Revenge

"No!"

With a loud cry, Dru sat up in her bed and took deep, shuddering breaths.

The darkness around her was a comfort to what had been plaguing her dreams.

Almost instantly, a hand came down over her shoulder and her husband pressed himself against her side.

"Dru, are you alright?" Fili's other hand moved gently to rest against her gently swelling stomach, "is it the babe?"

Feeling relaxed just by the company of her husband, Dru turned her head and rested it against his own.

"No, no, just...just a nightmare."

"About?"

Dru had so few nightmares in recent years that Fili was surprised when she did wake up from them. But he still wanted to know what plagued his wife when he could not be there to protect her.

"You know," Dru let out a humourless laugh and shook her head, "I can't remember. There was...water and shapes, but I can't remember why I got so scared. It just frightened me so much that I woke up."

"It's alright," he turned his head and placed a comforting kiss at the corner of her mouth, "hopefully, that means it wasn't too bad."

"Yeah. I'm still tired, which is good," she let out a long breath and nodded her head, "I'm fine, really. Come on, back to sleep. Bror and Thora will wake up if they hear us."

Placated that she was telling the truth, he gently laid back down with her, resting on his side as she laid on her back.

His hand rested protectively over her bump, as it always did when they slept.

It wasn't just comfort for her though, it was always his little promise that he was there.

He fell asleep first, but Dru only shut her eyes and let herself relax.

Sleep wouldn't come easy.

The nightmare was forgotten, but not the fear.

Though there was nothing bad approaching, that she knew.

She put it down to the stress of the short travel she would go on the next day, separated from her family for only a day.

She'd finally gathered up the courage to 'go out' by herself and travel around the lake (in a carriage, of course) to procure the services of one of the finest fisherman.

Since having Bror, Dru had gotten used to the odd cravings she would have and despite only being four months gone, she'd pinpointed exactly what dishes she was about to crave in the next month or so.

And fish pie with pickles and a dollop of strawberry jam was high on her list.

Since it was only a small task and she didn't want to bother the others with it, she elected she travel herself, under the supervision of three of her guards AND the rules that she wasn't allowed to walk more than ten minutes by herself (though that was more Fili's rule than her own).

'No,' she thought to herself, 'everything will be fine. Nothing to worry about.'

But as she fell asleep again, Dru felt uneasy. Her dreams held a storm that was slowly approaching and despite trying to get away and keep dry, she knew she'd get caught up in it.

The next morning...

When Dru's carriage gave an unexpected jolt, she sat straight up and wide awake, looking about her.

She'd only dozed off for a few minutes she was sure, but that was hardly her fault. The night's dreams and the fact the carriage was gently swaying her back and forth so it wasn't really a surprise that she was lulled into a relaxed sleep.

The carriage came to a stop and curious, Dru looked out the window and waited for someone to open it and tell her they had arrived.

"Sorry my lady," one of her guards called from above apologetically, "we're not there yet. There's an overturned wagon and someone seems to have got caught underneath."

"Oh, go help them!" Dru called out and sat back, though was tempted to jump out and help herself, despite the cold, "I'll be fine, let me know if they need anything."

As she rested back against the chair, both her hands covered her stomach and she looked down at her bump.

"I had a feeling things were not going to go smoothly today," she talked to her unborn child and smiled, "but then, it never does for me. Unfortunately, trouble follows your mummy and daddy around like a bad smell."

She continued her idle chatter with her babe, knowing even though she was only in the early stages, her child could hear here.

Or at least, that's always what she thought. She'd talked to both Thora and Bror and others did as well, so it would be almost strange if she didn't hold one-sided conversations with them.

A strange noise outside drew her attention.

It was yell and then a series of organised shouts.

She waited for a bit, hoping the men weren't struggling in the road when another voice shouted out.

Closer.

"Come out, come out, Princess!"

For a moment, Dru was frozen in her seat.

She knew that voice...she hadn't heard it in so long, but she knew the male.

"I said come out or I'll start cutting the heads off of your pretty guards!" He called out again, malice thick in his voice, "especially this woman who seems particularly fond of you!"

Laird Boe.

It had been years since she'd heard his voice, let alone heard of him spoken in the mountain.

Rumour had it they had returned to the Iron Hills, but their family was shamed.

So why was he here? He had been banished from Erebor, why now?!

"My lady, stay where it's safe-AH!" Olga cried out in pain and despite her cry and despite Dru wanting to keep her babe safe, she knew she couldn't leave them to die.

She stood up, slowly opened the door and looked outside.

All three of her guards were kneeling on the floor, each with a man holding daggers at their throats.

The two she did not know sneered at her but did not make a move to go grab her.

There was another man hurrying in the background, gathering their swords and weapons so they could not attack.

And Boe.

Smirking, cruel and slimy.

Just as she remembered.

He held his own long sword against Olga's throat, his other hand gripped tightly in her long ponytail, pulling her head back.

Olga had not gone down without a fight though.

Her lip was split, her nose was bleeding and she had a nasty gash over her eye.

Dru did not look Boe in the eye, instead focused on Olga.

'Well done. You did well,' she nodded her head, hoping Olga knew it was alright. That she hadn't failed.

Olga bit her lip, but she saw the defiant flash in her eyes. If Boe made a mistake Olga would risk cutting her own throat if it meant taking him down.

Her eyes finally moved back up to his own and whilst she did feel a tinge of fear in her heart, she knew she could show no weakness.

"I'm here. You will NOT lay another finger on my guards."

As she took a step down onto the little platform on her carriage, she straightened her back and raised her chin.

And that's when she saw the surprise in his eyes.

He obviously hadn't heard about her present condition and she didn't know whether to be pleased or scared. Would he be kind and let her go in her condition? Or would he use it against her...

"You didn't tell us she was with child!" One of the men hissed at Boe, but he hushed them and then glared at her.

"So nice to see you again. And you're looking...different," he pretended to make idle chatter, but she saw the madness in his eyes.

She recognised unwellness of the mind when she saw it.

"Hello Boe," she kept her tone cool as she glared at him with the same look he was giving her, "you look the different also. Tired."

"Had a bit of a rough time sleeping," he grinned and gestured to the third party member as he moved in front of him, "bind their hands and legs, we don't need them coming after me. Afterwards, tie the Princess up and put her on your horse."

Oh no.

Dru was NOT having any of that.

"You've got my carriage. I'll ride in it," she said and whilst they had the swords, her tone brokered no argument. She'd be damned if they put her on a horse in her condition and tied up nonetheless.

Boe snapped and she could see he meant to scream at her, but she put up a hand and placed an indifferent expression on her face.

"OR we could do it your way and have you and your men take turns in carrying me and my unborn child ALL the way to...well, wherever it is you plan to take us."

She looked between them quickly, seeing if anyone was going to agree with that plan.

"I'm not going to run and you have my guards lives in your hands. I won't put up a fight this way."

For a moment, there was silence as Boe deliberated this but he still nodded his head for the man to follow his next order.

"Bind her feet once she's inside the carriage!"

"For what purpose?" Dru squinted at him, disbelieving he could be so cruel just for the hell of it.

"So you can't run!"

Dru HAD to roll her eyes.

"Have you EVER been around a pregnant woman? I can't run, you lummox!" She knew insulting him wasn't going to fly well, but her temper was slowly unravelling, "I can barely waddle gracefully out of my carriage."

"You will do well to remember WHO holds the sword," he pointedly pulled Olga's hair, making her cry out again, "your majesty."

"You don't scare me anymore, Boe. You want to take me away, you can. I am compliant. BUT I will go the easier way rather than kicking and screaming, which will do no good to my unborn baby NOR you NOR your men."

He seemed to deliberate this again and turned quickly to one of his men, whispering a command quickly.

Whilst his eyes were not on her, she looked at each of her guards and shook her head.

'Stay silent,' she mouthed and whilst they were sworn to protect her...they knew she had just given them a direct order.

They remained still as their wrists and ankles were bound, but their chins held high as they looked at her.

She knew, as soon as it was safe, they would get themselves free and split up.

Some would follow and leave a trail for the others, whilst the other half went back to the mountain for reinforcements.

Most likely, the entire bloody army.

But for now, they were alive.

Once bound, the men quickly gathered their stuff and headed towards the carriage.

Dru did not want any of them touching her and swiftly turned and sat back down in her seat.

But when she tried to close the door, Boe quickly grabbed the wood and yanked it open.

"I hope you don't mind, your majesty," he spat the word out like venom and grinned maliciously, "I'll be riding with you since there is plenty of space."

She said not a word as he sat down opposite her.

She just her head from him and looked out at the window, her hands resting over her bump.

'It'll be alright,' she thought both to herself and her child, 'help always comes. We'll be home before you know it.'

Later that day...

It had only been a few hours in the carriage, but Dru already felt like she was being tortured just having to listen to the delirious and obviously mad ravings of Boe.

She knew he'd planned to use her as some kind of leverage and bargaining, but when he slowly revealed his plans to her, she didn't realise just how warped his mind had become.

She had, of course, heard the news of recent unrest amongst a small band of Dwarves from the North, who didn't believe Thorin should be on the throne, nor anyone from the line of Durin.

She just hadn't figured Boe would be the one to have started it all.

"Once the King signs a contract and publically abdicates, then you will be returned safely to him. We can then begin talks on WHO will be the one to sit on the throne. My people will vote," he'd gloated as though he'd already one, "and select the right person. If my father had been here, he would be proud."

Dru turned to him at that and was genuinely surprised.

"If he were?" She queried and his glare hardened at her.

"He died. We were driven to shame because of your DAMNED MEDDLING!" He hissed and the fury in his eyes grew, "my father's name was dragged through the mud and he died and was buried in a pauper's spot!"

"Boe," for the first time, Dru actually felt a little sympathy for him, "I am truly sorry about your father and your family. But YOU were the cause of your shame, not me."

A fire burned brightly in his eyes, but she didn't stop.

"You chased me. I tried to let you down politely and when you couldn't see I didn't want you, you tried to assault me. And then when I stood up to you, you claimed I had merely attacked you like an animal. You and your father insulted me and my family that day and you both were punished, but it could have been worse. Thorin was kind to not lock you in the dungeons."

"Kind?!" For a moment, he looked ready to lunge at her and Dru actually wished she had kept her mouth shut. But then...the fire cooled and he merely grinned at her again.

"No matter. Your words have no meaning now. Once the plan works-"

"It won't. I already bloody know and it's not going to work."

"You doubt my plan, but you don't know it all," he chuckled darkly and waved his hand at the window, "there is discourse. People will listen to me."

"You couldn't marry 'the princess of Erebor' so you kidnap her. But even if my Uncle was to abdicate and my husband AND my brother were to promise not to take up the throne, do you think our people will be pleased?"

"Your people?! Mindless drones who don't know that it could be better! Powerful! Back to the times of tradition."

"Where women aren't allowed to be guards and there are brothels in Erebor?" She sneered at him, mocking his plan, "isn't that what your father wanted? Nobody will approve of that plan and nobody would want you as King."

Quicker than she thought, he withdrew his sword and held it out at her.

Her bravery and strength fled when he held the point against her belly and grabbed her neck with her free hand.

He smiled as he looked into her eyes and laughed.

"There's that fear I've wanted for so long."

Dru grabbed at the blade and whilst she risked her fingers and palms getting cut, she tried desperately to get it away from her belly.

"Please," she gasped out as his grip tightened around her neck and pleaded with him, "not my child, Boe. Please, I beg you."

"I've been waiting for you to beg since the day your Uncle forced me and my father to get on our knees and apologise to you," he twisted the blade and bared his teeth as his grin widened, "maybe I should get you on your knees and get you to BEG for your pathetic little life and the one of the child-"

"Laird Boe! We have company!"

The carriage was still moving, but despite her fast heartbeat and the way Boe loomed over her, she finally felt the speed in which they were going.

They were going considerably faster than they originally were and Dru had a feeling that the cavalry had already arrived.

But that didn't make her feel any safer with the point of his sword pushing against her belly.

One jolt and it would be inside of her.

Boe looked at her as though he truly wished to end her then and there.

But he still needed her for his plans.

He turned the sword and pulled it away, but said threateningly, "Stay here or I'll slit your stomach and pull that child out with my bare hands!"

Dru needn't be told twice and as he turned and opened the door, the only movement she made was to cover her bump again.

Boe carefully clambered out and away and left her alone and she finally took in deep breaths as she whimpered.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to her child, "I shouldn't have made him mad. I'm sorry if I scared you."

She shut her eyes and willed the tears away. If help couldn't get there in time, then she would truly get on her knees and beg Boe's forgiveness if it meant keeping her babe safe.

She would throw her damned pride and dignity out of the window for that.

Suddenly, without warning, the carriage shot forward and she was forced to grab ahold of the back of the seat and the side to stop herself from flying about the place.

She braced her feet against the seat in front of her and held on as tightly as she could as she was jolted side to side and back and forth.

She heard shouts and cries over the sound of the wheels against rock and managed to slide herself over to the door.

She peered out the window and managed to catch sight of men on horseback, coming up alongside.

Faster and faster, being led by-

"FILI!" She cried out and lunged at the door so she could pull her window down, "FILI!"

She screamed his name and held on tightly as she watched him ride Thunderbolt.

Gods, he was magnificent.

Of course, he'd taken the fastest and most dangerous horse to come and rescue her.

Nobody else would have, only him.

But they were not to have the happy reunion just yet.

Boe was climbing down and along the carriage again, heading back towards the door.

He held his sword in the other hand still and when he thought Fili was too close, slashed out at him to keep him back.

Dru could see he was trying to get back inside with her, potentially to use her against Fili or even...she dared not think about the sword pressed against her belly again.

She couldn't let him in.

With all her strength, she pushed up the window and held onto the handle, wedging her body between the seats on the floor so she could hold it closed.

Boe couldn't see what she was doing but her method proved effective as he was struggling with holding on, attempting to open the door and keeping Fili back.

She could feel the door straining as he pulled and pulled and at one point, even attempted to kick it in, but it would not bust.

Finally, frustrated that he had to deal with too much, Boe positioned himself closer and decided that holding onto the door with one hand would be the best way around it.

Then, an idea struck her.

She waited until she felt the door jiggle one more time and then, pulling the handle down and letting it go, the door flew open.

And Boe went with it.

It opened so fast and with such force that he lost his grip and tumbled away.

She heard a scream and the carriage jostled again and she had a sinking feeling that he'd been crushed under the wheel.

'Bloody too good for the likes of him,' she huffed and puffed as she tried to steady herself, not caring about Boe's fate as long as he was far away from her.

"Dru!" Fili called out to her and got his horse closer, "Dru, you have to jump!"

She managed to pull herself up and cling onto the side of the carriage.

Was he mad?!

"I can't! Get them to stop the carriage!" She daren't risk the life of her child in jumping onto the hard ground below, but Fili's next words made her reevaluate his proposition.

"The men have jumped off, there is no one driving the carriage!" He clung onto Thunderbolt and looked ahead, "there's a sharp turn coming up and a sheer drop into the lake below! You HAVE to jump!"

"Fili, I'm scared!" She clung onto the carriage in sheer terror, unsure of what to do when faced with a difficult decision.

"You have to trust me! I'll catch you, I promise!"

She did trust him. Despite her terror and her want to just freeze and pretend it wasn't happening, she knew she had to attempt escape.

And Fili was right by her.

"Alright!" She called out and scrambled unsteadily to her feet, her hands still having a death grip on the doorframe.

Fili kept Thunderbolt at his speed and drew ever closer to her, one of his hands held out.

"Jump!"

She took a deep breath, loosened her grip and then...lost her balance when one of the wheels hit a large rock on the side of the road.

She tumbled backwards with a scream, her heart seizing up as she plummeted back down to the floor.

"Dru!"

She heard Fili cry, but she already knew it was too late.

She pushed herself up and everything seemed to shift and change.

She saw the fear in his eyes and the acceptance that she was not going to get out in time.

So he did the only logical thing.

Fili got Thunderbolt as close as he could and with all his might, threw himself off and into the carriage, JUST as it went over the edge.

For a moment, they were both weightless as he stared down at her and she stared up at him.

And yet, somehow, before the carriage even touched the water, he managed to push himself forward and grab ahold of her, enveloping her in his arms and keeping her close and safe.

"I've got you."

Xx Kili xX

"No!" Kili cried out in horror as he watched the carriage sail over the side of the cliff, just seeing his brother dive in to save Dru.

He hurried his horse until it was close enough and then when he hopped off and peered over the side, he knew they'd already hit the water.

There was a faint shadow disappearing below the surface and the water rippled from where it had been disturbed.

But he would not give up hope just yet.

"HURRY!" He mounted his horse again and signalled for his guards to follow, "DOWN THE PATH, NOW!"

Xx Dru xX

Dru knew she had only been out for less than a minute, but the ice-cold water quickly covering her startled her awake.

She swiftly sat herself up and found she was sitting in water that was up to her stomach and quickly rising.

She looked up and found everything switched about, the door above her now and shut door, keeping the water of the lake from flooding in.

The impact had obviously forced it shut, but she hadn't been hurt with Fili's arms around her-

"Gods, Fili!" She turned and looked down, seeing Fili below the surface of the water, "Fi'!"

She grabbed him and quickly pulled him up by his collar.

He was out like a light but still alive and trying not to be too hard, proceeded to slap him gently on both of his cheeks.

"Fili, wake up!"

He grimaced and she stopped when he eventually opened his eyes. It took a second for him to look around and fathomed what had happened and where they were.

"Stay back, I'll try the door," he quickly stood up and grabbed at the handle, "when the water comes in, take a deep breath, alright?"

She nodded and watched him, expecting the door to open easily with his strength.

But something was wrong. He bashed at it a couple of times with his hand and shook his head.

"Alright, the door's jammed," his hand smoothed over the glass of the window and she already knew what he was going to say before he spoke again, "we'll both have to force the window down and get out."

The water was already gushing in and the last bit of Dru's restraint snapped as she looked at the tiny window.

"I can't, I won't fit!" She felt herself begin to tremble, though knew it wasn't just the cold, "I won't get out that way, there has to be another way, I-I-"

Fili dropped back down to his knees and pulled her up against him, his hands grabbing either side of her head.

"Breathe! Breathe, love!" He tried to get her to calm down, though felt just as much panic as she, "we need to get out of here. You know you can do this, you can hold your breath longer than me!"

"But what if I get stuck?!" She quivered as the water began to come up to her chest and clung to him.

"You won't, I'll be behind you and I'll push, ok?" His eyes bore into words and whilst time wasn't on his side, he knew he couldn't let her go in this state, not when she needed to remain calm and remember to breathe, "it'll be alright. You trusted me to catch you, so trust me to do this."

When his lips quickly pressed against hers, Dru felt even more panicked. What if this was their last kiss? What if they didn't make it up?

No.

No, she wouldn't allow it.

"Ok," she nodded and pulled away, keeping herself breathing and calm for what was about to happen, "ok, let's open it."

They both placed their hands on the glass and Fili looked into her eyes to keep her focused.

"Together. One-"

"Two-"

They both nodded and pulled and pushed with all their might, trying to slide the glass down.

"Three!"

For a moment, the window didn't budge much, but suddenly, under the force of both their pushing, it slipped down and the water gushed in.

Even when Dru took a deep breath as the water finally came up and over her head, she didn't stop until the full pane was down.

She opened her eyes and looked at Fili.

He pointed at her and then out and she nodded.

With great speed, she moved her arms and head out, before placing her hands on the door on the outside and pushing with all her might.

She felt her husband's hands grab her hips and true to his word, helped push her up and out until she was able to slip her legs free.

No longer confined and able to swim about, she confidently turned back around and waited for him.

But as he moved to get out, something went wrong.

He stopped and struggled and Dru didn't know why.

But Fili did.

When he pushed her up, he'd wedged his foot against one side of the seats for leverage and his boot buckle was caught in the corner.

Seeing that he could not make it completely out, Dru grabbed at his arms and attempted to help tug him free.

But it was no good.

She had no leverage and because she could not see the problem, she could not see that she wasn't having any effect.

Beginning to panic, she grabbed at his shirt and tried to tug him through by sheer determination, but his hand calmly moved over hers and stopped her.

When she looked back at him and expected to see panic, she found surprising calmness.

He shook his head and gently pushed her away, urging her to go up, but Dru fought back.

'No!' She shook her head vehemently and clung onto his arm.

He took her hips and pushed her again and despite wanting to help him, she was reminded of the little bump she had and for a moment...she didn't know what to do.

She was torn between helping her husband and wanting air herself, but if she went up and took breaths for him, it would be too late.

Before she could linger any longer, strong arms suddenly came around her waist and made the decision for her.

She almost gasped in shock but managed to hold her breath as she turned about to see who her saviour was.

And as she turned, she saw the welcome sight of Kili swimming past her.

He took her place and grabbed at Fili, using the carriage to plant his feet down and pull at his brother.

But the sight drifted farther away and Dru could not concentrate.

Her lungs were beginning to burn.

When she broke the surface with her saviour, she immediately took three deep lungfuls of air before shouting commands.

"Espen, go help!" She felt herself being pulled and knew he wasn't listening to her as he swam through the water, his one arm still around her waist, "go back and help them!"

Dru thought she could have easily managed to swim along and pull herself up on shore, but even when her feet hit the waterbed and she tried to stand up, she found she no longer had the strength.

Espen literally had to drag her limp body onto the shore, but as soon as he helped lay her down, he ran off again.

She took deep breaths as she watched him run back into the shallow end and then immediately dive below the surface.

She pushed herself up on shaking arms, just as more guards appeared behind her.

"My lady!" Olga appeared behind her and held onto her back, "are you alright?! Are you hurt?!"

Dru shook her head.

She was not alright but she was not hurt.

"Come on," she gasped out as she watched the water for any signs of bubbles or ripples, "come on!"

She felt more hands on her and even something warm and dry come around her, but she would not move and she would not stop staring at the water.

The waiting was horrendous.

It was too long.

'Where are they?!'

Dru had always prided herself on holding her breath longer than Fili and even when she surfaced after all the panicking, she'd needed air.

Her heart began to seize as more seconds ticked by.

"No," she whimpered and tried to push herself back into the water, only to be restrained by Olga, "no!"

Suddenly, there was movement.

Bubbles.

Then a ripple.

Finally, the water broke and three figures appeared.

Dru let out a relieved gasp and smiled but...something wasn't right.

Both Kili and Espen had hold of Fili and she could not see him clearly, but he too was being pulled through the water.

"Fili!" Dru finally managed to prise Olga's hands off of her and crawled forward on shaky limbs.

She reached the water's edge as both of them deposited Fili's still figure on the ground in front of her, Kili keeping hold of his brother as he shouted orders.

"Blankets! Get a fire going, now!"

Whilst exhausted, Dru managed to crawl over to Fili and laid her head on his chest, trying to listen for his heartbeat.

"Fili, wake up," she took breaths and suddenly, the pain and the cold began to wash over her, "please. You have...you have to wake up."

She felt the darkness pull at her and her eyelids were suddenly unbearably heavy.

But just before she let the darkness pull her away, she did see the briefest flutter of Fili's eyelashes and heard a little thud, thud in his chest.

"Thank...Mahal."

A short while later...

Warmth.

Glorious warmth enveloping her and spreading over her like a blanket.

Or did she actually have a blanket on?

Whatever it was, it felt wonderful.

Yes, definitely had to be a blanket, there was something soft and familiar over her and the smell was unmistakably fur.

But there was something else. Something familiar and strong pressed up against her front.

Whilst she liked the sleep, she also wanted to know what was so nice.

She managed to sleepily open her eyes and was met by only a patch of thick hair.

'Fili.'

Dru blinked a couple of times and recognised the patch as Fili's strong, muscular chest.

She lifted up her hand to stroke it, but her body was aching and that's when she remembered all that had happened to them.

She shifted as gently as she could so as not to pull on her own aching muscles and looked up at his face.

He was fast asleep, but his breathing was steady and...it was so good to just see him breathing and feel him beside her.

She was so thankful. She thought she'd lost him in the waters.

She snuggled her body a little closer to him and realised that they were both stripped down to just their undergarments, Dru in her short bloomers and chemise and Fili in his little cloth.

Fili must have come around after the shore and lit a fire, stripped them both and gotten her down under the blankets to keep her warm.

But they were not outside which was the strange thing.

He looked about her and found herself inside one of the royal tents, the fire being a lit chimaera a few feet away from them.

'At least they came prepared for rescue this time,' she thought to herself and was all ready to settle back down against Fili and fall asleep, but he picked that time to stir.

He made a low, uncomfortable groan before slowly opening his eyes.

"I feel like I've fallen down a damn mountain," he grumbled before realising he wasn't actually alone and slowly turned to look at her.

"Hi," she offered sweetly as her hand came up and gently stroked his cheek.

"Hello," he smiled and looked deep into her eyes as he asked her sincerely, "are you alright?"

"I'm fine. You?"

He nodded and not being able to resist it, leant forward and caught her lips in a gentle, loving kiss.

His wandered down over her body, first gently holding her bump and then coming back up to lay against her breast.

"I thought I'd lost you," she pulled back with a whimper, remembering the fear she had felt at watching the water.

Fili paused as he looked at her and then said something that surprised both of them.

"For a moment, you might have."

When she furrowed her brow at him, he shook his head with an amused smile and confessed, "I couldn't hold my breath for long. My foot was free, but Kili had to pull me up. That's the last thing I remember before...well, you know you talk about your dreams being real?"

Xx Fili xX

Fili felt cold.

Ice cold.

He shut his eyes as darkness came over him.

His entire body hurt and he couldn't hold his breath anymore.

Which was...odd.

Because when he opened his eyes, he could breathe and he was no longer in the water.

Where was he?

His rooms?

Yes but...they looked so different.

A strange blue light shone in from the window, like rain falling down and reflecting the light. But it was so heavy as though the mountain had become flooded.

"Dru?" He turned around slowly, calling out to her.

Where was she? Was she safe? Had they gotten her out of the water? Had they gotten HIM out and taken them both home?

He heard a noise towards the door and turned, expecting to see his wife.

Instead, a large figure walked towards him.

A man with long, dark blonde hair.

Startling brown eyes.

A man Fili had not seen in over eighty years, but whose face he could never really forget.

"Da'?" He whispered in shock as the man came to stand right in front of him. Even though Fili was older, he was still slightly taller than him.

And his smile startled Fili so.

"My Lad," Bror said and Fili almost cried at hearing his voice again, "it's not time yet."

"Time?"

What did he mean?

His father's hands grasped either shoulder and he shook his head as he laughed.

"That woman of yours is waiting," he winked at his son and gently shook him, "deep breath."

Fili was not prepared for the mighty shove his father suddenly gave him.

He fell backwards and shut his eyes tight preparing himself to meet the floor.

But he'd taken his father's advice and took a deep breath and just as he went to let it out...he felt his body again.

The water falling over him.

Different sets of hands tugging and pulling at him.

And finally, he felt his foot come loose.

With a great surge, he was pulled up and up and up, until he broke the surface.

And whilst he did not take a deep breath, he could now breath.

He did not open his eyes, even as he was placed on the ground and weight suddenly appeared on his chest.

So many voices above him, one he recognised as Kili's.

And then he heard her.

He heard her beg for him to wake.

And he tried so hard, but he had heard her.

He hoped she saw him trying.

"I heard you," his lips hovered over hers as he watched her expression change from surprise to amazement, "I heard you calling."

As he pressed his mouth against hers, they both let out twin noises of pleasure and relaxation.

They were safe.

They were together.

And the child in her belly was unharmed.

Their hands began to wander up and over as the kiss became a slow, passionate burn.

Fili rolled her onto her back and settled his hips between her legs.

His mouth moved away from hers and trailed hot kisses down and over her neck.

"So when did you have time to get us undressed and move us here? Weren't you exhausted?"

Dru knew something was immediately wrong when Fili suddenly froze and his entire back tensed beneath her hands.

"What? Oh Gods, what?" She asked, a thick lump in her throat as he pulled back and looked down at her, just as worried.

"I've only just woken up again...I thought you undressed us?"

For a moment, both were silent as a dawning realisation came to them.

If he hadn't undressed them...and she hadn't undressed them...then-

"Someone undressed us?!" She squeaked a little too loudly, wondering which of their companions had to get them out of their skivvies.

Luckily, a new voice answered that question.

"Yes, and you BOTH bloody owe them!" Kili called out from outside the tent and they both startled and looked towards the little flap, wondering if he'd come inside.

"Kili, you undressed us?!" Dru said, a little scandalized.

"Yes and I'm NOT coming in with your food until you stop whatever it is you're doing RIGHT NOW," he said as sternly as he could but the only response he got was his brother's dark chuckle.

"I wouldn't bother with the food right now then."

Dru, whilst distracted as her husband began to attack her neck again with his lips, just had to ask questions that were bothering her.

"Is everyone alright? What happened to Boe?"

"The guards are fine, Espen's seen to Olga. The horses drowned with the carriage sadly. And Boe is dead," Kili didn't sound remorseful at all, in fact, he actually sounded glad, "and his men. Boe had his head crushed by the carriage and the bloody fools broke their necks jumping off the damned thing. The guards tossed their bodies on a pyre so we don't have to drag them home."

"Good. But we need to talk to Thorin about this unrest," Dru shifted her legs as Fili began to move lower down her body.

"Yes, but first we have much more pressing matters to attend to."

Xx Kili xX

Kili grimaced in horror at his little sister's excited giggle from the other side of the tent and swiftly stepped away.

"Bloody heck, you two!" He moved to the farthest table and deposited the bowls of soup that had been prepared for them, "can't you wait until you're in the mountain and you're own room?!"

The only response he got was a much louder giggle and something that sounded like Fili's muffled 'no'.

Mahal...he'd left his wife and child in the mountain to take care of them when they were doing that?!

Maybe he'd convince them to take another trip to see Middle Earth. Anywhere, as long as he wasn't near his brother and sister.

Especially when they were making those noises.