Borin's first battle against an unexpected intruder.

Chapter 10: Borin son of Bilbo

"The Elf hates me," groaned Borin.

His friends exchanged looks. They were not prejudiced towards Elves, Tauriel was greatly loved by her whole family and any one that attempted to insult her honor was met with swords at their throat. Salabel was a different story however. She favoured Frerin and Vanya while scorned the others. She was especially awful towards Born, critising all of his effort, mocking him at every turn.

"I don't get why Uncle Thorin accepted her in his mountain in the first place," said Darelle, a frown marring her countenance.

They were lounging in the water gardens. The king had made them especially for his nieces-in laws since they were not used to spending all they under stone.

"Perhaps she won't stay long," muttered Vanya as she fiddled with her arrows.

"No she will," muttered Víli, "Tharkûn insists that she stays on and that she's trustworthy."

"Complaining about her won't solve anything," said Frerin as he stood up and ruffled his hair, "come let us go to the training ground, I'm sure some sword fighting will make us put that Elf out of our minds."

Borin stood up with an irritated huff but his sensitive ears caught the sound of movement. He stopped and turned round and looked at the entrance with narrowed eyes.

"Borin?"

The dwobbit turned round in surprise and saw his friends looking at him in concern, with Darelle's hand on his shoulder.

"I thought I heard something," he muttered Borin.

The young Durins frowned in confusion.

"Borin, there's nothing there," said Vanya.

But the Baggins didn't listen to her, he rushed forward and ran, ignoring the shouting of the others. It wasn't possible that there was an intruder; there were guards at almost every entrance. He stumbled out of the gardens and into the hallway. He then went down the hall and out in the courtyard. His ears picked out a sound on the other side and he felt dread creep up on him. He unsheathed his sword and walked towards the entrance that lead to the dungeons. He has never been here, he was not even allowed to be here, but something told him that he had to go and see if there was someone there. He expected a Dwarf or perhaps an Elf, but for sure he was not expecting a troll.

"Great Mahal..."

Darelle was going mad with worry. Borin seemed to have run off and they had no idea where he was.

"I think we should tell our parents or Uncle Thorin, or someone," gasped Vanya, they have been running for some time.

"We'll get him in trouble," snapped Frerin.

"I rather he is in trouble then hurt," hissed Darelle.

"Looked there's Uncle Thorin with Balin and Dwalin," said Víli, "come on."

Borin was scared...ok he was actually terrified. He rushed into danger without even thinking. His mind was blank; everything that Dwalin taught him was forgotten. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his breathing. He remembered Balin telling him a story about his father. How Bilbo, had managed to trick the trolls and made them argue till the sun rose and then they turned to stone. Where was he suppose to get the sun? There was nothing else to it...he had to fight. The Dwobbit crept forward, and tried to stay hidden, the troll was enormous, how in Mahal's name did he manage to get in here? Borin clutched his sword and in one swift movement stabbed the troll in the legs. The troll roared in pain and jerked backwards.

The young Baggins stepped aside to prevent himself from being crushed against the wall. Being small of size came an advantage cause the troll couldn't see him and even if it could, it wouldn't be swift enough to catch him. Borin slid behind him and stabbed it again however the troll turned round and Borin was unable to slip away as easily. He grunted in pain as his head crashed against the stone wall. His short hands were not going to be of much use, he shook his head trying to ward off a ward off a wave of dizziness that came over him. He ducked underneath the monster and grabbed a bow and an arrow that decorated the wall. He notched the bow and arrow and drew the string, then released, but the arrow flew right pass it. The troll growled and marched closer to the dwobbit, finally catching sight of him. Cursing himself Borin snatched up another arrow and fired finally hitting the beast. The troll launched again at him, Borin ducked again but wasn't as fast enough, he was foolish enough to focus on the joy of actually hitting his target. Borin cried out in pain as he felt his ribs crack. Borin wheezed and tried to crawl away, but the troll caught him and raised him up in the air.

"What are you?" growled the beast.

Borin thought fast, trolls were suppose to be stupid and he must have some sense to outwit it.

"I'm a burglahobbit," said Borin, remembering the story that Balin told him.

"What's a burglahobbit?"

"We're ones that can walk unseen if we wish. Some also know us as the luck wearers."

Clearly the troll wasn't one who enjoyed being made a fool of and with another roar slammed the boy against the hard rocks again. Borin groaned in pain, his ribs are either very bruised or at least broken.

"BORIN!" screamed a familiar voice from the doorway.

There standing fully armed were Throin, Balin, Dwalin, Kíli, Fíli and Rallia, with the young Durins standing behind them.

"Barûk Khazad! Khazan ai menu," roared Throin, his face twisted in a furious scowl.

Kíli shot an arrow shooting the troll directly in the eye. The troll roared in pain and clutched his wounds causing Borin crash down on the floor. Before he could fully comprehend what's happening Borin was dragged away by Balin a concerned look marring his features, "come lad, I'm taking you to the healing rooms." He sounded weary and his tone was strained.

Borin turned round just in time to see Dwalin slam his axe in the troll's legs, bringing him to his knees while Thorin slammed his sword in the troll's chest.

"WHAT IN MAHAL'S NAME WERE YOU THINKING?"

Thorin was not angry, oh no, he was trembling with rage.

"I didn't know that there was a troll," said Borin wincing as Oin bandaged his chest, "how did he manage to get in here?"

"The lad makes a good point, Thorin," said Balin.

"And I have an answer," said Nori as he entered the room. "There had to be someone who helped him from within these walls."

"But who? Who would betray us like this?" said Thorin, frustrated.

"We don't know, Thorin, we can only guess."

Rallia had been quiet at that point. She had fought the troll with the King and his kin. She had rushed to the healing wards to make sure that Borin was not terribly injured but she had not screamed at him, she did not scold him. She remained quiet like the princes and princesses who stayed close to their friend, feeling guilty that they did not accompany him.

"I think that Borin fought very well," she said finally.

"You should not encourage him," snapped Thorin.

"I'm just saying he seemed to have inherited Bilbo's impulsive streak." She winked at him and strode out of the room.

"As much as I like you laddie I prefer not to see you in the Healing quarters so often. Now, out, the boy should get some rest," ordered Oin.

Thorin pushed the physician aside and asked, "Oin how is he? Is he badly hurt?"

The grizzled dwarf sighed and said, "it could have been worse. He only has 2 broken ribs and a small concussion. Though his mother's dwarven blood might have helped him by having a hard head...not that Bilbo wasn't hard headed," added Oin as an afterthought.

Without knowing why Thorin strode into Rallia's chambers. "I would have thought that you would discourage your shield-sister's only child from engaging in battle," he snapped.

"We cannot just keep him shielded forever," she replied quietly.

"We're supposed to protect him. And we did the opposite of that today."

"You truly care about him?"

Thorin rubbed his eyes wearily, "his father is the reason why we're here and I betrayed him. Looking after his son is the only way how I can repay him." His voice broke at the end.

"I love him just as much as you do, but we have to let him get out there and fight. We can't hide him from the world Thorin."

The dwarf lord snorted, "You know the first creatures that Bilbo fought were trolls. Like father, like son I suppose."

Rallia laughed and he could not help but admire how lovely her laugh was. Then he shook his head, he did not have time for such thoughts. He had a kingdom to look after, traitors to catch and a special boy to protect.

Just a slight description of the main characters:

Borin: Blond hair and emerald eyes.

Vili: Blond hair and brown eyes

Frerin: Dark haired and green eyes

Darelle: Copper hair and blue eyes

Vanya: Auburn hair and brown eyes