Inflamed (Harry Potter & The Hobbit/LOTR Crossover) (LegolasxOC)

10- Wargs and Eagles

Gandalf took us through a series of passageways, daylight right ahead. I inhaled deeply as we exited, stepping out into the light again. As we ran through the forest and down the mountainside, all I could think of was how I'd never been so happy to see trees in my life. When we're far away enough to take a break, we slowed down to a stop, catching our breaths. Gandalf took his time to count all of us. "Five, six, seven, eight...Bifur, Bofur...that's ten...Fíli, Kíli...that's twelve...Paige...that makes thirteen, and Bombur-that makes fourteen. Where's Bilbo? Where is our Hobbit? Where is our Hobbit?!"

I looked around, trying to find Bilbo in our group. He was gone. I felt guilty that I had forgotten about him in the craziness of trying to escape. "Curse the halfling! Now he's lost?!" Dwalin exclaimed, exasperated. "I thought he was with Dori!" Glóin put in. Dori scowled. "Don't blame me!" "Well, where did you last see him?" Gandalf demanded.

I groaned and rubbed my temples. Fighting and standing around was not going to help us find Bilbo. "I think I saw him slip away, when they first collared us." Nori said slowly, remembering. Gandalf walked up to the Dwarf, barking, "What happened exactly? Tell me!"

When Thorin opened his mouth I knew that nothing good was going to come from it. "I'll tell you what happened. Master Baggins saw his chance and he took it! He's thought of nothing but his soft bed and his warm hearth since first he stepped out of his door! We will not be seeing our Hobbit again. He is long gone." I clenched my fists tightly at my side, not wanting to believe it. Bilbo, though he wasn't quite cut out for this and missed home frequently, was part of this whether Thorin liked it or not. We were all in this together.

"No, he isn't." A voice suddenly said. I whirled around to see none other than Bilbo himself emerge from behind a tree. I let out a sigh of relief, all the tension leaving my body. Gandalf's face broke into a smile as he stepped forward and laughed. "Bilbo Baggins! I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life!" Bilbo half-smiled, walking forward and clapping Balin on the shoulder as he passed him.

Kíli grinned at the Hobbit. "Bilbo, we'd given you up!" "How on earth did you get past the Goblins?" Fíli asked. Dwalin cocked his head. "How, indeed." I looked over at Bilbo, who was at a loss for words. He chuckled awkwardly, not replying. "Well, what does it matter? He's back!" Gandalf said, his tone seeming a bit off for some reason.

"It matters! I want to know: why did you come back?" Thorin asked, his expression curious. The Hobbit sighed and looked around the Company, mainly at Thorin, as he replied, "Look, I know you doubt me, I know you always have. And you're right, I often think of Bag End. I miss my books. And my armchair. And my garden. See, that's where I belong. That's home. And that's why I came back, cause you don't have one. A home. It was taken from you. But I will help you take it back if I can."

Silence. Thorin watched the Hobbit with an awed expression, before he looked down, looking up again hesitantly with an odd expression. Bilbo's gaze fell on me and I grinned at him, giving the Hobbit a big hug. "You gave me a fright, Bilbo! Next time you decide to not get captured, please consult me!" I joked. His lips twitched into a wide half-smile. Suddenly, there were howls in the distance, making all of us start.

Fear crept in when I remembered why those howls were so familiar. Warg-Scouts! Thorin sighed. "Out of the frying pan..." "...and into the fire! Run! RUN!" Gandalf finished. We took off, running down the mountainside as fast as we could. "You know, I always thought that the phrase was 'Out of the frying pan and into the inferno.'" I shouted.

"Not the time, Miss Paige!" Gandalf barked. Nori, beside me, snorted. I shot him an exasperated look and tried to refocus on running. As the sun went down, it became a lot harder to see. I passed by a few trees and then a Warg suddenly jumping out. I screamed in surprise, taking out a knife swiftly and slashing it's throat. When it was dead, I held a hand to my heart. That scared the living shit out of me.