Different Sense

Different Sense: 07

Thorin sat silently by the fire, looking at the ground as he twisted the point of his sword into it. His hand readjusted on the hilt, beside him sat the meal which he hadn't touched. He handed the bowl over to Bombur. He let out a sigh and looked over the familiar faces which were surrounding the fire. Gandalf wasn't here, Kili and Fili were watching the ponies. Twisting the blade again he stopped when he suddenly realized that the hobbit and the nymph were missing.

Where were they? Why weren't either of them here? He began to rise from his seat, he was prepared to voice these questions but was suddenly interrupted as Kili and Fili charged into the camp. Both were breathing heavily and holding their bowls.

Thorin frowned at them, but he wasn't mad. “What is it?” He stood, his guard already rising.

“The ponies, two of them are gone.” Kili explained still trying to get his breathing back under control.

Thorin took a step forward. “Where is the hobbit, and the nymph?” He asked defensively. The others had risen by this point.

“Lothiriel took Bilbo to try and get the ponies back. She asked us to come back to get help.” Kili further explained. “Uncle!” He exclaimed because Thorin had raced through the branches, he pushed the foliage out of the way and followed the route which Kili and Fili had taken.

Coming to a stop at the clearing he watched with guarded eyes, he was assessing the situation which was unfolding before him.

Lothiriel and Bilbo had been caught, they both hung upside down and tied back to back. The trolls had hung them from a thick branch, it just so happened that they were on the same eye level as the trolls.

“I like this plan, Bert.” One troll said and grinned at the troll who was stirring the stew. “We've never 'ad a Hobbit or Nymph before.”

“Well isn't Bert full of brilliant ideas?” Lothiriel muttered lowly and tried to wriggle free. Bilbo was wriggling around too desperate for freedom. Admittedly Lothiriel could feel the rope give around her ankle, considering she and Bilbo were tied together, she was rather sure he felt it loosen too.

When the trolls turned to converse with each other again, they both looked over their shoulders at each other and gave a knowing nod. With this nod they both commence wriggling as subtly as possible again. From their vantage point they could easily see that the rope which was binding them, was also linked to the rope which was keeping the paddock locked up. Given the trolls size, there wasn't a intelligence to match it.

If they both managed to swing free they would land near enough to the paddock so that the ponies would bolt. With them running free they both could run back to camp with them.

Sadly though that plan did not happen. “Oi!” The troll known as Bert exclaimed. He had spied them wriggling out of the corner of his eye. “Wha' you doin'?”

Lothiriel and Bilbo muttered together to try and formulate some sort of answer, while they muttered they continued to wriggle for freedom. Just before Bert could say something else their wriggling paid off and the rope snapped.

Falling to the ground with a thud, Lothiriel quickly clambered off of Bilbo and helped him up. Their plan had worked slightly after all. The rope which they were now free from was also free from the paddock. The ponies nickered and bolted for freedom.

Their proud moment of rescuing the ponies was short lived however when the trolls made a grab for them. Lothiriel unsheathed her sword and held it up, she had also stepped in front of Bilbo for he hadn't a weapon. Her guard faltered as Thorin had charged out from his hiding place, sword in hand exclaiming in his loudest battle cry.

Where Lothiriel faltered to attack the trolls, Thorin didn't. He cut, stabbed and sliced. A few seconds passed before the rest of the company appeared.

Snapping out of her daze Lothiriel join in while making sure Bilbo stayed out of harms way. One of the trolls made a grab for her but Bilbo pulled her backwards. She may have been trying to protect him, but he was looking out for her too.

Their moment of hiding, or trying to didn't last long. Screaming and kicking, Lothiriel dropped her sword as her leg got clutched onto and she was vaulted into the air. Much like earlier on Bilbo wasn't that far behind. From her upside down position she watched as Thorin and everyone else lowered their weapons to the ground.

Dangling helplessly she shut her eyes, opening them again she looked to Bilbo, he wasn't in much better condition. It seemed two of the trolls were fighting over him.