„Lass! What happened? Where is Thorin?", Balin asked when he saw her.

But she didn't answer, she didn't even looked up, when she was pushed into the cell. She let herself fall against the bars sliding down defeated.

„Hunter!" „What happened?" „What's wrong?" „Did they hurt you?", question after question but no answer. „How do you even know them in the first place, girl?", Gloin asked curiously.

„I OWE YOU NO EXPLANATION!", she shouted and hid her face in her hands, crying. Her knees up to her chest.

The company was stunned and worried, she never raised her voice like that to them. Something was terribly wrong.

—–

Thorin was imprisoned as well. „Did he offer something?", Balin asked without any hope.

„Yes, I told him : ish kakhfê ai'd dur – rugnul! To him and all his kin."

„Then there is no hope.", Balin sighed.

„There is one small hope.", Thorin encouraged speaking of Bilbo. Then he heard Kaléa sob. „You owe us an explaination, lass.", he addressed her.

„Do I?", she whispered.

„No, but don't you trust us? We are family!", Bofur said softly.

„Not after I tell you."

„Bullcrap! We will always love you, no matter what.", Kili dismissed.

„After I recovered from Azog I went to Laketown. But I didn't get there. This fucking forest. I was wondering there for days, without food or water, much less sleep. I was a mass. Then there were the spiders, just like this time. Legolas, Tauriel and the rest rescued me. I stayed after that for a while.", she explained.

„Ye stayed even tho' ye know what that scum did?", Dwalin asked angrily.

„I didn't stayed for him. But for Legolas and Tauriel. We get along. And I wanted to help them against the spiders. I didn't play to remain. Just a few weeks, maybe a month or two and then go my merry way…", she trailed off gulping.

„But Thranduil stopped you?", Thorin guessed.

„He fancied me, for whatever reason. I let him know how I feel about him from the start. But maybe he is just into this kinda thing. He asked for my hand, I obviously refused. So he imprisoned me in this very cell, for… I don't know how long. I stopped eating, I was so done. I knew I couldn'r escape, so…"

„So, you rather wanted to die.", continued Balin for her.

„Yes, but I got out. I can't tell you how. It's not an option this time anyway. On my way out I encountered this asshole. He wanted to bring me back to my cell but my willpower returned and I fought him. Snapped his Dagger and stucked it in his ribs and ran. I ran as far as I could untill I collapsed. The next thing I remember is waking up in the home of a family in Lakedown. I swore myself to never come near this place ever again. I'm sorry for not telling, but I just wanted to forget."

„Oh, dearie. There is nothing to apologise. We are so sorry for what happened to you. It's horrible.", Balin said softly.

„You deserved better. I will have his head for what he did. And for slapping you earlier.", Thorin agreed.

„He slapped 'er? Oh, this little…", Dwalin yelled furious.

„Harming a female? This is low even for him.", said Nori.

„He is a dick.", Kaléa shrugged and some men snickered.

„Right on.", Dwalin ave a thumbs up.

—–

Kaléa was siting in her cell, bored out of her mind. „Naethen, mellon.", Tauriel said remorseful.

„You would've let him die!", the other female exclaimed.

„No, I wasn't! You were just faster then me."

„Yeah, I know. Sorry. I'm just so… tired of this all."

„I know, I wish I could help, but…"

„No, you helped enough already. I won't get you into more trouble."

„You just giving up?", the she – elf asked unbeliving.

„What more can I do?", she played along but she knew that the redhead knew her better. But she had to be quiet about it.

„Tomorrow shall be brighter."

Kaléa nodded and Tauriel smiled her good bye and went to Kili. Ugh, yeah. You old heartbreaker. After a while she still watched Kili and Tauriel talking and then Legolas stepped into her view. But he was also looking at the two.

This hurts, doesn't it?", she asked in sindarin.

Pardon?", he turned to her.

Seeing someone you love so deeply, longing for another. Seeing their love bloom."

You have feelings for this dwarf." It was more of statement then a question.

I didn't said that.", she rolled her eyes.

You implied it. And your eyes tell me everything I need to know.", he smirked.

You think you know me so well, hm? Well, sorry to break it to you, blondie. But you don't And don't pretent you do. So, what do you want?"

Did you have to anger my father like that? You could've offered a deal. You could be on your way to Erebor right now."

Bullshit. There is not negotiation with Thranduil. Just bow to his every whim. And neither me nor Thorin will ever do that.", she dismissed.

You are as stubborn as any dwarf. You fit with them well.", he laughed.

„Thanks.", she now spoke in westron.

—–

Kili jumped out the barrel and fought the orcs to get to the ladder. „Are you out of your mind?", Kaléa yelled. Should I save him? Shit! She was in a dilemma.

And then Elrond's voice popped up in her head. You may have the power to change the story. But be careful, not every choice you would like to make is the right one. Choose wisely.

„Shit.", she hissed.

The elves joined the fight and Kaléa couldn't take it anymore. She climed up and helped Kili. But she couldn't save him from the Morgul arrow. „KILI!", Fili shouted.

„Damn it." The dunedain ran up and pulled the ladder and helped the injured dwarf to his barrel.

„Hunter!", she heard Tauriel and Legolas scream. She turned but an orc knocked her with the pommel and she fall into the river.

„LASS!", Dwalin called and tried to catch her hand but she was out off reach.

Instead Thorin grabbed her wrist and pulled her up into his barrel. „You okay?", he asked.

„Yep, thanks.", she coughed.

—–

At the shore Kaléa gagged and puked behind a rock. „Kaléa?", Ori petted her back softly.

She stilled heaved but gave a thumbs up. „Water never agreed with me." A pained groan sobbered her and she ran to Kili. „Sit down, little wolf. I got ya."

„I'm fine, just a scratch.", he tried to wave off.

„I said : sit down, you stubborn oaf!", she hissed. She was so done at this point.

„I think the elves will distract them for some time.", Balin said.

„Not for long. We need to move on.", Thorin barked.

„Thorin! Kili is badly wounded. Listen to Balin, we are safe for now. Let me at least bind this shit up.", the dunedain snapped.

„Fine, you have two minutes."

Ori was empting his boots from water, but he heard someone from behind. An arrow flew. All alarmed and Kili took a stone but the stranger shot it out of his hand. The dwarf looked intruiged.

„Do it again and I kill you.", the person warned.

„For fucks sake, Bard. Stop parading here! Don't forget it was me who taught you that one.", the female exclaimed exasperated.

„Kaléa?", the men asked surprised.

„The very one, now if you would please stop attacking my friends.", she scolded.

„Is there someone in all Arda who doesn't know you?", Bilbo asked amused.

„Not that I know of. Bard we could need your help.", she addressed the men.

„How?"

„Those a merchants from Ered Luin, I'm helping them to go to Erebor. But we had complications.", she explained.

„And I take it it has something to do with the Mirkwood elves.", he mused.

„You know my relationship with them. Or their relationship with dwarves. Don't know why I ever bothered, but I'm a helper. Anyway, we need some weapons and a quick way across. And you can provide us with both , right?"

He shook his head and looked apologalic at the female. „You know I like nothing more then to help you, Kaléa. After everything you have done for me and my family. But I don't know your friends and I can't get into more trouble. The kids need me."

She laid a hand on his arm. „I know, Bard. But I swear we won't get you into trouble. That's the last thing I want.", she said softly.

„We are willing to pay for it. Double.", Thorin interjected and squeezed himself between the old friends. Hm, if I wouldn't know better, I would say he is jealous. But she took a look at the other men and saw the same expression on them. Oh, right. Dwarves are protective over their women.

„Fine. On it then.", Bard nodded.

—–

On the boat Kaléa looked anything but happy. „Léa? You okay?", Kili asked her eventually.

„Shouldn't be I asking you that, master arrow in knee.?", she joked.

„Yeah, brother you look like shit.", Fili said worried.

„Thanks.", the archer dryly replied.

„But you don't look any better, sunshine.", Fili, continued.

„Wow, you must be exremenly popular with the dams with your charme skills.", she deadpanned.

„You are rather green around the nose.", Bilbo chimed in.

„And you did threw up earlier.", Ori reminded.

„It's just… the water. I don't trust it.", she explained embarressed.

Now they all smirked amused. „Seasick? Really, lass?", Bofur laughed.

„You can face all the battles or other gruesome things of the world, but the motion of water brings you to your knees?", Gloin asked unbelieving.

„Quiet you!", sha warned weakly.

„Here, hate if you would puke in my boat. Again.", Bard interjected and gave the female some leaves.

She took it and chew on them. „Thanks, and you didn't had to mention that."

He chuckled and took his coat off, wrapping it around her shoulders. „Your lips are turning blue.", he pointed softly and rubbed her back.

She nodded her thanks and sat beside Kili, resting her head on his shoulder. „How's you leg?", she whispered and laid her hand carefully above the wound.

„Don't worry about it, sweetling. I'll be fine.", he reassured her but she knew better.

„You said earlier that you taught Bard to shoot like that.", Nori asked curious.

„Yep, I knew him when he was just a little boy. He looked up to me.", she smiled to the bargemen who returned her smile.

„And now my children idealize you. Especially after the thing you did with Alfrid."

„Who's that?", Dori asked.

„The right hand of the mayor. Sneaky rats. Both of them", she answered and gagged.

„Not on me!", Kili exclaimed. And they laughed.

„What did you do?", Bilbo interrupted.

„Well…", Kaléa rubbed her neck.

„She hanged him on a pillar on his underwear, which was the only thing he wore.", Bard answered instead and chuckled along the others.

„He rubbs me the wrong way. He had it long coming.", she defended but couldn't hold a little giggle at the memory.

„Damn, remember me to never piss ye off.", Dwalins said.

„Watch out!", alarmed Thorin when it looked like they gonna collide with a iceberg but Bard turned the boat around it. „Are you trying to drawn us?", he accused.

„If I wish to kill you, master dwarf. I wouldn't doint like this, I assure you."

„Children! Play nice.", Kaléa chided.

Balin was gathered coin from everyone. „Wait, I pay for it all.", the dunedain stopped. They looked at her stunned.

„You sure?", Fili asked.

She nodded and went to Bard to give him the money. „Gotta love the girl.", smiled Bombur warmly.

„Okay, get in the barrels.", Bard said when he approached them with the female. The company arched their eyebrows.

„Trust us. We have a plan.", Kaléa encouraged them and they agreed, more or less.

—–

„This is a shipment for empty barrels from the wooden realm. Not barrels full of fish.", Alfrid stopped them.

„I brought them for the people. And it's considered rude to reject a gift.", Kaléa stepped beside Bard.

„Oh… Hunter. O – of course. How very generous of… of you. As usual.", he stuttered nervously.

„Well, then. See ya later, I suppose.", she waved and they continued they journey.

„It's always a delight to see him squirm.", Bard snickered and nudged her with an ellbow.

„I know right. Disgusting weasle."

—–

„Da? Kaléa!", called Tilda delighted when they came home. She ran up to the women and hugged her.

„By Yavanna, when did you became so big, Tily!", Kaléa laughed.

„Kaléa, I knew would come visit us.", Sigrid hugged her next.

„Of course. I always do, little bird."

„Bain, get the dwarves.", Bad ordered.

„Dwarves?", the girls asked.

The dunedain grinned. „I brought some friends this time."

The men came out of the toilet, anything but happy and the children gave them blankets and tea. Kaléa meanwhile tried not to smile. But failed. „I hate you so much right now.", Nori growled.

„No you don't. Kili, you look pale and in pain!"

„As much as I appreciate you concern, sweetling. I'm fine, really.", he dismissed.

„Right, and I'm a goblins lover. Bard? Mind if I look into you medic stuff?"

„Go ahead, you know your way around here."

„What's up. You look like you seen a ghost.", Bilbo asked Thorin and the dwarves told him about the attack of Smaug, while Kaléa intentended to Kili's leg.

Authors Note : If you like to know more about Kaléa's past, tell me and I make some prequel to this.