Authors note: I do not own anything to do with The Hobbit or LOTR franchises, everything belongs to Tolkien! am just a poor unemployed fish biologist having some fun. Comments and reviews welcome but please no flames! If you don't like it, don't read it- easy enough right?

Chapter 5:

Several weeks came and went as the trail wound closer to the High Pass of the Misty Mountains; and with each passing day Bilbo's anxiety increased. He knew that the light drizzle he and Nori were encountering now that they were within reach of the mountain peaks was only a small taste of what was occurring at higher elevations. Water droplets clung to his lashes as he gazed up at the blackened clouds that covered the peaks. The road would have appeared to ascend to the heavens if it weren't for the angry clashes of thunder that echoed in a mimicry of battle. Or possibly an actual battle.

He had hoped to be present for the giants' battle and the goblin town afterwards, but despite Nori's driving pace they had yet to meet up with the others. This was due to a lack of ponies on their end. When Bilbo had asked, Nori had regaled him with the enjoyable tale of Fili hitting on an elven male as a distraction. The rest of the company had Nori slip the ponies out one by one. This plan had worked so well that when the would-be paramour offered to take Fili back to his lodgings, the prince had panicked, leaving them two ponies short and in a hurry. Nori had assured him twice that they planned to meet up at a known location on the other side of the pass and was unconcerned that the group stayed so far ahead of them.

As he and Nori extended a courteous silence, another decision weighed on his heart; The ring. He knew of the unused path that cut through the heart of these mountains that was the territory of the goblins and the beastly Golem. He had actively avoided it when he made the lonely journey back to the shire. While he was unsure if he should tempt the pull of the ring this go-around, Bilbo knew that it had saved their butts on more than one occasion. Both dread and excitement filled him as they approached an ancient entrance that he had found on a map the previous night in Lord Elrond's library.

"Umm, Master Nori?" His voice picked up in volume to be heard over the wind.

"Ehh? Just Nori please Master Burglar, no need for formalities with me."

"Nori then. Might I suggest a shortcut out of the rain. It meets at the end of this road on other side but will be much easier given the weather." Bilbo watched doubt and suspicion cross the dwarve's face, the flashes of lightning bringing harsh lines across his features.

"And how'd you come across this information?"

"It was on a map in the library in Lord Elrond's home. Tis a passage made by travelers that has been taken over by goblins, so we will need to be quiet as we journey." He raised his hands innocently at Nori's hard look, "It's well documented! It once was a common way to pass through the mountains until the goblins started attacking travelers, now it goes unused and will likely have little or no guards. Perfect for a burglar and a thief, don't you think?"

In a flash, Nori jumped quickly into Bilbo's path while drawing his sword to point at the hobbit.

"While a thief I may be, only my brothers are privy to that information. I know neither one would be keen on sharing it with a two-faced hobbit. Now why don't you tell me what yer really after?" Bilbo's blood ran cold in his veins; it was a foolish slip-up, as Nori had told him of his sticky fingers in his previous life.

"Woah! I-it's easy enough to d-deduce," he lied through his teeth, "e-especially for a seasoned burglar."

"Humor me," The blade inched closer to his throat.

"You, uh, you… stole cutlery and plates from last nights dinner," Bilbo stammered, trying to recall the details. Memories from the last several weeks mixed with those from the previous timeline… before a grin stretched across Bilbo's lips, "And you stole my father's potato paperweight."

"What an odd thing to accuse me of!" The Dwarf sputtered in response, lowering his weapon with a glare. Bilbo knew this was his tell, and laughed outright at his fortunate guess. A small silver potato, which his father had won in second place for the Shire's annual gardening competition, had been the only item he had been unable to find when retrieving his belongings from the Sackville-Baggins. While a regretful loss, he had always thought Lobelia had been lying and had kept it hidden for herself.

"You can keep it, and you needn't worry; I won't be telling anyone about your hobby. But we are coming up to the entrance here," He gestured to a rocky outcropping overgrown with grass," so what do you think?"

By this time the storm had worsened, rain soaking through their garments beginning to chill them. Water ran in small streams along the sides of the road, which threatened mudslides from above. Nori gave him a long look before nodding, sheathing his weapon so Bilbo could lead them to the entrance. Descending from the path, Bilbo gave a quick search to the area before finding the passage entrance overgrown with weeds and vines. A few swift chops with Sting and one grunting shove later and they were peering into a dark abandoned corridor. Stepping inside the door slammed shut with the breeze leaving them to face the inky black. They began walking with Nori taking the lead. Sure footed, Nori listened as Bilbo stumbled his way through the darkness behind him.

"We're gonna be caught with all that racket you're making," he hisses, turning back to stare at the Hobbit.

"My bad, I'll just grow new eyes." Bilbo grumbled sarcastically, rubbing his shoulder that had just made contact with an 'invisible' corner.

"That won't help you, they would probably see worse. Here." Bilbo felt a piece of cloth touch his hand. Grasping it, his other hand felt up to find he had a hold of Nori's shirt tail. His face heated with embarrassment as he whispered a thank you into the dark, appreciating the fact that Bofur wasn't here to tease him. They walked for several hours this way, taking care to not alert any possible boobie traps or guards.

"Why did you become a burglar?" Nori asked into the dark.

Bilbo hesitated before whispering, "It was needed of me."

"Hmm…" The rest of an unspoken conversation cut short as shouts began to echo down the hall. Grabbing hold of Sting's hilt, Bilbo pulled the blade a few inches away from its scabbard to reveal the glowing blue metal inside. They both tilted their bodies, pulling themselves close to the stone walls as they inched closer to the sound. Eventually they came to a stop just outside of a doorway of light, goblins running and shouting in a frenzy.

"I'd hate to be whatever they're after," Nori whispered as they slipped past the group down a dimly lit platform. Bilbo knew what they were after and prayed that it was going as it had the first time despite missing Nori.

A screech rang out from above as a goblin jumped from its hidden perch, tackling Bilbo to the ground. His breath wheezed from his lips as he felt a discernable snap in his chest. Pushing his hands between his body and the attacker, Bilbo grappled with the goblin. The viscous being was soon shoved from him as Nori punted it several feet. Before it had a chance to recover it had a blade embedded in its chest. Shifting to his feet Bilbo clutched his side, pulling Sting from its scabbard as Nori unsheathed his own blade from the goblin. Their eyes met as more shouts came from above.

Bolting into action the two raced along the uneven planks of goblin town, hurtling over gaps and around corners as several goblins gave chase. Many more goblins met them head on, receiving moral wounds from stings glowing blade. Bilbo zeroed in on slashing as many as he could, trying to protect the much larger and more experienced dwarf from mortal harm. He knew that it was his fault they were now two against a hundred, and that Thorin was missing a member in his fight with the Goblin King.

"Jump!" The command rang out as a firm grip pulled Bilbo back by the shirt collar. His arms flailed as he fell through the air before landing with a thud in a basket of fish. Several goblins jumped after them, falling short as Nori shoved a second basket out to meet the monster's midair, sending them to their demise. Bilbo could see that he and Nori were now several meters below on a platform attached to a rope… which Nori promptly cut, sending them hurtling into the black below. The shouts of the goblins faded and were replaced by the sound of wood scraping away on stone as the platform met the cavern's edges, shrinking it. Suddenly, one edge caught, upending both the dwarf and the basket of fishy hobbit to free fall several meters, landing with a thud.

A muffed groan resonated from a little way away from Bilbo, assuring him that his friend was still alive. He wouldn't have been so sure for himself except for the screaming pain in his ribs and the rotting fish smell than now perfumed his cloths which left little to doubt. Looking around he could see Sting's light just out of reach. Shifting to his knees he could see large mushrooms and dead or dieing goblins around him.

A shiver of fear ran through him as he recognized where he was, and what's more, recognized the nasally voice singing a jolly tune about fishes.

Grabbing up Sting, he shoved the blade into its sheath while turning towards where he had heard Nori. It took some feeling about to find him without the light from his blade, but he quickly tripped over the unconscious dwarf before pulling them both into a pile of mushrooms as Smeagol made his way toward the dieing goblins. This first meeting with the skinny pale creature nearly mirrored that of his previous life, Smeagol crushing the skull of his struggling prey. And as before, out slipped a glint of gold from the safety of his pocket.

Bilbo nearly wept for the struggle to keep himself from leaping out of his hiding spot. Despite knowing it would certainly damn his friend to an ugly death as well as himself, the forceful need of the ring had not abided despite finding himself in a body that had never encountered it before. It's hold on his mind was the same as it had grown to be when he had left it to Frodo.

Shutting his eyes, he concentrated on his breathing while waiting for the struggling grunts of Golem to fade into the distance. Once alone, Bilbo leapt from the mushroom patch with Sting drawn, the light guiding him to his prize. Kneeling, hands shaking, he gently picked up the warm metal, turning it over in his hands. It was as it had always been, and yet no nudges or voices pulled on his consciousness. Whatever force this addiction stemmed from had yet to take hold in this timeline, which gave him hope that he might overcome it. Perhaps the Blues might have an answer, he thought as he placed the ring into one of the inner pockets of his vest.

Bilbo moved back towards Nori, guilt eating at his thoughts as he had not checked the dwarf first. Looking him over revealed no external injuries other than a bit of blood on his forehead. A bit of prodding revealed a large lump just above his hairline, which was some cause for concern. Dwarven greetings often involved the bashing of heads together, so it must take quite a lot of force to knock one out.

"Nori," he whispered, lightly slapping the dwarf's face. Moving his face closer to Nori's ear, he called out louder, "NORI!"

Bolting upright, Nori's head collided with Bilbo's nose as his arms thrashed out to collide with Bilbo's injured ribs.

"What happe-" Bilbo thumped a hand over Nori's loud mouth, the other pinching his bleeding nose as he tried to catch his breath from the pain.

"Shh," Bilbo whispered, "we're not alone down here." He had no wish to partake in a riddle competition this go-around despite it being two against one. Nodding, Nori scanned the area on high alert before standing and grabbing his weapon from where it had landed. Bilbo stood as well, wiping the blood from his nose onto his pants before motioning in the direction Smeagol had dragged the corpse.

"It went that way, I think we should head in the opposite direction," He eyed the dark passageway, fearing Golem would appear any second.

"Very well. Hopefully we can make it out in one piece." Nori chuckled quietly as he took the lead. Bilbo kept Sting at the ready, using the light to guide his way rather than hanging onto Nori helped his morale. It wasn't long before they heard the stomping of booted feet rushing through the tunnels ahead of them, and a gravely old voice yell, "Into the light!"

Picking up speed, the two of them rushed to meet their companions. It was only as Bilbo's face met the bright sunlight that he could hear the faintest wails of grief from the caves behind him.

"Precious!"

"Ye're both lucky to still have ye're hides."

"How'd you end up down there?"

"What happened to your nose?"

"Why do ye smell like fish?" The rush of voices nearly overwhelmed Bilbo, causing him to flinch as the company encircled him and Nori. Dwalin clasped his shoulder with an understanding pat.

"Where are they?" Thorin's voice cut through the chatter, drawing everyone's attention.

"They?" Bilbo breath caught as he realized who was missing.

"The princes got separated by a gaint's knee and decided to head down the pass to meet with you both. They intended to find a different route to meet with us on this side." Balin frowned at Bilbo. "How did you make it through the pass?"

As Nori explained their journey Bilbo watched as Thorin closed his eyes, his nostrils flaring.

"It doesn't matter, we need to find them." Thorin interrupted, his rage and concern palpable.

"We will my friend," Gandalf's gravely voice reassured the group," It will be alittle work, but we might cut down one of these pines and carry it back up our original path. We can use it as a bridge between us and-"

The bellow of howls like war horns echoed off the cliffs behind them, drawing the groups attention to the newest problem.

Thorin groaned "Out of the frying pan…"

"-and into the fire. Run!" Gandalf shouted, ushering the group into the trees. Wargs giving chase behind them, adrenalin coursed through Bilbo. Dwarves, hobbit, and wizard jumped over rocks and dashed through trees only to reach the cliff edge, a dead end. Lashing out with sting, he felled the first warg that confronted him, before being knocked down by a second. His blade slipping underneath its jaw to the brain, the beast collapsed atop him soaking him in blood and preventing him from climbing into the trees with the others.

As warg encircled the trees, Bilbo tried his best to wiggle out from under the mass. His ribs screamed in pain from the movement, causing his breath to shallow. He would pause to play dead when other warg circled too close, but they were otherwise occupied by their prey in the trees. He listened to the orc, Azog, taunting Thorin. The warg set to a frenzy knocking at trees driving the dwarves farther out onto the cliff until Gandalf began lighting pinecones. Flames scattered through the dried pine needles, increasing the temperature where Bilbo was still trapped unnoticed. Another taunt, but it was the responding gasps and shouts of dwarves that drew his gaze to look back at the orcs only for his blood to run cold.

On the hill to either side of the Pale Orc kneeled Fili and Kili, gaged with arms tied in front with blades to their necks. Kili looked to have a nasty bruise which had nearly swollen his eyelid shut, while Fili's lip was busted with dried blood running down his chin.

A question left the orc's lips, and while Bilbo couldn't understand black speech he recognized the request. "Come face me, or they die."

Thorin dropped down from the tree, oak shield in hand, blade drawn. The flames parting the warg for the dwarven king. Clashes of metal rang out at the two enemies met head on, and while new variables seemed to be in play, Bilbo doubted Thorin would be able to reach the princes. Freeing himself and his sword, he moved quickly deeper into the trees to circle around. All eyes were on the combat, warg and orcs inching closer to see the fall of Thorin son of Thrain.

Reaching Fili and Kili, Bilbo made quick work of the two small orc guards, slipping Sting between their ribs to prevent any screams.

"Don't move," He whispered, pulling his ogre slaying dagger from its hiding spot in Fili's boot. Keeping an eye one the crowd in front of them, Bilbo slipped the dagger into between Fili's bindings, freeing the dwarf's hands before passing him the blade so he could free his brother. Keeping watch between them and the warg riders, he waved his glowing blade above his head. Past the fight, high in a pine tree, a flaming pinecone moved back and forth before being flung at the enemies below.

Bilbo could feel his heartbeat painfully in his chest, concern rising as Thorin seemed to be slowing, his movements becoming sluggish as Azog beat him back. With the two princes freed and taking up the dead sentinels' blades, he rushed into the fray. He wouldn't let it become a close call like last time, instead slicing and hacking the orcs and warg between him and Thorin. This emboldened the other dwarves to launch into the battle, war cries ringing out in the night as they pushed back the enemies.

Coming to take Thorin's back, Bilbo plunged his blade into a warg just as the screeches of eagles met his ears. Clasping Thorin's shoulder, he pulled him back towards the ledge, Dwalin taking the other side as they extracted the King from the battle.

"We can't leave, they have Fili and Kili!" Thorin shouted in a rage, trying to wrestle away from their grip. His inability to escape their grasp only told of how exhausted he was. In the center, Azog was busy defending himself from an eagle and didn't notice his escaping prey as Dori and Ori were pushed from the cliff by Gandalf. Nori, Bofur and Gloin jumped willingly, while the others were being picked up by large talons.

"We need to jump!" Bilbo shouted back, giving him another tug.

"But Azog-"

"Thorin trust me, NOW!" grabbing two handfuls of the fur lining of Thorin's coat, Bilbo closed his eyes as he shoved them both off the cliff.