The Elf, the Hobbit and the Dwarf - Book 1 NEW VERSION

Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire

Míriel shot an arrow through three Orcs within seconds and killed the warg with her sword. She pulled an arrow out of a dead Orc and shot it toward another one who was right behind Oin. They fought as many Orcs as they could but realised there was too many of them and the Dwarves were growing tired.

All of a sudden, Míriel could hear the sound of large wings flapping in the air. She turned her gaze toward the sound and saw dozens of eagles flying around and helping them. They grabbed one Dwarf each in their claws to take them out of there. One eagle landed neatly in front of Míriel and bowed his head. She hurried to jump onto its neck to fly it and it hastily began to flap its wings and fly away over the tops of the mountain. She could still see Azog by the burning forest, screaming in agony because he had failed to kill Thorin Oakenshield yet again.

Míriel could barely believe what had just happened, it was a miracle. They had been in a deadly situation and aid had come for them. Their luck was unbelievable, something always seemed to help them. Míriel now tried to see which Dwarves had been hurt and saw that all the Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf, were alright - except for Thorin who had been badly bitten by Azog's warg.

"Thorin!" Fíli cried for Thorin who was lying unconscious in the claws of one of the eagles.

They didn't know if he was dead or not since he wasn't moving, and Míriel had troubles trying to hear his breathing since the eagles were flapping their wings rather loudly. She took in the view in front of her, never had she been so high up in the air before. The eagles were taking them to the Lonely Mountain now, and Míriel wondered why they hadn't come before so they would have received this ride ages ago?

The eagles released them on a cliff far away from the mountain, giving them a ride a bit of the way to the Lonely Mountain. Gandalf hurried toward Thorin and so did Míriel. They kneeled next to him and were met by closed eyes and skin so pale it was almost see-through. Gandalf's eyes met Míriel's who nodded as she knew what the Wizard was asking of her. Míriel put her hand over his face and smiled as there was no doubt that Thorin was alive. She heard his breathing as clear as she could feel the wind upon her skin and sighed in relief.

"The halfling?" Thorin whispered as soon as his eyes shot open, almost startling her a little.

Míriel stared right into Thorin's eyes and could not determine if he was either terribly worried or angry at the poor Hobbit for what he had done back there. Bilbo had gone all by himself to save Thorin's life.

"Alive," said Gandalf and nodded toward Thorin. "Bilbo is here, he's quite safe." The other Dwarves helped their leader up on his feet and he instantly turned to Bilbo with a strange expression on his face. Míriel couldn't tell if he was angry or shocked.

"You!" said Thorin and pointed at Bilbo. "What were you doing? You could've gotten yourself killed! Did I not say that you would be a burden? That you would not survive in the wild? That you have no place amongst us...? I have never been so wrong in all my life."

Thorin stepped closer to Bilbo and did something they had not expected - he embraced him. Míriel smiled and winked toward Fíli and Kíli who looked quite terrible. They were dirty in their faces and their hair, but most importantly they were safe and happy for this moment of bliss.

"I'm sorry I doubted you," Thorin said as he turned a little toward Míriel. "And that I was being rude to you too, Míriel. Both of you came to my aid, not needing to do so. You are truly loyal to us and for that, I am eternally grateful."

"It's alright," Bilbo said and Míriel smiled in agreement. It was quite understandable, but she was happy now that she had earned Thorin's trust. "I would've doubted me too. I'm not a hero or even a burglar."

They all chuckled a little since Bilbo was quite wrong. He was a hero, and a big one despite his height.

The eagles took their leave from the company and as they followed them with their gaze their eyes fell upon something quite marvellous. Míriel walked closer to the edge of the cliff and allowed a smile to grow on her face. In front of them laid the Lonley Mountain; their destination was right ahead and it was beautiful. The company were so close yet still so far away which was made apparent by the fact that it was yet not entirely visible. They still had a long was to go.

"Is that what I think it is?" Míriel asked.

"Erebor," said Gandalf to them all. "The Lonely Mountain. The last of the great Dwarf kingdom of Middle-Earth."

Erebor appeared so peaceful and quiet; nothing seemed to move over there, nothing was alive. For sixty years the mountain had been empty with all life excpet a fire-breathing dragon which Míriel desperatly hoped they would not encounter. It could still be lurking there.

"Our home," said Thorin, longing in his voice.

The emotion and happiness evident in Thorin's face was something Míriel hadn't seen before. He was finally going to be home again, after all this time; so close.

"A raven, the birds are returning to the mountain," said Glóin as a black bird flew past them toward Erebor.

Even though that bird was not a raven, Míriel decided not to say anything so she wouldn't want to ruin the beautiful moment of the Dwarves finally seeing their long-lost home again. She enjoyed looking at the peaceful yet mysterious mountain, telling herself that they were almost there. It felt, more than ever, as if they were going to make it all the way.

"We'll take it as a sign," said Thorin with a smile, meaning what Glóin had said about the raven that wasn't a raven. "A good omen."

"You're right," said Bilbo with another smile. "I do believe the worst is behind us."