Chapter 4
Troll Problems
We rode through the forest in a heavy rainfall. I kept the hood of my cloak up as I rode between Fili and Kili. Dwalin was up front with Thorin and Gandalf. I couldn't keep my eyes off him, but looked away when he looked back like he knew I was watching.
"Here, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori asked.
"It is raining Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard." Gandalf said.
"Are there any?" Bilbo asked.
"What?" Gandalf asked.
"Other wizards?" Bilbo asked. I pulled my cloak closed to keep the warmth.
"There are five of us. The greastes of our order is Saruman, the White. Then there are the two Blue Wizards, you know, I've forgotten their names." Gandalf said.
"Your forgetting one." I said.
"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo asked.
"Well, that would be Radagast, the Brown." Gandalf said.
"Is he a great Wizard or is he more like you?" Bilbo asked. I let out a giggle, earning an offended look from Gandalf as other dwarves let out snorts.
"I think he's a great wizard, in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the East, and a good thing too, for always Evil will look to find a foothold in the world." Gandalf said. I give a nod in agreement. I heard Fili and Kili joking around. I roll my eyes at the two.
Later that day. We arrived at the ruins of a farm house. Gandalf gets off his horse and heads to the ruins. I slip off mine.
"We'll camp here for the night. Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them." Thorin said. I rubbed my ponies nose. It seemed a bit uneasy.
"Easy. You are fine." I whisper in elvish low enough so only the pony could hear.
"Oin, Gloin." Thorin said.
"Aye?" Gloin asked.
"Get a fire going." Thorin said.
"Right you are." Gloin said.
"I think it would be wiser to move on. We could make for the Hidden Valley." Thorin said. I looked up at the words of my home. I smile lightly as Thorin headed to talk to Gandalf. The pony calmed down.
"Vanya. Would you help Bofur and Bombur make dinner tonight?" Dwalin asked, coming up. I look at him.
"I can." I said. Dwalin nodded, but was eying me suspiciously. I hope he didn't hear me speaking in elvish. Before he said anything Gandalf came storming by, angrily. I raise an eyebrow.
"Everything alright? Gandalf, where are you going?" Bilbo asked.
"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense." Gandalf said.
"Who's that?" I ask.
"Myself, Miss Vanya! I've had enough of dwarves for one day." Gandalf said.
"Come on, Bombur, we're hungry." Thorin said.
"Is he coming back?" Bilbo asked.
"What did Thorin say now to anger Gandalf." I said. Dwalin shrugged.
"Who knows, lass. Go help lads." Dwalin said. I went to help Bombur and Bofur with supper. They were happy for the help. Dwalin disappeared off to talk to Thorin. Fili and Kili took the ponies to a spot close by.
That night. I took a bowl of stew and headed over to a rock near the fire. I sat on the ground and leaned against the rock. Dwalin stood talking with Thorin as both of them ate and Bilbo hung by the pot. Gandalf still hasn't come back after leaving us earlier. Bilbo disappeared.
"Will the wizard be coming back?" Balin asked. I looked up.
"I don't know if he will or not." Thorin said.
"Well if you would agree for him for once instead of getting into a fight with him. He would still be here." I said.
"How would you know, girl. You have no right to speak." Thorin growled. I stood up and faced him with anger in my eyes.
"You are so stubborn that you won't ask for the help of elves when I'm sure that the elves of Rivendell did nothing to you when it was King Thraunduil who did it." I said. Thorin came face to face with me. I was a few inches taller then him and held his stare.
"Don't EVER mention that name in front of me." Thorin said. I opened my mouth to say something, but Fili and Kili came running looking afraid and scared.
"UNCLE! Trolls! They got the ponies." Fili said. I grab my weapons and came up to them.
"If you two wouldn't stop fooling around, they wouldn't have been taken." I growl. The boys look more scared with my anger.
"She's got dwarf in her." Balin said.
"Aye." Some of the dwarves said.
"Where's Bilbo?" I ask.
"He's gone after the trolls." Kili said.
"And you left him alone? I've had it with the stubbornness of dwarves." I growl and storm off towards the direction of the ponies. The others came after me. I saw the firelight and ran towards it. I jumped into the trees and jumped from one to another to get closer to the trolls. I knelt on one branch with a hand on the trunk as I held my bow in my hand as I saw three trolls and one was holding Bilbo.
"Are there any more of you little fellas 'iding where you shouldn't?" Troll 1 asked.
"Nope." Bilbo said.
"He's lying." Troll 2 said.
"No I'm not!" Bilbo said. I pull an arrow from my quiver and got it ready.
"Hold his toes over the fire. Make him squeal." Troll 2 said. Kili runs out of the bushe and cuts troll 2 leg, making him howl in pain and fall down.
"Drop him!" Kili yelled.
"You what?" Troll 1 said. Kili twirls his sword in his hand.
"I said, drop him." Kili said. Troll 1 throws Bilbo at Kili, who catches him, knocking them both down. The rest of the Company charges out yelling and brandishing their weapons. The fight with the trolls begins. I shot an arrow at one of the trolls as they went after Ori. It yells in pain and I jump to another branch out of the trolls sight as it turns to look in my direction. I pull another arrow quickly out and shot at another one as it goes to grab Dwalin. Dwalin looked as the troll yells in pain. Our eyes meet for a second and he runs off to fight the trolls. I didn't notice as one grabs Bilbo.
"Bilbo!" Kili yelled, running to get Bilbo, but Thorin stops him.
"No!" Thorin said. I see Bilbo being held by all the trolls. I groan lightly.
"Lay down your arms, or we'll rip his off." Troll 1 said. Dwalin looked at me.
'Stay where you are.' Dwalin mouths. I nod as the dwarves drop their weapons.
I watch as the dwarves were thrown in sacks while Dwalin and the others were tied to a stick over the fire and were being turned by the trolls. I heard their names. Tom, William, and Bert. I slipped down a branch to get a better view, hoping that I wasn't spotted.
"Don't bother cooking them. Let's just sit on them and squash them into jelly." William said.
"They should be sautéed and grilled with a sprinkle of sage." Bert said.
"Is this really necessary?" Dori asked.
"Ooh, that does sound quite nice." William said.
"Untie us, you monsters!" Oin said.
"Take on someone your own size!" Gloin said. The dwarves in the bags were struggling and talking in fear.
"Never mind the seasoning, we ain't got all night! Dawn ain't far away, so let's get a move on. I don't fancy being turned to stone." Tom said. That's right. Trolls would be turned back into stone if they were exposed to sun. My father saw to many wars and made sure his children knew knowledge to defeat the enemy if needed. I hoped the dwarves or at least someone figured it out.
"Wait! You are making a terrible mistake." Bilbo said. I knew he was a smart Hobbit.
"You can't reason with them, they're half-wits!" Dori said.
"Half-wits? What does that make us?" Bofur asked. I snort as Bilbo manages to stand up while tied in the sack, facing the trolls.
"Uh, I meant with the, uh, with, uh, with the seasoning." Bilbo said.
'Good job, Bilbo. Stall them.' I thought.
"What about the seasoning." Bert asked.
"Well have you smelt them? You're going to need something stronger than sage before you plate this lot up." Bilbo said. I put my hand to my mouth to cover my laugh. The dwarves yell at Bilbo calling him a traitor. I shook my head.
"What do you know about cooking dwarf?" Tom asked.
"Shut up, and let the, uh, flurgaburburrahobbit talk." Bert said.
"Uh, the secret of cooking dwarf is, um..." Bilbo said.
"Yes? Come on." Bert said.
"It's uh..." Bilbo said.
"Tell us the secret!" Bert said.
"Yes, I'm tellin you, the secret is... To skin them first!" Bilbo said. I shake my head as the dwarves started to protest and yell.
"Tom, get me the filleting knife." Bert said.
"If I get you, you little..." Gloin said.
"I won't forget that!" Dwalin said. I roll my eyes. They weren't getting what he was doing.
"What a load of rubbish. I've eaten plenty with their skins on. Scruff them, I say, boots and all." Tom said. I heard movement and look to see Gandalf slipping behind some trees. I smirk.
"He's right! Nothing wrong with... Wait! I Smell another scent... Got you!" William said, grabbing my leg. I let out a squeak as I was pulled out of the tree and hung upside down. I drop my bow in the process.
"Vanya!" Fili and Kili yell.
"No! Let her go!" Dwalin yelled. I looked and saw him looking at me with wide eyes.
"Looks like a woman." William said.
"Let me go, stupid." I said, fighting to get to my dagger in my belt, but couldn't.
"Not that one, she's infected!" Bilbo said. We all look at Bilbo and I raise my eyebrow at him.
"You what?" Tom asked.
"Yeah. She's got worms in her... tubes." Bilbo said. Tom dropped me and I land on the dwarves.
"OW!" Kili and Gloin said.
"Sorry." I said.
"Your fine lass." Balin said.
"In...In fact they all have, they're in-infested with parasites. It's a terrible business, I wouldn't risk it, I really wouldn't." Bilbo said.
"Parasites, did he say parasites?" Oin asked.
"We don't have parasites! You have parasites!" Kili said.
"What are you talking about, laddie?" Gloin asked. I looked at Thorin.
"Thorin. He's stalling for time. Trolls turn to stone if exposed to daylight. Go along with it." I said. Thorin nodded and kicked the dwarves. The dwarves look at him and got the hint.
"I've got parasites as big as my arm." Oin said
"Mine are the biggest parasites, I've got huge parasites!" Kili said.
"We're riddled." Nori said.
"Yes, I'm riddled." Ori said.
"Yes we are. Badly!" Dori said.
"What would you have us do, then, let 'em all go?" Tom asked as I sat up.
"Well..." Bilbo said.
"You think I don't know what you're up to? This little ferret is taking us for fools!" Tom said.
"Ferret?" Bilbo asked.
"Fools?" Bert said.
"The dawn will take you all!" Gandalf said. He appears on top of a large rock above the clearing.
"Who's that?" Bert asked.
"No idea." Tom said.
"Can we eat 'im too?" William asked. Gandalf raises his staff and then strikes the rock with his staff, splitting it in half. Sunlight pours into the clearing. The trolls scream in pain as it hits them and they turn into stone. I smirk. All the dwarves cheer. I see Thorin crack a smile.
"Oh, get your foot out of my back!" Dwalin yelled.
AN: I know. No moment for the two, but next chapter should have something. I hope you enjoyed. Yes. She's got a feisty streak in her and not afraid of Thorin. It will come in handy towards the end. LOL. Hope you enjoyed.