Disclaimer: I don't anything except for Lili, Leo and anything else you don't recognize from the book or films.

Thank you so much to everyone who favourited/followed and reviewed this story, I can't believe the response.
Also thank you to every one who offered an opinion on my Fili/Lili or Thorin/Lili dilemma, that was much appreciated!

Here's the next chapter for you, I actually found this really difficult to write and struggled a little with flow.

Hopefully you'll enjoy it and as usual please let me know your thoughts and whether anything needs adjusting.

Enjoy

xxx

Chapter 20.

Balin continued to cast him a disapproving look, as he moved across the cave to stand with him.
"We were to wait in the mountains until Gandalf joins us," Balin murmured, "that was the plan."
With a sharp sigh, Thorin fought the urge not to snap at his oldest friend and advisor, "plans change," he paused and looked over Balin's head to regard Bofur, who'd just finished setting out his bed roll. "Bofur, take the first watch."
Ignoring Balin's disappointed scowl, Thorin moved to settle down near the far wall, folding his arms across his chest to help combat the damp chill.
Across the small cave, he was acutely aware of his nephews as they positioned themselves on either side of Lili, in their usual sleeping arrangement.
Lili was wriggling down into her blanket, her features drawn and pale, rich ebony hair tumbling around her in loose windswept, damp curls. Despite her exhausted and disheveled appearance, Thorin found himself unable to look away, she was captivating.
Durin help him.

Lili jolted awake, surprised she even managed to sleep despite her tiredness, the faint discomfort of damp clothes and the bruises and scraps forming from the stone giant's battle, dogged her still aching limbs.
Lying perfectly still her foggy mind tried to discern what had woken her, beside her Kili slept on undisturbed and at her back Fili snored gently.
The soft shuffle made her tense, rats? The thought made her cringe and she carefully sat up.
Bilbo froze, his eyes widening as they locked on her, guilt rippled over his features as he adjusted the strap of his pack and flexed his small hand around his walking stick.
Realization had Lili carefully getting to her feet and immediately moving towards him, "Bilbo, no," she whispered softly, tiptoeing over the sleeping forms of Oin and Nori.
At the entrance of the cave, Bofur moved away from the crevice he'd been seated in and fixed them a confused look. "What's going on?" he murmured, glancing between the two of them.
Lili shook her head, "I think Bilbo's trying to leave." She admitted, giving Bilbo her best disapproving glare.
Bofur looked aghast at the Hobbit, "Where do you think you're going?" He whispered sharply, glancing carefully around the camp to make sure they hadn't disturbed the others.
Shifting on his feet, Bilbo sighed heavily, "I'm going back to Rivendell."
Lili took a step closer to the entrance and folded her arms over her chest.
"No," Bofur whispered with a hiss, "No you can't leave now, you're part of the company," he continued his dark eyes gleaming as he tugged on the flaps of his hat, "You're one of us."
Lili nodded in silent agreement.
Bilbo hesitated, his lips pursing, "I'm not though, am I? Thorin said I should never have come, and he was right. I'm not a Took, I'm a Baggins. I don't know what I was thinking. I should never have run out my door."
At Bilbo's words Lili immediately felt her earlier anger at Thorin return, "Thorin shouldn't have said those things," she told her hobbit companion, "He had no right."
Bilbo smiled softly and squeezed her hand, "Yes he did, Lili. We both know he's right, I appreciate your friendship and your kindness I truly do."
"You're homesick," Bofur continued, quietly, "I understand."
"No you don't," Bilbo snapped in a half whisper. "None of you do, except possibly Lili. You're dwarves, you're used to… to this life, a life on the road, never settling in one place, not belonging anywhere."
Lili flinched at his choice of words, he did know why they were on this quest, didn't he?
Risking a glance at Bofur, Lili realized he looked offended and she nearly reached out a comforting hand.
To her relief Bilbo was aware of his slip and looked apologetically at their dwarven friend, "I'm sorry, I didn't…"
With a shake of his head, Bofur dismissed Bilbo's earlier words and his attempt at an apology, "No, no you're right, we don't belong anywhere," he admitted with a small wistful smile, "I wish you all the luck in the world, I really do." He clapped Bilbo warmly on the shoulder and offered a brighter smile.

Lili felt her throat tighten sharply with sudden tears, "I don't want you to go," she admitted thickly, wrapping her arms around Bilbo in tight hug.
"You could come with me," Bilbo offered, as he pulled back slightly, "But I think there's more to keep you here than there is for me," he smiled at her with a nod, glancing over his shoulder to where Fili and Kili slept.
Returning a watery smile, Lili followed his line of sight and then found her gaze pulled to the solitary, sleeping figure of Thorin. Flicking her gaze back to Bilbo she steeled herself and smiled at him, "Take care, Bilbo."
He nodded, squeezing her hands, "You're welcome at Bag End anytime, once you've completed your business with the company and your Mother, I'd like it very much if you came for a visit."
Lili felt her smile brighten and she nodded, "I'd like that too."
Moving away from the mouth of the cave, so Bilbo could leave, she offered him another smile and made to stand beside Bofur.
Before Bilbo has taken a single step forward, Bofur pointed to Bilbo's small knife, "What's that?"
Lili felt her insides still and unexpected fear began to prickle up her spine.
"Oh no, Gandalf said my knife would glow blue when orcs were near," Bilbo explained and then frantically began to look around the cave.
"Thorin," Lili called, turning to step towards where Fili and Kili still slumbered, just as a low rumbling groan sounded.
Instantly Thorin was sitting up, "Wake up. Wake up" He ordered, just as Lili felt the floor beneath her feet give way.

Thorin lay perfectly still as he listened to the soft, muffled footfalls and then the half whispered conversation between, Bofur, Lili and Bilbo.
He felt an unexpected twinge of guilt at the Halfling's observation that he'd been right, a sensation that grew when he listened to Lili's teary admittance, "I don't want you to go."
Lying in the dank, cold cave, Thorin began to wonder if his words had been too harsh. He may have spoken the truth, but perhaps he had let his emotions run too close to the surface and he should've considered his words more carefully.
"You could come with me."
Thorin tensed as he waited for Lili's response, part of him recoiled at the thought she might leave with the Halfling and the other part almost willed her too.
Bilbo's voice continued to reach him in a hushed whisper, "but I think there's more to keep you here than there is for me."
A tiny smile tugged at his mouth and then he allowed his muscles to uncoil and relax as he half listened to the trio's farewells.
Shutting his eyes he forced himself not to dwell of the small flush of relief that rippled through his body.
Lili was staying with the company.
While he realized it was risky having her with them, she had an uncanny ability to adapt and he didn't doubt she'd continue to do so. He and the others would continue her training; make sure she could defend herself if they couldn't.
Master Baggins would be safer if he returned home, regardless of what Gandalf had told them, the Hobbit was not a warrior and most certainly was not a burglar, other than his cooking skills, the Halfling wasn't likely to be missed.
A low rumbling groan sounded beneath him, instantly his eyes snapped open in alarm.
"Thorin," Lili called, her wide green eyes locked on him as she moved towards his nephews.
Sitting up he grabbed his sword, "wake up. Wake up!" He demanded, his stern bark rousing the sleeping camp, just as the cave floor gave way and they tumbled into the dark.

One moment Lili was standing in the cave, the next falling in the dark.
With a startled cry she landed on a solid slope and continued to slide down. All around her she could hear the shouts and calls of the others as they fell with her.
With a cry of surprise she went from dark chute to dimly lit cage and landed across the chest of a confused looking Fili, his startled blue eyes pinning hers for a moment, before he frowned, "look out!"
With a shriek Lili was tossed sideways and just as she had the horrified realization she was going to slip between the crude bars and plummet into the darkness below, She found herself in Thorin's lap, just as Bombur landed where she had been.
A collective groan of discomfort sounded from the heap of dwarves, caught in a tangle of arms and legs.

With a curse Thorin caught Lili, as Fili tossed her clear of Bombur' arrival in the cage. He grabbed her waist and tightened his arm around her, as her fingers bit into his forearm and he pulled her backwards away from the precarious gaps in the bars.
"I've got you," he murmured reassuringly, just as familiar screeching laughter and cat calls erupted around them.
"Goblins," Dwalin growled, from where he was pinned at the bottom of the pile.
Suddenly Lili was ripped from Thorin's grasp by several pairs of gaunt, green, clawed hands.
"Thorin!" She shrieked, looking back to see him being grabbed and pushed by several small, ugly, squat creatures. "Let go of me," she snarled, slapping at goblin who grabbed her weapon belt with a screeching cackle.
"Oi, get off!" Kili snarled, as he was shoved onto a narrow, wooden walkway.
All around them Goblin's grabbed, poked and pushed, swarming about them, herding them from the cage and along the rickety walkways.
"Get your hands off me," Gloin roared as a particularly bold goblin attempted to pluck the bands of silver from his braid.

As they were guided through the vast network of tunnels, Thorin tried his best to keep Lili in his line of sight as she was pushed and prodded on ahead of him. Durin only knew what the vile little creatures would do to her if she was separated from them.

Finally they came to a stop on a large wooden platform in the centre of it stood a throne, well at least Lili assumed it was a throne. Her brain was trying to fathom what her eyes were showing her. A huge, bulbous, boil covered monstrosity sat on the throne and in one clawed hand it held a heavy mace topped with some kind of Rams skull.
"tare an'ouns," she murmured softly, as she scanned the massive cavern, every one of the surrounding walls was covered in rickety shelters, connected by shaky bridges. It reminded her of a shanty town.
As soon as she and the rest of the company were together, the dwarves immediately closed ranks and she found herself carefully shuffled into the centre of a ring of angry, burly dwarven warriors.
The clatter and clang of their weapons and packs being carelessly flung on the ground drew Lili's attention from the ugly being in front of her.
"Are you hurt?" Thorin whispered at her, his gaze fixed on the occupied throne.
Lili shook her head slightly, "no," at least she didn't think she was, it was hard to tell when she was bruised and aching to begin with.
As the huge Goblin heaved himself out of his chair, Lili watched repulsed as he trampled on several of the smaller goblins using them as a step and eyed them curiously, his many chins swinging as he moved.
"Who would be so bold as to come armed into my kingdom," he demanded, "Spies? Thieves? Assassins?"
One of the goblins stepped forward, grinning, "dwarves, your malevolence."
"Dwarves?" The Goblin king's gaze swept over them.

Lili could feel her heart hammering against ribs, threatening to burst from her chest and instinctively shifted closer to Thorin. Something primal was setting of internal alarms in her head.
"We found 'em on the front porch," the grinning goblin continued to explain.
"Well don't just stand there! Search them, every crack and every crevice."
Immediately goblins swarmed around them, grabbing and pulling and taking anything they found.
Lili stifled an indignant squeal as a particularly brave goblin, stuffed his hands under her coat grabbing and groping at her clothes underneath.
"Get your filthy hands off her!" Fili snarled, flinging the chattering goblin aside and taking a protective stance as close to her as he could possibly manage.
Watching as the goblins emptied their packs, she glanced at Nori when several elvish candlesticks tumbled from his bag.
With a screech, the goblin picked it up and thrust it towards his king, "It is my belief, your malevolence, that they're in league with the elves."
Snatching up the candlestick, the king turned it over and regarded the base, "made in Rivendell. Uch," he scoffed, "The second age, couldn't give it away." He declared, tossing it aside.
Listening to the metallic clatter of the candlestick as it bounced out of sight, Lili almost cringed as Dori glanced over his shoulder and glared accusingly at Nori.
"It was just a couple of keepsakes," Nori defended quietly.
"What are you doing in these parts?" The goblin king questioned, glaring at them suspiciously.
Thorin glanced around at them and made to take a resolute step forward, just as Oin placed a hand on his shoulder and stepped in front of him, "uh don't worry lads, I'll handle this." He assured them and turned to regard the vile looking goblin king.
"No tricks," the king warned, banging his ghoulish mace on the floor, "I want the truth, warts and all," he reminded as he heaved himself back into his throne.
Oin tilted his head slightly, "You're going to have to speak up," he told the goblin as he held up his hearing trumpet, "Your boys flattened my trumpet."
With more agility than Lili thought he could possibly have, the goblin king launched back off his seat and moved threateningly towards Oin. Instinctively the dwarves closed ranks and Lili was tucked tightly between Dwalin and Fili.
"I'll flatten more than your trumpet!" the goblin king bellowed, advancing on Oin.

Bofur stepped in front of Oin and pushed him back into the ranks behind, "If its information you want, I'm the one you should speak too."
"What's he doing?" Lili whispered softly to Fili.
Deflating slightly the huge goblin took a step back and lowered his arms, issuing a grunt for Bofur to continue.
As Bofur hesitated, Lili found herself holding her breath, her heart once again picking up its terrified flutter in her chest.
"Well," Bofur started, "We were on the road… Well it's not so much a road as a path. Actually it's not even that come to think of it, it's more like a track." He admitted. "Anyway the point is, we were on this road, like a path like a track and then we weren't."
Listening to Bofur go off on his tangent, Lili found herself anxiously watching the apparent king of the goblins, his reaction was torn between boredom and frustration. This could only end badly, and she made to step forward to make her dwarvish friend be quiet.
"Which is a problem," Bofur continued, "because we were supposed to be in Dunland last Tuesday."
Fili caught her hand, tugging her back beside him with an almost non existent shake of his head.
As if on cue, Dori stepped forward and peered around Bofur' shoulder with a nod, "visiting distant relations," he confirmed.
Suddenly all the dwarves surged forward offering up added information all talking at once and over the top of one another.
"SHUT UP!" The Goblin king roared, his shout echoing off the cavern walls as it fell silent, "if they will not talk, we'll make them squawk!"

Lili tensed in sudden fear, her hand reaching for Fili's. He glanced at her, his fingers flexing around hers reassuringly.
"Bring up the mangler," the king shouted, raising his arms as the gathered goblins screeched and cheered with excitement, "bring up the bone breaker!" Turning he fixed a cruel look towards the dwarves and almost grinned with glee, "start with the youngest," he pointed at Ori, before something caught his attention in the pile of packs.
Bending he reached out and picked up a small backpack and from it pulled a length of purple fabric, from the side pocket.
Fili's hand tightened around hers and Lili felt her breath lodge on her throat. She'd stuffed the damp scarf in the pack when she'd gone to sleep.
The hideous, torture racks were rolled onto the platform, as the king continued to stare at Lili's scarf.
Nori and Dori, both stepped protectively in front of Ori as the goblins moved towards him.
Holding the scarf to his nose the large goblin took a deep breath and inhaled noisily, before he turned and looked straight at Lili. "Wait, I think we'll start with the female, play awhile and make her squeal."

The terrified gasp from Lili, made Thorin's blood boil. How dare this repulsive creature threaten her, and Ori.
"You won't touch either of them," Dwalin glowered, flexing his hands into fists.
Stepping in front of Lili, Thorin glared at the goblin king, "wait!" he snarled.
"Well, well," the king mused, "look who it is, Thorin son of Thrain, son of Thror, king under the mountain." He bowed mockingly, before he chuckled, "Oh but I'm forgetting, you don't have a mountain and you're not a King, which makes you nobody, really."
Offering another delighted and cruel smile, the goblin continued to mock him. "I know someone who would pay a pretty price for your head…Just the head, nothing attached."
Thorin felt his muscles coil instinctively, but he made sure to keep his back to Lili and his eyes of the monstrous goblin.
"You may know of whom I speak, an old enemy of yours. A pale Orc, astride a white Warg."
With a start of surprise, Thorin shook his head in disbelief, willingly himself not to give into the sudden icy cold dread that washed away the heat of his anger. "Azog the Defiler was destroyed, he was slain in battle long ago," he growled out.
Chuckling with glee, the goblin fixed him another mocking smile, "So you think his defiling days are done, do you?"

At his shoulder, Thorin could practically feel the tension rolling from Balin as they watched the goblin king turn his attention to a scrawny looking goblin, holding a slate and was seated in a shabby looking basket, suspended on a rope.
"Send word to the pale orc. Tell him I have found his prize."
With an unwilling ripple of old fear coursing through his body, Thorin shared a concerned glance with Balin, almost wishing his old friend would deny it and confirm what they had witnessed at the battle of Moria all those years ago.
Azog was dead.
Only Balin didn't confirm it, instead he shook his head, white beard twitching in concern.
With a squealing giggle the tiny goblin scribbled on its piece of slate and then pulled a lever and descended into the darkness on a system of ropes and pulleys.

Watching the utterly repulsive, and apparent King of the Goblin's dance and sing gleefully, Lili desperately fought to keep her breathing steady and not let fear of the bone chilling torture racks reduce her to tears.
She was not going to die on some horrific rack, screaming in agony for the depraved pleasure of their captors.
Fighting not to tremble, she tried to focus on something, anything that would keep her calm. Fili's warm, firm grip on her hand, the press of warm bodies as the others moved in protectively close.
She forced herself to recite her brother's mantra, "It's not being fearless that makes us brave, it's not letting that fear rule us," over and over in her head, all the while trying to block out the squawking, cruel lyrics of the goblins crude song.
"Bones will be shattered, necks will be wrung! You'll be beaten and battered, from racks you'll be hung. You will die down here and never be found, down in the deep of Goblin-town."
"Lili, I will do all that I can to keep you safe."
The softly murmured words caused Lili's eyes to snap open, she hadn't even remembered she'd closed them.
She found herself staring into the deep, rich sapphire blue eyes of Thorin, as he watched her from over his shoulder. She saw such fierce determination in his gaze, that Lili realized she actually believed him.
He would do anything he could to keep her from harm.
Fili's hand tightened around hers, "We, will keep you safe." He reiterated, his own blue eyes resting on his Uncle.
A commotion from the goblin's drew their attention, as startled panic and rage erupted.
The clatter of Thorin's sword being thrown to the ground, had caused the hisses and screeches and Lili watched as the goblin king scrambled away, crushing several of his subjects in the process.
"I know that sword; it is the Goblin-Cleaver! The biter, the blade that sliced a thousands necks!"
As if by some silent command, the goblins suddenly surged forward, ropes in hand and began whipping at them.
Fili tucked Lili behind him, as a one eyed goblin leapt at them.
Lili let at a startled cry as a length of rope snapped angrily around her left calf, biting and stinging.
Instinct had her hand slamming into a second goblins snarling, boil covered face, her palm smashing into its flat nose with a satisfying crunch.
"Slash them, beat them!" the great goblin screeched, "Kill them, kill them all. Cut of his head!"
A fist in her hair, forced Lili's head back sharply with a cry and before she realized it she was on her knees, along with the rest of her dwarven companions. They were forced to watch as Thorin was set upon by several goblins and held down as one of the savage little creatures prepared to behead him.
"No!" Lili gasped, horrified and yet unable to pull her gaze away.
"Uncle!" Kili called, trying to wrench himself free of the goblin hands holding him.

The next moment was a blur of blinding light and muffled quiet and it was a long dazed few seconds as Lili lay on the ground, amidst the rest of the company, before she blinked and gingerly rose on her knees. Staring in confusion she tried to discern the shadowy figure before she heard the familiar voice booming through the cavern.
"Take up arms! Fight, fight!"
Gandalf!
Before she knew it she was on her feet and her knife pressed into her hand.
"Behind you, lass!" Dwalin warned as he swung a huge fist just as she ducked.
With a snarl she buried her knife into the chest of another goblin who had lunged for Dwalin as he defended her.
"Lili throw me your knife!" Kili demanded, holding out his hand as several more goblins advanced on him.
With a second of hesitation she did as he asked, her gazing resting on their weapons cache, darting around legs and scampering bodies to where the rest of their weapons lay she located her small axe and gripping it in one hand, she grabbed a second sword.
"Fili!" she shouted, tossing the large, heavier weapon as best she could to him.
Movement on her right, had her stumbling backwards just out of reach of a jagged looking knife, before Bofur's war hammer collided with its head.
"Hurry, lass," Balin shouted, just as Kili appeared beside her and grabbing another sword from the pile, handed her back her knife.

Spying Gandalf's sword, the great goblin screeched in alarm, "He wields the Foe-Hammer, the beater, bright as daylight."
As quickly as they could, Kili and Nori tossed weapons around as if they were footballs, each weapon finding its owner with sure movements and confident grips.
Dodging another screeching goblin, Lili slashed out with her knife and swung with her axe, trying not to think about the blood and gore coating her weapons.
Do not think, just do! Her mind snapped, now was not the time to be squeamish.
"No matter happens, stay close to me!" Thorin told her, as he appeared briefly at her side, before he noticed the goblin king advancing on a fallen Nori.
"Nori!"
Lili watched as Thorin deflected the blow meant for Nori with such force the goblin king stumbled backwards before toppling over the edge of the platform and into the darkness below them.
A clawed hand made to grab her and Lili stepped sideways to avoid it and without thought bought her knife down on the appendage, loping off the goblins hand.
"Follow me, quickly, run!" Gandalf bellowed, leading them down a pathway, out of the throne room.

By the time they finally came to a stop before a rickety looking bridge, Lili was shaking with a surreal mix of fear, adrenaline and exhaustion. Her weapons were bloody from the goblins she'd killed and her legs felt weak and trembled and a small cut on her left cheek stung.
Behind them, several hundreds of goblins were searching for them.
They reminded her of cockroaches, didn't seem to matter how many you killed, there were always more to follow.
Despite her body being deprived of so much sleep, she doubted she'd sleep without nightmares for a long time.
"Stay close," Thorin murmured softly, his gazing sweeping over her critically.
She nodded shakily and remained close to his back, edging forward with him as he followed Gandalf.
The creaking groan of wood made Lili hesitate and she glanced down at the sparse planks beneath her feet. She froze with a startled gasp as she saw the bulging eyes and boil covered face of the Goblin King peering back at her.
With shocking agility the huge goblin swung himself up and onto the bridge, blocking the company's escape.
Taking several steps back, Lili turned to see goblins scrambling and clawing over the walkways and walls. They were surrounded.
"You thought you could escape me?" The Goblin king demanded, raising his mace to take two swings at Gandalf.

As Gandalf stumbled backwards, Dori and Gloin help him remain on his feet.
"What are you going to do now, wizard?" the goblin challenged.
With a snarl, Gandalf leapt forward using his staff he struck the goblin in the eye before swinging out his sword and slicing through the goblin's large stomach.
Doubling over the great goblin, screeched out in pain and clutched helplessly at his stomach, "That'll do it," he admitted.
With another growl Gandalf swung his sword, the blade slicing through the goblin's throat and with a gurgling groan the monstrous creature pitched forward, dead.
With a terrifying groan the bridge shuddered beneath their feet, the planks splintering and giving way and Lili felt the helpless panic freeze her blood, "Oh god!"
"Hold on!"
Strong arms locked around her, bracing and protecting her as the bridge tumbled and slid down the side of the ravine, plunging into the depths.

With a horrified scream, Lili clung to the forearm locked around her, as they plummeted and then were bounced and jolted through the fall. It was the worst roller-coaster she'd ever been on.
Finally with a jolting shudder their descent slowed and Lili felt her stomach return to its rightful place and her heart left her throat. Then with a startled shriek, they fell again, dropping sharply before hitting the ravines bottom with a crash.
As the dust and rubble and pieces of wood settled and stopped falling around then, Lili forced a shaking breath into her lungs, coughing as the restricting arms around her lessened and she lowered her own arms from her head.
Several groans sounded around her, and a rough growl vibrated against her ear,
"Are you hurt, Lass?"
Opening her eyes, Lili could make out Kili on her left, his eyes open as he groaned pulling a piece of wood from off his chest.
Inches above her rested the remains of the bridge and she could make out several members of her group stirring amongst the wreckage. Frowning she realized she wasn't being crushed by the weight of the bridges structure, she was tucked in a small pocket of space between the floor and wood.
Wriggling in the restricted space, Lili finally understood why she'd been so well protected. Dwalin had shielded her from the worst of the fall with his much bigger frame.
"Lili, are you hurt, lassie?" Dwalin growled again, shifting his arms to lift the wooden planks above them.
"Well that could've been worse," Bofur commented from somewhere above them.
Squirming out from under the debris, Lili knelt at his head and touched his shoulder, hands shaking and fingers beginning to bruise, "I'm alright, I think. Thanks to you, are you hurt?"
A loud crash and a second cloud of dust and rubble, silenced Dwalin's response. With a startled cry Lili once again instinctively covered her head and coughed through the choking cloud.
"Oh you've got to be joking," Dwalin groaned, when he saw the body of the Goblin king resting on the top of the bridges' remnants, squashing the dwarves even further.
Beside her, Kili was wriggling out of the debris, groaning softly in discomfort before he frowned in alarm his dark eyes watching something above them.
"Gandalf!" He called in worry.
Following his line of sight, Lili gasped and Dwalin rose to his feet and reached for Nori to pull him free, "There's too many, we can not fight them."
As he helped Balin to his feet, Gandalf nodded in agreement, "There is only one thing that can save us, daylight. Come on, here on your feet," he instructed hauling Oin from the rumble.
Helping Gloin to his feet, Lili nodded at him and handed him back his sword from the debris.
"Quickly, wee lass. There's no time to lose," Gloin told her giving her a nudge in the direction Gandalf was pointing too.
Reaching for each of Fili's hand, Lili and Kili pulled him from the debris and quickly took off running, following Gandalf through the tunnel.

The sudden flash of sunlight caught Lili by surprise as she raced through the crevice in the mountain wall, free from the dingy oppressive goblin kingdom and into the trees. Her foot falls softer now she was running on the pine needle covered ground.
Just ahead of her, she could see Thorin, Nori and Gloin and at her side was Fili and Kili, one by one the others were joining them on the downward run through the trees.
She leapt over the rocky out crop and narrowly missed tripping on a fallen branch on the other side before her pace slowed and she joined the others in small clearing.
Pausing to catch her breath, she smiled as Balin touched her elbow and Gandalf began a head count as each member arrived. "5,6,7,8, Bifur, Bofur that's ten, Fili, Kili, twelve and Lili that's thirteen and Bombur that makes fourteen," he smiled briefly, before turning sharply and regarding the gathered company. "Where's Bilbo? Where is our hobbit? Where is our Hobbit?" he demanded sharply.
With a sudden start of dread, Lili turned back up the trees and regarded the mountain, "Oh you don't think…" she started softly, unable to finish her sentence, the thought of poor Bilbo lost in the goblin realm, made tears well. She looked helplessly towards Thorin.
"Curse that Halfling," Dwalin snapped in frustration, his gaze scanning the surrounding trees, "now he's lost!"
"I thought he was with Dori," Gloin offered gruffly.
"Don't blame me!" Dori exclaimed indignantly.
"Well when did you last see him?" Gandalf questioned with a snap.
Stepping forward to look at Gandalf, Nori shifted on his feet, "I think I saw him slip away, when they first collared us," he admitted.
"What happened exactly," Gandalf asked pacing the small area, "tell me!"
Lili continued to look back in the direction they'd run and raked a distressed hand through her hair and placed the other over her mouth to stifle the urge to cry.
How could they have not noticed Bilbo was missing?
Suddenly all her discomfort and pain disappeared to be replaced with guilt, she should've noticed, he was her friend.
"I'll tell you what happened," Thorin declared his tone short and almost angry.
Turning Lili looked at him, saw the scowl marring his brow as he caught her gaze and swallowed around the lump in her throat.
"Master Baggins saw his chance and he took it! He's thought of nothing but his soft bed and his warm hearth since first he stepped out of his door!"
Lili shook her head in denial; "no Thorin, we don't kn…" she began thickly, before he cut of her off sharply.
"I heard the three of you talking back in the cave," he challenged, looking from her to Bofur. "You knew of his desire to return home. We will not be seeing our Hobbit again. He is long gone."
She shook her head defiantly and opened her mouth to disagree, when a soft noise silenced her, a soft clearing of the throat.
"No, he isn't."
"Bilbo," Lili breathed, relief making the earlier tears threaten to fall.
A murmur of surprise and relief rippled through the group and Gandalf laughed as he stepped towards the hobbit. "Bilbo Baggins, I have never been so glad to see anyone in my life," he exclaimed cheerfully.

As Bilbo entered the clearing, he offered Lili a small smile and patted Balin affectionately on the shoulder.
With a chuckle of relief, Kili smiled at their hobbit companion, "Bilbo! We'd given you up," he admitted.
Fili frowned from beside his brother, "how on earth did you get past the goblins?" He wondered curiously.
"How indeed," Dwalin echoed quietly, regarding Bilbo with an air of suspicion.
Clearing his throat nervously Bilbo hesitated and shifted from one foot to the other, his hands slipping to his pockets.
Lili tilted her head curiously as she watched him.
"Well, what does it matter?" Gandalf wondered, breaking the awkward silence, "he's back!"
"It matters," Thorin defended, "I want to know, why did you come back?" He questioned, his gaze following hobbit's movements.

Pausing his fidgeting hands, Bilbo sighed, "Look, I know you doubt me, I know you always have. You're right, 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." He glanced around at the rest of the company and smiled slightly, "And that's why I came back, because you don't have one. A home… It was taken from you, but I will help you take it back if I can."
Listening to his explanation, Lili felt her heart swell with pride and affection. Around her the dwarves were silent, touched by Bilbo's words, even Thorin looked humbled.
Stepping away from Fili and Kili, she reached to hug Bilbo in an embrace full of friendship and relief, "Oh Bilbo, I am so glad you're alright." She whispered, her throat tightening slightly as Bilbo's own arms coiled around her.
"I'm glad you're safe too," he murmured with a smile.
A long rising howl sounded through the air and immediately Lili released Bilbo with gasp and turned to stare at Thorin in alarm.
Orcs.
"Oh no," Bilbo murmured, his brown eyes widening.
"Out of the frying pan," Thorin muttered glancing towards Gandalf.
"And into the fire," Gandalf finished grimly, "run, RUN!"
Grabbing Bilbo's hand, Lili tugged him after her as she followed Thorin and Dwalin through the trees, "come on Bilbo!"
Is this what a rabbit felt like when it saw a fox?

Gaelic translation:

tare an'ouns= Is Irish gaelic slang, generally used as an expletive, it roughly relates to the saying 'tears and wounds of christ'.