It had been hours since Thranduil had been knocked out and Alasse could not see a thing from the sack they'd carried her in. For the longest time, she'd flailed and kept yelling for help. But then one of the intruders had slapped her from even outside the cloth and also her limbs were aching from struggling so much. After that, she'd curled into herself crying. Thranduil was dragged on his back by four of the lackeys, his tall and muscular frame wearing on them.

Thranduil was most rudely waken up from being dowsed in the face with water! He coughed and spluttered, shaking his head back and forth trying to focus his bleary eyes. "Wake up, king!" The guy who had splashed him grumbled, kicking the king in the thigh. Thranduil glared and blinked, trying to adjust to their surroundings and figure out what the heck was going on! His head buzzed terribly, like a familiar hangover. His back felt scraped and bruised from all the juts and rocks he'd been dragged over. "You awake yet, pretty boy?" The figure huffed.

"Where are w-we?" Thranduil asked, groaning.

"Oh, you are a long way from home, elf king. A very long way." The figure chuckled. Thranduil noticed that there was a single torch in the entire room, up on the wall. They were made of plaster and wood. So...they were not in cave. Well, that was one thing to be grateful for. Elves hated caves. They were so dark and too confining. The torch offered a bit of light, but still quite dark if one was trying to make out another's full features.

"Noted." Thranduil pursed his lips. "You did not answer my question."

"I didn't? What a shame. Must have slipped my mind."

"Remove your hood!"

"It's not time for that yet."

Thranduil bolted forward to snatch the jerk by his hair and flip his hood himself, but he was held back, by...shackles! Thranduil growled and glared as he saw his wrists and ankles fettered to steel hooks on the wall. The ne'er-do-well laughed at the distressed elf's reaction.

But he'd underestimated his majestic prisoner. Thranduil was not the type to just give up. He still lunged forward and scrambled to his feet to grab the guy, but only fell flat on his face. That was as far as he could stretch with his bonds. The anonymous figure cackled and gave Thranduil a swift kick to the ribs.

"Where is my daughter? What have you done to my Alasse?" Thranduil growled up at him, the elf king's eyes a murderous, blazing gleam.

"She's here." The figure grinned. He whistled and a door opened in the far shadows, so dark one couldn't see the door open, while two of the other hooligans stepped inside, bearing a small sack. Thranduil's eyes widened when he saw it and his heart dropped. The sack was still and not moving.

Panic seized Thranduil's heart. What had they done to his little girl? Was she even alive? The criminal gave a nod, and the other two opened the sack and held it upside down, dumping a small elfling roughly onto the floor. Alasse thudded on the planks and whimpered. "Oww." She sniffled.

"Ohh," Thranduil breathed. She was still alive! Thank the Valar! "Alasse, come to me!" He urged in Elvish. Alasse looked up at him timidly.

"Ada!" She cried and scrambled over to him as he sat back up against the wall and cradled her protectively against his slightly sore chest. "Oh, Ada. I thought you were dead! They hit you on the head and you wouldn't move and you didn't wake up." The elfling told him tearfully.

"They didn't hit me hard enough." Thranduil smirked sadly, brushing her tears. "It's alright, Tithen pen. I'm right here."

"Aww. Ain't that sweet?" The criminals jeered. Thranduil clasped his daughter even tighter, burying her small face into the safety of his tunic as he shot mental daggers at them.

"If you ever touch my daughter again..." Thranduil seethed.

"You're not quite in the position to be making threats at us, Your Majesty."

"I demand to see the b- in charge of this abduction." Thranduil hissed. "That is NOT a request."

"We shall pass along your sentiments to our captain." The one who'd dowsed Thranduil cocked his head. He and the others began laughing manically and shuffling back towards the door.

"Water, please!" A new, pleading voice begged from somewhere in the shadows. "He needs water!" The criminals glared down at two stocky figures on the floor on the other side of the room.

"He needs water." They scoffed. "We'll give him water, won't we, boys?" They all howled and dumped a bucket of water onto the pair, the one lying prostrate on the floor gagging and coughing. They laughed loudly and kicked him. "Don't any of you go nowhere now." One of them scorned and shut the door behind him and locked it.

"Ada? What is going to happen to us?" Alasse asked frightfully. Thranduil only embraced her harder.

"Nothing, iel nin." He whispered. "I swear, I will kill them all if they dare to touch you again." Then he looked down at her. "Are you hurt badly, darling?"

"My arms hurt." Alasse said quietly. Thranduil pushed her sleeves up. He found a few bruises on the side where she'd fallen.

"Do you ache anywhere else, melleth?" Thranduil asked.

"Mmm mm m." Alasse shook her head. "I'm hungry. And really thirsty!"

"I'm sorry, Alasse." Thranduil frowned sympathetically. He could go without food if he must, but he had to take care of his daughter, which seemed highly unlikely in this infernal place.

"Here!" The voice that had begged for water spoke to them. It was hard to see him, but he flicked his arm and tossed something small through the air toward Thranduil and Alasse. It was a half eaten slice of stale bread. "It's not much, but it is better than starving." The figure said regretfully.

Thranduil leaned forward and narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the meager morsel. Who knew what germs were on it, or where all it had passed through? But, who knew also when he or Alasse would have a chance to eat again? Against his better judgement, he offered it to her. "Here, Alasse. Eat this." He said. Alasse looked up and gobbled down the bread. "Hannon le." Thranduil said dryly. "Why do you linger in the shadows? Come into the light." He commanded the Good Samaritan. The fellow obeyed slowly, but not without wincing and dragging something with him in his lap.

He was a short person, a very short person! Stocky and muscular, with blue eyes. His normally well kept golden braids were unkempt. The other man lying in his lap was worse. He was slightly pale, with unruly dark, long hair that was neither braided nor pulled back. He seemed to be in some physical distress. Both of the little men were dressed only in their ragged, baggy, outer tunics and trousers. They smelled of dirt and sweat. The one sitting up had a well trimmed, full beard. The dark-haired one however, had a short excuse of a beard, more like a skimpy goatee. Both of them were also fettered.

Thranduil rolled his eyes. On top of everything else he had to worry about, he was stuck with these...these...dwarves for company! Could this day possibly get any more ugly for him? He protectively pulled Alasse right up to him. "With the way my luck has been running this d- day, why am I not surprised to find myself in the most absurd and disreputable set of circumstances?" Thranduil grumbled.

"Ada? Who are they?" Alasse asked curiously.

"Dwarves." Thranduil barely uttered the word.

"They're what?"

"Dwarves!" Thranduil muttered.

"Dwarves? You are dwarves?" Alasse gaped in astonishment.

"Yes." The blonde one sighed. He didn't like that nasty scowl Thranduil was boring onto him and his brother, but there wasn't much he could do about it. "In case it makes you feel any better, we didn't ask for this." The dwarf spoke up. "And we're not happy to be here any more than you are."

"I would rather spend my time in the company of blabbering, weed smoking, meddlesome wizards than a couple of dwarfs who can't even protect themselves." Thranduil retorted tersely.

"Seems to me dwarves are not the only ones who have failed in that maneuver, or you wouldn't be here." The blonde replied. Thranduil bristled. How dare the little rodent back him into a corner! "Though I must say, I am shocked that they were able to take down one as formidable as you, Your Majesty."

Thranduil pffted. "Do you think that flattery will extinguish my established impression of dwarves?"

"I believe you've just answered your own question." The dwarf shook his head.

"What is that hair on your face?" Alasse asked, intrigued.

"It is called a beard, Your Highness." The dwarf couldn't help but smile. Thranduil pursed his lips. The dark-haired dwarf moaned pitifully.

"Is he okay?" Alasse asked with concern.

"He's fine, Alasse. Do not meddle with the affairs of dwarfs. Just mind your own business." Thranduil said dryly. The blonde dwarf's face darkened.

"My brother is not fine! He is hurt and sick." He declared vehemently. "They dragged him here in the rain, after removing his cloak. He is weak, and starving. I cannot get his fever down! They have given us next to nothing for nourishment and they taunt keeping the water out of our reach. Well, what's left of it."

"I can get it for you." Alasse offered. Thranduil stiffened.

"That is very kind of you, princess. But I doubt there is any water to salvage." The dwarf groaned.

"I can look and see." Alasse smiled and stood up.

"You most certainly will not." Thranduil scolded her. "Don't bother, Alasse. If dwarves were intelligent, they wouldn't be in this mess."

"Ada." Alasse stared at him, shocked he would say such a thing. "He's hurt and needs help!"

"It's not my problem."

"Are you not intelligent either?" Alasse asked innocently.

"Are you defying me, young elleth?" Thranduil glared.

"N-no, Ada. Honest!" Alasse cried. "You said they're not intelligent because they got caught. So we're not intelligent either? Because we're caught too."

Thranduil sighed heavily. He adored his daughter. She had him wrapped around her little finger and he always hated saying no to her at all. But this was unexpected. She was not speaking out of sass, but mere child logic. Still, it cut him off guard.

"I can help, Ada!" Alasse smiled. "I'm not chained up."

"Whatever." Thranduil rubbed his head. Alasse walked across the room and looked inside the bucket. She frowned in frustration.

"You're right, Mr. Dwarf. There is no more water." She said sadly.

"Thank you for being so kind, little one." The dwarf nodded. Alasse walked over to them.

"Alasse! Don't touch them!" Thranduil protested.

"Your brother looks sad. Is he scared?" Alasse asked curiously.

"I imagine he is." The blonde sighed.

"What is his name?"

"Kili."

Alasse reached out her hand and stroked Kili's sweaty hair. She scrunched up her nose at the sweaty scent and sticky feeling, but like her mother, her heart went out to the young one so distressed. Whenever she was scared, Thranduil, Legolas, or her nursemaid Tatsu would comfort her like this. She wasn't sure if that's what dwarves did for their children too, but she knew it always made her feel better. She hoped it would work. "Don't be afraid, Kili." She murmured softly. "Ada will get us out of here." She said confidently.