After the company somewhat recovered from the storm, they go off and find a cave. "It looks safe enough." Dwalin grumbled.
"Search to the back; caves in mountains are seldom unoccupied." Thorin commanded, and Dwalin stepped into the cave with a brightly lit lantern, and searched for a few minutes. "There's nothing here."
With nodding heads, the company crowded into the small cave, and Gloin opened his huge pack. Pulling out a large bundle of wood, he dropped it on the floor with a smile, and rubbed his hands. "Right then! Let's get a fire started."
"No, No fires, not in this place." Thorin interrupted, walking near his old friend. "Get some sleep. We start at first light."
"We were to wait in the mountains until Gandalf joined us. That was the plan." Balin told.
Thorin shook his head. "Plans change. Bofur, take the first watch." The miner nodded, and used the wall to help him stand up.
Liesel Hayward was in the center of the cave, and you would not believe me if I told you that she was the only one to be trembling just a few minutes after she and Bilbo nearly fell from the cliff. Her nervousness attracted every living thing, as she wrapped herself up; arms around her legs, which were pulled to her chest, and rocked herself in place.
"Hey Lise, are you alright?" Fili asked her from across the room. She didn't respond, and kept shaking.
"Lass, he asked if you`re doing fine." Gloin said. The poor girl still didn't say anything, focusing her attention on little things in the room. A stone hitting the rock-hard ground right next to her, caused her to yelp in shock.
"Kili!" Fili and Thorin hissed at their brother or nephew, and all eyes shot to him.
"She wasn't saying anything to you! I didn't know what else to do." He responded.
Thorin stepped forward. "For the next time we take shelter, I suggest you not frighten the child nor anyone else, alerting scum to our presence."
With that, Kili`s face slightly fell in regret, and looked back at the little girl. "I apologize, Liesel, I didn't mean to scare you at all, honest."
She forced herself to look at him, and she nodded in slight forgiveness.
All the dwarves spread out to find a decent, comfortable space to lay their bedrolls. As for Liesel, she stayed where she was, but still opened her rucksack and rolled her portable bed out. Bilbo noticed her still skittishness, and looked at the girl with nothing but sympathy in his eyes as he placed his bedroll down onto the floor.
He didn't belong here. No matter how many times Balin, or Bofur, or even Little Liesel would tell him that he did, he would never believe them. If Thorin only thought of him as a burden, nobody would even notice if he disappeared into the night and went all the way to Rivendell, then home. But, he still swore to himself he wouldn't leave the child all by herself.
After perhaps half an hour, the entire Company was finally resting in the cave; all the dwarves asleep, some shifting, and some snoring louder than a storm. Bilbo, only pretending to be asleep, stealthily opened his eyes and looked around. Seeing that no one was watching, he slowly sat up, and crawled over to Liesel. He touched the girl`s shoulder, and shook her awake.
She flicked her eyes open, and rubbed one of them. "Huh?" She yawned almost loudly.
"Shh," he whispered to her "pack your things, and be quick and quiet." Bilbo stood up before she could ask, and rolled up his bedroll, and packed the basic necessities.
"What`s going on?" She whispered, again rubbing her eye, and sitting up.
The elder hobbit shushed her again. "Just pack, I`ll tell you everything soon."
Confused beyond belief, she complied. She rolled up her bed, packed her spare clothes, and equipped her sword to her side, then got up. When the two were done, Bilbo picked up his walking stick, took the little girl`s hand, and tiptoed over the dwarves; guiding Liesel step by step, since she was clearly out of it.
"Where are we-?" She tried asking again.
Once again, Bilbo shushed her. "Don`t say a word,"
Bofur, who was standing watch, heard the two trying to leave. He jumped up and tried to stop them. "Where do you think you're going?" He asked quietly.
Bilbo sighed, and turned around. "Back to Rivendell." Liesel`s face fell, she pulled her hand out of Bilbo`s grasp and stepped away.
As for Bofur, "No, no, you can't turn back now, you`re part of the Company. You and Liesel are one of us."
The elder hobbit scoffed. "We`re not though, aren`t we? Thorin said we should never have come, and he was right. I'm not a Took, I'm a Baggins, I don't know what I was thinking letting a child stay away from the Shire for this long. I should never have run out my door."
Still in slight shock of what Bilbo had tried to done, Liesel couldn't find any word to say to him without her completely exploding and waking all of Middle Earth. So, she just stopped and stared at the two. Little did they know, that Thorin himself was listening to their words.
"You're homesick; I understand." Bofur whispered, trying to help the situation.
Bilbo lost it. "No, you don't, you don't understand! None of you do - you're dwarves. You used to - to this life, to living on the road, never settling in one place, not belonging anywhere!"
The dwarf made eye contact with the floor, and the younger hobbit looked at Bilbo; and in that moment, she didn't hold her tongue.
"Mr. Baggins!" She hissed, not caring at what noise she made.
Just as the words fell from his mouth, he realized his mistake. "I am sorry, I didn't..."
"No, you're right. We don't belong anywhere." Bofur said, and looked around the cave at his friends; his family. "I wish you all the luck in the world. I really do." Bofur smiles and placed his hand on Bilbo's shoulder.
The hobbit returned the smile, and turned to the small child. "Liesel, I`m not forcing you to stay, nor am I forcing you to go. What do you think is the best for you?"
She flinched at being put on the spot, and rushed herself to think. "I made a bad decision; I shouldn't have left my mother all by herself, no matter how selfish I am." She nodded, and looked back at Bofur. "I`m sorry, I don`t know if I`m ready for an adventure, or if I ever will be." She said, regretfully.
Still, the miner nodded. "I understand little one; it was quite a surprise for me to think you`d come this far." The two smirked, and turned to leave.
"What's that?" Bofur stopped them.
They stopped in their tracks, and turned to see the dwarf`s eyes to their swords. Bilbo pulled his sword partway out of its sheath and saw that the bright blue lighting the room. His face fell, and he looked to Liesel; she understood, and pulled her sword out while shutting her eyes, already knowing the answer. Thorin rose his head as he heard strange machinery noises and saw cracks form in the sand on the floor of the cave!
"Wake up. Wake up!" Before anyone could react, the floor of the cave collapsed downwards, revealing it to be a giant trap door. The entire Company fell down a chute, and slid down the rocky walls, until they were met with the ground.
As they struggled to get up, a horde of goblins sprinted to them, taking away their weapons and dragging them. One goblin grabbed and tugged Liesel by the hair when she clung herself to the ground, screaming and forcing herself to stay down. Sadly, the goblins overpowered her, and pulled her hair until she had to finally stand, and she was led away.
As the dwarves were kicking and yelling, Bilbo crouched into a ball, and was missed by the goblins; not seeing him, they left him behind! Nori, looking over his shoulder, saw this happen.
Bilbo scampered behind some railing to hide as he watched the goblins proceed through the tunnels. Bats flew in the darkness, and Bilbo drew his sword, which was glowing bright blue, and slowly followed the goblins. Suddenly, one goblin jumped out in front of him and rushed at him with his sword! The goblin charged at the hobbit, and Bilbo, never once using his sword, struggled to swing back, but thankfully never missed. The creature leaped onto his back, and pulled the both of them to the edge of the cliff! Still struggling, Bilbo was pulled off the ledge, and the two were falling until there was darkness around them.
Meanwhile, the goblin horde dragged the dwarves and little hobbit through a vast network of tunnels and wooden bridges to the throne room and platform of the Great Goblin. The brute was larger than any other goblin you could even imagine, and anywhere he went (Barely), he would carry his staff, a large skull.
A horn was blown, and more than half the company covered their ears, as a cacophony of pots and pans being smacked roared throughout the goblin caves.
"I feel a song coming on." A disgusting voice was heard, and became louder as the dwarves and child were being pulled closer.
Clap! Snap! The Black Crack!
Grib, grab! Pinch and nab!
And down down to Goblin Town!
You go my lad!
Clash, crash! Crush, and smash!
Hammer and tongs! Knocker and gongs!
Pound, pound, far underground!
You go my lad!
Swish, smack! Whip crack!
Batter and beat! Yammer and bleat!
Work, work! Nor dare to shirk,
While Goblins quaff, and Goblins laugh
Round and round, far underground!
Below, my lad!
The dwarves, hobbit, and goblins ducked as the fat creature twirled, almost hitting them with his staff. After he made it around, he crawled back up to his throne, whilst crushing many of the smaller goblins as his footstool.
"Catchy, isn't it? It`s one of my own compositions." He bragged, the entire company glaring at him, all except Liesel. If she wasn't crying and afraid, she would`ve most likely stood tall and shout: "It was the most atrocious thing, and I am surprised that no one`s ears are bleeding!"
But, Balin beat her to it. "That was no song, it`s an abomination!"
The goblins roared at him, and the great goblin continued. "Abominations, mutations, deviations, that`s all you`re going to find down here!"
Right after he spoke, the dwarves` weapons were dropped onto the floor including Liesel`s, which was glowing brighter than ever. The Great Goblin rushed off his throne again.
"Who would be so bold as to come armed into my kingdom? Spies? Thieves? Assassins? Who are these miserable persons?!"
"Dwarves, Your Malevolence, and this!" Another hideous goblin said, pulling on Liesel`s arm so hard, she fell onto her knees.
The fat creature laughed. "And what might this thing be? A female, a child, but she is no dwarf! Now tell me, little one, what exactly are you?" He leaned in closer to her, she gagged at the stench from his breath.
She looked right at him, and tried her best to stop her tears, but they kept pouring down her face as she sputtered to say something. Instead of becoming angry, the Great Goblin laughed, and so did the other peculiar monsters.
"Is the little child crying? Oh little one, I didn't mean to offend you! How could I have known you were so sensitive?"
The girl stared at him dead in the eyes, and clenched her teeth in anger. "I believe any one of us here would be shedding tears just by simply looking at your face!"
The goblins howled in anger at the girl`s retort, and she felt another hand grab her arm; she turned and saw it belonged to Kili. "Get behind me," He snarled at her.
"Huh?" She asked, not hearing what he said.
"Get behind me." He said again, this time pulling her behind her, and she held onto the back of his cloak for dear life.
After everything somewhat settled, the huge goblin must`ve forgotten all about Liesel, because he asked: "Where did you find the dwarves, and the odd creature?"
"We found them on the front porch." The same goblin that pulled Liesel to the ground pointed to the company.
"Well, don't just stand there; search them! Every crack, every crevice." He commanded.
The goblins searched the company thoroughly, throwing away whatever they find. Poor Oin's hearing trumpet was thrown on the floor and crushed underfoot. Another goblin picked up one of the bags, and poured out silverware, candlesticks, and other valuable objects.
One goblin picked up a golden candlestick. "It is my belief, your greatness, they are enleague with elves!" He said, handing the candlestick to the Great Goblin.
The fat goblin took it, and looked at the bottom. "Made in Rivendell. Second age, couldn`t give it away!" He said, throwing the candlestick off the platform.
A few of the dwarves looked to Nori. "Just a couple of keepsakes." He defended.
"What are you doing in these parts, speak!" The King Goblin demanded.
Thorin stepped forward to talk, but Oin stopped him. "Don`t worry lads, I`ll handle this."
"No tricks, I want the truth!" The Goblin King, slammed his staff into the ground.
"You`re going to have to speak up!" Oin said, holding up his hearing aid. "Your boys flattened my trumpet."
"I`ll flatten more than your trumpet!" The big goblin rushed towards the dwarves, and Liesel escaped from behind Kili as she tried to run out of the crowd.
Bofur pushed himself in front of Thorin. "If there`s more information you want, I`m the one you should speak to!" The Goblin King stopped, and the miner thought quickly of what to say.
"We were on the road-well, it`s not much a road, it`s a path. Actually, it`s not even that come to think of it, it`s more of a track. Anyway, we were on this road like a path like a track, and then we weren`t! Which is a problem, because we were supposed to be in Dunland last Tuesday?" He turned to Oin.
"Visiting distant relations!"
Bofur turned back to the King. "Some inbreeds on my mother`s side-."
"Shut up!" He screamed, silencing the entire cavern. "Well then, if they will not talk, we'll make them squawk! Bring out the Mangler! Bring out the Bone Breaker! Start with…" He paused as his eyes drifted everywhere, searching for something. It finally caught his eye "The little girl!" He pointed and laughed to Liesel, who was slowly crawling to try and get out.
In a flash, the girl felt several hands grab her from everywhere, and she shrieked 'No!' many times at the top of her lungs, while also trying to fight her way out of their grasp. From her vulnerable state, more than half of the dwarves used all their strength to fight against them; yet, they were being held back. Fili managed to break free, and put up the most fight to save her. A sword was raised by another goblin, and aimed at the back of his head! Until-.
"Wait!"
Everything stopped, and the fight was over when it was revealed Thorin Okenshield shouted, then calmly pushed his way past to the front.
"Well, well, well, look who it is. Thorin son of Thrain, son of Thror; King under the Mountain." The Great Goblin bowed exaggeratedly to Thorin. "Oh, but I'm forgetting, you don't have a mountain. And you're not a king. Which makes you nobody, really. I know someone who would pay a pretty price for your head. Just the head, nothing attached. Perhaps you know of whom I speak, an old enemy of yours. A Pale Orc astride a White Warg."
Thorin looked up in surprise and disbelief, of course, trying his best to shield it. "Azog the Defiler was destroyed. He was slain in battle long ago."
The monster smirked. "So you think his defiling days are done, do you?" He laughed, then turning to a tiny goblin sitting in a basket and holding a slate. "Send word to the Pale Orc; tell him I have found his prize."
The tiny goblin wrote down the message on his slate; cackling, he pulled a lever, causing his basket to start sliding down a system of ropes and pulleys into the darkness.
Bilbo slowly regained consciousness and found himself in the dark cavern, lying behind a clump of mushrooms. He saw the goblin who attacked him lying nearby, nearly dead. Suddenly, before Bilbo could stand up, a hunched creature crawled from the darkness, approaching the goblin.
"Yes. Yes. Yes! Yes! Gollum. Gollum." Its hoarse voice cheered.
Bilbo, out of sight behind the mushrooms, watched as "Gollum" circled around the goblin. Gollum then began pulling the goblin away by the feet. Suddenly, the goblin woke up and began flailing around! In a fit of rage, Gollum grabbed a rock and pounded the goblin on the head with it, knocking it unconscious again. As Bilbo watched in horror, a golden ring fell out of the monster`s loincloth and fell on the floor. "Gollum" resumed pulling the unconscious goblin away. "Nasty goblinses. Better than old bones, Precious; better than nothing."
Bilbo, emerging from his hiding spot and retrieving his sword, followed after Gollum. By the light of the sword, he approached the Ring, and picked it up. "What`s this? A ring?" He asked in his mind.
Hearing Gollum singing in the distance, Bilbo put the Ring into his pocket and followed the sound of Gollum's voice. "Too many boneses, Precious! Nothing of flesh! Shut up! Get its skin off. Start with its head."
Bilbo continued to slowly pace toward the voice, growing increasingly confused. Then, he heard singing:
"The cold hard lands,
they bites our hands,
they gnaws our feet.
The rocks and stones,
they're like old bones,
all bare of meat.
Cold as death,
they have no breath,
it's good to eat!"
Rounding a corner, Bilbo saw Gollum silhouetted on top of a rock in the middle of a small lake. Gollum was singing as he beat the goblin's body, He smashed it in the head again with a rock. Seeing the glow of Bilbo's sword, Gollum looked up!
Bilbo quickly hid behind a rock, realizing that his sword was still glowing brightly. However, the sword's light started flickering, then completely died out; the goblin was dead. As he looked at it confusedly, Bilbo peeked out from behind the rock, then is shocked to see that Gollum was no longer there.
Gollum stealthily paddled through the lake in his little boat, using his hands as paddles. After a little longer, Bilbo slowly looked up and found Gollum on a rock above him! Gollum jumped down in front of Bilbo. "Bless us and splash us, Precious! That's a meaty mouthful."
The creature rushed to Bilbo, but the hobbit placed the point of his sword on Gollum's throat, causing Gollum to retreat in fear. "Aaahh. Gollum. Gollum. Ack"
Bilbo stood himself up, and tried his best to sound threatening, bit still stammered. "Back. Stay back. I'm warning you, don't come any closer."
Gollum hissed, and crawled away from him. "It's got an elfish blade, but it's not an Elfs. Not an Elfs, no. What is it, Precious? What is it?"
"My name-is Bilbo Baggins." The elder hobbit shook as he held the sword.
Gollumn tilted his head to the side. "Bagginses? What is a Bagginses, Precious?"
"I'm a Hobbit from the Shire."
"Oh! We like Goblinses, batses, and fishes, but we hasn't tried Hobbitses before! That stench, Precious, the stench of a child, but it doesn't look like one. Is it soft? Is it juicy?"
Bilbo`s heart leapt into his throat at the mention of Liesel, and held the blade farther out, and waved it all about. "Now, now, K-keep your distance! I'll use this if I have to!" Gollum snarled at Bilbo, causing him to step back. "I don't want any trouble, do you understand? Just show me the way to get out of here, and I'll be on my way."
"Why, is it lost?"
Bilbo nodded, out of breath. "Yes, yes, and I want to get unlost as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Gollum answered in a different voice than before; like a different personality speaking. "Ooh! We knows! We knows safe paths for Hobbitses. Safe paths in the dark." He pointed across the water. "Shut up." He growls to himself.
Bilbo furrowed his eyes in confusion. "I didn't say anything."
"Wasn't talking to you." He spat at Bilbo, but lowered himself and talked again "But yes, we was, Precious, we was."
"Look, uh, I don't know what your game is, but I-"
Gollum`s face lit up. "Games?! We love games, doesn't we, Precious? Does it like games? Does it? Does it? Does it like to play?"
Bilbo sauntered in his footsteps. "Maybe?"
The creature held up his hands, then began reciting a riddle. "What has roots as nobody sees, is taller than trees. Up, up, up it goes, and yet, never grows."
Bilbo stared at him. What were the odds that it was the riddle he told the day before? "...The mountain."
The monster began laughing uproariously. "Yess, yess, oh, let's have another one, eh? Yes, come on, do it again, do it—do it again. Ask us. No! No more riddles. Finish him off. Finish him now. Gollum! Gollum!" Gollum snarled and began rushing at Bilbo to kill him, but Bilbo held out his hand to stop him, and spoke.
"No! No, no, no. I wa—I want to play. I do. I want to play. I can see you are very good at this. S—so why don't we have a game of riddles? Yes, just, just you and me." Bilbo crouched until he was level with Gollum. Gollum scuttled forward, close to Bilbo, whispering excitedly.
"Yes! Yes, just, just—just us."
"Yes. Yes. And—and if I win, you show me the way out." He pointed to a random corner in the dark.
"Yes. Yes -" Gollum snarled, turning away from Bilbo. Gollum's two personality's talked to each other. "And if it loses? What then? Well, if it loses, Precious, we will eats it!"
That caught Bilbo`s attention, and Gollum turned to him "If Baggins loses, we eats it whole."
Bilbo stared at the odd creature for a couple of seconds, thoroughly questioning his own sanity if he was serious about doing this.
"Fair enough."
Helooooo, everybody! I just wanted to give a quick note about school. Yeahhhhhhh, so I`m actually starting my first year of high school, so I may or may not have enough time to update these stories, because yeah it`s going to take a little bit to adjust! Anyway, I just want to thank you so much for staying by my side with updates.