The vastness of the sky was unbearable for Bilbo. It sat heavily on his chest as they walked the barren rocky hills with no visible roads. The Orcs were left far behind them like a heavy nightmare no one talked about.
For Orcs there will be no Bards sailing them across the water for any price, nor will they be greeted before the halls of men under any pretence, but Bilbo expected that they'll catch up in time, no matter how far they venture.
Bilbo shivered on the cold wind that blew over the grass which never grew into the trees. He missed the trees. No one talked much, there was a burden upon them in days leading towards the mountain which grew bigger as they walked.
It was as they were on a sacred march, and maybe they were. Without Kili, Fili, and Bofur, no one was there to offer laughs and jokes, to make puns. Everyone seemed old and serious and Bilbo was serious among them thinking of Smaug.
As they approached the mountain the stench could almost be sensed this far off, and birds didn't sing as loud as they used to in other places. Thorin was closed up in himself more than ever, his face was stone like and his stance unmovable. His gaze was set straight ahead at his mountain.
Suddenly, in mid-day, Thorin stopped before the crossroad. Only now Bilbo realized they were on some sort of a road, long forgotten and covered with grass.
Thorin turned to the company and looked at all of them.
"It seems that Orcs have fallen behind, but we don't know did they put an ambush ahead. They were very persistent in pursuing us so I wouldn't be all that surprised. We know this hills, this was our land. There are no trees to hide behind, but there is a spot on the Dale pass where they could hide and wait unnoticed," he frowned looking at Bilbo. "Just one Orc on that spot would be enough to decimate our numbers."
"There is a way in dealing with that kind of an ambush," Balin stroked his beard.
"Rocks can be best allies," Dwalin grumbled.
"But for that to work we would have to approach them from different sides, together we're too vulnerable, too easy to spot on the open plain," Thorin sighed looking to his right.
"There are three roads ahead," Ori said carefully.
"Don't be daft," Dori pulled him by his arm. "Thorin knows that the northern pass is too steep and that the southern pass is too long."
"And the middle pass is too obvious to choose," Balin said thoughtfully. "What do you propose?"
Thorin smiled unnoticeably, but Bilbo noticed a small hint of satisfaction.
"That's why we'll split and take on different tasks. Ori, Dori, Nori and Bombur will take the southern pass, it is the longest but it's the easiest to overcome. When you approach the spot there are steep rocks to hide behind, you'll wait for the signal to come out. Balin, Dwalin, Bifur and Gloin will take the middle road, you'll be decoys. They won't reveal themselves until they see me, and if they would be foolish enough you'll know how to use the terrain against them. Master Baggins and I will climb the northern path, we're the best climbers so we'll climb on the top of the passage to appear above them. We'll signal you is there anyone there or not."
"I don't like us getting separated," said Balin shaking his head.
"Do you like us better all gathered up like a target practice?" Thorin grumbled.
"At least take Dwalin with you," Balin suggested.
"No," Thorin shook his head. "Dori is right, the northern pass is too steep, Master Baggins is light on his feet and I crossed that road many times. Besides, I'll feel better if Dwalin is by your side, he's our best man for frontal combat."
They all nodded their heads agreeing but Bilbo could only think about him and Thorin alone on the road, he almost objected but he had no real reason to do so.
"Take shelter when the night falls, and go on in the sunrise, we should all be there tomorrow around noon, don't do anything on your own," Thorin instructed them and went to the northern road.
Everyone went to their paths and Bilbo stood for a moment confused but then Thorin looked back at him and he hurried after him feeling strangely unprotected without other dwarves around them.
:)