"Wake up! Wake up sleepys!"

Kili groaned.

They had stopped to rest for the night in a small crevice of rocks by a dead forest. At least it looked mostly dead, the greenery had faded quickly as Gollum started leading them back toward the walls of Mordor. Gollum continued to call and shake each of the Dwarves awake, save Bilbo who by the looks of it, had never been to sleep to begin with.

"Have you not slept?" Thorin asked worriedly, Bilbo just shook his head minutely and got to his feet.

His youngest brother sadly surveyed their surroundings.

"The days are growing darker." He noted, nodding at the grey skies as the ground rumbled and yet another peak of molten fire burst on the horizon.

"Come! Come we must go!" Gollum urged, "No time! No time!"

"At least let us eat you wretch." Thorin grumbled, taking out another piece of lembas bread, a substance Kili had begun to loath.

"Here." Fili offered Bilbo some of his, which the younger brother took but barely nibbled before returning it.

"You need to eat more." Thorin insisted, "How are you to keep your strength up if you don't eat or sleep?"

Bilbo muttered an apology but still didn't eat any more.

Kili sighed and began to pack away the food when his eyes rested on his brothers feet. Bilbo had only ever worn shoes half the time, now he was barefoot and he couldn't help but recoil at the filth that covered them.

"Bili, your feet are cut." He spoke, pointing out the many dirt filled scratches, "Didn't you notice? You have bandages in your bag don't you?"

Bilbo blinked, it seemed he hadn't noticed at all.

"It'll be fine." He protested when Fili moved to tend to them, "Let's just go. There is very little day light to travel by anymore, we should use what we have."

-oOo-

Bilbo remained sullen and quiet as they walked, days went by and he still barely spoke. Thorin had tried to get him to fill in the blanks, tell them what he had been through in the months they'd been separated but it never worked. He always said "Traveling" or "There is nothing to tell", Thorin lost hope of ever learning what Bilbo had been through.

Gollum had lead them to a small crack in the Black Mountain's side, leading them down into the heart of the mountain. Usually, Thorin was calmed by the presence of stone, particularly mountain stone but this dark place held no comfort for him. He simply walked on, they had to rely on Gollum's night vision for most of the travel, holding onto one another capes so they didn't get lost. Finally, they were out again, in cold night air at the edge of the cliffs leading into the depths of Mordor.

A huge, ghostly structure seemed to glow in the mountain side making all of the Durin's stop and stare.

"The city..." Gollum hissed, "The last place full of enemies...we must go now, while the gates are closed..."

With that, the horrid creature clambered up onto the walk way and waved for them to follow. Hissing at them to cross quickly to the other side where more black stone waited for them. Thorin could just make out some crude stairs cutting upwards into the mountain side, their secret entrance he guessed.

"Go." He whispered to his son and nephews, helping them up and following.

Bilbo paused in the middle of the road, staring up at the statues that guarded the gate with a look of concern and fear. Gently, Thorin placed a hand on his shoulder and guided him back to where the others were waiting.

"We can't let whoever is in there see us, come on now."

"They're calling me..." Bilbo muttered, almost in a trance like state, moving to take a step forward only to be pulled back by Thorin.

"Never mind that now!" He ordered sternly, doing his best to stay quiet and drive Bilbo away from the ghastly place, "Move, quickly."

Bilbo blinked and turned to look up at his father before nodding and following him back toward the stairs. They had almost joined the others when a great rumble shook the earth, making Thorin stumble. A high screech emitted from the ghostly castles doors as the ground beneath them continued to shake, sending all save Gollum, who was already on all fours, to the ground. Bilbo and Thorin managed to crawl behind the large boulder where Fili, Kili and Gollum were hiding when the gate opened.

A beam of blue light fired into the sky, spreading the clouds. Obviously it was a sort of symbol, but for what, the King had no clue.

Out marched a grim army of orcs, all holding weapons high above their heads as they followed the stone road. Nothing could be heard over the rhythmic thumps of marching feet, until a great shriek cried out. The noise was so loud they all covered their ears but it did little good. Carefully Thorin peaked over the stone to find the source of the noise. It was a Black Rider, atop a dragon like serpent which was perched over the gate.

Bilbo winced, sliding down the rock and curling up on the ground with a hand resting over his injured shoulder.

"I thought they healed him!" Kili whispered frantically.

"Shhh, we must remain hidden!" Thorin chastised him quietly, doing his best to sooth Bilbo at the same time.

"I can feel his blade..." The Hobbit whimpered.

Thorin gripped Bilbo's good shoulder gently to show his support. As he did so he felt the imprint of the chain that hung the Ring around Bilbo's neck. Without even touching the Ring he could feel it's call softly. The King immediately shifted his hand and forced up all the worst memories of his actions after the Arkenstone, which effectively removed all temptation. Still, Bilbo looked up at him warily, could he some how sense that the Ring had tempted him for that brief moment?

-oOo-

Climbing the cliff face was horrid and exhausting. They were only stairs in the loosest sense, in some places a misstep could send somebody hurtling to the bottom to be smashed against the stones below. The only member of the group who seemed remotely happy was Gollum, who was singing another of his mad songs.

"Up up up up! Up the stairs we go!" He hummed to himself.

"Shut up!" Fili snapped, Bilbo gave him a look.

"Let him be, he's mad." Bilbo argued, "Don't give him such a hard time."

"Master is kind, yes he is." Gollum grinned, clambering up ahead, "Come ons master!"

They continued to climb, Bilbo was just behind Gollum when he heard the sound of cracking stone and a short cry from Fili. He turned just in time to see the Dwarf latch himself onto a new hand hold and dangle perilously for a few moments before Thorin grabbed his wrist and pulled him up.

Finally, they reached a small outcrop, just big enough for a rest. Bilbo immediately flopped down and laid himself against the cool stones, breathing heavily.

"Master carries a heavy burden..." Gollum said gently, patting Bilbo on the back. Usually Bilbo would have told him to leave him alone but right now he was too tired.

"Gollum knows..." He continued to hush as Bilbo managed to pull himself onto his elbows, "Gollum will look after Master."

Slowly, the Dwarves followed them up, helping one another up onto the outcrop.

"They wants it..." Gollum hissed, "Gollum sees it in their eyes, they wants it, they will takes it!"

Bilbo gripped at the Ring out of habbit. That was what he had worried about, Thorin had fallen for the Arkenstone, Fili and Kili had even lapsed into Gold Madness once. And that was nothing compared to the draw of the Ring.

Bilbo couldn't trust them.

And he hated it.

Hey my updates are coming faster now :) Hurray! Be sure to tell me your thoughts!