Here we go, getting into the meat of the story!

This chapter is quite a bit longer...hope you enjoy

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Chapter 2

Daeloness sat with her back to the stone cliff, surrounded by bags of supplies and equipment, watching the thirteen dwarves who were now her captors. They had treated her well enough thus far, if you didn't count the very uncomfortable and undignified way the one named Dwalin had transported her from her city home. She had felt every dip in the path and every stumble the pony beneath her had made, being wrapped up and slung over the back of it like she was. It had taken most of the day to reach this hidden camp and all the way she had dreamed up new and inventive ways to punish those fools for destroying her carefully made plans. For now this abduction had set her destiny on a completely different path than she had wished.

The one named Thorin she had heard about, for even one as isolated as she was, knew the old tales of the dragon who had seized the Lonely Mountain so many years ago, scattering the line of Durin to the wind and forcing them to wander homeless to this day. Thorin Oakenshield was thought to be the only remaining heir to the dwarf Lord Thrór and thus in line to rule the lost city of Erebor, should it ever be retaken. And apparently, this was his goal and she was to play her unwilling part in his quest.

Daeloness leaned her head back against the rocks and squeezed her eyes shut in angry frustration. She silently cursed those mangy dwarves for foiling her plans of escape, for no sooner had she scaled the city walls and dropped to the ground, than they had her surrounded. At first they had been just as surprised as she, yet as soon as they saw the royal emblem around her neck, they set about capturing her in earnest. Looking back she had been a fool to have taken such a distinguishing mark with her…yet it had belonged to her mother and it was the only thing she had left of her. Not having known she would be called upon to fight off a group of armed dwarves, she had not come prepared with any great weapons, and the small dagger she had tucked in her boot had done little to no good. She had managed to pull some water from a few nearby puddles and after freezing them into crystallized shards, hurled them at her approaching attackers. Yet their thick leather armor and shields had deflected most of her tiny missiles with ease. When they had at last managed to subdue her, and were binding her hands and feet, Daeloness was pleased to see that a few of her liquid weapons had found their mark. Several of the dwarves were now sporting bloody scratches across their faces and exposed limbs, proving to them that she had some bite!

From what their leader, Thorin, had said, she was to be used in trade for a water stone, something her father would not part with easily…yet in this case she knew he would. Not out of any feelings of loyalty or love for her, no, that was far too much to hope for, yet he would do it to fulfil his pledge to the eastern water king of Ekmus. She was now less than seven months away from being given in marriage to her father's rival, in a petition to unite the two battered realms. During the civil strife pitting each of the four water kingdoms against each other, only her city of Tellmar and that of Ekmus emerged somewhat successfully, leaving the other two practically in ruins. Yet in order to remain in control, her father, Maldor, had struck a bargain with his former foe…an agreement which would bind her to Lord Palnish for all time. At first, when she was informed of the forced betrothal, she had almost been excited, daring to hope that her life was about to change for the better…yet that was not the case. For when she met her intended for the first time during a visit of goodwill, she came to realize that he was even more cruel and heartless than her father, the man who had kept her locked within the castle walls her entire life. Knowing she could never submit to the life which had been laid out for her, Daeloness chose to escape, to flee to parts unknown and live out the remainder of her days as an insignificant nobody…but free!

Yet here she was, not free at all, but being used once more as a pawn in a scheme that benefited everyone but her. If Thorin offered her return in exchange for a water stone, her father would most likely comply, simply because he lacked the warriors to win her back through battle. The civil strife had severely weakened their forces and while a company of thirteen dwarves did not seem like a mighty foe…Daeloness was not sure if they were alone in this. Killing a dragon would take an army…did they have one?

Again, she cursed each one of her captors, right down to the last.

~X~

Fili sat beside Thorin and listened to his plan, yet his eyes kept straying towards their lovely captive, sitting in the little shelter a few yards away. She seemed so angry, but he supposed he would be as well if he had been rolled up in a blanket and tossed over the back of a pony. Not a very pleasant way to travel, by his way of thinking. And she had spoken to Thorin as if she had no fear, when in truth she had every reason to be afraid, for if her father did not comply, her situation could become dire. Not that he believed his uncle would ever do the girl harm, for such cruelty was not in him, but he also knew that Thorin was determined to accomplish his goal. Even if it meant marching on the water kingdom itself and taking the stone he needed by force. War was never pretty, and many innocent lives could be lost in the attempt, so it was best if this plan worked and all the ugliness could be avoided. There would be plenty of fighting later when they dealt with the dragon - and if they wished to emerge victorious, they would need every last warrior.

"We will leave in the morning to meet with my cousin Dáin and the remainder of our kin," Thorin told them, scratching out a map of his plans in the dirt before them with the tip of his dagger. "Whereupon, we will rendezvous at the high plains above Erebor and trade the princess for the stone. I will need a willing warrior to deliver the message to Lord Maldor, outlining the conditions of his daughter's safe return. Who of you shall go?"

"I will take the message to the king, then meet you at the high plains," Balin stated, standing up as a volunteer.

"Good," Thorin agreed, nodding his approval. "The plan is set then. We leave at first light." The rest of the company began to disperse, some to forage for firewood, others to tend to the cooking and the rest to keep watch or prepare their bedrolls. Yet Thorin took hold of Fili's arm and held him back, signaling that he wished to speak with him in private. Walking a few steps away, he informed his nephew of his intent. "I have an important mission for you, Fili," he told him in all seriousness.

"Name it, uncle, you know I will accept," he insisted.

"It is one you will not enjoy, I fear, but it is of great importance," he warned, placing his hand on the young prince's shoulder. "I need you to stay here, guard the prisoner and then deliver her to the meeting place once the water king has agreed to our terms."

"What? You would keep me from the battle?" Fili asked in dismay.

"Nay, when it comes time to slay the dragon and retake Erebor, you will be at my side," Thorin assured him. "I would have my kin and heir with me to strengthen our army. But until it is time to take up sword and shield, I need you here, defending the girl. It is too dangerous for her to travel with us through the wild and if the water king should attack, having her far away and out of the reach of rescue would be best for all. From this vantage point you can almost see the high plains, and once the king has agreed to the swap, I will send a signal for you to bring the princess. For without her…there will be no exchange, no water stone and no chance of rousting Smaug. Will you remain behind and do this for me, my sister-son?"

"Aye…I will not fail you, uncle," Fili nodded, knowing it was an important assignment, yet to him it still felt like babysitting.

"Of that I have no doubt," Thorin said with a smile of gratitude.

~X~

Meanwhile, Kili had taken it upon himself to bring dinner to the princess, approaching her with an engaging smile, one that had melted the hearts of many a lass. Going down on one knee before her, he held out the bowl of stew as a peace offering.

"I thought you might be hungry," he told her. "I do apologize for not being able to unbind your hands so you can eat unaided, but until the king gives the command, you are to remain in restraints. Can't have you hurling water missiles at us like you did to Dwalin and his crew, now can we? Gave them a few nice cuts I see."

"Loosen my hands, dwarf, and I will happily do more than cut up your ugly face with my weapons of water," she told him in a sickening sweet voice, though the look of death that accompanied her words told Kili all he needed to know.

"And why do I get the feeling that it would be something I would not enjoy?" he asked with an amused chuckle. He liked her, she had spunk, but he was not foolish enough to underestimate her either, thus he left her hands tied. "Now, open wide and let me know if it is to your taste, we can't have you going back to your father all skin and bones." He lifted the spoon up to her mouth, waiting for her to do as she was told. When her lips pursed together and she refused, he plopped the spoon back into the bowl. "Come on now, it is not as bad as all that. Bombur is a fairly decent cook and if you don't eat now, there will be nothing left by the time the rest get their share." When she still refused to comply, he reached out and gently cupped her cheek, running his thumb lightly across her lips and using his most cajoling tone. "Just open that pretty little mouth of yours, princess, I am sure your beauty is unmatched when you smile."

"You would like to see me smile…dwarf?" Daeloness asked, looking up at him quizzically, causing the young warrior to believe he had finally gotten through to her with his flattering words.

Yet before he could even blink, the girl did open her mouth just as he had asked, but instead of accepting any soup, she sank her teeth into Kili's thumb, piercing the skin.

"Aaaaahhhhhh!" he bellowed, trying to pull his entrapped digit from her painful hold, his cries carrying to the whole company, bringing a few of his comrades rushing to his aid. When she finally did release her jaw and he was able to pull his hand away, holding on to it as he inspected his injury, she did indeed give him a triumphant grin.

"There! It would seem that I now have something to smile about!" she told him, spitting on the ground to rid the taste of his blood from her mouth. "Touch me again, filthy dwarf, and I will bite your finger clean off!"

"What is going on here?" Thorin barked, pushing his way through the crowd of dwarves. He was followed closely behind by Fili, eager to see what had his brother in an uproar.

"She bit me! That she-devil bit me!" Kili wailed, holding up his hand to show his uncle the damage she had caused.

"Well, apparently you had your hand where it did not belong or else she would not have had the opportunity to bite you…thus I do not blame the girl for defending herself," the king in exile huffed, crossing his arms over his chest and staring down at his wayward nephew with a disapproving glare. "Now, leave the girl be and have Oin see to your wound. An archer with an infected thumb is of no use to me." When Kili opened his mouth in protest, Thorin silenced him with a final command. "GO!"

Giving his uncle a nod of compliance, along with a scathing glare at the still grinning girl, he stomped off, his pride now more wounded than his finger.

"And you!" Thorin growled, turning his eyes to the girl before him. "While I do not condone my nephew's actions, neither will I sit back and allow you to injure one of my warriors. You will be remaining in our keep for a number of days, princess, so it would be best that you learn your place and act accordingly. It would not be wise to get on my bad side. Not wise at all."

The tone of his voice had caused the smile to fade from her lips and Daeloness felt a shiver of fear go through her as she stared into Thorin's somber eyes. He had said that nothing would stop him from reclaiming his homeland, and while she had believed him before, the captive princess suddenly realized to what extent he would go in order to achieve it. Perhaps it was best that she did not test him further.

"I can see we have reached an understanding, lass," Thorin nodded, able to read the flicker of fear in her eyes at his threats. "Keep this in mind and we will get along just fine." He then turned to Fili, who was standing beside him. "See that the princess is fed and bedded down comfortably for the night. We leave at dawn and I do not need any more outbursts like this one disturbing our sleep. And if she gives you any trouble…feel free to gag her again." With one last warning glare in her direction, Thorin took his leave, followed by the remaining few dwarves who had gathered around.

~X~

Fili stood there for a moment and assessed his new charge. He was not happy that she had caused his little brother pain, yet he also could not help but admire her spirit. Kili could charm a bear out of a honey tree, and yet this girl had not fallen for his sibling's cheeky grin or laughing eyes. This of course gave him little faith that he might sway her into seeing things his way, having hoped that they might reach an understanding. Thorin had made his intentions very clear, and perhaps he could play on that, but he did not feel right scaring the girl any further. So, he put on his most charming smile and tried to appear friendly.

"I too apologize for my brother's actions," he told her, squatting down and picking up the bowl of soup that Kili had set aside. It was still warm and he hoped he would fare better in his attempt to get her to eat. "He had no right to touch you without your permission, however, I must insist that you do for me what you refused him. It would trouble me greatly to know you went to bed hungry, yet if you will not eat…there is nothing I can do to force you." He dipped the spoon into the bowl and held it up to her. "Please, princess?"

"How do I know it is not poisoned or drugged in some way?" Daeloness questioned, eyeing this dwarf carefully as she attempted to assess his trustworthiness. He seemed more sincere than the one he had called brother, more kind perhaps and she could detect no deceit in his merry blue eyes.

"Poisoning you would serve no purpose," he insisted with a roll of his eyes. "As for drugging you…for what reason would we do that?" When the girl raised her eyebrows and tilted her head a bit, he finally took her meaning. Fili was caught between being angry and embarrassed, his face turning a little red at the implications. "The dwarves of Durin are honorable warriors, we would never defile a maiden against her wishes! Your virtue is quite safe, not a one among us would dare!" Yet when she still did not seem convinced, he let go of the spoon and set the bowl down between them. Pulling a small dagger out of his belt, Fili stabbed a chunk of meat from the stew and held it up for her inspection. He then popped it in his mouth and made a big display of chewing and swallowing it. "There, see? No poisons or drugs. Nothing that will cause you to suddenly lose consciousness or fall…." Fili's words suddenly drifted off as his eyes slowly rolled back into his head and he began to sway back and forth, until he toppled over onto his side. After letting out three loud comical snores, one eye snapped open and a huge grin spread across his face, the metal clips at the end of his funny little mustache braids jiggling as he began to chuckle.

Daeloness' eyes had grown wide and her mouth dropped open when the dwarf had supposedly passed out, but before she had time to realize she was being had, he revealed his humorous deception. He looked so proud of himself, so completely tickled with his charade, that the princess couldn't help but smile at his antics, turning her face away in shame as she fought to regain her composure. He was the enemy! She wasn't supposed to find him amusing!

"Now, that is more like it, princess," Fili laughed, sitting up as he dusted himself off. "See, I am not as horrible as you think. And as you can see, the food is completely safe to eat. So I ask you again," he said, picking up the dish and holding out a spoonful of the stew, "will you not take a bite…just a little one? For me?"

Daeloness closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Oh, this one was good, she would give him that! And really, she was only hurting herself by not accepting the food, which did indeed smell delicious. Besides, if an opportunity for escape did present itself, it would be in her best interest to not be weak from hunger and too feeble to run. So opening her eyes she turned her head back to face him.

"Fine!" she huffed, acting as if doing so was a huge inconvenience to her. "If it will get you to shut up and leave me alone, I will eat your wretched food, dwarf!"

"Fili," he told her, his smile growing even wider. "My name is Fili, Your Highness," he told her as he gently fed her a spoonful of the stew. "And I think you and I will get along just fine."

Hmmmm, just how 'along fine' do you think they might get? Tee-hee

Thank you very much for reading my story, please take a moment to let me know how I am doing.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.