Bella noticed that the sun was starting to set, casting the world in a beautiful, warm, golden glow. But there still wasn't much chance of stopping to admire it. They were still running headlong down the slope to put as much distance between themselves and the goblins.
As they approached a clearing, she vaguely heard Gandalf counting and muttering to himself. Finally she managed to make it out as she, Fili, and Kili ran up. ". . . Bofur. That's ten. Fili, Kili, Bella. That's thirteen. And Bombur. That makes fourteen."
Bella flopped to the ground, heaving for breath, vaguely expecting to hear "fifteen" come from Gandalf. Instead it was something much different.
"Where's Bilbo?" Gandalf asked quietly. "Where's our second hobbit?"
Fear clenched her throat. "What? I thought he was with us this whole time. Kili?"
Kili shook his head, appearing as worried as she was. "I haven't seen him since he woke us before the floor caved in."
"Where is our hobbit?" Gandalf shouted.
"Curse the halfling!" Dwalin cried. "Now he's lost?"
"I thought he was with Dori," Gloin tossed in.
"Don't blame me," Dori said.
Bella fought her already heaving breaths. No. No, she couldn't have lost her brother. They couldn't have left him in the goblin tunnels.
"Well, where did you last see him?" Gandalf asked.
Nori answered, "I think I saw him slip away when they first collared us."
Bilbo was dead. The goblins had killed him. Somehow they had killed him in that mountain and she would never be able to find his body for a proper burial. She could never tell him a proper goodbye. "No." The word escaped on a halting breath. It couldn't be. It couldn't be true. Surely she would have known before now, wouldn't she? But no, this wasn't one of those magical stories where twins or siblings could sense things. Bilbo was gone . . . and she was to blame. She never should have invited him to come along on this quest.
"What happened exactly?" Gandalf demanded. "Tell me!"
"I'll tell you what happened," Thorin said. "Master Baggins saw his chance and he took it. He's thought of nothing but his soft bed and warm hearth since he stepped out his door. We will not be seeing that hobbit again. He is long gone."
Bella's grief sharpened into anger. "How dare you speak ill of the dead?" She rose to her feet, glaring at Thorin. "Was Bilbo an adventuring hobbit? No. Was he a hobbit of his word? More so than any I ever knew. Yes, he would wish for the comforts of Bag End. Because I forced him to join us. I was the one to tell him where I was running off to and coerced him into joining us, because I was foolish enough to believe that I and a baker's dozen of dwarves may be able to make the journey safely no matter what. But I was wrong. And the price was my brother's life. So I will not allow you to slander his name and reputation because I made the mistake of dragging him out his door and away from his comforts."
"Are you quite finished?" Thorin growled. "Are you finished talking about yourself and your loss?"
"Oh, because you are the only one who is allowed to speak of loss?" Bella shot back. "I'll admit as a dwarf, you could have more years of sorrow than all of Hobbiton combined. But that doesn't make everyone else's losses less heartrending. Bilbo and I lost our parents before we reached our majority. From the day they died we have fought to keep our home out of the hands of those who wished to steal it from us. And now I have lost the only family I have left because I forced him to join us. He lies dead somewhere in those goblin tunnels because I was too selfish and demanded he be a Took instead of a Baggins." She wrapped her arms around her waist as her guilt and grief caused her to crumble.
"It's all my fault," she wept. "I killed him." Fear gripped her heart. "Did I kill our parents?"
Fili caught her, held her tight. "Don't take the weight of the world on your shoulders because of one grief," he murmured. "At least not alone."
She collapsed back against him, heaving as sobs tried to choke her.
"Bella," Gandalf said, "if you are guilty of harm to your brother, I am more so. I was the one to bring the both of you on this quest. Both of you would still be safe in the Shire if I hadn't come along."
She shook her head. "But I was the one who pushed him to come." She heaved a shaky breath. "And now he's gone forever."
"No, he isn't."
Bella froze before turning to the voice she never thought she'd hear again.
There Bilbo stood, rumpled, the beginnings of bruises half-hidden under smudges of dirt on his face. Bits of dust and rock were in his hair. He looked half-dead on his feet, but he was alive. Alive and gazing at her in his unique brotherly way.
"Bilbo?" she whispered. She scrambled up and threw herself into his arms, half-sobbing, half-laughing in relief.
He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her so tight she could hardly breathe.
Behind her, Gandalf laughed as he said, "Bilbo Baggins. I've never been so glad to see anyone in my entire life."
"Bilbo," Kili said, "we'd given you up."
"How did you get past the goblins?" Fili asked.
"How indeed," Dwalin said.
Bella stepped back to look her brother in the face. "Don't make me beat it out of you, and you know I will," she said.
Bilbo chuckled, momentarily tucking his hands in his vest pockets. "Well, it wasn't really anything spectacular. I made myself go unnoticed by the goblins when you all were captured. I did intend to launch a daring rescue, but a lingering goblin ruined that when he attacked and sent the both of us down into the deeper caverns. I wouldn't be surprised if I have a bump the size of a goose egg towards the back of my head. It's a wonder I didn't break something.
"Anyway, I met this creature, a– um, hm. I'm honestly not sure what he was, but he certainly wasn't a goblin. I challenged him to a riddle game in order to get him to lead me out. I won and he showed me the way out. Then I followed after you until I was just behind the trees there."
"Why did you come back?" Thorin asked. "You had your chance."
"Look, I know you doubt me," Bilbo said, "and I know you always have."
Bella opened her mouth to protest, but he merely held a hand up to stop her.
"And you're right, Thorin, I often think of Bag End," he continued. "I miss my books. And my armchair. And Bella's and my garden. See, that's where I belong. That's home. And I'll confess, I was very close to gathering up my things and returning to Rivendell once everyone was asleep.
"But then I realized, that is why I should continue on with you. Because you don't have one: a home. It was taken from you. But I will help you take it back if I can. For you, your people, and for your descendants." He quirked a little smile. "And my apologies if it is selfish, but also to make sure my sister has a safe home with her dwarven prince and any little dwobbits the Valar choose to bless them with."
"'Dwobbits'?" Bella asked incredulously.
"I couldn't come up with a proper combination starting with hobbit," Bilbo answered. "And it's less of a mouthful than saying half-dwarf half-hobbit."
"Hm, dwobbits. I can get used to that I think," Fili said.
"Ah, and before I forget." Bilbo slipped off a quiver that Bella had overlooked in her relief. It was the archery set she had commissioned for Kili. "I found this where I landed. I tried to recover all the arrows possible, and from what I can tell there is no damage to it." He held it out to Kili.
Kili came over but hesitated. "You do understand that according to dwarven tradition that you personally handing that to me means that you fully support any betrothal between Bella and Fili, right?"
"Well, I have yet to see reason to disapprove of your brother, and now that Bella has received her own confirmation of him being her One." He chuckled with a light shake of his head. "I doubt that anything I said or did could keep them apart."
Kili grinned as he reclaimed his quiver and bow. "There's no going back on this," he said. "You are forever destined to be bound to the House of Durin."
"So long as my sister is happy, I believe I can live with that," Bilbo replied. "Now, I suppose it would be a bad time to mention my insides are trying to eat themselves about now."
Only then did Bella notice that her stomach was aching something fierce.
"We lost all the supplies to the goblins," Thorin said. "Aside from what Gandalf apparently was able to rescue."
"Bella's pack and . . . I honestly do not know whose it is, but considering the fine furs and woolen cloth, I suspected they were meant for preparing for the colder months," Gandalf said.
"Two days prepping the skins and nigh on highway robbery for the cloth," Fili said. "We are extremely grateful you managed to find it." He claimed Bella's pack, handing off the coat supplies to Bofur. "Don't suppose either of you packed some snacks in here."
"Unfortunately we did not," Bilbo answered. "If nothing else, I suppose we could keep an eye out for flowers or berries."
Fili gave the two of them a disbelieving look. "'Flowers or berries'?" He shook his head. "I'm almost surprised that you aren't related to the elves."
Bella rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm not much for eating flowers, but if I'm hungry enough I won't turn my nose up at them."
"Actually," Kili said, "I'm feeling half-starved myself. Which is a bit unusual since I don't recall feeling that hungry after not eating for a whole day, when it's happened before."
"It perhaps might be because you all were in the mountains for nearly three whole days," Gandalf said.
"Ugh, now my stomach is going to try eating itself," Bella said. "I didn't necessarily need to know that." She half-stumbled as she started moving forward. "And now my body knows how much sleep and rest it has missed."
"Well," Bilbo said, "I suspect that the sooner we get some distance between us and those goblins, the sooner we can set up a small camp and rest."
"Very true, Bilbo," Gandalf said. "So let us be continuing on our way."
Bella sighed as she pulled herself together. "One foot in front of the other," she murmured. "One foot in front of the other." For roughly a half-hour, they trekked over the rough terrain. There was a momentary pause when they passed a stream to quench their thirst.
The golden glow of sunset was dimming as they started down a slope. Bella blinked as her vision started to swim. "Oh, this isn't going to help my balance any."
"What do you mean?" Fili asked.
"I'm so tired my eyes think that the rocks are moving," Bella answered.
"They are moving!" Balin cried.
Bella jolted. "What?!" She could now hear the skittering of various stones tumbling down the rocks.
"A landslide," Thorin said. "Run!"
Fili grabbed her hand as they started running. A small involuntary cry burst from her lips as they tried to gain solid ground. Her feet would barely land before the dirt or stone slipped right out from underneath her. As she half-stumbled for the tenth time, half the mountain gave way beneath them. She screamed even as Fili wrapped her in his arms.
A grove of trees darkly loomed over them. They had managed to escape goblins just to be dashed into the trees. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the impact. A jolt and compression round her lungs knocked the air out of her. It took a moment to realize that she had stopped and the landslide was still battering her feet and legs as it thundered past.
"Up, Amralime! Up!" Fili shouted.
Bella half-twisted as she looked up, finding that Fili had caught a branch. She scrambled up, settled herself firmly astride the branch, and helped him clamber up as well. Catching her breath, she looked about to find that the rest of the Company had either managed to catch low-hanging branches or get behind some wide tree trunks. Finally after what seemed an eternity, the river of dirt, rocks, and branches stopped.
A familiar muttering started up somewhere behind Bella.
She fell forward onto her branch, bursting into hysterical giggles.
"Amralime?"
She forced out around her giggles, "We-we barely survive a landslide and – and Gandalf starts counting us all – as if we're mere fauntlings finished playing tag."
Fili started to chuckle as well. "Yes, Gandalf is easily a harried schoolmaster."
"Who can give eight and nine a swat with his staff," Gandalf said with a wry smile, tapping a foot each.
Bella reached over and snagged his hat as he passed, earning a chortle from her One and the wizard. She planted it on her head, lightly swinging her feet. Upon hearing the count finish at fifteen, she scrambled down.
"There, all safe and little the worse for wear," Gandalf said. "And a good deal more distance between us and the goblins." This earned a grumble from most everyone.
"'Ow are ye so chipper, lassie?" Bofur asked.
Bella shrugged. "I'm to the point where it's either laugh or cry."
"And the laughter is better," Bilbo said, pulling his feet free from the debris that had settled round his tree. "Unless you wish to witness a display that would put Lobelia's tantrums to shame."
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," Bella said sweetly.
"And now, my hat, Miss Bella," Gandalf said.
"Alright, but first, what kept you in Rivendell?" she asked.
Gandalf smiled but even in the fading sunset, she could see it didn't reach his eyes. "I had to attend a rather lengthy meeting of the White Council, of which I am a member."
"What about?"
"Only one question per steal," Gandalf chided. "Besides, unless you can show that you are also of the White Council, I couldn't tell you anyway."
"Fair enough," Bella said, returning the hat.
"Now," Gandalf said, replacing his hat, "we must continue on. This landslide will no doubt make us harder to track, but we are not out of danger yet." So a moment or two later with some grumblings, the Company continued on.
It wasn't until the sun was truly set and the moon rising that Bella allowed a low moan to escape her lips.
"What is it?" Fili asked.
"For the first time in my life, my feet honestly and truly ache," she answered.
"I wonder how much further we have to go," Bilbo said beside her. "My toes are bruised and bent, my legs ache, and I'm sure my stomach isn't the only one wagging like an empty sack."
Bella mustered a slight smile before Gandalf said, "Just a bit further now."
"Shall we carry our burglar and ranger?" Kili asked.
Bella glanced at her brother. "Tempting . . ."
"But, no, thank you," Bilbo said. "We can manage the same as you baker's dozen."
The two princes lightly chuckled as the twins helped each other down some boulders.
Shortly, they came into a clearing that stretched to the edge of a cliff. Bella shivered as something dark trailed down her spine. "I don't like this place," she said quietly.
"Neither do I," Fili said.
"But yet," Bilbo said, "we can't really see a reason to feel that way."
"Dark things happen here," Balin said. "Time and time again. And it's left its mark on this place."
A plaintive yet ferocious howl sounded from somewhere behind, quickly answered by multiple howls from either side. Wolves. Apparently Lady Luck had decided that they'd been granted enough good fortunate for the week.
"Now what will we do?" Bilbo groaned. "Escaping goblins to be caught by wolves!"
Thorin shook his head. "Out of the frying pan."
"And into the fire," Gandalf agreed. "Come, there's only one place to go now. Into the trees."
Bella grabbed Bilbo's hand, even as Fili grabbed her other. They ran to the nearest tree where Fili and Kili gave both hobbits a boost upwards before following. "Just like the great party tree," Bella said. "We're just racing to the top of the party tree."
"Except this is some sort of pine tree," Bilbo muttered, scrambling up, "not a grand oak."
Bella didn't waste her breath on a reply, focusing instead on her handholds and footing. In under five minutes, everyone was safely perched in the trees. And just in time as dozens of wargs poured into the clearing, howling, roaring, and growling. She hugged the trunk where she perched opposite Fili. She was horrified to discern dark words amidst the growls as the beasts circled round about and settled into a rough assembly.
Fili paled a little in the moonlight while Kili shot him a concerned look.
"You can understand them?" Bella asked quietly.
"Uncle insisted on it because of Azog," Fili answered. "Best to know what your enemy is saying and be ready to counter it than to be ignorant and caught unawares."
"What are they discussing then?" she asked.
"Dark things," he answered. "Things I'd never share with any womenfolk no matter their race."
"Do they know we're here?"
"No, thank Mahal. But if we aren't careful they will."
Unfortunately the horrid meeting had only been held for a half-hour when one of the smaller wargs, possibly indicating that it was younger, started sniffing around. Then it started baying at the foot of one of the other trees some of the Company was hiding in. It wasn't long before all the rest were snuffling around the other trees and discovering which ones had occupants.
"And they've found us," Fili muttered. His head then jerked to the leader as it growled in the foul language before three wargs ran off.
"What is it?" Bella asked.
"I fear the Goblin King may not have been misinformed," he answered. He locked fearful blue eyes onto her wide brown. "They are going to the White Warg, to tell its master that they have found dwarves, that maybe these are the ones the message spoke of."
Bella's blood ran cold simply from the terror in her One's face. Memories of the tale of Moria only heightened her fear. What sort of monster could this Pale Orc be if a warrior could cut him down and he still return decades later?
Author's Note: Okay, a little more book-based this chapter. A part of me didn't understand why they didn't use the landslide for excitement in the movie. Then, my own brain figured it out that it was for overall plot purposes. And the chapter title is actually a line from the book. Unfortunately, it didn't get into the movie, only its equivalent.
Quick question: did anyone notice that I did not actually show Bilbo during the last chapter? And the explanation that he gives for how he escaped the mountain is actually pretty much book-canon. Just moved up to here instead of in Mirkwood like originally. I was actually super fascinated by the fact that there are two versions of what happened to Bilbo in those dark tunnels: Bilbo's version and the truth. I actually managed to find a site/page that compares and contrasts the two.
Oh, and um, hm. There's only one more chapter for Part One. I am already started on Part Two, and will be working on that while I post another multi-chapter story. I'll cover more details at the end of next chapter.
So, any theories of what will happen next chapter? Will I be cruel and leave you with a vicious cliffhanger? Or will I actually give it some conclusion? ;-) But seriously, I would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter and what you think may happen in the next.