"We should split up." Rorik said, halting their progress amongst the side streets and looking to the others. "We would cover more ground."

"But what if one of us were to run into trouble?" Rín replied worriedly, her brow knitted into a frown. "There would be no way for the rest of us to know."

Thorin nodded in agreement, "We will go in pairs." he answered, looking to Rorik, a hint of a challenge in his gaze.

Rorik cocked his head to the side, considering. " You search the Eastern side of the city, we will search the West. Meet Geir and I back at the longhouse by the time the sun sets." The blonde dwarf said severely, "You would not wish to be in a Mannish town with so many people as this, after dark."

Thorin and Rín both nodded, and spun on their heels, almost as one. In a few moments they had disappeared into one of the steadily darkening side streets. Geir and Rorik watched them disappear, before doing the same thing.

"If he had just listened to me, none of this would have happened." Rín said angrily, her eyes tight with worry as they searched the faces about them for any sign of Nannulf. "How can I protect him when he will not listen?!"

Rín felt, rather than saw Thorin glance across at her. "In my experience with younglings, they will do exactly what you tell them not to do." he replied wryly.

When she turned to look at him, his eyes were distant and filled with memories. "Do you...have much experience with children?" Rín asked slowly, a thought coming into her mind. Time did distort the details of a legend's life after all. "Your own?"

Thorin blinked, startled. The question pulling him from his thoughts. "My own children? No I never had a wife." he said with a frown, looking down at her, "You thought I did?"

Rín tried and failed to stop the red that rose into her cheeks. "I could not know yes or no either way." She mumbled. "You have already told me that the history we know of your life has...blurred somewhat as time passed. Besides, the moment to ask such a question never arose."

When she met his gaze, Rín had to look away immediately, the expression in them something intense. "No." he said, and she could feel his eyes on her. "I know because of my nephews. My sister-sons. Their father died in a skirmish with Orcs, leaving my sister, Dís, to care for the pair of them on her own. I became a threefold figure to them. Uncle, Father, and King, all at once. Almost in the same way you have for Nannulf, though you share no blood-bond."

Rín shook her head, "I made a promise to his mother-"

"A promise that would stand the test of time. You must have loved his mother very much to promise such a thing." Thorin said softly, pulling her first into the side-corner of an alley and then to a stop beside him. "It would not have been easy to raise a child in such a place."

Rín pursed her lips and nodded sadly, "Osk was my greatest friend in the pits. I knew her before I joined the faction I was with when I found you." Rín took a deep breath before continuing, "She told me she was carrying a child almost six months into my time in that faction. I couldn't believe it at first - she was unmarried, and being still so young myself, barely past seventy, I didn't quite understand." she said, swallowing sharply at the painful memories "Osk said that she and the father of her child had wished to be married, but it was impossible and didn't happen, he died a miners death. I judged her harshly at first, especially when she said she wished to keep it. I thought her selfish. But I quickly realised what a child would mean for her and the rest of us, and I forgave her. Before he was even born, Nannulf became my hope for the world."

"She died then?" Thorin was studying her silently, and Rín felt raw and hard beneath the softness of his gaze.

"Yes. I was there." Rín choked out, sucking in a deep breath to hold back the tears, "She didn't survive the birth. I had no idea what I was doing, it was just her and I. Before she drew her last breath, she took my hand and made me swear I would treat him as my own. Protect him with my life." she couldn't help the bitterness and self-loathing that crept into her voice.

"He is only lost Rín. You have not-"

Rín cut him off, her voice a harsh whisper as she looked up into the deep blue eyes of the Once King. "But what if something has happened to him? I have such a terrible feeling about all of this Thorin." she said, her voice breaking, "I just want us all to be safe. To not have to be fearful for our lives every day. What if we don't find him? What if-"

"No." He cut her off, stepping towards her and grabbing her upper arms, "Do not think like that. We will find him Rín. I swear it." Thorin said quietly, his hands moving to gently cup her cheeks. Rín nodded, unable to speak, her head filled with too many horrible possibilities. Thorin sighed and swept away the tears that had leaked from the corners of her eyes, before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "He will be fine. Come now, he can't be far off."

Rín took a deep breath and offered the Once King a watery smile, resisting the urge to brush her fingers against the place where his lips had met her skin. Rín closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath; sweet fantasies of something more, disappearing into the steadily darkening night sky along with her hope of finding Nannulf. When she opened them once more, she gave a small smile and took the hand Thorin held out to her, putting her aching heart to rest for the moment and letting her mind whirl, setting itself to the task at hand.

"Well, well, well now, what do we have here?"

Several pairs of hands pulled Nannulf away from the person before him. The person he had run into, a tall dwarf-woman, taller even than Thorin stared down at him, one brow perfectly arched. Her black hair fell in perfect curls down her back, two braids at each of her temples pulled the hair back from her face, and a third braid formed some kind of decorative round knot on the top of her head, towards the back. Her beard was long and full, tiny, circular braids running down its outer length. Her skin was the colour of burnished camel jasper and brown, almond shaped eyes peered appraisingly down at him.

She was the loveliest woman he had ever seen.

"Hello." Nannulf said, quite suddenly, before his head could stop his mouth. The dwarves surrounding him were silent, their grip on his arms still tight.

The dwarf-woman stared at him for a moment, before blinking once and bursting into laughter. It was a full, loud sound and her teeth were pearly white and round. Nannulf felt himself melt a little bit. "Let him go boys." she said to the dwarves surrounding him, a small smile still on her lips. "Now, where did you come from, young Sir, and what, may I ask, is a youngling like yourself doing running around a mannish city at this time of evening?"

Nannulf bristled at the name 'youngling'. "I can take care of myself I'll have you know."

The dwarf-woman's lips quirked up into a larger smile. "Oh I am certain you can." she said, her eyes sparking with something dark. "But the question still remains, where are your parents, and why are you in the city at all? I was not aware that any of the other clans had mind to travel this far West, even if the Mannish gathering offers such prize pickings for traders. Do you know what is happening in this city as we speak boy?"

"Nannulf. My name is Nannulf." Nannulf replied, running a hand through his hair in a feeble attempt to sort it out, and standing a little straighter. "I think it is...the Mœta? I have heard speak of it."

The dwarf-woman's eyes widened in laughter, "Oh you have have you?" she said, "Then Nannulf, you perhaps should have been informed that it is dangerous, to go walking the night of the Mœta, for many men come into the city."

Nannulf frowned, suddenly uneasy, but the dwarf-woman continued, "But no matter, you will be safe with us, you have nothing to fear." she said, "My men and I will stay with you until your parents can be found. My name, is Muhuli."

"Muhuli?" Nannulf questioned, rolling the unfamiliar name around on his tongue. It sounded nothing like the Khûzdul he had sometimes heard elders speak in the pits.

"Yes," she said, "Muhuli."

Nannulf had opened his mouth and was just about to say something else, when the sound of his name being called broke him off. "Nannulf! Just exactly what do you think you are doing out here?!"

Rín was storming towards him, the look on her face positively livid, and Nannulf gulped, he had never seen her look so angry. Suddenly nervous, he looked to Thorin for something more comforting, but the dwarf's expression was not much more comforting, instead, incredibly disapproving, and more than a touch annoyed.

"I...uhhhh-"

"I see the cavalry has come to the rescue." Muhuli suddenly spoke up from beside him, her mouth twisted into a smile, "No harm has come to the boy. Luckily he ran into us, and he has kept out of trouble."

Nannulf saw the flicker of fear that flashed across Rín's face when she took in the appearance of the other dwarf-woman, and he couldn't understand why. "Nannulf, come with us, it is time to go." she said tightly, and Nannulf obeyed, casting a regretful glance at the black haired woman over his shoulder. "Thank you, very much for your kindness looking after him milady, but we must get back to our quarters before dark has fully fallen."

Thorin and Rín had a hand on either of his arms, and their grip was tight, a bit tighter than was comfortable.

"Just one moment," Muhuli said, stepping forward, and the trio halted in their steps. For the first time, Nannulf noted the sword and axe that hung from her belt. "It has been long since I have seen a woman from the Ironfist clan, out in the sunlight. I was almost beginning to think you had died out."

Nannulf could feel Rín freeze beside him, a tight smile on her face as she turned, "No. Not died out as you can see."

Muhuli studied her for a moment, before turning to Thorin. She truly was very tall for a dwarf, Nannulf realised, she stood almost a head over him. "But you Sir, are no Ironfist. What clan do you hail from?"

"Blacklock." Thorin said, after a moment's hesitation.

"Really? Is that so? Well then you are of my clan." She said, something in her eyes sharpening, "I had no knowledge one of ours had managed to spirit away a woman from the Ironfists. I had heard they hoard their women like a dragon would gold."

"That may be so, but even a dragon can be defeated, eventually." Thorin replied cooly, his eyes never breaking from the dwarf-woman's.

The smile on Muhuli's face just grew wider. "Touché, touché." she answered, cocking her head to the side, "Very well, let me not keep you. Mahals blessing be upon you."

The two older dwarves returned the blessing, and as they walked away, Nannulf cast a parting smile over his shoulder, not entirely listening to the lecture he was receiving about doing as he was told, and not wandering around by himself.

Muhuli watched the trio disappear down the street and around a corner before she quirked a finger at one of her guards and gave a simple command. "Follow them."

Geir and Rorik were waiting for them when they arrived back at the Rhûnion longhouse. The man who was supposed to have been watching Nannulf had sheepishly slunk from the building in search of his comrades. Nannulf then had explained everything to his elders, about the Orc, and then the Blacklock woman. Each of their faces had progressively gotten grimmer.

"Now do you think we should get Ása and Ivarr and make our move?" Rín asked, annoyance slipping into her tone as she looked at Rorik.

The blonde dwarf frowned, "She could have learned the guard roster by now, we will just have to hope she has." he answered, "Although, I do not know how much time we have before the roof falls down around our heads."

It was then that the front door of the longhouse rattled and flew open. The five dwarves were on their feet in an instant but it was all for naught, because the single person to step through, was Pallando.

Rín breathed a sigh of relief at his entrance, "Pallando! Where have you been?!" she said tightly, "Everything has fallen to pieces."

The Blue wizard looked down at her, his brown eyes calm and understanding, "I know my dear, I heard news of your kinsfolk spoke throughout the town." he replied. "I presume you are conjuring some plan by which you will shortly abscond from Roskilde, taking them with you?"

"Eh?" Rín looked across at the speaker, to see Nannulf staring blankly at the wizard. Unimpressed with his bluntness, and his actions in general that entire day, she elbowed him.

"That we are." Rorik answered Pallando dryly, his fingers absently tapping against his leg in an unrhythmic beat. "And certain occurrences, namely an issue with the Blacklocks is helping matters none. Any ideas would be much appreciated, as it seems we have the luck of a gnat."

The wizard considered their words for a moment, nodding sagely, "I suspect, that these, will be of immense help then." and with that, he flung the door wide open and indicated for them all to step outside, which they all did cautiously.

Rín's mouth dropped open at the sight that met their eyes. Three ponies stood tethered to a pole, alongside a large, black horse. "You have got to be joking." she said bluntly, whirling on the wizard. "We have no idea how to ride, and there are too few of them in any matter."

"Oh my dear, I am not joking." Pallando replied, his brow knitted into a frown, "And some of you do know how to ride, and those of you that do not, will just have to double up for the time being, until we get out of the reaches of the city."

"But-" Rín began but she was cut off.

"No Rín, he is right," Thorin said, standing next to a light grey pony with a dappling of darker grey about its nose, rump and legs, and patting its neck gently. "It is the best and fastest way. We should move now."

Rorik, next to an orange coloured pony nodded his head, "I agree. I rode a little before the fall of Erebor. No traders son couldn't ride a pony." he mused, already swinging himself up into its saddle. "Geir, what about you? Can you ride? After all Thorin son of Thráin, I am guessing by how lovey-dovey you are getting with that pony that you do."

Thorin glared at the blonde dwarf but didn't bother to reply as Geir nodded and swung himself up into the saddle, of a third, dark brown horse, before following suit. The only one who seemed excited about all of this was Nannulf, who eagerly clambered up behind Geir. The move earned an uncomfortable whinny from the pony when it was kneed a little bit too roughly in the stomach by his clumsiness.

"What about Ása and Ivarr?" Rín asked, troubled, "And Meska? What will Meska say, knowing we have just left him?"

"Meska will know where you have gone." Pallando replied, walking over to his own horse, "He has been waiting for it for some time now. I would wager that he thought you would disappear this night, for even the moon, in it's absence, aids your travel with it's darkness."

Rorik gathered his reins in his hands and wheeled his pony towards her, "Pallando and I will go for Ása and Ivarr and pick them up on the way through." he said, "We will meet you outside the city."

"But we are not ready, we have not prepared-"

"Rín," the sound of Thorin's voice made her look to him, "Just come. We may not get another chance as good as this one."

Rín looked up at Thorin apprehensively as he held his hand out for her, to help her up behind him on the pony. "Very well then. Are you sure this is safe?" she asked suspiciously, eyeing the rather large (in her opinion) moving animal.

"Nothing is safe." Thorin replied sombrely, the twinkle in his eye however giving away the laughter that hid beneath. "Now, come on. See, Nannulf can even do it."

With a grumble under her breath, Rín did as she was bid and ungracefully hauled herself up behind him, her hands griping around his waist tightly at the unusual feeling.

"Try not to squeeze me to death." Thorin muttered, turning his head slightly to look back at her. Rín glared at him, entirely uncomfortable with the situation she was in. Her nerves were racing, not only with the realisation that they were finally about to begin their trek back to the West, but also that firstly, she had a large, moving animal underneath her that she had no control over, and secondly she was incredibly close, in fact, pressed up against the tall, dark-haired dwarf who was beginning to invade her dreams.

"Come now children!" Rorik said loudly, cutting through her thoughts. The blonde dwarf smirked when he saw the red of her cheeks, just making Rín blush harder in embarrassment. "Let us be off."

"A good idea indeed Rorik." Pallando rumbled from astride his own horse. "A very good idea indeed."

A/N:

Definitions:

Muhuli: Elephant Tusk or for the sake of Tolkien, Oliphant Tusk

Camel Jasper: A gorgeous type of stone that is cross between amber, yellow, and tan. Look it up peeps if you're curious

THIS IS IMPORTANT: I will be having a week off updating, so there will be no update next Saturday, but there will be one the week after. It's a one week hiatus. Why? For a number of reasons. Firstly to get my head together, I really need to concentrate on a couple of different things and categorise them in terms of this story, work, and Uni. Then in order of importance. After the week break is up, and I am hopefully a little bit ahead with it all, things will all be back to normal. NOBODY PANIC (If you were considering panicking at all that is) I am only missing one weekend of updates. Hopefully this longish chapter will be able to tide you over :)

Oh I should probably mention I made an update to the Appendices a little while ago. I uploaded some information on the 4 (mostly) Forgotten Dwarven Clans. It's all out of my head, and is not technically cannon because Tolkien never wrote much about the other clans. Therefore, it is my headcannon. Headcannon that will become more detailed as we go along. Who knows, I may even work myself up to sketches.

I've got two Rec's for you, my darling readers, this week. One a brilliant MarySueParody, and the other, a very well written OC/romance. The first is Dreamboatshield by Pearl Primrose [Warnings: Swearing, an incredibly annoying Dwobbish Mary Sue, more swearing, large doeses of swajesty (word courtesy of PP) from the King Under the Mountain, slight intimation of slash and excessive laughter], all in all, a good read, and a good laugh. The second is Highwaywoman by Inertia18, which is brilliant in it's realism and ability to capture character [Warnings: A bit of swearing if I recall correctly, mature themes and a Highwaywoman who is perhaps, and perhaps not, what one would expect].

Hopefully you'll give them a go, and enjoy! :)

Many thanks as always to my faithful reviewers who help encourage me to put pen to paper (or more technically, fingers to keys), including UniversalIndicator, LadyDunla, ladymoonscar, Pearl Primrose, xBelekinax, DwarvenWarrior, UKReader, westwingnut221, Suheyla, TolkienGirl, DeadheadDaisy, FromTheAshMeadow. To those of you who have followed/favourited, your silent support does not go unnoticed. Thank you.

Incredibly long Authors Note...Over and Out.

Now everyone, hold your breaths...