Hey guys! Several things about this chapter-Sorry it took so long for me to get out but my computer had completely crashed on me and I couldn't get a new one for a while. So, I'd try to write and then lose everything I worked on so, if this is a little scatterbrained it's because I had to write it from memory several different times. But, I've got a new computer now and I am back on track :D The information in this may be a bit off and I apologize for that. I tried my best to get the genealogies correct. Anyway, Enjoy and review if ya want!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hobbit in any way, shape or form.
Bilbo's nose was permanently wrinkled on his small face, as the smell of troll was too much to handle.
Several Dwarves were collecting whatever provisions they could, and packing them on their ponies.
Gandalf and Thorin were looking through the swords and chose two of Elvish make-much to Thorin's displeasure.
Bifor, Bofur and Nori were scooping gold pieces into a chest they'd found whilst Gloin and Dori dug a hole to hide it in.
"After all," They said, "It would be a shame leaving it all unprotected."
"A small investment!"
Dwalin just shook his head, knowing full well they may not come back to collect it.
They all reconvened outside, to plan their next move, now that their wizard had returned.
"And where did you get off to?" Thorin asked, his blue eyes searching the gray cloaked wizards face.
"To look ahead."
"And what brought you back precisely on time?"
"Looking behind." Was his answer, Gandalf's blue eyes twinkled wildly.
Thorin huffed and left it at that, though it pained him to not be in the know.
They began to bicker amongst themselves about where to go and if they should go to Rivendell or not.
Gandalf insisted on going to Lord Elrond to figure out the rest of the map; Whereas, Thorin said he'd rather be dead than ask an Elf for help.
As they bickered, three pairs of eyes watched on.
Two full of anger and bloodlust and one, cold calculating and focused.
Suddenly, everyone in the party stiffened and it grew eerily silent.
Not a breath could be heard, not a twig moved.
A great crashing began into eh distance, followed by incomprehensible yelling.
Bows were drawn, swords at the ready and eighteen pairs of eyes watched.
A giant twig sled leapt through the bushes, landing in the center of the Dwarves.
It came to a halt and a small dumpy man dressed in brown, covered with moss and twigs, jumped off; Nearly getting a sword shoved down his throat.
"Radagast the Brown!"
"Gandalf! I've been looking for you! The birds told me I'd find you here."
~•~
The Dwarves milled around, not interested in the wizard's conversation-most likely about something they weren't knowledgeable about.
Mister Baggins was wondering from Dwarf to Dwarf, sneaking peeks and this new, odd wizards whilst also trying to figure out why the Dwarves were so against going to Rivendell-where food was plenty and beds were open to them.
A howl sprung from the woods surrounding them, startling the wizards out of their conversation.
"Are there wolves in these woods?" Bilbo asked, seeing Kili draw his bow.
"Wolves? No." Bofur said, standing up and pulling his weapon out of its holster.
Blue eyes in the bushes narrowed, the bow being pulled taut, ready to fire at a moments notice.
It went silent and the atmosphere was tense, everyone at the ready.
A growl burst through the buses followed by the open muzzle of a Warg.
Kili shot and drew another arrow as the other Dwarves swooped in, hacking the life out of the snapping creature.
More howls followed, dread seeped into the little hobbit's bones.
"Warg scouts." Thorin said, motioning for the ponies to be fetched.
"Who did you tell about your quest other than your kin?" Gandalf demanded, speeding over to Thorin.
"No one." Thorin said, his blue eyes displaying shock at the wizard's sudden aggression, "I swear on my word."
"The ponies have bolted!" Ori cried, running back to the others.
Radagast rushed up, "I'll distract the pack."
Gandalf turned to him in disbelief, "They will out run you."
"These are Rhosgobel Rabbits! I'd like to see them try."
The wizards began to grin, making the others wonder what secret they possessed to make them grin at immediate death.
~•~
If you had been one of those Warg scouts hunting Thorin Oakenshield and Company, you would have been very confused to see an old man burst out of the bushes on a twig sled being pulled by rather sizable rabbits.
Confused, and very upset, the Wargs descended upon the sled, fast enough to follow its heels but not enough to catch it.
The Orcs on their backs swung wildly at the laughing, jeering old man to no avail.
They couldn't hit him.
So much chaos occurred all at once that they didn't notice the fifteen shadows traveling over the wide plains, hiding behind rocks when they passed.
"Quickly! Stay together!" Gandalf called, after their third rock jump.
The Warg pack ran past, still chasing the sled, screaming curses in their foul language.
"Where are you leading us?"
Gandalf gave Thorin a glance filled with apology before sprinting to the next rock.
A lone Warg scout stood on top of a rock formation, watching the chaotic chase unfolding before him.
His Warg mount turned and sniffed the air, looking in a different direction from the chase.
Could the Dwarves be there?
He turned his mount and headed for the boulder.
~•~
Bilbo's little heart had just about beat out of his chest.
There they were, pressed against a rock with a Warg right above them-hunting them.
He tried to swallow but his throat had closed in fear, not even the presence of Gandalf could calm him.
He was going to die-without having dinner, without saying goodbye-in the middle of the wilderness on a disgusting adventure!
Why, oh why had he left his hobbit-hole!
A movement to his right caught his eye and he watched as Kili pulled an arrow out of his quiver and strung it in his bow, waiting for the signal.
Thorin gave a swift nod, pushing Kili into action.
He pushed away from the boulder, took aim and his arrow went straight through the Warg's head, effectively killing it, making it fall off the boulder with a howl, bringing the Orc rider with it.
The Dwarves made short work of the Orc but it was too late-the other were coming.
"Run!" Gandalf yelled, taking off, pointing the way with his staff.
Gandalf stopped at rock slide down into the earth, framed by rocks.
"Down you go!" he said, ushering the Dwarves to slide down.
The Wargs began to close in, Kili began to shoot some, trying to delay them.
Fili stood against his back, killing any that got past his brother's defenses.
Soon, Kili noticed the Orcs falling-not from his own arrows but a red feathered arrow-striking the heart.
Before he had time to think it over, Thorin was calling them down the hole.
They slid down the earth, followed by Gandalf who began counting heads to make sure everyone had made it.
Horns began to sound and the shrieks of Orcs joined them, causing the Dwarves to look up in alarm.
An Orc slid down the hole, two arrows embedded in its chest.
Kili leaned down and touched the arrows, "Elves." he deduced, standing back up and looking at Dwalin, who had just come back from checking out the rest of the ravine.
"It looks safe enough."
The Dwarves nodded and continued down the path, content to follow.
Thorin however shot Gandalf a withering glare-well aware of where they'd arrived.
They soon came to the end of the passage that opened up to the most beautiful village-if you could even call it something as simple as a village-Bilbo had ever seen.
Houses-Mansions, more like it-framed by ivy and soft flowers were speckled around the ravine with a waterfall emitting a soft mist, giving the atmosphere a soft feeling of magic.
"Rivendell."
~•~
They followed Gandalf until they'd come to a gorgeous place-the last homely house.
Each Dwarf was on high alert but Mister Baggins was starting to think that if all adventures ended here they'd be most welcome.
They were met by an elegant brown haired elf that bowed when Gandalf greeted him.
They had a short conversation before the Elf turned to the Dwarves, "I'm sorry, but my Lord Elrond is not here."
"Not here?" Gandalf asked, a small frown making its way on his face, "Where is he?"
Horns began to sound from the pathway and soon horses were galloping into the courtyard, tall elegant elves astride them.
"Close ranks!" Thorin yelled and the Dwarves sprang into action; throwing Bilbo in the middle of their circle, all weapons drawn as the horses began to circle them.
"Gandalf!" A tall slender Elf with black hair atop a black horse exclaimed with a smile.
"Lord Elrond." Gandalf returned, their friendship showing by their respect for each other.
"My friend!" Gandalf exclaimed in Elvish with a bow, "Where have you been?"
"We've been hunting a pack of Orc that have come up from the South." Elrond replied in Elvish as well dismounting his horse.
"We slew a few near the Hidden Pass." He continued, walking forward to hug the old wizard.
"Strange for Orcs to come so near our borders." He continued, in Westron, with a glance towards the Dwarves. "Something-or someone-has drawn them near."
"Ah, that may have been us." Gandalf replied, motioning towards the Dwarves, still in rank with weapons drawn.
Thorin walked forward, distrust plain on his face when Elrond took a few steps closer.
"Welcome Thorin, Son of Thrain," Elrond replied with a polite nod.
"I do not believe we have met."
"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the mountain."
"Indeed. He made no mention of you." Thorin said, his eyes narrowing, the other Dwarves growing restless behind him.
Elrond watched Thorin carefully before turning towards the Dwarves slightly, "Nartho, I noer, toltho I viruvor. Boe I annam vann a nethail vin."
Gloin rushed forward, wielding his axe, "What is he saying? Does he offer us insult?!"
The other Dwarves glanced at each other restlessly, watching Thorin's reaction.
Gandalf sighed, exasperated, "No, Master Gloin. He's offering you food!"
The Dwarves quickly clustered together, murmuring amongst themselves before turning back and facing the tall Elf.
"Well, in that case…lead on." Gloin said with a serious nod.
Elrond nodded and gave a polite bow and turned when an arrow with a red feather hit between the Elf Lord and Thorin.
"I have come to claim the head of Thorin Oakenshield!"
Standing above the courtyard that they were all gathered in, stood a short, graceful figure.
Several of the Elves had already drawn bows and had them stringed and aimed at the figure, ready to fire at a moments notice.
Thorin pushed his way forward, squinting his eyes, trying to make out this new threat to him and his people.
An arrow gleamed in the bow of the mysterious archer-aimed straight for Thorin's heart.
"And who might you be? To claim my head." Thorin yelled back, his hand tightening on his sword.
The archer leapt off the courtyard opening and pointed the bow at Thorin's throat, inches away from him.
"I am Denali Silverbrooke and I have come to claim my revenge."
Bilbo didn't think he could have a heart attack two times in one day but there he was, his heart pounding out of his chest as he stared at the leader of their company seconds away from dying and their whole task failing.
He should have warned them! I mean, he'd seen her dress as she tracked them!
He stared at the petite Elf, for it was no doubt that she was-as fair as she was. Her silver hair flowed long and moved with the wind as it whispered around her. Her gray eyes were set firmly on her target, unmoving and unsympathetic.
"Denali." Elrond said, taking a few steps forward, a concerned look on his face, "We thought you were lost. When they took you…we looked but we could never find where you'd gone."
Bilbo's eyes bounced from the Elven lord to the young Elf, noticing how well-worn her outfit was and how exhausted she was-how her eyes narrowed when her name was called.
Her eyes slid over to Elrond and searched his face, "And if you had found us it wouldn't have done any good. I am doing what I must for my people."
Sadness washed over the older Elf's face and he took a step closer.
"One more step and I'll kill him without hesitation and turn my bow on you." Denali snapped, pulling her bow taut once more.
Kili strung an arrow on the bow and trained it on her, his eyes wide and his face grim.
Her bow shifted until it was aimed at his head, directly behind Thorin's, "Two shots is all it would take."
"Denali…this is not your revenge. They are not your people. You are amongst your people now. They have betrayed you…as they intended the whole time."
Denali didn't falter, her eyes pierced Thorin's and she pulled the bow back once more, lowering it to his heart.
Bilbo froze, would Lord Elrond and Gandalf allow her to kill Thorin? It couldn't be too hard to just stop her, could it?
"Henig, Nin gwerianneg."
"Mana?" Denali asked, frowning.
"Quetuvangwë sí ve nildu?" Elrond asked, stepping forward slowly.
Denali nodded, wondering at the sadness in the old Elf's eyes.
"We were looking for you two and we did find you eventually but you were gone and…Denali, there was nothing we could do to save him. They had made sure of that."
Denali froze, "You lie!"
Elrond motioned to his side and a sleek Elf handed him something.
"We have this for you. The only thing we could save."
Bilbo stretched his neck, trying to see what was in Elrond's hand and why Denali's eyes had become full of fear.
In Elrond's palm sat a small silver circlet, with ruby's incrusted in the front of it.
"You aren't lying?" Denali asked, her voice beginning to tremble and get deeper with rage.
"I wish I was, henig."
"Gwestog?"
Elrond nodded and held his hand out with the circlet, "It is true. He has perished."
Bilbo turned back to the Elf and his eyes widened in shock when he saw tears streaming down her face.
Her eyes turned back to Thorin and she let out a growl of rage, "You."
She lunged at Thorin, her bow forgotten as she pulled an Elvish knife out of her belt and trying to embed it in his heart.
"Daro! Echuio!" Elrond called, walking forward and stopping Denali in her tracks, right before the knife found it's way into Thorin's chest and an arrow by Kili found it's way into her skull.
Denali turned and kneeled before Elrond, "What would you have me do?"
Elrond leaned down and took her hands, "Forgive yourself and find a way to fix it. His grave is in the garden…where he would have wanted to be. Go visit him and see if you can figure out where your destiny leads you now."
Denali stood and turned back to Thorin once more and gritting her teeth before picking up her bow and putting it away and walking away, her heart breaking with every step she took away from her fight for freedom that had ultimately failed.
The Elvish used in this chapter:
"Henig, Nin gwerianneg." ("My Lady, They betrayed you.")
"Mana?" ("What?")
"Quetuvangwë sí ve nildu?" ("May we speak as friends?")
"Gwestog?" ("Do you promise?")
If it would be easier for you guys for me to post it down here, or in the text. Let me know. :)
Please review if you enjoyed, once again I apologize for the scatteredness of this chapter. The next one will be much more uniformed. :D