Concerning the Hobbits

The Company are Attacked by Wargs

"Come on!" Gandalf shouted as we ran across the rocky plane, my cheeks were flushed and sweat ran down my face. I had known this journey would be dangerous but I had not been prepared to face it so soon. I'd need to keep my guard up from now on, to properly protect Bilbo.

During the panic Bilbo's hand had slipped from my wrist to my hand, and he was dragging me along. I didn't want to admit it, but I was terrified and it took all my effort-and a large amount of effort on Bilbo's part- to keep me moving. I wanted to crawl into a ball and cry, I hadn't seen a Warg since I was young and the burning village I saw every time I closed my eyes it began to consume my every thought.

"Firiel, come on!" Bilbo cried, tugging at my arm, we were trailing behind the group, he looked behind at me for a moment, deep blue eyes filled with terror. Some protector I was, being protected by the man I was supposed to be protecting, putting him in imminent danger because I was a scared little girl. But now was not the time to think like that, I had to move faster. I pushed myself forward, matching Bilbo's speed, soon we had caught up with the group.

I could see my uncle in the distance, a majority of the Wargs were chasing him, however a group of them were not too far away from us. Thorin motioned us to take cover behind a large boulder, the entire company-with an exception of Thorin who was always perfect- were red faced and breathing heavily. I cursed however when Ori began to run out into the open. 'He's going to get us all killed' I thought.

"Ori, no!" Thorin exclaimed a little too loudly for my liking. Thankfully no Wargs appeared and Thorin grabbed the fabric from Ori's shirt and pulled back towards us. I really liked Ori and was glad nothing happened.

"Come on! Quick!" Gandalf said, towering over all of us, he looked nervous which of course made me even more terrified. Thorin glared at the old wizard, he looked around worriedly at his company, and to my surprise his worry seemed to extend to Bilbo and I. Maybe i had misjudged his character far too quickly.

"Where are you leading us?" Thorin growled. However Gandalf did not have time to answer as we had to take cover behind another rock, my test tightened as I heard the heavy breathing of the Warg and it's orc rider. Both Bilbo and Kili were beside me, Kili was coping under the pressure and seemed to be watching me worriedly, Bilbo, however much like me, was struggling to keep his composure. I looked over at Kili who was nodding at Thorin, soon after I began wondering what they were planning I saw Kili begin to ready an arrow onto his bow. I grabbed Kili's arm before he walked out of the cover of the rock, 'be careful' I mouthed, his eyes softened, and he smiled and nodded at me before he continued to step out from the cover of the rock and in the blink of an eye shot the Warg scout. The Warg and its rider fall a few metres from me and instead of hearing the screams of the orc, I heard the screams of terror from the people of my village, the screams of anguish of my parents who have just watched their sons die before their very eyes. I began to feel numb and my vision went black.

The next thing I knew, I was covered in black, and the company was staring at me- 'are they afraid' I thought numbly. Neither Bofur, Kili or Bilbo could look at me properly. My father was kneeling in front of me, his eyes were filled with worry and I was beginning to feel sick of that look. 'Stop worrying about me!' the shrill voice in my head seemed to scream.

"Are you well?" Gandalf asked lowly. My arms and feet were trembling and I felt weak. 'What happened?' I wondered. Everyone seemed to be afraid of me. When I didn't reply my father scooped me up and glanced at the group.

"Move. Run!" He yelled. I was slowing him down, the Wargs were beginning to surround us from all sides. Despite my trembling body I jumped down from my fathers arms, knowing the company had a better chance of surviving without me slowing us down. I had to over come my emotions if I had any hope of helping the company and protecting Bilbo like I promised.

"There they are!" Gloin bellowed. Everyones guards were up and I stared at the ugly, wolf-like creatures that had haunted my every nightmare for twenty-three years.

"This way! Quickly!" My father shouted and ran- the rest of us chasing after him, trying desperately to match his speed. Soon we forced to a halt as Wargs were on all sides of us. One Warg bared its menacing teeth at me- I shuddered.

"There's more coming!" Kili exclaimed, he always seemed to have a knack for stating the obvious.

"Kili! Shoot them!" Thorin ordered, I was frozen where I stood, terror and anger were bubbling inside of me.

"We're surrounded!" Fili was not helping. My legs started to wobble and my arms shook aggressively.

"Where's Gandalf?" Kili asked. I could feel my legs start to give way underneath me. Where was my father?

Dwalin echoed my own fears when he bellowed, "He has abandoned us!"

A little voice in my head whispered, 'he wouldn't abandon his daughter and his friends.' I desperately wanted to believe the little voice in my head but I kept thinking the worst. I began to notice Bofur picking me up and rushing me back towards the dwarves who were gathered close together against the rock that I'd last seen my father by. Kili began shooting at the Wargs, killing them. Bofur placed me gently onto my feet, he smiled at me encouragingly.

Thorin unsheathed his sword, "hold your ground!" he roared. To everyones surprise Gandalf popped out from a crack in the rock we stood in front of.

"This way you fools!" Gandalf motioned for us to follow him into the rock.

"Come on, move!" Thorin exclaimed, Bofur started to pull me towards the crack, "Quickly, all of you!" The Dwarves were running into the crack, Thorin stood beside the entrance making sure we all got to safety, "go, go, go!"

Bilbo, Bofur and I had only just slid into the crack when Thorin killed a Warg that got too close.

"Kili! Run!" Thorin cried. He and Kili finally reach the crack which caused me to sigh in relief. A familiar horn is sounded outside, just as a group of Wargs reached the crack. I grinned, finally happy. I was almost home again. Bofur, Kili and Bilbo who were the closest in proximity to me noticed and looked at me funny. Once I was away from imminent danger, I realised that both Kili and Bilbo were acting differently around me. They were much further away and constantly glanced at me, as if I were an orc. I inched closer to Bofur, who was not much different from before, although at times he to seemed wary.

"Elves." Thorin muttered, holding an Elven arrowhead. We all turned and noticed a dark pathway. I had an idea to where the path lead, however I was not sure.

"I cannot see where the pathway leads. Do we follow it or no?" Dwalin asked.

"Follow it of course!" Bofur exclaimed- I welcomed the cheerful and sarcastic sound that was my friend's voice.

"I think that would be wise." Gandalf nodded. We followed the dark and unsurprisingly narrow pathway. I noticed that whilst at times the dwarves and Gandalf seemed to navigate the path with difficulty however Bilbo and I seemed to travel through it with ease. Things continued to be strange with Bilbo, who had continued to ignore me. It hurt, but there had been nothing to do about it then.

Eventually the pathway ended and I could see the familiar valley below. From the open area in which I stood, I could see my home.

"The Valley of Imraldis. In the common tongue, it's known by another name." Gandalf stated.

I was surprised when I heard Bilbo gasp, "Rivendell." The prim and proper hobbit who disliked adventure knew of Rivendell- was excited to see Rivendell. Bilbo was a strange hobbit, he was a puzzle that I desperately wanted to figure out.

"Here lies the last Homely House east of the sea." Gandalf smiled at me, and I smiled at him, thinking about my life here as a child. Playing in the valley, reading by the fire with my father when he was home from his many adventures. I had been happy there, why had I ever wanted to leave.