"Oh no. Bilbo."

"Argh! Blimey! Bert! Look what's come out of me 'ooter! It's got arms and legs and everything."

The other trolls surrounded Bilbo, who was stiff as a rock. Melawen started to back away slowly, and starting to think of a way to help Bilbo out of this situation. She also wondered where Fili and Kili were. Was no one else from the company going to help? Melawen hid behind the rocks, still trying to figure out how to help out Bilbo.

"What is it?" said one of the trolls.

"I don't know, but I don't like the way it wriggles around!"

Hearing a small thud, Melawen only thought that the troll had dropped Bilbo.

"What are you then? An oversized squirrel?"

"I'm a burglaruhh...Hobbit," responded Bilbo.

"A BurglaHobbit?"

"Can we cook 'im?"

"We can try!"

"He wouldn't make more than a mouthful, not when he's skinned and boned!"

"Perhaps there's more BurglarHobbits around these parts. Might be enough for a pie."

"Grab him!"

Taking a small sneak from behind the rock she was hiding behind, Melawen looked and saw that the trolls were trying to grab Bilbo. Bilbo, being small as he is, runs around, dodging the trolls. One of the trolls accidentally hits another with his ladle while trying to hit Bilbo. Unfortunately, one of the trolls grabs Bilbo by the leg, and holds him upside down in the air.

"Gotcha! Are there any more of you little fellas 'iding where you shouldn't?"

"Nope!"

"He's lying."

"No I'm not!"

"Hold his toes over the fire. Make him squael."

Acting quickly, Melawen grabs a small stone, and hits one of the trolls. At the same time, Kili runs out of the bushes, and cuts one of the other trolls in the leg, both of them squealing, and the other that Kili just attacked fall down.

"Drop him!" demanded Kili.

"You what?"

"I said, drop him."

The troll that was holding Bilbo suddenly tosses him, and lands on top of Kili. Then, the rest of the company charges out of the bushes, yelling, weapons in hand. They begin to fight the trolls, hacking, slashing and hammering their legs. Melawen just watches from behind the rocks, again, tossing stones that she could find, hitting whichever troll was closest. Dori managed to hit a troll right between his legs before hitting him in the face. As the dwarves fight, Bilbo grabs the knife one of the trolls dropped, and cuts the ropes from the pen. The ponies run free, but one of the trolls notices what Bilbo has done. It grabs Bilbo, and another troll holds Bilbo's arm and leg. The dwarves stop when they see Bilbo being held, ready to be pulled apart by the trolls.

"Bilbo!" yelled Kili.

"Lay down your arms, or we'll rip his off!"

Melawen watches Thorin, wondering what he will decide. But, he only had a look of frustration at Bilbo, for allowing himself to get caught. It wasn't really his fault. He was only trying to free the ponies, which is what he was trying to do in the first place before he got caught. Also, the entire company shouldn't have come out together. If some of them were hidden, they would have had a greater chance at defeating the trolls. Thorin, seeing no other option, plants his sword into the ground. The rest of the dwarves drop their swords and weapons as well. Melawen watched as Dwalin, Fili, Bofur, Dori, Ori and Nori were tied to a spit and were being roasted over a fire, and Thorin, Kili, Gloin, Bombur, Balin, Oin and Bilbo are tied up in sacks.

Melawen moved from behind the rocks, and up into the trees. She had grabbed a few small pebbles, and had them in a pouch around her waist. She went from one branch to another, listening to the trolls argue among themselves, debating on how to eat the company.

"Untie us, you monsters!" shouted Oin.

"Take on someone your own size!" Gloin yelled.

"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."

Bilbo, and Melawen, both listened to what the troll had said. Trolls only appeared at night, and never during daylight. Taking a chance, Bilbo got up.

"Wait! You are making a terrible mistake," he said.

"You can't reason with them!" yelled Dori. "They're half-wits!"

"Half-wits? What does that make us?" asked Bofur.

Seeing an opening, Melawen took one of the pebbles in her pouch, and tossed it towards one of the trolls. It hit dead center in the back of the head.

"Ow! What was that?"

Melawen climbed up to another branch, and waited for the next opening. Perhaps with Bilbo distracting them, she could also help distract them.

"Uh, I meant with the, uh, with, uh, with the seasoning," Bilbo continued.

"What about the seasoning?"

"Well, have you smelt them? You're going to need something strong than sage before you plate this lot up."

Melawen couldn't help but chuckle at Bilbo's comment. The dwarves, however, weren't too happy. A few of them had kicked him.

"What do you know about cooking dwarf?" asked one of the trolls.

"Shut up, and let the, uh, flurgarburburrahobbit talk."

"Uh, the-the secret to cooking dwarf is, um-"

"Yes? Come on."

"It's, uh," struggled Bilbo.

"Tell us the secret."

"Ye-yes, I'm telling you, the secret is...to skin them first!"

"Tom, get me the filleting knife."

"I won't forget that!" shouted Dwalin.

Seeing another opening, Melawen tossed another pebble. Again, it hit dead center in the back of the head of one of the trolls.

"Ow! What was that?"

"What's going on with you?"

"Something hit me in the head!"

"Probably just your brain. And what a load of rubbish! I've eaten plenty with their skins on. Scuff them, I say, boots and all."

Melawen heard some rattling behind her, and turned to see the Gandalf slipping by. Letting out a sigh of relief, she dropped down from the tree and met up with Gandalf.

"Thank Mahal you are here," she whispered. "And just in time. Bilbo is stalling for dawn."

"Smart Hobbit," Gandalf said, smiling softly. "Come. Let us help him."

Melawen nodded in agreement, and followed Gandalf. The next thing Melawen heard was Bilbo telling the trolls that the dwarves were infected with parasites. She then heard the dwarves yelling at Bilbo. Bilbo couldn't help but roll his eyes as the dwarves are about to ruin his plan. Thorin, although, was the only one to catch on, and kicks one of them. They all went quiet, and then started to play along.

"I've got parasites as big as my arm," said Oin.

"Mine are the biggest parasites. I've got huge parasites!" yelled Kili.

"We're riddled!" said Nori.

"What would you have us do, then? Let 'em all go?"

"Well,"

"You think I don't know what you're up to? This little ferret is taking us for fools!"

"Ferret?"

"Fools?"

"The dawn will take you all!" yelled Gandalf.

"Who's that?"

"No idea."

"Can we eat 'im too?"

Gandalf then strikes the rock beneath him with his staff, and it splits in two. Dawn had arrived, and the sunlight behind him poured into the clearing. The sunlight then hits the trolls, and they begin to turn to stone. The trolls cried out in pain as they were hit, and soon, there were now three stone statues of the trolls. The dwarves cheer, greatful for the wizards appearance in the nick of time.

"Oh, get your foot out of my back!" yelled Dwalin.

Melawen appeared next to Gandalf, and smiled down at Bilbo. She nodded her head at him, proud that he kept the trolls distracted. Bilbo smiled in return, grateful that everything worked out in the head. She and Gandalf got down, and helped the dwarves out. Melawen helped out those who were on the spit, and Gandalf helped the rest get out of the sacks.

"Where were you?"

Melawen looked over after helping Fili down, and saw that it was Thorin who had approached her.

"I was hiding up in the trees," she said, crossing her arms. "Who do you think was tossing the rocks at their heads? Can't believe you brought the entire company. You really shouldn't have though. And then not all of you would have gotten tied up. You're lucky Gandalf did show up when he did, which I am glad. Now excuse me, I'm going to check on Bilbo. Poor hobbit went through a lot. And you, Fili!"

Fili straightened up when Melawen held up a finger in front of his face.

"Next time, you and Kili do tell Thorin of the situation. Don't try to solve things on your own, or have Bilbo handle it! He doesn't have the experience any of us do, and you shouldn't have done that to him without giving him proper training beforehand! This is his first time outside of his home, and doesn't know the Wilds like any of us. Yes, he is quiet, but that doesn't give you the excuse to send him in head first to face trolls! Understood?"

Fili only nodded his head yes, quite nervously though. Thorin was a bit surprised at the tone the dwelf had given his nephew. No one, other than his sister, had quite scolded Fili like that. Kili, who stood a few feet away, also stood there, a bit surprised at her tone. Although, they did feel guilty now that Melawen had proven a point: Bilbo wasn't experienced out in the wilds. He had left his home behind for the first time, and doesn't really understand the rest of Middle Earth like they do.

As Melawen checked on Bilbo, Gandalf took another look at the trolls, hitting one of them with his staff. He only smiled after seeing that the trolls were truly petrified, and would remain like this forever. Thorin then approached the wizard.

"Where did you go to, if I may ask?"

"To look ahead," was Gandalf's reply.

"What brought you back?"

"Looking behind. Nasty business. Still, they are all in one piece."

"No thanks to your burglar," Thorin said.

"He had the nous to play for time," countered Gandalf. "None of the rest of you thought of that. And Melawen was right. You all shouldn't have come all at once. Lost the element of her surprise. Be thankful that she also helped Bilbo keep the trolls busy. Still, for trolls to be out this far. They must have come down from the Ettenmoors."

"Since when do mountain trolls venture this far south?" asked Thorin.

"Oh, not for an age, not since a darker power ruled these lands."

Melawen looked over to Thorin and Gandalf, having overheard Gandalf. It was strange that trolls have come this far out. But, for them to be this far out, she hoped nothing was coming to pass. She had heard of Middle Earth's history, especially with the Ring of Power. She hoped Gandalf wasn't saying that the darkness wasn't returning back. She thought it was all over with Sauron gone.

"They could not have moved in daylight," said Gandalf.

"There must be a cave nearby," realized Thorin.

The company then followed Gandalf and Thorin. It wasn't that far, and there was indeed a large cave nearby. Melawen covered her nose, unable to take the smell that was coming from it. She didn't step into the cave, electing to stay outside while the rest of the dwarves checked inside. Bilbo elected to keep her company, not liking the smell either.

"Oh, what's that stench?" asked Nori.

"Exactly why I am staying out here!" Melawen yelled out to the dwarves.

"It's a troll hoard," said Gandalf, looking at the treasures inside the cave. "Be careful what you touch."

Melawen still covered her nose, unable to take the smell.

"I am not going in there," she said to Bilbo. "Besides, whatever weapons they have in there can stay there. I am perfectly fine with the weapons my parents left me. And I have no need for gold either. I have enough for myself."

"There is nothing in there that would be of value to me," said Bilbo. "I'm not much for gold, or weapons either. Then again, I've never really used a weapon."

Melawen couldn't help but smile at Bilbo's innocence. Here he was, standing at the entrance of a cave to a troll hoard, and he wanted no treasure. He just wanted an adventure, and possibly his home again. He was very brave when he tried to rescue the ponies, and smart enough to get everyone time for the sun come out and turn all the trolls into stone. He is very clever for someone who has no experience in the wild. Hobbits are truly remarkable creatures. And Melawen couldn't help but feel that the young hobbit has more surprises in store for the rest of the company.

"Let's get out of this foul place," said Thorin. "Come on, let's go. Bofur! Gloin! Nori!"

"Bilbo."

Melawen and Bilbo both turned, and saw Gandalf holding something in his hands.

"Hmmm?"

"Here. This is about your size," said Gandalf, handing Bilbo a small sword.

"I can't take this," Bilbo said.

"The blade is of Elvish make," explains Gandalf. "Which means it will glow blue when orcs or goblins are nearby."

"I have never used a sword in my life."

"And I hope you never have to. But, if you do, remember this: true courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one."

Melawen patted Bilbo's shoulder, and gave him a soft smile. Bilbo could only smile in return, but still unsure about now owning a sword.

"I'll help train you, Bilbo," said Melawen. "It is only best you learn how to protect yourself. But, like Gandalf said, I hope you never have to use it. Regardless, it is still best to know how to use your sword in the event you were to get separated from us. It never hurts to learn how to defend yourself."

"Thank you, Melawen. I greatly appreciate that," Bilbo said, smiling at her.

Melawen smiled in return, but then she turned serious, her ears twitching. She turned her head, wondering what was coming.

"Something's coming!" yelled Thorin.

"Gandalf!" cried Bilbo.

"Stay together!" Gandalf ordered. "Hurry now. Arm yourselves!"

Bilbo draws his new sword, and everyone, Melawen included, drew their weapons. The company has run off into the woods, ready to face whatever was coming towards them. They were then met with someone who was on a sled, being drawn by big rabbits.

"Thieves! Fire! Murder!"

"Radagast!" said Gandalf. "Radagast the Brown. Ah. What on earth are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you, Gandalf," said Radagast. "Something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong."

"Yes?"

Radagast went to speak, but stops. He then opens his mouth, but closes it once more. It was as if he had forgotten what he was going to say.

"Oh, just give me a minute. Um, oh, I had a thought, and now I've lost it. It was, it was right there, on the tip of my tongue. Oh, it's not a thought at all. It's a silly old..."

Gandalf then pulls out a stick insect out of Radagast's mouth.

"Stick insect," Radagast finished.

The dwarves, Bilbo and Melawen all looked flustered. It was a bit disgusting to see a bug come out of a person's mouth. Radagast and Gandalf then wander off, wanting to speak privately. They also had to make sure to speak in whisper so that Melawen didn't pick up with her elf ears what they were talking about. A few moments had passed, and Bilbo walked over to Melawen. Aside from Balin, she was the only other person in the company that he felt comfortable talking to.

"What do you suppose they are talking about?" Bilbo asked.

"No idea," she said. "But, if they are talking privately and do not want us to hear...it probably can't be good."

Just as those words left Melawen's mouth, a howl was heard in the distance.

"Was that a wolf?" asked Bilbo. "Are there-are there wolves out there?"

"Wolves? No, that is not a wolf," said Bofur.

"Bofur's right," said Melawen, drawing one of her daggers. "It's-"

Before she could finish her sentence, a Warg appears and leaps into the company. Thorin, sword drawn, attacks and kills the Warg. Another Warg attacks from the other side, and Kili fires an arrow at it, bringing it down. It gets back up, but Dwalin kills it before it can attack. Gandalf and Radagast come back, seeing the dead Wargs.

"Warg-Scouts!" said Thorin. "Which means an Orc pack is not far behind."

"Orc pack?" said Bilbo.

"Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?" demanded Gandalf, looking at Thorin.

"No one," was Thorin's reply.

"Who did you tell?"

"No one, I swear," was Thorin's answer. "What in Durin's name is going on?"

"You are being hunted," was Gandalf's conclusion.

"We have to get out of here."

"We can't! We have no ponies!" said Ori. "They bolted!"

"I'll draw them off," said Radagast.

"These are Gundabad Wargs," said Gandalf. "They will outrun you."

"These are Rhosgobel Rabbits. I'd like they to see them try," Radagast challenged.

Radagast shoots out of the forest, his rabbits pulling him and his sleigh. The Wargs start their chase.

"Come and get me!" Radagast challenged.

Gandalf watches from behind a rock, and waits until Radagast and the Wargs can no longer be seen.

"Come on," said Gandalf.

"Stay close to me, Bilbo," Melawen said. "Stay close."

Bilbo looked at her, noticing her worry. He nodded his head yes, his heart pounding in his chest. Melawen was more worried about Bilbo than she was herself. Here he was, out in the wilds, and now there was an Orc pack not far behind them. She and the rest of the company begin their run across the plains, leaving the forest behind.