I Bow To No One

Chapter 19: Pathetic scum

"Artrain, Artrain love please wake up we haven't got much time." A deep voice said worriedly. My whole body ached and screamed with pure pain. "T-Thorin...?" I whimpered, instantly recognizing his soothing voice. I looked up and my gaze met his icy blue one. "I'm here Artrain, but we don't have much time. We're getting you out if here. Can you stand?" Thorin asked. I nodded slightly and pulled myself to my feet, biting back a groan as pain shot through me. "Uncle it wont be long before they figure out we're gone. We must move now." Fili said as he rushed in, he froze when he saw my appearance, which I could only imagine how horrible it was. There were bruises, cuts, welts, and burns laced all around my body and each one made itself known with every move I made, I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few broken bones thrown in there as well. The elves are not quite as elegant and peaceful as they may seem. "Oh Mahal what did they do to you?" Fili asked, with a hint of a growl in his voice. "It doesn't matter right now. We need to go. The elves will not be to friendly if they catch us." I grumbled, limping to the door with Thorin close behind. I bit back groans and cries of pain as we rushed through the seemingly endless hallways and corridors. Every step was truly pure agony and I wasn't sure how much more of it I would have been able to take. Words cannot describe the relief I felt when we stopped in the wine cellar. "Alright we haven't got much time, everyone into a barrel hurry!" Bilbos voice squeaked as we got closer. "Oy barrels?! What kind of plan is this?! they'll find us!" Dwalin objected, followed by murmured arguments from the others and Bilbo looking exasperatedly at Thorin. "Just do as he bloody says!" I snapped, glaring at the dwarves. They all jumped and looked at me, and without a word climbed into the barrels deciding it was not wise to argue with me in my state. Bilbo looked at me gratefully and helped the other dwarves into the barrels. "Artrain, I need you to stay with me, and I need you in your wolf form." Bilbo said to me. All I did in response was shift. When all the dwarves were in the barrels Bilbo pulled a lever and they went rolling down a little trap door and into the river. I raised an eyebrow and looked at Bilbo, for a Hobbit that was a pretty clever idea. "Are you well enough to have me on your back Artrain? You're a stronger swimmer than I am and I just need you to get me to the empty barrel." Bilbo said. I knew the answer was no, I was barely able to hold myself up let alone another person and especially in a current as strong as the one in the river. But I nodded my head anyways, we didn't have much time and we would be better off drowning in the water rather than being caught by the elves. I knelt down and let him crawl on, ignoring the pain. Next thing I knew Bilbo had pulled the lever again and we both dropped down into the Icy water. "Well done Master Baggins" Thorin said as we resurfaced. Bilbo nodded and almost lazily waved his hand signaling for them to go as I dragged him to his barrel. The current was stronger than I had expected and it was a fight with every move, especially with the hobbit on my back. Ori helped him off my back when I finally got him to his destination. Now all there was left was to get out of this wretched place.. But just as that thought passed through my mind alarms sounded through out the kingdom. "Oh bloody hell.." I thought to myself.