The very floor of the cave opened in small segments, plunging the dwarves into the heart of the mountain, supplies and all. The dwarves plummeted from the floor, immediately intercepted by a series of slopes rocks, plunging them deeper and deeper into the mountain at great speed. The dwarves tumbled over one another, bouncing of the walls and ledges without killing turn and drop disoriented them, preventing them from stopping their own fall. Their cries echoed through the vast caverns of the mountain. They followed the slopes until they reached the end of the network, plunging them onto a ledge of a cliff, reinforced by iron plates formed into an upturned goblet. One by one the dwarves fell into the iron cage, piling on top of one another, finally coming to a stop. Bilbo, Validhreniel, and Bofur landed on the top of the pile.
Nearly a second past before someone cried out. "Look out!"
A horde of goblin's descended upon the company. Their body height matched the dwarves. Their shrieks pitched loudly in the air, like a shrill dagger piercing al; that could hear its cry. The goblins launched at the dwarves, dragging them to their feet by their hair, and forcing them through the cavern. Dwalin threw his fist into the nearest goblin, trying to fend them off, but the goblins numbers were too many. Thorin caught sight of Validhreniel, still unnoticed by the goblins, but that would not hold for long, and when discovered her to be an elf...she would be killed on sight. He forced his way to her side and drew up her mask, though her hood remained concealing her ears.
"Under no circumstance are you to lower your hood." Thorin ordered desperately.
Before Validhreniel could reply, the goblin's ripped Thorin from her and dragged her after him. The goblins claws dug into their arms as they forced them down a procession line of goblins, driving them deep into the her of the mountain, into Goblin Town. The cave itself was built like fortress. An internetwork of wooden platforms connected the caves to one another, all circulating from the center of the cave. From all around, above, beside, and even below, other goblins watched with a chilling gleeful intent. Their shrieks echoed through the cave. A series of torches lit the way in the tunnel, providing a menacing glow around the cave. Bones were piled one onto another, held up by thick spears. Several skeletons and bones lay strewn about the caves, stripped of all flesh.
The goblins drove the company of dwarves toward a large platform in the center of the massive cave. Before them, on a throne made of wood, nearly falling apart under its massive weight, was the Goblin King. His body was nearly three times as tall as any goblin, though his mass rivaled one hundred Bombur's. His skin was a sickly pale color, his chin hanging down to his lower torso. He coughed sickeningly as the company was pushed toward him. At the base of his wooden throne lay numerous goblins, piled on top of one another. The dwarves were corralled onto the platform before the Great Goblin. Thorin caught sight of Validhreniel just to his right. Her green eyes were all the were visible beneath her hood and mask. The Goblin King sprang from his throne, crushing the goblins at his feet.
"Who would be so bold as to come armed into my kingdom?" he demanded, while his servants piled the dwarves weapons before him. "Spies? Thieves? Assassins?"
"Dwarves, you malevolence." answered the goblin, Grinnah.
The King's eyes narrowed. "Dwarves?"
"We fond them on the front porch." Grinnah answered.
The King stared long at the company of varying sized dwarves. They stood without fear in their eyes, as any dwarf would. But his large eyes spotted the one abnormality with the group before. A dark smirk crossed his glutinous lips. A deep chuckle echoed throughout the cave, silencing all goblins around. "No just dwarves, Grinnah. Ta-Golug!" He pointed his thick finger directly at Validhreniel.
At his command, the goblin standing behind Validhreniel ripped the hood from her head. Silence befell the cavern whole as the dark hood fell back. The torch light illuminated the golden plaits across her hair. The mask fell from her face, revealing her elven features whole. Validhreniel drew her face up, meeting the King's dark glare. A low, menacing growl rippled through the ranks of the goblins surrounding them. An elf in a goblin lair would be certain death. An elven woman in their midst was a fate worse than death. Thorin watched Validhreniel's still stance. And in a flash of golden light, she moved with formidable speed, the likes of which he had not witnessed in decades. She drove her elbow into the goblin's throat, crushing his windpipe. The goblin clutched its crush throat and sank to the ground, choking for air that would never reach his lungs.
Though her blow came swift and unexpected, the goblins retaliation did the very same. A goblin lashed out with a distinct crack. With a swift motion of its arm, it hurled the leads of a cat of nine tails, tipped with bones and stones within its leads. The leads latched around her right arm, pulling her in one directions. The bones and stones sunk into her harm, latching onto the fabric of her sleeve, and punctured her skin. A second whip latched its leads around her neck, digging beneath her cloak, and into her neck. The goblins pulled their leads in opposite directions. One attempted to drag her toward the Goblin King whilst the second seemed determined to drag her from his presence. Validhreniel grasped the whip around her arm, trying to pull it toward her, but the whip held her firmly in her place. One motion and her throat would be removed from her neck.
The company tried to fight back, but their horde quickly prevented any such attempts. Rage and fear flooded Thorin. Fear of Validhreniel's safety forced him to remain where he stood, but the rage demanded to free her. His gaze shifted toward Kili and Filli. Their infuriated glares spoke of a sharing emotional state.
The Goblin King chuckled. "A masterful attempt, Ta-Golug, but pointless."
Validhreniel stared at the king, showing no fear.
"We should all be honored by your presence mongrel. Not only an elf, but the fabled 'Abad Miziminh. The Mountain Jewel Lady of Erebor." The King bowed his head mockingly. "Tales of your bewitching beauty have circled through our caves, though now we see what lies they are. Perhaps they once held true, but the Defiler saw to reduce you to the state of the lowly mongrel that you are. You are hardly worth the title of Kûf glob."
"Gurth orqu." Validhreniel muttered.
The goblin holding tightened his grasp, tightening the whips hold over her throat. Validhreniel fell silent once more.
The King turned to the dwarf company. "What are you doing in these parts?"
Not one dwarf raised his voice.
"SPEAK!" the King commanded.
Silence followed.
Grinnah shrugged his shoulders.
"Well if they will not talk, we'll make them squawk!" He called, turning to the goblins. "Bring out the Mangler! Bring out the Bone Breaker!" the King turned toward the company and pointed toward Validhreniel. "Start with the elf mongrel. And if their resolve still holds...kill the youngest."
At the mention of his rank, Ori's eyes grew wide in fear. It was time to move now.
"Wait!" Thorin ordered. He stepped through the company, moving forward toward the Goblin King.
Validhreniel shook her ever so slightly. Enough to send a silent message to Thorin, but subtle enough to avoid the goblin's gaze.
The Great Goblin's eyes grew larger, his face seemed to grow more humorous. "Well, well, well, look who it is. Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain." The goblin bowed mockingly Thorin, who stood silent. "Only, but I'm forgetting, you don't have a mountain. And you're not a king. Which makes you, nobody really."
Thorin remained silent whilst he urged to take up arms and cut the Great Goblin down a dozen sizes or so. He had hardly escaped insult since their exile. The Goblin's words did little to strike a nerve.
"I know some who would pay a pretty price for your head. Just the head, nothing attached. " he chuckled darkly. "Perhaps you know of whom I speak, an old enemy of yours. A Pale Orc astride a White Warg."
Those words caught Thorin's attention. A flood of ice water rushed through his veins. His eyes drew up to the Great Goblin's. "Azog the Defiler, was destroyed. He was slain in battle long ago."
"So you think his defiling days are done, do you?" The goblin asked. "Let us wager your head and the mongrel's honor, that is not so." He chuckled and turned to a small goblin perched in a bucket. "Send word to the Pale Orc; tell him I have found his prize."
The goblin jotted the note message upon the slate he held and slid down the rope line. The goblin's sickening laughed laced with disgusting coughs echoed down the tunnel, well past sight.
The Great Goblin chuckled as he turned his gaze back toward Thorin. "I wonder, will the Pale Orc kill you quickly, or will he have your head and be done with it?"
had to stop here for more space in the next chapter hard to believe it's almost over. but then there's desolation!
translations
Ta-Golug-she elf (black speech)
Kûf glob- ugly filth
Gurth orqu-death to orcs/goblin (elven)