In search of Bilbo Baggins
Chapter 11: The Rescue Mission
The smial was silent, except for Bella's sobbing, which seemed to have gotten louder. Time seemed to have frozen.
Thorin could not bear the silence anymore and he walked out of the room.
"Thorin, what are you doing?"
Of course his sister would have followed him.
"I'm writing a letter, we can't do this by ourselves. Having Dwalin and Nori here will be easier to find Bilbo."
"We don't even know where they are, it can be too late," said Dís.
A sudden loud knocking on the door startled all of them and they all rushed to the front door, Thorin even drawing his sword that he had strapped to his hip. Thorin wrenched the door open and there, looking worn out, were...
"Dwalin? Balin?...what are you all doing here?"
The Dwarrow at the door included the Fundin sons, along with Gloin, Oin, Nori, Bifur and Bofur.
"We received knowledge that Durur was close to the Shire, so we came to make sure that you were all fine," said Dwalin, looking relieved.
A wave of guilt crashed over Thorin, he and his kin were fine but that sweet and innocent boy was not. If that bastard hurt him, there would not be a single place on Middle Earth where he can hide.
"They took my youngest nephew," said Thorin, clenching his fist.
The Dwarrow looked at each other in surprise. "What are you talking about lad," said Gloin, "Kíli is right here."
"He means my son." Bungo's voice sounded tight. He had his hands wrapped around Bella and both of their eyes were red rimmed. His kin looked at him in confusion and the exiled kin sighed in exasperation. He knew that his kin would not be hostile towards these Hobbits who sheltered and took care of their King and his family. Thorin handed his advisor the note and Balin's brow became furrowed.
"That bastard dared to kidnap a child," said Gloin, his red beard bristling.
"We have three days," said Nori, "He can't be that far off and he needs something so he won't dare to touch the boy."
Bella was not paying attention to what was being said, her baby boy was missing. She wanted to scream and tear her hair out in frustration. What was she doing instead of going out looking for her baby? She was weeping like a child. She could not register whatever was being said by her husband and the Dwarrow. She felt numb all over, though Fíli and Kíli's presence eased some of her pain. She knew that none of her Dwarrow were going to give up on her son. They loved him as well and she could see the worry in Dís' eyes and the anger radiating from Thorin.
"How are we going to take him by surprise, if he knows that we're coming for him," said Bofur in frustration, for once actually managing to lose his normal positive attitude.
"Leave the sneaking to me. You're only here because you're not bad with that mattock," said Nori.
"Why can't we go and track him down, we managed to find him once before."
"And how well did that end, we're not the brightest bunch of the lot" said Dwalin in annoyance. That caused the others to voice their protests.
"Shazara!" roared Thorin. He had been quiet, listening to his kin firing one suggestion, after another and they were no closer to finding Bilbo, then they were before they found out about this whole mess. Bella and Bungo have not said a single word and Thorin wanted nothing more than to keep the two of them out of danger, but he had seen the look on Bella's eyes, she was not going to stay behind and Thorin had a sneaking suspicion that nothing he said would be able to convince her otherwise.
"We're going to head out tonight and we're going to find Durur and tear him to pieces. We split into groups, Balin and Dwalin you're both with me. Bofur, Nori and Bifur you're together and that leaves Oin and Gloin." Thorin turned to say something to his Hobbit friends, but they were not there...
Thorin rushed outside, afraid that they went looking for Durur without consulting any of them. But to his relief he found them sitting on the front porch.
"I know that you want to join us, but I would rather that you'll stay here safe." When they did not answer him, Thorin continued speaking, "we'll find him and we'll bring him home safe."
Bella turned to look for him straight to his eyes and said, "I have faith in you Thorin, I know that you'll find. Though I want to come with you, both of us do."
The Dwarf, sighed, "I know that you want to go and look for your son, but I need you both to stay here. I need you both to stay safe, neither of you are warriors."
Husband and wife, looked at each other and then Bungo stepped forward and placed his hands on Thorin's shoulder and he said, "Find our son Thorin Oakenshield."
Bilbo was crying.
His head hurts and he could not move his hand. The Dwarf that kidnapped him was scary. He never spoke to him, but just glared at him whenever he whimpered; he was nothing like his Uncle Thorin. He did not know how much time has passed. He did not know how long he stayed in this dark place. This was his entire fault; if he only listened to his mother he would not be here. He wondered if his mother was very angry with him.
"Do you think that anyone is coming for you, you little runt?" snarled Durur.
"Please, let me go," said Bilbo, his voice wavered in fear.
The Dwarf laughed mockingly and stared down at him, "Do you think that Thorin would come for you, that you mean more to him, than his own kin. No one is coming for you, you stupid little Halfling."
Bilbo could not say anything; he was sniffling in despair, his Uncle Thorin would come for him, he was sure of it.
Thorin felt like he was going to scream, Bilbo have been missing for a day and a half and there were still no sign of him. Even Dwalin, who was the best trekker in Ered Luin could not find anything. They were running out of time and there was nothing that Thorin could do about it.
"Thorin..."
Thorin hurried over to where Dwalin was standing and there was a small bead that was Durin blue. Thorin remembered when he gave that small boy, his bead. Thorin had made him a promise and accepted him officially as a part of his family. He had forged a bead for Bungo and Bella as well. But the gummy smile that Bilbo had given him had made that moment even more worth it. Thorin clenched the bead in his hand and covered his eyes. A renewed surge of anger consumed him and he was filled with determination. He had to find Durur and when he does he was going to rue the day that he was born. The note said that they had to meet him next to the Bywater Bridge. So he had to be close, but where?
Though he was tired, he could not go back to Bag End. He could not bear to see the look on Bella's and Bungo's faces. He promised that he would bring back their son and he was not going to go there to and admit failure. In frustration Thorin kicked a nearby tree and ignored the pain that blossomed in his foot.
"Do you intend on breaking a toe."
"Leave me alone Dwalin."
"We still have time," murmured Dwalin.
The exiled Dwarf Lord glared. He was not in the mood to be consoled. Before he could fire back a retort, he heard someone approaching and he turned round with his sword raised. There was Nori, running towards them, gasping out of breath.
"Nori, what is it?" queried Balin, collected as usual.
"I believe that I found the lad. They have him in some sort of warehouse. It found close to the Barrow Downs."
Thorin growled, gripped his sword tighter and was about to take off, running, when Baling rapped him by the elbow.
"You can't just rush in, like that Thorin. Durur still have the lad and he can harm if we go barging in."
Grinding his teeth, the Dwarf knew that his advisor was right.
"Find the others, we re-group and come up with a plan."
Bilbo was shivering. It had gotten so cold all of a sudden. The hugged himself tighter and sniffled miserably. His stomach cramped with hunger. He was only given a small piece of bread to eat. When he asked for something to else to eat he was slapped across his face, hard. His cheek was still red and it stung badly.
Was Thorin coming for him? He did not want to believe Durur, he just could not. Thorin will come; he promised that he would always protect him. Bilbo fingered a flock of hair where his bead was supposed to be, he dropped it when Durur kidnapped him. Bilbo huddled closer to the corner and wiped away his tears. He kept on repeating that he wanted to be brave. But he was scared of the dark. He wanted his mother and father to hug him and tell him that everything was going to be ok. That he was safe.
Bilbo looked around but saw that there were no signs from where he can escape. But he felt so weak, that he could not even move let alone make a run for it. The only choice he had was to stay here and hope.
The Dwarrow were surrounding the warehouse. Nori figured out that there was a back entrance and it was easier to take Durur by surprise from behind. The Barrow Downs loomed in the distance, making Thorin feel slightly nervous. As much as Thorin wanted to punch Durur hard in the face, his primary concern was to get Bilbo away from danger.
Thorin noticed Nori giving a signal and he moved forward together with Balin and Dwalin. The Dwarf took a deep breath and then surged forward a broke open the door. Nori acting fast, threw one of his daggers that hit Durur in the shoulder.
Seeing that his kin have everything in hand, Thorin rushed downstairs to the cellars. He rushed past one cell to and other till finally he found who he was looking for.
"Bilbo," he breathed.
The young Hobbit looked up and sobbed out, "Uncle."
The Dwarf broke open the cellar door and embraced the boy, feeling a sense of relief that Bilbo was safe in his arms. Bilbo gasped when his arm was jostled and that made Thorin tense up.
"Come I'm taking you home. Your parents have been worried sick, we all were."
"Is mummy very mad with me?"
"No mizim. They'll be relieved that you're safe."
Thorin lifted Bilbo in his arms and left that accursed cellar behind. When he arrived upstairs he found that his kin had Durur tied up and his face a bloody mess.
"Keep him tied up here. I want to question him. But I'm taking Bilbo home first."
The walk to Bag End was shorter than he expected.
When he arrived Bella and Bungo rushed towards him and Bilbo was ripped out of his arms.
He had ordered Oin to accompany him since Bilbo needed medical attention. It was a good thing that he did, since Bilbo was bruised all over and his arm was broken. Fíli and Kíli refused to be move anywhere from Bilbo's side.
"Thorin," said a voice from behind him. The Dwarf turned round just to see BBella and Bungo standing behind him.
"Thorin thank you for saving our son," said Bella.
Thorin embraced them tightly, knowing that they went through every parents' nightmare. He felt Dís' presence beside them and she took the distraught parents in her arms and the three of them retreated in the room where Bilbo slumbered on under the watchful eye of his nephews.
Dís walked out of the room, looking weary. "I'm going to make some tea. Where are the others?"
"They're holding Durur. I'm going there right now. I need to question that bastard," snarled Thorin.
Thorin glared at the bound Dwarf. He wanted to punch that arrogant smirk from his face.
The Dwarf was refusing to say why he wanted to riot against the royal family. All he kept on saying was Moria over and over again. The Dwarf was insane. Not even Balin could get through him. Durur spewed more bile against the line of Durin. Thorin did not have another choice except to order his head. He could not let him go, especially after what he did to Bilbo.
Even after all of this and the Dwarrow were making their way back to Bag End, Thorin had a suspicion that all of this was far from over.