A/N: Another update! I think I've got the pacing just about right. I know in the books, they're away for months and in the movie PJ rather rushes things. Consider this something in between, I don't always write out how long they travel so if you think it doesn't make sense, please suspend disbelief :) Anyway, thank you for the reviews and the favourites/follows. It keeps me going!
A few things before we delve back into the story: This chapter is mainly set in Lake Town. I've made some changes in this chapter and it will be a mix of the book and the movie. In the book they stay two weeks in Lake Town so I've come to a compromise and decide they're going to stay here for a few days, maybe a week to gather strength. In the book, Bilbo also catches a cold so it makes sense (to me) that they'd stay in Lake Town for a while.
Finally, this is another beast of a chapter. I'm going to try and make them shorter. I just struggle find good cutting of points sometimes but do bear with me, please. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Seventeen: Of many conversations….
"Anything behind us?"
After what seemed like forever, the company seemed to be rid of the orcs. They paddled down the river without seeing any orcs and not far off, Maggie could see a hint of land. Her mind was racing with everything that had happened in the last few hours. The orc ambush had been a disaster but, without help from the elves, it would have ended so much worse. Maggie kept a worried eye on Kili, whose leg had been pierced by an orc arrow. A rush of guilt washed over her because if the brown-haired dwarf hadn't jumped out of the barrel to drag Maggie out of the water, the arrow would never have hit him.
"I think we've outrun the orcs." Bofur said
"Not for long." Thorin knew. "We've lost the current. Make for the shore."
Finally, after a few more feet of paddling, they reached the shore. Fili helped Maggie out of the barrel and she collapsed onto the hard rocks. Every inch of her body was soaking wet and she was utterly exhausted. As Maggie looked around her, the dwarves were quickly getting back on their feet, Thorin being the first among them to do so. Maggie tried to meet Thorin's eyes but he looked away. As he did so, Maggie could tell that something was...off but she couldn't quite figure out what it was. Beside her, Kili groaned as he tried standing up and Maggie moved over to him, followed by Fili and Oin.
"Kili." Maggie said. "Shit, you need help."
"I'm fine." Kili lied as he pulled his leg up. "It's nothing." The mud and grit around the exit wound had become enmeshed with raw pink flesh and was spotted with blood. Fili sat down next to his brother, a worried expression on his face and he turned to the others.
"Kili's wounded!" he called out "His leg needs binding!"
Thorin didn't listen and his moved around their immediate surroundings, scouting for any sign of trouble. "There's an orc pack on our tail, we keep moving."
"To where?" Balin asked and Maggie could hear a hint of fear and annoyance.
"The mountain." Bilbo's words were matter-of-factly but as with everything, Maggie had a feeling that it wasn't going to be so straightforward.
"A lake lies between us and that mountain." Balin explained "We have no way to cross it."
"So then we go around." Bilbo persisted and Maggie had to admire her friend's undying belief that anything could be accomplished.
"Thorin!" Maggie protested. "He needs help."
"The orcs will run us down as sure as daylight." Dwalin said. "With no weapons to defend ourselves."
Thorin paced back and forth impatient for a while, still ignoring Maggie and then walked up to Kili. "Bind his leg, quickly." Thorin said to Oin. "You have two minutes."
When Maggie finally met Thorin's eyes for a brief moment, something in his glance scared her. There was a different kind of intensity and anger that she hadn't seen before and it worried her. Of course, Maggie knew that she didn't have to be the reason for this change of attitude, after all their situation was stressful to say the least. Even so, something had changed and she could feel it.
"Maggie, " Oin said. "Help me with this."
Oin's request brought Maggie back to their present situation .She turned to help him and Fili to hold down Kili, while Oin dressed the wound. Kili groaned in pain and the arrow wound oozed with blood. It was going to take more than two minutes to help Kili but Thorin was just going to have to deal with it. As she held down Kili, Maggie glanced around her to get a sense of bearing. They were at the port of a lake and there was forest around them. The company took a few moments to gather their strength but as they did, a small cry was heard from Ori. Instinctively Maggie turned around, expecting the worst but what she saw was the silhouette an archer. He stood atop one of the rocks, aiming his bow at Ori and within seconds the dwarves were aiming whatever weapons they had left at him.
"Do it again," he threatened. "And you're dead."
Bard, Maggie thought. Bard stepped out from the shadows, his bow still aimed at the dwarves and the tension between them thick. While they were all still exhausted, Maggie knew they wouldn't hesitate to jump into another combat but it would dumb. She quickly searched for a less violent solution and then saw Bard's barge which was tied up, a few paces from them. Okay, Maggie. Think, what would Ri do if he were here.
"Excuse me, Sir!" Maggie stood up, leaving Kili in Oin and Fili's capable hands. Carefully, she held up her hands, not wanting to risk anything. The dwarves and Bilbo turned to her with worried faces, as if she was about to do something terribly stupid. "You're from Lake Town, aren't you? I can't tell you how relieved we are to see you."
Bard's eyes carefully examined Maggie, with the same confused expression she had seen others before her. Despite her ninety-five percent certainty that Bard was going to hurt her, Maggie still felt heart thud heavier in her chest at the thought of those remaining five percent. Finally, Bard relaxed his bow and Maggie lowered her hands.
"I am." he admitted with a wary voice. "But you are not. Our town is small and I know all its faces. Yours is one I have not seen before, but I think that you do not hail from these parts. From where do you travel, lady…?"
"Maggie." Maggie said. "My name is Maggie. Now, I've given you my name, I believe it is only polite to ask yours." Bard took a few steps forward and Maggie hoped he bought into the faux-niceties.
"I am Bard." he said "Tell me, Lady Maggie, why does a woman with such an unusual name travel with an even more unusual company?"
Bard was smarter than Maggie had thought. Unlike Legolas though, there was no point in revealing that truth to him but perhaps she could bend it ever so slightly. In that moment, Maggie was grateful for Lord Elrond's history and genealogy lesson's back in Rivendell. Perhaps, with a bit of luck, she could figure something out. When she spoke again, she was surprised at how quickly the lie had created itself.
"I was sent on a diplomatic errand by family and as good Master Balin here is an old friend of my family, he's very graciously allowed me to travel with him and his company." Maggie explained and watched the expressions on Bard's face to try and figure him out. She also looked at Thorin and the rest of the company who remained silent, which Maggie hoped meant that they trusted her enough to lead the conversation.
"What family?" Bard asked "You do not hail from Gondor nor from Rohan, although there is a hint of the wild about you..."
Maggie sighed and couldn't help but be impressed at Bard's intuition. "Seems nothing escapes you, does it Master Bard?" she said calmly, hiding her nerves. "You're right though, I'm not from these parts. My family are descendants from the Lords of Andúnië."
"Andúnië?" Bard seemed to search his mind for a memory. "The Lords of Andúnië were
Númenorean nobility, were they not?"
"Yes." Maggie said. Bard clearly knew his history but this did not surprise her. "Yes, we stem from the House of Elros, half-elven. In fact his brother, Lord Elrond of Rivendell is a very dear friend."
Maggie ignored Thorin's jealous grunt. She had Bard's attention now and the company's as well. A small part of Maggie felt bad for lying to Bard, knowing his part in the events to come but she also knew it was for the better.
"You are Lady of Dúnedain, then?" Bard said. "You are a long way from home."
You have no idea, Maggie thought. Then, as Bard mentioned her being a Lady of Dúnedain, Maggie realised it was actually true, although she had never thought herself any kind of nobility. She barely even supported the Royal Family back in the UK.
"Yes," Maggie acknowledged "I have been spending some time in Rivendell of late, which is where I joined Master Balin and his kin. As I'm sure you're aware, a woman traveling alone in these parts isn't always safe. And well, to be honest with you, we've found ourselves in rather a predicament."
Balin caught on quickly. "That barge over there, wouldn't be available for hire by any chance?"
Bard was still unsure. "What makes you think I would help you?"
"Those boots have seen better days." Balin said and pointed at Bard's torn boots. "As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed? How many bairns?"
"A boy and two girls."
Tilda, Sigrid and Bain, Maggie thought as she listened to Balin, who turned out to be quite the diplomat. Bard slowly seemed to realise that the company meant him no harm but she understood his precaution. They were a strange a lot and he had all reason to doubt their intentions. If Maggie was in his shoes, she would probably doubt them as well.
"And your wife, I imagine." Balin continued. "She is a beauty."
"Aye, she was."
There was a moment of awkward silence while Balin apologized for overstepping boundaries, but Bard turned to Maggie once again. "Dúnedain men are protective of their women, yet you travel without a husband? Why is that?"
"None of your-." Thorin hissed but it was Bilbo who put his hand on Thorin's arm, in an attempt to calm him down. The Son of Thrain was growing restless and tired of this pretence. He was anything but happy with the whole situation but he also knew that if they were to cross the lake before Durin's day, they needed the bargeman's help.
"As it happens." Maggie said calmly, "I'm not married."
"Not yet anyway," Fili mused but Dwalin nudged him in his side
"Ugh, enough with the niceties!" Dwalin snapped
"What's your hurry?" Bard asked and turned around to Dwalin, a moment of tension surged again and Maggie sighed. Dwarves had short temper and Maggie knew they couldn't afford more conflict.
"What's it to you?"
Bard walked over his barge and stepped onboard. "I'd like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands."
"Well, like her Ladyship explained, we are accompanying her from Rivendell. We are simple merchants from the blue mountains and our people have been trading with the folk of Arnor." Balin lied "Right now, we are journeying to see our kin in the iron hills."
"Simple merchants, you say."
Bard was no idiot and Maggie knew enough of Middle-Earth to know that Arnor and the Iron Hills were in opposite directions from each other. She was about to speak again, in an attempt to save the conversation but Thorin stepped forward, impatience and desperation in his eyes.
"We need food, supplies, weapons." Thorin explained anxiously. "Can you help us?"
"I know where these barrels came from." Bard said
"What of it?"
"I don't know what business you had with the elves." Bard stepped towards Thorin. "But I don't think it ended well. No one enters Lake Town by leave of the Master. All his wealth comes from trade with the woodland realm. He would see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil."
"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen." Balin guessed
"Aye." Bard nodded. "But for that you would need a smuggler."
"For which we would pay double."
Ah, Maggie thought, now they were speaking Bard's language.
By some miracle or an extraordinary amount of luck, they managed to enter Lake Town undetected. There had been a serious amount of thick fog as they crossed the icy waters, which reminded Maggie of Wales and she felt a brief moment of homesickness. Travelling in barrels seemed to be a bit of a recurring theme and the incident with fish was something Maggie would rather not speak of again. The fish had caused a bit of trouble at the toll checkpoint, but nevertheless, Bard had kept true to his word and soon enough they were out of the barrel.
"Gross," Maggie brushed as many fishes off her person as possible. If Riley was there now, he would undoubtedly be laughing at her. "Gross, gross, gross."
Bard didn't wait for them and quickly marched along the wooden pathways and bridges that made up the myriad of houses and people that made up Lake Town. As they followed Bard down the streets Maggie noticed how impressive the town was. There were market stalls everywhere, which surprised her for a town that was practically floating on water. It reminded Maggie of similar cities back in her world, such a Venice. Although these days, the Italian city was more or less under water than over it.
Bilbo cast an anxious glance around, him and felt very much out of his comfort zone. "What is this place?" he asked
"This Master Baggins," Thorin said. Maggie was about to reach for Thorin's hand be he merely walked past her in a determined manner. "Is the world of men."
Maggie exchanged a confused glance with Kili and Fili who merely shrugged. It was early morning in Lake Town and the sun was rising above its houses. Men and women were up early, setting up their stalls, preparing for a long day of trading no doubt. Bard lead the way through the jungle of people, Maggie kept an eye on Bilbo, worrying that he'd get lost in the crowd. The market place was bustling and there was a strong scent of fish and tar that filled the air. This, Maggie reminded herself, was the first time in a long while that she actually been around other humans that weren't just her brother. So enchanted was Maggie by the presence of humans, that in her excitement she lost sight of the others.
"Bilbo?" Maggie called out and turned around. "Thorin!"
No sight of them. Maggie ran through a crowd of people, her anxiety once again making itself known. There was no way she'd spot Bilbo, but the others would surely be conspicuous enough to stand out in the crowd.
"Balin!" Maggie shouted. "Bard! Fili!"
"Maggie!" It was Dori who found her and grabbed her hand. Maggie breathed out, relieved. "What in Mahal are you doing? Come on!"
"Halt!"
The voice that stopped them was a guard of what Maggie presumed was the town watch. He was dressed in armour, carrying a giant spear which he pointed at Maggie and Dori.
"In the name of the master of Lake-Town I say halt!" The Guard threatened.
"I don't think so." said Bard who had appeared at their side.
In the next few moments, they made a run for it and the guards followed them. Soon enough, they found the rest of the company, hiding in an alley with some stalls. As the guards came towards them, the dwarves attacked the guards, one by one and dragged their unconscious bodies off into the darkness of the alley. The people of the market simply went about their duties and paid no never mind to the kerfuffle that had just occurred. Eventually, after some searching the remaining guards decided to simply leave the matter alone and the company was able to quickly follow guard through the streets of Lake Town until they were greeted by a young boy, who Maggie thought looked very much like his father.
"Da!" Bain said "Our house is being watched!"
Bain stared at the dwarves, Bilbo and Maggie, not quite sure what to make of them.
"My Lady" Bard said to Maggie, "You come with me..
He turned to the dwarves and Bilbo. "The rest of you will need another way in."
If Riley thought that the Ringwraith tomb was terrifying, then Dol Guldur was taken straight from a nightmare. As he walked through a dead forest, Riley could see the stone fortress standing atop a hill, not far from them. Radagast had, to Riley's surprise, decided to join them and traveled with his sledge of rabbit (which was still surreal). When they finally caught up with Radagast and walked a few paces through the forest, Riley felt nauseated. He couldn't tell what it was, admittedly it wasn't as if they'd been eating regular meals, but this nausea was brought on by something else. The more time they spent away from Maggie and the company, the more worry
"Dol Guldur." Gandalf said. "The hill of sorcery."
"That's what it translates to? Some real imaginative naming there." Riley said, although he knew all too well that the name still brought him more fear than he had ever known.
"It looks completely abandoned." Radagast noted.
"As it's meant to." Gandalf said "A spell of concealment lies over this place."
"What exactly does that mean?" Riley asked
"It means that our enemy is not yet ready to reveal himself."
"Surely that's a good thing, right?" Although Riley had over the duration of their time in Middle-Earth, that things were seldom as easy or good as they seem.
"Yes." Gandalf said. "He has not regained his full strength."
Riley sighed and thank whatever deities he knew now existed. Still, even if Sauron wasn't in full strength, the fact that he was capable of causing so much mayhem and evil this early on was bad. No matter how many times Riley had heard the story of Sauron and the One Ring, he still hadn't fully understood how everything was intertwined and how even small events like Bilbo stepping out of the doors of Bag End, would change everything. At the thought of the hobbit, Riley's heart skipped a beat. After Gandalf's confrontation, he knew there was no point in denying it. Riley Spencer had indeed developed feelings for Bilbo Baggins. Their innocent flirting, glances and short private moments had stirred something in Riley and he wanted to explore. Riley had certainly had partners before, both women and men but just like his sister, he hadn't really known actual love. He had loved people before, but the kind of love that people called "soulmate" or "the one" - no, that was something else entirely. The fact that Gandalf seemed to believe that Bilbo felt the same way, gave Riley a bit of joy but it also scared him some. From what he knew of hobbit customs, same-sex relationships were frowned upon and it certainly wasn't deemed respectable.
"Radagast." Gandalf's voice brought Riley's attention back to their surroundings. "I need you to carry a message to the Lady Galadriel." Gandalf explained "Tell her we must force his hand."
"I don't like the sound of that." Riley said
"Master Riley and I are going in alone." Gandalf continued and turned to the Brown Wizard. "On no account come after us." .
Radagast began walking away. "Do I have your word?"
The Brown Wizard walked away, his hands gesturing in the air. "Yes, yes, yes."
"More climbing," Riley said. "Wonderful. Let's get it over with."
"Da!" A young girl with auburn locks, wearing a blue dress, excitedly ran up to Bard as he walked into his home with Maggie. "Where have you been?"
"Father!" a second girl, whom Maggie assumed was Sigrid, hugged her father as well. "There you are!"
The two young girls turned around to Maggie, their eyes shining with a mix of excitement and confusion. Maggie took a quick look around her, accepting that she was standing Bard's house. Just like the other houses in Lake Town, it rested just above the water which was enough to make Maggie nervous given her disdain for it, but this was not the time to mistrust the engineering work. Bard's house was cozy, if a bit small. Maggie could tell that they were not used to accommodating visitors and certainly not a whole company of dwarves, a hobbit and a strange woman who had been less than truthful about their intent. Still, Bard welcomed them into his home and Maggie made a note to thank him for it later.
"Da, who is this?." Sigrid asked
"She's very pretty." Tilda replied. "Is she a princess?"
Maggie chuckled and was reminded of how she had always loved the innocence of children. She was still soaked in water, freezing cold and reeked of fish, yet young Tilda's first thought was that she was clearly a princess.
"This Lady Maggie." Bard said. "She is a visitor, travelling all the way from Arnor."
"Dúnedain!" Sigrid exclaimed excitedly "Is it just like it's written in the stories?! People from Dúnedain hardly ever visit here!"
"Forgive my daughter," Bard said "She reads a lot and gets very excited."
"That's quite alright."
"Sigrid." Bard turned to his eldest daughter. "Lady Maggie has travelled a long way and is very tired, please can you find some blankets and brew some tea. Rather a lot of it."
As Bard said those words, a strange noise caught the girls' attention and Maggie walked with them to the toilet. It was one of those very old fashioned toilets, often seen outdoors or used when camping. The first dwarf to appear was Dwalin, who threatened them to not speak of this to anyone. Next, Bilbo's head popped up, carrying a sour expression on his face. Then, one by one, the other dwarves literally climbed out of the toilet. Maggie tried to hide a giggle. I wish you could see this, Ri.
"Da." Sigrid said "Why are there dwarves climbing out of our toilet?"
"Will they bring us luck." Tilda asked
"Come on," Maggie said. "I'll help you get those blankets your father asked for."
It took some time but eventually, all the dwarves and Bilbo climbed out of the toilet. All of them unhappy and feeling like their dignity had literally been washed off them. Soon enough though, Sigrid and Tilda had provided the company with blankets and warm mugs of tea and then soup, which Sigrid had made. The girl showed no fear of the dwarves but a little apprehension which was understandable. They took an instant liking to Bilbo and asked him a million questions, which he patiently answered. They'd never seen or barely heard of a hobbit before and having one in their actual house was something their friends would never believe. They were sweet girls, Maggie thought and found that Tilda and Sigrid took a liking to her as well. Nothing strange there seeing as she was a young woman and she assumed it wasn't often they had visitors of the sort.
"They may not be the best fit." Bard said But they'll keep you warm."
"Thank you." Maggie said and she really meant it. Truthfully, other than Bilbo the dwarves had barely said a word to Bard and Maggie felt a bit annoyed. Although she tried her best not to judge. After all, it had been a stressful few days to say the least. Maggie moved to sit next to Thorin but he sat up and walked up to the window, gazing out. What have I done? She thought and caught Dwalin's eye and searched for an answer but he revealed nothing.
Thorin walked up to the window and looked out, staring at the structure that stood in the middle of the town square.
"Dwarvish windlance." Maggie heard him mumble
"You look like you've seen a ghost." Bilbo said as he walked up to him. He had also noticed how Thorin had distanced himself from Maggie and he wondered why. Since admitting their attraction to one another, they hadn't fought or argued. Yet it was clear that Thorin was angry about something.
"He has. The last time he saw such a weapon, a city was on fire." Balin explained "It was the day the dragon came. The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion the lord of the city rallied his bowman to fire upon the beast. But a dragon's hide is tough. Tougher than the strongest armour. Only a black arrow, fired from a windlance could have pierced the dragon's hide. Few of those arrows were ever store was running low when Girion made his last stand."
"Had the aim of men been true that day." Thorin said and glanced over at Maggie. "Much would have been different."
Bilbo listened carefully. "You speak as if you were there."
"All dwarves know the tale." Thorin replied.
The next person who spoke was Bain, who had hardly said anything since the company's arrival. He was less accepting than his sisters, but he obeyed his father nonetheless. "Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon. He loosened the scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast."
"That's a fairy story lad." said Dwalin "Nothing more."
The atmosphere was filled with tension again and Maggie was worried but Thorin changed the subject. "You took our money." Thorin walked up to Bard. "Where are the weapons?"
Bard pondered Thorin's demand for a while, before asking them to wait and then left the house. When he finally had a moment alone with Thorin, Bilbo saw his chance. He wasn't one to meddle in the affairs of others, it wasn't proper to do so. But Thorin and Maggie were both his friends and he wanted to help them if he could. He knew Thorin could be stubborn at the best of times and perhaps this was a matter of some misunderstanding blown out of proportion.
"Why are you angry with her?" Bilbo asked, "With Maggie, I mean."
Thorin turned his attention to Bilbo. The hobbit, he thought, had a keen sense of awareness. More so than Thorin sometimes realised, but it was those senses that had saved their lies on more than one occasion. The Son of Thrain knew that he owed Bilbo more than what he could possibly repay him. It really shouldn't have surprised him, that Bilbo had sensed his current mood.
"What makes you think I am angry?" Thorin asked
"Besides not talking to her?" Bilbo replied "Did something happen in Mirkwood?"
"On this occasion, Master Baggins, I think it best you mind your own business and I will see to mine." Thorin said, perhaps a bit more sharply than he had intended. It had been a very long day and he was not in the mood to deal with any more problems, even if they were his own.
"That'd be great. Except, I promised Riley that I'd look after her and I intend to keep that promise." Bilbo said "I also seem to recall you making the same promise, so I would like to know what changed?"
"So would I."
Bilbo hadn't realised that Maggie was standing there and he felt incredibly self-conscious. Everyone's eyes were on them now and Bilbo could see how worried Maggie was. He also sensed that this could easily turn into something uncomfortable that he didn't much fancy being a part of.
"Thorin," Maggie said "If I've done something wrong, I'd like to know. I'm not a child, I'm an adult and I'd appreciate it if you treated me with that respect."
There was silence for a while as Thorin seemed to deliberate what Maggie had just said. He then turned to her. "You mean the same respect you showed me, when you told that elf princeling our secrets and your truth."
Maggie was confused. "...What?'
And then it hit her. Thorin had heard Maggie's conversation with Legolas in Mirkwood. She had all but forgotten how dwarves had a keen sense of sight and hearing. Thorin must have heard everything, from telling Legolas about the events in the Hobbit and following the Lord of the Rings. Granted, she hadn't revealed everything to Legolas but she had revealed enough and it was something she hadn't even told Thorin. Maggie's heart was beating fast now, desperate to think of a way to diffuse the situation before Thorin's temper got the best of him. She was also acutely aware of the stares from everyone around her. The last thing Maggie wanted was for them to think of her as a traitor and she hadn't revealed anything that would damage their quest to Erebor.
"What did you tell him, lass?" Balin asked.
Thorin replied instead of Maggie. "That we, all of this, are mere fairy stories in her world." his voice got sharper. "Fairy stories or prophecies that tell of great wars and awful things to come. Things that would help us but that she and her brother chose to keep it to themselves. Except I forget, you told that elf-princeling."
"Is it true?" Fili asked "Did you tell him?"
Maggie felt a panic take hold inside her. She hoped that the other dwarves would understand her if she explained it to them.
"Yes, it's true." Maggie said and turned to the company."Where Riley and I are from, all of these events are stories that our father read us as children. They even got made into movies but that's besides the point. When you first found us back in Trollshaw, Gandalf warned us to not tell you because knowing too much of one's future is never a good thing. We also weren't and still aren't sure if our presence here changes things for the worse or better and that terrifies both of us."
Maggie could some hints of understanding in the eyes of the other dwarves but she turned around to Thorin and saw the anger grow in Thorin.
"We were trapped in there and I had to tell him!" Maggie said. "Legolas is on our side now. He could have chosen to stop us and taken us back to his father's prison but he didn't, because I told him."
"He is a son of King Thranduil!" Thorin wouldn't listen to reason and his voice was rising in volume. "King Thranduil who turned his back against our people when we came seeking his help! Then again, it seems as though you have a penchant for making friends with our enemies."
"They are your enemies, Thorin!" Maggie snapped at him, her panic and anxiety had turned to anger. She knew she had screwed up by telling Legolas and she was willing to accept the consequences of that, but she still believed that it had been the right choice to make. Thorin's hatred for the elves made him blind to all other reasoning. "Not mine or my brother's! I understand that you hate Thranduil, I really do because I hate him too! But Legolas is not like his father!" Maggie felt a flush of heat on her face. "He is a good person and I really believe...no I know that he will do what's right. You need him as an ally."
Thorin walked up to Maggie now standing a mere inch from her face, his hand resting against the wooden wall behind her and his icy blue eyes stared into hers.
"What do you know of what I need?" Thorin hissed. "I was foolish to think I knew you when you so easily betray those you claim to…."
His voice trailed off and they stood there for a while.
"Elrond was right about you." Maggie whispered and realised how her voice was shaking.
"Well, maybe you should go back to that Elf-Lord of yours, then!" Thorin shouted, his hand punching the wall behind him and then he turned away from Maggie. "This was a mistake. You should never have come here."
"Thorin…"
"GO!" He bellowed "LEAVE!"
Maggie didn't need to be told twice. Despite Bilbo's calls after he, she ran out the front door and past a confused Bard and didn't look back.
The whole thing, Riley thought, felt like being in the middle of Inception. There were staircases upon staircases, twisting and twirling around each other in an impossible and never-ending labyrinth. They passed through a small archway of dead trees, an open space and a sort of courtyard. Compared to the other places Riley had seen so far, this felt...dead. At least, nothing human or otherwise good dwelt within these walls. As they walked, Gandalf commanded something in a language that Riley could not understand. Using magic, a force of power shot off from his staff in such an intense shockwave that Riley had to grab onto something. After that, Riley could swear he heard whispering and carefully followed Gandalf walked forward. They ventured further into the darkness of Dol Guldur and Riley began to lose his sense of orientation and uneasy. They passed by several iron cages and the oldest Spencer wondered what used to be be held captive in them.
Then, something landed on Riley from one of the upper levels of the fortress. To his utter surprise, it was a dwarf. Or at least Riley thought it was because in all honesty, it was difficult to deal from the creatures mad ramblings and aggressive nature. The dwarf fought Gandalf and then it climbed onto Riley again, digging its sharp nails into Riley's shoulders until Gandalf knocked him over. The dwarf took off and they ran after him into the darkness, where they heard more growls and Riley knew exactly who they belonged to. Wargs, he thought, wonderful.
"Gandalf!" Riley called out "Wait!"
The dwarf jumped onto Gandalf again, mad with rage. Gandalf grabbed the creature and held it down to the ground with his staff, while chanting something in another strange language until the dwarf calmed down. When he did, the dwarf sat up and a look of both surprise and almost a sort of sadness appeared on the wizard's face.
"Thrain...son of Thror. My old friend." Gandalf said
"Gandalf?" Thrain sat up "A lifetime. I've been here a lifetime."
Riley watched as the two friends reunited and in that moment, he also felt sorry for Gandalf. All this time, he always taken him for a wizard who loved going on adventures and sometimes even causing a bit of trouble but Gandalf was an Istari, sent by the Valar to protect the peoples of Middle-Earth. Riley imagined that such a duty sometimes came at a great cost and wasn't always successful.
"I'm so sorry I gave you up for dead." Gandalf said
Thrain looked around "I had a son."
Riley had almost forgotten who Thrain was. "Oh my god." he said You're Thorin's dad."
The dwarf king turned around to Riley and inspected him cautiously. "You know my wee lad?'
"Yeah you could say that." Riley explained "Although not as intimately as my sister."
My sister, Riley thought and once more his mind drifted to Maggie and the company. He wondered what they were doing and could only hope that they'd arrived in Lake Town by now and if things were going well, they'd have met Bard.
"You will see him again, my friend." Gandalf promised. "Come, we must leave."
"Best news I've heard all day." Riley said.
They wasted no time helping Thrain up and quickly marching back through the dark corridors of Dol Guldur. "The orcs have taken Moria." Thrain explained "War, we were at war and I was surrounded. The Defiler. Azog the Defiler had come."
"Yeah, he's still around." Riley said. " Really starting to hate him."
"Come on, let's get you out of here."
"There is no way out!" Thrain panicked "They will stop you! The serpents will stop you!
While Thrain spoke, Riley was distracted by something odd that he hadn't expected. As he looked at the doorway they'd just strepped through, he swore he saw the climbing vines moving and swaying unnaturally. Almost as if they were alive.
"What the fuck…"
"It's an illusion." Gandalf explained but even Riley could see that the wizard was scared. "Thrain, what have they done to you."
Thrain ignored Gandalf and asked another question. "Have you kept them safe Gandalf? The key and the map?"
"I gave them to Thorin. You will be glad of it." Gandalf assured him "He has taken up the quest to reclaim Erebor. Master Riley and his sister Margaret have been sent to help them. He'll retrieve the Arkenstone, the seven armies of the dwarves will answer to a new king."
Instead of being relieved that the key and map were safe, Thrain manically backed away muttering inaudible words to himself. Riley watched in horror. He had heard of madness before, but actually seeing it someone else was a different feeling altogether. One that he did not like.
"NO!" Thrain protested. "Thorin must not go near Erebor! Nobody must enter that mountain!"
"Why?" Riley asked not realising he was whispering
"Hurry!" Thrain commanded "We must hurry!"
Thrain was desperate for them to get out of Dol Guldur and Riley couldn't blame him. There was no telling how long the orcs had kept him there and Riley did not want to meet that same fate. Unfortunately though, seconds later Azog and army of orcs ambushed them. In an instant they were surrounded by orcs and wargs, ready to attack at Azog's command. The Pale Orc spoke words in the black speech Riley couldn't understand but then looked at him and said something which he knew was directed at him. Riley watched as Gandalf used his staff to hold the orcs in one place, with it's magic.
"Where is your master!" Gandalf shouted "Where is he!?"
It worked for a while, but as the orcs mocked him, Gandalf lost control of the staff and the orcs marched forward.
"Run Master Riley." Gandalf said. "RUN!"
They ran and Riley ran faster than he ever thought possible. Wargs followed them in close pursuit. As they Gandalf made a tower collapse onto the yelping wargs. For a brief moment, Riley thought that maybe they'd made it. He wished hadn't been so hopeful because they were stopped by dark shadow. Riley knew immediately who it was. It spoke to Gandalf in the Black Speech but Riley heards its unnatural voice in his head.
"Your fate is sealed, Son of Amandil." the voice hissed. "Who is here to rescue you now? Not even the Wizard can keep you safe. I look forward to seeing you and your sister in my domain."
Riley could see everything play out in front of him, as if somebody was playing a movie of things yet to come. He saw battle, he saw his sister lifeless body on the ground and a huge army marching towards Erebor.
Thrain turned to Riley who regained focus. "This sister of yours. Does he love her?"
Riley only nodded. "Yes but I don't under-"
It was too late. The shadow reached out and grabbed Thrain, pulling it into the darkness with him and just like that the Son of Thror was gone from them. Riley felt powerless, a great sphere of light surrounded them from Gandalf's staff but it did little to protect them. The darkness completely surrounded them and Riley's heart felt heavy, as if a different power took over.
The suddenly, from within the light of Gandalf's magic, Riley could swear he saw a familiar face but the shadow kept attacking Gandalf and Riley was helpless. He was no wizard or wielder of magic. It made him question why he'd been chosen to come along on this quest in the first place. Then, something much worse appeared and Riley finally understood what the meaning of true fear was. A fiery chasm, in the shape of an eye, then in the shape of a person walking out towards them.
Gandalf's staff disintegrated and the wizard cried out.
"I am sorry Riley." he apologised. "I should never have brought you here."
Riley felt himself being lifted up by the force of the fire and cast against a wall. He tried not to look at it but it was too compelling, even though the heat burned his skin.
"You are weak, Son of Amandil." the fire taunted "Just like your father and brother before you. You have failed them and your bloodline. Your sister will die in that mountain and your body will rot away here."
The fortress collapsed around and beneath them.
"You will never see light again."
To be continued….
Geesh, there's a lot to unpack in this chapter. First, Maggie and Thorin's argument. Will they kiss and make up? Who is in the right?
Then we have Gandalf and Riley, what will happen to them?
Will Bard catch onto what's really going on with the company?
let me know what you think