Chapter 24: Thunder Battle in the Misty Mountains
Meanwhile, Thorin's company was already days ahead after leaving Rivendell, having travelled across plains, behind waterfalls, climbed hills and crossed mountain trails. But then, as they reached the Misty Mountains, it had started to thunderstorm. "Hold on!" Thorin exclaimed as they trekked along the side of the mountains. But then, Bilbo and Belinda nearly slipped off the edge. Luckily, Dwalin and Bofur grabbed them. "Thorin, we must find shelter!" Tharia exclaimed. Thorin nodded in agreement.
"Look out!" Dwalin shouted as everyone saw a giant boulder flying towards the mountain. It crashed into the mountain and caused a small avalanche. "Take cover!" Varder exclaimed as the company squeezed themselves against the mountain to avoid getting crushed by the boulders. "This is no thunderstorm. It's a Thunder Battle! Look!" Balin exclaimed, pointing out. One of the mountains started breaking apart, taking the form of a giant stone creature. "What is that thing?!" Belinda asked in shock. "Well, bless me! The legends are true! Giants! Stone Giants!" Bofur exclaimed in awe as the giant broke off a piece of the mountain and tossed it, hitting another giant that took form behind the company. "Take cover, you fool!" Thorin ordered as Fili pulled Bofur back in line.
"Hold on!" Dwalin exclaimed as the edge started cracking right from under their feet. Suddenly, the mountain started to crack in between Fili and Kili. "Kili! Grab my hand!" Fili cried, trying to reach for his brother. But the crack started to separate the company. They braced themselves as they were revealed to be standing on the 2 legs of a third Stone Giant. But as it started to get up, the first giant came up and headbutted it. The company held on as the legs swung around. As they crashed back into the mountain, Thorin, Tharia, Varder and the other Dwarves ran for the edge and leapt back onto the path before the giant could recover. As the giant recovered, stood back up and got back, it dodged an incoming punch from the first giant and prepared to counterattack. "Look out!" Varder cried as he and the Dwarves ducked down. The giant scrapped a piece of the mountain off and gave a powerful uppercut, knocking the first giant down. But then, the second giant emerged, tossed a boulder at the giant's head, and knocked its block off. The Dwarves and Vader took cover as the head nearly crushed them.
Bilbo, Belinda, Fili, Moin, Dwalin, Bofur, Bomber, Mori and Ori tried to steady themselves on the giant's leg as they were swung past the company. But then, the knee started bending, sending them towards the mountain. As they were right on top, they got seemingly crushed. "NO! NO!" Thorin shouted in anguish as the giant's body dropped down into the ravine. "No! Fili!" Thorin exclaimed as he and the others ran over. When they got there, the Dwarves were alright. "It's alright! They're alive!" Gloin called. Thorin and Tharia walked over in relief. "Where's Bilbo and Belinda? Where are the Hobbits?!" Bofur asked with worry, noticing Bilbo and Belinda were gone. They were hanging off the edge of the cliff. "There!" Bofur said, spotting them. The Bagginses were holding onto the edge as best as they could, but they couldn't pull themselves back up. "Get them!" Dwalin exclaimed. Ori tried to grab them, but they slipped off. Luckily, they grabbed another edge. "Grab my hand!" Ori exclaimed. "Hold on! Bilbo!" Bofur cried. Bilbo tried to reach for them, but he couldn't. Tharia leapt down, grabbed Bilbo's arm and helped him up. Varder leaned over, grabbed Belinda's arm and pulled her up. Suddenly, Tharia lost her grip and nearly fell. But Dwalin caught her and pulled her back up. "Are you alright?" Thorin asked, checking his sister. "Yes, I'm fine, Thorin." Tharia assured.
"I thought we lost our burglars." Dwalin said, getting Bilbo and Belinda's attention. "They've been lost ever since they left home. They shouldn't have come. They have no place amongst us. And neither does the ranger." Thorin said. Bilbo and Belinda felt hurt by that. "Dwalin!" Thorin called as he entered a mountain cave. Dwalin followed as ordered. Tharia glared at the cave entrance, clearly seeing how much Thorin's changing. "Looks safe enough." Dwalin said as they entered the cave. "Search to the back. Caves in the mountain are somewhat occupied." Thorin said. Dwalin searched the cave with a lit lantern, but didn't find anything. "There's nothing here." He said. As the Dwarves were setting up, Gloin set down firewood. "Right. Let's get the fire started." He said. "No. No fires. Not in this place." Thorin said. "He's right. It's too tight in here. The smoke would kill us." Tharia said. "Get some sleep. We start at first light." Thorin said. "We were to wait in the mountains until Gandalf and Selindra joined us. That was the plan." Balin said. "Plans change." Thorin said. "Bofur, take the first watch." Tharia was now getting truly irritated with her brother's behavior. Not only for what he said about Bilbo and Belinda, but for also not wanting to wait for Gandalf and Selindra. This was not the brother she grew up with.