It was freezing cold in the small cave, Riswynn couldn't find a proper place to sleep without the sting of the rain assaulting her backside as the storm raged on outside. She groaned sitting up, wishing for the warmth of a fire to warm her hands and dry her rain-soaked clothing. It was dark in the cave, but her eyes could see the hobbit packing up his mearge belongings as quietly as he was able. She watched confused as he crept over sleeping bodies and passed her, walking stick in hand. She stood silently and followed him to the mouth of the cave, her footsteps soundless as she tiptoed across the stone ground.

"Bilbo?" she whispered into the darkness.

He spun around so fast she was surprised he didn't topple over, his hand flying to his chest in freight as he looked at her. Only her brightly glowing eyes were visible, like two candles In the darkness her eyes seemed to burn from within "Riswynn, what are you doing awake?" he mumbled.

She rose a brow and smiled although she knew he wouldn't be able to see it properly "I could ask you the very same question lad"

Bilbo frowned, he would have preferred if anyone else had found him slipping away, anyone but her. In the few short months that had been traveling companions he had grown very found of the dam, he was kind to him when most were not. He sighed he would tell her the truth of the matter it was the least he could do "I'm going back to the Shire, back to my home, Thorin was right I don't belong here"

She shook her head "No, Bilbo of course you belong here you are a part of the company"

"But I'm not, not really, I'm not like you people, I miss my armchair, I miss my books, I'm not brave like you or strong it was a mistake to come" Bilbo said forlorn looking away from her into the darkness of the night, watching as the sky flashed with lightning.

"You have braveness in you Master Baggins, I can tell, don't let the words of one dwarf stop you from what you want" Riswynn said softly looking at the back of his curly head. She would certainly miss him, a beacon of hope in the desolation surrounding them.

Bilbo said nothing to her, there simply were no words he could say that would express his gratitude for everything she had done for him, he gave her a small smile knowing she could see him perfectly fine, before he turned to leave.

"I wish you all the luck in the world Bilbo, may Mahal guide you home" she said bowing her head to him as he left.

No sooner had his foot hit the mouth of the small cave, that the ground started to shake and rumble, Riswynn steadied herself and looked down in a panic; how could she be so foolish as to not check the surroundings properly, this was goblin territory, and they were standing on a goblin trap.

"Everyone up now" she shouted shoving the closest body to her person.

Thorin grunted in annoyance as he was pushed roughly, looking up he found glowing fiery eyes and Riswynn shouting something at him. Just as he went to open his mouth the floor beneath them gave way, and he was tumbling down a dark passage, bodies colliding with his own. He couldn't make out anything until suddenly flashes of torch light passed his field of view and he landed with a thud on a roughly hewn cage of some sort. He went to stand up when something knocked him to his backside, he grunted in pain and rolled away as more of his companions fell piling on top of each other. He spotted long golden hair and reached into the mass to pull out the dam.

Riswynn felt herself being pulled up and she coughed wheezing a breath as Thorin steadied her on her feet, she looked at him wide eyed as a hoard of angry goblins rushed forward "Look out" she shrieked pointing to the hideous creatures behind him. She felt for her weapons glad she still had her daggers strapped to her hips, wielding it as quickly as possible she let it fly over Thorin's shoulder and into the forehead of a beady eyed goblin. The foul thing cried out pitifully as it crumpled into a heap in front of its brethren.

The group of Dwarrow were rushed forced together in a small huddle as more and more goblins climbed the rocks toward them and pointed their crude weapons at them, pointed rock spears jabbed Riswynn in the ribs as the goblins paid her extra heed as she killed one of their own.

"Take them to the king" one hissed, its guttural voice grating on her ears.

As they were forced to move forward, she began to panic her eyes scanning every available escape route. They were deep into goblin town by the looks of it, hundreds of goblins lined the cave walls on thin pieces of wood strung together with ancient rope, picking away at the mountain itself. Torches lined the walls, illuminating the area in a red glow, allowing her keen eyes to see deep into the mountain, as the group was suspended on a thin walkway leading to what appeared to be a throne of some sort. All around goblins shouted throwing things at them, grunting and growling out their hateful black speech, some suspended from thin rope bridges others climbing the walkway to join the group harassing the Dwarrow. Riswynn shuddered, she was not one to feel fear claw its way into her heart, but she knew goblins to be vicious vile little things, that would hack you apart and feast on your flesh. She dared not breath to deeply as the stench of the goblin bodies was almost overwhelming.

Soon they were paraded in front of the large throne, where the fattest most hideous goblin she had ever seen sat proudly, his enormous haunches spilling forth from the chair. A thin crown on his bulbous head, a few wisps of hair clinging there. His yellowed eyes focused solely on their arrival. As they were made to stop a strange song began to ensue, loud stomping and the crashing of metal on metal almost burst her eardrums and she covered her ears with a hiss.

A few braver goblins came forth searching each of them, their prickly fingers digging into her flesh as they pulled away her remaining daggers, pawing and prying at her flesh she snapped her teeth in irritation like a wild dog, hoping to sever a finger as the goblin yelped grabbing a fist full of her hair, he drug her forward toward the massive goblin.

"Who would be as so bold to come armed into my kingdom" the massive goblin snorted, shaking his great fat chin, the ripples of fat giggling down to his stomach.

Riswynn narrowed her eyes at the beast and spat at his feet, earning herself a swift swipe from her goblin captors, their long nails slicing open her cheek.

"Found these dwarves on the front porch your malevolence" said the goblin holding her hair in his fist, pulling her head up to expose her throat, she refused to appear weak as she stared openly into what she assumed was this race pitiful kings' eyes.

"Dwarves, well don't just stand there, search them, every crack, every crevice" he bellowed standing from his throne, the very floor seemed to weep as his massive weight shifted the wooden boards and she felt the vibrations in her feet.

The goblin holding her shoved her forward reaching into her pockets to pull out her belongings when the goblin king bellowed "Stop, bring that one to me" he slurred, slurping back his drool.

She shivered in disgust as she was thrown to her knees at his feet, his filthy hand reached down to grab her by the hair and lift her to her feet. She hissed in pain as her golden strands were pulled taunt, and her scalp felt as if it was being torn from her head.

"This one is female, what a rare prize you are, a she-dwarf in our midst" He purred at her, his foul breath washing over her, and she gagged waving her hand in front of her face.

The goblin king shook her back and forth like a child's toy "Such a pretty thing, with eyes of gold, perhaps you are made of gold dwarf is that it" he chuckled poking her abdomen with a long-jagged nail.

"Tell me dwarves, why have you come into my kingdom, is it to bring me this gift of gold" he laughed shaking his great belly, pulling her along with him to his throne, her hair still clutched in his fist.

"Put her down" Thorin bellowed in anger, how dare that filthy creature touch a single hair on her head, she was a dwarrowdam one of his people not some hideous goblin female.

"And what are you going to do about it dwarf" the goblin king teased pulling her closer to himself, causing her to shake her head in a rage.

Riswynn growled out having enough of her head being snapped back and forth and her hair pulled from root. She reached into her boot and pulled out a dagger slashing into his fleshy wrist with a feral growl. She jumped back as the goblin king reared back in pain, bellowing out a great anguished cry as black blood oozed from his wound. She looked up flashing her teeth like a wild animal her eyes glowing like embers.

"The business of dwarves does not concern a filthy group of goblins" she hissed standing to her full height the dagger in hand dripping with the king's blood.

The goblin king pointed a clawed finger at her "If they will not talk, we will make them squawk, start with the female, bring up cleavers, bring up the bone crusher"

Riswynn took a hesitant step backwards, bumping into her companions, dagger held out eyes flashing maliciously, stumbling back in surprise as a warm arm embraced her middle and pulled her behind them. Thorin stepped forward and shot the goblin king a withering glare.

The goblin king smiled and held out his hands giving Thorin a mock bow "Well, who do we have here, Thorin son of Thrain, son of Thror, king under the mountain, oh but I'm forgetting you don't have a mountain do you, so you're not really a king so that makes you well nobody really" he laughed in mockery smiling with yellowed teeth as his minions laughed along with him. He leaned down and stared into Thorin's face, his wicked smile growing "I know someone who would pay a pretty price for your head, and old enemy of yours Azog the defiler"

"Azog the defiler was destroyed in battle, he died from his wounds long ago" Thorin hissed in rage.

The goblin king smirked and shook his head "So you think his defiling days are done do you" he turned toward a small goblin sitting in an odd-looking contraption a scroll in his deformed hand "Send word to the pale orc tell him I have found his prize" he chuckled.

Riswynn hissed out in pain as a whip was slashed into the group, the tip splitting open her forehead as the goblins laughed at their misery and routed through their stolen goods. She turned her red eyes toward the goblin king and gave him a withering glare, stepping back as a smaller goblin shrieked in terror tossing away Thorin's sword Orcrist.

"I know that sword it is the goblin cleaver, the biter, the blade that sliced a thousand necks, slay them, slash them, eat them, kill them" the goblin king cried in outrage as his minions jumped on the Dwarrow snapping jagged teeth.

Riswynn fought back, dagger in hand she sliced at greying flesh spilling black blood as she struggled to throw off the bodies that piled on top of her. She watched as three goblins rushed toward Thorin knocking him over a stone knife held at his throat as the king commanded his beheading, she leapt and landed on the one wielding the knife, both of them tumbling across the floorboards. She stood up yelling a battle cry when white brilliant light flooded the area knocking back the goblin hoard. She looked up in amazement as Gandalf appeared wielding his staff and sword, she had never been so happy to see a wizard in all her life.

"Take up arms, fight, FIGHT" Gandalf bellowed lunging forward to decapitate a goblin.

Riswynn leapt forward throwing herself against the goblin onslaught to give her companions time to get to their feet and grab weapons, her daggers slicing through the air with precision, slicing throats and spilling blood as she fought beside Gandalf. She could see from the corner of her eye the goblin king, slamming his giant skull hammer toward Thorin who was still getting up, the glint of his sword flashing ominously she rolled grabbing it and slashed upward to meet the goblin bone weapon, a great sound reverberated throughout the tunnels as the king stumbled back from the blow falling over the edge of the platform. She huffed a breath tossing Thorin his blade as she danced away weapons spinning as she spun around creating an escape route.

"Follow me quickly now" Gandalf said leading the party down the goblin tunnels, they fought slashing and hacking as the waves of goblins seemed unending. Riswynn panted out in exhaustion as they ran, jumping over crude bridges and smashing the enemy out of the way with the railings supporting the walkways. Dwalin led the charge in front of her and she found his fighting most admirable as he wielded his twin battle axes like an extension of his arm. She grabbed an ax as it sailed toward her and cut the supports behind her as the goblins gained on them, the screams echoing out as the goblins fell deep into the caverns below. She swallowed hard as the walkway ended abruptly in front of them, the company halting behind Gandalf as the wizard instructed the support ropes to be cut, they began to sway back and forth wildly having to leapt to safety across a narrow ledge. She leapt her boots hitting the wooden path her arms spread to steady herself, she turned grabbing hold of Fili's wrist as he tilted backwards about to fall and pulled him toward her.

"Steady lad" she chuckled turning to run after the others, swinging her weapon around fighting off more and more goblins as they jumped from above trying to cut her down. Her blades soaked in black blood, coating her arms and wrists her grip was failing as the slippery substance coated her palms. They were almost free, she could smell a draft coming in from outside the mountain, fresh crisp air and she smiled in triumph, huffing out a great breath as she collided with Dwalin in front of her wondering why he had stopped. She peered around his form to see the goblin king, crawling up the walkway, hauling his massive weight to stand in front of the wizard a cruel smile on his face "You thought you could escape my kingdom" he taunted swinging his bone hammer at Gandalf.

Gandalf retaliated cutting off his miserable head with his elven blade, the heavy body crashing forward, splintering the thin support beams, causing the entire walkway to plummet to the depths below. She felt a scream rise in her throat as suddenly they were airborne traveling quickly down the mountain side, the wooden beams cracking apart as they smashed against rock until they settled at the bottom of the cavern. She spit out chunks of wood and dust and tried to sit up, her head spinning when the corpse of the goblin king followed behind them crashing into the wooden structure crushing them. The air was squeezed from her lungs, and she groaned wiggling free. She coughed standing up straight beside Gandalf offering her help to the others, pulling Ori from the rubble.

"Gandalf look" Kili cried pointing upwards toward the flickering red light above them, as hundreds of goblins rushed down the cavern walls, battle cries pouring from their mouths.

"What are we going to do, there is too many to fight" Dwalin said clutching his ax in his fist.

Gandalf swallowed "Only one thing will save us now, day light quickly now" he shouted rushing toward the small flicker of light at the narrow end of the cavern.

Riswynn pulled Dwarrow after Dwarrow out of the rubble, rushing them forward, her eyes a mote of flame as her anger burned hot. She was last to follow out ensuring everyone made it safely, the warmth of sunlight a welcomed promise as she burst through the small opening taking a deep breath of mountain air, dropping to her knees in happiness as warm sunlight washed over her face.

"We made it" Ori cried happily standing next to his brothers.

"Aye lad we did" she gave him a weak smile, standing up on shaky legs. She looked around for her hobbit friend frowning when she could not see his smiling face, she was certain she had seen him fall with the others, perhaps he was able to slip away before the goblins noticed him. "Where is
Bilbo?" she called.

Bofur looked around and shrugged "He was right behind me, Nori have you seen him?"

Nori shook his head "Don't blame me, I wasn't supposed to watch him" he defended.

Riswynn looked around frantically "Well has anyone seen him"

"He's abandoned us, he saw his chance and he took it, he's thought of nothing but his armchair and his soft bed since journey began, we won't be seeing our burglar again" Thorin growled out, narrowing his eyes at the dam, frustrated as to why she cared so deeply for the hobbit.

"No, he hasn't" Bilbo said stepping out from the shadows, a smile on his face as he looked up at Thorin.

Thorin looked down in shame, he hadn't expected Bilbo to be there listening to him slander his name "Why have you come back" he said.

Bilbo sniffed and looked at him "I know that you doubt me, you always have, but I want to help if I can, you are right I miss my armchair, I miss my books, Bag End is my home, and you don't have one it was taken from you, and I will help you take it back if I can"

Riswynn smiled happily embracing the small hobbit in a bone crushing hug patting down his head "Mahal's beard Bilbo you scared me, I am so glad you are alive"

Bilbo blushed and pat her on the back awkwardly "Yes alright, I'm fine"

She let him go and took a step back giving him a glare "Where were you, how did you get away"

Bilbo went to open his mouth when a loud wail pierced the air and all eyes shot up toward the mountain.

"Wargs"