Chapter Twenty-Four
The Survival Game
~~Hetti's POV~~
Goblins (that was what I heard Dwalin say they were) were forcing each of us to follow them through many tunnels and wooden bridges. We stop walking when we enter a strange looking room that was completely disgusting.
There was rotten food on the ground and other nasty stuff that I wish I could block out. I looked around the place and groaned. In the middle sitting down was the most ugliest fatest Goblin I had ever laid eyes on.
"I feel a song coming on!" I heard him say and I groan.
"Must you!" I mutter under my breath.
"Snip snap, the black crack
Grip, grab, pinch, and nab
Batter and beat
Milk 'em, stammer and squeak!
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town
With a swish and smack
And a whip and a crack
Everybody talks when they're on our rack
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town
Hammer and torch, get out your knockers and gongs
You wont last long on the end of my prongs
Clish, clash, crush and smash
Bang, break, shiver and shake
You can yell and yelp
But there aint no help
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town"
"Catchy, isn't it?" said the Goblin King "It's one of my own compositions."
"You should give it up," I remark "You can not sing and the song was utter drivel!"
"That's not a song, it's an abomination!" cried out Balin.
"You can say that again!" I whispered to myself.
"Abominations, mutations, deviations…that all you're gonna find down here!" the Goblin King snickers.
He was holding a weapon in one hand and had many warts all over his fat body. He had a gold looking crown on his head that really made him look ridiculous on his massive head. I could tell he was taller than the average Goblin hanging around. Several Goblins took hold of our weapons but I did notice Loki hide one of his weapons in his armour and he caught me watching him and he just smirked at me.
Sudden movement caused me to return my attention to our new enemy. This Goblin jumps of his chair, pushing and kicking other Goblins that get in his way, as he slowly approaches us. I realised his Goblin was the leader and king to this horrible place.
"Who would be so bold as to come armed into my kingdom? Spies? Thieves? Assassins?" He spat at us.
'Call this a kingdom?' I thought to myself 'I think someone is very delusional!'
"Dwarves, Your Malevolence." said a Goblin near him.
"Dwarves?" sneered the Goblin King.
"We found them on the front porch." said the the same Gobin again.
'Front porch? Are these creeps for real?' I thought, shaking my head in disgust.
"Well, don't just stand there, search them! Every crack, every crevice." yelled The Goblin King.
Many Goblins come towards us and search us, throwing away, whatever they could get their dirty mitts on. One had grabbed Oin's hearing trumpet and threw it on the ground while another, stomped on it. I was livid and punched one Goblin hard across his face, knocking him into the other lowlifes here.
"Why you little," cried out the Goblin trying to get back to me, only for Dwalin to knock him out with his own fist.
"What are you doing in these parts? Speak!" cried out The Goblin King, clearly enjoying himself.
"Don't worry, lads, I'll handle this!" replied Oin.
"No tricks!" remarks the Goblin King "I want the truth! Warts and all!"
'Well you have enough of them!' I thought to myself.
"You're going to have to speak up," Oin replies "Your boys have flattened my trumpet!"
"I'll flatten more than your trumpet!" The Goblin King shouts, walking toward Oin.
"If it's more information you're wanting, I'm the one you should speak to!" commented Bofur.
I turn my head at him and frown. Just what was he playing at?
"We were on the road…well, it's not so much a road as a path…actually, it's not even that, come to think of it, it's more like a track. Anyway, the point is we were on this road, like a path, like a track, and then we weren't! Which is a problem, because we were supposed to be in Dunland last Tuesday." said Bofur.
Everyone except Loki and I were talking over themselves, trying to get their points across. After that, everyone kept quiet to this vile, fat obnoxious, idiot.
"Well then, if they will not talk, we'll make them squawk! Bring out the Mangler! Bring out the Bone Breaker! Start with that girl right there."
The Goblin King points at me. However, I was most surprised when Loki went in front of me, holding me back with his left hand.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you!"
"And who are you?" asked The Goblin King "You do not look like a dwarf and neither does the girl there!"
'Where were Elaina and Bilbo?' I thought, looking around.
I caught Thorin's gaze and knew he was thinking the same as well. I didn't like this at all.
"Who I am is none of your business," sneered Loki "You will not touch her!"
"Whose going to stop me, surely not you," laughed The fat Goblin "We have your weapons."
"Oh you think so, do you?"
Loki chuckles and momentarily let go of my hand and I wasn't sure what he was doing, until he threw something at several Goblins. I saw them fall to the floor, dead!
"That was just a warning!"
The Goblin glared at Loki.
"You have no idea on who you are dealing with!"
"Really," replied Loki, grabbing my hand once more "I have seen many things in my life that are far more intelligent than you are. You however, are just a pebble that needs to be kicked out of the way!"
The Goblin King held his gaze with Loki and I saw him use his fat arms to bring his own army near us and I knew that meant trouble. The leader was still leering at Loki and I had a horrible feeling things were about to get worse.
They did!
Many Goblins tried grabbing me and everyone else and I was relieved that Loki refused to let me go. He surprised me when he nimbly punched several Goblins into each other. I had never seen Loki act like this.
"That girl must be their play thing," laughed The Goblin King.
My cheeks were crimsom red. Not from blushing but from anger.
"You have a disgusting mind fatso!" I spat back.
The truth must have hurt as The Goblin King looked ready to explode.
"Grab that girl, no one speaks to me like that!" He spat, now glaring at me.
Loki more or less crushed my hand as advancing Goblins tried getting to me. One managed to grab me but I managed to evade their prying mitts on me. I really wanted to get away from these vile beings.
"Wait!" I heard Thorin say stepping forward.
~~Thorin's POV~~
I slowly walked towards this Goblin with a look of disgust on my face.
"Well, well, well," the Goblin King stared down at me. "Look who it is. Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King under the Mountain!"
The Goblin King bowed in jest.
"Oh, but I'm forgetting you don't have a Mountain! And you're not a king, which makes you...nobody, really!"
"Your the nobody here fatso!" sneered Hetti.
The Goblin King glared at her then returned his attention back on me.
"I know someone who would pay a pretty price for your head," said the repulsive King, lowering his voice. "Just the head of course, nothing attached. Perhaps you know of whom I speak. An old enemy of yours. A Pale Orc astride a White Warg."
I watch him, refusing to let him get to me. I remember what Elaina had said.
'The other night, I had a strange dream. We were all up on several trees, there was fire around them and slowly I saw a white Warg with a pale looking Orc on top of it.'
"Azog the Defiler was destroyed. He was slain in battle long ago." I reply to this vile specimen.
I knew Elaina spoke the truth, but I keep my face neutral and acted like this was the first I heard of this matter.
"So you think his defiling days are done, do you?" leered The Great Goblin, edging close to my face.
I watch as he starts laughing then turns to a tiny Goblin sitting in a basket and holding a slate.
"Send word to the Pale Orc, tell him I have found his prize." he chuckled looking at me.
I so wanted to kill this ugly monstrosity.
The little Goblin, starts writing something on the slate, laughing at nothing. He then pulls a lever, which caused the basket he was currently in to slide down a system of ropes and pulleys into the darkness.
o0o
~~Elaina's POV~~
I knew I was still alive, when I felt my entire body throbb. I slowly sit up and I realise I am sitting on weird shaped mushrooms. The creature from before was nearby and I slowly lean forward.
The creature was barely alive and I feel around it, in search for my sword. He was laying on it and I shift him to his side and try and free my sword. It felt like ages when I finally felt the sword come lose from its prison.
Slowly I get up completely, placing my sword around my belt and I was really relieved to see Bilbo. I was about to say something but I noticed he was preoccupied with something. Ignoring the pain in my leg, I etch towards him, wondering what he was looking at.
I looked at what Bilbo was staring at and I raised my eyebrows. There was a strange gangly creature looking around his 'I assume it was a he!' surroundings. We both watch as he slowly heads towards us and I follow Bilbo as we hide behind a rock.
"Bilbo are you alright?" I whispered to him, still watching this weird looking creature.
"Y-Yes I'm alright Elaina. Are you alright?" asked Bilbo.
"A little sore," I admitted to him, brushing my cheek and noticed my fingers had some blood on them. "Um, what exactly is that?"
"I do not know." replied Bilbo.
"Yes. Yes. Yes! Yes! Gollum. Gollum." I heard the creature say.
We quickly move around the rock, keeping out of sight. We both watch the creature named Gollum, as he was heading towards the unconscious creature that had fallen with us.
Bilbo and I watch in horror as Gollum circles around the creature before pulling it by its feet. My eyes went wide when the creature opens it's eyes and starts thrashing about. Gollum stops pulling him, grabs a nearby rock and starts pounding the creature on the head with it. I couldn't tell if the creature was alive or dead, it clearly wasn't moving though.
I felt a little sick for seeing that and glanced away. When I return my attention, I saw Gollum resume pulling his victim away. It was while he was doing that when I saw something fall out of his loincloth. Apparently Bilbo had seen it to and was waiting for Gollum to move out of the way to see what he had dropped.
"Nasty goblinses. Better than old bones, Precious, better than nothing." said Gollum to no one.
"Whose he talking too?" I whispered to Bilbo.
"I have no idea!"
We wait a few moments, making sure Gollum wasn't coming back. When we were sure that he wasn't, we slowly walked out of our hiding spot. Bilbo holds his sword and we both follow after Gollum.
I walk on ahead but stop when I saw Bilbo bend down. I walk back towards him wondering what he was doing, when I saw what Bilbo was holding. In his left hand was a gold ring and I realised this was what that strange being named Gollum had dropped.
"Where on earth did that creature find a ring from?" I ask Bilbo, softly.
"I-I do not have an answer for that Elaina." replied Bilbo.
"Maybe you should leave the ring alone Bilbo," I whispered, glancing around, in case that strange being comes back realising he has lost it "it is not ours!"
There was something about that ring that set me on edge. Which was completely ridiculous. The ring looked harmless but I had a feeling, all was not what it seemed.
"It's just a ring Elaina." replied Bilbo.
We both heard Gollum singing in the background but I watched Bilbo put the ring in his pocket for safe keeping. We then follow the sound of Gollum's voice.
"Too many boneses, Precious! Nothing of flesh!" said another voice.
Was there another one of these strange things?
"Great, he has someone with him," I hissed, grabbing onto Bilbo "We have to find a way out of here!"
"Shut up! Get its skin off. Start with its head."
"I know," replied Bilbo "But do we follow him or try our luck another way?"
I knew that if we tried finding our own path, we could get more lost then ever. I knew that we had no choice but to follow Gollum.
"I think it would be wise to follow him," I say softly, "Make sure we make no sudden noise. That strange being, looks very dangerous!"
I shudder, remembering the way he knocked that other creature out with a rock to it's head.
Cautiously, Bilbo and I walked down a dark wet cave, we saw Gollum's shadow by a small lake and I rolled my eyes when I heard him sing.
"The cold hard lands, they bites our hands, they gnaws our feet. The rocks and stones, they're like old bones, all bare of meat. Cold as death, they have no breath, it's good to eat!"
We tread carefully and turn a corner and see Gollum beating the body of the creature from before. I quickly look away when I realise he is about to use a rock on his victim's head once more. I glance down at Bilbo's sword and saw it glow blue. I glance up at Gollum once more and I pray that he had not seen that.
He had!
Bilbo and I quickly hide behind a rock and we both watch as the sword's blue hue slowly fades out completely. Bilbo peeks out from behind the rock and nudges me to look as well. Gollum was not where he was originally, in fact he was missing.
We took this as a sign to move. We walk slowly towards the lake, keeping our eyes open for Gollum. As we continue walking, I get the shock of my life when Gollum jumps down in front of us.
"Blesses and splashes!" Gollum groaned, "That's a meaty mouthful!"
Being so close to him now, I took in his appearance. He was very pale and gaunt looking and was only wearing a beige loincloth. He had massive blue eyes that were currently watching Bilbo and I with suspicion.
'Be wary of this one Elaina,' I heard the voice of Zeus in my thoughts 'this being is not to be trusted!'
He didn't have to tell me that. There was something of about him, especaily when Gollum steps towards us. I was thankful that Bilbo pointed his sword on his throat which made Gollum step back in fear.
"Aaahh. Gollum. Gollum. Ack!" Gollum cried out.
"Stay back," said Bilbo, I could tell, he too thought there was something dodgy about this strange creature, Gollum "I'm warning you! Don't come any closer!"
Gollum glances down at the sword and stepped back once more.
"It's got an elvish blades, but it's not an elf," Gollum looks up and watches Bilbo and I "What is it, Precious? What is it?"
Bilbo cleared his throat before speaking,
"My name is Bilbo Baggins."
"Bagginses? What is a Bagginses, Precious?" asked Gollum, looking puzzled.
"I'm a Hobbit from the Shire."
"Oh! We like Goblinses, batses, and fishes, but we hasn't tried Hobbitses before. Is it soft? Is it juicy?"
Gollum's eyes lit up as he watched Bilbo then he turned to me.
"You don't look like him here. Your not an elf either. What are you?" asked Gollum. "You don't smell of man. What are you, Precious What are you?"
I-I'm Elaina Baggins," I replied as confidently as I could "I'm Bilbo's daughter."
"We like you, yes you look tasty and juicy." exclaimed Gollum edgeing closer to me.
"Now, now, K-keep your distance! I'll use this if I have to!" Bilbo replied once more.
He started swinging his sword at Gollum and the gaunt looking thing cried loudly.
"Look, we don't mean you any harm," I say to Gollum who was watching Bilbo's sword "We just want to get out of here!"
"Why, is it lost?" smiled Gollum.
"Yes," I admitted, trying not to anger him, remembering what I witnessed earlier, "And we would like to know how to get out of here."
"Ooh! We knows! We knows safe paths for Hobbitses. Safe paths in the dark."
'Did his voice just change?' I thought to myself
'His dangerous Elaina, be careful!' said Zeus again.
"That's good to hear," I smile at him "Could you show us the way out?"
"Shut up!" cried out Gollum to Bilbo who looked back at him in shock.
"I didn't say anything." said Bilbo.
"Wasn't talking to you!"
I glance at Bilbo who caught me watching him and I gave him a quizzical look as to what was the problem with Gollum. I return my attention back on him and saw Gollum's face turn more serene.
"Yes, we was Precious." grinned Gollum.
Seriously, what was the matter with this strange thing?
"Look, I don't know what your game is, but-," trailed of Bilbo.
"Games?" squealed Gollum, heading towards us again "We love games, doesn't we, Precious? Does it like games? Does it? Does it? Does it like to play?"
I was beginning to think Gollum had some sort of illness. On one side he used rocks and smashed heads with it. The other side was calm and tranquil smiling at silly things.
"Maybe!" I heard Bilbo say, bringing me back to the present.
"What has roots as nobody sees, is taller than trees, up, up it goes, and yet never grows?" Gollum said with a happy look on his face.
He then looks at Bilbo and I, waiting for the answer.
"The mountain." Bilbo said simply, and Gollum laughed in delight.
"Yess, yess, oh, let's have another one, eh? Yes, come on, do it again, do it, do it again. Ask us!"
Suddenly his face frowned and I raised my eyebrows at what I was seeing.
"No! No more riddles. Finish them off. Finish them now. Gollum! Gollum!"
Gollum then snarls and rushes towards Bilbo to hurt him but Bilbo somehow manages to handle him and stops him, before speaking to him.
"No! No, no, no. I wa-, we want to play. We do." Bilbo glanced at me and I nod my head "We want to play. We can see you are very good at this. S-So why don't we have a game of riddles? Yes, just, just you me and my daughter."
"Yes, we want to play your game Gollum." I say to him, gently.
Gollum looks back at me in disdain.
"You know who I am?"
"You keep saying your name," I reply to him "We would love to play your game."
"Yes! Yes, just, just, just us." laughed Gollum once more.
"Yes. Yes. And-and if we win, you show us the way out!" said Bilbo.
"Yes. Yes." nodded Gollum who appeared to think of something else "And if it loses? What then?"
Bilbo and I watch each other before returning our attention back on Gollum.
"Well, if it loses, Precious, we will eats it!"
I was stunned and I could tell Bilbo was too.
"Uh!" I began, then stopped speaking, not knowing what to say.
"If Bagginses loses we eats it whole!" Gollum said simply.
Glancing at Bilbo once more, I nod my head, letting him know that I would agree to whatever he decides.
"Fair enough." said Bilbo, placing his sword away from Gollum.
"Well, Baggins first." smiled Gollum.
"Thirty white horses on a red hill. First they champ, then they stamp, then they stand still." said Bilbo.
I could tell Gollum was thinking this riddle through. Then I saw him smile at us both.
"Teeth!"
Bilbo nodded at him and Gollum jumped around the place.
"Teeth! Yes, my Precious. But we—we—we only have nine."
He then opens his mouth and I realise he was speaking the truth.
"Our turn. Voiceless it cries, wingless flutters, toothless bites, mouthless mutters."
I watch as Bilbo was trying to think of the answer, he was walking towards the lake, deep in thought.
"Oh we knows, we knows precious!" Gollum said in a sing song voice to me, "Shut up!"
"I've got it," said Bilbo "Wind! It's wind!"
Gollum glares at Bilbo and says,
"Very clever, Hobbitses, very clever."
Gollum attempts to go near Bilbo but Bilbo grabs his sword and draws it near Gollum's face.
"Ah, ah, ah, ah. A-A box without hinges, key, o—or, or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid." stutters Bilbo, holding onto his sword very tightly.
I watch Gollum tilt his head, thinking long and hard. I heard him talking to himself, repeating what Bilbo had just said.
"A box...and a lid...and then a key!"
"Well!" asks Bilbo, his eyes never leaving sight of Gollum.
"It's nasty. Uh, box, uh-," frowns Gollum.
"Give up?" asked Bilbo, once again.
"Give us a chance, Precious, give us a chance!"
I was shocked when Gollum closes his eyes and starts thrusting his feet at the ground and was also snarling again. His face changes once more, opens his eyes wide and grins.
"Eggses! Eggses!" He laughs in triumph "What crunchy little eggses, yes. Grandmother taught us to suck them, yes."
I could tell that Bilbo really thought that was the winning formula. Gollum was just as good as was Bilbo. Suddenly we all hear a bat or something and we glance around, seeing nothing. When we turn back, Gollum had disappeared.
"Ahh. We have one for you, All things it devours, birds, beasts, trees, flowers. Gnaws iron, bites steel, grinds hard stones to meal. Answer us."
We look everywhere for Gollum as his voice echos throughout the cave. Just where was he?"
"Give me a moment, please, I gave you a good long while." begged Bilbo.
I watch Bilbo as he thinks up the answer. He looks at me with a troubled look on his face.
"I don't know this one!"
I tried thinking the answer too.
"Is it tasty? Is it scrumptious? Is it crunchable?" asked Gollum, sounding quite close now.
"Let me think!" Bilbo said, turning his sword around looking for any signs of Gollum.
"It's stuck. Bagginses is stuck," laughed Gollum "Time's up."
My head shot up.
"The answer is time!" I shouted out, praying that was the right answer.
It was when I saw a rock being thrown, I realised I had been right. This whole scenario was really creeping me out and I really wanted out of here.
"Last question. Last chance!" sneered Gollum, coming back from wherever.
He was looking at me with disgust and I realised I had to do a riddle for him.
"Ah, uh!" I heard Bilbo say.
"Ask us. ASK US!" shouts Gollum, who then smiles at me, though his eyes were narrowed.
"Okay," I reply to him "I can not be felt, seen or touched, yet I can be found in everybody. My existence is always in debate, yet I have my own style of music."
I had no idea where that riddle came from and I only hoped it would help. I watch him scratch his forehead, thinking what I had just said and saw him frown several times.
"Leafs" asked Gollum.
I shook my head.
"Nope!"
Gollum starts jumping up and down in frustration.
"Three guesses, Precious. It must give us three!"
He then holds up two fingers to quantify three.
"Three guesses. Very well, guess away." I replied.
"Handses!"
I saw what he was doing as he watched Bilbo fidget his coat pocket.
"No it is not that!"
Gollum leans on a rock tapping his fingers on the rock. I could see he was again trying to come up with an answer.
"Fishes!"
"Wrong answer, last change!" I reply smiling at Bilbo as I somehow knew then, Gollum would never get the answer to my riddle correctly.
"Tress, bat wings, knife."
"Wrong, wrong, and wrong!" I exclaim.
We had won, thank the stars for that!
"So, come then, I won the game, you promised to show me the way out." I say to him.
"Did we say so, Precious? Did we say so?" leered Gollum, looking at Bilbo and I.
Gollum grinned as he slowly advanced towards us. I could see that he was doing something to his loincloth and he stopped and kept cheeking. His eyes went really wide and I wondered what the problem was. Again he started seaching himself as if he had lost something. Then it dawned on me.
The ring Bilbo found.
"Where is it? Where is it? No! Ahh! Where is it? No! No!" screamed Gollum, now looking at the ground.
Grabbing hold of Bilbo while Gollum's back was turned, we slowly walk away from him but stop when Gollum turns around once more.
"Lost! Curses and splashes, my precious is lost!" cried out Gollum, looking defeated.
"What have you lost?" asked Bilbo, innocently.
"Mustn't ask us! Not its business! No! Gollum, Gollum."
We watch Gollum leaning over the edge of the lake, crying. Suddenly his body shots up and he turns and glares at Bilbo. I did not like the look on this.
"What has it got in its nasty little pocketses?" hissed Gollum.
I can see that Bilbo is now holding the ring he found and he thrusts his sword back at Gollum's face who looks back at the pair of us with hatred. I heard him mummur something, then he starts shouting in rage.
"He stole it. He stole it! Ahh! HE STOLE IT!"
Gollum then picks up yet another rock and throws it at Bilbo. Bilbo manages to deflect the rock with his sword and he holds my hand and we run away, well aware that Gollum is close behind
o0o
~~Thorin's POV~~
There are many Goblins carrying massive instruments of some sort and bringing it to The Goblin King who is dancing and singing again.
"Bones will be shattered, necks will be wrung! You'll be beaten and battered, from racks you'll be hung. You will lie down here and never be found, down in the deep of Goblin-town." chuckled The Goblin King.
The Goblin from before is touching our weapons and I narrow my eyes in anger. he had the gall to pick up my sword Orcrist and have a thorough look at it. I could tell at once he had seen this sword before as he gasps in disgust and throws my sword back down. It lands in full view of many other Goblins.
The Goblins all retreat in fear at my sword and I watch through hooded eyes as The Goblin King heads towards my sword and I see him scowl.
"I know that sword! It is the Goblin-Cleaver, the Biter, the blade that sliced a thousand necks." spoke The Goblin King.
Suddenly out of nowhere several bolts of lighting come from every inch of the throne room, causing mass destruction. Many Goblins had got caught up with the bolts and were electrocuted. I duck out of the way as do my kin. I saw Hetti on the outside and I quickly pull her to my side as we all watch what happens next.
"Thought you could hurt my daughters friends, did you!" I heard a voice from above "You should know better. Gandalf, I leave the rest up to you!"
A bright light and another explosion came and the cave was shaking. The Goblin King was on his back, completely stunned. I glance up and saw Gandalf holding his staff and sword. I was thankful the light was dimming down as we slowly got back up and stare at Gandalf.
"Take up arms. Fight! Fight!" shouts Gandalf.
We didn't need to be told twice as I fought through many Goblins as I edged towards my weapons. I saw the pathetic form of the The Goblin King who was watching Gandalf to notice me. Slowly he stands up and shouts out,
"He wields the Foe-Hammer, the Beater, bright as daylight!"
We reach for our weapons and we all begin tossing them to their rightful owners. Now we had our weapons back, we could show these Goblins on who they are dealing with.
"Nori!" cries out Dori.
I spin around and saw Nori nearly getting hit by The Goblin King. I run towards Nori and deflect the Goblin Kings blow, causing him to stumble backward and fall off the edge of his platform. We had to get out of here. I only hoped Elaina was alright.
"Follow me. Quick! Run!" yells Gandalf.
We all run along a pathway leading us away from the throne room.
o0o
~~Elaina's POV~~
"Give it to us!"
We had run into a side cave and I was surprised that Gollum had missed us. Though I was relieved. We were both out of breath as we turned around and saw a crack in the wall.
"You slip in there," pants Bilbo "I'll be right behind you."
I slipped through the gap with ease but I wish I could say the same to Bilbo, he was having trouble getting in. His buttons were stopping him from entering.
"Oh these buttons!" snapped Bilbo, trying to reach me.
I reached out and grabbed him, and pulled with all my might. I felt Bilbo's presence and realised he was now besides me. I was about to say something when I spotted Gollum looking for us.
"It's ours. It's ours!" cried out Gollum.
Gollum starts having another temper tantrum and made Bilbo jump. The ring he found shoots up in the air and Bilbo is frantically trying to retrieve it. As the ring falls back down, Bilbo manages to grab it and that was the last I saw of him.
I was mystified. Where on earth was he?
"Thief! Baggins!" hissed Gollum once more before running in the opposite direction.
"Bilbo!" I whispered "Where are you?"
"I'm right here Elaina!"
I look around not understanding.
"I can't see you, where are you?"
Then it dawned on me. The way Gollum reacted, this all had something to do that ring.
"Bilbo, you seem to be invisible because of the ring your wearing, take it of so that I can see you!"
I was happy to see Bilbo once more when he took the ring of.
"You really couldn't see me?"
I shook my head.
"It appears you have found a magic ring Bilbo. Which could explain Gollum's little meltdowns," I point out "Keep it safe, we don't want to run into him again. Let's get out of here!"
We pulled ourselves out of the rock and went in the opposite direction to where Gollum was last seen. We did not stop running until we both heard a familiar sound that I thought I would never hear again.
"Quickly!" said a deep voice.
We could hear more voices and strange sounds. We had to reach our friends. We pick up speed once more and ran towards the end of the pathway before we finally reach a tunnel opening.
"Thieves!" We heard behind us and I groaned, I really hoped he had lost him.
I had no idea where we were heading but we ran like the wind and I saw the light and had to blink several times to get used to the light. I heard raised voices and I raised myself up the rocky exit.
"Come on Bilbo, we are nearly there!" I shouted out, as I climbed up the rocks towards the light.
"Elaina!" Loki's voice called from above me but I was just glad I was in the open once more to take any notice of the others, at present.
"You look awful!"
I glanced at Loki, seeing his concern on his face.
"Thanks for that!" I reply.
"Do you need some help?"
I grace Loki with a smile but shook my head. I just needed to breath the fresh air once more and I sat down on the ground, taking everything in. I heard footsteps before someone picks me up.
"Can't I just get my breath back!" I snapped, frowning to whoever was holding me.
I glance up and saw a smiling Thorin and my frown instantly disappeared. He places his forehead on mine, holding me tightly, before kissing me tenderly on my lips.
"I thought I had lost you my angel." whispered Thorin, placing his forehead on mine again.
"No, just fell down a chasm, then had a very sureal riddle game with a weird looking hobbit like creature!"
My eyes went wide and I search around the area. Where was Bilbo? I could have sworn he was right behind me.
"What is it?" asked Thorin, looking concerned.
"W-Where is Bilbo?" I question myself more to the others but the next second, Gandalf was besides me.
"Where is Bilbo, Elaina. Tell me what happened thus far!" asked Gandalf, gently.
"Curse that halfling! Now he's lost?" Dwalin cried out.
Ignoring him I begin my tale.
"As I was saying to Thorin, we both fell to another area. It was completely dark. There was a strange looking creature that kept calling himself Gollum. He said he would show us the way out if we play a riddle game with him."
I pause and sighed deeply before continuing.
"We won but Gollum did not like that and started shouting something about 'his Precious'. He then turns on us and Bilbo and I had to get away."
I realised I was crying and Thorin gently brushed them away from my face with his thumb.
"If Gollum has Bilbo I-,"
Thorin held me tighter, trying to calm me down.
"I'm alright Elaina!"
Bilbo stepped out from behind a tree.
Everyone looked at him in shock. Gandalf burst out laughing before saying,
"Bilbo Baggins! I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life!"
Thorin, placed his hand around my waist as we walked up to Bilbo.
"I wish to thank you Elaina for looking out for me back there." smiled Bilbo.
"Hey, there was no way I would let that weird being outwit us. Your the one with the knowledge of riddles. Without your quick thinking, we would still be down there!" I reply to him, seeing Hetti walk towards Bilbo and held onto him.
"Your the one that ended that though," grinned Bilbo "That last riddle is hard what was the answer?"
I grin at him.
"When we're really safe, I'll tell you!"
I caught Thorin's gaze who whispered,
"You really are one of a kind my Elaina."
He then brushes his lips with mine.
Suddenly, we could hear a loud howling, and we realised we were still in danger.
Thorin turned to look around.
"Out of the frying pan-," trails of Thorin.
"...and into the fire. Run! RUN!" Gandalf yelled.