So thankfully there were no veggies but I think I was threatened with a piano...anyway, quick shout out to ncis-lady. I hope your horse gets better real soon!

Chapter 26

There was a sense of urgency in their steps as followed the path that Elrond pointed out the lads had followed. The ponies they had been given made it much easier and they found themselves covering more ground a lot faster than before. After all, the news of Bolg sent a wave of urgency through them. They just hoped they found the lads before Bolg did.

When they happened upon a ransacked camp that housed Kíli's bow and quiver and Sting cast aside, their worst fears had come to life.

When they arrived at said camp they quickly dismounted their ponies. Bifur and Bofur picked up the weapons, inspecting them as if the story of what had happened could be spoken through the objects. "I don't like the looks of this," Bofur muttered.

Nori, in the meanwhile, was looking around the ground, relief flooding through him when he found no signs of blood. The tracks were clear as they led away from the camp and through the bushes. "I think they went this way."

Bofur and Bifur stored the weapons as they followed the tracks. As they approached they could hear the clang of metal on metal. They silenced their movements without slowing their pace. The soft light of a fire illuminated an area in the trees, the same area that the echo of combat was coming from. When they reached the perimeter of the area they watched in the shadows. "It seems we finally caught up to them," Nori muttered to Bofur.

In the clearing they saw Fíli and Bolg dancing around one another while Kíli and Bilbo were being restrained by Orcs off to the side. They watched as Fíli stabbed Bolg through the thigh before rolling away to avoid the mace. As Bolg began crushing him into the ground, Bofur lunged forward but Nori held him back. "What are you doing? He's killing him!"

"Do you really expect that rushing in there is going to help save them? No, we need a plan…"

"We don't have time for a plan!"

"There is always time for a plan!"

Their eyes went back to the fight when they heard a gasp and Kíli call his brother's name. When they turned they saw Bolg lifting Fíli to his knees before placing a knife to his throat. "Before I kill you, Fíli, son of Dís and nephew of Thorin Oakenshield, tell me, who do you wish to see die?"

"Still believe we have time?"

Nori couldn't take his eyes away from the scene in front of him, however. Bofur was right; they had no time. "I'm losing my patience. Choose or I will choose for you," Bolg growled.

Suddenly Bifur thrust Sting into Nori's hands before emerging from the bushes. Bofur and Nori were frozen with shock as they watched Bifur approach the Orc. It seemed, however, that the other Orcs had noticed the sudden arrival and their confused gazes spurred Bolg to look. When his eyes landed on Bifur, his eyes narrowed. "Who is this, gazat?" he hissed in Fíli's ear.

But Fíli could not answer for he, too, was in as much shock as the rest of them. When Bifur came to a stop, he pointed at Azog and said, "Gamut manan ai-menu."

"What?"

"Ozirum menu seleku."

"What is he doing?" Nori hissed at Bofur.

"He's creating a diversion."

"For what?"

Bofur turned to Nori and grinned. "Follow my lead."

As they rushed around the edge, Bolg leant into Fíli, pressing the knife harder against his throat as he hissed, "What is he saying?"

But Fíli had to keep himself from laughing. "Speak plainly, gazat, or I shall end his life."

"Ma mahabhyùr rukhs katakhigeri."

Bolg growled when Kíli shouted, "He can't speak Westron. He…"

"Silence, glob!"

"Gelek menu caragu rukhs."

While all this was going on Bofur and Nori had snuck up behind the Orcs holding Bilbo and Kíli and silently slit their throats with Nori's knives. When two of the four Orcs fell Bofur and Nori quickly felled the other two before they could make any noise. Bilbo and Kíli spun around, their eyes lighting up when they saw their savors. Kíli was about to say something when Bofur held a finger to his lips and motioned for them to follow them.

Once out of earshot Kíli hugged Nori and Bofur. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you. How did you find us?"

"Long story. Here, you're going to need these," Bofur replied as they handed them their weapons. As Kíli and Bilbo strapped on their weapons they turned back to the clearing. Bifur was wildly waving his arms around, shouting, "Mahalu-me turg! Mahalu-me turg!"

"I've had enough of this. Kill him!"

As two Orcs stepped forward to fulfill their master's wish, an arrow went whizzing through the air, hitting one of the Orcs in the head. All eyes turned to watch as three dwarves and a Hobbit ran from the bushes, their weapons drawn and battle cries roaring from their throats.

TBC…

Khuzdul translations:

Gamut manan ai-menu. - Good day to you.

Ozirum menu seleku. - You couldn't forge a spoon.

Ma mahabhyùr rukhs katakhigeri. - Do not teach an orc to stink.

Gelek menu caragu rukhs. - You smell like orc dung.

Mahalu-me turg! - By Durin's beard!

Yes, they do not make any sense and that is the point. Bifur knew Bolg could not understand Khuzdul so he spoke random phrases to distract him. Bifur is so smart :) Preview!

After killing another Orc both of them found Bolg coming towards them. Fíli took a step forward but was stopped by his brother's hand on his chest. When he met his brother's gaze, Kíli said, "Together."

Fíli nodded. "Together."

They slowly walked towards the powerful Orc. Fíli saw his second sword lying on the back of one of the Orcs that had been slain and grabbed it without stopping. With one sword, he was deadly. With two, he was even moreso.

With Kíli, he was unstoppable.

Alright lovelies, two more chapters after this. You know what to do ;)