Gandalf approached the trolls and thumped one of them with his staff. A pleased smile showed up on his face.
"Where did you go to, if I may ask?" Thorin walked up to him.
"To look ahead."
"What brought you back?"
"Looking behind. Nasty business. Still, they are all in one piece."
"No thanks to your burglar."
"He had to nous to play for time. None of the rest of you thought of that," Gandalf said.
Thorin looked repentant until his face fell slightly as Gandalf added, "While you and Kate decided to cuddle in a situation like this."
The wizard chuckled. "Nevermind, Thorin," and they both started to examine the statues of the trolls.
"They must have come down from the Ettenmoors," Gandalf mumbled.
"Since when do mountain trolls venture this far south?"
They exchanged a meaningful glance as Gandalf said, "They could not have moved in daylight."
"There must be a cave nearby," Thorin concluded. He turned around to cast a glance towards his Company and called,
"We're going to look for the troll cave. It must be somewhere nearby!" He saw that Kate wanted to approach him but he turned away from her and followed Gandalf.
Lindsey nudged her sister's arm and smiled at her. "Whatever you have to discuss—I suppose this is not the right moment."
"I just wanted to say that it was not my intention to create such a situation—"
"Sitting on his lap?" Lindsey chuckled.
"So, what about Fili and you? I saw you embraced each other," Kate tried to change the topic. Lindsey blushed and avoided to look at her as she replied,
"It's nothing—"and now it was Kate's turn to chuckle.
The Company found a large cave nearby and some of them entered it. It was filled with treasures and gold.
"Oh, what's that stench?" Nori asked in disgust.
"It's a troll hoard. Be careful what you touch!" Gandalf called.
"Not really Fort Knox, I'd say," Kate mumbled and Lindsey laughed while the dwarves had no idea what they were talking about.
"Seems a shame to leave it lying around. Anyone could take it," Bofur called.
"Agreed! Nori, get a shovel!" Gloin replied.
While exploring, Thorin found two swords covered in cobwebs. Gandalf approached him and Thorin handed one sword to him as he said,
"These swords were not made by any troll."
"Nor were they made by any smith among men," the wizard replied and unsheathed the sword a bit. "These were forged in Gondolin by the High Elves of the First Age."
Now that he realized that these were Elf swords, Thorin wanted to put it away in disgust but Gandalf snapped,
"You could not wish for a finer blade!"
Reluctantly, Thorin stopped in motion and looked up at the wizard until he unsheathed his sword as well to examine it.
"Let's leave this foul place! Come on, let's go! Bofur! Gloin! Nori!" Thorin called and finally left the cave.
On his way outside, Gandalf stepped onto something metallic. Brushing aside the leaves beneath him he found another sword. He left the cave and approached Bilbo who was sitting with Kate and Lindsey on a trunk. He handed the sword to Bilbo.
"Here, this is about your size."
"I can't take this—"
"The blade is of Elvish make which means it glows blue when orcs or goblins are nearby."
"I never used a sword before."
"And I hope you never have to, but if you do, remember: true courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one."
"Thorin?" Kate approached him slowly. He wanted to turn away from her but she yelled,
"Thorin! You talk to me, now!"
The Company stood silent and watched them.
"Kate—not now! We can talk but, not—now!" he replied and tried to stay as calm as possible.
"Something's coming!" Dwalin suddenly called.
"Gandalf!" Bilbo said concerned but the wizard called,
"Stay together! Hurry no! Arm yourselves!"
Bilbo slowly drew his sword and watched it uncertainly. Finally he followed them and they ran off into the forest. Kate grabbed Lindsey's hand as something heavy pulled through the bushes. Both exchanged a confused look as they saw what just stopped right in front of them. A rather small man on a rabbit-drawn sled.
"Radagast! Radagast, the Brown! What on earth are you doing here?" Gandalf called in surprise.
"I was looking for you, Gandalf. Something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong."
"Yes?"
The girls watched in disgust as Gandalf pulled a stick-insect out of Radagast's mouth. The two wizards walked a bit apart to have a private conversation as suddenly a howl waved through the air.
"Was that a wolf? Are there wolves out there?" Lindsey asked afraid.
"Wolves? No, that was not a wolf," Bofur replied and cast a glance around. Kate was the first to see the creature appear behind a nearby crag. A huge ugly beast that looked like a hyena. It leaped into the midst of the Company and knocked Kate down. Thorin killed it with his new-found sword. Another beast attacked from the opposite side. Kili shot it with an arrow and Dwalin killed it.
Fili reached to help Kate back on her feet.
"You alright?" he asked and she nodded.
"Warg-Scouts! Which means an orc pack is not far behind," Thorin growled.
"Orc pack?" Kate asked confused.
Gandalf approached them furiously. "Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?"
"No one!"
"Whom did you tell?"
"No one, I swear! What in Durin's name is going on?" Thorin replied confused.
"Someone is hunting you!" Gandalf called.
"We have to get out of here!" Dwalin growled.
"We can't! We have no ponies—they bolted!" Ori replied concerned.
"I'll draw them off," Radagast stepped onto his sleigh again.
"These are Gundabad Wargs. They will outrun you!" Gandalf replied.
"These are Rhosgobel Rabbits. I'd like to see them try," and with that he rode off.
"Run!" Gandalf called and Fili grabbed Lindseys hand while Kate ran close behind them. Finally they reached the open wild and Gandalf led them behind a boulder. They could see Radagast being followed by wargs.
"Move!" Gandalf said and the Company ran across a rocky plain. "Stay together!" the wizard commanded. Kate pressed her back against the rock.
"Come on," Thorin called and they ran off again until they reached another rock. Ori couldn't quite stop and Thorin pulled him back in time.
"Where are you leading us?" the dwarf King hissed at Gandalf but the wizard decided to ignore him. They took cover behind an outcropping of a rock. An orc astride his warg appeared on top of the rock and scented the air.
Thorin signaled Kili to shoot the orc. The young dwarf nocked an arrow, stepped silently forward and killed the orc. The warg fell down and the dwarves killed him.
Kate and Lindsey exchanged a look and knew they were way too loud. Gandalf looked up as he could see the riders charging towards them.
"Move!" he called and Fili pulled Lindsey with him again and they ran into the open plain. Wargs surrounded them from all sides. Kate was right next to Thorin but he didn't pay attention to her. He tried to protect his Company.
"We're surrounded!" Fili called and drew his sword. He let Lindsey go and she ran towards Kate. They clung to each other while Kili continued to shoot the creatures and managed to kill some of them.
"Where is Gandalf?" Bilbo called desperately.
"He's abandoned us!" Dwalin growled angrily. The dwarves gathered closer together, protected the hobbit and the girls by circling them. Ori shot a rock at a warg with his slingshot – to no effect. Thorin drew his sword and he called,
"Hold your ground!"
Suddenly Gandalf popped up from behind a crack in the rock. "This way, you fools!" he called.
The Company approached him and one by one they slid down into a cave. Thorin stood on the rock to make sure everyone made it to safety.
"Kate! Lindsey! Come on! Kili, run!" he called. The three of them ran towards him. Kili jumped down. Kate was holding Lindsey's hand when suddenly a warg caught the young girl's leg.
"No! Lindsey!" Kate cried out and still clung to her hand.
Thorin jumped at the warg and slashed it. He opened its mouth and picked Lindsey up. "Jump, Kate!"
She jumped down into the cave and Thorin followed still holding the young girl on his arms.
"Lindsey!" Fili approached his uncle. He placed the girl on the ground while Gandalf examined her leg. Kate and Fili held Lindsey's hand to calm her down a bit.
"Everything's gonna be fine. I promised to take care of you. You hear me? Lindsey?" Kate whispered while tears ran down her cheeks. Lindsey fell unconscious. "No! No! Do something!" Kate cried and her gaze drifted to Gandalf. Fili patted Lindsey's cheek, trying to wake her up.
"Come on, Lindsey. You can't leave me," he whispered.
Kate was on the edge of her nerves as she felt a pair of strong hands pulling her away from her sister.
"No! Let me go!" she cried but clutched to the soft fur of Thorin's coat. She looked at him with so much pain and sorrow in her eyes that he felt his heart sink a bit.
"Calm down, Kate! Gandalf will help her," he whispered.
"I cannot see where the pathway leads. Do we follow it or no?" Dwalin called from the end of the cave.
"Follow it, of course!" Bofur called and they moved on.
"I think that would be wise," Gandalf mumbled and signaled Fili to pick Lindsey up.
The Company followed the path while Kate was close next to Fili. Lindsey was still unconscious on his arms and blood dripped from her leg. She could feel hot tears dwelling in her eyes again.
The path eventually opened out into an open area. There was a valley below and hidden in that valley they could see a beautiful city.
"The Valley of Imladris. In the Common Tongue, it is known by another name," Gandalf explained.
"Rivendell—"Bilbo breathed in absolute awe.
"Here lies the last Homely House East of the Sea," the wizard explained.
"This was your plan all along, to seek refuge with our enemy," Thorin growled.
"Oh, for Christ's Sake, Thorin! I don't care about your problems with those people down there! I want my sister to get healed and Gandalf said that she'll be safe down there! So—stop being such a—"but she fell silent and Thorin stared at her quite stunned. He lowered his gaze and looked back at her until he sighed and signaled Gandalf to lead the way.
The Company walked down across a narrow bridge and finally entered the outer courtyard. Bilbo's gaze drifted around in awe of the beauty in this place. The dwarves looked quite uneasy while Kate did not pay any attention to the surrounding. She was silently praying and watching her sister.
A dark-haired elf walked down a flight of stairs and greeted them. "Mithrandir."
"Ah, Lindir," Gandalf said with a smile. As Gandalf and Lindir greeted each other, the dwarves mumbled amongst themselves in distrust. Thorin whispered to Dwalin, "Stay sharp."
"I must speak with Lord Elrond," Gandalf finally said to the elf.
"My Lord Elrond is not here," the elf replied.
"Not here? Where is he?"
Suddenly the Elf horns sounded up and rang through the air. The Company turned around and shifted closer towards each other as they saw a group of armed horsemen approaching them along the bridge at a rapid rate.
Thorin shielded Kate and the Elves finally stopped in a circle around them. One elf separated himself from the rest and Thorin concluded this must be Lord Elrond.
"Gandalf!"
Gandalf bowed gracefully and they talked to each other until the elf finally turned to take a look at Lindsey.
"She needs a healer, immediately," he stated as he examined the wound on her leg.
"Please, help her—"Kate begged and he sent her a warm smile.
"May I?" he asked and gestured to Fili. The young dwarf reluctantly handed her to Elrond who left them behind.
Kate and Fili both paced up and down in the hallway in front of the healing halls. Kili was sitting on a bench and watched them.
"She'll be fine. I'm certain about that," he trying to calm his brother and Kate down. He knew that Fili had quite strong feelings for Lindsey. He could not stand to see his brother heartbroken if she didn't make it. And Kate? She seems to blame herself for this.
After a long time the door finally opened and the three young ones rushed towards Elrond.
"How is she? Is she alright?" Kate asked concerned. He smiled at her again.
"Your sister is strong. Though she lost a lot of blood but I could stop the bleeding and her wound is closed. She needs a little rest. You should consider to stay here for at least two weeks."
"That's fine! What matters most is that she's surviving," Fili said and entered the room. Kate and Kili followed him.
Lindsey was covered in a white elvish dress and lay on a bed. She was asleep and looked so peaceful. Kate placed a kiss on her forehead and gently stroked her cheek. She brought her lips close to her ear, though she had no idea if Lindsey could hear her but she whispered, "You have to get well soon, Linny. I love you—"
She turned to look at Fili. "Would you stay with her?" she asked and his eyes sparkled.
"Aye! I will call you once she wakes up," he replied and she kissed his cheek.
"Thank you, Fili. Take care of her," and with that she left the room to go and search the rest of the Company.
As she turned around the next corner, she bumped into Thorin.
"I was looking for you," he said while she was still clinging to his arm to prevent herself from falling. As she realized it she let go of him and cleared her throat.
"Why?"
"We should talk before—before dinner," he said quietly.
"Can't we do this after dinner? I have other things on mind right now," she said and pushed him aside. He grabbed her wrist and pinned her against the wall with his hands placed to both sides of her head.
"You wanted to talk and we will talk now," he growled. She could feel his hot breath on her skin while his eyes bored into hers.
"Let—me—go!" she hissed and began to struggle against him. Suddenly he stepped away from her.
"Fine—after dinner then," he said and left her alone in the hallway.
'What was that?' she thought confused. She shook her head and walked off as well.