Chapter Seven

"Stay behind me, don't do anything stupid."

No sooner after Thorin said that, three men lunged for the hobbit prince. The one closest to him was quickly slain by Thorin's blade, Bilbo watched the blood trickle down the silver steele. Blood pooling beside the dead body. Wide green eyes looked around the inn, everyone had their own weapons out but non made any moves towards them. Bilbo quickly took out his dagger from under his sleeve, careful to keep his eyes on the two remaining men and sizing them up for good measure. He didn't have Silencer with him but he would be able to do about as much damage.

"We need to get out of here. Where are the rest of the company and L'vren?" Bilbo moved closer to the dwarrow, making sure to keep his voice low. Thorin tensed up at the proximity, yet he didn't acknowledge the question.

"Let us leave, and there won't be anymore bloodshed. You have no business with us."

The man in the middle smirked, " No business? This dwarf and hobbit are non other than crown Prince Thorin and Prince Bilbo." The man announced, pointing his shiny blade at each of them.

Bilbo flinched as all eyes were drawn to them, he hid behind Thorin but kept his dagger at ready, Thorin clutched the hilt of his sword, his blue eyes not giving anything away. Things were going to get messy, with no one to back them up they had little to no chance of getting out alive. Bilbo would have liked to know where the company was. Knowing little of Thorin, Bilbo had to guess he had ordered them to keep away. Why? He had no idea.

"There's a large bounty on the both of you, wonder what the Goblin King wants with you, hobbit." The man in the middle pointed his blade at Bilbo, his brown eyes dripping with malice. Biblo shuffled away from Thorin, showing more than half of his body and gave a defiant stare. Without thinking about it his arms rose up in front of him, dagger in his right hand and close to his face. The other hand protecting his midsection. He was curious as to why the Goblin King wanted him, but he guessed it had to be related to the previous Goblin King slain by non other than Bandobras Took so long ago. That was a possibility, for the mean time he was not going to find out if he was right or not, he had other plans that involved reaching the mountain...reaching Frerin.

Thorin felt the hobbit move away from him, his earlier warning were being ignored. He turned his head to the side but kept his eyes forward, "Halfling, don't do any-" His words were cut off by Bilbo's scream. The prince turned around just in time to see a figure stand behind Bilbo, their arms wrapping around the hobbits small frame before another man stepped in front of him and obscured his view of Bilbo. Last thing he saw was Bilbo squirm in the man's hold, his dagger nowhere to be seen. "BILBO!"

Two days later.

There was a faint rocking motion that progressively turned erratic and bumpy. The first thought Bilbo had upon waking up was Thorin, he was the last person he saw before everything went black so he guessed that was why he thought of him first. Not wanting to think too much on that he let out a grunt at the sudden light, he blinked then focused on his surroundings. Metal bars greeted his vision, he was in a cage..and not alone. The cage was small so the other person was crammed close to him, Bilbo cocked his head taking notice that it was a dwarrow and part of the company. Recalling all the members of Thorin's company he couldn't figure out who was with him.

Taking his eyes off the dwarrow Bilbo placed his focus and attention to his surroundings. Knowing he was in a cage told him he had been captured, he remembered someone taking him away from Thorin but from that point on he had no recollection. Glancing to the side he reared back at the face that greeted him. A older man dresses in poor attire held his gaze with a broad smile, loose skin stretching around his face.

"The hobbits awake, had a good nap?" The man chuckled, Bilbo glowered but kept his mouth shut. If he knew anything about getting captured it was to not talk or say anything that would

further endanger one's life. L'vren told

him as much. He knew when fighting was necessary.

"Not much of a talker. You will be when the Goblin King gets a hold of you. Heard their torture methods are renowned." A slight shudder ran down the hobbits body, he tried containing it but the wide smirk on the man's face grew wider. With nothing else to say the man walked ahead, shouting at the driver of the carriage.

Releasing a heavy sigh, Bilbo closed his eyes in an attempt at calming his erratic heartbeat, his thoughts were jumbled with so many question he didn't know where to start. One thing that worried him was if Thorin and the company were looking for him? Was Gandalf using his magic to locate them, Bilbo scoffed at the idea. There was so much a wizard could do and tracking seemed far fetched. Smiling at his imagination Bilbo opened his eyes at the feeling of being watched, across from him a pair of dull grey eyes with strong eyebrows studied him. Bilbo opened and closed his mouth but no words came out. His actions only made the dwarrow scrutinize him further. "Uhm...glad you're okay."

"Hmpf." There went his attempt to a conversation, the dwarrow whose name he didn't know looked around just as he had. Bilbo said nothing else, he stood still watching the dwarrow test the metal bars. "What's your name?"

The dwarrow halted his ministrations, his head turned to the hobbit but didn't utter a word, his eyes had a faraway look as if trying to figure out if he should tell him or not.

"Dwalin." The hobbit prince cocked his head to the side, he looked familiar but he just couldn't place him. He wondered how he could have not remembered him, he had unforgettable features. Shiney bald head with tattoos covering it, hair grew on the sides of his head that connected to his sideburns and mustache, his beard just as long.

"How, uh...did you end up here?"

Dwalin raised a heavy eyebrow, his hands let go of the bars before sitting in a comfortable position. "Unlike you I wasn't captured easily. The company was close enough to the inn when we saw you being carried away from one of the five men. I ordered them to help Thorin while I went to retrieve you, didn't go as planned as you can see." Crossing his arms, Dwalin turned back to the metal bars, his eyes trying to find a weak point.

Bilbo was silent, his brain processing the news, there had been more men in their group? It was just the three he remembered facing not... five. One thing that made no sense to Bilbo was how Dwalin knew there were five men in total.

"How did you know there were five men after Thorin and I? There were only three." Dwalin froze, grey eyes wide but his features relaxed all too soon, not giving anything away. "How did you know?!"

Bilbo nearly screamed. Dwalin turned his head and said nothing. If Dwalin knew how many men were out to get them, did that mean Gandalf knew as well? Thorin? Why?

Bilbo was ready to repeat the question when another voice beat him to it.

"Want to know little Prince?" It was a different man this time, he looked younger with ash brown hair and brown eyes. A quiver of arrows and brow were strapped on his back. Instead of keeping his mouth shut, Bilbo urged the man for answers. Dwalin only glared.

"We knew you would be coming, any reasonable person would stop in Bree for provisions. It was just our luck that the dwarf prince noticed us."

"That doesn't sound like a good thing."

"But it was. You were bait."

"Shut your filthy mouth,human." Dwalin growled, Bilbo's eyes fell to his laps, his hand were curled into fists and a barely noticeable tremble ran through his body. The hobbit prince knew he wasn't liked by many of the company, Gandalf was the only exception but now it seemed like even the wizard had betrayed him on some level. "We made sure the dwarf overheard our plan. Simple, really. Once you all left we would go up to your room and take you," The man let out a laugh, "We didn't think he would make things easy for us. He sent the rest of your protection out and left you all by yourself. How does it feel knowing that your protectors used you?" Letting the words sink in the man walked away with a proud smile on his face.

The weather matched Bilbo's mood. Rain poured down soaking him whole, his piece of bread was untouched, Dwalin had tried speaking to him but Bilbo ignored all attempts. He didn't want to hear anymore lies coming from the dwarrow. His trust would not be gained easily, he didn't know who to place it on anymore. Would they use him again if he opportunity showed itself? How would his life be at the mountain? He missed home, missed the familiarity that the Shire brought him. He knew he was safe there but knowing his grandfather hid something from him made him feel out of place. Especially what the man had said about his kin being in danger. They all hid things from him. What was his true purpose? Was the marriage contract all a ruse. Tears prickled at the corner of his eyes, the cold rain making his body shiver uncontrollably. In that moment he didn't care if he got sick, if he didn't eat. His desire was to be away from everything, from the company. The rain didn't stop, it continued on like that for almost a whole week straight, the men getting restless and more aggravating.

"Abandoned farm! We'll take shelter there. Inform the others." The carriage moved swiftly through the pebbled trail, Bilbo furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Looking closely at the farm, Bilbo knew by just looking at the home that it was too new to have collapsed in on itself, crops were newly seeded and there seemed to be some type of struggle. Something was off about everything. "Trolls."

"What?"

Bilbo pointed at the torn tree beside the farm, "See that tree, it's in pieces."

"Lightening." Bilbo shook his head. "Lightning couldn't have caused that, something strong enough did that."

"And you thinks it's Trolls. They don't travel around these parts."

"That's what I thought about Orcs."

Five men surrounded the cage, " Need to relieve yourself?" One asked. Bilbo nodded. "Too bad, you'll have to hold it in." He let out a chuckle but not before hitting the bars with a stick. Bilbo glowered but said nothing. The five men huddled around their makeshift campfire, a pot of soup hanged above it, the sweet aroma reaching Bilbo's nose. His stomach growled in response. Now, he regretted not eating, this would surely be bad for him. He could already tell his clothes had begun to loosen. The storm had subsided for the mean time, night had taken over but a few men still loitered around. Others took turns drinking out of a wine skin, some visibly drunk. "We need to get out."

"How ar-" A rustling to the left made Dwalin shut his mouth, he wasn't the only to hear it, several of the men stood alert, the man with he quiver and bow got into a stance. Bilbo held his breath, he knew the fire would only draw attention to them, he just hoped that if it If was trolls that they would not be noticed. That went out the window when the carriage was in the air. Bilbo and Dwalin held onto the bars, the men scrambled to their feet with their weapons out. It was useless, two figures came out to the clearing the small fire illuminating their ugly features. "Trolls!" Yells were heard, but soon ended as the two trolls gathered the men.

"What are ye?" A huge eyeball stared at the hobbit and dwarrow, "Can we eat them?"

Authors note. I apologize for not updating for a month- no excuses. Good news I got chapter eight done. Trying to get more chapters done ahead of time. That way I can post regularly again. Anyways, hoped the chapter was enjoyed, till next update, adios.