𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐘━︎━︎L. Greenleaf

❝CHAPTER SIX❞

▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐱 ━︎━︎ 𝐇𝐞'𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐬 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐑𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆, going through the complicated twists and turns of the cave below, trying their best to escape the goblin-like creature. Gollum was hot on their trail, crying out in anger as he rushed to find them. When they ran to a dead end, Ellaria noticed a small crack that Bilbo could easily fit through. She pointed to it silently, nodding for him to go. Bilbo stared at her in silent stubbornness and she sighed before grabbing his arm and shoving him towards it. He began to weasel his way through only to get stuck halfway.

They both turned their heads when they heard Gollum approach, watching as he passed by the dead end they were in only to back up and snap his silver-blue eyes towards them. His gaze focused solely on Bilbo, creeping closer to him with an obsessive rage writhing on his face.

     "Stay back," Ellaria warned. She held her sword out in front of her, placing her body in front of Bilbo to keep him protected. "I do not lie with my threats, do not make me show you how truthful they are."

     "It's ours!" Gollum cried. "It's ours!"

The buttons that were keeping Bilbo in place popped off his shirt, sending him flying through the crack. Gollum cried out in anguish and Ellaria took the moment to quickly squeeze her way through, only when she got to the other side Bilbo was nowhere to be found. Gollum quickly leaped in after her and Ellaria spun to face him, keeping her sword ready, but Gollum wasn't focused on her. He was focused on finding what Bilbo had taken from him. He searched the area, crawling to the other side and looking at the path ahead.

     "Thief!" Gollum yelled. "Baggins!"

He ran off and Ellaria went to follow only to stop when she felt a tug on her pants. She turned, finding no one there. A frown fell on her lips as she looked around, gasping in surprise when Bilbo was suddenly at her side. She opened her mouth to speak, but he pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. He motioned the direction Gollum had went and as he walked forwards, he slipped the ring back on his finger and Ellaria followed. She made herself almost invisible, creeping along the shadows of the rocks, her footsteps light and not making a noise.

They followed close to Gollum, watching as he cried out for his Precious before suddenly fear engrossed his face and quickly hid. Rampant footsteps ran in their direction and Ellaria pressed her back against the wall, watching with relief as Gandalf and the dwarves ran by. Disbelief replaced her relief when she realized Gollum was blocking their path from following them. She straightened her shoulders, watching as Gollum looked around with sadness and heartbreak and a part of her almost felt bad for the creature, but then again he had tried to kill her and Bilbo.

She stepped from the shadows, making herself known. Instantly, Gollum cried out in anger. He jumped towards her and Ellaria instantly pressed her blade against his throat, letting it dig there and cause the creature to bleed. He began crying in fear.