(Bilbo's P.O.V)

'Bad...this is very bad.' I thought, struggling in this sack we were forced into. 'And what is that gosh awful smell!'

"Blasted elf...ran away like a scared little pup with its tail tucked between her legs." Gloin grumbled angrily from beside me.

'Bellethiel?' I thought, craning my neck to look around, and when I took notice that Belle was not among us I felt ashamed. 'She would not desert us...would she?'

"They should be sautéed and grilled with a sprinkle of sage." Bert said, poking at one of our companions attached to the spit over the fire.

"Is this really necessary?" Dori called out.

"Ooh, that does sound quite nice." William agreed, as he watched the dwarves on the spit turn, licking his lips hungrily.

'If we do not think of something soon...we will be dinner for sure!' I panicked, struggling harder from where I sat.

"Never mind the seasoning; we ain't got all night! Dawn ain't far away, so lets get a move on. I don't fancy being turned to stone." Tom yelled out in anger, assisting in spinning the spit.

'That's it!' I thought, looking to the sky and back at our situation. 'Day light!'

"Wait!" I called from my spot. "You're making a terrible mistake.

"You can't reason with them, they're half-wits." Dori yelled.

"Half-wits? What does that make us?" Bofur cried out a bit irritable.

I struggled to get to my feet, hopping due to the restriction of the disgusting sack.

"Uh, I meant with the, uh, with, uh, with the seasoning." I stuttered, looking up to the three trolls.

"What about the seasoning?" Bert, the cook, challenged. Taking intimidating steps forward in my direction.

"Well have you smelt them? You're going to need something stronger than sage before you plate this lot up." I urged, motioning toward the group of dwarves.

"Traitor!" Thorin called out as more of the company started to yell angrily at me, thinking I was trying to save my own hide as I hopped further forward toward Bert.

"What do you know about cooking dwarf?" Tom grumbled, rolling his eyes at me.

"Shut up, and let the, uh, flurgaburburrahobbit talk." Bert defended, now fully catching his curiosity as he leaned closer to me.

"Uh, the—the secret to cooking dwarf is, um-" I said, stuttering and a bit dumbstruck with trying to find an excuse just to play for time.

"Yes? Come on." Bert urged in anticipation.

"It's, uh-" I pondered. 'I needed to think of something quick!'

"Tell us the secret." Bert urged, now impatient.

"Ye—yes, I'm telling you, the secret is..." I paused, looking back at the dwarves and said the first thing that came to mind. "to...Skin them first!"

An outrage erupted from the company as yelled in anger.

"Tom, get me the filleting knife." Bert motioned, smiling in excitement.

"What a load of rubbish! I've eaten plenty with their skins on. Scuff them, I say, boots and all." Tom started to say, as my attention was caught by a gray figure moving in the bushes.

"'e's right! Nothing wrong with a bit of raw dwarf!" William agreed, as he went to grab a hold of the sack containing poor Bombur holding him over his mouth."Nice and crunchy."

"Not that one! He—he's infected!" I called out in a panic as both dwarf and troll looked in my direction.

"You what?" Tom called out.

"Yeah, he's got worms in his...tubes." I said, making a face as I just kept pulling things off the top of my head.

William had thrown the sack back onto the group in disgust, as the dwarves groaned in pain at the sudden weight.

"In—in fact they all have, they're in—infested with parasites. It's a terrible business; I wouldn't risk it, I really wouldn't." I said shaking my head.

"Parasites? Did he say parasites?" I heard Oin from behind ask as Kili yelled that I was mistaken and a fool. I simply had to roll my eyes in sheer annoyance that the rest had not attempted to catch on and glanced behind, looking pointedly at Thorin, pleading for help.

I saw Thorin suddenly kick Kili as the company turned to him in question before looking back at me.

"I've got parasites as big as my arm." Oin called out.

"Mine are the biggest parasites, I've got huge parasites!" Kili shouted, suddenly joined in by the rest and some looking as if death was upon them.

"It's no good roasting them then, how 'bout we mince and boil them?"

"I like the sound of that!" William called to Tom as Bert agreed.

"I ain't said nothing!" Tom said in confusion, glancing at the two trolls before glaring down at me.

"Then again it's no good boilin' them...we ain't got no water and it's a long way to the well."

"But you're the one who said it was a good idea!" William pointed out, thinking Tom had opened his mouth once more.

"Shut up Tom! No more arguing or we'll never get anything done!" Bert argued. "You can go fetch fresh water since you opened your big mouth."

"Shut up yourself!" Tom argued, growling at the two. "Who's arguing anyway?"

'What is going on?' I thought in confusion watching the three trolls arguing amongst themselves, Bert and Tom still spinning the spit holding the company.

"You're the one arguing you booby!" A voice called out.

"You're the booby!" Tom growled to William, nudging him with his leg hard.

"Who are you talkin' to?" William squealed, getting back on his feet and pushing Tom.

"I'm talking to you!" Tom argued, glaring at William.

"Shut it! The both of you!" Bert called out, growling a bit at the two. "The night's gettin' on, and dawn will soon be upon us. Let's get on with it!"

"The dawn will take you all, and turn you to stone!"

I looked up past the three trolls, who had stopped their argument, to see Gandalf standing over a large boulder.

"Who's that?" Tom questioned.

"No idea."

"Can we eat 'im too?" William asked.

Gandalf lifted his staff up and struck the rock, causing it to break in half and letting the rays of the sunlight hit the troll.

The three troll started to yell out in pain, their bodies slowly turning into stone. Then their yells had suddenly ceased and a cheer erupted from the company.

"Bilbo, it is good to see you are in one piece."

I looked up when a hand was placed on my shoulder and I saw Belle smiling down at me.

(Bellethiel's P.O.V.)

I smiled down at Bilbo who looked up at me a bit in disappointment, as I tilted my head to the side curiously.

"Is something the matter Bilbo?" I questioned.

"You left us Belle..." Bilbo mumbled sadly.

"There is a reason I left Bilbo..." I sighed sadly, taking one of my throwing knives and cut the neck of the sack in one motion. "But know that I did not desert you or the company."

I made my way toward Gandalf as Bilbo went to assist the dwarves in escaping their smelly confines and cut down those on the spit.

"It would seem...I am a deserter." I stated looking to Gandalf, averting my eyes to give the dwarves a bit of privacy.

"If it wasn't for you Bellethiel, they would have been eaten for super." Gandalf said as I walked along side him.

I winced a bit as I moved closer to the three trolls, smirking a bit at one troll with my arrow through his eye before glancing to Gandalf.

"Maybe..I should have stayed." I pondered. "Things could have turned out differently."

"Both of us know that you would not have stood a chance against three trolls no matter what enemies you have faced in the past." Gandalf lectured as he inspected the stone trolls, tapping his staff on one of the trolls with a pleased smile on his face.

"Where did you go to, if I may ask?" Thorin called, coming from behind us, completely dressed and gave me a cold glare.

"To look ahead." Gandalf stated.

"What brought you back?" Thorin inquired.

"Looking behind." Gandalf said, as Thorin smiled. "Nasty business. Still, they are all in one piece."

"No thanks to your burglar." Thorin stated, then looked back at me, his smile disappearing. "And certainly no thanks to your elf friend that ran away."

"Bilbo had the nous to play for time. None of the rest of you thought of that." Gandalf defended. "And Bellethiel helped a great deal with me showing up right on time."

The moment I slipped away, concealed by the shadows, I got up with much difficulty to my feet and ran in the direction that I was hoping to go.

Every few seconds I would stop and listen, to search...changing direction when I thought was the right time and finally I found what I have been searching for.

"Gandalf!" I called out, grabbing my midsection in pain as I walked up to the wizard that had risen from his spot on the ground.

"Bellethiel," Gandalf called in worry. "whatever is the matter."

I composed myself, ignoring the bruising, and looked to Gandalf.

"Trolls, Mithrandir...three of them." I reported. "The company is in danger..."

Gandalf brushed past with me following close to his heels, retracing the steps I had come from and the closer we got, we had started to see the company had been forced to undress and tied to a spit or stuffed into a sack.

"We have to do something Gandalf..." I grumbled, tense and a bit anxious, watching as the trolls talked and argued.

"Sun will be the only thing we can hope for..." Gandalf said looking toward the sky.

"We have to do something to play for time, the sun is barely on the rise" I mumbled.

"Wait! You are making a terrible mistake."

We both heard Bilbo call out as we watched him hop toward the three trolls, talking to them. But the problem was...even with Bilbo's help, it would still not give us enough time.

"Bellethiel...how good is your impressions?" Gandalf whispered as we saw one of the trolls throw Bombur back onto the company.

"That was you?" Bofur chuckled, his floppy hat tilted off his head.

"It will never be...my fondest memory..." I mumbled as I straightened his hat.

'I cannot believe I am doing this...' I thought, making my way through the trees and closer to the group.

And when I got in the close vicinity of the group, the company had just started yelling out and claiming they had parasites and were riddled with them.

'Here goes nothing...' I thought clearing my throat softly.

"I called out in the most awkward of accents.

This was able to elicit a reaction from the trolls before I went on, hoping for the sun to rise quicker and for Gandalf to be quick.

"I called earning one of the trolls, the scrawny one, to argue back at the troll he assumed talked.

This caused the three to argue against each other, the two turning on the pony snatcher before Tom got angry.

"Shut up yourself!" The pony snatcher called out growling at the two. "Who's arguing anyway?"

"I called out having suddenly moved into another tree and position.

"You're the booby!" The pony snatcher argued, pushing the scrawny one to the ground.

The three once again started to argue before Gandalf made himself known, smashing the boulder in half to let the rays of the sunlight shine through and causing the trolls to turn to stone.

When I felt the trolls were of no threat any longer I jumped out of the tree and made my way to Bilbo.

I placed my hand upon his shoulder to bring his attention to myself as I smiled down at him.

"Bilbo, it is good to see you are in one piece."

"I made, what I thought, was a strategic decision and went to find help..." I mumbled turning my back to them to look at the three trolls. "And I am seen as a deserter for my choice..."

I went to inspect the three trolls before walking further forward, past the three statues.

"These trolls came down from the Ettenmoors." I concluded, now looking for the passage they took.

"They could not have moved in daylight." Gandalf added, from behind.

"There must be a cave nearby." Thorin called, the crunching of leaves and twigs moving in my direction.

"Shall we have a look then?" I suggested, already further from the company.

"Thorin, may I have a word?" Gandalf called, his voice now lowering to a whisper.

(Thorin's P.O.V)

"Thorin, may I have a word?" The wizard called as he walked beside me.

"We move!" I called to the company, the younger ones still attempting to quickly cloth themselves, but still keeping up with the group.

Gandalf and myself were leading the front of the company, following after the elf who ventured further forward.

"Thorin." Gandalf addressed in a whisper.

"Gandalf." I replied, mimicking the wizards tone.

"I think you owe Bellethiel an apology." Gandalf stated, looking at the back of the elf.

"I will not apologize to an elf." I scowled, holding my head high.

"And I will not have a good friend of mine be treated this way by you and your kin after what she has gone through." Gandalf scolded, my anger rising as I glared at the back of the elf. "Bellethiel may not address the problem, but I will."

I continued to glare at the elf's back, as the elf suddenly stopped to turn toward the mountain.

"Are you going to speak to me of the elf every time we camp." I grumbled, clenching my hands in a fist. "This has to be the second time you have talked to me about her."

Gandalf scoffed, quickly walking ahead.

"This will be the last I talk to you about this Thorin, but remember this...she has saved your nephew, the heir to the throne of Erebor, she deserves the respect that you and the company have yet to give." Gandalf grumbled, as he went to stand besides the elf who had knelt on one knee.

(Bellethiel's P.O.V)

"Bellethiel."

I looked over my shoulder toward Gandalf, who made his way to my side.

"We are getting close...the foul stench is getting stronger..." I commented, getting back up and continued my direction closer to the mountain. "In my age...I may start forgetting a few things, but my hearing has definitely not left me old friend."

"I only said what I thought and felt was appropriate." Gandalf replied after a few seconds in a cheeky manner.

"Let them think and feel what they want Mithrandir..." I said, sighing a bit. "If we are meant to get along then we will get along."

"You are too kind, Bellethiel." Gandalf chuckled as we came close to the open mouth of a dark cave.

"The smell is revolting..." I commented, as the dwarves started to come closer to our destination. "wait here."

I took out my long dagger and inched slowly into the trolls cave, searching for any sort of danger that would pose a threat.

"There is no danger Gandalf!" I called, searching the far back of the cave.

Steps echoed from the mouth as I could pin point at least five different footsteps joining the wizard.

"Oh, what's that stench?!" Nori called out.

"It's a troll hoard." Gandalf replied from behind. "Be careful what you touch."

"It is an awful smell," I called, coming up to meet them half way, my hand covered over my nose. "The stuff trolls decide to keep...I will never understand."

I shuffled away from the gold scattered on the ground, looking at the collection of odd bones and cases holding wooden staffs.

"Find anything of interest?" I asked looking to Gandalf who had pushed through a ripped up basket with his staff.

"Nothing, I'm afraid." Gandalf replied.

"Then let us leave...I do not enjoy being in such a disturbing place.." I commented softly, glancing to the front of the cave to Bofur, Gloin and Nori placing gold into a small chest.

Gandalf and myself had turned toward Thorin, ready to leave, when the dwarf had pulled out two swords, inspecting it with immense interest.

"These swords were not made by any troll." Thorin replied, handing one over to Gandalf.

"No were they made by any smith among Men." Gandalf inspected, blowing off the dust that had collected over time, and drew the blade out of its sheathe.

I stepped a bit closer and saw the glean the sword gave off.

"Those swords were forged in Gondolin." I whispered in shock, looking between the swords in Thorin's and Gandalf's grasp. "By the high elves of the first age."

Thorin looked up at me, his gaze hard as he was about to place the sword back to where he had found it.

"You could not wish for a finer blade." Gandalf urged, causing Thorin to halt.

Thorin took the hilt of the blade in his hand and drew it from its sheathe, inspecting the blade carefully, still a bit hesitant about claiming a blade of elvish make.

"If it is the blade I believe it to be..." I added in, catching Thorin's attention. "Then I believe it is a sword...fit for a King such as yourself..."

I turned back around without waiting for Thorin's reply, leaving the king to his thoughts as he continued to inspect the blade closer to the entrance.

"What are you three doing..." I asked, as I stood on the side, watching the three dwarves bury a little chest.

"We're making a long-term deposit." Gloin grumbled, at least answering my question.

"Lets get out of this foul place. Come on, lets go." Thorin commanded, looking down at the three before following behind Dwalin. "Bofur! Gloin! Nori!"

I made to follow the dwarves, until something had caught my attention...something that was compelling me to stay just a bit longer. Toward the basket Gandalf had been inspecting, far into the dark corner I saw a shimmer of gold and I cautiously reached my hand out...thinking it was just a piece of gold that got caught upon a rock. But my hand had come in contact with a hilt, and quickly I pulled it toward me.

The hilt was nothing exquisite, quite the opposite, it was just a simple black hilt with gold on the end. The sheathe was just a simple gray with no carvings, and the length of the sword was just as long as Gandalf's. I pulled out the sword and glittered a bit in the dark, capturing my interest all the more.

"Lets get a move on, Bellethiel." Gandalf called for my attention.