They had each been pulled away from each other into different cells.
Time in this small cage is unnumbered. Dwalin thought he'd die of boredom, since hunger is sated. The Elvenking was kind enough for that at least.
"Which dwarf are you?" Dwalin perked up staring at the door. "It is a Dwarf I speak to and not some other unfortunate prisoner?"
"Bilbo?"
"Dwalin!"
Dwalin approached the door and peered out the bars. "I can't see you. Your ring?"
"You don't expect me to not wear it in this place, do you?"
"I suppose not. Tell me you know how to get us out."
"I'm afraid not. Besides, I haven't found everyone yet. Just six of us. It's been about seven or eight days now, Love." Only a week!? Dwalin had guessed a year! "Dwalin?"
"It's really been so short a time?"
"I would think it'd be a long time," Bilbo said, "More than I could handle."
"I'm going a tad mad here," Dwalin admitted. He felt an invisible hand against his cheek.
"I'm going to get us out. I don't know how, but I will get us out as soon as I know where everyone is. And we'll find Thorin after we do, if he is not already here."
"Bilbo, be careful."
"I will be." His hand slipped away.
#
The days were less boring with Bilbo coming to check on him.
The hours did not seem so long when Bilbo was with him. Dwalin snuck him food from his own meals, though he was sure Bilbo probably had found the kitchens by now and had a merry time driving the cooks off the walls stealing food.
Bilbo would come and go, ever invisible to prying eyes. Not even around Dwalin, for fear of someone coming, did he remove his magic ring.
"I found all of them," he announced on the thirteenth day. "Thorin is here as well. He's fine."
"Have you a way to get us out?"
"I'm working on it as fast as I can. I'd like to see you sneak out thirteen dwarves and most of you aren't that tiny or have items that make you invisible."
"No need to gloat."
"I'm stating the obvious. Not gloating. You'll know when I'm gloating, Dwalin."
Dwalin sighed. "Can we not fight? It seems to be the only thing we do since we entered the forest."
Bilbo was silent for a long time.
"You're right. I'm sorry. It's been quite stressful. Everyone's been asking what my bloody plan is and blows up in my face when I tell them I don't have one yet."
"You'll figure it out."
"Before Durin's Day?"
Dwalin remained silent. He wasn't sure he should give him false hope. "Well…it'd be preferable…"
"Your confidence is overwhelming."
"I'll just shut up, then."
"I'm not angry," Bilbo sighed. "But I am afraid I'm stumped at what to do and the days have not been kind so far."
Dwalin wished he could see Bilbo. He wished he could hold him and kiss him. But as it was…
"In battle," Dwalin began, "using your brain is as necessary as your strength. That is why when favor turns against you, you pull away and regroup. War is often avoided by selecting champions to fight for the king instead of risking the lives of thousands of soldiers. But when it cannot be avoided, you have to fight to the last man and sometimes that means stopping to think first. And when that happens, every soldier needs to be as alert as possible. With this in mind, take a few hours to rest, Bilbo. When you are as rested as you can possibly be, try again. You may have better luck."
"You're sure?"
"I'd rather you rest than be strung as tight as you are."
He felt a hand touch his cheek again.
"Thank you, Dwalin. I'll be right here against the wall. I can't remove the ring at the moment, but…"
"I understand. Sleep."
#
Dwalin shared his breakfast with a more amiable Bilbo the next morning after it had come.
Bilbo's only complaint was a tingly and chilled butt and a sore back, but otherwise, he was awake and far less stressed than before.
He did not see Bilbo again that day. Or the next. Or the day after.
Dwalin began to worry when his door swung open. Balin stood in the door with Fili, Kili, Nori, Bofur, and a very visible Bilbo.
"Come on," he said, grinning, "Hope you like water."
Dwalin followed, getting the gist of the plan from Balin and briefly thought Bilbo had lost his mind.
They set free Bombur next, then Oin, Nori, Bifur, Gloin, Ori, and finally Thorin.
"Okay, is that everyone?" Bilbo said while Thorin took a head count. "Good. Now, unless someone has a better idea, we're escaping via barrels."
They stared at him.
Yep, Dwalin thought, off his rocker.
"You're trying to kill us again," Nori accused.
"We'll get battered on the rocks!"
"Well, fine!" Bilbo shouted, glaring. "Then let's go back to your cells and you can wait there until someone comes up with a better plan, but maybe I won't be so kind in getting us out next time. Think on that."
With no other option available, they followed Bilbo. They passed by two out cold elves. One was the captain of the guard. Bilbo returned the keys, smirking mischievously as he did.
Getting into the barrels was not fun (Dwalin's shoulders were quite cramped and the hunching could not be good for his back), but each dwarf managed to fit in one. Dwalin only hoped Bilbo managed to get in one of his own.
He heard mumbling and rolling. Then he was rolling. He heard a splash and felt chilled all over as little streams of water seeped through the otherwise tight barrel.
Dwalin did not know for how long they were in the water. It seemed like hours to him. He felt his barrel caught and dragged ashore. He heard more mumbling and groaning. He had half a mind to join them. His barrel was leaking and the de-leaking was slow if at all. He was cold and cramped.
It seemed like hours more before his barrel opened and he crawled out. Balin had fared no better, his hair and beard curled and tangled evilly. Dwalin figured his beard was in a similar state. Balin had sprawled on the ground, grumbling at the chill.
"Get up and help!" Thorin snapped wrenching another top off a barrel and helped Bifur out.
"Help yourself," Balin snapped. "Leave this old man alone."
"Dwalin!"
"I'm more inclined to agree with my brother, thanks."
Thorin sent an exasperated look in Bilbo's direction as he pulled Fili out. Fili sprung at another barrel to release Kili, also annoyingly dry, and Dwalin growled at the boy's dryness.
He glared at Bilbo.
"Don't look at me like that!" he snapped. He was wet, slowly drying, but still very wet. And shaking. Dwalin felt he was looking at a cold, wet pup. "We're out and alive, aren't we? And your complaints are ridiculous. I couldn't get in a blasted barrel, so consider yourself lucky."
Most of them were water-logged and shaking. Bombur was out cold. Dwalin stood, managing to pull a sneezing Bilbo into his arms in hopes of warming him.
"Even if the journey was less than favorable," Thorin began, "We do owe you our lives again, Bilbo."
Bilbo sneezed again. "You're welcome."
"Where to now?"
"Lake-town," he suggested, sniffing. Bilbo leaned into Dwalin's chest, searching for more warmth.
Thorin looked about for any other suggestions. Finding none, he turned to Fili and Kili, calling them to him. He turned his gaze to Dwalin and Bilbo. "Master Baggins, would you care to join us, seeing as you are as well as us."
Bilbo sneezed again. "If I must, but I'm not sure I'm as well as you three."