Chapter 8
We had left Gandalf in Imladris. I his intentions on bringing us to Imladris were true, yet Thorin still remained angry. It was no business of mine as to why he despised the elves so, and yet I wondered. Could they have done something so horrible for him to feel like this? What truly bothered me was why I cared so much. I knew I had to stop myself before I could not longer deny I cared. I had come on this quest for one purpose, and that was to make sure they made it to the Mountain alive. With this in mind I was able to forget about any feeling I had.
We continued on into the mountains. It rained hard as we went on. Lightning struck around us and the mountains moved.
"The legends are true!" Bofur said.
Stone Giants.
Bofur was standing close to the edge of the mountain. A stone giant took off a piece of the mountain and threw it at another. I pulled Bofur back and we huddled as close to the mountain wall as we could. Stones and pieces of the mountain were falling over us from colliding with the giants. This was no the worst. Suddenly the mountain moved from under us. We were upon the knees of yet another giant. Thorin, Balin, Dwalin, Bofur, Kili, Dori, Nori, and Ori, Gloin and I were safe on one leg. While Fili, Bilbo, Bombur, Oin, and Bifur were trapped on the other. We managed to move onto an unloving piece of the mountain, however our other companions were not as lucky.
"Fili!"
I tried to think of something but there was nothing I could do. They were going to be crushed into the mountain.
"No!" Thorin shouted.
We rushed forward and I sighed in relief. They were all there. Shaken up and rightly so, but they were alive.
"Where is Bilbo?"
Fear gripped my heart. The Hobbit was dangling off the mountain!
"Bilbo! Here give me your hand!" Bofur said.
He, Fili and Kili were trying to help him but their arms were not long enough and Bilbo was too far down. Thorin leaped off the edge and grabbed him. He pushed him up. I had to admit he was strong, yet his luck seemed to have run out. The piece of rock on which he stood broke.
"NO!"
I lunged forward and wrapped my hand around his wrist tightly. I pulled him up with every bit of strength I had. Once I had him up on solid and unmoving ground I looked at him.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes….no thanks to our hobbit. He should never have left his home. He has no place among us."
I glared at Thorin and removed my hand from his arm. I refused to look at him. It was not Bilbo's fault he had fallen! He had never been away from Hobbiton! How dare he treat him as such! Anger boiled in my blood as we walked on. We found a cave, that did not go very far back, but it appeared to be unoccupied.
"We will stay here for tonight." Thorin said.
"Oin? Gloin? How about a fire?" Ori asked.
"No! No fires! Not in this place. Caves in the mountains are seldom unoccupied. Bofur you take first watch." Thorin said.
I chose a place in the back of the cave and took my cloak from my shoulders. It was drenched in rain water and would only give me a cold if I kept it on. I wrung it out as best I could and then placed it on a rock to dry.
I could feel Thorin's eyes on me, but I would not return his gaze. I had been known to say things I later would regret when I was angry. And this occasion was no exception.
"If you wish to say something then say it! If not then I would ask you to stop staring!" I snarled.
I slowly glared in his direction. The hurt in his eyes was quickly replaced by anger and frustration. He said nothing and looked away. The moment I had seen the hurt in his eyes I regretted my words. I opened my mouth to say something but I could not find the words. The dwarves and Bilbo looked at me with different expressions. Most were of shock, others of warning. I sighed and lay down. I tried to sleep but could not. The hurt in Thorin's eyes haunted me. I stood up and took my things and went to the opening of the cave.
"Do you mean to leave?" Bofur asked.
"No of course not. I just…I need some air. I will not leave, you have my word." I promised.
He nodded and went to the mouth of the cave. It still rained and I almost did not hear the cries. I quickly turned and walked back into the cave. I stopped when I saw the ground had opened and the dwarves and Bilbo had fallen through.
"NO!" I cried.
I moved to jump forward but I was too late. The ground closed and I knew not how to open it. I slammed my fists upon the ground.
"No! No! No!" I shouted.
I should never have left! Now they may die and I will have failed!
I could hear Eradan's voice in my head telling me to remain clam. Telling me to think. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. When I opened them I looked around for anything that may open the passage.
"Edro!" I commanded.
Nothing happened.
"EDRO HI AMMEN!"
The ground began to shake and then it opened beneath me. I fall and only just managed to grab hold of the rock wall. Looking down I found that had I not grabbed hold of something I would have fallen. I carefully climbed down as quickly as I could. I jumped from the opening into a sort of cage. I took out my bow and drew an arrow. I cautiously walked forward.
As I walked further through the caves I heard many loud voices. They seemed to be chanting. I walked faster but still as silent as I could. I backed up against a wall and saw thousands of goblins.
"Elbereth save me." I whispered.
I saw a large goblin on a platform before a throne. The had to be the Goblin King.
"If they will not talk! We shall make them squeal!"
It was then I saw my friends.
"We start with the youngest."
NO! Fili and Kili!
"NO!"
I knew this was the voice of Thorin. For it was strong and full of confidence. I saw him walk forward.
"Well, well! Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror. King Under the Mountain!"
I glared as the Goblin King bowed. I knew he was only tormenting Thorin.
"But wait! You are no king. And you have no mountain! You do not belong anywhere!" The Goblin King laughed.
I shook with uncontrollable rage. I looked around for any way I could get high up and get a clear shot at the Goblin King. I found a rope and climbed up.
"I know someone else who would like to see you. You know him. I shall give you a hint. The Pale Orc."
My eyes widened. I looked over my shoulder. Thorin glared up at the Goblin King.
"Azog the Defiler! He is dead!" Thorin said.
"Oh so you think his defiling days are over? Think again!"
Thorin was pulled back and I set my face and pulled myself onto the goblin catwalks. I stayed as low to the ground as I could and crept along the walkway. Some goblins were pushing forward large machines that looked to be for torture. Fear rose in my heart at the thought of Thorin being hurt. I found a good position and took aim. However before I could release the arrow there was a shriek. I saw Thorin's sword fall to the floor. I knew that blade! It was Orcrist! The Goblin-Cleaver, though the Goblins simply called it Biter.
"It is Biter! Kill them! Murderers and Elf-friends! Kill them all!" cried the Goblin King.
"NO!" I shouted.
All the goblins and their king looked at me.
Oh well done Tawariell! Now you have done it!
I aimed for the Goblin King's head.
"If you or your disgusting goblins touch any of them I will kill before you can say Biter again!" I thundered.
"Kill her!"
I smirked and fired the arrow. Not aiming to kill, but to seriously injure. My arrow lodged itself in the shoulder of the Goblin King. I then grabbed hold of a rope and swung down. As I did so the goblins began to attack the others. I drew my sword and dropped down into the platform. Thorin was covered by goblins.
"Get off him!" I snarled.
I cut through them and then there was a flash of light. I covered my eyes and looked away. The goblins were blown backwards and the dwarves seemed to be in shock. As the light dimmed I saw Gandalf. He held another sword I knew. Glamdring, the foe-hammer that the King of Gondolin once bore. Though the goblins called it beater.
"Fight! Stand and fight! FIGHT!" Gandalf cried.
The dwarves jumped up and gathered their weapons. I cut through as many goblins as I could, but we had no hope of killing them all.
"This way! Quickly!" Gandalf said.
We followed him along the catwalks and killed the goblins that attempted to block us. Dwalin took off a piece of the railing and he and a few other began to knock goblins of the walkway with it. I smiled and cut through the goblin that stood before me. As we ran goblin began to swing down from ropes.
"Cut the ropes!" Thorin shouted.
The roped were cut and the walkway above us fell forward and the goblins on the ropes wrapped around it. I laughed and continued. Fili began to block arrows with his sword. I was not thinking as I drew three arrows and let them fly into three goblins. I was surprised that I had succeeded but I had to keep moving. Before we could go further the Goblin King jumped in front of us. Gandalf fell back and I jumped in front of him. I held my sword in front of me.
"Did you really believe you could escape! I am the king here! What will you do now ranger?"
I smirked and quick as lighting cut off his arm. He fell to his knees before me.
"That will do it."
"Who is king now!?" I snapped.
I slit his throat and he fell forward. This was a bad decision on my part. The bridge on which we stood collapsed and we were now falling down through the mountain. I got down and held onto the side of the bridge. As we neared the ground I jumped off as did Gandalf. I turned back and found the dwarves under the pieces of the bridge.
"Well that could have been worse." Bofur said.
As soon as the words left his mouth the body of the Goblin King fell on them. I held back my laughter.
"You must be joking!" Dwalin growled.
I smiled and began to help them out.
"GANDALF!" Kili shouted.
I looked up and my eyes went wide with horror. All the goblins of the mountain were rushing down towards us.
"We cannot fight them all." Oin said.
"Only one thing shall save us now. Daylight!"
Gandalf and I helped the dwarves out and we ran through the tunnels of the mountain.
"Quickly!" Gandalf said.
We came to the end of the tunnels and ran out into the sunlight. We ran down the hill and Gandalf counted us off. When we stopped we realized that Bilbo was not among us.
"Where is Mister Baggins? Where is our hobbit?" Gandalf asked.
I knew not what had become of him. I believed he was among the dwarves.
"Where is our hobbit!?" Gandalf repeated.
"I saw him before we were taken. He seem to have got away." Nori said.
"Well then what shall we do?" I asked.
"Nothing!"
I looked at Thorin.
"We all know what has become of him. The wretched Halfling saw his chance and took it. He has gone home. As he should have. He did not belong….."
"ENOUGH!" I shouted.
He looked at me angrily.
"You may glare at me all you like! It shall not stop me from speaking! Ever have you treated poor Bilbo wrongly! He has done nothing to deserve your poor treatment! He saved us all from the trolls! He though quick on his feet! I am going back for him! I care not if you choose not to come! He is my friend and has never once treated me wrong!" I said.
"No need. I am here." came a small voice.
I whipped around and found Bilbo standing there.
"Bilbo!" Kili said.
"We had almost given up!" Fili said.
"How did you get out?" I asked.
"Well I…"
I saw him slip something in his pocket.
"Well what does it matter! He cam back." Gandalf said quickly.
"It matter! I wish to know….why did you come back?" Thorin questioned.
"I know you doubt me, I know you always have." began Bilbo. "It is true I often think of Bag End. I miss my books. And my armchair, and my garden. You see that is home. That is where I belong. And that is why I have come back. Because you do not have one. It was taken from you."
I looked around at the dwarves, my sharp green eyes rested on Thorin. He looked at Bilbo with an expression I could not read.
"I am no warrior. But I shall help you take back your home, if I can." he said.
I smiled as did a few others. Even Thorin smiled, though it was very small. The silence and happiness was ruined by the howl of a warg. Thorin walked forward.
"Out of the frying-pan…." he said.
"And into the fire!" Gandalf said.
We ran away down the hill. However we could only go so far before they caught us. A warg jumped forward and Bilbo stabbed it through the eye with his little sword. I did not recognize the blade but I did not have time to wonder.
"Up the trees!" Gandalf said.
We ran to the trees and I jumped up. I grabbed hold of a branch and climbed as high as I could. Kili, Fili and Thorin climbed up after me. Bilbo followed soon after. We might have been safe, but I knew not for how long.
*Open
*OPEN FOR ME