Chapter 10

Clouds had blanketed the sky by the time they reached the men's camp. The young man carrying Nymeria dropped her on the ground as soon as he could. Her head smacked the ground leaving a throbbing feeling.

"Careful!" a man called running over, "Is this her?" The men began conversing with each other while Nymeria scanned what she could see, trying to find Kili or any hint of the other dwarves. There was a large cage on top of a cart drawn by two horses, and eight more horses were picketed around the camp. Ignored for the brief period Nymeria began squirming, trying to find faults in the knots that she could use to her advantage.

"Why did you bring him?" the man shouted angrily kicking Thorin's still unconscious body with his boot.

"We didn't know if he would be important or not!" the young boy who had carried Nymeria defended.

"He's not worth anything," the man said. Slowly he unbuckled Orcrist from Thorin's belt, "But this is… Elven from the look; someone will pay a high price for this. Put this with the others," he ordered handing the boy the sword. He turned to Nymeria, smirking. He was different from the others, clean, trimmed, together. He was handsome but an ambience of brutish anger and greed hung on him like a shroud.

"Now for the crown jewel," he grinned taking a piece of parchment from his pocket and unfolding it. He held it up next to her face, his grin turned to a frown, "Someone take off this ridiculous gag, I can't get a good look at her face."

"But sir, I would suggest caution, she's a biter this one," the man she had bit said, holding up his hand to show the holes that were still leaking blood.

"Then hold her steady," the man in front of her sighed. The man she had bitten came cautiously around her, one hand crushing the back of her neck while the other undid the knot on the gag. The man with the paper carefully pulled it out of her mouth and held the paper up against her face again.

"A perfect match," he murmured, "M'lady may I present myself, Ascar," he said standing and bowing mockingly, "And may I present your home for the length of our travel." He gestured to the cage on top of the cart. Some of the men imeadietly came and scooped her up. One held her feet, another her shoulders. They will not put me in that cage. I am not an animal. I will NOT be put in that cage, she thought wriggling, growling, and yelling. But all the same they still dropped her into the cage; the crisscrossed bars obscured the sky and world around her. The men who brought her in held her steady as Ascar unsheathed a knife and cut the ropes. Two sets of manacles connected to chains lay on the wooden floor amongst the straw.

"What's this?" he asked removing her knife from its sheath, "Elven make…and these," he whispered touching her vambraces, "These will certainly pay well," he quickly undid the buckles that held them onto her arms. She felt naked without them, the jacket sleeves falling to cover her arms. The two men holding her undid the ropes on her wrists each quickly grabbing one they clamped shackles over them. Then they untied her feet and clamped the second pair on her ankles.

"Where's her sword?" Ascar demanded gripping the empty sheath,

"I got it off her," one of the men called, "I reckon it's mine now." Ascar stormed from the cage and charged the man, swiping the sword from his grasp. Nymeria took the distraction to break for the empty door. She made it half-way before the chains connected to the shackles grew taught. She fell hard onto the straw struggling; she pulled at them trying to loosen whatever held her there. The men in the cage seized her shoulders and flung her back against one of the side walls before leaving the cage and locking the door.

Looking around she saw the dwarves tied together in groups on the opposite side of the cage. She dashed to the side of the cage her fingers curling around one of the horizontal bars as she searched their bodies for Kili. Most seemed unconscious but a few were awake.

"Nymeria!" Bilbo whispered, she saw the small hobbit he looked uncharacteristically shaken.

"Bilbo," she replied, "Is Kili there? Is he alright?"

"Everyone is here and most of us are in healthy condition." Nymeria breathed a sigh of relief as the hobbit pointed to Kili's head.

"Happy to see your friends are you?" Ascar's voice called from the other side of the cage. He was leaning against the cage a smug look on his face.

"These chains are pointless," she said shaking them, "When night falls I'll just change my shape and escape, but not before slitting your throats," she hissed, he cackled in her face.

"Good luck with that scheme," he laughed, "You see dear, we prepared this cage special for you, all the metal is infused with lead. Not enough to hurt you, but just enough to dampen your…." he paused, grinning at his victory, "skills." Frowning, she tried to change, focusing on the image of a lion in her head like Thranduil had taught her when she was young, but the change wasn't occurring. Confusion bubbled inside her. I've done this a thousand times why not now? She focused harder but nothing was happening. Something heavy felt like it was dragging her down preventing her from changing. Ascar laughed at her.

"Welcome to the world of mortal men." he whispered before strutting away.

Nymeria turned her back on him curling up in the corner of the cage so she could watch the dwarves wake up. Most of them except Thorin and Kili had. She watched him slowly stir, Kili lifted his hand to his head moaning. Nymeria could barely retain her excitement.

"Kili, Kili!" she whispered desperately, banging lightly on the bars trying to draw his attention. She longed to go to him, the urge was so strong she was pushing her whole body against the bars. Shoving her hand through the little square of space between the bars as far as it would go. Muttering he looked up at her first puzzled, but then recognition dawned on him. A grin broke across his face like the rising sun. He reached for her straining against his own bonds, their fingers barely touched. Nymeria could feel the space between their fingers hum with energy, filled with their longing for each other. Please, I need him please gods. She pushed against the cold metal bars. At last they touched, barely, not even enough to hold hands but for now it was enough.

"Nymeria, oh thank Durin you're alright," he murmured, "Look at what they've done to you the bastards."

"It's not the worst they could have done. They could have killed you. I worried you were dead when they captured you," she whispered, only vaguely aware of the other dwarves, most of whom were watching the exchange filled with shock at the sight.

"But still, they cage you like an animal."

"We will escape, I am sure of that. Either Gandalf will find us or we will find a way out. Did they take your weapons?" Kili nodded to a box attached to the bench that the horse driver would have sat on. It was filled with weapons. Thanatos and Nymeria's knife lay on top of the pile.

"Oi! What are you doin?!" a harsh voice called from the group of men. Nymeria pulled her hand back into the cage, she twisted her neck so that she looked straight at him.

"I'm plotting how long I'm going to take when I kill you," she hissed. Fear filled his face and the others around him shrank away from her.

"Ooo, the cat has claws," Ascar laughed from his seat, "Gentlemen do not allow this little bird to scare you. That's all her race ever was, all bark and no bite I mean." he lifted his gaze to meet her eye, "That's why they're all dead." The words stung like acid. She looked back to Kili. He and the other dwarves practically oozed their pity for her. She couldn't stand it, curling up she balanced her head on her knees hiding her face. She knew she wouldn't cry, her people didn't cry over such things, I am made of harder stuff. Such a feeling of sadness and hopelessness filled her like rocks in her stomach. The clouds above moaned and began to loose their own tears. Lifting her head she let the cold water roll down her face. These will be my tears.

It rained through the night. The men fell asleep in their tents, the dwarves huddled together to keep warm. The cage had done little to keep the rain out, her coat was soaked. Most of the fur was wet and settled in the cold rather than the warm. When she woke to the rising sun she couldn't stop her shaking, Kili kept on looking at her and analyzing the cage for faults but she knew he wouldn't find any.

"Gendrig give her your blanket," Ascar ordered the young man who had carried her into the camp. The boy looked at her apprehensively, but he obviously feared Ascar more. It was beyond any doubt in her mind that the boy did not enjoy what they were doing, it was all just following orders. The lock clicked and the door swung open, Gendrig carefully helped her arms through the jacket so that the sleeves rested on the chains. She heard him gasp at the sight of her mostly healed whip marks and burn. His touch was even tenderer as he tucked the blanket over her shuddering body. Nymeria's hand shot out and wrapped itself in his shirt pulling him close to her. She listened to his heartbeat jump into hysteria.

"Gendrig!" one of the men shouted.

"I am the defender that will always come to your aid, or I am the monster that tears your world to pieces, the one that your mother warns you of." she whispered, "It's your choice who I am." The man wrenched Gendrig from her grasp, thrusting his sword point under her chin.

"Nymeria! Get away from her!" Kili shouted. The man and Gendrig backed away slowly before locking the cage again. As the men loaded their horses they watched her out of the corners of their eyes. Soon all the horses were packed and they were preparing, but the dwarves had not been touched. Will they leave them for the wolves? But as Ascar climbed into his saddle he noticed Nymeria's frantic behavior.

"Don't worry my dear," he called from his black stallion, "We're bringing your friends with us." Two of the men untied the end of two ropes which had six dwarves tied to each rope. They dragged them to their horses, they tied two dwarves to each horse leaving their feet free.

"You don't expect them to…" Nymeria gasped.

"I've heard that dwarves are particularly resilient people. I believe this will be an interesting test," Ascar smirked.

"Please, leave him out of this."

"Who? The one you coddled last night? No, he is not negotiable."

"No, I don't care for that one, he means nothing to me," the lies cut her throat as she said them, "I mean him," she pointed to Bilbo. The poor hobbit almost had to hold his hands over his head to keep the rope loose.

"Is this choosing another lover over your dearest?" Ascar baited.

"He is a hobbit, not a dwarf. Unless your men feel like dragging a corpse you would not make him run."

"It will cost you."

"I'm willing to pay. What is it?"

"Oh that's to be decided later, my sweet," he sniggered, "However he will not ride with you," he finished stalking away. But sure enough Bilbo was moved and thrown over a horse's back like he was a blanket.

"Move!" Ascar shouted, his stallion was bound by no dwarves so he set the pace at a fast canter. The dwarves were jerked into a run, Bombur stumbled and nearly fell to the ground. Growling, she could barely contain her anger. The cart rattled along on the road. The eldest man drove it, Gendrig's horse dragged Kili and Fili behind him. Turning she loomed up behind the cart driver.

"You think this just?" she asked, "Trapping innocent travelers? Your age would suggest a wisdom that would fight this." the man showed no signs of hearing her.

"He can't hear you," Gendrig called, "That's why he drives the cart. Yoren lost his hearing long ago. He's immune to your poisonous words."

"Persuasion and poison are similar. Common sense and poison could not be further apart," she hissed. The dwarves were struggling to keep up. Kili was stumbling, barely keeping his footing. Ascar, however, continued his gallop without any care. Anger boiled inside her, such ignorance had been seen before in the eyes of the elves when more unseemly creatures had come seeking aid.

"You have to stop!" she shouted standing. Ascar continued, not acknowledging her presence.

"I know you can hear me!" she banged on the bars creating as much racket as she could, "They can't keep going like this! You monster!" At this he stopped wrenching his horse around. The dwarves collapsed at the sudden stop.

"Oh that is rich coming from you! You claim you have no connection to them and yet you vouch for them. Especially this one!" Kili had been trying to remain standing and appear tough even though she knew his muscles ached and cried. Ascar forced Kili to his knees and shoved the tip of his knife under Kili's chin. Nymeria tried to keep her face neutral, she checked on Fili hoping he could come to his brother's aid, but he was being held back by his tie to Gendrig's horse. Nymeria was on her own.

"I wasn't lying. I care nothing for him." Kili's eyes filled with anger and betrayal. It felt like someone had shoved a knife into her heart and was twisting the blade.

"Then I guess…I have no further need for him," Ascar pulled back the blade to slit Kili's throat. Any attempt to fight the cry that escaped her then was void. It was pure instinct, the animal inside her saw its mate in trouble and was not going to sit idly and loose him. Her hands flew to the bars and curled into tight claws.

Ascar's face contorted into a malicious grin. Her heart only stopped its frantic drumbeat when Ascar removed his blade.

"See gentlemen?" he asked pointing his knife at Nymeria, "The strength of a woman shall always fail when her lover is on the line." Nymeria looked to Kili. His face was caught between hurt and relief, but she could not escape Thorin's glare. His eyes darted from Kili to Nymeria fury for Kili and contempt for Nymeria. Ascar quickly mounted his horse and set off again, but this time at a light trot. The dwarves on had to jog to keep up. Nymeria curled up again, her back to Kili and the other dwarves. Disgust filled her inside, disgust and hate, most of it to herself. Everything was ruined, her love with Kili would no doubt be ended now.

Nymeria was barely aware of the time passing. When night fell the men quickly lit a fire and tied the dwarves to the same posts as their horses. After they ate the men came striding back. Ascar was smiling, and the other men giggled and snickered, gathering like they were about to see a show.

"Now I can only imagine how thirsty you must be," Ascar gloated shaking a canteen full of water, "And I have a way for you to get a drink. We're going to play a game." The dwarves grunted and glared at him, clearly suspicious of his true intents. "However our fair lady here will not be able to come to your aid." Thorin and Dwalin were untied from their posts and were pulled into the ring the men had formed with their bodies.

"For the winner of our games!" Ascar shouted lifting the canteen high over his head as he stood on the seat for the cart driver. "Let's see who's stronger," he smirked into Nymeria's face.

"We will not fight each other!" Thorin protested.

"You will," Ascar snarled, "Unless you want your companions to starve." Grinding his teeth Thorin launched himself at Dwalin, almost knocking the dwarf to the ground. Soon blows were being exchanged. The fight was short, two of the men dragged the dwarves off of each other quickly retying their bonds. "Not as entertaining as I had hoped but I'll keep my word," Ascar tossed the canteen to Thorin who began dictating how the water would be divided amongst the dwarves. Ascar crouched in front of Nymeria bringing his face close to hers. "Now I'm going to collect my payment."

"What is it?"

"Information sweet, knowledge is power." Nymeria remained silent not looking at him, she feared the questions might be hidden in his eyes. "Who are they?" he asked,

"Dwarves," Nymeria replied,

"Names sweet, I need names. Who is their leader?"

"This information is not mine to give."

"And yet you bought something with it. You bought the hobbit's life. If you don't pay properly I will make it as if the deal was never made."

"Thorin Oakensheild," she whispered.

"Was that so hard?" he questioned before finally parting and making for his tent.

"Aren't we going to feed her?" Gendrig asked chasing after Ascar.

"The Lovari can last longer without food and water than dwarves." Their conversation continued into endless chatter and Nymeria allowed the voices to drift about around her head like a group of gnats. Sadness hung on her tight and constricting. It was weighing her down like her chains. They chafed her wrists and ankles, she wanted them off. Off repulsive things off! She pulled at the cuffs trying to tear them off. She pulled and pulled but they held fast. Then she tried changing her shape but the lead certainly prevented that. At last she gave up, a sob escaped her but no tears followed. She looked for Kili, his form was hard to pick out from the mass of bodies. He huddled next to Fili. Her heart grew heavy with longing. Inside she was glass, so close to shattering, and his touch would be the only thing that would hold her together.

"Kili," she whispered, "Kili, please answer me, don't desert me. I can't…" honestly she didn't know what she meant by "can't". Everything had always been certain and now nothing was. Her heart stopped as he turned.

"How many of those lies were the truth?" he asked, "Why should I trust you?" She hadn't expected such anger from him. The words burned like fire.

"No…I was trying to protect you," she begged, "Please." she shoved her hand through the small square space reaching for him. He continued to glare at her, she strained for him, pushing against the bars. His hard expression melted like snow into a soft, caring one. This time he was close enough to touch. Her hand clamped over his. She brought herself as close to eye level as she could. Lightly he kissed her hand and touched the tip of the cuff. His eyes flashed in anger.

"I'm going to get you out of here," he swore, "Even if I have to tear the world apart," Nymeria nodded not trusting her tongue to convey her feelings. Her eyes flicked to the men's camp where Gendrig sat guard. He was watching them almost curiously but he looked away when she caught his eye.

"We're being watched," she whispered. Kili sighed and kissed her hand again before letting go, his fingers leaving ghosts. She pulled her now dry coat on under the blanket before curling up on the straw unaware of just how exhausted she was. The darkness descended like a curtain.

She was woken by someone banging on her cage.

"Wakey, wakey!" the man shouted. Nymeria blinked sleep from her eyes. Gently she stretched her sore muscles. Everything ached and her hunger from before gnawed at her insides. Gendrig unlocked the cage canteen in hand. He offered it to her. Nymeria turned her head.

"Please," he whispered, "You need to drink." Nymeria kept her mouth tightly shut, not meeting his eye.

"Is she not drinking Gendrig?" one of the larger men asked climbing into the cage. Gendrig shook his head.

"It's fine, I've got it."

"Nonsense you can't reason with animals. If they won't do what you want them to you have to force them." The man's meaty claw clasped over her chin forcing her mouth open. Nymeria jerked her head away but his grip held firm. He nodded at Gendrig but the boy still clung to the canteen, unsure.

"Oh for god's sake Gendrig," the man complained snatching the canteen. He poured its contents down her throat. The water choked her throat, flooding her airway.

"Leave her alone!" Kili shouted straining against his bonds, "You bastards!"

The man released her leading Gendrig out of the cage and locking it. She fell to all fours, her body expelling the water in violent coughs. As the man and Gendrig passed Kili, he threw himself at them knocking into the larger man. The man punched Kili across the face, a small droplet of blood began leaking out of the dwarf's nose. Together they stared daggers at the man's back as he saddled his horse. Ascar approached her cart again, biting into an apple he smiled at her as the juice dribbled down his chin. Her stomach growled and groaned with longing for the fruit.

"Where are we going?" she demanded.

"Already making demands are we?" he asked standing close to the cage, just out of her reach he dangled the apple.

"I have a right to know," she tried to keep her eyes off the apple but its scent was tickling her nose.

"You do, but I'm the one with the key to your cage."

"Am I going to die where you are taking me?"

"That depends sweetling, on what he wants to do with you. I was sent out with these fine gents to capture you. My employer is paying a very nice price for you to be delivered alive," Ascar grinned then sauntered away. "Master Oakenshield will ride with me, one leader to another." Thorin was quickly moved and tied to the back of Ascar's horse. The day passed uneventfully along the road. The trees and bushes all blurred together the sound of horse hoofs became monotonous to the point where it was like breathing.

The muscles in Kili's legs were screaming. They had been screaming for the past few days. Everything since their rescue by the eagles seemed like a bad dream. He had been taken captive, pushed to the edge of his physical exertion, and tied up like an animal. The worst part was when Nymeria had denied her love for him and only repenting when his life was in danger. The words still lingered, a knife in his back. If it was really that easy for her to deny it, who was to say it ever existed? On top of everything their secret was out. Thorin hadn't spoken to him since, the other dwarves had been slightly more accepting, but Thorin had shut his youngest nephew out completely.

Then there was that demon Ascar. He treated Nymeria both like an animal and an intelligent being. She was worth something that's why they took such better care of her. But it did not escape the other men how beautiful she was. Kili caught their lingering glances filled with male hunger. This fueled his need to protect her even further. Kili couldn't control himself, he tensed every time one of them walked close to the cage. His eyes catalogued Nymeria's condition: she was thinner, her scar was more pronounced than ever. Her eyes had sunken into their sockets, dark angry circles filled the space beneath them, but the feral ferocity in her eyes was more present than ever. He could see it; the beast was in charge. The fear that pervaded before was gone. Now he wanted to hold her and release her from her chains.

"Easy there lover boy," a voice taunted. The speaker was the largest most brutish man. Kili had seen him eyeing Nymeria several times. "You're not gonna be able to stand in the way when I make my move so don't fool yourself into thinking you can." Kili remained silent, glaring at him, flames of anger cooked inside him. "We'll reach our destination by tomorrow afternoon, so I hope you'll enjoy watching your girly over there become mine for a night," the man sniggered. The fire was now a blaze fueling his anger, he changed his course running to the man, shouting obscenities. His rope was taught, tightening around his wrists. The boy Gendrig did nothing to stop him. Kili felt Fili's arms knock against him trying to push his raging brother back as the man drew his sword.

"Kili! Kili! Get a hold of yourself!" he shouted, trying to protect his brother from the butt of the sword. Kili stared the man down, challenging him, the man twisted the sword and swung the blade at his head. Kili braced for the blow still shouting, but something bright flashed and Gendrig's sword was crossed with the other man's.

"Keep your business to yourself. There is no need to share your disgusting desires with others," Gendrig growled sheathing his sword. Surprise filled the man's face; he sheathed his sword and shrugged urging his horse further up the path. Kili looked to Nymeria, she was turning away but caught his eye and smiled.

"What were you thinking?" Fili hissed.

"That man intends to do her harm," Kili stated simply, "I'm not going to let him get close enough to even touch her."

"How do you intend to do that?" Fili held up his hands.

"It doesn't matter he won't touch her."

"What matters is that you don't get yourself killed. You'll do more damage dead. Have faith that Nymeria can handle herself." Kili grunted and glared at the man's back. He heard the truth and wisdom in his brother's words but his anger was hard to control. Instead he focused on his steps. Pounding his feet into the ground he imagined the dirt path was the man's face.

The path began slanting up as the sun was setting. Ascar called for halt and for camp to be made. Some of the men went hunting and returned with a deer carcass. They began cooking some of the meat. The smell woke the monster Kili's hunger had become. It growled loudly raking its terrible claws through his body. He groaned, putting his hand over his stomach hoping that would quiet the beast. It did little, in fact it reminded him of his thirst as well. The water last night had done him good but now his throat felt like sandpaper. The men rose and followed Ascar like a parade procession. Ascar carried a large raw haunch of meat. The dwarves as Ascar entered the cage with one other man. The man drew his sword as he neared Nymeria. She backed away, pressing herself into the corner of the cage. She, like Kili, was watching only the sword.

"I've been reading," Ascar began lazily, "The texts say that the Lovari can become any creature they wish and they are extremely powerful." He dangled the raw steak at arm's length. "You must be hungry," he tossed the still bloody thing halfway across the cage. It landed on the wood with a wet smack.

"This is raw," Nymeria protested, disgusted by the thing.

"Well you could eat it if you changed your shape. You could also feed your friends if you change." Nymeria held up her hands shaking them so the chains clinked. "That can be changed. Now, a wolf should be able to eat something like this raw without any issue right?" Disgust and contempt filled Nymeria's eyes but she still held out her hands. The man with the sword pulled some keys from his pocket and unlatched each cuff from her hands. There were deep red bands around her wrists where the cuffs were. She then pulled her legs out from under her and held them out for him to unlock them. Her ankles were in the same condition.

"Monsters, despicable every one of them," Kili whispered. Nymeria slipped Bofur's coat off. Some of the men issued cat calls and howls. Kili tried to ignore them, but each sound was an insult to her. It felt wrong to stand so idly by. He remembered his brother's words from earlier and bit his tongue to keep silent. Nymeria bent onto all fours and the change began, but this time it was slow. Not fast and fluid like it had always been before. Her face narrowed and elongated, silver fur sprouted from her skin covering her entire body, each feature became more and more animal until the only part that revealed the woman inside were her eyes, still full with disgust and hatred. The man placed his sword close to her neck as soon as the change was complete. Ascar watched with a kind of sick fascination. She stalked toward the piece of meat. With a snarl she snapped it in her jaws, tossing it into the air before catching it, she pinned it with her paw and tore into the meat blood stained her fur around her muzzle. Ascar laughed and clapped his hands.

"Such power!" he cried. Nymeria finished and slunk back into her corner becoming human again. The man sheathed his sword and put her shackles back on. Her mouth was covered with the blood, some of it dripped off her chin and rolled down her neck. Ascar left the cage and signaled the old man who handed Thorin several strips of cooked meat.

"That was an entertaining way to end our time together," Ascar declared, "After all tomorrow you will meet your new master." Kili checked on Nymeria but she was curled up again her back to him. Her body shook with sobs that made no sound. He looked up to the overcast clouds. It matches her. We will see her sadness but we will not see her cry.