Victoria in Middle Earth

Chapter Fourteen

The next morning, the Dwarves, Bilbo, and Victoria are hiking along the path away from Rivendell. "Be on your guard; we're about to step over the edge of the Wild. Balin, you know these paths; lead on." said Thorin. "Aye." says Balin. 

Bilbo turns around and looks back at Rivendell, longingly. "Master Baggins, I suggest you keep up." says Thorin. Bilbo nods, and Thorin keeps walking. 

But Victoria stops and waits for Bilbo to catch up. "You'll go back to Rivendell." she told him. 

"You think so?" he asked. "Of course." Victoria answered. They both smile and follow Thorin and the Company along the trail. And the journey continues.

They are crossing the Misty Mountains; the trail is narrow and dangerous, with a cliff on one side and a sheer drop on the other. 

There is a fierce storm in the air, with lightning and rain all around. "Hold on!" yells Thorin. As Bilbo walks, the stone beneath his feet gives away, and he starts falling into the chasm; Dwalin manages to pull him back in time. 

"We must find shelter!" says Thorin. "Watch out!" says Dwalin. The Dwarves look up and see a massive boulder hurtling through the air; it hits the mountainside above them, causing rocks to fall all around them as they press themselves against the mountain. 

"This is no thunderstorm; it's a thunder battle! Look!" yells Balin.

A stone giant rears up from a nearby mountain; it rips off a massive boulder from the top of the mountain.

"Well bless me, the legends are true. Giants; Stone Giants!" yells Bofor. "Take cover: you'll fall!" Thorin yells at him. "What's happening?" asks Kili. A Giant throws the boulder far in the air; another stone Giant, appears from behind the Company, and it is hit in the head. 

The Dwarves yell at each other to brace and hold on, and the rocks beneath their feet begin to give way from all the vibrations and from the impact of the falling rocks. 

The ground between some of the Company splits, part of the group is on one side, and part on the other. "Kili! Grab my hand! Ki..." yells Fili to his brother.

As the two Stone Giants fight with their fists, the Dwarves hold on tight as they are flung around. One of the groups manages to jump to a different spot. A third Stone Giant appears, and it throws a boulder at the head of one of the first two. 

That one falls over; as the first group watches, it appears to them that the other group of the Company has been smashed to bits. The hurt Stone Giant loses its footing and falls down the chasm. "No! No! Kili!" yells Thorin. 

The group rushes to the spot where the others appeared to have been crushed, but they are safe. "We're all right! We're alive!" yells Balin. "Where's Bilbo? Where's the Hobbit?" asks Bofor.

"There!" says Victoria. "Get him!" says Dwalin. Bilbo is seen hanging onto the edge of the cliff with just his fingertips. Ori dives onto the ground and tries to grab Bilbo's arm, but Bilbo slips and falls another few feet before he catches another handhold.

As the Dwarves try to pull him up unsuccessfully, Thorin swings down on the cliff next to Bilbo and boost him up, where the others pull him to safety. 

Dwalin tries to lift Thorin back up too, but Thorin loses his grip and begins falling too, however Dwalin with much effort, is able to pull him back up. "I thought we'd lost our burglar." says Dwalin. 

While Victoria helps Bilbo to his feet, and they follow everyone else. "He's been lost ever since he left home. He should never have come. He has no place amongst us. Dwalin!" says Thorin.

They find a cave and go inside. "It looks safe enough." said Dwalin. "Search to the back; caves in mountains are seldom unoccupied." says Thorin. 

Dwalin searches the cave with a lantern. "There's nothing here." says Dwalin. Gloin drops a bundle of wood on the floor and rubs his hands. "Right then! Let's get a fire started." says Gloin. "No, No fires, not in this place. Get some sleep. We start at first light." says Thorin. 

"We were to wait in the mountains until Gandalf joined us. That was the plan." says Balin. "Plans changes. Bofur, take the first watch." says Thorin to Bofor. And Bofor settles himself on the ground. Victoria sets up her sleeping mat and try's to sleep but doesn't.