The Red Apothecary (A Hobbit Story)

Chapter 9: Wargs

The sun shone through the crack in the large bolder that Gandalf had split during the near fatal encounter with mountain trolls. All the arguments that Mr. Baggins had started and all stalling aside, ended up saving the groups life.

That morning, Thorin treated the Hobbit with more respect than he had the last few weeks. Not long after waking up from a much needed short rest, everyone was ready to march on. Gandalf had posed the notion that if the trolls of the mountains had come this far south, they were bound to have some sort of cave near by, and it may be worth searching out. The child in Madelynn leapt out at the chance of exploring a trolls hideaway. Soon they came upon a small, but rancid scented cave. Foul creatures of middle earth they were, so equally was their smell.

Madelynn stepped lightly into the dirt floor cave. Her hand callused upon her nose. Flies whipped around her head annoyingly while spiderwebs got caught on her hands as she tried to remove them from her path. The others were fascinated by the gold that merely lied about the ground, taking it and burying it for "later". Madelynn caroused the cave in its entirety, looking for any type of dried plants or tonics she could use later down the line. Only but a few miniature jars of cooking spices remained. Although useful, not what she needed to keep her kin healthy. As Gandalf had called for everyone to leave the cave and start on the days trek, he called Madelynn and Bilbo to him.

"This sword is of an elven make, when Orcs or goblins are near, the sword glows blue." To Bilbo he gave an elegant short sword. A perfect companion for a hobbit. "And for you Madelynn I give you a sword of man. Forged in times of war, and strong as the men who once wielded it." The sword was broad. It's hilt held the ornaments of roses and wolves. It's engravings we're that of a language that had left middle earth in the second age. Madelynn, could only stare at the sword as Gandalf handed to her. The blade was well kept for being so old. A rune was engraved just over the cross guard  that looked like that of a rose bushes' branches. The rune read "Gift of friendship." Her brows knitted together as she looked at the rune for a moment longer. She then fastened the scabbard and blade and belted it to her waist, adjusting it accordingly.

As Madelynn joined the others. The air grew stiff suddenly. The group, like that of one mind; all stood still. Rustling of leaves seemed as though they were all around them, not knowing what could be behind the trees, everyone drew their weapons. Thorin made it a point to push Madelynn into the middle of Dwalin, Bofur, Fili, and Kili, and himself for protection. Madelynn felt inferior for being such a burden, but this had been her agreement for letting Thorin take her along. The leaves moved and rattled at an alarming rate as whatever was approaching them, came ever nearer. Suddenly, a man on the back of a sleigh being drawn by large rabbits rushed through the wood then to a startling halt. "Gandalf!! Thank heavens I've found you!" The little man dressed in brown shouted as he came near the group. Weapons still drawn; and quite confused, Thorin barked at the gray wizard. "Who is this fool?! And does he mean us harm?" Slinging his hand over Madelyn's figure for even more protection. "NO! This old fool is Radagast the brown! And I will give you that he is halfwitted for barging in on a group that would be sure to take his head off at a moments notice." Gandalf turned to Radagast with hands on his belt and a spurning glance.

Soon the gray wizard was able to calm Radagast and get from him that a great evil had in fact entered middle earth once more; (but this fact of course stayed between Gandalf and the brown wizard.)

A deafening howl came from behind the resting party. All eyes looked towards the south. "Are, those wolves?" The small hobbit asked as he faced the direction of the sound. As foul hunters on Wargback came upon them quickly; and without mercy. Bilbo had his answer. Fili and Kili managed to fell one of the beasts with the loosing of an arrow before it had a chance to attack. Poor Mr. Bilbo was quite shaken as the warg fell at his feet. Thorin without a second thought, grabbed Madelynn's wrist and whispered the simple terrifying word, "Run." Everyone followed Thorin with much haste. Their pace quickening with every step. Kili watched everyone's back with his bow. Radagast distracted half the hunting pack with his rabbits and sleigh.

After fighting off the Orcs for what felt like hours, they had been caught out in the open; nothing but a formation of stones gave them cover, but even that was minimal. All seemed lost as the company huddled in a curved formation, ready to take down the predators; and die if needed. Gandalf, (as he was known for doing at this point.) Directed the group to the stones. Looking at the wizard like he was mad, the dwarves made a dash for the rocks anyway with nothing much else to loose.

Madelynn had slipped from Thorin's protection long enough to assist Fili in buying the group time. With her long sword from the trolls cave, she watched Fili's back. Fending off any and all Wargs and Orcs that dare come near. The drawing of a bow string, and a quick release made an arrow from an Orcs notch, dig itself into Madelynn's upper arm. Dropping her sword, she fell to the ground with a wail. Kili whipped his eyes to Madelynn's face. She tried her hardest to hide tears of pain, while everyone who made it to the rocks called out their names in desperation. Kili slung his bow over his back and picked up Madelynn's sword. Then he picked her up like a groom to his bride on their wedding day, and dashed for the stones.

Madelynn drifted in and out of consciousness. The arrow must have been laced with wild poison the Orcs had found. Dangerous and toxic were many plants in Middle earth. Her head hurt too much to even starting thinking what plants poison could enter her blood so quickly. "Kili." She wheezed, grabbing the sleeve of his coat. He looked down, still running for the rocks. "Leave me." She breathed heavily. Kili ignored this plead. Without warning, the dwarves were no longer being pursued. War horns of the elves surrounded the air around them. Kili ran making it just in time to see the elves on horses killing what was left of the pack. Madelynn had passed out of mindfulness. Her breathing so shallow, and her skin so pale you would think she was dead a day. Thorin fell to his knees at the sight of Madelynn, shocked and pained. Gandalf saw this and shouted at Thorin. "GIVE HER TO THE ELVES! QUICKLY NOW!" Gandalf demanded "I WILL NOT SEE MY LOVE IN THE HANDS OF THOSE TRAITERS!" Thorin roared back in defense, gripping his lover tightly. Gandalf could not wait for Thorin's stubbornness to loosen its grip. He struck Thorin in the head, enough to make him let go of Madelynn's limp body and lifted her up with him. Gandalf stepped outside of the ditch and waved down one of the riders assisting the hunters. He rode up swiftly. "Take her to a healer. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!" The rider nodded Grabbing her from the grey wizard and set off at a gallop. Throughout the exchange the members of the company restrained Throin from doing anything that would put Gandalf's plan at risk. "NO!!! GANDALF; YOU BETRAY ME!!!" Thorin fought to get his hands on the old man that stood before him. Everyone fought back Thorins anger, pulling violently on his coat and hair. "CALM YOURSELF OAKENSHEILD!" The wizard took a breath, calming himself down as well. "She is safe. I promise you on all that is holy in this realm, no harm will come to her." Everyone took a step back feeling the anger roll off of their king like a raging fire. "If anything should happen to her." He gave a long hardened stare at the wizard. "I shall see to it that you pay for her life with your own." A gasp came from all but Gandalf. He was more put out with the stubborn dwarf than anything else, but there was an linking of doubt that he had been too late with Madelynn. Only time would tell.