*Peeks out cautiously, expecting explosives and hostility* Hi! I have returned… much, much later than I intended. My sincerest apologies. Life hit hard. Again. But, have another chapter! I am wrapping this story up (Finally!), so there should only be three or four more chapters, but I will NOT abandon it, regardless of how slow of a writer I may be. (Truth be told, I procrastinate until the last possible second, then write up chapters in about an hour. What do ya do?) Please enjoy, and thanks so much to those who have reviewed, followed, and favorited!


Frerin entered his chambers cautiously when there was no reply to his knock. "Mena?" he called softly, glancing to his bed, where the human lay. She appeared to remain asleep, though it was clear that her dreams were troubled, for she tossed and turned restlessly. "N-no! You're lying! You have to be!" she murmured desperately, before rolling over and curling into a ball. "Mena! You are safe! It's alright, you are safe now. Come on lass, wake up!" the prince said urgently. The human had yet to awaken though, so he gently lay a hand upon her shoulder and gave her a shake.

Less than a second later, the dwarf found himself struggling for breath as a surprisingly strong hand shot up and did its level best to crush his windpipe. "Me-na" he choked out, his own hands instinctively coming up to grasp her arm, though he caught himself before he harmed her in an attempt to get away. The human's eyes were had been glassy and unseeing, though filled with unshed tears, but now she blinked several times, and the pressure on Frerin's throat eased up a bit. "F-Frerin? What…?" she muttered, confused, before seeming to realize what she had done, and releasing him instantly. Mena drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and burying her face in them.

In a few moments, while the dwarf stood by helplessly, unsure of how he could help, the human regained control of herself, and she looked up again. "I am so sorry, my friend. Are you well?" The human looked up from her trembling hands, and then managed a shaky grin. "Now, this seems very familiar to me, but I believe I was in your position last time!" The dwarf merely stared at her for a moment, before breaking into laughter that was more relieved than amused.

"And please, do not apologize. My dreams have been dark of late, though it is certainly through no fault of yours!" Frerin nodded, sitting cautiously beside her, but a surprised, soft smile crossed his face when the human showed no hesitation before moving to his side, curling into his embrace. Gently, he asked, "What did you dream of?" and he could feel her tense against him. "…My sisters. They… did not survive in the White City."

Frerin pushed himself away slightly, turning to look into Mena's eyes, confused. "When did you discover this?" She paused, then her eyes widened in realization and horror. "The slavers… They told me that my sisters had perished, but the letter. I thought of nothing but my sisters' peril at the time, but there were many inconsistencies. If they had so easily faked the letter, could they not also have lied about my sisters? What if they yet live? They could be sick, enslaved, or even dead! They-"

"Mena! Calm yourself, my friend. We can send a message to Minas Tirith at once." The human took a deep breath, ashamed at all the times she had lost control over herself recently, and then nodded once, though she remained concerned. "But even the fastest runner would surely take many weeks to reach Gondor." Even as she spoke, she knew she was but complaining, and ducked her head in shame. After everything Frerin had done for her, this was how she repaid him? By complaining about the help he so freely and generously offered? How could she?

The dwarf quickly interrupted her thoughts, with a soft chuckle. "Nay, Mena. Have I not told you of the Ravens of the Mountain? They will take a message even unto the White City if I command it, and command it I shall!" She looked up at the dwarf with sheer gratitude in her gaze, and then leaned into his sturdy frame for yet another hug. After her time under the slavers' hands, she craved contact with one she trusted, though she yet flinched from strangers so much as looking at her oddly.


A short time later, in which Frerin made a quick and rather embarrassed exit after Mena requested privacy so that she might change into the clothing he had had provided for her, the prince entered again with a sweeping (and slightly teasing) bow, saying grandly, "Come, Lady Mena, and look upon my kingdom!" The human could not repress a snort, but then returned with a curtsey just as exaggerated, stating, "But of course, my lord! For a noble prince such as yourself surely must rule over a great kingdom indeed!"

Despite the levity of their banter, Mena remained fairly nervous, and gratefully took the dwarf's proffered arm as they departed the rooms she had been staying in. Logically, she knew no harm was likely to come to her within Erebor, and yet, still her fear plagued her. Frerin's presence, however, was as a balm, casting out her fear, and it had not yet returned when she remained near to the prince. They traveled for a time, going from magnificent stone hallways to open arches and many different doors, most of which the dwarf swept past with nary a glance. He kept up a quiet commentary, explaining that they had just departed from the region within the mountain where all the Royal Chambers were located.

"Then, whose room was I sleeping in? I was in one of the royals' chambers?!" Shockingly, the dwarf seemed rather embarrassed at her query, not meeting her gaze, and even scuffing a boot, almost like a child might. "I-er… I may have, putyouinmypersonalchambers?" He rushed out the answer, then glanced at her sheepishly. Mena had no response, simply staring at him in surprise. The dwarf quickly continued, "Just to keep you safe, of course! There are other room quite nearby that I stayed quite comfortably in! It's only just that, my chambers are some of the safest within the Mountain, and I wanted you to be as safe as could be, especially after what you went through, and-"

"Frerin." The human had started grinning slightly halfway through his nervous rambling, and she finally took pity on the flustered dwarf and stopped him. "I am grateful." Then, she grew more serious, "Truly. Your hospitality and generosity continues to astound me, and I am very grateful for all you have done for me."

"Not at all! After all, I owe you, do I not?" he stated cheerfully, and they continued on. Soon, as they descended a sweeping set of stairs, Mena perked up a bit, the smells assaulting her nose nothing short of delicious. The prince, of course, noticed, and smirked. "Breakfast?" he offered, gesturing needlessly to a door on his left, for the human still remained nearly glued to his side. When she nodded, distracted by the scents and sights around her, Frerin simply continued to smile, and then led her in the direction of Erebor's massive kitchens, wondering what the head chef, Bombur, had dreamed up now.

After a very delicious (though light, for she was still adjusting to solid foods after her starvation) breakfast, Frerin lead her up through the mountain again, reaching a door that lead outside. The fresh air and sunlight was very welcome to the human, and even though there was little room on the mountainside, there was a slight plateau, even with a bit of coarse grass, and she collapsed happily onto it, closing her eyes for a moment. She then opened them again, and grinned up at the dwarf, upside-down.

Frerin gazed into her deep, intense blue eyes, so similar to his own, even right down to the shadows of past pain, but as he looked at her, he felt love well up within him once again, and his heart stuttered. He took one step closer, a smile lighting his own face automatically in response to her own, and bravely, he began, "Mena, I-"

*Thud*. "Ouch! Fíli! They heard that!"

"Shut up, they can probably hear you too!"

"We did." Frerin said, dryly. "Come on out, you two."

A great deal more shuffling and jostling could be heard, then, sheepishly, Mena's past owners shuffled out of the doorway she and the eldest prince had emerged from mere minutes ago. Fíli, at least, had the grace to look embarrassed to have been caught stalking the pair, but Kíli simply grinned at his uncle. "Oh, hello Uncle Frerin! Fancy meeting you here!"

"Kíli!"