At first Fili didn't know what had woken him. He remembered going to bed with Kenzi, and not falling asleep until she had already fallen asleep. The sun was barely shining in the room, so he knew it was still early in the morning, probably too early for the rest of the company to be awake. The he realized what had happened. He looked down and saw that Kenzi had wrapped herself around his torso in the middle of the night. She had her right leg tossed over his left. Her foot was curled under his calf. Her knee was in a very precarious spot. Her right arm was tossed across his torso and her hand was gripping his tunic. Fili's own arm was wrapped around her, pulling her close.
It was then that he realized what had woken him. Kenzi's leg shifted again, her knee rubbing against his crotch. He was hard, and it was becoming painful. He was trying to figure out how he was going to get out of the bed without waking her when she stretched and shifted her knee again. Both of them were completely still, barely breathing.
"I'm just going to…" started Fili.
"Or you could stay," said Kenzi.
"Lass, if I stay in this bed, things are going to happen," said Fili.
"And if I want those things to happen?" she asked, shifting her knee again.
Fili moaned as her knee gently rubbed against his throbbing erection. Kenzi went to move her knee again when Fili grabbed it and rolled them to where he was lying on top of her. He positioned himself with her knees on either side of his hips and rolled his hips into her, rubbing his member against her center. It was Kenzi's turn to moan.
Fili leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss. He ran his hands up her torso to her chest and gently cupped her breasts in his hands. Kenzi pushed up into the touch and moaned again when he pinched one of her nipples between his fingers. Kenzi wrapped her leg up around his hip and pulled him closer, causing them both to moan at the friction it caused.
"Love…," Fili said, breathless, "If you don't want this to happen, tell me now," he said rolling his hips into her again.
"Don't stop," she said arching up into him.
Fili's hands left her chest and went to the bottom of her night dress. He slid them up her thighs, pushing the gown up with it. He could almost see her when there was a loud banging on the door. Fili cursed and stopped his movement.
"Breakfast is on the table! We are leaving shortly after that!" shouted Thorin. "If you're not out there when we pack up, you will be left behind!"
They listened as his boots scuffed down the hall. Fili dropped his head to rest at the base of Kenzi's neck. His hands were still on her hips under her night dress.
"Maybe another time, then," she said. "While I don't think he would mind if I got left behind, he would probably hate himself later if her left you behind. Especially with me."
Fili groaned, but agreed. He relinquished his hold on Kenzi, but not before kissing her one more time. The both got dressed quickly and quietly. True to his word Kenzi's clothes had been returned to her. She had just pulled on her boot when there was another knock at the door.
"Come on, then! Time to get up! Bombur will eat it all if you don't get out there!" shouted Kili.
Fili jerked the door open and looked at his brother.
"Bout time you two got up," said Kili strolling into the room. "Breakfast is being put out now. Bombur is likely to eat it all before we get out there."
"But, Thorin came by not twenty minutes ago telling us breakfast was ready," said Kenzi.
Kili looked between the two of them for a moment. "So that's why he is in a mood already this morning."
"What are you talking about?" asked Fili.
"Balin said that Thorin was up before anyone else this morning. Said he kept pacing back and forth before he disappeared down the hall. By the time he came back the rest of the company was awake. Said he had a sour look on his face, too," said Kili.
"That's it!" shouted Kenzi as she left the room.
The company was enjoying a relatively subdued breakfast when Kenzi came storming into the room, Fili and Kili right behind her. Kili had a large grin on his face while Fili looked slightly worried. When Thorin turned around to see why everyone had gone quiet he was met with Kenzi's hand across his face.
"You rat bastard!" shouted Kenzi.
Dwalin made to move between the two of them when Fili grabbed Kenzi and pulled her away from his Uncle. Thorin just stood there staring at her.
"And what, pray tell, was that for?" asked Thorin.
"Are you completely incapable of being happy for your nephew?!" she shouted. "Or is it because you are King Under the Mountain that everyone has to listen to you and do as you say, their own happiness be damned?!"
"Kenzi, I think you should calm down," whispered Fili in her ear.
"Calm down!? You want me to calm down but you're okay with him walking all over you!?" she shouted.
"Kenzi, he is our king," said Dori.
"Really? Because he's acting like a petulant child who isn't getting his way!" she said.
Thorin said nothing during her tirade. He was caught off guard when she had smacked him. But listening to her yell and scream was wearing on his nerves.
"You listen here, girl," he said pointing a finger at her. "If we succeed in reclaiming this mountain then I will be King. And my word will be law! And if you plan to stay within my halls, whether I am happy about it or not, then you will do as I say!"
"Then I won't be staying within your halls, oh Great King," she said with a mock bow. "Because I will not serve a man who is too stubborn to be happy for his only family."
Thorin was getting madder by the moment. He was about to reply when Gandalf finally spoke up.
"I believe it is time we made our way," he said. "Beorn has the ponies saddled up and ready to go."
Thorin grumbled but was ready to get on the road again. Hopefully both of their tempers would calm down before they exploded. The company finished breakfast in quiet before collecting their personal belonging, what little they still had, and headed outside.
Out front Beorn was standing with 13 ponies and a horse for Gandalf. The dwarves quickly tied their things to the ponies before mounting up on them. Fili pulled Kenzi over to the pony he was going to use. As she made to climb up he stopped her.
"Please, remember that we still have a long way to go before we get to the mountain. I'm not happy with Thorin, but he is my Uncle and he is my King. I still stand by what I said about going back to Ered Luin after this is over with. But until then we have to spend a large amount of time with him," he said.
"Fine, I will play nice," she said. "Only if he plays nice."
Fili sighed, "Fine, just don't be the one to start the arguments is all I ask."
"Fine," she said.
Fili kissed her forehead before helping her up onto the pony before climbing up himself. Once everyone was on their respective pony they turned to head out.
"Go now, while you have the light," said Beorn. "Your hunters are not far behind."
Gandalf took the lead as they headed off of Beorn's property. Kenzi held on as best she could as they galloped across the open plains. They had been riding only a few hours when they reached the edge of a large forest.
Gandalf dismounted and walked towards an opening in the Trees. "The Elven Gate," he said as he walked through the gate. "Here lies our path through Mirkwood."
"No sign of the Orcs," said Dwalin looking around. "We have luck on our side."
"Set the ponies loose. Let them return to their master," said Gandalf.
The dwarves grumbled and complained but Kenzi looked around. She spotted the large bear on the mountain range not far from them. Beorn had been watching them.
"This forest feels…sick," said Bilbo dismounting and walking towards Gandalf. "As if a disease lies upon it. Is there no way around?"
"Not unless we go 200 miles north," said Gandalf. "Or twice that distance south."
Gandalf continued along the path slowly as the dwarves took everything off the ponies and divided them between everyone. Nori was starting to unsaddle the horse when Gandalf came back out.
"Not my horse! I need it!" he said walking over.
Everyone stopped to look at him.
"You're not leaving us?" asked Bilbo.
"I would not do this unless I had to," said Gandalf. "You've changed, Bilbo Baggins. You're not the same Hobbit as the one who left the Shire."
"I was going to tell you," he said. "I…I found something in the Goblin tunnels."
"Found what? What did you find?" asked Gandalf.
After a moment or two Bilbo finally answer him, "My courage. I found my courage."
"Well, good. That's good. You'll need it," he said before walking away. "I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me."
Thorin nodded his head as Gandalf mounted his horse. "This is not the Greenwood of old," said Gandalf. "The very air in the forest is heavy with illusion. It will seek to enter your mind and lead you astray. You must stay on the path, never leave it. If you do, you will never find it again."
"Come on. We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day," said Thorin taking the lead and heading into the forest. "This is our one chance to find the hidden door.
They continued slowly through the forest, making sure to stay on the path. As they walked Kenzi noticed some spider webs in the trees, she rubbed her head but continued walking, holding onto Fili's hand.
"Air, I need air," said Bofur.
"My head, it's swimming," said Oin. "What's happening?"
"Keep moving," said Thorin walking towards the front of the line. "Nori, why have we stopped?"
"The path, it's disappeared," he said pointing to the large crater in front of them.
"What's going on?" asked Dwalin.
"We've lost the path," said Thorin. "All of you, look. Look for the path!"
The dwarves searched all over for the path but were having no luck. Kenzi's head was starting to give her more problems the longer they looked for the path. She was sitting next to Bilbo when he reached over to the spider web and flicked it. She reached over and placed her hand on his. He set his hand down and she removed her own. When she went to rub her head again Bilbo reached over and flicked the web again.
"No, spiders are attracted to vibrations in their webs," she said. "That's how they know they've caught something."
"Spiders are small," said Dwalin. "Not much harm they are going to do to us."
Kenzi shook her head and stood up to continue walking in search of the path. Thorin was complaining about the forest as she passed him and found Fili. As they were walking Ori stopped and picked something up.
"Look," he said.
"A tobacco pouch," said Dori taking it from him. "There's dwarves in these woods."
"Dwarves from the Blue Mountains, no less," said Bofur taking the pouch from Dori. "This is exactly the same as mine."
"Because it is yours," said Bilbo. "Do you understand? We are going around in circles, we are lost."
"We are not lost. We keep heading east," said Thorin.
"But which way is east? We've lost the sun," said Oin.
Bilbo was muttering to himself about the sun while the dwarves started shoving each other and arguing.
"What was that?" said Thorin trying to listen. "Quiet! All of you! We're being watched."
Bilbo took it upon himself to climb to the top of the trees to try and find the sun. Kenzi was sitting on the ground holding her head as the dwarves continued to argue. Fili crouched down in front of her and grabbed her face.
"What is it, love?" he asked.
"We're in danger," she gasped out at him. "We have to keep moving."
"I know, love, we will," he said.
"No, now!" she shouted at him. "Spiders!"
"Shut it, lass. There aren't any spiders in this forest that can cause us any harm!" shouted Dwalin. "I've done told you this!"
Just then a large spider dropped down from the trees and snatched Dwalin up. Kenzi screamed as more of them dropped down and started snatching up the rest of the company. She was standing up, getting ready to run away, when one of them grabbed her. Her vision went cloudy for a few moments before everything went black. The last thing she heard was Fili screaming her name.
Kenzi was woken up by a rocking motion. She opened her eyes to see the forest canopy swaying along as she moved. She could also see the bottom half of a face and blond hair. But that hair didn't belong to Fili.
"Fili…" she murmured, trying to sit up.
The body said something to her, but she didn't understand him. She tried again to sit up, calling out for Fili again as she did so. She could hear Fili shouting for her, but she couldn't find him. The world around her started to lighten up as the sun started to shine through the trees more. They soon entered through a door way and she was passed off to another person. As she was carried away she could see the dwarves being led somewhere else. She cried out to Fili again as she disappeared past another door. Before she could cry out again her world went black again.
Kenzi woke again when something wet was placed upon her head. She jerked away from it, and found herself in a large bed. She looked to her left to find an Elven woman with a bowl of water on her lap and a rag in her hand.
"You must lie still," she said. "You need to recover your strength. The king wishes to see you when you are well."
"What of my companions?" she asked. "Where are they?"
"The dwarves?" she asked. "They are in the dungeons. That is why the king wishes to speak with you."
"Then take me to him," said Kenzi pushing off the covers and climbing out of bed.
"You must rest," she said again. "You were attacked by the spiders in the forest."
"The goddamned spiders!" shouted Kenzi before grabbing her head. "Take me to the king, now!"
The woman nodded her head before setting aside the bowl and leading Kenzi from the room to the large throne room.
"The woman, as you requested," she said before bowing and leaving them alone.
Thranduil looked down from his throne at the woman before him. He was told that a human had been found with the dwarves when the hunting party had returned. Aside from having dwarves in his forest, having a woman with them was unheard of.
"Why were you traveling with the Dwarves?" he asked.
"That is my business," she said. "Why do you have them locked up?"
"That is my business," he said with a smirk. "Do you wish to join them?"
"What I wish you will not grant," she said.
"What is wrong with your head?" he asked. "You have rubbed it many times in the short while you have been in my presence."
"And if I tell you, then what?" she asked. "Will you let the Dwarves go?"
"No, but I will not throw you in with them," he said.
"According to Lord Elrond, the Valar have removed my memories," she said. "When something happens or I try to remember something my head starts to hurt. Depending on what is going on it may cause me to pass out from the pain."
"And why are you so special to the Valar?" asked Thranduil.
"Well, if I knew that I would have my memories, now wouldn't I," she said.
"We are having a feast tonight," he said. "You will be my guest. A dress will be left for you in your rooms to change into."
With that a guard walked over and led her from the room and back towards the room she had been in. As she was walking she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She looked again and saw the Dwarves running in the shadows.
"I need to relieve myself and it can't wait until I'm back in my rooms," she said.
The guard sighed but pointed her towards a door at the end of the hall. Luckily for her it was in the direction that the Dwarves were running. As she neared the door she stopped and turned quickly, punching the Elf in the crotch, knocking him to his knees. When he was on his knees she landed a punch on his face, knocking him over.
"Sometimes it helps to be short," she said before taking off after the Dwarves.
As she neared them she could hear Fili shouting about finding her. Thorin was telling him that they didn't have time to search for her, lest they be caught and thrown back in the dungeons. When she finally caught up to them, they were in the store room.
"Nice to know how you really feel about me," she said before running over to Fili.
Fili pulled her in close and kissed her square on the mouth.
"Right," said Bilbo. "Everyone, climb into the barrels quickly."
"Are you mad?!" said Dwalin. "They'll find us."
"No, no, they won't," said Bilbo. "Please, please, you must trust me."
"Do as he says," said Thorin.
The Dwarves murmured as they started to climb into the barrels. Fili jumped into one and Kili helped Kenzi into the same barrel. Soon all of them were in barrels. Bilbo grabbed the handle and released the barrels down the trap door and into the water below. Kenzi tried her hardest not to scream as the barrel dropped and hit the water. Cold water splashed up into the barrel as it righted itself. Thorin was holding the barrels in place waiting on Bilbo. Bilbo suddenly fell through the trap door.
"Well done, Master Baggins," he said before letting go of the rocks and letting the barrels continue down the river.
The barrels bounced and rocked and bumped into each other as they traveled down the rapids of the river. Suddenly they heard a horn and saw Elves running towards them. Fili shoved Kenzi back into the barrel as the Elves got closer.
"NO!" shouted Thorin as the gates in front of them closed.
Suddenly the Elf that closed the gate fell over backward with an arrow in his chest. Then an Orc jumped over the stone wall.
"Stay in the barrel!" Fili said to Kenzi.
The Orcs started to descend on the Dwarves. Kili jumped out of his barrel and made towards the lever to open the gate. As he was running towards the lever one of the Orcs shot him in the leg with a black arrow. He succeeded in opening the gate, the barrels going over the small waterfall.
"Kili!" shouted Fili as Kili rolled over the edge and dropped down into his barrel.
As the barrels continued down the river both Elves and Orcs chased after them. Kenzi barely missed being hit with and arrow as it pierced the side of the barrel.
"Anything behind us?" shouted Thorin.
"Not that I can see," replied Balin.
"I think we've outrun the Orcs," said Bofur, spitting water out of his mouth.
"Not for long. We've lost the current," said Thorin.
"Bombur's half drowned," said Dwalin.
"Make for the shore," said Thorin.
The Dwarves paddled their way over to the shore and climbed out. Fili helped Kenzi from the barrel before rushing to help Kili out of his. Kili only walked a few feet before he collapsed. He held a cloths to the bloody wound. Bofur had crouched down in front of him.
"I'm fine. It's nothing," said Kili.
"On your feet," said Thorin.
"Kili's wounded. His leg needs binding," said Fili.
Kenzi crouched down next to Kili and moved his hand to look at the wound.
"There is an Orc pack on our tail, we keep moving," said Thorin.
"To where?" asked Balin.
Kili hissed and Kenzi pressed a new cloth to the wound to try and staunch the bleeding. Oin dropped down beside her to take a look as well.
"To the mountain, we're close," said Bilbo.
"A lake lies between us and that mountain," said Balin. "We've no way to cross it."
"So we go around," said Bilbo.
"The Orcs will run us down as sure as daylight," said Dwalin. "We've no weapons to defend ourselves."
"Bind his leg, quickly," said Thorin.
Kenzi kept her comments to herself, knowing that they needed to keep moving. She pulled her shirt up and quickly ripped a few stripped off of it. She handed them to Oin who started to wrap them around Kili's leg. She smiled at Kili as Oin tightened the makeshift bandage and tying a knot.
As Oin finished binding Kili's leg a man walked up behind them, bow drawn back ready to fire. Dwalin jumped in between the man and Ori. The man fired his arrow, piercing the log that Dwalin had in his hands. Kili picked up a rock, planning to throw it at the man. He turned quickly and shot it out of Kili's hand.
"Do it again, and you're dead," said the man.
*A/N: Finally finished editing this! Here is chapter 2. I'm in the process of going over chapter 3. It should be posted before the day is over with. Chapter 4 is almost done and will hopefully go up Sunday night or Monday morning! ~Kat