A/N: I apologize for the short chapters. I'm working really hard on trying to make them longer, and the chapters featuring songs will be considerably longer as well as when the main action of the trilogy picks up. I am trying to follow the movies as much as possible so I can visualize what I'm recreating. Obviously I do not own the Hobbit characters and places and so forth, and only Linnor is mine.
I appreciate all reviews, thoughts and opinions.
Suddenly, a blinding flash of light broke through the crowd, seeringly blue and pure, like starlight, but hotter and more fierce than any star Linnor had ever seen. The power behind it knocked everyone over, and causing the Goblin King to drop her several feet to the ground. They lay in stunned disarray for a few seconds as a shadowed figure emerged from the pale glowing torch light. Linnor breathed a sigh of excited relief. Gandalf had come.
Gandalf had his staff, glowing palely, in one hand, and in the other, he held Glamdring.
"Get up! Take arms! And fight. FIGHT!" Gandalf yelled, spurring dwarves and goblins to action.
With a roar of defiance, Thorin and company snatched back their weapons from the boards and turned on the vicious, misshapen beasts with a fury. Likewise, the goblins drew out makeshift daggers and bows and attacked with vengence on their captives. Linnor watched from where she had fallen, still in shock at the whirl of action around her. She saw Thorin and Gandalf fighting their way over to her.
"Linnor!" Thorin yelled, rushing over and helping her to her feet, before swirling around to sink his sword into an oncoming goblin.
"Linnor! So this is where you've run to!" Gandalf laughed candidly as he decapitated another one. "Well, I suppose one would only assume. It's a definite nature, a blood trait, I guess. Oh," Gandalf continued, ignoring her confused look. "You may want to hold onto this while we're here. May come in handy."
He passed her a stout, silver sword, gleaming blue with a eerie sort of light. Oddly enough, though the feeling of a weapon in her hand was strange and slightly uncomfortable, there was indeed something secure and calming about it as well. Linnor gulped. She only hoped she didn't need to use it.
"THIS WAY!" Thorin yelled, leading them all down a rickety path deeper into the mountain, the wood planks creaking and snapping as they ran.
It was like a scene from her deepest nightmares. Goblins of all grotesque forms swarmed them from above, below, behind, in front, even swinging from across the ravine on long ropes. Her heart was beating in her ears, blocking out all sound and leaving her with an erratic thrumming. Her breathing was ragged and gasping, small sobs breaking through now and then as she ran to catch up to the others. They were running deeper and deeper into the heart of the Misty Mountains, taking dark twists and turns, not knowing if they even led anywhere at all.
Suddenly, a surge of goblins clambered up from below, blocking her from the rest of the company. A few turned and leered at her, racing towards her, claws outstretched, teeth barred in a cruel hiss. Linnor froze with terror, a shrill scream escaping her lips. As the things descended, she raised her sword in a feeble attempt to save herself, eyes clenched shut. She felt a jolt up her arm, and something warm splash over the front of her. Linnor opened her eyes in shock. A goblin was speared on the end of her sword, apparently having run itself through, unable to stop. It's white eyes were wide open, a line of blood trailing down it's chin, black ooze pouring from the gaping wound in it's chest, and drenching her. She stood, frozen and nearly sick with the feeling of the warm ichor on her front. The screams were barely a white noise in her ears. Another scream broke out of her thoat when a pair of hands grabbed her shoulders, pushing her onwards.
"My dear," Gandalf's voice rushed urgently. "Now may not be the time to have an hysterical breakdown. If you would be so kind to hold onto that once we are not in dire peril, I assure you, you will be greatly justified. Now, RUN!"
Her body was numb. She felt nauseous. Everything was hazy. She was covered in blood. She had KILLED someone...thing...? Oh lord, she was going to be sick.
"COME ON, THIS WAY!"
"FASTER!"
"GANDALF!"
"LOOK OUT!"
"LINNOR, HURRY!"
They sprinted around another bend and were halfway across a tattered bridge when-BOOM! The gigantic, gelatinous, disgustingly deformed shape of the Goblin King landed with a crash, blocking them out, a swarm of goblins racing behind them, trapping them in the middle. The Goblin King's beady, bloodshot eyes surveyed them viciously.
"Well, well, well." it chuckled darkly. "End of the line, Half-Breed! Filth, scum, trespassers! It's over! What are you gonna do, Wizard?"
He let out a chocking laugh as Gandalf walked slowly and defiantly up to the monster. Though he was smaller, Gandalf spoke of more power than Linnor could even imagine. With a quick flick of his wrist, he cut a slit in his stomach, making the King howl in pain. Another flick, and his throat was cut.
"Yep, that'll do it." He nodded, and with another echoing crash, he fell, dead at last.
There was keen silence from everyone. They hardly dared to believe their luck. It didn't last long. At that moment, a dull snap was heard, and the boards gave way, sending them down a steep ravine at breakneck speed. Linnor let out another scream, but this time, she wasn't the only one. Wood splintered off and shot away into the darkness as they gathered speed and the rock floor loomed closer.
This is it we are going to die we are going to be smashed to bits what they hell was I thinking I don't belong here I killed someone oh god oh god oh god! Linnor clenched her eyes shut, too afraid of her impending death to actually view it firsthand. Never in her wildest dreams from Rivendell did she imagine this kind of horror.
At the last second, their wood sled of death stuttered to a halt, pausing briefly, caught in the mountain walls, before collapsing. Grunts and groans echoed in the small cavern.
"Well, tha' coulda been worse." Bofur sighed, just as the heavy body of the Goblin King followed their descent and landing on their little pile. Linnor groaned at the added weight, her lungs nearly collapsing under the pressure. What were the odds. Slowly everyone managed to unearth themselves from the debris and dead goblin.
Linnor stood shakily, a slight roaring in her ears. She shook her head, but instead of clearing it, the roaring got louder...and angrier. Linnor turned fearfully.
"Gandalf...we have a problem!"
Thousands of goblins were now racing full speed down the cliff side, no doubt seeking blood for their king's death.
"Only one thing will save us now." Gandalf yelled. "Daylight! Hurry, run now!"
The company turned and made their last and final break for the glimmer of sunlight out into the wild once again, away from goblins and tunnels, and out to the other side.