Arien, Lady of Rivendell

Tom, Bert and William

By the time Arien had crept to the fringe of the trolls camp Bilbo had already made his way to the roughly built wooden pen in which the ponies were kicking wildly.
"Mutton today, Mutton yesterday and blimey if it doesn't look like mutton again tomorrow!" The troll furthest from Arien complained as the one carrying more ponies lumbered into the clearing, tossing the horses into the pen along with the others. The one who had spoke was short and stocky, holding a ladle in his hand and stirring a large pot of murky gloop which sat boiling in the centre above the fire. She had caught the snippet of a name. That troll was Bert.
"Quit yet griping, this ain't sheep, these is westlands." William said, the big burley troll who had snatched them.
"Oh I don't like horse, I never have, not enough fat on them." The smallest of the trolls said grumpily. He was thin and weedy in comparison to the others, probably the youngest. His companions referred to him as Tom.
"Well it's better than that livery old farmer, all skin and bone he was. I'm still picking bits of him out of my teeth." Bert retorted as Arien decided to get a better vantage point of the situation. Bilbo had seemed to disappear from her sight. After a quick glance around she decided to scale a tree nearest the the clearing.
As she climbed a loud sneeze shook the branches. A large booger flew from Tom's nostril and landed with a plop into the stew.
"Oh that's lovely that, a floater." Bert the cook grumbled angrily.
"Might improve the flavour."
"Oh there's more where that came from." Tom replied happily to William's suggestions before Bert reached forward and pinched his nose tightly, forcing the youngest troll back into his seat.
"Oh no you don't, sit down!" He ordered.
As Arien reached a suitable height she spotted Bilbo around the side of the horse pen tugging on the ropes in an attempt to loosen them. She held her breath as Tom reached round, grabbing the soppy piece of material he had been using as a handkerchief, and almost spotting Bilbo. Just in time he ducked out of sight.
In her mind she knew it would only a be a short amount of time before Bilbo found himself in trouble, though the only thing she could do is watch and wait and hope that the others arrived sometime soon.
Tom peered over at the horses once the sneeze had passed.
"I hope you're going to gut these nags, I don't like the hairy parts."
"I said sit down!" Bert cried angrily striking Tom across the head with his ladle. The troll cried out and turned away back in his seat.
"I'm starving, are we having horse tonight or what?" William moaned.
"Shut your cake hole you'll eat what I give ya."
As Bert spoke, Tom once again reached for his handkerchief, as he lifted it a gleam of silver caught the elfs eye. It was a knife, a large one as well, strapped around the trolls waist. Bilbo seemed to have noticed it to.
"Oh no oh no." Arien whispered to herself, bad situations running through her head. So far she was failing at looking after him.

Meanwhile the trolls were still arguing.
"How come he's the cook, everything tastes the same, everything tastes like chicken." William continued.
"Except the chicken." Tom chimed in.
"Which tastes like fish."
"I'm just saying a little appreciation would be nice". Bert replied as Bilbo crept forwards towards Tom. For a split second Arien's hope rose as he seemed to change his mind, only to make it again a second later and continue towards the knife.
"Thankyou very much Bert, nice stew Bert, how hard is that?"
The trolls ears twitched for a moment and he fell silent as the ponies squealed again. Then convinced nothing was wrong continued.
"Hmm just needs a sprinkle of squirrel nut."
Tom reached blindly behind him and grasping a jug, nearly catching Bilbo in the process who ducked hurriedly.
"Hey that's my grog!" Bert yelled angrily and once again hit him hard before taking a sip of the stew.
"Oh that's beautifully balanced that is. Wrap your mouth around that."
The cook said offering some to Tom who began to slurp it down. That's when Bilbo decided to make his move.
"That's why I'm the cook!"

Bilbo had made his way directly behind Tom and began to reach out for the knife. An inch before his fingers touched it Tom rose and his arm swung around behind him. Hands scratching his bum while Bilbo ducked out of the way. Arien wrinkled her nose in disgust and the troll sat down again.
"My guts are grumbling, I've got to snaffle something. Flesh, I need flesh!" William moaned.
Suddenly Tom gasped in the build up to a sneeze, grasping behind him once again for his cloth.
This time Bilbo wasn't so lucky. Despite having his hands on the knife, the larger ones of a troll wrapped around his middle lifting him in replacement of the handkerchief.
A loud sneeze erupted and Arien threw her hands over her mouth in shock and worry as Tom looked down into his snot covered hands only to find a shocked and slimy hobbit.
"Ahh blimey, look what's come out of my hooter. It's got arms and legs and everything!"
Suddenly Bilbo was surrounded, large black troll eyes peering down at him.
"What is it?" Bert asked curiously.
"I dunno but I don't like the way it wriggles around." Tom replied and in one swift movement he threw the hobbit away from him sending Bilbo tumbling onto the ground. Arien knew it was time to intervene and she pulled out her dagger placing it inbetween her teeth as she began the long descent down.
"What are ya then, an oversized squirrel?"
"I'm a burglar..uh..hobbit." Bilbo said as he scrambled to his feet, stood stone still In shock. Arien let out a hysterical sigh as she continued to climb, he should just run.
"Can we cook it?"
"We can try."
Suddenly there was a rumble in the earth as Tom sprung forwards to grab the hobbit. Coming to his sense Bilbo ducked and turned in an attempt to escape only to be blocked by Bert who positioned himself between the exit.
"He wouldn't make more than a mouthful, not when he's skinned and boned." The cook informed them.
"Is there more burglar-hobbits around these parts? Maybe we can make a pie."
Suddenly they all lunged forwards and the whole tree shook, slipping Arien tumbled down the last few metres and landed with a crack. She gritted her teeth quickly assessing herself. She was fine.
"It's too quick!"
"Come here you!" William snarled and snatched Bilbo up by the feet. Suddenly Kili and Fili emerged beside her from the undergrowth.
"Arien, are you okay?" Fili asked.
"Yeah I'm fine, but Bilbo's not. We have to go now." She said worriedly. The young dwarves nodded and quickly unsheathed their swords.
"Gottcha, is there any more of you little fellas hiding where you shouldn't?" The trolls quizzed him.
"No." Bilbo denied.
"He's lying!" Tom snarled.
"No I'm not!"
"Hold his toes over the fire, make him squeal..."

Kili raced ahead and burst out into the clearing as Fili pulled Arien to her feet. She gave him a nod and turned to see the others rushing towards the troll camp through the thick undergrowth.
There was a shout of pain from the trolls as Kili slashed Tom's feet.
"Drop him!" The young dwarf yelled.
"You what?" William retorted.
"I said drop him!" He repeated and without hesitation the troll flung Bilbo into the unsuspecting arms of Kili who collapsed underneath the weight.

There was a collective yell from the company as they burst out of the thickets and into the camp weapons sharpened. Arien followed her daggers twirling automatically as she dived into action.
The dwarves slashed at the trolls feet and lower belly but being taller Arien had the advantage. With one swift movement she kicked off a rock and landed on the trolls back. It was William his hands flailed around his head trying to catch her as she slashed his palms then stabbed her dagger down into his back. Leaping off she dragged it down his spine leaving a bright red gash running from his neck. Suddenly a hand smashed her off and she tumbled to the ground, saving herself by rolling.

Blood dripped from her blade. Ahead she saw Bilbo heading towards the pony pen again, this time the trolls knife in hand. Tom had spotted him and had begun to bat the dwarves away in his path. Arien charged, racing between his legs and slicing him behind the knees causing Tom to fall down on them with a snarl. His attention away from the hobbit.
Tom spun, reaching out for her, just as Doris ballocks connected with his balls and he slumped forward. Dwalin's axe then smashing him across the face, knocking out numerous teeth.
Hearing a neigh Arien spotted the ponies burst from the stables and bolt away. Bilbo standing proudly beside them. As clumsy and reckless as he was she couldn't help but be happy for him. The swipe of a trolls hand caused her to loose focus and duck out of the way. The next time she looked up the sound of battle had fallen silent and the dwarves stood collectively facing the three monsters.
"Bilbo!" Kili called surging forwards. Arien grasped his shoulders and pulled back him against her. "Don't." She whispered.
The three trolls stood tall, two of them grasping each of Bilbos limbs, holding him high in the air. The hobbits face was that of pure horror.
"Put down your arms, or we'll whip his off." William ordered.
Without hesitation Arien let the daggers slip from her fingers, she would not risk his life, not for anything.
Her eyes then met Thorins, the dwarves gaze seemed to soften slightly as they met and even though it must have only been a second it felt like an age. The handsome dwarf grasped his sword in both hands and stuck it into the ground only leaving eye contact with her once it was done. Though she knew he did not do it for her, despite his protest he liked Bilbo.
The others then followed suit, throwing their weapons down with anger. They had surrendered and were at the mercy of the trolls.