Hey guys! Another chapter in the hole! Also, seriously contemplating a sequel and some one shots. Would you want a sequel or some one shots? What would you like to see in the sequel or in the one shots?

*Also, I may have said get ready for some Arriah feels in the next few chapters, sorry, but it seems you'll have to wait a little longer. I received a new plot bunny that I like a lot more then my older one, so I'm going with that one, so put your tissues away till after BOFA. Sorry, but I hope you like what I have in store!

Disclaimer: Me no own, you no sue

Arriah wasn't sure how long she'd been wandering around Laketown, but by the chill in the air, night had fallen. The huntress grumbled and pulled her cloak tighter. One scent trail after the next had led all the way towards the end of town, then almost straight into the lake.

The skin changer grumbled as she turned right and knocked her foot on a familiar box. By the Valar, I am so over this.

Huffing Arriah turned right instead of left and found a new scent trail to follow straight to a dead end. Her eye twitched as she turned and turned and did a loop-de-loop. Finally fed up with wandering Arriah sat down and rested her head in her palm. "I'll just wait for Fili to appear or something. Anything, shite, I'd even go for Smaug right now. Bet he could get me out of here real fast."

Sighing the red head reached behind her and grabbed her emergency pouch. From it she pulled some lembas and jerky.

Munching quietly Arriah did her best to get her bearings. I think that the mountain is to my left. So then the place that Bard left me is on my right. Right? So if that's the case then I'm totally lost and might as well sign over my soul now.

Arriah sighed and stood. Turning around she decided to trace her steps back towards a sadly familiar intersection.

"So I came from facing the mountain last time, I went straight, after that I went right, guess I'll take the left now."

Walking straight ahead Arriah sincerely hoped that she would be able to find her way to Bard's house quickly. "Why is it always me?"

Arriah had never been in a spot of trouble quite like the one she was in now. Alright, she had been chased before, and she had been hungry and tired and lost before, but she'd never experienced this situation in Esgaroth. A city built on a lake. Not the best place for a blind girl to be running around, admittedly, but what other choice did Arriah have? So when she was confronted by some guards she did the obvious thing and ran. And ran. And ran. And then swam. You'd think that the city would have taken the time to invest in some railings but nope.

So now Arriah stood in front of the Master with a puddle of icy cold water beneath her as she shivered and cursed.u She could tell it was the Master because he smelled of greed and brandy. An interesting combination, but not one she was unfamiliar with.

"So. What to do with you? Shall we lock you up, hm? For trespassing? Thievery?"

"I haven't stolen anything from you."

"Then why did you run?"

Arriah didn't answer.

"Hmm? Why did you run I asked."

"Because I'm a little lost blind girl. Why else would I have ran?"

The room fell silent.

"But that doesn't excuse the fact that she's not from here, eh sire?"

"Ah, right you are. So, what are you doing in Laketown then?"

"I uh-I was just...passing through and got lost. I meant no harm, I swear I-"

"Passing through? Hah! From where? To where?"

Arriah sighed. "I'm coming from the west. I've been travelling to the Iron Hills to meet with some old friends. They're expecting me, and will be quite upset if I don't arrive on time."

The master was silent. Arriah imagined him rubbing his chin or stroking a scraggly beard.

"Well then. We welcome you as our guest and offer you lodging for the night."

Arriah bowed her head in thanks and allowed herself to be led away from the Master.

"This way my lady."

A hand on the small of her back led her to her left, towards the scent of linens and fresh bread.

"You'll be staying in the servants quarters, but you will be allowed to bathe and collect the necessary items to continue your journey."

Arriah nodded her thanks, foregoing a verbal response due to her chattering teeth.

"Here you are." A light shove found Arriah alone in what she imagined to be a small room. A quick sniff told her there was a small furnace or fireplace to her left, a window to her right, and an adjacent room. Why would the door be left open?

There was also a foul and pungent smell in the air, worse then how the Master had smelled.

Shrugging Arriah stalked forward, only to stop short after stubbing her toe. "Wow, okay, nice."

She stepped back and reached out, feeling around she figured she was near the foot of a bed. Moving to her left the red head skirted her way around the bed and towards the scent or fresh air. Reaching up she felt the glass panels of the window. She pushed, it didn't open. She felt around for a knob or lock. Nothing. There simply seemed to be a hole in the corner, that's where the fresh air was coming from.

"Well that's disappointing."

Sighing Arriah turned and felt around for the bed again. Cautiously she sat down, pleased to find the mattress oddly comfortable.

"Now what? Wait here? Attempt to find the company again? Ask the Master to direct me to Bard? No, that'll mess with my cover. Why would the me in my lie know Bard?"

The huntress rubbed her face and sat her chin in her palm, resting her elbow on top of her knee. "What am I going to do?"

"I think I could help."

Arriah jumped, only just now noticing how putrid the smell in the room had become.

"Who are you."

"The Masters best man, Alfrid, at your service."

Arriah scoweled. "I don't nor do I need your help."

"Oh but I think you do." The sound of a door closing made a growl grow in Arriah's throat.

"Leave me alone."

Arriah received no answer, but was aware of how close the man was now.

"Go away."

A hand roughly grabbed her arm and jerked her forward. "This is my bedroom."

Arriah's eyes widened and she tried to pull away. "You had that guard bring me here."

"Oh now, that's a little rude, assuming things like that. He made a mistake is all, but I'm afraid you're the one who's going to have to pay for it."

Arriah cringed and tried to push Alfrid away, this only resulted in him roughly pushing her against the bed post.

"And if you agree and keep quite, I'll help you get out of here."

"No. I'll scream."

A hand jerked her head back by her hair. "No one will hear you. No one will come. Who ever you came here with, they've forgotten you. You're alone here. "

Arriah furrowed her brows. Am I? Am I alone? Have I been forgotten?

A hand snaked under her shirt.

Am I alone again?

A breath on her neck made her cringe.

No. Fili...

The building growl finally released itself and Arriah burst into her second skin. The bed frame snapped beneath her hind legs as Alfrid cowered beneath her large left paw. Arriah growled and bared her teeth at the mans neck. He looked scared, genuinely petrified. He knew he was about to die. Arriah had never once tolerated sexual assault and in one swift dive she bit through the mans windpipe and crushed the arteries leading to his brain. He was dead in a minute.

Arriah bared her teeth at the man one last time before forcing her way out the door and into the hall. Guards ran at her, she dodged them easily, not bothering to waste her time fighting them. Finally she made it to the main hall and burst out the front doors. The skin changer slowed to a stop at the bottom of the stairs and turned towards the Lonely Mountain. Her green eyes widened at the sight. It certainly did look lonely.

An arrow whizzed by Arriah's cheek. Turning she was confronted by a forming group of archers. That was all the motivation she needed to take off running at press-paw speed.

Well that was that. Glad to have finally updated again. Sorry it was so short though, the next one will be similar in length, but afterwards they're going to get longer. R&R!