Thorin lay awake, thoughts racing through his head. Around him the rest of the company slept, exhausted by the long march and the terrifying ordeal with the stone giants. Even as he thought of it Thorin shifted a little closer to Kíli, lying as close as he could without actually touching the younger dwarf. On Kíli's other side Fíli was curled protectively around his cousin, as if he, like Thorin, was scared that Kíli would be lost to them once again...this time forever.
Like the rest of the company, Fíli and Kíli were both sound asleep, snoring softly as their chests lifted and fell with each even breathe they took.
It wasn't just thoughts about Kíli's unexpected brush with death that had Thorin lying wide awake when he should have been sleeping. In his mind Thorin remembered his harsh words towards the hobbit, and he regretted what he had said, his fear for the lives of his son and the rest of his company making him lash out at the first target that had presented itself...which in this case had been Bilbo.
Normally it was Dwalin or Balin that had to deal with Thorin when he lashed out, and both of the dwarves knew their king well enough to not take the things Thorin said to heart. Bilbo, however, didn't know Thorin well at all, and Thorin could only imagine the thoughts going through the hobbit's head...especially given that most of the dwarves had not concealed the fact that they would have preferred Bilbo not join the company. Mahal, Thorin was one of them, unable to see what use a hobbit such as Bilbo could be on a quest to reclaim a mountain of gold.
Of course, the incident with the trolls had made Thorin realise that maybe Bilbo Baggins wasn't as useless as he'd first through...and Thorin had seen Kíli and Bilbo walking beside one another, often talking in low voices, enough times since they'd left Rivendell to know that Kíli appreciated having the hobbit around...even if it was simply because It was somebody who wasn't a dwarf (considering the fact that Kíli wasn't used to being surrounded by dwarves.)
Still, Thorin hadn't really meant to say what he had to the hobbit, and he regretted being so harsh on the company's burglar. It hadn't been the hobbit's fault that Thorin had almost lost half his company...including his son. It hadn't been Bilbo's fault that they had encountered the stone giants either.
The cave was quiet, aside from the snoring of the dwarves, and the occasion sound of Bofur humming some drinking song or other as he sat on watch, so Thorin wasn't expecting it when he heard Bofur's voice.
"Where do you think you're going?" Bofur whispered from the mouth of the cave. Thorin lay still, listening and wondering what was happening...feeling slightly disappointed that one of his company had decided to leave.
"Back to Rivendell," came the reply in the hobbit's calm voice. Thorin squirmed slightly, guilt filling him as he realised how much his words had affected the hobbit. Thorin knew that Elrond had offered Bilbo a place in his home, and had been surprised when Bilbo packed his bags and left with the rest of the company, despite knowing that most of them didn't approve of him being there...but Thorin's harsh words had been the final straw for the hobbit, pushing him out.
"No...no...you can't turn back now," Bofur hissed softly. Thorin could hear the sound of Bofur's heavy boots on the ground, as if he had walked a few paces before stopping. Thorin heard the fear in Bofur's voice...and he didn't blame the other dwarf for that. Bofur got along well with everybody, and Bilbo was no exception. The cheerful miner was probably one of the dwarves that Bilbo got on with best (along with Balin, Kíli, and sometimes Bombur), and was by far the most welcoming (aside from the rather graphic description of incineration that caused the poor hobbit to pass out back at Bag End).
Thorin knew how dangerous the road back to Rivendell would be. The path would have changed during the Stone Giants' battle, and paths through the mountain were treacherous at the best of times. Once Bilbo got to the foothills of the mountains, assuming he made it so far, there were other dangers to contend with...bandits, orcs, wargs, trolls, wolves...the list was endless. In a large group the dwarves had passed without being obstructed...but a solitary hobbit...that would be another story entirely.
"You're part of the company...you're one of us." Bofur continued. Thorin cringed at the other dwarf's choice of words.
"I'm not though, am I?" Bilbo replied, "Thorin said I shouldn't have come, and he was right. I'm not a Took, I'm a Baggins, and I don't know what I was thinking...I should never have run out my door."
Thorin heard Bofur sigh, "You're homesick...I understand" Bofur offered reassuringly. Bilbo was surprisingly quick to reply.
"No you don't, none of you do. You're dwarves...you're used to...to this life...to living on the road, never settling in one place, never belonging anywhere." Bilbo whispered furiously, and Thorin flinched at the stinging words. Maybe he wasn't the only one who had issues saying things they didn't mean.
Bilbo sighed apologetically, "I'm sorry...I didn't..." the hobbit broke off, and Thorin studied the ground. At least the hobbit could apologise right away when he'd said something hurtful. Thorin had never quite got the grasp of that, needing a day or two to cool off before apologising, or at least doing something for the person he had lost his temper at.
"No...You're right," Bofur admitted begrudgingly, "we don't belong anywhere"
There was a lengthy pause, during which Thorin imagined Bilbo and Bofur exchanging awkward glances, neither dwarf nor hobbit knowing what to say.
Eventually, Bofur spoke again, "I wish you all the luck in the world... I really do," there was a muffled thudding sound, as if Bofur was patting Bilbo's shoulder, before a few moments of silence, which was again broken by Bofur
"What's that?"
Thorin snapped to full alertness when he heard the sound of Bilbo partially drawing his letter opener from its sheath, and the cave was filled with a misty blue glow. Beneath them, the ground groaned, and Thorin, sat bolt upright.
"Wake up," he ordered, "wake up!"
Around him the company woke up, even as a crack formed running along the centre of the cave, sand tricking through the ever widening gap. Thorin realised what was going to happen a moment before it did, lunging for Kíli and wrapping his arms around his son protectively. On Kíli's other side Fíli did the same, grabbing onto his cousin, refusing to be separated from Kíli again, so soon after the incident with the Stone Giants.
The ground beneath the company split and dropped away, opening like a door beneath them, and sending the entire company dropping down into the darkness below.
THE HOBBIT
Kíli groaned and coughed as he hit the platform, the heavy weight of one of the other dwarves pressing down on his back, but he didn't linger long on his discomfort as he looked up from where he lay and saw the hoard of goblins approaching them. His breath caught in his throat and he let out a cry of alarm as one of the goblins grabbed him and pulled him roughly upright, while another goblin grabbed his sword and yanked it from its sheath. He reached for his bow, but it, along with his quiver of arrows, had been sitting with his pack, which he couldn't see. It had been out of his reach when he'd slept, and he chided himself for his mistake. If he'd been with his Ada or the twins he would never hear the end of it
The dwarves around Kíli made out shouts of protest as they were all dragged to their feet and pulled and pushed along the wooden walkway, from rocky outcrop to rocky outcrop, with wooden bridges spanning the deep abyss beneath them. Kíli went along with the rest of the crowd, although he found himself, looking at the thousands of goblins who surrounded them, his mind very aware of how his Ada's beloved Lady Celebrian had been captured and tortured, many years ago in the Misty Mountains. Would the same thing happen to them?
Kíli startled when he felt a hand on his arm, and spun around, only to find himself face to face with Fíli.
"Stay close to me," Fili ordered, and Kíli nodded in agreement. Sticking beside his cousin seemed like a good option as they were hustled along by the goblins. At one point Thorin joined the pair, and he stuck close to them as a frightful noise that Kíli belatedly realised was music began to feel the cavern, accompanied by someone singing..
"Clap, snap, the black crack With a swish and smack Hammer and tongs, get out your knockers and gongs You can yammer and yelp
Grip, grab, pinch, and nab
Batter and beat
Make 'em stammer and squeak!
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town
And a whip and a crack
Everybody talks when they're on my rack
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town
You won't last long on the end of my prongs
Clash, crash, crush and smash
Bang, break, shiver and shake
But there ain't no help
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town"
Kíli gazed with wide eyes at the creature they had been brought to, towering high above them all. Kíli was certain that the Goblin King before them was taller than even the tallest of the elves back in Rivendell, and far uglier than any creature the he'd ever come across in his life.
The Goblin King leaned forward on his throne, chuckling and looking very proud of himself as he leaned on his staff, "Catchy, isn't it? It's one of my own, personal compositions." He proudly boasted, although it was unclear whether he was addressing the goblins who had brought him the company of dwarves, or the dwarves themselves.
Apparently Balin thought he was addressing the dwarrows, because he opened his mouth to speak.
"That's not a song...It's an abomination." The usually calm and polite dwarf shouted from where he stood behind Kíli, much to Kili's surprise. Around them the other dwarves shouted and jeered in agreement with their fellow company member, although Kíli couldn't bring himself to make a noise, despite agreeing with the older dwarf completely (the 'music' had been a far cry from what he had grown up hearing in Rivendell). He wondered instead if the Goblin King before them all was at all like the foul creatures who had captured the beloved wife of his Ada, Lady Celebrian. Kíli had only ever been told little parts of what ordeals she had gone through at the hands of the goblins, and the idea of being near to one himself had sent terror causing through his body.
The Goblin King snorted and gestured at the cavern around them, "Abominations, disfigurations, mutilations, and repulsions... That's all you're going to find down here."
Goblins surged forwards depositing the dwarfs' weapons before their leader with a crash and the ringing of metal. Kili's sword, bow and quiver were among the weapons in the heap, and the Goblin King's eyes narrowed as he eyed the pile suspiciously.
"Who would be so bold as to come armed into my kingdom? Spies? Thieves? Assassins?!" He questions, his voice rising in pitch and volume dangerously as he become angered.
"Dwarves, your Malevolence." One of the Goblins, obviously some kind of leader, stepped forward.
"Dwarves?"
The goblin captain nodded, "We found them on the front porch," he explained.
The Goblin King gestured angrily, "Well, don't just stand there, search them! Every crack, every crevice!" he ordered his followers. Immediately the goblins swept over them again, grabbing at the dwarves and beginning to pat down their clothing, searching for any concealed weapons. Kíli glanced over his shoulder, where Thorin was standing, but couldn't catch his father's eye. Thorin was glaring up at the goblin king, pointed ignoring the goblins that were searching him, only reacting just slightly when Oin's hearing trumpet was roughly taken from him and stepped on by one of the goblins.
Kíli looked back towards the Goblin King as a sack of objects that looked strangely familiar to him as belonging in Rivendell was emptied on top of the weapons pile.
The Goblin Captain picked up one of the candelabras and examined it curiously, "It is my belief, your great protuberance, that they are in league with Elves!" he exclaimed, passing the candelabra up to the Goblin King who took it, examining the bottom closely.
"Made in Rivendell," the Goblin read, "Bah! Second Age, couldn't give it away," he tossed it aside, and Kíli could hear it clanging as it hit things on its descent. A few of the dwarves glances suspiciously at Nori, who had a guilty look on his face.
"Just a couple of keepsakes," the dwarf protested innocently, although Kíli wasn't sure how many of the dwarves believed the alleged thief.
"What are you doing in these parts?" the Goblin King questioned. Kíli felt Fili and Dwalin pulling him back safely behind most of the other dwarves, while Dori held Thorin back from moving forwards. Instead Oin casually walked forwards.
"Don't worry, lads. I'll handle this."
"No tricks! I want the truth! Warts and all," The Goblin King hammered his staff into the platform for emphasis. Kíli glanced at the ground, wondering fleetingly how strong the platform they were all standing on was.
Oin gestured at his ears, "You're going to have to speak up. Your boys have flattened my trumpet."
The Goblin King stepped forward angrily, leaning against his staff, "I'll flatten more than your trumpet!" he threatened
Bofur took this as a chance to step forward, up beside Oin, "If it's more information you want, I'm the one you should speak to," he calmly told the Goblin King, who turned towards him, his eyes still filled with rage.
Bofur continued, "We were on the road. Well, it's not so much of a road as path. Actually, it's not even that come to think of it- it's more like a track. Anyway, the point is we were on this road, like a path, like a track, and then we weren't. Which is a problem, because we were supposed to be in Dunland last Tuesday."
Dori stepped up beside Bofur as he spoke, "Yes, visiting distant relations," he added.
"Some inbreds on me mother's side," Bofur nodded in agreement.
Unsurprisingly the Goblin King wasn't convinced by Bofur's rambling tale, "SHUT UP" the Goblin King roared, "If they will not talk, we'll make them squawk! Bring out the Mangler! Bring out the Bone-Breaker!' The goblin cast his eyes over the group, and Kíli felt his heart skip a beat in his chest as the Goblin's eyes fixed on him, "start with the youngest," the Goblin sneered, and a few of the other goblins cackled in amusement and delight.
"Wait," Thorin's voice echoed slightly in the chamber and the Goblin King tuned towards him as Thorin stepped forward, standing between Kíli and the mass of wart covered flesh.
The Goblin King's eyes widened in surprise as he recognized Thorin, "Well, well, well," he chortled, "look who it is. Thorin, son of Thráin, son of Thrór! King Under the Mountain."
The Goblin bowed mockingly, before he hesitated, "Oh! But I'm forgetting, you don't have a mountain, and you're not a king. Which makes you... nobody, really." The Goblin King smirked, as if he'd just made a funny joke. A few of the goblins around the group chuckled, but no one else made a sound.
Leaned forward, close to Thorin, the Goblin King lowered his voice, "I know someone who will pay a pretty price for your head. Just a head, nothing attached. Perhaps you know of whom I speak. An old enemy of yours. A Pale Orc astride a white warg."
Kíli watched Thorin, but if the older dwarf was intimidated by the Goblin towering over him, he gave no indication of it, "Azog the Defiler was destroyed. He was slain in battle long ago."
The Goblin King tilted his head to the side, a smirk on his face, "So you think his defiling days are done, do you? He chuckled lowly, before he rose to his full height and turned to his scribe, "Send word to the Pale Orc," he ordered, "Tell him I have found his prize."
Kíli watched as the scribe pulled on a leaver and was sent cackling through the darkness in its little basket, while the goblins closed ranks around the company of dwarves. Kíli looked around at the other dwarves, trying to hide his fear, but he was certain that they were not being deceived by his act. He was relieved, however, to spot some of the other dwarves, Ori and Bombur being among them, looking more than a little worried about their situation.
"It's ok, Kíli, it's going to be alright. Thorin is going to get us out of this…he's not going to let any of us get hurt," Fili whispered in Kíli's ear. Kíli turned to face his cousin, who gave him a grim, but reassuring smile. Kíli tried to return the smile, but the smile fell when he glimpsed the torture machine being slowly pushed up the path towards them. Fili turned so he could follow Kíli's line of sight, and his grip around Kíli's wrist tightened when he too saw the instruments of torture.
From behind them the Goblin King began so sing once again.
"Bones will be shattered,
Necks will be wrung!
You'll be beaten and battered,
From racks you'll be hung!
You will die down here and never be found,
Down in the deep of Goblin Town!"
As the Goblin King sang, his captain was inspecting the dwarves pile of weaponry and Kíli watched as he picked up Thorin's sword, Orcrist, unable to stop himself from smirking as the Goblin screeched in fear as he beheld the sword, tossing it to the side, as if the sword would stab him of its own accord, even though the goblin was the only one touching it.
Perhaps even more humorous was the great Goblin kings reaction as he scrambled madly up onto his thrown, as if a baby would climb up into its mother's lap.
"I know that sword!" the Goblin King bellowed, "It is the Goblin Cleaver! The Biter! The blade that sliced a thousand necks! Slash them! Beat them! Kill them! Kill them all! Cut off his head!"
Whips and ropes lashed over the dwarves as the goblins surged forwards, screaming and chattering angrily as they threw themselves upon the dwarves. Kíli was pulled away from Fili, and thrown to the ground by three large goblins. Kíli punched and kicked, struggling madly, but the Goblins threw their weight upon his limbs, pinning him down. A quick glance around told Kíli that many of the other dwarves were in the same position as he was…even Thorin was pinned down, and Kíli bit his lip as he saw how the Goblin Captain had his knife drawn and levelled at Thorin's throat.
"No!" Kíli cried out, his struggles intensifying as he tried to get up and help his newly found father, before a punch across his face reminded him of his own perilous situation.
His cheek burning from the force of the punch, Kíli blinked, and suddenly a blinding white light filled the cavern, the force of it throwing the goblins pinning Kíli down off. Kíli screwed his eyes shut until he felt those around him slowly moving. The he opened his eyes again, finding that the lights had gone back to normal, the torches flickering as if nothing had happened. Around him the dwarves and goblins were all in varying stages of rising cautiously to their feet.
"Take up arms. Fight!" A familiar voice called as Gandalf emerged from the darkness, his sword held in one hand, his staff in the other, "FIGHT!"