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Well I tried really, really hard, but failed in the number of chapters I wanted to get done for this week. I still have one left to write! So I guess I better scribble fast over the next few days. Thankfully, Tuesday is my day off, so you know what i will be doing then. However, I do have this chapter done and three more ready to go, so no waiting...yet.

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Congratulations to LightsCDark for being my 900th reviewer!

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Dwarf words:

Du bekar = to arms!

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Chapter 39

~X~

Sier's fingers were beginning to grow numb, and the ropes that bound her wrists were digging into her skin…but she did not utter any complaint. Not when her two captors had finally heeded her pleas to allow Flinn to ride with her, and she dare not risk them becoming angry and taking that privilege away.

She tightened her hold on him, feeling his little body pressed against her as their pony plodded on through the dark forest around them. They had left the mountain and traveled east, in the direction of the Iron Hills, yet they did not go by the main road or any of the known trails. Instead they quickly crossed the grasslands and then lost themselves in the small forest that lay to the south east of the Lonely Mountain. She could see very little of their surroundings, the trees obscuring the moon from her view, and she had to trust the surefooted pony she had been placed upon, as well as the dwarf leading it by the reins. Her other dwarf captor followed behind, ensuring that there would be no escape for either of them…for now.

"Are you all right, Flinn?" she whispered, leaning her head down so that her voice would not carry. "You are not hurt, my lamb?"

"No…Ama," came his reply, amid a few sniffles. "But…but I am scared. Where are we going?"

"I do not know," she admitted, kissing him on the top of his head, as her little dwarfling buried himself deeper into her cloak, both for warmth and for comfort. "But I have a good idea of who we will meet when we get there." And that she did, for as she thought back to how this had all come about, she could easily guess who had orchestrated the entire abduction.

~X~

Sier had been pacing back and forth in their chamber, anxiously waiting for Fili to return. She had no idea where he had run off to, but she had to trust that it had been of dire importance…especially if the fire in his kisses was any indication as to how much he wanted to stay. Should she get ready for bed…no, that might make her look far too eager, and wanton! She was not hungry, so fixing something to eat would be silly. Looking around the room she saw no need to clean. So she paced…and waited.

The kiss she had given him had been a spur of the moment thing, her mind having stepped aside temporarily and allowed her heart to take over. And while she had been shocked by her own actions, she had not been disappointed by the results. Fili had kissed her back…several times! And oh, what kisses they had been, tender and deep, leaving her lightheaded and desperate for more. Did this mean he loved her in return? She had a pretty good idea, but to hear him say the words would be the only way she would settle such things in her mind. But then he had left, leaving her lonely and unsure of what to do until his return. She would not despair though…no he had ensured that she knew his feelings on the matter and Sier would not allow doubt to grow in her heart. No, not this time.

Flinn! Yes, she would take care of Flinn. That would give her something to occupy her mind and thoughts, at least for a little while. She had found it funny that her son had refused to undress for bed, preferring to remain in the royal garb he had worn that evening. She knew he had been excited over his new crown and coat, but to not even allow Dis to take off his boots was going a bit far. Granted, Flinn had very firm ideas on who could, and who could not, see him in a state of undress…and Dis was not on that list.

She had just reached for the handle to his room when she heard a knocking at the front door. Spinning around she ran towards it, slipping the bolt aside as she threw it open with abandon, warm words of greetings on her lips for her husband. Yet it was not Fili who stood in the doorway…no, it was two others, though not completely unknown to her.

Gorg and Miton…she remembered their faces well from her time in Bina's employee. They were two sinister characters, and the only way she could think to describe their function was henchmen. They did the dirty work that Bina and Lord Colm did not wish to dirty their hands with, and now they were standing in her doorway. Sier was terrified!

Her reaction was instantaneous, as she attempted to shut the door in their faces, but they were faster…and stronger. Shoving their way inside, Gorg had her around the waist and his hand over her mouth in seconds, as Miton shut the door behind him. Sier kicked, struggled and tried to scream but the meaty palm covering her lips did not allow her voice to carry.

"You have led us on a merry hunt, I must say, Miss Sier," Gorg whispered into her ear, the white tips of his brown beard and mustache scratching against her cheek. "Been looking for you know for nigh-on five years. And how strange that we now find you back in the very same chambers we left you in so long ago."

This caused Sier to shudder, thinking it might have been these two who had removed her clothes before placing her in the bed with Fili. It would have been foolish to believe that Bina had done any of the work herself, while seeing that her plot had been carried out.

Miton took out a small rope from his pocket and yanked her hands in front, tying them securely before she could do any damage. He next produced a cloth and was attempting to exchange it for Gorg's hand, when she took the opportunity to bite him as hard as she could. The startled dwarrow loosened his grip, allowing Sier to bolt away from him, knocking over a chair in the process. She was heading to her son's room, hoping to get inside and lock the dwarves out, but a meaty hand reached out and grabbed for her neck, catching instead the necklace Fili had gifted to her that very night. The material used to string it was strong, and it literally jerked her backwards as it tightened around her throat, choking her temporarily. Her hands were bound but she could still reach up and attempt to free herself, but her chance for escape had vanished as the two henchmen were upon her. Yet still she struggled, fighting for all she was worth as she continued to gasp for breath. At last, the necklace broke, sending the intricately placed diamonds and golden beads scattering across the floor, the first casualty of this ill-fated abduction.

The cloth was quickly placed in her mouth, hardly allowing her a moment to catch her breath, let alone scream, affectively silencing her.

"Don't make this any harder on yourself than needs be," Miton hissed. "Having you walk out of here on your own power would be preferred, but I got no qualms about stuffing you in a sack and carrying you out over my shoulder."

They intended to take her from Erebor? This caused both fear and hope to war within her. Leaving meant being parted from Fili, yet it also meant they might depart without realizing her son was just in the next room. If he only stayed asleep, perhaps they would leave him alone.

Unfortunately, that did not happen, and as if her thought had summoned him, her little Flinn came racing out of his room, a wooden sword in his hand, as he screamed a battle cry.

"Du bekar!" he yelled, charging the closest dwarf to him. "Let my ama go!"

Sier's eyes grew wide in terror as Gorg reached down and grabbed her son by the back of his coat, lifting him into the air as he glared at the wildly swinging dwarfling with a look of disgust.

"What do we have here?" he questioned, looking from Flinn to Sier, and back again. "When did you throw this little whelp?"

"I am Flinn, son of Fili, crown prince of Erebor, and if you do not leave my ama alone, my adad will cut you down!" Flinn threatened, his eyes an icy blue as he glared at the dwarrow who held his mother.

"The prince?" Miton repeated, a bit shocked by this piece of information. "Well, now, missy…you gone and done rather well for yourself, now didn't you? Though I can't say how Lady Bina will cotton to this bit of news."

"What shall I do with the brat?" Gorg asked, taking out his dagger and waving it in Flinn's direction. "We were told to bring her, not…this."

Sier had been struggling in Miton's grasp, but the moment she saw Gorg's blade, she froze, fear for her son paralyzing her. Apparently this gave the first dwarf an idea.

"I say we take him along," he told his friend in a fiendish voice. "If we got her pup with us, she won't be so quick to put up a fuss," he leaned in and spoke in a venomous tone. "You will come nice and quiet now, you hear. Or we will poke this little thing full of holes…and you wouldn't want that now, would ya, Missy?"

Sier could feel the tears stinging in her eyes as she slowly shook her head.

"The same goes for you, little piglet," Gorg threatened. "So much as a squeal from you and your mother will pay dearly, got that?"

Flinn's look of defiance faded as he looked over at his mother, lowering his head as he nodded his agreement. He would be a good lad…for her.

"Bag him up then, and let's get going," Miton ordred, reaching over to grab a large cloak from off a nearby hook. It was Fili's, so it covered her from head to toe, and with the hood pulled down no one could see her face, or that she wore a gag in her mouth. She was instructed to keep her hands hidden beneath the folds as they left the mountain, not appearing like anything but a weary guest after a long and entertaining party. Flinn had been stuffed inside a sack they had brought and flung over Gorg's shoulder, with one last warning to keep still and silent. And that was how they managed to get Sier and Flinn out of the mountain…unnoticed by all.

~X~

And now, at least a full hour later, perhaps two, Sier wondered if Fili knew they were missing. Had he come back to the room, expecting to find her waiting, only to discover they were both gone. She prayed he would come after them…save them in time, for she had no idea what Bina and her father had cooked up in their devious minds.

Sier had been a dutiful servant, never giving them a lick of trouble…until the incident with Fili. Yet did that one event merit some great punishment? She knew that Bina was vain and easily riled, but could one slight to her reputation have caused them to continue searching for her these past five years? It had not seemed that either of them knew about her current status as the princess of Erebor, if the shocked expressions on Gorg and Miton's face were any indication. Then why…why could they not have left well enough alone?

But as Sier snuggled her son in just a little bit closer, so very happy to have him in her arms and out of that accursed bag, she knew that he was her only concern now. She had to find a way to save them both…or at least Flinn. She simply had to!

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Meanwhile, back in Erebor, Thorin and Dwalin had been heading to the king's room, intent on drowning their newly befuddled minds in drink, when they saw a number of guards hurrying towards the royal chambers at a hurried pace. Quickly assuming trouble, they raced after them, arriving at Fili's door and pushing their way inside.

"What is going on?" Thorin barked, looking at the distraught face of Kili, as Dis stood with her arm around Fili's shoulder, the crown prince still staring down at the small crown in his hands.

"They are gone," Fili answered, not even looking up. "I came back…only to find them taken. Someone has stolen my family!" At the final words his voice rose, turning into a snarl of anger. "And I am going to get them back!" Slamming the golden circlet onto the table at his left he shrugged off his mother's comforting embrace and stormed forward, ready to go to war. He was halted by Thorin as he blocked his path, placing a hand on his chest in a warning manner.

"Hold!" he ordered, earning him a low growl from his sister-son. "You can not go off like this, filled with rage and all alone. We will gather information, make a plan, and then we will find them. Do you hear?"

"I want my family now!" Fili yelled, his tone was now mixed with almost a plea. "I can't leave them to whomever has dared to steal them!"

"And we won't," Thorin assured him. "But we will do it the right way, and no one will get hurt." He paused for a moment and added, "No one, that is, except those vile snakes who would dare to enter my kingdom and take from it two of our most precious jewels! Now come, we have work to do!"

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Less than half an hour later, with all thirteen of the original company gathered in Thorin's ready room, they had discovered much of what had transpired. They had questioned the guard who had been ambushed in the hall, along with all the sentries who had been stationed at the main gates through the evening. While none recalled seeing two unknown dwarves, one sporting brown hair with white tips, entering the mountain, one of the guards recalled them leaving…yet not alone.

"Aye, my king," the dwarrow nodded. "I saw one such as he. He and two others left the mountain around the time of eleven bells. The one you inquire about was carrying a sack over his shoulder, yet none of them appeared to be anything but guests, leaving the mountain after the celebration." He then looked over at Dwalin for direction. "We were told to stop and question all who entered tonight…but no one said we were to deter those leaving. Have I done wrong?"

"You performed your duty as charged," Dwalin assured the worried soldier, not wanting to lay any undue blame upon the lad. "But tell us, what did you note of this fellow's companions?"

"He seemed to be with two others, just ahead of him," the sentry continued. "One was a red bearded dwarrow of medium build, and another dressed in a cloak with the hood up and their face covered."

"Could this one have been a dam?" Fili interjected, searching for answers.

"Yes," he nodded. "In fact I am almost sure of it, for I recall that the red dwarf was holding on to the other's arm, as if aiding them in walking. Thinking that perhaps they might have over indulged on the ale, I looked down at their feet, checking to see if the other was stumbling. And while there did not appear to be any faltering in her steps, that is when I noted that the cloaked one was wearing golden dancing slippers."

"Sier!" Fili shouted, his suspicions confirmed. "She was wearing gold slippers to match the stitching on her dress!" For he had committed every aspect of his wife's attire that evening to memory…one he would never forget.

"So now we know who we are searching for, and how many," Thorin stated, dismissing the guard with a nod of gratitude. "We only have to figure out where they went…and why they took both Sier and Flinn."

"Ransom?" was Nori's first guess.

"Retaliation?" came Balin's suggestion.

"Revenge!" came the seething voice of Fili. "This was Bina's doing…I can feel it in my gut!"

"Could very well be," Thorin nodded. "Though we cannot discount the fact that it could be a direct assault on you, Fili. An attempt to lure out the crown prince and sever you from the line of succession. Yet no matter the reason, we will get them back!"

"And I am with you, Fili," Kili stated, offering his unwavering support to his brother.

"As are we," Bofur agreed, as he, his brother and his cousin all stepped forward.

"Along with me, laddie," Dwalin spoke up.

"While my support is without question…I fear that my sword arm is these days," Balin told him with a voice full of regret. "I am too old to be of much use in battle any more, yet I send you off with wishes for speed and victory."

"You couldn't leave us behind if you tried," replied Nori, nodding to his two brothers as they bobbed their heads up and down in agreement.

"Looks like we are all going with you, lad," Gloin finished off, as he and Oin gripped the handles of their swords.

"Nay," Fili objected, looking at all his friends with great pride and appreciation. "Oin, you should remain here, to tend the wounded, if things turn ill, your services will be needed in Erebor." Reluctantly, the elderly healer agreed, stepping back with a bow. "And Bombur…you have a wife and dwarflings to think about."

"You would not remain behind if it were my wife and children in danger," he pointed out, knowing Fili would indeed ride forth to his aid. "Thus you cannot ask me to stay behind and not do the same for you. I am going, lad,"

"And I thank you," Fili said in a humbled tone, bowing his head slightly in respect.

"Should we alert Gandlaf…or the hobbits?" Ori asked, looking a bit nervous. "Perhaps Dain or King Bard?"

"No," Thorin said in a contemplative tone. "This is Erebor business, and we can handle our own troubles. Let the wizard and the halflings sleep, and leave Dain and Bard in the dark for now. The fewer that know of this, the less chance we have of tipping our hand. It is easier to catch your prey when they do not know they are being hunted. A smaller group is best for this."

"Also, I would not want word of this to get around," Fili nodded. "Especially to a certain young hobbit named Frodo." He then got a look of pure determination on his face. "Besides…this is my fight."

"I think you mean our fight," Thorin amended. "Now, we have had enough talk, it is time we ride out and find them!" the king then turned and headed for the door, leaving all the other dwarves to look at him in shock.

"Thorin…you can't go," Balin was the only one brave enough to broach the subject. "The mountain must have its king. What if this is a plot to wipe out your line…to lure you and your nephews out of Erebor and into an ambush. What if..." he paused here and swallowed hard, not wanting to say the words, but felt he must. "…what if none of you return?"

Thorin reached up and took the crown off of his head, tossing it at the elderly dwarf, who caught it in both his hands.

"Then I trust you to make sure Dain does not do a piss-poor job of ruling my mountain!" he growled, striding out of the room with eleven dwarves hot on his heels.

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When they arrived at the stables, they could see that something here was amiss. A few of the stalls were open and many of the other ponies seemed agitated. Yet it was the sight of the stable hand, lying face down in the straw that was the dead giveaway.

Thankfully, the dwarrow was alive, but in need of immediate medical attention. Ori and Dori were quickly assigned to carry the injured dwarf back to the mountain to be tended to by Oin, leaving the nine of them to continue on.

"It would appear that they took three ponies," Thorin guessed, taking note of the empty stalls. "If so, they could have a rather big lead on us, and we do not know which way they might have headed."

It was then that Fili noticed that Storm was acting especially wild, lunging from one side of his cubical to the other, and jerking his head up and down as he snorted in frustration. Fili knew that horses had a keen sense of smell, and he also realized that Sier's pony must have seen that she and Flinn were taken against their will. Would he be able to follow them? Show Fili which way to go?

Slowly he walked over to stand in front of the pony, the skittish animal allowing Fili to come closer to him than he ever had in the past. The two locked eyes, each one trying to convey a message to the other.

"Can you find them, Storm?" Fili asked, reaching up with his hand to gently rub the nose of the grey pony. "Can you show me where they took Sier and Flinn?"

In answer, or what Fili took as an answer, the pony turned its head, and gripped the blanket that Sier had made for him with his teeth, pulling it from his back. He bobbed his head up and down, the blanket flapping in front of Fili's face before dropping it on the ground at his feet. That was all the crown prince needed to know. Grabbing a saddle, he opened the stall, and quickly made ready to ride.

All the other dwarves had watched the display in stunned silence, knowing full well that under any other circumstances the little grey would not have allowed any male to come near it, and yet, for the love of his mistress, and her child, it was ready to bear Fili across Arda in search of them. It was truly a moment to behold.

Once the rest of the dwarves were mounted as well, Fili and Storm led the way out of the stables. Though when they exited into the night sky, Fili brought the little grey to a halt, staring at the figure blocking their way. There, already astride her own pony, was Dis, dressed in breeches with a sword strapped to her side.

"Amad?" Fili gasped, just now realizing that she had slipped away from the meeting just about the time all the dwarves had been pledging their support on this quest.

"I am going with you," she stated, her tone broaching no objections. "That is my grandson and daughter-in-law out there, and I will not stay behind this time and wait and worry. Don't you dare try and stop me."

Fili looked behind him, catching Thorin and Kili's eyes. When both of them gave helpless shrugs, as if saying they were not about to attempt the impossible, Fili gave in as well.

"Very well then," he nodded. "Durins protect their own! Let's ride!"

And as Storm surged forth, eager to be off, Fili let him have his head, trusting that the pony knew which way to go. He only hoped they would find them in time…for he knew that the alternative would surely be the death of him.

ohhhh, Bina is in hot water now! You don't go taking Fili's family and not expect swift and painful retribution!

Did you like little Flinn defending his ama?

How about Thorin going with them...and what he told Balin on his way out about Dain?

Did anyone see Storm being the blood-hound in all this? And you thought I originally tossed him in for no reason at all. ha ha.

And did you really think Dis would have stayed behind?

More tomorrow...you lasted this long, just hang in there...don't die on me now!

PS. I know on the original map there are no MAJOR forests to the east of Erebor, but I did find one map of Middle Earth that showed small croppings of trees...nothing as big as Mirkwood or Fangorn, but small forests to the east, so I stand by that map for this story.

Guest Reviews:

kaia: You knew Bina was going to strike, did ya? What a slueth you are. Thanks.

Guest H: First of all, why do you have a shock blanket...and what IS a shock blanket? A blanket that shocks you, or is it a blanket of shock? And I am glad you liked the rest of the chapter...just not the end so much it would seem...or the fact that it was a Friday and you had to wait to read more. ha ha. Sorry, but thanks!

nursenan: The grown up dwarrow talk was loooooong over due for some. And fun to write. ha ha. Yep, Fili should have moved faster in telling her she was his one...now they have to wait to be reunited before he can fill her in. I hope you survived the long weekend. And did that string keep you busy, my fine feline friend?

Mjean: well...who was it who once asked if I WAS sitting in jail writing away? Hmmmm? So now you think I should BE in jail, huh? Too bad, I am a free woman, able to go where I will, write when I want and post at will. Mwaaahaaahhhhaaa. And look, I did post again, so that should make you happy! Glad you liked my plot twist, even if it drove you crazy. ha ha.

Robyn: First point - glad you liked the Durin's Day celebration and how I am working in the Hobbits. Second point - I am sorry, I don't speak 'freaking out' language...what was that first word again? ha ha. I do hope you survived. ha ha. Thanks

enilorac44: Yep, you did not wait long enough. And I laughed and laughed when you called me a stone giant. not sure why, but that tickled me to no end.