Ch. 11

Hermione did not understand how she ended up this way. She remembered the war breaking out and somehow, Thorin Oakenshield was battling alongside her. She also did not remember how he had gotten out of the mountain.

All she does remember was the fact that she had been using the killing curse. Ever since the war has started and it has been weighing her down. Before she was sent to Middle Earth, she had not once used the forbidden spell. But she could not stop using it. It was the only thing that kept the nightmarish creatures back.

"WOMAN," yelled Thorin. "STOP KILLING. Women aren't supposed to kill and fight. They are supposed to raise children and cook."

This caused Hermione to become even madder. With a turn of her wrist, she took down ten fully grown orcs in one blow. "YOU WANT TO TELL ME THAT, ONE MORE TIME?"

Thorin huffed, "You're not a practical woman."

"No," Hermione agreed. "I am not."

The two stayed close together. Hermione did not understand the reasoning behind the great picture of why she was at his side. But she had a bad feeling if she did not. Like the world going into the great doom and gloom, if she allowed him to leave her side.

"We need to go to the old fortress. It's the only way I know to get to their leader. Cut the head of the snake and the rest will run for their lives."

Hermione turned towards him with a question, "How do you know that?"

"There are orcs. They have to have a leader to function and give the order."

It was then that Hermione followed Thorin, Kili, and Fili to the old fortress. She opted out of riding a ram. She decided to run up the short distance of a mountain. Her magic has gotten stronger. Ever since Harry had sent her there.

When the group of four reached the lower part of the fort. Thorin told his nephews to spit up.

"No Thorin, I really have a bad feeling about that."

"Than what would you like to do," he turned to her with a glare. "I don't think you have any power to detect them, do you?"

"Yes, as a matter of a fact I do."

Kili gave his uncle a worried look. "Uncle, why won't you allow Lady Hermione to help us? I mean she doesn't mean us any harm."

"Fine," the leader huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Hermione smiled cheekily at the Dwarf before whispering a spell. Her hands moved before her showing her everything that she needed to know. She saw all of the orcs, making their way in the shadow of the fortress.

"They're everywhere."

"It's a trap," growled Thorin, as he and his two nephews drew out their swords. "It's time that we finish this."

The four stood firmly of where they were, waiting for the ambush of their enemies. The ones that had planned to surprise them. They did not wait long. The orcs came out of the fortress, seemly as if it was given birth to the masses that came charging out.

Hermione wasted no time, she shot every one of them with the green power that she loathed to use. 'When this is all over, I hope I don't have to use it again.' It was causing her to have a bad taste in her mouth. Her soul to become dark and uncaring. 'I'm becoming a Death Eater. How horrid that I had to become the one thing that I didn't like about my world.'

When no other orcs were coming to attack Hermione, she turned towards Thorin. She saw him battling with a big white orc. The biggest that she had ever seen so far. Realizing that this was the orc that took Thorin's family away from him. Most of his friends. His life.

Hermione knew that if she did not do anything. Thorin was going to die from his ego. It was written all over his face. Letting her know that she had to do something, even if he was not going to be happy with her.

'It might be the only thing that would get him to stop having feelings towards me.'

She closed her eyes, "One more killing curse. That's all that I need to do, just one more." Her eyes set on her focus. Hermione brought everything before her that ever caused her to hate in her life. Voldemort and his Death Eaters, who left Harry all alone without a family. "Avada Kedavra!"

The streak of green magic had hit its target dead on. Causing the massive orc to fall over backwards. Leaving a fuming Dwarf on his feet, with a risen sword.

Thorin turned towards her, "What did you do that for? I nearly had him."

She had thrown a few more killing curses towards the other orcs that were battling with Kili and Fili. Leaving the two Dwarves to look at her in disbelief.

"If I had allowed any of those orcs to live. They would have killed you, long before you blinked." She turned towards the valley bellow, seeing that the war had not lessened any. "The world has it issues Thorin, don't make too personal when someone is there trying to help you."

She closed her eyes. Waiting for the yelling to start from the Dwarf, none came. Just when she was about to open them again, a woosh sound was sounded. Along with a scream of an eagle above her.

Hermione glanced up and saw the great golden eagles. Each one of them was carrying boulders between their claws. Along with a man on one of their backs.

"The eagles have come again," spoke Fili in amazement.

"Again," asked Hermione as she turned towards the Dwarves that came and stood next to her. Watching the scene below.

Thorin smiled, "Just a couple of days before meeting you. We were cornered by the orcs that we were battling moments ago. We were trapped, with nowhere to go. These eagles took us away from the dangers that we were facing. They even saved my life."

He turned towards her with a look of lost on his face. "What are we to do now? Knowing that the war is ending soon."

"Rebuild," stated Hermione. "You have a whole new life ahead of you. A kingdom of your own to manage." She turned towards him. Hermione needed him to understand. "And a new trade route to manage. You have new opportunities Thorin. Show the people of Dal and the elven kingdom of Mirkwood. That you are willing to open your doors to assist and they will do the same for you."

"What are you going to do after the war?"

She smiled, seeing that the orcs were being taken care of and also saw that the city did not get attacked. All supposed danger was pushed back by the power that she set into the walls of the city.

"I might travel. Get to know Middle Earth a bit better than I do know." She turned towards Thorin with a sad smile. "It's time for us to live our lives that we were meant to. You have your kingdom, Thorin. I have a husband, who is a prince to your elven neighbors." She placed a hand on his shoulder, just like she had seen Sirius do with a couple of people. "This is goodbye Thorin."

He nodded. "I don't understand where this idea came from."

"What idea?"

"That you were to be mine."

Hermione did not look at him when she answered. "You have Gandalf to thank for that. He placed a spell to guarantee me safe passage through the wood. Hoping that it would prevent you from not wanting me to travel with you."

She started walking down the ridgeline, making her way back down into the valley below. She knew that none of the Dwarves were going to follow her anytime soon. They had already established their understanding for one another. There was no need to be near each other again.

On the way down the mountain, she ran into Legolas. Who came and gave her a hug. The kind that told Hermione that she was home.

"I have been looking for you," stated the elf with worry. "Why were you up there?"

"Protecting Thorin from himself." She looked behind Legolas for a moment. "Where did you come from, you nearly missed the war?"

A smirk graced his lips, "I had to drop by the city to make sure that everyone would be safe. Seeing that you had been hard at work! Saw father for a moment."

Hermione saw the dark look in his eyes. Believing that something bad has happened. "What happened, Legolas?"

"He didn't like how I traveled long and far. Seeing the place where my mother had died." Hermione was starting to feel sick in her stomach. Wishing that she went with him instead. "Also leaving you behind didn't set well with father. He banished me from coming home, he didn't say anything about you."

"I'm not going back without you." She looked into his eyes, hoping that he would believe her. "I will go anywhere that you go."

"Thank you," he whispered softly. He took her hand and led her back towards the valley. Making sure that no one needed them before they rode out.

The two found Gandalf, among the many that were wandering around. "Hermione, it's good to see you, my dear."

Hermione sighed and looked around. "Did we lose a lot of people?"

"Not as many as we could have." He smiled at her. "We would have lost a deal more if you hadn't put those spells on the walls of the city like you did. The people would thank you if they knew it was you that had done it."

"No," she shook her head. "I don't want to be worship like that. I'm just glad to be of help."

"We should be going," state Legolas when he found his horse.

Thranduil came riding up to them. "I'm glad that I have caught you." The king looked towards his son. "I'm sorry for my anger son, I would be honored if you would come home."

"No father," Legolas looked towards Hermione. "I think we will be going."

"Where would you go?"

"Don't know."

Just as Legolas was about to whistle for his horse to come, King

The king thought about something for a moment before speaking. "There is a young man that you should befriend. A ranger who is traveling alone in wilds out west. He would be of interest soon enough."

"Who is he?"

"He will tell you when he's ready. But he is known by many as Strider." The king gave a small smile. "Your mother would have been proud."

With a nod and a whistle, Legolas' horse came to him. Which he climbed up and then helped Hermione to get on with him. Together the two rode out. Towards the West.

Hermione looked back for a moment. Seeing many people, elves, and dwarves waving towards her. Feeling a sense of dread but also enlightenment. Knowing that she had saved many.

She waved back before wrapping her arms around her husband. The one man that she would never have pictured to be her soulmate. But glad to have him nonetheless. She closed her eyes for a moment, 'I wish life can get a bit simple from here.'

THE END

OR IS IT?