We're almost at the end, one chapter left and the first part of this FanFic is over. Wow. Well, for the second to last time, I own nothing recognizable as Tolkien's works or characters. I only own Elva, Isil, and Aerin. Reviews welcome! Enjoy! :)
Chapter 11: Out of the Frying Pan
"Wait!" Called Thorin.
The Goblin King stopped in mid swing, inches from Elva's skull. She refused to flinch or show any form of weakness as he came for her. But she was thankful for Thorin's intervention and shot him a grateful glance. The Dwarf prince glanced at her and gave a slight nod in return. She knew that he was more than thankful to her for protecting Ori. For all his faults and stubbornness, Elva had to give him a grudging respect, he was protective of his kin. They were both very alike, cut from the same cloth. Both had gone through tragedy, and both had hardened their hearts to the world. But but they were learning to accept help and open up again. Perhaps they were kindred spirits after all, Elva decided. And it was then she decided that a fourth person had to be placed under her protection, even if he wouldn't accept it willingly. Ori, and Bilbo, and of course Bofur, but now Thorin was added to the growing list of those who had managed to get past her walls. Gandalf would certainly be pleased with how things were turning out. Suddenly, Elva realized Thorin stood in front of her protectively.
"Well, well, well." The Goblin King grinned. "Look who it is. Thorin, son of Thrain, son or Thror. King Under the Mountain."
He gave a mocking, overly exaggerated bow. Elva curled her lips back in disdain. Then the Goblin King looked down at him gleefully.
"Oh!" He cried. "But I'm forgetting! You don't have a mountain, and you're not a king. Which makes you... nobody really. I know someone who would pay a pretty price for your head. Just the head, nothing attached. Perhaps you know of whom I speak? An old enemy of yours. The pale Orc astride a white Warg."
"Azog the Defiler," Thorin whispered maliciously. "Was destroyed. He was slain in battle long ago."
"So you think defiling days are done, do you?" The Goblin King asked knowingly.
He turned to a crippled, tiny Goblin.
"Send word to the Pale Orc." He ordered. "Tell him, I have found his prize."
Elva stayed protectively in front of Ori and Bofur, her tail lashing angrily. Bofur laid a hand on her shoulder and she tensed until she saw it was just him. He gave her a worried look, and she returned it with one full of hate at the Goblin King. Where was Gandalf when they needed him? He always had the good sense to turn up at the last possible second, but this was cutting a little close. The Goblin King began to sing a merry tune that involved the breaking of bones and necks, and hangings, and being buried deep under the mountain forever. The Goblins began to jab and prod at the Dwarves again, getting excited. Elva snapped at them viciously. She would not let them take Bofur or Ori, or even the rest of them. Suddenly one of the Goblins threw down Thorin's blade as though it had burned it. The Goblin King cowered on his throne.
"I know that sword!" He cried. "It is the 'Goblin Cleaver'! The 'Biter'! The blade that sliced a thousand necks! Slash them! Beat them! Kill them! Kill them all!"
The Goblins attacked with renewed fury; clawing, and whipping, and biting, and tackling. Elva did what she could to reach Bofur, or Ori, or Thorin, or anyone to help, but she was overwhelmed by the sheer force of the numerous Goblins. One Goblin had Thorin pinned and was posed to strike.
"Cut off his head!" The Goblin King ordered.
"No!" Elva snarled.
She broke away from the Goblins that held her to the floor and ran for Thorin. The Goblin brought his blade down and she knew she would be too late to save him. Suddenly a brilliant white light burst forward and knocked everyone to the ground. Elva was thrown to the floor harshly and a sudden rush of heat ran through her. It was worse than the pain of her quick-shift, but lasted only a fraction of a second. Everyone began struggling to their feet. Gandalf stood on the bridge, just in time.
"You took your time." Elva grunted.
"I had an important meeting to attend to." Gandalf replied softly, then turned his attention to the company. "Take up arms. Fight... Fight!"
They jumped to their feet, grabbed their weapons, and waged battle against the Goblins. Elva lunged, snapped, bit, and clawed the Goblins around her. Dark blood splattered her fur and dripped from her jaws. Her eyes were wild in anger as she fended off the Goblin hordes. Gandalf called them to himself and ran from the cavern. They made their way across poorly constructed bridges and down rickety steps. Elva wondered how they weren't falling through. But on they ran, fighting and Goblins they met along the way. Countless Goblins fell as they ran. The company was almost away from the horde when the Goblin King suddenly blocked their path. Elva curled her lips in defiance, making sure she was in front of Bofur and Ori.
"You thought you could escape me?" He asked, swinging his staff at Gandalf. "What are you going to do now, Wizard?"
Gandalf lunged forward and jabbed the Goblin King in the eye with his staff. He howled in pain and Elva snorted in sadistic pleasure. Then the Wizard cut open the massive gut of the Goblin King and he fell to his knees. He looked around a moment, confused, then nodded.
"That'll do it." He said.
Then Gandalf slit open his neck and the Goblin King fell dead. His body weight began cracking the unstable platform and it fell loose from its holdings. One moment the company was standing surrounded by Goblins, and the next their platform was sliding down the cavern walls. They stopped at the floor of the cave and the platform collapsed. Elva wriggled out from the mass of wood and rope and shook herself. She glanced at Bofur to make sure he was alright. He looked up at her from his position under the wood and grinned.
"That was an adventure." Elva stated humourlessly.
"Well, that could have been worse." He replied.
Suddenly the Goblin King's dead body crashed on top of them and squished them. Elva stared in shocked and amusement.
"You've got to be joking." Dwalin growled.
And for the first time in over a millenia Elva laughed and sound came forth. The Dwarves stared at her incredulously, while Gandalf looked on in quiet joy. Seconds after she did so she froze, her eyes wide with shock. Elva tilted her head slowly to look at Gandalf, not believing what just happened. He looked at her approvingly and she blinked at him for a moment.
"Go on, try it out." He prompted. "What is the first thing you wish to say after your silence?"
Elva was silent for a moment, hope fluttering in her chest. Was her punishment over? Did the Valar truly give her her voice back? She swallowed thickly wondering what to say. Elva had no idea what she wanted her first words to be. Bofur caught her eyes and gave her an encouraging nod. Right then, Elva knew what to say.
"Quite the pair, the two of us." She smiled softly.
He grinned wider at her and Elva couldn't help but give a grin back. Gandalf cleared his throat and caught Elva's attention.
"Now, my dear." He said. "The Valar are very pleased with your progress and have granted you your voice back. However, they will not restore your title as a Maiar until they have found satisfaction that your lesson shall never be forgotten, and that you know how to use your love."
"I... understand." Elva replied hesitantly.
She struggled to see why the Valar waited, but so far they had been right. She would try to give them her trust on this. But it would be hard, for she wanted her lesson to be over. Elva sighed in resignation and went to help pull the Dwarves from the rubble. Suddenly Kili shouted for Gandalf. Everyone looked up and saw a whole host of Goblins clambering down the walls of the cavern towards the company. And they were angry.
"There's too many." Dwalin said. "We can't fight them."
"Only one thing will save us now." Gandalf nodded. "Daylight."
The company rushed towards a tunnel that would lead to the outside. Elva nudged Ori and Bofur into the tunnel before her, then waited until everyone else filed in. She gave a last glance at the Goblins, growling at them, then ducked into the tunnel herself. Not long later they could see a shaft of daylight coming from the outside. Elva sighed in relief when the light filtered through. The company rushed outside and continued down the hill to safety. Gandalf counted each head, but only made it to thirteen. Their Hobbit was missing.
"Where's Bilbo?" He asked. "Where is our Hobbit?... Where is our Hobbit!"
Several of the Dwarves began to look around, but there was no sign of the smallest member. Suddenly Elva scented something behind them. It was the Hobbit. He had made it out of the caves too! She turned and was about to speak but Thorin spoke up first.
"I'll tell you what happened." He growled in an accusatory tone. "Master Baggins saw his chance and he took it. He's thought of nothing but his soft bed and warm hearth since he stepped out his door. We will not be seeing our Hobbit again. He is long gone."
The Dwarves looked around silent and sad. They all believed it to be true. Bilbo had abandoned them. Elva rounded on Thorin, a growl emanating from her throat; it was something she was yet to get used to after so long living in silence. She was about to put him in his place when Bilbo stepped forward.
"No, he isn't." Bilbo piped up, causing a collective gasp.
"Bilbo Baggins." Gandalf grinned. "I have never been so glad to see you in all my life."
"Bilbo!" Kili grinned. "We'd given you up."
"How on earth did you get past the Goblins?" Fili asked.
"How indeed?" Dwalin asked.
Bilbo gave a nervous laugh and slipped something into his pocket. Elva saw the glint of something small, golden, and round in his hand as he tucked it away. She pinned her ears and glanced at Gandalf. The Wizard had seen it too. But there was little way of telling whether it was what the ancient pair feared it to be. Gandalf let it go and smiled hesitantly.
"Well what does it matter?" He said. "He's back."
"It matters." Thorin insisted. "I want to know. Why did you come back?"
"Look, I know you doubt me." Bilbo told him. "I-I know you always have. You're right, I think often of Bag-End. I miss my books, and my armchair, and my garden. See, that's where I belong, that's home. That is why I came back; you don't have one... a home It was taken from you. But I will help you take it back if I can."
Thorin glanced at the ground shamefully. He had been wrong about the small Hobbit. Elva sat on her haunches and smiled inwardly. She wasn't the only one who had grown in such a short period of time. Perhaps Master Baggins had grown the most out of all. The other Dwarves stared at Bilbo with respect and admiration. And Gandalf had never looked more proud of those he cared for. Suddenly the forest was filled with the howls of Wargs that came down from the mountain. Everyone looked in the direction they sounded, startled. They were not out of the woods just yet.
"Out of the frying pan." Thorin whispered.
"And into the fire." Gandalf finished. "Run...Run!"
Heheh, did you see how I sneakily put in the title chapter there. I have been watching a whole bunch of Hobbit fan videos, some are really good, others not so much. But the good ones are beyond amazing! Go check some out if you have the time. And yay, Elva has her voice back :) the lessons are starting to pay off. One chapter to go!