Author's Note: Moving has stressed and tired me out big time this week. I went to work on only four hours of sleep. Bleh. Anyway, get ready for a monster chapter and one of my favorites I've written so far. Thank you DwarvenWarrior, BlackCatDemon133, jorja85, Just4Me, Lady Izel, SwanInProgress, UKReader, anna. pantelarou, house of the falling sun, and Manzanablanca for reviewing! Also thanks for the follows and favorites. I wanted to give a special thanks to SiaSaySomeday who asked to use my fic for English tutoring. Also thanks to jaoosa2 and house of the falling sun for expressing interest in making their own Rue fanart. So awesome! Mucho thanks to house of the falling sun for pretty much being my beta this entire time, and analyzing the hell out of my story, and ultimately making it better :)
Disclaimer: I do not own "Asleep" by The Smiths. Cue the emo song :)
Chapter Eleven: Asleep
With brute force, Naji shoved Rue forward, keeping his forearm locked around her throat, knifepoint edged against her jugular. She walked with him, contemplating when―when to whip out her dagger. Everything was topsy-turvy, fear hindering all her instincts. Oh, gosh. The first thing that really clicked in her head was that a knife was held to her throat. To her throat. Not some other person's. Hers. The second thing that sunk in her head was the realization Naji really was after Thorin.
Rue swallowed hard.
"Stay in your rightful place, Ruby, and obey every one of my commands or I swear it I will make the Dwarf King's death slower and more agonizing," Naji said menacingly, forcefully dragging Rue along like she was nothing more than a ragdoll. "We are meeting the Trolls, whore. Would you not only enjoy being a Dwarf's whore, but also a Troll's whore?" He laughed boisterously, thick arm clamping tighter and tighter around Rue's neck. Like some twisted octopus.
She pursed her lips, mouth quivering, tears nearly leaking out her eyes. Damn it. Her knees felt ready to buckle, tunnel vision taking over unexpectedly. Ahead, all she could see was a path winding past bushes and trees. From afar, she swore she spotted a faint glow. A glow meant a fire…which meant―
"I hope your Dwarf lover resents you for what you have caused him," Naji growled. It was the first time Rue really felt their height differences. He was a head and a half taller than she was, and stronger, shoving against her back, laughing every time she almost fell. Rue couldn't let Fancy Pants have Thorin. What about the company, too? They were all Dwarves, and Naji's tirade against Thorin had some sick similarities to the death eaters' campaign against muggle-borns. So if she was right, then Naji would probably go after the rest of the Dwarves. Maybe even Bilbo, too. Please, not Bilbo. He was too dainty and naïve, and―the perfect target.
Rue's heart beat like a war drum the closer they got to the glow of the firelight. It had to be now she attacked him. It had to be this very moment that she might have to kill him. Could she do it? She gulped, suddenly planting her boots on the mix of leaves and grass below her feet.
Naji's chest crashed against her back. Rue stumbled from the impact, Naji never letting go once.
"What are you doing?" he asked haughtily, yanking her so hard backwards that it felt like he might've jerked her arm out her socket. "I said follow my orders! If Dwarf and Elf men learnt how to discipline their women and forced them to obey their word, then this world would be rid of many woman difficulties." His mouth was suddenly pressed against Rue's ear, the feel of his mouth on her ear making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Dribble of spit oozed down her earlobe. She was wide-eyed, shaking all over. Death. Death. She might actually die. Hotly, he whispered, "That Dwarf King of yours has been treating you too well, has he? 'Respecting' your opinion and not taking from you whatever he desires. Pathetic. You are a woman from the race of Men, are you not? You deserve nothing."
Rue sobbed, breathing hard, the sobs making her stomach ache and chest swell. She was scared shitless. She drew the dagger out her cloak's sleeve. That was it. Rue was going to cut up Naji gangster style. Done. She was done with this, sick and tired of always fearing, wondering if he was lurking in the shadows.
Slyly, the hilt was out first. Followed by the blade. Rue didn't see Naji react, but she heard him. He gasped, tensing behind her. And before she could think about how morally wrong stabbing another human being was, Rue stabbed his knife hand. The blade pierced his knuckles. He bellowed in pain, arm jerking back from her instinctively. Rue whirled around, blood from the dagger dripping onto her palm.
She faced him, guilt eating her insides as she saw all the blood oozing on his hand. It looked like a CSI crime scene. He stared at his hand in horror. One second, Naji's mouth was open in a silent O, the next his jaw was clenched shut. He was leering, fuming. She knew that look too well.
What had she done? Oh, gosh. Oh, no. He was bleeding. And―
"LOOK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!" he roared, red in the face. Naji trudged forward. Rue scrambled, head whipping from left to right as she tried to decide what direction to go. No way did she want to lead Naji to Thorin, but―
Whimpering, she attempted to dart past Naji, his body blocking hers.
"I'll stab you again!" Rue cried. She thrust the dagger at him; hand shaking so bad the blade almost fell from her grip.
"You will not," Naji sneered, catching Rue's wrist with his giant hand. He squeezed so tight, it felt like some mutant newborn anaconda had latched onto her arm. Wildly, she pulled and shoved, gritting her teeth, crazy hair flying everywhere. With her free hand, Rue shot a fist out, punching him in the shoulder. She kicked him in the thigh, aiming for his manhood. Naji wisely closed his legs.
"Please!" Rue shrieked, bawling pathetically, the fight leaving her. Her arm fell limp in Naji's, his grip feeling like a burn.
"Go on, whore. I will be glad of it when the Trolls feed on your body," Naji snapped, bringing his own knife to Rue's neck once again. He was breathing hard, nostrils flaring.
She inhaled sharply, exhaled painfully, heart beating a million beats per minute. Naji jerked Rue forward so hard, she half-fell on the ground.
"Get back up, you ugly woman," he said viciously, spit flying out his mouth. Naji kept dragging Rue as her feet shuffled beneath her, from balanced to unbalanced. Tears stung her eyes. The world around her was blurry, drenched in greenery. Why? Why couldn't she be stronger?
And then through her tears, the plethora of greenery vanished, replaced by a clearing drenched in firelight. The scent of a cooking fire drifted through the air. Oh, shit.
Suddenly, she felt her legs give out. Naji shoved Rue, her mouth crunching against a rock half-buried in the ground. She was crying even harder, trembling, spitting out blood, blinding pain all over her split-lip. From the ground, Rue blinked away tears, peering up. In front of her, there was a giant spit over a cooking fire, with―with over half the company hanging from it. Surrounding the spit were the―the Trolls. They did not look like Harry Potter Trolls, with the clubs and all. Somehow, these Trolls having a cooking fire made her think of the movie Wrong Turn. They were gray and unnatural. Not that Harry Potter Trolls were natural. On the far end of the clearing was the rest of the company in sacks. Sacks and a fire? Crap.
"Miss Rue!" Kili shouted from his sack, squirming like a fish.
"Lass!" Gimli yelled, panic etched on his face as he grumbled special insults for the Trolls and Naji. "How dare you treat a woman such a way!"
Rue sat on her knees, feeling Naji's knife at her jugular for the third time in a row. Her mouth hurt like hell. She was making little pathetic whimpers of pain between hiccups of tears.
Her eyes traveled to the sacks once again. Then she found―found Thorin. His mouth was open in shock, looking alarmed as he leaned forward, head darting between her and Naji.
"So does seeing your whore in pain, anger you, King Under the Mountain?" Naji said scathingly, walking until he stood by Rue.
Thorin glared daggers at Naji, nostrils flaring.
"Oh, so she does get a reaction out of you, does she?" Naji placed his hands on his sides arrogantly. "Tell me, Dwarf King, why is it if you are royalty that word says one of the Dwarves apart of this company is financing this quest and not yourself? If you cannot even take care of yourself, sister, and sister sons, then what makes you believe you can care for a woman from the race of Men?" He threw back his head, guffawing.
Thorin tensed, his face glaringly passive. It was as if he was doing everything in his willpower not to let anything show. His eyes were a different story, blue fire as he sneered. Asshole had dealt Thorin a low blow. Rue had caught on from staying in the Durin household that Thorin wasn't exactly the richest Dwarf around despite contrary belief. Some Dwarves thought since he was royalty that he must've had money in the bank. Rue swallowed hard. That was something she admired about the Dwarves. So what if Thorin wasn't the wealthiest Dwarf in the Blue Mountains? They still respected him, respected the line of Durin, and treated him as rightful king. Rue wished honor, loyalty, and hard work was valued more than money in her world.
"Filthy human!" Gloin roared, jerking his trapped legs.
From the spit, Dwalin cried, "Wait until I get down from here―" He was cut-off as he rotated, replaced by Dori and Ori.
One of the Trolls lurched closer to Naji, pointing at Rue. "Ya willing to trade us a―porcupine for―" He pointed at Thorin's seething form― "What you've told us is a Dwarf King?"
Naji placed his hands on his sides. "She certainly is not the most attractive woman around, but she is a woman nonetheless."
"Porcupine?" Rue squeaked, whimpering. Damn, her lips were hurting like hell.
Another Troll―Derp Troll―scratched his chin curiously. "She does looklike a woman." He looked at his fellow Troll minions for confirmation. They nodded in agreement that Rue was a woman.
"Is it a trade, yes?" Naji asked loudly. "I have helped capture your meals by stealing their ponies away and leading them to you, so I believe you shall give me the Dwarf King. It would only be righteous."
Herp Troll nodded. "That sounds about right."
Rue stole a glance at the Dwarves and Bilbo, all rolled up in sacks like burritos. Bilbo was blinking, jerking his head and mouthing something Rue couldn't make out. She nodded; taking a guess at what Bilbo wanted her to do. It was pretty obvious, right? Well, she hoped so. Slowly, she inched closer to them, steadily waiting for the right moment.
Naji faced the Trolls once again. "Then give me the Dwarf King. That is my payment."
Rue awkwardly crawled. Mentally, she made a checklist of which Dwarves it made the most sense to free first. Uh, the warriors, right? She gulped. Gosh, she didn't want to screw this up. So probably Thorin, Fili, Kili, Gloin, Gimli, and Balin first? Then she could get to Bilbo and Bombur.
In one fleeting moment, Naji completely turned away from her, answering a question about how it was best to season a porcupine. Beads of sweat trickled down Rue's neck. She was up on her feet, making a mad dash for Thorin's sack. Bilbo's mouth was open in a silent O. Was getting Thorin out first the right move? Rue thought it made the most sense because Naji wanted him as trade, so―
Rue ducked behind Balin's sack, crawling the rest of her way to Thorin's sack. Palms on the ground, face down, Rue trembled like she was Johnny Cade from The Outsiders or something.
In a quiet hiss, Thorin said, "What are you doing?" With a shaky hand, she brought the dagger toward the sack's strings, sawing away at them. Crap. She was going too slow, fumbling all over the place.
"Gotta get you out of here 'cause Naji wants you," she whispered quickly, Rue was centimeters away from finishing.
"Leave," Thorin whispered harshly. "Now. Run." His piercing gaze nearly cut into her.
She tried to ignore his piercing gaze and the look of utter disbelief on his face, pulling parts of his sack down when―
"Where did she go?" Naji bellowed, whipping his head back and forth. Instantly, his eyes were on them.
And before Naji could spot Rue, Thorin carefully yanked one arm out his sack, grabbing her by the bicep. He pulled her so she was forced behind him. Then he shifted, his body blocking her from view.
Rue was breathing hard; trying to shut the hell up, nearly face down on the ground while sitting on her knees.
From the spit, she could hear Nori say, "Maybe she thought it better to fair in the Wild than with the likes of you. If the ask me, human men―" His words were lost as the spit turned.
"I cannot believe this," Bilbo suddenly said, voice fussy. "She deserted us. Filthy coward. Traitor."
"Aye," Balin grunted.
Rue blinked several times, realizing seconds later that Bilbo was attempting to put on some act. But would they believe it?
The third Troll took a step closer to Bilbo, a giant, wooden spoon clenched between his hands. Rue only saw bits and pieces of him, but from his words to Bilbo, she quickly figured out he was a Troll Troll, as in trollin' on Mr. Hobbitkins.
"You think we'll believe ya, ferret?"
"Ferret?" Bilbo squeaked in disbelief, clambering up until he was awkwardly standing in his sack. "I am not a ferret. I am a Hobbit from the Shire. And before you even ask about Hobbits, I just would like to make one thing very clear."
Rue was surprised as the Trolls shut up to listen to Bilbo. It must've been his sass.
"We Hobbits never lie." He was waggling a finger to make his point. Rue thought she saw Naji roll his eyes.
"You think the ferret is speaking the truth?" Herp Troll asked Troll Troll.
"Of course not!" Naji bellowed angrily, stomping.
"You are wrong, and I will prove it," Bilbo said to Naji, his voice splintering fleetingly. "Release me from my sack and I will take you to her. You see, there was a hiding place we had decided upon earlier in the day." He snorted humorlessly. "It does not seem like we will be using it now, but I am most certain that porcupine will be there. Remember, if you don't find her, there will be no trade." He made a disdainful noise at the mention of "porcupine."
"That is right." Herp Troll nodded. "We were supposed to trade."
Rue swallowed hard, bending down so low she was nearly kissing the ground. Gosh, what was Bilbo doing? She couldn't help but compare this to Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix, when Hermione took Umbridge into the forbidden forest to find "Dumbledore's secret weapon." Did Mr. Hobbitkins have a Grawp hiding in there? Or maybe it was just…his courage.
"One of us stays behind to watch the food and human," Troll Troll decided. "William."
"Why me?" William―Herp Troll―griped. "Why is it always me?"
Rue poked her head out from behind Thorin, hiding behind him once again as she actually saw one of the Trolls cut the strings on Bilbo's sack. He stepped out of the sack, stretching his arms over his head. Bilbo was free.
"Come on then, Ferret, we ain't got all day." Troll Troll poked Bilbo toward the surrounding forest with his spoon.
Derp Troll spoke stupidly, "I don't fancy dawn turning us into stone." Might as well just tell Voldemort no. Rue couldn't believe Derp Troll had outdid her stupid.
Within minutes, Bilbo was prodded into the forest, the two Trolls jabbing him with their spoons and complaining about how they were hungry. Freaking Hobbit. How smart could he be? What the heck was he planning?
"I cannot believe this," Naji groaned irritably, resting a hand on his forehead.
Rue belly slid for Balin's strings, cutting them quick. Balin cleverly didn't move a muscle, making no indication his strings were cut.
From the corner of her eye, as she returned to hide behind Thorin, Rue noticed Gimli mouthing, "Untie me." Not yet, Gims.
In a flash, Naji stormed for them. His hands were balled into fists. Rue's heart beat like an out-of-tune timpani. Oh, gosh. He was going to spot her. She tried to make herself as small as she could behind Thorin, her entire body quivering. Rue felt blood still oozing from her mouth thanks to her crash against the rock. Then underneath the beaming moonlight, in the writher of flames from the firelight, Rue saw drips of something―her blood she realized moments later―on the ground between Balin and Thorin. Right as her eyes froze on the blood splatters, so did Naji's.
"What are ye doing over there with the food, human?" William asked impatiently, twirling an empty sack in his hands.
Naji smirked deviously. "The food is noncompliant. I believe teaching our food the value of remaining non-spoiled would be good, do you think not?"
Naji stepped closer. Rue sucked in a sharp breath.
Thorin then leapt to his feet like some ninja, snatching Rue's dagger before she could even blink. The sack dropped from his body, piling around his boots. Naji nodded, as if knowing all along what the hell they had been doing.
Thorin jumped out his sack, running for Naji. He pulled out his own knife, bending his knees as he prepared for Thorin's attack. They clashed, knife against knife. Thorin growled viciously, sending his fist cracking against Naji's nose.
In the background, Rue could hear William shout, "The food! The food!"
She rose to her feet in panic, helping Balin up. He was out his sack quick for an old guy―no offense, Balin. He started untying Fili and Gloin's strings first, eyes darting to the spit frantically. Rue stumbled as Naji tripped over Kili's legs―which he had gladly done on purpose, grinning―, stepping back just as Naji fell on his butt at her feet. Rue wasn't sure what to do, kicking Naji in the back hard like she'd seen gangsters do on the streets when they were jumping somebody. For once, she thought on her toes, eyes traveling to the pile of weapons by the spit. Get the weapons. Hand them out. And then the Trolls were done for. Uh, the plan sounded great in Rue's head.
A flash of silver came for Rue's legs. Naji. She leapt out the way. Thorin was suddenly in front of her, pulling her away from Naji, snarling in his direction. Rue felt herself shoved behind Thorin.
"STAY DOWN!" Thorin roared.
"Get me out!" Kili wailed, moving his legs impatiently.
From behind Naji, Balin was there, snatching his arms in a vice grip Rue had no idea he could whip out. Go Balin. Okay, it was time to stop wasting time. She had to get the weapons and free the others still, so―
She thought things halfway through. Her feet were suddenly making a beeline for the weapons. Rue's heart pounded against her ribcage. She forgot one important thing: William was right there.
"Where do you think you're going, Porcupine?"
Then he was coming toward her from the―
"Move left!" Dwalin called.
Of course, because she was Rue, she moved right, colliding against William's leg.
"Your other left!" Nori called.
Rue saw William blinking from way up high. The dude must've been the same height as Grawp. He grinned, bending down achingly slow. Rue took her chance, squeaking as she dove between his legs, crawling out on the other side.
She sprinted for the weapons, inching closer and closer. Her eyes were on the sky for a split-second, noting dawn was close. What about Bilbo? Was he okay? Oh, gosh. Just do one thing right first. Rue skidded to a halt, glancing over her shoulder, giving a little shriek of terror at the sight of William coming for her. Rue bent down fast, gathered three axes, a sword, and a few other swords.
Going to spin around, her face collided against a leg the size of a tree trunk. Rue fell on her butt, blinking up in terror at the Troll.
"You thought you could outsmart me, eh?" Yeah.
"Please, Mr. Troll," she begged, shivering from the thought of how easy he could stomp on her and squash her like some cockroach. "You uh―uh, please let my friends go?" Rue wasn't even sure who she could exactly consider a friend or if the Dwarves thought she was an idiot for referring to them as "friends." The friend word was a big deal for some.
"If I let them go, then what will I eat?" William wrinkled his nose. "A pony? That will not satisfy me."
Rue slid closer to his legs, inching nearer to the gap between his tree trunks. Her hand gripped one of the axes so hard her knuckles were screaming in pain. Rue fleetingly wondered if this was Gimli or Dwalin's axe.
There was a thunderous battle cry. As quick as lightning, Thorin was by her side.
Rue tossed him one of the swords. He caught it, stabbing William below the knee. The Troll howled in pain, teetering, losing his footing. Oh, shit. Rue scrambled from the ground, swinging the axe toward William's other leg. Blood splashed her face, and she felt disgusting, inhumane. All thoughts vanished as William toppled down to one knee. Thorin pulled Rue backwards. Together, they made a dash for the Dwarves in sacks. Hot air hissed in her ears as they ran. Had they actually taken down a Troll?
Rue skidded to a halt, gasping. Naji was on the ground face down, knifeless, with Balin, Fili, and Gloin sitting on him.
Gimli was almost out his sack, being untied by a pissed off Gloin. Bombur was also out his sack, reaching for one of the swords in Rue's arms.
"Why is it everyone forgets about me?" Kili cried, scowling. Rue fell to her knees, untying Kili within seconds. She paused for a moment, spitting out blood that had pooled on her tongue from the cut on her mouth. It burned really bad, her lips feeling like they had gone through a meat grinder.
With the back of her sleeve, she wiped her mouth. Kili's scowl fell from his face, and he looked―scared.
"Uncle!" Kili shouted in panic, pulling the sack off himself now. He climbed to his feet unsteadily. "She's bleeding too much!"
Rue swiveled on her knees, Thorin hovering in front of her, the glow of early morning light behind him giving Thorin the appearance of some Godsend. She gulped.
"The dawn will take you all!" A sudden, familiar voice boomed over one heaping rock that blocked the dawn light. Dumbledore?
Gandalf's tall form was detailed by the silhouette of his pointy hat as he climbed, standing triumphant on top of freaking Pride Rock. He brought his staff cracking down on the rock, the rock splitting into two, one side clunking down, giving way to flashes of brilliant morning light. The Troll was immoveable, freezing on the spot. Its skin shriveled into stone.
There was an outcry of relief from the Dwarves. Dwalin said someone had better get him down this second, so he could whoop Naji's ass. Well, he didn't word it that way, but the butt-kicking was implied.
"Where's the Hobbit?" Gimli cried. "Is he still in the―the―" Poor Gims couldn't even bring himself to say it. He was thin-lipped, looking shit-face scared.
Gandalf hurried over toward them, looking like the same ol' Gandalf up close. What had happened to the "the dawn will take you all" Gandalf they had seen moments ago?
Rue struggled to her feet, Kili helping her up. He was glaring daggers at Naji, leaving Rue's side to yell at him, "How dare you speak such things of my uncle! Of my mother!" He balled his fists in fury, going to stand above Naji's face, which was shoved into the mix of grass and dirt. Served Fancy Pants right.
"Let him up," Gandalf said briskly, moving his staff around in his haste.
Naji was manhandled. He was jerked so hard from the ground, it looked like his arms were about to snap underneath the pressure. He spit dirt out his mouth, snarling as Thorin went to stand in front of him. Thorin shook in rage; his jaw clenched tight, his hilt clenched in some death grip.
"What of the Hobbit?" Bofur shouted from the spit.
Rue nodded, going to step toward the forest, but then―
A small silhouette emerged from the trees. His pace was slow, eyes wide, mouth slightly parted. The Dwarves cheered like the Gryffindor's did every time they bested Slytherin. Rue met Bilbo halfway, catching him in a bear hug. Damn, that crazy Hobbit had just saved all their asses.
"Bilbo! You're okay!" Rue squeezed him hard. Bilbo awkwardly patted her on the back before they parted. Don't want to make the hug weird.
Bilbo nodded, streaks of dirt on his face that Rue swore was clean before he left with the Trolls. "They turned to stone. Honestly, they must be the most senseless beings in existence." He swallowed hard, walking alongside Rue. "Are you all right? Did―" Bilbo stopped talking as they reached the Troll's cooking fire. He peered at Stone William, answering his own question.
Gandalf was at Bilbo's side now. "What happened?"
"I―uh―" Bilbo clumsily scratched his head. He then dove into an explanation of how Rue had managed to crawl away from Naji and the Trolls; how he had convinced the Trolls she was hiding in the forest, and then finished with, "I hid in a hollow of a tree for fifteen minutes Gandalf. Those Trolls, though they came close several times, could not reach me."
It was official. Bilbo's brain more than made up for his little Hobbit body.
"What are you going to do with me?" Naji's choked voice interjected Bilbo and Gandalf's conversation.
Fili prowled around Naji, looking like a lion baiting his prey. "Oh, you will see soon enough."
Gandalf spun around, traipsing to where Naji was trapped on all sides.
Gandalf gave Fancy Pants a very disapproving once over, and then said coolly, "You must be the son of the Master of Bree. I remember you from the Prancing Pony. One does not forget a man so clearly threatened by another man, that he is willing to sink to such lows to wound him."
At Gandalf's words, Thorin stood tenser, his expression livid, hurt for a split-second before slackening.
Naji nodded, one of his eyes swollen shut from a punch Rue didn't get to see. "Yes, that I am."
The Wandering Wizard might as well have been discussing the price of apples in a supermarket.
"That you are. Was it your intent to aid the Trolls in an attempt to harm Thorin Oakenshield?" He pointed the tip of his staff at Naji's throat, not shitting around.
Naji hissed, "You do not need me to answer a question that you know the answer to, Wizard."
Rue crossed her arms over her chest, making her way over there. She felt at fault no matter how many times Thorin told her otherwise. This endless cycle of crazy would've never happened if it hadn't been for her.
Naji peeked past Gandalf, his steely gaze stopping on Rue. "No Men from our race would ever desire you. That is why you ran off with a Dwarf, is it not? He does not mind your ugly hair, your disgusting―" Gandalf whacked Naji in the forehead with his staff, forcing him to shut up.
Rue flinched at Naji's words, wiping more blood away from her mouth. He was right about the first part, about human men never wanting her…Rue felt lost, guilty, ugly, inhumane, so many damn things at once.
"DO NOT LOOK AT HER!" Thorin roared; his yell petrifyingly heated. He stood in front of Rue, blocking her from Naji's sight. "If you say one more word to her, I will slash your throat; you will not have my people's mercy."
From the corner of Rue's eye, between blurriness from tears she didn't even know she was shedding, she saw Fili mutter something to Gandalf.
"There is a better idea," Gandalf announced.
Balin watched the kooky Wizard in uncertainty, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"What?" Thorin snapped at Gandalf, whirling toward him. They were face to chest, intensity strangling the air.
Gandalf grinned wickedly. "It is a brilliant idea right from the Heir's mouth. I say we finish helping the rest of the company down from the spit―" Rue swore she heard Bofur shout, "About time."
Mischievously, Gandalf's eyes twinkled. "Afterwards, we place the son of Master of Bree in their place."
Damn, Fili was awesome.
By the time they were finished stringing Naji up on the spit, they were standing outside a Troll cave, where the Trolls apparently hid out during the day and horded everything away. Naji had been bellowing the entire time, "My father will hear of this! The Men of Bree will come for me." Rue felt pretty torn about leaving Naji over the fire, since a big part of her felt bad, but another side―a more malicious side―thought it was freaking hilarious. Dwalin had busted up Naji's face pretty bad after he'd been freed from the spit. Dwalin's reasons were in defense of his bro, Thorin, and secondly, for Naji calling Dis a whore, which Fili gladly let Dwalin know of.
Rue was half-afraid they were going to find kidnapped Hobbits running from the cave in a single file line, all yelling, "They took us from the Shire!"
The stench from the cave was ghastly, the word Hermione would've used to describe it. Ron probably would have said something along the lines of, "Blimey, Harry, they have caves." All right, she was a tad obsessed with Harry Potter.
Thorin, Gandalf, Dwalin, Gloin, Nori, and Bofur―okay, no offense, but Rue understood why certain Dwarves and a Wizard went inside the cave while others were forced to wait outside, so why was Bofur allowed to venture the cave when he had said so himself, "I'm only here for the free ale."
She was pacing back and forth, standing a few feet from the cave. Streaming daylight from above broke through branches hovering over them, warming Rue's skin.
Gimli and Kili were squabbling for the fifth time since they'd escaped the Trolls.
"You want to know why you were not allowed to go inside the Troll cave?" Kili spat, puffing out his chest. Gimli was less than three inches from him, snarling. They were having their third stare off since the quest had begun.
"Beardless!" Gimli bellowed.
Kili gasped. "Dwarfling!"
"You want to know why the Trolls wanted to cook you and not me? I am manly. You look like a lass. They knew you would not put up much of a fight," he grumbled, shaking his fist less than an inch from Kili's nose. That comment was so sexist.
Rue was prepared to go play peacemaker between them, but then the sight of Oin stepping in front of her froze her on the spot.
"Let us see to your lip, Miss Rue," Oin said, grinning.
She blinked stupidly. "Uh―I'm good. Don't worry about me."
Before Rue could protest again, Oin brought some kind of medieval salve to her lips. The temptation to run away in fear of the unknown medicine was strong. What if this gave her an allergic reaction? What if this turned into a House episode, and since there was no House to save the day, she would die and―
He was finished. Wait. What? Doctors, nurses, and healers always took forever to clean wounds and make things hurt even worse before the real healing began. That was just part of the circle of doctor logic, right? Make boo-boo hurt, and then heal it.
"Thanks Oin," Rue said, sighing in relief. "I so thought you were going to perform some medieval surgery on my lips, but this stuff―" She gingerly touched her lips― "It feels sticky. Thanks a lot."
Oin stepped closer, pressing his ear trumpet near her mouth. He nodded. "No need to thank me, lass. What you and the Hobbit did was beyond brave, and there is not enough payment in the world I could give you that could show my gratitude." Oin suddenly winked. "It is thanks to you and Mr. Baggins that our king is safe. Our quest shall continue because of you two."
With those last words said, Oin turned around, heading for the Troll entrance as Gloin emerged.
Like some brat, Gimli stomped, pissed the hell off that Gloin had forced him to wait outside the Troll cave.
He grumbled, "I am not a Dwarfling!"
"Are, too!" Kili roared.
"Are not!"
When was this ever going to stop?
Nori, Bofur, Dwalin, and Thorin spilled out the cave. Thorin had a new sword, the sheath dusted in dirt and cobwebs. It was awesome that the Troll cave had led him to find something useful. Rue watched Thorin closely as he unsheathed his sword, revealing the long, monstrous blade. Damn. Just damn. Now that was a sword.
Dwalin eyed the sword critically. "That is Elvish?"
"Aye."
It was time for some Elf-hate.
Rue awkwardly bounced on the tips of her toes, stealing a glance at the cave again as Gandalf appeared. He had two swords, making a beeline for Bilbo, who was standing by himself, holding his thumb to his lips in some kind of weary stance. 'Course poor Mr. Hobbitkins was tired out after using all his brainpower to come up with a master plan. Gandalf handed Bilbo the smaller sword, opening his mouth, his words inaudible from Rue's vantage point. Not that she was trying to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"Did you see Oin?"
Rue was startled, turning to find Thorin in front of her, wearing his beautiful coat again, looking gloriously majestic underneath the pouring sunlight― nope; she was not going to swoon over Thorin Oakenshield. Maybe later, when she pathetically couldn't resist anymore, but right now there were more important things to ponder over: like when was breakfast.
She nodded. "Yeah, he gave me this sticky stuff for my lips."
He nodded quick, gazing once at Rue's lips, his eyes traveling to the ground soon after. Thorin suddenly peered past Rue, the intensity in his eyes making her squirm.
He leaned closer, speaking so she could only hear. Thorin seemed completely out of his element, uncomfortable as he gripped one side of his coat with his free hand.
"I should not have left you alone. Did that man―" Thorin now gazed into her eyes, unflinching, stare scary penetrating― "Did he do anything else to you?" He stood taller, snarling, "Tell me if he did. I will make sure he is left for dead, no matter if Gandalf says otherwise."
"I'm okay," she assured, shrugging. "Just got shoved and pushed along. And he said mean things like he always does. That was about it." Rue shrugged like some shrugger.
He opened his mouth to same something right as Dwalin's booming voice ripped through the air.
"Something's coming!"
An utter look of ferocious determination took over Thorin's face. Rue felt Thorin touch her elbow as he beckoned her forward, toward where the Dwarves were running like cheetahs, feet pounding thunderously against the earth. What now? No more Trolls. Please don't let it be Azog?
The last thing Rue heard was Gandalf shouting orders, her shoulder blades aching from the weight of her backpack thumping against her upper back.
"Stay together!" No shit, Gandalf.
It was official. Middle-earth made Southside and east side Stockton, look all 1950s suburbia peachy. And that was saying something since every Stocktonian knew Stockton was one of the craziest places in existence. The people were miserable and wild, the city itself physically draining, feeling like some real life black hole.
But what had burst from the thickets of trees had caught Rue completely off guard. Her diary was perched on the tree trunk in front of her in the most awkward stance ever as she scribbled a quick entry.
Dear Natalie,
Had a bad day. Got mixed up with Trolls. Naji returned. Escaped. Did not get any sleep. Naji's hanging over a cooking fire now. But this―Radagast the Brown―is the craziest thing I have ever seen in Middle-earth, maybe in my entire life. He has bird poop on his face. Should I tell him? He could get sick. He's talking to Gandalf right now as I write this, and it sounds like they're having an important conversation. Maybe if he has a few seconds to spare I can clean the bird poop off his face? What happened was he burst from the trees, us all expecting a freaking Orc or THE Orc, Azog, to come at us. What we found instead was this short guy (not trying to sound mean) saying, "Thieves! Fire! Murder!" All the while riding some rabbit sleigh. Not sure what to think. On one hand I think he's pretty cool, on the other I think he might have dementia. Remember how I told you Fili never reacts to anything? Well, as soon as he saw Radagast, even he had a reaction. On the bright side of this crappy day, Thorin is looking absolutely―
Unprecedented silence fell as an eerie howl sounded in the distance.
Bilbo was startled, saying, "Was that a wolf? Are there―are there wolves out there?"
Rue shut her diary in a haste, pulling away from the tree. "Professor Lupin?"
Bofur killed Rue's hopes of Middle-earth turning into Harry Potter with a few words.
"Wolves? There are no wolves around here. That is a―"
Oh, shit―
Creak, crack, snap.
Without warning, some big dog―wolf, Bofur was so wrong―climbed over a rock face, leaping over trees, giant paws scaling the moss-covered stones below it as it came for them. It raced past Gloin, a blur of gray, snarling teeth. Rue instinctively reached for Gimli, who was less than a foot away. She shoved him behind her, turning back to face the wolf as it pounced on Dori. Rue shrieked, pulling her dagger out. Not Dori.
Thorin was there in less than a second, stabbing the wolf on its side, blade sinking into a mix of fur and flesh. It whimpered briefly before its eyes fell shut, dead beneath Thorin's blade.
From the opposite side, another wolf came barreling for them, paws outstretched, teeth snapping in anticipation. Its legs crashed against a tree trunk, preparing to jump over right as Kili shot an arrow at it. The wolf fell face down, rolling the rest of the way downhill, meeting Dwalin and Gimli's axe blades. Her diary fell out her hands, conveniently landing beneath the wolf's squirming, dying body. Blood seeped on Tigger's face. Oh, crap. Oh, crap. Hey―Rue could have sworn Gimli was standing behind her.
"Warg-scouts! Which means an Orc pack is near," Thorin growled, facing Gandalf. His bottom lip jutted out thanks to the animalistic snarl on his face. Oh, crap. Azog?
"Orc pack?" Bilbo sputtered in disbelief, as if seriously trying to say, "Hey, I didn't sign-up for this. I signed up to fight a Dragon, not Orcs." Rue could feel his pain, since she was this close to peeing herself out of fear.
Gandalf simply said, "Naji. He knew of your quest. He must have told, or someone told him of your quest."
Thorin shook his head, closing the distance between him and Rue. With a grunt of effort, he bent down, lifting the lifeless folds of the Warg's sagging skin aside―
In his hand was Rue's diary seconds later, bloody, but still intact. She nearly cried as Thorin handed it to her, their fingertips brushing.
"Thank you so much!" she cried, hugging the diary to her chest, not caring blood was getting on her cloak. Tears stung her eyes. They had almost died. Then she had nearly lost her diary. Man, this day was not going well.
Thorin nodded intently, his eyes blue fire.
She swore she saw Gandalf roll his eyes. That was very Un-Wizard like. Dumbledore would have not been impressed.
"Do not try to deny it no longer," Gandalf hissed, gripping his staff tighter in sudden anger.
Thorin met Gandalf halfway, bellowing monstrously, spit flying out his mouth, "I AM NOT DENYING IT!"
Gandalf was unmoved by Thorin's yelling, his eyes narrowing in slits as he said coolly, "We are being hunted."
"We have to get out of here," Dwalin spoke impatiently, almost stomping in his urgency.
"We can't! The ponies bolted!" Ori was the bearer of the shittiest news as he arrived from above, visible through the breaks between branches. Simba was MIA?
"I'll draw them off," Radagast declared boldly. Eh? For the first time, Rue noticed how his staff was bigger than him.
Gandalf scoffed half-heartedly, "These are Gundabad Wargs."
"These are Rhosgobel Rabbits―" He paused dramatically, tone challenging― "I'd like the see them try."
These rabbits had better be animagus or―they were so dead.
Author's Note: *Hint hint* The Warg-scout scene will be drastically different. Please review? I'd be really happy to hear from my readers! Not that I don't get enough reviews, but I just love to hear different input and thoughts on the story so far! Follow me on tumblr at pearlprimrose :) Thanks for even reading this story!