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Even before the sun rose, Legolas and Gimli left their makeshift camp in the ruined tower and made their way to the top of a nearby hill.

'There it is,' Legolas said, pointing towards the shoreline below them where the watchtower sat.

'I can see that,' Gimli growled, as he reached the top. 'At least the ship is still there...'

'We should reach there in under an hour...' Legolas agreed and Gimli hefted his axe.

'Then, what are we waiting for...?'

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Tauriel's head snapped up as the portcullis ground open and she scrambled to her feet as the scarred hunter entered, followed by a dozen Men.

'You,' he said, pointing to a skinny, scruffy-haired man, who's eyes widened in horror. Before he could move, two of the hunters grabbed him and dragged him back through the portcullis, which rattled closed again. From outside came cheers and shouts as Tauriel moved over to the bars to join Kili.

'What's happening?' she asked, as the hunters dragged the man up a flight of stone steps and out into a courtyard, where more hunters lined the ramparts above.

'Nothing good,' Kili muttered, as the man they had taken was shoved onto the ground next to a crude sword and shield.

The assembled hunters roared as the scarred Man appeared on the ramparts, a gate grinding open at the other end of the courtyard, a burly hunter stepping through. He was stripped to the waist and armed with a heavy broadsword. Frantically, the man grabbed the sword and shield as the hunter advanced, barely managing to raise it in time to block the sword as it was swung at him. However, the burly man kicked his leg from under him, stabbing him through the chest as he fell. The crowd roared as his body was dragged away and Kili turned to Tauriel, his expression grim.

###############

'Wait,' Legolas said, holding up his hand as the approached the watchtower. 'Look. Up there. On the ramparts...'

Gimli followed his gaze to where a hunter was walking along the battlements, as Legolas knocked an arrow to his bow. There was a whisper, followed by a faint thump and he fell behind the crumbling stone walls.

'Let's go,' Legolas said. 'We need to move before someone finds the body...'

###############

'You,' the scarred hunter said as he entered the cell, pointing at Kili. The other hunters grabbed him and dragged him towards the portcullis, although Kili managed to knock two of them down before they managed to restrain him.

'Wait,' Tauriel said, ducking under the portcullis as it started to close.

'Get back,' one of the hunters said, reaching out to grab her and she slammed her elbow into his nose, knocking him to the ground.

'I'll fight the dwarf,' she said, meeting the scarred hunters gaze.

'Why not?' he said, with a scowl. 'We haven't seen good sport in a while. Bring them!'

'I'll need my daggers,' Tauriel said, as they were forced up the stairs into the courtyard. With a clatter of steel, Tauriel's daggers were thrown onto the floor, along with a crude long-handled axe, which Kili grasped in both hands. Tauriel picked up her daggers and spun round, killing the hunter who stood behind her. Even before he fell, Kili struck down the other with a sickening crunch as he axe buried itself in his side.

'Kill them!' the scarred hunter yelled, as more hunters poured up the stairs towards them.

With a yell, Kili charged towards them, his axe felling two in quick succession, as Tauriel joined him. They managed to hold them off, but the press of hunters began to force them back. Then, one of them fell with an arrow in his back and Tauriel looked round to see Legolas and a grim-looking Dwarf drop down from the ramparts.

###############

Caught between two foes, the remaining hunters did not last long. Gimli struck down the last one, shaking blood off his axe as Kili approached, casting aside his own weapon.

'Are you alright? Gimli asked, as he embraced him fiercely.

'I'm fine,' Kili said. 'I had them right where I wanted them.'

Gimli grinned as Tauriel approached, sheathing her knives.

'There are no hunters left,' she said, as Legolas came up behind her.

'I need to report this to my Father,' he said. 'Come, Tauriel.'

'Who was that?' Kili asked, as they left and Gimli shrugged.

'Just some pointy-eared Elven Prince...'

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Any comments, reviews or constructive criticism very welcome.