Chapter 8
Blue Spectres
The night ended as the morning became a new day. Thorin would act very carefully around Bilbo giving obvious hints that he was feeling a little over protective, but Bilbo couldn't help but to be worried with the exception, Bilbo would watch Fili and Kili talk the good times when they were young and this would relieve him. The leader of the dwarves would sometimes slow down with his walking just to be right beside his hobbit who was still displeased of his company.
"You do know; I don't need a babysitter." Bilbo would say as he catches Thorin blush a little but looks away casually as if he never hear him. 'Stupid Thorin.' Bilbo pouted.
"Here, here; brother!" The hobbit gasped as he got picked up by bandaged Kili who cried.
"What..!"
Bilbo was in it with a surprise as the twins took turns passing the poor hobbit around, swooped up like a princess at a bridal entrance, Bilbo couldn't help but yell. "What is going on!"
"Over here!" Fili cried as it was his turn to carry Bilbo.
Confused about what the twins were doing, Bilbo took notice of Thorin who's face grew very red.
"Oh dear," Bilbo would hear Gandalf say as Bilbo tried to control the situation.
"Put me down!" The hobbit plea as Fili had him over his shoulder then he placed him down. As his feet were finally planted to the ground, Bilbo heaved a sigh as he had to admit that was fun, but the twins weren't finished with him, the twins; Fili and Kili suddenly embraced Bilbo each side. "Hey! Let go!" Cried the little hobbit, who grew very embarrassed.
"So cute!" The twins glee as Bilbo struggled in their embrace, but accidentally saw a smile on Thorin's face when he walked by them.
'No way...' His heart bumped. 'No...' Bilbo started to remember, he did say yes to let Thorin touch him. So what was the problem? Bilbo tried to think very hard as he couldn't get a clear answer in his head, then he got distracted by the passing coins throughout the rest of the company like confetti at a parade. Wondering what the dwarves were betting on this time, Bilbo immediately thought of Thorin winking at him with little hearts fluttering by. Bilbo finally caught on. 'NO WAY!'
As he turns red in the face; the real Thorin walked by and harshly huffed aside just to complain to the twins. "If you don't mind, would you two just let go of Mr. Baggins."
"NO!" Both cried as Fili's and Kili's silliness squeezed Bilbo tighter. This enraged Thorin as he grabbed both of his nephews by the back of their jacket collars. "Uncle pissed!" Fili cried as Kili as well panicked.
Bilbo sighs in relief as he escaped the chaos to walking along side with Gandalf.
"Gandalf," He called him. "Why would ever ask me to come along with this journey?" He questioned as the wizard casts a smile.
"Well, Mr. Baggins. It's been quite a journey hasn't it? So why question it?" He avoided the hobbit's question that annoyed Bilbo a little bit.
Thinking back, Bilbo couldn't stop to think, Thorin still hates him in such way in the past and at the same time; that dream he had before.. what did it mean?
Saying, 'Mine'.
Sounds awful. The hobbit shook his head as Gandalf said something to him.
"I'm sorry to say this is where I have to take my leave." Gandalf pointed out as they reached the woods. Bilbo was speechless as Gandalf went over to talk to Thorin. By the looks to where he stands, Bilbo notices that Gandalf and Thorin suddenly had a short fuse. Resulting the wizard takes his leave while being very upset.
"Thorin, what happened? Why is Gandalf leaving?!" Bilbo asked as he ran up to the leader of the dwarves who was completely steamed.
"Forget that wizard, we will continue on into the Mirkwood Forest." The Dwarf King commanded as he takes lead into the dark creepy forest.
It scares him as Bilbo cautions through. It's been hours since all thirteen dwarves and a hobbit walked among the path that suddenly disappeared from them. "We're lost!" Said one of the dwarves and this worried the hobbit as he backed up to a tree to take note there was a skylight from above.
"We are not lost!" complained another as Bilbo decided to climb the tree.
"Has anyone seen Bilbo?"
Bilbo reached the top and pop his head through the leaves. Taking a deep breath of fresh air of the wind blowing against his face. Bilbo was feeling it. The sense of beauty and of the landscape of a tiny mountain in a distance. Suddenly a flash of blue insects flew around him like they were giving him a performance of blue spectres. Bilbo was impressed as one of the these insects with fragile wings landed on his nose before it flew off into the skies above.
"Hey up here! I can see it!" Bilbo cried down below, unaware the dwarves did not hear him. He sighs as this journey was much more than he hoped for especially with the addition thing, he rarely thought of...
His family would try to force Bilbo into dating or therefore marriage. Mr. Baggins refuses as he was selfish and only cared about himself with the exception of his young nephew, Frodo. Whom he had to leave behind to start this interesting adventure.
Bilbo climbed down, wondering where the dwarves had gone. Concern that he was alone, he hears some sudden creaks that startled him. With a ring in his pockets; that was safely tucked in since the events when Azog had taken him. Bilbo shakes off the feeling, that he was scared and encouraged himself that he can face anything.
"I'm not scared." He told himself as he took out his Sting just in case.
"Mine."
"Mine."
"Mine."
Bilbo gasped as he spun around trying to follow those echoing sounds. He could feel something surging through him as he touched the ring gently. In the next thing, he knew; he was covered with webbed nets.
Captured by huge spiders; Bilbo wasn't afraid he has managed to escape his webbed casing and continued on fighting, rescuing the dwarves until they are countered by the Mirkwood elves. They attacked and help them survive the hideous spiders, but the elves were gruff and took in the dwarves as prisoners while Bilbo cleverly slipped on the magical ring that made him disappear. He sneaked by and reached the elves' domain.
Aware that the dwarves were taken into the dungeons, Bilbo tries to sneak by without creating a sound by wearing the vanishing act. Until he came by to notice a tall elf with a wooden stretch crown with reddish leaves and twigs that made him look elegant. Thranduil pulled up his sleeves. He was enchanting as Bilbo gulped by his beauty and accidentally step back creating a sounded crack.
"Come out from the shadows," Thranduil called out as Bilbo quickly removed his ring and hid behind the wall only then he felt a blade under his neck. His eyes widen at the beautiful elf who he had peeped. "How dare you come in here, burglar?"
"My apologies! I only came here to rescue my friends!" Bilbo plea as he felt he could trust this elf.
"Friends, do you mean the wreaked dwarves?" Thranduil scowled.
"They aren't like that." Bilbo answered as he did not like what the elf had said about his friends. Thranduil then removed the dagger and pulled Bilbo by his wrist. Taking him close to his face where Thranduil smile widens
"Dwarves always have been such selfish beings." He said. "Are you a dwarf as well, hobbit?"
Bilbo gasped as the elf's strength was surprisingly strong. "Just let me go."
"No, I need you to hear it. Do you know Thorin Oakenshield? Do you know the type of creature he is? He will backstab you just like all of his relatives that lived in that mountain!"
The hobbit frown as he tried to pull away. "No! I don't believe you!" Bilbo cried as he suddenly feels enraged.
Thranduil then noticed how he behaved. "I see," He drops him as Bilbo landed on the ground flat on his back, Thranduil pulls up the dagger and this makes Bilbo panic as he covered his face with his arms to shield him. "So he has snooped that low." The elf teased as Bilbo peeked through as he lower his arms. "What a beast!" The elf laughed.
Bilbo blinked, but couldn't control his anger. "You have no right to insult him! You don't know him!" Bilbo yelled as Thranduil kneed before him making Bilbo extremely nervous.
"The more you say these things, the more I just wanted to shut your mouth. Hobbit." Thranduil then took a friendly approached. "Pardon my manners, but what is your name by the way, thief?"
Bilbo sighed as he dusts himself. "My name's Bilbo. Bilbo Baggins." As Thranduil only smiled.
"Very well, Mr. Baggins. Welcome to my home, but if I were you, I wouldn't consider helping those dwarves any further. They are just a barrel full of mischief." As Thranduil takes his leave before encountering one of the guards to watch over the hobbit. "Make sure, he doesn't do anything rash." The elf king requested as he went off hoping to find some ale in the dining hall.
Bilbo frowned as he kept under watch, but patiently he waited and takes his time watching the guard who suddenly yawned. With that only chance, he slipped on the ring and walked pass the guard who took a quick nap in the hall.
'This is too easy!' Bilbo quoted as he had found the dwarves; unlocking all cells, Bilbo soon came to Thorin's as the other dwarves were scrambling about.
"Bilbo," Thorin called; who had a rush of excitement. "You are ok."
"Of course, I'm a burger, aren't I?" Bilbo said as he unlocked Thorin's door. "Now hurry, we should escape." Bilbo explained as he turns his back at him. Unexpectedly Thorin hugged him from behind. Holding him tight, Bilbo furiously blushed. "Thorin!"
"I thought I lost you." He sadly predicts.
"Stop..." Bilbo blushed aside as Thorin pulled up his chin; trying to kiss him. Bilbo pulled away just as Thorin managed to kiss him on his right cheek.
"Ok, we will follow your lead, alright?" Thorin said as he let go of the hobbit who took charge.
Leading them to the cellars, the dwarves were in total confusion as Bilbo requested them to climb in, into the barrels.
'I'll give that King a barrel of mischief.' Bilbo thought cleverly as he was aware of the lever trigger to dump system where the barrels would be washed down by the river. One by one, the barrels filled with dwarves fell into the murky water as Bilbo struggled to get himself down there as well.
SPLASH.
Bilbo fell in as Thorin held him up at the outside of the barrel, holding on Thorin's current position. Bilbo tried to keep himself; alive as they were swept down by the river.