The Edge Of the Wild (Hobbit fanfic)

Chapter 19: Spiders and Elves

Ulaalsias POV

"Yes Thorin! I will be your own." I ran forwards and hugged him tightly. He picked me up and spun me around until I felt dizzy.
He put me down and smiled widely. His eyes seemed to be cleared of all worry and sorrow.
Everybody stared at us and smiled

"Get a room!" Kili yelled loudly. Everybody burst out laughing. Gandalf came running out of the house with Beorn is pursuit.

"Go now. While you have the light.
Your hunters are not far behind." I mounted the horse that Beorn had leant us. He was a lot taller than the ponies I had been riding. I suddenly felt a hand lift me onto the horse.

I turned to see Beorn smiling. I spurred the horse towards the woods. I turned back and stared at the grand cottage as it got smaller and smaller into the distance.

"The Elven Gate. Here lies our path...through Mirkwood." Gandalf dismounted his horse and headed towards the entrance of the woods.

"No sign of the Orcs. We have luck on our side." Kili smiled as he gathered all of his things from his horse.

"Set the ponies loose. Let them return to their master." Gandalf shouted. He wakes further into the woods. I stared at the wilting trees and dead leaves that swam around my bare feet.

"This forest...feels...sick. As if a disease lies upon it. Is there no way around?"

"Not unless we go 200 miles north. Or twice that distance...south." I took all my things and set my horse free. I watched as they all galloped back towards the cottage with such speed. It was if the were scared. I walked over to Gandalfs horse who still had its things.

"Not my horse! I need it!" I jumped back in surprise as Gandalf came running out of the woods.

"You're not leaving us?" My uncle cried at him.

"I would not do this unless I had to. You've changed...Bilbo Baggins. You're not the same Hobbit as the one who left the Shire."

"I was going to tell you. I ...found something in the Goblin tunnels. " I watched as my uncles hand went down to his waistcoat pocket. As if he were hiding something.

"Found what? What did you find?" Gandalf stretched his face forward towards him.

"My courage." Gandalf chuckled at him.

"Good. Well, that's good. You'll need it. I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before...the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me. This is not the Greenwood of old. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It'll seek to enter your mind
and lead you astray." He started to walk away from us.

"Lead us astray? What does that mean?"

"You must stay on the path. Do not leave it. If you do, you'll never...find it again. No matter what may come, stay on...the path!" We all watched as he galloped away on his horse, so far that he was soon gone from our view.

"Come on. We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day. Let's go. It is our one chance to find the hidden door." I turned round and headed towards the entrance of the forest. I suddenly felt dizzy and confused. I shook it off as I delved deeper into the woods.

Later

"The path turns this way!" Everybody started pushing and shoving each other out of the way.

"This way." I was squashed against a tree, my cheek impaled by tiny splinters.

"Air. I need air."

"My head, it's swimming! What's happening?" Someone shouted behind me.

"Keep moving!" I shouted at everyone. They all stared at me in shock!