Chapter Nineteen- King Under the Mountain Uzbad undu'urd
Narâ had felt the rush of adrenaline in her blood, before a battle, riding her Warg, heck even kissing a Dwarrow for the first time, but this was nothing like that. The scream that tore from her throat as gravity pulled her down into the black tunnels echoed off the mountain stone. So quickly it happened she didn't have time to react her body still spent from the stone giants battle, she watched as pale moonlight was swallowed up by the swinging rocks, her beloved companions red eyes glowing in the darkness as he barked after her. A hard impact to her shoulder had a groan replace her screams as she collided with the guiding walls, brief flickers of torch light sent her mind spiraling until she landed in a heap of bodies.
"Get yer foot outta me back" Dwalin roared struggling to move himself from the bulk weight of his companions, fist connecting with solid flesh he forced himself free. Narâ let out a slew of colourful Khuzdul insults as she crawled her way out of the tangle of bodies, hands finding purchase on rough hewn wooden floors she yanked herself free. Looking up she felt her tongue turn to stone in her mouth, as far as the eye could see they were surrounded by hundreds of goblins. "Where are we" Bilbo muttered beside her, she couldn't bring herself to answer or look away from the massive hoard of filthy creatures emerging from the darkness like a wave of plague rats. Narâ blinked coming to her senses she pushed Bilbo firmly behind her grabbing a short sword at her side as pale grotesque goblins rushed them. Clawed hands and sharp teeth snapped at exposed flesh as she and her companions were pushed forward, her eyes taking in every detail she was able. The crude guttural tongue of the goblins grated on her ears as she was shoved roughly, nearly toppling over if not for the support of Thorin at her side. She met his eye for a moment and felt her heart constrict painfully at the look in his gleaming blue eyes. Fire and wrath held barely in check; she felt his disappointment like a harsh slap. Turning away guiltily she watched as they moved deeper into the mountain, she caught glimpses of the torches high on the walls, thin crudely made bridges of rickety old wood held aloft by withered ropes. Everywhere her eyes traveled she was met by more tunnels and walkways; the air was heavy with the stench of goblin filth and the irony scent of blood. Thundering drums made her flinch as their progression was finally stopped, before them sat the most hideously large goblin she had ever seen. Narâ felt the bile on her tongue as she peered up at the beast that would call himself king. Standing well beyond his kin this was the goblin king, a belly so large he made Bombur look slim, thin wisps of hair clung to his boiled face. Small dark beady eyes scanned them with unbridled lust for the goods they could provide. Every step was like thunder on the floorboards the wood creaking at his massive weight, his voice carried out and echoed around the open space, singing as he swung what looked to be some crude staff topped with the head of a ram.
"Catchy isn't it, its one of my own compositions" he bellowed his putrid breath washing over them, as he spun on his heel stepping on the bodies of smaller goblins to seat himself in his throne. Narâ winced at the sound of bones snapping and the high-pitched squeal of the dying goblins that gurgled at the bottom of the throne. Goblins were cruel and vicious even to their own kind, and the king of them all would be no different, his song only confirmed her suspicions, Goblin town, the breeding ground for the foul little things, the very place her troops had been looking for to exterminate.
"That's not a song that's an abomination" She growled shoving off the prying hands that pulled on her plaits and cowl. It seemed to only amuse the king as he waved a lengthy clawed hand at her, issuing his hoard of goblins to maul them.
Thorin grunted in annoyance as goblins rushed them, small sharp nails dug into him as they rid him of his weapons. He pulled him mouth into a firm line as the dam screamed behind him her obscurities. She was wrong to place them in that cave and now look where they ended up, Gobin town outnumbered and now de weaponized there was no way to get themselves out of this. He chanced a look behind him wondering if now the wizard would grace them with his presence but all he was greeted with was the sight of his companions being stripped of everything they owned.
"Who would be so bold as to come armed in my kingdom" the king growled leaning forward in his throne the weight causing the wooden legs to crack and groan.
"Dwarves" a smaller pale goblin grunted pointing a clawed finger at them and Narâ sneered. Her jade eyes connected with the dark beady eyes of the goblin king as he cackled in delight "Search them, every crack, every crevice" he resounded throwing back his weight he pointed at her with his staff "Start with that one" he smiled.
Narâ fought the hands that grabbed her and tried pulling her forward, no weapons meant the fight would be harder won but she would be damned before these filthy creatures touched her. She threw her fist into the closest goblins face crushing its ill begotten nose, black blood staining her knuckles as her head was snapped back a hand dug painfully into her long hair. She was forced to her knees in front of the king with a heavy-handed slam, the goblin nearly toppled over with her at the force of the shove. Her knees smarted and she was sure slivers of wood bit into her flesh, but she refused to look away from the king.
"What do we have here" he smiled taking a step down his massive weight crushing the bodies of the goblins beneath his foot. Their bones breaking further Narâ could smell the irony scent of blood, the dark black liquid congealing on the floor. He reached a pustule covered hand toward her and she flinched back, anger burning in her eyes as he touched her naked cheek. "This one is a female" he laughed the flap of skin on his neck jiggled and sagged, the pale skin grey in the torch light. He let his long nail leave a trail of burning across her flesh as it bit into her pale skin.
"Leave her be" Thorin thundered taking a step forward only for more hands to grab onto him, the goblins shrieked as he pulled them toward the dam. He pulled his arm free and managed to slam his fist into the one holding him reaching for Narâ he threw the goblin pinning her down nearly over the platform ledge. He grabbed the back of her wolfen cowl, the soft white fur a stark contrast against the black of her hair, he pulled sending her sprawling backward. Quick movement on his part he had her under the arms and away from the greedy hands of the king, pushing her behind him he narrowed his eyes at the delight that seemed to dance in the kings eyes.
The goblin king pulled back his thin lips to reveal long yellowed teeth and nodded, a noble gesture from the dwarf but it mattered little. "That one yours then" he laughed stepping back onto the throne as he picked his teeth "It matters little I'm afraid" he said flicking a suspicious white object from his teeth with a smack of his lips. He let his eyes fall of the female again "Everything down here is mine".
"I'll kill you before I let ye touch me" Narâ hissed as Thorin pushed her further behind him and as Dwalin and Balin moved to step in front of the pair.
The king looked on with amusement, his eyes raking over the small group of dwarves that had the unfortunate idea of resting on their front porch. He licked his lips "What are dwarves doing in my mountain" he called lazily letting his minions claw all over them. Thorin tried moving to the front of the group but stopped at Oin put a hand on his chest and gave him a smug smile "I'll handle this lads" he proclaimed with absurdity. Narâ snorted rolling her eyes as the deaf healer attempted to explain away their coming to Goblin town. Oin could barely hear what someone right in front of him was saying without his trumpet let alone the Goblin king who was far away, growing more frustrated by the minute his pale visage colouring as he puffed up and swung his staff in a wide arc. "No more lies, if they will not talk we will make them squawk" he growled pointing again at Narâ. "Start with the female, bring out the mangler, bring up the bonebreaker" he cheered waving at the roar of the goblin crowd. Thorin pushed forward not about to let that filthy goblin touch a single hair on his dams head. He stared down his nose at the king before him and crossed his arms over his chest. The king sneered in delight at the dwarf before him, no not a dwarf at all but a king of his people. "Well, if it isn't Thorin son of Thrain, son of Thror, king under the mountain" he gave a small mock bow and laughed his enormous stomach shaking with the effort. "But im forgetting something you don't have a mountain and you're not a king, so that's makes you a nobody really" he huffed looking him up and down "I know someone who would pay a pretty price for your head" he snickered as Thorin looked on mouth pulled into a thin line, chin held high. The goblin king nodded impressed with himself "a pale orc, astride a white warg" his smile brightening as the carefully constructed attitude shattered and the dwarf stood ridged. He let his thick pink tongue slide over his yellowed teeth and Thorin shouted it wasn't possible. Thorin felt as if the air was sucked from his lungs and his legs would give out at that very moment. Azog it wasn't possible, he had been vanquished by his own hand many years before. He felt fury burning hot in his veins nearly blinding him as he spat "Azog is dead". The king seemed pleased in his answer, pleased that the dwarf knew nothing of the truth, he toyed with him enjoying the anger that flashed in his eyes and the carefully constructed visage of a king crumble to dust. "Send word to the pale orc, tell him I have found his prize" the king laughed gesturing to a grotesque little goblin strung up on a small platform.
Narâ ducked behind her Dwarrow companions shrieking as Goblins clawed at her pulled at her coat, nearly ripping her cowl completely off. A great horrible squeal sounded out behind her, and she winced at the volume, her eyes shielded by the heavy fur cowl now pulled completely over her head. She tried to stand tall and brush herself off but a goblin behind kicked her knees in and she stumbled "Wolf rider" it screamed in its mother tongue the black speech grated on her ears and she frowned. A sharp sting bit into her back as a whip was cracked and more goblins howled in rage. "Blood rider, kin killer" the Goblin king roared pointed a crooked finger at her as she bit her lip and stood up staring him down. At her full height she adjusted the cowl on her shoulders and her wolfen headdress, jade eyes burning as the king swung his ram skull staff at her "Where is your Warg now" he sneered as she stumbled out of the way. "The wolf rider, nothing but a weak female" he laughed as she jumped backward into the arms of her companions as the ram skull splintered the wood where she once stood.
She blew out a breath eyes burning with hatred "I've laid low the kings of your kind filth, and ill gladly do it again" she spat as she leapt toward the discarded weapon pile hand tightening around the hilt of a sword brining it up to the light. The elven blade seemed to glow with life as she withdrew it from its sheath, the intricate metalwork on display with the low light of the torches, Orcrist had answered her call.
The goblin king recoiled in terror at the sight screaming out "I know that blade, it is the goblin cleaver, the blade that sliced a thousand throats" he roared getting to his feet. "Kill them, beat them, eat them" he called and suddenly they were being rushed. Narâ let the blade fly through the air "Thorin" she called watching as he caught it in his free hand the other shoving away the sea of goblin bodies pushing and pulling at them. Whips were cracked and the air was alive with the sound of clashing steel, Narâ caught off guard for a moment was tackled to the ground. A crude looking dagger held above her eye ready to plunge into her and end her life as the goblin clacked its broken teeth in her face. She gasped as brilliant white light enveloped the cave, so bright it nearly burned her eyes, the goblins screamed in agony and jumped off her. Momentarily stunned she panted trying to catch her breath as a voice thundered out "To arms, fight, fight" it screamed. In the back of her mind she knew the voice, knew the command it had given and she rolled to her side to get up, greeted with the sight of Gandalf astride her Warg. Khimâ charged in hackles raised as the wizard fought from his backside, elven blade kissed with the black blood of the goblins they rushed toward their dwarven companions easily cutting down the hoard of small bodies. Khimâ growled as he lunged ripping off a goblin head that had dared to approach his master as she was getting to her feet. The blood coated his tongue and he pulled his lip back to reveal his fangs as he hovered beside the small female.
Narâ felt hot tears pool in her eyes at the sight of her friends but now was not the time for pleasantries, she fisted the long white fur and pulled herself upright, grabbing a disgaurded sword and her battle axe she nodded once at the wizard as he jumped with a grace beyond his years to the floor. "Follow me" bellowed his staff glowing brightly as he ran headlong into a group of goblins. Narâ smiled pulled herself up and with a dwarven battle cry kicked her heels into Khimâ's flank the pair jumping into the fray of bodies. Khimâ dodged and chased his packmates, never allowing a goblin to get close enough to harm them, his mouth coated with thick dark blood he leapt behind bringing up the rear as Narâ laughed atop his back her axe cutting down goblins as they moved. Thorin followed the wizard close on his heels, fighting and running at the same time seemed almost second nature to him, memories of battles long past danced behind his eyes and he found himself almost enjoying the rush of adrenaline that came with battle. The dams hysterical laughter sounded out behind him and he found himself looking over his shoulder for her. In her element she was reunited with her Warg, a truly terrifying sight to behold, washed in the black blood of the goblins they moved as if in a dance of fangs and blades.
"Thorin watch out" Dwalin called pointing ahead.
Thorin spun with sword lashing out to severe the head of a goblin with axe raised to cut him down. He let out a breath and gave his head a shake ushering everyone forward to follow the wizard. Ropes were cut as the party escaped their pursuers, sending a small bridge airborne they swung like a pendulum the air whizzing past their heads as they were forced to jump to get away. Narâ felt the laughter bubble from her throat and the blood lust consume her, completely ignorant to the danger she let her training and experience guide her path. Swing, cut, stab, kick, dodge, duck, an intricate dance that she only knew. An arrow cut across her arm, warm blood trickling down her sleeve the tunic sticking to her skin, but she felt little pain, Khimâ's deep arrestive roars and swift movements ended that of the goblin archers. She let her blade fly and snickered as it imploded a goblin that was about to chop Dwalin in half, the black blood splashing the Dwarrow in the face.
"Watch it Master Dwalin" she boomed out in a singsong voice, yipping in surprise as hundreds of goblins rushed up the sides of the mountain, skittering like spiders in the dark, their pale bodies distorting the flickering torch flames.
Dwalin gaged rubbing a palm across his face his eyes narrowing on the Dam who seemed to be enjoying herself far more than a normal dwarf ought. "Yer enjoying this aren't ya lass" he yelled smashing a fist into goblins face just as it rounded the corner, its bones crunching beneath his hand. The dam only laughed leaning back on her Warg to sever a long rope that allowed the thin bridge behind them to fall away the screams of the goblins pursuing them bounced off the cavern walls. He snorted turning around only to run straight into Thorin's back. Narâ pulled Khimâ to an abrupt halt, the massive Warg towering over some of the company, his heavy pants breaking the silence as Gandalf stared at the grizzled hand that pulled up the monstrosity of the king. The goblin king sneered swinging his weapon at the wizard, hundreds of his loyal minions swarming the area, they had them completely surrounded. "What are you doing to do now wizard" he mocked, smacking his lips a thin smile on his face. Gandalf let out a tired breath, running through the tunnels of goblin town was certainly not one of the things he had planned for this quest. While the goblin king ranted, he swung his sword spilling black blood and guts all over the wood rampart. The king made the most horrendous sound and the smell nearly knocked Narâ off her mount as his massive weight rocking back and forth with his dying breath the wood beneath him splintering and cracking like dried firewood. Khimâ whined deep in his throat as the platform gave way and they began to fall, deep down into the bowels of the mountain, the small wooden platform just wide enough to slow their descent, the wood buckling and snapping off the sharp mountain rock. Khimâ barked alerting Narâ to the danger and she ducked down pulling herself tightly to his shoulder's eyes pinched shut in fear as the wood groaned and snapped, darkness swallowing them hole for a moment before they stopped. Khimâ jumped as the ground came up to meet them, huge paws clawing into the rock he stumbled and righted himself back again on a flat surface. Narâ took in a deep greedy breath as the others groaned in pain behind her, sound meant life and she leapt off her Warg rushing to the others.
Bofur looked at her cheerily the only other dwarf who seemed to be enjoying himself "Well that could have been worse" he chuckled as the dam rolled her eyes offering him a hand she had just pulled him out when a wet thud and several grunts of pain reached her ears. Looking up into the dead dull eyes of the goblin king his bloated bloodied corpse had exploded all over the walkway and on top of several of her companions. The smell of his innards made her gag, bile burning her throat as warm sticky blood coated her hands as she helped Bofur pull out the remaining company.
Khimâ could hear them, hear their breath and the shrill screams, the claws racking the stone of the mountain, he looked upwards into the darkness and growled, hackles raising high at the threat to his pack.
"Nar yer wolf" Kili swallowed looking up to see what the Warg could, straining his eyes he could just make out the goblin bodies coming in a massive hoard like a tidal wave of dark specs.
"Gandalf" he called his voice wobbling as he pointed upwards.
The wizard clutched his staff tighter in hand "This way, we need daylight" he called running through the narrow tunnels the dwarves and the Warg hot on his heels.