Chapter 11
A/N: I own nothing. Everything belongs to Tolkien and JK Rowling
When Buttons returned to camp nearly 24 hours later Bilbo was beside himself. "Where have you been all this time!" he asked in a panic.
"Relax Bilbo I told you she'd come back eventually and see? I was right! Nothing to worry about." Consoled Kili.
Oin walked over and shoved Bilbo out of the way. He did a quick once over of his patient to make sure she was still healing properly.
"She was touched by one of them dammed tree-shaggers! Her paw is a good a new." He grumbled. "Best stay in the camp from now on lassie. The elves are a traitorous lot. You don't want to be keeping company with them or you'll likely get burned." He advised her sternly. She gently licked his face in reply before settling on her bedroll again.
She was slightly torn; she didn't like the way Oin spoke about her grandmother but at the same time she appreciated his efforts on her behalf and understood where their distrust of elves came from. Sighing she closed her eyes and waited for supper to be ready.
After Thorin had returned from his meeting with Gandalf and Lord Elrond, the dwarves had to quickly pick up camp and sneak out of Rivendell. Supposedly there were people who wanted to prevent their journey so they had to escape before they could act.
For over a week and a half, the company journeyed northeast into the misty mountains. Coming closer to the far end of the mountain pass It began to rain harder than it ever did in the Trollshaw forest. The trail reduced to a thin rocky shelf with only a sheer rock for them to try and grip to on the left and a deep plunge into a valley on the right.
As they traversed this perilous path Dwalin suddenly shouted out a warning. Not far above where they stood a massive bolder of rock crashed into the cliff face and shattered. debris rained down on the company taking chunks of there walkway along with it.
"This is no thunderstorm! It's a thunder battle! Look!" Balin shared with alarm. Pointing out into the rain the dwarves spotted a massive beast made of jagged stone in the semblance of a two-legged man.
Everyone expressed mutterings of shock and amazement but Thorin stayed focused and hollered "We must find shelter!"
Suddenly the pathway split it two and drifted apart separating the company. Buttons was just behind Fili and watched was Fili and Kili tried to reach for each other across the growing gap. Buttons herself never tore her eyes from Bilbo who stood behind Kili. Buttons Hissed and mewed loudly in her distress for her brother and their friends. Quickly it became clear they were standing on the knee caps of another stone Giant that just erupted from the mountainside!
When the chance presented itself, Thorin, Gloin, Oin, Balin, Bifur, Buttons and Fili jumped to safety back onto the pathway but the other half of the company was not so fortunate and as the Stone giant was felled by the other two his knee crashed into the mountainside crushing there friends and family in the process.
Completely distraught Emel chose this moment to turn back into her elvish self right beside Thorin who watched the transformation.
"BILBO!" She screamed and raced ahead of the others. Incredibly, everyone was tossed together of the path, safe and sound. Everyone stood up and dusted themselves off and Emel saw that Bilbo was not among them.
"Bilbo?! Where are you? Answer me, dame, it!" She cried out.
"Down here," HE replied weakly.
Bilbo was hanging onto the cliff side by his figure tips. "Ahh!" everyone exclaimed, and a few reached out for him, but he lay just outside of there reach. Emel bent down beside Bofur and quickly yelled out "Accio Bilbo Baggins!" in a strong spurt of wandless magic.
When Bilbo shot up towards her, she grabbed him by the scruff and with strength she normally didn't have she hauled him back onto the ledge and embraced him as though her life depended on it. Crying she said into his ear, "Dear Eru brother. I thought I'd lost you! Don't ever do that again."
The Reunion was cut short as Thorin ripped them apart and before anyone could say 'boo' he had he hands tied behind her back.
"Who in the name of Mahal are you?" He demanded. "Speak quickly or I will cut your throat out Elf." Saying the word as though it were poison in his mouth.
Trying to keep the situation calm Emel answered in a steady tone, "Thorin, it's me Buttons the cat. Dwarf friend remember? I'm Bilbo's younger sister Emel Baggins."
"Lies!" He growled. "Bilbo is a hobbit and you are not! Enough, I will have my answers from you one way or another, for now, we move on." He ripped the bottom of his tunic for a strip of cloth and tied it around her mouth effectively gagging her and possible tying it tighter than necessary making the corners of her mouth ache.
Bilbo was stunned at the rough treatment of his sister but before he could protest Dwalin gripped his shoulders and shoved him forward indicating for him to get moving.
Everyone was settled into a large cavern they found. Thorin roughly tossed her onto he but close to the entrance and had Dwalin watch over her while everyone settled. Emel looked up at him and saw Dwalin held a blank expression which gave nothing away. She realized they would be shocked but she never thought they would go this far with there hatred of Elves. She had done nothing wrong for Eru's sake! Did her friendship really mean so little to them? It was not long before Bilbo stubbornly stood his sisters side and gave a withering look at Dwalin.
When they were ready, Thorin, Balin, Fili, and Kili approached.
Ripping off her gag Emel licked the raw corners of her mouth which began to bleed a little.
"Speak. Who are you and Why have you followed my company? Was it you who betrayed us to the Orc pack?" Thorin accused.
Emel was starting to get frustrated so she just scoffed at him. "Of course not! I am who I said I was. Emel Baggins younger sister of Bilbo Baggins from the Shire. Before you arrived at our house in April Gandalf told Bilbo to 'send me off' to our relative's house before you arrived. Later on, when Bilbo asked him why, Gandalf said it was because you lot were extremely protective and sensitive about women. Clearly, he was mistaken if I'm any indication. I've lived nearly my whole life in the shire. I had no Idea you all hated elves so much until we were nearly at Rivendell. You all were trying to take my last family member away from me for Eru knows how long. Of course, I followed! I will not be separated from him and it's a good thing I did come because Kili here would most likely be dead."
Pulling out a dagger Thorin held it against her neck drawing some blood in the process. He was furious. "Do you take me for a fool wench? Bilbo is a Hobbit and you are an elf. All you tell are lies but what else am I to expect I suppose."
Angry Bilbo pushed Thorin away and stood in front of Emel. "She is telling you the truth and I would appreciate it if you stopped hurting my sister. Amy years ago, Emel was found abandoned when she was just a babe and the elves of Rivendell found her. My mother went to visit and Emel Grew attached to my mother. It wasn't long before My family adopted her as one of there own and she's been with me ever since."
"And what of you? I'm assuming you were aware of the interloper the whole time were you not? You've been lost ever since you left home. You have no place among us here. Especially after such a betrayal." He said harshly.
Emel saw the look of hurt on Bilbos face and growled as though she was still a cat. "I am no interloper you cad! You were the one who allowed me to follow from the very first night we made camp! I went right up to you and waited for you to answer. The meaning was very clear! If you've changed your mind now that's your own problem. Do not take it out on my brother!"
With no response to that Thorin signaled that Emel be brought further into the cave. She was stuck in the back so she would have to pass every dwarf if she wanted to flee. Everyone settled into there own spaces and Bilbo sat at her side again.
"I'm sorry. Thorin was right. I'm entirely useless and should have never come. Just look at you! I would never have thought them capable of this. The first change we get I am taking you back home."
"Oh, Bilbo. Don't take what Thorin said to heart. He is simply shock and surprised and does not handle those emotions well, so he gets angry instead. Give him time to calm down and he will see reason. And Bilbo, you do belong to this company. You have signed the contract and worked hard the whole way here. You're not even supposed to do anything until you reach the mountain anyways. Let's try and get some sleep ok? Things will look brighter in the morning. (I hope)."
"Ok, Emel. I hope you right and I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you." Replied bilbo Morosely.
The two settled in as best they could considering the conditions. Emel still had her bag on her back so she adjusted her arms and leaned against the wall using her bag as a barrier between the cold hard walls and her body.
Across the way, Fili and Kili were huddled together. Looking at Emel they whispered to each other, "Doesn't she look just like…" asked Kili.
"Yeah, the women from the Prancing Pony in Bree. But did she have curly hair and I could have sworn she was a hobbit, not an elf." Said Fili.
"Well, she's short like a hobbit and the girl at the pub did say she grew up in the shire, which was right beside Bree, just like Emel said she was from earlier when uncle asked her where she from. Also, Hobbits have pointed ears as well so we might have just mistaken her for a hobbit at the pub… The hair color is the same and the purple eyes… there no mistake it must be her!" replied Kili.
Connecting the dots and realizing the implications the two of them hurried over to there uncle who was seated beside Dwalin and shared their new revelation. An argument broke out but Emel had already fallen into a deep sleep and she overheard nothing.
A/N: I'm going to reveal who she slept within the next two chapters! I want you guys to try and guess who before I post them!