I just realised I haven't kept my promise. I'm so sorry. I never realised how much I had to do this weekend. But I have updated.
Thank you for any favourites and follows, they are greately appreciated.
Fili was physically fighting the urge to call out his baby brother's name and run to his aid. The years of drilling with Thorin told him that doing so would only conclude to more trouble. And so, Fili forced himself to run away from the three thugs and his baby brother caught in the middle of a gang. Kili could handle himself, he tried to convince himself. There was no other way to make his feet continue moving in that direction. Away from Kili. Away from the thugs. Kili. Kili.
"Kili's in trouble!" was the first three words that stumbled out of Fili's mouth when he arrived. The reaction was immediate. Thorin's head snapped around, Dwalin raised his eyebrows, Balin threw a questioning look.
"Kili and Bilbo. They got ambushed by these three thugs. They need help." Fili's eyes flitted around worriedly. And before waiting for a response from his fellow pirates, Fili started running back to the docks where when he last saw, Kili and Bilbo were surrounded.
The moment Fili started seeing the reflection of torchlight on water; he drew his swords, rushing towards the little huddle. He could hear the footsteps of the others behind him, knew they were following him, weirdly, he felt they were awaiting his command.
"KILI!" he shouted, throwing himself at the back of the first man. Shouts and cries erupted from the rest. He slashed at the thick arm of one, ducked a blow from another, all the time, his eyes desperately searching for Kili's brown ones.
"Watch your back. I might not always be here to guard it, brother." You could hear the pleased smirk in his voice.
"Kili!" Fili smiled, then his eyes widened. "DUCK!"
Bert had swung his hammer, missing the younger of the two brothers by a breath.
Bilbo was lost in the fray. Swords slashed, arms swung, steel rung out against steel, knives were thrown, people were thrown. Bilbo had forgotten which way was towards the Shaws, which towards the sea. Then a sweaty palm grabbed his ankle and Bilbo let out a cry of surprise.
"Put your weapons down or he gets it!" William threatened, whipping the blood from a cut on his forehead away from his eyes.
The pirates all glared at the thug, and reluctantly did as ordered. The distaste of surrender was clear on Thorin's face.
Minutes later, the company found themselves tied up and tossed into a small fishing boat called 'The Troll'. Bilbo found that his feet were free, and so stood up. Maybe if he could stall for time, the people of the Shaws would notice what had happened. But that could only happen if they stayed here until sunrise.
"Excuse me." Bilbo attempted to get the Troll's crew attention.
The three continued arguing among themselves.
"E-excuse me! EXCUSE ME!"
"Huh?"
"Yes, thank you. Well you see, my friends here, you don't want to take them."
"Oh yeah?" Tom mused "Why's that?"
"Because, because…. Because they're infected."
"Infected, you say? With what?" The knife Tom was using to cut his nails suddenly seemed extremely sharp.
"With with with…. "Bilbo scratched his brain to come up with a decent illness. "With Paracitis."
"Paracitis? What's he talking about?" Gloin hissed. "We're perfectly uninfected thank you very mu-" a kick from Thorin was enough to silence the ex-banker. Understanding dawned on the pirates faces and they all started squirming and scratching and fidgeting at once.
"You do not want them for slave labour. Terribly horrible. I guarantee it will infect all the others. Won't do any good to efficiency." Bilbo continued.
Tom seemed to be mulling over the facts when a crescent of sunlight erupted over the horizon. Now the town guards could clearly see, and what they saw was the Troll's crew having kidnapped a backers dozen of men. Soon, they were upon them, and the company was relieved of their bonds.
Bilbo was attacked by a chorus of well dones and bravos.
"My dear fellow, I never doubted you for a second." Gandalf had returned out of nowhere, as was his usual habit. He then beckoned Thorin over to the boat.
"These men have left behind weapons." He said, handing Thorin a sword. "This will serve you well."
Thorin carefully studied the blade, experimentally swinging it a couple of times.
"It's a Eldar blade." Gandalf pointed out, and the captain found a distaste for the sword that he didn't have before. He mistrusted anything made of Eldar hands.
"It will serve you well." Gandalf insisted, taking for himself a sword and what seemed to be a hunting knife.
See? I'm nice! This time it's not a cliffhanger. Come say hi on tumblr if you want. my url is: bottledgrantaire
I hope you enjoyed