The Choice [I Gilas] {A Hobbit Fanfiction} (DISCONTINUED)

8. I Lanc e Fuin [The Edge of Night]

I had just started working on my arrows again when Bilbo rushed towards us. Thorin got up.

"How close is the pack?" he asked.

"Too close!" Bilbo said, leaning on his knees to catch his breath. "A couple of leagues, no more, but that's not the worst of it."

"Have the Wargs picked up our scent?" Dwalin asked.

"That's not it," I said, looking at Bilbo closely. No, there was something else. It didn't have to do with the Orcs that were chasing us.

"Not yet," Bilbo told him. "But they will do. We have another problem."

"Did they see you?" Mithrandir asked suspiciously. Bilbo turned around. Mithrandir took that as a confirmation.

"They saw you," he concluded.

"No, that's not it," Bilbo said, shaking his head.

"What did I tell you?" Mithrandir asked, smiling. "Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material."

"Will you listen? Will you just listen?" Bilbo asked, getting a little irritated. "I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there." The group fell silent.

"What form did it take?" Mithrandir asked — a very specific question, if you ask me. "Like a bear?" Bilbo looked at him oddly.

"Y-Yes," he stammered. "But bigger. Much bigger."

"You knew about this beast?" Bofur asked. Mithrandir ignored him and turned around.

"You forgot to mention that there are not only Orcs chasing us, but also a gigantic bear, Mithrandir?" I asked.

"I say we double back," Bofur suggested.

"And be run down by a pack of Orcs?" Thorin asked and I knew that wouldn't be our best option. A few Dwarves voiced their agreement with Thorin.

"There is a house," Mithrandir said, turning towards us again, "it's not far from here, where we might take refuge." I noticed the emphasis on the word 'might.'

"Whose house?" Thorin asked. He had heard the same.

"Are they friend or foe?"

"Neither," Mithrandir told him. "He will help us or he will kill us." I didn't really like the sound of that.

"What choice do we have?" Thorin asked. We all turned around when we heard a creature roaring in the distance.

"None," Mithrandir answered.

And so we ran again, like we had in the past few weeks since we had barely escaped from the Orcs. Thorin's wounds had healed and he was more determined than ever to reach Erebor.

We ran through the plains, into the woods. The creature roared again, sounding closer this time. We all stopped, listening at the sound closely.

"This way! Quickly!" Mithrandir urged us forward.

"Run!" Thorin ordered. We ran out of the woods, from under the cover of the trees and crossed the plains again. I could see a large cottage in the distance, surrounded by high walls. I assumed that must be the house Mithrandir had mentioned.

"Run!" Mithrandir urged. I was running next to Bilbo, keeping an eye on him. I looked up when I saw Bombur passing me, running faster than I had ever seen him run.

We entered the open gates that led to the cottage.

"Come on, get inside," Mithrandir said. We tried to enter the house, but the double door had been locked. I could see the gigantic black bear already approaching us fast, too fast for my liking.