Character death and attempted rape here. Skip chapter if you either are a trigger.
Azog's force came to Erebor within a week. Bilbo hated being left behind in the mountain in uncertainty while Thorin fought on the battle field. He found himself watching from their terrace as the war prolonged.
Often he found himself praying to Mahal for protection over Thorin and their army.
On the tenth night, Bilbo finished dressing for bed when the doors broke open and two Orcs seized him.
Bilbo screamed, thrashing against them. Something foul was wrenched over his head. His hands and feet were bound. Something slammed into his head.
#
Bilbo groaned. His head pounded like a hammer against an anvil. He sat up. An Orc approached, pinching his face. Bilbo tried to pull away, but it pried his mouth open and poured bitter liquid down his throat, making him choke.
It stalked away, saying something to another.
A giant albino Orc approached him and spoke.
"He welcomes you, King's Whore," another Orc growled. Bilbo was too afraid to let the insult get to him. "And asks what you would like to eat."
"I would like nothing to eat," these words brought some bravery back to Bilbo.
The translator repeated the message to the Orc. The albino spoke again. "You have no choice, Whore."
"I am not a whore!" Bilbo shouted. "I am the King's Consort! His husband! I would thank you not to insult my marriage!"
The orc spoke his words to Azog line for line, amusement in his eyes. The albino roared, thinking it just as funny. Bilbo wondered if Orcs had any real concept of marriage.
Probably not.
The albino spoke again. "My Master says you are amusing. Your husband will not come for you. That makes you a whore and easily disposable."
Bilbo ground his teeth. "Thorin will come when he realizes I am missing. You'll see. He'll come."
Murder to attempted rape here. Skip down if this is a trigger for you.
The albino said something to the translator, who pulled Bilbo to his feet. He was pushed along, his hands bound. He was led to a room where a body, bloody and mutilated, was shredded to pieces.
He recognized the face and screamed.
They took Frerin away to burn his carcass. Bilbo shook, falling to his feet. The image of Frerin's innards splayed over out his stomach etched itself in his mind and he wished he could scrub the image of his dead brother-in-law out of his mind.
The albino said something. The translator grinned nastily at Bilbo.
"He said, bring out the prince."
Bilbo looked up. Fili? Or Kili? Oh god, even if it wasn't either of his nephews he didn't think he'd be able to bear it!
Kili was dragged out by two Orcs, his tunic ripped from his body and his torso scratched bloody and bruised.
He was forced to his knees.
"Azog welcomes you, Little Prince."
Kili sneered. And though he looked brave and acted as such, Bilbo could see the fear inside him.
"He reunites you with your Uncle's whore—"
"HOW DARE YOU INSULT THE PRINCE CONS—"
An Orc slammed its fist into Kili's jaw. He gasped, blood spilling out his cut lip. Kili spit at the ground.
"And your uncle will decide how you are going to die," The translator said, chuckling. Kili bit his lip. Of course this would be the outcome.
Kili swallowed and focused on his breathing. Bilbo didn't know how Kili managed to keep calm. His brain felt fuzzy.
Kill Kili? They wanted him to kill Kili!
"It's going to be okay," Bilbo said.
"It's up to you, Whore," the translator said.
Bilbo rounded on the giant Orc. "You cannot make me do such a thing! I will not have my family's blood on my hands!"
The translator repeated Bilbo's word in Black Speech. Azog cocked his head to the side and said something.
"He asks you if that is an offer to trade places with him."
"Bilbo, no!" Kili shouted.
Bilbo blinked. He swallowed and bit his lip. "Yes."
The Orcs stared at him, chuckling. Azog knelt down, grasping Bilbo by the neck, but his grasp was not tight enough to cut off Bilbo's airway. He spoke.
"I commemorate your bravery, Whore," the translator said. "Thorin chose well, making your demise more pitiful."
Bilbo shook, trying to maintain the same bravery Kili maintained. Azog lifted him up, standing. Bilbo held onto Azog's wrist, kicking his legs, though they hit nothing. He was carried back inside and dropped onto fur pelts. Azog knelt over him, pinning Bilbo down.
"If you're going to kill me, then kill me!" Bilbo shouted, thrashing beneath Azog. His attempts seemed only to amuse the Orc. Bilbo bit his hand. Azog pulled away, more annoyed than hurt. He slammed the back of his hand into Bilbo's cheek.
Shock flowed through Bilbo's body, making him rigid. Azog pinned him down again.
Bilbo shook. I can't get out of this…why won't he just kill me?
He inhaled. "THORIN!" Bilbo screamed.
Murder and attempted rape scene finished. Please continue.
Fire lit the room. Bilbo couldn't be sure how. Azog jumped up, roaring, giving Bilbo a chance to run. He dodged between Azog's legs and out the room. A hand stopped him.
"What manner of creature is this?" An Elf asked.
"We'll figure it out later," another promised. "He is a captive also and he screamed for the Dwarvenking. Take him to the Elvenking with the prince."
#
Bilbo was bound and blindfolded again. At least this time, he was sure the threat of death was out of the question. He doubted the Elves killed save under the strictest reasons.
He remained calm, for the most part.
"Where is Kili?" he asked. "Is he all right?"
"You should not ask questions," his captor suggested.
"I ask anyway. Is he all right?"
Silence. "He is injured, but alive. Our healers are aiding him."
Bilbo sighed. "Good. Thank Mahal."
"Now I have a question for you, as I will need to give some information to my king."
"Tell him I am Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit of the Shire. I am the husband to the King under the Mountain."
The Elf chuckled. "That will be introduction enough, O Prince."
"Glad we could aid each other," Bilbo said. "Any chance of getting this blindfold off?"
"No."
Bilbo attempted a shrug. His captive was much nicer than he thought he'd be…or at least a decent conversationalist. "Can't blame a Hobbit for trying," he said.
No more was said.
So much for being a decent conversationalist.
When the blindfold was removed, he stood in a forest canopy. The Elf bowed to another, dressed regally and bearing a crown. He repeated Bilbo's very words to him and Thranduil stared at Bilbo.
"You are Prince Consort to Thorin son of Thrain."
"I am," Bilbo said. "Bilbo Baggins at your service, King Thranduil," he bowed. "May I ask where my nephew is and when it may be safe to return to Erebor?"
Thranduil's mouth thinned.
"You're nephew is well, but has caused much trouble for my men. He is in the dungeons."
"Well, you'll find me more agreeable than any of my relatives. On behalf of Thorin and of Kili, I apologize for Kili's behavior. He is young and impressionable and I'm afraid the impression Dwarves give their young concerning Elves is unpleasant. I promise I can keep him n line. Would you please release him?"
Thranduil frowned. "Are you aware, Lord, that you are in no position to be asking anything?"
Bilbo frowned. "Why ever not? I believed my nephew and I were rescued by friends."
"I am afraid there is no honor in the alliance between my kingdom and your husband's. We may be so inclined to honor that alliance were your husband of similar mind."
"Perhaps there is a reason that the alliance has little honor?"
Thranduil did not reply. "If you would like to send your husband a letter, assuring your safety and your nephew's, you may send it when the ransom note is ready."
"Ransom!" Bilbo exclaimed. "There is no need to fall to such a petty state!"
"Petty, indeed. However the share we are promised has not come for many years. So I ask again, what allegiance ought we give you, Consort under the Mountain?"
Bilbo bit his lip, trying to think of a solution. "If you insist on sending a ransom note, I will send a letter to Thorin with it. But after, I would like to see a copy of the original alliance that was drawn up."
Thranduil smirked. "I do not understand your interest. Most spouses to kings, especially those of Erebor, do not attempt to dabble in politics."
"Had I not dared, my people would not have an allied front against Azog, which," Bilbo smirked back, crossing his arms, "you just aided them in."
Thranduil chuckled. "Hostage or not, we may become good friends, Prince Bilbo."
"Likewise, King Thranduil."