Prologue

Kili POV

I was sleeping peacefully next to my brother, holding him tightly to assure myself that he wasn't dead. We had just been through a storm with giant rock monsters and had been separated in the chaos. We were all okay, though we had wounds from earlier events. Plus we had walked for a couple miles with weapons and armor, so we were all extremely tired. I awoke to my uncle's gruff voice.

"Everyone get up!" was all I heard him hiss before the ground fell from beneath me and I plunged down, down, down. When we finally stopped, I became aware of a pain in my shoulder and the fact that Bombur had fallen on top of all of us, rendering me unable to breathe. Something wrenched my brother from my grasp and I gasp as something pushes me along before I can even stand.

I manage to stand up, flinching as I feel clawed hands dig into my shoulders and push me along. I gulp and start fighting, trying to hide my fear. I see Fili, my brother, ahead of me a little ways and I smile knowing that he's safe.

Soon we're pushed in front of the ugliest creature I've ever seen, his rolls of fat so large that I can hardly stand to look at him.

"Who dares to come armed into my kingdom? Spies? Thieves? Assassins?" he bellows, making me flinch slightly then look around, making sure nobody noticed.

"Dwarves, your melevelance." says a goblin from the front of the group.

"Dwarves? The king laughs. "Why are you here?"

When nobody answers, he demands "Speak!"

Again, nobody moves so he chuckles, making his belly jiggle, and smiles a disgusting smile.

"Fine then If they won't talk, we'll make them squawk! Bring out the machines! Bring out the BONE BREAKER!" he grins, I flinch with each word. Suddenly his eyes meet mine and he smiles his sick smile again.

"Start with the youngest!"