My eyes are closed. I am moving. Where am I going? Who rescued me? I haveso may questions that I want answers to. Trying to move, I find that I cant. Why can't I move my body?

There is warm breath upon my face. Someone speaks. "Wake up Astalith" a voice murmurs in my ear. It's Kyra. I want to! I scream inside my head. But as hard as I try, I can't. Whatever the goblins put in the water…

Kyra stays silent for a moment, and then she speaks again in a much softer tone. "I wish you could see Erebor Astilith; it's amazing. So that's where I am. Erebor. Does this mean that Thorin's quest succeeded?

Kyra goes onto describe the kingdom under the mountain, its vast halls, the beauty of it, and the open ness. But also the people; how the mountain is now inhabited. After a while, I find that I can feel the cloth I'm lying on. It's rough, but not in an unpleasant way. It seems the more I hear about the world, the more I start to regain control of my senses.

I'm lying there; content to listen to the young dwarf talk, but after a while I hear footsteps. Someone else has entered the room. After a moment, this new person speaks. "Why don't you go play with Thorin" from their voice, I deduce that it's a man. His voice sounds oddly familiar.

Something in my pocket seems to grow heavier…

"Please wake up…" Kyra whispers. Then I hear the sound of soft footsteps she leaves the room.

There's dead silence for a moment and I'm starting to assume that the other person had left to. Then he speaks.

"Astalith" whoever it is speaks quietly, like they don't want to be heard. "Are you conscious?" That voice… It ring's a bell in my head, images of my prison life in Goblin Town pop up in my head. But whoevers speaking isn't done.

"We met in the Goblin Fortress, remember?" I remember. And I can. Pictures of my meeting with the dwarves Fili and Thorin bounce around my head. It's as though I am slowly regaining access to my memory. "I came back and saved you" A warm hand takes mine and grasps it. But which one are you? I think.

All of a sudden, I want to give whoever this is, Fili or Thorin, some indication that I'm alive. Taking my full concentration, I focus on the hand the dwarf holds. Slowly, deliberately, I move it a fraction o f an inch. I hear his sharp intake of breath,

"Astalith, can you hear me?" his voice sounds vaguely excited. I do my best to move my hand again, but I can't. That last move has drained me. When I don't respond, the dwarf speaks again.

"You can wake yourself up you know" his words capture my full attention. How! ! ? ? I scream inside my head. I will do anything to be able to move again.

"You're trapping yourself. Focus on the outside world. You can do it." I know he's trying to sound encouraging but his voice is wavering by the time he's finished.

"Once you're awake, you can start a life in Erebor." His voice trails into silence.

He lets go of my hand, and I think he turns to go. "We're all waiting for you Astalith"

I hear his footsteps as he leaves. Just before I hear him close the door behind him, I hear him murmur something else that I can't quite hear. But my thoughts soon turn to other matters.

Can I really wake myself up? With all my strength I push against the invisible bonds I didn't know I had. I want to see Erebor. I want to live again.

Three names pop up in my mind and I focus on them, my only connection to the world.

Kyra…I can feel my body now. Excited, I focus on the next name. Thorin… All of a sudden,I can suddenly remember my past. I'm on the last name now, Fili….

My eyes snap open just as the screaming begins.

Authors Note:

There is a slight chance that I may not be able to update for a few days; currently I am extremely busy; I'll post the next chapter as soon as I'm able.

Thank you all so much for reading! Please tell me what you think of this story so far!

~Gemeryn