Chapter 28

With each day that passes, the sicker I feel. My stomach is queasy and I always feel like I'm going to barf. The chill in the air keeps finding a way past my coat in order to send shivers up my spine. Yet, my neck sweats constantly from the exertion. The air is thick and moist, ensuring that my clothes never really dry. It's a terrible terrible time. Yet nothing is as bad as the road itself, if you can even call it that.

It's as inconsistent as they come. It twirls around the mountain like a drunken ballerina. On occasion it's so wide that one could run around freely. That isn't usually the case though. The path often becomes so thin at times that we have to sleep sitting up, with our feet dangling off the mountain side.

All the while, Thorin's words echo in my brain. It's not like I WANT to perish lonely. If I had the choice, I'd want to die surrounded by loved ones but... No one I love is here. Bofur was aggravatingly correct; now, the dwarves are all I have.

"Damn it."

I curse under my breath. If I do happen to die out here, who is going to come to my funeral? Dwalin? Screw that. I'd be lucky if he bothers to bury my corpse. I start to sink into a depression as grey clouds stay to gather. A large drop of rain plots onto my nose, halting my thoughts at the warning. Looking around, I know the time and place are about right for the thunder battle. Tonight I suppose. I curse again.

"Damn it to hell."

Each step I take is challenged by the winds but I push on. I have to. It is just past sundown when a gust rolls over us and forces me a few steps back. Trying to avoid stumbling over Bilbo, I sidestep the hobbit only for my foot to meet open air. A soft yelp bubbles past my lips as Kili grabs the front of my shirt, halting my motion. He pulls me wordlessly back onto the path. Frowning at the new tear in my collar caused by his action, he stares at it in annoyance. I don't have the voice to thank him but neither do I have it to demand that he release me. I just stare at him for a moment before nodding. Minutely. The act is enough as we get back into ever moving line.

No one speaks much anymore. Not nectar they are giving me the silent treatment though. It's just too windy. Too rainy. Too... everything. I suppose the sun doesn't shine this fair up the mountain's behind. It is only my internal clock that lets me know when night comes.

By this time the path has thinnes again. There really is no where to stop, nowhere to even sit. That is my second warning as to what is coming. The third is the booming sound of thunder. No one else notices how strange it is though; How close the sound is without being accompanied by a clap of lightning. But I know. So I cling to the slippery rocks like a barnacle and wait for-"

"Hold on everyone!" Annnnd there it goes. Bilbo stumbles into my back, finding it difficult to find purchase on the thin ledge with his large feet. Never have I ever been so glad for my proportionate ankle holsters "We must find shelter!"

"The rocks! Look out!"

Rocks collide with the cliff above our heads, sending chunks raining down on us. A hunk smacks me in the shoulder, causing a hiss to escape my mouth. We all crouch down to make ourselves small targets but its only slightly helpful. They pelt down my back painfully until suddenly stopping. Thinking it has passed, I look up and blink into a surprised frown. This time, it is Fili who has come to my aid. Cowered against the wall as I am, he is able to shield my head and back from the stones with his arms. I have no time to debate thanking him though as pebbles continue to rain down on us.

"Uncle! We can not take much more of this!" he calls with a grunt, lifting his head to shout over the sound of rain "What is happening?"

"A storm!" he returns in a clipped voice that could have been due to the distance. If the king is nervous, I can't tell "Keep moving."

"This is no thunderstorm, Thorin! It's a thunder battle!" turning slowly so his back is against the mountain, Balin points towards the clouds in fear "Look!"

Turning my head, I peer around the balk known as Fili's arm. My breath stops in my throat as enormous grey creatures rise up above us. Their jagged faceless heads do not show any glimpse of noticing our presence. It's almost as if we are simply large ants to be ignored. Personally if I saw an ant the size of a rodent on my knee, I'd none to gently brush off. But giants... we might as well not exist.

"Well bless me. The legends are true!" gazing up at the figures in awe, Bofur steps away from the cover of the wall. Had I not been trying to see around Fili's arm, I would have missed the oncoming collision "Giants! Sto-"

"Get back here, you moron!" yanking on the back of his coat, I'm only able to move the dwarf because of his surprise. A large boulder careens past where his head just was and I grimace at the close call "TRY to stay alive, alright? Jeeze!"

"Aw, thank you lassie! I didn't know you cared en-"

"Take cover, you fool!"

"Ah! R-right!"

Bofur flattens himself against the mountain; offering me a wink as a boulder explodes above our heads. The near collision shouldn't have happened. Bofur wasn't supposed to get hit by anything. He shouldn't need saving... which means I've changed something. That is very bad.

"Damn it."

Maybe it's the order they are walking in. If I wasn't here, he'd be further up or back or... Ugh! I can't focus on that right now! We shuffle onward, trying to remain unseen, even as the battle continues. With each ledge we pass, another giant springs up. We aren't fast enough to outrun them all and soon enough we run out of space. The rocks beneath our feet start to tremble and crack, revealing the last stone giant.

"Kili!" Fili calls to his brother as we begin to break away. Once again I'm alerted of a change as Kili actually reaches out and almost touches his brother's hand "Grab-"

"No! Stay there!"

"What?" knocking their hands apart, I ensure that the brothers remain separate. The gap widens between them and Fili turns to me in anger "What are you doing?!"

"Keeping him alive!" Although he still looks like he wants to strangle me, the dwarf is cut off by the movement of the giant we are currently on. Thinking quickly, I try to set things right "Make sure Bilbo gets up!"

"Wha-"

"Hold on!"

The ground beneath us shivers and shakes violently. The dwarves who were further ahead are able to escape with relative ease but not us. From our position, we watch their horrified faces as we are subjected to one wild roller coaster ride. You never know how much you use your knees until you are riding on someone else. However my wonder is short lived as the solid cliff comes rushing towards us.

Fili grabs my arm, holding it tight, as we ready ourselves. We the time comes, we jump for all we are worth but he is the one who ensures that we stick the landing. Even so, it hurts. My head bounces off the ground with a enough force to make me see stars. Shouts echo in my ears but as I lay on the ground stunned, I can't focus on anything. Hands pat my back and help me sit up but the ringing doesn't stop.

"We're alright!" Someone shouts. I know it's Balin because it is him, but my head feels so clogged I shouldn't be able to tell "We're alright!"

"Wait..." Damn it. My head hurts. I'd better not have a concussion "Just... wait a second."

"We're alive!"

"Hey, guys..." I try to clear my head as the company is made whole again. Nearly whole. Peering around to make sure I didn't miss him, I raise my voice again "Hello?! Bilbo isn't here!"

"He isn't?" Looking around wildly, Bofur comes to the same conclusion. Searching my face, he pleads for an answer "Where is Bilbo?"

"..." turning to face Fili, I tilt my head "Over."

Pointing to the cliff's edge, I watch the scene unfold. The dwarves shout and clamour around trying to get to the fallen hobbit. Bofur and Dori lie on the ground to try and reach him but he's too far down. Fili stares at me for moment, long and hard, before diving for the cliff.

"Fili, no!"

Yanking his nephew back by the collar, Thorin thankfully takes the dive himself. It was a major gamble on my part but I had to know. I had to make sure that even with me here, things can keep straight. There was no way Thorin would let Fili take that risk. Personality affects their choices, not just my actions. So I guess I can change somethings and I'll have to be responsible for that. But thankfully, the dwarves are stubborn enough to make MOST of the same choices with or without my interference. Good.

The king easily scales the uneven ridges to rescue the dangling burglar. Visibly shaken from both the weather and ordeal, Bilbo collapses onto his knees once on solid ground. I'm just impressed with how quickly everything transpired. Across the landing, Fili watches me closely but I give the prince no hints into my thoughts. Thorin, on the other hand, is not amused by the events. Even as Dwalin pats the soaked hobbit on the back, the king glowers.

"I thought we'd lost our burglar!"

"He's been lost ever since he left his home." Pointing a thick finger at his nephew, the king pushes on "Had it not been for Fili, I would have left you there, halfing."

"Oh please. You have too much honor for that." Keeping my eyes away from Fili as he turns his head sharply, I give Thorin a bland look. Rolling my eyes as the king shoots me a glare, I shake my head "You would have helped him whether or not Fili took that dive."

"Truly?" Fili whispers to no one. In fact, I'm sure he is only mouthing the words "Are you sure?"

"I should not have had to! He should not have come." Giving Bilbo a pure look of outraged disgust, Thorin turns away with a grunt "He has no place among us. Come!"

Only with a small backwards look, Dwalin hops after his king like a dog. Slowly the rest follow until it is just the hobbit and I. He sniffs continuously and if not for the rain, I'd be sure that he is crying. I've never seen a grown little man cry before.

"Well?" he snaps, wiping his nose on his sleeve "Aren't you going with them?"

"Eventually. I already know where they are going."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

"You."

"You heard Thorin. I'm not one of you..."

"Them. You aren't one of them." wiping the rain from my face, I sigh "He certainly wasn't including me as one of them."

"No... I suppose not." He doesn't move forward and neither do I. He doesn't move backwards, so I hold my ground. Looking at his toes as the water runs through the hairs, I notice the scrapes. His calves are bruised and his face is muddy. Bilbo is a mess "What am I to do now?"

"I guess that depends on why you are here in the first place." With a deep breath, I reach my hand out and wipe the dirt off his cheeks. Hobbits aren't made for this but he's here. I don't believe he should have to be, but I respect that he is. He lifts his head and I almost grin at the confusion on his face "You ran out of your door with your heart set on adventure. You could have chose anyone but you followed these morons. You could have gone anywhere but you are here. The question is why."

"Why? I... Well.. I-I-"

"You don't need to tell me." Shouts of relief from ahead remind us that we are pretty far behind. I could stand a few hours in a dry cave, even if it will drop us into Goblintown "You don't even have to tell the dwarves. But think, really think, about it... so you know the answer for yourself."

"... Farseer Bloodstone?"

"Hm?"

"Do you really not care for them? Us? At all?"

"... I'm only human, Bilbo. For my own safety, I refuse to." He begins to open his mouth again, so I start walking. I've saved 3 lives today and gave a pep talk. I don't think I can take much more "Come on. It's cold out here."

Heeeey! So I joined the army... Yay! I ship to basic training tomorrow so I will be unable to update anything for quite some time. I'm really bummed about that but I wanted to at least give you one last chapter. I'm not done with the story. I'm not abandoning it. I will return. Ttyl!