Whew. I managed to write another chapter before finals week. A little gift for you, lovelies!
As always, review and enjoy!
~:Elven Kat:~
We walked for what seemed a lifetime. Over hills and through valleys, beneath waterfalls and alongside streams. Not a word was said between anyone, the only noise audible besides the song of nature were the Dwarves breathing. Every so often, Fili would grab my hand and squeeze tightly, as if to reassure me that all would be well. Ahead, I could see Kili, his head hung in sadness. My heart ached for him. I wished I could go to him, to comfort him and ease his pain. But I couldn't. And that thought alone was enough to make my heart tear.
~:✿:~
We reached the mountains amidst a fierce thunderstorm. Rain poured sideways from the force of the wind, lashing at our faces. Lightning flashed as thunder rumbled ominously.
"Hold on!" Thorin called to us as we scaled the slippery rock wall of the mountain.
I heard a cry and turned to see Bilbo slip on the wet rocks. The Dwarves nearest to him reached out to stop him from tumbling into the dark abyss below. I breathed a sigh of relief when they continued onward. Kili had joined Fili and I, making sure I did not slip and plunge to my death. Thorin didn't seem to notice.
"We must find shelter!" I heard Thorin yell.
Not a second later, I heard Dwalin scream a warning.
"Mortar!"
All of us looked up to see a giant rock coming flying out of the clouds, smashing into the mountain above us and shaking us to our core. Both Fili and Kili flung their arms out and pushed me flat against the wall, covering me as pieces of rock rained down upon us. I cried out as a shard ripped through my cloak and tunic, slicing open my arm. Kili heard my cry and turned to see blood seeping through the fabric. His eyes clouded with worry and he ripped a strip of cloth from his cloak to tie around it. He quickly pulled my face to his, placing a swift yet tender kiss on my cold lips. No one noticed, not even Fili.
"This is no thunderstorm! It's a thunder battle!" Balin cried, pointing forwards. "Look!"
My eyes grew wide at the sight before me. A giant rock, in the shape of a man, emerged from the mountainside, ripping off a chunk of rock and flinging it.
"Well bless me, the legends are true!" Bofur said in disbelief. "Giants! Stone giants!"
We watched as the rock flew through the air and smashed into what looked like the head of another giant.
"Take cover!" Thorin yelled just as the ground beneath us began to shake violently.
I screamed as a crack appeared between my feet. I moved to one side, into the arms of Fili. Both of us looked up to see Kili's worried face.
"Kili grab my hand," Fili said, reaching out to his brother.
"What's happening?" I cried as the rock began to move, parting the company in half.
Fili held on to me tightly as I desperately called for Kili. It was only when I looked up that I realized we were on another giant. It made a noise as it went to stand, only to be head butted by one of the other giants.
"Fili, we are going to die," I sobbed, turning my face into Fili's chest.
"No, we are not," he assured me, holding me close.
The movement of the rock beneath me made me feel ill. I closed my eyes tightly as I heard the Dwarves yelling. I only opened them in time to see us hurtling towards the mountainside. I looked to Fili, who looked back at me with fear, sadness, and love in his eyes. His lips covered mine as we smashed into the rock wall.
~:✿:~
I did not expect to open my eyes to see Fili and Kili hovering over me, worried expressions on their faces. We were no longer outside in the rain.
"Where are we? What happened?" I asked quietly.
"We are in a cave," Fili answered.
"You hit your head on a rock as you hit the mountain. You didn't wake up. I thought we'd lost you," Kili added, holding my hand in his.
I reached up and groaned as I felt a lump on my head.
"Don't worry Ali. It adds to your beauty," Fili said, grinning at Kili.
I smacked both of them across the chest and climbed into my bedroll as Thorin told us to sleep.
~:✿:~
The sun was warm on my body as I stretched out on the woven blanket I had brought with me. A hand slid over my swollen belly while another absentmindedly played with my hair.
"I wonder who the father is," came Fili's voice from my right side.
"It is most definitely my child," Kili's voice said from his sitting position on my left.
Fili sat up to glare at his brother.
"What makes you say that?" he demanded.
"I'm stronger than you," Kili announced with a grin.
"You most certainly are not!" Fili retorted, standing.
Kili stood as well, nodding as he did to provoke his brother. It worked and the two sprang at each other, wrestling in the grass.
"You are both children," I snorted, sitting up.
The two stopped and grinned at me.
"Oh no you don't," I said, holding up my hands.
They pounced on me, smothering my face and neck with kisses. I could not help but burst into laughter.
"Wake up!"
~:✿:~
I barely had a chance to open my eyes when the ground beneath us gave way, opening up to a rock tunnel. I tumbled downwards, my back and sides smashing against the sides of the tunnel as I fell. I shut my eyes, wincing with each hit. I could hear the other Dwarves yelling and shouting as they themselves bounced around on the rocks. Finally, the tunnel opened up and we fell unceremoniously on top of each other, gasping for air.
"Ali?" I heard Fili call.
"Here," I wheezed, as Bombur rolled onto me.
I felt a hand pull me up and I opened my eyes to see Kili looking me over. I turned to see which Dwarf had cushioned my fall. Thorin. He glanced up at me just as the sound of screeching reached our ears.
"Look out!"
I turned towards the screeches and gasped quietly when I saw what was emitting them. Goblins. A whole horde of them. The slimy, filthy creatures were coming towards us and fast. Soon, they descended upon us, groping and pushing, ripping our weapons out of our grasp. Fili and Kili did their best to stay near me but as the Goblins began to herd us towards a wooden bridge, I was pushed away from their sides.
"Ali!" Kili screamed.
Amongst the chaos, I managed to look back and see Bilbo, untouched. The Goblins did not recognize his scent and had left him behind, I realized. The Hobbit's eyes met mine before a Goblin pulled me away. We were led through walkways and tunnels and over bridges that crossed deep chasms. Upon reaching an enormous cavern filled with wooden structures and even more Goblins, our captors pushed the company forward. I shuddered at the sight before me. A giant Goblin, covered in boils and warts, sat before us on a crude throne. A crown of sorts sat on his head and he held onto a stick adorned with an animal skull. This must be the Goblin King. He coughed, making the revolting pouch of skin on his neck shake. I jumped slightly as two hands made their way into mine. I turned my head to see both Fili and Kili standing on either side of me, the look of fierce protectiveness in their eye. The look I had come to know so well. With a grunt, the Goblin King heaved himself off his throne.
"Who would be so bold as to come armed into my kingdom?" he asked menacingly. "Spies? Thieves? Assassins?"
"Dwarves, your malevolence," one of our captors answered.
"Dwarves?" the Goblin King repeated.
"We found them on the front porch," the Goblin stated.
"Well don't just stand there!" the Goblin King cried. "Search them! Every crack, every crevice!"
I felt hands upon me but I stood firm as they searched us. Fili and Kili watched helplessly as they were searched as well.
"What are you doing in these parts?" the Goblin King asked us.
No one answered.
"Speak!" he demanded.
Still no answer came from the company.
"Very well. If they will not talk, we'll make them squawk!" the Goblin King announced, turning to the thousands of Goblins watching us.
"Bring up the mangler! Bring up the bone breaker!" he ordered, amidst cheers.
"Start with the youngest," he announced, pointing to Ori.
Poor little Ori had a look of pure terror frozen on his face.
"And I shall take the girl as my pet," the Goblin King continued, reaching out to me.
"Wait!" came Thorin's yell.
Everything became silent.
"Well, well, well, look who it is," the Goblin King sneered. "Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King under the mountain."
He gave Thorin a mock bow.
"Oh! But I'm forgetting you don't have a mountain," the Goblin King said. "And you're not a king. Which makes you...nobody, really."
I could see anger flare up in Thorin's face.
"I know someone, who would pay a pretty price for your head," the Goblin King smirked. "Just a head, nothing attached. Perhaps you know of whom I speak. An old enemy of yours. A pale Orc, astride a white Warg."
"Azog the Defiler was destroyed," Thorin replied angrily. "He was slain in battle long ago!"
"So you think his defiling days are done, do you?" the Goblin King asked with a chuckle.
"Send word to the pale Orc," he said, turning to a small Goblin who sat in a basket attached to a string. "Tell him, I have found his prize."
The hideous little creature giggled as he swung away, down into the dark. The Goblin King reached out for me again, one of his disgusting hands curling around my arm and pulling me towards him. I struggled against his grasp but it was no use. I was ripped away from Fili and Kili, both of whom were struggling to get loose and protect me. The Goblin King noticed this and laughed.
"Both of them, my pet?" he asked with a grin as he placed me on his throne.
"I do not know what you are talking about," I replied, straight-faced.
"You do not fool me. I can smell both of them on you," the Goblin King hissed, bringing his face close to mine.
I turned my head away from him.
"My, my. You are a feisty little one," he growled, grabbing my face with two large fingers and turning my head to face him again.
"Leave her alone, you filth!" I heard Kili demand.
"Now, now. You are in no position to make any demands," the Goblin King said. "Do not worry, she is in good hands."
He stroked my cheek and I could not help but shudder at his vile touch. His attention was drawn from me when two torture devices were brought forward. He began to sing and I took his lack of attention as an opportunity to jump off the throne and fly back to the arms of Kili and Fili. Both of them held me tightly, stroking my hair and placing gentle kisses on my forehead. One Goblin was going through our weapons and he screeched loudly as he came across Thorin's blade, tossing it to the floor.
"I know that sword!" the Goblin King yelled as he jumped back onto his throne in fear. "It is the Goblin Cleaver!"
The Goblins around us began to lash us with ropes and chains as the Goblin King ranted in fear about the sword.
"Kill them! Kill them all! Cut off his head!" he screamed, meaning Thorin.
We fought back as best we could under the rain of lashes. I felt a sting on my cheek as one of the chains bit into me. And then suddenly, there was a bright flash of white light, knocking us all to the ground. After a moment, I lifted my head and breathed a small sigh of relief when I saw the shape of Gandalf appear.
"Take up arms," the Wizard told us as we struggled to get up. "Fight."
"FIGHT!"