Thorin Oakenshield Stole My Heart

Chapter 12: Out Into The Fire

        The dwarves came to a mountain edge that was infested with trees. Gandalf turned to the dwarves and asked them, “Where’s Bilbo? Where is our hobbit? Where is our hobbit?!”

        Fili and Kili looked around them in regret knowing that they had lost the small hobbit and Eminork’s uncle. Eminork looked at Thorin with tear filled eyes and hugged him. Thorin too felt sad knowing that their burglar had been lost.

        Thorin stroked Eminork’s hair and whispered to her, “It’ll be alright. I promise.” Thorin then stepped forward and said to his Company, “I’ll tell you what happened. Mr. Baggins saw his chance and he took it. We will not be seeing our hobbit again. He is long gone.” Bilbo now was hiding behind an oak tree deciding when to take off the ring. He sighed and slipped it off.

         He smiled and said to the Company, “No he isn’t.” Gandalf turned in surprise at seeing his hobbit friend alive and well.

        Fili stepped forward himself and asked the small hobbit a lively question that was running through everyone else’s minds, “How on earth did you get past the goblins?”

        Dwalin who was very interested in this young hobbit asked him, “How indeed?”

         Bilbo pointed and laughed at Dwalin while slowly putting the ring into his pocket. Gandalf eyed Bilbo’s hand and saw him put the ring in his pocket.

        Gandalf ignored it but spoke, “Why does it matter? He’s back.”

        Thorin stepped forward and said to Bilbo with a voice of question, “It matters. I want to know. Why did you come back?”  

        Bilbo nodded his head and spoke while shaking his head, “I-I-I know you doubt. I know you always have. You were right. I often think about Bag End and about my books, and my arm chair and my garden. See that is where I belong. That’s home. That’s why I came back because you don’t have; a home. It was taken from you and I will help you take it back if I can.”

        Thorin nodded and smiled at Bilbo. Around the Company the dwarves all now thought differently about their burglar. Gandalf sighed but ignored the silence. Above them on a hill top was Azog riding his white Warg.

        Azog called to his Wargs without riders in the Dark Speech, “Don’t attack the dwarf-scum. Kill them!” The Wargs without riders ran forward. The growled and snarled. The Wargs were hungry for blood.

        The Company heard the Wargs cries. Thorin then whispered to the Company, “Out of the frying pan…..”

        Gandalf finished the sentence, “And into the fire. Run. Run!!!” The Company followed Gandalf drawing closer and closer to the mountain cliff. The Wargs ran faster and faster they caught up with the Company. The Company fought and fought off the Wargs but no luck did they have. Eventually the came to the cliff. Gandalf looked up into the trees.

        He had an idea, “Hurry. Into the trees. All of you!” The Company all helped each other into the trees.

        Thorin finally yelled to the Company, “Their coming!” 

        Thorin turned to Eminork and said while holding her hands, “Get up into the tree. I will follow you.” Eminork nodded.

        She kissed Thorin and finally said, “And I will follow you. Till the end of my days, my king.” Eminork climbed up the tree and sat on a branch. Thorin followed her. Slowly below them the Wargs passed the trees and fled back to Azog who was just coming over the hill top. Gandalf looked over and saw a butterfly. He used his staff and whispered something to the butterfly. The butterfly flew away to the place where the eagles laid in the mountains. The butterfly would tell the eagle king that Gandalf needed help and to come and rescue the Company after destroying the Wargs. Azog came over the hill top.