Laire was dozing lightly, doing her best to ignore the snoring of the Dwarves around her. After a few hours, Laire admitted defeat and sat up. She noticed Bofur sitting in the corner looking tired and bored.
"Get some sleep, Bofur. I'll take over watch." Laire patted his shoulder and smiled.
Bofur looked up at her with gratitude, "Aye, you're a blessing, lassie."
Laire assumed Bofur's previous position, nestled into a crevasse against the cave wall. The storm outside had died down leaving the cave in almost silence apart from snoring and the odd rustle of blankets. That was when Laire noticed Bilbo. The Hobbit was packing his belongings as quickly and quietly as he could, hoping to not wake any of the Company. What he didn't count on was Laire waiting quietly as he tried to shuffle past her.
"And where do ye think you're off to?"
Bilbo froze and turn to Laire, "B-back to Rivendell," The Hobbit stuttered.
"Ye cannot just give up and turn back, yer part of this Company," Laire reasoned.
"I'm not though, am I? Thorin said I should never have come, and he was right. I'm not a Took, I'm a Baggins, I don't know what I was thinking. I should never have run out my door."
"Pay no mind to Thorin, he's a bitter and stubborn Dwarf and has not to blame but himself for that." Little did either of them know, said Dwarf was listening. "Don't let him ruin yer chance for adventure."
"No, you don't, you don't understand! None of you do, you're used to - to this life, to living on the road, never settling in one place, not belonging anywhere." The moment the words left his lips, Bilbo regretted them. "I'm sorry I-"
Laire looked down at her lap, then looked up with a sad smile. "See that there, my dear lad, is where yer wrong. We all belong somewhere, you belong in the Shire," She glanced over at the sleeping Dwarves. "They belong in Erebor. And me, well, who knows where I belong but I know I'll find it someday. Just remember, Bilbo; home is where yer heart longs, not where yer head rests. But if this is the choice that ye want to make, then I hope you find what yer looking for there." Laire leaned back and was about to let Bilbo walk away, when a light blue glow caught her eye.
"Hang on." Laire reached out and pulled back Bilbo's coat to reveal his blade glowing brightly within its sheath. "Get up! The lot of ye now!"
"Wake up! Wake up!' Thorin barked, but it was too late. The floor beneath them parted and the Company fell into the darkness below.
The Company fell through a tunnel and landed in a pile on a cage-like platform. With barely a moment to regain their bearing, a horde of Goblins jumped at them, clawing and grabbing at their weapons leaving them defenseless as they dragged them across a wooden path further into the cave.
As the Company was pushed and pulled along the path, they came closer to what looked like a poorly made throne, and sat upon it was the most vile looking creature any of them had ever seen. A huge, gluttonous, and grotesque looking goblin, with a crown made of thorns and bones on its head. The Goblin King stumbled from his throne and began to sing - well more like shout - what they could only assume was meant to be a song. Though it was truly far from it.
Snip snap, the black crack
Grip, grab, pinch, and nab
Batter and beat
Milk 'em, stammer and squeak!
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town
YOU ARE READING
Honour For Bastards
FanfictionThere's a shame that can't be spoken, for children born out of wedlock. A shame that leaves a stain on their face for all their lives which leaves one to wonder why there are names left out of the great stories? Why the heroes are always noble and p...
