Chapter 25
There was some rumbling through the camp of dwarves early the next morning.
Apparently, while Fili slept restlessly, Kili, Nori, and Dwalin had returned back to the camp. They immediately found Gandalf, who had only appeared to be mildly perturbed by the fact that two dwarrowdams and dwarf lad accompanied them back to the camp.
Nori went with the dwarrowdams and the lad, leading them to a tent in order to get some rest. Kili and Dwalin took a still unconscious Vail to a separate tent.
Gandalf followed them in.
"Should we get Fili up?" Gandalf asked, glancing at the silent and bruised Vail. It was obvious that Dwalin had not been gentle with him during the trip.
Kili shook his head. "No. He hasn't been sleeping well. Vail won't be talking any time soon anyway."
"Very well," Gandalf said, watching as Dwalin tied up the former ambassador with jerky movements.
Dwalin only growled slightly, then commented, "Get some sleep yourself, Kili. I'll stand guard."
Kili nodded and then commented, "Very well. Send someone as soon as he awakes."
Dwalin nodded in understanding while Gandalf and Kili left the tent. Kili stifled a yawn. Gandalf only raised his eyebrows.
"I would like to be present while you question him." Gandalf told Kili. There was no room for argument. Plus, Kili was sure that Gandalf was handy in an interrogation.
Kili nodded and then commented, "As you wish."
Kili then headed off to his own tent. When he entered, he saw that Tauriel had pulled both of their cots together. They had not engaged in intercourse yet, but it was obvious that she very much wanted it from him. She was spooning his pillow. As soon as the flap of the tent door closed. She jerked awake, her flame colored hair splayed all around her, holding out one of her daggers. She dropped her defensive stance immediately as she recognized her love.
"Oh Kili." She opened her arms to him and he immediately went to her. He kissed her desperately, holding her to him tightly, and she returned the kiss in earnest before pulling back.
"I was worried." She whispered to him, her hand gently caressing his cheek.
He held her to himself tightly, spooning her gently against him as they both drifted slowly to sleep.
When Fili awoke the next morning, Bofur was waiting for him immediately outside the tent. Fili's hair was messier than usual, and he looked more drawn and pale than he'd ever seen the lad. This entire ordeal was beginning to take it's toll on him.
Fili raised his eyebrows at Bofur in question. Bifur was also present as well, along with Ori and Dori.
Apparently, something had happened.
"What's going on?" Fili asked immediately.
"Kili, Dwalin and Nori returned last night—with four dwarves in tow." Fili looked slightly concerned.
"Two dwarrowdams, a babe, and Lord Vail." Fili pursed his lips. What were they thinking, bring three innocents into a war camp? However, Fili also trusted his brother's judgment. Kili always followed his heart—it hardly ever failed him.
And so, Fili only shrugged his shoulders before commenting, "Well, at least they brought Vail. I'm sure that they had their reasons for bringing the others." Fili followed the other three dwarves to the mess area of the camp.
As they got their rationed breakfast from some of Bombur's borrowed workers, Fili caught sight of Nori, who was carrying a little dwarf lad in his arms, followed by two dwarrowdams. One of the dwarrowdams was young—she couldn't be much older than he, Kili or Eira. The other dam, Fili realized with a start, wasn't technically a grown dam. She was young—far too young. Still in the mid stages of adolescence from what he could gather from seeing her at a distance.
The younger one was a tiny little thing, who walked with her arms over her chest in a defensive gesture as her eyes took in all the dwarves around her. The dams and the lad all seemed relatively comfortable with Nori though.
It didn't surprise Fili in the least.
Nori, while he was a criminal at one point, also had a soft spot for unfortunate souls. And that term was the perfect way to describe the two lasses.
Fili approached with his plate slowly.
One of the dams, with light blond hair, the older one, said, "Hello," as she noticed him walking towards them.
It was a very cautious greeting. It was obvious that she was on the defensive. Fili looked toward Nori with raised eyebrows.
Fili then turned back to the dam and said, "Good morning. Perhaps you would like to join us for breakfast."
The lass blinked and then nodded to Fili, slowly. The other dam, who was still looking around like a frightened, wispy bird startled slightly.
Fili glanced at her and said in a quiet, gentle voice, "Nobody will hurt you here. I pledge my honor on that."
She looked at Fili. Nori nodded at her in encouragement and Fili had to suppress a smile. With that little lad in Nori's arms, it appeared as though he was missing his own bairns.
"Thank you," she whispered quietly. Fili did his best to give her a comforting smile before he led the way back to a private area around the large fire. There were several logs sitting around the fire. Fili and the other dwarves all waited for the lasses to sit themselves and then they sat as well.
As if drawn by the tension, Gandalf suddenly appeared as well with a plate of his own food. He settled himself on the ground.
Gandalf had the most impeccable timing.
They ate in silence at first until Nori introduced his two brothers to the dams. Fili watched with mild interest, hoping not to scare them off. Nori then introduced, Bofur, Bifur, and Gandalf.
Kili and Tauriel showed up halfway through the introductions. The lasses looked up in surprise at the elf maiden.
It was at this point that Nori said, "And, of course you've met Kili already. This is his lady love Tauriel. And this is our leader, Prince Fili." Nori said, pointing to Fili.
Fili bowed to them and said, "At your service. You'll be safe here. Now, tell me. What do you know of my wife?"
The older one blinked and said, "Oh. Of course. You're Princess Eira's husband. She's been very kind to me."
Fili was silent, taking in this small morsel of information. This lass had met his Eira! Was that why they brought her back?
Then Tauriel asked, "Is she well?"
"Aye. For the most part. At first I didn't think she was pregnant, like the others, but after a few weeks she suddenly grew over night."
Fili's face brightened at the thought of Eira pregnant.
And all of a sudden, there was another presence sitting to Fili's side. Gandalf quickly introduced Eelis to the lasses.
"My daughter—she's been treated well at least, even if she is a prisoner?"
Kili shook his head at Amaya.
Her eyes widened and then said, "Oh. Um..."
"Tell us," Fili said, his voice stern and commanded.
"Fili. She shouldn't. You'll..." Kili tried to say in a soothing voice.
"He hurt her then?" Eelis asked, feeling something fierce at the idea of his daughter being injured by King Jarl.
Amaya said, "I've heard that King Jarl desired her as his wife. I heard he tried to convince her to write a letter to you, Prince Fili. She was to write that she didn't love you and she would release you from your marriage. I don't know what else happened, but I heard she refused and even called...er… his virility into question."
Eelis found himself smiling. He felt pride in his daughter's loyalty toward her husband and her pluckiness. That was from growing up with the Rohirrim as neighbors, he had no doubt.
"What happened to her after that?" Fili asked quietly.
"He cut off her finger. To send a message to you, apparently." She said softly. "I've been helping take care of her, to make sure she doesn't get an infection-"
There was an angry growl that came from Fili at her words. She flinched slightly.
Eelis put a hand on Fili's shoulder. "Calm yourself Fili. Don't blame the lass."
Fili closed his eyes, opening and closing his hands tightly, looking at his own fingers.
After a few long seconds he asked, "Forgive me. I-"
Amaya only nodded before Gandalf cut into the conversation. "There are three other pregnant women—a human, a halfling and an elf, correct?"
"There were three others," Amaya said, her voice grave. "The hobbit was in labor and taken down to the dungeons last night, just a little before I left. She did not return."
A prolonged silence filled the air. Gandalf closed his eyes and began to mutter words in another language.
Fili looked desperately around at his closest comrades gathered around. "We have to attack. As soon as possible."
"We need a plan to get Eira out first," Tauriel said softly, a hand on Fili's arm.
"Aye," Eelis said in agreement, choking slightly.
Fili swallowed hard and then said, "Please, if you can, tell us everything you know about the palace. Specifically any secret exits and entrances."
The lass nodded her head, before taking her son from the ground where he sat, pulling grass from the ground. She pulled him into her lap, as if his presence would give her the strength and courage that she needed.
She then swallowed deeply, and began to speak.
Eira could hardly speak the next day. She couldn't get the image of Poppy, writhing in pain out of her mind.
She couldn't get the image of the poor, sweet babe, blood flowing from her frail, innocent body.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw a blond little dwarfling babe, cut open and bleeding with lifeless dark blue eyes staring at the ceiling.
She stifled another sob at the thought.
It was then that she felt Rivenna's presence next to her. The elleth put an arm around Eira. Eira glanced over to Leah, who sat hunched on her own bed, her breathing hard. She had a hand on her belly as well.
Eira felt her eyes begin to water.
The same fate would soon befall the human woman as well. They would come for her, chain her up, force her to give birth in that cold, stone dungeon while they all watched without offering comfort or aid and then they would kill her.
Rivenna wrote something on a parchment. Do not give up hope. All is not lost. Poppy and her babe are in a better place.
Eira looked at Leah, "What about Leah? She does not deserve this fate. Neither did Poppy."
No. They don't deserve it. I don't deserve it. You don't deserve it. But, Leah will be reunited with her husband and her son, as well as the babe she'll deliver. This life is really only the beginning.
Eira felt tears well in her eyes. "I've only been married for nine months now. I have another two months until I'm supposed to have this babe. I wanted to live a long life with my husband. This will break his heart. I don't know how he will be able to forgive me when he finds us-."
Rivenna tightened her arm around Eira's shoulder in comfort.
Both Eira and Rivenna approached Leah after awhile, in unspoken agreement. Eira offered her comfort, holding her hand as she worked her way through the contractions.
Leah panted slightly, tears in her eyes and said, "This labor is too fast."
She then looked up at Eira. "I hope your husband saves you, Eira. And you, Rivenna." Leah closed her eyes tightly once again in pain.
Rivenna hummed a soft song for her, and then, to Eira's own surprise, she sang a song of mourning for Poppy and for Leah. It was unusual for a dwarf to sing a song of passing and eternal rest for a member of another race.
However, Eira felt it was fitting in this situation. After all, although they came from different parts of Arda, and they were different in other ways, they all bled the same color.
Elves, humans, dwarves, hobbits—didn't they all have the same capacity for good or for evil? Eira had never felt closer to three other females in her life, bound to them by the traumatic experience that they were all sharing together. She would do what she could to provide some comfort to Leah, and to Rivenna, as well. And she knew that they would do it in return.
Leah had tears rolling down her face as her song slowly ended.
Eira looked at her and took courage when they heard footsteps down the hall.
She put her hands on Leah's shoulders. They were close to the same height while Leah was sitting on the bed.
"Be brave, Leah. I will find your kin after this and tell them your fate." Tears filled Eira's eyes, hoping that she was not lying to the human woman on accident. She hoped to survive, so she could fulfill her promise to Leah and to find Poppy's family as well. "You'll be with them all again."
Leah smiled encouragingly, her dark eyes bright. "Thank you Eira. Especially for that song. I only wish I could understand what you sang."
The footsteps down the hall grew closer.
She nodded at Rivenna.
"You too, mellon. I hope and pray the fate of my babe and myself, does not befall you as well."
Rivenna and Eira stepped aside when the dwarves entered. They watched as Runa and a few other guards took a calm, albeit stiff Leah from the room. Jarl once again watched with ill-concealed delight, glancing at Eira and her belly quickly.
Then the door closed with a final slam, and Leah was gone.
Eira looked at Rivenna. Eira reached for Rivenna's hand and squeezed it tight. The two females looked at each other in sadness.
Rivenna then let go of Eira and wrote on the parchment, suddenly, How much longer do you have?
Eira replied, "At least two months, at the earliest, I think. It's hard to pinpoint exactly when I conceived." She blushed at the thought. "But, they believed I was around six months when I arrived a month ago." She then looked at Rivenna, "Dwarven pregnancies usually last about 10 months."
She glanced at Rivenna, "How much longer for you?"
Rivenna smiled at her and then scratched out her last sentence. Any day now. The babe is ready.
Eira wasn't sure what to expect after that. She pushed her thoughts out of her mind and then asked Rivenna to tell her about Lothlorien, so as to take her mind off of Leah, Poppy and her own babe.
Eira awoke suddenly from her sleep. She turned on her side away from the muted light that came in from the door that was open. She noticed that Rivenna's eyes were open. She watched as the elleth raised a finger to her lips to indicate that Eira stay silent.
Runa was overseeing a maid cleaning up Leah's bed. Someone had done it to Poppy's bed as well the same night that Poppy was taken.
"I don't understand the problem," Jarl said to Runa quietly.
He was standing in the doorway, watching Eira's back with ill-concealed lust. He very desperately wanted that dam to himself. Something about the way her hips swayed and the sharp look in her eyes had him aroused constantly. He understood how the young prince of Erebor could have fallen for the dwarrowdam.
"Vail is missing. Since early yesterday evening. Where is he?" Runa asked worriedly.
"How am I to know where your brother goes off to?" Jarl whispered angrily. Runa gestured to the maid to leave. The maid curtsied to them quickly. Jarl stopped the maiden as she left and whispered something into her ear. The maid blushed and then nodded, before leaving suddenly.
He would need someone to distract him from Eira. He could take the princess for himself, without her consent, but he was hoping that time would soften her attitude towards him. Plus, he couldn't risk something happening to her child.
Runa and Jarl then left the bedroom, arguing slightly to each other, while the door closed behind them.
Their voices were still heard from the hall though. Apparently, they had stopped just outside the door.
Eira stood up suddenly and looked at Rivenna. The elleth nodded at her. Eira tiptoed to the door in the darkness, thankful for how well she could see in the pitch black of the room, and put her ear on the door.
"...probably seeing that little tartlet that he likes so much. The young one."
Runa growled, "I had someone check her rooms. She's gone. And, the maid, Amaya, she didn't show up either. There's something going on."
There was a strained silence. Jarl's voice was low, and he was beginning to sound concerned. "I suppose that Fili could have sent someone in here for reconnaissance. If they found Vail..."
Runa growled, "You mean Vail might be with Fili's men?"
"Aye. Will he give up any information?" Jarl asked suddenly, barely controlled anger in his voice.
Runa laughed slightly. "Of course he will. Vail does not care about anyone but himself. He might be my brother, but I'm more loyal to you. You will bring our clan out of it's neglected status."
Jarl sighed and then said, "Indeed I will. I promise you that. How much longer for Eira and the elf?"
"Eira? Two months still. The elf? No idea. I'm not aware of their gestation lengths."
"Is there any way to start the labor earlier? We don't have two months with Fili sitting at our doorstep. They traveled far too quickly."
There was a silence once again, and she said, "You risk the babes being stillborn. It will be even more painful for the females, but we don't care about that."
"Is it too early for Eira then?" Jarl asked, not really caring about the elf in the slightest, based on the disinterested tone of voice.
"No. I've known of babes that have survived without a stimulating herb to start their labor. They were runts, but they lived still." Runa's voice said without hesitation.
"Do it then. Slip it in their tea or food. Eira will fight you on it, I believe."
Runa nodded, "Yes, she will if she knows. She won't know though. Not until the pains start."
"Thank you. They're coming. I know that Fili and his army are encamped close by. There are some elves and humans with them as well, according to the orc scouts."
"We will defeat them with the might of the orcs and the help of our Dark Lord, my king."
"Aye, that we will," Eira heard Jarl answer. And then the footsteps left the hallway suddenly.
Eira looked at Rivenna, stricken. She knew that most elves had keener eyes and hearing than dwarves, and by the expression on Rivenna's face, she had heard their words too.
They were going to force their bodies to start the labor process.
Eira swallowed and then said, "Dark Lord?"
Rivenna sat up suddenly and lit a candle. She pulled out her parchment and wrote.
You said that you saw an eye on the ground, in the dungeon, where the ritual was taking place, right?
Eira nodded. She then closed her eyes, remembering the tales of the Necromancer and Dol Guldur.
She then said, "The dark lord of Mordor? He's here?" She felt a chill down her spine as she said the words aloud.
Rivenna shook her head no. She then wrote, Nay. But he has other ways to see what is happening and to gather power.
They exchanged no more words that night. And although Eira knew that she should get some rest for the upcoming day, her mind was racing.
What was she going to do?
Fili was here, along with some elves and men. What were they waiting for? She bit her lip, trying not to be angry with Fili.
Obviously they were trying to find her without killing too many civilians. Fili was level-headed for the most part, which was something that Eira was always thankful for.
But, when would he attack? Tomorrow? The next day? Next week?
Did they have Vail?
Were they torturing him? Eira felt slightly sickened as she wished that they were torturing him for information. It seemed against his character though.
What would Vail tell them?
She hoped that Vail squealed like a pig, to be perfectly honest.
Her mind wandered to the first time she had seen Vail. It seemed like so many years ago, and yet, it was less than a year.
Her mind then wandered to her wedding day. She remembered Fili's bright smile and the way that his eyes innocently locked onto her own. She recalled their wedding night, and how Fili had looked at her as if she was the most precious gem or stone that he had ever seen in his entire life.
She closed her eyes and desperately tried to recall his touch, the gentle ministration of his hands on her skin, pulling him close until they both completed one another.
She felt a shiver run down her spine, a niggling in the back of her mind.
Her wedding day wasn't just the day that she married Fili. She thought of something else that happened that day. She was so happy to be married, she had almost forgotten about her coronation.
She hadn't thought of the words that she pledged to Thorin and all of Erebor, in a long time. She promised that she would do all within her power to protect her kingdom.
To protect the free peoples of Middle-Earth.
She saw Poppy and Leah. She saw Laina and the other dwarrow that were killed during the orc's attack during their Durin's Day celebration.
She had failed in protecting them.
She put a hand on her belly.
What was she going to do? She always wanted to be a mother.
But, what was the point of being a mother if she would never get to hold her babe to her chest; never get to nourish and comfort him with the breasts she felt swelling and growing every day; never to see him or her take their first steps?
Did she really have to choose?
She looked at her hands, and stared at the spot with her missing finger. Was the life of her babe worth risking when Fili was so close?
The thing that Eira remembered the most from Jarl and Runa's conversation was the supposed risk of a stillborn birth if the babe was forced out early.
Would the sacrifice not work then if the babe was stillborn?
Eira chewed her lower lip, concentrating and doing her best to concoct a plan of action, in order to help save herself, her babe and Rivenna.
It was in the early afternoon that Dwalin's messenger found Fili, Kili and Gandalf. Eelis glared at Fili slightly as the younger dwarf told him to stay where he was.
Fili personally believed that if there was anyone that was more unpredictable than himself in regards to Eira, it was her father, who doted on her and loved her dearly. He had no idea when in the interrogation Eelis would just lose his temper and run his glaive through Vail's chest.
Not that Fili wouldn't mind being a witness to that, of course. However, they needed to get some information from Vail before it happened.
The dwarves and Gandalf made their way to the tent where Jarl currently sat, bound by rope and held up against the wooden post of the tent. His mouth was gagged as well, and he glared at the princes and Gandalf when they entered.
Fili nodded at the dwarf that led them as they left the room. Fili looked at Dwalin and said, "Alright Dwalin. Remove that gag and lets give him something to drink."
Dwalin did what was commanded of him.
Vail took a few sips of water and then breathed in deeply.
"What are they going to do to Eira?" Fili asked in a quiet voice after a minute, looking at Vail.
"What do you think?" Vail turned the question back on him. His eyes narrowed in dislike and he scoffed at the question, as if it was beneath him.
"How many rings of power does your king possess?" Gandalf asked suddenly, hoping to catch Vail off-guard.
"How many do you think?" Vail spat back at Gandalf, bearing his teeth at him like a wild animal.
Gandalf remained unphased as he gave the dwarf a look of intense dislike.
"I think all seven. That's the only way that he's been able to block my gaze." Gandalf answered Vail, before pulling out his pipe, and lighting it. Smoke filled the tent.
"Tell us what is going on."
Vail smiled grimly and said, "No. I don't think I will. I like seeing you squirm, Prince Fili."
Fili's eyes narrowed in anger. "Why did Jarl cut off Eira's finger?"
"Oh, that little slut Amaya tell you that? Because she mouthed off to him." Vail smiled grimly. "Jarl likes pretty dams. He has this idea that if Eelis and Astra had not fled the settlement all those years ago, then he and Eira would already be married by now."
He then continued to speak, "He likes dams. He even wooed Dain's poor daughter for a time, after he was the ones that sent the orcs after their caravan in the first place. Poor Laina. And then he attached a wraith to her. Nothing too powerful, but one that could influence her mind and blurry her memories."
Vail apparently liked to hear himself speak and was giving them more information than he realized.
"And now, he will kill Eira because she refused his advances. He hopes to kill you, Fili, But, I know that the filthy orc, Vornog, wouldn't mind killing you either."
Fili only shrugged. He dealt with death threats toward himself before. Dwalin, however, growled slightly.
"What are his plans then?" Dwalin asked. "I will hurt you unless you start speaking."
"That's not necessary, Dwalin," Gandalf said, waving his hand away. He then toward his staff, that was propped up against the tent pole.
"I have my own means of finding out information."
Gandalf walked forward, and muttered some words in a language that Fili didn't recognize. He, Dwalin and Kili automatically took a step backwards, as if to stay out of the range of Gandalf's staff and words.
Gandalf then turned his eye on the dwarf. "Ah, yes. I can see everything, dwarf."
Vail, for the first time, looked frightened. But then, he regained his cockiness and he smiled slightly.
"Are you sure of that, Gandalf the Gray? You are useless, as usual. I thought that only our dark Lord Sauron has the ability to see everything."
"I see enough. Including your traitorous thoughts, everything that the dwarf king of Misterier has planned and more, Master Dwarf." When Gandalf turned his gaze away from Vail, he looked at Fili in interest.
"Your wife needs you. You must attack as soon as possible." He then turned to the dwarf. "They have the human sacrifice already. And now, they just wait for the dwarf and elf. They mean to give them an herb to start their labors falsely. It will work with both of them."
Vail looked dumbstruck. "What? That's not-"
"Blood bonds between family members is stronger than you realize. I found your connection to your sister, the one who initially kidnapped Eira. She is the one that is closest to Jarl and knows his plans. It turns out we only needed you to find your sister's mind."
Gandalf commented, "We need to speak with Celeborn. We must plan a strategy. We cannot let them succeed." Fili and Kili inclined their heads.
"You'll be too late," Vail said, finally regaining his courage. He then looked straight at Fili, as if sensing weakness. "Your wife and child will be dead by tomorrow night, no matter what you do."
Fili glared at Vail in anger and said, "Do you think I'm an idiot? What do you think I've been doing all morning?"
Fili then approached Vail and said, "The thing with scum like you, is that when you wrong someone, they will do anything to pay you back for it. Rina and Amaya have told me everything. Every. Single. Thing. They told me that you raped Rina when she worked in the palace as a scullery maid, that you had Amaya's husband sent off as a sacrifice to the orcs for their cooperation. They also told me exactly what I need to know—how to get in the palace, how there are secret tunnels that lead to dungeon, exactly what color robes you all wear during the rituals."
Fili stopped speaking and said, "Thanks to Gandalf, we have all the information we need."
He then cleared his throat, and in a stern, distinct voice, commanded: "I condemn you to death. You broke your allegiance, the vows that you took to King Thorin. You conspired to kidnap and kill my wife, the future queen of Erebor. You conspired to kill off the line of Durin, starting with King Thorin. You helped to murder over a hundred residents of Erebor. And if you have nothing else of use to tell me, then I believe we should just get on with your execution."
Vail startled at the steely note in Fili's voice. "But-" He pulled against he ropes that held him to the wooden post in the middle of the tent.
Fili nodded at Dwalin, who stood up. He held onto Vail's face as Fili spoke in ancient Khuzdul, cursing his family's name and removing his name from the records of Mahal and the Halls of Mandos. He then took out his dagger and cut off the braids that he wore, throwing them to the ground. Fili then pulled out his dagger and closed his eyes.
He never liked killing anyone, but he could not show weakness. And he could not risk Vail escaping or hurting that poor lass Rina any longer.
Vail would continue to haunt the poor lass, even after his death.
Fili spoke words of execution—he would get not song of mourning or passing; he would not be sung into the halls. Instead, Fili nodded his head at Dwalin.
The older dwarf moved his dagger quickly across Vail's throat, cutting his jugular vein.
He was dead instantly.
Fili thought he would feel some remorse at the action. But, he did not. He had been judged and the sentence was carried out quickly.
Fili watched as Dwalin cleaned the dagger against the grass. Kili pulled Fili away from the tent as Dwalin gave commands to clean up the mess.
The two brothers followed after Gandalf in order to hold a council together with the elves and men.
Author's Note: Happy Holidays! You guys I am completely done with this story! All I have to do is the final drafts and then they will start coming up a bit quicker. Sadly, there are only about three chapters left and then an epilogue. I feel slightly bummed that it's coming to an end, but also hugely relieved! HOWEVER, I have started another Fili/OC that I am hoping to get put up early next year that is in its very early drafts. I also have another Fili/OC that is set during the quest (OMG, I thought I never ever wanted to do a quest/movie one, cause you know? Idk, didn't seem like my writing style.) But I think I have enough to give it some good twists. I'm still sitting on the idea though.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I have a really serious question for you all that will help me with publishing my next couple of stories. Do you want shorter chapters (probably talking 2500-3000 words) that come more often or longer chapters (5000 words or more) that aren't updated as often? Please let me know. I know that sometimes it takes me a while to update because the thought of writing so many words to publish kind of gets me in a bad mood at times.