It seemed to go on forever as we walked for days, most of us delirious and starting to run out of water. Days turned into weeks as we seemed lost in the forest. I was lost in my own mind, the dizziness taking effect and I stumbled over my own feet for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"Need water..." I mumbled. Suddenly I saw a stream and apparently the others did too, rushing to it. In the depths of my mind, I knew not to touch it, but I couldn't bring that part to the surface.

"Don't drink it!" Thorin yelled, but Bombur had already taken a sip and fallen into deep sleep.

We had to carry him the rest of the way, where we had lost the path. Everyone was disoriented and suddenly there were giant spiders coming at us from every direction. I couldn't fight for long, and soon everything was black.

I only woke when Kili tore a hole in the thick webbing covering all of us. I gasped for air and he helped me up, putting my sword in my hand as we saw the giant spiders coming back.

We fought hard, until the elves arrived. They killed the spiders efficiently, then captured all of us. I was taken to the front of the group, away from Kili, right behind Thorin.

"I know you hate Thranduil, but remember, don't let your past prejudices and greed take hold, we will need allies more than enemies." I whispered to Thorin on the way in, and he cursed in Khuzdul, obviously not liking what I was telling him.

The elves immediately took the others to the dungeons and separated Thorin and I from the group.

We were taken directly to Thranduil, who was sitting on his throne, watching our every move. His eyes widened as he saw me.

"Thorin, son of Thrain, what brings a company of dwarves trespassing on my land?" Thranduil asked, standing tall.

"That is none-" Thorin began but I cut him off.

"We were on the elven road, but we lost the path. We had run low on water and became confused, delirious. We did not mean to trespass." I spoke to the king, and Thorin just looked at me with a glare. I sent him back one as well.

"And who might you be? Curious for a girl to be traveling amongst 13 males. Perhaps you are among them as entertainment?" I could feel my rage surfacing at his comment, not caring if he became an ally at the moment or not.

"Excuse me?" I asked, venom laced in my voice.

"There are so few women amongst dwarves, I just thought perhaps they might share you." Thranduil said with wicked smile. If looks could kill, he would be dead on the spot.

"How dare you speak to a lady in such a way! Especially one of my personal council, have you no honor at all?!" Thorin yelled out in rage. I was still seeing red. If he wanted to treat me this way, then I would let Thorin say whatever he needed to say.

"Do you not think I know about this quest of yours? There are gems in the mountain, precious to my kind. I offer my help, if you but give me what is rightfully mine." Thranduil said to him.

"A favor for a favor?" Thorin responded.

"From one King to another." Thranduil replied.

"I would not trust Thranduil, the great king, to honor his word, should the end of all days be upon us!" Thorin yelled, loud enough for it to echo in the halls. Thranduil looked at him, furious. "You, lack all honor! I have seen how you treat your friends! We came to you once, starving, homeless; seeking your help. But you turned your back! You turned away from the suffering of my people and the inferno that destroyed us!"

"Do not speak to me of dragon fire!" Thranduil yelled, leaning down to Thorin letting his façade fade away to see the ruin underneath. "I have seen its ruin! I have faced the great serpents of the North! I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon but he would not listen. You are just like him." He spat, stepping back towards his throne, the damage on his face returning to normal. "Stay here if you will and rot, a hundred years is but a blink in the life of an elf. I'm patient. I can wait."

The guards came and gathered Thorin who was yelling in Khuzdul the entire time. However they left me.

"Royal council, yes? Tell me, how did you come by that position?" Thranduil asked me and I glared at him.

"What is it to you?" I spat at him.

"Mere curiosity. You seem to be of value to him. Perhaps you can convince him to return what is mine?" Thranduil said, calculating.

"And why would I help you, after what you've just implied about me?" I argued, still impossibly angry.

"I will let you dwell on your answer, in the meantime you will be escorted to the guest chambers." He said with indifference.

"No. I will stay with my family." I said confidently. His eyebrow rose as he looked at me.

"Very well. Take her to the dungeons with her precious dwarves." Thranduil told the guards who escorted me.

Once I was down in the dungeons, they threw me in a cell and I landed on someone. I knew immediately who it was.

"Kili?" I asked as I climbed off him.

"Ari? Oh thank Mahal." He said, wrapping his arms around me. "Fee, they put her in my cell!" Kili shouted across the cavern to his brother. "What did they do to you?"

"Well first he implied some bad things about me, then Thorin told him off, then they took Thorin away and he asked me some questions that I didn't answer and he offered me to stay in the guest chambers and I declined." I told him simply.

"What?! Why would you decline? You could have been safe!" He asked hurriedly.

"I told him that I'd rather be with my family." I told him honestly. It seemed to shut him up as he looked at me with an unreadable expression.

"Did he offer you a deal?" I heard Balin ask Thorin.

"He did. I told him he could go ishkh khakfe andu null. Him and all his kin!" Thorin replied, loudly. (Loosely translated to 'I defecate on your head and the heads of all his kin' -Don't take me up on the actual translation, just a rough one.)

"Well that's it then, a deal was our only hope." Balin said sadly.

I need some more reviews, my loves. I have no drive to write when I have no reviews :/ So please help a tired mum out by giving her some confidence?