Chapter 10: Of Monsters and Men

Fili moved out of Dwalin's way as the warrior moved towards the man, grasping him by the collar of his dirty tunic as he hauled him towards the low burning fire. Fili followed, catching Kili staring past his shoulder, no doubt at what was left of the other man. Fili didn't want to look at it yet, he didn't think he would be able to hold the contents of his stomach. Kili looked like he had seen a ghost, his face pale and fingers trembling.

He grasped Kili's shoulder and turned him towards the fire and away from what he believed to be a horrible sight. They had killed a man. This wasn't the feeling he had when they were hunting animals. This wasn't the sense of accomplishment, or thrill of the chase. This was something darker.

"Don't look," he murmured so that only Kili could hear. "Try not to think about it."

Kili swallowed thickly sitting on the ground beside him as Dwalin shoved the man's face into the dirt. The man gave a cry of pain and Fili wondered if he had hurt him more than he thought with that blow that took him down.

"Listen here," Dwalin growled, the edge of his ax resting at the back of the man's throat. "You will tell us everything we wish to know, everything. And maybe I'll let you keep your pathetic life. Do I make myself clear?" A dark shadow fell across Dwalin's face, and Fili couldn't recognize this dwarf. He didn't know who this dwarf was. This darker part that he had never seen before. It was almost like Dwalin had lost himself, blinded by rage, a memory of long past.

The man whimpered and nodded. Had the situation been not so traumatizing Fili would have thought it pathetic.

"Start from the beginning." Dwalin's voice was sharp and the man nodded weakly, tears still streaming down his face, leaving tracks cut through the dirt and sweat accumulated there.

"A man approached us one night, naked as a babe but didn't seem to mind it. He-he attacked us first, with several other men- all naked." Fili could hear a hint of disturb in the man's voice. Even he could not imagine being attacked by naked men. It was too strange. "Our leader, Boros, and their leader . . . Kapu?"

"Kaipatu," Kili supplied, looking a little less pale and more determined.

"That's the name, offered us gold- gold! Not much but enough, to take a woman to the markets to sell. Said she had to be punished for turning her back on them. She had to suffer. But we would have to catch her ourselves."

Fili clenched his fists. Marama ambushed. He did not like it. Something felt heavy in his gut, like he was being forced to the ground by the weight of the world. He should have been there to protect her.

"He told us where to find her, how to catch her, and to wait for him. When Boros saw our chance we snagged the girl, and waited for her to change at sunset." The man glanced fearfully at Dwalin, but then he looked at Fili. "We didn't touch her, I swear. Naked as she was, Boros said she would go for twice as much at the market if she was unsullied. But Kapu-"

"Kaipatu," Kili snapped, causing the man to flinch.

"He came once she was changed and built up a rock pile, before he cut her wrists-"

Fili abruptly rose to his feet. The blood on the stones, the blood that they had found. She had been harmed. Harmed in a way that could possibly be fatal. Her own father. Her own father cut her wrists, sold her, and let wild men take her away. What father would do such a thing? Who would do that to a woman?

A monster.

Never had he wanted to kill something- someone, more in his entire life. Even if it sent his stomach roiling. It was Kili's hand on his arm that alerted him to his erratic breathing and menacing glare towards the cringing man. Dwalin was watching him from the corner of his eye. Fili knew he needed to calm down. The faster they dealt with this, the sooner they would be getting closer to Marama.

"Go on," Dwalin ordered. The man nodded, taking a steadying breath, even though his face was still wet and he trembled under their gazes.

"He said something strange in a language, I never heard before. Then shoved her towards us. She was crying, calling out for help," Fili had to shove his fist against his mouth to hold the tears and swearing at bay, "Boros had her bound and gagged. Then we took her away."

"And where is this place ye're takin' her to be sold?" Dwalin asked.

"Ogan. A fishing port along the coast. There's a place where people are sold, on the south ports, in an old barn."

"How long would it take to reach there?"

"Three days from here, but I am not sure-"

"How long ago did you split from the main group?"

"Yester morn," the man replied. "We split into three groups, Boros and Hagnar took the woman. The other two went to the south to meet up with contacts. Bjord and I were to follow tomorrow-"

"Why?" Fili asked confused. Why would they leave two men behind? Why was he giving them names? Was he that desperate to keep his life? So unloyal to his companions. But at Fili's question fear filled his eyes. A true fear. Something that told Fili he wouldn't like the answer. It had his stomach dropping like a stone through air. Fear that he would be killed.

The man was shaking now. His whole entire body trembled.

"I swear, she wasn't sullied. I swear it. She wasn't. She wasn't." Tears began pouring out of his eyes again. "We ain't never been around a naked woman like that before for so long. I swear. I swear it."

"What did you do?" his voice was low, fists clenched.

The man shook his head, tears splashing down his cheeks once more. "She was just so pretty. I swear, I swear it was only a touch. Smooth as silk-"

Fili gave a cry, kicking the man in his stomach. "What did you do!?"

"Her skin was soft, we only touched her skin. B-but she bit me! I swear! I swear it!" The man was fumbling with his tunic sleeve, yanking it up to reveal his arm, where wrapped around it was a dirty and bloodied rag. That too was pulled away revealing a crescent shape, a ring of red where teeth had punctured the skin. Above all, the wound looked inflamed, pus oozing from some of the teeth marks. Marama had bit him. "I-I didn't touch her other than that. I swear it!" Even now he could smell the wound.

"And the others?" Fili asked darkly.

"T-t-the same. We split up to reach Ogan faster. She was too difficult to manage. We just wanted our money. I swear."

Fili turned away. Turned away from the sniveling man, fighting hard to keep his emotions in check. He wanted to kill this man. Wanted to kill him for touching Marama. Wanted to kill every single one of them. He wanted her safe. She didn't deserve this. But he couldn't kill this man. This pathetic and weeping man who cowered before them. He couldn't kill something so weak and pitiful. His fists were shaking as he turned his eyes out over the rolling hills.

"No! Please! You said you would spare me!" The man suddenly cried. Fili turned, finding Dwalin standing over the cowering man, ax raised over his head. "I BEG YOU! I DON'T WANT TO DIE! I BEG YOU!"

Kili was turned away, knuckles white on his bow. Fili . . . he knew this was wrong. Even though he wanted to kill the man. Even if this man deserved to die. Fili would not forgive him, but he would not let him be killed either.

"Wait!" Fili called, watching Dwalin still, his dark gaze moving to the younger dwarf while the man continued to wail.

"I SWEAR! PLEASE! I'VE TOLD YOU EVERYTHING! I BEG OF YOU!"

"Don't kill him," Fili murmured, staring at the man. Instantly the man went silent, raising his eyes up to Fili questioningly. "What is your name?"

"Gálmód," he said sniveling.

"We will not kill you. But I pray to Mahal that you and your kin ever suffer misfortune for the hand you have played in taking Marama. Go, Gálmód. Flee. Should we ever meet again, I will kill you."

Gálmód's dark eyes widened in disbelief and fear before he rose to his knees. When Dwalin growled, he scrambled to his feet, grabbing one of the packs laying on the ground and without a glance towards his fallen companion fled into the night. Fili knew he might never see Gálmód again. But at least he knew he would not flee to Ogan, and warn this Boros that they were coming.

For a long time they were silent. Fili stared at the ground beneath his feet, jaw clenching. It was Kili who spoke first, breaking the tense silence.

"I thought you would want him dead, nadad."

Fili raised his head to look at Kili. His brother looked pale, and drawn. "I will not kill a weak and unarmed man. It does not sit well with me."

"If you want Marama back, laddie," Dwalin said gruffly, "you might have to. We may have to kill this Boros."

Fili breathed in through his nose. He knew that. To reach Marama, he would probably have to stain his sword with the blood of a man. He would have to go down that dark path that Dwalin already knew of. But Dwalin was a warrior. Dwalin had seen war and killed. What had he done? He was still a hunter. Trained to be a warrior, but trained all the same.

He would save Marama. He would bring her home. But at least this night, he would spare a life.

Straightening he regarded his brother and Dwalin. "We need to move," he said. "We can still catch them. Will you follow?" At his words Kili stood, jaw set and brow stern. Dwalin regarded them silently for a moment before he stood.

"Aye. I'll follow ye this night. Though it be dark, I can see there will be no stoppin' ye." As the night deepened, the three set off towards the West. To Ogan.

Fili stood at the corner of a rundown building on the docks. The wood used to build the town was old, peeling and rotted from the constant exposure to the salt water. Had he not been here to free Marama, Fili would've taken the time to admire the vast expanse of rolling blue waters. Instead he pulled the cloak around his shoulders tightly, concealing his face more as he watched men enter an old barn.

Part of the roof was sunken in, so that it looked like it would cave in at any moment if the sea winds blew any harder. Then men that entered the building ranged in looks. Some were well dressed in thick fur lined cloaks to keep out the winter wind, to those whose clothing hung off their shoulders in rags. From afar he could see Dwalin approaching the barn.

Dwalin had decided that he would go and find out what was inside, since he looked more of the part and would fit in better. Fili's golden hair and Kili's youth would make them stand out like sore thumbs in a crowd of rough men. Kili shifted behind him, leaning against the side of the building they hid partly behind. He too wore a thick cloak to shield himself from prying eyes, his nose wrinkled at the smell of putrid fish left rotting in the air. It masked the earthy, but eye watering smell of waste, filth and disease that clung to the air and buildings of Ogan.

"Is he inside?" Kili asked quietly, eyes trailing after another man that crossed the opening of the small alley they were in.

"Aye," Fili replied. Now they had to wait. Fili found that to be the worst, out of everything that had happened, waiting made him restless. Waiting made him think and thinking in this situation for look long let him wallow in his despair. Running, and fighting kept his mind from the despair that threatened to take hold of him and pull him under. Marama needed him. But he needed her too.

He could not close his eyes without having her in his dreams. She was always there, waiting with a smile on her lips as they wandered through his dreams. She never spoke, but her glittering eyes spoke for her, shining like a thousand glittering stars. He could lose himself in her eyes. And he wanted to. For the time he slept he could pretend that she was with him and not kidnapped and about to be sold.

Dwalin returned several hours later, face grim and drawn as he drew down his hood to look that them. His shoulders were slumped as Fili waited impatiently for him to speak.

"She is there," Dwalin finally murmured. Relief spread through Fili, his eyes darting to the sagging barn. "So is Boros, and he will not let her go. Not with how much gold is being offered."

"Has he . . ?" Fili asked feeling shattered.

"Tomorrow," Dwalin grunted. "There may be a chance that we may be able to free her, after all is said and done."

"That is not good enough!" Fili growled. "We cannot let Boros get his gold for her!"

"There is no other way," Dwalin replied fiercely. "They will remove her from the room to a room in the back, there we may be able to reach her. Not before. She is being held with others."

Fili did not like it. He did not want Boros to be rewarded for this. He did not want another man to think that he owned Marama either. Marama was not property, she was a being of flesh and blood that could think for herself. But he saw the wisdom in Dwalin's words. They would wait, and it would eat at him.

The barn was crowded, bodies pressed together as a row of torches were mounted to the walls lining the barn. Fili stayed firmly at Dwalin's side, Kili standing behind them. He was uneasy by how many were present. The air was stale and full of the smell of sweat, rotting fish and bodily odors that had Fili fighting not to gag at. Men were disgusting. Even the wealthier men seemed unfazed by the horrendous odor.

When the room seemed to fill to bursting a man stepped out from a room in the back, dressed in dark clothing. His hair was neatly trimmed and washed, skin clean. His dark eyes roamed over the gathered crowd, a gleam of smugness in his eyes. His skin was lined with age, but he could not be very old by Fili's reckoning. Not a single grey hair was on his head. Nor did he look weak. This was a strong man, sure of himself, but not seeming to be full of overconfidence.

A dangerous man, he realized with a sense of dread. He would not willingly part from Marama for a small handful of gold coins. No, she was the prize of this night, and he knew it. This was Boros.

"Welcome, friends!" he called, gaining the attention of the entire room. He spread his arms wide with welcome, a pleasantness filling his countenance. "Tonight, we gather to gain new help, delights and pleasures. I thank you, for coming." He had a voice that carried, a voice that captivated. A powerful voice. Then Boros turned to the men standing on either side of the door that led to the back room. "Bring them."

Murmurs filled the air as people were pulled from the room to line the end of the room. Their feet shuffling over the straw covered floor, one after another. They were all dirty, hair limp and shoulders slumped. Sad and sorrowful. Fili felt revulsion. This was wrong. There were men, woman and children. The youngest ranging from a small child who looked hardly older than a few years to an old man, his back bent with age, only small tufts of white hair crowning his head.

Kili touched Fili's arm, drawing in a sharp breath. Fili thought it was in reaction to the sight before them, and that was partly true. Marama emerged from the room, wearing a shift of grey wool. It hung down to her knees, and it was apparent she was the only clean one among them. The only well fed and groomed person led before them. At the sight of her several of the wealthier men gazed at her, chins raising and Fili knew they wanted her. Her calves were shapely, ankles dainty, dark hair hanging in beautiful waves down her back.

But she was malnourished. There was a gauntness to her face that had not been there before, dark bags under her eyes. She was thinner. Fili fought the urge to push his way to the front and demand Boros hand her over. To challenge the man. But did not, knowing he would only get himself killed and Marama would never be free. She did not see him from where she stood, in between two other older women. She kept her eyes on Boros, dark and angry.

"Shall we start then?" Boros asked. He pulled a young boy forward. "This fine young man, healthy as a horse, young, and strong. What say you, five gold pieces?"

A hand rose up in the crowd. Boros acknowledged it with a nod. "Any others?"

"Ten pieces!" another called.

"Thirteen!"

Fili lost track of how many call out, but it was settled at seventeen and the boy was shoved into the grasp of a stern looking man who dragged the boy from the barn. Fili swallowed. He was going to be sick. Then like the boy, one after the other was brought forward. As they were sold, some left the barn with their new purchases, passing pouches of gold to Boros's men as they left. Some cried in anguish, some were silent as death. A mother and child were separated, the child's screams fading as she was carried off and her mother wept.

Until finally Marama was the only person left. Boros pulled her forward, hand wrapped tightly around her upper arm as she dragged her feet against the ground. Boros was grinning widely.

"For the finale, gentlemen! This pretty lass, a beauty that holds so many wondrous secrets. A woman by night, to warm a bed or sooth a need-" his grin widened "-and a bird by day. Easy to control, but taming her will be left to you. She is a prize, untouched, and unsullied. A rare beauty. What say you, thirty pieces?"

A man raised his hand. Fili's head was pounding. He was furious.

"Forty!"

"Forty-five!"

Forty-eight!"

"Fifty!"

The number steadily grew until a man stepped forward, broad shouldered, fair in his appearance and garbed in a thick cloak rimmed with fur. A sword was strapped to his hip. "A hundred."

No other voice countered his offer. It was the highest any had bid that night. Several men grumbled under their breath sourly. Boros's smiled grew wide and greedy.

"SOLD!"

The man who had bid a hundred gold pieces, turned, lips turned up in a smug smile. He shook hands with Boros. And the two spoke softly for a moment before Boros addressed the rest gathered. "Do not leave yet, my friends. I have brought a good ale, which I would share with you. Stay, eat, drink and be merry!"

Men came, rolling in great barrels of ale, the liquid sloshing around the insides. The men gathered, turned away, eager it seemed for a free drink. The man who had bought Marama, turned away from Boros as Boros himself took Marama back to the back room. Fili looked at Dwalin, but the dwarf placed a hand on his shoulder shaking his head.

Boros left the room, leaving it unguarded and unlocked. Something about it was not right, but all Fili cared about was reaching Marama. Even as Boros mingled with the crowd, and Dwalin fought to keep him from moving, Fili ripped himself free. He advanced on the door, all too aware that Dwalin was cursing him. Fili opened the door and slipped inside.

Darkness met his eyes, and for a moment he was confused. Until something slammed into him, forcing him to fall against the door with a gasp as something sharp pressed into his neck. A piece of wood, and short panting breaths filled his ears.

"Marama?" he dared to breathe. Instantly he was free, the sound of straw rustling as she backed away from him.

" . . . Fili?" Her voice wavered, as if she were about to cry. Something clattered to the ground. Perhaps it was her wooden stake.

"Marama," he breathed in relief. He moved forward in the dark, his hand outstretched to touch the skin of her face. Her hand rose up to clasp his and that was all it took to pull her into his arms. He buried his face in her hair, breathing in deeply. She was in his arms. Finally. Alive and soon they would return to Ered Luin. "Oh, Marama."

"Fili," she replied. But then she stiffened and pulled away. "Fili you should not be here. Boros. He knows. Oh, he knows Fili. It is a trap."

Cold dread filled him. "Marama, I will not leave without you."

There was a yell from beyond the door. Surprise lacing their voice. "FILI!"

Fili turned towards the door, the faint outline of it shining in the dark. "Kili," he gasped. There was the clang of blades, yells and grunts of men. Fili pushed Marama back into the deep of the room, his boots creaking loudly against the floor. "You have to get out," he murmured in panic, turning he shoved his shoulder into the thin wall of the barn. The wood groaned, but did not break. "I cannot leave you here."

"You cannot leave Kili!" Marama pleaded. Her hands reached out to him, grasping first his face and then the cloak he wore. "He is your brother, I am but Zundushinh-"

He grabbed her hand tightly. "You are more than that," he said fiercely. Then he shoved his shoulder back into the wall. This time a board splintered. Again he did it, making another board snap, only now the door to the room sprang open. Boros stood facing him, in one hand holding a flaming torch the other a blood covered sword. The very one that had hung from his hip.

Dread filled him and Fili prayed to Mahal that his brother was not dead.

As Boros entered, his eyes gleamed. He did not look at Marama, but held his gaze with Fili's. He looked like a man who had just won a great prize. The room filled with the light of his torch.

"You must be Fili," he murmured, catlike, watching its prey. "I seem to have captured your brother, and if I am not mistaken you are one of the dwarf folk of the Blue Mountains."

Fili clenched his jaw, refusing to answer. Boros let out a light laugh.

"But you are more than a dwarf. You are the kin of that dwarf lord, Thorin Oakenshield, ruler of those mountains." A smile spread on his lips. "I would imagine that he would pay to have you returned to him."

Fili fought the sinking in his gut. The terrible realization that Boros had captured his brother and would capture him. That they would be offered for ransom to their uncle. Who did not have the gold that Boros seemed to think they had. They were well off, but did not have vaults of gold.

"But there is more to it than that, isn't there?" Boros went on. "You followed us, from those mountains, all for this woman. I wonder how much she means to you."

Fili clenched his fists.

"I killed the man who paid for her, if you must know," Boros's grin turned vile, dark and greedy. "I only wanted his gold. I was not going to give up sure a rare creature. Not when she would be worth so much more in the long run."

He glared at Boros. The man shrugged, uncaring.

"She would have wanted for nothing in time. But from the moment Zaipatu paid me, she was mine. Now and always. Give up, Fili of the Blue Mountains. You will never get to keep her."

Fili would kill this man. He would kill him and he would save Marama. Boros raised his blood stained sword, pointing it at Marama. "Step away from him, or he dies Marama."

She moved quickly, stepping away from his side and Fili forced himself not to reach out to stop her. "Come here, Marama." She did so, stumbling slightly as she moved to him. Boros grabbed her, turning to have her face Fili, his sword arm wrapped around her throat. They he began to back out of the room, pulling her with him. "Come along, Fili."

And Fili followed, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from cursing and charging the man. But that would only put Marama in danger. That wouldn't free her. In the main area of the barn he saw that there were three other men, all tall and strong looking. They stood over a pile of bodies, grim faced and silent as Boros handed his torch to one of them.

Then he pointed to Dwalin, who was out cold on the ground, blood dripping from a wound on his temple. Kili sat on his knees, hands bound, lip bleeding. "Go ahead, join your brother."

When Fili didn't move Boros tightened his arm around Marama's throat, leaning down so that his head rested near Marama's shoulder. She was like a child in her size, beside him. She stiffened, raising her chin as Boros smiled. "I wouldn't want to harm dear Marama, now, but if you force my hand . . ." Boros's eyes seemed imploring and kind, but his mouth betrayed his threat. The side pulled into a smirk. His face was mocking.

Hating Boros more than any person he had ever met- more than Kaipatu -Fili stood beside his brother, falling to his knees. Boros grinned smugly. "Now, was that so hard?" Fili clenched his teeth, glaring at Boros with everything he had, eyes cold as she watched the man straighten. He withdrew his arm around Marama's neck and motioned for one of his men to approach Fili.

His sword was taken from him, his arms wrenched back to be bound in thick coarse rope. All the while Boros stood watching with Marama standing before him. Her eyes were on Fili, dark and glittering, but there was a cold light to them. Something he nearly shivered under. She looked at him, as though he had failed her. He hadn't been strong enough to save her. Fili would have averted his eyes, were it not for the fear of completely losing her, never to see her again.

But he held her cold gaze, wishing that she would at least look at him as she once had.

Boros heaved a dramatic sigh then, filling a rough mug with ale from one of the three barrels. He took a long drink before passing the mug to the man nearest to him. "Fili of the Blue Mountains," he said slowly, returning to stand beside Marama. "I wonder just what you are worth." His dark eyes roamed over Fili and then turned to Kili. "I'd imagine you would both be worth a great amount of gold, kin to that Oakenshield dwarf. But perhaps only one would be enough to get all the gold I need." Cold dread seized Fili. But he dared not to look at his brother.

"Carting three dwarves around would be tiresome, I would only need one," Boros said flippantly. Fili shook with rage. He'd be damned if he let this man kill his brother, or even Dwalin. But Boros smirked at Fili's obvious rage. "Perhaps though, it would make you more tame. I do not think you would care to be parted from them. I suppose I can allow that."

This man spoke as though his word were law. That he alone governed the fate of Fili and his brother. Of Marama and Dwalin. And he hated it, with everything in his being, he hated it. Boros seemed amused by Fili's hatred, his gaze that belied what he could not say. That Fili would rip Boros apart, if he had the chance. Boros snorted a laugh before turning to Marama, one of his hands lifting a dark strand of her hair and raising it to his nose. He inhaled, long and drawn out.

Marama jerked away, her hair falling from his fingers like water. Her dark eyes turned to him, cold and accusing. Boros reached out again, this time cupping her cheek, but not allowing her to withdraw from his touch. The man looked at Fili, eyes lazy and gleeful as Fili watched enraged. He moved forward, making to stand only for the man behind him to slam his foot on his back, forcing his face into the straw covered floor.

Boros tsked. "I did not truly think of keeping her, until this night," he admitted tilting Marama's head upwards. Seeming to admire the way the torch light illuminated her features. "I would have parted with her, until that lord offered a hundred pieces for her. Then I saw, just how much I could make from her. But I knew also that she was of worth, when I realized that we had taken her from you dwarves- for you hoard great treasures and do not part willingly from them- don't you?"

"Unhand her," Fili finally snarled, glaring up from the ground. The man pressed his foot harder against his back, digging painfully into his spine.

"Rest assured, Fili," said ignoring his demand, "I won't harm Marama, for she is a jewel. But since she is mine now, I will do with her as I please. How could I not?" To Fili's horror Boros pulled Marama's head back and crashed his lips into hers. He roared furiously. She struggled, a hard raising to claw him in the face. Her nails came away bloody and Boros stepped back, three long scratches running down his cheek. Fili struggled against the foot in his back, uncaring of the pain it caused him. Boros looked pleased and absentmindedly touched his cheek, amusement filling his eyes when his fingers came away bloody.

He laughed. "Marama, look what you have done." He approached Fili, standing over him. "Look what you made me do." Fili heard Marama cry out in protest as Boros raised his foot, slamming it into Fili's head. He saw stars, blackness ringing his vision, as warmth pooled from his lips and nose. Marama was screaming, while Boros's cruel laughter filled his ears. Beside him Kili was cursing loudly, struggling against his restraints. Fili could not stop the darkness from swallowing him.

. . . please don't kill me.

I'm sorry for the delay! I've hit a bit of a slump, both in writing and in school. This chapter was really hard for me to write, and I have two papers that I need to write, and a boatload of homework, and I'm not tearing my hair out right now. I also just had spring break, which I spent with my grandparents. But where they live I didn't have internet, so I basically spent the week without internet (I had no idea how dependent I was).

For all the LOTR geeks out there like me, Gálmód, is Grima Wormtongue's father . . . he's not just another character I made up. Just food for thought there. :)

Thank you to my readers and reviewers! I'm sorry for the lateness, but I hope that this makes up a little for that. More to come, hopefully soon.

~filimeala