Author's Note 1: This is my latest attempt at writing a Hobbit fanfiction. The plot has been haunting me for some time, so I finally decided to listen to my muse and start writing it. It's slow to begin with; the pace should start to quicken after chapter 5, as the plot becomes clearer. This is a pre-quest story. The only way I can describe it is as being a supernatural/crime/mystery/drama mash-up. It sounds strange, I know, but hopefully it'll work. And hopefully you'll enjoy reading it. The story is rate M due to adult themes, including violence, gore, and mentions of rape.


"Remind me why we're here again," Fili asked, his voice growing louder as he struggled to be heard over the din that surrounded them. It wasn't that he minded the company; wasting his evening away with his brother at his side was one of his favourite things to do, especially when he hadn't seen his brother in months. The ale wasn't too bad either, he thought, bringing his tankard to his lips and taking a swig. But they could have stayed in and gotten drunk on one of the many kegs that Dwalin was hording away. Or they could have visited The Crossed Keys. That was his preferred drinking venue.

Kili had been adamant on visiting The Stocks and Bones though, and who was Fili to deny his brother a wish? There was nothing particularly wrong with the inn; it was loud and boisterous, and crammed so full that every time someone would walk past, the brothers would have to shirk back to create some space, but that didn't bother him too much. The Bones had a reputation though. Dwalin hated the place; refused to even sup there. He would grumble loudly and glare at the building every time he was forced to walk past it, and Fili found himself forced to agree with the surly dwarf in an attempt to appease his host, having quickly found out that the easiest way to cope with living with the older warrior was to agree with everything Dwalin said.

Despite the fact Dwalin hated the place, the inn was stuffed with dwarves aplenty. Granted, Dwalin also had a few choice words about the loyalties and honour - or lack of, Fili thought to himself - of those said few dwarves. Years ago, some of the dwarves of Ered Luin had been contracted out to work the mines of the town, but time away from the mountain and a lack of monitoring from the Master of the town meant that those dwarves spent more time with the floozies that floated around The Stocks and Bones, then they actually spent down the mine. At least, that was what Dwalin said.

Downing the rest of his ale in one smooth movement, Kili shrugged. "Thorin is due any day now. Might as well have some fun before he comes," he said as way of explanation. Fili nodded, knowing that Kili was right ;once their uncle arrived, the brothers would be under tighter control and supervision. He watched Kili glance to his left, past the crowd that heaved in front of the bar and to the red head who worked behind it. He motioned to the now empty tankards on the table. The red head smiled and nodded, understanding the silent request.

"I'm surprised you managed to convince him to let you come visit," Fili noted. There had been arguments before he had left. Thorin was determined that Fili learnt a trade, and had packed him off to Dwalin the summer before to work in his forge. Though Fili was willing to appease his uncle and go, Kili had other ideas and had created such a fuss that Thorin had refused to speak to him for days on end.

Again, Kili shrugged, swatting his empty tankard lazily around the table. "I think Ma had more to do with it," he replied. Before Fili could comment, the red headed bar wench flitted towards their table, expertly dancing through the throng of people. She only paused once, when one punter gave her backside a small slap. The brothers watched on steadily, ready to step in if the girl needed their help, but to their surprise, she just laughed, the sweet sound chiming delightfully through the noise of the inn, swatting the man away playfully before continuing on her way.

She placed the drinks down on the table, but didn't take her leave. "Here you go, sirs," she said cheerfully, picking up the empty tankards. "Glad you could make it."

At her words, Fili frowned, but looking up, he realised that she was directing her comment at Kili. He shot his brother a quizzical look, but Kili was too focussed on smiling up at the girl. Fili sighed; trust his brother to become infatuated with a daughter of Man days before their uncle was due to show up. The girl must have heard his sigh or noticed his confusion, as she offered him a small smile. "Your brother was a proper gentleman earlier. Came right to my rescue, he did. I was at the market and tripped and fell like the idiot I am, and your brother came and picked me back up. I told him I owed him a drink after his act of gallantry," she explained.

Fili wanted to sigh again; Thorin had been quite clear about discretion, but obviously his words had fallen on deaf ears where Kili was concerned. They were supposed to be keeping a low profile, and yet after one small, chance encounter, this girl knew that they were brothers? Fili loved his brother, but sometimes he wished Kili could just keep him mouth shut.

"Eve! Looking lovely, as always" A voice sounded, the words slightly slurring together, disturbing Fili's thoughts. A hand wrapped itself around the red head's - Eve's - waist, but again she did not seem too fazed by the touch. "Lads, haven't seen you in here before."

Fili recognised the dwarf straight away. Dwalin especially disliked Frar. The two had had some sort of falling out years ago, and Dwalin had never forgiven him. Fili knew the older dwarf could keep a grudge, but he knew that whatever they had disagreed on shouldn't be dealt with lightly.

"We fancied a change," Kili replied, but Frar was too focussed on the barmaid to pay attention to his answer. Fili clenched his fist beneath the table, not liking the way the other dwarf was leering down the girl's dress. Despite being a daughter of Man, Eve was small. If it wasn't for her overall slim frame - and lack of facial hair - she could have easily passed for a dwarf. Which meant that Frar had an easy view of her bosom.

Luckily, someone caught her attention. "Aoife!" Someone called, causing the girl to glance around. Fili followed her gaze, recognising the person calling her as Col, the son of the Landlord.

Eve smiled apologetically at the dwarves "Apologies, sirs. Unfortunately there's no rest for the wicked," she told them cheerfully.

"You owe me a dance later," he called to her as she slipped out of his hold, her only reply being another laugh as she disappeared back into the crowd towards to where Col was standing. "She's a right beauty, that one. And a proper tease," Frar said, turning his attention to the brothers, as if waiting for them to reply. Neither answered, just stared at him until he got finally the message and left them to it.

Fili watched him go, before turning to his brother. "She better not be the fun you were talking about earlier," he warned, knowing full well that Eve was not worth the trouble. She seemed nice enough, but her behaviour around both men and dwarves suggested that she was trouble, Fili thought.

"Of course not!" Kili said sharply, his words rushing out so quickly that they merged into one. Fili just raised an eyebrow, not really believing his brother's words. "Can't say I fancy red heads personally," Kili continued, but Fili noted he was still staring longingly at the girl. "She is pretty though."

He wanted to deny it, but Fili knew it was the truth. Despite the fact that her face had been flush, and random strands of red hair falling loose of her braid, she was pretty. "Aye, that she is," he agreed, taking a quick drink of his ale. "What do you think Thorin is up to?" he asked, quickly changing the subject. Behind him, a band had started to play; the tune was upbeat and lively and a cheer of joy spread though the inn. A flash of red in his peripheral vision told him that Eve was dancing; no doubt Frar had dragged her to the dance floor.

"I'm not sure," Kili admitted truthfully, frowning at the honesty in his words and causing Fili to laugh.

"And that is why I was the one to be sent away, little brother. Your observational skills are dire," Fili said, wincing as Kili leant over the table to thump him. Both brothers were smiling though. It was obvious that their uncle was planning something. Though he had claimed that the reason behind sending Fili away was to learn a trade, it was really because the brothers had become suspicious of Thorin's odd behaviour. Kili was easier to distract, but Fili was harder to placate, which was why he had been sent to stay with Dwalin.

"I guess we'll find out when Thorin finally turns up," Kili replied, downing his drink in one go, turning his attention back to the dancing figure of Eve.


Author's Note 2: A quick mention about names. I will be using the Gaelic name of Aoife and the Anglicized version of the diminutive - Eve - interchangeably. They refer to the same character, if anyone was getting confused. I have referred to Old English names whilst naming my human characters, whilst the names of dwarves I have taken from Ancient Norse.

Please read and review if you would like to. The next chapter will be up in a week's time.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit.

Author's Note 3: I had to re-upload this chapter, because for some reasoning my formatting got destroyed and my line breaks deleted, making it look like I have no clue what a paragraph actually is. Hopefully, the formatting will look better second time around.