MMMG: Hey everyone, here's chapter 8 for you! Thanks for the 18 reviews, I've passed the 100 reviews mark! My 100th reviewer is FanFiction Queen (guest), so this chapter is dedicated to you!
Okay, like I said last chapter, we've reached the trolls. I hope none of you had sheep for dinner recently.
UniversalIndicator: You read my mind. Rivendell, at least!
Malo919: Someone besides Myrtle is going to need Bilbo's protection.
Nataly S. Potter: Glad you like the history telling. I made you giggle? Looks like I made the right decision by putting this in the humor genre. Yes, Thorin has swag. Poor Bilbo.
Killer-Fangirl: Sting is here! Fluffy enough for a pillow? Yes! That means I'm doing a good job!
Alaiana Potter: To much fluff? -hands over Kleenexes- Yes, I get your point, don't worry. I'm glad you liked/disliked last chapter. Not sure about Ori, but I think I'll give him more backbone and be a closer friend to Bilbo this time around. Thorin and Bilbo have made a connection with the whole Azog thing, though not as deep as after Goblin Town, Thorin's still balking at the idea of a relationship and Bilbo just believes that Thorin would never be interested in him. Still trying to figure that part out, yes, Radagast come with his rabbit sled this chapter, not really with the trolls, and Myrtle will be just fine, Ori gather's her and the other ponies up while the troll-hoard is being checked out.
define crazy: Probably at the Carrock or Mirkwood. ;)
Tsume12: Thank you for pointing that out. If you read the author's note in chapter 1 again, yes I have read 'Into the fire'. It's not my intention to copy, like you said, but I'll add a note just in case. Thank you!
MMMG: Okay everyone, I don't own the Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, or any parts that may have come from other Bilbo x Thorin writers. Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 8
Bilbo sighed before glaring up at the clouds and rain. It was the 'Week of Wetness' as Bofur had begun to call it, and had called it his last lifetime. The rain started a week after he and Balin had their impromptu story time, which was five days ago. They still had two more days of rain to ride through.
Since Bilbo used an oilskin as a blanket, he was better protected from the rain when it started in the middle of the night, but he quickly forked it over to Kíli, along with the other oilskin in his pack to Fíli, and wore his coat instead. Both princes were extremely grateful for the loan as they now rode in a single file line, Gandalf in the lead, followed by Thorin, Bilbo, Dwalin, Balin, Fíli, Kíli, Dori, Nori, Ori, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Glóin, and Óin.
"Here, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori called to the wizard, who was finally unpainted but still had a hint of maroon color in his robes and hat.
"It is raining Master Dwarf." Gandalf called back. "And it shall continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard."
Dori heaved a sigh as Bilbo felt a half smirk rise to his lips. Time to make Gandalf a bit flustered again.
"Are there any?" Bilbo called up.
"Any what?" Gandalf asked back.
"Other wizards." Bilbo elaborated.
"There are five of us." Gandalf replied. "The greatest of our order is Saruman the White. Then there are the two blue wizards… I've quite forgotten their names…"
"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo 'inquired'.
"That would be Radagast, the Brown." Gandalf said.
"Is he a great wizard?" Bilbo smirked as Thorin looked back at him, slightly annoyed at the questions but Bilbo knew the dwarf would be smirking like him soon enough. "Or is he more like you?"
Multiple snorts and coughs came from behind him, making Bilbo grin as even Thorin's mouth twitch in amusement before he turned to face forward again. The last time he made that comment there had been a few coughs, but that was it, but both times Gandalf was a bit put out.
"I think he's a very great wizard." Gandalf replied, a bit defensive. "In his own way."
"And that means he's crazy." Bilbo muttered to Thorin, whose shoulders were definitely jerking in suppressed humor.
"He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others." Gandalf continued, having not heard Bilbo's comment. "He keeps a watchful eye on the forests to the east. And a good thing to, for evil will always try to find a foothold in this world."
"Makes me wonder if this Radagast has ever met fauntlings before." Thorin suddenly mused, and Bilbo definitely heard muffled giggles from many of the company as they recalled his painted face and bright maroon robes.
"I hope that if they ever did meet, Radagast would help them with their pranks." Bilbo replied.
"Why?" Dwalin asked from behind him.
"I shudder to think of the prank war that might get initiated otherwise." Bilbo replied with a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold.
Two weeks later, on June 6th, almost six weeks after the start of their journey, the company came upon the ruined farmhouse, the Trollshaws. Bilbo sighed as he recalled the small family who lived here, all of whom fell to the trolls about two weeks ago. Thorin halted his pony and turned to the rest of the company.
"We will camp here for the night." Thorin ordered. "Fíli, Kíli, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them. Óin, Glóin, get a fire going."
Bilbo dismounted, not interested in the conversation he knew that Gandalf and Thorin were going to have. Gandalf was insistent that they go to Rivendell while Thorin wanted nothing to do with the kin of Thranduil that lived west of the Misty Mountains, stating that not one elf helped after the loss of Erebor, the Battle of Azanulbizar, or in searching for his father. He didn't trust the elves at all.
Gandalf growled and walked out of the ruined farmhouse, infuriated at Thorin's stubbornness. He didn't understand why Thorin couldn't see the difference between Elrond and Thranduil, but wasn't going to let that stop him from laying plans.
"What's going on?" Bilbo asked as Gandalf stalked by. "Gandalf, where are you going?"
"To seek the one of this company with any sense left." Gandalf replied.
"And who is that?" Bilbo prompted.
"Myself, Master Baggins." Gandalf snarled back. "I've had enough of dwarves for one day."
"Well I'm insulted." Bilbo huffed, and Balin looked at him with sympathy.
"Come on Bombur, we're hungry." Thorin called before looking to Bilbo.
"Where do you think he's going?" Ori asked. "And will he come back?"
"He'll be back eventually." Bilbo sighed. "And I can only guess where he's going."
Night soon fell, and as the darkness grew, so did Bilbo's anxiousness. Very soon the trolls would steal the ponies, and Bilbo had to decide how they were going to face them. Let it play out like last time? Send Fíli and Kíli to get Thorin? Bilbo didn't know.
"Master Baggins, a word." Thorin called and gestured to him to come and speak with him.
"Yes?" Bilbo asked as he approached Thorin.
"I need the opinion of one who is not biased." Thorin sighed with a lowered voice. "The wizard wants us to go to the elves to read the map, but Bifur can easily read the runes on the map. We have enough food, can rest easily enough here, and have no need of their 'advice' about our mission."
"Gandalf has issues of sticking his nose where it doesn't belong." Bilbo replied with a nod. "The map is a mystery, but while we do have enough food and don't need any 'advice', as you put it, I am worried as to why this house is in such ruins, looking to be several years old while the ivy hasn't even had time to grow three months up the remains of the walls."
"You think there is something out there?" Thorin questioned.
"Something had to destroy this house." Bilbo replied as he looked at the ruins. "It wasn't burned down or attacked by orcs, which has me worried what else it could have been."
"We're only staying one night." Thorin reminded him.
"Much can happen in one night." Bilbo replied. "If it's alright with you, I think I'll stay with the boys and the ponies tonight."
"Trying to keep them out of trouble?" Thorin asked, his amusement obvious now that Gandalf had left.
"Something like that." Bilbo nodded. "Someone with common sense needs to keep them safe with ruins like this nearby."
"Bring them their dinner and you can stay with them for the night then." Thorin nodded his approval.
"Thank you." Bilbo nodded his head in reply.
Bilbo hoped they could avoid the trolls, but he didn't see any other way to get Sting and Orcrist from the troll-hoard and the trolls themselves from not preying on anyone else. They'd have to at least engage the trolls in conversation or combat until sunrise so they could turn to stone. Bilbo picked up the bowls of stew that Bofur had served up for Fíli and Kíli.
"I'm off to give the boys their dinner." Bilbo said, and made sure he had his bow and arrows before he left the campsite.
"It's not a bad stew Bombur." Glóin commented as Bilbo left. "I've had worse."
"Dori could have cooked it!" Nori added with a laugh, making everyone else laugh as well.
"Hilarious." Dori sneered at his brother.
Bilbo rolled his eyes at the antics as we walked through the foliage. Fíli and Kíli were bound to be hungry, but they would get no food or sleep tonight thanks to what they were about to go through with the trolls. But when he got to the ponies, there was no sign of Fíli or Kíli. Looking around and feeling nervous, Bilbo spotted the tree that William the troll had uprooted, and realized he had gotten there a minute or two later then last time.
Which meant that Fíli and Kíli had gone after the trolls themselves.
Bilbo dropped the stew, not caring that the hot liquid splashed over his feet. Drawing his bow and notching an arrow to the string, Bilbo ran in the direction of the trolls, keeping himself out of sight. Hopefully those two hadn't attempted anything stupid and gotten captured by the trolls. Sooner than Bilbo would have liked, he was at the troll's campsite and could see the three ugly mountain trolls, one with Myrtle and Minty under his arms.
"Mutton yesterday, mutton today, and blimey, if it don't look like mutton again tomorrow." Bert the troll complained.
"Quit your griping." William, the troll who preferred to be called Bill and who had snagged the ponies, replied as he put the two ponies in the makeshift pen with Daisy and Bungo. "These ain't sheep. These is fresh nags. And dwarf."
Bilbo gasped once he was close enough to see what was happening in the campsite. Fíli and Kíli were already in sacks, having been stripped of their clothes and weapons, and were laying very close to the fire. Both of their faces were flushed from the heat, so Bilbo knew he had to get them away soon. But he needed help.
Turning back, Bilbo ran back to the campsite as fast as he could. Oh, he hoped that the trolls kept talking long enough for him to get help. Thorin would kill him if anything happened to the boys.
"Trolls!" Bilbo yelled as he ran into the camp.
"What?" Thorin asked, half believing it was a prank.
"Three trolls." Bilbo replied as he ran over. "They've taken four ponies. And Fíli and Kíli."
Thorin's face turned angry. His nephews were in danger. Hell hath no fury like Thorin Oakenshield finding out his nephews were being held captive. Or keeping a hobbit from his food.
"Why didn't you get them away?" Thorin demanded as Bilbo began to lead them back.
"If it was one troll, yes I could do that." Bilbo replied. "Two, possibly. Three? Not a chance."
Bifur said something as his grip on his boar spear tightened, and Thorin immediately sobered. Bilbo had no clue what the dwarf had said, but at least Thorin wasn't angry at him anymore.
"Bifur's friend Nolug got nabbed by a troll." Bofur explained. "We were too late to save him, but Bifur take the spear with him everywhere to honor his fallen ally."
Bilbo nodded as they came up to the camp just in time to hear Tom gripe about horse guts and how much he didn't like them before Bert smacked him with his ladle. Bilbo took in the campsite again and saw several locations he could fire some arrows from, but knew his job would probably be to get Fíli and Kíli away from the fight.
"Master Baggins, I need you to get my nephews free and away from the fight." Thorin whispered to him. "Ori will be helping you."
"Understood." Bilbo replied.
The hobbit kept his eyes on Bill and Tom, having a dislike for both of those two. During their last encounter, Tom had used him as a handkerchief while Bill had grabbed him, forcing his companions to give up the fight and called him a ferret. Perhaps an arrow in the eye was justified.
"NOW!" Thorin roared, and the company charged out of the brush.
Bilbo groaned as he tried to make himself comfortable. It had been a good plan, but it once again had ended because he had gotten caught, but for a different reason this time. He and Ori had gotten Fíli and Kíli loose while protecting each other from any troll that got to close, but Bill had spotted them and made a grab for the princes. Bilbo had ended up shoving the three dwarves down and gotten picked up instead.
Thorin had turned at his nephew's cries, and cursed when he realized that Bilbo had given himself up to keep his kin safe and was now in danger because of it. So he had laid down Deathless, the rest of the dwarves following suit before himself, Bilbo, Kíli, Fíli, Balin, Óin, Glóin, and Bombur were stuffed into sacks, and Dori, Ori, Dwalin, Nori, Bifur, and Bofur, were tied down to a spit.
Everyone had been stripped of their clothing, much to Bilbo's embarrassment and intense blushing.
"Don't bother cooking them." Tom said. "Let's just sit on them and squash them into jelly."
"They should be sautéed and grilled, with a sprinkle of sage." Bert replied as he sprinkled a crumbled leaf that wasn't sage over the dwarves.
"Is this really necessary?" Balin called, trying to negotiate.
"That does sound nice." Tom admitted.
"Do they even know what sage looks like?" Bilbo mumbled, surprisingly earning a snort from Thorin.
"Untie me mister." Bombur growled.
"Why don't you eat someone your own size?" Glóin added with a sneer.
"Never mind the seasoning." Bill growled as he turned the spit a little faster. "We don't have all night. Dawn ain't far away, so get a move on! I don't fancy being turned to stone."
Bilbo looked up and saw that the sky in the east was getting lighter. Looks like he needed to stall for time again. Mahal, let your children forgive him for what he was about to say.
"You are making a terrible mistake." Bilbo called.
"You can't reason with them Bilbo, they're half-wits." Dori called.
"Then what does that make us?" Bofur questioned back.
"With the seasoning, I mean." Bilbo elaborated as he got his feet under him.
"What about the seasoning?" Bert questioned.
"Have you smelled us?" Bilbo asked earning some grumbles and huffs. "You're going to need something a lot stronger then sage before we get plated up."
"What do you know about cooking dwarf?" Bill demanded, and Bilbo glared at him.
"Quiet." Bert growled. "Let the oversized squirrel talk."
"Well, the secret to cooking dwarf is the method that wizards use." Bilbo declared, ignoring the squirrel comment. "You have to skin them first."
Thorin cursed, and Bilbo knew that the dwarf was thinking about the map Gandalf had given him. Everyone else was just as affronted.
"I'll skin you, you little-" Glóin roared.
"You'll pay for that!" Dwalin vowed as he spun round. "I'm not going to forget that!"
"Tom, get me filleting knife." Bert ordered.
"What a load of rubbish." Bill growled as he glared at Bilbo. "I've had plenty with their skins on. Scarf 'em, boot and all I say."
"You have to skin them so you can get rid of the worms in their tubes." Bilbo called, making the dwarves yell even louder as Bilbo spotted Gandalf weaving about in the foliage. "They're all riddle with parasites. But first you have to dunk them in cold stream water and then skin them so you can get rid of the worms. It's a terrible business otherwise."
"Parasites?" Óin questioned. "Did he say parasites?"
"Yes." Kíli nodded, still trying to recover from being too close to the fire.
"We don't have parasites!" Bombur protested.
Bilbo sighed with an eye roll. Who was it that said dwarves were intelligent again? Because right now was definitely proving them wrong. A thud made Bilbo smile, knowing that Thorin had kicked someone because he had gotten what Bilbo was trying to do.
"I've got parasites as big as my arm!" Óin exclaimed.
"Mine are the biggest parasites!" Fíli called out.
"I've got huge parasites." Balin added.
"We're riddled!" Dori said.
"Yes, I'm riddled!" Ori agreed.
"What would you have us do then?" Bill questioned as he walked over to Bilbo. "Let them all go?"
"I just told you what you needed to do to get rid of the parasites." Bilbo huffed.
"Do you think I don't know what you're up to?" Bert growled as he gave Bilbo a hard poke in the chest. "This little ferret is taking us all for fools."
"Ferret?!" Bilbo squawked in anger for the second time.
Oh, they just made it personal. Those trolls were going down!
"Fools?" Bert questioned.
"The dawn will take you all!" Gandalf declared as he stood on a large rock that was hiding the sun.
"About time." Bilbo mumbled.
"Who's that?" Bill questioned.
"No idea." Bert answered.
"Can we eat him to?" Tom asked.
Gandalf stabbed the rock with his staff, splitting it in two as he stood off to the side and allowed sunlight to pour into the clearing. The trolls roared in agony as they hardened into stone, never to move or harm anyone ever again. The dwarves all cheered, Thorin even cracked a real smile, and Bilbo breathed a sigh of relief.
"What took you so long?" Bilbo called to the wizard.
"Well my dear hobbit, you were distracting them so well." Gandalf replied. "I didn't want to ruin your performance one bit."
"So he waited for me to get insulted first." Bilbo huffed.
"Typical." Thorin mumbled.
"Get your foot out of my back." Dwalin grunted, reminding Bilbo they were still tied up.
Thankfully, Gandalf got them out of the sacks and off the spit. Then they quickly sorted their clothes and pulled them on, not wanting to be naked or in their small clothes any longer than necessary. After Bilbo got his coat back on, he went over to Fíli and Kíli to check them over, worried that they might have heat stroke from being stuffed in sacks, set to close to the fire, and then repeated the process.
"How are you two doing?" Bilbo asked as Fíli pulled on his hooded tunic.
"Fine." Fíli nodded his head.
"Yeah." Kíli agreed, his face still flushed red and sitting with his tunic in his lap instead of putting it on.
"I'm not so sure about that." Bilbo replied as he felt Kíli's forehead. "You're feeling a little too warm for my tastes. Óin!"
"Aye?" Óin turned his head at Bilbo's call.
"Can you check Kíli and see if he has heat stroke?" Bilbo asked as the healer came over. "He feels a bit warm."
"Will do." Óin nodded.
Thorin, who had been talking with Gandalf about where he had been, came over as well, having heard Bilbo's call to Óin. The dwarf had a frown on his face, and Bilbo guessed he was torn between scolding his nephews and being concerned for his nephew's health. He chose to remain silent but still a strong presence for his kin.
"Very mild heat stroke." Óin confirmed Bilbo's theory. "Some time in the shade and cool cloths will get him back to normal soon enough."
"Good." Thorin nodded and looked back at the trolls.
"They couldn't have traveled in day light." Bilbo mumbled as he glared at the trolls. "Shouldn't there be a cave nearby?"
"Excellent idea Bilbo." Gandalf nodded his head.
Ori found the troll-hoard with an exclamation of disgust at the odor and quickly left to gather the ponies at Bilbo's suggestion. Bilbo had considered waiting outside like he had last time, but the memory of something that was found afterwards on the journey home made him go down into the pungent smell with Thorin, who had a torch, Bofur, Glóin, Nori, and Dwalin, along with Gandalf.
"What is that stench?" Nori asked as he gagged.
"It's a troll-hoard." Bilbo replied with his nose pinched shut.
"Be careful what you touch down here." Gandalf warned.
"You mean like the remains of those bodies over there?" Bilbo asked as he pointed.
Dwalin let out a curse in Khuzdul as Thorin's torch light brought the remains of the farmer's family into focus. The farmer, his wife, and two young kids had been beheaded, their heads and wrists put on the pikes that made a troll bed. Bilbo had mentioned it now before the dwarves got distracted by the gold that was lying around on the floor and didn't see it at all.
"Get something to bury them in." Thorin ordered, and Bofur sprinted out of the cave at top speed.
"Bring Fíli and Kíli down when you come back." Bilbo called after him.
"Why?" Thorin asked.
"I don't think they fully understand the severity of what happened with the trolls." Bilbo replied with a sigh. "Of what could have happened to them."
"Just driving a point home, then?" Nori asked as he held a shovel.
"Yep." Bilbo nodded as Bofur came back with sacks, the only items he could find to place the decapitated body parts in, with Fíli and Kíli behind him.
The two stared in shock at the remains of the farmer and his family. Fíli looked pale while Kíli went a bit green at the sight. Bilbo sighed and walked over to the two.
"Do understand have badly this could have ended?" Bilbo asked, and the two nodded, still struck dumb at the sight. "Good. You two could have been killed and we never would have known if I hadn't remembered you hadn't had supper yet. Next time something like losing the ponies happens, just let us know."
"Thank you." Fíli whispered as he helped Kíli remain on his feet.
"You're welcome." Bilbo replied. "Now let's get Kíli back outside and cooled off."
No one protested as the hobbit helped the younger dwarf and his brother back out of the troll-hoard. Dori, Balin, Bifur, Bombur, Ori, and Óin looked at them curiously as they exited, though Óin had a more annoyed look that his patient had been dragged off.
"The remains of the farmer and his family are down there." Bilbo said. "Just needed to drive a point of how severe the trolls were home."
"Ah." Óin nodded while the rest of the group looked disturbed when Bofur and Nori came back out with four sacks and the shovel.
"Let's get these poor souls buried." Bofur said, his usual cheerfulness gone.
Dori took the shovel from Nori and led the way back to the farmer's house while Bilbo and Fíli gathered some clothes to wet down and place on Kíli's skin to help him cool off. It didn't take long before the rest of the dwarves in the troll-hoard finished setting aside a chest of gold, and burying it after Nori returned with the shovel. At Glóin's insistence, they filled up 14 bags of money so everyone would have their own money to use on the remainder of the trip. This was making Thorin consider implementing the old saying, 'You broke it, you bought it', instead of having Glóin and Óin being bleed dry by the actions of the company when they came across any towns.
"How's he doing?" Thorin asked as he came over to Óin, Fíli, Bilbo, and Kíli.
"He'll be alright." Óin replied with a nod. "Just needs an hour or two of rest."
"I think we all need that." Bilbo replied with a yawn. "We were up all day yesterday and last night."
It was then that Bilbo noticed that Thorin had Orcrist strapped to his back and Deathless was in his hand. Yep, Thorin looked so much better with the elven blade on him. Such a finishing look.
"Born from the maws of dragon, I am always hungry and thirsty." Bilbo read the inscription on the scabbard for Orcrist, making Thorin raise an eyebrow.
"You read elvish?" Thorin questioned.
"My mother taught me." Bilbo replied with a shrug. "She also taught me their tongue, wanting me to be ready for anything if I went off adventuring. And to be able to tell a greeting from an insult."
Thorin conceded that it was a good enough reason, to know if your 'enemy' was insulting you or not, to have learn Sindarin. It was then that Bilbo realized the dwarf was holding out Deathless to him. Bilbo looked at him in shock.
"You still don't have a proper sword yet." Thorin said.
Bilbo was speechless as he took the offered sword from Thorin, not noticing how everyone else had gone quiet. For Thorin to give one of his weapons to Bilbo was stating his intention to court the hobbit. Actually, it was one of the ways that a dwarf declared their intentions to court if they didn't have access of a forge to make something from metal or stone, and Bilbo did know that. Too bad he had to pretend that he didn't.
Bilbo pulled the sword from its sheath and stepped back to do a few practice swings. Thankfully he was able to wield the blade properly now that he'd had a month of wrestling with Fíli and Kíli to build up some muscles.
"I do believe this will work." Bilbo nodded his head in approval.
"Good." Thorin nodded before glaring at the rest of the jaw dropped dwarves.
"Bilbo." Gandalf called, and Bilbo went over, knowing that the wizard had Sting. "Even though you now have a sword from Thorin, I'd like you to have this."
"How come?" Bilbo asked as he took the long elvish dagger.
"This blade is of an elvish make, which means that it will glow blue when orcs or goblins are about." Gandalf replied. "Master Thorin's new blade will as well."
"Alright." Bilbo sighed and tightened the belt that Sting was on over his coat and placed the sheath of Deathless on his back under his bow and quiver of arrows.
"Now that you're 'properly armed' according to your fellow dwarves, there is something else I'd like you to remember." Gandalf said. "True courage is about knowing not when to take a life… but rather, when to spare one."
"You're starting to look like a warrior there Bilbo." Bofur called, his cheekiness returning now that the farmer and his family had been properly cared for.
"Is it a bad look?" Bilbo asked.
"No." Thorin shook his head, surprising everyone. "You wear it well."
"Thank you." Bilbo nodded his head and looked away to Kíli before Thorin saw his blush.
"Something's coming!" Dwalin called.
"Stay together!" Thorin ordered. "Fíli, keep Kíli safe."
Bilbo didn't say anything as he moved to protect Kíli's unguarded back while drawing Deathless. A brief glance at Sting told him that the orcs and wargs hadn't found them early, so it was just Radagast. Sure enough, the Brown Wizard came out of the brush on his giant rabbit pulled sled.
"Thieves! Fire! Murder!" Radagast screamed as the sled came to a halt.
"Radagast." Gandalf announced as he sheathed his sword. "It's Radagast the Brown. Well, what on earth are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you Gandalf." Radagast replied, very twitchy from what Bilbo knew was his brief experience in Dol Guldur. "Something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong."
"Yes?" Gandalf prompted.
Radagast inhaled sharply, and then paused. He did it again before frowning. Bilbo gave a half smile and shook his head at the forgetfulness of the Brown Wizard. You'd think something like a sick forest and giant spiders wouldn't be so hard to forget.
"Just give me a minute." Radagast whimpered. "Oh. I had a thought and now I've lost it."
Many of the dwarves still had their weapons drawn but most were giving Radagast 'you're crazy' looks. Being such a scatter brain didn't improve their opinion of the wizard that had bird poo running down the side of his face, and the Baggins side of Bilbo was inclined to agree at how unrespectable the wizard was.
"Oh, it's not a thought at all." Radagast realized as he quickly stuck out his tongue. "It's a silly old… stick insect."
Gandalf picked up the bug as if something like this happened to him every day and gave it back to his fellow wizard. Radagast accepted the insect and placed it in one of his pockets.
"A wizard on a giant rabbit pulled sled after a rough night with trolls." Bilbo mused. "I suppose there are worse ways to start the morning."
"What could possibly top this?" Fíli wanted to know.
"Being used as a warg's chew toy." Bilbo replied, and the dwarf had to concede.
"That will not happen to any of us." Thorin said, having heard the conversation.
"My father didn't plan on it happening to him either." Bilbo replied with a sigh.
"Ah." Thorin seemed at a loss of what to say, but understood that they had to be ready for the unexpected things to happen.
Thorin's eyes connected with Bilbo's, and surprisingly, the dwarf looked away first. Bilbo was confused, but grateful Thorin had broken eye contact so he wouldn't see him blush, something he seemed to be doing every time Thorin looked at him. He really needed to get himself under control before Thorin thought he was sick and had Óin check him over. That would have been embarrassing.
But why had Thorin looked away from him?
MMMG: I kid you not, when the dwarves enter the troll-hoard, look at the right side of the screen and you'll see the silhouette of a woman's head, a hand, and a boot on spikes as the camera pans. It's right after Gandalf's 'Be careful what you touch' line and before the camera cuts to Thorin and shows the gold on the ground.
And I know that heat stroke can be very severe, but Kíli is only over heated and feeling a bit sluggish right now, the mild end of heat stroke. I've been at that stage on long road trips plenty of times to know how the poor dwarf is feeling.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please review!