Chapter Fourteen
Bilbo tore his gaze from Thorin as the crowd grew louder and louder. He barely noticed the figure that emerged from a hidden doorway, he couldn't tell who they were but from their physical state, they had been through worse than he had. Bilbo massaged his wrists as he watched some of the Company leave his side and make it towards the figure. Squinting his eyes at the stranger, Bilbo was distracted when the sounds of cheering filled the arena. His eyes roamed from the spectators to spectator until they landed on Thorin. The soon to be King was on his knees, their blue eyes filled with pent up rage that it made Bilbo shudder in fear.
It pained him to see Thorin in such a state. The urge to reach for him was overwhelming that Bilbo stood up but fell back down due to his injuries. Biting his lower lip he let the pain subside but his eyes never left Thorin, the emotion he was displaying was different, it couldn't compare to the emotion he sent when he saw Bilbo. What had caused such reaction? Who exactly was the stranger?
"Why...why is he like that?" Bilbo asked no one. Kili let out a pained sigh , "Because of family, that man is our Unc-"
"Witness how I kill everyone you care for, starting with the hobbit." Kili was cut off as the Goblin King spoke, the rest of his kin screamed in delight. Bilbo gulped at the implication. He trembled on the spot, his emotions out for everyone to see. If they were going to attack, Bilbo was in no condition to fight whatsoever, he was a liability to everyone including Thorin. A thought crossed his mind reminding him that he was a Prince. And as Prince there was a certain image on had to uphold. Raising his head up, Bilbo mustered his best glare. He was a Prince, he would not let the situation get the better of him. Bilbo went to stand up but stopped as the rest of the Company made their way to him and surrounded him in a circle blocking his view of everything.
Bilbo could only watched as Dwalin unceremoniously threw the unfamiliar figure inside the circle with him. It wasn't lost to Bilbo how Dwalin sneered at the stranger.
"Protect them at all cost!"
"We have no weapons-"
"We are outnumbered." Bilbo tried speaking out but it did nothing, he was ignored. Turning to his right he got a good look at the stranger. Thick, matted blonde hair hung around the dwarrows shoulders, a few strands were cut in various lengths which blocked their face. Their hair almost the same shade as Fili's."Are you okay?" Bilbo regretted his words. Of course he wasn't, who would be? After however long they had been imprisoned, it would be wise to tread carefully around them, Bilbo got his response as the strangers head came up, his piercing emerald eyes met Bilbo's hazel-green ones. Eyes that looked familiar.
Breath hitching, Bilbo caught the gasp before it left his lips. Those eyes looked so familiar, something about its color reminded him of a painting...a painting that he was a unable to bring. A painting of a certain blonde that should be in the Iron hills with his uncle Dane for protection and not there with them. They were the eyes of his...No! Eyes widening the hobbit shook his head and quickly looked away his eyes searching for those blue orbs through the gaps between the Company. Those blue eyes that would confirm his suspicions, that would tell him he was wrong, that they...they had a future. He found them. The Hobbit Prince broke in that instant, his whole world shattering around him. Tears blinded him and Bilbo did what he had to do for the pain to stop. He let out a pained scream. He didn't care what others thought of him, nothing mattered except for the pain that filled his heart. The way Thorin showed him the truth without uttering one single word. His expression was enough confirmation.
That man, that stranger...was Frerin his betroth, the Prince he was promised to. It all came crashing back to him, he completely forgotten about the contract, about the life he would be living. Thorin had somehow taken that place. Now, Bilbo has lost it all. He dare not look at Thorin, what could he do? How would he be able to take the pain away? Had Thorin lied to him about his brother were a whereabouts? Did he know Frerin had been captured? A throbbing pain came to Bilbo's head, he pressed his fingers to his temple willing everything to go away.
The whole place quieted down, the goblins curiously watching the hobbit break down, the Company watched in sorrow as they knew what was happening to the Hobbit. There was one that felt Bilbo's pain. Thorin. "Has the Hobbit figured it out?" The Goblin King cackled. His eyes darting between Thorin and Bilbo. Relishing at the hobbits breakdown a grin spread across the Goblin King's grotesque face. Thorin could do nothing but watch. His own brother was another issue altogether. Thorin couldn't comprehend why Frerin wasn't in the Lonely Mountain, where he would be protected, where he should be taking are of the kingdom. In anger the dwarrow clenched his hands and locked his jaw. His glare directed at his brother. In Durin's name, Thorin hoped his father and sister was managing well.
"Let the bloodbath begin." The King roared. Chains rattling could be heard right below where Thorin stood. Mindful of the Goblin King and his so called guards, Thorin walked to the edge and peered down. Two wooden doors crashed onto the arena, seconds later dozen goblins poured out, all of them carrying various weapons. Without thinking he took a leap over the edge, he let his weight do all the damage. Blood pooled around the dead goblin. He took the offered spear and turned around and looked up at the Goblin King. "Thank you, you made our escape so much easier."
Through the tears, Bilbo felt a shift, if the rumbling beneath him was any indication. Blinking back the tears the hobbit peered between Dwalin and Ori. The gap closed, the protective circle tightening around them. Goblins were headed their way, they were without weapons...death was upon them.
The thought of having his new family die for him didn't sit well. They would die for him, he couldn't let them. He couldn't sit around and be useless, if they were going to die, he wanted to join them. Blinding pain pierced through his resolve, blood trickled around his foot, blood marred the sand. Bilbo was about to call Fili but stopped short, his green eyes took in every member of Thorin's Company. Bilbo wondered if they knew about Frerin, if they had been lying to him since the very beginning? Could he count on them? It wasn't the first time he felt betrayed but, something about them made him believe that if he asked them for the true , they would tell him. With that, he called one of the Princes.
"Fili!"
The dwarrow turned around, "Uncle!" Fili tore away from the circle. "You're bleeding." Fili crouched then inspected the bleeding foot, his fingers tentatively touched the swollen area.
"I'm fine, just help me stand up." Bilbo said cringing at the touch. There was no mistaking the indecision Fili was faced with. Bilbo was able to read the young Prince perfectly well. "Please." Bilbo sighed in relief when he felt Fili's hands around his body. "Ready?" Bilbo nodded. After several attempts Fili finally got Bilbo to stand upright, Fili carrying most of the hobbits weight.
Blood splattered around them, Bilbo watched as Bombur took an ax from one of the goblins and kill three with one swing. The circle around them kept getting smaller and smaller as half of the company left their side and begin slaughtering the goblins that neared them. Fili keeping a watchful eye on his brother.
"Move!"
"Open up, let him through"
Both Bilbo and Fili looked up at the same time. The protective circle opened up, Fili was unable to get both of them out the way as a body slammed into the hobbit. Bilbo saw a flash of black hair with silver streaks and a pair of blue eyes before he found himself being embraced. Bilbo's arms wrapped around Thorin, his head pressed against the juncture between Thorin's neck and shoulder. In that moment everything blurred around them both, the sounds of metal clashing faded to the background. For a second Bilbo forgot everything almost. Bilbo only felt pain as he tried pushing the King to be away from him, Thorin reluctantly stepped away , his fingers ghosting Bilbo's cheek.
Bilbo instantly regretted his decision, his fingers twitched as his arm came up to bring Thorin back to him yet he could not do that to himself. With a heavy heart, the halfling let his arm fall back down. Thorin not missing the movement.
"Forgive me." It wasn't enough. Both Bilbo and Thorin looked towards Frerin who was huddled away from everyone, his arms up around his face in a protective manner. Thorin said nothing, he gave his brother one look before turning around and switching his spear for a sword.
"Gandalf, you must know a way out."
"The only way out would be through there." The Wizard said pointing where more Goblins were streaming out. The Goblin King was still perched above it, commands spewing out its mouth.
"Dwalin, Nori, both of you stay on either side of me. The rest keep together, I want Bilbo and Frerin in the middle." Assured that everyone had a weapon, they charged forward. The move was slow and with each passing minute more goblins arrived, they couldn't keep up forever. "Dwalin! Now!"
Dwalin charged ahead of everyone creating a path for Nori, he followed behind and disappeared in the hoard. Thorin prayed that Nori would either find a way out or their weapons.
The Hobbit was amazed at the sheer brutally of the dwarves of Erebor. They skillfully moved around the enemy, Bilbo trying his best to keep up with all of them. Both Fili and Bilbo were falling behind. Coincidentally Frerein was also falling behind, however long he had suffered in the hands of the goblin's was weighing him down. There was a part of Bilbo that felt sympathy towards his betrothed but he couldn't bring himself to feel anything towards him. He was emotionally unavailable.
"Uncle Bilbo, were almost at the exit. Just a little bit more." Fili said, up ahead Bilbo could make out Ori waving his arms frantically. A surge of pure adrenaline had them walking faster, Gandalf pushing Frerin forward. Crossing the threshold Bilbo locked eyes with Thorin, Bilbo couldn't help smile at him encouragely. The next thing he heard were chains breaking and Nori's voice up ahead. To his relief Fili came to a stop. The blonde Prince huffed before settling the hobbit on an old broken chair and heading to where Kili awaited for him.
The area they were in had two exits, both dark and ominous. The caves should have made Bilbo feel at home, but those caves in particular made him want to run away. The whole Company was finally reunited, Gandalf towering above all of them, his staff illuminated the confined space they were in. The staff, which meant his weapon was nearby, Silencer and his new sword had to be around them. It was Bombur whom walked up to Bilbo, his hands held two different swords. Bilbo smiled gratefully at the red head, his arms stretched forward, fingers gliding down the handles.
"Keep them for me." Bilbo raises the sleeves of his coat and showed Bombur his bruised wrists.
"I don't think I have the strength to lift them."
"Sure, Bilbo." Bombur began retracting the blades away but Bilbo stopped him.
The Hobbit Prince gazed at his two weapons. One that was passed down to him and the other that was technically stolen but was his. "Do you hear that?" Bilbo gave his swords one last look before looking at Thorin, he stood in the middle with his head tilted up at the ceiling. Everyone quieted down as they listened.
"It's quiet."
" Gather your weapons, we leave immediately." The stillness evaporated. All at once everyone began to move. It was not but thirty seconds later that Bilbo once again found himself with Fili.
"Ready?" Bilbo had no time to say anything, Fili moved but this time he wasn't being gentle. And for that the hobbit was grateful. Left, right, right and then another left. It was all too confusing to the hobbit.
The caves at the Shire were far different the these caves, his were illuminated by the stones provided by the Blue Mountains. Gandalf's staff partially lit the area. A part of him wished he was back at the Shire where there were no dangers ahead of them, where he could be comfortable and think about what he should cook for the week, or even think about his new book that he wanted to write. But all of that was given up. Frerin was a testament of that.
Bright white light momentarily blinded the Hobbit. He shut his eyes as they neared it. Fili brought his right hand up to block it but he too looked away. Soon the light faded and the hobbit blinked, they were outside. The sweet smell if fresh air hit everyone at once. They all took a much need breath, sighs could be heard. They had made it out.
But...it felt way to easy.
Howl's penetrated the quiet of the forest beyond them, a booming voice sounded from the cave opening behind them. Bilbo froze in fear, his heart picked up in speed as a group of wargs came out of the shadows. Their teeth dripped with fresh blood, their backs carrying their master. One in particular made Thorin step forward baring his teeth at the offending pale Orc. He brought his blade to the forefront, the metal shining with its masters hatred for the Orc.
Authors Note; Well….where do I start. All I can say is that I have put this story off for far too long. I do apologize greatly for those who have followed this story. Writer's block went on too long, but I have inspiration once again. Hope this was enough to compensate. Chapter Fifteen is already in the works. Again, I'm sorry. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, till next update ( which will happen) Adios.
