The Companion (Hobbit fanfiction.)

14: River rafting with Orcs.

"If you don't know where you are sailing,
no wind is favorable."

Kili.

We sat in the dungeons for what seemed like a lifetime. I watched Illdera at the other end of the cell. She hadn't talked to me at all, except for that shout she gave me. She just stared out of the cell.

"Illdera. What is wrong with you?" I asked her.

She ignored me. I could see that she was upset, and for some reason I felt like I was somehow to blame.

I heard the other dwarfs talking faintly, but I was too distracted. My mind was far away. Searching. Searching for some reason she would have to be mad at me.

Balin's voice jerked me back to reality.

"It's Bilbo!" He shouted.

Illdera stood up calmly as Bilbo walked to us.

"I see you've finaly decided to join our little party." She smiled at him.

He opened our sell and we joined the others.

"This way." Bilbo called.

He led us down and into the cellars.

But, this wasn't where we were supposed to be?! I thought.

"I don't believe it!" I hissed at Bilbo.
"We're in the cellars! You're supposed to lead us out not further in!"

There was a lot of barrels standing around.

"Into the barrels, quickly." Bilbo said.

"Are you mad?" Dwalin asked him.
"They'll find us!"

"No, they won't, I promise."
"Please! Please, you must trust me." Bilbo pleaded.

Everyone looked at Thorin. Illdera stood beside him.

"Thorin." She said.
"It's our only hope."

Thorin looked at her, then at us. He nodded to her.

"Do as he says." He said.

We all climbed into the barrels. Then we looked at Bilbo. He had not climbed in yet.

"What do we do now?" Bofur asked him.

"Hold your breath." Bilbo said.

"Hold our breath?" Bofur asked.

Before he had finished, I felt a dropping sensation and our barrels fell.

There was a trap door in the floor and we hit the water below with a great spash!

Then Bilbo fell through and came up gasping for air.

"Well done, master burglar." Thorin congratulated him.

We started drifting along the current. It went faster and faster until it opened in the river outside the palace.

As we rode along the river, I heard a elf-horn sounding. They were onto us.