Percia knew they were in trouble but she couldn't help the relief flooding her system at the view of the Goblin King. Sometime during her sleep her mind had slipped into the nightmares of the wars, first with Kronos then the giants and Gaea. Finally she had transitioned to her time in Tartarus, only it was far worse than what originally had happened. Instead of having Annabeth at her side, her friend had abandoned her there to rot. Voices of friends and foes alike had echoed through her mind whispering hurtful things. Not even the fall from the false floor had fully pulled her from her dream. If anything it had given it more life. It was not until they were pulled before the great bulbous form of the lead Goblin that she finally freed her mind from her nightmare.
Shaking her head slightly she glanced around taking in the group, checking they were all there. Only they weren't. Bilbo was missing, though she didn't dare voice that observation. So caught up she didn't even listen to the Goblin's words until its minions descended upon them pulling weapons and packs away from the members of the Company.
She hissed when the nails of the creatures scratched at her skin as they pulled away her knives and pack, then Riptide. Not that it mattered, Riptide would return to her with a thought. The hair pulling she could have done without.
Strong yet gentle hands gripped her elbow and pulled her away from the minions. Soon she found herself between Fili and Kili, the latter keeping a grip on her in a protective manner.
"What are you doing in these parts," the Goblin demanded. "Speak!"
None of them said a word.
"Well then," he purred happily. "If they will not talk, we'll make them squawk!" All throughout the large cavern the minions cheered. "Bring out the Mangler! Bring out the Bone Breaker!" He turned pointing one large finger at poor Ori. "Start with the youngest."
Before any of them could protest Thorin stepped forward pulling all attention to him. This led to quite a bit of jeering from the Goblin and a threat of an old enemy. Percia didn't know the whole story but with a name like Azog the Defiler it couldn't be good.
The situation had devolved from there. Percia didn't know whether to laugh or cry when the Goblin started singing. Granted the song was perfectly morbid for the situation, but really, what villain actually sings? Truthfully she'd prefer physical torture if he'd stop with his caterwauling.
Without warning the atmosphere changed as the Goblin and his subjects cringed in fear.
"I know that sword," the Goblin practically wailed in despair. "It is the Goblin-Cleaver, the Biter, the blade that sliced a thousand necks!"
Wow, seems like Thorin picked up a rather impressive sword. Sadly instead of cowing the Goblins for long it only sent them into a rage, their leader ordering their death. Soon the minions closest to them were jumping on them, clawing and biting. Percia struggled to maintain her footing and fight against the horde.
A flash of light and a strong force pushed them all back. Silence reigned for several long moments. Percia heaved for breath wondering what exactly had happened. Blinking to rid her sight of the black spots dancing before her eyes she found the others generally doing the same.
"Take up arms." Gandalf's voice finally drifted to her ears. "Fight. Fight!"
Nearly as one the Company stumbled to their feet gathering their weapons and turned the tide against the Goblins. Percia barely blinked before Riptide was back in her hands, her body falling into the familiar motions of battle. Thrust, parry, twirl, lung, dodge; she fell into the patterns easily killing any goblin within reach. All around the sounds of battle raged. It took a lot to focus on the here and now and not on the past.
"This way!" Gandalf's cry had the rest of them following after his tall form. She fell in behind Gloin with Bifur behind her. Up ahead she could see the form of Kili and several others.
They ran and fought, the Goblins coming at them from nearly every angle. Percia's legs burned and her arms ached with the prolonged fight, yet she felt alive. Part of her blamed her 'hero' physiology for that.
The path twists and turned, rose and fell in a deadly course as they ran. The few wooden 'bridges' they crossed were dangerous and rickety. The swinging bridge especially left her heart pounding. So far the whole thing reminded her of one of Chiron's obstacle courses. Unfortunately the Goblin King himself stopped their progress short. He plopped down on the bridge just in front of Gandalf forcing them to a halting stop. Standing towards the back Percia turned to face the Goblins threatening their flank.
"You thought you could escape me?" Likely the Goblin thought his voice was threatening, but the high pitches and squeaks actually thwarted his attempts. "What are you going to do now, wizard?"
Percia glanced over his shoulder when the Goblin cried in pain, holding his face. Then she watched as Gandalf stepped forward and slashed the beast through his belly bringing him to his knees.
"That'll do it."
One last swing and Gandalf sliced the Goblin's neck ending him. As his giant body slammed into the bridge the rotted supports gave way. On reflex Percia bent her knees to maintain her balance as the bridge shifted and shook until it started sliding down the rocky walls into the ravine below. Like a rollercoaster it picked up speed in its descent. Everyone tried to hold on, their yells and screams ringing loudly through the air. Like all things subjected to gravity the sudden stop was the worst part of it.
Percia groaned in pain, wondering how she went from the top level down to the second level of the bridge. From the moans of pain several of the others had similar problems.
"Well, that could have been worse," Bofur chirped, ever the optimistic one.
Of course Murphy's law just had to come into play as the King Goblin's body slammed into the top layer of the bridge pushing down heavily on them all. Perhaps she should explain the concept of a jinx to the Dwarves?
It took time but they began to extract themselves from the wreckage. Percia was suddenly glad for her lessened meals these past years as her smaller form easily wriggled from the debris. Others like Bombur had a far worse time of it.
"Gandalf!" Kili's worried cry had her glancing up to see what had startled him. She really wished she hadn't. Like a black swarm of locusts the Goblins were racing down the cliff face to reach them.
"There's too many," Dwalin shouted. "We can't fight them."
'Way to state the obvious', Percia thought channeling her inner Clarisse.
"Only one thing will save us," The wizard advised sternly. "Daylight. Come on!"
Together they managed to get the rest of the group out of the wreckage and on their feet. Once more they ran for their lives, maneuvering through a large tunnel like crevice in the wall. The darkness of the caves were replaced by nearly blinding sunlight as they finally broke free of the mountain. Percia kept running, hoping to get far away from that place.
The group finally came to an unsteady halt a good several yards away from the entrance. Percia heaved for air wryly thinking she needed to take up running more often.
A hand on her shoulder had her turning to Kili meeting his worried eyes. Her own swept his form looking for any and all injuries. Aside from the bruises and scratches she didn't see any. Both managed a grin in acknowledgement that the other was fine, their foreheads coming together as both caught their breath. They had made it out okay and relatively fine.
Suddenly Gandalf's worried voice cut through the relief. "Where is our Hobbit?"
"Curse the Halfling," Dwalin huffed out. "Now he's lost?"
"I thought he was with Dori," Gloin pointed out.
"Don't blame me," the other snapped.
"Well, where did you last see him," the wizard coaxed.
"I think I saw him slip away," Nori piped in. "When they first collared us."
"What happened exactly," the wizard demanded. "Tell me!"
Percia and Kili shared a worried glance, both having grown to like the Hobbit.
"I'll tell you what happened," Thorin growled angrily. "Master Baggins saw his chance and he took it! He's thought of nothing but his soft bed and his warm hearth since first he stepped out of his door! We will not be seeing our Hobbit again." His voice had grown soft as if trying to hide his own disappointment. Percia got the feeling that Thorin protested Bilbo's presence a bit more than necessary.
The others didn't quite know how to respond to that, and even Gandalf looked upset at the prospect. Thankfully no one had to speak, as their Hobbit did it for them.
"No he isn't." His small form stepped out from behind a tree looking rumpled and a bit worse for wear but alright none-the-less.
"Bilbo Baggins," Gandalf declared happily. "I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life."
The Hobbit smiles shyly nodding to the rest.
"We'd given you up," Kili sprouted out impatiently.
"How on earth did you get past the Goblins," Fili asked curiously.
"How indeed," Dwalin muttered.
Bilbo looked awkward for a moment, and Percia thought she might have seen a hint of gold as he put something in his pocket. Her 'senses' flinched a bit but nothing more. "I guess it's hard for them to give chase to someone after they've thrown them down a crevice," he finally shrugged with the barest wince of pain. "Then it was a matter of finding the way out…"
"You fell off the bridge," Bofur cried in shock and worry. Percia couldn't blame him, what little she saw of the caverns they went deep into the earth. Bilbo was lucky he didn't break anything, or died from the fall.
Again their Hobbit shrugged looking embarrassed about the whole thing. The others seemed content to drop the subject, except for their leader.
He stared at the Hobbit hard, eyes narrowed in challenge. "You had a chance to leave. Why did you come back?"
"Look, I know you doubt me, always have," he started softly a small bitter chuckle leaving his lips. "And you're right too. I've doubted myself. And yes I often think of Bag End. I miss my books and my armchair and my garden," he murmured. "That's where I belong. It's my home. But… you don't have a home. It was taken from you. And that's why I came back. Everyone deserves to have a home. And I will help you take yours back if I can."
Percia was just as silent as the others as she thought over his words. How long had it been since she had a home? Had she ever really had one? She had thought Camp had become such only to have that ripped from her. Then again she was a half-breed, not really welcome anywhere…
A small touch broke her from her dark thoughts and her eyes met Kili's. He looked worried for her so she tried to smile but she knew it came out as more of a grimace. Before he could speak loud howls filled the air alerting the Company to a new threat.
"Out of the frying pan," Thorin muttered angrily.
"And into the fire," Gandalf finished. "Run! Run!"
The group dashed into the trees trying to flee the wargs bounding down on them. Percia dodged through the trees keeping her senses open for her fellow travelers, her sword easily taking out one of the beasts as it lunged for her. Various battle cries and vicious snarls echoed around her. The woods managed to thin the approaching force but the trees thinned out opening to a cliff face leaving them well and truly trapped.
Percia let a sharp curse pass her tongue just as Gandalf ordered them into the trees. Jumping up she snagged the bottom branch before swinging herself up into the boughs. The others scrambled after her and she leant down to help Oin up followed by his brother. Higher and higher they climbed to avoid the claws of the wargs. Glancing around she noted all of them had managed to get high enough to avoid the creatures.
Surprisingly their attackers back off circling the tree trunks angrily. Clearly they were waiting for the White Orc that rode up calmly on its mount, his eyes gleaming evilly as he stared at them. From Thorin's hoarsely whispered denial she guessed this was Azog the Defiler. He certainly looked the part.
With a command in his guttural language the wargs renew their attack, pushing against the tree trunks and managing leaps to break the branches towards the bottom. Percia might not have worried too much except the trees started to shudder and shake, the roots pulling up from the loose soil. She shared knowing looks with those around her and almost groaned as they turned to the tree behind theirs, the distance lessened as the tree tilted forward. Apparently those in the trees beside them had the same predicament. So the groups jumped from treetop to treetop grasping the branches and trunks for dear life as the beasts continued their assault. Their escape halted as they all managed to find a place within the branches of the last tree standing dangerously close to the cliff edge. The Wargs pushing against it to force its roots up certainly didn't help.
At least their wizard had an idea as he dropped burning pinecones to the Company giving them something to throw at the creatures. Cheers rose as the enemy started to retreat from the flames, which glowed brightly in the descending darkness. So of course their good fortune had to end with their tree succumbing to the weight and tipping precariously off the cliff.
Percia wrapped her arms around her branch as tightly as she could, grateful for her slight weight when her legs dangled into thin air. It took some doing but she managed to pull herself up enough to help her neighbors. Just as she managed to get Bifur's top half on the branch she heard the others yelling at Thorin.
For some reason the fool thought it would be a great idea to charge Azog and his warg. Like all such 'brilliant' ideas it ended in his defeat. The beast managed to get its great maw around his middle and tossed the Dwarf like a rag doll to the ground. Many of the others tried to get to their feet to aid their leaders, while the rest simply tried to hang on. She could hear the screams of Dori and Ori from where they hung from Gandalf's staff.
Suddenly one member managed to get their footing and charged the orc moving to kill Thorin. Most were surprised, but she knew there was more to Bilbo than met the eye. She watched the Hobbit tackle the orc then thrust his sword in its gut, mentally noting they needed to work on his form some more. However, he stood bravely before Thorin's fallen body daring any others to come forward. Well, Percia wouldn't let him stand-alone.
Checking that Bifur had a good grip she launched to her feet and darted off the tree, followed quickly by Kili, Fili and Dwalin. Their group crashed into the orcs that advanced on Bilbo and slashed at the remaining wargs and riders.
Percia slipped easily under the swing of a mace, then jabbed Riptide into the orc's chest, pulling it out in time to arch it down into the warg's head killing both rider and mount. Turning quickly she faced another two wargs moving in tandem to attack her. The first lunged at her, ending up with a slash to its eyes for the effort. The second went to make a move only to be swept up in the claws of a gigantic bird. Soon the large forms were dive-bombing the area, knocking the wargs away and sweeping the Company members up in their great claws.
Percia cringed as she saw one coming right for her, the impact of its talons with her midsection unpleasant. However she preferred that to the drop she endured when the eagle released its hold allowing her to fall onto the back of another eagle. Sitting up she found Nori holding onto the feathers, eyes wide with panic and trepidation. She didn't really blame him, though she found it ironic that she was flying in the sky, on the animal Zeus claimed as one of his symbols and not one lightning bolt threatened to strike. Definitely going down as a favored memory.
Through the dark she could make out the forms of several more eagles, some carrying the members of their group. With no way to tell if everyone had made it she forced herself to relax and settle into the ride.
She didn't know how long they flew, but given the rising of the sun it had been for a good amount of time even with the summer's shorter nights. With the lightened sky she could finally make out the members of the expedition, relief flooding her when she counted fifteen.
The eagles circled a tall hillside dropping off the Company one eagle at a time. Many rushed to Thorin's unmoving form. Percia slid off her mount, nodding in thanks before turning to join the others, moving close to Kili to offer him support. She watched as Gandalf knelt over the Dwarf, seeming to whisper something. Whatever he did must have worked as the King started to move, Kili and Dwalin working together to help him up. Once he had his feet though he shrugged them off.
Really what was with men and being stubborn? The Dwarf was used as a chew toy for goodness sake!
"You! What were you doing," he yelled at Bilbo of all people. Percia frowned and stepped forward tired of the way he treated the Hobbit. Only Fili's hand on her arm stopped her. His look managed to calm her enough to have her wait to see what happened, then she would smack the stubborn idiot.
"You nearly got yourself killed," he continued bellowing at poor Bilbo who looked ready to flee. "Did I not say you were a burden? That you would not survive in the wild and that you had no place amongst us?"
Seemed Percia missed a lot. Thorin was lucky he never tried such with her; she would have broken his nose. She still might if he kept advancing on Bilbo so threateningly.
"I've never been so wrong in my life," he breathed out, pulling the startled Hobbit into a hug.
Good, now she wouldn't have to hurt him more than he already is. The others cheered and clapped each other on the back. Fili sent her a cheeky wink that had her rolling her eyes, but smiling back none-the-less. Moving to the edge she tried to see just how they would get off this particular rock formation and to the much sturdier ground.
"Is that what I think it is?" Bilbo's question pulled her from her thoughts.
Turning she found everyone staring at the large lone mountain in the far distance, still weeks away given the looks of it. Reminded her a bit of Everest, only not as white. Certainly tall enough.
"Erebor," Gandalf stated somewhat dramatically. "The Lonely Mountain. The last great Dwarf Kingdoms of Middle Earth."
"Our home," Thorin adds softly.
"A raven," Oin suddenly declared of the small bird that flew past them. "The birds are returning to the mountain."
"That, my dear Oin, is a thrush," Gandalf corrected him. Percia managed to bite back a chuckle at the old Dwarf's affronted look.
"But we'll take it as a sign," Thorin advised with one of his rare smiles. "A good omen."
"You're right," Bilbo agreed. "I do believe the worst is behind us."
Yes, she really needed to explain to these people the concept of a jinx.