The Prophecy

Escaping

"Thorin, I need to tell you something." She started, "It's about what Thranduil told me." He stared at her intently, waiting for her to continue, "I am not who you think I am. I am-"

Before she could finish, the jingling of keys sounded outside their cell door. Zarina, Thorin and the other dwarves jumped up in surprise when the hobbit started fitting keys into Thorin and Zarina's cell door.

"Bilbo!" Zarina exclaimed in surprise and a smile spread over her face with the dwarves cheering with her.

Bilbo quickly silenced them, "Shhh! There are guards nearby!"

Bilbo unlocked their cell and Zarina skipped out with Thorin close behind her. Zarina pulled Bilbo into a bone crushing hug in relief before letting him go to unlock the other cells. Zarina, in her joy, jumped Thorin and nearly chocked him with how much effort she put in the hug. When she finally let go, he inhaled deeply and blinked twice, making sure that he had not imagined anything. When all the dwarves were freed, some started walking to the stairs.

"Not that way, down here." Bilbo stopped them, "Follow me."

Zarina was the first to follow Bilbo as he led them through the Woodland Realm. They snuck through the halls of the palace and eventually found themselves in the cellar. A few elves were sound asleep at the table with empty wine bottles scattered around them. The air smelled funny and fruity due to the wine.

"This way." Bilbo whispered.

"I don't believe it." Kili frowned in disbelief and a bit betrayal, "We're in the cellars!"

Bofur turned to Bilbo in anger, "You were supposed to be leading us out, not further in!"

"I know what I'm doing!" Bilbo argued back.

Zarina stepped between them and clasped her hands over both their mouths, "Shh! Arguing will do you no good. I trust Bilbo." She turned to the hobbit and removed her hand from his mouth, "Where to?"

"This way." He whispered. They snuck into a large room with several empty wine barrels stacked in the middle of the room, "Everyone, climb into the barrels, quickly!"

"Are you mad?!" Dwalin exclaimed in a whisper, "They'll find us!"

The hobbit was growing frustrated, "No, no, they won't, I promise you. Please, please, you MUST trust me!"

The dwarves looked at each other as they debated whether to do as he said or not. No one noticed Zarina sneaking off and sliding into a barrel. Everyone jumped when she popped her head out, "For Mahal's sake, boys, get in the damn barrels! It smells good in here."

Thorin smiled at her optimism before saying, "Do as he says!"

Each dwarf quickly climbed into a barrel and wriggled themselves deeper inside. Bilbo walked along the barrels, counting them to make sure all the dwarves were present. When he was sure they were all there, he went to stand next to a lever. The Company popped their heads out to look at him, wondering what the next plan was.

"What do we do now?" Bofur asked.

Bilbo replied, "Hold your breath."

"Hold my breath?" Bofur asked, confused, "What do you mean?"

At that moment Bilbo pulled the lever, making the floor budge before parting. The barrels tilted downwards in the opening in the floor before rolling down and falling several feet. Zarina held her breath while some others screamed. Her head hit against the barrel when they fell into a river below, making her groan in pain. The barrels thumped against each other as they floated. Zarina reached out and grabbed onto Dwalin and Thorin's barrels, trying to keep them from drifting apart. A few moments later, Bilbo fell into the river as well. He was pulled out of the water by one of the dwarves and grabbed onto a barrel in desperation, seeming half-drowned.