Victoria in Middle Earth

Chapter Nine

A little while later, Fili and Kili (who are supposed to be watching the ponies) run into camp telling everyone that there are Trolls nearby and that Bilbo had been spotted. 

So the Dwarves and Victoria follow Fili and Kili and find three Trolls holding Bilbo from his arms and legs. The fight with the Trolls ended with Bilbo getting caught again and the Dwarves and Victoria in sacks. 

But then out of no where there was Gandalf. He turned the Trolls to stone and set the Company free.The Dwarves have been freed from the sacks. Gandalf walks to one of the Troll statues and thumps it with his staff, with a pleased smile on his face. 

"Where did you go to, if I may ask?" Thorin asks Gandalf. "To look ahead." says Gandalf. "What brought you back?" asks Thorin. "Looking behind. Nasty business. Still, they are all in one piece." says Gandalf. 

"No thanks to your burglar." says Thorin. "He had the nous to play for time. None of the rest of you thought of that." says Gandalf. Thorin looks repentant. Gandalf and Thorin examine the statues of the trolls. "They must have come down from the Ettenmoors." says Gandalf. 

"Since when do mountain trolls venture this far south?" Thorin asks. "Oh, not for an age, not since a darker power ruled these lands." says Gandalf, as he and Thorin look meaningfully at each other. "They could not have moved in daylight." says Gandalf. 

"There must be a cave nearby." says Thorin. "Over here!" says Victoria from around the corner. Gandalf, Bilbo, and the Dwarves find her in the entrance of a cave. Gandalf Thorin, Victoria and a few of the Dwarves go inside. 

"Oh, what's that stench?!" says Nori. "It's a Troll hoard. Be careful what you touch." says Gandalf. As they enter the cave, many of the Dwarves cough and retch at the pungence. Inside, they find piles of gold coins and other treasure in caskets. "Seems a shame just to leave it lying around. Anyone could take it." says Bofor. 

"Agreed. Nori, get a shovel." says Gloin. While exploring, Thorin finds three swords covered in cobwebs. He gives one to Gandalf, another to Victoria and kept the third one. "These swords were not made by any troll." says Thorin. 

"Nor were they made by any smith among men." says Gandalf as he draws the sword in his hand out of its sheath a few inches. 

"These were forged in Gondolin by the High Elves of the First Age." says Gandalf. Realizing that they are Elven swords, Thorin starts to put his away in disgust. "You could not wish for a finer blade." says Gandalf. 

Reluctantly, Thorin holds on to the sword. He draws it out of its sheath a few inches as well. Some of the Dwarves fill a chest with treasure, then bury it in a hole in the ground. Dwalin looks on in disgust. "We're makin' a long term deposit." says Nori. 

"Let's get out of this foul place. Come on, let's go. Bofur! Gloin! Nori!" says Thorin. 

"Bilbo". says Gandalf. "Hmm?" asks Bilbo. "Here. This is about your size." says Gandalf. "I can't take this." says Bilbo. "The blade is of Elvish make which means it will glow blue when orcs or goblins are nearby." said Gandalf, as Bilbo takes the sword. 

"I have never used a sword in my life." says Bilbo looking down at the sword. "And I hope you never have to. But if you do, remember this: true courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one." Gandalf tells him. 

"Something's coming!" says Thorin. "Gandalf­" says Bilbo but he already left to go up front. "Stay together. Hurry now." says Gandalf to the Company.