But nothing happened.
"Leave her alone!" a familiar voice shouted and she opened her eyes again. What she saw let her heart beat faster. Fíli had broken free and fought the Goblin that wanted to kill her with his bare hands. Hesitatingly, she came to the decision to help him but before she could do so, another Goblin grabbed her and Fíli pushed his opponent into the abyss. "I would miss her, shithead" he shouted after it. Relieved she breathed out but knew that they would have even more problems because of that. So, she decided to overcome her fear and continue walking. The Goblin holding her was taken by surprise that she pulled it after her for two steps before it took the harsh lead again. Her gaze roamed about her surroundings and she saw that a very long way of this unsteady path was before them. She noticed Fíli at her side and talking to her. When she didn't respond, he took her hand. "Lhindril, are you alright?" she just nodded and realized that he saved her for the second time that night and thanked him. And in fact it was the third time that he saved her. Then she realized that the brothers were in Bree by chance. What would have happened if those men hadn't been interrupted?
At least she was distracted, even though it wasn't such a merry topic but she didn't look down all the time and feared to fall. To her chagrin she suffered from acrophobia a little, especially when she was on a narrow path. Somewhere above their heads ear-piercing clatters and crashes could be heard that always repeated themselves. A few seconds later it became clear that it was supposed be some kind of music. However, it sounded despicable and she didn't just think it because their foes were the musicians but because it simply was true. All got worse as someone started singing. When Lhindril looked around she saw a huge, hideous Goblin some feet in front of them, which seemed to be the leader of those creatures. It was him who sang the song. Doubtfully, she exchanged glanced with her companions, who weren't pleased with the music either. At least the cruel lyrics fitted the melody and the way they presented the song: just abominable. When they reached the platform where the fat Goblin stood, he sang for another while before he sat down and asked what they thought about his song. What exactly did he expect? Applause? Praise? From Lhindril he would get neither, as from the Dwarves and Bilbo. Then she realized that Bilbo wasn't with them and asked herself where he could be. The moment a Goblin put his bony hand inside her coat, she was brought back down to earth and tried to push it away. It didn't work and soon the creature found her dagger and threw it to the ground.
"Release me, filth" she spat as the Goblin wanted to put his hand under her shirt and managed to shove it away roughly. Just as she tried to get her weapon back another one grabbed it and threw it to the pile of other weapons. Then the Goblin king asked what they did here. They all knew that it was better not to say anything than to lie or even being honest. Despite this some Dwarves tried to distract him with unnecessary descriptions of the path, not really answering the question.
"If they will not talk, we'll make them squawk" the leader threatened and ordered his fellows to bring some torture equipment. "Start with the youngest" he decided, pointing at Ori. But he wasn't the youngest, Lhindril was. "Or even better. The wench first" he roared, whereupon she was pushed forward until she was directly in front of the Goblin king. But not for long since Kíli and his brother got in front of her and Thorin shouted
"Wait" obviously the Goblin knew him and started mocking the Dwarf for not having a realm to rule and therefore not being a king in fact. Then he continued that Azog purportedly was still alive. Above their heads a rumble could be heard but she didn't dare to have a look what was going on.
"You have one last chance, use it or you will regret it. What are you doing here?" he bellowed. Yet they remained silent but she considered to tell a lie to prevent the worst. For a short while she thought of something, wanted to speak but the great Goblin nodded towards a minion who came towards them and tried to get past the brothers in front of her. They tried to stop him with all their might, telling her to get away. It would have been for the best because the Goblin got help from others, so they managed to pull Fíli and Kíli away from her, what they did not like at all and tried to get free. Meanwhile another Goblin dragged her nearer to the leader while she was trembling.
"Don't do this!" Fíli tried to save her "I'm the youngest" oddly she could think of something else than the proximate event, so she asked herself if not Kíli was the younger one, at least that was what she heard sometime. However, it was quite possible that she was wrong. Next to them, more Goblins appeared, pushing terrifying instruments of torture in front of them. Involuntary she backed away since she knew they would want to use them on the company. To top it all off, they even found Thorin's sword which they seemed to hate, so they started whipping the Dwarves. Lhindril, on the other hand, was yanked towards one of the huge gadgets - what exactly it was she didn't want to know or find out - against what she struggled by all means. All of a sudden, a blinding flash of light flooded the cave, followed by a blast, which threw everyone to the ground. Before she could get or even sit up, she heard Gandalfs voice.
"Take up your arms… fight" while getting up, her gaze wandered towards the others who were still lying on the floor "Fight" Gandalf repeated louder whereupon the Dwarves hurried to the weapons and gave them back to the owners. Those, who already head their weapons, defended themselves against the Goblins. Lhindril realised that her only dagger wasn't of much use, so she only used it against foes who were directly in her way when they were running through the tunnels. In fact everyone was doing that but she didn't attack Goblins and just protected myself when they were going for her. Furthermore, she made sure to always be near one of her companions so that they could help her if necessary.
Then she saw a ladder that was used as a bridge over an abyss and couldn't help but stop. There was no way she could go over that thing. Not even the screeching Goblins behind her could make her change my mind. The Dwarves on the other side were shouting at her to join them until Dwalin had had enough, crossed the ladder again and carried her to the other side, then kicked the joint down with his foot. Relieved they continued their escape and when they were on a part that was swinging in the air since one of the Dwarves trimmed a rope, Dori lent her a hand that she jumped to the other side. Shortly after, the Goblin king was in front of them again. Gandalf hit him in the face with his staff, so that the foe was distracted, giving the wizard time to slice his stomach. Although the Goblin surrendered, Gandalf also cut his throat, ere they were falling into the abyss with the wooden platform they were on. Not much after they landed on the ground unharmed and just as they wanted to cheer for having survived, the corpse of the great Goblin fell upon them what was a bit over the top. And it got worse, Goblins were climbing down the walls and they knew that they could never defeat them. The only thing that could still save them was daylight, so Gandalf ordered them to run. Finally, they reached the outside and stopped to catch their breaths. Only now that Gandalf mentioned it, most of the Dwarves seemed to notice that Bilbo wasn't with them anymore and Thorin instantly claimed the Hobbit went home because he wasn't thinking of anything else since his depart.
"He's long gone" he finished. After a while, in which they all stared to the ground, they heard a familiar voice from behind.
"No, he isn't" Bilbo. Happily, he was asked why he came back. Bilbo didn't want to tell but did so after further inquiries of the Dwarven king. "Look, I know you doubt me. I know you always have. And you're right I often think of Bag End. I miss my books and my armchair and my garden. See, that's where I belong. That's home. And that's why I came back… because you don't have one. A home. It was taken from you but I will help you take it back if I can" he promised. His words really touched Lhindril. She too didn't know what exactly home was for her. True, her people but it had been more than twenty years since she last was with them. Rivendell was much less of a home even though she spent the biggest part of her life there. Suddenly the sky darkened and a howling sound could be heard. Soon she knew that it were Wargs again which most likely meant also Orcs were here. Upon Gandalf's order they all climbed onto trees after they tried escaping by foot. Lhindril was one of the first to have climbed onto a tree and watched how the others got into safety as well, just Bilbo was still trying to get his sword out of a dead Warg's head before he removed himself from harm's way. Anxiously she looked at the pack of Orcs, all of them riding Wargs. All of a sudden a pale Orc, its body covered in scars, on a white Warg appeared. At the sight of him she started to feel sick, he had a familiar ring to her. Too familiar. Also Thorin was eyeing him disbelievingly.
"Azog" he growled. And then she saw it. When the Orc called Azog the Defiler petted his Warg, he revealed that his right arm was gone, instead there was a metallic claw. She knew him. Finally, the murderer had a name. It was him who killed her father.
"Lhindril! Take my hand!" Fíli called when Wargs were trying to climb onto the trees. But she was panicking because of Azog and the memory of that fateful day she lost her father. "Lhindril, come on!" he still held out his hand towards her and almost fell off the now tilted tree himself. Then she gathered all her courage, took a step forward and grabbed Fíli's hand. As soon as he tightened his grip around her hand the tree collapsed.
"Jump" one of the Dwarves yelled and they all got onto the next tree. Unfortunately, this one fell over too so that they had to jump yet again. In the end they all were on the same tree, the one in front of the abyss. If Gandalf hadn't started to throw burning pinecones at the Wargs they would have sent the tree down the abyss. When he started distributing the burning cones to the company as well it really looked like a victory for them but then the tree tilted and she lost her balance. Luckily, she could grab a branch in the last second. As soon as Fíli saw her he held out his hand towards her again and this time she was quicker to grab it. For the best, because only seconds later the branch she had been holding onto fell off. Once again she realised how close she cheated death but knew that they all still could die anytime. This made her struggling like mad, trying to get onto the tree again.
"Stay still and don't move" the Dwarf ordered "Or else I won't be able to hold you." although she was still terrified she stopped moving but started crying her fear out instead.
"Fíli distract me!" she yelled
"Just don't give up. You can do this" he was silent for a while obviously trying to find his next words. By now he had to hold her with both of his hands and her arm was in pain, after all her whole weight was hanging from it. Suddenly she slipped from his grip due to her sweaty hands but Fíli was quick to catch her again "Don't give up. Everything is going to be fine" he tried to calm her down "I love you" he whispered. Her heart started racing again and her stomach clenched. What was she supposed to say to this? In the end she decided to change topic because she couldn't think of what to say and asked something that had been on her mind since the Goblin tunnels. Maybe not the best idea but the only one she had.
"Who of you is the older one? Kíli or you?" at first he stared at her then answered
"I am" so just what she thought
"But in the Goblin tunnels you claimed…"
"I know" she didn't even need to ask why he did it. He wanted to protect his brother, like Lhindril would have done. Next to them Thorin got up, walked over the tree trunk with his sword and shield at the ready.
"What is he doing?" she asked her friend who hadn't even realised what his uncle was doing
"He's planning to attack the Orcs if I'm not mistaken"
"What? But he's got no chance" she gasped. He didn't reply and only stared in the direction to where his uncle disappeared. He seemed to become restless and called for Thorin. "What is happening?" due to her position she could not see what was going on but did see how Bilbo left the tree as well and a bit later other Dwarves followed him. "Please don't let me go" she begged, fearing he would want to go fighting as well.
"Never. That's a promise. I will stay with you" his next words were not understandable because there was a strange shrieking sound above them. Carefully she lifted her head and her jaw almost dropped when she saw the source of the noise.
"For Manwë's sake. The eagles!" for their people, the eagles were sacred animals, as was Manwë, their God, the highest of the Valar. She threw yet another look to Fíli who was struggling to hold her "Fíli" she waited until she had his attention "You can let go of me. Trust me"
"No. Never. We can do this" he choked out
"Fíli, everything is alright, just trust me. Nothing will happen to me" there was an eagle directly beneath her and Fíli had seen it too. But he still didn't want to let go of her hand. Only when she told him to do so again he looked at her in despair and then took his left hand away "Let go" slowly he loosened the grip and she closed her eyes as she slid down. Then she fell until she hit something quite soft and warm. Fíli was yelling her name and after she dug her fingers into the feathers of the animal she called back that she was fine. Although she felt her fear of heights kicking in again, she found the feeling marvellous. The eagles were throwing some of the Orcs with their Wargs into the abyss or took the Dwarves onto their backs. Suddenly Bilbo landed next to her and Lhindril asked if he was alright after she overcame the shock.
"Yes I'm fine. And you?"
"Same here" she replied with a smile. The eagles carried them away from the dark cloud layer and she almost started to enjoy it. The view was breathtaking and it was not every day that you were able to fly on the back of an eagle. Or fly in general.
The eagles let them down on a single ledge. For one part she was glad about it but also a little sad. In front of them, Thorin was placed on the ground and he remained there lying, not looking very well with his face full of wounds. If he was still alive? Then Gandalf let his hand over the Dwarf's face, muttering something whereupon he opened his eyes. In relief, she took a deep breath while Thorin wanted to know where Bilbo was. His companions, at least some of them, helped him get up before he approached the Hobbit, who was standing next to Lhindril. Again he started to snarl at poor Bilbo, which she found anything but nice, after all Bilbo had helped him. But what happened then surprised all of them. Thorin apologized for having misjudged Bilbo and hugged him. Not even two seconds later she too was in an embrace – Fíli had wrapped his arms around her and assured her how happy he was that she was alright.
"Is that what I think it is?" she heard Bilbo and shot up as if caught red handed. Then she noticed he didn't even mean them. On the horizon there was a lonely mountain. Oh well, this would be Erebor then. Fíli too looked at the mountain in awe and Glóin commented he saw a raven flying towards it, only to get corrected by Gandalf that it was a thrush. With a grin, Fíli and Lhindril walked closer to Thorin and Bilbo, who wanted to see the bird as a good omen. "I do believe the worst is behind us" he then guessed. Even though she was hoping this wholeheartedly, she had a feeling that another couple of things would happen. Not just good ones. Gradually, the Dwarves walked down the stone stairs, some of them cursing the eagles for bringing them here and not directly to Erebor. Gandalf explained that the eagles only were saviours and not some kind of transportation, which she already knew of course. Besides, they would never get too close to settlements of Men, fearing them. In the end only the blond prince and her were still on the ledge, enjoying the view of the landscape in front of them.
"Have you thought about it?" he suddenly wanted to know
"About what?" he took her hands in his
"About us. Do you still believe it would not work?" ashamed, she looked down, not sure what to say. Should she tell him that she kinda was scared of the relationship? "However, before you make a final decision, please listen to me" he continued just as she wanted to say something. "These past weeks when I saved your life, I always feared that I couldn't do it and I would lose you. And I don't know what I would have done in that case. Lhindril, I feel the urge to protect you, no matter what because I know that if anything happened to you I could never forgive myself. I also know it's absurd because we barely know each other and have only known you for such a short time. But I cannot stop thinking of you" he made a short break "In case you choose me, I promise that I won't let anyone hurt you again. Somehow I still can't believe it myself but I love you. More than I thought possible. And if you make your decision – now or later – please listen to your heart for it will tell you what is best for you. And no matter how you decide or what happens, I will be there for you"