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Congratulations to those who found the movie quotes from the last chapter.

They were:

Kili = Do you think she could have loved me?
Kili = Why does it hurt so much?
Flinn Sr. = Because it was real.

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Now, let's see if we can get a few dwarves out of a mess!

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Chapter 115

~X~

Flinn and Kili had joined the others, offering up the older dwarf's plan. At first, Fili was against it, since it required his youngest son to perform a rather dangerous task.

"No, absolutely not!" he stated firmly, keeping his voice low so as not to wake his two sleeping lads.

"Fili, I know how you feel," Flinn told his son, placing his hand on his shoulder. "And I wouldn't dream of suggesting such a thing, much less asking it of my own grandson, if I didn't know for a fact it was our only chance. I've searched this cavern over a hundred times through the years, and this is the one and only way I've ever found to escape. And it will take one as little as Frerin to accomplish it."

Fili frowned and turned away, not at all happy about the idea…and yet he too realized it was probably their only hope of ever getting out of this alive. Nori had tried for a long time to fiddle with the door, attempting to find some weakness, but since the lock was on the outside, he eventually gave up, admitting defeat. Fili had not expected to end up in the prison cells, and now that Gorbash knew Bain and their armies were coming, getting out and offering them aid was their first priority. So, in the end, he nodded his reluctant agreement.

When Dwalin had suggested they rouse the other prisoners to help in some way, Flinn shook his head sadly.

"I would not ask it of them, especially when we do not know if our plan will even work," he explained. "Gorbash is not kind to those who attempt escape or rebellion. If a prisoner was caught trying either, the punishment was swift and harsh. The first few times an offender received the lash, a third time would cost them an eye or an ear…the fourth, well, after that, they just never come back. Gorbash takes great delight in beating his slaves into submission. Does the job personally, in fact."

"You sound as if you speak from experience," Dwalin stated, looking at Flinn with eyes full of pain.

"Oh, I think there's still a bit of fight in me, old friend," the blond dwarf chuckled. "And now, with you all here, I'm not about to roll over and play dead. Gorbash and I have gone round and round a few times, and while he's left me battered and bruised, he ain't broke me yet." He then looked out at the bowed heads of the other prisoners, doing their best to escape this hell through sleep on the cold, hard stones. "And while it's no fault of their own, I think we shouldn't expect much assistance from them."

"If'n you are looking to escape, laddie," one of the prisoners spoke up from a corner, climbing to his feet very slowly, "You can count me in. And I'm willing to bet I can get a few more to join us as well."

"Torvald," Flinn said with a sad smile, placing his hand on the stubby dwarrow's shoulder. "You've already taken one too many chances." This was quite evident by the crude cloth patch covering one of his eyes, not to mention the slight hunch to his tired body.

"Gorbash may have taken me eye, and crippled me a bit, but he'll never take my dwarf spirit," he insisted, thumping his chest with his fist. "Let me help."

"Your willingness is appreciated," Fili said, nodding to the elderly dwarf. "Yet, if this plan is to work, and we do manage to get out of here, going undetected would be to our advantage. We will need to find weapons and get to the entrance to assist our friends, and having a bunch of exhausted prisoners trailing behind us, no matter how willing your hearts may be, would hardly go unnoticed. I must insist you remain here and rest, for if we succeed, you will need all your strength to travel back to Erebor."

"And if you don't succeed?" Torvald asked, looking at the blond prince with his one good eye.

"Then you will all be no worse off than before…and Gorbash will not be looking to punish, or kill you, as well," Flinn answered for him.

"We came to rescue you, not make things harder on you or get you slaughtered," Fili added.

"If we get out of here, rouse the others, prepare them to either flee, or fight, when the time comes," Flinn told the older dwarf. "Some are beyond such an action, yet others might still have the strength enough to rise up. See what you can do, but don't place yourselves in any more danger than necessary."

"I still say we should fight," Torvald muttered.

"And you have been…all this time, just to stay alive," Fili interjected. "Now, do so just a bit longer, and then you will be free." He added I hope silently in his head, but it was clear that everyone else was thinking the same thing.

"Very well, we will do as you say," the older dwarf nodded, though he still looked a bit reluctant. He then began to weave his way through the cavern, stopping and speaking to a few of the stronger looking prisoners, attempting to drum up support for when it might be needed.

"So how long do we have to wait to put your plan into motion?" Kili asked, looking back at his father.

"An hour…no more I would say," Flinn guessed, doing his best to gauge what time it was getting to be. "Sunrise is not far away, I believe. We need to be ready."

Fili nodded, reaching down and shaking Frerin and little Flinn awake, the two lads, sitting up and rubbing their eyes. When Fili explained their idea to Frerin, at first the little dwarfling appeared apprehensive, yet all that changed when he felt his brother's arm wrap around his shoulders.

"You can do it, Frerin," little Flinn assured him, grinning at his brother with all the confidence in the world. "After all, you're a true warrior now, you got a battle wound and everything."

"That's right!" Frerin beamed, rolling up his sleeve and showing everyone the purplish bruise he sported on his arm. The one he had given to himself with a sound pinch in order to produce the convincing tears that fooled Bombur. "I'll do it, Adad. If Flinn says I can…then I know I can!"

Fili and Kili exchanged understanding smiles, knowing just how powerful a few supportive words from a brother truly were.

"All right then, Frerin," Flinn told his grandson. "Here is what you'll need to do." He then led the dwarfling over to the iron doors, lifting him up so that he could see through the tiny slit where they came together. "Do you see that metal pipe there?" he whispered, waiting until the lad nodded. "It is where they pour the mash they feed us in the morning and evening." He then led Frerin over to a long wooden trough inside the cavern, where the pipe came through the wall and hung over it like a large spigot. "At dawn, the orcs guarding the doors will leave to get a big pot from the kitchens and pour the mash through the pipe and into here to feed us. The chute is far too little for any of us to climb through, but you are just the right size, Frerin. You could crawl up the pipe and come out on the other side of the door."

"What do I do then?" he asked, his eyes wide with excitement, eager to help.

"Then, you grab the keys on the wall, unlock the door and let us out," Flinn explained. "Simple as that."

"But you have to hurry," Fili added, still somewhat leery about allowing his precious lad to put himself in such danger. "The orcs will not be gone long and you'll need to get us out before they come back." He could only imagine what those foul beasts would do if they caught his son on the other side of the doors – and Fili would be in no position to help him.

"I can do it, Adad…I promise!" Frerin stated, giving them a firm nod and wide toothy grin.

"That's my little warrior," Fili smiled, ruffling his son's hair affectionately.

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And so they all waited, with each dwarf keeping watch at the doors, ready to signal the moment the orcs headed out to get their breakfast. Fili encouraged his sons to try and get a bit more sleep, knowing that once their plan was set into motion, there would be no more time to rest. He sat on the floor, leaning against the wall and watched them sleep. He had often wondered if this was how his own father had felt, this overwhelming sense of love and need to protect his children. But as he turned and saw the older dwarf looking down at him, it was easy to see the very same expression in his eyes as well.

"You have two fine lads there, son," Flinn told him, coming to sit beside Fili, leaning against the wall as well. "I still can hardly believe how much they remind me of you and Kili, the resemblance is uncanny."

"I know," Fili laughed. "Amad has slipped many times and called them by our names when she is flustered. I fear that they take after us in more than looks."

"Oh…how so?" Flinn asked, interested in anything his son had to tell him.

"Well, according to Amad, Kili and I inherited the Durin trait of pranking people," Fili said, his cheeks turning a bit red. "I say we got it from Uncle Thorin, but he will deny that to his dying day. We became very well known for the jokes and tricks we played on others back in Ered Luin…but mostly on Mother and Thorin. Needless to say, Flinn and Frerin are turning out to be just like us…in what Amad calls our just deserts."

"I look forward to many nights sitting in front of a fireplace, smoking a pipe, and listening to each and every tale you have to tell," Flinn laughed. "Especially about any pranks you played on Thorin." It was then that he noticed Fili had pulled something from a hidden pocket and was twisting it around in his fingers almost lovingly. "What is that, son?"

Fili stared at it a moment longer before a tender smile touched his lips.

"It's a ribbon that Sier gave me before I left," he explained. "It's become our tradition that she tucks one into my pocket whenever I go away…to remind me of what I have to come home to."

"She sounds like a lovely dam," Flinn told him, still amazed that his little Fili was married with children of his own. Where had the time gone?

"Sier is more than that, she is…my one," Fili finished, that word saying it all. For a one was everything to a dwarf, and no other title spoke high of her worth. "I can't imagine my life without her, Adad…her and my three little ones."

"Is she a highborn lass?" Flinn asked, wondering if as the future king, Fili had been expected to marry well.

"No, not at all," the blond prince laughed. "While Uncle did invite many fine dams to the mountain, in hopes that Kili and I would find our one, Sier was none of those. In fact, she is the daughter of a miner, and came to Erebor as a maid. And truth be told…I wouldn't have her any other way."

"A miner's daughter, you say," Flinn said with a wide grin. "I'm liking her more and more every minute. Sounds like she and I have a lot in common." He could only imagine how out of place she must have initial felt, a maid marrying a prince…much like he, a simple soldier had married a princess. Yes indeed, Flinn guessed that he and Sier would get along quite well. "How did you two meet?" They still had some time to kill, and Flinn wanted to know everything about his sons and their lives.

"Well…perhaps that's a story for another time, when we are in front that fire with our pipes, all right?" Fili suggested, not exactly sure he wanted to get into that particular tale right now. He was still a bit ashamed of how his body had reacted while under the influence of that sleeping drug, and how he had taken advantage of Sier – even if it had been against his will. "Let's just say that I learned that Mahal's will was not to be denied."

"Ahhh, a lesson many dwarrow have learned the hard way…including myself," Flinn chuckled, recalling his short lived fight against his feeling as well.

"Perhaps it's in our blood to be stubborn," Fili nodded. "Thorin and Dwalin balked against it as well, but mostly since they were unsure if a hobbit could be a dwarf's one. Yet once they gave in and accepted it, things went much smoother." Fili then let his eyes move to rest on Kili, who was standing by the door with Bofur, keeping watch. "Kili is the only one who never tried to hide his feelings or fight against them…and look where that got him." Fili turned to stare at his father. "Thank you for speaking to him, he seems a little better. But I still worry that Kili will do something foolish when it comes time to fight…I don't want him to throw his life away in a quest for vengeance."

"I don't want that either," the older blond nodded, looking just as afraid as Fili. "You and I will simply have to keep an eye on him, make sure that he does nothing of the sort."

"Thank you," Fili offered again. "It…it feels good having someone else I can count on to help look after him."

"I'm very sorry that you felt the need to take on such an obligation yourself, Fili," his father said, giving him a pained look. "You should not have had to grow up so quickly, nor take on such a weighty responsibility."

"No, Adad," Fili was quick to argue. "I've never felt that looking after Kili was a duty or a chore. He's my brother, and I love him. Still…I suppose I have to admit, he has been quite a handful over the years." By now his quirky grin had returned. "I mean I could tell you stories about Kili that would curl your beard."

"Oh, I'm sure you could," Flinn chuckled. "Just like I am certain he can tell me a bunch about you and your antics. You forget, Fili, you were already walking and talking before I left. I saw the mischief peeking out of your little blue eyes more times than I can count. I knew that your mother and I were in for a lot of excitement, raising the two of you. Perhaps instead of thanking Thorin for looking after you, I should be working up a very formal apology for all the trouble you put him through."

"Yah…he does say that Kili and I are responsible for a great many of those grey hairs in his head," Fili laughed, enjoying this friendly banter with his father. Who would have thought that he could be this happy while stuck in a prison cell? But before any more could be said, they saw Kili and Bofur stiffen up, their posture indicating that something was happening outside the prison doors. When Kili began to frantically gesture to the others, they scrambled to their feet and hurried over.

"I think they are getting ready to leave," Bofur whispered, his face plastered against the crack in the door, his eye straining to see what was happening just beyond it. "Yes…they're leaving! Tell Frerin to get ready!"

Fili ran back and woke his sons, the two dwarflings instantly alert and ready to go. He led them over to the pipe, looking back at Bofur, who would give them the sign when it was time.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Frerin?" Fili asked, his fatherly fears rising to the fore.

"Yes, Adad!" the littlest dwarfling nodded.

"He can do it," Flinn assured his father, giving his brother a proud smile. "I know he can."

Just then Bofur turned away from the door, whispering to Fili.

"Now! They just left, send him now!" the hatted miner insisted.

"All right, Frerin, time to go," Fili said, lifting his son and placing him down into the trough in front of the metal pipe. "Hurry…and remember, we're right here cheering you on."

"I will," he nodded, wiggling his way up into the dark hole and disappearing from view.

Flinn crawled down into the wooden trough as well, poking his head into the pipe as far as he could, whispering words of encouragement to his brother as he made his way up and out. It felt like forever before Dwalin hissed with pleasure from where he was keeping watch at the door.

"He's made it! I can see his head poking out of the pipe!" the bald warrior reported.

Fili grabbed Flinn and the two hurried over to the door, doing their best to find a spot where they could see as well. They watched as a very dirty and somewhat sticky looking Frerin popped out of the end of the pipe, wiggling his body left and right until he came slithering out and dropped to the floor. He stood up and gave a quick grin and a wave towards the metal doors, and then turned to look for the keys.

When he spotted the ring hanging on the wall, his little shoulders slumped…it was much too high for him to reach. Yet, undeterred, the resourceful dwarfling began searching for something to help him get to it. When he spotted a stick leaning against the wall, he grabbed it quickly and began to beat at the ring, desperate to get it to come off the hook it hung from. After half a dozen tries, the keys finally slipped off their hanger and landed on the floor at his feet. Picking it up with a look of glee, Frerin ran over to the door, with everyone on the other side whispering their praise as loudly as they dared.

"Now, open the door, Frerin," Dwalin instructed. "Stick that key in the lock and turn!"

"I'm trying," the little lad replied, having to stand on his tip-toes to reach the keyhole with the heavy metal key. It fit perfectly, yet turning it was proving to be a problem, for he could not get enough leverage to force it around while teetering on the tips of his boots. "It won't turn, Adad! It won't turn!"

"Keep trying, little one," his grandfather encouraged. "Don't give up."

"You can do it, son," Fili also stated, urging him on.

Just then, the six dwarrow and one dwarfling inside the cells heard the sound of boots heading down the corridor and coming closer. The orcs were returning!

"Frerin, you must hurry," Kili hissed, practically dancing around in anticipation and fear. He had lost Tauriel to these monsters…he couldn't lose his precious nephew as well.

"I'm trying, Uncle Kili," Frerin responded, his voice betraying his own panic at hearing the approaching orcs. "I'm trying!"

"Frerin, you're running out of time," Fili called, now way beyond afraid and bordering on hysterical. "Find a place to hide, son! Forget about the key, just run!"

"No…I can do it!" he insisted, the sound of him grunting and straining to get the key to turn evident through the door.

"Try one more time, Nadadith!" little Flinn called through the crack in the door. "This time it will work…I know it!"

Hearing his brother's words seemed to bolster the lad's resolve, and even though at that very moment the two burly orcs came around the corner carrying the large pot of mash, he was not going to give up.

"What's this?" one of the orcs bellowed, dropping his side of the pot onto the floor, causing much of the contents to slop over the side. "How did you get out, you little piglet?"

"RUN Frerin! If they can't catch you, they can't kill you!" Kili shouted desperately through the door.

"I say we teach him real good what happens to those who try and escape!" the other one snarled, letting loose of his own hold on the pot and taking a step towards the struggling dwarfling.

"NOW, Frerin!" little Flinn screamed, wanting nothing more than to help his baby brother, yet a steel door stood between them.

With one last burst of effort, Frerin jumped up and grabbed hold of the key, his feet now dangling in midair as he pulled on the key with all his might. Only seconds before the large meaty hand of the orc would have grabbed him, the dwarves inside heard the blessed sound of the lock clicking as the key turned!

With no more encouragement needed, all of them pushed on the door, causing the metal barrier to swing open, striking the first orc in the face. The second orc was soon down as well, being bowled over as three dwarves tackled him, striking him with their fists while two others went after the dazed first. The last dwarf, Nori, ran over to the weapons rack, and tossed his comrades a few of the blades that were hanging there, watching as they were able to make quick work of their enemy.

Once both orc guards were dead, and no others seemed to have heard the commotion, Fili dropped the blade and ran back to the door, pulling it away from the wall as he searched for his son. There he found Frerin, still hanging from the key by his two little hands, his knees pulled up to his chest and his eyes squeezed closed in fear.

"Frerin!" Fili called, grabbing hold of his son and pulling him into a tight embrace. "You did it! You really did it!"

"Are…are they gone?" the dwarfling stammered, wrapping his arms and legs around his father and holding on tigt. "Is it over?"

"Yes, and you saved us all," Kili told him, coming up behind them and patting Frerin on the back. "You're a hero!"

"I…I am?" This was a shock to the little lad.

"Yippee for Frerin!" little Flinn called, hopping up and down as he clapped his hands. "My brother the hero!"

This made the littlest dwarf grin even more, yet all could see that he was not exactly eager to do anything of this nature again…not for a long while.

"Come on, we need to get out of here before any more orcs come," Dwalin instructed, already peeking around the corner and down the corridor to see if the coast was clear.

"Wait," Flinn insisted, gesturing for Bofur and Nori to come help him. "We need to get rid of these bodies and move this pot into the cells. If someone comes and sees this mess, they'll know something is wrong."

With a nod of understanding, Nori and Bofur half carried, half dragged the large pot of food into the cell chambers, while Fili, Kili and Flinn decided what to do with the dead orcs. In the end, they discovered an opening in the floor, covered by a wooden lid that was used as a privy. The hole was just large enough to stuff the two bodies down, with Flinn giving the last one a final kick for good measure.

"I am willing to bet these two will stop up the works, but I can't think of a more fitting place for such filth," he stated, dusting off his hands as if to say good riddance. He then raced back inside the cells, finding Torvald and several of the other prisoners standing in awe at what had just happened.

"Here, take this," Flinn said, giving the old dwarrow the key to the cell. "We won't lock the doors, but we must shut them so the orcs won't realize we've escaped until it's too late. But keep it with you…that way they can't trap you inside."

Torvald nodded his understanding, grabbing Flinn's hand and giving it a quick shake. And whether it was to say good luck, or farewell, he did not say.

"Can we go now?" Dwalin demanded, having been keeping watch the entire time. "The sun has to be up by now and we need to get to the exit and warn Bain before he rides right into an ambush!"

"Right!" Fili nodded, now just as worried about the young prince of Dale as he was for them. "Let's go!"

And so the six dwarrow closed the prison doors, before grabbing the two dwarflings and headed down the tunnels. However, this time, they had a guide! For after slaving away in the mines for the past twenty years…Flinn blessedly knew the way out!

Ok...ONE group of trapped dwarves are free. I just hope they can stay that way.

It will be back to Erebor's finest next chapter.

So...did you like Frerin's daring escape attempt? How he hung onto the key and dangled from it with his eyes shut and his legs curled up?

Now, they just have to find their way to the exit and help Bain!

Guest Reviews:

abc: I do like to surprise you now and then with bonus chapters. Flinn will be happy to hear that you said he did good with his father/son talk. I love Nori, he is so much fun. Like the bad boy we all love. But yes, he better beware of Dis. I hope this chapter WAS worth the wait. But really, you wait wasn't THAT long. ha ha. Thanks

Dean: I am glad you enjoy my version of Tilda. She is a fun lass. And sorry there was not Thorin and Hagen in this chapter...next one. I promise.