The Last One

Chapter 35

The company waited hidden in the rocks as their hobbit scouted out the location of the pack. Ruive's ear perked up at the sound of light footsteps. Bilbo ran to the company looking distressed and panting.

"How close is the pack?" Dwalin questioned.

"Too close. A couple of leagues, no more, but that is not the worst of it." Bilbo said between gasps of breath.

"Have the Wargs picked up our scent?" Dwalin asked anxiously.

Bilbo shook his head. "Not yet, but they will; we have another problem."

"Did they see you? They saw you!" Gandalf gasped.

"No, that's not it." Bilbo protested growing more frustrated.

Gandalf grinned. "What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material." 

The dwarves smiled and cheered for Bilbo, who only grew more frustrated and exasperated.

"Will you listen- Will you just listen? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there."

A look of worry spread over the company's faces.

"What form did it take? Like a bear?" Ruive asked concerned. 

She had her suspicions on what or more accurately who it might be.  

"Ye..." Bilbo paused looking at Ruive curiously. "Y- yes. But bigger, much bigger."

Bofur turned to Ruive. "You knew about this beast?" He squeaked.

Ruive looks over to Gandalf, silently telling him her plan.

"I say we double back." Bofur suggested.

"And be run down by a pack of Orcs." Thorin said denying the suggestion.

"There is a house, it's not far from here, where we might take refuge." Gandalf began slowly.

"Whose house? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin asked skeptical.

"Neither. He will help us, or he will kill us." Gandalf replied.

The dwarves look at each other in dismay.

"He will help us." Ruive stated surely.

A roar split through the air behind them. 

"... I think"

"What choice do we have?" Thorin looked to her. 

Another roar echoed through the mountains.

Ruive looked down at him unsure. "None."

The company ran through the forests looking back to see how close the bear was. 

"Come on!" Gandalf urged. 

The company pauses at the sound of another roar. 

"This way, quickly!"

The dwarves panic and continue to run, aside from Bombur who is frozen in shock.

Thorin pulls the dwarf by the beard. "Bombur, come on!"

The company burst from the forest running towards the house in the distance.

"To the house! Run!" Gandalf shouted. 

Ruive dropped to the back making sure none of the company were left behind.

As the company ran across the field, Bombur powered by his fear, outruns all the dwarves headed straight for the door. He runs full speed at the door and throws himself at it only to bounce back off it.