DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE HOBBIT


Kili came out of the tunnel and wiped his hand across his face. It had been almost a week and half now since Frodo had been taken. They had done everything that they could think of to get him back; search parties, rewards, Nori, Gandalf's Rat. Yet after ten days there was still nothing. The tips, assurances and outright lies had been coming in steadily and had not eased up yet. They had even had members of the other Kingdom's asking to join in the search. Thorin and Fili had initially told him to stay out of the searches, but Kili refused. It was his fault that Frodo had been taken and by Mahal's blessed hammer, he was going to search for him till the Hobbit was found. If anything happened to Frodo, Kili would never forgive himself.

A guard came up to him and told him that it was time for the daily check in. Kili sighed, hating that he was going to report to the Search Committee that he had founding nothing in the lower tunnels. He nodded and together, he and the guard, made their way up the long stair cases and into the main walkways. When he opened the door he was greeted with a blast of noise. All the inhabitants of the room were surrounding the main table, looking intently at something on it.

"Be quiet!" he heard Thorin shout and suddenly the room went silent. Kili made his way over to Fili, who looked away from the table and smiled a broad excited grin at him. On the table sat the tiny white rat, twitching its nose at them.

"What does the rat say?" Thorin asked. Gandalf nodded to him and held his hand out to the rat. The rat ran up to it and placed its pale paws on Gandalf' ear. Its nose twitched quickly and almost violently.

"Fee?" Kili whispered not wanting to distract the rat.

"Gandalf says the rat had found where Frodo is being held," Fili whispered back. The room spun for a second and Kili grasped a hold of Fili's arm.

"What!" he exclaimed, then said it softer after everyone glared at him.

"He is being held in a small side tunnel," Gandalf said answering him, "There are two dwarves with him. They have been moving him about in the tunnels but have stopped there for now. We should act quickly Thorin.

"I know," Thorin growled, "Gandalf, is the rat going to lead us there?"

"No," Gandalf said, "I am. He has told me the way. Let us get on with it."

"Very well," Thorin said, "Dwalin, Nori, I and Gandalf are going to get him. It is better for a surprise attack."

"I am coming as well," Kili said loudly, "I was the one that started this whole mess and I will finish it."

"And I will come as well," Fili announced, "It was also my decision to place Frodo in danger and I will help to get him out."

Thorin fixed his gaze on Fili and then to Kili. Kili refused to flinch at the piercing gaze. Then he nodded.

"Fine then," Thorin growled and then he turned to Bilbo. Kili saw the unspoken words that passed between them. Bilbo nodded tightly and Thorin gave him a small smile. Thorin then gave the command and they were out the door.

Gandalf took the lead; moving swiftly, his long coats billowing out while Kili and the others followed closely behind. They made their way down the many stair cases and halls. The further they went, Kili felt his heart beat getting faster and faster. He tried to calm himself down, but the anxiety and anticipation of getting Frodo back made his muscles feel both heavy and high strung at the same time. His skin had become so highly sensitive that he could feel the movement of each hair against it, the texture of the cloth, the weight of his weapons, the grip of the boots on his feet. With each step his sense became more and more heightened. He could almost feel the surge of his blood in his veins. Finally Gandalf slowed and pointed to a tunnel.

"In there," he whispered, "We must go in and it is the third side tunnel on the left. Go in first and I shall come behind and on my sign, attack." They all nodded and took several deep breaths. Kili let the cool air of the tunnels calm his nerves and then with Thorin at the lead they moved slowly and softly into the tunnels.

The light from outside let them see for a bit and then the gloom of the tunnels began to obscure their vision. When they had entered the complete dark of the tunnel, Kili felt Dwalin reach out behind him and touch him. He stopped at the signal and they waited for their eyes to adjust to the dark. Then they began to move again. Kili counted the side tunnels; darker black in the black of the main tunnel. One. Two. Then Dwalin touched him again. They all paused. There were faint voices coming out.

"They have gotten wind of this place," a voice hissed, "We need to move him now!" Kili frowned. The voice sounded familiar. A gruff voice answer the first.

"Why can't we just kill the him now." Kili his blood go cold.

"No you fool," the first voice said, "We will kill him when I say it is time. Now come. Pick up the child and let us be gone."

Just then a flash out light flared out and illuminated the tunnel. Gandalf had slipped around them and came to stand in front of the side tunnel. Loud cries of surprise and agony eruped from inside the cave.

"Now!" Thorin screamed and they all ran in. Kili caught glimpse of a tall thick dwarf flinging a bundle to the ground and attacking Thorin.

"Frodo!" Kili yelled, trying to get to the bundle. Another dwarf was also reaching for Frodo. Kili checked his run and changed direction so that he skidded feet first into the dwarf. The dwarf grunted in pain and fell heavily onto his back. Kili sprung up and held his blade to the dwarf's neck.

"Hamek?" he asked in surprise. Hamek took advantage of his confusion and flipped him off. Kili only spotted the flash of silver the second before Hamek's knife sliced his cheek. Kili didn't even register the pain. He stuck at Hamel with his sword. The Dwarf parried his blow.

"We trusted you!" Kili shouted. Hamek just sneered.

"Fool King and Fool Princes," he spat, "You are not worthy to rule the Mountain." He lunged at Kili then before Kili could return the blow, Hamek jerked back. Kili spotted a hand grip Hamek around his throat. With a grunt, Fili flung Hamek backward onto the ground and placed his blade at Hamek's throat. The tunnel went into silence.

"I should kill you," Fili said quietly, "I want to kill you. But I won't. You will face a trial. You will be punished. You will be shamed. But it will still not be enough for what you have done today." Hamek still just sneered. As Dwalin tied the Dwarf's hands Kili moved quickly over to the bundle and untied it. Frodo lay in the cloth, his eyes closed, left cheek swollen and from the right side of his head a thin trickle of dried blood showed stark against his pale skin. Kili reached out to touch it. Frodo flinched and Kili's heart broke.

"Frodo," he said his voice breaking. The Hobbit's eyes snapped open. Tear filled dark eyes looked into startling blue ones.

"Kili!" Frodo wailed and leapt into Kili's arms.

"I have you," Kili said over and over, rocking the Hobbit child, "I have you. I have you."