This although in the same story is in another story for the second part of their journey, just to clarify that it is no longer based on an unexpected journey. Hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 1: Mirkwood and Gandalf's witch.
Bilbo and Eradan looked over the rocky formation. They saw on the cliffs behind wargs upon wargs looking for them. Bilbo then looked left to see a extremely large and very scruffy bear. It stood on the small cliff and roared. The two proceeded back with haste. It wasn't long till they found them. "Bad news!" Bilbo said exhaustedly. "Did they see you." "No, something worse." "See I told you he was a good burglar." Everyone seemed to ignore him. "Can you all listen!" The group went quiet. "There is something else out here!" As he finished his sentence, a large roar could be heard. Gandalf looked around for a minute. "Our shelter and host are nearby, this way!" The group quickly ran after Gandalf. Before they exited the forest, the fattest dwarf, Bombur, stopped and looked behind to his terror. Within moments, he was with the others, then ahead the others in a large plain. On the other side, a house. The group ran, hearing more roars closer. Bombur had now ran past even the elves until running into the front door. Behind the group, the trees erupted and a very extremely large bear chased them out of it. They were all so scared they clambered into the door trying to open it. Gandalf pulled the door open and they all got in at the last possible second. The group fell to the floor. That was the furthest they had ever run. "What was that?!" Dwalin commented. "That...is our host." Gandalf simply stated. The group looked at each other. They were shocked to say the least. "At least he'll keep the wargs away. Right?" Eradan stated. Everything went quiet. "o...k." Soon night fell and the group had no choice but to sleep.
Bilbo struggled to sleep. He woke right at the moment their host walked in. It was dark but he was very big and hairy. He sounded very gruff. He then heard movement near him and Eradan awoke. As the Gruff man walked away, Eradan followed. Bilbo soon couldn't keep his eyes open any longer and diminished into sleep.
When Bilbo awoke, the Dwarves and elves were already munching on food, and an unusually big bee had landed on his nose. Gandalf knocked it off Bilbo's nose and pulled him up. He joined the others for breakfast. "It's not common for Dwarves to dine in my house, nor orcs to roam my land." The gruff man said. "I am Beorn. Your elf friend Eradan has already told me of your…predicament." Everyone turned to Eradan, making him feel uneasy. "I hate dwarves. You're greedy and selfish. But I hate orcs even more. What do you need?" "Just some horses and food so we can continue in our quest." Eradan stated. "Once we reach Mirkwood, the horses can be returned." "Hmm…. I can agree to that. Today though, rest." And so for the day, the company rested in the small abode of Beorn while he prepared the horses and supplies for them. Gandalf confronted Eradan later that night. "What did you tell him?" "I'm an old friend of Beorn. I helped save him. I only told him we needed to get to Mirkwood and he kind of owes me a debt for saving him." "You know, you are the first elf I know who takes debts." The two laughed. Early the next morning, now with horses and fresh supplies, the company rode off to the edge of Mirkwood. Against their knowledge, the hunting party after them had retreated under command of their master to Dol Guldur.
They soon reached the edge of Mirkwood, the secret elven entrance. Bilbo felt light headed and everyone descended off the horses. They were about to release them to Beorn, who was in his bear form and watching from a nearby cliff, when Gandalf stopped them. "Not mine! I need it!" "Where are you off to Gandalf?!" Bilbo asked but he left without a word. Elandil realised something and went on his horse straight after Gandalf, leaving the company bewildered.
Regardless, they released the horses and proceeded into the forest. Bilbo was gawped. "Aren't we going to go get Gandalf?" He asked Eradan. "We must continue regardless. We will see him and Elandil again don't worry, but for now we must get to Erebor before the last light of Durin's day." And so they proceeded into the forest, Eradan at the front because he is an elf and 'should' know these paths with Thorin and Bilbo close behind.
Gandalf hadn't rode far when Elandil caught up to him. "What are you doing here?!" He shouted. "If I leave you, you'll disappear again. That's not going to happen and I know where you're headed." "Hmm, Very well, however you must do everything I say, including leave me if I say to, do you understand?" "Yes" "Good. Now, let's hurry." The two horses then darted off to the north.
The company had only been in the forest for half an hour, however the eerie atmosphere of Mirkwood was starting to take hold and no one knew what the time was. Not even Eradan. Because He isn't an elf of Mirkwood, he is having the same toll as the dwarves and hobbit.
Gandalf had warned them to stick to the path, lest not even Gandalf or Radagast could find them, but the path had disappeared from Eradan and everyone started looking for the path, starting to panic as fear took their bodies. However, Bilbo had some sense still with him. He started climbing a large tree. Eradan saw this and helped him up to do it. "Why are you doing this Bilbo?" "If I can see the mountain, we can got straight that direction." "Good plan, I'll try to keep them here." Eradan proceeded to try and keep all the dwarves in one area as Bilbo slowly climbed the tree.
In a large flash, Bilbo burst through the roof of the forest. His mind cleared, his body relieved of exhaustion from the warm rays of the sun, stroking his upper body. After relaxing for a bit, he looked for the mountain and saw the mountain and a lake with a small town in the centre. He still couldn't see it clearly though but he knew where to go. However, something caught his eye. In the trees ahead, they all started waving around as if a troll or something large was brushing past them, straight for them. Bilbo tried to warn the others but got no response.
Down Bilbo came to try to find the others but everyone had gone. He saw signs of a struggle, then some sticky substance on the floor, lots actually. He studied it for a second and realised it was a web, but the size and amount was way too large for a spider, wasn't it? Before he could investigate further, something grabbed him from behind, giving him no time to fight. He struggled and realised it was a human hand. The struggle subsided and the grip let go. He turned to see Eradan. "Eradan! Where are the dwarves?" "Sssh!" Eradan urged and pulled him down into the bush he resided in.
Only seconds after pulling him, a large animal or thing landed right at the webbed spot. Bilbo gasped to realise it had eight large hairy legs, along with a large sack at the back. It was a massive spider. Eradan and Bilbo stayed quiet and it left soon after. "What happened?" Bilbo whispered. "Not long after you breached the top, the spiders attacked from all sides. Thorin forced me into the bush to wait for you as they were all taken away by the spiders and webbed." Eradan shuddered as he finished. He absolutely loathed spiders.
"We have to save them!" Bilbo shouted silently. "I know. You need to use your ring." Bilbo gasped. "How did you know?" "I'm an elf, you think that kind of thing could escape me? Besides, I knew Gollum had it and when he started screaming it was gone, I knew it was you." "Right, I will, but what about you." All Eradan did was point up with his bow, and then disappear. "Follow the webs!" He shouted as he vanished in the brush. Bilbo sighed and received the ring from his pocket. He looked at it for a few seconds before finally disappearing.
Gandalf and Elandil rode for a while before reaching a very large cliff. Gandalf dismounted and proceeded right for it. "We're climbing that?!" Elandil asked. "Yes. For above is our destination." And he proceeded to climb what looked like stairs. Elandil sighed. "I hate climbing." He said to himself before following on.
It took a while, but near the top, they reached what looked like a chamber. Gandalf entered first, to slide unexpectedly almost into an endless abyss. Elandil followed, also falling for the same trick. Gandalf stopped himself right in front of the abyss and moved to the left as Elandil kept going and jumped the gap completely to the other side. "Elves." Gandalf murmured to himself as he moved around the gap over to Elandil.
They walked a bit to reach a open tomb. Gandalf moved forward to look inside when bats charged out at them. The two evaded to find Radagast standing right behind them. "Radagast!" Elandil shouted. "All nine." Radagast stated to which Gandalf nodded. "It appears, trouble is stirring at Dol Guldur.
Meanwhile, back at the mountain, the hooded figure awoke from his silent sleep. He yawned silently. "So…. What have I missed?" he asked, as he walked over to the cliff. A bird fluttered next on his shoulder and started tweeting in his ear. "Ah! So they've met Beorn and entered Mirkwood. Gandalf, Radagast and the elf Elandil however are headed to Dol Guldur. Hmm, they must of found that the nine are no longer in their tombs, heh. They will be surprised once they find Azog but they separated from the others so their business is not of mine. Keep an eye on the company won't you my friend?" the figure asked the bird, it gave a loud tweet and flew away. The hood was lowered from the figure's head however, it was too dark to see anything. "Not long now." He then laughed and walked back to the mountain with red fiery eyes.