"Anders!"

Maya's eyes widened as she knelt beside the fainted man. Fearing the worst, she pressed two fingers to the side of his neck. Her head dropped as she breathed out a sigh-of-relief at the feel of the steady pulse. Looking up, she found the small men slowly inch forward until they surrounded her. The dark haired leader stepped forward. His eyes boring down at her.

"Who are you?"

She opened her mouth, but found herself unable to speak.

"Answer me!" Try as she might, she was unable to hide her fear. "Speak!"

She turned back to her companion and bit her lip. She may not have liked him, but she wanted nothing more than for him to choose that moment to wake up. Unfortunately luck was not on her side.

"Perhaps she would answer if you didn't frighten her." A tall man in gray approached, towering over the other men. His gaze never left her, however, though they held the same suspicion as the others, there was an underlying sympathy in them. "Now step aside."

The men obeyed. Even their leader made way for the older man to step forward, though he did not hide his scowl. The man seemed kind, but it didn't stop Maya's instinctual shift closer to Anders.

With a pause, the man in gray gave a small smile. "We mean you no harm, child. What is your name?"

Before she could respond, someone spoke up. "Why does he have my brother's face?"

Maya craned her neck to see a young beardless man standing just behind the man in gray. With a glare, he started to step forward only to be stopped by his brother. The blond, Fili, narrowed his eyes at her. The resemblance was uncanny. Yes, he was shorter and had a beard, but put them side by side and one would swear that this man, Fili, and Anders were brothers.

Pushing aside her thoughts, she swallowed. "I..I don't know..."

"So...if he's not Fili, then what is the name of your husband?"

All eyes turned to the timid man who stayed on his pony and for a moment, Maya was speechless.

"M-my what?! No! He is not my husband."

"I do not care whether he is your husband or not. What is his name?!"

Maya flinched again as the dark haired man stepped around the man in gray. Her eyes shifted from his wild blue eyes to the ground as she bit her lower lip.

"He said his name is Anders." She said softly.

"You do not know?" He said suspiciously.

Maya shook her head. Before she could respond, Anders gasped for air. His eyes shot open. Blue eyes filled with pain as his back arched off the ground. Shock paralyzed Maya as his body began to convulse.

"What is happening?!"

The deep voice snapped her out of her stupor. Quickly she shrugged off his blazer. Folding it up, she placed it under his head, in hopes that it helped to avoid any serious injuries. Yet the convulsions became worse. Without thinking, Maya grabbed hold of Anders hand.

Whipping her head to the dark haired leader, she cried out. "Don't just stand there! Someone help him!"

The smaller man just stood still, as did the others. None knew what to say or do. Her attention was drawn back to Anders as he let out a pained cry, his hand clutching hers in a death grip.

"Hold on! Just hold on! Please." Tightening her hold on his hand. "Dammit Anders, don't-"

A searing pain shot through her body. Still reluctant to let go of his hand, she ignored it. However, another wave hit her hard causing her double over.

A hand pressed against her shoulder. "Miss, are you alright?"

The pain slowly subsided. Slowly taking deep breaths she lifted her hear to find a man with a long mustache and funny-looking hat, standing over her. Fear clear as day in his face. Slowly nodding, Maya sat up. Her relief was short lived as the pain returned.

Doubling over, again, she found herself leaning against the unconscious Anders', holding onto his hand as she tried not to cry from the overwhelming agony.

I hurt so bad. Please make it stop. Please...

As if someone heard her silent pleas, she became numb and soon darkness followed.

"You don't make them want to."

A bodiless voice echoes around her.

"It doesn't matter to me either way."

Maya shakes her head. She grabs her phone from the passenger seat of her car.

"It's 8...Where the hell..."

Looking around, she no longer sat in her car in an empty lot. The familiar low lit concrete hallway stands before her. Walking confidently, she finds the room she's visited so often. No light means no one's home. Another glance at her watch. 9 PM.

Her phone beeps. Taking it out of her pocket, she opens the text message.

"Stop calling. You're bothering me."

Regaining consciousness, Maya slowly opened her eyes. The unexpected darkness caused Maya to blink a few times. If not for the faint glimmer of the stars above her, she would have thought she had gone blind. Looking around, she attempted to sit up only to notice the feeling of rope around her hands. Lifting her head, she found her hands and feet bound. While questions arose when seeing this, panic only set in when she realized that the clothes she wore were no longer the tank top and shorts she had on before she blacked out but were similar to the clothes the smaller men wore.

"Wha...What the hell?!" She whispered as she began struggling against her restraints.

"Good. You're awake."

Her eyes shot up. Towering over her, was the same dark haired leader from earlier. His brows furrowed down as she stared up at him. The glare causing her to slightly duck her head.

"L-let me go..." Any hopes of not showing her fear died at the crack in her voice.

"You will stay like this until I can decide what your fate shall be ,witch." With that he turned back to walk towards the fire.

Witch!? What the hell?!

Keeping still, Maya waited until he was far enough away before she began struggled against her restraints as quietly as she could. Biting her lower lip, she tried to ignore the burning pain of the rope digging into her wrists.

Need to get Anders and find a way to...Wait...Where's Anders?

Her eyes darted around. The same men from earlier gathered around a fire, the man in gray smoking his pipe against a rock just feet from the others, the horses tied up a few feet from her. There was no sign of her companion.

Anders? "Anders?"

Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their attentions to the bound girl, yet no one spoke up. Swallowing around the lump in her throat, Maya asked again. "Where's Anders?"

Silently, they all frowned and exchanged looks of concern that didn't go unnoticed by Maya. Fearing the worst, her eyes went wide. "What the hell did you do!? Where is he?!"

"We did nothing to him." The somber tone in the baritone voiced man made her heart drop.

"Then where is he!?" Panic began to rise in her voice and she doesn't know why she has this sudden concern for a man she barely knew, and not to mention was a dick most of the times. But whatever the reason, it seemed to give her a new kind of confidence. "What aren't you telling me!? I swear to God if you did anything, I will-"

"I am sorry my dear." The sorrow in the old man's voice made her blood run cold. Slowly he walked up to her. "Master Kili. If you will?"

The beardless man, known as Kili, slowly stood and made his way over to them. His frown deepened when the leader grabbed Kili's arm, stopping him in his tracks.

Glaring at the very tall man, he snarled. "What do you think you are doing?"

"She has a right to know."

"We have no idea what she is capable of, this witch."

"Then you would deny this child to see him before it's too late?"

Before what's too late? What are they talking about!?

The smaller man scowled as he lowered his gaze. For a moment he said nothing, as he pondered the old man's words, before he glanced at Kili and gave a sharp nod.

The younger man said nothing, just walked over and began to undo her bindings. Slowly she sat up, and rubbed her sore wrists as she looked up at Kili, who strangely looked like he seemed to have grown in the few hours that she was unconscious. Remembering Anders, she mustered up the courage to speak. "What does he mean when he said before it's too late?"

The beardless averted his eyes and clenched his jaw. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Her brows furrowed with confusion. Looking over at the other men, in hopes of getting some answers, revealed only weighty looks of guilt and uncertainty. "Why..." Though weary of her, the man, with the funny hat, met her eyes as he slowly shook his head. Maya's eyes grew wide as she felt her heart stop. She shook her head in disbelief. "No...No!" Swiftly moving to her knees, she grabbed Kili's collar. "You're lying! Where is he!?"

Gently he pulled her hands off of him and stood up, helping her to her feet in the process.

"He can't..." The rest of the sentence died on her lips as she stared into the brown eyes.

"There was nothing we could do." Glancing up, Maya was taken aback at how much taller the old man had become. "I am truly sorry."

Kili slowly helped her to her feet. For a moment any thoughts of Anders went away as she took in the 9 inch height difference now between her and the young man. What the -? I shrunk!

"Come child." Placing a hand on her shoulder and shaking her from her thoughts, the older man led her over to her fallen companion. Just on the opposite end of the circle, a few feet away from the others, lay a body with a blanket draped over it. A lump began to form in her throat as she neared the body. Slowly she knelt beside him and gently pulled the blanket back. She choked back a whimper as her eyes fell upon his peaceful face. Just like her, he wore a different top than the button up shirt from before.

"Anders? Please wake up." Her voice barely a whisper as she fought hard to keep her tears from falling. Hesitant, she slowly reached out and gently shook his shoulder. "Anders. You have to wake up. Please don't leave me too. Please."

At the first tear that ran down her cheek, another one followed and another. It was at that point that she let go of control and grieve for her fallen companion.

"His pulse is weak. I doubt he will last the night."

Maya took a shaky breath as she turned to the men discussing around the fire. "What?"

I doubt he will last the night. The words repeated in her head as she turned her attention back to Anders. Slowly she reached out and placed two fingers at his pulse point on his neck. She felt nothing. Chewing on her lower lip, she leaned over him letting her head rest against his chest. It was faint but she could hear his heart beating. She choked back a sob as she listened to his heart beat with relief.

"She has made her peace and she knows of his fate, now Kili, Fili bind her hands."

What!? At that thought, two pairs of hands grabbed her shoulders, pulling her off of Anders.

"No! Don't please!" She cried out. Still weak, her struggles against them men were pointless and only slowed them down as they dragged her away.

"There is no need to restrain her, Master Thorin. She is of no threat to you or your men."

At the stern voice of the old man, Kili and Fili stopped, though they still held onto Maya.

"And how would you know that?"

"She is a mere child."

Seeing that both men were focused on the old man, Maya took a moment to glance back at Anders. I can't just leave him here. What if he...No! I can't let him die.

"We do not know what she is nor this Anders are capable of. She -"

Glancing at the men, who were still focused on the old man and their leader, then back at Anders. A quick scan led her eyes to the ponies. Huddled in a group, they grazed silently in the dark. Squinting her eyes, she noticed that their ropes were loosely tied to a few tree roots that protruded from the ground.

Need to get him help...Just need to...

"Master Thorin, be reasonable. She is more scared of you than you of her."

Taking a deep breath, Maya threw an elbow to Kili's side. As he keeled over, she turned out of his grasp and without giving Fili a moment to think, swiftly grabbed his shoulder, pulling him down as she landed her left knee into his stomach. As he feel to the ground, Maya hastily ran back to Anders. Just as she reached him, a pair of large arms wrapped around her chest. Letting out a high pitched scream, she began kicking against her capture. Unphased by her actions, he carried her back to the group with little difficulty. Driven by her adrenaline rush, she snarled before leaning her head down and barely nipped his forearm. Instead of letting her go, as she had hoped, he squeezed tighter forcing a grunt out of her.

"The lass has fight in her, I'll give her that. You lads alright?"

Both men were rubbing their stomachs, but nodded nonetheless with a glare at Maya.

"Release her."

All eyes drifted to their leader as he stepped forward.

"Thorin -"

Thorin held up his hand, not letting the larger man finish. Instead, he placed Maya back on the ground, releasing his hold on her. For a moment, she thought of trying to run again, but as if he read her mind the larger man kept on hand on her shoulders. Giving a quick squeeze as a warning for her not to move.

Maya bit her lip as she scanned the group of men who now stood taller than she, stopping on when she reached the eyes of the leader, Thorin. Straightening up even more, he slowly walked up to her. Looking her over, his eyes narrowed before he circled her. Keeping an eye on him, she shifted uncomfortably under his stern gaze.

"You're not from here. Are you?"

Keeping her eyes low, she shook her head.

"Where are you from?"

"Los Angeles."

When there was no response, Maya looked up. Confused looks and exchanging of shrugs were unsettling for her. The silence didn't last long as the same angry gaze was on her once more.

"Do you think it is wise to lie to me?!"

Maya flinched, lowing her eyes to the ground as she hastily shook her head.

"What is your business here? What do you know of my people?!"

What? Wide eyes shot up to meet his glare. "What? I -"

"Who are you?!"

I hope that you all enjoyed the latest chapter in my story. I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to update, but so much has happened in my life that unfortunately I hadn't really had time to sit down and write. Thankfully your reviews and encouragement has helped me set time aside to finish this chapter. Yes this was very much a Maya episode but don't worry, Anders will be back in the next chapter, so please be patient with me. I just wanted to sort of give a little more to my oc's character.