Quick update, yay! Unfortunately it's a bit of a short one...
We'll be re-tiling our kitchen for the next few days so I doubt I'll be able to write a lot... :(
I am so glad that I got some response on the last chapter. I was afraid that it had kinda died seeing as I updated almost a year ago...
Anyway, enjoy the chapter! Almost done with 'part one' :D
The flight through the goblin tunnels was a perilous one. For each one they cut down, five more goblins crawled out of the darkness. The confusing maze of walkways and passages did not help the situation. After what seemed like an eternity of running and fighting the company could see a bridge up ahead that spanned a deep chasm, the opening on the opposite side leading into the mountainside and hopefully to an exit.
Kili brought up the rear, trying to help Farandir keep up. The young mage moved remarkably fast considering his injuries. Kili caught a shimmer in the air around the half-elf and guessed that some spell was at work. He recognized the shimmer as belonging to Farandir and not Gandalf, the two having distinct magical auras.
"Are you using magic to move so fast?" he asked as they ran, his voice wheezing slightly with the effort of their prolonged running.
"Trying to mend some of my ribs." The mage replied, before muttering something quietly to himself.
"What was that?" Kili asked, having caught Thorin's name in the mumbling.
Farandir winced before speaking.
"I was just thinking that this is all just some form of punishment and that Thorin would probably agree and approve."
"Punishment? For what?" Kili asked, confused.
"Us."
"Us?"
"He isn't to pleased."
"Well… Saw that one coming." Kili breathed just as they reached the bridge.
Halfway across the enormous Goblin King landed on the bridge with a resounding thud, lumbering closer with a swinging staff in hand. Gandalf, who had been at the head of the group, fell backwards at the sudden attack from the repulsive creature. He was caught by the others however and hoisted back up, sword in hand, ready to retaliate. The Goblin King jiggled as he laughed.
"What are you going to do now Wizard?" he sneered, leaning in close.
Gandalf steeled himself, his face becoming grave. In a flash he swung his staff, hitting the giant goblin square in the jaw. The king cried out, swaying wildly as he did. In another quick movement Gandalf slashed with his sword, rending the enormous belly of the beast wide open. With another cry the goblin fell to his knees in front of the wizard.
"Well… That'll do it." He wheezed before Gandalf slashed him again, this time drawing the blade across his throat.
With another resounding thud the giant body fell flat on the wooden walkway. There was a moment of complete silence as both parties took in what had just happened. A creaking sound broke that silence, growing in intensity at an alarming rate. Before anyone could react there was a loud crack followed by what sounded like hundreds of bones snapping. Then the world seemed to just fall away. It took Farandir a moment to realize that they were the ones falling. Down down down they went for the second time that day. Pieces of wood snapped off and flew past at frightening speeds as the canyon they plummeted down into narrowed. With a crash the chunk of walkway they desperately clung to hit the canyon floor, slowed down just enough by the narrowing walls to keep the company from being flattened. With sighs of relief the group took a moment to calm down. The weighty body of the Goblin King put an end to there brief respite as it crashed down on top of the tangle of limbs and walkway, eliciting cries of shock and discomfort from everyone.
Farandir groaned and crawled out from the rubble, followed by most of the others. He turned to help Kili up when the dwarf suddenly called out in fright, his gaze fixed high above them.
"Gandalf!" he cried, franticly pulling himself free.
Everyone glanced up to see a horde of goblins pouring down the walls, in a rage at the death of their leader. Gandalf grabbed the nearest dwarf and shoved him in the direction of a dark passage.
"There are too many! Run!" the wizard cried.
The company did not hesitate, swiftly disappearing down the passage.
The feeling of sunlight on his face was amazing. Kili had feared that they would never escape that horrid hole in the ground. They had finally found an exit that lead them out onto the mountain side and now a few moments later after they were certain that the goblins did not follow them into the daylight they took a moment to catch their breaths. Farandir stood nearby, Gandalf prodding at his chest and sides. The faint glow of magic surrounded the half-elf but none save Kili seemed to notice. When Gandalf seemed sure that Farandir was relatively healed he turned to the others.
"Everybody here?" he asked, turning to do a quick head-count, calling out names as he did so.
"Where's Bilbo?" he asked after a moment, turning this way and that.
"I haven't seen him since we were caught." One of the dwarves said, heads nodding in agreement.
"I might have seen him slip away just as we were dragged off." Nori said, drawing everyone attention.
"We can't be sure of what happened. It was chaos." Farandir said.
Thorin turned to glare at him.
"I'll tell you exactly what happened. Mister Baggins saw his chance and he took it. He's been thinking of nothing other than his home since the moment he left it." Thorin growled.
Nobody tried to contest the words of the heir of Durin to defend the hobbit. After a few moments it became clear that no one had to as Bilbo suddenly appeared among them. Farandir stood back and listened to what the Halfling had to say, a smile coming to his lips. Kili looked over at him then and their eyes met for a brief moment, the young dwarf smiling so sweetly that it created a tingling feeling in Farandir's chest.
The heartwarming moment did not last long as howling suddenly echoed from high above them.
"The orcs!" someone cried.
"Out of the frying pan…" Thorin muttered, turning to start down the mountainside.
"…and into the fire!" Gandalf finished. "Run!"
Moments later the entire company was dangling from Pine tree limbs near the edge of a cliff with snarling wargs circling below, snapping at their feet. A group of them managed to nock over one of the trees causing a domino effect, forcing the company to jump from tree to tree until they were all finally trapped on a single tree that grew right on the edge of the cliff. The tree groaned with the added weight.
"Asog! It cannot be." Thorin whispered as he beheld his old enemy approaching.
Farandir's mind reeled as he thought frantically for a solution. Gandalf was one step ahead however and as he muttered softly Farandir looked up to see a moth fly from the old wizard's hands.
"The eagles." He whispered, smiling before turning back to the threat at hand.
"You know…" Kili said from a branch just below him, making Farandir look away from the orcs.
"I was kind of hoping that we would finally have another moment alone." He said, a light blush creeping up his neck.
Farandir paused a moment before chuckling softly.
"Even though this is hardly the right time, I'd have to agree with you on that one." Farandir said with a grin.
Before Kili could reply, a flaming pine cone dropped into his hands. At first he was so startled he almost dropped it on Fili's head but after a moment he realized what was happening as fiery projectiles flew through the air towards the waiting orc pack.
"I think I could speed this along." Farandir whispered before closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath.
As he released the breath the wind suddenly picked up and buffeted the flames that were spreading on the ground towards the enemy. The fire surged forward, driving the orcs and wargs back. The Pale Orc cried out in outrage. The dwarves cheered. Unfortunately their luck did not last long. With a crack and a groan the tree they clung to finally started to give way under the strain of 13 dwarves, 2 wizards and a hobbit.
"Not this again." Farandir moaned as the tree slowly toppled back over the edge.
Cliffhanger! (I'm sorry, I had to say it...)
Coming up, as most should know, is the fight with the Pale Orc and then the brief time lapse in between the two films. I intend to make that time lapse an interesting one (nudge nudge) so stay tuned!
Please let me know what you think! Suggestions welcome ;)