"…Where goes my road? Let the fate…"

It's a broken sound, but wind carries it from the rocks and Gandalf listen.

"…not waiting anymore…"

He knows that voice. That voice what it so broken that it hurt to listen.

"…the calling of road…"

Gandalf runs, following the sound, up on the Ravenhill like Ori said.

"Under the Hill, under the Mountain…"

The mithrill armour had protected the small creature, but in his leg was a deep cut, and the helmet was missing and Bilbo's hair was covered with blood. The left hand was in odd angle.

But Bilbo was alive and Gandalf let himself breathe again.

"You have again composed something new, don't you? Never heard that song before."

"Gandalf?" Bilbo's head turned toward the old wizard.

"Yes Bilbo." Gandalf smiled with relief when he kneeled down.

"Oh Gandalf, how unexpected. Is it morning already?" Bilbo opened his eyes and his fingers twitched slightly.

"It is. How are you? I can see that you have successfully smacked your head. Does it hurt?" Bilbo didn't move when Gandalf examined him. The hobbit felt cold and he was too pale. Grey wizard's frown returned. Even when he touched the sore spots, the wounds, Bilbo didn't even stir.

Bilbo stared at the sky missing Gandalf's searching eyes, his big eyes full of wonder.

"No, no, not anymore. Gandalf, I can't see the sky. Is the sun shining today?"

Gandalf waved his hand front of hobbit's eyes, cursing the fate of Bilbo.

"Yes." It took everything to answer so that his voice would sound steady.

"I saw the Eagles. Don't remember anything else after that. We won?"

"We won indeed." Gandalf answered trying to not think how cheerful Bilbo seemed to be.

"Good. And others? They are…?"

"Very much alive."

"Good… good. I'm happy… to hear. Now… I'm bit… tired. Night was… long. Wanted to see… sun. Can I… can I sleep… now?" Bilbo's voice was now much weaker than earlier and his eyes closed when he took a deep breathe. Then he stopped moving. Gandalf panicked for a moment before he found the very weak pulse of the heart.

"Sleep my dear Bilbo." Gandalf's voice finally broke when he let his fingers smooth lightly hobbit's dirty hair. He removed his cape and covered the small body all over before taking him on his arms. The hobbit felt unnaturally light, what made Gandalf frown more. The hobbits eat six to seven, sometimes eight meals a day. Bilbo, travelling through the Middle Earth hadn't eaten so much in months. It wasn't healthy, not so to severely injured hobbit who needed everything to survive now.

"Gandalf? Is he… He is…." Bofur stammered, his hat in his hands, twisting it nervously.

"Alive. For now. We have to hurry. Legolas, your father…"

Legolas turned and leapt without a word. He would get his father to be ready to take care the little one. Gandalf looked Bofur.

"He's gone far Bofur. Maybe too far. He has given up himself. He… knows. He has done peace with himself." He warned.

"Can't you do something?" Bofur looked the small bundle what supposed to be his friend, but looked like dead. When Bilbo has came so small?

"I can keep him away from the death's gate for some time, after that, it's up to him. Thranduil will see how much he can help, but Bofur… Do not hope too much."

"What I tell to others? How can I tell…"

"You tell the truth, master dwarf. Now, we have to go. And pray the gods that they'll save our friend.

#

Happy Christmas!

I update after the holidays again if not tonight, maybe three more chapters to come.

Thank you everyone.