I am really, REALLY sorry for the fact it has taken me over twenty days to update this story. A lot has happened this past month and finding time to sit down and write has been hard, as has finding inspiration. So again, I am very sorry you've had to wait with that cliffhanger. Hopefully this doesn't disappoint.

Chapter 26

Thorin and Bilbo both felt their stomachs drop the moment the platform holding Fíli and Kíli disappeared from view. "No," Thorin muttered silently before turning back to the company. "WHERE IN DURIN'S NAME IS THAT ROPE?!"

As Thorin continued to shout orders to get the rope so he could rappel down to find his boys, Bilbo stood stone still, his eyes never leaving the spot where the lads had disappeared to. This couldn't be happening. This was all some horrid dream and surely he would wake up back in Rivendell where everything was bright and dandy once more. Surely Fíli and Kíli weren't….

There was a loud squeal from the cave behind them, causing everyone to turn to see what it was that had made that noise. "What was that?" Ori asked hesitantly, his fingers shaking as he gripped his slingshot.

Bofur caught a glimmer out of the corner of his eye and saw something shining from Bilbo's hilt. "What's that?" he asked, pointing to the sword.

Bilbo was confused as he looked down, pulling the letter opener from it's scabbard to reveal that it was shining bright blue. What was it Gandalf had said about it glowing blue? It glowed blue when…

Oh dear.

From the mouth of the cave, a hoarde of Goblins emerged, attacking the company with such speed that they were useless to defend themselves. They tried their best to fight them off, Dwalin getting in a few good punches, but they were outnumbered and unprepared. Soon they were being led into the mountain, being pushed and prodded by the Goblins as they went further into the mountain. Poor Bilbo was stuck in the middle of the group, being shoved every which way as they crossed over rickety bridges and narrow paths. Drums thundered in the heart of the mountain, followed by squeals and chatter of Goblins. The sound was haunting, almost like a distorted version of some horrific song. It didn't help that as they entered a large cave filled with Goblins who sat on elevated seats around a giant stage in the center that the biggest, ugliest Goblin they all had ever seen began to sing, well, if you called what he was doing was singing.

The words were about breaking bones and whips, all of which sent a shiver up Bilbo's spine. He had heard tales of Goblins and Orcs, mostly from Fíli, but even those stories couldn't prepare him for what he was witnessing now. The Goblins pushed them all into a tight huddle on the stage in front of the massive Great Goblin who finally brought his song to an end. There was no applause – only silence. "Who's so bold as to come armed into my kingdom?" the Great Goblin sneered, "Spies? Thieves? Assassins?"

"Dwarves, you're malovelence."

"Dwarves?"

The Goblins all snickered and squealed in affirmation. "Found them on the front porch."

"Well, don't just stand there, search them!" They were all man handled as the Goblins searched them more thoroughly, pulling everything they had from their pockets and throwing them at the foot of the Great Goblin. And thus the interrogation began and leave it to Bofur to try and throw the Goblin off with some witty tale about how they were simply lost. If Bilbo hadn't been fearful of his life, he might have laughed, but the Goblin was not at all amused by his story. "Very well, if they will not talk, we'll make them squawk! Bring out the Mangler! Bring out the Bone Breaker!"

"Wait!"

All heads turned as Thorin came to the front, his face as stoic as ever. He almost looked like he was challenging the Great Goblin, and perhaps he was. "Well, well, well, what do we have here? Why, it's Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain. Oh wait, but I'm forgetting you don't have a mountain, and you're not a King. So that makes you a nobody, really." The Great Goblin sniggered as he leant forward. "I know of someone who would pay a pretty price for your head. Just the head, nothing attached."

But as he leant forward to taunt Thorin, his eyes squinted as he focused. "Now wait a moment, you seem more familiar…yes, I've seen this look before. You lost something very recently, haven't you, Thorin? Perhaps I should show you what I've found and you can tell me if they're yours."

The Goblins around them cheered as the Great Goblin struck his staff down on the platform they stood upon. All eyes turned to see what it was that the Great Goblin was bringing out. There was a stampede of feet on the bridge to their left. It was a whole new group of goblins, shoving something between them. Eventually they dispersed out with two Goblins pulling on one end of a long rope. On the other end, it was split out and when they saw who was on the other end, it took everything within Thorin's willpower not to lurch forward. It was Fíli and Kíli, their hands bound in front of them and tethered to the rope the Goblins were pulling. Both of them looked a little worse for ware, scrapes and bruises covering them from their fall. "We discovered these two at one of our lower entrances. Tell me, Thorin, do they look familiar to you?"

It was Kíli to look up and when his eyes fell on the company, he paused, unsure of what to say. Should he call out to them or remain silent? Bilbo, on the other hand, couldn't stop looking at Fíli. He wanted to run forward and make sure he was okay. In the way Fíli held himself, unable to stand completely still as he swayed to and fro, Bilbo was sure that something was wrong. "Come now, Thorin, tell me if they belong to you. The young one strikes a remarkable resemblance to you, doesn't he? Bring him forward!"

Kíli's tether was cut loose and soon he was dragged to stand before the Great Goblin. "Tell me, Dwarf, do you know this company?"

But Kíli remained silent. "Come now, surely you recognize them."

Still he said nothing. There was the sound of a whip cracking behind Kíli, causing the company to jump at the sound. Bilbo, however noticed how Fíli seemed to flinch. Unfortunately, the Great Goblin saw it too. "Afraid of a whipping? Bring him forward as well."

"Wait!" Thorin yelled, attempting to push his way to the front.

"No, Thorin Oakenshield, you had your chance to talk and you refused to say anything. It is these boys' turn to tell me what I want to hear," The Great Goblin sneered as Fíli was pushed forward to join his brother. "Now, then, which one of you will tell me what I want to hear?"

Fíli and Kíli glared up at the Goblin through the tops of their eyelids. The whip cracked again, causing Fíli to flinch even more so than before. "Let's start with the yellow one, then."

"No, wait!" Kíli said, pushing himself between Fíli and the Great Goblin. "We're nobody. Part of the company of Dwarves behind us, yes, but that's just it."

"Oh, have we finally loosened your tongue? Very well, if you claim to be nobody, then why hide it, hmm? Why not say it before?"

"Well if we were nobodies then why would you keep us alive, right?" The lie flowed smoothly from Kíli's tongue as he prayed to Mahal that it worked. It seemed, however, it did not. "You think you can fool me, Dwarf? You, of all of them who bear the most resemblance to Thorin Oakenshield. Perhaps you are the two the Pale Orc sent out for years ago, hmm?"

"Azog is dead. He was slain in battle years ago!" Thorin roared.

"So you think his defiling days are done, do you? Bring Oakenshield and these boys to the dungeons. Kill the rest!"

Everything was a blur after that. Goblins began pushing the Dwarves around, trying to huddle them together into the appropriate groups. Fíli was trying to push his way to Bilbo, hoping to save him but the Goblin with the whip saw and was prepared. He snapped the whip, the leather striking Fíli's back and sending him to the ground in pain. Kíli was on the Goblin in an instant, hoping to pry the whip away but got his own few lashes. As it became more and more violent there was a bright light and heavy breeze, pushing everyone over before everything went dark.

TBC…

So there you have it, part one of the Goblin tunnels. But wait, how does Bilbo get the ring? Why is everything dark now? What is happening? Find out next time!

Also the original plan for this chapter was going to be different and feature some Kíli!Whump however there was no way I could have written it and let it flow and seem believeable….but there is still so much more left to come, I promise. Stick with me, it will come.