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This chapter is more of a filler but still has certain interactions between characters which are needed, small steps make the relationship more truthful I feel
I keep my eyes on Kilis's back as we run, doing my best to ignore the pain in my side and my legs burning. Just keep breathing in and out, in and out. We pass another rock ledge as we flee across the plain. How long we had been running felt like hours, but it was possibly only minutes. Hearing the snapping jaws and screams of the Orcs and Wargs I keep my legs moving instead of throwing myself against the floor like I wanted to.
"Ori, no! Come back!" I crash into Kili's back as we come to a sudden stop, muffling an ow into his quiver I stumble back into Fili's arms who holds me upright. Gasping in air I couldn't stop myself melting into his hands, hands clutching my side to try and stop the pain. Fili rubs his hands over the parts of my back he could reach. Small sparks springing from where his fingertips touch.
"Easy Ayah, deep breaths" he whispers in my ear, nodding I try and do as he says but before I can catch my breath Thorin has us running again. I see the worried look Gandalf sends my way, but I can't even smile at the Wizard, too busy gasping through my lips to use them to any other reason. Hobbit's were not made for cross-country, much better over short distances or walking! I peek over my shoulder before turning my gaze back to Kili's back; Bilbo was keeping up beside Bofur and he didn't even look that out of breath. I'd curse at him if I wasn't so occupied with breathing.
We keep going over and over, only stopping for a few seconds before we carry on running. My legs felt heavier than they ever had, and the pain was migrating from my side through to the other. Still we carried on, my eyes on Kili's back trying not to let him get too far in front. After all he bet me 10 gold coin's he'd beat me, I'd be damned if I let him win. I see Thorin and Gandalf both scurry to the side of a rocky ledge, following Kili I slam myself against it trying to breathe quietly but all I could hear was the blood pumping in my head like drums.
A soft squeeze of my hand I look to Fili who gives me a small smile before he turns his head to the side to look above us. Feeling the rock quiver beneath my fingers I quickly push the sleeve of my cloak against my mouth to quieten my breathing. Something was above us. Fili's eyes focus on Kili behind me, I dare not move instead I watch the worry cross Fili's face. Please tell me Kili was not going to be a hero?
A slow-moving arm scrapes across my back, he was not drawing an arrow surely. The odds of any of us hitting an Orc or even a Warg without it making a noise was horrific. I keep my eyes on Fili's blue eyes, calming my breath I focus on the silver flecks inside the blue. I don't have the energy to blush when his eyes focus on mine but strangely enough his gaze makes me focus and slow my breathing to where I am not panting any more. Before I could think any more about it a movement from my right makes us both swing our heads round.
Kili dartss forwards, drawing back the string he fires an arrow above our heads. A shriek was all that I could hear when the Warg and Orc crash in front of us. I pull my sword from its sheath but Dwalin and Bifur had gotten there first and ended them both. Before they could kill them the sounds of their axes and swords clashing against each other rang out, as did the squeal that left the Orc's mouth as it died.
Silence. Looking to Thorin and Gandalf they both still their movements. We all keep silent as we can until the howls from the Warg Scouts drown out any other noise. We've been found.
"Move! Run!" Gandalf shouts and we all take off once more, this time with more speed. I pass Kili as we run putting every bit of energy into keeping my legs steady and carrying on. Looking to my left I can see some of the Wargs in the distance, getting closer and closer with every moment we ran. I then look to my right and see the other Wargs gaining distance that side.
"There they are!" Gloin's shout reaches my ears over the drumming of my heart. I keep breathing as well as I can, there will no use letting the fear get to my head.
Gandalf throws his arm over his head to motion us a different way, "this way! Quickly!" Changing direction as quickly as we can to follow him, Bifur now running beside me since I passed Kili and Fili. Hearing a shout, I try to turn my head but end up tripping over a rabbit hole. I watch the ground come close and nearly land on my face until a strong hand catches my arm and yanks me back on my feet. Giving Bifur a grateful look we carry on running until we see the Wargs and Orcs in front of us in the distance. I skid to a stop as does Bifur, we both circle around but the Wargs and Orcs were all around us on each side. We were trapped.
Pulling my bow out of my quiver, I notch an arrow. Slowing my breathing I pull my arms up and aim at the closest Warg ready to attach when Thorin gives the word.
"There's more coming!" Kili's shout comes from further down the plain, his own bow and arrow drawn and ready. I try to steady my arms which were starting to shake, watching more and more Wargs and Orc's appear every few moments.
"Kili, Ayah, shoot them!" At Thorin's command I let my arrow fly into one Wargs eye socket, one down. Notching another arrow, I let this fly into another Wargs face bringing it down. The Orc's we can handle with swords, Wargs are harder to kill and better to kill from a distance before they get too close to us. Arrow after arrow I shoot at the Wargs making sure each one hits its mark.
"We're surrounded!" Fili's shout comes from beside me, unsheathing both his swords he twirls them in his hands. Letting loose a breath I didn't know I had been holding I turn my back to Fili, confident he would keep me safe from that side. Letting more and more arrows fly into Warg's and Orc's faces I can't help but start to worry. More Wargs seem to be turning up.
"Where is Gandalf?" Kili's shout breaks my concentration, glancing round the plain I can not see the Wizard. He would not leave us! Seeing Bilbo next to Bofur with his small sword out another sigh of relief escapes me. Bilbo was safe, or as safe as he could be in this situation.
Dwalin's shout makes me look to my right, and not a moment too soon as I let loose an arrow which dispatches a running Warg to the ground: "he has abandoned us!" Backing up slowly, I see Fili turn and cover me as I carry on moving back towards a large rock in the centre of the clearing.
"Hold your ground!" Thorin's command makes my feet stop in their movements. I see Ori fling a rock with his slingshot hitting a Warg in the face making it angry. Thorin must be mad if he thinks we can fight all these beasts without help. He surely can't believe we would win?
"This way you fools!" Gandalf's shout makes me turn; stood by the large rock he waves his arm. I carry on shooting until I see Bilbo and Bofur disappear down the hole. Thorin started yelling for us all to move, looking at Fili he nods for me to go. Running as fast as I can towards the rock I carry on shooting until I have no more arrows in my quiver. Switching the bow to my other hand I unsheathe my sword. Better safe than sorry.
I look ahead to see Thorin cut down a Warg. Looking to my left as I run, seeing no Wargs close I look ahead to our leader. Holding his hand out for me, I sheath my sword to grab his outstretched hand. He yanks me over the boulder which I then slide down the slope into the dark hole behind it. Winching at the rocks scrapping my thighs I brace myself as I hit the floor, doing my most graceful roll I then land on my feet. Bilbo's shocked face made me smile, walking over I grasp him into a quick hug as I whisper into his ear: "are you okay Bilbo?"
Nodding as he pulls away he gives my arm a ginger tap before letting go. I smile at him and Bofur before we all turn towards the opening watching more and more Dwarves appear. Counting as they all come down my breath starts to catch in my throat, where was Fili and Kili?
"Kili! Run!" At Thorin's shout I run forwards towards the opening but before I can reach it Gandalf grabs my shoulder and pulls me to the side. Looking desperately at the Wizard, why did he stop me? He just smiles down at me then nods to the opening. At the sound of three bodies hitting the ground I spin back round and see Fili, Kili and Thorin stepping forwards out the entrance light. Fili's eyes focus on my face as I look to him and feel the tightness in my chest start to loosen as he steps towards me. Not noticing Gandalf's grip is gone until I feel Fili's hand catch my elbow and pull me into his chest as suddenly a body rolls down the slope into the middle of our group.
Looking around Fili's chest at the dead Orc on the floor I watch as Thorin yanks an arrow out from its neck. From the design I could tell it was an elvish arrow, clutching the front of Fili's tunic I let all the tension escape me. There would be one reason why Elves would protect this area of land. The Hidden Passage. We made it.
At Thorin throwing the arrow on the floor in disgust I try to pull away from Fili's chest to have a closer look but Fili's hand on my back prevented that. I look up and those blue eyes of his pull me back in. What is going on?
"I cannot see where the pathway leads. Do we follow it or not?" Dwalin's loud voice pulls me out of the trance Fili had put me under. Blushing as the rest of the Dwarves start to follow Dwalin I reach behind me and squeeze Fili's hand which was splayed on the small of my back.
"Perhaps it would be best to follow?" I speak but it comes out as a whisper. Squeezing my hand back gently, he then slides his arm from around my back to the side of us. A hand slapping down on his shoulder makes us both jump apart in fright, Kili's grinning face makes a flush rise up my neck and cheeks: "Am I interrupting something?"
At his wicked smirk I can't help but return it when I remember who was the last one down here: "maybe, but all for the better as I do believe you owe me 10 gold coins Master Kili". His grin turns to shock making me chuckle as I hold out my hand, palm up and smile as innocently. Fili's laugh made my smile grow a little but didn't lessen the blush from the wink he sends me.
"You heard the lady, brother. Pay up". Pouting he reaches into his jacket pocket and counts out 10 gold coins into my hand. Sliding them into my pocket I grin at the young Dwarf. Patting his face, I start to walk away telling him as I go: "Never bet a Baggins, friend, we hate to lose". His huff behind me makes my smile grow into a grin. These Dwarves never fail to amuse me.
I follow the Dwarves down the pathway, feeling the rocks as we pass them: fingers tingling with the elven magic. "Gandalf, where are we?" Bilbo's voice ringing out behind. Peeking over my shoulder at the Wizard, giving me a conspiring wink, he turns to my Cousin. Hobbit's are quite apt at feeling magic where it resides so it's no wonder Bilbo can feel it. We were getting nearer, the sparks in my fingers were getting stronger. Feeling all the pain and tension lessen from my body with every step I can see the Dwarves getting angrier and grumpier with each of theirs. Magic works in funny ways.
The light glinting above us makes the small pathway warm up making the Dwarves huff and puff. Chuckling under my breath at them I pull my backpack properly on my shoulders then place my bow correctly in my quiver. No danger would come to us on this land. A small breeze coming from the front of us made me look ahead, a crack of daylight was sparkling around the edge of the stone.
We carry on until each Dwarf disappeared through a slot in the pathway where the sunlight was glinting from. Following Oin through the hole I stand on a high clearing and gaze out at the beautiful buildings that blended well into the trees and hills behind them. Rivendale.
"The Valley of Imraldis". Gandalf comes to stand beside me, his warm hand on my shoulder as I try to hide my grin. "In the Common Tongue, it is known by another name".
"Rivendale", Bilbo's whisper comes from the other side of me. His awed face made my smile grow. Reaching forwards, I squeeze his hand, his eyes never leaving the Valley but squeezing back my hand softly. He has always wanted to come here. When he was younger, he used to beg me for stories about when I had travelled here years ago.
"Here lies the last Homely House east of the sea," patting his hand on my shoulder I sigh in relief. There is no safer place than this Valley. We would be safe here, depending on if the Dwarves could put aside their anger and distaste of Elves.
Thorin storming towards the Wizard did not put much faith in that: "this was your plan all along, to seek refuge with our enemy." Frowning at the Dwarf, I don't believe Lord Elrond could be an enemy to any one other than the evil that lurked the land.
Seems that Gandalf agreed as he puffed up his chest and started to scold Thorin. "You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill-will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself." His stubborn frown was firmly in place, our leader was not about to give up this fight.
"You think the Elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us." He has a point. The Elves would weigh the chances of the Dragon waking up against the chance for Thorin to be King and would rather the Mountain left alone.
"Of course they will. But we have questions that need to be answered. If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact and respect and no small degree of charm." Looking up at Gandalf's face, his furry eyebrows rose out of his own frown and a look of smugness coloured his features: "Which is why you will leave the talking to me." I bite my lip to surpress the giggle, even Thorin's lips twitched a little. Our Wizard has a lot of confidence in his abilities. Let's hope he lives up to them.