Chapter 15


As Bilbo regained his conscious, he blinked a couple of times, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness. His head hurt, his back hurt. Heck, everything hurt! Though that wasn't very surprising, considering the fall he had made. He was even surprised he had been only unconscious. A fall like that could have killed him, or at least seriously injure him! Yet here he was. Just a little sore and no idea where he was and how long he had been down here.

With his eyes now adjusted, he could make out the shapes of mushrooms that had broken his fall. Which was fortunate for him, but not so fortunate for the goblin that had attacked him. The creature lying nearby, on the brink of death. It must have fallen on the rocks, instead of mushrooms.

All of a sudden something moved in the shadow, making Bilbo duck his head a little. A creature moved closer to the goblin, inspecting it, cheering in joy. His – at least Bilbo thought it was a he – voice raspy as he cheered, before forcing out 'Gollum' twice in a horrible swallowing noise in his throat.

The creature circled around the goblin, grabbing it by the feet to pull it away. But only after a few meters, the goblin woke up and began flailing around and the creature quickly pounded the goblin on the head with a rock.

'Nasty goblinses,' the creature muttered as he dragged the now unconscious goblin away. 'Better than old bones, precious. Better than nothing.'

After a few moments, Bilbo emerged from his hiding spot and quickly retrieved his sword, before following the strange creature as it moved deeper and deeper, lower and lower into the mountain. His sword functioning as his torch as it emitted a pale blue light.

And it was in that light that he found it. The object that would change his life, though the small hobbit didn't know it yet. But it was that small object – that golden ring – that he would feel drawn to for the rest of his life.

His eyes spotted it easily, the small golden ring and without thinking he stopped to pick it up. Examining the item in the dim light of his sword and then putting it in his pocket without much thought. Then he moved on, following the sound of the now singing voice of the creature.

'Too many boneses, precious! Not enough flesh!'

The whining voice of the creature send shivers down his spine as Bilbo rounded a corner. But the fact that the creature was replying himself, was even spookier. And his voice had sounded more guttural as he scowled at himself.

In the distance Bilbo could now see the creature on an island in the middle of a small underground lake. As Gollum – the name Bilbo has given the creature for that was how he seemed to address himself – was singing, was beating the Goblin, smashing it in the head again with a rock. And sure enough Bilbo's sword began to flicker.

Wait! Was the creature looking his way? His sword! His sword was still glowing!

Realizing his mistake perhaps a little too late, Bilbo quickly hid behind a rock. Praying to all that could hear him, that Gollum hadn't seen him. For if he had, Bilbo might not survive.

Slowly the glow of his sword died, signifying that the goblin was dead. Bilbo waited a few more moments, debating whether or not he should peep around the rock. And when he did, he found that Gollum was no longer at his spot. Horrified, Bilbo looked around, scanning his surroundings. But no sign of the creature.

That was, until he heard a slight movement and Bilbo spun around to see Gollum on a rock above him.

'Bless us and splash us, precious.' Bilbo could hear the enthusiasm in his voice, as Gollum jumped down. 'That's a meaty mouthful!'

Gollum approached Bilbo menacingly, but came to a quick halt when Bilbo bravely pointed his sword on the creature's throat. Gollum retreated in fear with some protest and stayed a good few feet away from Bilbo. It seemed to be ignoring the frightened – though he tried to cover it up with a brave face! – hobbit, as Bilbo warned him to stay back.

'It's got an elfish blade, but it's not an elfs,' Gollum muttered as he inspected Bilbo. 'Not an elfs, no. What is it, precious? What is it?'

'My name is Bilbo Baggings,' he answered, his sword still pointed at Gollum.

This seemed to confuse the slimy creature even more, as he questioned what a Baggings was. Ignoring the mispronouncing of his sir name, Bilbo answered him. It was the polite thing to do, right? And perhaps, maybe if Bilbo was lucky, Gollum might leave him be.

But his hopes were in vain, as Gollum announced he had never tried 'Hobbitses' before.

'Is it soft?' Gollum asked. 'Is it juicy?'

Gollum tried to sneak closer, but Bilbo noticed and started to swing his sword around. He warned him that he would use his sword, if he would not keep his distance.

'I don't want any trouble, do you understand?'

Bilbo was getting desperate at this moment. Where were the others? Had they escaped? If so, then perhaps Frêllian would be able to track him down with that keen nose of her right? Right? Oh who was he kidding? She wouldn't be able to track him down, even if she wanted to. Not with so many orcs around! No, he would have to find her instead!

'Just show me the way to get out of here and I'll be on my way.'

'Why?' Gollum questioned, glaring down at the sword, before his big eyes focused on Bilbo once more. 'Is it lost?'

'Yes, yes! And I want to get unlost as soon as possible.'

Suddenly the facial expression of Gollum changed. His face lightning up and his voice sounding slightly different as he spoke again.

'Ooh, we knows! We knows safe paths for Hobbitses,' he announced cheerfully. 'Safe paths in the dark.'

Suddenly his expression darkened again as he growled a 'shut up!', confusing Bilbo. He didn't say anything, did he? Confronting Gollum with this, his reply was even more confusing.

'Wasn't talking to you.'

Bilbo continued to watch as Gollum appeared to be having a conversation with himself, before cutting in.

'I don't know what your game is, but I…'

'Games?' This time, it was the cheerful voice that answered. 'We love games, don't we precious? Does it like games? Does it? Does it? Does it like to play?'

Bilbo was confused once more, as he inspected the slimy creature before him. His voice as unsure as his answer. Still, Bilbo listened to the riddle, while he tries to figure out Gollum and the game he might be playing.

'…The mountain?'

His voice had sounded unsure. Still Bilbo looked over at the slimy creature. Gollum began to laugh uproariously, confirming Bilbo was right. He asked for Bilbo to ask him – well, technically he had asked 'us' – a question, but he suddenly cut himself off. His voice and face darkening once again as he stated he didn't want to play any more games. But instead he should just finish Bilbo off.

Thinking quickly, Bilbo figured out that Gollum might have a split personality. He had read about it once, but never encountered one suffering from it. And now his life was on the line! If he could try to stay on his good side, then perhaps there was hope!

'I wa – I want to play, I do,' he quickly answered once Gollum made a move once again. 'I can see you are very good at it. S-so why don't we have a game of riddles, right? Just you and me.'


With his brow furrowed, Bilbo pondered over the answer. What devours birds, beast, trees and flowers? He knew a lot of creatures that would eat birds and beasts. But what about trees and flowers? An omnivore, such as a ferian. But Bilbo had never seen Frêllian take a bite out of a tree, only using parts of it to make herbs and the same went for flowers.

And what of the second part? What gnaws iron, bites steel and grinds hard stones to meal? Was there even such a creature? Perhaps the stone giants? He had seen them smashing stones at each other, but what did they eat? He did not know. He really didn't know the answer.

Oh, if only Frêllian was here! She would probably know the right answer. She had a lot more knowledge of the creatures of this world, more than Bilbo did. Besides, with Frêllian around, Bilbo wouldn't need to fear the strange creature before him.

He scowled silently at himself. He needed to focus! His life was on the line here, quite literally! With his swords still drawn, Bilbo began to walk around. Trying to think of the right answer and looking for Gollum at the same time – the blasted creature having disappeared all of a sudden.

'Is it tasty? Is it scrumptious? Is it crunchable?'

Suddenly a pair of hands wrung around Bilbo's throat, as Gollum tried to choke him. But luckily Bilbo could jump away before he could get a good grip. With his sword pointed at Gollum, Bilbo told him he needed to think.

Not hearing what Gollum replied, Bilbo turned to face the water to think. Watching the soft moving in the hope of finding the right answer. Perhaps he shouldn't try to think of a creature, but a object? Something like water? Or, or…

'Time's up.'

That's it!

'Time,' Bilbo muttered softly, while turning to face Gollum. 'Ti- the answer is time.' With a pleased grin he heard Gollum snarl in frustration. 'Actually, it wasn't that hard.'

Yes it was! But Gollum didn't need to know.

'Last question,' the creature replied angrily. 'Last chance.'

Bilbo stuttered. His mind racing for any riddles that might safe him from an untimely death. But only easy ones came to mind. And the fact that Gollum was shouting at him, demanding the hobbit to ask him a question, wasn't helping much either.

Or was it?

As Bilbo stared over the waters, he absentmindedly rubbed his pocket. An object bumped into his hand and he was reminded of the ring he had picked up earlier. He absentmindedly questioned out loud what he had in his pocket, to which the creature named Gollum growled in surprise.

Yes! That might just be his chance!

'What have I got in my pocket.' Bilbo asked once again, this time louder as he pointed his sword at Gollum, while the creature roared in protest. 'No, I won't ask you another one. You said "ask me a question." Well, thatismy question. What have I got in my pocket?'

After demanding Bilbo give him three guesses, Gollum desperately tried to find the right answer. Asking two of the three right away, only to be scowled by his other side - the darker one, Bilbo had decided. And for his last guess, he took two guesses at once. He must really want to eat Bilbo, it seemed.

'Well, you've lost.' A feeling of relief washed over him, but still Bilbo kept up his guard. Anything could happen with this unstable creature. 'Now, you promised to show me the way out if you would.'

'Did we say so, precious? Did we say so?'

As Gollum turned around, he threw a glare over to where Bilbo stood. But then a wicked smile formed on his lips, sending a shiver down Bilbo's spine. He told Bilbo to wait, for he needed to get something from his little island on the lake.

And with that, Gollum left a slightly surprised – and suspicious mind you! – Bilbo. The sound of him peddling through the water was so soft, that the small hobbit needed to concentrate to hear it. Though he didn't trust the slimy creature, Bilbo had no other choice but to wait patiently. But he was sure he had heard Gollum whisper softly to himself before leaving for his island.

Suddenly something was thrown into the water, followed by the angry cry of Gollum. More slashes of water was heard as Gollum yelled out in frustration and Bilbo jerked his head towards the sound. He could hear Gollum ask himself where it was – whatever he was looking for.

For a moment he wondered if Gollum had been the one to have lost the golden ring. But then Bilbo quickly dismissed the thought. What would a creature such as Gollum want with a ring? The only thing precious to him, was to survive in these horrid conditions, right? But the nagging feeling of him being in danger only worsened as he heard Gollum enter the water again. This time the splashes being quite audible.

Without a second thought, Bilbo turned on his heels and made a run for it. Though he had no idea where he was going, he knew he had to create as much distance between Gollum and himself.

'He stole it!' Gollum's shout echoed through the cave as Bilbo fled. He didn't need to look over his shoulder to know Gollum was in pursuit. 'He stole it! Ahh!He stole it!'


'Mahal, this is taking forever,' Dwalin complained as he hurried after Gandalf. 'No matter what turn we take, those buggers remain on our tail.'

Frêllian agreed with her father, stating they wouldn't be able to lose the goblins no matter how hard they tried. These halls were foreign to them, but not for the goblins. They knew each and every path to take, every shortcut and every outcome of the path.

'We only have one option, Gandalf,' she breathed rounding yet another corner. 'We have to find our way out. The sun is our only hope.'

'You are right,' the wizard agreed, though his face remained stern. 'But who is to say it is still day? We have been down here for so long, a day might have passed.'

'You need not worry about that,' the young ferian told him, keeping her pace steady next to the taller man. 'Lüna has not risen yet, but we need to find the exit soon.'

Taking the word of the smaller female, Gandalf asked her to lead the way, depending on her keen sense of smell. Though it was not as keen as she would have liked etc the moment, her nose was still more sensitive than that of the others.

As the ferian now started to follow her nose – taking the path where the air seemed less foul – she began to lead the company through the dark halls of Moria. With every turn she made, the fresh scent of pines became more evident, as it slowly began to overrule the scent of goblins.

'This way, quickly,' she yelled over her shoulder, never slowing down her pace. 'I think we're almost there!'

The words had just left her lips or they came to face the end of the mountain. Though still in the distance, the light of the sun shone brightly. The part of the tunnel being lit by it as everyone quickens their pace.

Once outside, frellian began to slow down her pace, letting Thorin take her place as the leader. Though the dwarf didn't pass her by without a small nod. He didn't let them run much longer though, seeing as everyone was tired after such a long run. Two or three dwarves had doubled over, breathing harshly. A couple more had fallen to the ground, in desperate need of catching their breath.

And where just a couple of them – including Frêllian – were still standing proudly, it was clear no one could continue for much longer. Even Frêllian, who had the best stamina of all, could feel her feet burning from all the running and jumping. Her lungs working overtime to get the oxygen they desperately longed for. Being out of breath was not something she was used to.

'Perhaps – we should've – let Frêllian – lead – us sooner,' Fíli said in between gasps, as he tried to catch his breath. He paused for a moment, before continuing. His breathing now slightly better. 'Perhaps it wouldn't have taken us this long to find an exit.'

'Aye. Perhaps we should trust the nose of a ferian more than the wisdom of a wizard.'

Frêllian turned around in surprise as the voice spoke, coming face to face with their leader. Though his face remained stoic, he still showed her a slight sign of appreciation. Then he turned his gaze to Gandalf with a glare. Though Gandalf didn't seem to notice as he was counting heads.

'Fíli, Kíli… That's thirteen,' she heard Gandalf mutter as he counted the heads. 'And Bumbur – that makes fourteen.' His brow furrowed together as he looked around, his eyes scanning his surroundings in search for the smallest member of their company. 'Where's Bilbo? Where is our hobbit?'

'Curse the halfling!' Ignoring the glare of his daughter, Dwalin continued. 'He's lost again? This is the second time in a row!'

'Wasn't he with Dori?'

The said dwarf put his hands up in defense, stating he had last seen the hobbit slip away when the goblins first collared them. With two quick strides, Gandalf was face to face with Dori – well, as best as he could with their difference in height- demanding to know what had happened.

'I'll tell you what happened,' Thorin spoke out loud. 'Master Baggings saw his chance and he took it! He's thought of nothing but his soft bed and his warm heart since first he stepped out of his door!'

'And what if he did?' Frêllian growled as she walked up to the dwarf. 'Have you not given him enough reasons to long for his home? You have been giving him nothing but a hard time, while the poor hobbit has never been without the comforts of home before!'

'He left his home for an adventure he never wanted in the first place,' Thorin countered, glaring down at the female before him. 'He joined us, because he wanted to please you, pup. Just face it, we will not be seeing your dear little hobbit again. He is long gone.'

Frêllian was about to reply, when a noise caught her attention and she turned her head to look over Thorins shoulder.

'No, he isn't.'

With a sigh of relief, the ferian watched as Bilbo stepped out from behind a tree. Sending a pointed look at Thorin, Frêllian walked over to the hobbit. She did a quick scan of his condition, before pulling him into a tight embrace.

'Bilbo, we'd given you up,' Kíli told him as he smiled at the small hobbit.

His brother was a little more skeptical though, questioning him how he got past the goblins.

'How, indeed,' Dwalin questioned, crossing his arms as he watched the hobbit.

There was an awkward silence, where Bilbo tried to think of what to say as the others waited for his response. Even Frêllian seemed to be wondering about it, judging from the way she was looking at him.

In the end, he just gave a nervous laugh and put his hands on his hips.

'Well, what does it matter?' Gandalf asked to break the silence. 'He's back!'

But Thorin would not hear of it, demanding Bilbo to tell them why he came back. To which Bilbo gladly did. Though his answer shocked most of the members of their company.

'Look,' he began, looking straight at Thorin. 'I know you doubt me. I know you always have. And your right, I often think of Bag End. Is miss my books. And my armchair and my garden. See, that's where I belong. That's home.

And that's why I came back. Cause you don't have one, a home. It was taken from you. But I will help you take it back, if I can that is.'

There was a silence as the dwarves thought about what Bilbo had said. Frêllian smiled proudly as she looked at the smaller creature next to her. Proud that he had grown so much during their journey. But her smile quickly turned into a frown as the wind carried the sounds of barking and growling creatures. Though what concerned her the most, was the whispers the wind carried and she turned her attention to the top of the mountain.

'Frêllian, what is it?'

She didn't look at Fíli as she answered with a low growl.

'Trouble.'

'Out of the frying pan…'

'…and into to fire,' Gandalf finished as he spotted the approaching canine creatures as they raced down the mountain. 'Run! Run!'

Not that they needed to be told twice. For they all started running down the mountain as fast as they could. Though they were not fast enough. And with the sun setting quickly, their enemy was in the advantage.

Frêllian let out a surprised yell as a warg jumped over her head, though she quickly recovered. With a swift motion, she had pulled a dagger and impaled it into his skull. Then she turned her head to see Bilbo trying to pull back his sword from a dead warg as well, though failing to do so. It seemed the pack had gained in on them.

'Up into the trees, all of you,' Gandalf yelled, while climbing into one himself. 'Come on, climb! Bilbo, Frêllian, climb!'

'Are you mad,' the ferian questioned as she threw a glance up at the trees. 'I don't climb trees! I'm a ferian! I turn into a wolf, not a cat!'

'They say it's never too late to learn a dog a new trick.'

'So, up you go, Frey.'

And with that Frêllian found herself being pulled up into the tree by the two princes. Though instead of their trademark smirk, there was a frown upon their face as they looked at the approaching wargs and ferien. And even Frêllian failed to send them a glare, for she noticed Bilbo was still on the ground.

'Bilbo, just leave your damn sword and get up in a tree, you fool,' she yelled at him, as the hobbit desperately tried to pull his sword from a dead warg.

Right then Bilbo pulled his sword from the warg and quickly climbed into a tree as well. His eyes filled with fear as he watched the canines below him jump up at the base of the tree. Their jaws snapping at everything they could get their teeth on. Wargs and ferien alike slowly broke off the branches as they tried to climb the trees. Their snapping jaws too powerful, the branches too weak.

'Watch out for the ferien,' Fíli told Kíli as he pulled one sword – he needed his other one to hold onto the tree. 'They might change form and climb the trees.'

'They can't,' Frêllian said with a snarl. Her eyes trained on an approaching figure in the distance. 'They have can no longer shift. They have lost their ability to do so over the years.'

This earned a shocked look from not only the dwarf princes, but some others as well. That was, until their attention was pulled back to the attacking wolves below them.

'So these are just a couple of overgrown wolves then?'

'A couple of very smart overgrown wolves,' Frêllian corrected the younger prince. 'But yes.'

By now dozens of wargs and ferien circled around the trees. Growling and snapping at the figures in them. Then they ceased their growling and turned their heads as a tall white warg approached slowly. Her rider guiding her closer.

The pale orc smirked as he heard the shocked Thorin say his name. With his only hand he gently stroked the fur of Matriach lovingly. His voice ominously as he spoke to her.

'Do you smell it? The scent of fear?' Then he turned to look at Thorin, a smirk plastered onto his ugly face. 'I remember your father reeked of it, Thorin son of Thrain.'

Though it was clear the dwarves didn't understand the black speech, Frêllian did and she didn't like being insulted like that. She didn't fear Azog, she was just smart enough not to stand on the wrong side of his blade. That's a difference!

'And you have brought me back my pet as well.'

'I am no pet!'

Fíli had to hold back Frêllian as she snarled at the pale orc in anger. Her eyes filled with hate. She ignored Thorin's question of her knowledge of the orc, only focusing at the white warg and her rider.

'That one is mine.' Azog pointed at Thorin. 'As is the pup. Kill the others!'

At his command, his canine followers leaped forward again. Jumping as high as they could, scrabbling at the tree trunks and breaking apart branches in their efforts to climb the trees. The trees shook violently at the assault and Frêllian had to hold on tightly to prevent her from falling.

To her horror, the tree Bilbo was in, began to tip over due to the weight of the wolves. As it fell down, it landed on the tree she was in. With only seconds to think, she quickly reached out for Bilbo, helping him onto the tree.

However, her own tree now began to tremble beneath the extra weight and slowly tipped over as well. Having no other option, everyone jumped over to the next tree. The last one, on the very edge of the cliff. Still, it didn't stop the assault and Frêllian yelped as she nearly fell down.

After having found back her balance, Frêllian growled down at the wolves. There must be something that could be done? Some way they could escape? No way she would return to Azog and those mutts! Besides, she shouldn't even be in a tree in the first place! But the odds were against her and it would be foolish to climb down now. So what? What could she do from up here? What!

'Fíli!'

Upon hearing the voice of the wizard, Frêllian looked up just in time to see him throw something down at Fíli. A burning pinecone! Without a second thought, the dwarf prince threw it down at the creatures below them.

Soon enough flaming pinecones were thrown from the company, launched at the canines like missiles. The area around the tree got set on fire, forcing their enemy to retreat a distance. The sound of Azog roaring in anger brought a smirk on her lips, as Frêllian watched her uncle. With his untamed fur the ferian now resembling a warg more than the noble ferian he once was. And same went for the other ferian.

For once a ferian no longer shifted, he would lose his blessing. And once being stuck as a wolf, they would eventually become like wargs. And to think she was related to that pathetic creature! Luckily Frêllian had always made sure to shift every now and then, unknown to the others. To prefend from.being stuck in her wolf form!

A low growl escaped her throat, which turned into a yelp as the tree beneath her started to give way as well. The tree tipped precariously over the edge of the cliff, stopping as it stuck out over the edge of the cliff.

The sudden stop almost made Frêllian lose her footing and she grunted as her head was smacked against the bark of the tree. Yells and shouts of distress were heard from all around her as the dwarves desperately tried to hold on.

The next thing she knew, Thorin ran at Azog. His sword raised and his oaken shield held in front of him. She yelled at him to stop, but the dwarf didn't hear her. Instead he swung his sword, only to be hit by Matriach. All Frêllian could do, is to watch in horror as Thorin was brutally flung to the ground.

What kind of an alpha was she? Frozen with fear as Thorin was being slaughtered. Wasn't she the alpha supreme? Wasn't she the one to lead her people? But how could she do such a thing, if she couldn't even gather her courage?

She growled in anger as she watched the scene play out before her. With Thorin between her teeth, Matriarch violently shook her head from side to side, until Thorin finally managed to hit her on the head. With a snarl, the white warg released him, throwing him several feet away.

'Bring me his head.'

'No!'

With a feral snarl, Frêllian suddenly leaped forward. Her sword drawn and ready to strike as she placed herself between Thorin and the advancing orc. Before the orc could even react, she had swung her sword at him, killing him. A dangerous growl erupted from deep within her throat as she challenged any who dared to touch Thorin.

'Let no one near him,' she told Bilbo as the hobbit took his place next to her. Her voice no longer holding the gentleness she usually had when speaking to the said hobbit. Instead her voice has become dangerously low, almost like she was talking and growling at the same time. 'Kill all who dare lay hands on him!'

Her now golden eyes glanced over to Thorin, before setting on an approaching ferian. Both snarl dangerously at each-other, testing one another. Though the other ferian seemed to fear the female before him as she held her sword tightly.

Suddenly Frêllian leaped forward with an incredible speed, striking the beast with a deadly blow. Even Bilbo needed to blink for a moment, not being able to register what had happened to his friend. But then a warg stalked towards him, ready to leap at the hobbit.

With both Bilbo and Frêllian occupied, Azog lead Matriarch towards Bilbo to kill him. A smirk on his face as he spared a glance at the female warrior. The feral look on her face telling him exactly what he needed to know. Then he whispered for the white warg to kill the hobbit. It seemed his weapon was now complete.