Thorin looked at the ground and saw the sand beginning to fall into tiny cracks that began to form along the floor. The clanking of gears began to creak and Thorin yelled at the company to wake up. They started awake and began to fall over each other as the floor broke into sections and dropped beneath them. The company began to tumble and descend a long and rocky tunnel, bouncing off of the stone walls. They landed in a crudely made cage and were soon being attacked by a large number of goblins. The goblins grabbed at them and forced them forward. Halien heard Bilbo's fear as he ducked down, but she knew he was going to be OK. She sent him a thought to be careful and stay out of sight if he could and to try and see if he could figure out a way to get them out of there.
Bilbo heard her thoughts and nodded, sending her back a thought saying that he would be careful and figure something out if he could. Halien nodded when she heard his thought and winced as the sharp goblin blades pricked her skin. She and the others were directed into a large cavernous gap that looked to be the goblins' throne room. Halien's ears ached as the beating of drums and crudely made screeching instruments echoed through the cavern and she looked at the hideous and bulbous Goblin King as he stepped on several goblins to get out of the throne. His huge stature and revolting appearance made Halien's stomach tighten in disgust.
"I feel a song... coming on." the Goblin King said. "Clap, snap, the black crack. Grip, grab, pinch and nab, batter and beat. Milk 'em, stammer, and squeak. Pound, pound far underground." The Goblin King spun around in a circle. "Down, down, down to Goblin-town."
"Down, down, down to Goblin-town." the other goblins echoed.
The Goblin King continued. "With a swish and a smack and a whip and crack, everybody talks when they're on my rack. Pound, pound far underground. Down, down, down to Goblin-town."
"Down, down, down to Goblin-town." the other goblins echoed again as the Goblin King raised his staff.
"Hammer and torch, get out your knockers and gongs," the Goblin King continued much to the dismay of the company. "You won't last long on the end of my prongs. Clish, clash, crush, and smash! Bang, break, shiver, and shake! You can yell it and yelp but there ain't no help! Pound, pound, far underground. Down, down, down in Goblin-town!" Finally, the song was ended and the Goblin King twirled in circles as he finished singing. He looked at the company and went to sit back on his throne.
"Catchy, isn't it?" he asked. "It's one of my compositions."
Balin retorted, "That's not a song, that's an abomination!"
The Goblin King simply laughed. "Abomination? Mutations. Deviations. That's all you're gonna find down here."
The goblins around them laughed and threw their weapons to the floor.
"Who would be so bold as to come armed into my kingdom? Spies? Thieves? Assassins?" the Goblin King asked, coming down from his throne again.
"Dwarves, your malevolence. And an elf." one goblin told him.
"Dwarves? An elf?"
"We found them on the front porch!"
"Well don't just stand there, search them! Every crack, every crevice!"
The goblins began to search the company. Halien felt utterly violated being touched by such vile things and punched several of the ones that came at her.
"Keep your grubby little paws off of me!" she warned them.
The Goblin King watched as she kicked and punched the goblins and his eyes widened when he watched her glow a blue hue and was engulfed in blue flames. Halien cried out and threw her fire at the goblins surrounding her. Thorin and the others all looked at her, surprised and somewhat fearful.
"What magik is this?" the Goblin King asked.
Halien looked at him. "That is none of your concern, but I will sheath my magik as long as your minions do not lay another hand on me. They so much as touch me, I will not hesitate to burn your precious kingdom to the ground and smoke you out into the sunlight you so desperately hide from. And do not think I will hesitate to do the same should you harm my companions."
The Goblin King laughed. "I like you, elf. What is your name?"
"I am Halien, and you would do well to heed my warning, your most darkly devious one."
Thorin looked between his wife and the Goblin King. Somehow, Halien knew exactly what to say that would not come across as disrespectful to the goblins and knew that she was trying to buy as much time as she could for them.
"Ah, such respect from one who would never set foot into a place like this willingly." the Goblin King said.
The goblins continued to search the dwarves and as they did, they threw what they found on the ground. They emptied Nori's pack and one of the goblins grabbed a candle holder and handed it to the Goblin King, saying that they were in league with elves.
"Made in Rivendell." the Goblin King read aloud. "Ugh, Second Age. Couldn't give it away." He tossed it over the platform.
Everyone looked at Nori and he shrugged. "Just a couple of keepsakes."
"What are you doing in these parts?" the Goblin King demanded.
Thorin was beginning to step forward, but Oin stopped him. "Don't worry lads, I'll handle this."
"I want the truth, no tricks! Warts and all." the Goblin King said.
Oin looked at the Goblin King. "You're going to have to speak up, your boys smashed my trumpet."
"I'll flatten more than your trumpet!" the Goblin King roared and sprang from his throne, knocking some of the goblins over the edge.
