✓GLITTER AND GOLD⁰ ━ the hobbit

seven.

07. | CAN YOU WALK THROUGH THE FIRE?

"Wake up! Wake up!" is the first thing I hear as I'm awoken from my slumber. The ground seems to be sliding out from under me as I sit up, shocked and barely awake.

I don't have time to scream as the floor falls in, one giant trap door. The sand seems to melt away from the sides of the room as we fall. Thorin grabs my arm, and I his, falling together, gripping each other tightly for comfort; two friends, clinging to each other in the darkness.  It reassures me a little to know that we'll be together.

We fall through a tunnel, crashing into walls and bruising ourselves, but my stomach seems to be about ten metres ahead of us as we drop straight down into a wooden cage. Trapped inside, I scramble against the bars futilely. My elvish sword is glowing; I hadn't noticed, so I guess we're being attacked by goblins now. Wonderful.

No sooner have we landed in the cage when the goblins grab us, dragging us out by our legs and limbs and herding us - where to, I'm not sure.  Their spindly fingers scratch at my sides, as Thorin grips my arm tighter. At first I think he is just trying to protect me. However, as we reach a sharp drop, he pushes me over the side so quickly that the goblins don't notice. His hands are firm and steady as he gives me a harsh shove.

My reflexes catch me in time, as I manage to grab onto a piece of wood and hang there, as the company, the dwarves and the goblins rush down the planks into the depths of the kingdom. My hands are aching and bloody, but I cling on, acutely aware that I won't survive the drop down the cave. Soon the goblins and dwarves are almost out of earshot, and I relax slightly.

I suppose I should rescue them, again.

Summoning all my strength, I manage to hoist myself up onto the platform with a quick push, dropping onto my stomach. I am bruised all over.

Bilbo stands, watching shocked as the goblins leave him behind. He spots me and rushes to help, as I lay on the floor, panting. My strength is gone. This quest is far more dangerous than I would have ever expected.

"How'd you get free?" Bilbo asks, drawing his dagger; it lights up, shrouding us in eerie elvish blue.

"Thorin," I explain, as though that is answer enough. Bilbo nods as if it is. "How did you?"

He opens his mouth to answer, but suddenly a goblin appears, rushing towards us as it shrieks violently, jerking. I draw my sword, still struggling to get up from the ground, as it charges at Bilbo.

He fights it off, amazingly, slashing and defending himself. However, as he finally stabs the goblin, it falls over the side , pulling Bilbo with him.

I peer down into the darkness, and though I can't see anything, I can hear Bilbo yelling. He's still alive, at least, though perhaps wounded. Now what do I do? I can either jump after Bilbo, or save Thorin and the others. I won't have time for both.

As much as I adore Bilbo, I feel like he's more likely to survive down there than the pigheaded dwarves. He's also resourceful enough to make it out on his own. What's more, I might not survive the jump down the abyss, and that would be no good for either of us. I decide to rescue the dwarves first - or, well to get someone else to. This was why is was so eager to learn knife throwing - to not rely on Gandalf all the time.

I pull out the gem Gandalf gave me, and stamp on it, crushing it beneath my foot with the last of my energy. It shatters, a thousand silver fragments littering the ground like glass.

And nothing happens.

I'm not sure what I expected. For Gandalf to appear at of nowhere to save us? That would have been preferable. Sadly, it doesn't happen, and so decide I must at least try to save the dwarves myself.