There and Back Again: A Girl's Tale

Chapter 23 Barrel Riders

Chapter 23 Barrel Riders

Had someone told Bilbo Baggins six months past about the places he would go and the risks he would take on his journey with the dwarves, he'd have laughed in their face. Fighting trolls, orcs, and giant spiders. Going to Rivendell to meet the elves and being a guest in the house of the last skin-changer. He'd thought topping any of those things would be impossible.

That was until he snuck into the Woodland Realm.

Even if it isn't the most reckless thing I've done so far, he thought wryly, it's definitely the most foolish.

Around every corner was another guard armed to the teeth and poised to strike. The Wood elves seemed to protect their home with an unmatched ferocity, and he knew that if he were caught...well, King Thranduil didn't seem like the most merciful of rulers. He had been coldly cruel and detached in a way that was difficult for the hobbit to understand.

Can he truly be Elwen's father? How could such a kind, vibrantly spirited woman come from a being that seemed to be carved from stone?

Bilbo had stayed with Elwen after Thorin had been dragged down to the cells kicking and screaming. He hadn't known what the elves had wanted with her, and refused to leave her side, even if his presence was unknown. By the end of their conversation, however, Bilbo mightily regretted his decision.

Watching the devastation flash across Elwen's face had made him need to turn away. She had come so far and fought so hard, only to be greeted by a heartless king. And Thorin's greatest enemy.

Bilbo shook his head as he wound his way down into what appeared to be a cellar of some sort.

Bilbo would have to be blind, and an idiot to boot, not to see the affection that had blossomed between Thorin and Elwen. It had been a hard won affection, neither of the pair sure of themselves in this regard. But it was plain to everyone with eyes to see; Thorin and Elwen were in love, and the knowledge of her parentage could destroy everything.

He knew the dwarves loved Elwen and would lay down their lives for her, each and every one. But would they feel the same when they found out who she was? And they would find out eventually, there was no doubt of that. Whether or not Elwen took a chance and told them now or kept quiet, it would come to light sooner or later. This wasn't the type of secret that could stay buried. Elwen was a princess of the Woodland Realm. She had a father and a brother and people .

The lost princess, he thought. Well, she's found now, and there's no un-ringing that bell.

Invisible, Bilbo managed to make his way down a set of stairs and into what apparently was a wine cellar. He made sure to stay clear of the elves moving barrels to and fro. One elf took a deep drink from a large flagon, and Bilbo's eyes were drawn to the shiny ring of keys in his hand.

"We're running out of drink," said one of the elves.

"These empty barrels should have been sent back to Esgaroth hours ago. The bargeman will be waiting for them."

"Say what you like about our ill-tempered king," said another elf. "But he has excellent taste in wine. Come, Elros, try it."

The elf in question, Elros, shook his head. "I have the dwarves in my charge."

Elros' companion plucked the keys from his fingers and hung them on a hook.

"They're locked up; where can they go?"

Bilbo eyed the hanging keys, plans already formulating. Perhaps all hope was not quite as lost as it had seemed.

Eventually Tauriel said her goodbyes, and Kili was once again alone with only his thoughts as a cellmate. He palmed the stone his mother had given him and thought back to the day they had left on their journey to the Lonely Mountain. Their mother had fought their departure nearly to the very end. Kili smiled when he thought of his mother's words to her brother.