Thanks again to all who take the time to review. It means a LOT to me.

Guest: So sorry I made you cry and broke your heart. I hope these next few will help put the pieces back together and put a smile on your face!

Lady Jessica: I think your heart is stronger than you believe. And why do you think there is no way they can have a happy ending? I THRIVE on happy endings. Thank you for liking my writing style and my OC character. I had a lot of fun with her...and so did Fili, ha ha. No, I am 'planning' on a total of 18 chapters...I think. So more to come!

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~X~

More dwarf words and their meanings

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Khazad ai-menu! - The dwarves are upon you

Khayum Thane! - Victory for the king

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~X~

Chapter 13

Fili stood on the balcony of his room in Erebor staring out into the darkness. He had chosen these chambers for a very specific reason…they faced north, towards Daeloness. The past five months had been hell for him, not only because of the battle and the taking back of their mountain home, but due to the ever present ache that resided within his chest. His ache for her.

Fili had confided in no one about his love for Daeloness, his one. Even Kili had not been able to wheedle the information out of him, and it had not been for lack of trying. Yet, from the moment Thorin had acquired the water stone, things had moved rather quickly, leaving no time for brotherly heart to hearts or even a spare moment for Fili to grieve over his loss. Yet now…now with peace finally at hand and his oath to Thorin fulfilled, he knew he could wait no longer.

Fili reached up and rubbed his shoulder, wincing a bit as he felt the familiar pain. His wound was fully healed by now, but on cold evenings like this, the stiffness was ever present and probably would be for the remainder of his days. Still, he had been one of the lucky ones, for many who battled the dragon that day had fared far worse…or lost their lives altogether. Thinking back, Fili became lost in the memory of that fated battle with Smaug.

~XXX~

The water stone had worked just as Thorin hoped, diverting the river Celduin and causing it to flow full force into the waterway that ran through Erebor. At the moment he spoke the words written on the stone, and saw that the river did indeed change directions, a signal had been sent to those waiting at the front entrance of the dwarf kingdom. There, Dáin and his men dumped wagon load after wagon load of stones into the small stream, damming it up where it exited the mountain so that the water would have no place to depart. So with the mighty river spilling into Erebor at full force and all exits stopped up, Thorin and his army waited outside for Smaug to emerge.

It felt like forever before they saw signs that the great halls had indeed been engulfed in water, for everyplace there was a hole or a crack in the mighty doors, water came spurting out, searching for any way in which to empty itself. He and Kili exchanged looks, each knowing that the defining moment of their lives was at hand. Soon, Smaug would be forced to emerge and the battle would be upon them. Reaching up, he fingered the little braid that still hung down his back, always concealed from the view of others, yet reminding him that he had pledged his heart. He had often felt as if he were going to perish from grief over the loss of Daeloness, yet as he now faced the true possibility of death, he knew he wanted to live…if only to look upon her face one last time. So steeling his mind, Fili swore that he would fight with all he had, not allowing that wretched dragon to take that chance from him!

When a deep rumbling in the mountain was felt and a sound like they had never heard before came from within, they knew that Smaug had awakened…and he was not pleased by it at all! Then with a force they had not anticipated, the large doors and surrounding rock was instantly demolished as the winged dragon emerged, followed by a flood of water surrounding him on all sides. At first the fire drake seemed stunned, either from the fact that he had been forced to swallow a large amount of water, or from using his head as a battering ram to exit the mountain. For whatever reason, Thorin took advantage of the reprieve and signaled the attack.

"Khazad ai-menu!" their king in exile shouted, causing all those around him to rush forward, swords and axes drawn as they surrounded the mighty beast. From atop parts of the mountain, archers began to pelt the dragon with a volley of arrows, yet his armor-like scales deflected them all. Shaking off his stupor, Smaug assessed the situation and prepared to annihilate the oncoming hoard with one burst of fire from his mighty jaws…yet the amount of water he had been forced to consume was making it impossible to ignite his deadly flames. This was what Thorin had been counting on, for even though a dragon is still a mighty foe without his fire…at least this way the dwarves stood a chance.

With a cry of rage, Smaug began to beat his wings, the force of the gale driving back the less sturdy dwarves, bowling them over as they fell to the ground. Thorin however was not deterred, bracing himself against the tempest and forging on, determined to bury his sword deep within the chest of the dragon. Yet before he could reach him, the foul snake took to flight, soaring up and over their heads as he circled the mountain, screaming words of hate.

"Do you honestly think that a little water has left the great and mighty Smaug defenseless?" he roared, swooping down as the dwarves on the hillside scattered, some falling victim to his razor sharp talons as they ripped through the ranks, pushing some over the side, slicing into many, while others he scooped up and dropped from deadly heights. "I still have my claws, my wings, my teeth and my long standing hate for dwarves! I will destroy you as I did your predecessors…prepare to meet your doom!"

"Kili…aim for his head as he comes for the next pass," Fili told his brother who was still at his side. With the dragon so far above, there was no other way to reach him and he swooped down so quickly that no one even had a chance to strike with a sword before he was gone once again, taking half a battalion with him in his claws. Fili watched as Thorin raced forward, cresting one of the hills as he shouted at his enemy, his bravery and determination reminding the young dwarf exactly why he had been willing to follow his uncle into certain death. Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thrór, was indeed a king he could admire and respect!

"Come down and fight me, you cowardly beast!" Thorin shouted, raising his sword as he challenged Smaug. "You soar above us like a gutless worm, unwilling to test your strength without the benefit of your wings. Face me…one on one…and I will show you that the mightiness of dwarves outshine that of a pitiful dragon any day!"

"What is uncle doing?" Kili asked, shock and horror written on his face.

"He is attempting to level the playing field," Fili explained, running forward as he endeavored to make his way closer to where his king stood. For it was only by getting the dragon to land that they might have a chance to defeat it.

"YOU DARE TO INSULT ME, DWARF?" he screamed, making another pass over where Thorin stood, causing him to throw himself to the ground in order to not be snatched up by his claws. "Who is foolish enough to challenge me this way?"

"I am Thorin, rightful heir to the throne that you stole from my forefathers over a hundred years ago!" he answered back, rising to his feet and shouting towards the sky. "I will see you vanquished and the halls of Erebor cleansed of your wretched filth. Now come down and fight me…if you dare!"

This further enraged the hellish beast and he gave a mighty screech as he circled the mountain one last time, leaving destruction in his wake, before he came thundering to the ground, causing the very foundations of the earth to shake.

"Here I am, puny dwarf!" he announced, slowly approaching the little hill that Thorin waited upon, the small rise causing the dwarf and the dragon to be at eye level. "Yet how do you plan to carry out your threats, for I am still mightier, more powerful and far bigger than you!"

"It only takes one arrow to bring down even the most vile of foes…if one aims correctly!" Thorin yelled, bracing himself as he raised his sword into the air.

"NOW!" Fili cried out in a loud voice, having seen the signal his uncle had told him to watch for. All around the young prince, dwarves to the right and to the left threw back dirt covered tarps that concealed holes dug into the earth, each one housing a large harpoon-like device. On his command, they let loose a volley of grappling hooks with long thick ropes attached, watching anxiously as they shot over the back of the grounded dragon, some bouncing off while others found purchase among the iron-like scales that littered its back. More and more of the missiles were fired, with a battalion of dwarves at the ready to grab the ropes and hold the beast down.

Smaug roared in anger and raised up on his hind legs, his tail swishing to the left and right, bowling over the surrounding dwarves with each swipe, sending many to their death.

"Deceit! Tricks!" he spat, pulling at the ropes that were now having little effect on him. "You will die for this, Thorin, supposed king, just as your forefathers did! And when I have crushed your bones into the ground, I will then take great pleasure in devouring all of your pitiful army! It has been many years since I have feasted on dwarf, yet I will gorge myself on their flesh tonight!"

With that the great dragon reared up once more, pulling the ropes out of the hands of the dwarves and shaking them off until he was free. Yet when he did so, he had given Thorin a perfect view of his underbelly, and what the king in exile saw caused his eyes to grow wide with excitement. For there, just below his powerful neck, was a missing scale, leaving one small spot open to penetration. Knowing that it was their only chance for victory, Thorin gave a mighty shout and hurled himself off the little hill, running at full speed in an attempt to get to it before Smaug had a chance to once again take flight.

Seeing his enemy racing forward, the dragon lunged at him, his head down and his jaws wide open in an effort to devour the dwarf king as his first meal of the night. Yet Thorin dodged him at the last second, rolling to the side and slipping by as he felt the drake's foul breath against his face. With a battle cry that could be heard around the mountain, the dwarf king rammed his sword hilt deep into the small chink in the dragon's armor, causing the monstrous creature to rise up in agony, feeling a deadly pain he had never experienced before. Thorin kept hold of his blade, being lifted off the ground as the dragon thrashed about before it suddenly fell forward, unable to remain on its legs as the agony ripped through him.

Fili and Kili had been charging forward, eager to aid their uncle when they saw Smaug go down, effectively burying their uncle beneath its mountain-like body.

"NO! THORIN! " Fili shouted, imagining the worst as the dragon lay there gasping for air and whipping about, his king and kin most likely being brutally crushed under its weight. "Kili, NOW…aim for the eyes!"

The young archer did not need to be told twice and he let loose a dozen arrows in quick succession, each one aimed at the enormous golden reptilian orbs. As more than half found their mark, the fire drake once again screamed in rage and pain, now blinded and unable to see, it lashed out at everything it sensed around him, yet unable to rise to defend itself. Fili, seeing his opportunity, rushed forward.

"Khayum Thane!" he shouted, hearing those around him pick up his war cry, inciting the dwarves to rally.

With swords bared, they began to hack and slash at the beast, doing everything they could to bring it down at last. Fili went for the head, knowing that his best chances to defeat it centered there. Yet as he drew back his blade, the dragon's head whipped around, slicing a deep gouge across his left shoulder with his razor sharp teeth – thankfully missing his head by mere inches. As Fili rolled across the ground, gripping his wound as he gritted his teeth in pain, he could hear his brother shouting his name. They were so close to victory, but at what cost? Was his beloved uncle and king now crushed beneath their mountainous enemy, would he too perish in his attempt to slay the dragon, with his brother the next to lose his life as well? Once more his thoughts turned to Daeloness, imagining what horrors awaited her should he die in battle. The image of the woman he loved being forced to wed against her will caused him to fight through the pain and rise on unsteady feet, as he reached for his sword.

Bodies of fallen dwarves littered the ground around him, but he ignored them all and focused on his task at hand. He needed to end this, he needed to defeat Smaug and reclaim their homeland - if for no other reason than to avenge Thorin. With his one arm hanging useless at his side he ran directly at the beast, determined to kill or be killed if that was what it took. Ducking the massive head as it swung his direction once more, he waited until it was directly above him and then he chose that moment to strike. Thrusting upwards with all his remaining strength, his long blade pierced the soft palate just beneath its chin, feeling the crunch of bone and cartilage as it sunk deep within its target. Thrashing around even more furiously, the great dragon gave one final cry of rage and then its head fell to the ground…dead.

Fili collapsed, falling to one knee as he fought to stay upright, waiting to see if the monster would rise again. Yet as moments ticked by, and the dragon lay there without moving, a slow and steady cheer went up through the remaining army of dwarves, each one coming to realize that it was dead at last. Yet Fili had to be sure. Rising to his feet he stumbled forward, picking up the blade of a fallen warrior on his way. Arriving where it lay motionless, he raised the sword and in one brutal slice, he severed the gruesome looking head from its body, leaving no doubt whatsoever that Smaug, the mighty dragon of old, would never trouble this world again.

There was a slight tug at the corner of Fili's lips as he realized the irony in all this. Had this not been just as Daeloness envisioned the battle playing out? With him hacking off Smaug's head? Though he found he lacked the strength to hold such a massive thing up like some sort of trophy.

Kili was quickly at his side, reaching out to steady his brother as he began to sway, his wound as well as the energy he had just spent having drained him until he worried he might no longer be able to stand. Yet thoughts of Thorin quickly returned to his mind and he summoned the strength from within.

"Get the ropes!" he shouted, rushing to one side of the fallen dragon and ordering the grappling hooks to be tossed upon his back. Once there was a sufficient amount of ropes that had found a foothold, every available dwarf began to pull on them with all their might. Slowly, they were able to roll the massive beast onto its side, allowing Fili and Kili, as well as their cousin Dáin and a few of the others from their company who were still standing, to search for the body of their king. Everyone, including Fili, feared that he had been crushed to death beneath the weight of their foe, yet a cry of joy went up when they found that Thorin was miraculously still alive! When he had stabbed the underbelly and the drake had come back down, pinning him beneath, Thorin had amazingly fallen into a small crevice in the ground, protecting him from most of the devastating weight above him. He was unconscious, his sword arm was broken and one of his legs was twisted into a very unnatural position…yet the king under the mountain lived!

The battle was over, Smaug was dead, and Erebor was theirs once again.

The months that followed had been both joyous, as well as grievous, for the dwarves - knowing they had won the prize they sought, yet suffered heavy losses in the battle. While all of the original thirteen survived the fray, many had been wounded and required time to heal before they were up and around once again. Their broken bones and deep gouges from fang and claw would mend, and thankfully Thorin would as well. Oin suffered the most permanent injury, having lost the sight in his right eye when one of the dragon's claws had swiped across his face, leaving a deep gash from his cheek to his forehead. Still, the dwarf claimed that even half deaf, and now half blind, he could still take on the rest of them and come out victorious. And no one doubted him for a moment.

With both Thorin and Fili laid up for the first month or so, nursing their wounds, Kili and Dáin spearheaded the reclaiming of the mountain. With direction from his convalescing uncle, Kili had spoken the words to end the flood through Erebor and set the river back on its natural course. And once the halls and chambers had emptied of all the water, they were at last able to enter their mountain home once more.

The great oak doors were rebuilt and hung, the throne room had been set to rights and the whole place cleared of all signs that a dragon had once resided there. Word had been sent back to the Blue Mountains, the Iron Hills and even as far as Erid Luin, announcing that those who had once called Erebor their home could safely do so once again. It would be a long time before the mountain returned to its former majestic splendor, but as Thorin steadily recovered and restoration commenced, Fili began to see glimpses of just how great Erebor had once been.

~XXX~

Yet now, five months after the devastating battle, Fili still suffered from his most grievous wound…that of the heart.

He reached into his vest and pulled out his pipe, absentmindedly filling it and placing it to his lips. However, just before he went to light it, he stopped, pulling the device from his mouth and staring at it thoughtfully. Once he had taken great pleasure in smoking, yet now, every time he looked at his pipe, he thought of her. Of Daeloness scrunching up her adorable little nose as he puffed away, or her delicate lips wrapped around the tip as she attempted to understand his fascination with the pastime. And each time, Fili's eyes grew dark and he would sadly put it away, unused.

"You're thinking of her again, aren't you?" came a voice from behind, making him turn suddenly.

"Kili," he muttered, having been so lost in thought that he had not heard his brother entering his chambers. "I do not know what you mean."

"You can pretend all you want, but you cannot fool me, brother," Kili huffed, coming to stand next to Fili. He leaned upon the low wall, bending forward so that his forearms rested on the stone while he gazed out into the night. "I know you are thinking of her…of the water princess. You might refuse to talk about it, even to me, but I am not blind. I have watched you for months now, and whenever you look north you get that strange look in your eyes…and you never smoke your pipe anymore."

"Perhaps I have simply lost the taste for it," Fili scoffed, not liking how his little brother could read him so well.

"Or you have given up the pleasure for some other reason," the younger dwarf mused, turning his head as he tried to gauge Fili's reaction. "Do I now have two reasons to dislike the little she-devil…for biting me and for stealing my brother's joy?"

"You deserved to be bitten for touching her," Fili grumbled, hating the fact that Kili had hit far too close to the mark – yet he had always been an excellent archer with a keen eye.

"Perhaps so, but it would appear that you are the one who harbors the deepest wound." He then straightened up and stared at his brother in all seriousness. "I have never seen you this way, Fili, so somber, so withdrawn."

"It was a fierce battle…it still weighs heavy on my mind," he muttered, just wishing his inquisitive sibling would let it go.

"It is more than that, and you were acting strangely even before we engaged the dragon. Uncle has noticed it as well…and so has our mother. Ever since she has returned to Erebor she says you are not the same carefree lad who left our home in the Blue Mountains. Both of them believed your sadness was caused by the battle with Smaug, but now, even they are no longer convinced this is the cause. I, however, am the only one who knows the truth…only I understand that you pine for her, for the princess."

"Daeloness," Fili said, his voice low and filled with grief. "Her name is Daeloness." Here he turned away, not wanting Kili to see the tears that began to build in his eyes. Oh, just saying her name brought both joy and untold sorrow to his heart. His arms ached to hold her, his body cried for her touch and yet…she was out of his reach. Suddenly unable to contain his grief any longer, he revealed to his brother what had been ailing him these many long months. "Daeloness…she was…no, I mean she is…"

"Your one?" Kili finished, letting Fili know that he truly did understand everything. "My eyesight is keen, I saw the braid you had woven into her hair the day her father took her away. And though you have hid it admirably…your own braid has not escaped my notice either. Are you sure about this, Fili? There is no doubt in your mind that she is your one?"

Fili gave a heavy sigh, almost relieved to have the burden of secrecy off his chest. He had long debated whether to share this revelation with Kili, worried that the young lad would become upset or tell Thorin in some guilt ridden confession. Yet as he looked into the concerned brown eyes of his brother, Fili knew he could trust him implicitly.

"I fought the feeling as long as I could…as did she," he spoke at last. "Daeloness was my prisoner and I was her hated captor…yet little by little it became overwhelmingly clear that this was something neither of us could fight. I came to realize, without any doubt in my mind, that she was my one, the maid that Mahal had destined for me from the creating of the world. I have pledged my heart to her, Kili, my life and my love…and yet I had to give her up for the chance to reclaim Erebor."

"And did she accept your offer? Does she feel the same?" Kili was still confused.

"That she did," Fili nodded, recalling the vows they had spoken to each other, in hopes of one day saying them for real at their wedding. "Yet Daeloness understood what was at stake…perhaps better than I, and she insisted that the exchange proceed as planned. Knowing that Thorin was counting on acquiring the water stone through means of the trade. I begged her to reconsider, pleaded with her not to go through with it…yet she thwarted me at every turn, saying that she could not live with herself if she was to be the cause of me betraying my king and kin."

"So she surrendered herself willingly so that we might reclaim Erebor?" Kili's voice had taken on an almost reverent tone now, gaining a whole new respect for the girl he had only met twice. Granted he had found her to be enticingly pretty, exceptionally feisty, and uncommonly brave for standing up to her father the way she had…but never had he guessed that she was noble as well. For if she truly did care for his brother, as much as Fili apparently did for her, then she had indeed made the ultimate sacrifice. "What…what do you think became of her? If I recall, her father was not at all pleased that she had revealed his deception with the water stone."

"She had already been promised in marriage to the southern water king of Ekmus and the wedding is to take place in less than a month. Her father would not dare harm her for fear of breaking the agreement to join their two royal houses…or at least I pray this is the case. Still, to Daeloness, marriage to King Palnish was a fate worse than death," Fili told him, staring out over the hills once more. "Yet I will not let that happen! I will get her back, Kili…I have to…I simply have to!"

"Then you will not go alone," he swore, placing his hand on his brother's shoulder and giving him a warm smile. "If you must fight to reclaim the woman you love…then I will be at your side, offering any assistance I have to give."

"This is not your fight, brother," Fili argued, not wanting to risk anyone's life but his own in this endeavor.

"Fili…would you stand idly by and allow me to face danger alone?" He knew the answer, so he didn't even bother waiting for a reply. "Of course you would not! You would take up your sword and follow me, even if I forbid you to come. Well, why do you think I would do any less for you?" He then got a smirky grin on his face. "Besides, I have a bone to pick with my future sister-in-law…for not only did she sorely wound my thumb and my pride, she also needs to answer for this new aversion to smoking you have acquired!"

Fili could hold back no longer, especially when Kili spoke like this, and soon the two brothers were laughing together like old times. It felt good to share his secrets with him and for the first time in five months, Fili's burdens seemed less heavy. Yes, he would get Daeloness back, and he would have his trustworthy little brother at his side when he did.

"Now…come, why don't we go find ourselves a pint of ale and you can tell me all about how you two came to this happy conclusion…as well as your plan to get her back." Kili suggested, leading him off the balcony and towards the door. Yet when he grabbed hold of the handle and yanked it open, five dwarves fell into the room, piling on top of each other while another five remained standing in the doorway…all of them having obviously been listening for some time.

"What the…?" Fili gasped, watching as Ori, Dori, Nori, Bombur and Bofur scrambled to their feet, looking a bit embarrassed as they straightened their clothes and beards.

"Why did you not tell us of your plight, laddie?" Dwalin barked, standing there with his arms crossed and looking as gruff as usual.

"Yes, you should have confided in us, Fili," Bofur nodded, as the rest of the company joined in. "We would have understood. There was no sense in you suffering alone like this."

"You should have at least told Thorin, even if you chose not to tell us," Balin spoke up. "He might be king, but he is still your uncle and he would have taken your side had he known what the girl meant to you."

"I…I could not risk it…there was too much at stake," Fili confessed. "Besides, Daeloness put her freedom, and possibly her life, on the line to ensure that the trade went through…I could not undo all her efforts. She would never have forgiven me."

"I knew there was more to the lass than met the eye when we captured her," Dwalin spoke up. "And if she was willing to sacrifice herself to help us reclaim Erebor…then we will help you reclaim her!"

"Yes!" the rest of the dwarves agreed, each one swearing their assistance in getting the job done.

"You…you all honor me by your offer…I don't know what to say," Fili was indeed moved by their willingness.

"You say you accept, of course," Balin told him. "As a dwarf who lost his one when Smaug attacked, I know much about the pain you are going through. If there is even a chance that you can reclaim the one who possesses your heart, then you have my sword and shield at your service."

"See, Fili…you do not have to do this alone," Kili assured him. "We will all stand at your side, just as you would do for us. We will help you get her back, brother…this we swear." He then got a sheepish look on his face before adding, "But…maybe it would be best to keep all of this from Thorin and mother…at least for the time being. Uncle already has far too much weighing on his mind, and if mother finds out that you let her potential daughter-in-law slip through your fingers…well, I think we all know what she is capable of!"

Fili nodded gravely, watching as the rest of the dwarves, who were all familiar with the lady Dis, did the same. Kili and Fili's mother was not a dwarrowdam to be crossed…that was for sure.

~X~

So it was decided over a keg of ale that the twelve of them would venture forth in three weeks' time to waylay the convoy assigned to transport the princess to her awaiting marriage. It was a much safer plan than infiltrating the city itself, and even if they found a way, the young prince had no idea where to start looking for his lady love. Fili now knew that Daeloness had indeed not found any means of escape this time, for if she had, he was certain she would have come knocking on the doors of Erebor long before now.

It would be torture, but he only had to wait a little longer…and then Daeloness would be back in his arms once again. Exactly where she belonged!

Oh boy, I love a man...er...dwarf with a plan! And look, he has buddies willing to go with him to! What a bunch of swells!

Now, they just have to keep Thorin and Dis in the dark! Not going to be easy.

Ok kiddies...next chapter will be a doozy!

Thanks again for taking the time to send in reviews...they keep me going.