Chapter Nine: Battle in Goblin Town

Bilbo Baggins liked to think he was a lot of things, things like brave and confident but the truth of the matter was that these words did not describe him at all. He had been living alone since the death of his parents, not seeking a bride and not really involving himself in any activities around the Shire. He had Nemea. He didn't need much else to keep him happy. And maybe that was stupid of him, to think that he would always have his lioness or to assume that everything in his life was perfect. It wasn't. Bilbo knew he had become too dependent on Nemea for support and that he often sought approval from everyone else. He knew that Nemea believed in him with every fiber of her being and this journey brought him out of his shell more, he never imagined that he would ever speak to a Troll or an Elf, evade capture by Orcs, or see a stone giant. It was all very wonderful and he knew his mother would've been so proud of him and yet…there were the small things that tore down his confidence like Thorin's accusing stares. In fact, Bilbo liked to pin all his doubts on Thorin for once seeing as that dwarf saw it as his job to make the hobbit feel less than worthless, and he knew that letting Nemea defend him all the time made him look even weaker.

But he was a hobbit! A hobbit partially raised by a Lion of Erebor but a hobbit all the same. What could he actually do that would make a difference? Oh sure, stealing fireworks were very clever when he was young and hitting birds and squirrels with perfect accuracy was all fine and good back home but this – this was not home. And he knew the teasing of the dwarves was all in good fun, this far into the journey and Bilbo didn't mind so much anymore but the second Thorin opened his mouth, Bilbo knew he wasn't going to cut it. They had Nori. They had Nemea. What was he?

As the snoring around him grew louder, Bilbo focused on Nemea's quiet breathing. She had lost a lot and she hadn't lost hope. She was scared but she never let anyone in on that fact except Bilbo who listened quietly and told her everything would be alright; how terribly hypocritical of him. At least Nemea had grown from her experiences, at least she fought back when she was threatened, at least she had enough guts to talk back to Thorin! Bilbo opened his eyes, he was weighing her down, wasn't he? If something should happen to him, Nemea would be able to move on, she had the dwarves and Gandalf and the Elves of Rivendell. If Nemea died, who could protect him then? Gandalf wasn't here and while some members of the company treated him like the awkward cousin they just remembered they had, Bilbo knew it wouldn't be enough. He's not ready. Maybe he'll stay with the Elves and train some more, he could always come back right? Don't be ridiculous, Bilbo told himself, this will never work out.

So quick as a rabbit, Bilbo slipped away from Nemea and packed his things, ready to leave until he saw Bofur sitting at the mouth of the cave. Bother.

"Just where do you think you're going?" the dwarf asked him in surprise.

"Back the Rivendell." Oh sure, now I sound brave.

"You can't do that, you're part of the company now."

"I'm not though, am I?"

Bofur looked down then around the campsite at everyone's sleeping forms, he watched Nemea turn onto her other side and heard a soft growling noise.

"Thorin was right, I shouldn't have come," Bilbo continued. "I'm a Baggins not a Took, I don't know what I was thinking."

"You're homesick, I understand." Bilbo gave Bofur an incredulous look, wasn't this whole quest supposed to give the dwarves a home?

"No, you don't understand, none of you do. You're dwarves, you're used to this life, on the road. Never stopping, never belonging anywhere!" And wasn't this quest also going to give Nemea her home back? She wouldn't come back with him to Bag End. She'd stay there and forget about him. The look on Bofur's face made Bilbo stop thinking, the hat on the toymaker's head seemed to droop and Bilbo shook his head.

"I'm sorry I…oh."

"No, no. You're right. We don't belong anywhere." He looked at the company when he said that and then turned back around with a sad smile on his face. "I wish you all the luck in world, I really do. And you can count on me to look after Nemea."

Bilbo lifted one side of his mouth in an attempt to smile and turned to leave when Bofur asked why the hobbit was glowing faintly. Bilbo felt sick as he pulled out his sword and blinked at the harsh blue light illuminating his blade. Thorin was calling for everyone to wake and suddenly they were all falling. They went tumbling down a long shaft, smashing into each other and their packs and weapons, listening to shrill laughter as they all were dumped into a cage made of wood. Bilbo felt sicker as he realized that it wasn't a wooden cage at all but a cage of bone fragments. A loud growl was heard from under them and Nemea wiggled her way to the front of the cage where she called everyone to their feet.

Goblins. From all sides, the wretched creatures came and yanked at their clothes and hair, their gnarled fingers biting into their flesh. Bilbo watched as several goblins threw themselves at Thorin and dragged him away from his nephews, a fierce snarling was heard up ahead and Bilbo watched horrified as maybe ten goblins attacked Nemea. She sent two flying over the side of a bridge with one hand, using the other to strangle another and he looked away as she out her lips to his neck and ripped it out. Dwalin was trying to get over to her as more goblins appeared with spears and jabbed her sides, a few blades were used to carve scars into the legs and Nemea fell to her knees, howling as crude metal circlets bound her wrists.

A collar was fastened around her neck as one goblin used the blunt end of his sword to punch her in the stomach. Nemea gasped, barely having enough time to process what had happened before the goblins pulled her along the bridge, they were so much shorter than she was that she was forced to bend over as she ran. The other dwarves were passed along a line of goblins as they continued to touch and jeer him towards some greater malice. Bilbo was pushed into Nori's back and he tried to apologize only to have another goblin bash his head with a club, Bilbo crouched down and rubbed his head fiercely. He looked all around him to watch the goblins and the dwarves walk past him, the sound of laughter and struggling soon faded and Bilbo was left all alone.

"Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet, they can pass unseen by most if they choose." Isn't that what Gandalf has said?

Bilbo looked up at the passage they had fallen through, there'd be no way back up there. This could work to his advantage; he could find an exit and prove to Thorin (and himself) that he was meant to be on this quest, that he wasn't useless. He could do this, he had a sword now and his wit and nothing could be more dangerous. But he had to hurry, there was no Gandalf this time and he couldn't rely on Nemea. Bilbo hopped on his feet and pulled out his sword, following its glow towards his friends.

But Fate is rarely kind as another goblin jumped down from somewhere and yanked out a rusty sword. It was a mean looking thing covered in warts and nasty patches of skin coloured red with infection and puss-filled rashes. He slashed at Bilbo and the hobbit blocked, the ferocity of the attack making him stumble back. He hastily climbed back to his feet and defended against another attack, knocking the blade from the goblin's hand. Frazzled, the hobbit made for the bone cage (the poor thing) but the goblin leapt onto his back and bit down on Bilbo's shoulder. With howl of pain and hobbit tried to beat the creature off, spinning wildly and shouting for help when his little foot stepped on nothing but air and the two of them disappeared into darkness.


As the dwarves were led away from the bone cage, and as Nori watched Bilbo quietly slip away, the company was treated to the vastness of Goblin Town. Numerous tunnels ran throughout the mountain like blood vessels, structures were built of bone, wood, and rope and lit by tall torches of light. Goblins hate light, they cannot move in daylight so there were many caves left dark and unattended except by creatures with tiny glowing eyes. Ugly laughter followed their every step, the odor of decay hung heavily in the air as their captors pushed and prodded greedily. Heading the line was Nemea as she was dragged along by three goblins, her legs bleeding and aching with every step and her sides smarting with all the pain. She was certain nothing was broken but she was very aware of the fact that blood was freely running down her hips and pooling in her shoes. Her nose only smelled blood and that wasn't exactly a bad thing, blood smelled better than shit.

Eventually, the goblins forced them all onto his platform hovering over nothingness before sat the largest goblin Nemea had ever seen. He was easily the size of the trolls they had met earlier in their journey and Nemea wasn't that interested in being thrown about all willy-nilly. He slid off his throne, his massive foot squeezing a stack of goblins so he could step towards them. The goblins yanked Nemea onto her knees, pulling the collar around her neck until her face met the floor. They giggled all around her, their hands petting her hair and their fingers digging into her scars. Would the Goblin King keep her alive? Or would he keep her as a pet, a new source of entertainment? They asked gleefully and she growled at him, her eyes as bright as the torchlight when raised her head and glared at them.

"Who would be so bold as to armed into my kingdom?" his voice rasped and no one answered. "Spies? Thieves? Assassins?"

"Dwarves, your Malevolence." The Goblin King looked at her for a second, a smile on his face before he looked at the said dwarves with disgust.

"Dwarves?"

"We found them on the Front Porch." The goblin declared proudly and Nemea lashed out and tried biting his hand. The Goblin King turned his head to look at her and Nemea found herself looking away, the room was getting a little fuzzy and she felt sick.

"But not all dwarves look so fair, I remember you." He sneered and his hand reached down to grab her braid, he pulled her head up so Nemea would have to look at him. "Don't we? A little lion so far from home. How're the kids?"

She hissed and pulled out a leg to kick him but it had little effect, the goblins laughed at her and she felt a whip at her back.

"Perhaps I should be asking you why you've led dwarves here, hm?" The Goblin King sneered. Nemea, however, was unaffected.

"I'll tell you once you've bent over and licked your own balls."

The whip came down on her back again but she could only laugh at it. The Goblin King frowned at her apparent amusement, scratching his goiter thoughtfully before he let her go and watched as the goblins beat her. The dwarves watched on in silent horror, watching as Nemea's blood soaked through her shirt and how she could do nothing but laugh. To Nemea, this didn't hurt at all as her greatest pain came from losing her family. The Goblin King raised his hand for the goblin to stop whipping her and he shook his head.

"Clearly I'm interrogating the wrong person," he laughed cruelly. "Bring out the Mangler, bring out the Bone Breaker. Start with the youngest!"

Nemea looked up watched the goblins seize Kili and drag him up beside her.

"Start with his fingers." The King commanded and Nemea tried to stand only to have her legs slashed.

"Wait!" The goblins quickly moved away from Thorin as he stood before the Goblin King, the authority in his voice was unmistakeable. "Let him be." He continued, sparing Kili a glance before looking back at the Goblin King. The creature smiling and nodded his head, Kili was tossed back into the group where everyone quickly made a circle around the youngest in their company.

"Well, well, well, look who it is. Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thrór; King under the Mountain." The Goblin King bowed deeply, Thorin stared at him with contempt.

"Oh, but I'm forgetting! You don't have a mountain and you're not a king which makes you…nobody really."

The goblins all nodded their heads in agreement, their eyes watching Thorin for any lapse in emotion that they could use against him. But Thorin stood proudly, his gaze never wavering in the slightest. Nemea let her head drop onto her knees, breathing with her mouth open. She could feel herself losing consciousness, there was already so much blood leaving her body that if they didn't get out of her quickly enough, there was a good chance that she would die. She heard Thorin speak beside her, his voice low and angry and fearful but she couldn't hear what he was saying.

There was a shift in the air around them, the goblins cheered and Nemea turned her head and saw several large things being wheeled towards them. Torture devices, she thought numbly, that's not good. But even if she wanted to move, every injury was crying out, every injury had a throbbing heartbeat of its own. Even if she wanted to move, her injuries would slow her down. A goblin picked up Orcrist, pulled it out, and dropped it with a hiss. The atmosphere shifted once again and the goblins recoiled as if they were slapped, the Goblin King trampled over his minions and scurried up to his throne, cowering in fear.

"I know that sword! It is the Goblin Cleaver, the Biter, the blade that sliced a thousand necks!"

The goblins around Nemea dropped the ropes holding her and leapt onto Thorin's back. They wrestled him to the ground and pinned down his arms and legs, the goblins started pulling the dwarves a part to beat them as their king commanded. Nemea crawled a short distance away, pulling on the tough metal collar and manacles, she stopped and watching a group of goblins walk towards her. She smiled. Hunching over and growling, tendrils of golden hair sprouted from her skin, bones cracked, and the bounds that held she snapped as her body grew. The goblins didn't seem to care, the injuries that had inflicted upon her still showed. Her backs legs were drenched in blood, the spot where a spear pierced her side was still bleeding, her back was covered in scars, and numerous little scars were all over her body from where the goblins fingers and teeth had been. Roaring, she leapt on them and scratched their faces, biting off pieces and tossing them aside. She made for Thorin as a goblin sat on his chest with a bone blade poised to strike but a bright light flooded the cave and great waves of wind brought everyone to the ground.

Gandalf had appeared at last.


To say that Bilbo was in trouble was probably one of the greatest understatements in history, not only did his shoulder sting like crazy but he had played a game of riddles with this strange creature and even though he won and was promised a way out, the creature had figured out that Bilbo had stolen his "Precious". It was a very simple ring, the hobbit thought now as he was running to save his life, not something to throw a fit over but then again, there wasn't a jeweller who could gift the creature with another one. Bilbo wondered if he shouldn't give the ring back to this thing trying to eat him but the moment he thought of it, he disliked the idea. Why not take home a souvenir of his travels that he himself found on his own? He evaded capture and killed a goblin…well, the fall had helped and the creature was in the process of eating him. Bilbo smiled, usually such a thought would disgust him but he was feeling oddly happy. What would the others say when they found out what he had done? Oh, he could just imagine the surprised looks on their faces and maybe Thorin wouldn't be so harsh with him now.

There was a small crack in the wall that led down another tunnel and Bilbo thrust himself into it only to be stuck. His sounds of struggle drew the creature closer; Bilbo saw his bright blue eyes in the dark accompanied by snarling.

"It's ours!" the creature growled. "It's ours!" Bilbo took a deep breath and pulled himself through the crack, his brass buttons flying into the air and hitting the creature in the face. As he started to fall, his elbows collided with the ground and his hand flew open. The ring spun in the air and Bilbo opened his hand to catch it when a rather peculiar thing happened, the ring moved and slipped itself onto Bilbo's finger instead. Bilbo stood up amazed, everything around him was blurry, the very air seemed to shake. He looked down at himself, noticing that the red in his jacket was a duller, muddy colour. The creature came barrelling through the opening and Bilbo put his hands over his face.

"Baggins! Thief!" the creature hurried along the passageway, screaming for Bilbo to come back and the hobbit looked at his ring and the creature as it vanished around a corner. He was invisible, wasn't he? This was one of those funny little magic rings, how lucky! At the creature's cry of "Baggins" again, Bilbo wondered if he could still find a way out if he followed it. Shrugging his shoulders, he broke into a run and continuing on his current mission of leaving the Misty Mountains alive.


Nemea was panting alongside Gandalf as he led the way through Goblin Town, using his magic to break off giant boulders to crush the goblins or send blinding light into their eyes. She felt awfully numb with all the running, her legs were screaming for rest and her lungs were shrieking at the lack of air. Nemea relied heavily on Gandalf for guidance, listening for his instruction on when to attack or wait. He shouted for her to pull back on a bridge as goblins came at them from all sides, something burst through the bridge and Gandalf stood in front of her as the Great Goblin laughed.

"You thought you could escape me?" he swung a large mace at the wizard and Gandalf stumbled backwards, Nemea pushed him back into position with a snarl. "What are you going to now, Wizard?" he sneered and Gandalf seemed to roll his eyes, thrusting his staff into the Goblin's eyes and then slashing his stomach and neck opened.

Then goblin fell backwards, breaking the bridge further and sending the dwarves careening down the cavern. Nemea curled her claws into the wood, feeling some of the dwarves hold onto her for dear life. They stuttered to a stop, Gandalf pulled Nemea from the wreckage and Bofur noted that "it could've been worse", only to have the corpse of the Goblin King fall on top of them. Nemea chuckled and leaned into Gandalf, he gently stroked her face and shook his head.

"Will you be alright? Nemea?" the lioness's knees buckled and she sunk to the ground. She took deep breaths, growling as her chest hurt with each intake of air. More goblins were coming, they stuck to the walls like spiders and their shrill cries of vengeance echoed in the mountain.

"Can she move?" Thorin asked, he put a hand on her shoulder and the lioness grunted, slowly getting to her feet and licking her lips.

"I will be fine." She said firmly, not caring that the dwarves around her understood her perfectly.

"Then we must hurry, daylight will be our ally." Gandalf took off down a corridor and Nemea waited the last dwarf to follow.

Regrettably that was Bombur and the lioness pushed her head into his back to get him to move faster and when that wasn't enough, she started threatening him. Now, Bombur understood most of what she was saying and he was soon yelling for everyone to hurry up, siting that Nemea was going to eat him if that didn't. And if things weren't looking so bad, they all might've laughed but she was a lion in pain and probably would've threatened everyone. A doorway opened up to them and white light poured through it, the dwarves ran even faster and Nemea sighed in relief, looking behind her for the goblins.

A breeze blew in and ruffled her fur, the scent of something familiar tickled her nostrils. She looked down another tunnel curiously and stepped forward to check it out when her ears picked up movement and she took it as a sign to flee. Racing down the hill after the others, Nemea lid to a stop beside Fili, lying down and panting heavily, the blond dwarf kneeled down and examined her injuries. The cuts on her legs were healing but with the running, they had grown larger and were bleeding heavily. Gandalf began counting the number of their group; Nemea stopped breathing for a second when they all realized that Bilbo was missing.

"I think I saw him slip away when they first collared us." Nemea growled at "collared".

"What happened exactly? Tell me." Gandalf said, watching Nemea from the corner of his eye.

"I'll tell you what happened. Master Baggins saw his chance to flee and took it! He's thought of nothing but his soft bed and warm hearth since he left home. We will not be seeing our Hobbit again. He is long gone."

Nemea forced herself to stand and roared at the prince, her teeth and claws bared as if he was enemy. Dwalin stepped in front of him and raised his axe, trying to coax Nemea to calm down but Thorin shook his head and pushed Dwalin aside, allowing Nemea to continue on her path and stand over him.

"It is the truth, Nemea, I heard him trying to leave before the goblins took us. He knew he was not going to be of any use." He told her forcefully and Nemea growled again.

"And whose fault is that?" Her voice was lower, primal, and it sent shivers down their spines. "Frightened? You should be."

Nemea circled Thorin as if he was her rather unfortunate prey, her searing golden eyes fixing him in place. The exiled prince kept very still, his gaze flickering to Gandalf for aid but the wizard appeared distant. Nemea was growling now, any moment he expected her to pounce on him.

"Bilbo is strong, I know it. He can help you. But all you've done is put him down since this began. And because of that, he is gone. I should kill you now – "

"There won't be any need for that, Nim; I can fight my own battles."

Everyone turned around to watch Bilbo slowly walk down the hill and ease Nemea away from Thorin; he took her face in his hands and brought their foreheads together. Nemea wanted to cry. Bilbo laughed and played with her ears, staring at everyone a little awkwardly and shuffling around to glance back at Gandalf, the wizard put a hand on Bilbo's shoulder and squeezed, the hobbit flinched and that didn't go unnoticed.

"Bilbo Baggins! I have never been so happy to anyone in my life!"

"We'd given up on you," Kili said with a sigh of relief, his eyes darting between Nemea and Thorin.

"How'd you get past the goblins?" Fili asked next.

"How indeed." Dwalin mused idly.

Bilbo laughed nervously, putting his hands in his pockets and whistling. Gandalf watched the hobbit carefully, how he favoured to keep one hand in his pocket, using the other to pet Nemea. Her eyes had softened considerably and she didn't want to kill Thorin anymore, she never did really…she just wanted to scare him a bit is all.

"Well, what does it matter? He's back!" Gandalf said, gaze flickering between Bilbo and Thorin.

"It matters. I want to know; why did you come back?"

"Look, I know you doubt me, I know you always have and you're right. I often think of Bag End, of how I'm safe there and that I can always return there. I miss my books and my armchair, my soft bed, and a full pantry," he laughed there and sighed. "See, that's where I belong. That's home. And that's why I came back because you don't have one, a home. It was taken from you but I shall try to help you take it back if I can."

Nemea huffed, giving Thorin a look as he nodded slowly. Gandalf smiled at them all; finally, the real quest had begun.

But just as things were getting all warm and fuzzy, a rough voice came on the breeze and everyone looked up to see what the setting sun was bringing, a pack of wargs with their riders. Again, everyone was running but they were met with a cliff and not enough time to climb down. The dwarves hurried into the trees as the first few wargs burst into the clearing. Nemea zipped around and caught one around the neck, snapping its neck and jumping backwards as another took its place. They growled at each other, sinking low to ground and trying to decide how to attack when the warg whimpered and turned around.

There stood Bilbo with his little sword glowing, the warg jumped but Nemea dug her claws into its legs, Bilbo stabbed the beast threw the eye. The hobbit gave Nemea a funny look, something like pride but he was disgusted by it at the same time. Nemea walked and helped him pull out his sword and then watched as he climbed a tree. The dwarves were split between three trees and she put herself in the middle of all of them as the rest of the party showed up.

Nemea looked at the pale orc calmly, growling as the wargs slowly surrounded her. She did not understand the language he was speaking but she thought she recognized Thorin and Thrain's names being mentioned. There was only one action she could understand, when the orc lifted his mace and pointed it at Thorin and then as he jerked his head to the others. Nemea grinned.

"Come and try." The wargs came at her.