Thanks for all the feed back on the last chapter!
Onwards with the next chapter!
p.s pls I'm sorry don't kill me; I have slightly have a bit to live for.
"My bag, my bag; where the bloody Hell is my God - damn bag?!" I stress as I ignore the fact that:
a) Gandalf just straight up saved our asses and popped the fuck out of nowhere
b) that the others have decided to fight and kill the Goblins to get out of here and
c) If I don't find my bag pretty soon I will have to leave without it and bye - bye to smooth legs, underarms and other parts. And also the fact I would probably have to use a leaf for when I'm on my period. Oh, Jesus, fuck no.
"Libby! Hurry up!" Kili shouts as he thrusts his sword into the face of a Goblin while he stands behind me and making sure that I don't do something stupid like die.
I wave my hand in the air as though to say 'whatever' as my heart chatters nervously in my chest - I'm on my hands and knees, moving through the legs of Dwarf and Goblin alike as my hands scratch desperately at the wooden platform for the feel of my trusty leather satchel.
"Patience is a virtue!" I holler back at Kili with my voice shaking. I can hear his mutter of 'Right now it isn't' but I ignore him as my hands wraps around something that I believe to be the strap of my bag. I let out a sigh of relief as I tug on it and I realise that is very much not my bag. The leathery and worn ankle of a Goblin is pulled from underneath him as a squeal that matches a pig's nearly bursts my eardrums.
"Sorry!" I yelp as I take my hand back and quickly crawl away from the fallen Goblin; I'm soon lost in the sea of gross creatures.
Have you ever had a rush of adrenaline so intense that it blocks almost everything? Like you can't even feel pain in your bones, your surroundings are just a blur and you can't make sense of it? It's like your mind is screaming at you, saying "Run! Run! Fuck everything and just fucking run"? That sort of sounds like Foster and the People. Or would it be in this case Foster and the Dwarves?
Anyway, that doesn't happen to me; my wrist that the Goblin had sprained - or more likely broke - is swollen purple and blue; my head feels like it is still being hacked away by the Goblin; my leg, holy shit, my leg feels like it is being skinned. The gash above my eyebrow was beginning to pulse and throb uncomfortably. But I force myself to ignore the pain (though it doesn't really work) as I continue to crawl on my sprained or broken wrist and injured leg whilst trying to find my bag.
I can hear the clangs of swords as fighting ensues around me; I dodge feet - Dwarf and icky Goblin feet alike. My heart feels like there is a horse stamping on my chest.
"He wields the foehammer!" Bob the Blog blubbers as he cowers against the floor as Gandalf quickly knocked another Goblin off. "The beater; bright as daylight!"
What is he on about? Honestly.
"Come on!" I growl as I move to where I had been standing when we first came here. I whip my head around and - cue the heavenly chorus of angels - there is my bag; safe, untouched and looks like it is about to topple over the edge. I quickly stumble to my feet and ignore the head rush that threatens to topple me over onto the wooden platform as I push my way through the crowd of fighting Goblins.
"Excuse me! Coming through!" I yell loudly as I push a small looking Goblin away from me; he trips over his own feet and slips over the edge, falling to his doom. I quickly gather my bag and slip the handle over my head, sighing in relief when the feel of the worn leather is against my skin.
Jesus H Christ, Libby, don't have an orgasm; it isn't the right time.
Turning around to face Kili, my face slips as I realise I can't see him anywhere; in fact, I don't see any of them. My heart jumps in my throat as I try to force my way through the crowd of Goblins. Oh God, what if I'm lost? My breathing begins to become labored and ragged as I whip around on the spot. Oh my God, this is exactly like losing your mom in a supermarket. Except there are Goblins. And instead of losing my mom, I lost a group of Dwarves. And we're not in a supermarket. And I could die. But other than that, it's still the same. Shaking my head and dispelling my thoughts, I begin to cower like the, well, coward I am.
"Kili?!" I cry out, feeling even more like a child than before as my eyes desperately search the sea of Goblins while trying not to get swallowed by them at the same time. I feel my body shrink until I'm the size of a small, bloody and blubbering child. "Kili?! Where are you?! I swear to fucking God Kili - !"
"Libby!" I snap my head so around so fast I think I nearly got whiplash; meeting the brown eyes of Kili as he slashes and hacks his way towards me I feel relief instantly replace the fear as I continue to watch him, anger clear in his face. Though at me or the situation, I have no idea. But lets be real, it's more likely that he's angry at me. A sigh of relief falls past my chapped lips as I begin to make my way towards him, pushing and shoving away the gross and sweaty bodies of the Goblins.
"Kili!" I yell again as I manage to keep my eyes on his. As I go to take another step, something wraps around my ankle and I fall to the ground, landing in a heap on the wooden platform. Gazing over my shoulder, I catch the sight of the same Goblin I toppled over scratching and pulling at my ankle. I let out a slight scream as I try to kick his hand away, my shoe landing in his face.
"Get off of me, you slimy git!" I cuss as I'm pulled down further, his small bony legs straddling me around the waist. I land a punch on its noise, a satisfying crunch echoing in my ears while the Goblin retorts with a slap across the cheek. The dagger! It's in my bag! I try reaching down for the bag around my hip, squirming and wiggling under the surprisingly heavy weight of the Goblin. I struggle with both fighting off the Goblin and trying to reach for the metal object that lies in the bottom of my satchel.
Quite suddenly, the Goblin stops fighting me as something pokes through its chest; the darkened point of a sword. I freeze with horror and disgust as the black blood flecks onto my face. The point of the sword withdraws and the rotting body of the now dead Goblin falls on top of me
"Oh, great! Fucking fan - fucking - tastic!" I groan as I push it off my chest, making a disgusted noise at the back of my throat as my hands are coated in its slime like black blood. Glimpsing up, I see Kili standing there, looking very pissed off. Without a word he bends down and pulls me to my feet. I almost topple on top of him, the blood rushing to my head, but Kili manages to make me hold my balance by gripping onto my forearms.
"I got - " I begin, about to gesture to my bag before he cuts me off.
"Lets go!" He yells over the sound of the screeching Goblins, slipping his hand into mine as he orders, "Run!"
Whoa, total deja vu; I'm feeling a Doctor Who moment!
I gather my wits as Kili slashes and hacks his way through the crowd of Goblins with one hand while holding onto mine until I catch sight of the other Dwarves doing the same. I try to keep my breathing steady but fail to do so; my mind is blank my sole focus on the tight, reassuring grip that I'm hanging onto. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, runs through my head in a string or curses soon follow.
I turn back, gazing over my shoulder through my eyelashes, to see Bob the Blob start towards Thorin, anger twisted in his repulsive face. I almost cry out in shock and fear as Bob the Blob swings his staff down in anger just in time as Thorin brings his sword up to meet it. Astonishingly, Thorin manages to stop the attack as Bob the Blob trips back over his own feet and his massive and obese body smashes into his own throne, soon falling over the edge of the platform and into the abyss.
Holy shit, I hope he dies.
"Follow me! Quick!" Gandalf barks over the sound of the fighting, gesturing in front of him as the wizard turns away from the hoard of Goblins; Kili and I pursue him, falling into a line with the others that had heard him.
When my feet skid slightly on the ground I'm forced to turn back with my breathing raw in my throat; I try keep my sweaty and grimy hand in Kili's large and equally as sweaty palm because it is the only thing keeping me up right while my legs keep up a steady rhythm.
Left, right, left, right, left, right.
I try to not pay attention whilst running to the fact that we are far from the sturdy wooden platform and now are on a small wooden bridge that totally breached the safety code; if you look over the edge, all you see is a dark abyss that looks like it never ends. Lets just hope I don't accidentally trip and die.
It's as though I don't even feel the fire in my legs as I pick up the speed so that I run beside Kili - who twirls his sword in his free hand and runs a steady pace while I have lost mine and it's just something like: left, left, right, third leg, right, left, hop, right - right.
Yeah, something like that.
I feel so exposed to the fact that I don't have anytime to reach into my bag and equip myself with a weapon. Talk about damsel in a hormone and fear induced distress. I wasn't named after a Disney Princess for nothing.
Kili and I quickly out run Gandalf, as he falls near to the back of the line to check if everyone is here. Dwalin takes lead, cutting and hacking at the Goblins in front of us, throwing them over the edge. I drop my eyes to the ground as the floor blurs past me; the only things I make out are my poor, battered and beaten converse shoes. There are holes through the black material and the leather has grown weak and thin. I am positive that the soles of the shoes can give away at any moment.
I smack into Kili's shoulder, scrunching my nose up as it squishes against him. Looking forward, I catch Dwalin pausing as a new group of Goblins head towards us, screeching and screaming as they wave their rusty swords in the air. Oh, shit, what now? My eyes dart from Dwalin to the Goblins before he answers my unspoken question. Dwalin swings his axe down on the wooden railing of the bridge, slashing the frayed rope.
Dwalin takes the long wooden railing under his arms and others follow him. I smack my forehead mentally as I let go of Kili's hand to grab the middle of the railing, Kili stepping in front of me and doing the same. Wait, what are we actually doing? Lost briefly in my thought I let out a silent yelp of surprise as I nearly trip over my feet while going side - ways.
Up ahead, Dwalin smacks the top of the railing into the side of the Goblins, sending them over the edge. I wince as I see one of the sordid creatures smash against the rock, the cracks of his ribs echoing across the cave before sliding into the darkness below. Well, shit.
As I drop the railing at the same time as the others, the ache and tiredness starts to wriggle itself in. It is complete torture and agony to keep up with the group. I swear if that just keep swimming thing gets stuck in my head I am going to fucking be cooking Nemo instead.
Pushing my homicidal thoughts about fish away, I watch as Gandalf himself races past me and up to the front, stabbing anything and everything that isn't Goblin, Wizard, human, or Hob -
Where's Bilbo?
Where bloody fuck in the name of all the fucking saints and the Virgin Mary is that motherfucking, Goddamn Hobbit?
"Kili! Where's Bilbo?!"
Well.
It doesn't really sound like that; more so: "Kill - hear - bib?!"
I must say I am surprised at how the boys are not just flocking to me with all my Lady etiquette -ness. My mouth is as dry as the Sahara desert so my voice barely comes over a rasp whisper and the air is rough and tears at my throat. The crowd of Goblins become too thick, swarming in around us like flies. I pull my bag over my head, not really bothering to spend a few precious moments searching for the only weapon I have. Swinging the bag with expertise, I slam it into a Goblins head, wincing as I watch it fall off the bridge.
"Sorry!" I yell after it, turning around just in time to see another one of the repulsive creatures running towards me with its arms raised over its head and its hands clutching a sword. Instead of hitting it with my bag, I step aside from where I stood; sticking my foot out, I watch the Goblin trip as its sword clatters to the ground.
Picking up the sword, I try to stay with the group, being stuck between Bofur and Nori as Kili had raced ahead and left me here.
I'm not going to get all bitchy and whiny now because, honestly, its a life and death situation and I bet he's just wanting to save his own ass. Yep. Totally. That's it. I am not being bitchy and whiny nor do I totally sound like a clingy girlfriend. Or friend. Or girl who is a friend who has some seriously questionable feelings for him.
Oh, God, Libby shut up! Life and death situation! Remember?
Turning, around with the sword in my sweaty hand, I feel my face drop as I catch sight of about twenty or more so Goblins hanging onto ropes. Total Pirates of The Caribbean moment here. Shaking my head, I clutch the handle in both of my shaking hands while I try to ignore my shallow breathing and my heart in my throat.
"Cut the ropes!" I hear Thorin's commanding voice bellow through the caves. I stop and splutter, eyes wide as I stare at him thinking he has gone around the bend.
"You fucking what, mate?!" I screech back as Bofur and Nori do as he commands and slash through the very thick ropes.
I gaze with fascination and fear as I expect the whole bridge above us to fall and crush us to death. For a brief moment it stands still before the entire thing starts to creak and crack, sounding much like the branches of an old tree in the wind, before it does begin to fall but away from us and the ropes of the swinging Goblins twirl around it; the dreams of my childhood about swinging entirely around the swing - set come to surface before I shake my head, focusing on the dire situation and slash a Goblin across the chest.
I manage to stick with Bofur - keeping an eye on his flappy eared hat, as I stab a Goblin in the tummy; I scrunch my nose us as its blood spits onto my face, flecking on my cheeks and forehead like morbid freckles. Taking the blade back I turn around just in time as an arrow whizzes past my face by a fucking millimeter.
I swear my life flashed before my eyes (that's been happening a lot lately I've noticed) as my hand jumps to my erratically beating heart with my breath catching in my throat. God, what have I ever done to you? I've been a good Christian. Well, mostly. I've sometimes gone to church and I know at least one prayer. Just what have I done to -
I stop mid thought as another arrow flies past my ear and I screech. Telling myself to remember my rant to God, I quickly trip over my two left feet to stand behind - lo and behold; if it isn't the man himself, or Dwarf himself - Kili. I stare with sheer wonder as he blocks the motherfucking arrows with his Goddamn mother fucking sword. Fucking Hell, I can't even put a sock on in the morning without somehow falling over.
"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh holy motherfucking shit and all the fucking saints the God above with the Lord Jesus our Savior," I whimper as I duck another arrow.
"We're not going to die," Kili promises, as he turns to me briefly; I meet his eyes as I hold the sword in one hand and the strap of my bag in the other. I shake my head while Kili turns away, his eyes searching for something. I furrow my eyebrows together as he picks up a ladder and holds it up.
"Kili, what are you - ?"
An arrow hits a step of the ladder, the thunk! all but ringing in my ears. I stare at it with wide eyes before another arrow hits the step above. I step behind Kili as I begin to question the law of physics and even logic. Bifur, Bofur and Bombur stand behind us, taking the end of the ladder; I follow their lead, standing behind Kili as they begin to race towards the group of Goblins.
"Uh, guys, should we be running away from - ?!"
The heads of the Goblins fall into the spaces between the steps of the ladders, scratching at the wood and hissing at us. Wow; these creatures really are stupid. Shrugging and deciding to just go with everything from now on, we manage to push all of the Goblins off the bridge before they drop the ladder onto an open space where, on the other side, Dwalin is waiting.
"Wait, what the fuck - ?"
So much for rolling with everything.
I'm cut short when Kili takes me by the arms and actually fucking runs across the ladder, not even caring or thinking about the fact that it may not have been able to hold his wait or that it was so old and weak that it could have splintered into a million tiny pieces and he could have died. Nope, instead he just grabbed my arm and made me run across the damn thing.
Letting out a squeak, I stare down at my feet as I try not to slip or misstep in case I, y'know, die. That also has been happening a lot lately along with the life flashing before my eyes thing.
"Kili, you're fucking mental!" I squawk as I hear a short laugh from him as we safely pass onto the other side of the little gap. Okay, yeah, it worked and we didn't fall to our deaths, but fucking Hell, stop and think about things before you do them. Especially if you could kick the bucket.
"I like to disagree!" Kili retorts; I smile slightly, forgetting the fact that I have my own blood and Goblin blood on me, the fact that a knife or an arrow can make its way into my chest at any given moment and that I peed my pants an hour earlier.
Actually I've just remembered that and now I feel so embarrassed. Shit. A spurt of adrenaline pushes through my body and I run with new found speed, keeping up with Kili. Up ahead, I glimpse Gandalf abruptly stopping and, as I go to turn around, I catch sight of Kili slashing the rope of the bridge off. My mouth drops open as my body is surged forward and I nearly fall sideways; an arm wraps around my bicep to catch me just in time, making me look up to see Kili pulling me to my feet and running towards the edge.
"Ah, Hell no! Fucking no! You fucking cannot fucking make me fucking - "
I don't finish my sentence as I'm practically pushed forward without so much a word from the Dwarf and I land onto the bridge, the impact stinging my feet. Kili lands next to me, passing me a tiny sly and quick smile as I glare at him.
"I will skin you alive if you ever do that again," I threaten through gritted teeth and a clenched jaw before forcing my legs to start running with Balin and Bofur. All I really right now is to just go home and lie in bed with a cop of hot chocolate and my laptop and watching Game Of Thrones, is that too much to ask? Well, apparently, it fucking is.
A string of rasp curse words escape my mouth as I continue to run, trying to not think about the burn that's beginning to spread in my legs. I swing my bag into the stomach of a rather small Goblin and, as it doubles over, I thrust the sword into the skull of it trying to pay no heed to the sickening crunch that follows. With a forceful pull, I place my foot on the Goblin's chest and heave the blade just in time as it slides out of the Goblin's head, slick with black blood.
I wince as a sudden flash of bright light fills the cave and my jaw slackens as Gandalf cuts a boulder from the ceiling and it begins to roll along the ground.
"This isn't Indiana Jones!" I say, though quite giddy at the image. But instead of running away, the Dwarves and I run behind it as many Goblins are squished like jelly underneath the great big lump of rock. Humming the Indiana Jones theme tune under my breath, I swing my sword again to decapitate a Goblin. What a morbid thing to say; maybe I should stop trying to make things so light. Ah, well, too late anyway.
With the round boulder - our only shield - falling off the edge, I put my bag around my neck so that it rests in front of my stomach. Very pathetic "armor" I must comment. All I really remember is slashing and hacking my way through the Goblins; feeling their blood spray on my face, disregarding the knots of repulsion of my actions that continue to tighten in my stomach.
The words "don't vomit" chant in my head as I stab another Goblin in the stomach. My chest is tight as my legs begin to turn to jelly; the over work of my body is taking its toll as my head starts to feel light. As we make our way across a seemingly perfect, safe bridge, boom, guess who reappears from the mother fucking dead?
Jesus Christ, what is it with people who have supposed to die to reappear and not actually be dead? Like, Christ, guys, not every one can be Captain Jack Harkness. Mostly because no one can be that good looking. Sorry off track.
I skid to a stop, breathing deeply as I groan. "Are you fucking kidding me? Are you seriously actually fucking kidding me?! Fucking really?! He fucking has to be alive?! Jesus fucking Christ I am 100% just done with - "
A hand clamps over my mouth during the middle of my rant and I feel a breath on my neck. "Quiet, Libby," Kili whispers as he brings me close to him. Oh, sweet mother of God, I need to fan myself.
During my melting - into - goo moment, the voice of Bob the Blob cracks the perfect moment.
"You thought," Bob the Blob begins sounding very smug as he smiles down at Gandalf, "you could escape me?"
Well, yes, actually; I mean we were doing very well until you decided to crash the party. Alas, I'm stuck to internal running commentary as Kili has his hand clamped onto my mouth. Kinky; nice. With my giggle muffled, I'm forced to watch as Bob the Blob takes a swing at Gandalf, who expertly dodges but falls back, put to his feet again by the Dwarves up front.
"What are you going to now?!" Bob the Blob taunts, staring at him with a stink eye. Or he's probably just looking at him; that's probably just his face naturally. "Wizard?"
Why does everyone have to say the name of people like that? Dwarf, Elf, Wizard, Goblin; in the end, it's really weird.
Gandalf pauses for a moment, staring at Bob the Blob with an almost thoughtful expression; quite suddenly he stands up and jams his fucking staff into Bob the Blobs eye. Damn; Gandalf is one bad ass Wizard. Bob the Blob lets out a wail of pain, his hand flying to his eye. Gandalf takes the opportunity of the great big fat Goblin being distracted and slashes Bob the Blob across the stomach. My 'holy shit' is muffled by Kili's hand - not that I'm complaining. I'll gladly take any opportunity to -
Um, moving on.
Everything is silent for what seems like eons as Bob the Blob tilts his head slightly looking quite impressed as he gives his head a little nod before uttering, "That'll do it."
Now those are some very fine last words ladies and gentlemen.
Gandalf looks on the Goblin for a few seconds before he delivers the final blow - his swords slits Bob the Blobs neck and the Goblin lets out a little gurgle before his obese body topples over on the bridge. Everything is still for a moment - my heart is pumping wildly in my chest, I can feel Kili's breath on the back of my neck and an itch begins to grow over my, er, crotch area that I dare not to even go near so I'm reduced to casually trying rub the palm of my heel against the itch.
The the ground beneath us gives away and Kili removes his hand.
I let out a short and sharp scream as the bridge slides against the rock wall, the wood splintering away. My arms wrap around Kili as I continue to yell and force myself not to throw up. Everything is demolished beneath us - bridges, platforms, you name it.
"THIS IS BULL - FUCKING - SHIT!" I cuss as I squeeze onto Kili tighter; the air begins to sting my eyes as I stare down below, watching as the ground begins to creep up towards us. Okay, now we're dead for sure. The ends of the bridge smash away as it tries to fit in the small gap of the two walls. Everything pauses for a split second before there's another jolt and the entire thing collapses on itself
I feel boards of wood bruising my body as they continue to fall, constricting my chest as stare up ahead. "That - was - so - much - fun!" I wheeze sarcastically before shortly followed by a groan as I roll over slightly, trying to wriggle my way out. Kili moans, his hand flying to his head as a plank of wood falls on top of his head. Ha.
"You alright there, mate?" I smile weakly as his answer is, and I quote "Urgh". The gentleman, honestly.
"Well," I hear Bofur pipe up, sounding way too cheerful after what just happened. "That could have been worse."
My eyes widen as I begin to stutter. "No! Don't jinx it!"
However, my words are too late as quite suddenly, the great, obese body of the very recently deceased Bob the Blob falls on top of the bridge, smushing us all to practically jelly. I let out a heave, glaring pointedly at Bofur, as I choke out "told - you" as Dwalin spits "you've got to be joking" in a non - too pleased voice. I hear you, buddy.
I wriggle myself out of the dust and debris, disregarding the little pieces that sneak their way into my pants as I lay down on the cold and wet stone floor of the cave, taking in the bliss to resting. That's when I hear it; it's like the pitter patter march of a thousand angry babies. As I go to open my mouth to inform them Kili shouts out, "Gandalf!"
Turning my body around, my eyes widen as I watch as an fucking army of very angry Goblins run towards us, waving their swords in the air. I let out a groan as the others around me quickly get to their feet.
"There's too many!" Dwalin cries, staring at Gandalf helplessly. "We can't fight them off!"
"Only one thing can save us now!" Gandalf replies, leaving a dramatic pause before continuing. "Daylight!"
I let out a moan as I try to savor each moment of lying down. "One moment!" I nearly sob. "One moment is all I'm asking for!" I curse as Kili wiggles out from his places and takes my hand to pull me to my feet.
"You can have your moment later but for now, run!"
I swear the next person to tell me to run is going to get their head shoved up their own fucking ass.
But instead of following through with my threat I do run, quite pathetically though. It's like my body just can't handle the pressure I'm putting on it and I'm pretty sure I'm going to pass out from exhaustion any moment now. It's times like these that I really wish I hadn't come on this stupid quest. I try to keep up as we race through the cave, twisting and turning and trying not to smack right into a wall.
"Please - let - pain - over!" I gasp to Kili, not being able to form complete sentences. I probably shouldn't talk since I barely have enough energy to even breath. I see Kili's mouth twitch but he doesn't answer me since he's smart enough to not waste his breath. As we turned another corner I spot it: a stream of light. My eyes widen and for the first time hope swells in my chest. Or that could be just my heart exploding since it's beating so much.
I wince as my eyes meet the very bright sun; having been in the darkness of the caves for so long and not seeing the sun had my eyes all but burn in the brightness. All around us there are pine trees; the smell of the forest attacks my nose, making me breath in the magnificently scented air like it was Air wick. The sun if a deep orange colour, showing us that it is setting as it begins to dip lower and lower in the sky.
The grass is slightly wet, my converse turning even darker as my feet pad against the soft soil.
Finally, the group begin to slow down; my legs - that are practically jelly now - wobble unsteadily to a walk as I lean against Kili' body, breathing deeply and nearly toppling over. "I - am - never - running - again," I inform him, my head bobbing off as I feel his arm go around me, steadying my body. His chest rumbles, obviously very amused at the fact I am in so much pain. If I have the will power and strength to hit him, I would.
"Libby, Fili, Kili! That's thirteen! And Bombur! That makes fourteen," I hear Gandalf mutter his breath; I nod sleepily when he had said my name, putting my hand up to point out that, yes, I am here indeed. My arm flops on my side as I pull myself to a stop.
"Need - sit," I say weakly, letting my legs give away as I plop down on a very large rock. Dismissing the pain in my butt, my legs sing in joy at being allowed to rest as I lean forward, resting my head in my hands. "I have never been through so much torture in my life - the running I mean; that was by far the worst," I groan, taking one of my hands away to let my cheek rest against the other palm to stare up at Fili and Kili - who both look far too amused for my sake.
Well, did.
As soon as I finished the sentence their bemused expressions turned to ones of sourness and disdain and even pity. I can barely hear another one of Thorin's rants about Bilbo. If I wasn't so lazy now I would probably just do nothing like the coward I am and make snide comments about him under my breath and internally. I sit up, my eyes flitting between the two of them. "What? What did I do now?"
It is Fili who speaks first. "Libby . . . what happened back there," Fili says softly, too softly for him, "with the Goblin King . . ."
The Goblin King? What a stupid name; Bob the Blob is so much better. "Yeah? What about it?" I reply, raising my eyebrows in curiosity. Fili's bright blue eyes flicker to my hair and I feel my heart sink. I tentatively reach a hand up to see the damage that has been done. It is uneven; the ends of my hair prickle at my neck uncomfortably as many strands are caked with much and blood. Altogether, it reaches my shoulders but many of the "layers" are cut close to the scalp and I swear I can feel a small bald spot.
I try to swallow the lump in my throat as I look at the two brothers, giving them a forced smile along with an airy laugh, shakingly getting to my knees as an uneasiness begins to spread. "Ha, you know what they say: you say an inch and they take off ten! Or something like that; though he probably shouldn't go into the hairdressing business. But, hey, I mean it isn't that big of a deal. It's - it's just hair, right?" My voice rises in worry near the end, as the lump nestles its way in the base of my throat and my eyes flicker down briefly.
The two of them stare down at me with pity clear in their concerned eyes. I don't know why but it unsettles and irks me, causing me to shift my weight slightly from one leg to the other; I drag my eyes up to meet them, scowling slightly. "Don't do that," I groan, as I stand up straight, hissing quietly and ignoring the sharp stabs of pain in my legs.
"Do what?" Fili and Kili chime together while trying to act all nonchalant.
I start wiggling my fingers towards the two of them, jutting out my hand. "That stupid weird sibling thing where you somehow have this weird secret agreement - like, how would you like it if I had a sister and we started commenting on how tacky you look."
"What is 'tacky'?" Kili asks, screwing his face up at the strange word. I try to swallow my laughter as I hear his accent - something between an Irish and an English accent - tweaks the word oddly. I roll my eyes, giving them both a shrug and a smirk.
"Oh, nevermind," I say slyly before I turn my eyes back to the group, watching the others as they all pass little glances to each other; feeling sort out of the mix, I begin to frown, gazing up at a scowling Fili and Kili. "What just - ?" A movement behind a tree next to Balin catches my eye and instantly my eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "Hey, is that Bilbo?"
At the very moment I spoke, Bilbo steps out from behind a tree for everyone to turn around with his eyes frequently flickering to Thorin - who is currently looking quite shocked and gob - smacked might I say - as though he had heard the Dwarf's big speech about how Bilbo abandoned us and blah blah blah; I wasn't listening honestly.
"No," Bilbo quipped as his arms swing awkwardly by his side. "He isn't; long gone that is."
The others begin to chuckle lightly - though it is out of nervousness and I can hear how their voices shake. I, myself, let out a breathe of relief and lean back against a tree. "Bilbo! Good to see you, mate! Great timing, by the way," I breathe airily while my shoulder rests against the bark of the rough tree. What I wouldn't give for a cigarette at this moment. . .
Gandalf steps forward with his staff thunking against the stone ground, chuckling deeply as he does so. "Bilbo Baggins!" he exclaims. "I have never been so glad to see you in all my life!" And how long is that?
Shut up, Libby; it's supposed to be an emotional greeting thing now. We're so supposed to be happy he isn't dead.
Bilbo nods his head sideways with a grin on his face as he goes to walk towards the Wizard; the Hobbit quickly pats Balin on the shoulder. I notice that Bilbo looks to be out of breathe, a sheen of sweat glitters on his forehead as he breathes deeply through his lips. My eyes narrow slightly and I go to open my mouth, to ask where he has been when Kili cuts me off.
"Bilbo!" Kili says, breathless and his voice hoarse. "We'd given you up!" Well, I didn't actually so, yeah.
"How on Earth did you get past the Goblins?" Fili questions, quite surprised yet genuinely interested while cocking his head to the side. I nod enthusiastically to his question while turning my gaze back towards the Hobbit - who is looking quite uncomfortable in being in the spotlight.
I see Bilbo tense up at the question, flexing his fingers while his eyes are trained on Fili, occasionally flickering from one Dwarf to the next. My eyebrows begin to furrow together as the Hobbit stays quiet and a troubled looks casts over his face. Bilbo quickly laughs, though it sounds more forced and nervous. He pulls back the flaps of his red velvet coat, casually slipping his hands into the pockets of his waist coat.
"What does it matter?" Gandalf stresses quickly, staring at the Hobbit with narrowed and suspicious eyes. "He's back!"
"It matters," insists Thorin, staring at Bilbo from the corner of his eyes. "I want to know: why did you come back?"
Pretty good question, Bilbo, since Thorin's been treating you like shit and this quest has been a complete puddle of piss on shit. Now that's an image to get in your mind.
Bilbo stares at the Dwarf that spoke, his hands being clenched and unclenched at his side as Bilbo continues to stare at Thorin before a long sigh bleeds past his lips. "Look, I - I know you doubt me; I know you always have. You're right," Bilbo admits as his eyes flicker to everyone in the group. My face softens as I stare at the uncomfortable Hobbit who looks over - whelmed. "I often think of Bag End; I miss my books; and my armchair and my garden. See, that's where I belong. That's home." Wait, is he trying to reassure us or is he rubbing in the fact he has a home in our face? "That's why I came back: because you don't have one; a home. It was taken from you - all of you." This, um, this isn't really sounding good, Bilbo. "But I will help you take it back if I can."
Oh.
That was a lot more sweet than I expected.
I feel a couple of tears gather in my eyes at the heart warming speech; I can't help but feel he's right. None of us have a home. Not even me. Not anymore. I quickly look around the group, feeling more related to them than I ever had before. Just like theirs, my home was cruelly snatched away from me. Though, I didn't loose, like, a shit pile of gold and it wasn't because of a dragon.
"Goddammit, that was the most beautiful and sickly sweet thing I have ever heard. I think I have a cavity now," I comment under my breathe while sniffling very loudly. I bring the sleeve of the knitted jumper up around my hand and I blow into it, making a very big scene.
"I never took you for the crying emotional kind," a soft voice speaks. I glance sideways, a sad frown on my face, as I meet the soft yet bemused brown eyes of Kili. I wave my hand in the air, dismissing the comment.
"Nonsense," I breathe, my voice slightly nasally due to my nose being somewhat blocked. "It's what girls do, right? Being emotional sacks of girlyness." I wipe my nose with my sleeve, sniffing loudly as I sigh through my mouth.
"I would not know," Kili laughs lightly, despite the mood of the situation. "I would have to take your word for it."
I let out a sort spurt of laughter; our eyes meet as a smile stretches across his face. My breathing gets caught and I feel my heart lurch in my throat as we stare at each other. I can feel my heart rate increase as my palms start to become slick. Jesus Christ, what's wrong with me?
At that very moment, a very loud howl shatters through the air causing everyone to snap their heads up and their faces drop. Weapons are drawn or raised with eyes bright and alert. I begin to groan internally as I shoulder my bag. Thorin passes a sideways glance to Gandalf.
"Out of the frying pan," Thorin utters darkly.
"And into the fire," Gandalf nods solemnly, his face grave.
"Oh that's just great," I spit sarcastically. "Now I'm tired and hungry."
Oh.
Well, hey there.
It's been, what, nearly a month?
First off: I really wanted to finish watching Game of Thrones. And reread the Lord Of The Rings. And finish Pushing Daisies. And Being Human. And rewatch the entire three seasons of Sherlock.
Second: I'm a lazy ass procrastinator.
Third: that's it. I have no other excuse.
Well, I do actually: I just really didn't want to write this chapter because it's positively boring and I tried to fit in all the humor I could into it. I'm the worst writer ever, honestly. I'm also not looking forward to writing the next chapter so it'll probably be two months or maybe a month until the next upload.
So, yeah, sorry.
I've also been blogging a lot (psst! My blog is in my profile!)
Also, someone asked about Libby's hair; well, think Dianna Agron but a little bit short with a lot of, well, "layers".
Also, who went to Comic Con this year? Because I fucking didn't.
So, yeah, here's my pathetic excuse for a chapter. Enjoy?
Please, please, please, please review, follow and favourite! I may update a bit earlier if I get an amount of review/follows/favourites!
-tateslangdon