The pathway that lead into the forest was thin. Above it, tall trees that mangled together in one massive heap was their only sign of welcome. The dwarves waited for the wizard to take the start, but it wasn't long before they looked back in dismay to see him mounting his steed once more. "I must leave you here, at the edge of the forest," Gandalf said. There was a graveness in his voice that made them shudder. "For now I am needed elsewhere, and would that I may stay to be your guide, I cannot ignore the call. Something has happened- or is happening- and I need to know what, and why. Be sure you stay on the path- or it is a hundred to one you will never see it again. This forest is like no others, and will seek to enter your mind. Now farewell, and stay on the path!"
"Yes, yes!" the dwarves said in anger. "Off with you! Best not be late for whatever it is you wish to abandon us for."
The wizard sped his horse fast in the opposite direction, going faster and faster away from the company and the dark forest. His voice echoed through the hills as he rode on: "Stay on the path!"
For what felt like ages, no one dared to move. While birds and other animals could normally be heard among trees, here there was no sound. The wind didn't seem able to make it's way through the tangled branches. There was no sign of life at all. This forest felt like death, and none were about to meet it. Until Thorin finally broke through the silence.
"Right then," he said, stepping forward with the thought of home guiding his feet. He looked back and saw Rose at his side, and her smile told him that she would gladly follow even in a place like this. His strength was renewed, and he spoke louder. "Right. We must reach the mountain before Durin's day- and it was made clear by Master Gandalf (who seems to have slipped away from us) not to falter from the path. I and Dwalin will take the lead, followed by Master Baggins and then Bifur and Bofur. Balin- you, Fili, and Kili must watch after Rose to ensure her safety. Oin, you will follow close after and act as Rose's medical advisor should something happen to her or the child. Bombur, Dori, Nori, Ori, and Gloin will keep watch at our backs. Understood?"
The company nodded in unison. Thorin continued.
"We've journey this far, past mountain trolls and goblins to make it where we are now. I will not allow some trees and old elven pathways to get the better of me or my kin. We will move onward, into the darkness. And go forth shining brighter than dragon fire!" His company cheered with fists and swords pointing skyward, and the company of dwarves and one hobbit filed into line. With their leader they moved on, into the thicket and straight for the single path that lead through Mirkwood.
Rose followed just behind her nephews, who seemed especially moved by Thorin's speech. "Always had a flair for theatrics, your uncle," she said behind a grin. Kili smiled back with a face that was still half child.
In the days that followed, the darkness overtook them. It flooded the air and made it almost impossible to see the person in front of you. It was common to hear one body tripping over another, which would be followed by grunts and awkward scrambles to straighten themselves up and brush off. More than once someone would have to find a tree to sit under and wipe away their perspiration, for with the lack of wind the air grew more dry the further in they went. No one could tell night from day, and when Gloin set to make a fire strange eyes would pop out to watch the visitors. It wasn't long before Thorin banned fires altogether.
Rose's bump became more noticeable as time went on, even in the darkness. Occasionally Thorin would find her sitting by herself breathing too hard for comfort, her hand cradling her abdomen and whispering faint words of comfort. Thorin knew she had been carrying more than what was asked of her, and soon it would do more harm than good, so he took her pack and ordered Bilbo to have it from that point on. An argument was started even before the hobbit could move.
"It's hardly fair to Bilbo," Rose said, "He's smaller than any of us. I can carry my own share."
"Absolutely not," her husband barked, "In your condition you shouldn't even be walking this much."
"Thorin, I'm pregnant, not crippled. You're being unreasonable."
"Says the woman who's almost halfway to labor and insists on injuring herself."
"The pregnancy isn't even a third of the way done. Don't twist facts to suit your argument."
"Do you question my leadership?"
"I question your knowledge of a dwarf woman's labor- especially since I'm the one who's had the most experience with it."
Thorin then turned on the hobbit. "Take her pack. I will not hear any more of it- take. Her. Pack." Bilbo knew better than to argue; it was one thing for his wife to disagree with him. It would be another for Bilbo himself to raise an eyebrow to the King Under the Mountain.
Over the course of the next few days, the company didn't seem to be making good progress. On several occasions the dwarves didn't watch their feet and almost lost the path. Everyone would be walking when suddenly someone would cry "Where's the path? I cannot see the pathway- we've lost it!" Then everyone would be in such a hurry to go back that they would often trip over one another, receive an unintentional jab in the ribs, and then the shouting would begin. More than once Rose would be caught in the fray, sending Thorin in a panic. He would shove multiple bodies out of his way- who they were, he didn't care- to get to her, hold her straight to see if she was seriously injured, and call Oin over to inspect her while he pacified the rest with a shout.
"We are being watched," he said. His voice was hard to hear over the high-pitched droning sound that rang in their ears. "Keep your voices down- we must move on. Back into the line- now!"
They hurried on like that for some time, too afraid to speak in fear of stirring whatever creatures they may come across. The silence was cut short when a sound like heaven drew closer: running water. The company had reached the edge of the river a large man had instructed them about long ago. No one cared to stop and think about it too long. In a moment they would all be swimming up to their ears and drinking their fill. And had it not been for their leader, all of them would perish.
"Stop!" cried Thorin. Bombur was teetering at the brink, one foot suspended a centimeter from the water. The others halted just at his back. They weren't too happy to have still been dry. "These waters are enchanted," said Thorin, "do you not remember? One touch and we will be forever trapped here. We must find a way to cross."
"There!" someone said in answer. Just across the river lay a small boat that had seen better days. Given its size and condition, it was just big enough to take five at best. Thorin would gladly take it.
"Kili- use one of your arrows. We will pull it in with rope."
His nephew did as he was told, eager to prove himself in front of his uncle. Kili was a little more wary than the dwarf who had ventured off into the blue to seek a home he could hardly remember. He stood taller than most, except for Fili and Thorin. He drew his bow with skill, pulling back the arrow with just enough force needed to send it where he wanted. There was a notch on the boat's side, above the water where the end came to a point. Kili pulled the arrow back, aimed for less than a second and sent it to his mark. The rope tied to the end of the shaft broke through, and with a tug Kili was satisfied. The others followed suit and began to pull the boat in. They were over halfway done when a splash was heard, and all eyes turned to the fattest dwarf among them.
Bombur hadn't been watching where he stepped, and the moment his foot made contact with the water he dropped. For a moment the others thought he had died, but when they heard loud snores they scoffed.
"The lazy bastard's gone and tripped."
"He's sleeping- I can't wake him."
"Someone will have to carry Bombur now."
Not someone, but three someones struggled to get poor Bombur out of the water, and one extra had to come and help carry him into the boat and across the river. Because of his size and the effort needed, he was the last to board. It took some time, but eventually everyone made it safely across with only minimal damage.
"Thorin," said Bilbo as he fought past the others, "Thorin, I think there's something we can-"
"Shh!" Thorin was standing stiff, looking at something away from the path and among the trees. A large shape came into view. It had horns longer and
thicker than Bilbo's arm, with white fur that could be seen even in the thick of trees that blocked out the sun.
"The sun…."
Thorin slowly reached for his bow, and for a moment no one could breathe. This creature could have fed them for at least a few more days, if they planned carefully. It stopped grazing and straightened to look Thorin in the eye.
In a motion quicker than light, Thorin drew the arrow back and released it just where the buck had stood a moment ago. It darted through the trees this way and that, until not even its footsteps could be heard. Their meal was now gone. In a huff, Thorin threw his bow to the ground, knowing someone would stop to retrieve it, and marched back to the path and wouldn't stop until his feet began to blister (which wasn't long, considering the trek they've had up until that point).
Rose took her time before sitting with him while dinner was prepared. She made the rounds, checking to see how Ori's latest cut fared, laughing politely at Bofur's jokes, reassuring Fili and Kili that their uncle was just tired. She took her place at his side and began stroking his hair and tucking it behind his shoulders.
"We will never reach the mountain at this pace," Thorin said. He made sure to keep his voice low so that none would hear. Bilbo leaned in close to the others, pretending to take no notice.
"If it were going to be easy," Rose said, "we would have already claimed it again. But these things take time, Thorin."
"Which is exactly what we are running out of. How long will it be before Durin's day comes and goes? How long before our labor ends and yours begins? If the child is born too close to that dragon-"
"Thorin, please." Her voice broke under the weight of his words. This was something that she thought of almost every day, and didn't need him to remind her of. "That is a question for another day. Right now we need to focus on getting out of here before we throw ourselves into another problem." He heaved a sigh in the darkness. A hand rested on her stomach, softly stroking the bump that moved inside her. Rose smiled.
"He knows his father is near."
"A father that has sent him to meet his fate," said the voice beside her.
"Thorin, please."
"I speak the truth, whether you will admit it or not."
"What you're doing is focusing solely on the bad and letting it get the better of you. When will you stop feeling sorry for yourself?"
"I am not feel-"
"Yes, you are!" She sat upright to turn and glare at the spot she guessed he was in. "That's why you've been in a mood lately. That's why you get so frustrated. You aren't willing to accept that this is the situation you're in, and now you have to deal with it. Moaning and groaning about how unfair all this is won't further your progress, won't make the gods pity you for it. And it certainly isn't good for any of the others."
Rose stood, brushed off as much dirt as she could feel before turning to make her bed for the night. The others had begun to do the same, and it was beginning to get so quiet that the rest would be able to hear any words passed between them. Rose wasn't about to let her husband bring down the rest of them as well.
"The sooner you realize this, the sooner we will be out of this damned place." With that, she bid him goodnight and headed for the place she guessed was in between Fili and Gloin.