One Lucky Winner

Chapter 24 ~ Bilbo

Tonight is our last night in the Capitol; the games start tomorrow. I'm pretty nervous. I only got a four and mostly everyone else got above 10. I'm not sure how I'll survive. I know everyone is good at fighting, maybe even better than Thorin and Legolas.

Speaking of them, they're surprisingly calm tonight. They're acting like it's just another regular night, while I'm constantly worrying about tomorrow. I'm thinking they're not nervous because they got twelves, so they're big headed. They have to keep in mind that over half of the people got twelves, too.

It's about nine in the evening. We're just unwinding from our interviews, which went pretty well. From what I can tell, everyone loved all three of us. Then again, everyone loved all the other tributes as well. Everyone is popular this year.

I'm sitting alone in the living room, worrying. Legolas is wandering around for some reason, and I don't know where Thorin is. He avoids Legolas. He's still hooked on the mountain, and he still thinks it's all Legolas's fault that we aren't there right now. I think Legolas wants to be at least acquaintances with Thorin, but Thorin won't let him in. I wish Thorin would just communicate with him.

I suddenly hear the door open, and I turn to it. It's Lyla, our stylist.

"Hey, fellows!" she says to me and Legolas, who's standing in the hallway for some reason.

"Hello," I say awkwardly.

"Get Thorin. I have something to tell you guys." She suddenly sounds depressed.

I turn to Legolas. "Get Thorin." I want him to interact with Thorin more. Legolas hesitates for a moment, gives me a look, and then goes down the hall to find Thorin.

Lyla sits down on the couch next to me. "So how was your last day here?" she says, trying to sound cheerful.

"It was fine," I say, because I don't know what else to say. My day obviously not that great, because we're forced to be here. But, compared to the training days, today wasn't that bad.

"Well, that's good," Lyla says. "You nervous for tomorrow?"

"A bit," I say, even though that's a lie. I'm extremely nervous for tomorrow.

Just as Lyla is about to say something else, I hear a door opening and a deep voice coming from the hall. Legolas and Thorin emerge from the hallway, both scowling, which tells me they were arguing. I wonder about what.

Lyla stands up. "Sit down, boys," she says to Thorin and Legolas. Thorin sits on one side of me, and Legolas sits in a recliner near me. They couldn't make it any clearer that they don't like each other.

Lyla takes a deep breath. "It's your guys' last night here," she says.

There's a long, awkward pause, then Thorin says, "So?"

"I'm going to miss you," she says. "You three are the best tributes I've ever had in all of my years of doing this." She blows her nose in a handkerchief. "Just try to come back. Please. One of you. I don't care who. One of you try to win."

This sparks anger in me. She doesn't care who comes back, she just wants one of us to? That doesn't seem very respectful.

"We will," I say, only because Thorin is waiting for me to say something and Legolas is in some kind of daze.

"I know you guys can do it," she says. "Thorin and Leggy - you both got 12's."

There's another pause, then she says more. "Bilbo, you make sure they take care of you." I nod, only because I want this conversation to be over.

"I'll miss you guys. I won't be here tomorrow. They're not allowing any of the stylists to say their final goodbyes..." She trails off. "So this is the last goodbye." She bursts out in tears and stands up, pulling me up with her. She hugs me while I stand there stiff as a rock. It's so awkward. She pulls Thorin and Legolas up and does the same.

"I'll miss you so much!" she yells. She hugs us each once more.

"I'll be rooting for you," she sobs one last time. Then she leaves. That was the last time I'm ever going to see her.

I don't want to reflect on that conversation, so I just make my way to the kitchen. I dig through the cupboards for a snack.

After a few minutes of looking for a snack, I hear Thorin's harsh voice. "Bilbo, come." I grab an apple from a nice looking fruit bowl and walk in the living room. Legolas hasn't moved, and Thorin is standing up. I sit down on the couch and take a bite of my apple.

"We need to make a plan. For when we get into the arena," Thorin says.

I take another bite out of my apple. Thorin stares at Legolas and I.

"Any suggestions?" he asks angrily.

I bite my apple. I don't have any suggestions.

Thorin half sighs, half growls. I can tell he's about to blow up when Legolas speaks up.

"Bilbo should not move from his pedestal. If he tries to fight he will be killed. You and I will grab everything we can from the cornucopia and then meet Bilbo. We then proceed," Legolas says quietly to Thorin.

I'm slightly offended by what he said about me, but it's true. I really can't do anything right. "Good plan," I say, taking another bite of my apple, realizing I'm fine with not doing anything.

"Deal," Thorin says. "And who's bringing what in the arena? Have we confirmed?"

Legolas stands up. "Bilbo is bringing his ring, I am bringing my bow, and you are bringing Bilbo's sword."

"Sting," I pipe up.

"Sting," he repeats.

Thorin sighs, which is once again half a growl. "Deal," he says once again.

I take another bite of my apple and look at the clock. Nine twenty. I figure it's time to go to bed. The games start tomorrow and I'm tired.

"I think it's time for bed," I say, going to the kitchen and throwing away my apple core.

I get back to the living room. "Goodnight," I say to them.

"Goodnight," Legolas replies, back in the recliner.

"Aren't you going to bed?" I ask, confused.

"Elves don't sleep," Thorin grumbles to me.

"They don't?" I ask, surprised.

"No," Thorin says, walking down the hall.

I wonder why I didn't know this. It's like I've been living under a rock, secluded from the rest of Middle Earth.

I give an awkward half smile, half wave to Legolas and proceed down the hall to my room, where I lay awake and worry into the night.