"He is sour because Cleo and I soundly beat him in a magic game, and honestly he should be over it by now it has been centuries." Charlotte
"I never thought that Gandalf would be such a sore loser." Thorin
"It is not losing to a pair of Sea Children that I am sour about Thorin Oakenshield. It's the fact that Lord Elrond has been teasing me mercilessly about it for three hundred years." Gandalf
Thorin smirks at the wizard, and Bilbo changes the subject saying.
"Are there any?" Bilbo
"What?" Gandalf
"Other wizards?" Bilbo
"There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman the White. Then there are the two Blue wizards you know I've quite forgotten their names." Gandalf
"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo
"Well that would be Radagast the Brown." Gandalf
"Is he a great wizard or is he more like you?" Bilbo
"I think he is a great wizard in his own way." Gandalf
"He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watch eye on the vast forest lands to the east, and a good thing to for always evil looks to gain a foothold in this world." Gandalf
The company arrives at a rocky out cropping, and Thorin orders them to stop there for the night. Fílí and Kílí are instructed to look after the ponies as well as horses, and to make sure that they stay with them. Thorin continues over seeing the setup of camp while Gandalf surveys the ruins of a farm house. Gandalf turns to Thorin, and says.
"I think it would be wiser to move on we could make for the Hidden Valley." Gandalf
Thorin is about to refuse the suggestion when he remembers how Lord Elrond helped them when they needed it the most, and says.
"You might be right. Lord Elrond helped us once perhaps he will do so again. We will go to Rivendell tomorrow morning." Thorin
Gandalf nods having gotten a better answer than he was expecting to get from the stubborn Dwarf. Thorin turns back to the company, and says.
"Come on Bombur we're hungry." Thorin
It's night time, and Bofur is passing out the stew that Bombur made for them. Bofur hands Bilbo a couple of bowls, and says.
"Here do us a favour, and take this to the lads." Bofur
Bilbo then goes in search of Fílí and Kílí with the bowls of stew in hand.
Bilbo finds Fílí and Kílí standing there looking rather upset, and says.
"What's the matter?" Bilbo
"We're supposed to be looking after the ponies." Kílí
"Only we've encountered a slight problem." Fílí
"We had sixteen." Kílí
"Now there's fourteen." Fílí
"Daisy and Bungo are missing." Kílí
"Well that's not good, and that's not good at all. Shouldn't we tell Thorin?" Bilbo
"Ah no let's not worry him. As our official burglar we thought you might like look into it." Fílí
"Well ah something big uprooted these trees." Bilbo
"That was our thinking." Kílí
"Something very big, and possibly quite dangerous." Bilbo
"Hey there's a light over here." Fílí
"What is it?" Bilbo
"Trolls." Kíli
Kílí and Fílí take off in the direction of the Trolls camp with Bilbo following behind.
Bilbo is hiding behind a tree with a bowl of stew in each hand waiting for the Troll to pass by. Bilbo looks at the departing Troll, and says.
"He's got Myrtle and Minty. I think they're going to eat them. We've got to do something." Bilbo
"Yes you should. Mountain Trolls are slow and stupid, and you're so small they'll never see you. It's perfectly safe we'll be right behind you." Kílí
"If you run into trouble hoot twice like a barn owl and once like a brown owl." Fílí
Bilbo repeats the instructions to himself while on his way to steal the ponies back from the Trolls. He hears one of the Trolls say.
"Mutton yesterday, mutton today, and blimey if it don't look like mutton again tomorrow." Bert
"Quit your gripping these ain't sheep. These is west nags." William
"Oh I don't like horse I never have not enough fat on them." Tom
"Well it's better than a leathery old farmer all skin and bones he was. I'm still picking bits of him out of me teeth." Bert
Bilbo sneaks up to the pen that the ponies are being kept in while the Trolls are laughing. The Trolls are arguing while Bilbo is fixing to make off with the stolen ponies. Bilbo sees a knife in the waistband of one of the Trolls, and has an idea to steal it so he can use it to cut the ropes holding the door of the pen shut. Bilbo fails in his attempt, and is discovered by the Trolls who say.
"Ah! Blimey! Look what's come out of me Hooter. It's got arms and legs and everything." Tom
"What is it?" Bert
"I don't know, but I don't like the way it wriggles around." Tom
"What are yer then? An over sized squirrel?" William
"I'm a burglar uh Hobbit." Bilbo
"A burglar-Hobbit?" Tom
"Can we cook him?" William
"We can try." Tom
"He wouldn't make more than mouthful not when he's skinned and boned." Bert
"Perhaps there is more Burglar-Hobbits around these parts there might be enough for a pie." William
They try to catch Bilbo only to fail because he is so quick. Bilbo is grabbed by William and held upside down. William tries to get Bilbo to tell him if there are anymore people like him, and Bilbo tells him that there are not. As Tom is suggesting holding Bilbo's toes over the fire to get the truth out of him Kílí slashes Tom's leg, and he falls down after another slash. Kílí then says.
"Drop him!" Kílí
"You What?" William
"I said drop him." Kílí
William throws Bilbo at Kílí, but he is surrounded by water mid throw.
Charlotte turns the water ball containing Bilbo into a rubbery jelly, and proceeds to distract the Trolls by bouncing him around. While this is happening the rest of the company begins to battle the Trolls, and Charlotte starts playing a large game of keep-away with the Trolls using the Bilbo ball. Ori cuts the horses free with a knife that he found lieing on the ground, and Tom notices what happened grabbing Ori. Seeing this Charlotte puts the Bilbo Ball in a tree, and uses the knife Ori dropped to slash Tom's arm. William and Tom grab Charlotte, and Kílí says.
"Charlotte!" Kílí
Kílí tries to rush to her aid, but is held back by the others. The two Trolls are holding her with an arm in one hand and a leg in the other, and say.
"Lay down your arms, or we'll rip hers off." William
Thorin immediately sticks his sword in the ground, and the rest of the company disarms themselves. They are then put into sacks or tied on a spit over the fire, and Charlotte has an idea to distract the Trolls looking to Thorin to make sure he knows the plan. Thorin can see Charlotte's hand moving in the sack, and then the Bilbo Ball flies back into camp before bouncing up and down in front of the Trolls. Charlotte's able to keep the Trolls distracted long enough for Gandalf to find them. Gandalf kills the Trolls by splitting the large rock enclosing the campsite in half bathing the Trolls in sunlight, and all three Trolls turn to stone.
The Dwarves, Faron, and Charlotte are all untied dressing immediately after they are freed from their bonds, and Charlotte dumps a perfectly alright Bilbo from the Ball. Charlotte then melts the jelly, and returns the water to her canteens that she uses in battle. Thorin walks up to Gandalf, and says.
"Where did you go if I may ask?" Thorin
"To look ahead." Gandalf
"What brought you back?" Thorin
"Looking behind. Nasty business still you're all in one piece." Gandalf
Thorin nods his acceptance, Gandalf looks at the Stone Troll, and says.
"They must of come down from the Ettenmoors." Gandalf
"Since when do mountain Trolls venture this far south?" Thorin
"Oh not for an age. Not since a Darker Power ruled these lands." Gandalf
Thorin gets an idea of what Gandalf is talking about before Gandalf goes on to say.
"They could not have moved in daylight." Gandalf
"There must be a cave nearby." Thorin
They find the Trolls cave and go to investigate.
Thorin finds a pair of well crafted swords while they are looking through the Troll hoard. He hands one to Gandalf who examines it, and says.
"These were forged in Gondolin by the high elves of the First Age. You could not wish for a finer blade." Gandalf
Dwalin watches Bofur, Nori, and Gloin making a 'long term deposit', and Thorin says.
"Let's get out of this foul place. Come on let's go Bofur, Gloin, Nori." Thorin
As Gandalf is leaving the cave he steps on something, and it turns out to be an Elvish short sword also made in Gondolin. Gandalf picks it up, and takes it with him out of the cave. He gets Bilbo's attention, and says.
"Here this is about your size." Gandalf
Bilbo takes it, and says.
"I can't take this." Bilbo
"The blade is of elvish make which means it will glow blue when orcs or goblins are nearby." Gandalf
"I have never used a sword in my life." Bilbo
"And I hope you never have to, but if you do remember this. True courage is about not knowing when to take a life, but when to spare one." Gandalf
The person on watch tells them that someone is coming, and the company arm themselves to face it.
It turns out to be Radagast the Brown who has come to see Gandalf. Radagast proceeds to tell Gandalf that the Greenwood is sick, and of the darkness that has fallen over the forest. How nothing good grows in the forest anymore, and the air is foul with decay worse yet are the webs. That there are giant spiders likely some spawn of Ungoliant. He tells Gandalf that the spiders are coming from the fortress of Dol Guldur, and shows him proof of the Shadow living there. The company hears howling in the distance, and Bilbo says.
"Was that a wolf? Are there wolves out there?" Bilbo
"Wolves? No that is not a wolf." Bofur
A warg launches into the company attacking one of the Dwarves, and Thorin quickly kills it saying.
"Warg scouts which means an orc pack is not far behind." Thorin
"Orc pack?" Bilbo
"Who did you tell about your quest beyond your kin?" Gandalf
"No one." Thorin
"Who did you tell?" Gandalf
"No one I swear. What in Durin's name is going on?" Thorin
"You are being hunted." Gandalf
"We have to get out of here." Dwalin
"We can't we have no ponies they've bolted." Ori
"I'll draw them off." Radagast
"These are Gundabad wargs they will out run you." Gandalf
"These are Rhoscable rabbits. I'd like to see them try." Radagast
Radagast leads them on a merry chase while the company makes their way to the Hidden Valley. As they are running Thorin instructs Kílí and Faron to kill the scout above them, and Charlotte whispers that she will kill the warg if he has the orc. Charlotte kills the Warg with ice spikes after Faron shoots it while Kílí takes out the orc, but unfortunately the noise is to much alerting the orc pack to their location. They begin running again, and make it to the entrance to the hidden pass that leads to Rivendell. They enter the pass just as the Elvish hunting horn sounds, and follow the path to find Rivendell at the end.
Gandalf tells them that they are looking out over the valley of Imladris known in the common tongue by another name, and Bilbo says.
"Rivendell." Bilbo
"Yes I know this place we have been here before. Come we must see if Lord Elrond is still as good natured as I remember." Thorin
Gandalf says that he should do the talking, because of the tact, respect, and charm required, and Charlotte says.
"Thorin is perfectly capable of talking to Lord Elrond in a respectful manner like he did 170 years ago." Charlotte
Gandalf raises a skeptical eyebrow at the statement, but the company proceeds into the valley regardless. Lindir walks down a set of stairs, and says.
"Mithrandir." Lindir
"Ah Lindir." Gandalf
"We heard you crossed into the valley." Lindir
"I must speak with Lord Elrond." Gandalf
"My Lord Elrond is not here." Lindir
"Not here. Where is he?" Gandalf
Before Lindir has a chance to respond the same Elvish hunting horn sounds, and they see an armed hunting party ride toward them. People are starting to get nervous particularly Dwalin, but Thorin and Charlotte are able to keep everybody calm.
Lord Elrond smiles at Gandalf, and says.
"Gandalf." Elrond
"Lord Elrond." Gandalf
"My friend. Where have you been?" Gandalf
Charlotte discreetly whispers a translation into Thorin's ear so that he may know what is being said. Lord Elrond continues the conversation saying.
"We've been hunting a pack of Orcs that came up from the south. We slew a number near the hidden pass." Elrond
"Lord Elrond I do not mean to be rude, but I thank you for saving us from the Orcs that were hunting us." Thorin
"My pleasure. You will always be welcomed in my valley Thorin Oakenshield, and I will do all I can to assist in whatever has brought you to my door." Elrond
Thorin nods in gratitude, Lord Elrond turns back to Gandalf, and offers them food in Elvish which Charlotte helpfully translates for Thorin. When Gloin gets huffed because he couldn't understand what