Dwalin muttered great curses under his breath as he stomped down the narrow hallway of the dungeons. He shoved the key into the lock and rattled the cell door loudly, clanging it open. "Yer free ta go," he growled.

Captain Skamik, his arms hanging loosely from the cell bars, looked at him. He studied him quietly before speaking - his eyes almost boring into Dwalin. "What changed your mind?" he asked thoughtfully. His mouth held a slight smile.

"Ye know what," Dwalin grunted in return. He returned the hard stare just as leveled.

"Do I?"

Dwalin glared at him - he was in no mood to put up with the the dwarf and the others. "I have no time for yer tricks. Just get out."

"Dwalin, I swear-" He held up his hands to emphasize his innocence. "I have no idea how we were pardoned. We've been shut in here for days without any visitors..." He let himself trail off. "I mean, unless Thorin showed up and reprimanded his poor team, I have no clue how this happened."

He didn't believe him - hell, he didn't trust him.

The dwarf continued. "Was it Thorin or did Dain - back home - catch wind of us being imprisoned?" He looked at Dwalin, clearly expecting an answer

"Which is it?" Captain Kpuar prompted when the other did not reply with words but only a hard glare.

"Ye know which. Get out."

Captain Skamik scoffed, glancing at Kpuar then back at the other being. "Dwalin, seriously. We grew up together. I never knew you didn't trust me."

Dwalin's hand tigtened to a fist around the iron bars of the cell. "Come on," he growled impatiently. "I got somewhere to be."

"I thought you and your lovely were split up," Kpuar countered.

He did a double take and felt his blood begin to boil. How dare these two know of the private relations he and Ori had. He didn't reply again, only shifted to his other foot.

"Dwalin, you're not one to keep secrets - for your king maybe, but he is not here." Skamik scrutinized Dwalin, hoping his old friend would cave under his eyes. "Tell me, did someone out there finally discover us?"

It took all of Dwalin's might not to step over the threshold of the cell and strangle the dwarf. He would not divulge what really happened. They knew fully well what happened - what was sent to the armory during Dwalin's shift. They knew of the note that threatened both princes' lives.

"Get out," he said in return.

Skamik and the others - without another word - left the cells and followed Bofur out of the dungeons.

Dwalin watched them leave. He pulled the note that had been delivered to him an hour before and read it again.

I know what you've done. You do not follow through, there will be consequences.

Release Captain Skamik and the others or I will make an attempt on Prince Fili's life. There will be blood and gore. He cannot be spared once I am through with him. As for Prince Kili, I promise you it will be far worse than mere poison.

Dwalin tucked the piece of paper back in his pocket and closed the cell doors.

Dis sat in the common room of Dyla and Stonehelm's quarters. She and the girl had been visiting each other frequently since that one day Dis dropped by for tea. She knew Fili and the others wouldn't approve of her being in such close quarters with Dyla and so often at that, but the girl seemed so lonely in being cut off from the other people and her brother was always indisposed.

Dis just felt a little sorry for her. She scoffed quietly to herself - she could almost hear Fili disapproving greatly.

She smiled at the girl and poured the tea. "So, how is your brother, dear? I haven't seen much of him lately."

"Oh, he's keeping busy," she replied smoothly. She pulled the cup close, taking in its warmth. "For the past several weeks, he's been meeting with a dwarf from Esgorath. He says the man wants to bring his family to Erebor for a permanent home." She pretended to gush about the good deeds her brother was doing. "So, since my brother has the respect around here, he's helping him find work and I think, today, shelter."

"That is wonderful," Dis voiced with equal enthusiasm as Dyla. Then she scoffed to herself again. "Here I thought perhaps... oh, but it's quite silly now."

Dyla's patiently waiting smile urged her to continue.

"I thought shady things were happening, you know. Mysterious stuff." Dis looked down at her own cup, afraid to meet the girl's eyes. Poor things, they had been accused of so much in the short time that they had been here. And she feared she just made matters worse.

But despite her fears, Dyla laughed. "No, I thinks it's safe to say those days are over."

Dis looked up at her - curiously.

"I mean-" she coughed. She tried to compose herself and carry on smoothly. "I think he's grown out of his youth. He's now a man. A man who wants to aid others journey here."

"Ah, yes," Dis nodded. "Good man, your brother."

"Thank you," Dyla smiled sweetly - the perfect cover for her fraud.

That night, just as the sun started to set, Stonehelm found himself leaning against the far wall outside of the stables at the edge of the mountain. He had a new proposition for Brilin in which he mentioned two days ago.

"Who shall I give it to?" Brilin asked. He looked down at the paper scribbled with words blankly; he could not read.

"Slide it under the armory door, two days from now, at about midday," Stonehelm replied thoughtfully. "I've been studying the schedules and I know who will be there."

"If it ain't him, sir?"

"No, Mister Dwalin is very punctual - despite his looks." He watched the dwarf nod and stuff the paper into his coat. "Now, Brilin. I wish to discuss something with you."

The other looked at him.

"Another time, yes, for we've run out of it today," he continued. "New plan, new pay. What do you say?"

"A'course, my lord. Where? When?"

"Two days, at the stables at the edge of the mountain. At dusk."

"Yes, sir. Aye, sir."

"After you've delivered the message," he said, giving a leveled glare to the other.

"Yes, sir."

He tapped his foot impatiently. His eyes darted around the field. The last few workers trudging back into the stables with their lagging horses in tow, but no sign of Brilin. Nothing!

It now had been at least an hour since their scheduled time to meet had past and he still wasn't anywhere in sight. Stonehelm grumbled to himself and stalked away. The dwarf's pay would be cut in half for his huge lack of keeping time.

A white piece of paper with simple scrawled hand-writing on a woven basket at the turn of the corner of the stable caught his eye. He frowned, looking around to see if perhaps someone left it behind on accident.

But no one was in sight.

He picked it up and began to read. His heart plummeted down to his feet before beating erratically as soon as he read the first line. His throat ran dry and a cold sweat broke out on his upper lip. He had a strong sense he was being watched.

I know what you've done. I will not be so kind next time. Consider this a warning. I suggest you put your petty threats to rest. It's not worth it. I know what you're doing.

Stonehelm - able to get back his normal heart beat and body temperature - scoffed. This was clearly nothing serious. Simply just someone's own petty threat that sure as heck wasn't going to be followed through. He tossed the paper aside, his lip curling at the writer's foolish thinking that he'd actually believe those words. He lifted the basket lid and jumped back - a strangled scream leaving his throat.

There, staring back at him, open-mouthed, eyes rolled back into the head without a body was Brilin.

Just thought I'd stop in and say hi :)