Chapter Twenty-Five

Being on my own, while feeling more relaxed than I had been since back at Beorn's, wasn't exactly fun. It turns out that sitting on a cold hard floor, staring at the same four walls for hours on end wasn't the most interesting thing a person can do. Shocker! I could hear the others talking to each other through the bars, discussing Erebor in the vain hope that we would actually get out of here. I had more pessimistic thoughts. There was no doubts in my mind that these Elves were incredibly stubborn, and would not let us out without us admitting why we were here. I mean, they were immortal, for God's sake. Our life time would probably feel like nothing to them.

We weren't mistreated, thank god. We were delivered with food and water twice a day, but I didn't eat much. My mind couldn't get off the thoughts of the argument I had with Fili, and it was showing in my mood and behaviour. I was eating about half of the meals they delivered, and I was only sleeping for about two to three hours at night, maximum. Fili's cell was nearly opposite mine, and I could constantly feel his eyes on me, although he never tried to speak. I was thankful for this. I wasn't sure I would know what to say.

It was our fifth day in the cells when something finally happened to me. Legolas, who it turned out was the prince here (more royalty. I was really moving up in the world talking to all these…well, royal people), appeared outside of my cell.

Furrowing my eyebrows in confusion, I slowly got to my feet and looked up at him.

"The king wishes to see you." he said, unlocking the cell door.

"You're not going to handcuff me while I walk, are you?" I asked as he looked hesitant. "Because, come on, I'm not exactly much of a threat."

Legolas chuckled. "I was not. But I could if you wish."

"You know what, I think I'll pass, thanks."

To go and see the king, it involved walking past the others' cells. I heard them shout at me, warning me to not go and be careful, but I ignored them. I knew I couldn't ignore them forever, but at this point, my mind was elsewhere. Why was I being summoned? What did they want with me? Had I done something? But how could I? I'd been stuck in here the entire time!

Climbing the many steps it took to reach the king, I was fully aware of the ache in my legs. Not using them in many days had left them stiff, but I was incredibly thankful for the change in scenery.

After a couple more minutes, we had reached a large throne room. Looking up, I saw the actual throne. It was on top of many steps which set it well above everything else, and sitting upon it must have been the king. I saw the resemblance between him and Legolas immediately. They both had the long, light blonde hair, similar face structure, but the king's face, I noticed, was much sterner. He looked like someone I didn't want to cross.

"I have brought her, father." Said Legolas, who gave a brief bow and stepped backwards towards the shadows at the edge of the room. Looked like I'd be on my own then.

"I see." Said the king. "So you are the woman my guard brought in." I shivered as he looked at me. His eyes looked cold and distant.

"Urm…" I coughed. "Yes…your…majesty?" It was strange saying that. I'd never had to use words like that with Thorin, Fili or Kili. Was that the right term to use? Your majesty? Your highness? Your grace?

The king chuckled, although there was no humour there. "I presume they are treating you correctly?" He stood up from his throne and slowly walked down the steps, keeping his eyes on me the entire time making me squirm. Was it always so hot in here?

"Er…yes, I suppose so, yes."

"Good." I could tell he really didn't care by his tone of voice, but I made no comment. "Now, perhaps you can tell me what you are your…friends, were doing in my lands." Well, he certainly didn't beat around the bush did he? I mean, did he really think that I was going to betray the others and tell him everything? If Thorin hadn't said anything, why would I?

"I'm afraid I can't, no." I gave him a hard stare.

At that moment, his cool, calm expression matched his eyes as his face became cold. "Are you certain about that?"

"I'm fairly sure, yeah."

He was silent for a few minutes, as if he was in deep thought. "You show great loyalty to these dwarves."

"I do."

"Why?" he asked, his face now inches from mine. Like, my personal bubble had been totally and utterly popped. "What have they done to earn such loyalty? And from a human woman, no less?"

"No less?" I echoed. "Look, buddy, you're really not doing a good job on charming me. I mean, does that ever work?" He gave me a confused look. "Why would I tell you anything when you insult me like that?"

"Answer my question." He demanded, ignoring my comment.

"I'm not telling you. It's none of your business." I smirked. My moment of smugness was broken, however, when he took a rough hold of my upper arm. I was sure it would leave bruises.

"Who do you think you are to speak to me in such a manner? I am the king, and you will tell me what I want to know." Dear God, he looked scary. I was right when I said you wouldn't want to cross him, but I made my move to back down now.

Gathering my courage, I ripped my arm out of his grasp. "No I will not. You are not my king, and I do not take orders from you!" I wasn't expecting the slap across my face I received, and as my head flew to the side, I saw Legolas take a hesitant step forward. "Doing that won't change anything." I said, feeling a small trickle of blood run down my chin from my lip.

"Say what you will." Said the king, turning back to his throne. "Stay here and die then. You and your dwarves. I do not care."

It was obvious he did care (about the whole 'not telling him thing'. Obviously not about us dying, otherwise he wouldn't send me back there), but as Legolas took hold of my arm (much more gently, may I add), I tried to put that conversation to the back of my mind as quickly as possible.

"I must apologize for my father." Said Legolas. "I…it is not like him to do that." He seemed conflicted, as if he didn't know what to say. I'm not sure I would have known what to say in his position either.

"It's fine. It didn't even hurt." Okay, that was a lie. It stung like hell, and I had to keep wiping the blood away, staining my sleeve a dark shade of red.

"Say it again and maybe I will believe you." he chuckled.

We were silent for the rest of the journey, and I only briefly said goodbye when he put me back in my cell. I couldn't be too friendly with an elf; wouldn't want something else for the dwarves to hold against me. Okay, I didn't really believe that, but it was definitely a thought that ran through my mind.

Once back in my cell, I retreated back into my far back corner, which I'd made into a little den. With the three thin blankets we'd been given, I'd hung one from wall to wall in some rough indents in the stone which shielded me from view from the others, with only a small gap where I could see what was going on outside. The second one I'd bundled up and put against the wall to lean on, and the third I used to cover myself. All in all, I'd made the most out of a bad situation.

I sighed. My cheek was still throbbing, but at least my lip had stopped bleeding. I had supposed one of his rings had cut it.

"Amaya." I heard from another cell. I knew who it was: Fili. Of course he'd seen me come back in. "Amaya, please." His voice sounded hoarse. I sighed again. What harm could it be to see what he wanted? He'd left me alone for five days, not that I'd given him much choice.

Closing my eyes for a second, I carefully moved the blanket to the side (trust me, when it fell down, it took absolutely ages to get it to stay up again) and crawled out. Peering out through the bars, I could see Fili opposite. It was the first time I'd actually seen him since we'd been taken in, and I was shocked to say he looked worse. The bags under his eyes were darker, and his eyes looked empty. It physically pained me to see him this way, but I kept my composure. Let him say what he wants to first.

"Amaya." he repeated. "Please talk to me." I remained silent. "Miz sanâzyung." What did he want me to say to that? He knew that name wore me down. "Okay then. I'll talk, you listen. I am so, so sorry about what I said. I don't know why I said it. It was the forest, it was…getting into my head, twisting everything. I couldn't think straight! I love you, you know I do, with everything that I am…just the way you are." He took a deep breath. "I…I know you love me, okay, I know that. I know that you care about me. About all of us. But…sometimes, I just…I have doubts. I'm not tall, I'm not…I'm not anything that you're used to where you're from…and I sometimes feel like…I'm not good enough for you. And all those insecurities I took out on you." He knelt up and leaned his head against the bars. "You were right with everything that you said! You've done nothing but help us, even when you didn't need to. But please…please know that I am so, so sorry." All the while that he was saying this, I stared at him, my face expressionless. "Can you say something now?"

I licked my lips, wincing a little when I touched the cut. "Fili…I…" What was I to say for that? I chose my words carefully. "I…I know you're sorry, I can see that. But I can't forget what you said. You say all these things, but…what you said must have come from somewhere!" He opened his mouth to interrupt me, but I held up my hand to stop him. "And that doesn't excuse the fact that you left me! To die in the middle of the forest, because do you really think I would have survived long in that bloody place? If it wasn't for those spiders, I'd probably still be out there."

I could see a couple of tears run down his cheeks at my words. "Don't you say that. Don't ever say that I would allow you to die. I wanted to go back to you, as soon as I took my first step. But we couldn't find the path again. And the entire time we wandered around that blasted forest going around and around in circles, all I could think of was trying to get back to you. About how I'd said that I would protect you. And I failed that! And then, after we got away from the spiders, there you were! I mean…you were glaring at me and that killed me inside because I knew it was my fault, but…I just…I'm sorry."

"Just…just give me some more time, okay." I said after a couple of minutes of just staring at him, giving him a small smile and retreating back into my hidey hole.

-8-

A couple of hours later, my food and water was delivered. It was the same as we usually got: a couple of slices of bread that was about a night of going stale, some fruit and a bit of cheese. Not overly inspiring, but it filled you up enough, at least.

Picking up my plate, I took it into my corner, but my appetite didn't come. I was too busy thinking. What Fili had said, there was no doubt in my mind that he had meant it. I knew him better than he thought I did, and I knew that he never would have said any of those things if it weren't for the forest. But he should have come to me with his doubts! (Of course I had my own, that we incredibly similar to his and I'd never told him about them. But that's not the point) How could he feel the way he did!? He was a prince; one of the most kind, caring, funny, good looking and overall amazing princes I'd ever met (albeit, the only other prince I'd met was Kili and now Legolas, but you get what I'm trying to say).

And despite all of that, I couldn't help but feel a little guilty as well; it wasn't entirely his fault, and yet he was the one apologizing. After all, hadn't I risen to his words? Responded exactly the way he was after through his sickness? I'd been the one who told him to leave. I'd been the one to say I didn't care if he left. But then I thought, was I really going to let him talk to me like that? No. I didn't then, and I wouldn't now. For God's sake, I was going around in circles here.

Nibbling a little on the bread, I listened to the others talk through the bars. I hadn't spoken to any of them while stuck in here either, but I also knew that if we were to ever get out of here, then I would have to get over these grudges. I couldn't live without Fili, I was going to forgive him sooner or later, why prolong it? And the others were like family to me now. I could tell they were sorry from the looks they had given me after the incident with the spiders.

No. Enough was enough. We could die in this place, and here I was, holding this petty grudge against them. My mind made up, I settled against the wall and listened to the dwarves' conversation. I'd talk to them later, tomorrow perhaps?

"I'll wager the sun's setting." Said Bofur. He'd taken to estimating when evening and morning came. I suppose it comforted him somewhat. I never knew whether he was right or not, but it helped me to have a rough idea on when to go to sleep and when to wake up. "It must be nearly dusk."

"We're never going to reach the mountain, are we?" asked Ori, sounding crushed. I thought back to my first night here. Ori had been so enthusiastic and excited to reach Erebor. The disappointment and sadness in his voice made me frown.

"Not stuck in here, you're not." Came a small voice from near my cell. And then, in the blink of an eye, Bilbo appeared. I could see the edge of his coat from the gap in my blanket, and quickly rushing out, I sat near the bars. How the bloody hell had he done that?

"Bilbo!" exclaimed Balin.

"Shhh! There are guards nearby!" I gaped at him. This Hobbit was surprising me at every turn. "Now, I have a plan to get you out of here, but you will have to be patient. I only came here to tell you to be prepared. And for the love of God, stop antagonizing the Elves!" And suddenly he was gone again in the same manner that he had appeared. Not sure that that had really happened, I frowned. Bilbo had a plan, then? He was going to get us out? I wasn't exactly sure how, but what had we got to loose? He'd got us out of the situation with the trolls, hadn't he? He could get us out of this. We would reach Erebor, this I was determined to do.

-8-

A/N: *sigh*. So much feeling in this! And now Bilbo is here to save the day! Yay!

Let me know what you think!