Chapter 17

Bombur still remained fast asleep the next day. He was becoming quite a task to carry. When finally he woke up I looked to an angry Thorin. He said nothing but we continued. Finally we stopped. As we were about to stop for the night Dori, whose watch it was spoke up.

"I believe I see a light ahead! As though it is a fire of sorts!" he said.

We all decided to go forth and see what it was, however in doing so we left the path. This was the most foolish thing I could have allowed to happen. As we drew closer to the fires, the smell of roast meats and other succulent foods reach us. We bothered not to consult one another about how we should approach and we all leaped forward. No sooner did we step into the light the fires went out and all went dark. I screamed and called out,

"Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin! Dwalin, Balin! Bifur, Bofur Bombur! Dori, Nori, Ori! Thorin! Bilbo!"

I heard much the same thing from the others only my name was also called. As soon as we found each other we settled for the night.

In the morning we no longer knew in which direction the path lay. In this they turned to me.

"Surely you can find the path again Miss Tawariell." Dori said.

I looked around, trying to remember the paths of Greenwood. Too much had changed, I could no longer remember where to go. I looked down sadly in defeat.

"I cannot. I am so sorry."

"Were you not raised in these woods?!" Dwalin asked angrily.

I knew Dwalin had little patience. I kept my head down and said nothing. Then I felt a hand touch mine.

"This place has changed or so she told me. Tawariell is not to blamed for our decisions. Beorn warned us not to stray from the path and we did!" Balin said.

I smiled at him gratefully. He winked and Thorin spoke.

"Balin is right. This is not her fault. We must have someone climbed up to the very tops of the trees and see of they can see the end."

Of course they meant Bilbo, for he was the lightest. We helped him up into the tree and waited for his return. As I waited I looked around for any sign that could tell me where we were. I found this place to be familiar but I could not remember how. Bilbo came down and shook his head.

"It goes on and on! There seems to be no end!" said the hobbit.

There was nothing more we could do but tighten our belts and press on. Our luck turned when Bombur finally woke up. This at least meant we no longer needed to carry him. The sun was going down, but thought it best to keep moving until it was too dangerous to. However Bombur was not of the same mind.

"I am tired of walking! I am going to sit right here and dream of food if I cannot have it any other way!" He said stubbornly.

Thorin was losing his patience. He eventually gave in and we stopped for the night. It was Thorin who took first watch that night. I found myself staring at him. Not much had truly happened after I had told him I cared for him. While there was still a little light left I literally rolled over so that I closer to him. I sat up and he looked at me.

"I owe you an apology. I knew all along of your feelings. And all along I felt the same and I said nothing. I am so sorry for hurting you so." I whispered.

"Why is it you did not tell me?"

I looked down. I felt afraid that he would hate me.

"I thought I was protecting you."

I took his silence as a sign for me to continue.

"At first I thought it was just a foolish dream, that it would fade away and then after all this was over, I would return home and everything would be as it was. Then you would talk to me and then after I hit my head and fell unconscious…I saw myself running through the woods…I heard you call my name. And then in Imladris…you made me feel wanted. Feel cared for. You recall the words you spoke to me?" I asked.

"Aye…..'You are not alone. The Rangers cared for you. You are part of this company.'" He quoted.

I smiled and nodded.

"Yes. Then in the mountain when I saw the Goblin King had taken you and the others…..the way he spoke to you….I could not recall the last time I had felt so angry. And when you were hanging off the edge of the mountain! I thought that…I almost lost you…."

I stopped as I saw a light in the distance.

"There is a light!" I said.

The others quickly woke up and we crept our way towards the light.

"Now we must be careful. We shall send Mr. Baggins first! For they shall be less fearful of him, and more likely will not hurt him." Thorin said.

They gave poor Bilbo no chance to protest. They pushed him into the light. No sooner had he stepped in, the lights once more went out. I ran forward, fearing for Bilbo's safety.

"Bilbo?! Bilbo!?" I cried.

"Curse that hobbit! Where has he gone to now?!" Bifur said.

Nori tripped and fell into me. It was then we found Bilbo. He was fast asleep.

"I shall hope he is far easier to wake then Bombur…Bilbo lasto beth nin mellon nin!" I said.

Thankfully he woke. He too had been dreaming of food. I covered his mouth with my hand so that he would not anger Thorin.

"There again are the lights! There are more of them now then ever!" Dori said.

This time Thorin volunteered to go forth.

"Thorin no! Something feels wrong here." I whispered.

"We have no other choice. It is either this or starving to death."

I knew he was right. Just as he was about to walk out I grabbed his hand.

"Then I go with you!"

"Tawariell…"

"Either I go with you…..or I leap out and frighten them. The choice is yours." I said.

He sighed and then squeezed my hand.

"Very well. Together."

I smiled and then Thorin and I walked out into the light. The last thing I remembered was them going out.