Hi there!

So sorry for the wait…I started back to work this week after the Christmas holidays, and haven't had the time (nor energy) to update…but I'm back now… :D

Thanks so much for reading so far, please leave me a review with your thoughts!

Enjoy!

Onwards…..

Thorin thrashed in the troll's hand, yelling savagely. He twisted and looked around the cavern. Where was Kili? Fili? The others? He couldn't see any of them…

The troll sniffed, sucking in all the air it could around its face, its eyes lazy and unfocussed. Thorin growled and snatched at his spare small sword, which he always kept strapped to his left calf. He stabbed it into the thumb of the troll, twisting the blade around. It stopped and looked down at Thorin with one eye.

'This one's got sharp bits too!' it said, eyes narrowing. Thorin lurched forwards, thrusting his sword forwards. He felt warm blood and something sticky seep into his sleeves; there was a horrible noise as the troll's eye popped as he drove his sword in. It screamed in agony and anger and flung Thorin away; but the Dwarf had been anticipating this and timed his landing; he landed heavily, but rolled to break his fall. He looked up and threw himself out of the way as the troll stomped past, both hands over its eyes as it screamed, blood still raining down onto the floor.

-x-

It was a terrible sound, reverberating off the cavern walls and Bilbo looked up in panic. What was happening up there?

'Right...' he muttered. His hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat; he was definitely going to cook if he stayed her any longer. He could see bubbles around him and he could see himself turning into a Hobbit Stew. He took a deep breath and let himself sink to the bottom of the cauldron; the blackness enveloped him, pressing down hard, he could feel the heat and winced as the water filled his ears. When his feet found the bottom he kicked upwards with all his might, flapping his arms as hard as he could. He broke the surface hard and grabbed at the top of the cauldron with his hands, just…one…more…inch… He fell back into the water with a frustrated yell. He wasn't tall enough! How could he do anything now? He couldn't even save himself…

-x-

The little spit of light that had been seeping in to the cavern from the hole they had fallen through was fading; it must've been getting dark in the forest above them.

'Fili…'

Fili looked down at his little brother. Kili's teeth were chattering together, his face a too pale shade of white. He looked awful. Blood caked the side of his face and his hair was stuck together with congealing blood.

'Hey…' he leaned in closer, pulling Kili up slightly so his head was resting against his chest. Fili sat with his back to the wall, legs drawn up slightly so Kili could sit in front of him. 'Hey, you're going to be ok' he told him softly. Panic was still throbbing inside him, his stomach a bubbling pit of lava; where was Thorin? But as Kili looked up at him with wide, pain filled eyes, all thoughts of other things flew from his mind. His brother needed him.

'Hurts…' moaned Kili, eyes clenching shut, a bubble of blood popping at the side of his mouth.

'I know' Fili soothed. 'Hang on in there, brother' he added softly.

'Damn…trolls' Kili breathed, wincing as the troll gave another pain filled scream. He turned his head and buried it in his Fili's chest. 'My leg…?'

Fili looked down. And wished he didn't.

His little brother's leg was a mess; a piece of bone was sticking out of it, his foot turned the wrong way around. Blood had soaked his trouser legs and was starting to dry; any movement however, was breaking open the wounds again. The other leg seemed fine to look at but, but who knew how much pain Kili was in with it? He felt sick, a fierce anger exploded within him. No one does this to his brother and gets away with it…he would kill that troll…he would kill every troll here…

Pulling in a deep breath, he looked weakly down at Kili, who hadn't looked up. 'It's still there, if that's what you mean.' He tried to inject some humour in, but could tell it was wasted on Kili.

-x-

Thorin carefully dodged the troll's legs as it thrashed around above him; he ran towards the prison of other dwarves in the corner. Balin rushed forwards, hands gripping the tree branches, face squashed into the wood.

'Thorin!' he yelled weakly, reaching out with one hand. 'You're alive?'

Thorin, face covered with a sheen of sweat, spared him a minimal glance. 'No thanks to you!' he spat, sheathing his sword and stepping forwards. He winced as his rib's jarred, curling a hand protectively around his upper torso.

'Where have you been?' he looked behind Balin, 'Where have any of you been?'

'In this cage' Bofur offered, his coccyx aching from where he had been sat down for so long. 'There hasn't been any room to move, let alone escape.'

'You didn't even try!' thundered Thorin, face contorting in anger. 'You've just been sat here while we've been hounded and tortured.'

His eyes narrowed even further; this was the angriest Balin had ever seen him, and he had seen him on the battlefield.

'And where is the wizard?' Thorin's voice came out in a deadly whisper. 'Where is the wizard who did not help?'

Balin opened his mouth to answer, but closed it again as he realised the question was rhetorical; Thorin was much too angry now and only a fool would engage him in conversation.

A deadly silence followed and all that could be heard was the drip drip from the cavern walls and the moans and low voices of the trolls. After what seemed like an age, Bofur spoke.

'Where's Bilbo?'

Thorin's face paled further. He spun around and then he saw it. The cauldron he had been in not so long ago stood in the middle of the stone room, just to the side of where the trolls were gathered. The flames roaring underneath it gave off a stifling heat and Thorin took a step forwards.

'Wait! Let us out, we'll help!' Bofur, catching on, looking terrified, yet angry at the same time at the thought of Bilbo inside the cauldron.

'I think now…'

A low, deep, yet authoritative voice echoed from behind all the dwarves in the cage. Gandalf spoke at last.

'…It is time to use our heads'

'Aye and the wizard still talks in riddles' Bofur sighed, yelling at Gandalf swung his staff at him as best he could.

'Yes, Bofur, and yet there is no one here with the intelligence to work them out!' he spoke quickly, angrily, and Bofur didn't reply. He looked at the floor.

'Now, master Bombur, if you would be so kind to move towards the entrance of this prison, I think we should start getting out…'

Bombur looked up from his position behind Balin, and moved his bulk forwards, squashing Balin against the side of the prison; the wood creaked ominously.

Thorin watched with anger bubbling in his throat; Bilbo was boiling in that cauldron, Fili and Kili were nowhere to be seen. They were wasting their time here…

'Now' continued Gandalf. 'If all of us at the back could give a good hard shove, I rather think we'll be out of here soon enough'

The rest of the Dwarves surged forwards. Ori let out a high pitched warrior yell and Gandalf looked over at him. 'Quietly!' he thundered, making Ori jump. 'Do you want to bring those Troll's back over our heads?!'

Ori nodded, face turning a crimson colour. But he didn't have time to feel self- conscious; the rest of the Company had continued to move forwards, squashing the heaviest dwarf again the wood.

'Again!' Thorin barked, moving forwards and gripping the wood in front of him the best he could, ribs permitting.

The Company obliged and moved backwards, before, as one, surging forwards again. This time the cage cracked, sending sawdust raining down on them. There was one final shove before the cage fell apart around them, the Dwarves pushing odd bits of debris off of them.

'Let's split up' ordered Thorin. He pointed behind him. 'Bilbo is in there, get him out! All of you'

Not willing to argue with such an angry leader, the Company departed immediately, led by Bofur, who ran the fastest towards where the Hobbit was.

'Thorin!' Gandalf limped up to him. 'Where are Fili and Kili'

'I do not know, Gandalf!' hissed Thorin. 'I will find them!'

'I shall aid you' Gandalf promised, falling into step behind the Dwarf as he ran towards where the trolls were.

The trolls stood together, the half blinded troll in the middle. As he ran, Thorin caught snatches of their conversation.

'Put it back in!' one was advising.

There was another squelching noise and a loud wailing howl followed it.

'Thorin!' Gandalf grabbed the Dwarf's shoulder, pulling him around.

There, huddled against the wall, were his nephews.

'Thank above…' muttered Thorin, sprinting as best as he could towards them.

-x-

Fili looked up, eyes bleary. His injuries were taking their toll on him…if he could only stay awake. His uncle was there…and so was Gandalf…they were saved.

He looked down at his little brother. 'Kili, Thorin is alive! You're going to be fine…'

He shook his brother by the shoulder. He got no response. His brother's face was buried in his chest, dark hair glistening with blood.

A heavy feeling of horror filled Fili's stomach.

'Kili!' he shook his shoulder harder this time and let out an anguished moan as Kili's head lolled to one side.

Thorin stopped short, feed skidding on the stone floor as he came to a stop. What he saw would stay inside his brain, seared into his heart forever.

Kili was lying across the ground, propped up by his brother, who was bone white and shaking himself. But it was Fili's expression, his eyes, that would haunt Thorin until the day he died. His eyes were wide, blown out. His mouth was a round circle of shook.

'Thorin…' Fili reached out with a shaking, blood encrusted hand.

'I think….' Fili took a deep breath and let out a dog-like moan.

'…I think he's dead'

…don't kill me! :D

Thank you so much for reading, I really hope you liked it!

I'll be back as soon as I can!

xx