So many thanks to those who are sticking with my little story and my smart-ass character. Jose loves you, and I love you.

I don't own any Tolkien characters just the one and only, Josephine Abinoke.

Feedback of any nature will be adored and the good fairy of the writing world will sprinkle magic inspiration dust on your pillow at night or whenever it is you happen to sleep. Cheers!

WARNING: Noncon / Dubcon - may cause triggers. You are warned. But let's face it; if you've read this far, you're probably good with that.

Kindred Spirits

Ch 14 - What Makes You Hope

Looking back on everything. Getting the dwarves into the barrels had been the easy part. Upon hitting the water, the dwarves tried to turn each barrel on its end and bust open the top allowing them to at least see where they were going.

Fili and Kili were the first to find a way out of the barrels. They grabbed onto a low branch just at the edge of the forest and held on for dear life. Then quickly running ahead to a small track jutting into the water, the two brothers helped the other dwarves onto the land. Thorin and Bilbo were next. As soon as they were able, they started helping as well. Within a few minutes, twelve dwarves were ashore and twelve empty barrels continued on their way to Lake Town.

"Where's Ori? Has anyone got Ori?" Dori asked the concern apparent in his voice.

A chorus of "No's" came back to him.

Suddenly Dwalin cried out, "O'er there!" Everyone's eyes followed to where he pointed. One lonely barrel had been missed and was still making its way along the river. Both its lids were still on, but there could be no other answer but that it was Ori's barrel. Dwalin broke into a run and the rest of them followed. Looking ahead, five hundred yards away, the river dropped down a steep waterfall.

Dwalin got in front of the barrel and jumped in the water.

"I . . . I didn't know that Dwalin can swim." Bilbo said breathlessly.

"He can't laddie," Balin said sadly.

"What?" Bilbo questioned and stood amazed as Dwalin used his strength to push Ori's barrel close enough for the others who had caught up to grab onto. Soon, his amazement turned to horror as he saw Dwalin's body go underneath the water.

Bilbo quickly shrugged his coat off and jumped in the river. He found Dwalin trying to swim but failing miserably. Grabbing onto the huge dwarf, Bilbo tried to pull Dwalin's head above the water.

"Don't struggle or you'll pull us both down!" Bilbo shouted as he tried to reach the shore.

Just before the last of his strength left him, Bilbo felt strong familiar arms circle his body. He looked up and saw Thorin, who was being held by Kili, Fili, Oin, Gloin, Balin, Nori, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur in a chain of dwarves stretching from the shore to the middle of the river. Dori was on the shore making sure that Ori still lived.

When all the dwarves and the one hobbit were back on dry land, Dwalin went over to Ori to make sure he was ok. Ori feared a reprimand for not being able to open his barrel like the others had done. But no rebuff came from the big dwarf. Instead, he ruffled Ori's hair and pulled him into a strong hug. Letting go abruptly once he realized everyone was watching, Dwalin walked to the other side of the group. As he passed Bilbo, Dwalin looked down at the halfling. This immediately made the Hobbit nervous.

"Thank'ye, Burglar." He said gruffly.

"No problem," replied Bilbo before he was roughly spun around to face Thorin.

The dark haired dwarf kissed Bilbo with all his might lifting the Hobbit up in the air briefly. When he released him, Thorin growled into his ear, "The next time you do something stupid like that, I'll make you regret it. I can't loose you, Bilbo."

Before Bilbo had a chance to respond, the rest of the dwarves erupted in a series of cheers. They had thought that something was going on with their king and their burglar, but seeing proof of it made them happy.

"As much as we all need a rest, we'd better make a move if we're going to find Jose." Balin's sound words were echoed by the other's affirmatives.

Thorin nodded, "You're right, Balin. Come on, you lot. Follow me. We'll have to run."

It wasn't his best effort. Jose could tell that something was distracting the Necromancer who hovered over her trying to inflict his torture by thrusting his cock in and out at a cruel pace. But Jose could tell that something was wrong with the sorcerer. He wasn't as solid as his usual performance. Something seemed to be distracting him.

She put her fear aside and looked up at him incredulously.

"Honestly, is that the best you can do? I've had better from my long list of inept boyfriends. And when I say inept, I mean inadequate." She hissed the last word hotly into his ear before biting it as hard as she could. The Necromancer looked straight into her showing no pain from her bite, and Jose felt him trying to strip away all of her fighting nature and stubbornness. But Jose was determined to hold out as long as she could. She continued in her best flippant style, "You know, for some ungodly reason, I never choose a guy with a decent dick. And you're no better. Right now, you're as threatening as a middle-aged man after a cold shower without his viagra."

"Are you calling me inadequate?" Dark hair fell across his brow and cold blue eyes stared into her.

Jose's large blue eyes looked at the Necromancer with mock pity. "Ooh, look at that. I've hit a nerve." Echoing the Necromancer's own words from before. Then she smiled and said sweetly, "When shoes fit, you've got to wear them, pumpkin." Her voice fluttered up in tone on the last word.

For the first time in his torture, the Necromancer made a different part of his body solid as Jose gasped when his right hand connected with her left cheekbone. She screamed as she felt it shatter. Refocusing his hate and malice, he shifted his solidity back to his cock and tore into Jose with new vigor. The desolate screams ripped from her lungs filled the night air with so much darkness that even the Necromancer's minions cringed upon hearing them.

Jose suddenly felt a strange burning climb from her vagina, to her uterus, to her ovaries. What the hell was going on? As her screams continued, Jose's one hope was that maybe this would be enough to make him kill her.

Approaching Dol Goldur with caution, Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond, and Saruman stopped when they heard Jose's screams.

"This does not feel right." Gandalf spoke in a hush.

"Nonsense. This human conjurer is simply torturing something." Saruman said gruffly.

The other three all turned and looked at him - incredulous at his words.

"I'm only saying that we should go in and dispose of him quickly. There is no point to all this sneaking around," the White Wizard said adamantly.

"He is torturing a girl ..." Galadriel began.

"An ordinary human – no one of consequence." Saruman interrupted.

"A girl who is not of this world." The elfin queen finished.

"Josephine." Gandalf let out the word in despair and closed his eyes. "How could this have happened?"

"You know this girl, Mithrandir?" Elrond broke in.

"Yes, I sent her with Thorin Oakenshield's company for safety. She said she knows information about the one ring."

At this, Saruman's eyes perked up. "Of course, we have a duty to save the girl."

"Yes, because it is the right thing to do – not because she might further your insatiable desire for knowledge." Elrond said coolly.

"Of course. Of course." Saruman inwardly cursed himself for being so open. But this development was such a shock that he had let it slip.

"Stop! All of you." Galadriel commanded. "At first the Necromancer's mind was everywhere surveying Dol Goldur - as if he sensed us. But now, he is being distracted. We must not let this advantage pass."

Gandalf and Elrond drew their swords while Saruman closed his eyes focusing and preparing himself for battle. Behind them, the white lady of Lorien drew a long thin blade from out of nothing. They looked to her for a sign. The cold gleam of the sword was mirrored in her eyes. She nodded to her fellow companions. "We must attack - now!"