Disclaimer: I do not own the Hobbit or any of Tolkiens work, only Tiaashar.
Chapter 21
The escape
xXx
Legolas was right, which I gladly was relieved for. The two guards that were supposed to guard the cells passed out of the King´s own wine. Bilbo Baggins had waiting for them to pass out so he could sneak out and take the keys. As him being a Hobbit, I let he do that. For in the room before the cells were a lot of beer barrels and few for the wine. There was another door that I have not seen earlier that went to the river. The empty barrels were sent and Elves would some day during this night send them out in the river to the lake. I came in and went to the weaponry while Bilbo set free the Dwarves. I found Orcrist again and all other weapons the Dwarves had, but not all would fit in the barrels, as one of the spears. I took mostly all and went through the door to the river, where the Dwarves waited for me. They all were happy to see me and I hugged all of them.
"Let´s go before the Elves wake up," Thorin said and I helped them all in the barrels and closed the lock.
"How are you feeling?" I asked Fíli before I closed his.
"I am getting out of this place, never had it better," he said smiling and so I closed it, smiling myself. I then went to Kili.
"You and I need to talk later," I said to him and he looked at me with a question mark. "Concerning an Elven lady," I whispered and I saw he smiled before I closed it. I then went in my own, as I being slight longer than the Dwarves it was very small for me, but I got space. This trip will not end up good. Just as Bilbo closed mine, knowing every other Dwarf was inside theirs I heard the door open. I heard Elves talking and I tried to peek through the barrels, I then heard something fall down the river and then my own was moved. I could feel that I was falling and then ending up in the river, taking me with it. I hope Bilbo is safe. He was going to put on the Ring and turn invisible and follow us.
Everything was very quiet, I could hear the barrels knock on each other. We was close, though I could not see much of the outside, it looked dark. And then the barrel began to move and move faster as it went. This is going to be fun… My barrel knocked me to another one and my head knocked towards the barrel Ouch! I could feel we was moving down the river, sometimes the water went through the barrel, but not much for me to get wet. The hours went and I heard voices. Elves! They spoke Elven and as usual I could not understand what they said. I think the Elves lifted the barrels up on shore and more hours went and I fell asleep, feeling we were moving when I woke up. We were out in the river again!
…
Something happened and everything went quite and the lock to my barrel went up and I saw Bilbo. He helped me halfway out as it was not easy getting out by myself and I saw it was night. He then unlocked another one and out came Thorin, more wet and totally… A mess! He moaned and groaned as he got out. I went on my back and stretched my legs… I am so stiff and will be worse in few hours… "Well are you two going to lay there or help me with the others?" Bilbo asked and he looked down on me. I nodded and helped unlock the other barrels and get the Dwarves out. The Dwarves were bruised up, stiff and all moaned and groaned as they got out. Dwalin and Balin was not happy at all as they came out, so I did not ask them to help get the other Dwarves out. Bifur and Bofur both lay down and did nothing. Fíli and Kili came out with only a bruise or two.
"I hope I never have to smell apples again," Fíli said and stretched out a bit. I chuckled. "Mine was full of it and hungry I am."
"I do believe we all are hungry, Fíli," I said to him. "But if it is any more eatable apples left, I´ll take one." Fíli only looked at me.
"Sure, I don´t want one. I rather want to eat anything else than apples," he said. Thorin, Fíli, Kili, Bilbo and I helped the remaining Dwarves out of the barrels. Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin and Gloin all had to be carried to the shore. They all must have had a worse time than me in the barrels. We then got Bombur out who was asleep… I slapped him and he woke up, but by only almost falls asleep again. I ignored my friend looked at Bilbo.
"Thank you, Bilbo," I said to him. "Without you, who knew what could have happened to us." Bilbo only smiled and bowed. "Now what?" I asked Thorin.
"I suggest Lake-Town," Bilbo said. "We need food and maybe a bed." We all looked at the Dwarves that was lying on the shore, totally stiff and not planning on moving at all. Thorin nodded and walked over to Balin and Dwalin that lay on their backs.
"Dwalin," he said and Dwalin only made a small moan. "Tiaashar, Fíli, Kili, Bilbo and I are going to Lake-Town, I suggest you to look after the rest," Thorin said.
"What?" Dwalin asked and took his head up from the ground and looked at Thorin, but only nodded. "I will, don´t worry."
"The men of Lake-Town is no threat," I said to Thorin as he had Orcrist in his hand. "If we show up there they might think otherwise." I then lay my two swords close to Balin. Thorin agreed and we lay down all our weapons and we walked towards Lake-town.