DISCLAIMER: Let's get this out of the way. I do not own or have any hope of ever owning the characters or happenings of middle earth. They belong to Tolkien and as far as I'm concerned he can keep them. For now. I do however, own my OC, Kidhuzel! So don't steal her. Please, feel free to leave any comments and/or questions that you may have. Follow the story in which ever way you would like, but make your thoughts known but be polite while you do it. Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 19
Instead of strangling the tardy Wizard, El yanks her bearer to his feet impatiently. Storming over to an unsuspecting goblin, she tears into his neck with her claws before snatching Deathless and Orcrist from the pile he had been guarding. Shoving them into the King's hands and ignoring his grunt at the force, she nods to herself at having put him right again.
"Take up arms!" Gandalf shouts as dwarf and orc alike moan in confusion. Even so, Dwalin climbs to his feet and muddily retrieves his weapons as the fog begins to clear from everyone's minds "Fight. Fight!"
Catching the eye of his King, the burly dwarrow nods and begins yanking his companions to their feet, two at a time. The female goblin shrieks in terror as the wizard's sword is brought out of its sheath, clearly terrorized by the piece of metal.
"He wields the Foe-hammer, the beater, bright as daylight!"
Thus, the battle begins. Dwarves slash their way through the countless bodies of goblins to become once more a single unit. Dwalin quickly scans his brother for any injuries but thankfully finds him in relatively good health. Holding back a sigh of relief, his eyes drift to his peculiar mate much to his displeasure.
"Follow me." The unwanted need to ensure her safety causes the dwarf to keep as much distance between himself and Kidhuzel, forcing him to take residence in the center of the entourage as she trails behind them. Gandalf heads the group, bustling them forward like a sheep dog "Quick! Run!"
Though completely sure that the half drake can and will hold her own against any goblins that surely chase them, Dwalin can not fight the constant urge to turn and assess her safety. So great is his distraction, that he is nearly skewered by a friendly sword when the group comes to a halting stop. The large goblin preens in self admiration at having not only caught up to the group but beaten them to the bridge. Grinning through rotting teeth, the female cackles at the dwarves in mirth.
"Why hello again!" she says in a dry voice before dragging a long tongue along nearly non-existent lips while peering at the cowering hatted dwarf "You thought you could escape me!?"
"Please die!" he returns desperately
"Oh, you wound me, dwarf." chortling enough to cause the broken and pus filled skin beneath her chin to shake, the goblin pins Gandalf with a smirk "What are you going to do now, wizard?"
"This is taking much too long."
Flying over the group, El attaches herself to the goblin's face. The large being growls in annoyance before squawking pain as the dam plunges her thumbs into her eye sockets. Feeling around, the colorful woman yanks them free and delves in again; intent on puncturing the soft flesh behind the orbs. Merely scraping the brain with a single claw puts forth enough poison to bring the giant creature to her knees but it is Gandalf's sword that finishes her off with a slice to the abdomen. Holding her gaping belly as half formed goblins the size of oranges slip out the wound, the final stage of El's poison numbs the goblin enough that she can utter her final words without pain.
"That'll do it."
Watching his tormentor slump forward in death causes Bofur to cry out in joy. It only lasts a moment however, as the dead weight causes the bridge to collapse under them. El, not to be left behind, flutters down the deep cavern at a slower pace and meets the groaning group at the bottom. Once more pulling her bearer to his feet, she dusts him off but is halted by his steady hands.
"See to your One, Kidhuzel." he says sternly but softens the command by petting her head "You did your duty well today."
"Yes!" Bofur laughs out, pulling himself free of the ruckage and looking around happily "Well, that could have been worse."
El ignores the praise of the dwarf, knowing it is only because of his unfortunate position, and makes her way quickly over to her mate. His leg is stuck beneath a snapped beam but she makes quick work of the situation. Grasping his arm to pull him free, she gives him a plain look when the dwarrow snatches it from her grasp without looking at her.
"I see that you are still distressed over our mating." watching the way his shoulders tighten, El knows she is correct. With a smirk, she pokes at his bare skin simply to watch him flinch away from the contact. The desire to tease him about it is new to her, but she quells it for the time being as the smell of goblin grows closer "I shall be better prepared next time, however perhaps you should dodge?"
No sooner had she uttered the words before the great goblin's corpse lands on the pile of wood, splinters, and dwarves. She shrugs her shoulders like the way of men, as her mate finally grants her a harsh glare. His mouth turns down in a frown and she is struck by sudden curiosity. Kneeling slowly and then darting forward in a snap, she presses her mouth against the dwarrow's like she read lovers do. It is quick and caste and lasts all of half a second but it renders the dwarf speechless. Shrugging her shoulders once more before freeing him from beneath the destruction, El sighs in boredom.
"Well. That is truly a let down." swinging her tail to knock down some of the debris absent mindedly, El taps her hand on her chin "I do not understand all the fuss about that."
"..." Dwalin watches the girl walk away as content as a well fed cat, as if she hadn't just blown his mind "You've got to be joking!"
"Mahal, this is heavy." Kili, trying to ignore the scene going on beside his head, pushes at the bridge that rests on his chest. Head clearing from the earlier explosion and more recent fall, he gazes up at the clearly rampaging and rapidly approaching goblins. They scale the walls like spiders and the young prince can only utter a single warning "Gandalf!
"... There's too many." keeping El within his sights but away from his person, Dwalin roughly frees the remainder of the company. The kiss, while brief, had left an imprint on him that he wants it to disappear as quickly as possible. A fight would do just that, but he is not foolish enough to think they'd survive the battle "We can't fight them."
"Not that you tried." the girl taunts lowly for only him to hear as she passes his back and is rewarded with the sight of the dwarf clenching his fists in ill concealed rage. His reaction strokes her ego in a way that she finds mouth watering, compelling her to continue "Good thing I've been ordered to protect you."
"Only one thing will save us. Daylight!" though hearing the conversation between the unlikely couple, Gandalf is wise enough not to interfere for a number of reasons. The first of which being the goblins descending upon them. Using his staff as a cane, he sees the tunnel that will lead toward the group's freedom and hurries toward it "Come on!
As a unit, the group lurches forward with freedom as their goal. Deciding to give her mate his much desired space, clearly intensified due to her questionable actions, El one again falls to the back of the line. Stopping after about 2 minutes of running, she faces the oncoming enemy.
"I can allow you to chase is no further."
She breathes deeply and with great concentration, seals the opening with a blockade of ice before continuing down the tunnel. It will not hold indefinitely, as the heat will eventually melt the ice but it will give her bearer some time to gather his wits. Pulling up the rear, Kidhuzel's senses are so filled with the dwarves that she jogs a full yard before Bilbo's scent hits her. Stumbling to a halt and swivelling her head, she follows her nose to a small alcove in the tunnel. Peering into the darkness, she sees nothing yet the overwhelming scent of hobbit assures her that he is within the tunnel.
"Bilbo?" She calls quietly, breaking the silence but receiving no answer. The stench of blood is fresh but she does not believe it belongs her companion, thus she cautiously tries again "Master Baggins?"
"Baggins!" A shriek pierces the air as a mass of pale flesh leaps into view. El rears back with a scowl of her own as the being snarls, flashing nine pointy teeth at her in loathing and aggression "We hates him! Baggins! He's stole it!"
"... You appear to be having a personal moment. After I find my friend, I will leave you to it." Steeling her face and pushing passed the howling creature, the dam steps into the dark corridor "Bilbo? Where are you?"
"We kills it!" Just as she steps past the large rock at the entrance, the grieving cave dweller leaps onto her back and attempts to gouge out her eyes much like she did the goblin queen "It's ours! He stole it from us! Kill!"
"Do you wish to die?"
"Kill! Kill! Kill! Ki-"
"Alright." The air around the pair chills as an icey hot spike shoots through the being's chest. It pins him to the ceiling, melting only slightly from the heat of his slick blood. He hiccups loudly; gagging and clutching at his chest in pain and surprise. Kidhuzel watches him distantly, eyes cold as his life rapidly fades due to the wound "If that is your wish."
"Ah..." a bodiless gasp slips out from the blackness and the half drake easily pulls her gaze from the dying creature "You... Kidhuzel you... you killed him..."
"Bilbo, there you are." Undisturbed by his clearly odd state of invisibility and stricken voice, the woman gestures towards the now silent corpse. "I did end his life, if that is what you are trying to ask. Are you ready to go? Everyone is waiting."
Reaching forward to locate her wayward partner, El comes into contact with his hand. He swiftly jerks back from her touch, leaving El to blink in surprise at the now visible and clearly terrified Hobbit. He shakes his head violently as she reaches forward again.
"N-no! Don't... Don't touch me!" Shivering as golden eyes watch him blankly, Bilbo points a shaking hand towards Gollum's corpse frantically "You killed him... You-you just c-c-can't KILL people, Kidhuzel! There are consequences... Oh, Green lady, you killed him!"
"Bilbo-"
"He was a horrible creature. Awful and pitiful even but..." Placing his hands in his knees to avoid dual pairs of cold eyes, Bilbo pants in a panic "I'd just... He... I didn't want him dead!"
"... The world does not revolve around you, Master Baggins. Yet as the young Durins once told me: All things must die eventually."
Knowing she is being a bit cruel, El rolls the acquired ring in the palm of her hand in thought to give the hobbit a calming moment of silence. The rings gleams with a well polished glow that speaks of good care. It calls out to her in a language she expects is long forgotten, yet the promises do not interest her. Holding it out for the hobbit to retake, the half drake tilts her head in an attempt to lessen the bite she knows her eyes display regularly
"He wanted me dead. He wanted you dead. He may not have said it explicitly, but somewhere HE wanted to be dead as well. Thus, I killed him. Whatever consequences may come by my actions, will be mine to bear."
"Kidhuzel, you can't-"
"This discussion can be saved for another time." Beckoning the weary hobbit forward once more, she uses her free hand to point to the ring hanging delicately from her claw "It would serve you well to know that this band belongs to the dark lord, Sauron. Do not let it corrupt you."
"What-"
"Come." Dropping the gold object into his quickly retracting palm, she turns and walks from the cavern "My bearer awaits and I've no doubt my amusing mate is by his side."
~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~
El is such a jerk. Jumping out with that randomness actually just popped into my head for no reason. Regardless, this chapter is filled with happenings but I hope it isn't too much to scare ya'll off. YMR, Perfectprincess5, and sorrellkaren are given my happiness for reviewing. Thanks for reading!