Disclaimer: I don't own anything recognizable. JRR Tolkien's estate, New Line Cinema, and I'm sure a lot more people who have way more money than I do own them and I'm just playing a bit. No infringement is intended or implied. And I promise to put them back when I'm finished with them. :)
Author's Note: If you know me, you know I'm a sucker for romance. Hopefully this one suits!
Dedicated to my darling Amy. "Don't say we have come now to the end. White shores are calling. You and I will meet again."
Fíli had excused himself quickly. There was much more to this than met the eye, and family troubles were private. He'd not intrude.
However, it was far too late in the day for him to start back to the mountain, near as it was. There was too much danger of attack for him to travel alone (or so Thorin had constantly tried to impress on him) and his troops had already returned. Therefor, he'd have to stay in Dale at least overnight. It indulged his uncle as well as giving him a chance to make some discreet inquiries.
Somewhere in this place, there had to be a spy for the slavers. They had entirely too much knowledge of the trade routes, and of which caravans would have the most goods – and the most women. Every caravan taken had at least one female traveling with them, and they had been stolen as well as the goods. It was intolerable.
He found nothing.
It put him in a foul mood, certainly. He wanted to break something. Instead, he sat down at one of the inns with a pint and a bad attitude.
Part of it was being away from his beloved brother Kíli. The pair were inseparable, most days. Oh, they got along all right when one was away, but it never lasted long and they always returned to each other. This was the longest they had been apart since – well – he couldn't remember. That wasn't good.
He sighed heavily and continued to drink. He didn't, however, drink enough to put him in his cups. There was too much to think about. Such as why, if the slavers had taken Bard's daughter, they hadn't tried to ransom her back. She would be worth a pretty penny to her father, he was certain.
Thoughts of her filled his mind. She had fire, she had spirit. And he was attracted to that fire.
That was a bad thought to have. She was human, and she was a King's daughter. She could never be a casual dalliance and he didn't want anything more. And yet, thoughts of her continued to plague him, even as he went up the steps to the room he'd secured for the night.
A rush of air at his back warned him and he spun, barely avoiding the long knife that had meant to kill. One hand found his own dagger, the other quickly dousing the lamp that had allowed the assassin to find him so easily. His own sight in the dark would be more than a match for anything other than another Dwarf.
The knife had come downward at him, so it was probably a Man who had attacked him. The darkness shrouded the room and he heard labored breathing nearby. He hadn't touched the assassin yet, so it had to be fear causing the rapid breath. "You won't kill me," he snarled. "Drop your knife and I'll spare your life."
"Even if you would, Bard wouldn't," came the angry response. Fíli placed the speaker on his left, a little behind him. The bastard was circling. "You have to die."
"Why?" Fíli didn't turn but he hefted his knife. A spin right now would find its mark – but he needed information first.
"Because you took the girl back. Dario wanted her for the markets. She'd have brought a nice price, even blinded like she was." The voice was moving again and Fíli marked it carefully. "He wants you dead and he's willing to pay for it."
Fíli growled low in his throat. He wished there was enough space in here for his swords; but of course there wasn't. Not in a bedroom. So he tightened his grip slightly on his knife, and kept careful note of where the Man was. "There's more to this than just a lost slave," he remarked idly, trying to sound indifferent to the threat. "What is she to this Dario, truly?"
"A slave. That's all." Another feint that Fíli evaded easily and stepped away again.
"She's the King's daughter," Fíli taunted him. "Surely she'd be worth more as a ransom than as a slave."
"Dario said no. Said he'd get more for her as a slave. And that it'd hurt Bard more." A sudden silence fell over the Man as he realized he'd given away far too much and Fíli moved quickly, disarming him, knocking him to the floor and holding him there.
"So it was all about hurting your King." Fíli bared his teeth but he knew the Man wouldn't see them in the darkness. "We're going to go talk to Bard, then. Let's see what he thinks of your Dario's plan."