The Shapeshifter (A Hobbit Fanfiction)

Chapter 9

*Thorin's Pov-

As soon as Filli and Killi told us about the trolls, I realized Skyrena had been right.  It hadn't been fair for me to doubt her, and I thought she was off sulking.  Knowing that trolls were around troubled me.  What if they got her?  We charged and attacked as soon as Bilbo was out of the way.  Soon, the trolls had Bilbo again and told us to lay down our weapons.  Throwing some of us in sacks as they had to Skyrena, the began argueing about how to cook us.  Thankfully, Bilbo jumped in.

"They're all infested."  As the others started to argue, I kicked them, trying to get them to shut up and play along.  Soon enough, the sun rose, and Gandalf exposed the trolls to the sunlight.  As soon as the trolls were turned to stone, we all started cheering.  When we were free, I went to check on Skyrena.  According to Bilbo, she took a hit to the head, but it seemed to have healed.  Balin came over as I went to talk to Gandalf.

"Where did you go, if I may ask?"  We watched as Balin woke Skyrena, who groaned as she told him what had happened.

"Forward."  I frowned.

"What brought you back?"  He smiled at me.

"Looking back."  Skyrena was on her feet by now.

*Skyrena's Pov-

"Where had you been?"  Thorin sounded slightly concerned, but I didn't care.

"I came across their cave and accidentally woke one up.  By that time, it was dusk, so they chased me down.  I would have gotten away, but they swatted me into a tree, and I hit my head."  He nodded as Gandalf frowned.

"Where is their cave?"  I frowned, trying to remember.  The scent was too strong here for me to remember the trail.  I looked around, trying to remember anything I could.

"This way, I think..."  I took off into the woods, followed by the others.  Following the scent, I found what resembled as huge rabbit hole.  Looking down into it, I sniffed.  It reeked of troll.  "Here!"  Thorin and Gandalf headed in first.  There were mostly weapons and gold inside, but I still found myself shivering.  Bilbo stood beside me.

"How're you feeling, Skyrena?"  I smiled as I examined a good bow I picked up.

"Much better, thank you."  Picking up the quiver of arrows and a shiny blade, I strapped them to myself.  Thorin never allowed me to have weapons, but last night just proved how much I actually needed them as well as my ability to shift.  Soon, Thorin called out.

"Let's get out of here!"  I followed him out.  He frowned when he saw the weapons.  "Where'd you get those?"  I cluched the hilt of the blade.

"I found them inside..."  He started to protest, but I cut him off.  "I may be able to shift, but what's that to a falling blade or a club?"  He sighed and nodded.

"Alright...  Just promise me you'll be careful."  I nodded as Gwalin suddenly shouted.

"Something's coming!"  I drew an arrow back and stood beside Thorin.  Suddenly, Radagast appeared from the woods, demanding to talk to Gandalf.  I climbed a tree and looked around as they did.  Suddenly, we heard a howl.  I tensed and dropped to the ground beside Bilbo as he spoke.

"Was that a wolf?"  Bifur shook his head.

"That was no wolf..."  Suddenly, a Warg attacked us.  I shifted into a Warg myself and pounced it from the side.  As soon as it hit the ground, Thorin killed it with his sword.

"Warg scout...  Which means an Orc pack is not far behind."  I gulped, feeling guilty for not telling Thorin about the Orc pack the other night.  I shifted back and hung my head.

"I'm sorry, Thorin!  I should have told you!"  He frowned as Gandalf started towards us.

"Who did you tell?"  Thorin kept his eyes on me, making me cringe.

"No one, I swear!"  He rested a hand on my shoulder.  "What is going on?"  Gandalf looked nervous.

"Someone knows, and they want you dead."  I stepped back.  Thorin could be killed because of me?  I started to think.

"I'll go distract them!  I can outrun them."  Thorin shook his head.

"No, Skyrena.  I'm not going to let you."  I snapped.

"What other choice do we have?"  Radagast smiled.

"I can draw them off."  Gandalf frowned.

"These are Wargs.  They will outrun you."  Radagast smirked.

"These are Rusgavel rabbits.  I'd like to see them try."  With that, he took off on his sleigh.  Thorin lead us out onto the plains, followed by Gandalf.  We crept carefully through the field and avoided the Wargs.  Suddenly, I froze.

"Take cover!"  We stood beside a huge rock and saw the Orc and its Warg above our heads.  I turned and started to creep up the rock, but Thorin stopped me by placing his hand on my shoulder and shaking his head.  Nodding at Killi, I saw that he wanted Killi to take them out.  Killi drew back his bow and shot at them.

The Warg turned and snarled at us.  I gulped and shifted as it flew at us.  I caught the Warg in a flying tackle while the dwarves took out the Orc.  Soon, I found the jugular and felt it burst in my mouth.  I spit out the blood as it died at my feet.  Hearing the Orcs coming, I shifted, the taste of blood gone.

"Run!"  We all took off across the plains until we found ourselves surrounded.  I turned to Thorin and nodded at him as I shifted into a Warg.  He and the others prepared to fight until Gandalf yelled.

"This way, you fools!"  I fought to buy them time as they all jumped through an opening behind the rocks.  I was about to head in when I heard a horn blow and felt an arrow bury itself into my shoulder.  I cried out as I shifted back into my dwarf form.  All around me, white horses trampled about the Wargs while the riders fought and killed off what they could.  Before I blacked out, I saw one hovering over me.