I am so sorry for this being late! I was writing another story, and I lost track of time!
Ink...
Chapter 18
Thorin looked at the retreating figure of Gandalf and cursed the Wizard's ill timing. "There is nothing to be done. We must keep going, or this whole quest will be for naught."
Bilbo sighed and shouldered his pack. He muttered a string of curses as he tripped over his boots. Thorin sighed and answered Bilbo's unspoken question. "Stop whining, Bilbo. You still have to wear those boots!"
Bilbo's grumbling increased exponentially. He followed the Dwarves into the forest. They had walked for most of the day when Thorin looked back and couldn't see his son. "Bilbo! Bilbo?!"
"Here."
He turned and hurried to where Bilbo was swaying. "My son." He held Bilbo close to him. "I thought you had wandered away." He touched Bilbo's hair, caressing it, straightening it.
Bilbo sighed. "No. How many more days in this forest, Ada?"
Thorin frowned at the name but sighed. "At least four more days of travel. Come, we must hurry."
They traveled on. Thorin kept Bilbo constantly at his side. Bilbo kept calling him 'Ada', but none of the Dwarves understood its meaning. Thorin sighed. They had camped for the night. This was the third night of their travels. "Bilbo."
Bilbo turned and looked at Thorin. It took him far too long to focus on his father. "Yes, Ada?"
"What does 'Ada' mean?"
"It means Da, Father."
"In what tongue?"
Bilbo opened his mouth and then closed it. He smiled, slightly loopy. "I won't call you that anymore. Nope. Nope. Won't call a Dwarf a Sindarin word."
Thorin blinked. "You know Sindarin?"
"Uh huh. Lived in Rivendell for five years tutoring under Lord Elrond. Mama had me learn as much about Dwarven culture as the Elves knew." Bilbo yawned slightly and shook his head sharply.
Thorin held his son close to him and kissed his temple. "When Erebor is restored, you will learn far more than what those Elves know. My son. My only son…" He kissed his son's temple again. Bilbo snuggled into Thorin's side and promptly fell asleep. Thorin was in awe. Bilbo trusted him so much…?
Dwalin grunted. "At least there is one good thing that this forest caused."
Balin looked over at the sleeping figure of Bilbo and chuckled. "He was always afraid that deep down, Thorin would not approve of physical contact."
Dwalin snorted. "Don't know why. Thorin's always been a clingy bastard."
Thorin shot Dwalin a scowl. "Shut up!" Dwalin snickered roughly and then turned over and fell asleep in his bedroll.
They had reached the river by midmorning on the next day. Bilbo frowned and looked at the vines and then at the water. "Gandalf said…Gandalf said it was enchanted."
Thorin nodded. "Do not touch the water."
Bilbo looked up and down the river and then spied a boat. "Look!" It was small but it could ferry at least two Dwarves across as a time.
Bofur all but wailed. "What's the use of a boat if it's on the other side of the river?!"
Bilbo gave him a cross look. "Can any of you throw a rope? Lasso it and drag it over."
Dwalin grunted. "Aye, but what's the use if the boat is tied?"
Bilbo shook his head. "I don't think it is, but I can't be sure because of this blasted dim light! If only the trees allowed the sun in!"
Fíli groaned. "And air. I need air."
"More food."
Bofur rolled his eyes. "Quiet Bombur." Nori snickered. Ori moaned and leaned into Dori.
Fíli pulled out some rope with an iron hook at the end and threw it across the water. It missed his first two tries and then it hooked on the side. However, when Fíli tugged, it wouldn't come loose.
Kíli soon went to his brother's aid. It was only through their combined strength that the boat did come loose. Dwalin looked it over and smirked at Bilbo. "It was tied after all."
Bilbo rolled his eyes. "No matter, good job cousins." Fíli and Kíli grinned.
Balin smiled. "Right then, who will go first?"
Thorin stepped up. "I will. Bilbo will come with me. Fíli and Kíli will come next. And so on. I'm afraid Bombur will have to go alone."
Bombur huffed. "I'm always last! I don't like it! It's someone else's turn today!"
Bofur rolled his eyes. "It's your own fault that you're so fat. Loose some weight and then you'll be first!"
They all traveled the span of the river multiple times until only Bombur was left. And he promptly capsized.
Thorin groaned. "Bother fat Dwarves." Bilbo snickered when Dwalin groaned about carrying him. They quickly lashed a stretcher of sorts and put Bombur in it. Bilbo shook his head and leaned against his father.
They were all getting so hungry. Their food rations were quickly going out. It was that night when they saw the first light. They heard the laughter. They smelled the food.
Dwalin had charged off with Gloin into the darkness in search of the light. Thorin had snatched Bilbo and forced him to stay on the path. He ran after the others when they didn't heed his call. Bilbo waited. And waited. And finally, it was with the very real fear of being left behind that had him running after them.
He found them all sitting down in depression. Thorin saw Bilbo and frowned. "Why did you leave the path?"
"Because you didn't show up!"
Thorin nodded. "Come on, let's go back."
But they couldn't. They were well and truly lost now in Mirkwood.
