AN: Hi All! I appreciate reviews, I love PMs, and I want to know what you are thinking. At the same time I ask that we remember our manners. As a guideline I would recommend that we all refrain from saying things that we wouldn't say to each other's faces. I got a message the other night that bordered on hostile and I just wanted to make that point clear.
Words failed me as I ran to look for Alex. I could say nothing because the worry in my brain had surpassed words. All I could do was search franticly for his puff of blond curls. I saw trees uprooted from the ground and dirt flung everywhere. I could hear the others behind me but I was focused entirely on finding Alex. I saw a light up ahead and ran towards it oblivious of the twigs and branches that caught on both my clothes and my skin. I stopped as I heard voices and approached with slightly more caution. I could not identify the voices as I walked closer before I saw a fluff of blond disappear behind a turned over tree that was partially obscured by the tall bushes. I dashed over and saw both Alex and Kili crouched low behind the trunk if a massive fallen tree. I could not stop the squeal that left my mouth when I saw a very wide-eyed Alex being held down by Kili, who carried his own look of fear mixed with what I could only assume was excitement.
"Come here Sweetheart!" I whispered as I crouched low, holding my arms out. I shot an appreciative glance at Kili before looking up at the sight in front of us. I was stunned once again as I saw the largest animal-like things I have ever seen. There was something about them that appeared almost elephant like with their thick greyish skin, but they lacked the trunks and could easily double the size of any elephant. I lost all words as I heard them begin to talk.
"What was that?" The largest one asked in a slow voice.
I silently cursed myself for making that voice as I approached them.
"You're hearing things. Ain't nothing there!" the other responded and I let out a breath. "What's for super then?" and it became clear that the noise was forgotten and arguments regarding dinner were sounded amongst the three.
Alex became my lifeline; I clung to him fearing that he would run off and attract the attention of the foul animals. I could not identify species but it did not take too much insight to understand that they were dangerous beyond words. I had been so preoccupied taking in the sheer size of the animals that I had not noticed the small figure moving around.
"Is that Bilbo?" I whispered, "What is he doing over there? He could get hurt!" Kili looked sheepish which caused me to glare at him. "You didn't send him over there did you?"
"Mommy does this mean I don't get to ride with Kili anymore?" Alex asked in a panic. "I didn't stay with Bilbo but he told me to stay with Kili and I'm sorry!"
"No, no love! Hush now, it's okay, you did the right thing. Don't worry; Bilbo was right to have you stay here. Right now he is doing something very dangerous."
"He's getting the ponies that were stolen." Kili explained.
"He's saving Millie!" Alex emphasised.
"Wonderful, what if he gets caught? Or what if those things don't see him? They could squish him to death!" I whispered again, becoming more and more frightened of what would happen to Bilbo as he dodged and weaved the large creatures.
"I would not worry about him getting caught. Trolls are notoriously dim witted, even if they were to catch him it is unlikely they would know what to do with him." Kili stated with confidence and a smug smile before returning to watch Bilbo attempt to free the ponies.
It almost looked as if Bilbo had succeeded in slipping past the beasts before the smaller one suddenly grabbed him.
"This is ridiculous, you can't just leave him there! They will kill him!" I yelled in a muffled voice.
"I'll give him a few more minutes."
"There shouldn't be any moments to give! He was supposed to be watching my son not dodging monsters! They are talking about ways to eat him! Good God, what are you going to do? The ponies were your responsibility, you need to take care of your responsibility." I scolded. My fear had spiked to levels I could not even comprehend. All of this was happening with Alex so close.
Kili rolled his eyes.
"Just like my mother." He muttered under his breath before stepping out from behind the trees.
I was impressed by his bravado even if he didn't see the need for it. Sword swinging and witty remarks completed the look I was sure he was going for. He portrayed absolute confidence, a quality that I could relate to. Alex always needed me to appear as if I knew exactly what was going on, even if I was a lost as he was. For a minute I thought it was working, I thought those brutes would truly just give Bilbo up and let us all get back to what semblance of life we had created. As much as I had wished the matter were open and shut, the giants obviously had other plans.
The smaller one chucked Bilbo at Kili throwing them both over into a large bush. I let out another small squeak and clutched tighter to Alex.
"Don't look sweetheart." I whispered. "We are going to get out of here soon I promise. Come here I'm going to just pick you up and we are going to go back to the others. Okay? We are going to tell them what is happening." I comforted as Alex let out a little yelp.
"Mommy, are they going to eat my Daddy?" Alex asked concernedly, his voice shaking as he fought tears.
"No Love, no they aren't eating anyone. People don't eat people, silly." I assured still gesturing for him to climb up into my arms. "Come on Sweetheart we need to go now."
I looked up worriedly at the beasts, afraid that they would hear us with all the noise we had made. I heard a rustling behind us and turned sharply placing my body in front of Alex, shielding him from any threat. When Thorin made himself visible through the trees I let out a deep breath I had been holding in. The rest of the group was here and now everyone would be safe, this whole mess would be over.
"Oh thank God you are here! Bilbo and Kili they are in trouble with those beasts. You need to save them!" I exclaimed with a frantic expression. "They said they would eat them!"
I was surprised by Thorin's quick and decisive actions as he jumped out from the tree we had congregated behind. I was then surprised again when the rest of them all followed. I picked up Alex and stared at the retreating figures of the dwarves. I grabbed one of them by the sleeve and stopped them from going any further. I only noticed after a minute that it was Oin.
"Why? Why are you following him? Why don't you save yourself?" I asked in a hushed tone.
"They are a part of the company. We do not leave our people behind." He explained in a soft voice, betraying the fact that he wasn't a soldier and probably as scared as I was.
I nodded, letting go of his shirt.
"Thank you." I whispered, patting his arm softly.
He moved forward again following after his leader. I turned and went the opposite direction. I clutched on to Alex's head as I hid behind a tree a further distance away. I could hear the screaming and the yelling.
"Don't look, don't listen, we need to be very quiet. Okay love, if we are very quiet we are very safe." I whispered to Alex in a rush.
"But Mommy, what about Daddy?" He cried as he threw himself into my shoulder.
I wanted to reprimand him over the use of the name but figured there were more important things to worry about. Who cared if he called Kili his daddy when we were alone? Especially when the man was risking his life.
"He is going to be fine. They are going to come back in a few minutes and I will show you that they are safe."
As soon as I finished the sentence the shouting stopped. I smiled over at Alex.
"See? It's all fine, it's over now." I smiled.
"Can we go see, Mommy, please?" he begged.
"I will have to go check first and see if they want us there. Can you stay here and be a big boy?" I asked unsure of my actions.
He nodded enthusiastically.
"Good, you wait here. You can play with the sticks." I offered with false cheer. How could I let it come to this? Offering my child sticks to play with? It was at that moment that I wanted my old life back the most. I just wanted my son to be happy.
I walked the short distance back to where I had left the group and peered again around the over turned tree. What I saw made my mouth go dry and my stomach drop to the floor. There they were, the group, tied to a spit over the fire. The beasts were really going to eat them.
"NO!" came a harsh scream from behind me.
I recognised the voice. It was Alex. I spun as if on casters, my eyes peeled wide.
"Don't eat my DADDY!" he cried as he ran past me and into view of the giants.
"Alex! Alex! Come back here." Tears poured down my face as I ran to scoop him up.
"No, don't eat my Daddy! No eat Daddy! No! No! No!" He continued to scream as I picked him up and placed him on my hip.
"Who are you?" The creature with a crude large knife in his hand asked. He brandished the knife at me and I flinched away.
"Leave her alone!" I heard several cries from the group of dwarves.
"My daddy! No eat! No eat! No! Daddy!" Alex screamed again.
"Make it stop." The giant closest to Alex and me complained in a dim-witted voice.
"I can't make it stop! You are roasting his father." I mumbled under my breath as I gently hushed Alex.
"What was that now?" the seemingly smartest of the bunch asked.
"I, I just." I stumbled over my words, my eyes growing larger as they advanced slowly. I took a large gulp of air. "I said, he thinks you are about to eat his father he is a little worried."
"Well we could always eat him first?" one suggested. He looked genuinely concerned for Alex and the thought made me want to be sick.
"No! No I don't think that would be a good idea." I answered shakily.
"Right well I am going to eat before the dawn comes round." He stated as he picked up a terrified looking Bombur.
I gasped and covered Alex's eyes preparing for the most gruesome event I could ever imagine. It was then that Bilbo stood up and began talking.
"You don't want to eat that one! Have you smelt him? Nothing you do could cover that smell." He exclaimed. "No, you can't eat him raw he needs to be cooked with the proper herbs and more than that if you want truly excellent dwarf." He yammered.
"What's the secret then? How do we get the perfect dwarf?"
"Never mind that, she's not a dwarf. Let's just eat her instead!" the gruff voice interrupted.
My eyes went wide.
"No! Please don't, you don't want to eat me! I could barely feed one of you!" I reasoned as I felt sweat mixed with tears drip down my face.
"She's right. All bones won't make for any type of meal!"
The one with the knife took a lumbering step closer to the group of restrained dwarves.
"This one looks tasty!" he exclaimed as he picked up Fili.
"Not that one!" Bilbo exclaimed with a panic in his eye. "He has worms," he paused and looked around nervously. "Infected in the worst way, inedible, all of them!"
"I do not have worms!" Ori called out from the fire pit he was being held over.
"Nor I!" Dwalin agreed.
I thought it was Thorin that noticed what Bilbo was doing, though it still remained a mystery to me. I saw him nudge Balin and give him a look, a look that Balin passed on to the others. Soon enough they were all bragging about the size of their parasites.
Even Alex was joining in as he murmured "worms, worms, worms!" over and over again.
"Well what would you have us do? We aren't going to let them all go!"
"That would be the safest solution." Bilbo stated with a shrug.
"The dawn will take you all!" A rough shout echoed around the grouping of boulders.
There was a large cracking sound and a rock split in two. It exposed the bright light of day that temporarily blinded me. I could hear the sound of stone cracking and I looked towards the beasts. They were turning to stone and freezing in place.
It was too much, I could feel the world spinning and I suddenly felt as if everything were covered in uncomfortable fuzz. I placed Alex on the ground and staggered over a couple of steps. I saw dark spots cloud my vision as I leaned my hands out to break my now inevitable fall. Before I could do anything to stop it I felt my world go black.