Some Hearts

2

"Flesh, I need flesh. Let's have the girl first!"

"No! We havin' the nags first."

There was no rebuttal; instead, I heard an awful sneeze again.

"Bert. Bert! Look what's come out of me hooter. It's got arms and legs and everything."
"What is it?"
"I don't know. But I don't like the way it wriggles around." I heard a thud and tried to move around to see what was going on. I saw the hobbit standing in front of them now. He looked to be covered in slime...oh dear the troll sneezed on him, now that is a fate I wouldn't wish on anyone.
"What are you, then? An oversized squirrel?"
"I'm a burgla...Uh, Hobbit." Buglar? So maybe this company's purpose isn't as honest as I first believed. But why would Gandalf be with them if it wasn't?
"A Burglahobbit? Can we cook him?"
"We can try." They said starting to chase after the hobbit but they were too slow to catch him. He was even smaller than I am.
"He wouldn't make more than a mouthful. Not when he's skin and bones."
"Perhaps there's more burglahobbits around these parts. Might be enough for a pie."
"Grab him!" They were getting desperate now, flailing their limbs in an attempt to swipe up the little hobbit.
"He's too quick."
"Right. Come here, you little..."
"Gotcha." Sadly, the hobbit had finally been snatched up.
"Are there any more of you little fellas hiding where you shouldn't?" One held a knife up to the little hobbit. He looked terrified.

"No." He said a little too quickly.
"He's lying."
"No, I'm not!" Again, too fast. Young hobbit, you must learn to be a better liar.
"Hold his toes over the fire. Make him squeal!" I struggled against my bonds harder than ever. I can't let him be cooked over the fire. This has gone on too long.

I heard a high-pitched squeal like a pig and one troll fell backward.

"Drop him!" My attention was pulled towards the voice. It was one of the dwarves. Hopefully, he will be more helpful, than the hobbit.
"You what?" One of the trolls asked.

"I said: Drop him." I saw him twirl his sword to try to intimidate the trolls, not likely though. As a result of the challenge, the troll threw the hobbit at the dwarf, who had to drop his shiny broad sword to catch his companion.

"That went well." I said shaking my head at the situation.

Then I heard a battle cry and the rest of the dwarves entered the camp. Grunts, moans, and squeals were heard as they swarmed over the trolls, surely thirteen to three were good odds. The ponies were getting agitated and bucking back in the pen and I had to crawl my way over to the one post. I saw the hobbit there cutting at the ropes. He let the horses loose before running over to me.

"Cut my bonds quickly." I said holding up my arms. He was about halfway when he was picked up by one of the trolls and then taken to stand in front of the dwarves being held by two of them.

"Bilbo!" The first dwarf said stepping forward to help once more. I don't know if he's brave, stupid, or both. It's admirable though.
"Don't!" A second dwarf put his arm up to stop him.
"Lay down your arms or we'll rip his off." I could barely see the dwarves from my spot but I narrowed my eyes at the two trolls suspending the hobbit over the fire. Sadly, there is nothing I can do as long as my bonds remain around my wrists and ankles. I hear multiple huffs come from the lines of dwarves assuming they are complying with the trolls' wishes. Then one by one they stick the dwarves in sacks before throwing them in the pen with the ponies and me. One nearly lands on me. I recognize him as the dwarf that led the charge into the camp. I got a much better look at the man now. He had long dark hair with just traces of gray peppering his long mane. He had a strong bearing just looking at him and was obviously the leader of the group I had observed earlier.

"Who are you?" He snapped realizing my presence.

"I am Cara of the Dunedain. I was simply minding my business, sleeping actually when these brutes decided I was going to be their super. That is until your group came along."

"I see. Looks like we've all got a big problem to solve and quickly."

"I have a dagger in my boot but have been unable to rea..." I was cut off as another dwarf was tossed into the pen, landing directly on my middle and legs. This was the young dwarf that came into the clearing first. As he looked at me, his eyes widened realizing I wasn't one of his companions.

"Sorry, so sorry." He said shifting so he was just lying on my right leg instead of my whole body.

"It is quite alright. I'm sure you didn't mean to be tossed directly on me." I said rolling my eyes.

"Kili, at your service milady." He said sending me a cheeky smile.

"Cara at yours. However, introductions should be saved until after we find a way out of this mess." I said nodding to him before returning my attention to the one I was previously speaking with.