Chapter 4

Young but Powerful

I saw Thorin take up his sword and then pick up Lin. I turned just in time to stop a goblin arrow. I threw a knife into its eye.

"This way! Quickly!"

Fili was now carrying Lin so Thorin could fight. Goblins chased after us as we ran. I caught Fili by the arm.

"Promise me that no matter what happens you will protect her." I said.

"I give you my word. She will be safe."

I nodded and he ran off with her. I trusted no one with the safety of my daughter, but this time I knew I had to. I ran with Thorin and the others, cutting down goblins as I went. Thorin spun around killing several at once and Balin defeated every goblin that came near him. As we went I saw goblins swinging down from ropes.

"Cut the ropes!" Thorin shouted.

We did as he said and one of the platforms fell forward. The goblins wrapped around it and we kept running. Kili was being fired at and he took a ladder from the wall. He lowered it onto the goblins and then pushed them back with help from the others. He made a bridge and we made our way across it. We jumped onto a platform and Gandalf cut a rope and it moved forward. I made sure Fili and Lin got off first. When we all got off safely we kept going. Gandalf struck the ceiling with his staff. A boulder came down and he pushed it forward. It crushed all the goblins before us and I continued to kill the goblins following behind. As we came to a bridge, the great goblin came up from below.

"You thought you could escape me?"

He swung his club at Gandalf.

"What are you going to do now wizard?"

Gandalf poked him in the eye and then sliced his gut. He fell to his knees and nodded.

"Well that will do it."

Gandalf slit his throat and he fell to the ground with a thud. However the supports on the bridge snapped and we all started to slide down. I looked for Lin and Fili and found them both safe. As we came to the ground Fili pushed Lin out so the wood and rubble would not crush her. Lin started to help Fili out and she smiled at him. I could not help but smile at the look they shared.

"Well that could have been worse." Bofur said.

That was when the body of the great goblin came down on them.

"You have got to be joking!" Dwalin hissed.

I smiled at my daughter. Even though she was hurt she was still helping to get the others out. She pulled Thorin out he smiled at her.

"For one so young you are very strong." he said.

She smiled and then Fili lifted her into his arms again.

"Gandalf!" Kili cried.

We looked up to see all the goblins coming down to us.

"There is too many! We cannot fight them!" Dwalin said.

"Only one thing will save us, daylight! Run!" Gandalf cried.

Fili took off with my daughter. The rest of us followed Gandalf. As we passed a passageway I saw a horrid creature. And yet it looked scared.

"Who are you?" I asked.

It looked at me with large pale blue eyes. It looked skeletal and did not appear to be capable of much. I took a step forward. I looked into my bag for something, anything to give this poor creature. I found some dried fish and held it out to him.

"Here. Please take it."

It snatched the fish from my hand and then disappeared into the darkness. Someone grabbed me and dragged me away. It was Thorin. We ran out into the sun and found the others waiting for us down the hill. I looked at Thorin a bit surprised.

"You went back for me?"

He nodded and I smiled.

"Thank you."

I looked for Lin and found her still in Fili's arms. She smiled at me along with Fili. I walked over and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you for keeping my daughter safe Fili son of Durin." I said.

"The pleasure was all mine lady. Such a beautiful lass should live a long and happy life." He said.

I saw Lin blush and I smiled a bit.

"Where is Bilbo?" Gandalf asked suddenly.

I looked around and noticed the hobbit was not there. Thorin did not seem too bothered by it though. Lin stood up and called Bilbo's name.

"Where is out hobbit!?"

"I think I saw him slip away when they first cornered us." Nori said.

"Well what happened exactly? Tell me!" Gandalf demanded.

"I shall tell you what happened. Master Baggins saw his chance and he took it. He has 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. He is long gone."

Before I could stop her, Lin hit Thorin in the chest.

"Lin!"

I grabbed her and pulled her back.

"How can you say that about Bilbo!? You think he is the only one who thinks of home!? I think of my home every day! Do you not miss Erebor? Now I care about you Thorin but what you said is wrong! Bilbo would not abandon us like that!"

"Lin I am here."

"Quiet Bilbo! I am trying to…."

We all turned and there was Bilbo. Lin limped over to him and hugged him. Bilbo laughed and pat her back.

"Well I am glad to see you missed me."

Lin laughed and stepped back.

"Bilbo Baggins I have been so glad to see anyone in my life." Gandalf said.

"Bilbo! We had given you up." Kili said.

"How on earth did you get past the goblins?" Fili asked curiously.

"How indeed?" Dwalin said.

Bilbo laughed and slipped his hands into his pockets.

"Well what does it matter? He is back."

"It matters. I want to know, why did you come back?"

I looked at Thorin with understanding in my eyes.

"Look I know you doubt me, and I know you always have. You are correct I often think of Bag End. See that is where I belong, that is home. You do not have one, a home. It was taken from you and no one deserves that. So I shall help you take it back if I can."

I smiled at Bilbo.

"As will I. Like you said I may be young but I am strong." Lin said.

I stepped forward.

"So shall I. I will face the dragon myself if I must. I know what a home means to a person. We will reclaim it."

Thorin had gratitude in his blue eyes. He bowed his head to me in respect and I did the same. I heard growling behind me and I turned. My eyes went wide.

"You." I hissed.

The wargs began to howl.

"Out of the frying pan…."

"And into the fire. Run. Run!"

Fili picked up Lin and ran off. The wargs started to run down the hill. I ran away and when everyone stopped I did too. We were on the edge of a cliff.

"Up into the trees!" Gandalf said.

Fili threw Lin up and she grabbed a branch. He climbed up after her and I after him. The orc I had hoped to never see again rode forward. I looked him in the eye and glared. He sniffed the air.

"~Do you smell it? The scent of fear? I remember your father reeked of it! Thorin son of Thrain!~"

I looked at Thorin.

"It cannot be!"

"~That one is mine! Kill the others and bring the women to me! I could use more well bred orcs!~"

I looked at my daughter and then Fili.

"Protect her! No matter what!"

He nodded and the wargs began to jump into the trees. Lin screamed and I saw her fall. Kili and Fili both grabbed her and pulled her back up. As the trees began to fall, we jumped until all of us were in Gandalf's tree…..on the edge of the cliff. Fili had his arm around Lin, holding her close and holding onto another branch. I knew there was a good chance I would die tonight. I looked towards the east.

"Goheno nin Legolas. Amin mela lle." I whispered.