This chapter was incredibly annoying, and there are still bits dotted about that I'm not entirely happy with. But it has been so long since an update, and I really just wanted to get it over with. I hope it's still enjoyable!
Ignore minor editing errors, I'm going unbeta-ed here.
With a deafening crack, a giant beast leapt from the boulder where the small Hobbit had been perched not long before, growling and snapping shaking Billa's very bones. A vicious snarl ripped itself from the pointed teeth of an animal that resembled the most horrific combination of a bear and wolf that could ever be imagined. Fili and Kili threw themselves out of the way, towards Billa, as the monstrosity landed before Thorin.
There was no hesitation or fear as Thorin sank his heavy sword into the skull of the animal in quick reflex. Before he could draw his weapon out, another of the massive creatures pounced from behind. Billa screamed in warning, lurching forward with some misplaced instinct to protect him, but Fili grabbed her waist and held her tightly to him. Thorin spun around at the Halfling's forewarning, sword still sheathed in bone. Kili let loose an arrow that stuck fast right between the beast's eyes with a speed of hand to rival his uncle's. With a mighty swing, Dwalin crushed the last of it's life with his hammer, the stomach-turning squelch was unfortunately audible to Billa.
"Warg scouts," spat Thorin, his boot placed on the snout of the monster as he wretched his sword free. "Which means an orc pack is not far behind."
"Orc pack!," echoed Billa, fear overpowering her embarrassment of squeaking. She dug her fingers unconsciously into the arm Fili still loosely had around her, unstable as she was on her feet.
A thunderous expression flared Gandalf's nostrils as he drew himself up to his formidable, full height, taking urgent steps from the side of the brown wizard toward Thorin. "Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?" His eyes darted briefly to Billa, a flash of worry softening the edges of his anger. The dwarf looked to her as well, pale and troublingly feeble beside his nephews, before turning back to Gandalf, indignation and concern marring his play for neutrality.
"No one."
"Who did you tell!," the wizard bellowed.
"No one, I swear," Thorin insisted earnestly, his honesty apparent. "What in Durin's name is going on?"
Gandalf turned his head about him to take in the gathering of dwarves, the corners of his eyes dropping as his temper left with no one to place blame on for the company's unlucky coincidence. After a short little puff of frustration he said to the group at large, "You are being hunted."
It was not often that a Hobbit knew much about orcs, other than that they were Bad News. Even less often that a Hobbit ever encountered an orc, let alone a pack of them. On the many great travels and adventures of Belladonna Baggins, nee Took, (bless her soul) the lady had acquired an impressive repertoire of gruesome stories from those who had dealt with them, or knew of someone who had. Thankfully, she never had a run-in of her own. Growing up, Billa was always ecstatic about being thought of as brave enough to hear such tales, sitting at the fireplace, over warm chamomile tea before bedtime, even though she occasionally got the odd nightmare. In the light of warm summer afternoons, young Billa would regularly battle with these horrendous villains, defeating them will no small amount of difficulty and an abundance of skill and stick-swords.
Thanks to her mother, Billa had a better idea about the natures and dispositions of orcs than most Hobbits. Also thanks to her mother, Billa suspected that her younger self had been spared the true extent of their malevolence. It was unlikely that any amount of stick-swords would be of use in her present predicament. She was having a challenging time catching breath with her heart beating thus and her head pounding and her leg aching. Everything would be much easier to deal with if she could have a quick nap.
An unexpected weight upon her shoulder forced Billa to focus, and she found it was a warm hand belonging to Bofur. He gave her a tiny, reassuring grin and a squeeze that offered her more courage than the weapon laying discarded at her feet. People were moving about her, and she realised she had missed some sort of decision. Kili picked up her new sword and sheath, and attached it to her side with leather straps as Fili and Bofur continued to keep her upright. She had not noticed she was fairly leaning against them both. Billa was very confused, with a dash of dazed for good measure.
There was an odd thumping sound coming from the rabbits leashed to Radagast's sled. Each began pounding a leg against the ground filling the air with a peculiar ringing. Or perhaps it was a vibration. It encouraged a sense of urgency in Billa and she watched as the mad, brown Radagast leaped onto the craft, staff in one hand and feather still in his hat. He let out a delighted laugh as he sped away, disappearing through the trees as instantaneously as he had arrived. The last she heard of him was an elated "Come and get me!"
"Thorin, our Hobbit!," Dori cried when he saw Billa and abruptly recalled she was in no shape to be running for her life, propped up against others and obviously favouring a leg. She was an enormous liability.
Letting out a displeased breath of exasperation that was very nearly a groan, Thorin stepped up to Billa and took her face in his rough hands so that she was looking directly up at him. She felt each of his fingers distinctly in her hair, and his thumbs made one slow streak over her temples. The pressure was absolutely euphoric and she wished he would continue doing that same movement for the rest of eternity. His face was dishearteningly serious though, the dreadfulness of their situation too plainly drawn on his features.
"Billa, you're going to have to run."
Neither broke eye contact, and she felt a lump in her throat she could not swallow down. That sounded like it might have been an apology. She did not think her body would let her move to run. When Thorin lifted his head, he gave a nod each to Bofur and Fili, silently placing her under their protection, then dropped his hands and turned.
At that, Bofur took a tight grip of Billa's uninjured wrist and propelled her forward as he broke into a sprint alongside the rest of the company.
Pain exploded with such a tremendous force it seemed to have no particular origin. Blinding light snapped across her vision and Billa could not even manage to draw in the air necessary to scream. Her chest constricted and her mouth hung open in soundless agony. Faltering feet did nothing to slow her progression as Bofur kept his relentless hold and pulled her through her leg's protests. The Hobbit's thick soles could not find purchase on the uneven undergrowth and one misstep clacked her teeth together, very nearly with the tip of her tongue between them. She locked her jaw in a tight clench, against pain and jarring, with a strength that would no doubt add to her aches for the next few days.
Tripping and stumbling soon took their toll on the pace Bofur tried to set, and as soft decaying foliage turned to long yellow grass they were at the tail end of the group, with only Dwalin behind them as he guarded the rear. Every second step had Billa's leg collapsing under the strain, but Bofur worked with the rhythm, adding a heaving tug in place of the natural propulsion of her stride. He did not once let her fall.
Billa tried to block out the agony, but she could not see the endless, uneven hills haphazardly dotted with boulders, nor hear the heavy breathing and interrupted encouragements from Bofur. Desperately, she managed to feel an annoying knocking against her hip and thigh; her sword swinging and hitting in time with her steps. Focusing on the vague discomfort of the regular thumping was infinitely easier to bear.
Unexpectedly, Billa slammed into the solid mass of Bofur's back as he came to a sudden halt. Bifur caught her when she bounced back from the impact before she hit the ground. With gentle, steady hands on all sides helping her keep balance, she leant back against a giant rock shielding them as the rest of the company remained tensed; poised to leap back into action. The world seemed distant and muffled, her eyes threatening to roll back into her head, so Billa closed them instead. She could feel individual beads of sweat making slow, cool tracks down her spine underneath the many ridiculous layers of her clothes. She was wearing so many layers. It was so hot. Bofur squeezed the wrist he still held on to.
"Thorin, she cannot run!," Bofur kept his voice low, but the panic was still there.
Looking over the injured woman, Thorin's mouth twisted in a display of unknown emotions that settled on vaguely annoyed, with a corner turned down in worry. He lifted his head to Dwalin, who read something in his King's glance and proceeded to grab the Hobbit around her waist. Billa could barely muster a squeak of surprise as she was forced to open her eyes again.
With a flick of their leader's wrist, the company took off from their shelter, away from the guttural cries and howls of orcs in chase. Dwalin swung the tiny lady onto Fili's back and Billa grabbed hold of his thickly coated shoulders on instinct, clinging as tightly as her fading strength would allow, with her feet locked at the ankles around the prince's waist.
"Hold tight, Miss Billa," he muttered, head half turned.
Fili speed off with the others, still among the fastest even with the extra weight. Billa was jostled side to side as the dwarf moved, the coarse fabric of his coat and the buckles of his belt scratching relentlessly along the length of her stitches. She wanted to wrap her arms around Fili's neck for a more secure hold, but knew it would only choke him. Her hands clutched thick, soft fur and she pressed closer against his back and squeezed her thighs tighter.
Stopping again for protection behind another enormous rock, the company remained silent as they tried to catch their breaths. There was an odd huffing noise coming from somewhere above them, accompanied by the muffled shuffling and clinking of movement. Fili pressed further back and Billa could lightly feel the rocky surface through her jacket. Thorin instinctually held out an arm in front of his nephew and the halfling, offering what little protection it could. The huffing grew louder with the sound of claws scratching along stone. Billa lowered her face, snuggling into Fili's furs with a childish urge to hide, her brow resting against his neck and eyes squeezed tight. Her clenched fists were shaking. Raising an arm, Fili reached back and threaded a reassuring hand through her hair, holding her in place against him. It was the only comfort he could offer, terrified as she obviously was.
Thorin looked to Kili, an arrow already nocked in his hands, and gave the young dwarf a slow nod. Kili jerked his head in answer. Letting out a steadying breath, he stepped away from the protection of the boulder and swung around, bow raised, and released an arrow that sunk into the prowling warg's flesh. The high-pitched cry of the animal caused Billa to tense around Fili. Kili swiftly pulled another arrow from his quiver and fired again. The beast fell from its perch and landed heavily upon the ground, it's orc rider screeching as it leapt from the mount, sword drawn.
Dwalin bore down on the orc with his hammer, connecting powerful swings. Bifur stepped forward to help, shanking the vile creature in the stomach with his spear. It let out a scream like nails slowly dragging along glass. The answering howl of a battle cry rang out in the distance.
"Move!," roared Gandalf, no longer in fear of revealing the position of the company. He led the way for the dwarves, wargs advancing from behind with a speed too quick for comfort. They were upon a rough collection of rock when their assailants gained on them. Fili headed toward the meagre protection the small boulders provided while the others fanned out in a loose circle to cover more ground. Hands gripped Billa's arms and Fili pulled the Hobbit off of his back, placing her on the ground propped up against stone. He firmly planted himself before her, a last line of defence to protect the small woman should the others fail. Falling back, Bifur joined him. Billa willed herself to stand beside them, she had a sword of her own, but with nothing to hold to anymore her limbs remained limply useless; the last of her strength spent.
Billa watched helplessly as too many orcs and wargs advanced. Her eyelids felt like weights and closed of their own accord. She forced them open and Kili was wildly shooting arrows at anything that got too close. He was going to run out of projectiles very soon.
Billa blinked.
Bofur and Gloin decapitated an orc.
Billa blinked.
A warg streaked past in the right peripheral of her vision towards Thorin. He cut it down with a lightening flash of his blade.
Billa blinked.
Gandalf appeared between a group of rocks to her left. She could not remember seeing him amongst the dwarves a moment ago. Had he disappeared? Perhaps he was a true wizard after all.
"This way, you fools," he cried to the surrounded company. Each one turned and fled toward the elderly man, who vanished between the rocks once more. Confused, Billa watched as Nori barrelled behind the small outcropping and seemed to simply drop from view, shadowed by Oin and Dori and Balin. It was impossible for all those dwarves to be so well concealed by such little boulders.
Ori, Gloin and Bomber followed suit. Billa was struggling to her feet with the hurried assistance of Fili, with Bifur fussing urgently on her other side. Bofur tugged on his cousin's arm, seeing Fili had a handle on the Hobbit, and they too were lost behind the rocks. Kili was making a slow retreat, much to the distress of his bother who was tyring to keep eyes on the youngest dwarf as he distractedly hobbled Billa to their escape. Turning her head, Billa saw Thorin racing towards them, shouting at Kili to withdraw faster.
Several orcs made their way after the dwarves, Thorin engaging each one, trying to fend them off as Fili moved Billa as fast as he could, hauling her along beside him. Slicing through the last orc close enough to be of immediate concern, Thorin grabbed the injured woman from his nephew, whose attention was still being pulled by Kili. With Billa out of Fili's grasp, the King shoved his heir behind the boulders, where the Hobbit could now see a wide crack in the grass falling to unknown depths. She squeaked when her blonde dwarf tumbled beyond her sight.
Kili finally reached them, and Thorin wasted no time in flinging his second nephew down the hole after his brother, orcs on his heels. Two arms wrapped tightly around Billa's waist, and she flung her own about Thorin's neck, pulling herself as close as possible to him as he jumped into the ground after the company. The drop was surprisingly short, the couple falling to the floor of a cave. Thorin twisted their bodies taking the brunt of the impact, with Billa landing softly on top of him.
As Thorin lifted his head, the harsh blowing of a horn sounded from above, and what were unmistakably horse hooves pounded through the grass. Billa felt Thorin stiffen around her, tensing for another attack as she quickly counted heads to make certain everyone was alright and accounted for.
Without warning, a pile of flesh and metal toppled into the cave. Thorin scooted back, pulling Billa with him, as the orc rolled along the floor. Dwalin surged forward in defence, placing himself between the threat and his leader. When the creature did not stir, he kicked it with the toe of his boot until it turned to reveal an arrow embedded in it's chest. It was, thankfully, quite dead. Dwalin tugged the arrow free, making a noise rather similar to a tsk as he looked it over. Thorin reached forward, around the tiny Hobbit in his lap, and took the arrow from Dwalin. The fine, engraved silver tip was doubtlessly telling.
"Elves," he all but spat, tossing the weapon away from him as though it had physically stung. Billa thought such exaggerated distaste was entirely too dramatic, but refrained from comment.
"Does that mean we're safe?," she asked, her small voice barely managing a whisper. Exhaustion pushed down on her, limbs feeling both heavy and weightless, as though she were under water. She was beyond caring that Thorin still had a tight arm around her waist. The dwarf turned to her.
"For now, at least."
His demeanour relaxed as much as she supposed he could allow. There was still tension in the muscles beneath her, but with imminent danger behind them, his features were no longer so stretched. He tilted his head forward, his brow lightly knocking against her own as he rested it there. Billa had not noticed he was so close. Their breathing was still slightly strained, and panted air mingled in the short distance between them. It was oddly soothing to be so close to the large dwarf.
"Oh. Good," she said, slowly pulling away. As he continued to look upon her, Billa finally closed her eyes of her own design and moved only so far as to tuck her head against his shoulder and promptly fall asleep.
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Lace