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Chapter 3

Darkness. That was the world in which Bilbo's consciousness returned. Darkness… and, what was that…? A light, wafting smell of bread and mushrooms! The hobbit's stomach screamed at him to crawl towards the food, which he did instantly, before even thinking about where he was and what had happened to him. He followed the smell and felt around with his hand, finally grabbing a piece of soft bread and a handful of mushrooms, hobbits' favourite. He ate with relish, feeling himself fill up and his stomach calm down with this more than welcome meal. It was only when he had finished the plate (and licked it) that he started to wonder at his present situation. He could see absolutely nothing in the pitch black room, but could feel the stone ground which stretched only a few meters in all directions before hitting a wall. Bilbo tried to jump to guess at what height the ceiling was, but it was in vain : it was much too high. He knew he had been locked up by the elves when he realised there was no door to his cell : this was one of their tricks again, he deducted.

Despite his courage and hope, Bilbo knew that in this absence of light and with no door to leave this cell, there was no chance of escaping - for the moment. He decided to wait for an elf to come to him, as one would surely bring him another meal. However, he was a little suspicious about the fact that he was being fed, for this did not sound like elf behaviour towards prisoners at all. Had there been something in the food which he should not have eaten? These thoughts whirled around his brain and wrecked his nerves as he slumped against a wall, waiting. He soon fell asleep, exhausted by his last adventure through the tunnels.

A few hours later, Bilbo was startled awake by a loud clanging sound over his head.

"You alive?" asked a gruff voice from above.

The hobbit jumped up, trying to understand the source of the voice. A dim light shone in his cell now, and he could make out the stone walls and floor. But there was still no door! Suddenly, he heard a jeering laugh and looked up, falling face to face with an old, bearded elf leaning down from a trapdoor in the ceiling.

"You looked funny, running around in there trying to figure out where I was. I'm up here! We thought this was a great cell for you, we don't even have to lock the door since you're too small to reach it!" The old elf smirked at Bilbo, seeming very amused by his small size.

The hobbit stared at the trap door, discouraged by its height. There was really no way to escape. Maybe he could try climbing the walls, but they appeared much too smooth.

"So, d'you want the food or not?" grumbled the guard.

Bilbo abruptly noticed a plate laden with food dangling from a rope right above him, held by the elfguard. His mind processed the elf, balancing on the edge of the trap door, and the rope, attached to the elf. On the spur of the moment, he jumped up and pulled the rope with all his strength, towing the caught off guard with it. The latter crashed to the ground before he had any time to shout out. Bilbo rapidly bound the guard's wrists with the rope and tied his shirt around his mouth so that he could not scream for help and alert others. This all happened suddenly in a matter of seconds and, when he had finished, Bilbo stepped back, astounded at what he had done. There he was, respectable Bilbo Baggins from the Shire, pulling elves off ledges and tying them up like criminals! Who had he become? He sat down, the Took and Baggins parts of him fighting over if he should be proud or ashamed.

However, after a few breaths, Bilbo was feeling quietened and content. It did not matter if what he had done was not proper, at least now he had a small hand in the situation. He watched the elf wriggle on the floor, muffled sounds of shouts fading in his makeshift gag. The hobbit had no time to react before the guard somehow managed to push the shirt off his face and started howling and bellowing for help. Bilbo lept over to him and tried to put his hand over the guard's mouth, his heart beating fast and loud with fright, but it was too late : some elves passing by heard the commotion and ran to the trapdoor to see Bolurg (yes, it was him) wrestling with the captured hobbit.

"Get some help!", one of them said to another. The other three stayed, watching with growing angst as the two continued fighting in the cell, wondering what was happening in the dimness of the hole. Soon, the elf returned with a group of six elfguards and the Captain of the Guard herself. Although they could not see it, Bilbo had managed to tighten the ropes around Bolurg's ankles and wrists and had secured the gag over his mouth once more. Bolurg was so bound up that he could hardly move.

"What are you doing to our brother, prisoner?" growled Tauriel to Bilbo. The hobbit saw an opportunity in this turn of events which brought back some hope. They could not make out exactly what he was doing, so he would lie a little for his profit.

"I have a knife to your brother's throat, and I shall not hesitate to use it if you do not immediately let me out!" he declared loudly. Truly, he was only crouching over the terrified Borgul, but the elves all gasped and started muttering amongst them. They appeared to be arguing, trying to find a solution which would keep Bilbo prisoner but not harm poor Bolurg. Shortly a large, bulky elf with muscled forearms and a strong jaw stood swiftly up, looking down at Bilbo with hate mingled with some admiration : he had not thought a Hobbit able to hinder the elves so perfectly. They were so loyal that they could not neglect even an old, simple guard. The burly elf stared into the gloom of the cell:

"I am Origoth, and I propose to you a deal, hobbit Bilbo. We shall take both of you out of this hole. You will not impair our brother. Once out, you shall follow us to the King's chambers where you shall be interrogated. If your answers are satisfactory, you shall be allowed to leave."

Bilbo was tempted by the offer, for it was better than rotting in this cell forever, but he marked a number of flaws in it.

"What about my friends?" He asked, "will you free them as well? And what if I do not cooperate? If I kill Bolurg, what shall happen to me?"

"In that case you shall be executed", replied Origoth sharply, "one does not touch an elf without harsh repercussions. As for your friends, it depends whether you explain yourself well enough. That is all I can add."

Bilbo was not reassured by this statement. He knew he would never kill Bolurg so he was not afraid for his own life, but was troubled about his friends' fates. Despite his fears, he felt that, if he was liberated, at least he would have a higher chance of finding another way to help the dwarves. Maybe even fetch some help elsewhere if they gave him directions. His decision was made.

"Cast down the rope," he announced powerfully, "for I accept your deal!"


Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed! Don't forget to review please :) I hope to update the next chapter really soon.

PS can anyone tell me why the writing is so small suddenly? It wasn't like that before but I can't figure out how to make it bigger again! Thanks!