Finally! An update! And, it's over 2,000 words! :)

Chapter 9

After a week at Beorn's house, it was decided that Fili was well enough to travel. On one condition, that they take it easy.

It hadn't been the calmest week ever, but Fili hadn't had any more nightmares, or, more likely, he could wake up from them before he got too scared. His wound had closed up, creating a large scab, but as long as he didn't raise his arm up too high, then he would be alright. This meant that fighting was not allowed, which Thorin was secretly happy and worried. If Fili couldn't fight, it would make him stay with everyone else and force him to take less risks, but it also meant that he was vulnerable and could put others in danger if they had to defend him as well as themselves.

"Thorin, for the last time, I'll be fine!" Fili exclaimed, frustrated. He knew that Thorin was only trying to look after him and ensure his wellbeing, but it was beginning to grate on his nerves.
"I'm sure Fili will be alright. I'll ride next to him. You don't have to worry about him Uncle. You worry about the Quest and getting us through Mirkwood without old Thrandy knowing and I'll worry over Fee. Deal?" Kili added. Thorin sighed.
"I know, but I'm your Uncle and that means that I will always worry over you two." He said wearily, but with a small smile, before patting them both on the back and walking over to the horse that Beorn had lent them.

They rode at a stately pace for a day before the Company reached the eaves of Mirkwood. Once, this huge forest was known as Greenwood the Great, but alas, it had succumbed to the Dark Lord power. There were elves who lived there that constantly fought the evil in their home, but those elves were ruled by Thranduil, who wasn't a fan of Thorin, so help would not be forthcoming from them. They were well and truly on their own, for Gandalf had seen something in that wood and had ridden off, calling over his shoulder that he would meet then on the slopes of Erebor.

With heavy hearts, the Company turned their horses loose to return to their master, and set foot inside the boughs of Mirkwood. Almost as soon as they had, they became aware of the dark. It wasn't just like normal dark, as the gnarled trees added a menacing feels to it. It was obvious that they were not welcome there. Unfortunately, they had no other choice. Mirkwood was so big that, if they went round it, they wouldn't get to Erebor before spring. Their deadline was the end of autumn and time was running out.

It wasn't just time that was running out. Their supplies were low, and they had yet to pass something edible. They knew that straying from the path would result in never finding it again, but it was looking like they had no other choice. Death by starvation or wander round in circles forever. It wasn't a hard choice, especially with a dwarf like Bombur in your midst. At least with one, you had some hope, with the other, only death awaited you.

However, luck wasn't on their side. The thirteen dwarves, and one hobbit, stumbled off the path and into a bunch of spiders. Weakened by hunger, the dwarves didn't last long in the fight. Within twenty minutes, they were all bundled up in webs, ready to be eaten. Only little Bilbo had escaped, using the magic ring he had found in the goblin tunnels. The rest, were spider meat, or rather, would have been, for at that moment, a patrol of elves entered the clearing and swiftly and gracefully, dispatched all the spiders in the area.

The blonde elf, who seemed to be leading the group, noticed the trussed up dwarves and freed them. Then, as he was under Thranduil's command, arrested them for trespassing and marched them into the heart of the elven realm and into the city, where they met King Thranduil.

That was a meeting that many others would've paid money to see. Thranduil was acting like he normally does; pompously and stuck up, and Thorin refused to co-operate even the slightest. In the end the two monarchs resorted to name calling, before Thranduil got bored and had them thrown into the dungeons.

"What do we do now?" Kili asked generally. Silence was his answer. "Right. Okay then. Wait for Thorin to realise that we need to bargain to get out of here or Thranduil gets bored of us and lets us go or we die in here."
"The last one sounds the most likely at the moment." Someone called back.
"Very positive, Nori, thank you for your contribution." Kili shouted back sarcastically.

Bilbo seemed to have gained all the luck that the dwarves had lost since entering Mirkwood. He had slipped into the elven city just as the gates were closing, unseen by anyone thanks to his ring, and was now lurking around, trying to think of a way out that didn't result in death or recapture. So far, Bilbo had nothing. He hadn't even managed to find everyone, as they were spread out around the city, so that they couldn't escape without being seen.

One day, as he was wandering round aimlessly, Bilbo heard shouts of frustration, coming from one corridor. Curious, he began walking down towards the sound. He hadn't gone far before he recognised the sound. It was Thorin. As he got closer, he saw what all the commotion was about. Thorin had been trying to dig his way out of the cell, with a spoon. He hadn't got very far before the spoon snapped and Thorin had thrown one end and shouted in frustration.

"Pst." Bilbo whispered. Thorin looked up, startled and confused. "It's me, Bilbo!"
"Bilbo?" Thorin looked amazed. "I can't see you, where are you?" Bilbo smiled to himself, before pulling off the ring and revealing himself. Thorin looked even more confused than before.
"But…how?"
"I'm a burglar." Bilbo winked at him. Thorin blinked a few times before bursting out into laughter.
"Oh, but of course you are. Have you found a way out?" He finished, hopefully. At that, Bilbo, sighed and shook his head sadly.
"I've been trying, but I can't think of a way. Although, I have now found everyone."
"You have?" At that, Thorin visibly brightened. "How are they?"
"They are alright. Bored and concerned. I think Fili was secretly glad of the rest, but even he is getting restless now."
Thorin chuckled. "Neither he nor Kili could ever stay still for lengthy periods of time." Bilbo smiled at that. "I have faith in you Bilbo. You will find a way out."

Low and behold, he did! A couple of days after Bilbo found Thorin, he discovered that Thranduil was having a feast, so most of the elves would be joining in with the revels. The guards for the dungeons would be attending, as they believed that none of them could escape. They were partially right, for even Nori, with all his lock picking skills, could break the locks. However, no one had accounted for a hobbit. Especially one who had found the keys to the dungeons.

When the elves had reached the climax of their celebration, Bilbo sneaked in and unlocked all the doors. But, as he was a well-mannered hobbit, he locked the doors behind him. The noise of the partying upstairs muffled the sound of thirteen dwarves sneaking around. When Bilbo showed them his plan, they all began to protest. Bilbo raised his voice above theirs and told them to shut up.

"If I can get a word in edgeways…thank you. These barrels will be dropped down the chute, and they will float all the way down the river to the edge of Laketown. This happens regularly, so no one will think much of it. If we try to escape through the front doors, then we will be seen and recaptured or killed. This is the only way. If you want to go back to your cells and rot, then I will be more than happy to let you. Now, does anyone have anything more to say?" Silence was all that could be heard. "Thank you. Now get in the barrels. I will put the lids on, and I will take them off when we get close to Laketown. If anyone is scared of small spaces, I'm afraid I can't do anything about that."

There were only a few grumbles as the dwarves got into the barrels and Bilbo shut them in. Just as he finished securing the lid on the last barrel, he heard voices coming down the stairs. Hastily, he jumped into the closest empty barrel and roughly put on the lid. He then closed his eyes and hoped for the best. The elves were obviously drunk, but they were speaking in elvish, so he had no idea whether or not they suspected anything.

They didn't, for the next thing Bilbo knew, his stomach had been left behind as the rest of him plummeted to certain doom. SPLASH! His barrel had hit the water, and for a few moments, Bilbo let his terror consume him. I'm going to drown. I'm going to drown. No one will ever know what happened to me and Lobelia Sackville Baggins will get Bag End! With that last sad thought, he surfaced. Gulping in air, he tried to calm himself. In and out. In and out. In and out. Just breathe.

By punching the lid gently, Bilbo managed to free himself from the barrel. At first, the only thing he could see was sky, which was still lovely, after weeks of being in a forest, never even glimpsing the sun in all that time. Sounds of splashing brought Bilbo back to the present. He reached up to the brim of the barrel and lifted himself up until his upper body was above the barrel. He then began to paddle towards the bank, which was where the river had carried the rest of the barrels. Once his was safely grounded, he climbed out and started removing lids of barrels. It was easy to find the one that had dwarves in them – just follow the groans and curses.

The first dwarf he rescued was Dwalin, who gave Bilbo a death stare before helping him rescue more dwarrow. The last dwarf was Bombur who needed a bit of help getting out of the barrel, due to his size. The only people who seemed to have enjoyed the trip, were Fili and Kili. How, no one knew, as there had been white water whirlpools and waterfalls and everyone was soaking wet. And cold. Really cold. Mirkwood Rivers are freezing.

"So, how are we getting to Laketown?" Ori asked.
"I don't know, laddie." Balin replied.

"Look! A bargeman. Do you think perhaps he would consent to ferry us across?" Kili had good eyes, and spotted a figure in the distance. The man was already heading over to them, with a frown on his face.

"Who might you be and what business do you have here?" He asked the dwarves.
"We are simple merchants travelling to our kin in the Iron Hills." Balin answered.
"Then where are all your wares?"
"Ah, well, you see laddie, we were waylaid by some orcs, and barely escaped with our lives. We wish passage to Laketown."
"Everyone who enters Laketown needs permission from the Master to come in. If you want to come in, you would need a smuggler."
"For that, we would pay double."
The bargeman sighed. "My name is Bard, I'll let you know this now, the Master doesn't like me and helping a group of dwarves isn't going to help that. However, I don't like the Master, and I have mouths to feed. I'll help you."
"Thank you laddie. Thank you."

Bard gestured to his barge. "Get the barrels on the boat and get inside them. I came here to collect them, so if you get in, then I can disguise you."

There was yet more grumbles and cursing, but grudgingly, all the dwarves re-entered the barrels, once Bard had heaved them onto his barge.
"From here on, no one makes a noise until I say so."

I am so sorry for not updating sooner!

I have actually had most of this chapter written for a long time, I just have run out of inspiration for this. I know what needs to happen, just finding the words to put it together is becoming difficult. Hopefully finishing this chapter will create some more inspiration.
I do know that I am not going to abandon this story, it will be finished!

Please leave a review and tell me what you thought! It is partly the lack of reviews that caused the break. If no one reads this, then there is no pressure to finish it.

:)