bard looked at Fili. "And go where?" He shook his head. "There is nowhere to go." Bard looked down at the table.

Tilda stepped forward. "Are we going to die, Da?"

Bard looked at his daughter and smiled. "No, Darling." He shook his head.

"The dragon, it's going to kill us."

My breath stilled at the girl's words. She sounded brave to say it, but fearful of facing it. Bard stared at his daughter for a moment, and he turned, grabbing a metal hanger and pulling away from the arrangments it once held. My eyes widened as I realized it was a black arrow. I smiled, noticing what Bard was going to do.

Bard turned to his daughter with his arrow in hand. "Not if I kill it first." He turned to me. "Caleniel Tinuviel, will you assist me in killing the dragon."

I paused and looked at his children. "Bard, I--" There was a soft growl that sounded like it was heading towards Laketown. I stood less than a foot in front of him and began to whisper. "Bard, I hear strange noises heading towards the town. I ask that I stay here until I know what those noises are."

Bard looked at his children with shifting eyes.

I looked down at the black arrow. "That is the only thing that can stop it, and it is the only thing that can make your life better for you and your children."

Bard paused and looked at me.

"Think of how the master would be forced to treat you if you were the one that killed the dragon and everyone knew it." I took a step back. "I will stay here with your children. You have nothing to fear."

Bard lowered his eyes and slowly smiled. "That's quite an answer. Not many other cared for my children like this. And to be honest, I prefer you stay here where it is safe."

I tried not to show disturbance by that phrase.

Bard nodded gracefully. "Take care, Caleniel."

"The same to you, Bard."

Bard walked out the door. Bain's eyes furrowed. "He's really going to kill the dragon!? Alone?!"

I looked at Bain.

Bain shook his head. "I won't allow that!" He ran out, and I skimmed his shoulder with my fingertips.

"Bain!"

Sigrid let out a small laugh. "It's all right. He does this quite often when he wants to throw a fit. He'll be back soon."

I sighed. "I hope he's not out for long."

 _______________________________________

(Bre's POV)

I heard a loud growling and turned to the tunnel. "Growls usually mean anger," I whispered.

Ori turned to me. "What about Bilbo?"

"Give him more time," Thorin answered.

"Time to what," Balin asked angrily. "Time to be killed?"

Thorin uncrossed his arms and faced Balin. "You're afraid."

Balin paused, looking at Thorin. "Yes, I'm afraid." He stepped closer to Thorin and pointed at him. "I fear for you."

Thorin paused, but Balin continued.

"A sickness lies upon that treasure horde. A sickness which drove your grandfather mad."

"I am not my grandfather." Thorin turned away.

"Well, you're not yourself." Balin's brows crashed. "The Thorin I know would not hesitate to go in there and--"

"I will not risk this quest for the life of one... burglar."

Balin's eyes narrowed. "Bilbo. His name is Bilbo. Unlike you, he risked his home for another. I say we do the same."

Thorin's chin lowered.

I stepped towards Thorin. "He is right. Throughout the journey there were many life-and-death situations. There were times when we didn't know we would live."

Thorin continued staring into the distance. "He was not a part of the company originally."

I paused. "And what about me?"

Thorin turned to me.

"I wasn't a part of this company."

"You are different."

"How? Bilbo saved our skins more than I ever have. All I ever did was stab a golbin and an Orc, and cut the leg of a spider." I paused, realizing this. "Bilbo saved us from the Elves, and that was quite an accomplishment."

Thorin lowered his eyes and faced the tunnel. He stared as the flames lit the tunnel with light. He faced Balin. "We go in, but we go in with a plan."

_______________________________________

(Caleniel's POV)

I paused, hearing a few creaks not far away. I decided it could have been someone walking their own stairs in their house. I took a deep breath and continued to help Kili stay warm.

"They say it's not good to make someone who has a fever warmer," he said.

"I heard it the other way around. A man once told me that he felt like the world was as cold as ice when he had a fever." I smiled. "However, this is the only blanket that can be spared for you."

"It does make me comfortable." Kili smiled.

I let out a small laugh. "See?"

"Do you think Bre and the others are still alive?"

I looked out the window. "Yes."

"But they haven't returned."

"Anything can explain that. Hope that death is not one of them."

Kili paused, looking away. "I would like for my uncle and Bre to return. My uncle was a lot like a father. And Bre is very," he smiled. "She's very brave for what she's been through. She told me that there were no such things as goblins or Orcs in her land. She is very brave to have faced them and fought them the first time she say them."

"She's a lot braver and stronger than she believes."

"And her is much softer than anyone's hair in our land. She said that it's because of something called conditioner."

"I haven't touched her hair." I paused, hearing something like metal clinking against another piece of metal. There was another growl and a very loud creak. "Someone is here."

"You hear it too." Sigrid stepped towards me.

"Do not go near the door."

"But I think it might be, Da." Sigrid ran towards the door.

Bain rolled his eyes. "She never listens."

I looked around, grabbing my bow and arrows. "Wait..."

"Is that you, Da," I heard Sigrid ask aloud. "Da?"

I stood still, looking around as I heard the movements of the intruders. I rapidly pointed my arrow toward the door. "Sigrid, come back inside!"

Everyone was now on there toes. There was the scream of an Orc, and Sigrid screamed. She closed the door, moving it into my aim and putting the Orc out of my target. Another Orc arrived from the back door, and I shot the Orc as Oin threw a cup at its head. My aim moved from the Orc on the table to the Orc that tried to attack Sigird, for she let him in. However, Fili tackled the Orc, and I moved my aim back to the Orc at my side, shooting its leg.

An Orc fell through the roof and snarled at Tilda and Bain. I shot the Orc in the rib as the children screamed and ran under the table. The Dwarves then flipped tables and chairs as more Orcs fell through the roof.

I shot the Orc that flipped the table that the children were hiding under as Tauriel slit its throat. I shot another Orc as it tried to enter the house, but I paused as I noticed Legolas fell through the roof. I quickly stabbed the chest of the Orc that was about to cut me and shot an arrow at the Orc coming up the stairs.

I stood by the children. "Stay calm. It'll be all right." I shot the forehead of an Orc that was grabbing Kili's leg. Kili looked at me at Tauriel. I whirled around to pierce the throat of an Orc coming towards me. Legolas pierced the throats of two Orc in front of me, and I shot an Orc coming towards him.

"Get down," Fili told Bain.

Kili wrestled with an Orc, and it ran out, pushing him to the ground. I quickly aimed and shot, taking a large portion of his cheek off.

"Oakenshield has gone," an Orc yelled.

"Fall back," another yelled. "Regroup at the bridge!" 

I raised a brow, turning around to shoot an Orc in the chest. I looked around the house, at the giant mess. I pursed my lips. "I am so sorry."

Bain peaked out from the turned-over table. "At least they're gone." He stood up, looking around. "How did you kill them all?"

"They are others," Legolas said as he entered the house.

Legolas quickly walked past me to the other door. "Tauriel, let's go. Come on."

"No, we're losing him," Oin said.

My shoulders fell as my mouth was agape. "Kili..."

Legolas narrowed his eyes at me and looked at Tauriel. "Tauriel." He set a foot out the door.

"Legolas!"

He stopped and sighed, turning to me with his brows knit together. "Why am I not surprised that you really are a part of their company? You haven't changed. Always helping those you THINK are in need."

I paused. He's in pain... "Legolas, I'm here for a reason that is not woven with the company you believe I follow."

Legolas looked me over for a moment. He lowered his eyes. "You betrayed my father's beliefs... However, I am starting to believe you may be right in doing so. For decades you have done so without the company of Dwarves." He smiled at me. "Perhaps I should listen to you often. My father is not always a great king."

I tried not to smile. "How many decades did it take you to learn that?"

Legolas rolled his eyes playfully when he used to a hundred years before. "Stay here."

I raised a brow. "Pardon?"

"I want you to be safe." Legolas slowly frowned. "This Orcs are more blood-thirsty than anything we ever faced. For your safety stay here."

"No."

Legolas blinked. "What?"

"I can protect myself and others. I will stay here to help the Dwarves protect the children." I shook my head. "I am not going to let them stay here with no weapons while Orcs run throughout the city."

Legolas looked around and nodded. He slowly frowned, facing Tauriel. "Tauriel." They stared at each other for a moment before he left.

Tauriel turned to me. "He looks at you in a way that is different from others."

I blinked. "What are you talking about?"

Tauriel smiled. "The king was telling me the truth he wasn't trying to torment me." She let out a small laugh.

Kili let out loud grunts. My eyes widened. "Where is Bofur?"

Tauriel slowly walked to the doorway of the house entrance. Kili let out another loud grunt, and she stopped in place. Someone began running up the stairs. Tauriel readied her weapons, and paused, gasping.

"Annog," She said, taking the weed from Bofur.

"What are you doing," Bofur asked.

She looked from me to Bofur. "I'm going to save him," she whispered.

_______________________________________

(Bre's POV)

"Stick to the plan," Thorin said as he looked back at us. We all nodded and waited, but I decided against the plan and followed him.

"Bre," Balin yelled. "No."

Thorin ran down steep stairs and ran into a wall. I immediately ran into him. Thorin turned to me and placed his hands on my shoulders. "Why didn't you stay with the others?"

The room lit with flames again. Thorin took a deep breath. "Bre, go back to the entrance. It is much safer there. The dragon may not even smell you there."

My brows furrowed. "What? No. I want to be with you!"

Flames lit the room again. "I want you to be safe!"

"And I want to fight by your side." Thorin paused, looking me over.

"We do this together, like a kin." Thorin looked at the flames. He looked back at me and nodded.

"As a kin. But you are to stay here and wait for the right moment to enter like we planned."

I nodded. "I will."

Thorin took a deep breath and ran in. I looked down at my engagement ring. I smiled and looked forward.

We can do this. All we have to do is slay a dragon.

I heard a loud snarl, and the Dwarves behind me came running in. I quickly ran in ahead of them. My eyes widened as I saw the dragon and tried to hold my sword up. "Smaug," I whispered.Smaug crawled toward us.

"You will burn!"

"Fall back!"

I quickly ran and jumped down, avoiding the flames of Smaug. My breath was heavy as I slid down the golden coins.

"Into the tunnel." Thorin pushed me in as we entered last. I heard him begin to grunt because of the flames, so I ran forward. Thorin ran into the room quickly, rolling onto the ground and taking off his jacket. He stood up grabbing his sword. "Come on." He led away, and I quickly followed behind him.

"What about the plan," Nori asked.Thorin began to run up the stairs.

"Plans change."

_______________________________________

(Cal's POV)

Kili grew wilder and wilder, kicking, grunting, and screaming from the pain of his poison. I grabbed half the plant and began mashing it up with her. "We must hurry."

The three dwarves placed Kili on the table. I scraped my hands of the remains on my hand into the bowl.

"Hold him down," Tauriel ordered. She approached the table.

I took a deep breath and held Kili's leg. "He will grow wilder as the weed will sting him."

Fili nodded. "But will it cure him?"

I smiled. "Indeed."

Tauriel began the ancient pray of curing. Kili grunted louder and grew wilder as she pressed the weed against his leg. Sigrid held down a leg, and called for her sister, who has very wide eyes.

Tauriel continued the pray and pressed the weed against Kili's leg more. Kili's wildness began to disappear, and the Dwarf seemed to have an easier time breathing, though his breath was heavy. I looked at Kili's face, noticing the pale color disappear.

I smiled, and Kili looked to me with a grin. "I will see her again."

I nodded. "There is always hope for anything as long as you're alive."

__________________________________

(Bre's POV)

We ran down a long, narrow passageway. Thorin stopped Balin and me. "Shh, shh, shh, sh, sh." He began to slowly walk across the passageway, looking around the corner for Smaug.

"I think we finally gave him the slip," Dori whispered.

"No." Dwalin shook his head. "He's too cunning for that."

"Where to now," Bilbo asked.

"The western caverns." Thorin turned to Bilbo. "That may be our way out." Thorin looked at me.

"We should take it." I stepped toward Thorin.

"Are you mad," Balin asked. "There's no chance that way."

"It's our only chance." Thorin looked forward. "We'll have to try it."

Thorin lead us, walking carefully and quietly. My breath stilled as I heard a coin hit the stone walkway. We slowly turned to Bilbo. The poor hobbit was checking his pockets, checking if he would drop anymore, and he slowly looked up to see Smaug above us dropping coins from his scales.

Thorin gestured for us to follow him as he kept his eyes on the dragon. We followed him, keeping our eyes on Smaug as he crawled away. Thorin stood at the entrance, making sure everyone made it inside the cavern.

"What do we do now," I asked Thorin.

Thorin looked from me to the company, but he didn't say a word.

___________________________________

(Cal's POV)

Tauriel finished trying the cloth around Kili's leg, binding it well and properly.

"From all I heard of the wonders and tales of Elves, that was a privilege to witness," Oin said.

I smiled turning from him to Kili. "It's all right now. Just rest. You'll--"

"No," Kili said. He looked at Tauriel. "Tauriel."

The silvan Elf turned to him. "Lie still.

Kili tried to shake his head. "You cannot be her. She is far away." He looked up as if at the stars. "She is... She is far, far away from here. She walks in starlight in another world. Perhaps the world that Bre is from. But Tauriel was just a dream." He stretch his hand as best as he could to Tauriel's hand. "Do you think she could ever love me?"

I looked at Tauriel, waiting for the answer even a silvan Elf would give this Dwarf. I simply hoped she would not be so arrogant as to answer in riddles, giving a yes and no, as our kin was known to do. Tauriel gave no answer simply opening her mouth as if to say something, but she gave out no real sound.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, Kili. You should rest. You need your strength."

Kili smiled looking back at his stars. "Tauriel never could. Thank goodness I met Bre, for she is here. And no matter what happens, I shall be able to see her smile every day." He closed his eyes. "My life is not a complete loss."

______________________________________

(Bre's POV)

Thorin quickly led us to a large room. My eyes widened as I looked at all the corpses that lay throughout the room.

"What is this," I whispered.

"That's it then," Dwalin said. "There's no way out."

"Thorin?" I turned to Thorin.

Thorin simply stared out at the corpses.

"The last of our kin," Balin said. He stepped towards the corpses. "They must have come here hoping beyond hope."

"We can try and reach the mines," Balin said. "We might last a few days."

Thorin walked towards the corpses. "No... I won't die like this." He continued walking. 

"I don't want to either," I whispered. "But..." 

Thorin shook his head. "Not cowering, clawing for breath." He turned to us. "We head to the forges."

"He will see us," Dwalin said, "sure as day." 

"Not if we split up." 

Balin stepped forward. "Thorin, we'll never make it." 

"Some of us might." He glanced at us all. "Lead him to the forges. We'll kill the dragon. If this is to end in fire, then we will all burn together."

                                                                  ~~~~~~~

"No matter what happens, lead him to the forges."

Balin, Bilbo, and I nodded.

Thorin ran out to the passage. "This way!" We followed quickly after him.

Smaug growled. "That's right. Flee, flee for your lives." We stopped running, facing Smaug. My breath stilled as I looked at him. Smaug moved closer. "There is nowhere to hide."

"Behind you," Dori cried as his group ran towards Smaug on their passage. They stopped and stared at Smaug. He rushed towards them.

"Come on." Thorin ran down the passage, and we quickly followed. I blinked as I ran, feeling light on my feet than ever before.

"Hey you," I heard Dwalin cry. "HERE!!"

I didn't dare to look back. I simply continued running towards the tunnel we were destined to. I heard Smaug growl loudly as flames began to echo and burn somewhere in the cave behind us. We ran down the tunnel, and I could see no real path ahead.

"This way! This way!" Balin ran to a small tunnel on the side.

"Thorin, Bre," Bilbo yelled.

We both stopped and turned around, but there was a loud thud coming toward us. My eyes widened as the thud became louder. Smaug came into view, and I covered my mouth.

"Follow Balin," Thorin ordered and looked at me. "You too, Bre."

"Thorin," Bilbo said.

"Come on!" Balin grabbed Bilbo. Flames came towards us.

Thorin's eyes widened and he grabbed a hold of me. "Let's go." He ran and pushed us off, grabbing a rope. We began swaying down. "Hold on to me!"

My eyes widened as Smaug appeared in front of us, crawling down toward us.

"Thorin!" Dwalin looked down at us. He slammed his axe onto the machinery, making us come back up away from Smaug.

My eyes widened as the world slowed, and I made eye contact with Smaug. But it quickened as the eye contact was lost. Smaug turned his head back and snapped his jaws on the cart that dangled below us on the wire we were on. I screamed as I felt myself slightly slip from Thorin's shoulders. The machinery that held us up snapped and fell, making us land on Smaug's snout. My eyes widened as I looked down at Smaug's eye.

Smaug began to open his mouth, and Thorin grabbed me, throwing us to the side and grabbing a piece of a chair that dangled from a wire above. I grabbed onto Thorin's shoulders as he climbed the chair. I could feel the heat of the fire on my skin as our chair flew up the wire.

"Bre! Thorin," Nori cried and quickly helped us up away from the fire.

My breath was heavy was I watched the flames spew into the air and realized I was almost fried. Thorin grabbed Nori and me. "Come on! Let's go!" We ran past a large gate, joining the others.

"The plans not gonna work," Dwalin said. "These furnaces are stone cold."

"He's right." Balin walked towards us. "We've no fire hot enough to set them ablaze."

My brows furrowed, and I looked at where Smaug was. "But..."

Thorin turned to the presence of Smaug. "Have we not?" Thorin smiled and walked toward the gate. "I did not live to see you so easily outwitted." He pressed himself against the gate.

Smaug began to crawl out.

Thorin continued. "You have grown slow and fat. You're dotage, Slug." He turned to us as Smaug growled. "Take cover! Go!"

I ran to a part of the gate and pressed myself against it. I close my eyes as the flames past my body and the iron behind me became hot. My breath was heavy as the flames took most of my oxygen. Finally, I was about to breathe normally. I opened my eyes and saw the furnaces burning. One by one they lit, and we got away from the gate as Smaug began to slam himself against it.

"Bombur!" Thorin walked to the fat Dwarf. "Get those bellows working! Go!"

My eyes widened as I stared at Smaug slamming himself against the gate. I couldn't hear Thorin as he ordered Bilbo, for I was watching the dragon open the gate. Thorin grabbed my hand and had me run with him to Balin. "Balin, can you still make flash bombs?"

"Aye. It'll only take a jiffy." The old Dwarf ran away.

"We don't have a jiffy," Dwalin said.

Smaug tore the gate apart, and I felt my heart fall to the floor. Thorin grabbed my hand and we ran to the other side of the furnaces. He froze as we reach an end, and Smaug met us, looking at us. "Now," Thorin cried. 

As Smaug was about to breathe fire, water spewed from the sides, drowning the dragon in it. Thorin looked around as all sorts of things began to moved. I gripped my sword tightly as Smaug rose again and faced us. Blue blast bombs hit Smaug's face and neck, but it didn't slow him down. A cart of gold flew down and hit Smaug, knocking him down a bit. Thorin ran to a chain and pulled it, unleashing gold liquid through engraved paths in the ground. Smaug began to jump wildly at the sting of the hot liquid.

"Lead him to the gallery of the kings," Thorin said as he ran with me to a kart.

I ducked and slid under Smaug's tail, perfectly standing up when I was able and avoiding the dragon's feet. Thorin threw the cart onto the golden liquid, and we jumped onto it, pressing ourselves down on it tightly. Everything around us began to fall and break.

Thorin looked back. "Keep going, Bilbo! Run!" We looked forward and sailed on the golden liquid. "Hold on to me."

I did as Thorin ordered, and he jumped with all his might onto a chain.

"Here!" Thorin's brows crashed together. "You worthless worm!"

There was a long silence before Smaug spoke. "You!"

"I will take back what you stole."

"You will take nothing from me, Dwarf. I laid down your warriors of old." Smaug's steps became louder and louder. "I instill terror in the hearts of Men. I am King Under the Mountain." 

"This is not your kingdom."

I gripped the chain more with Bifur and Gloin.

"These are Dwarf lands. This is Dwarf gold. And we will have our revenge." Thorin then shouted in Dwarvish, and I pulled the chain as hard as I could with the Dwarves. The chians on the stone king were broken, revealing the gold beneath it all. Smaug froze and marveled at the golen structure. It then began to blast golden liquid from every inch of its being. The gold over poured and began to drown the dragon. I grinned and quickly climbed down, watching up close with Bilbo before it was over.

The golden liquid stood still, and I smiled. "We did it."

There was a small bubbling noise, and my brows furrowed. Smaug rose quickly and angrily, covered in gold. "Revenge? I will show you revenge!" He crawled out to the entraced and burst through the main gate.

My eyes widened, and I ran after the dragon with Bilbo. I tried to catch my breath as we ran to the edge of the mountain. I slowly shook my head as I watched Smaug fly towards Laketown. The hobbit fell upon his knees, watching still. My heart fell as I thought of Bard and his children.

"What have we done?"

Alex's Note (AN): Thank you for reading. Once again I'd like to thank NobleGhost (the person who the character Bre is based off of) for telling me to write this. I am satisfied with how this came out and all the votes that came along with it, though a few tweaks are made everytime it gets a vote. Anyway, as before, I will write The Battle of the Five Armies, but I won't begin publishing that until next year around January. Anyway, thank you for reading.

- Alex W.