Kili woke up alone. He had expected to wake up with Rhavaniel by his side. He wondered if he would ever get used to the fact that this beloved creature, who needed so little sleep, led an entire other life at night.
'There will always be some surprise with her.' he mused. 'Let us hope it is a good one today.'
Kili rose from the bed. The miruvor had been nothing short of miraculous. His bruises were fading, and his back no longer burned with pain.
He thought it should be nearly dawn. It was hard to get a sense of time in this place. The openings to the ground above, to let in light, had been buried long ago. He dressed and walked down the hall.
Rhavaniel was not in the kitchen, where he expected her to be. There was no note, and the fire in the stove was out. This was not like her. Even when she was in some mischief, she saw to it that their most basic needs were met.
"Rhavaniel!" he called. He heard nothing but an echo.
'She has probably gone outside to watch the sunrise.' he sighed. He gathered his weapons and headed to the entry.
Kili opened the door to find a snarling Warg awaiting him. He slammed the door shut just in time, needing all of his strength after the Warg charged at the opening.
"Rhavaniel!" he called again. "Rhavi, please be in here!" He did not want to think of the alternative.
The beast was clawing and digging at the stone door. Though only a shell of stone, it could not be broken by claws alone. The ground below was another matter. Kili could see the door shake, and began to see light from underneath as the Warg dug more and more earth away.
Kili ran to the back bedroom. He shoveled hot coals into the ash bucket, and carried them to the entry. He dumped the coals in the growing hole beneath the door, causing the Warg to burn its paws and howl in protest. After a brief pause, the Warg started digging again, only higher. Dirt began to fall from the ceiling.
Kili loaded his bow. As soon as the beast dug a hole big enough for an arrow, Kili would be ready.
The tap on Kili's shoulder made him jump and spin around. It was Rhavaniel, soaking wet and dressed in just her nightshirt. Kili was so relieved to see her, he could not bear to say the words he was thinking, 'Don't sneak up on me like that!' He wrapped his arms around her instead.
Rhavaniel quickly assessed the situation, "There is another way out of here!"
Kili stood ready at the entry in case the Warg broke through, while Rhavaniel ran down the hall to collect their packs, bedroll, clothes and food from the kitchen. She deposited it all by the river.
"That is everything but the fishing lines." She said. "Take off your boots."
"Leave the lines." Kili told her, and threw his boots into his pack. Rhavaniel led Kili upstream, through the shallow part of the underground river.