Previously on The Lost Prince...
The dwarfs laugh, as Haraldur moved next to Bilbo. He pulled a clean white cloth from his pocket. The dwarf handed it to the hobbit with a smile on his face. Taking it confused, the burglar watched as Haraldur trodded of on his horse. The rest of the company joined as the journey continued.
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The company travelled through the vast rolling hills and plains. Forests visible in the distance, darkness creeping between the trees.
The company are travelling through the mountain side, the sun setting behind them. Rain thundering down on the company. Everyone seemed to be cold, wet and miserable.
Riding beside Gandalf, Bilbo saw that he was unaffected by the down pour.
"Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge." Gloin shouted over the down pour.
"It is pouring, Master Dwarf and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard." Gandalf replied.
Bilbo looks at Gandalf in confusion.
"Are there any?" Bilbo asks
"What?"
"Other wizards?"
"There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Sarman the white. Then there are two blue wizards... you know I've quite forgotten their names" Gandalf spoke in a far away tone.
"Who is the fifth?" Bilbo asked.
"Well, that would be Radgast the brown."
"Is he a great wizard or is he more like you?"
With a booming laugh Haraldur shouted, "Burn!" Behind them, the blue eyed dwarf still laughing with his hair dripping wet. The grey wizard scowled at the dwarf, and feeling slightly offended he answered Bilbo.
"I think he is a very great wizard in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others."
After calming down Haraldur decided to chime in. Leaning forward on his horse, " He's right you know, Radgast is an amazing wizard with such a pure soul but don't be fooled he can be your greatest enemy" He said shivering at the thought.
Raising an eyebrow, Gandalf looked back giving an amused look.
"You speak from experience?"
With a sheepish look, he scratched his head Haraldur looked back at the wizard.
"Let's just say our first meeting didn't go as planned."
Chuckling, Gandalf turned around and carried on with the journey. At the front of the company, Thorin sat there on the the horse, quietly listening. Secretly looking back, thinking of ways he could get closer to Haraldur.
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Coming up to a ruined farm house. Thorin scouted and looks around at the ruins, satisfied he turned around to the company.
"We'll camp here for the night. Fili, Kili look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them."
The company broke away and got ready for camp. Haraldur jumped of his pony and collected his stuff. Void looked around giving an uneasy and curious look, he felt the atmosphere, he could smell the stench of death. Looking towards Gandalf, they shared a glance, he could feel it as well.
"A farmer and his family used to live here," Gandalf said as he wanders into the farmhouse.
Thorin turned to Oin and Gloin, "Oin, Gloin get a fire going."
"Right you are," replied Gloin with a nod of his head.
Gandalf locks eyes with Thorin as he enters the farmhouse.
"I think it would be wiser to move on. We could make it for the Hidden Valley." Gandalf advised.
"I have told you already, I will not go near that place," Thorin argued.
"Why not? The elves could help us! We could get food, rest and advice"
"I do not need their advice!"
"We have a map we cannot read, Lord Elrond will help us"
"Help? A dragon attacked Erebor, what help came from the elves? Orca plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls and the elves looked on and did nothing. You ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather and betrayed my father?!" Thorin ranted.
"You are neither of them. And besides, it was not Lord Elrond who abandoned you at Erebor. That blame lies on King Thranduil of the Woodland Realm. I did not give you that map and key for you to hold onto the past." Gandalf said loosing his temper.
"I did not know they were yours to keep"
Gandalf scowls at Thorin, stomping away as he passed Bilbo, tending to the horses. Seeming confused Bilbo asked, "Everything alright? Gandalf, where are you going?"
"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense!"
"And who's that?"
"Myself, Mr Baggins! I've had enough of dwarves for one day!" Gandalf shouted storming off.
Sitting down leaning on his right elbow against the wall, Haraldur looked at Gandalf as he was storming past him, with an amused smirk and a raised eyebrow.
"Ouch! I'm hurt Dumbledore, I thought you loved me," his eyes following him with his left hand on his chest. Gandalf snapped at Haraldur without stopping.
"Shut up, Haraldur!"
Chuckling Haraldur turned his head towards the hobbit, seeing him with an upset look on his face.
Thorin steps out of the farmhouse glowering after Gandalf.
"Come on Dwalin! We're hungry!" Thorin shouted.
Balin moved next to Haraldur watching the scene before him. Bilbo turned to Balin.
"Is he coming back?"
Balin and Haraldur looked at eachother with uncertain look on their faces.
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In the distance sat a camp of dwarves, a hobbit and a wizard. Merry laughs and the smell of food filled the air, on the outskirts of the camp splayed a lonely mercenary as he gazed up at the stars.
Haraldur laid back with hands behind his head head, his left leg thrown over the other propped up. He had a thoughtful look on his face, as he was lost in thought.
Snapped out of his thoughts, when Haraldur heard Bilbo.
"It's been along time"
"Who?" Dwalin grumbled while pouring soup into two bowls.
"Gandalf!" Bilbo exclaimed, stress visible on his face.
"He's a wizard he can do what he wants"
"But-"
Haraldur cut him off, "Listen Bilbo can you really blame him, we're pain the asses, as well as stubborn, short tempered and egos bigger than our height,"Haraldur stood up walking towards Bilbo putting a hand on his shoulder, "Dwalin is right he will come back, then soon enough it will happen all over again, but if I was in his situation I would have made a run for it ages ago"
The dwarf chuckled, as he let go of the hobbit,he walked towards his sword picking it up and strapping it to his hip, heading towards the woods.
Bilbo shouted after Haraldur, "Where are you going?!"
"To train!" The dwarf shouted as he turned around as he carried on walking backwards with his hands behind his back, "Don't worry about me I'll always be there to protect you Mr Baggins" Haraldur winked at the hobbit as he turned around, laughing at the shocked look on Bilbo's face.
Getting snapped out of his thoughts
"Here lad, take these to the lads" Dwalin said handing Bilbo two bowls.
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Bilbo enters the forest with two bowls to where the ponies were, in the distance stood Fili and Kili with petrified looks on there faces, as they looked out in the darkness.
"What's the matter?" Bilbo asked, when he got to the brothers.
"We were supposed to be looking after the ponies," Kili replied.
"Only we've encounter a slight problem" Fili said.
"We had seventeen. Now there's fifteen" Kili said as his voice wavered.
Fili and Kili headed towards the pens to examine the horses in there pens, as Bilbo followed behind clutching the bowls.
"Daisy and Bungo are missing" Kili examined
"We'll that's not good. That is not good at all. Shouldn't we tell Thorin?" Bilbo asked
"No let's not worry him. As our official burglar, we thought that you might like to look into it." Fili suggested.
Bilbo looked around as he saw several uprooted trees
"We'll something big uprooted these trees," Bilbo replied as he looked at the scene.
"That was what we were thinking" Fili said as he came up behind him.
"Something very big and quite dangerous" The hobbit said quietly almost whispering.
Suddenly, Fili crouched down behind an uprooted tree, as he pointed deeper in the woods.
"Hey! There's a light," Fili whispered shouted as he beckoned them to him. "Over here, stay down."
The three rush forward and take cover behind a log, spying on the flickering light.
"What is it?" Bilbo inquired
"Trolls" Kili said with disgust in his tone.
Fili and Kili run closer to the fire. Bilbo runs after them, still gripping onto their meals. Thunder footsteps come from nearby. Quickly, the trio take cover behind an oak tree.
They are alarmed to see a massive Mountain Troll, walking towards the fire. He holds tow ponies at his side.
"He's got Myrtle and Minty! I think they're going to eat them, we have to do something." Bilbo exclaimed as looked onto the scene still clutching the two bowls.
"Yes, you should. Mountain trolls are slow and stupid, and you're so small." Fili said while nodding his head looking at Bilbo.
"No!"
"It's perfectly safe; we'll be right behind you." Fili said trying to convince him.
Fili pushes Bilbo forward, taking the bowls from him.
"If you run into trouble, hoot twice like a barn owl, once like a brown owl." Kili said putting two thumbs up. As Bilbo walks forward in reluctance.
"Twice like a barn owl, once like a brown owl? Are you sure this is a good idea?" Bilbo sarcastically mimicked. As he turns around, but Fili and Kili are already out of site. With a sigh, Bilbo trudges forward.
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Two trolls, Bert and Tom are sitting around a fire. Bert stirring the contents of a cauldron dangling above the flames. Tom watching him with a hungry stare. William enters the camp, as he carries the two ponies into a makeshift pen, locking them inside.
"Mutton yesterday, mutton today and blimey, if it don't look like mutton again tomorrow." Bert whinged.
"Quite your gripping. These ain't sheep; these is West Nags!" William snapped.
"I don't like horse, I never have. Not enough fat on them." Tom whines.
"Well, it's better than that leathery old farmer. All skin and bones, he was. I'm still picking bits of him out of me teeth." Tom complains.
Out of site, Bilbo is seen sneaking around the camp hiding behind trees and bushes.
Back at the camp by the camp Tom suddenly sneezes into the cauldron.
"Oh, that's lovely, that is: a
floater!" Bert exclaimed pointing at the cauldron.
"Might improve the flavor!" William says while smiling gleefully.
"There's more where that came from!" Tom begins to sneeze again, but Bert grabs him by the nose. As he forces Tom down.
"Sit down!" Bert shouted at Tom.
Bilbo takes advantage of the distraction and dashes towards the pen. As Tom takes a handkerchief and blows his nose.
Struggling with the rope Bilbo turns to look for something to help him as he sees a long knife attached to the dwarf. The hobbit begins to creep forward, eyes set on the blade.
"I'm starving! Are we having horse tonight or what?" William demanded.
"Shut your cakehole. You'll eat what I give you!" Bert shouted, as he stirred the cauldron.
"How come he's the cook? Everything tastes the same; everything tastes like chicken." William whined
"Except the chicken". Tom said
"That tastes like fish!"
Bert turned away from the other trolls, as he tasted the brew, "Oh, that is beautifully balanced, that is!"
Bert passes the spoon back to Tom, who puts it back over his knife. Skilfully Bilbo began to carefully take the knife as he stood behind the troll. The trolls began to get inpatient for the food making a ruckus in doing so, Bilbo's fingers brush against Tom's knife - so close!
Suddenly, Tom reaches for his handkerchief. Instead, the troll grabs Bilbo, spraying snot all over him. Tom peers down at the hobbit, taken aback.
"Blimey! Bert, look what's come out of me hooter! It's got arms and legs and everything." Tom shouted shocked as he looked at the hobbit covered in snot and goo. The other trolls gather around, staring at Bilbo in amazement.
"What is it?" William questioned as he peered over.
"I don't know, but I don't like the way it wriggles around." Tom shakes Bilbo to the ground. Slowly, he gets back on his feet.
William stands above Bilbo, pointing a jagged rock down at him."What are you then, an oversized squirrel?"
"I'm a burgl- a hobbit!" Bilbo exclaimed stuttering slightly, trying to get the snot of him as best as he could.
"A Burgla-Hobbit?"
"Can we cook him?"
"We can try!"
Tom tries to grab Bilbo, but he dodges. Bilbo sprints toward the trees. Toward an escape. However, Bert corners him.
"He wouldn't make more than a mouthful, not when he's skinned and boned!" Bert exclaimed annoyed.
"Perhaps there's more Burgla-Hobbits around these parts. Might be enough for a pie!" William suggested
All of the trolls try to grab Bilbo, but he outruns them at every turn.
"It's too quick!"
Bilbo runs through Tom's legs as Bert swings his spoon, aiming for Bilbo. He hits Tom's knee instead, making the troll yell out in pain.
Finally, William grabs a hold of Bilbo, and dangles him upside down.
"Are there any more of you little fellows hiding where you shouldn't?" William integrated
"No."
"He's lying." One of the trolls replied
"No, I'm not!" Bilbo shouted lying, hoping they would believe him.
"Hang his toes over the fire! Make
him squeal!"
Kili emerges from out of the bushes. He hacks Tom's leg, sending the troll squealing. The other trolls look down at Kili, startled.
"Drop him!" Kili threatened pointing his sword at the trolls.
"You what"
"I said. Drop him" Kili gritted his tears as he sent a death glare towards the trolls.
Growling, William throws Bilbo on top of Kili. All of a sudden the other dwarves charge out of the treeline, weapons drawn. Bravely, they fight against the trolls, hacking and hammering. As the battle rages on, Bilbo creeps beneath the trolls' feet, dodging every footfall. Tom's knife falls from his belt as Fili and Kili hammer down on his toes. Bilbo sneaks over, grabbing the weapon and darting over to the pens. He cuts the ponies free, sending them running in every direction.
From across the clearing, William sees him. The
troll lumbers over, grabbing Bilbo by his arms and legs. Seeing Bilbo, the dwarves freeze in place.
"Bilbo!" Fili shouts worry laced in his voice
"Lay down your arms, or we'll rip his off!" William threatened as he held an arm and a leg ready to rip them off.
Thorin looks up at Bilbo, conflicted. Finally, he throws his sword onto the ground, almost in reluctance. The others follow suit, dropping their swords and axes by their sides.
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On the other side of the forest was a dwarf training. Hitting his sword left and right against the tree, leaving massive dents and pieces out of the oak.
All of a sudden the mercenary stops what he is doing, it is like he is listening to the area around him. In doing this, he his head tilts to the side .
Out of no where Haraldur whips his head to his right, his eyes having a deadly glint in them, it was like his eyes were glowing.
Without thinking Haraldur straightens, as he starts calmly walking into the forest, with his sword by his side in a tight grip.
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Authors note 📝
Hi there
How are you today?
If there was anything I have missed, made a mistake, you have any ideas or need to let your thoughts out please comment and let me know.
I hope you liked the chapter and thank you so much for reading it and letting me share it with you, it means the world to me.
See you next time 👋