The world around Katy was slow, hazy and muffled, and various thoughts slipped in and out of her head randomly. Her parents…Sarah…Spiders…Fili…SPIDERS! Katy's eyes suddenly flew open as she remembered the horrible sight of the massive spider coming towards her, and she started choking as she tried to breathe. Bilbo was right in front of her saying something, but she couldn't quite make it out as she took deep breaths. She felt movement beside her, and soon Sarah was also awake and fighting for air.
'What happened? Are the spiders gone?' she asked, wheezing.
'For now, yes. But I think they will be back, so we must hurry,' the hobbit said, as he used his sword to cut away the binding around Katy's legs. She watched as Bilbo scurried off to a number of dwarves next to her who were also heavily bound and sleeping.
'They'll be back?! Oh god!' she cried, and she turned to Sarah and helped her remove her binding.
'What happened? I really don't feel so good,' she mumbled, before throwing up.
'It's the poison! Looks like it can cause sickness! Don't worry, it's not just you, quite a few of the dwarves are also throwing up,' Bilbo shouted, as he freed Ori and Dori.
'And that's meant to be reassuring?!' said Sarah, and both girls looked around to see Kili, Fili, Bofur and Nori looking decidedly worse for wear.
Katy managed to climb to her feet, and stumbled over to the dwarves.
'Are you ok?' she asked them, but before they had time to reply she was sick herself.
'Feeling just as good as you are,' Fili mumbled, giving her a slight smile.
Bilbo had by this point managed to free the rest of the dwarves, and the hobbit was right, most of the company looked to be feeling the affects of the spider poison.
'Bilbo, why weren't you caught? We thought we lost you!' asked Bofur.
'There's no time to explain now, we need to move. Those spiders will be back soon,' Bilbo replied, and the words had barely left his mouth when a loud scuttling was heard through the trees.
'Oh god, is that them?!' shrieked Sarah, and moments later a pack of huge spiders were in front of them, full of rage.
Bilbo was immediately on his feet and aiming his sword at the spiders, jabbing them and trying to keep them back. Most of the company were stunned by his bravery, but couldn't think about it too much, as they too had to fight off the spiders.
Many of the dwarves, as well as Katy and Sarah, were still feeling the effects of the spider poison, so weren't much use when it came to fighting. It was soon clear that the hobbit was struggling without much support, and that it wouldn't be long until they would be all overpowered like weary flies. Some of the spiders had even managed to start weaving the sticky substance around some of the dwarves. Suddenly, Bilbo stopped fighting and turned to the dwarves and girls.
'I am going to disappear! I shall draw the spiders off, if I can, and you must keep together and make in the opposite direction. Head for the left, that's more or less where we last saw the elf fires!' he shouted.
'What are you on about? What do you mean you are going to disappear?' shouted some of the dwarves. That very second, the hobbit seemed to vanish into thin air. Before any of them could start to wonder where he had gone to, they all heard the hobbit's voice, shouting and calling the spiders' names.
The spiders looked as confused as the company was, and suddenly it seemed as if the creatures were being attacked by some invisible force. Deciding that now was not the time for questions, the dwarves, Katy and Sarah all ran in the direction that Bilbo had instructed them to go. It took them longer than it would have done, had most of them not been unsteady on their feet, but eventually they had reached the edge of the area where the fires had been.
'What was all that about? Does the hobbit possess some kind of magic that we don't know about?' asked Dori, catching his breadth.
'It would seem that Bilbo Baggins has a lot of explaining to do,' said Thorin, and the whole company began to look around for him, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly, there was a noise from the trees, and for a minute they thought it was the spiders again. Instead, though, elves appeared from all sides of the clearing, carrying bows and spears.
'Halt!' one of them cried, but he need not have bothered, for none of the company could have taken on the elves in the state they were in.
'You have no reason to be wandering around Mirkwood Forest. Thranduil will be intrigued,' another elf said, and both Sarah and Katy heard Thorin have a sharp intake of breadth.
Without another word, the elves surrounded the company, and forced them to move away from the clearing.
'Who's Thrandwee?' whispered Katy.
'Thranduil. He's the King of the Wood-elves,' replied Balin.
'Ok, are they like the other elves were met? I didn't mind those guys but they weren't pointing spears at us!' said Sarah.
'No, these are a different race of elves. They say they aren't wicked, but they don't like strangers, and are very distrustful. And they aren't too fond of dwarves!' Balin said.
'Where are they taking us?' asked Katy, growing more and more afraid of these elves the more she heard about them.
'Wherever it is that Thranduil has his fortress,' answered Balin.
Sarah and Katy glanced fearfully at one another, and tried to move so that they were beside Kili and Fili. The two young dwarves looked relieved when they were next to them, but before they could say anything to each other the elves poked them with their spears, urging them to quicken their pace.
After what seemed like miles, they elves stopped in their tracks, and the company saw that they had reached large stone doors. The doors soon opened, and the elves marched the dwarves and girls towards the opening of a large cave. It was lighter and more wholesome than any goblin-dwelling, and neither so deep nor so dangerous, but the company were still fearful of what lay ahead.
As they were led down into the cave, Katy, Sarah and a few of the dwarves couldn't help but think what could have happened to Bilbo. He had disappeared, right in front of their eyes, and they had no idea where he was now.
Before they could give any more thought to the missing hobbit, the elves ushered them into a spacious chamber, where a stern elf sat on a throne in the centre. The elves pushed the company right in front of the throne, and stood back. Katy and Sarah were pushed into the middle of company, and were trying their best to remain unnoticed.
'Well, well. What have we here? A pack of dwarves found wandering in Mirkwood Forest. What brings you into these woods?' he said, his voice softer than both Sarah and Katy had expected.
Thorin remained silent for a few minutes before speaking, seemingly choosing his words carefully.
'We lost our way from the path, and were attacked by spiders. We only just managed to escape when we were once again taken prisoner by these elves. Show us the way out of this forest and we will leave at once!'
'And why, may I ask, were you in the forest in the first place? What purpose did you have?' Thranduil asked.
The dwarf king didn't say anything, and the girls both realised that he didn't want the elf to know about the quest.
'Very well!' said Thranduil. 'Take them away and keep them safe until one of them feels inclined to tell the truth, even if it takes a hundred years.' He motioned for the elves to lead the company away, when suddenly he gestured for them to stop.
'Wait! What is this, two females part of the group? Where have you come from, and what business do you have with a bunch of dwarves?' said Thranduil.
Crap, so much for not being noticed, thought Sarah.
Thranduil smiled at them, though it did nothing to put the two girls at ease.
'Take the dwarves away, but leave the females here. I want to speak with them separately.'
Neither Katy nor Sarah thought that sounded like a chat they wanted to have, but they didn't have much choice. The group of elves were already forcing the dwarves through a large door, and despite the struggles by Kili, Fili and a few of the other dwarves that were close by them, the girls soon found themselves standing alone in front of the king. They had come up against orcs and goblins, but they were probably more terrified of this elf than all of those things. At least they knew that those other creatures were pure evil, with Thranduil, there was a slyness that meant they didn't have a clue what he had in store for them.
'And now that those wretched dwarves are no longer present, I think it's time for you both to tell me what exactly you are doing here. There's been whispers of young maidens from other world, and I'm highly interested to know why you have tied yourselves to a group of dwarves,' he said.
'Wait, you've heard about us? How is that possible?' Sarah asked.
Thranduil smiled.
'If you think you are making your way through Middle Earth unnoticed then you are mistaken. What is your purpose here?' he asked.
Ok, kind of dodged the question there mister, Sarah thought, annoyed. Katy stood beside her, not wanting to utter a word.
'Um,' Sarah glanced at Katy.
What the hell do we tell him? Both girls thought at the same time, and they instinctively knew not to mention the quest.
After a moments silence, Sarah piped up.
'The dwarves are trying to help us find our way home,'
'Are they now?' Thranduil sounded surprised.
'Yeah, really great bunch a guys, actually. Saw us wandering around by ourselves and wanted to give us a hand. Except we're kind of still wandering, none of us know where to go, so we're just…wandering,' Sarah finished.
Katy just looked at her in disbelief.
Really? He's going to believe that 13 dwarves and 2 girls are simply wandering around in the hope of finding a way back to Kent?! Katy thought.
'Just wandering, then?' Thranduil questioned.
'Yup,' replied Sarah.
'Very well then,' he said, and turned to an elf standing nearby.
I can't believe he actually bought that…,Sarah thought, and she turned to Katy with an almost triumphant smile. Her friend still didn't look so sure.
'Bidren, take them to their room,' Thranduil said to the other elf.
'Wait, you're just going to lock us up with the dwarves? Look, we didn't mean to walk into your creepy wood and bump into those nasty spiders. Is this how you treat all innocent passersby?' Sarah said, practically shouting at him.
'Oh, I'm sorry. I'm not going to put you with the dwarves. Why, I think two young maidens who have spent so long, what was it, wandering, deserve a bit more comfort than I have afforded your dwarf companions,' he replied.
With a nod of his head, Bidren walked up to the girls and gave them a lazy smile.
'Please come with me and I'll show you to your quarters,' he said softly.
Huh?
Even Sarah was speechless.
After a minute of looking at each other in confusion, the two girls stumbled after the elf, not quite sure where they were going, but not wanting to test Thranduil's patience.
'Where is he taking us?! And what was all that chatter about wandering?!' hissed Katy.
Before Sarah had the chance to reply, Bidren turned sharply around to face them.
'Did you have something you wish to ask me?' he said.
Katy froze.
'Nope, just wondering what our quarters will be like,' Sarah answered for her friend.
The elf smiled lazily at them (That is really creepy, thought Sarah) and continued down the corridor until they reached a solid wooden door at the end. As if from nowhere, Bidren brandished a large key, and with a glance at the girls, opened the door and gestured for them to step inside.
The room was in no way large or luxurious, but it was by far the most comfortable room they had seen since leaving Rivendell. And the second they saw it the girls felt a stab of dread.
'How long are you keeping us here?' Sarah asked quietly.
'Thranduil was touched by your tale of searching for your home. He wishes to keep you in comfort until he can find a way to return you back where you belong,' Bidren replied.
'We're not staying here,' Katy said sharply, and even Sarah was stunned by her friend's harsh tone.
'But you are so lost? And surely you do not wish to wander for much longer?' the elf asked.
'We were fine as we were. With the dwarves, erm, wandering…' Katy said. Sarah still seemed shocked by what she was saying.
Bidren just gave them one more of his lazy smiles, and turned to leave the room.
'Hey, what did you do with the dwarves?! Where are they?!' Katy shouted, and as the elf closed the door behind him and turned the key, she started hammering its wooden surface.
'Ok, first off, I don't think he's going to tell you, and second, since when did you get some balls?' Sarah asked.
Katy looked confused.
'What?'
'The way you just spoke to mister creepy there? I was even scared of you,' Sarah said, proudly.
'Well, I just wanted him to know what there is no way that we're staying here. We're part of that company of dwarves whether they like it or not!' Katy practically shouted.
'Ok, ok, calm down, you don't need to convince me. God, he really wound you up!' Sarah said, and gave her friend a tight hug.
'I don't want to stay here,' Katy whispered in her ear, and Sarah could feel her shaking.
'Hey, it's ok, it'll be ok,' Sarah said.
'Will it, though? Where are the dwarves?' Katy said softly.
'Look, those guys are tough as nails. Wherever they are, they are probably fine. In fact, they're probably already planning their escape. Before you know it, that golden haired prince of yours will be coming to rescue you,' Sarah said, trying to lighten the mood.
'And I kept telling him I wasn't a damsel in distress,' Katy grumbled.
Sarah pulled her friend into another hug, and both girls were quiet as they wondered just what had happened to the dwarves…
Far below where Katy and Sarah were being held were the dungeons, and 13 angry dwarves sat in one of the bare cells. One of the elves had provided them with food and water, but had remained silent when asked how long they were being kept here. As some of the dwarves whispered about attempts at escaping, Kili and Fili's minds were on the two girls, and what Thranduil had done with them.
He wouldn't hurt them, would he?' whispered Kili to his brother.
'I don't know. He might ask them why we were in Mirkwood Forest to begin with, and if they don't tell him anything, then I hate to think what he would do,' Fili replied.
'Ok, as my older brother you're meant to be a bit more reassuring. Thanks for that!' hissed Kili.
Fili chuckled.
'Sorry, K. I'm not feeling very reassured myself right now. I'm also starting to regret braiding Katy's hair,'
Kili turned to him in disbelief.
'What? Are you serious? It took you long enough to have the guts to do it in the first place, and now you wish you hadn't?' said Kili, confused.
'I don't mean like that. If the elves see the braids, they might realise that Katy and Sarah are more, I don't know, connected to us then they originally thought. Which might mean more trouble for them,' Fili explained.
'I see what you mean. Maybe the girls will realise that themselves and untie the braids before anyone notices?' said Kili, hopefully.
'Hmm, I'm not so sure. They're a bit clueless when it comes to braiding, they might think that it's more offensive than anything,' Fili said.
'That's a bit harsh, but you're probably right,' Kili replied.
'Oi, you pair,' shouted Bofur from across the cell.
The brothers glanced over at him.
'I'd have a bit more faith in those two lassies, they've shown to have more brains than you at times. Dare I mention the two ponies that went missing under your watch?' Bofur said.
Kili and Fili looked a bit put out, but didn't have anything to say in response. The dwarves fell into silence, not realising that an elf had been listening to their every word.
Katy and Sarah had been sitting in their room for a couple of hours, and nothing had happened. No rescue attempt from the dwarves, and no other visits from the elves. Suddenly, they heard the lock turn, and the door swung open.
Oh joy, thought Sarah, mister creepy is back.
Bidren nodded at the girls, and another, younger female elf stepped into the room.
'Thranduil has requested that you are given the chance to bathe and dress in clean clothes. He doesn't want his guests to go without,' he said, in his usual soft voice.
'Unless the dwarves are also getting the chance to have a bath, then we don't want one,' said Katy, and once again Sarah was surprised at her tone.
'My apologies, I didn't make it clear. You don't have a choice in the matter. And it was the dwarves themselves that requested that you remove those ugly braids of yours,' Bidren said.
Both girls were shocked for a second.
'You're lying. Why would they say that?' Sarah retorted.
'Ah, so the braids are linked to the dwarves! And I thought you were just wandering together? Braiding hair suggests something a bit more, well, permanent,' the elf said, grinning.
Damn, thought Sarah.
'What do you mean, permanent? My hair was getting a bit messy and I asked them to braid it, completely harmless!' said Katy, trying to fix things.
'Nice try. But I've already heard what those two young dwarves have said about the braids. And if there's one thing I know about dwarves, is that those braids mean a great deal more than just messy hair! They think if you remove them, it will lessen the link between you and them' said Bidren, smirking.
Neither of the girls had anything to say to that.
'Now, once you are clean and dressed, Thranduil would like to speak with you again. And this time, he doesn't want to hear about trying to find your way home. You've entangled yourselves in the lives of two dwarves, so I doubt they expect you to just go back home. Your future is with them, is it not? Or have you not really thought this through yet?' the elf continued.
Katy and Sarah were stunned into silence. His words had taken them by surprise: Your future is with them.
'I'm glad that settles it. I'll leave you in the capable hands of Livia, who'll make sure that those braids are well and truly removed. And I'll let the dwarves know they're gone as well,' he said, and Bidren left the room.
'Come along, ladies,' Livia said quietly, and still stunned, Sarah and Katy follow her.
An hour and a hot bath later, the girls were back in their room. If it wasn't for the fact that their heads were all over the place, Katy and Sarah would have enjoyed the fact they were clean and wearing fresh clothes. But Bidren's words had stuck with them.
'He's using us, you know. He's now realised we're part of the company, and not some random hangers on, and he thinks that's his way of finding out what the dwarves are doing,' Sarah said, livid.
'But weren't we just hangers on? When we first met them? We didn't even want to go with them until Thorin told us to,' Katy said. Sarah didn't like where she was going with this.
'Yeah, but then we got to know them, got to know about you know what, and became closer to two of them,' she said.
'And I thought you said that the braids just meant we were dating? That I didn't need to think about marriage and babies. Because that elf seems to think differently,' Katy said.
'What does he know, he's an elf! And that's not the point. The point is that we're part of that company and we're not betraying them,' Sarah answered back.
'He seems to know more about the dwarves than we do! And I never said we would betray them,' Katy said, looking furiously at her friend.
'Ok, you are starting to scare me slightly. What are getting at?' Sarah asked.
'He said our future is with them. Do you think he meant that they assume we're going to stay with them, after they finish you know what. Cos I was under the impression we would be going home. Or at least that's what Fili promised he would try to help me do,' Katy said, starting to look upset.
'We've always said we would be going home. Goodness, they must have seen us constantly pestering Gandalf about it,' Sarah replied, but she didn't sound convinced.
'I don't want to hurt them, you know? We've let them braid our hair, and the whole company knows we're courting, but what if they want more? What happens if they ask us to stay?' Katy questioned.
'I'm not sure if that's even possible, didn't Gandalf say that we would go home once we're no longer needed here, when we don't have a reason to be here?' Sarah said.
'But what if they are the reason for us to stay. He's the heir to the throne. What more of a need for marriage and babies do you want?' Katy finished.
Sarah didn't know how to respond to that.
'I'm sorry, Sarah, but it just seems like way more of an adventure than we thought we were getting ourselves into,' Katy said, sounding tired.
'So are you going to break up with him? Or whatever the Middle Earth equivalent is? Cos it seems like we're sounding a little petty when there's a lot bigger things at stake,' Sarah said.
'Petty? This is our future, Sarah! And don't tell me that there's bigger things than this,' Katy spat back.
'Do you not care about Fili? Do you honestly think you can just tell him to forget everything that's happened? I mean, all those hints I made about braiding your hair, just wasted?' Sarah yelled.
'Of course I care! I care more than I ever thought possible! That's why this is such a big mess. If it was that simple, that easy, to just walk away, then I would do it. But I can't. Because I am falling for him so badly that it terrifies me. And don't tell me it's not the same with you and his brother,' Katy shouted, tears starting to fall.
'Of course it's the same. But I don't know what to do about it. For once I don't have a sarcastic comment or quick come back. I care too much about him to do that,' Sarah whispered.
'Well then what the hell are we meant to do?!' hissed Katy, but before Sarah could answer, the door swung open again and Bidren entered the room.
'Is something the matter, young maidens? I could have sworn I heard shouting through the door?' he asked innocently.
'Well apart from you keeping us against our will, everything's just great!' shouted Katy. Sarah was no longer surprised at the level of her voice.
'Ah, but that will all be over soon. Thranduil wishes to speak to you now, and I'm sure that you will come to some arrangement with him that will benefit you all. Come on now,' Bidren said, gesturing the girls to follow him.
Katy and Sarah looked at one another. This was the first time that they had come close to an argument since arriving in Middle Earth, and while neither of them wanted to be dragged in front of Thranduil without having the chance to clear the air, it didn't look they had much choice. Giving each other a quick look, they followed the elf out the door.
After leaving the girls in front of Thranduil, Bidren went down to the dungeons, and told the elf standing guard over the dwarves to take their empty plates and cups away. Once the elf had disappeared, Bidren stood at the door of the cell, watching the dwarves in silence before speaking.
'Now that you have the chance to, eh, gorge yourself on your host's food, I wanted to let you know that the two young maidens are being well looked after. In fact, they are dining with Thranduil at this very moment,' Bidren explained.
'Too right you better be looking after them!' Dwalin shouted, while Kili and Fili just glared at the elf.
Bidren smiled politely at them.
'They also wanted me to inform you that the braids you put in their hair have been removed. They thought it was for the best, considering the circumstances,' the elf continued.
Kili couldn't keep quiet any longer.
'What circumstances?' he shot. Fili looked at him with a mixture of pride and wishing he'd shut up.
'Well, you know what these maidens are like, what was it you said? They're a bit clueless when it comes to the braiding?' Bidren replied. Fili silently cursed himself for saying that. He hadn't realised they had been listening.
'The maidens were under the impression that they would be returning home, I mean isn't that what you were trying to help them do? So very kind of you, I must say,' the elf went on.
None of the dwarves said anything.
'But we thought it was a bit cruel of you to braid their hair, and then still lead them to believe they could go back home. Isn't their future with you, now? Isn't that what the braid signifies? All I did was point that out to them, and they couldn't get rid of the braids quick enough! As I said, they are with Thranduil now, and I imagine that he's inviting them to stay on here until we can find them a way home,' Bidren said.
'They're part of this company! What makes you think that they want to stay here with a bunch of elves?!' yelled Bofur.
'And what makes you think that they want to spend the rest of their lives with a bunch of filthy dwarves? You should have seen how happy they were when we let them bathe and dress in clean clothes. Wash all the filth out of their hair,' Bidren spat.
Both Kili and Fili instantly lunged for the elf, despite him being on the other side of the door. Stepping away from the cell, Bidren shouted through the wooden door:
'I guess you shouldn't have been so quick to believe they would stay with you. All they want is to go home. If we can promise them that, who knows what they will tell us.'
Fili and Kili picked themselves up from the floor and sat down dejectedly. Things looked hopeless. Trapped by elves, with no means of escape, and now it looked like they were losing the girls. They could feel the eyes of the other dwarves watching them, and they didn't want to think what their uncle was thinking.
Before Thorin or any of the other dwarves could say anything, Bilbo suddenly appeared in the corner of the cell.
'Bilbo!'
'Where did you come from?'
'We thought we had lost you!'
'Have you been here this whole time?'
The hobbit desparately tried to quieten the rabble.
'Please be quiet! I will explain everything, but you need to be quiet or that elf will be back!' Bilbo whispered.
The dwarves were silent but still looked puzzled.
Bilbo took a deep breath, and pulled something out of his pocket. It was a ring – a thick gold ring.
'I found this, in the goblin caves, and when I put it on, I, well, disappear. Become invisible. Watch!' the hobbit said, and he put on the ring, disappearing instantly.
The dwarves starting shouting again, and Bilbo removed the ring and shussed them all again.
'I used it to chase away the spiders, and the elves couldn't see me when they led you here. But I followed you, and I've been sneaking around ever since. I know where they're keeping Katy and Sarah, and I think I know how to get you all out of here,' Bilbo said, rushing his words. Kili and Fili both beamed at him when they heard about the girls.
Suddenly Thorin spoke.
'You mean to say you can help us escape? How?' he said.
'It involves barrels, and a bit of hiding, but I need to clarify a few things first. Now, I need to get out of here. Can one of you ask for some water or something? For all that the elves have put you in a cell, they're at least keeping you fed and watered!' Bilbo said with a grin, only to get some dirty looks in return.
'Sorry, I didn't mean it like that! Just let me get out of here!' the hobbit said, and Bofur nodded. He went to the door of the cell, and called out for some water, as Bilbo slipped on the ring. As the elf opened the door to give Bofur his water, Bilbo scurried out of the cell. As the door slammed shut, the dwarves could only hope that Bilbo would be successful.
Kili and Fili were heartened to hear that Bilbo knew where the girls were being kept, but couldn't help but think about what the elf had said before about them.
'Do you think what that elf said was true? That Katy and Sarah have removed the braids and don't want to be part of this company anymore?' Kili asked, turning to his brother.
Fili didn't say anything, and just shrugged.
'I know we braided their hair, and that can mean you've chosen the one you want to marry, but it can just mean courting now, can't it?' Kili went on.
'And what does courting normally lead to, brother? We've been so stupid,' Fili said finally.
'What are you talking about, Fee?' Kili asked.
Fili shook his head.
'We didn't exactly explain what we were doing when we braided the girls' hair. We should have spelt it out to them, what was expected,' Fili replied.
'I told them they were courting braids,' Kili said.
'I know you did. But how are meant to court them when they are back home? Is the courting just meant to stop? Did you honestly think they would stay here with us?!' Fili hissed.
'Alright, don't have a go at me! I didn't really think about it, if I'm honest. I don't think I fully understand where they are from anyway,' Kili said.
'Sorry, K. I'm just upset. I kept telling myself that the proper courting rituals couldn't happen with Katy, but I found myself growing more and more fond of her the more time I spent with her. Braiding her hair just seemed, well, natural,' Fili said, and Kili grinned at him.
'But now it feels like the most unnatural thing in the world. Because they are from a completely different world, and it will never work. And I can't believe it took an elf to make me see it,' Fili continued.
'She cares about you, tell me you can see that, brother?' asked Kili.
Fili gave a small smile.
'Yeah I think she does. But she also desperately wants to go home. And who can blame her? I even promised her I'd help her find her way home,'
'You're good like that, though. Always wanting to help people,' said Kili.
Fili sighed.
'Yeah, even if it breaks my heart,' he said.
Kili didn't say anything, and Fili turned to him.
'I'm sorry, K, I'm forgetting you're in the same position. Sarah thinks the world of you, and you seem so happy when you're around her,' said Fili.
Kili grinned.
'Yeah she's amazing. I don't think I've met anyone like her. I just try not to think about what's going to happen next, you know? I mean, coming on this quest is big enough, let alone meet someone like her,' he explained.
'I know. Sometimes you need to focus on what happening right now,' said Fili.
The grin suddenly fell from Kili's face.
'What's happening right now is that Thranduil is with Katy and Sarah, saying goodness knows what to them,' he muttered. He looked quickly at Fili.
'I'm sure they just took out the braids cos they figured it would look like there's less of a connection to us, don't you think?' Kili said hopefully.
Fili was quiet for a minute before speaking.
'Yeah. I'm sure that's why they did it. And I'm sure they haven't said anything about the quest either,' he said, no sounding overly convinced.
'And just because we didn't exactly tell them everything about the braids, doesn't mean we can't trust them?' Kili continued.
'Yeah, I'm sure we can trust them,' Fili said, looking doubtful.
Way above the dungeons, Katy and Sarah were back in their room, after enduring a dinner with Thandruil where they said as little as possible to the elf, and politely and firmly declined his offer of staying with the elves. He didn't seem too disheartened at their refusal, and simply told Bidrin to take them back to their quarters, which only made the girls more worried.
Once the elf had closed and locked the door, Sarah turned to Katy.
'He's not going to let us go, is he? I mean, how are we actually meant to get out of here? Never mind being stuck with the dwarves, it looks like we're stuck with some elves!' she said.
'You said it yourself, those dwarves are tough. I'm sure they'll find a way out. And come for us too,' Katy replied, but she didn't look convinced.
Before either of them could worry any more, suddenly Bilbo appeared in the room in front of them, causing them both to shriek.
'Oh my god! How on earth did you do that?!' shouted Sarah, as Katy stood speechless, clutching her chest.
'Quiet! Please be quiet! The dwarves weren't as loud as that, and there are 13 of them!' the hobbit hissed.
'Ok, I'm sorry. But appearing like that in front of us? Explain,' said Sarah.
Both of the girls listened as Bilbo told them what he told the dwarves, about finding the ring and a plan for them all to escape.
'Look, I can't say much, but just be ready when I come for you later!' said Bilbo.
'Well, it's not like we've got anything else planned! Oh Bilbo, it's so good to see you! And you said that you've seen the dwarves, are they ok?' said Katy.
'The dwarves are fine. Grumpy, angry, and Kili and Fili are worried about you both. Don't worry, you wont be in here for much longer,' said the hobbit, and both girls felt relieved.
'Now, I need to get out of this room, so could you shout for something, so they can open the door?' asked Bilbo.
Sarah nodded, and the hobbit put on the ring and disappeared. The girls were stunned for a moment, but remembering what Bilbo had asked.
'Oi, elf! Could you get me a drink or something?' shouted Sarah out the door, and moments later it was opened.
Bidren handed her a glass of water.
'Will that be all?' he asked, and Sarah nodded, thinking that the door had been open long enough for Bilbo to sneak out.
'Very well,' the elf said, and left the room.
Sarah shuddered.
'He is so creepy!' she said.
'So I guess now we wait?' said Katy, and Sarah shrugged.
'I guess. But at least Bilbo has a plan. And hey, Kili and Fili were worried about us, how adorable is that?' she said, smiling.
Katy nodded.
'I just can't wait to see them,'
'I know. So come on Bilbo, let's get out of this place!' Sarah muttered.
Both the girls and the dwarves waited and waited for Bilbo to start their escape, and just when they thought something had gone wrong, the hobbit put his plan into action. The dwarves were sitting in the cell, none of them really talking, when suddenly the lock turned and the door opened a crack.
'Come on! This way!' a voice hissed, and the dwarves immediately recognised it as Bilbo. He had somehow got the key to the cell, and the prisoners quietly left the cell and followed the hobbit through a maze of corridors. Bilbo opened a door into a small room, and all they could hear was the sound of rushing water nearby. Against one wall a dozen or so barrels were stacked, and the hobbit silently gestured for the dwarves to climb into the barrels.
'Wait here, I need to fetch Katy and Sarah,' Bilbo said, and he ran off.
'Those females are not coming with us,' Thorin said, and the rest of the company stopped climbing into the barrels to look at him.
'They have continued to be unnecessary trouble for this company, and who knows what they have told the elves about our quest,' he explained.
'They wouldn't say anything to them about it!' shouted Kili, and his brother looked shocked at his outburst directed to his uncle.
'And you say that why, because you and your brother have braided their hair? You don't have any future with them, and the sooner you realise that the better. I've allowed them in this company thus far as I was unsure of their connection to the magic that brought them to our world. But they are lost, nothing more. They don't have any benefit to our cause, and now they may have even put it in jeopardy. They have no part in this company. Come on now, into the barrels,' Thorin demanded.
Kili and Fili stood still, not uttering a word. The rest of the dwarves looked uncomfortably from Thorin to his nephews, not sure what to say. Finally Dwalin spoke up.
'Thorin, if it is true that the girls have spoken about the quest to the elves, we need to know exactly what they have told them. I suggest we bring them along, for they will be of more use to us than remaining with the elves to tell them even more about our journey. Keeping them near us will be of more benefit than leaving them behind,'
Fili and Kili gave Dwalin grateful looks, but before Thorin could respond, Bilbo ran into the room, closely followed by Katy and Sarah.
Kili immediately looked at Sarah and they exchanged brief smiles. Both girls couldn't help but notice that apart from Kili none of the dwarves paid any attention to them.
'Quick, there is no time to talk, into the barrels, all of you!' shouted Bilbo, and he began closing the lids over each barrel once they were full.
Katy and Sarah clambered into a barrel, and immediately were gagging on the stench of apples.
'Well that was a bit awkward now, wasn't it?' Sarah whispered to her friend.
'So awkward,' Katy agreed, but before either of them to say anything else, the barrel started to move, and soon they could feel it hitting the water. Bilbo had done it – they were escaping from the elves!
