The blade never struck and Thorin looked up to find Fili staring at him with no emotion in his eyes with the dagger hanging loosely at his side. Not realising he had been holding his breath, Thorin exhaled; his heart thumping harder against his chest. His breaths were fast and sharp, as though he had been held underneath water for an excruciatingly long time, brought up to the surface then plunged back into the icy depths again.

Dain burned holes at Fili, "What are you doing?!" he began but Fili over spoke him without turning.

"I will not harm him- here" Fili stated just as Dain was about to interject. The older dwarf paused; his mouth opened wide about to speak, "We will take him and the rest back to Erebor, to let all see that Thorin Oakenshield has been overcome. They will be disheartened when they see their King weak and unable to protect them."

Thorin's heart sank. Dain's eyes narrowed at Fili but a cruel smirk formed on his face.

After a minute of contemplating Dain barked with laughter and patted Fili on the back, "I like your thinking! Excellent idea! Why didn't I think of that? Cast the King down in front of his own people? HA! Well done Fili, well done!"

"Also, we shall take Dwalin's body. His brother Balin will not believe him to be dead otherwise."

Dain had walked away, holding his jaw and deep in thought. At Fili's words he flaffed his hand dismissively and nodded, "Fine, fine, whatever you want."

At the very back of the hall, Orloph had been watching unnoticed and felt sick to his stomach. He wiped the sweat from his face with trembling hands and listened intently. He looked at Thorin and felt a wave of guilt and pity wash over him and he tore his eyes away, unable to cope with what he had helped scheme.

Brightness grew in Dain's eyes suddenly and he turned quickly to face the others, "We shall leave tomorrow!" Fili's head jerked back at him, "Roloph! Prepare your guards; select our finest ponies and wagons. Gather supplies of weapons and food!" Roloph bowed and immediately instructed his guards.

Thorin didn't have time to think; he was pulled up from his knees and trailed towards the large brown double doors, "FILI! FILI! Don't do this! Please! FILI!" Thorin voice was weak; the sound of pain that came from him was heart wrenching. The tears fell from his eyes powerlessly as he was dragged away, screaming for his nephew.

Fili did not look at Thorin but stared out the window that showed the beautiful sky outside. He could hear his uncle's voice fading down the corridor until finally it could be heard no more. The others were taken away, this time without a fight and it was then that Fili's attention turned to Dwalin lying on the floor.

Blood was still seeping from his wounds and his eyes lay still underneath his eyelids. Fili looked away quickly and walked out of the room where he entered. Dain had not noticed but stood on the higher level mumbling to himself while his eyes jerked here and there as though he was mapping a plan deep in his mind.

Orloph found discovered he was in the room with two guards and Dain. He was just about to quietly retreat and as he turned and tore his eyes away, his heart gave a quick jolt of surprise. He looked back; his eyes wide and suddenly without thinking about it, he was walking towards Dain. The two guards eyed him suspiciously but remained silent. Dain was pacing backwards and forwards expressing an excitement of that of a child getting their first wooden sword when Orloph cleared his throat.

"My Lord?"

Dain looked up and clearly was not expecting to be addressed by Orloph, "What is it boy?"

The teenager gulped and fumbled with the buttons on his tunic, "I was wondering, well, I was hoping, if it is possible... I could take the body of- of that- that dwarf, Dwalin?"

Dain stopped moving and eyed Orloph warily, "And why would you want his body? We will be taking him with us tomorrow."

"Well, you see my Lord, Dwalin was exceedingly cruel to me during the journey and I said to myself I would get my revenge" Orloph looked down with a dark gleam in his eyes, "Now that he's dead, I never got the chance to fulfil my wish."

Comprehension dawned on Dain and he smiled, "I understand completely. You have done me well and you have been useful and loyal to me. But what would you do to a body already dead?"

"Many things my Lord; mainly experiments. If you grant it, I promise I will send his body to Erebor. I will join too."

Dain thought for a long moment and never did his eyes stray from the young dwarf, "Very well. You can take Dwalin's body but do not touch the face. This brother of his will need the proof of his deceased brother" he finished with an evil gleam in his eyes and turned.

Orloph bowed and the two guards that stood nearby picked Dwalin up and took him to Orloph's quarters; a smile curling in the teenagers lips as he hurried them along.


Thorin was pushed viciously into a cell. His strength went out beneath him due to his physical pain and his grief but before he could even hit the ground he was grabbed by the scruff of the neck. Thorin didn't even try to resist. The guard dragged him to the middle of the cell while the other was fumbling about with something that made a clicking sound.

After a minute or so, the guard who already had a grip on him, sawed his dagger through the rope bounding Thorin's wrists and roughly pushed them to the front of his body. The other guard grabbed Thorin's hands and pulled him sharply forwards, directing his hands up into the air.

Thorin finally looked up; his eyes red raw, watery and dull. He noticed manacles hanging from the ceiling and suddenly the coldness of them were clasped around his wrists. Although his wrists reached the manacles, they were still quite high, causing his body to stretch uncomfortably. Thorin groaned at the pain in his side due to his broken rips. The guards then turned to leave but just before they left the cell, one turned around and swung his arm back; fist clenched and with such force, punched Thorin in the stomach.

Thorin's breath was taken from him. His head fell forward and his hands bawled into fists as though that gesture could help him endure the pain. He had absolutely nowhere to go. It was impossible because the links the manacles were attached to gave limited movement to however was imprisoned in them. If he tried, he could possibly take one step forwards, backwards and on both sides but that was it.

After the pain subsided down to a throbbing sensation, Thorin tried to breathe again but it was excruciatingly hard. His ribs felt like a dozen daggers were embedded underneath his skin, painfully poking at his lungs. His breathing became struggled; heightening his pain. He closed his eyes tight and gritted his teeth.

Just then, loud sounds erupted in the distance that took Thorin's mind off his pain for just a second. To his surprise and relief, Bofur, Nori and Oin were marched into the cell opposite him; their bounds removed along with the dirty cloths covering their mouths. Bofur's eyes widened in horror when he noticed Thorin. The guards left them, cruelly laughing at them and joking.

"Thorin!" he shouted and ran up to the bars of his cell, "Thorin!"

Thorin tried to smile but he couldn't. He tried to respond but found that even talking was just as hard. Oin and Nori quickly stood beside Bofur, looking at her King with sympathy and worry. Oin looked Thorin over; noticing the deep bruising and swelling on his face deciding a bone fracture, no doubt. His eyes found the deep red blood and yellow staining on his shirt, infection, he thought.

"Thorin, look at me" Oin spoke calmly; a shock opposite to Thorin's panicked sharp breaths. Thorin looked at Oin.

"Mm-my r-ribs!" he said and something in Bofur's chest tightened hearing Thorin's voice crack. He had never heard him sound so vulnerable. Nori stared on anxiously.

"He has broken ribs" Oin stated as though talking to himself. He bit his lip wondering what on earth he could to help Thorin.

"I- can- I can't breathe!" a sob sounded in Thorin's throat and he inhaled sharply as tears fell down his face. He thought of Fili staring at him with cold eyes he had never known before; like a stranger. The hatred in those piercing blue eyes stabbed deeper than any dagger on this earth. His mind then turned to Dwalin and he cried harder; his best friend, his rock during hard times, his companion, his brother, gone. They were all gone; everyone he had ever loved.

"Thorin, look at me. Look at me" Oin's voice was soothing with a hint of authority; a sound that assured those he treated knew what he was doing, "Keep still. Now, try and go on your tip toes" he said.

Thorin did as he was told and it did reduce the amount of stretching but just a fraction; enough to help him breathe a little easier. But he knew as well as the others he couldn't stay on his tip toes forever.

"We are heading for Erebor tomorrow Thorin. You won't stay in those manacles for long" Bofur tried to comfort him but knew his words meant nothing. None of them could do a thing but watch helplessly from their cell as their King, their friend, suffered terribly.


Orloph left his quarters not long after the guards had settled Dwalin's body on top of his bed. He felt sick to his stomach at the thought of what had occurred and how he could be killed for what he was doing. Either way, I'll be killed anyway, he thought nervously as he turned sharply around a corner and pounded on a door with his fist.

He stepped back and looked up and down the corridor when the door swung open. He jerked his head back and smiled half heartedly at the woman who stared back at him, clearly upset with his ferocious knocking.

"Was there any need for that Orloph? I was resting!" she scolded

"I'm sorry-!

"You should be. I just finished a night shift-"

"I need your help!" Orloph stated suddenly and the woman then realised how nervous he was.

"Are you alright?"

"No. I mean- yes, I'm okay-!

"It's Dain isn't it? He's threatened you again!"

"No, this is about Thorin!" he finished in a whisper. The woman's eyes widened and she directed her attention to the top and bottom of the corridor. She stepped back further into her quarters and flicked her head for Orloph to enter, "Get in."

"I can't stay and I can't explain fully. Grab your tools and come with me!" Orloph instructed as he walked in quickly.

"Orloph-"

"Please Gorwyn!" he begged.

"Alright! What do you want me to do with Thorin?" Gorwyn asked as she grabbed her bag and threw tools and equipment into it, looking back at her brother every so often who seemed to be bouncing on his toes. His pale blue eyes stared at her intensely.

"Before Thorin, I have another job for you."


Hours upon hours it had seemed passed by ever so slowly. Nori had fallen asleep ages ago and was lying curled up in the corner snoring away. Oin sat with his back against the bars with his chin resting on his chest; half in and out of sleep and mumbling incomprehensible words Bofur could not understand.

Bofur was the only one awake, well, trying to stay awake. His forehead rested between two bars as he overlooked the stone path that split the opposite cells and was focusing on Thorin. Bofur's eyelids were growing heavier but he soon shook himself whenever he felt sleep taking hold of him.

Thorin was no longer on his tip toes but was hanging almost lifelessly against the manacles. Every so often he would try and adjust himself and stand fully but the ache in his feet and legs were getting to be so intolerable. His breathing was still struggled, much to the concern of Bofur, Oin and Nori but there was nothing that could be done.

His eyelids opened laboriously and his head lolled to one side; it was getting exhausting and the sweat now dripped from his whole body. The puss in his chest oozed thick and odorous from his chest, along with the blood. Pins and needles prickled irritably up and down his arms so he tried to move them but that only caused more pain.

"Hang in there Thorin" Bofur said quietly as he fought his urge to sleep. Thorin just about registered what he said and ironically laughed silently. Bofur; whether he tried to or not or whether he realised what he said, always lightened the mood.

A door in the distance opened and closed. Bofur, Oin and Nori sprang to life while Thorin grew tense but he had hardly any strength or energy to really care anymore.

Orloph came into view and Nori suddenly, without warning, grabbed the young dwarf by the throat and pulled him to the bars.

"You back stabbing little shit! I could kill you!"

"Nori!" Oin shouted and tried to pull Nori's arm back. Bofur watched closely, secretly not caring whether Nori throttled the teenager or not. Orloph tried to pull Nori's grip from his throat by the older dwarf was too strong, even though he was imprisoned for nearly a week without food and barely any water.

Out of nowhere a shiny sharp metal object was thrust towards Nori's face, "Release my brother if you know what is good for you!"

But Nori's grip only got tighter, "Or what? You'll kill me? Your brother betrayed us! And no doubt you did too!" Nori spat casting a furious glare at the woman.

"This rebellion or whatever it is has nothing to do with the people of the Iron Hills, sir! It is all Dain and if anyone disagrees, then it's our head! Now if you want me to heal Thorin, then I profoundly advise you to unhand my brother! We are risking our own necks just by being here! We are trying to help you!"

Nori stared at the woman suspiciously but Orloph could feel his grip loosen.

"Nori, she is here to help Thorin. Let the lad go."

Nori dropped his hand and glared at the two dwarves. The woman, unlike her brother, had deep green eyes that resembled the beauty of the grass that covered the very hills they were imprisoned in. Her light brown hair lay in curls; half pinned up with loose hairs falling over her face. Without another word, she turned and fumbled in her pocket and retrieved a large key.

Thorin only caught bits of what was going on for he suddenly found himself in and out of consciousness. In a far distance he heard his cell open and a pair of small, delicate hands touching his body. He didn't have the strength to react anymore, he just wanted to sleep.

Gorwyn's soft brown eyebrows knitted together causing her to have a troubled look. Orloph managed to free one of Thorin's wrists from the manacle; his body about to fall diagonally causing a pained cry to sound from his throat but arms wrapped around him and held him steady.

"We have to be quick!" Orloph said as he freed Thorin's other wrist.

They lay Thorin slowly and carefully to the ground as the three spectators from the other cell looked on nervously. Gorwyn moved her loose hair away from her face then opened Thorin's shirt to be met with a terrible infection.

"Shit" she breathed and immediately reached into her bag and received a vial of clear liquid, salt, a cloth and a large glass bottle of water.

"Is it bad?" Orloph asked as he studied Thorin's sweaty body then looked to his sister. She did not answer him immediately but poured the water into a container and stirred in the salt. She then soaked the cloth in her solution and squeezed the excess water out.

"It's bad enough to kill him" she said and started cleaning around the wounds where the red and inflamed skin was; washing away the blood and puss. Thorin jerked at the touch, "But it is treatable and I thankfully have never lost a patient yet" she said determinedly. She then wet her cloth again and began patting, so gently, on top of the wound, taking care not to scrape off the forming scabs.

She then took another cloth and soaked it like the first and this time, she applied a slight pressure on his wounds to excrete any puss left within. Thorin inhaled sharply and groaned.

"Orloph, take another cloth, wet it with the water and pat his face and neck with it."

Orloph obeyed while Gorwyn; happy that the puss was gone, reached for her vital of clear liquid.

Thorin felt the cold water run down his face and neck, cooling his hot skin. His eyes were half closed; his breathing sounded more smooth but still uneven. His chest ached but he was aware that someone was helping him, not hurting him and for the first time since he got here, her felt somewhat at ease.

Gorwyn soaked the tip of a third cloth with the clear liquid and patted it over Thorin's wounds. Satisfied with her work she dressed the chest wounds and got to work on his arm and ribs.

Bofur, Nori and Oin waited patiently in silence as the woman worked on Thorin for what seemed like forever. They constantly strained their ears to hear any sudden noise coming from the door to be ready to warn the siblings.

Finally, Gorwyn seemed to be finished and was pouring what looked like a blackish, thick solution into Thorin's mouth, then topped with a drink of water.

She looked regretfully at Thorin and spoke, "Orloph and I will have to put you in the manacles again." Thorin nodded and after a few minutes, found himself in that horrible standing position.

"Thank you" he managed to say through a whisper. Gorwyn smiled at him and he suddenly noticed how green her eyes were.

She followed her brother out of the cell and while Orloph locked up, she went over to the other dwarves and handed them food and water from her bag. They thanked her sincerely as she reached back into her bag and took out a few vials.

"I believe you are leaving for Erebor tomorrow?"

"Yes" Oin said and suddenly looked sad as he bit into the bread.

"I truly am sorry for what has happened but Thorin will survive his injuries. And with this," she held up a vial filled with black liquid, "will help with his fever. He will need this three times a day. I will give this to you."

Oin took it and nodded.

"This solution is for cleaning wounds and infections. If his wounds are damaged again or opened, pat some of this on it."

"How can we ever thank you?" Bofur asked, staring from the vials to the woman.

"You can thank my brother."

Orloph stood beside her and blushed ashamedly, "I truly am sorry for all of this. But I am on your side."

Nori looked away from the boy and studied his fingers; "If only Dwalin could have repressed his anger that little longer" he trailed off and stared at the floor.

Bofur and Oin stared at him then to Thorin, "Thorin will blame himself, I just know it."

Orloph bit his lip as he felt his sister's eyes on him.

"Do you know where Dain has taken his body?" Bofur asked quietly so Thorin could not overhear.

Orloph's eyes found Bofur's and he smiled, "Do not worry about Dwalin. I have everything sorted."