Chapter Text
Max laid there, slowly waking up, wondering when his bed had gotten so rough. He could feel a tightness on his chest and berated himself for sleeping with his binder on again. He was cold and didn’t feel a blanket covering him so he figured it fell on the floor during some point in his sleep. It wasn’t uncommon so Max didn’t think twice about it. He still had his clothes and shoes on which he knew his mother wouldn’t like but he still felt too tired to do anything about it.
Eventually, as he continued to lay there, his ears started to recognize the noises around him, muffled at first it grew until Max could tell it was the sounds of a battle; not the booming of guns or cannons but more like swords clanging against one another so he figured his sister or mother had put on a movie when they woke up. But as his body became more aware the battle sounded right next to him rather than in another room so he figure he fell asleep in the living room doing homework again, which would explain the uncomfortable ground, having his binder along with the rest of his clothes still on, and the battle going on right in his ear.
So when he finally opened his eyes he expected to see the living room ceiling or perhaps the tv or evening his little sister’s dopey grin as she figured the loud battle scene would finally wake him up, but no. That’s not what he saw.
‘Huh, that’s…not my ceiling,’
Instead he saw a bright pink sky mixed with violets and oranges, a sky that in any other circumstances would have been beautiful but right in this moment it was terrifying.
Max shot up expecting it to be some kind of prank. Hoping that perhaps his friend, Sam had come over and was just playing another prank on him but no. As he looked around, it became clear he wasn’t in Delaware anymore.
The terrain was rocky, old, and crumbling. It looked like one of those old castles people would give tours of. He walked around in circles wondering how in the hell he got there. Sam was to stupid to do something elaborate like this, and His mom was working two jobs just to keep everything a float. It wasn't like she could just take them on an unprompted trip all of a sudden.
‘Wait…Where’s Mom and Sadie?!’
With renewed vigor he took off calling out for them and hoping against hope that this is all a dream.
“SADIE!!!! MOM!!!!” He yelled as he ran all throughout the corridors. There was no one here.
It felt like he had been searching for hours, but he still couldn’t find him.
“SADIE!!! MOM!!!” He screamed once more as he crumpled to the ground. Tears streamed down his face as his voice, already strained, could no longer provide accompaniment to his sorrow.
‘Get up.’ A voice sounded in his head, but he was too enamored with his grief to pay it any worry.
“no…I can’t,” Max responded in a whisper. His family was gone. He didn’t know where he was. Why was he here.
‘Get. Up.’ The voice insisted.
‘Why?’ Max couldn’t help but think. Why should he? Why should he even try?
‘Because…she’s waiting for you’ The voice answered.
‘Who?’
The voice didn’t respond.
Max sighed and attempted to pull himself together as he stood. Following a disembodied voice. Not his best decision, but Max held out hope it would lead him to some answers.
So he walked. He searched all over the far side that he woke up on before making the decision to go further in to the seemingly crumbling structure. He knew he was looking for a girl, maybe, most likely. But he had no clue what she actually looked like. However it did say she was looking for him too.
Max searched for what felt like hours, it sure seemed that way with the sky becoming darker by the minute but in truth it most likely was just a few minutes. When he managed to poke his head outside the walls he realized the drastic light change was because of clouds rolling in. It seemed like it was about to snow, which just further convinced Max he was nowhere near home since over there it had just turned spring.
Max sighed, restlessly, and continued to move. There were no doors inside the place, which made it easy to scan rooms quickly. He managed to make it to the top of the tower and he still hadn’t found her. He was about to scream but the sounds of battle entered his ears once more. He walked slowly to the edge, his face scrunched up in confusion, and looked down below.
‘Shit.’
Max immediately crouched down. It was unlikely anyone saw him but he didn’t want to risk it.
‘What the fuck was that?’
It was unbelievable. So much so that Max had to take another look. Slowly he rose just enough so his eyes passed above the ledge and looked down once more.
‘Fuck’
Below him was a battlefield filled with so, so many people. As he continued to stare he noticed some people charging in on top of some type of dog.. Wolf? Some type of monster creature.
‘What the fuck?’ Max questioned silently.
‘Wargs,’ the voice explained in disgust.
‘Oh, so now you want to talk to me?’ Max hissed. But didn’t get a response.
“Wait did you say Wargs? Like as in ‘The Hobbit’ Wargs?!” Max exclaimed and took another look. Sure enough there were wargs with orcs on their back fighting against men, elves, and dwarfs.
‘No fucking way’ Max though in disbelief.
‘Completely fucking way’ The voice replied sourly.
Max was about to say something about it’s attitude but suddenly he heard someone coming up the stairs. He froze. What if it was an orc or goblin or something that would kill him without a second thought. He looked around. He didn’t have a weapon on him but there were enough rocks that perhaps he could distract it long enough to run away. Although he would probably still die. Well that’s what he gets for following a disembodied voice.
The intruder eventually made it to the last step, Max waited until it took a few more steps so it cleared his exit. He clenched a decent sized rock in his hand and prayed to whatever god that was listening for strength.
Eventually the intruder was close enough and Max whipped around bringing the rock up to throw.
“Stop!!” She yelled as she ducked. Max was shocked, his arm was raised but the rock hadn’t left his hand.
‘She’s here’ The voice revealed.
Max stared at her. She was thin and dirty. She was wearing a dress, not that short but still not appropriate for a battlefield. Then again it’s not like he was anything to be compared to.
“Who are you?” He eventually asked, rock still raised. She peaked up at him and when it appeared like he wasn’t going to attack him straight away she uncurled herself.
“My name is Chris,” She said. Max calmed as he recognized her. Christina Cruz, she went to his school. She played Olive Ostrovsky in their school’s edition of Putnam. He was picked to play in the pit for it.
‘Yeah she is definitely not supposed to be here.’
“Chris?” He restated as he put down the rock. “Chris it’s me, Max.”
He doubted she’d actually remember him. They never actually talked to each other, they just worked together for a few weeks.
“Max? Max Zimmermann?” She asked with a realization. Max was shocked.
‘Holy shit She knows my name!’
‘Ahem’
‘Right, active warzone. Survive then fanboy.’
‘Yes.’
“Um Yeah that’s me,” He replied dumbly.
“Oh thank god!” She exclaimed before bringing him in for a hug. He was shocked and stiff at first but when he felt her body shake as a sob racked through her body, he finally softened and hugged her back.
“I was so worried I was the only one!” She cried, Max sat there quietly as she did so, only offering support in his presence and tiny words of acknowledgement. He kept an ear out in case anything else decided to attack them.
“I was so scared. I just woke up on a mountain side and I saw the fighting. Then some voice in my head said to come to this place. It said that you were looking for me. I thought I would never find you!” She explained, still talking in between shuddering breaths.
“It’s okay you found me. We’re not alone anymore,” Max said in response, hoping to offer comfort.
Eventually she calmed down enough to let him go but kept his hand in hers. She was afraid to let him go. Max smiled down at their hand and gave her a squeeze. She smiled as well and sent one back.
“Do you know where we are?” She asked after a while. Max let out a sigh. How was he going to explain this?
“Yes, but I don’t know how we got here,” He started, “We appear to have somehow traveled into The Hobbit. Specifically I think this is during the Battle of the Five Armies.” He explained.
“Fuck,” she replied eloquently.
“I know right,” Max chuckled, glad she wasn’t freaking out.
“I sort of figured with all the elves and dwarfs running around. I was just hoping it wasn't the Mount Doom battle. I don’t think we would’ve survived that,” She explained.
“Mount Doom?” Max asked.
“Lord of the Rings,” She said.
“Oh, didn’t get a chance to see those ones,” Max told her. She shrugged.
“I didn’t get the chance to watch the Hobbit ones,” She responded. They chuckled together.
‘Get Up.’ Max practically jumped out of his skin when it returned. Chris shot him a confused look until she herself jumped. Max figured the voice just talked to her as well. Max wondered why they needed to move. They were away from the fight and would be hurt.
‘Run!’
Max looked behind them away from the battle field and suddenly remembered something as he saw the dust cloud forming. Near the end of the battle another army of orcs comes from the rear planning to over take them at Raven hill. Raven Hill which is a tower on top of a hil.
‘A Tower on top of a hill?’ Max looked around. They were on a tower on top of a hill.
‘RUN!!!!’ The voice shouted.
‘Oh Shit!’
“Oh Shit!” He repeated as he immediately got Chris up and dragged her down the stairs. She didn’t argue and followed close behind him. After all, she didn’t watch these movies.
‘Where do we go?’ Max asked and hoped it would answer.
‘Down the path, make a sharp left the hill will be open, but stay close you will be needed after,’
‘Okay,’ Max didn’t question it and instead followed its directions to the T and thankfully the voice led them right. There was a hole under the hill big enough to fit two teenages and hopefully it would keep them hidden from the Orcs.
‘Stay quiet. Do not leave until I tell you.’ It commanded. Max nodded and made a signal to Chris. It seemed to have said the same thing to her as she nodded and pointed to her head. Max gave her a grim grin and looked out the hole. After a minute the ground started to shake. Max took this as a sign and put up his hood which was black hoping it would help him blend into the background.
Eventually the swarm came. All light disappeared as screams and gore sounded through the air. Max and Chris held each other tight and prayed for it to be over. The fighting lasted so long. Much longer than it did in the movie. It felt like hours as they silently cried against each other. Max prayed they would hear the sounds of eagles soon.
Then it was over as soon as it began. The swarm left in a flurry as they cried in defeat. Max let out a sigh of relief. But soon he felt movement next to him. His eyes flew open when he realized Chris was trying to leave.
“Wait, don’t!” Max whispered harshly as he grabbed her wrist.
“Shh!,” She shushed him.
“It hasn’t given us the okay to leave yet,” he explained in a quieter tone.
“Well mine has,” She shot back and attempted to leave again.
“But,” He began. But was cut off.
“Do you trust me?” She asked. Max paused an internal battle fighting inside of him.
‘go’
Max sighed and let go of her wrist. She smiled at him and led the way out. When Max Finally exited he saw the sun was finally out again and sighed in relief when he heard an eagle cry.
“This way,” Chris called as she took his hand and led them along the hillside. They were walking for only a minute before she broke out in a dead sprint.
“Shit!” Max couldn’t help but exclaim as he was dragged along.
“It says we have to hurry. That he will die if we don’t!” She shouted back at him. Max ran alongside her. He only knew of three that for sure died by Raven Hill. He picked up pace and she followed suit.
Eventually they came to the bottom of a cliff and just a few feet in front of them laid a broken prince with a golden mane.
‘Save him.’ The voice begged.
“How?” Max asked, ignoring Chris’s confused look.
‘Tabsasi Absut’
“Tabsasi Absut” Max repeated.
‘Place your hand upon his heart and repeat the phrase. I will do the rest,” It said.
Max did as he was told and repeated the phrase over and over. Chris joined him however she was repeating a different phrase. They watched in awe as the bone and guts slipped back into his skin then as the tear itself sewed itself shut. Bruises that appeared old healed as well and Chris and Max watched it all.
Eventually the poor thing sucked the air back into his body and came alive once more, but he did not wake.
‘Good. Now you need to help the others,’ Max nodded and grabbed Chris. The voice led them back up the hill to their next victim. Kili appeared less worse than his brother and was being clutched in the arms of an Elf Maiden.
Max and Chris came close but then the Elf Maiden threatened them with her sword. Max and Chris took a step back.
“Please let us help!” Max cried out. He was desperate to get to Kili and he didn’t even know why. His favorite was always Bofur.
“Please he is going to die! Let us help!” Chris shouted. Tauriel eventually relented. When they saw they had no weapons and recognized the desperation in their voices but still she wondered how they could help with no medical equipment. Until she saw them place each a hand upon the young dwarfs heart and started chanting. In less time than Fili, Kili was already sucking breath into his body like a newborn babe. Max and Chris stopped almost feeling too tired to continue but Max knew they still had one more to get to.
“Tauriel.” He said as he turned to her, the she- elf looked to him. “Fili is at the bottom of the cliff, right below us. Take him and Kili to Oin. Now!” Tauriel nodded, understanding the dire situation and lept to work, cradling Kili in her arms lovingly. As she left Max and Chris left as well to their final target but at a much slower rate.
The voices in their heads urged them to keep moving but they were tired. They tried their best and managed to get there almost too late, but they were at Thorin’s side in a minute. Bilbo seemed to be lost behind his eyes as he didn’t resist Max pushing his way past. Immediately both placed their hands above the hole in his gut and started chanting. And with the first words spoken Bilbo seemed to come alive. He finally noticed them both but did not stop them. Instead he watched in fascination.
By the end of it, Thorin had taken a breath and Max and Chris could no longer hold on. They passed out next to the Dwarf king just as reinforcements arrived and felt themselves being carted of in strong arms.
‘Good job, my little one. The children, they are safe and will live to see their home prosper once more,’ they voice said as Max lulled.
“Will I be able to go back home now?” He asked.
‘...’
He was in a car, someone else was driving. The music was too loud. He remembered. They were drunk. He could tell. They didn’t see the truck coming. He cried.
‘I am so sorry, my little one. You were taken too soon. I should have kept a better eye on you. I am sorry, my little one.’
“I want my mom!” He cried. He did not feel the tears but knew they were there.
‘I know, my little one. I am so sorry.’
“Why did this happen?” He asked, begged, pleaded. He could not decide which.
‘I am sorry, my little one. It was always meant to be. It was your destiny but it was not supposed to happen so soon.’
“Who are you?” He whispered, unsure if he really wanted an answer.
‘I am you. As you are me.’ And in the darkness shone a light like a thousand Mithril stars.
“Mahal.”