My Own Star In The Sky

Chapter 20: Finally leaving

Dakota's POV:
Two weeks, two long damn weeks I sat in that room! Tauriel would bring me food whenever I was hungry and she would stay in the room and talk to me. I longed to go outside and feel the air on my skin. I longed to talk to my friends. I longed to know where Bilbo was and if he was alright. When Tauriel entered my room to give me my dinner she smiled at me. "Are you hungry?" "Lately I can only feel hungry." I said stuffing my face with the delicious food. I stopped eating and sat still. "What's wrong? You don't like the food?" Tauriel asked confused. "I want to go outside." I stated leaning back into my chair. "I'm not sure if you're allowed to do so." She replied. "Can't you ask?" Tauriel sighed deeply. "Okay, I'll try but don't expect the King to say yes." I nodded understanding. Tauriel walked out of the room. I continued eating until my plate was empty. Shortly after Tauriel came back into the room. "I guess Lord Thranduil is in a good mood. Come on, let's take a walk outside." I nodded happily and stood up. Tauriel showed me the parts of the forest within the gates of the kingdom.

The night breeze was very cooling and I felt great being outside again. "You seem very happy to be outside." Tauriel commented. "Sitting in a room for two weeks straight while you've been sleeping outside for months is a bit of a quick change." I replied. Tauriel chuckled. "Yes, I suppose so. How is it to be in the unknown world anyway?" She asked curiously. "You've never been outside of what you know?" I asked. Tauriel shook her head sadly. "Well, I guess that being close to home feels very safe. But being out into the world is so exciting. You get to see things you thought never existed. It also makes you feel more confident that you can survive somewhere you don't know your way. I think you'll always have a feeling of missing home but that is so special about home, you can always return." Tauriel seemed to be very interested.

"What places have you seen?" She asked wanting to know everything. "Well, when Erebor was attacked I saw quite a bit of the world but I was always so scared I can barely remember anything. Than we lived in the Blue Mountains and I never left the mountain or it's surroundings. But then Thorin told me he wanted me to join the quest so I left with his nephews and we rode to the Shire." "How does it look?" She asked. "It's green, very green. They don't have mountains just green rolling hills. They live in holes, hobbit holes and the hobbits are very friendly and in-touch with nature." Tauriel nodded smiling. "Please continue." She begged. "From the Shire we went to Rivendell, which was gorgeous, and then we saw a goblin cave from within." Tauriel made a disgusted face. "I know. It was even worse than that face you're pulling." Tauriel looked at me in disbelief. "After we escaped the goblin caves we fled to a house very close to the borders of Mirkwood. I don't know if you know the man who lives there but his name is Beorn. He's a skinchanger and sometimes he's a bear and sometimes he's very tall and strong man. And now we are here!" I finished my story. "Wow, you've seen so much more than me." I frowned. "Then, why don't you just go and see the world for yourself?" Tauriel shook her head.

"I would never be allowed to, besides I have my duties here. Maybe one day I'll get to see the world I'm not in a hurry. I have an immortal life after all." There was a slight sadness in her voice. "You must see the world when you want." I said to her, looking in her green eyes. She looked away. "Come, you've been outside longer than you were supposed to." She said leading me back to my room. "Sleep well." She shortly said closing the door behind her and locking it. Confused I let myself fall onto the bed. Tired of doing nothing I fell asleep.

**********

I woke up by someone touching my shoulder. I opened my eyes and saw Bilbo. I sat up and threw my arms around him. "Bilbo! I thought something terrible happened to you!" I exclaimed. He shushed me but then smiled. "I'm fine." "How did you get here?" I asked. He was quiet for a moment but then answered. "I found my way into the castle and got hold of the keys from the door and then rescued you." He explained. "Okay, but how?" I continued. "I'm a burglar remember. Anyway we must hurry. I stole the keys from some drunk elves and they were sleeping but I don't know how long that's going to last." He said pulling me off the bed. I quickly got ready and grabbed my bag and attached my weapons to my belt. "Okay, we can go." I said smiling. I was happy I could finally leave this place.

Bilbo led me to the dungeons. We could hear that the elves were having a party in the palace because of the noise we could hear from above. We somehow made our way into the dungeons unseen. I could hear the dwarves talking to each other. "I'll wager the sun is on the rise!" Bofur said sadly. "It must be nearly dawn!" He added. "We're never gonna reach the mountain, are we?" Ori asked the others. Bilbo stepped in front of Thorin's cell and held up the keys. "You're not stuck in here? You're not?" He said with a smirk. Bilbo unlocked Thorin's cell door and he immediately stepped out. He gave Bilbo a quick nod and ran over to me. "Are you okay? They didn't hurt you, did they?" He asked worriedly while looking me up and down. "I'm fine, Thorin." I replied. Thorin cupped my cheeks with his big hands and kissed me. He pulled away and stared into my eyes. "Of course I was worried." He whispered. The dwarves cheered for Bilbo but he shushed them all. "There are guards nearby!"

Bilbo got everyone out of the cells. Fili and Kili picked me up in delight. "It's good to see you're still alive!" Fili exclaimed. Kili set me back on the ground. "It's good to be back with you guys but stay quiet." They nodded.

The dwarves took the stairs up but Bilbo and I stopped them. "Not that way!" Bilbo shout-whispered. "Here follow us!" I added. The dwarves followed us all the way down until we reached the cellars. The drunken elves were still asleep. "This way." Bilbo said. "I don't believe it! We're in the cellars!" Kili groaned. "You're supposed to lead us out, not further in!" Bofur agreed with Kili. "I know what I'm doing!" Bilbo argued but Bofur silenced him.

We stood in front of a stack of barrels. "Everyone climb into the barrels. Quickly." Bilbo commanded. Dwalin pushed his way towards us. "Are you mad? They'll find us." Bilbo shook his head. "No, no. They won't. I promise you. Please, please you must trust me." Bilbo said. The dwarves argued. Bilbo and I looked at Thorin for help. "Do as he says." Thorin commanded. Bilbo smiled gratefully and so did I. The dwarves stopped arguing and climbed into the barrels. "What do we do now?" Bofur asked sticking out his head. The other dwarves did the same and looked at Bilbo and I. "Hold your breath." I said. "Hold my breath?" Bofur asked confused before Bilbo pulled a lever. The surface the dwarves were on tilted and the barrels rolled into the gap. Bilbo told me that they would land into a river, which would lead them to their freedom.

When all the dwarves were gone the gap closed again. "Wait, what are we going to do?" I whispered. Bilbo's face froze. I could hear Tauriel's voice and she was shouting all kinds of commands. Bilbo stomped on the wooden floor with his big feet. When he also heard the elleths voice he grabbed my arm and pulled me back. The surface tilted again and we fell into the gap the dwarves had fallen into.

I felt water hit my body and when I reached the surface of the water I struggled for air. Two arms grabbed my waist. I looked up and Dwalin was holding me. "You okay, lass?" I nodded and moved the hair from my face. "Well done, master Baggins." Thorin praised the hobbit but Bilbo just wove it off.

"Here I'll take her." Thorin said to Dwalin and held his hand out to me. I grabbed his arm and thanked Dwalin for helping me. Thorin pulled me into his barrel.

Thorin sighed relieved. "Alright, we can finally leave this place."

***************

Hello my dear mellons! So sorry it took a little longer to update but I've been going through some sh*t this week and that will probably continue for some time but I'll try my best to update as much as possible! This chapter isn't as long as the others but again I felt like I had to update but I didn't have enough time for a long chapter... Anyway, hopefully the next chapter will be a bit better and I hope you still enjoyed this chapter! So yeah, byee!

x Linde