It took a while for her heart to calm from her dream. Fili tried to coax her into a conversation but she just wasn't feeling it. All she could think on was the monster Urchin had sent to this world. One clearly meant to hunt her. As if the company did not have enough creatures on their trail.
Above them echoed sounds of merriment and raucous celebration. It seemed these Elves knew how to party, much to the annoyance of her fellow cellmates. Percia bet if she knew Dwarvish she'd had learned quite a few new curse words the way Gloin and Dwalin were complaining.
"I'll wager the sun's on the rise," Bofur announced wistfully after the noise from above finally tapered off. "It must be nearly dawn."
It was Ori though that voiced the thought on everyone's mind. "We're never going to reach the mountain, are we?" He sounded so defeated that Percia just wanted to hug him.
"Not stuck in here, you're not." The response was surprising and welcome all at once. Percia stood by her door watching as their savior started opening the cells.
"Bilbo," Balin greeted jovially, relief clear in his tone.
"Shhh," the Hobbit warned. "There are guards nearby!"
Percia smiles at their burglar when he frees her, watching as several members reunited happily before trying to climb up the stairs, only to have Bilbo cut them off.
"Not that way! Down here, follow me."
The group follows him down further into the bowels of the kingdom. Finally they spill out into what is clearly a wine cellar given the amount of barrels and bottles stacked up. It also seemed to serve as a guardroom, though given the sleeping state of said guards it was debatable.
"This way," Bilbo coaxed them in further not noticing the angry looks from the Dwarves.
"I don't believe it," Kili hissed. "We're in the cellars!"
"You were supposed to be leading us out," Bofur huffed irritably. "Not further in!"
"I know what I'm doing," the Hobbit snapped. "Now everyone climb in the barrels, quickly!"
"Are you mad," Dwalin growled out, but Percia saw or more felt the reason for his request.
"The river," she murmured softly, not noticing how Thorin glanced her way. Slowly she climbed into one of the higher barrels as requested. The others just stared in disbelief.
"Please, please," Bilbo urged. "You must trust me!"
Thorin eyed the smaller being for a moment before barking at the others. "Do as he says!"
Reluctantly they comply while Bilbo did a head count to verify all of them had made it.
"What do we do now," Bofur asked as the others watched Bilbo walking to a lever. Percia braced herself in the barrel having a pretty good idea of what would come.
"Hold your breath." Before anyone could clarify, Bilbo pulled the lever back releasing the floor and sending the barrels rolling down into the water below. For a minute Percia's stomach threatened to revolt, but she managed to hold it in. Once the barrel stabilized she peaked out, letting her hands trail in the cool water. Moans and groans from the others echoed in the small cavern under the wine cellar bringing a smile to her face. Served them right for doubting Bilbo.
With that thought she glanced around for their Hobbit, only to have him fall through the trap door and splash into the water behind them. When he popped back up he grabbed onto Nori's barrel, looking very much like a drowned kitten.
"Well done, Master Baggins," Thorin complemented him, though Bilbo only waved his hand directing them to move on.
As the barrels moved out Percia tried to slow the progress somewhat, but not even she could contain the fury of the river's rapids. They would simply have to ride it out. It kind of reminded her of the water rides at the amusement parks, though have a barrel for a craft certainly was a first. The water rushed past and roared as they went over the waterfall. She made sure the currents didn't pull any of them too deep, or in Bilbo's case, take the Hobbit completely.
Sadly their departure had not gone unnoticed long. A loud shout caught her attention and she could make out the blond leader from before. Up ahead more Elves, guarding a gate to control the waters, moved to obey him. The metal grates clanged together ending their run for freedom.
"No," Thorin bellowed, his hands beating against the bars futilely.
The river pushed all of the barrels together in a cluster. Percia frowned in concentration, trying to push the metal apart with the water. However, the bars allowed the river through, thus there was no reason to fight against their blockade.
The Elven guards prepared to re-capture them only to fall to the onslaught of arrows.
"Watch out," Bofur yelled. "Those are orcs!"
Sure enough a group of the dastardly beasts swarmed out of the woods and attacked the company. The members fought them off as best they could; stealing the weapons of those they downed. Percia sent shots of pressurized water at them, throwing them off or blocking their arrows. Vaguely she noted Kili hopping out of his barrel and rushing to the lever controlling the gate. She did not see the arrow sent his way though as she worked on keeping the attack from the other side off them. Fili's scream of his brother's name certainly caught her attention.
Snapping her head about, she found him stumbling to his feet, his right leg sporting a nasty looking arrow. His first attempt on the lever didn't work and he fell back in pain. Thankfully help arrived in the form of their pervious captures, their arrows striking down the orcs. This time Kili managed to open the gate before jumping into one of the empty barrels with a cry of pain.
Like a dam breaking the group spilled forth and down the river, the current sweeping them down quickly. Still the orcs pursued them. Percia had to admire their dedication, even if she didn't like it. The Elves also followed. The following battle, and she used the term loosely, was strange even for her standards. One by one the orcs fell to either the Dwarves or the Elves. At one point the blond Elf even used a few of the company as foot holders as he fought. Percia concentrated on keeping Bilbo in sight, as he was the only one without a raft, and knocking as many orcs as she could off path with strategic shots of water. Had she paid more attention she might have noticed the looks this earned her from the two Elven combatants.
Finally the orcs and Elves could no longer follow them as the river swept them down further.