Chapter Eight
Bilbo wondered if the night could get any longer than it already was, he supposed his life could be worse. Three trolls stood over a fire, two men were tied to a rotating stick above a huge fire, sweat ran down their dirtied faces as they screamed for help. Loud crunching sounds grated on Dwalin's nerves as the other two humans were dismembered in front of them, blood oozing down the trolls chins as they savored each body part. Bilbo's stomach churned at the sight, his hunger quickly
forgotten. The hobbit may not want the dwarrows help after the revelation, but he knew if he wanted to get out alive they needed to work together. Judging from the night sky he could already see a faint outline of light forming at the horizon. Dawn was approaching, at the rate they were going, the hobbit and dwarrow would be devoured any minute if they didn't do anything.
There had to be a way to prolong things. No one would save them, their cage the only thing separating them from the trolls. As long as they had that, their death sentence would be longer.
"Hey Bert, cook those birdies." One troll said, the one named Bert got up and moved towards the cage, both Bilbo and Dwalin shrunk into each other.
"Birdies? What are ye'?"
Bilbo lookedat his companion, he wasn't going to say anything or help in any way so it was up to him. "Uh, a pri-hobbit." He was so close of giving his real identity away, he didn't know if theses troll were aligned with the Goblin King or if his position in life would do any good. He was not going to risk it in case it made their situation worse than it already was.
"A prihobbit? Can we eat it?"
"How do we cook it?"
"Oh no,no. I can't be cooked."
Bert narrowed his eyes,"And why not!" He got close and personal to the cage, Bilbo gulped and kept his hands hidden behind his back, the shaking too much to bear. Facing a troll would be one fascinating story to tell one day, maybe even write it. Erasing those thoughts away, Bilbo focused at the task at hand.
"I'm am filled with many, horrendous diseases. Ones never even heard of." Dwalin wasn't helping, he scoffed at the statement and shook his head at the hobbit prince.
Bilbo turned his head towards Dwalin, ready to give him a warning to go along with it or just not comment on anything. His green eyes fixed on the dwarrow, mouth open he quickly closed it noticing a shadow run through the dark forest. He squinted but couldn't see anything, even from the light coming from the fire he couldn't distinguish anything through the forest. It was probably nothing, Bilbo wouldn't dare hope for the company. "Oi, I'm talkin' to ye!"
"Cook him!"
Bilbo in a panic turned around and looked up at the rising figure of Bert, he took the cage in his hands and pried the metal bars open without any trouble. Dwalin and Bilbo both reared back, pressing their backs against the other side. Bert placed the cage upside down, from his view, the height was high and if they fell they would suffer some serious injuries.
"Don't let go." Bilbo said out loud, his hands wrapping around the bars, Dwalin following right behind him. It was no use, with one shake of his hand, the troll successfully got them out.
The landing was just as he had imagined it , Bilbo landed harshly on his shoulder, arm and wrist. Pain shot through his arm at the impact. Squeezing his eyes at the onslaught of pain, he bit his tongue to stop the cry from leaving his lips, warm copper filled his mouth almost making him gag. A single tear fell down his eyes as he opened them, Dwalin was a few feet away from him and from what he could see, the dwarrow was scrambling to his feet. The hobbit knew they stood no chance. He was disoriented from that fall, he was unsure of what was happening around him. Bilbo tried moving away from the trolls hands but was too slow, he curled in on himself waiting to be lifted up. Nothing, he felt nothing. Removing his arms around his head, he lifted his head and that's when he noticed Dwalin standing above him with his back to him, the quiver of arrows on the ground beside him. Bow and arrow ready to aim. One of the trolls tried reaching for them again when the arrow sailed through the air hitting one of the troll's eyes.
With a cry of pain the creature clutched his eye, the other two went to attack but Dwalin stopped them. "Touch this hobbit and I will take out that Trolls other eye." His bow moved slightly to the left, arrow already aimed at the other eye. The bleeding troll cursed but said nothing else. Dwalin spared him one glance, nodding at him Bilbo shakily stood up. He ignored the pain from his arm and shoulder. Words were about to be spoken but a war cry interrupted them, Bilbo watched in amazement as Thorin's company appeared through the darkened forest. Bilbo let out a relieved sigh as L'vren made his way towards him. "My prince," He kneeled beside the hobbit, his eyes roaming all over the hobbits face and body, "Are you injured?" Bilbo had no clue as to what was going on around him, the company fought; their blades sinking into the trolls thick skin, many unfortunately were shoved by the back of the Trolls hands but that didn't stop them from getting back up and fighting. Bilbo felt L,vren's hands on his chin turning his face from side to side, "You're bleeding." The hobbit prince smiled at his protector before placing his hands atop L'vren's own, "I'm fine, really. It was just from the fall." L,vren wasn't convinced, but he would keep his worries for another time.
"Stop, or we'll kill it."
"Ye, drop ye weapons."
With the help of his personal guard, Bilbo tentatively stood and looked over to where the commotion was happening. Each of the trolls held at least one part of crown prince Thorin, Bilbo's eyes landed on Thorin's own and neither one looked away. He could tell just by looking at him that he wanted his people to continue fighting even if that meant his own death. Anger settled in, for the past week he had time to mull over the revelation of being used. Even if he had seen the other's point of view in the matter it was still wrong and a deep part of Bilbo would forever feel betrayed by those around him. A small yet noticeable figure appeared on a hill made of rock, Bilbo sent Thorin a smirk and in return the dwarrow furrowed his eyebrows.
"Go ahead eat him."
"What!" The whole company exclaimed, except for Dwalin, for the first time he seemed to know what the hobbit was planning. "There's seemed to be a lot of people wanting him, you would do us a favor by eating him." L'vren easily got into a protective stance in front of his prince, he growled as one member of the company broke away from the group and stalked towards them.
"I should kill you for just thinking that. Royalty or not." The hobbit let it out an exasperated sigh, there was not time to explain anything, he needed the trolls distracted for five more minutes. "I don't think your prince would mind dying." Bilbo said as he shrugged. "Or am I wrong to have assumed that, Thorin?" Bilbo didn't miss the way Thorin's eyes filled with fear and a deep part of Bilbo relished at it.
That did it, the dwarrow balled his hands into first, his honey brown eyes furiously tracking Bilbo's movements. The anger he saw didn't affect him in anyway, he was trained to remain cool in any situation so far he had not done a good job of it earlier since his capture. The dwarrows temper matched the same color of his Wild hair, red and unwavering, his walking axe was now in his hands swinging from side to side. L'vren looked at his prince for permission but all he got was a shake of his head. To the amazement of everyone , they stared in confusion as the royal guard laid his weapon down and moved away from the hobbit. The red haired warrior faltered in his step but continued onwards. Following behind him like a shadow was another dwarrow with brown hair that separated into three high strands almost like a star; in his hands were five throwing knives.
Bilbo narrowed his eyes at the shadow and anger rose inside him as his eyes landed on something no one but him was allowed to handle. For a brief second Bilbo looked over at the rock formation and then at the trolls, they were distracted just like he wanted them to. Without warning Bilbo ducked under as the great axe swung above him, using that as an advantage he swept his foot underneath the warriors own. The dwarrow fell forward but it didn't last long as he was already on his feet. The hobbit stood up and barley blocked an attack from the other dwarrow, Bilbo kept moving as the knives slashed across his face and body barely missing him. There was an opening, if he timed his attack right he would be able to avoid the incoming axe and knives at the same time, he just hoped he had enough time. Bilbo timed each strike of the blade, and at the same time keeping a mindful eye at the red haired warrior. So far he hadn't made any moves to attack.
Block after block Bilbo noticed that dwarrow slow his attacks , fatigue settling in but that didn't show on his face. "Enough!" Bilbo shouted, with three swift moves Bilbo had the dwarrow pinned to the floor, his sword passed down to him by Bandobras Took was in his hands; the blade laid underneath the dwarrows neck. "Now Gandalf!" Bilbo never took his eyes off the dwarrow as he gave the order. He heard the commotion, the screams coming from the trolls as the light of dawn turned them into stone.
"Never touch this blade. Ever. Again." Fierce green eyes regarded the dwarrow beneath him, he gave a nod and Bilbo stood up then walked over to the stone trolls that decorated the middle of the forest. The fire still raged but there was one rage that would not be sated so easily. Bilbo patiently waited until prince Thorin was released from the stone hands that still entrapped him, it took a while but he was finally
free. During that time Bilbo was grateful that no one approached him, he needed time to think on what he was going to do after the everything. Stalking forward with Silencer in his grip, Bilbo sent glares to anyone that tried coming towards him, he gave a shake of his head when the two princes looked like they wanted to run to him.
"Half-" Bilbo gave no warning, as soon as he stood in front of Thorin, his arms swung back before slamming his fist onto the crown princes face. Thorin stumbled backwards, his hand cupping his face before looking down at the angry hobbit before him. "You will never use me as bait. Do. You. Understand?"
"You found out…" It was statement, and Bilbo didn't want to hear anything else from Thorin.
"I don't want you to ever get close to me, prince Thorin."
Author's note; I'm sorry but I had to end it that way. Anyways, hoped the chapter was enjoyed by all! And don't worry, Bilbo and Thorin will come back to each other...eventually. Until next update- also chapter nine is in the works- will have it ready by next update. Adios.
