"And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand…" –Iris
**
For the entire day and the following, until the sun started to set, the party searched for Bilbo vigorously. At first they thought he couldn't have possibly gone far, and searched near camp- splitting into groups and calling his name out. All the while they felt the still lurking danger the goblins possessed and tried to be as cautious and quiet as possible. When the sun started to set, they finally admitted that he didn't leave the cave with them and was lost inside.
"For all we know, the goblins ate him for supper already!" Oin bristled as he sat on the ground exhausted.
"Come now! That is no way to speak, we must have faith that he still lives," Gandalf reproached sternly, his brow frowning in concern. Estel sat by his side quietly, knowing full well that the grownups were upset and any little thing he'd do would set them off. He learned it plenty of times from his father's important meetings with powerful people, where any miniscule thing he said, any off hand comment would bring upon him Elrond's tight glance and harsh words. When he was very young he remembered cringing at such an open display of displeasure from an Elf Lord who was known for his patience and even temper. But with time he learned when not to talk or speak of his mind and when to do so. At least he thought so.
"Mister Baggins will be alright," Estel said in what he hoped was an assured voice. "I bet he's been in hundreds of tight situations like these before. I bet he'll be bouncing along the path in no time."
"Ignorant child," Thorin shook his head. "You know not of what you speak, or of danger." Estel got up loudly and left camp to be on his own. He tried to hold the tears back, and the few that managed to get away were brushed aside harshly with the back of his hand. Balin, who was on watch, saw the distraught child and motioned for him to sit by his side. Estel welcomed the company, and the silence of the watch and so he gladly sat there, to submerge in his thoughts.
'It isn't fair…' he said in his mind. 'They keep telling me to grow up, saying I will understand things better, or that they'll tell me more stuff. When I do try to act and do what they do, they yell at me. What did I ever do to them? Why don't they want me? I thought I proved my worth when I- I killed that… Isn't that what adults do? But they don't accept me, they still think of me as a burden. I don't want to be a burden! Was I a burden to you, father? I keep getting into trouble, but it's not my fault! Do you sometimes wish you never had me? That I would just disappear and so would all your troubles? Well you probably got your wish!' Estel shifted angrily on the ground, trying to unwind. 'But I still miss you… I don't want this anymore, I just wanted to have fun! To go on an adventure! But this isn't fun anymore and they don't want me. So who does? I want to be home…'
*
Gilraen the Fair, daughter of Dirhael and Ivorwen paced in Lord Elrond's study. Ever since her son vanished, she rarely ate and rarelier slept. Every waking moment she sat and hoped for a messenger yet simultaneously dreaded it. She wished for word that her precious was safe, but a messenger could bring the news of his death. And so with mixed feelings she finally sat down and watched, as the Sun parted from this plain and set behind the sea. She sighed inwardly, her mind registering footsteps announcing the Lord's arrival. She smiled a thin smile, knowing that Lord Elrond wanted his presence known, otherwise she would have never heard him come in. She got to her feet and bowed respectfully.
"My Lord," she said cordially, her eyes betraying the turmoil inside. "Is there word?"
Elrond seemed to hesitate and she gasped, fearing the worse.
"No!" She said, feeling slightly dizzy and holding on to the side of his desk for support. "It cannot be!"
"You misunderstand," Elrond said hastily. "The news that came do not announce his death."
Gilraen shut her eyes and let out a breath, slowly sitting down. "Thank the stars!" She gulped the panic that was brought about with the thought of her Estel's death, her hope. She was beyond relieved and was about to smile when several things did not seem right. "Wait… Then what do the news announce, my Lord?" She asked, fear grasping at her heart once more as he seemed reluctant to talk. If it were good news his tongue would be looser than this.
"Gandalf the Grey sent word, the child is with him and is unharmed." Elrond said, sitting opposite her and trying to convey serenity.
"There is more, I can sense it," Gilraen said uneasily.
"Yes," Elrond nodded. One thing he learned over the years Gilraen the Fair lived in Rivendell was that she was very perceptive. Little went by her and it often helped keep a certain rascal in check. Now, however, it merely made the news more difficult to say.
"Gandalf stopped by here several days ago, you know of this," Elrond started slowly. "He was accompanied by thirteen Dwarves and a Hobbit. They were on a quest to retrieve their ancestors' gold from Smaug the dragon." He looked her intently in the eye. "Estel is now with them."
"Oh no!" Gilraen whispered, sinking deeper into despair. "But, but he is just a child, what business does he have with dragons and quests? From what I heard the road they are taking is full of peril and now my son is in the midst of this? He will surely die!"
"Estel is a smart boy and he can hold his own," Elrond tried to comfort her. "But Gandalf assures me it will not come to that. He is protecting the boy himself and before they reach their destination he will head to some council, where I shall meet him and retrieve Estel from him."
"My poor Estel!" Gilraen said, nearly breaking down in tears, making Lord Elrond feel uncomfortable. "He's my only son! What will I do if he comes to harm?" Elrond begrudgingly went over and sat besides her, trying to comfort the woman.
"You know I care for him as a son," he said to her soothingly. "I pray for him and dread for him and age because of him." At that Gilraen was forced to grin in agreement.
"Sometimes I fear I will die worrying for him," she said with a sad smile. "Why can he not stay safe, with the people that love him?"
"Then he would be acting against his nature," Elrond said thoughtfully. "He has fire in him, one I hope will never die, and it drives him to action. A trait I suspect he gets from his father."
Gilraen looked at him curiously. "You do not think I was of such at his age?" A smirk caressed her tender lips. "But you are right, he does resemble you a lot."
"I did not mean-"
"I know whom you were speaking of. You were referring to my late husband, Arathorn. And he was a very energetic man, you are right. But Estel never knew him. YOU are his father, in his eyes, and he grows more like you as the days count by. The same courage, the same honor, the same stubbornness…"
"But I am not his father," Elrond said sadly, his shoulders slumping a little. "And he will soon find out. I wished to keep the truth for him, until he was old and mature enough to understand its implications. But I fear he is growing up too soon and in less than a dozen seasons I will be forced to tell him."
"You dread that day," Gilraen observed keenly, yet respectable. "Why do you fear it? Do you fear he will love you any less than he does now? If so you are mistaken. The truth will only grant him title and duty, not a different father. As much as I loved Arathorn I am glad, if not him, that at least you raised him. You have been more than generous to us and I highly doubt Estel's love for you could diminish with a few words. He will always love you, you can be sure, my Lord." She spoke not more of this subject, knowing it was a personal one and very delicate. Instead, she turned to the window to watch the retreating sun.
"He loves to watch the sun set, you know," she spoke in a hushed voice. Elrond stared out of the window as well.
"Indeed, many a times have I caught him outside after hours watching her set. What is it about the setting that makes him willing to break the rules?"
"It mirrors his desires," Gilraen said, eyes not wavering. "His yearning for adventure and escape. He wishes to go where the sun goes off to, when she leaves our view." Elrond was silence for several minutes, as he tried to arrange his thoughts.
"Then I hope he returns to us, just as the sun does."
***
Estel was still on the lookout when he felt a breeze swoosh by. He tightened his small coat and continued to listen to the conversation in camp.
"We cannot possibly go on with the journey, leaving Mr. Baggins in the hands of the Goblins, without trying to find out if he's dead or alive, and without trying to rescue him." Gandalf said. "After all he is my friend and not a bad little chap. I feel responsible for him. I wish to goodness you had not lost him."
"He has been more trouble than use so far," Dwalin complained. "If we have got to go back now into those abominable tunnels to look for him, then dart him, I say."
"I brought him, and I don't bring things that are of no use," Gandalf replied angrily. "Either you help me to look for him, or I go and leave you here to get out of the mess as best you can yourselves. If we can only find him again, you will thank me before all this is over. Whatever did you want to go and drop him for, Dori?"
"You would have dropped him," Dori said. "If a goblin had suddenly grabbed your leg from behind in the dark, tripped up your feet, and kicked you in the back!"
"Then why didn't you pick him up again?"
"Good heavens! Can you ask! Goblins fighting and biting in the dark, everybody falling over bodies and hitting one another! You nearly chopped off my head with Glamdring, and Thorin was stabbing here there and everywhere with Orcrist. All of a sudden you gave one of your blinding flashes, and we saw the goblins running back yelping. You shouted 'follow me everybody!' and everybody ought to have followed. We thought everybody had. There was no time to count, as you know quite well, till we had dashed through the gate-guards, out of the lower door, and helter-skelter down here. And here we are- without the burglar, confusticate him!"
"And here's the burglar!" Bilbo said appearing in the middle of them. Everyone jumped in shock and delight and Gandalf called to Balin and Estel. He told Balin what he thought of a lookout man who let people walk right into them like that without warning. They bombarded Bilbo with questions, but he merely chuckled and when they asked how he did it, he said: ""O, just crept along, you know- very carefully and quietly." Estel was curious as to how he managed to creep along an experienced watchman like Balin, not to mention an Elf! Though he had to admit that there was a moment of distraction when Balin decided to teach the youth some watching techniques…
"Well, it is the first time that even a mouse has crept along carefully and quietly under my very nose and not been spotted," said Balin. "And I take off my hood to you. Balin at your service."
"Your servant, Mr. Baggins," Bilbo said. He proceeded to telling them about getting lost in the tunnels and meeting the strange creature Gollum. He told them of the riddles they told, how he ran out of riddles and asked: "What's in my pocket?" How he came to kill Bilbo and how Bilbo escaped by dodging the guards. All in all the party's respect towards the Hobbit went up when they heard he dodged the guards and jumped over Gollum. Estel listened with his mouth open and his eyes wide, thinking Bilbo must be an incredible Hobbit to have done all that and in incredible shape! Which definitely did not show! He was considering asking Mr. Bilbo if all Hobbits are athletic and if so why are they so fat, but he decided to keep it for later.
Next Gandalf told Bilbo of what happened since the goblins attacked, but Estel wasn't interested since he already knew the tale. He dozed off, imagining as if HE were in Bilbo's shoes (and what very large shoes to fill!) and telling smart riddles, running from slimy creatures and jumping over them! Secretly he envied the Hobbit that he had a chance to be courageous and brave and not Estel, and he wondered if he'd ever get the chance.
'Not very likely…' Estel thought bitterly. Though his father allowed him to hunt and fight with his brothers, he never really liked him fighting. Which was even stranger, considering Lord Elrond's battle reputation! He always excused it by stating that Estel was too young to hear of the horrors of battle and not old enough to understand the consequences. Every time guests arrived and Elrond was about to embark on another one of his famous stories, he would tell Estel it was his bedtime. No, according to his father, Estel should study at school and develop his mind and intellect rather than his combat skills. Intellect- ha! What good was that for for a fighter? To bore your enemies to death with stories?
Gandalf woke him out of his reveries. "We must be getting on at once, now we are a little rested. They will be out after us in hundreds when night comes on; and already shadows are lengthening. They can smell our footsteps for hours and hours after we have passed. We must be miles on before dusk. There will be a bit of moon, if it keeps fine, and that is lucky. Not that they mind the moon much, but it will give us a little light to stir by."
*
"I am so dreadfully hungry," Bilbo groaned, causing Estel to frown angrily. So far Estel had kept quiet about the nagging feeling of emptiness in his stomach, because he was afraid it would bring upon him the party's wrath. And now this absurdly fat rabbit is complaining like… Like a baby!
"Can't help it," Gandalf answered. "Unless you like to go back and ask the goblins nicely to let you have your pony and back and your luggage." Ha! If it were Estel, they would be scowling at him by now! Grownups are so not fair…
"No thank you!" Bilbo said.
"Very well then, we must just tighten our belts and trudge on- or we shall be made into supper, and that will be much worse than having none ourselves."
His stomach growled in protest so loud one of the Dwarves looked at him peculiarly. Estel moaned quietly. Back at home they never missed a meal, and every meal was a feast! And there were interesting people, singing and stories… No! He will not allow himself to get homesick. Warriors don't get homesick, they travel a lot of have many wonderful adventures and close death experiences! Just like with the goblins, only ten times more exciting! And he was going to slay a dragon! How many others could say they have done the same? His father would look at him differently and he'd finally have something to show off about to his older brothers! And the kids in school? They'd never look down and him again!
They went on, and the rough path disappeared. The bushes and the long grasses vanished, and they found themselves at the top of a wide steep slope of fallen stones. When they started to go down this, small pebbles and stones and soon the entire slope started rolling and sliding down! The trees at the bottom saved them. They caught hold of some lower branches and swung onto them (save for Bilbo who hid behind one) and sheltered themselves from the onslaught of rocks.
"Well! That has got us on a bit," Gandalf said. "And even goblins tracking us will have a job to come down here quietly."
"I daresay," Bombur grumbled. "But they won't find it difficult to send stones bouncing down on our heads." Estel gulped and the rest weren't too happy either.
"Nonsense! We are going to turn aside here out of the path of the slide. We must be quick! Look at the light!" The sun had long gone behind the mountains and already the shadows were deepening around them. They limped along now as fast as they were able down the gentle slopes of a pine forest in a slanting path leading steadily southwards.
"Must we go any further?" Bilbo complained once more. "My toes are all bruised and bent, and my legs ache, and my stomach is wagging like an empty sack." Estel was too tired and too hungry to even think of resenting the Hobbit for being allowed to be lazy and fat.
"A bit further," Gandalf said. After what seemed like ages to the young child, the came to an opening where no trees grew. The moon was shining in the clearing, but the place didn't strike anyone as nice. All of a sudden they heard a long shuddering howl down hill. It was answered another away to the right and a great deal nearer to them, then by another not far away to the left. Estel's heart sank in his stomach, any thought of food forgotten. He recognized the sound, from his numerous hunts with his brothers and it was never good. It was wolves howling at the moon, wolves gathering together!
-END PART 5-
Author's note: Wow, finally! The reason it took me so long was school, finals, computer phobia and writer's block! So sorry people for keeping you waiting, I'm glad you reviewed the last chapter and enjoyed it! Some of your reviews made me smile. Oh, just so you know I don't write this for reviews, but reviews are a stimulator to writing. Good criticism- motivates, constructive criticism- builds, flamers- annoy. I'm not sure when I'll get around to writing the next installment, I got finals and then vacation, which means I'll be a councilor for four weeks in camp, and I go to Europe! Yay for me! So don't worry if you don't see it any time soon!
Ivy
Cause I don't think that they'd understand…" –Iris
**
For the entire day and the following, until the sun started to set, the party searched for Bilbo vigorously. At first they thought he couldn't have possibly gone far, and searched near camp- splitting into groups and calling his name out. All the while they felt the still lurking danger the goblins possessed and tried to be as cautious and quiet as possible. When the sun started to set, they finally admitted that he didn't leave the cave with them and was lost inside.
"For all we know, the goblins ate him for supper already!" Oin bristled as he sat on the ground exhausted.
"Come now! That is no way to speak, we must have faith that he still lives," Gandalf reproached sternly, his brow frowning in concern. Estel sat by his side quietly, knowing full well that the grownups were upset and any little thing he'd do would set them off. He learned it plenty of times from his father's important meetings with powerful people, where any miniscule thing he said, any off hand comment would bring upon him Elrond's tight glance and harsh words. When he was very young he remembered cringing at such an open display of displeasure from an Elf Lord who was known for his patience and even temper. But with time he learned when not to talk or speak of his mind and when to do so. At least he thought so.
"Mister Baggins will be alright," Estel said in what he hoped was an assured voice. "I bet he's been in hundreds of tight situations like these before. I bet he'll be bouncing along the path in no time."
"Ignorant child," Thorin shook his head. "You know not of what you speak, or of danger." Estel got up loudly and left camp to be on his own. He tried to hold the tears back, and the few that managed to get away were brushed aside harshly with the back of his hand. Balin, who was on watch, saw the distraught child and motioned for him to sit by his side. Estel welcomed the company, and the silence of the watch and so he gladly sat there, to submerge in his thoughts.
'It isn't fair…' he said in his mind. 'They keep telling me to grow up, saying I will understand things better, or that they'll tell me more stuff. When I do try to act and do what they do, they yell at me. What did I ever do to them? Why don't they want me? I thought I proved my worth when I- I killed that… Isn't that what adults do? But they don't accept me, they still think of me as a burden. I don't want to be a burden! Was I a burden to you, father? I keep getting into trouble, but it's not my fault! Do you sometimes wish you never had me? That I would just disappear and so would all your troubles? Well you probably got your wish!' Estel shifted angrily on the ground, trying to unwind. 'But I still miss you… I don't want this anymore, I just wanted to have fun! To go on an adventure! But this isn't fun anymore and they don't want me. So who does? I want to be home…'
*
Gilraen the Fair, daughter of Dirhael and Ivorwen paced in Lord Elrond's study. Ever since her son vanished, she rarely ate and rarelier slept. Every waking moment she sat and hoped for a messenger yet simultaneously dreaded it. She wished for word that her precious was safe, but a messenger could bring the news of his death. And so with mixed feelings she finally sat down and watched, as the Sun parted from this plain and set behind the sea. She sighed inwardly, her mind registering footsteps announcing the Lord's arrival. She smiled a thin smile, knowing that Lord Elrond wanted his presence known, otherwise she would have never heard him come in. She got to her feet and bowed respectfully.
"My Lord," she said cordially, her eyes betraying the turmoil inside. "Is there word?"
Elrond seemed to hesitate and she gasped, fearing the worse.
"No!" She said, feeling slightly dizzy and holding on to the side of his desk for support. "It cannot be!"
"You misunderstand," Elrond said hastily. "The news that came do not announce his death."
Gilraen shut her eyes and let out a breath, slowly sitting down. "Thank the stars!" She gulped the panic that was brought about with the thought of her Estel's death, her hope. She was beyond relieved and was about to smile when several things did not seem right. "Wait… Then what do the news announce, my Lord?" She asked, fear grasping at her heart once more as he seemed reluctant to talk. If it were good news his tongue would be looser than this.
"Gandalf the Grey sent word, the child is with him and is unharmed." Elrond said, sitting opposite her and trying to convey serenity.
"There is more, I can sense it," Gilraen said uneasily.
"Yes," Elrond nodded. One thing he learned over the years Gilraen the Fair lived in Rivendell was that she was very perceptive. Little went by her and it often helped keep a certain rascal in check. Now, however, it merely made the news more difficult to say.
"Gandalf stopped by here several days ago, you know of this," Elrond started slowly. "He was accompanied by thirteen Dwarves and a Hobbit. They were on a quest to retrieve their ancestors' gold from Smaug the dragon." He looked her intently in the eye. "Estel is now with them."
"Oh no!" Gilraen whispered, sinking deeper into despair. "But, but he is just a child, what business does he have with dragons and quests? From what I heard the road they are taking is full of peril and now my son is in the midst of this? He will surely die!"
"Estel is a smart boy and he can hold his own," Elrond tried to comfort her. "But Gandalf assures me it will not come to that. He is protecting the boy himself and before they reach their destination he will head to some council, where I shall meet him and retrieve Estel from him."
"My poor Estel!" Gilraen said, nearly breaking down in tears, making Lord Elrond feel uncomfortable. "He's my only son! What will I do if he comes to harm?" Elrond begrudgingly went over and sat besides her, trying to comfort the woman.
"You know I care for him as a son," he said to her soothingly. "I pray for him and dread for him and age because of him." At that Gilraen was forced to grin in agreement.
"Sometimes I fear I will die worrying for him," she said with a sad smile. "Why can he not stay safe, with the people that love him?"
"Then he would be acting against his nature," Elrond said thoughtfully. "He has fire in him, one I hope will never die, and it drives him to action. A trait I suspect he gets from his father."
Gilraen looked at him curiously. "You do not think I was of such at his age?" A smirk caressed her tender lips. "But you are right, he does resemble you a lot."
"I did not mean-"
"I know whom you were speaking of. You were referring to my late husband, Arathorn. And he was a very energetic man, you are right. But Estel never knew him. YOU are his father, in his eyes, and he grows more like you as the days count by. The same courage, the same honor, the same stubbornness…"
"But I am not his father," Elrond said sadly, his shoulders slumping a little. "And he will soon find out. I wished to keep the truth for him, until he was old and mature enough to understand its implications. But I fear he is growing up too soon and in less than a dozen seasons I will be forced to tell him."
"You dread that day," Gilraen observed keenly, yet respectable. "Why do you fear it? Do you fear he will love you any less than he does now? If so you are mistaken. The truth will only grant him title and duty, not a different father. As much as I loved Arathorn I am glad, if not him, that at least you raised him. You have been more than generous to us and I highly doubt Estel's love for you could diminish with a few words. He will always love you, you can be sure, my Lord." She spoke not more of this subject, knowing it was a personal one and very delicate. Instead, she turned to the window to watch the retreating sun.
"He loves to watch the sun set, you know," she spoke in a hushed voice. Elrond stared out of the window as well.
"Indeed, many a times have I caught him outside after hours watching her set. What is it about the setting that makes him willing to break the rules?"
"It mirrors his desires," Gilraen said, eyes not wavering. "His yearning for adventure and escape. He wishes to go where the sun goes off to, when she leaves our view." Elrond was silence for several minutes, as he tried to arrange his thoughts.
"Then I hope he returns to us, just as the sun does."
***
Estel was still on the lookout when he felt a breeze swoosh by. He tightened his small coat and continued to listen to the conversation in camp.
"We cannot possibly go on with the journey, leaving Mr. Baggins in the hands of the Goblins, without trying to find out if he's dead or alive, and without trying to rescue him." Gandalf said. "After all he is my friend and not a bad little chap. I feel responsible for him. I wish to goodness you had not lost him."
"He has been more trouble than use so far," Dwalin complained. "If we have got to go back now into those abominable tunnels to look for him, then dart him, I say."
"I brought him, and I don't bring things that are of no use," Gandalf replied angrily. "Either you help me to look for him, or I go and leave you here to get out of the mess as best you can yourselves. If we can only find him again, you will thank me before all this is over. Whatever did you want to go and drop him for, Dori?"
"You would have dropped him," Dori said. "If a goblin had suddenly grabbed your leg from behind in the dark, tripped up your feet, and kicked you in the back!"
"Then why didn't you pick him up again?"
"Good heavens! Can you ask! Goblins fighting and biting in the dark, everybody falling over bodies and hitting one another! You nearly chopped off my head with Glamdring, and Thorin was stabbing here there and everywhere with Orcrist. All of a sudden you gave one of your blinding flashes, and we saw the goblins running back yelping. You shouted 'follow me everybody!' and everybody ought to have followed. We thought everybody had. There was no time to count, as you know quite well, till we had dashed through the gate-guards, out of the lower door, and helter-skelter down here. And here we are- without the burglar, confusticate him!"
"And here's the burglar!" Bilbo said appearing in the middle of them. Everyone jumped in shock and delight and Gandalf called to Balin and Estel. He told Balin what he thought of a lookout man who let people walk right into them like that without warning. They bombarded Bilbo with questions, but he merely chuckled and when they asked how he did it, he said: ""O, just crept along, you know- very carefully and quietly." Estel was curious as to how he managed to creep along an experienced watchman like Balin, not to mention an Elf! Though he had to admit that there was a moment of distraction when Balin decided to teach the youth some watching techniques…
"Well, it is the first time that even a mouse has crept along carefully and quietly under my very nose and not been spotted," said Balin. "And I take off my hood to you. Balin at your service."
"Your servant, Mr. Baggins," Bilbo said. He proceeded to telling them about getting lost in the tunnels and meeting the strange creature Gollum. He told them of the riddles they told, how he ran out of riddles and asked: "What's in my pocket?" How he came to kill Bilbo and how Bilbo escaped by dodging the guards. All in all the party's respect towards the Hobbit went up when they heard he dodged the guards and jumped over Gollum. Estel listened with his mouth open and his eyes wide, thinking Bilbo must be an incredible Hobbit to have done all that and in incredible shape! Which definitely did not show! He was considering asking Mr. Bilbo if all Hobbits are athletic and if so why are they so fat, but he decided to keep it for later.
Next Gandalf told Bilbo of what happened since the goblins attacked, but Estel wasn't interested since he already knew the tale. He dozed off, imagining as if HE were in Bilbo's shoes (and what very large shoes to fill!) and telling smart riddles, running from slimy creatures and jumping over them! Secretly he envied the Hobbit that he had a chance to be courageous and brave and not Estel, and he wondered if he'd ever get the chance.
'Not very likely…' Estel thought bitterly. Though his father allowed him to hunt and fight with his brothers, he never really liked him fighting. Which was even stranger, considering Lord Elrond's battle reputation! He always excused it by stating that Estel was too young to hear of the horrors of battle and not old enough to understand the consequences. Every time guests arrived and Elrond was about to embark on another one of his famous stories, he would tell Estel it was his bedtime. No, according to his father, Estel should study at school and develop his mind and intellect rather than his combat skills. Intellect- ha! What good was that for for a fighter? To bore your enemies to death with stories?
Gandalf woke him out of his reveries. "We must be getting on at once, now we are a little rested. They will be out after us in hundreds when night comes on; and already shadows are lengthening. They can smell our footsteps for hours and hours after we have passed. We must be miles on before dusk. There will be a bit of moon, if it keeps fine, and that is lucky. Not that they mind the moon much, but it will give us a little light to stir by."
*
"I am so dreadfully hungry," Bilbo groaned, causing Estel to frown angrily. So far Estel had kept quiet about the nagging feeling of emptiness in his stomach, because he was afraid it would bring upon him the party's wrath. And now this absurdly fat rabbit is complaining like… Like a baby!
"Can't help it," Gandalf answered. "Unless you like to go back and ask the goblins nicely to let you have your pony and back and your luggage." Ha! If it were Estel, they would be scowling at him by now! Grownups are so not fair…
"No thank you!" Bilbo said.
"Very well then, we must just tighten our belts and trudge on- or we shall be made into supper, and that will be much worse than having none ourselves."
His stomach growled in protest so loud one of the Dwarves looked at him peculiarly. Estel moaned quietly. Back at home they never missed a meal, and every meal was a feast! And there were interesting people, singing and stories… No! He will not allow himself to get homesick. Warriors don't get homesick, they travel a lot of have many wonderful adventures and close death experiences! Just like with the goblins, only ten times more exciting! And he was going to slay a dragon! How many others could say they have done the same? His father would look at him differently and he'd finally have something to show off about to his older brothers! And the kids in school? They'd never look down and him again!
They went on, and the rough path disappeared. The bushes and the long grasses vanished, and they found themselves at the top of a wide steep slope of fallen stones. When they started to go down this, small pebbles and stones and soon the entire slope started rolling and sliding down! The trees at the bottom saved them. They caught hold of some lower branches and swung onto them (save for Bilbo who hid behind one) and sheltered themselves from the onslaught of rocks.
"Well! That has got us on a bit," Gandalf said. "And even goblins tracking us will have a job to come down here quietly."
"I daresay," Bombur grumbled. "But they won't find it difficult to send stones bouncing down on our heads." Estel gulped and the rest weren't too happy either.
"Nonsense! We are going to turn aside here out of the path of the slide. We must be quick! Look at the light!" The sun had long gone behind the mountains and already the shadows were deepening around them. They limped along now as fast as they were able down the gentle slopes of a pine forest in a slanting path leading steadily southwards.
"Must we go any further?" Bilbo complained once more. "My toes are all bruised and bent, and my legs ache, and my stomach is wagging like an empty sack." Estel was too tired and too hungry to even think of resenting the Hobbit for being allowed to be lazy and fat.
"A bit further," Gandalf said. After what seemed like ages to the young child, the came to an opening where no trees grew. The moon was shining in the clearing, but the place didn't strike anyone as nice. All of a sudden they heard a long shuddering howl down hill. It was answered another away to the right and a great deal nearer to them, then by another not far away to the left. Estel's heart sank in his stomach, any thought of food forgotten. He recognized the sound, from his numerous hunts with his brothers and it was never good. It was wolves howling at the moon, wolves gathering together!
-END PART 5-
Author's note: Wow, finally! The reason it took me so long was school, finals, computer phobia and writer's block! So sorry people for keeping you waiting, I'm glad you reviewed the last chapter and enjoyed it! Some of your reviews made me smile. Oh, just so you know I don't write this for reviews, but reviews are a stimulator to writing. Good criticism- motivates, constructive criticism- builds, flamers- annoy. I'm not sure when I'll get around to writing the next installment, I got finals and then vacation, which means I'll be a councilor for four weeks in camp, and I go to Europe! Yay for me! So don't worry if you don't see it any time soon!
Ivy
