Flames

1.5

They landed in a heap on a hard surface. There were cries of "Hey, that's my leg!" "That's my hand!" "Stop touchin' me!"

Eventually, they all stood up and observed their surroundings. They seemed to be in some sort of mine shaft. They looked around, but didn't get to look for very long. Goblins bombarded them, surrounding them. The company tried to fight back, but the goblins overpowered them. They were dragged to meet the Goblin King. They had to throw their weapons forward in a pile.

"Dwarves?"

"And one Man," a goblin said, shoving Azalea forward. She felt someone grab onto the back of her shirt, trying to pull her back. Whoever it was failed, and Azalea stumbled forward.

"It's been a while since there was a Man in these halls," the Goblin King said. "Especially one so pretty..."

"If you touch me, I will cut off your hands in the most painful way possible," Azalea threatened through her teeth.

The king chuckled. "You talk big for someone so small."

"I may be small, but I can take care of myself."

"Can you know? So, if I did this-"

He reached for her. She broke free of the the goblins holding her arms, drew a knife she'd hidden in her boot, and slashed his ugly hand. She had sheathed her knife before the goblins had a hold of her again.

"Next time, I won't be so generous as to let you keep your hand," she threatened.

"Make her kneel!" the Goblin King roared. She was shoved to her knees, her arms braced.

"She dies first."

"I don't fear death," she said. Her breathing remained calm and even, even though her heart pounded in her chest. When she looked up, the Goblin King had locked eyes with someone behind her.

"Thorin Oakenshield. I know someone who will pay a pretty price for your head."

"Leave him alone!" Azalea exclaimed suddenly.

"The Pale Orc will be glad to know the line of Durin has ended."

Azalea knew the tale. She also knew the Pale Orc was supposed to be dead.

"Kill them both."

Protests rose from the dwarves behind them.

"If you kill them, you kill us!"

"Planned on it."

The dwarves fell quiet.

"Hey, it'll be okay," Azalea said to Thorin. "We tried our best."

She felt a sword press down on her neck. It was removed for a second. She braced herself, and-

Nothing. The sword didn't fall. She opened her eyes and saw Gandalf had returned. The dwarves grabbed their weapons and began running. They fought their way through the goblin hoards. Azalea slashed and shot the goblins. They ran through obstacles and challenges, but they ran all the same. They made it back into daylight after a while.

"Fourteen...where's Bilbo?"

Everyone looked around for the Hobbit. Azalea's eyes scanned the crowd of dwarves, trying to find him. She couldn't.

"Isn't it obvious?" Thorin began. "He saw his chance to leave and he took it! We have lost our burglar."

Azalea looked at the ground solemnly. She had just about offered to take his place when-

"No, you haven't."

Bilbo Baggins stepped out from behind a tree. He was greeted by hugs and slaps on the back. He explained why he came back, talking about how he had a home, and he was here to help them reclaim theirs. Azalea grinned, something she rarely did. Thorin caught himself staring at her, noticing how her smile lit up her entire face. It made her seem younger, less broken. It added to how beautiful he already thought she was...

No, he chastised himself. It would never work out.

After a happy reunion with Bilbo, they marched on. Everything was just fine.

Then, a warg jumped out of the trees and landed on top of Azalea.