A/N: Well, I didn't finish this last weekend like I'd hoped, as things ended up quite busy and I only got it half-written, but it's still up within a month so I think I'm doing okay!
This is another split POV, and is Hobbit plot-heavy, but I tried to put in as much originality as I could while still addressing the major plot points that I needed to. Next chapter will have a lot more original stuff and some smexy fun times too ;). Anyway, hope everybody enjoys this one!
Thanks to everyone who has favorited and followed so far, I'm glad you're all enjoying it!
Extra special thanks to my awesome reviewers of last chapter: Fictional Quintessence, Moira Starsong, amrawo, amber. , guest, and anonymityforthedreamer. I love hearing from you guys, it makes my day!
Please review everyone, it encourages faster writing!
Disclaimer: Don't own anything you recognize, just my characters, and seriously, don't read this if you don't like swearing or mature themes.
Chapter 5: Treasure
Fili had never been so terrified in his entire life. Kili had caused him a few moments of heart-stopping terror throughout their lives, it was true, but nothing like this. And when the trolls had first captured them, he'd felt a little terrified, but mostly just angry and determined to get free. The terror had increased some as the night had worn on and none of them had been able to get free, and he'd worried mostly that he would be made to go last and forced to watch his uncle or brother die first. But none of that compared to what he felt when the troll found Alison in the tree and pulled her out, or when she spat in the troll's face (he'd been briefly proud of her for that) and the troll had squeezed her tightly, causing her to scream and his heart to stop completely, along with the very blood in his veins by the feel of it.
And the worst part of all this? He was completely helpless and incapable of protecting her at this moment. As soon as he'd seen that the trolls had her, he'd tried to get up and wriggle free, but Uncle had barked orders and in the next moment, Bombur and Balin had rolled on top of him, keeping him flattened to the ground. Kili, free from his sack, had looked at Fili in sympathy, as he knew precisely how Fili felt about Alison, but he hadn't moved to free him either, and Fili knew why. He would have done the same in his brother's position – he was weaponless and in no condition to take on three trolls.
Still, that did not stop him from trying to squirm out from under the other dwarves, or screaming insults and death threats in Khuzdul at the trolls. What else was he to do, when he felt as though he couldn't breathe, as though his heart might be ripped from his chest? Surely Mahal would not have allowed him to meet his One, only to take her away so soon, would He?
Fili didn't want to believe it – mostly because he thought it might destroy him – but as Alison got closer to the troll's mouth, and his shouts got louder and more desperate, along with the combined shouts of the other dwarves, his faith was beginning to crumble, along with his world.
Amazingly, it was the hobbit's shout that rang out above all the others. "WAIT! Not that one! She's infected!"
Mercifully, the troll's hand stopped moving, leaving Alison still dangling in the air near its face as it turned to look at Bilbo, frowning, and Fili let out a shaky breath at the temporary reprieve. "You what?" The troll stared at the hobbit.
"Yeah, she's got worms in her tubes," Bilbo improvised hastily, and Fili felt an overwhelming swell of gratitude for the hobbit's clever presence.
"Eww!" The troll flung Alison through the air, and she landed heavily on top of Kili, who'd quickly slipped back inside his sack along with Uncle at the first sign the trolls were paying attention to them again.
Fili felt his heart start beating within his chest again as his One sat up, looking a little dazed and shaky, but otherwise none the worse for wear. He could hear a soft, relieved cry behind him that he knew came from Lily, but it was followed quickly by Uncle's hissed command for her to remain hidden in the trees. Fili, for his part, renewed his struggles, snarling at Bombur and Balin, "Get off!" She might no longer be held by the trolls, but Fili would not feel better until he held her himself.
"Nay, lad," Balin whispered apologetically, "not yet."
Fili scowled at Balin, but gave up for the moment as Bilbo continued on, "In fact, they all have. They're infested with parasites. It's a terrible business. I wouldn't risk it. I really wouldn't."
"Parasites? Did he say parasites?" Oin bellowed from his position on the other side of Uncle.
"He did! We don't have parasites. You have parasites!" Kili exclaimed from beneath Alison.
Fili levelled his brother with an incredulous stare, mouthing an angry shut up at him. Did he really not realize what Bilbo was doing, or that the hobbit had just saved Alison's life?
Bilbo, for his part, was rolling his eyes in exasperation as the other dwarves on the spit above the fire took up Kili's cry, but Uncle, it seemed, had realized the same thing Fili had, for he swiftly kicked Kili and glared at everyone. Suddenly, everyone else seemed to realize what Bilbo was doing as well, and quickly began changing their tunes, each proclaiming loudly that they were riddled with huge parasites. Fili could not help but snort as his little brother's cry emerged as the loudest.
One of the trolls, presumably the brightest of the bunch, walked towards Bilbo, looking at him suspiciously. "What would you have us do, then? Let them all go?"
Bilbo tilted his head, giving as much of a shrug as he could, still tied in the sack. "Well . . ."
"You think I don't know what you're up to?" The troll snarled, glaring at Bilbo before turning back to the others. "This little ferret is taking us for fools."
"Ferret?" Bilbo exclaimed indignantly.
"Fools?" One of the other trolls added.
It was at that moment that Fili, still pinned beneath the other dwarves, spotted Gandalf atop an immense boulder, staff in hand, as the Wizard boomed, "The dawn will take you all!"
"Who's that?" said one troll, as they all squinted at Gandalf.
"No idea," said another.
"Can we eat him too?" the third asked.
But Gandalf had stepped to the side and brought his staff down with an immense crack, splitting the boulder cleanly in two, letting the blinding rays of the sunrise stream into the clearing and onto the trolls. The trolls began to scream and groan as they tried to shield their eyes, skin sizzling as the sunlight poured over it, but it was too late. Within seconds, the trolls were frozen into stone, still gathered around the fire.
Fili was so relieved that he took up the cheer with the other dwarves, some of them laughing as well, and Lily launched by him, tackling Alison to the ground in a hug. "You moron!" Lily cried tearfully, making Fili smile as Alison returned the embrace, assuring her sister that she was fine.
"Now will you move?" Fili asked again, staring pointedly at Balin and Bombur.
Balin smiled. "Aye, lad, now that the danger is past." He rolled off Fili as Uncle and Kili threw off their sacks and began to move to help the others get free.
"Sorry," Bombur added sheepishly as he, too, rolled off.
"It's fine," Fili reassured him, "I understand." An order was an order, after all, and they were all safe now.
Kili had grabbed a dagger off the pile of weapons and clothing they'd been forced to remove earlier, and now he moved over to Fili, carefully cutting the rope that left him stuck in the sack, while Uncle went to free Balin with the dagger he'd taken from Lily after she'd freed him earlier. Gandalf had put out the fire below the other dwarves; how, Fili had no idea, and was helping cut them free as well.
"I'm sorry, Fee," Kili murmured as he finished cutting through the rope, looking a little ashamed.
"For not helping me put myself in danger?" Fili asked with a smile as he pushed the sack off, getting to his feet. Any rage he'd felt at being restrained had vanished the moment they were all safe. "Don't be, I would have done the same thing in your position." He pulled Kili into a fierce hug, which his little brother returned, before he leaned back to study him. "You're not hurt, are you?"
Kili shook his head, smiling, as he thumped Fili on the shoulder. "I'm fine. Go." He jerked his head behind him, where the sisters had finished their own reunion and were heading over to the fire to help Gandalf. "You know you want to."
"Thanks, Kee." Fili ruffled his brother's hair before he dashed around him, catching Alison before she'd made it to the fire, letting Lily go on ahead. He turned her to him with a gentle, but firm grip on her shoulders, and let his gaze sweep over her quickly, looking for any sign of obvious injury before he met her eyes. "Are you all right?" he demanded anxiously, not quite able to keep the worry from his voice, no matter what he'd promised Lily about keeping things between them light for now.
"Of course." She gave him a bright smile, but he wasn't fooled, able to see that it wasn't quite reaching her eyes, which still held traces of fear. He slid his hands down her arms, feeling the slight tremble in her hands as he reached them, before he squeezed them gently in his own.
"No, you're not," he corrected her softly. "I saw the troll squeeze you. I heard you scream in pain." A sound that he was quite certain would haunt his nightmares from now on.
She gave a little shrug. "Well, I guess I'm a little sore and bruised, but other than that, I'm all in one piece, right?" He could tell she was trying to make a joke out of it, but he could hear the slight waver in her voice towards the end, and it was all he needed to hear.
He pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her, cradling her head against his chest, though he didn't squeeze her as tightly as he might have otherwise, knowing she was sore. "Ali, amrâlimê, I thought you were going to die. You shouldn't have been so reckless, what if –"
She let out a shuddering breath against his chest, and pushed slightly back, looking up at him with a pleading gaze. "Can we not do this right now? The scolding part? You can yell at me later, if you want, just . . . not right now."
Seeing the vulnerability in her green eyes – something he had never seen prior to now – made him stop what he'd been about to say, and he nodded. If he'd been terrified, he could only imagine how she must have felt, being the one about to die, and he knew she'd been forcing herself to be strong for her sister. If she trusted him enough to show him this vulnerability she felt, he would not do anything to ruin it. He pulled her back against his chest, burying his face in her hair and stroking her back as he murmured, "I've got you. You're safe now. All in one piece, like you said. I'd like to keep you that way."
She gave a muffled laugh at that, pushing him back again to look up at him, her eyes sparkling now with mischief. It seemed he'd managed to say the right thing to bring her back to herself. "I'm sure you would like me all in one piece," she told him, poking him lightly in the chest. "What does that mean, anyway, what you called me earlier? Amra – amra – whatever that was? You called me that before, too."
Aye, he had, the last time she'd been in his arms, during that kiss that had fired his blood more than any other he'd experienced before. He hadn't meant to consciously say it either time, for it revealed far more of his feelings than he wanted her to know yet. Still, he managed to give her a teasing smile as he said, "I can't tell you." It was true enough; Khuzdul was meant to be a secret language, not shared with outsiders, and Fili had not received permission from Uncle to teach it to her.
"What?" she protested, giving him a little shove. "That's not fair! Please, Fili, tell me?" She gave him a pleading look, clasping her hands in front of her dramatically.
He shook his head, smiling. "No."
"I'll give you a kiss," she purred in a low tone that tightened his body immediately.
Mahal. He would have kissed her already, rather than embrace her, had he not been painfully aware that Uncle was watching. He would already have enough to explain as it was. Still, he was horribly tempted to take her up on her offer, even if he had no desire to tell her what it meant yet. He shook his head again. "I really can't," he told her with no little regret. "Khuzdul is a secret language. We are forbidden to share it without permission."
"Oh." Her face fell a little before it brightened. "Will you be able to tell me when you get permission?"
He nodded. "One day, when Uncle grants me permission, I will tell you." Only when I am certain you are ready to hear it, that is.
She had opened her mouth, about to say something more, when Uncle's shout interrupted her. "There is a cave nearby! Everyone, we must search for the cave! Ori, stay with the ponies."
Ori nodded, while Alison's face lit up once more. "That means treasure, right?" she asked, eyes gleaming. "Trolls hoard treasure, don't they?"
Fili grinned, surprised at her sudden enthusiasm. "Aye, they do."
"Then we have to go find it, come on!" She whirled and ran past the fire, towards the far edge of the clearing where the others were heading to search the trees beyond the trolls' camp for the cave. "Lily! Treasure cave!" she bellowed as she went.
This was followed by a muffled shout in the distance of, "I know!"
Fili grinned, shaking his head as he went over to where his clothes and weapons had been left, the others having already dressed. He quickly dressed himself and equipped his weapons before he headed in the direction Alison had run just moments ago. He halted when Uncle stepped suddenly in front of him, holding up a hand to stop him from following the others immediately. "Do you have something to tell me, Fili?" he asked evenly. "Your dalliances are one thing, but your actions towards that girl seem to be another thing entirely."
Fili froze for a moment, searching for words. He hadn't expected his uncle to confront him so soon. He glanced over his uncle's shoulder, making sure Alison was well out of earshot. "I suppose I do have something to tell you," he admitted.
"Well?" Uncle pressed, crossing his arms over his chest when Fili didn't immediately reply.
Fili let out a sigh. He knew he didn't care about Alison being half-human, but he could not be certain how his uncle would feel about it. "Alison is – she's my One."
Uncle recoiled as if Fili had struck him, looking astonished as he stared, mouth agape. "Are you certain?" he demanded after a long moment.
Fili nodded. "Absolutely certain. I asked Gloin how he felt when he met his One, and everything he told me was the exact same as my feelings for Alison."
His uncle sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "She is half of the race of Men, Fili."
"I know that," Fili retorted, feeling indignation rising in him. "I do not care. And even if you do," he held up his hand to forestall his uncle's reply, "it does not matter. She is my One, and nothing you or I or anyone does can change that. Besides, she is half-dwarf as well." When Uncle did not immediately respond, Fili added in a softer tone, "Do you dislike her so much?" He hoped not; he might not need his uncle's approval, but he did want it.
"No," Uncle said at last, "I do not dislike her. They have both proven themselves to be useful, these past few weeks. Besides their help with the cooking and sewing, your Alison is remarkably skilled with the ponies. I doubt they have ever had better care. And the seer – it appears she is as she claims to be."
Fili nodded, trying to suppress his elation. Despite what his uncle had just said, he had the feeling he wasn't entirely out of the woods yet. "She told you that there might be trolls around here, and she was right." When Uncle looked at him in surprise, Fili added, "Alison told me."
His uncle gave a wry smile. "Of course she did. Well, if her younger sister was right about that, she may very well be right about . . . Azog. As much as I might wish it otherwise." Even Fili could see the trace of fear in his uncle's dark gaze as he said this, and it made his own heart twist with fear. If Uncle was afraid, how could he not be? "And if she is right, it would serve us well to keep them both around, to discover what else she might be able to see about our quest. But –" he held up his hand again when Fili started to smile – "I will reserve judgment on your One for now, until I have come to know her better. And they may only continue if you promise she will not distract you unduly from the quest."
"I swear, Uncle," Fili said hastily, hand over his heart. "I want to reclaim Erebor just as much as you do."
His uncle's gaze softened at that, and he smiled. "I know you do. They may continue to accompany us, then. After all, they did come back to help, risking their lives when they did not have to. And if your One continues to prove herself worthy, you will have my approval – eventually."
Fili couldn't help himself as he hugged his uncle fiercely, his elation was so great at how well the discussion had gone. "Thank you, Irak'Adad."
Uncle squeezed him back briefly, patting Fili's back before he pulled away. "You're welcome, irakdashat. But as I said, I am still reserving judgment for now. Does she know she is your One?"
Fili shook his head. "She doesn't know about dwarves having Ones, and I'd prefer to keep it that way for now." Before he could explain why, they heard Dwalin shout from somewhere up ahead, "We found it!"
"I'll explain later," Fili said when his uncle turned from Dwalin's shout to look back at him with raised brows. "But for now, Uncle, can you please not say anything about it to her? And ask the others not to, as well?"
Uncle studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Very well, if that is what you wish. Now let us go see what there is to find in this troll-hoard."
Fili nodded, hurrying after his uncle as they went to join the others in searching the cave for whatever treasure it might contain.
Alison was buzzing with excitement at the mouth of the troll-cave, in spite of the ungodly stench coming from it. It did reek something awful, but it wasn't much worse than the time they'd done a cow autopsy in the clinic in the middle of July. And it certainly wasn't enough to stop her from exploring an actual treasure cave in real life instead of just in a game.
"Come on, Lil," she exclaimed, bouncing on her toes as Lily finally caught up to her, as she'd initially gone searching in another direction. "Let's go in!"
Lily wrinkled her nose. "Do we have to?" she asked even as Dwalin bellowed at the top of his lungs that they'd found the cave for the benefit of the others still searching.
Alison frowned. "Well I guess you don't, if you really want to pass up the chance to search for actual treasure. I'm going in, though." She pointed firmly at the cave.
"Me too," Kili declared cheerfully as he popped up behind Lily, who jumped, blushing. He looked around with a brief frown. "Where's Fili?"
Alison frowned, having just realized in her excitement over the treasure that Fili hadn't followed her after he'd comforted her yet again. He really was amazingly good at it; he'd somehow managed to easily cheer her up and chase away her lingering fear and shock after her near-death experience. Just his embrace and his assurance that she was safe – along with his concern over what had happened – had been enough to bring her out of it. Even as she firmly reassured herself that his concern was just that of a friend, and no more. After all, he hadn't made any sappy declarations along with his concern, and she was quite fine with that. But she had thought he was right behind her when she'd raced off to find the cave.
"I don't know," she said at last, looking all around and still not seeing him in the clearing in front of the rough-hewn entrance to the cave, nearly hidden in the hill. "I thought he was right behind me."
Kili shrugged. "Well, I don't see Uncle either; they must be talking about something. Come on, let's go in!"
Alison grinned as he ran into the cave, moving to follow with him with a questioning glance back at Lily, who sighed, pinched her nose shut, and followed. They went deeper into the cave, passing the pile of coins and the weapons racks that the others would search, until they found two large chests in the back, along with more racks of weapons.
Alison raced towards the first chest, thrilled at the discovery as she reached it. "Sweet Jesus, Lil, it's an actual chest!" She flipped the lid, only to find it overflowing with gold coins, loose jewels, and golden objects like chalices. "Full of actual fucking treasure! Do you see this?"
Lily had reached the other chest, flipping it open to find a similar pile of treasure as Kili moved farther beyond, checking out the weapons. "I see it." She threw Alison an impish glance. "No mimics, either."
Alison laughed. "No, perfectly safe. This is amazing! Look at this!" She dug through the chest, letting the coins spill through her hands, picking up some of the more unusual items, putting others down.
"Are you certain you're only half-dwarf?" a familiar voice rumbled behind her.
Alison turned around to see Fili behind her, decked out in his fur coat, tunic and trousers once more, hands tucked behind his back as he smiled at her. "I'm positive," she told him as she heard Kili calling to Lily behind her to come look at something, while she could see beyond Fili, towards the mouth of the cave, that Gloin and Nori were making their "long-term deposit". "For me, it's as much about the exploring and finding the treasure as it is about the treasure itself."
"Oh." He gave a sigh, looking slightly mournful, though the mischievous twinkle in his eyes spoiled the effect. "Then does that mean you would not want treasure that somebody else found for you?"
She raised her eyebrows, realizing that his hands were still behind his back. "I didn't say that! What did you find?" She hurried forward, trying to go around him to see what he was hiding, but he stepped quickly, keeping his body between her and whatever he held as he shook his head.
"No, I'd better go put it back," he said with a dramatic sigh. "You'll want to find it yourself, I'm sure."
"Fili, come on, give it here!" she exclaimed, unable to stifle a laugh as he shook his head again, dancing away from her when she tried to get behind him once more. "Don't make me jump on you," she threatened him when he simply shook his head, smiling at her.
His grin widened. "Was that supposed to be a threat? Because I assure you, I would not mind at all if you chose to jump on me."
The sudden heat in his blue eyes sent a tingle down her spine, even as she thought, Touché. It really wasn't much of a threat, but she knew what would be. "Hmm. You're right. What if I said I would refuse to kiss you for a week if you don't show me what you found?" Not that she'd actually follow through on that threat, but she doubted he'd call her bluff on it.
"Well in that case, I suppose I have no choice." He grinned at her as he took his hands out from behind his back, laying the item out across both his palms. It was a sword, larger than Bilbo's Sting, but still more slender and a bit shorter than the ones that Fili wielded, safely tucked in an ornate blue-and-silver sheath with patterns of vines and flowers twisting around it. The hilt was very similar to Sting's, except it was a sapphire blue to match the sheath, instead of brown, with more silver vines patterned into it. It was quite simply the most beautiful weapon she'd ever seen, in real life or otherwise.
"Fili," she breathed, staring in wonder at the sword, which he'd obviously cleaned off before bringing to her. "Is that really for me?"
He nodded, taking the sword in one hand so he could reach out with his other hand and grip hers, pulling it forward to lay the sword in her hand, closing her fingers around it. "Of course it's for you. I thought you could use something better than a pair of borrowed daggers."
She took the sword, pulling it out of its sheath enough to see the gleaming blade, carved with yet more flowers and vines, looking for all the world like a slightly larger and more ornate copy of Sting. She could only stare at it for a moment, blown away at the gift and the thoughtfulness of it. "Fili . . . I don't even know what to say. 'Thank you' doesn't seem like enough."
"It is certainly enough," he assured her, his smile gentle. "Though a kiss would not hurt, either." His smile had changed to that sexy, confident one that she so enjoyed.
"Oh, you'll get one, believe me." And a whole lot more. "Later," she added, seeing that the others were beginning to leave the cave.
He glanced over at the others, nodding. "Yes, you're right. But first," he reached into his fur coat, pulling out a leather belt from an inner pocket that she could tell was designed to hold a sword, "we should get that equipped on you. Just in case."
She gave him the sword back and held up her arms, flashing him a challenging look. "Go right ahead." She could put it on herself, of course, though it might take her a bit to figure it out, having never used a sword belt, but what would be the fun in that?
He threaded the belt through the loop on the sheath, getting it situated before he stepped towards her, his body only inches from hers as he wrapped the belt around her waist, fastening it so that the sword hung at her left hip. He also took every opportunity he could to run his hands over her while he did so, much like he did when he adjusted her stance while they were training, and occasionally cast her heated glances while he was working. The combination was more than enough to get her hot and bothered, and she hoped that they would be reaching Rivendell very soon.
He'd just finished and stepped back a little when Lily's voice cut through Alison's pleasant haze. "It's nice that the two of you are having fun in here, but it still stinks, so I'm getting out now."
Fili took a few more steps back while Alison turned to look at her cousin, only to see that she was now sporting a new weapon, too. She had a quiver full of finely fletched arrows strapped to her back, and held an ornately wrought silver bow in one hand that was just a bit smaller and more slender than Kili's, and so would obviously be easier for Lily to draw. Kili was standing beside her, and he looked quite proud of himself, making Alison smile.
"Looks like you got a new weapon too, Lil," she commented idly, raising her eyebrows slightly at Lily.
She was amused when a blush started to spread on Lily's face as she replied, "Kili found it for me. And I'm leaving the cave now," she added, giving Alison a glare that clearly read, Shut up.
Alison grinned and shrugged, willing to let the teasing slide – for now. "Well, let's get going then. We'll have to leave this treasure behind for now – and properly thank these thoughtful brothers later."
She followed Lily, who was already walking quickly towards the cave entrance, even as Fili and Kili fell in on either side of Alison, Kili with a broad grin on his face. "Oh, what sort of thanks will we get?"
"Well, I don't know about you," she drawled. "That's entirely up to Lily. As for you," she cast a sly look to Fili, "I have a few ideas."
He grinned. "I look forward to finding out."
By this point, they had reached the mouth of the cave, and they were just in time to see Bilbo looking down at the sword that Gandalf had given him when Thorin's voice rang out. "Something's coming!"
"Gandalf," Bilbo tried, but Gandalf was already moving, shouting, "Stay together! Hurry now! Arm yourselves!" He drew his own sword while Bilbo looked down at his new one, slowly drawing it, and the other dwarves readied their weapons, hurrying after Gandalf.
"Stay behind us," Fili hissed, drawing his own swords, instantly sober, as Kili readied his bow and the two hurried after the others, crowding into the open clearing by the trees.
Alison and Lily followed, and even though she knew there was no true threat at this point, Alison still found herself feeling a little panicked, caught up in the panic and urgency of the others as they reached the crowd of dwarves just as the sound of something crashing through the trees could be heard. Fili and Kili quickly pushed herself and Lily behind them while everyone turned to stare in the direction of the noise.
A sled suddenly erupted from the trees opposite them, drawn by huge rabbits, screeching to a halt several feet away as Radagast cried out, "Thieves! Fire! Murder!" as he frantically looked around.
"Radagast," Gandalf breathed with obvious relief. "It's Radagast the Brown." He sheathed his sword, and Alison could see the dwarves starting to relax at the motion, though Fili and Kili still did not move from in front of them. "Well . . ." Gandalf went on, approaching Radagast, who wore a wild fur hat similar to the one Bofur wore, underneath which trailed scraggly long hair and an equally scraggly beard over brown robes like a monk's. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you, Gandalf. Something's wrong," Radagast replied, looking very agitated. "Something's terribly wrong."
"Yes?" Gandalf prompted.
Alison watched, grossed out, as the stick insect was eventually pulled out of Radagast's mouth, and shuddered with disgust. "That's what happens when you smoke the reefer too much," she muttered. "You either start forgetting shit like Gandalf, or eating bugs. Ew."
Lily laughed while Fili turned to look at her, amused, having finally relaxed his stance and put away his weapons. "What are you talking about?" he asked, clearly curious.
Alison grinned. "Ask Bilbo, he knows what I'm talking about. They call it the halfling's leaf, too, right?" She nodded at the hobbit, who'd been watching the two wizards wander off a ways into the trees to talk privately.
"Or Old Toby, right?" Lily added.
Bilbo looked at them in surprise. "Are you talking about pipe-weed? It's just for relaxing. I wonder what they're talking about," he went on, glancing back at the wizards.
Kili shrugged, looking uninterested. "Wizard business, most likely." He then went on with a good deal more interest, "Is the pipe-weed from the Shire different from our tobacco?"
This led to the brothers getting into a lengthy discussion with Bilbo about pipes and pipe-weed and tobacco, which Alison really only listened to with half an ear, as she wasn't terribly interested. She murmured to Lily as the others were occupied, "Should we tell Thorin about the Orcs that are coming?"
After a moment's thought, Lily nodded. "We should probably say something, so he doesn't think his seer is useless."
She'd no sooner moved to do so, however, when there was a howl in the distance. Bilbo whirled around from where he'd been talking with the brothers. "Was that a wolf? Are there wolves out there?"
Bofur had already moved, his odd-looking weapon that Alison wasn't familiar with raised and at the ready, even as Fili and Kili quickly moved to re-arm themselves. "Wolves? No, that is not a wolf."
"It's wargs," Lily added quickly as Alison began pushing her back to the brothers. "Wargs are coming!"
No sooner had she said it then a warg appeared on top of the ridge behind them, growling, looking like a terrifying cross between a wolf and a hell-hound. The dwarves all turned to look at it with varying shouts of alarm, having heard Lily's warning only seconds before, as it leaped over Bofur's head. Thorin swung his sword quickly, bringing the warg to the ground as yet another one appeared beyond him. "Kili!" Thorin bellowed. "Get your bow!"
Kili had already been ready, and rapidly fired an arrow over Thorin's head, causing the warg to tumble to the ground. It tried to scramble up again, but Dwalin smashed it with his axe, finishing the job.
"Well, that was a nice double-tap," Alison offered shakily, a little terrified by the up-close presence of the wargs, and how quickly everything had occurred – so fast she hadn't even thought to get out her new sword.
Fili, obviously not missing the terror in her voice, gave her a quick and reassuring smile over his shoulder as he stood in front of her once more, swords at the ready. "Stay behind me and you'll be fine. I promise."
"Warg scouts," Gandalf said, interrupting whatever Alison might have thought to say as he and Radagast approached Thorin. "Which means an Orc pack is not far behind."
"Orc pack?" Bilbo asked, alarmed, though no one answered him.
"Who did you tell about your quest beyond your kin?" Gandalf demanded sternly.
"No one." Thorin glanced at Lily as he said this. "Is this Azog?" he demanded before Gandalf could say more.
Gandalf whirled to look at Lily and Alison as well, eyebrows raised, along with all the dwarves. "Is it?" the Wizard pressed.
Lily looked to Alison, who tipped her head and gave a little 'might as well tell them' shrug she knew her cousin could interpret, and Lily turned back to the others. "It's not Azog personally," she began, "but it is a scouting party looking for you that he sent out. I was just about to tell you when they arrived."
Thorin's shoulders slumped in disappointment at the answer, even as Gandalf said ominously, "Then you are being hunted."
"We have to get out of here," Dwalin added.
Ori came running over another ridge at the moment, shouting out, "We can't. We have no ponies. They bolted." More wargs howled in the distance as if to punctuate his statement.
"Shit," Alison muttered. "I can't believe I forgot about the ponies." She'd promised herself she'd check on the remaining ponies that hadn't already fled during the troll incident, and make sure they were well tied up, but between the trolls and their hoard, she'd completely forgotten about it. "Fuck," she growled, annoyed at herself.
"We all forgot about the ponies," Fili murmured to her reassuringly.
You don't understand! She wanted to shout at him, but she clamped her mouth shut. She wasn't supposed to know that the ponies were going to bolt, and she had to remember that. So she merely nodded as Radagast told them he would draw off the wargs.
Gandalf frowned at him. "These are Gundabad Wargs. They will outrun you."
"These are Rhosgobel rabbits," Radagast retorted. "I'd like to see them try."
And before Alison knew it, Radagast was on his sled and they were running for their lives.
All Alison could think as they ran for what seemed like hours, though she knew it couldn't really be that long, was that she was really bloody glad she'd taken up distance running as a way to lose weight – and take her mind off things – two years ago. She'd been in several 5K and 10K runs over the last couple of years, and it was about the only thing keeping her lungs from exploding now as they ran endlessly over the plains, hiding behind rocks.
Lily, however, had not joined her in her running pursuits, and so she was struggling a lot more. Alison kept a tight hold of her hand, though, refusing to let go and dragging her cousin along behind her as they went. Fili kept right in front of them, glancing continually behind to make sure they were there, and Kili was behind them, sometimes pushing Lily ahead of him to keep her going.
Alison knew the brothers were looking after them and protecting them, and she couldn't find it in her to be mad at them, because this was as terrifying as fuck. As hard as Radagast was trying to keep the Orcs and wargs away from them, he wasn't always fully succeeding, and sometimes they got rather too close for her liking. And she knew they would only get closer. The dwarves would be okay – or they should be – but that didn't mean she and Lily would be.
They reached another outcropping of rocks to hide behind, and Ori nearly ran right past, only stopped at the last minute by Thorin, who yanked him back by his hood.
"All of you, come on! Quick!" Gandalf hissed, gesturing them in another direction, and the dwarves streamed by him.
Alison heard Thorin ask suspiciously as she raced past him, still pulling Lily along, "Where are you leading us?"
There was nothing but silence from Gandalf, and Alison knew that neither she nor Lily had the breath or patience right now to reassure Thorin that he was going in the right direction. They would just have to do that once they got to Rivendell, if they got there safely, Alison thought wryly.
They reached another low, rocky hill that they all pressed themselves up against, trying to catch their breath, and when Alison saw Thorin looking up at the top of it, she knew what was coming. He nodded to Kili, who slowly drew out an arrow, notching it to his bow, before he whirled and quickly hopped back from the hill, shooting the warg just as it was about to leap down on their heads. A second arrow followed the first, and both Orc and warg crashed to the ground just in front of them, howling loudly. Alison winced at the sound, pushing Lily up against the rocky hill more firmly, even as Fili once more put himself between her and the danger. She was, she realized, coming to find the sight of his broad back in front of her surprisingly comforting.
Dwalin and the others, meanwhile, had quickly moved to silence the warg and its rider, but Alison knew it would be too late, even before they heard the sound of howling in the distance as the pack heard its missing rider and changed direction.
"Move! Run!" Gandalf shouted, already racing off into another area of the plains with more pine trees and long grass. With a deep breath, Alison hurried to follow him and the others, pulling Lily along with her.
"There they are!" Gloin yelled as they went, and Alison could see the pack closing on them up ahead.
"This way! Quickly!" Gandalf waved them in another direction.
"There's more coming!" Kili cried.
"Kili! Shoot them!" Thorin barked, and Kili moved out obediently ahead of the others, notching an arrow.
Alison, meanwhile, had seen Gandalf turn and spot the rock outcropping behind them that they were loosely arranged in front of, even as the pack drew in closer towards them. She whirled around at the sensation of Lily tugging her hand away, and saw that her cousin was moving to stand a little behind and to the right of Kili, notching an arrow herself as Fili was shouting to Thorin, "We're surrounded!"
"Lily!" Alison cried, rushing forward, but Fili grabbed her easily with one arm, keeping her tight to his side as Kili and Lily both began firing arrows at the oncoming pack, and the dwarves began to gather themselves in a loose semi-circle, keeping the rock outcropping at their back.
Kili's first shot took down an Orc easily, while Lily's first two went wide, but her third one finally succeeding in striking an Orc in the leg. Obviously encouraged, Lily kept firing, while Alison struggled against Fili's hold. He'd sheathed one sword to grab her, though the other was still out and ready. "Let me go!"
"No," he hissed. "You don't even have your sword out! And do you think I want Kili out there anymore than you want your sister there? They are protecting everyone and we cannot distract them, it would be too dangerous!"
Alison sighed, giving up her struggles and nodding in acknowledgement of the statement, realizing the wisdom of it, and Fili let go of her, drawing his other sword again, even as she pulled hers. If Lily could do this, so could she.
"Where's Gandalf?" Dori yelled, obviously having just noticed the missing Wizard.
"He's abandoned us," Dwalin growled.
"No, he fucking didn't," Alison snapped impatiently, not in the mood to think about her words right now. "He's looking for a way out."
She saw Fili's quick glance of surprise at her, but in the next moment, he'd moved to strike down a warg that was getting too close as Thorin bellowed, "Hold your ground!"
Gandalf finally chose that moment to pop up from behind one of the rocks. "This way, you fools!"
Thorin whirled, spotting Gandalf and shouting, "Come on, move!" as Alison muttered, "I told you so," to the others.
Thorin, meanwhile, had jumped on top of the rock Gandalf was behind, and obviously saw the tunnel below, as he waved to everyone. "Quickly! All of you!"
The other dwarves streamed towards him, disappearing behind the rock, as Alison glanced anxiously back towards where Kili and Lily were still firing at the Orc pack. "Go!" Fili snarled at her, crowding in front of her and trying to herd her back with his back towards her, even as he kept his swords out and ready.
"Not without Lily!" she snapped back. There was no way she was leaving Lily behind.
"Kili! Lily! Run!" Thorin bellowed at that moment, and Alison saw the two of them quickly lower their bows, turning and running back towards them. Fili took down another warg that had come too close, before he sheathed his swords and grabbed her arm. This time, she let herself be hustled back towards the rock as she sheathed her sword, though she frequently glanced over her shoulder at the two still running behind them. Fortunately, Kili was once more making sure Lily stayed ahead of him.
She and Fili had reached the tunnel by now, where Thorin was still standing watch, but she hesitated at the entrance, looking quickly over her shoulder to make sure Lily was still close. She only faintly heard Fili growl something in Khuzdul before he scooped her up bodily and slid down the tunnel with her in his arms.
"Fili! What the hell?!" she exclaimed, shoving out of his arms when they reached the bottom. "I wanted to make sure Lily was okay first!"
"They are right behind us!" Fili snapped back at her, pointing as Lily tumbled down to the bottom, followed shortly by Kili. "And I wanted to make certain you were okay! You will not help your sister by endangering your own life!"
Alison opened her mouth to retort as Thorin reached the bottom, too, but Lily interrupted her, laying a hand on her arm. "He's right, Ali. I'm sorry to have worried you, but I thought I could help with the long-range and all. And I know you want to protect me, but I want to protect you, too. And you throwing yourself head first into danger – like you did with the trolls – is not helping me at all."
Alison sighed, the anger draining out of her at her cousin's words. Lily was right – the plan with the trolls had been stupid and reckless, designed to keep Lily as safe as possible, but without any real consideration for her own safety. She nodded to both Lily and Fili. "I'm sorry."
They nodded in return, before Fili turned to check Kili over, and then they heard a horn blow just as the sound of the Orcs above got unbearably loud. This was followed by the sounds of battle and the shouts of dying Orcs, before a dead Orc came tumbling down, landing in a heap at the bottom of the tunnel just in front of them. Alison grimaced. The Orcs were even more disgusting up close, twisted and monstrous.
Thorin moved to the body, yanking the arrow out of it and studying it briefly before his face wrinkled in disgust similar to what Alison was feeling. "Elves," he spat with disdain, dropping the arrow to the ground and glaring at Gandalf.
Dwalin shouted from the back of the little cave at that moment, before Gandalf could reply, "I cannot see where the pathway leads. Do we follow it or no?"
"Follow it, of course," Bofur replied in a "duh" sort of tone as he hurried to the back after Dwalin.
"Bofur's right," Lily added, causing Thorin to look at her. "This is the best path for you to take."
"As I have said before, listening to your seer would be wise," Gandalf murmured, and Thorin gave a short nod, moving to the back of the cave, everyone following him.
The path was narrow and rocky, as well as long, and it took a long time to walk through. Bombur nearly got stuck a few times, causing the others to have to push him through, which didn't surprise Alison, as some places were even a tight squeeze for her. At least they could see the sun above, so she didn't have to feel like they were completely stuck. And as they kept going, she could feel an ethereal sort of peace and a strange sensation washing through her, even as Bilbo murmured to Gandalf at being able to feel magic. Is this what magic felt like? she wondered in awe.
Right after that, they all emerged from the pathway on the side of a mountain, and Alison could see Rivendell set against the mountains beyond, gorgeous, gleaming white buildings twisting amongst trees with waterfalls everywhere around it, almost seeming to glow in the sunlight, and she could only stare, amazed at the vision before her. Another thing that the movie had not done justice, though not due to lack of trying.
"The Valley of Imladris," Gandalf said as they all stopped to stare. "In the common tongue, it's known by another name."
"Rivendell," Bilbo breathed in awe.