"Ahh. Not much further now." Bryceson said with relief. After Gandalf had spotted the spies, they'd made Bryceson to walk in front of them. "Just around this bend, my lords." Bryceson added. Legolas and Thorin both glanced skeptically at Gandalf. He shook his head urgently.

"Very well then." Legolas said calmly. He stepped forward and cut loose Bryceson's bonds. Bryceson stepped around to face him, dumbstruck.

"You're letting me go?" He asked too hopefully. He wasn't the only one befuddled by Legolas's actions! The dwarves were gaping at him.

"Tell your master, if he wants the jewels that badly, he can come claim them himself. Right here." Legolas said firmly.

"I will!" Bryceson bowed and hurried down around the bend.

"Idiot! What do ye think yer doin', ye pointy-eared upstart?!" Gloin and Dwalin spat.

"Come, we go this way." Gandalf instructed, leading them to a path in an eastern direction away from the one Bryceson had told them to go. The dwarves muttered but obeyed. Bilbo, Thorin, Elladan, and Elrohir remained with Legolas.

"Why did you let him go?" Thorin narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the prince.

"Why do you think I let him go, Thorin Oakenshield?" Legolas smiled slyly. "Walking right into their lair would be most foolish, would it not?" Thorin smiled back sneakily. Then he glanced at Bilbo.

"Master Baggins? This is where you come in." Thorin said, clapping the hobbit on the shoulder. Bilbo gulped. He wasn't so sure about this!

"Where do you want us, Legolas?" Elrohir asked.

"Follow me." He answered. "Thorin, you've got this?"

"You're talking to a Son of Durin, who fought at the battle of Moria, Wood elf." Thorin rolled his eyes. Legolas nodded then scurried up the ridge with the sons of Elrond at his heels.


"My lord Devlin!" Bryceson panted as he arrived at the lair.

"Bryceson! Is it true? Ciaran and Alvin informed me that our guests have arrived. Please tell me you bring good news." Devlin stood with his arms crossed.

"Ai, my lord! It is them!" Bryceson smiled with relief. "The prince himself, and Thorin Oakenshield."

"Excellent. And the jewels. Did they bring the jewels?"

"He...he, uh...he did not specify, my lord." Bryceson gulped. "He remained evasive every time I asked."

Devlin frowned. Malcolm nudged him. "I say we go pay our long awaited guests a visit." He suggested.

"You are right, my good man." Devlin agreed. "The rest of you stay here and keep watch."

"But what do we do about the prisoners?" Alvin asked.

"Shall I finish them off for good measure?" Rajiv licked his lips, unsheathing his knife.

"Nay. Wait for my signal. If anything goes wrong, you know what to do." Devlin growled.

"What about the princess?" Griffin asked.

"Get rid of her. They must not find her!" Devlin warned them.


Legolas and Elladan were waiting up in the trees, above a high ledge overlooking a mine shaft opening, spitting out of the steep mountain. Gandalf and the other dwarves were hiding behind bushes, boulders, and other crannies the Misty Mountains provided. Elrohir came rushing to the tree. "Legolas! Riders approaching! You're going to want to see this!" He called up to his friend.

"Stay here, Elladan." Legolas warned and leaped down from the tree. He followed his friend, over three other ledges down to a small meadow. Sure enough, there was a band of riders. They were elves, clad in brown and green. "Wood elves!" Legolas breathed. He ran to meet them. "Voronwe! What are you doing here?" He called as he stood in front of the procession.

"My lord Legolas!" Voronwe sputtered in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Answer the question. Time is of the essence." Legolas urged.

"My lord, Princess Alasse's wolf, Fluffy, fled Mirkwood, naught on a fortnight ago." Voronwe explained as he dismounted and bowed. "While many of us stayed back with Captain Tauriel and Lieutenant Feren, she issued several of us to search for the wolf. We all know dear Princess Alasse will be devastated if something had happened to him. What I cannot understand is that we have tracked him this far!"

"Fate is with us." Legolas sighed with relief. "Voronwe, I thank you for your dedication. There is not much time to explain. But I am greatly relieved to see you. With what we are up against, we may need the lift of horses at the end of this mess." Legolas quickly filled his servant on what was going on.

"We are at your service, my lord!" Voronwe promised.


Devlin and Malcolm followed the directions Bryceson had told them till they reached the path in a small clearing, but found no elves, no dwarves, and no wizard. "Idiot Bryceson." Devlin rolled his eyes. The only person they saw was a tiny, stout little figure, bearing two small bundles. He appeared to be sneaking around, as if he were afraid of being followed! The two criminals blinked in confusion. They had never seen such a creature. He wore no shoes, and had abnormally large feet. He was beardless with curly hair and pointy ears. "You! Stop right there!" Devlin barked. Bilbo started, looking up at them in alarm. They drew their weapons and marched threateningly towards him.

"If you please, my good sirs. I wasn't doing anything!" Bilbo held up his hands frightfully after stuffing his coat with the parcels.

"What are you?" Malcolm cringed.

"Only a humble traveler, lost on his way home." Bilbo offered quickly. Malcolm stood behind Bilbo with his blade drawn. Devlin stood directly in front of the halfling, cutting off any escape.

"What do you carry on you?" Devlin asked.

"N-nothing!" Bilbo shook his head. Devlin knelt down and frisked the hobbit, patting his sides til he felt two lumpy parcels. He jerked them out and they spilled, revealing the white gems that glistened convincingly in the sun's rays. Devlin's and Malcolm's jaws dropped in awe.

"Where did you get those?" Devlin asked angrily, pinching Bilbo's shoulder.

"F-found them is all!" Bilbo stammered.

"You lie." Devlin snarled, bringing his dagger toward Bilbo's throat.

"Alright, alright! I'll tell you the truth!" Bilbo pleaded. "Just please do not lop my head off, my good sirs! I'll tell you the truth."

"Start talking, halfling." Malcolm grabbed Bilbo by the hair.

"Alright! I...I stole them! From a company of elves. That's what I did alright." Bilbo sputtered.

"And how did a runt like you manage to lift gems like those off of elves, such wise creatures?" Devlin asked, personally offended. Malcolm was quite curious.

"You underestimate hobbits, my good elf." Bilbo shrugged. "Would you mind letting of my shoulder? It is most sensitive. Cold weather, you know."

"What do you suggest we do with the squint?" Malcolm asked.

"Bring him along, I suppose. He doesn't appear very dangerous. We shall get to the truth of how he really came by these treasures, eventually." Devlin sighed. "In the meantime..." He stooped down and cradled the necklace and the stone in his hands as if they were infants. He stared in awe at their glittering and shivered at the white smoothness as he ran his lanky fingers over them. "Right now, this is what matters." He smirked sickly.

"You're coming with us, Shorty." Malcolm said sternly to Bilbo. "Any funny business and we don't play nice anymore, get me?"

"Of course." Bilbo nodded casually, trotting along. "As long as I can stay under a roof out of the rain. Dreadful predicament it is, being rained on with no shelter. Oh, yes. And I should like a good, hot meal. That would be most appreciated." Bilbo babbled.

"I have them..." Devlin crooned to himself, hoarding the gems, unable to take his eyes off of their pure glow.

Suddenly, an angered yell from behind them as Thorin swung his sword, taking Malcolm by surprise. The larger man countered the dwarf's blow, but Bilbo kicked Malcolm in the shins and then Thorin smacked him hard across the back of the head with the hilt of his sword. Devlin, on the other hand, had stuffed the gems into his tunic, not about to give them up! Then he'd whirled around with his daggers, tossing one straight at Bilbo but Thorin blocked it with his sword. He charged at Devlin who hopped right over the dwarf. As the two parried off, Bilbo snatched up rocks and threw them as hard as he could at Devlin's head. One finally hit its mark, right on Devlin's temple, stunning the dwarf considerably and making him stumble. Thorin wasted no time and drew his blade to the elf's neck.

"Where are my nephews? What have you done with them?" Thorin asked dangerously.

Devlin didn't answer, but even though his vision was bleary, he drew his bow and fired an arrow into the air for his cronies to see: the signal that things weren't going according to plan!


"One should never underestimate dwarves." Or hobbits!