Hey guys! Here we are with Chapter 5! I hope you all enjoy reading this xx
Chapter 5
Over the next few weeks, as we rode, I would always be keeping a vigilant watch over everyone, looking about this way and that just to make sure we were safe. After getting a glimpse of the orcs that night, I could not relax. This did not go unnoticed by Thorin, who would constantly try to reassure me that everything was alright, we are safe. I would calm down some, but still keep looking out every so often.
I feel worse during the night. After the training sessions I have with Bilbo, and I have eaten, I ask to not be disturbed for a few hours before I go to the edge of camp to "sleep" for a few hours. Even though I can sleep like anyone else can, it is not necessarily needed for elves. Instead, we can mediate for a few hours a day and we will have enough energy to go on. I heard Gandalf explaining this to the dwarves the first night I did this.
Once I had come out of meditation, I would send whoever is on first watch to bed and continue to keep watch throughout the night. Thorin was not happy after the second time I did this. The first night thanking me for giving the dwarves a break. He did not want me exhausting myself too much for the company. I just told him, as elves did not sleep as the others did, I might as well let everyone rest while I made sure we were safe. Once he was able to see that that did in fact make sense, he very reluctantly relented. But then would annoy me as he would make sure I got my rest before everyone went to sleep.
As we continued on, it was well into our third week of travelling when the weather turned. The sun would disappear as the dark clouds would cover it and the rain would pour. Not only did the rain dampen the ground beneath the horses hooves, it also dampened our own moods. Looking up from the back to check on everyone, I frowned as I saw Bilbo looking more down than anyone else. The poor fellow left his home with no cloak and he was more soaked than anyone in the company. Reaching down into my pack, I pulled out my spare cloak before urging Vanya on next to his pony, Myrtle, startling him slightly in the process. I just smile as I wrap my cloak around him, pulling the hood over his head.
"You were in so much of a hurry to get to us, you forgot a cloak."
He smiles at me. "Oh, thank you, Caladwen. I very much appreciate it."
I smile, laying a gentle hand on his back as I continue to ride next to him.
"Here, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori asks the wizard.
I can tell Gandalf is annoyed when he answers. "It is raining, Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard."
"Are there any?" Bilbo asks.
"What?"
"Other wizards?"
"There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman, the White. Then there are the two Blue Wizards; you know, I've quite forgotten their names."
"Alatar and Pallando, if memory serves me right, Mithrandir." I say to him.
He smiles at me. "Ah, I do believe you are right. Thank you, Caladwen."
"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo continues to ask.
"That would be Radagast, the Brown." Gandalf answers.
Bilbo turns to me. "Is he a great Wizard or is he. . .more like you?"
I burst out laughing but try to, and fail, to cover it as a quiet chuckle as Gandalf, while looking slightly offended, gives me a glare before he turns to the hobbit.
"I think he's a very great wizard, in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the East, and a good thing too, for always Evil will look to find a foothold in this world."
Having managed to calm myself down, I keep the smile on my face. "I had often heard of Radagast while in Greenwood. I had often wished to meet him, but the opportunity never came."
Gandalf smiles at me. "Maybe you will one day, my dear."
"I hope so. Any person that would take the time to keep a watch for nature and animals is a good person in my eyes."
He nods in agreement before turning to face ahead.
The weather finally turns again, the sun soon shining once more, a few days later, making the mood happier again. That evening, we arrive at an abandoned farmhouse which appears to be in ruins. I frown as I look over it. I am sure I know this house. . .
Thorin's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "We'll camp here for the night. Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them."
I dismount, take my pack and saddle off Vanya and kiss her snout before handing her reins over to Kili who leads her away with the other ponies. Setting my pack down, I walk over to the house as Gandalf is inside it.
"A farmer and his family used to live here." I hear him say.
"I wonder what happened to them." I say as I walk up.
"Nothing good, I don't think."
I just nod in agreement as I look around, not liking the feeling in the pit of my stomach.
We look behind us to see Thorin walking over to us.
"I think it would be wiser to move on. We could make for the Hidden Valley."
I sit on the wall of the house, deciding not to interject into this conversation, as I know full well how this is going to go.
"I have told you already, I will NOT go near that place." Thorin says as he walks past the wizard and I, placing a gentle hand on my cheek as he goes. I just smile as I kiss his palm.
"Why not? The elves could help us. We could get food, rest, advice."
"I do not need their advice."
"We have a map that we cannot read. Lord Elrond could help us."
"Help? A dragon attacks Erebor, what help came from the Elves? Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls, the Elves looked on and did nothing. Caladwen has been the only one to help us through everything. You ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather and betrayed my father."
Looking to Thorin, my heart breaks as I see and hear his grief. I reach out to take his hand, allowing him to hold onto it for comfort. I smile as I feel him squeeze it.
"You are neither of them. I did not give you that map and key for you to hold on to the past."
Thorin glares up at him. "I did not know that they were yours to keep."
They just look at each other for a moment before Gandalf suddenly turns to me.
"See if you can knock some sense into him."
Before I can say a word, he turns and stomps off angrily, leaving the company.
Bilbo watches him. "Everything alright? Gandalf, where are you going?"
"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense."
"Who's that?"
"Myself, Mr. Baggins! I've had enough of dwarves for one day."
Thorin stands in what used to be the doorway. "Come on, Bombur, we're hungry."
"Is he coming back?" I hear Bilbo ask Balin, who looks unsure.
I just sigh as I turn to look at the ground. "Well, that went well."
Thorin turns to me after a moment. "What do you think?"
I look to him with a raised brow at this. "You want my opinion on this matter?"
He surprised me by quickly coming to me and gently taking my face in his hands. Now I'm sitting, we are at eye height with each other.
"You are my One, amralime. I would be a fool if I did not at least take council from you. On any matter. I would very much like to hear your thoughts."
I just smile as I raise my hands to take his, kissing the back of both of them before I answer.
"As much as I do not like Gandalf bringing me into this the way he did, I personally do not see anything wrong in stopping in Rivendell. If only to recover from the journey and to maybe stock up on provisions. If Gandalf is right and Lord Elrond is the only one that can read that map, then maybe it would not be a bad idea. However, the choice is yours completely, meleth nin. You know I will follow you no matter what."
He just listens to what I say, and I'm pleased when he doesn't go mad when I suggest to stop in Rivendell. He nods after a moment.
"I thank you for telling me your feelings on this. I will take in what you say and think about it. I promise."
I smile as I lean up and kiss him before we join the others. Sitting by my pack, I look up and see Bilbo walking towards me, my cloak in his hands. He hands it over.
"Thank you for letting me borrow it."
I just smile. "It is perfectly alright, Bilbo. Keep it. I have this one too." I finish by fingering the cloak I'm wearing.
He smiles back at me. "That's mighty generous, Caladwen. But, I fear it is far too big on me."
I chuckle. "Nothing I cannot fix. Put it on."
He does so as I reach into my pack and pull out a small pouch which holds my sewing essentials I use when I travel. Having him stand with his back to my, I turn the cloak up to an acceptable length for him, before putting some pins in place before I take the cloak back. He thanks me before allowing me to get on with sewing.
"That was a nice thing, lass." Balin says as he sits next to me.
I smile as I begin sewing. "It really is no issue. He is coming a long way with us. It is the least I can to help keep him as comfortable as I can."
He nods, the smile still on his face as I continue with my sewing.
Halfway through my task, I have to stop as it gets dark and I've accepted a bowl of soup from Bofur.
"He's been a long time." Bilbo says as he walks over from where he's been looking out.
"Who?" Bofur asks.
"Gandalf."
"He's a wizard! He does as he chooses. Here, do us a favor: take this to the lads."
Bofur hands Bilbo two bowls of soup to take to Fili and Kili; Bilbo leaves. Bombur tries to take more soup.
I giggle as Bofur smacks Bombur's hand with the wooden spoon. "Stop it, you've had plenty."
I soon finish eating and after handing the bowl back, I begin to make my way to the house to begin my meditation, when Fili and Kili suddenly run back into camp.
"Uncle! There are trolls!" Fili tells Thorin.
Thorin immediately stands. "What!?"
"Trolls have taken some of our ponies."
"Where is Bilbo?" Balin asks.
"Well, we sent him to take a look at their camp so we could come and warn you." Kili explains.
"You did what!?" I exclaim angrily as I walk over. Fili and Kili freeze as they turn to me. "You sent Bilbo, who is only just starting to learn how to defend himself, into a troll camp along!? Of all the idiotic things I have heard, this tops them."
I don't allow them to say any more as I rush off in the direction they came from. I hear the others following a few moments later. Hiding in some bushes, I watch in horror as I see three trolls towering over Bilbo, advancing on him. Thorin has to hold me from going out there when Bilbo is being chased and then picked up but his foot.
"Gotcha! Are there any more of you little fellas `iding where you shouldn't?"
"Nope." Bilbo instantly says.
"He's lying." one of the other trolls says.
"No I'm not!"
"Hold his toes over the fire. Make him squeal."
Before I get the chance to jump out, Kili is the one to rush in, slicing at one of the trolls with his sword, causing it to cry out in pain.
"Drop him!" Kili yells out.
"You what?" the troll holding Bilbo grunts out.
"I said. Drop him!"
The troll tosses Bilbo at Kili; Bilbo lands on him, knocking them both down. The rest of us charge out of the bushes yelling and brandishing our weapons. We begin fighting the trolls, hacking, slashing, and hammering their legs. When I notice the dwarves gathering together, I look up and gasp as I see Bilbo being held by his arms and legs by two of the trolls.
"Bilbo!" I call out as I rush forward.
"Caladwen, no!" Thorin exclaims as he holds me back.
"Lay down your arms, or we'll rip his off."
I look at Bilbo's terrified face at first before turning to Thorin, who I can tell is hesitating. As he sees me drop my weapons, he soon sticks his sword into the ground. The others drop their own weapons too.
We are all then captured by the trolls and are stripped down to search for more weapons, even I am down into my underclothing. Luckily, Bilbo and the dwarves avert their eyes, especially under Thorin's glare. We are then either stuffed in sacks or on a spit over the fire. Dwalin, Bofur, Bifur, Dori, Ori and Nori are hanging over the fire while the rest of us are in the sacks. I can feel the dwarves around me wriggling about trying to get free, while the trolls are talking about how they are going to eat us. I do not make any movement, knowing that everything will be fine. Gandalf is still out there. I know he will come and save us.
"Don't bother cooking them. Let's just sit on them and squash them into jelly." one of the trolls suggests.
"They should be sautéed and grilled with a sprinkle of sage." another speaks up.
"Is this really necessary?" Dori asks.
"Ooh, that does sound quite nice." the first one answers, .
"Untie us, you monsters!"
"Take on someone your own size!" Oin and Gloin yell out.
The dwarves on the spit and in the bags are all making noises and talking in fear.
"Never mind the seasoning; we ain't got all night! Dawn ain't far away, so let's get a move on. I don't fancy being turned to stone." The third troll says.
I look up at this. Sunlight. . .of course. . .but, will the sun rise in time?
"Wait! You are making a terrible mistake." Bilbo suddenly yells out.
"You can't reason with them, they're half-wits!" Dori tries to reason with him.
"Half-wits? What does that make us?" Bofur questions.
I watch as Bilbo manages to stand up, although still tied up in a sack. He faces the trolls.
"Uh, I meant with the, uh, with, uh, with the seasoning."
"What about the seasoning?" Bert asks.
"Well have you smelt them? You're going to need something stronger than sage before you plate this lot up."
The dwarves yell at Bilbo, Thorin calling him a traitor. The ones in sacks kick out at him. I meanwhile look at him and wonder what's going through his mind.
"What do you know about cooking dwarf?" Tom asks.
Bert turns to him. "Shut up, and let the, uh, flurgaburburrahobbit talk."
"Uh, th-the secret to cooking dwarf is, um-"
From the way Bilbo is hesitating, I realise that he's trying to stall the dwarves and I have to smile as I now understand. Oh, that clever Hobbit! He's creating a diversion!
"Yes? Come on."
"It's, uh-"
"Tell us the secret."
"Ye-yes, I'm telling you, the secret is ... to skin them first!"
"Tom, get me the filleting knife."
"If I get you, you little-"
"I won't forget that!" Gloin and Dwalin threaten him.
Tom scoffs. "What a load of rubbish! I've eaten plenty with their skins on. Scuff them, I say, boots and all."
Out of the corner of my eye, I smile in relief as I see Gandalf slipping behind some trees nearby. I look to Bilbo and see he's also seen him. He catches my eye and we slightly nod at each other in understanding.
"`e's right! Nothing wrong with a bit of raw dwarf! Nice and crunchy."
One of the trolls suddenly grabs Bombur, who is in a sack, and dangles him upside down over his mouth, about to eat him.
I decide to step in and help Bilbo. "Not that one, he's infected!"
"You what?" the troll turning the spit asks me.
The dwarves are all looking at me now.
"He's got worms in his tubes."
Luckily the troll that has Bombur believes that and drops him back in disgust. I let out a groan as Bombur lands on my stomach, the breath leaving me in an instant.
"Sorry lass." the dwarf mumbles and I just nod to let him know I am fine.
Bilbo nods. "In-in fact they all have, they're in-infested with parasites. Including her. It's a terrible business; I wouldn't risk it, I really wouldn't."
"Parasites, did they say parasites?"
"We don't have parasites! You two have parasites!"
"What are you both talking about?"
The rest of the dwarves chime in about how they don't have parasites and how Bilbo and I are fools.
Bilbo rolls his eyes as the dwarves mess up our plan. I drop my head back onto Thorin before turning up to him and give him a pointed look. He stares at me for a moment and I finally see the recognition in his eyes before he kicks the others, mainly Kili. They look to Thorin then understand and go along with it. All the dwarves begin proclaiming about how they're "riddled" with parasites.
"I've got parasites as big as my arm."
"Mine are the biggest parasites, I've got huge parasites!"
"We're riddled."
"Yes, I'm riddled."
"Yes we are. Badly!
A troll turns to Bilbo. "What would you have us do, then, let 'em all go?"
Bilbo shrugs. "Well. . ."
He pokes Bilbo in hit gut with his huge finger. You think I don't know what you're up to? This little ferret is taking us for fools!"
"Ferret?"
I breath a sigh of relief as I see Gandalf appearing on top of a large rock above the clearing.
"The dawn will take you all!"
"Who's that?"
"No idea."
"Can we eat `im too?" The trolls ask.
Gandalf strikes the rock with his staff, splitting it in half, allowing the sunlight behind it to pour into the clearing. When the sunlight touches the trolls' skin, they begin turning into stone amidst loud screams and howls of pain. Within seconds, there are three stone statues of trolls in the clearing. All the dwarves cheer for Gandalf. I rest my head back in relief. Thank Elbereth for that. Of course, the dwarves on the spit, including Dwalin, still look uncomfortable.
"Oh, get your foot out of my back!" Dwalin yells out.
There's Chapter 5 done and dusted, I hope you all enjoyed it. Please leave your lovely reviews and comments, I love hearing from you all xx
Translations;
Amralime
Meleth nin