Chapter 18
Reunion and Escape

I was ready for the escape dressed in the clothes I came in. My corset was taken from me. I sigh as I tap the railing of the balcony with my finger. I wanted to get out of this place and also be in Fili's arms. I hardly got any sleep. I close my eyes as the door opened.

"Good. Your ready. Let's go and I got you something." Bilbo said. I turn and saw that Bilbo had my bow and arrows along with my elvish sword.

"Father. Thank you." I said.

"I didn't want your mother's bow in the elves hands." Bilbo said as I hugged him and he returned it. I quickly put my weapons on me.

"Let's go." I said. We hurried out into the halls. Bilbo and I ran past elves quietly. He led me to the dungeons. We hid in the shadows.

"I'll wager the sun's on the rise. It must be nearly dawn." Bofur said. I saw Fili in a nearby cell. He looked miserable and like he haven't slept all night. I smiled lightly.

"We're never going to reach the mountain, are we?" Ori asked with sadness in his voice. Bilbo stepped out of the shadows holding up his keys.

"Not stuck in here, you're not." Bilbo said. All the dwarves ran for the cell door.

"Bilbo!" Balin called. Dwarves yelled.

"Shh! There are guards nearby!" Bilbo said. He freed Thorin first. Fili was freed next.

"We have to get Bell. She was..." Fili never finished as I ran to him and jump into his arms. He caught me and pulled me tight against his body, kissing me deeply. I wrapped my arms around his neck and returned it. The cat calls and wolf whistles came. Fili set me on my feet. He took my face in his hands.

"You alright? They didn't hurt you?" Fili asked.

"I'm fine. They haven't. Just hurt they ripped me away from you." I said.

"Well now you won't be." Fili said, pressing his lips against mine and we kissed.

"I hate to interrupt the moment, but we need to get out of here before we are caught." Bilbo said. He had a smile on his face as the dwarves stood smirking and I heard some snickering.

"We'll finish this later." Fili promised, pecking my lips. Kili came over and we hugged.

"Glad your alright and back with us." Kili said. I smiled. Fili took my hand and we head to the stairs.

"The stairs. You first. Ori!" Dwalin said.

"Not that way, down here. Follow me!" Bilbo said. Fili and I share looks and follow him down the halls of Mirkwood. Fili refused to let go of my hand as come down the stairs into a cellar. There were some elves asleep on the table with bottles of wine in front of them.

"This way." Bilbo said.

"I don't believe it, we're in the cellars!" Kili said. The dwarves were getting angry.

"You were suppose to be leading us out, not farther in!" Bofur said.

"I know what I'm doing!" Bilbo said.

"Shh." I said.

"This way." Bilbo said. We come into a large room where serval barrels are stacked sideways down the middle of the room, all open.

"Everyone, climb into the barrels, quickly!" Bilbo said.

"Are you mad?! They'll find us!" Dwalin said.

"No, no, they won't, I promise you. Please, please, you MUST trust me!" Bilbo said. I looked at Thorin.

"Thorin. This is the only way that we can get out. Please." I said. We hear a commotion in the distance. I bit my lip.

"Do as he says!" Thorin said. Fili helps me get in a barrel and climbs up.

"What are you doing?" I ask as he gets in the barrel.

"Joining you. I'm not going to be separated from you again." Fili said, kissing my nose. I tweak his nose, earning a smile from him. We stuck our heads out as Bilbo walks by us to a leaver that was sticking out of the floor.

"What do we do now?" Bofur asked.

"Hold your breath." Bilbo asked.

"Hold my breath? What do you mean?" Bofur asked. I let out a yelp as Bilbo pulls the leaver and the barrels start moving. I bury my face in Fili's chest as the barrel rolled. He held me close as I took a breath as I heard splashes. We were underwater in a heartbeat. We surfaced and Fili pulled me up. I looked up into his face and saw that he looked drowned. I giggle.

"What's so funny?" Fili asked.

"You look like a drowned rat." I said. Fili smiled.

"You look the same, love, but your still beautiful." Fili said. I look around and see Thorin holding the wall with Dwalin and Balin's help. I didn't see Bilbo.

"What about my father?" I ask.

"We are waiting for him, lass." Dori said. I heard the trap door open and Bilbo's yells as he fell into the water. Nori grabbed him as he surfaced and put him on his barrel.

"Well done, Master Baggins." Thorin said.

"Go!" Bilbo said.

"Come on, let's go." Thorin said. I help Fili paddle as we go down the river. We started speeding up and I heard the sounds of a waterfall as we near a edge. "Hold on!" Thorin goes over the edge and ours and the rest follow. I swallow water as we go under. I surfaced, coughing and Fili pulls me tight against his chest.

"Are you alright?" Fili asked.

"Just swallowed some water." I said as a horn blew. I turned and saw the gate that was in front of us close and Thorin grabs the bars to the gate.

"No!" Thorin said. Barrels pile up. I look up to see the elves draw their swords. I scream as a black arrow sticks out of an elf and he falls dead in the water as orcs came swarming up the gates. I pull out my sword, ready to fight.

"How did you get your weapon?" Fili asked.

"My father." I said.

"Watch out! Those are orcs!" Bofur yelled. I heard an orc speak in a language. I turn and saw a huge white orc standing near the edge of the water. Orcs leap at us. I stab an orc as it jumps on Fili's and my barrel. Fili pushed me down, grabbing an orc and breaks its neck. I saw Kili jump out of his barrel and on the ledge. I grab the side and pull myself up and jump onto the ledge.

"Kili!" Dwalin yelled, tossing him a sword.

"Bell! Get back in the barrel!" Fili yelled.

"Bell!" Bilbo yelled.

"Kind of busy." I call. I dance with the orcs as I killed.

"Bell! Watch out!" Nori yelled. I turned to see the white orc aim an arrow at me.

"Bell! NO!" Fili yelled. A body collided with me and I hit the ground as the arrow was released. I turn and see an arrow sticking out of his calf.

"No." I said.

"Kili!" Fili yelled as Kili reaches for the leaver and falls. I ran to his side.

"You idiot. Why did you take the arrow?" I ask.

"I can't watch Fili suffer loosing you." Kili said. I heard an orc screech and turned to see an orc running our way. An arrow strikes it in the head killing it. I grin as Tauriel came running out and starts killing orcs. I help Kili get to the barrels. "But the lever."

"I got it. Just get to the barrel." I said.

"Kili!" Fili yelled as I helped him slide into the barrel. I ran towards the lever and pull it, opening the gate. I ran to the ledge and jumped right into Fili's barrel. Fili shoved me down and I wrapped my arms around him and burried my face in his chest. The sounds of battle raged on and my body moved with Fili's. The battle sounds died down. Fili's hand running through my hair made me sit up. We were slowing down. I saw my father sitting on top of a barrel, looking drowned.

"Father!" I call.

"I'm fine, sweetheart." Bilbo said.

"Are you alright, love?" Fili asked, kissing my forehead.

"I'm fine." I said.

"Anything behind us?" Thorin asked.

"Not that I can see." Balin said.

"I think we've outrun the orcs." Bofur said.

"Not for long, we've lost the current." Thorin said.

"Bofur is half drowned." Dwalin said.

"Make for the shore! Come on, let's go!" Thorin called.

"Help me, Bell." Fili said and I help him paddle towards the rier's edge.

"Come on!" Dwalin called. Fili helps me out of our barrel and I hunch over and throw up. I was sure it was from the river ride. Fili held my hair out of my face. I heard Kili's yell in pain and Fili and I hurry up to him.

"I'm fine. It's nothing." Kili said.

"No it's not." I said.

"On your feet." Thorin said.

"Kili's wounded. His leg needs binding." Fili said, turning to face his uncle.

"There's an orc pack on our tail, we keep moving." Thorin said.

"To where?" Balin asked.

"To the mountain, we're so close." Bilbo said. Balin sighed.

"A lake lies between us and that mountain. We have no way to cross it." Balin said.

"So then we go around." I said.

"The orcs will run us down, as sure as daylight. We have no weapons except for yours, Bell, to defend ourselves." Dwalin said.

"Bind his leg, quickly. You have two minutes." Thorin said. With Fili's help, I started to bind his leg. I finished and Fili and I help Kili stand up. A shadow falls over us and Fili quickly pushed me behind him as Dwalin jumps in front of Ori with a stick. I saw a man shoot an arrow, hitting the branch. Kili picks up a rock to throw at the man and the man shoots the rock right out of Kili's hand. I grip Fili's arm.

"Do it again, and you're dead." The man said.

AN: Sorry it took so long to update. Now we have Bard. Sorry the battle on the river was short, but I didn't feel like writing it all. Thanks for all the reviews, follows, and favorites. Till next time