"Where did you go to", Thorin asked as he looked up at Gandalf. "If I may ask?"
"To look ahead."
"What brought you back?"
"Looking behind", he answered as he looked at the trolls who were now stone statues.
Thorin couldn't help but smirk. That was Gandalf for you. Always speaking in riddles. The two of them looked at the Dwarves who were helping each other off the fire place and back into their clothes.
"Nasty business. Still, they are all in one piece."
"No thanks to your burglar", Thorin frowned.
"Darling, he tried", Clill said frowning at him. "At least he kept us from being eaten."
"He had the nous to play for time", Gandalf said defending Bilbo. "None of the rest of you thought of that."
Thorin sighed as he looked away. Clill crossed her arms and looked at Fili and Kili who were gathering their weapons.
"I thought you two were supposed to be looking out for the ponies", she said. "Why did you not have the thought to warn us there were trolls nearby?"
"We did not want to cause any alarm", Kili said.
"The next time you see anything come close to our campsite, let us know."
The group looked at the remains of the Trolls, wondering how they were able to stay in this area.
"They must have come down from the Ettenmoors", Gandalf said.
"Since when do mountain trolls venture this far south?" Thorin asked.
"Oh, not for an age", he shook his head. "Not since a darker power ruled these lands."
"A darker power?" Clill asked looking at Thorin.
He looked at her concerned and looked up at Gandalf. The last time a dark power ruled those last was 3,000 years ago…the dark ages of Sauron… Gandalf looked at the trolls, trying to make sense of what was going on.
"They could not have moved in daylight", he said.
"There must be a cave nearby", Thorin said looking away.
He walked ahead, looking for any signs of a cave. The company turned to follow him. It was only a matter of time until they found the horrible smell of trolls coming from a cave. Thorin picked up a burning piece of wood, bringing light into the cave.
"Oh, what's that stench?" Nori asked covering his nose.
"It's a troll hoard", Gandalf said Be careful what you touch."
Clill's eyes widened as they looked around. The opening of the cave was littered with bones and bodies of all the creatures the trolls had eaten, whether it was animal or man. Deeper into the cave was discovered to be littered with gold and jewels of all kind. Deeper into the cave were a hoard of weapons covered in dust and cobwebs.
"These swords were not made by any troll", Thorin said looking at the two large swords.
He handed Gandalf one of the swords to inspect.
"Nor were they made by any smith among men."
Gandalf pulled the weapon from its sheath. The metal shined as if it were freshly forged.
"These were forged in Gondolin by the High Elves of the First Age", he said looking at the sword.
Thorin looked up at the Wizard disappointed. Elven weapons. What use would he have for them? He didn't need, nor want. He had his own sword forged by the finest Dwarves he knew. He turned away, about to toss the Elven blade away.
"You could not wish for a finer blade", Gandalf said stopping him.
Thorin looked at him before turning back to the sword. He pulled it from the sheath, looking at the sleek, almost glowing metal. The sword looked sharp despite its apparent years of being hidden in a cave.
"It suits you", Clill said. "Look at the detail… that's a dragon's tooth!"
She put her hand on the handle, feeling the smooth bone of a tooth. It was safe to say that Thorin's mind had been made up that he was keeping the sword.
"Let's get out of this foul place", he said. "Come on, let's go. Bofur! Gloin! Nori!"
"What were they doing?" Clill asked, seeing the three of them take their time.
Dwalin rolled his eyes as he looked at the three Dwarves burying a chest of gold that was laying in the cave. The Company walked out of the cave, greeted with broad daylight.
"Something's coming!" Thorin said hearing branches snapping
"Stay together!" Gandalf said. "Hurry now. Arm yourselves."
Everyone pulled out their weapons, facing the noise as it came closer and closer.
