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Chapter Four

Statues and Hidden Paths

The troll who wasn't holding Bilbo left then came back with burlap sacks shoving half of the dwarves in them the other tied to a stake over the fire. I ended up in the nasty, smelly bags piled on everyone, but upside down with my face awfully close to Fili's. If I wasn't already embarrassed about being shoved in a bag, then this would have been quite embarrassing in itself.

The trolls were arguing against each other about how they were going to eat us. "Don't bother cooking 'em. Let's just sit on 'em and squash them into jelly," one said walking around the spit. It's nasty beady eyes looking at us licking its chops. Feeling my stomach churn.

"They should be sautéed and grilled with a nice sprinkle of sage," another the cook perhaps argued.

"Ooh that does sound quite nice." Looking at the one who mention that.

"Never mind the seasoning. We ain't got all night dawn don't lay far behind. Let's get a move on. I don't fancy on being turned to stone," the one turning the spit shouted.

Something clicked in my mind as I looked over at Bilbo who nodded as we both got the same idea. "Wait!" we both yelled. Bilbo was able to jump up to his feet in the bag. "You are making a terrible mistake."

"You can't reason with them. They're half-wits," Dori yelled from the spit.

"Half-wits? What does that make us?" Bofur shouted. Bilbo hopped over to them.

"With the seasoning," Bilbo finished looking at the three idiots.

"What about the seasoning?"

"Well have you smelt them? You're going to need something stronger to plate this lot up," Bilbo trying to convince them. Shouts of traitor came from the others as they tried to get after the hobbit who was trying to save our lives.

"What do you know about cooking dwarf?"

"Shut up and let the flugurbulber-hobbit talk," the other one said.

"The secret to cooking dwarves is to..." he blanked as I'm praying that he thinks of something fast. The trolls were bugging him until he said. "The secret to cooking dwarf is to...skin them first." Everyone started to object and thrash around hitting me in the process. Grimacing in pain from someone's elbow in my side.

"Tom get me filletin knife," the one said in front of Bilbo said.

"What a load of wrubbish. I've eaten plenty with their skin on," the one still spinning the spit said. I heard something rustling in the bushes.

"Nothing wrong with a bit of raw dwarf." the other said picking up Bombur, "nice and crunchy." It hovered him over its mouth.

"No...no not that one. He...he's infected," Bilbo blurted.

"You what?"

"Yeah he's got worms. In...in his tubes." The troll screeched dropping Bombur on us. The plump dwarf landed on top of us. His head smashed into my chest knocking the wind out of me causing me to cough.

"You alright?" Fili ask.

"Fine," hissing between my teeth.

"In fact they all have them. They are infested with parasites. It's a terrible business I wouldn't risk it." Bilbo said shaking his head.

"Did he say parasites?" Oin shouted.

"We don't have parasites!" Kili complained. My eyes watered as my breathing started to even out.

Finally, it was Thorin who looked at me realizing what Bilbo was trying to do. Kicking Kili who looked back at him then me as he realized what was going on.

"I've got parasites as big as my arm," Oin trying to sound convincing.

"Mine are the biggest parasite, I've got huge parasites," Kili shouted.

"What would you have us do? Let 'em all go?"

"Well," Bilbo said turning his head.

"You think I don't know what you are up to. This little ferret. He's taking us for fools."

"F... ferret?" Bilbo stuttered.

"The dawn will take you all!" Gandalf yelled as he climbed up on a boulder.

"Who's that?"

"No idea."

"Can we eat him to?"

Gandalf using his staff smashing it down on the rock causing it to split in half. Rays of sunlight burst into the clearing. The trolls screeched and roared trying to cover their faces, eventually turning into stone. Everyone started to cheer.

Gandalf released us from the bags. Then helping the others get off the spit. Going over to the pile of weapons finding my staff making sure it wasn't broken. Straightening up when a wave of pain shot through my chest. Hissing in pain as someone came over.

"Are you alright Ali?" Fili asked. Trying to regain my breath nodding.

"I'm fine. Just some bruising from the trolls." Trying to ease the pain.

"You better sit down." Fili helped me to a log sitting down. "I was also wondering about what happened earlier?" That's when I knew something had to be said.

"I'm just so confused. Who am I. Why do I keep seeing things but can't find the answer to them?" Placing my head in my hands. Placing his hand on my shoulder making me look up at him as he smiled.

"Ali all I know about you is that you are a good fighter. As good as any of us that has had years of training. You will get your answers soon I'm sure of it. My brother and I shall be here for you if anything were to happen. Like it or not you are part of the company as well as a good friend." Making me smile I couldn't help but hug him. Feeling him go rigid then hug me back.

"Sorry. I'm a bit of a hugger." Blushing as we let go.

"Quite alright." Smiling as I stood up seeing Kili coming over.

Thorin came over to us tossing something at me. Catching it looking down at a beautiful sword kept in a silver-blue scabbard with beautiful script in a different language etched into the metal. "So you have your own," he pointed. Looking at it as something came to my mind.

"This was made by elves," saying unconsciously. Everyone looked at me with my eyes glued to the sword.

"And how would you know that?" Gandalf questioned shaking my head looking up at him.

"I'm not sure. Something about this blade speaks to me." Gathering my thoughts to bring me back to the present rather it floating around in space.

"Something's coming!" Thorin shouted as noises could be heard ahead of us.
"Stay together hurry now!" Gandalf instructed. "Arm yourselves!" Grabbing my staff heading with the others ready to fight whatever it was coming. Well that was until a sled pulled by rabbits came out of the thickets with a man yelling.

"Thieves, fire, murders!" He was dressed in brown robes as well as looking disoriented. Gandalf let down his defense as he recognized him.

"Radagast. Radagast the Brown," he said sheathing his sword. Looking at Kili and Fili as we to let our defenses down just slightly. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you Gandalf. Something is terribly wrong," the man said looking at Gandalf.

"Yes?"

He started to speak but then froze. We all watched in anticipation, when he started to look flustered. "Just give me a minute. Oh I had a thought and now I lost it. It was right there on the tip of my tongue." Pointing at his mouth then his face rearranged as if he just now noticed something. "Oh it's not a thought at all. Just a silly old..." Gandalf pulled out a bug out of his mouth making me gag. "Stick insect." Gandalf dropped the insect into Radagast's hand and they ended up walking off together.

Turning around readjusting my cloak when glancing over seeing Kili looking at me smiling. "What?" Asking as he came over. Glancing just a little bit down since I stood maybe an inch or two taller than he is.

"How good are you with a bow?" Handed me his and an arrow.

"I took archery in school but had to quit because the club was cut." Telling him but he just looked at me funny. "Long story."

Taking the bow and arrow turning away from the others. Notching the arrow in the bow setting my aim at a tree. Just then there was a howl. Jumping out of my skin sending the arrow whizzing through the air lost in the forest. "What was that?"

"Was that a wolf?" Bilbo asked terrified. "Are there wolves out there?"

"Wolves no that was not a wolf," Bofur arming himself with his hammer. Noticing a wolf like animal slinking our way.

"Then what the hell is that!" Pointing behind the others. Throwing the bow back to Kili grabbing my staff for protection. It jumped at Dwalin, Thorin killed it as another one came out of the woods towards him. Kili shot it immediately as Dwalin took care of it by breaking its neck.

"Warg scouts. That means an Orc pack is not far behind," Thorin grumbled removing his sword from the dead warg.

"Orc Pack?!" Bilbo question making me look at Thorin then back at Gandalf.

"Who did you tell about your quest beyond your kin?" Gandalf questioned loudly.

"No one," Thorin answered.

"Who did you tell!" he bellowed not liking the answer the soon to be dwarf king gave.

No one I swear. What in Durin's name is going on?" Thorin questioned the wizard.

"You are being hunted," Gandalf announced.

"We have to get out of here," Dwalin shouted.

"We can't. We have no ponies they bolted," Ori said causing me to groan. After all, that time trying to save them from the trolls they left us.

"What now Gandalf?" Looking at the wizard hoping for an answer.

"I'll draw them off," Radagast exclaimed happily. Gandalf tried talking the Brown wizard out of the deal. Deciding that I needed to get a better scope on the situation.

"Kili give me a boost," Looking at the tree beside him. Nodding as I ran up to him giving me a boost into the trees. Getting to a good height seeing a pack of wargs with what I assumed were orc riders. "There's a good twenty wargs and half of them have riders." Reporting back to them as I climbed down.

Radagast got onto his sled. Bursting through the forest distracting the orcs and wargs chasing him. Following Gandalf as he led us towards the rocks keeping us hidden for the time being. "Come on."

Running then stopping my chest began to hurt. Kili grabbed my hand keeping me at his side as Fili stayed behind us. Staying behind the rocks keeping us hidden. Managing to look to the side hearing Radagast coming to close then leading them away. "What the heck is he doing?" whispering breathless.

"Stay together," Gandalf instructed starting the other way.

"Come on move," Thorin yelled. Thorin suddenly stopped but Ori kept going. "Ori no! Come back." Thorin pulled him back and out of the view of the orcs.

"Come on move," Gandalf motioned for us to go in the opposite way.

"Where are you leading us?" Hearing Thorin ask as we passed him. Not catching what else was said as we followed the others hoping for a safe passage.

Stopping to catch our breaths when something could be heard above us. Kili let go of my hand as he looked at his uncle. Grabbing an arrow stringing his bow. Stepping out from the rock shooting the warg in the leg causing it to fall. The orc screeched as it tried attacking us. They made such a racket that no doubt it attracted the others towards us. Dwalin and Bifur killed both orc and warg.

"Move! Run!" Gandalf yelled. Running noticing that they were gaining speed. "That way!" We were being surrounded Kili was up further with Fili as the rest of us stood back.

"There are more coming!" Kili shouted to us.

"Kili shoot them!" Thorin yelled. Oh boy did I wish that I had a bow and a quiver full of arrows myself. My grip on my staff tightened as I stood my ground.

"We're surrounded!" Fili yelled.

"Where's Gandalf!" someone yelled. I turned looking around but couldn't see him anywhere.

"He's abandoned us!" Dwalin yelled taking up his axe.

Ori used his sling shot and hit the warg in the head. It had no effect.

"Hold your ground!" Thorin yelled. Going over to Ori to help seeing as I had a sword and staff and all little Ori had was a sling shot. Not a very practical weapon of choice.

"Stay behind me Ori!" Shouting to him. He did as he was told which I was thankful for.

"This way you fools!" Gandalf yelled. Turning to see where he was. Following everyone else when a sharp pain rip through my chest making it hard to breathe. Stopping placing my hands on my knees as I doubled over in pain struggling to breathe.

"Ali!" Fili and Kili yelled.

"Kili!" Thorin yelled.

"I got her!" Fili yelled as Kili still shot the orcs with arrows. Fili picked me up as we made it down with everyone else with Kili and Thorin close behind.

Fili sat me down as Oin started to check on me. Then a horn was blown. Looking up just as an orc fell into the cavern towards us dead. Thorin pulled out an arrow and like a curse said, "Elves."

"I cannot see where the pathway leads. Do we follow it or no?" Dwalin asked further back in the cave.

"Follow it of course," Bofur replied and we all headed towards the path. My chest was still hurting but my breathing was returning to normal.

"Need to lean on me?" Fili asked.

"No thanks I can manage." Getting up wincing a little from the pain.

It was narrow and my claustrophobia was starting to kick in causing me to breathe heavily. Someone tapped my shoulder causing me to look back seeing Kili looking worriedly at me. "You alright?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just not a fan of cramped places. The sooner we get out the better." Telling him the semi truth. Him and his brother were already worried about me with my chest.

Finally making it to the end of the path, there was a site that made me feel almost like home.

"The Valley of Imladris. In the common tongue it is known by another name," Gandalf said as we looked on. I was amazed at the site.

"Rivendell," Bilbo said sounding just as stunned as I felt.

A/N: Chapter four completed. Next chapter is the chapter that I have been longing to write. I am going to have so much fun with it. Thanks for everyone following this story, favoriting this story and has left a review. Please review they are welcomed. just no flames please. Well on to the next chapter. Thanks again.