Hi there! I'm sorry for no update last week. Thankyou Fillisgirl and my mysterious guest for your lovely reviews. Hope you enjoy it. Love!


"What the hell is this, Brine?

"But this is not mine!" Brine replied angrily. "It was something I borrowed." Brine was not sure if that pendant was hers or if she would have to return it in time.

"I can't believe you're really doing this to me. It's an elf gift!" Fili screamed in pain as he gestured quickly. "You're choosing him over me!"

"That I choose him?" Brine turned offended and hit him in the face, turning it around. "I've come all the way down here for you. I took a chance on you. I have faced orcs and goblins... And you say that I have chosen him?" Her rage turned to a dark sadness. Fili did not consent to look at her. His hand covered his face red and irritated by Brine's blow as well as by his state of inebriation. Brine waited and waited but seeing Fili's attitude, she decided to give up and leave before she said anything she would regret.


Brine left the governor's house as quickly as she could without understanding the feelings she had at the time. She had a feeling of disgust when she thought of the kiss that Fili had given her. It had been her first kiss, but she never imagined it would be so unpleasant and so abrupt. On the other hand, she was totally disappointed by the reaction he had had when he saw the pendant.

"Brine?" It was Zirb's voice. Brine had not seen her coming but saw how Thorin waited under a bow and watched them. "What happened?" she asked, taking the piece of cloth from the dress that was hanging from her. "Are you all right?" Brine nodded as she looked away from her. "Come home with me, don't worry."

Brine had followed Zirb through the streets of Lake City in silence, avoiding giving details of what had happened. Zirb led her through the shadows of the alleys, avoiding being seen by prying eyes. As the road progressed it became familiar and Bard's house appeared in front of them.

"Why are we here?" Brine asked uncomfortably. She was not sure that Bard would accept her presence thereafter that night's situation with the dwarves.

"Because I live here," Zirb replied by opening the door. Brine looked at her in surprise and followed her inside. The girls who had helped her went quickly to meet her while asking her about what had happened in the square. "We just went to meet our new friends." Zirb seemed a little tired and distracted that night.

"Where is father?" asked the older one. Brine looked at Zirb worried, not knowing how she would tell them that he had been arrested.

"Still meeting with our friends." Zirb lied. The girls looked at her strangely but did not enter into an argument with her about it. "It's late girls, we'd better go to sleep." The girls nodded and retreated to the small corner where a few hours earlier Brine had cleaned up and dressed. They pulled back the heavy curtain, leaving a little privacy for the girls.

"What does this mean, Zirb?" Brine asked cautiously. Zirb did not turn to look at her.

"When I came here I had nothing and no one. I came in with the hope of meeting you and being able to accompany you too, but I found myself spending my days alone on the street."

"Zirb, we had complications along the way and" Brine wanted to explain to Zirb all that happened with the goblins and orcs, and their confinement in the elven dungeons.

"It's not a reproach," Zirb said quickly. "Quiet." Zirb smiled as she gave Brine her old clothes to change into. "The days were bearable, but the nights were very hard and difficult. That's when Bard found me. He just wanted to help me and offered me to stay here."

"Are you...?" Brine did not want to be brusque with Zirb but was curious about her relationship with the smuggler. She could have sworn her friend had feelings for Thorin.

"Together?" Zirb finished the question. "We only tried it once but it did not work. He still remembers his wife, and I" Brine waited for Zirb to finish the sentence and end up confessing everything about her feelings for Thorin. "I'm not ready for it." Brine was disappointed but knew she did not have to force Zirb to talk about something she was not comfortable with. "I think we should go to sleep, Brine. We need to rest after the whole day. I'm sure we can talk more clearly tomorrow." Brine accepted Zirb's proposal. It had been a very hard day with many emotions. I needed some time alone to think.


Brine woke up to hear knocking on the door. She did not know what time it was or how long she had been sleeping. Zirb quickly approached the door. She was still wearing her nightdress.

"Who is it?" Brine asked, walking beside her.

"I don't know." She answered as she opened the door. Brine's eyes opened wide.

"He needs your help," Fili said, who was carrying Kili on his shoulder. Zirb looked at Brine in confusion.

"Please." Bofur pleaded as he held the door open with one hand. One look at Kili was enough for Brine to know that Kili's life was in danger.

"Lay him on the table." Brine said as she let Fili, Kili and Bofur in. "Zirb, I need hot towels for the wound and some ice for the fever." Brine slit the fabric of Kili's trousers to open the wound and the image made her shiver. A dark stain stretched across the back, and from the centre oozed a yellow substance. "How could you let it get to this point?" exclaimed Brine as she ran to examine the leg more closely. Kili groaned as she felt her hands on him.

"It was supposed to be a simple wound. He was healing it. Everything seemed to be going well." Bofur explained. Zirb came over with everything Brine had asked for.

"It looks infected. Look how it smells." She said as she joined Brine in examining the wound.

"How it smells..." Fili murmured as he approached them as well. Brine could not help but notice. His blue eyes glowed with curiosity and she saw his moustache move from side to side as he thought of something.

"I need you to bring me marveline." She said as she turned her attention back to Kili. "It's a plant with a very characteristic aroma and its flowers are red."

"I'll take care of it." Zirb said, being the only one who knew the plant and would know where to find it. Bofur decided to accompany her to go faster, leaving Fili and Brine alone with a dying Kili. Brine could not help but feel uncomfortable. How could she look at him after what happened last night? She was not able to do it.

"You're not out yet?" Brine asked as she took a cloth and dipped it in hot water. Fili did not turn around or move. He was absorbed in his thoughts, or so Brine wanted to think. "I need to clean the wound." She said after a while waiting for Fili's answer.

"Don't touch him." Fili did not even look at her, but his hand was holding Brine's hand at her wrist. At that moment Zirb and Bofur arrived with a bunch of herbs that Brine had ordered.

"I need to clean it up so I can cure him," Brine repeated as she slipped out of Fili's grip and began to grind up the herbs to make a paste.

"I said don't touch him!" Fili cried, pulling Brine away from Kili.

"Fili!" Brine shouted as she dodged him. "I'm the only one who can help him! You have to let me!" She exclaimed as she carefully spread the paste over Kili's wound. This one howled a whimper. "Quiet." Brine whispered as she caressed his face gently.

"What are you doing?" Fili took Brine in flight and separated her from Kili. "I told you not to touch him." He roared with rage. "Couldn't you listen to me for once in your fucking life?"

"Let go of me!" She shouted and kicked him. "What the hell is wrong with you? I just wanted to help save your brother's life!" Brine confronted Fili while Zirb and Bofur asked them to keep calm. "You know what I say? I don't know what you hit on the head, or if it's something that carries the food and drink here, but you're an asshole, Fili. I feel sorry for Kili, but you'll have to manage on your own." Brine spat as she left the house cursing. She heard Fili shouting something behind her back, but she was too angry to hear it.


Brine stopped when she felt her legs could not take another step. She stood on a wooden bridge, letting herself be supported by the unstable railing. The walk had served to clear the anger from her mind and now she was left with only the doubt of Fili's behaviour. She rubbed her face and eyes with her hands for several seconds. When her gaze returned to reality she saw the reflection of Legolas next to her, reflected in the water under the bridge. She was surprised, but her body was unable to react. She felt her muscles counting and relaxing with weak spasms.

"So you're here." Legolas smiled as he joined Brine. "We've been after you for days."

"Are you going to lock us up again?" Brine whispered. She could barely hear her voice.

"I wouldn't call it a lockdown," Legolas confessed. "Where's your friend?" He looked over his shoulder and around trying to locate Fili. "It seems strange not seeing him with you." He said with irony trying to make Brine jump. However, her head was lost and foggy.

"Something's wrong." She managed to say before she lost consciousness and dropped the bridge down.