A snowy mountain peak, that was what Bilbo saw when he opened his eyes.

He could feel his arms and legs were tied against something hard and when he looked down he saw he was hanging a few meters above the ground.

He looked up again, the movement making him dizzy.

His head was pounding, probably caused by the blow the orc had given him.

Bilbo inhaled deeply, trying to get a clearer view again.

He also was cold, but that wasn't to strange considering the weather up there.

Although he knew where the orc had taken him, he still got startled when the pale orc suddenly appeared in front of him.

Bilbo looked at him, trying to express all of his hatred by glaring at him.

The pale orc only stood there, something like a grin plastered on his face.

It looked like he was trying to mock him, like the situation wasn't bad enough already.

" If it is not the same hobbit who kept me from killing Oakenshield." Azog spoke, the grin still on his face. " What a coincidence we meet again."

Bilbo swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. Azog recognized him.

" Did you lose your tongue?" Azog asked when there came no reply. " I remember you being a quite chatty one."

" Just kill me already." Bilbo managed to get out. " I have nothing left living for anyway."

" So negative. Not even willing to put up a fight." Azog replied, shaking his head. " What happened with the halfling who would risk his life for the lives of the dwarves?"

Bilbo didn't answer to that, he only kept staring at Azog.

" For now, I will spare your life." Azog said, taking a step towards Bilbo. " I will keep you as bait for Oakenshield and when he comes to rescue you, I will kill him."

Bilbo gagged when he smelled the pale orc's breath, it was disgusting.

" You are wasting your time. He won't come for me." Bilbo said, trying to not take in the scent. " He does not care for me anymore, or maybe he never did."

" Don't lie to me, hobbit!" Azog barked into his face. " I know he became fond of you after you saved him from me."

" That was before the golden sickness got a hold on him." Bilbo retorted, getting quite annoyed by the orc's insinuations. They gave him hope and he didn't want to hope anymore. " He's far gone. I don't even know if he's engaging in battle."

Azog's grin grew wider as he took a step back. " Golden sickness... which means he's an easy target. Thank you hobbit for the enlightenment. If he doesn't come up here in the next day, I'll know where to find him."

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" Come on!" Thorin called, spurring on the goat he was riding. " We don't have all day!"

Dwalin, Fili and Kili followed Thorin's lead, spurring on the goats, which they had lend from Dain.

At the gates of Erebor war was raging, a war between men, elves, dwarves and orcs. And the leader of the orcs was waiting for him on top of the mountain they were now climbing.

This would become the last fight between Azog and him, or so he hoped.

" We split up here!" Thorin ordered, turning his head to look at his companions. " The three of you go around, I'm going straight in !"

" Be careful uncle!" Kili called, before he and Fili went to the right. Dwalin turned to the left.

" You too." Thorin softly replied.

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" You were wrong, hobbit." Azog stated as he walked up to him. " Oakenshield is on his way here right now."

" That can't be." Bilbo replied, looking at the pale orc in disbelief.

" You will see for yourself soon enough." Azog said, the grin appearing on his face again. " And then you will watch how I kill him."

Bilbo's heart picked up speed, a sour taste filling his mouth as his stomach turned around. He had to come up with a plan, and rather now than later.

" Azog!" He called, since the pale orc was already moving away from him.

He turned around. " What, hobbit?"

" Set me free." Bilbo stated.

The pale orc laughed. " Why would I do that?"

" Because I will help you." Bilbo replied. " I will help you kill Thorin Oakenshield."

The pale orc frowned. " Why should I believe you?"

" Because he broke my heart. He hurt me. I want my revenge." Bilbo simply replied. " Come on, what could I do to you? Yes, I could run away. But I won't be able to harm you. Let me distract Thorin for you."

Azog thought about it for a while, then started to open the chains that were holding Bilbo. " If you do anything to sabotage me, you're dead meat."

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When Thorin arrived on the top of the mountain he got the surprise of his life.

At first he only saw the pale orc, who was standing there with a grin on his face, clearly ready for their battle.

Then a bush of blond hair peeked out from behind the orc, followed by two brown eyes that were coldly looking at him.

" Bilbo?" Thorin stated in surprise.

He had thought the halfling would be safe, that he had left Erebor before the battle had started.

He never expected him to be captured by the enemy.

Thorin dismounted the goat, slowly taking steps towards the pale orc, on his guard for a sudden attack from Azog.

There came no attack though, Azog just kept standing there, the grin still plastered on his face.

" Welcome Thorin." He said when Thorin was only a few meters away. " I hope you are prepared to die."

Thorin didn't answer to that, he kept staring at Bilbo, who still was hiding behind the pale orc.

He wondered if the little being was so afraid of him he rather stayed there then to come to him.

" Bilbo." Thorin said again. " It's ok. I won't harm you."

Bilbo firmly shook his head. " Why should I trust you?"

" Because I did read your letter. Because I had a vision about you and me." Thorin replied. " I'm cured of the golden sickness. Please, Bilbo, you have to believe me."

Bilbo came from behind Azog and slowly walked towards Thorin.

" It's too late now." Bilbo said before pulling out sting and stabbing the dwarf's leg.

Bilbo's action made Thorin go down on one knee and it made the others, who had joined them, roar in anger.

" Bilbo, what are you doing?" He asked, signing to the others that they had to stay back.

" That hurts. Doesn't it?" Bilbo send back the question, then stabbed the dwarfs other leg. " Almost as much as you hurt me."

Thorin went down on both knees, still he gestured to the others to wait.

" Finish him." Bilbo said to Azog, taking away Thorin's sword." And don't be too gentle doing it."

The pale orc laughed as he started to move towards Thorin, his weapon ready to give the final blow.

Still Thorin didn't ask for help from the others.

" Move halfling." Azog spoke when he was right in front of Thorin. " Or do you want to die together with your dwarf."

" He's not my dwarf. He's nothing to me. Not anymore at least." Bilbo replied coldly.

But Bilbo didn't move, he did something none of them expected. He quickly turned around, Thorin's sword still in his hand,stabbing the pale orc right in the heart with all the force he had.

Azog stumbled back in surprise, the sword still in his chest. Then he fell backwards and stayed still.

For a few seconds it was completely silent.. Everyone stared at the orc's motionless body.

Then all hell broke loose. The remaining orcs attacked the dwarves, whom on their turn fought back.

Bilbo stood by Thorin, defending him against the orcs that got past Dwalin, Fili and Kili.

But it were too many orcs for Bilbo to handle, Thorin could see his struggle and he knew he had to do something.

He got up, groaning out of pain and limped towards the pale orc to retrieve his sword.

Then he joined the others in the fight.

" Go." He said to Bilbo. " Hide yourself. Get yourself to safety."

" I'm not going anywhere." Bilbo replied, stabbing an orc that attacked them. " I injured you. Can't leave you like this."

" You're going to get yourself killed." Thorin said. " You have to get out of here."

" I'd rather die myself than to see you die." Bilbo retorted.

" I thought I meant nothing to you anymore." Thorin replied, beheading another orc.

" That was a lie." Bilbo confessed. " I had to lie in order to have a shot at saving you."

" And you succeeded." Thorin replied. " For which I'll be forever grateful."

" Don't thank me yet." Bilbo said. " We're not exactly safe now."

They continued to defend themselves against the orcs. But it was clear they were outnumbered. Only a small miracle could get them into safety.

Luckily for them they got their miracle when the eagles arrived.

The eagles picked up the remaining orcs, flew away and dropped them over the edge of the mountain.

Then they returned to pick up Thorin, Bilbo, Fili, Kili and Dwalin.

They soared through the sky, above the ongoing battle to be dropped off between the walls of Erebor.

The eagles left as soon Bilbo and the dwarves were on their feet again, joining in battle.

" We have to go help them!" Fili cried out.

" We will." Thorin replied, starting for the gate.

" Oh no, you won't." Bilbo interjected, grabbing the dwarf's hand in an attempt to stop him. " You first are going to take care of those wounds."

" They're not that bad, Bilbo." Thorin said, giving the hobbit a small smile. " They won't kill me."

" Maybe they won't." Bilbo replied, sounding a bit hysteric. " But what's out there certainly might."

" You worry too much." Thorin said, ruffling through the smaller being's hair. " You shouldn't be worried about me. I'll be fine."

" Of course I worry about you, you stupid dwarf! Because I love you! After everything that happened, I still love you!" Bilbo cried out. " And I can't stand the thought of losing you again! I can't stand the thought of losing you forever!"

" Bilbo…" Thorin stated.

" No, don't you Bilbo me!" Bilbo retorted. " I don't want your pity! I want you to stay!"

Thorin pulled Bilbo against him, cupped the smaller being's face in his hand and gently placed a kiss on his lips.

" I love you too, Bilbo Baggins." Thorin said, leaning his head against Bilbo's. " But you know I have to go. I can't leave my people out there alone. I have to go help them."

" Then I'll come with you." Bilbo replied.

" No, you are staying here." Thorin said. " I can't have you out there. I need to know you are safe."

" That's not fair." Bilbo interjected. " If I stay here, I'll worry sick."

" And if you come, all I'll be able to think about is you." Thorin answered, caressing Bilbo's cheek. " You'd become a distraction and that could become lethal to me. You are staying here."

" Fine then." Bilbo gave in. " But promise me you'll come back in one piece."

" I promise." Thorin replied, then planted a kiss on Bilbo's forehead before calling out to the others.

" Let's go!"

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