Illegal love ~ the skinchanger book 1 *under construction*

Part 12

The dwarves and Aspect was all sitting in their cells, just waiting. Aspect had already given up all hope - she hadn't found any scent of Bilbo. She sat in one of the dark corners of her cell, looking at her beautiful pendant. "I will wager the sun is on the rise. It must be nearly dawn," Bofur suddenly said.

"We are never going to reach the mountain, are we?," Ori replied sad.

Suddenly, Aspect lit up. The smell of honey tingled in her nostrils. Suddenly Bilbo appeared in front of them all. The dwarves jumped in surprise, as Aspect got up at her feet and ran to the gate. The dwarves started yelling out his name in excitement, but Bilbo was quick to hush them.

He quickly started unlocking their gates. When he came to Aspect, she embraced him. "I am so glad to see you," she whispered. "And you still smell of honey," she continued happily. Bilbo just smiled and nodded, a bit confused. He continued to unlock the gates, as the dwarves started to swirl around everywhere.

"No, no! Not that way, down here. Follow me," Bilbo said, waving all the dwarves to him, down in the great Woodland Realm.

Suddenly, after walking many stairs and through halls, the wine cellar appeared in front of them. Two elves were sound asleep, drunk at the table. "This way," Bilbo whispered, pointing towards some empty barrels.

"I cannot believe this, we are in the wine cellar!," Kili exclaimed. The dwarves murmured angry in-between each other.

"You were supposed to lead us out of here, not even further in. I suggest we leave that job for Aspect instead," Dwalin said, turning to Aspect.

"I would like that, but this is the safest way out - I promise. I always did this as a kid. Great idea Bilbo!," Aspect said low, smiling excited at Bilbo.

"Good! So, everyone, climb into one barrel - quickly!," Bilbo commanded.

"Are you guys mad?! They will find us!," Dwalin said, now doubting both of them.

"No, no they will not! You have to trust us!," Bilbo said, with Aspect nodding in agreement. Her wolf-ears suddenly appeared, and she froze as she listened into the air.

"They have found your empty cells. We only have minutes to decide. There is no way back," Aspect said, looking at the dwarves who milled around and tried to decide what to do. Aspect looked at Thorin.

"Do as they say!," Thorin commanded. The dwarves nodded in unison as they started climbing and helping each other inside barrels. Bilbo showed Aspect the way to an empty one. He then counted them, making sure everyone had come with and found a barrel.

Bofur stuck his head out. "Now what?," he asked, as the rest of the dwarves also stuck their heads out, looking expectant at Bilbo.

"Hold your breaths," Bilbo answered.

"Hold our breaths? What is that supposed to mea-," Bofur didn't finish before Bilbo pulled the lever besides him, and the floor under the barrels tilted, making them roll and fall into a river, meters underneath them.

The elves sleeping at the table slowly started waking up from the uproar the barrels were making. Bilbo slightly started to panic, as he realized he had forgotten to go after the barrels.

"We need to wait on Bilbo!," Thorin exclaimed to The Company, when he saw everyone, except Bilbo had made the fall.

"He did not think that part through, did he?," Aspect said with a light laughter.

Bilbo started jumping on the floor where the barrels had been laying, hearing the elves come closer.

"He needs to go to the opposite side of the trapdoor and then-," Aspect said, but before she finished, Bilbo came falling through the floor above them, yelling on the top of his lungs.