At Thorin's signal, the sentry lifted the heavy steel lever and opened the Erebor gate. From where he was standing at the front of their party, Kili felt the full force of the freezing wind hammer against his cheeks, and impatiently drew his hood tighter around his head with its leather toggle. By his side, his uncle brandished a burning torch aloft, motioning into the wild night air streaming in from the open black portal.

"Are you ready, friends?" he cried, fixing his dwarven host with a grim stare. "Let's go and find our Queen-Under-the-Mountain!"

Kili looked around at the cheering dwarves, wondering how quickly they could complete a full search of the lakeside. As well as Dáin's hundred, Thorin had managed to recruit most of his original company to the search – even the wizard, Gandalf, was coming along, although nobody had managed to locate Fili. Kili assumed his brother was still with Sigrid, and kept his mouth shut when asked. Not that he didn't miss his brother's steadying, reassuring company...

For the last couple of hours, as they'd organised their trip, Kili had been on edge. He knew something was wrong. Something had happened to her. Rose might have been hopelessly ill-equipped when it came to navigating the wild woods, but Tauriel was certainly not. She was at home outdoors – she was from Mirkwood – and she could defend herself from almost anything. He didn't know what had happened, but he was going to find out. He had to find her.

He was desperate to get started with the search. Already, they'd spent too long packing provisions and camping gear for the night ahead – since Thorin meant to stay out until the search was successful, and for once Kili was in full agreement with his uncle. He didn't mean to set foot in Erebor again until he had Tauriel by his side. His uncle had declared Fili and Bolli to be in charge until his return, and Bolli had been left with full instructions to man the gates and send reinforcements to the search from among the Laketown men if he should see the signal fire lit.

For earlier on, Thorin had listened at length to Bilbo's account of the evening fires burning on the distant shore, with growing alarm. If it was true that there was a sizeable number of orcs remaining out on the scrubby hillside, then they must be dealt with immediately. Such a hostile force on their doorstep could mean starvation over winter if Dáin's supply line of provisions was compromised. Not to mention the danger to public safety for the many citizens that Thorin was now charged with looking after.

Kili watched as the gate completed its slow ascent, the bolts at the top of the mechanism clicking into place at the bottom of the gate, and the terrible rumbling growl finally silenced. Before them all, the night loomed black and heavy, with nothing visible under the sodden, misty sky, and the wind howling about their ears like a spirit possessed.

His torch in hand, Thorin stepped forward into the darkness, and cried out in old-style Ereborian Khuzdul. "For the honour of our Mountain, and the love of our friends, we go forth to smite all enemies in the name of Mahal!"

The dwarves all surged forward through the gate as one, with Kili in place by his uncle's side. Even Dáin's Iron Hills-dwelling clans understood the gist of it. Yet the familiar dwarvish oath of the people of Erebor did not warm Kili's heart tonight.

Until he found Tauriel safe and well – nothing was going to shake the icy feeling of fear that clutched and clawed deeply at his chest.

Sigrid opened her eyes in the darkness, her heartbeat thudding in her ears, feeling a blind sense of panic. She sat up immediately, listening hard, uncertain if she had heard the shuffling, heavy noise in her dreams or if it had come from outside the shuttered window by the front door.

But all she could hear was the wind howling round the ruined town.

"Sigrid?"

She heard Fili's sleepy voice beside her, and felt his warm arm wrap around her hips, and relaxed somewhat. Although her ears were still trained on the door and its hidden outer threshold.

"I thought I heard something, Fili. Something moving outside."

"It's windy outside. Everything is moving." He rubbed her back clumsily. "Come back to bed."

Sigrid took another look around the room. The fire had gone out while they slept, and the temperature had dropped considerably, although it was not cold enough yet to suggest it was much after midnight. Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered Fili's declarations and promises, and all the things he'd done for her – and done to her – before they'd curled up under the blanket by the fire and fallen asleep.

He said he loves me! she thought, and felt her cheeks warm despite the cold air.

She lay back down under the blanket, and put her arm around his waist, fitting her body snugly against his and breathing in his smoky, masculine scent. Feeling herself relax against him, her worries were instantly forgotten and she smiled to herself as she closed her eyes.

And then she heard it.

There were footsteps coming towards her house.

Thick, heavy footsteps, coming straight towards the front doorway – and scratching at it, trying to get in...

She felt Fili instantly stiffen and sit up, scrambling to his knees to put himself between her and the doorway – and she watched in horror as the door swung open and in came a large figure in a thick cloak carrying a lantern...

Oh, shit. This wasn't supposed to happen!

The man with the lantern stepped through the doorway, catching them both in the yellow glare, and Sigrid felt her sense of fear quickly turn to a deep, sickening embarrassment. She saw Fili – caught stark naked beside her and frozen like a rabbit in the lamplight – and felt a sudden urge to laugh hysterically.

"Hi there, Da'. We uh... weren't expecting you back... just yet," she explained, watching as her father quickly took in the scene on the floor and started shaking his head.

"I can see that. And just what do you think you are doing there with my daughter, Prince Fili?"

Fili quickly took what he could of the blanket and covered himself, blinking in shock at Bard's sudden entrance. "Hi Bard – my lord – I was just... talking to Sigrid – "

"– You were talking without your clothes, is this how it works where you come from?"

"Uh, no. There was – "

"Maybe I should go and ask your uncle and see what he says?"

Sigrid leapt to her feet, standing between the dwarf and her father. She still had her white dress on, which she hoped possibly counted for something.

"Da'! Fili came round earlier, in the storm, and I was just drying his clothes," she pointed to the clothes heaped over the chair by the fire, in various degrees of disorder. "He came round to talk to me about stopping this stupid match with Bolli!"

Bard closed the door behind himself, and stared at the two of them, nodding his head slightly. "I bet he did."

But Fili had regained his self-possession at last. "It's true, my lord. My brother and I have decided we must go to Mirkwood and speak to King Thranduil directly – " Sigrid saw he had her father's attention now, " – we will try to reach an agreement with him ourselves, so this deal that Dáin and my uncle have agreed can be undone!"

Sigrid saw her father fix his eyes on her face, a look of concern showing through. She gave him a nod, to show she was serious, and gave him her best pleading stare. Her father sighed.

"And why would you do this, Fili? The elven king is not your friend, and your uncle is surely unwilling that you should go on such a journey?"

Fili looked down, and nodded. "You're right, my lord. My uncle would forbid our journey if he knew – so neither Kili nor I will tell him. We shall leave early tomorrow morning before anyone is awake, and hope to be long on the road before we are missed."

Bard raised an eyebrow at the dwarf. "And why, Fili?"

Fili swallowed, and met Bard's icy stare directly. "Because, my lord, I love your daughter. I wish her to be my wife, and I cannot allow her to marry such a spiteful suitor as has been arranged." He spat the last words out, speaking from the heart, and Sigrid saw her father appreciated the sentiment. He stared at Fili thoughtfully for a moment, and then nodded.

"Very well, Fili son of Dis." He strode over to the chair by the fire, and gathered Fili's clothes from the back, before perching casually on the chair himself. He turned to face them both, and flung the clothes underarm towards the dwarf. "I will allow you to marry my daughter – on two conditions. One – she must be happy to be your wife."

Sigrid nodded emphatically at her father. "I am, Da'! I love him!" She stared imploringly at her father, and took a step closer to Fili, still wrapped on his knees in the blanket.

But her father's face was unmoved. "And the second condition, Fili – you must allow me to accompany you on this trip tonight – and we must leave immediately."

Sigrid saw Fili's eyes widen, and she smiled. She took another step towards the dwarf, moving just behind him so he was within her reach once more.

"My lord, I would be very grateful for your company! I was going to ask you to join us myself, when you returned in the morning... but may I ask why you wish to leave so soon?" He gave Bard a puzzled look. "It is not yet midnight, surely?"

Bard shook his head. "No, it isn't. Tilda and Bain only drifted off at eleven o'clock, and I left them at my sister's house when she went to bed. But we cannot wait until the morning, Fili. I assume you wish to cross the lake and the river mouth to reach the edge of the Mirkwood, rather than going the longer route over land and then crossing the river directly?"

Fili nodded, not understanding.

Bard gestured to the window. "That storm out there is going to worsen over night, and come tomorrow – the river will be high, and fast, and sheer folly to try and cross. I rather think it might be a dangerous voyage now as it is, with the amount of rainwater we've already had, but if we leave it to tomorrow when more rain has fallen upstream then we'll never make it across. We must leave as soon as we can!"

Fili nodded, concern dawning on his face. "Then I must find my brother at once, and gather my things together."

Sigrid felt her heart sink, unwilling to let him go from her sight already. "Must you both go so soon?" she asked in a small voice.

Bard gave his daughter a tender smile. "I'm afraid so, Sigrid my love. You will look after your brother and sister won't you, and tell them I'll be back in a few days?"

Sigrid nodded, feeling tears suddenly welling up in her eyes, as she saw Fili awkwardly dress himself under the blanket. Her father rose to his feet and marched through the inner door, setting to his own packing in the room beyond.

"Sigrid, we'll be back soon." Fili stood up, back in his damp clothes, and gave her a tight embrace. He turned to her, and she saw his blue-grey eyes were wide and dark in the lamplight. "I love you, and I'll be back as soon as I can." His lips met hers, and she let him kiss her deeply and urgently, but at the sound of her father's footsteps returning he broke away. "I will find some way for us to be together, trust me."

She felt a tear run down her face. "I trust you," she whispered. "I love you."

Fili brushed the tear away from her eye once again, and she smiled for him, not wanting him to think she was weak and silly.

Her father came stomping through, and Fili rose to his feet. "My lord, I will go to find my brother, and let him know we need to leave now – I shall return as soon as I can, so we can set off."

Bard nodded to Fili. "I'll finish packing, and wait for you and Kili here."

Fili turned to Sigrid, giving her a quick, sad smile, and marched towards the door. Sigrid watched him leave, gone from her side in a flash to be swallowed up by the wild night outside, and felt another tear trickle down her cheek.

"Do you really love him, Sigrid? Has he been good to you?" Her father's voice sounded vaguely worried, and she turned to him in surprise.

"You know he's a good one, Da'. He saved my life – he saved Tilda and Bain's lives too – and he's honest! He's not like the rest of his kind."

Bard nodded seriously. "I just hope we can reach some deal with Thranduil. There's no way in the seven hells that I will ever allow you to marry that awful dwarf." He looked at his daughter with affection. "You deserve to marry someone who will treat you with respect, like the queen you are." He looked towards the door. "You deserve to marry someone you love, and who loves you back."

Sigrid smiled. "Thank you, Da'. I'm sorry you caught us like that, we weren't trying to be disrespectful..."

"It's alright, Sigrid – I was young once, you know."

Sigrid watched as her father smiled to himself, and left to finish his packing. She turned to the window, listening to the rain lashing down, and shuddered. It was no night to be abroad outside. It was becoming truly frightful out there. Her father was the best sailor she knew, and even he had sounded concerned about their planned journey...

She said a silent prayer under her breath to all the gods she could name, praying for them to keep her loved ones safe from harm, and decided to relight the fire in the hearth. It was a task she always enjoyed, one that she'd always found comforting, and hopefully it would distract her from her worries even now.

Yet she had no sooner got a little fire going in the grate, when she heard the door open again, and a very wet looking dwarf staggered into the house.

"Fili, you're back soon! Is everything okay?"

Fili looked pale, and on instinct she reached out for him and took his hand in hers. "My brother is gone out with Thorin, and the rest of our troops." Sigrid saw her father step forward to listen. "Tauriel and Rose went for a walk earlier today and haven't returned, so Thorin has launched a search party for them." He sighed. "I feel like I should be out there with them."

Sigrid and Bard exchanged a glance, and Fili shook his head quickly. "I've packed my gear. I'm ready to go. They have enough troops with them – they don't need me." He stared at both of them in turn. "I just hate letting Kili down."

Fili squeezed Sigrid's hand, and gave her a serious look. "When you see my brother, tell him I'm sorry, but I had to go to Mirkwood with your father. We didn't have any more time to wait."

Sigrid nodded. She could see the guilt across his face. "I will, Fili. I'm sure he'll understand. He would do the same if it was for Tauriel – you know that."

Bard came up behind her, a heavy bag on his back. "We should leave, right now. The storm is worsening already." He gave Sigrid a hug. "Stay safe, my little princess. You're the heir to Laketown and its ruler while I'm away. Look after your brother and sister – and all the rest of the people here." He kissed her forehead. "I know you always do."

Her father stepped towards the door, and Fili was left standing before her, his blond braids dripping water onto the floor. He gave her a tight hug, and she felt the rain in his hair against her cheek as he kissed her lightly on the lips. "I will be thinking about you all the time Sigrid."

She gave him a squeeze, and felt him drift away from her towards the door.

She forced herself to smile for them. "Come back safe, the both of you – don't get shot at by the Mirkwood guard or lost in the forest! And send the elf king my regards."

The two of them gave her one last nod, and disappeared through the door.

She listened to their footsteps as they walked away from her, their distance apart growing already with every step, and suddenly felt horribly alone. The rainwater from Fili's hair was already turning cold on her face, and their sounds already disappearing into the churning wind.

Sigrid returned to the fire, not wanting to look back at the little puddle of water he'd left in the doorway, and draped herself in the blanket he'd worn. It still smelled of him. She sat on the floor, with the blanket, and stared into the flames with teary eyes, wondering when she'd next see him again.

Down by the lakeshore, the wind blew fierce and raw. Bilbo had never felt such a hostile force assail his body, not even in the snowbound mountains. The wide expanse of lakewater meant there was nothing to shield the search party from the air's elemental wrath, and when the gusting was strong he found it hard to even walk.

Closer to the lake, there came dwarvish shouting as another heavy wave broke with a crash on the beach, and the hobbit turned away from the shore, worried he was going to get another soaking from the freezing spray.

Where can they be in this? They must be sheltering somewhere!

The hobbit was desperate to find the two missing lady folk. It aggrieved him to see Thorin and Kili so upset – even if that woman was a scheming hussy. And he knew what he'd saw earlier on. There had been lights on the far shoreline. Something was out there.

Probably round about where we are now, the hobbit thought glumly. But whatever it was, there's no sign of it here any more... Not yet anyway.

They'd been searching for hours, and so far no trace of the pair had been found. Thorin had made a long line of his troops, combing along the shore from the lake into the woods, walking in single file and calling and looking for clues. He led in the middle, setting the pace and casting his voice deep against the storm to call out for Rose. Gandalf meanwhile was keeping to his own path, winding around in the wind as if he was trying to see something through the dense blackness. And Kili mainly seemed to be running about, darting from various hollows in the ground to suspicious looking shrubs, trying in vain to find some tracks or traces of his elf.

Bilbo wished there was something he could say to make the young dwarf feel better, but he didn't want to get in Kili's way right now.

From up in the shaking treeline off to his right, Bilbo heard a sudden cry. He stopped dead in his tracks, an icy prickle of fear at his spine, but realised that these Khuzdul cries were exited, rather than fearful. He turned to Bofur, searching by his left shoulder, and gestured to the land-side under the trees.

"What are they saying?"

Bofur pulled up the flaps of his big, ear-muffed hat to get a better range on his hearing, listening intently to the voices up the beach.

"They're saying they've found a fire – or the remains of one anyway." He nodded to Bilbo. "Let's go and have a look, I'm sure that lake isn't going to miss us down here."

So the two of them trudged up the slope towards the torches by the trees, joining the circle around Thorin and Kili as they examined the evidence.

All Bilbo could see were the sodden remains of a campfire – and not even a particularly large one either. Half burned logs had been unceremoniously raked and scattered, but the main area of burning could still be seen clearly by the blackened ground and thick layer of cinders. And there was something else – a strange odour hung in the air, despite the blowing gale.

The hobbit thought it might well be coming from the ashes themselves – as though something putrid had burned on the fire and left behind a foul film of grease that had stained the scorched earth. It was a smell that made him think of hyenas, and wolves, and other carrion-eating predators that skulked around in the shadows and looked for warm-blooded, soft-skinned prey. He took an uneasy glance around at the swaying alder trees, now stripped of their leaves completely and twisting wildly in the wind, waving their arms in warning to all the poor souls who might mistake the message their mortal senses were sending them.

Bilbo felt an urge to flee deep in his bones, and noticed a ripple of agitation pass among his fellow travellers. Dwarves were muttering to themselves and to their neighbours, pointing at the fire and casting suspicious glances at the black shadows hidden beyond their torches.

"It's just an old campfire." Bofur for one was unimpressed. "Bit smelly right enough, but what does that prove?"

But Thorin dropped down to his knees, and rolled the cinders between his fingers. He raised the sooty residue to his nose, and sniffed it.

"Orcs," he said simply. "They were here, in these woods, not long ago." He shared a glance with Kili. "It is impossible to know how many there were – we need to search the wider area."

Bilbo saw Kili stare dolefully down at the scattered logs, while his uncle rose to address the host. "Everyone, listen to me! Stay where you are! And be on your guard for any sign of the enemy!"

Finished, he turned back to Kili, and placed his arm on the dwarf's shoulder, urging him up. "Kili, help me search around the fire." He motioned to Bilbo, Bofur, and the rest of his company, who had come to join him from the waiting line of dwarves. "We need to look around carefully, look for disturbances in the grass, for marks on the earth – we need to get an idea of how many of them might be out here, since Mr Baggins tells us he could see several of these fires from Erebor."

He caught Bilbo's eye in the torchlight, and the hobbit drifted over to him. Thorin's blue eyes were cold, hardened by the commands he was used to issuing, but Bilbo could see the colour on his cheeks, and knew he was anxious.

"How many fires did you say you saw, Bilbo?" Thorin's voice was soft and concerned, barely audible against the screaming wind.

"About six or seven, I think." He turned his head back in the direction of the Lonely Mountain, its presence only signalled by some far-off lights that shone out from the ruined streets of Dale. "It looked to me like they started somewhere roundabout here – and then carried on to the Ravenhill tower."

Thorin nodded. "Then that's where we shall head." He was about to turn away, but Bilbo caught his arm, and the dwarf king stopped as if in surprise.

"We'll find her, Thorin – we'll find them both."

Thorin looked him in the eye somewhat sheepishly, and gave a slight nod. "I am grateful to you for coming out with us tonight, Bilbo. I know how much you hate the rain."

Bilbo smiled faintly and shook his head. "The rain will stop eventually, Thorin... I won't let it stop me from serving my king."

Thorin stared at him uncertainly for a moment. "Stay close to my side tonight, Bilbo. I don't know what lies out here in the hills, and I don't want you getting lost in the dark."

The hobbit was about to retort something back in reply, but his lips froze on his face, as more shouting reached his ears from the nearby woods. He exchanged a glance with Thorin, and the two of them set off, running through the jagged branches towards the source.

Seeing the light of torches up ahead, they found Dwalin and Kili, shouting at each other in Khuzdul and staring at one of the gnarled alders fringing a small clearing in the wood.

Bilbo took a step forward, peering at the little tree, wondering what it was that could have captured the dwarves' attention. But it was only when Dwalin moved that he noticed it.

Round about a hobbit's head height off the ground, there was an arrow sticking out of the tree. Dwalin was pointing to it, saying something in his language to Thorin, but Bilbo could see what he meant. It was an elvish-style arrow, with stripey brown feathers on its tail – and a wooden shaft that was still strong and polished.

Someone had fired this arrow recently. Very recently, considering the storm. Although whatever the intended target had been, it had obviously missed its mark...

Bilbo looked to Kili, and saw the dwarf standing still, his fists clenched, as he took in the sight before him with a stony glare. The hobbit sidled up to the dwarf, speaking gently.

"Is it hers, Kili? Do you recognise it?"

But the dwarf just nodded dumbly, and continued to stare. Bilbo looked around nervously, hoping there wasn't anything else lying around for them to find.

"She had arrows like this. With the tawny owl fletching. That's how they make them in Mirkwood." He cast an angry glance around the woods. "But there's no sign of anything else of hers around here! I don't know where she's gone!" His face was a mask of anguish, and the hobbit felt worry balling up within his own chest.

"Kili, no sign is maybe a good sign, you know? We need to keep on searching."

The young dwarf nodded. His long dark hair clung to the sides of his face as the rain continued to lash down, and it was hard to tell in the dim glow of the torch whether it was tears or just more streaming rainwater streaming down his face.

"I know. You're right, Bilbo. We shouldn't stay here – there's nothing more to see. I don't want to find her arrows – I want to find her!"

Kili turned his back on the tree, marching furiously away from it towards the rest of their company, but stopped when he noticed the wizard stepping through the trees to find them.

Bilbo regarded Gandalf curiously, wondering what he had come to say, and a hush fell on the dwarves as they noticed his approach. Thorin addressed him.

"Gandalf, what is it? Any sign of the enemy?"

The wizard's jaw was set heavy, and his eyes were grim. "Thorin, there are lights coming from the far shore. It would seem that the entire tower of Ravenhill is lit up from within."

Bilbo saw Thorin frown. "The whole tower? Lit up without concealment?" He shook his head. "So it seems our enemy is sheltering from the storm in the tower. Maybe we shall not let them leave it alive. Dwalin?" He called to his loyal friend and retainer. "How many hours' march to the tower at Ravenhill, for the entire host?"

Dwalin thought for a moment, with all the dwarven eyes upon him. "For all of our dwarves to march there in this weather, I would say two hours, Thorin. The going is rough, and the ground will become treacherous in the next mile when the hills climb."

Thorin considered. "What do you say to taking control of the host, while I head there alone, through the trees, with a scouting party? You can form a defensive crescent around the tower behind us, up from the lakeside, and rendezvous with us before we attack."

Dwalin nodded. "It will be a pleasure, my lord – to give my sword another taste of orc blood before this night is out. I shall lead your men as you command, and look for you by the boulders near the doorway, if it pleases you?"

The dwarf king nodded. "Agreed. I shall take Kili, Bilbo, Balin and Glóin on ahead. We will wait for you at those rocks, and set our plan of attack."

Bilbo felt a stab of fear run through him at the thought of going near that high, lonely tower again. But beside him, Kili was nodding eagerly. "Let's go, let's do it."

The wizard frowned. "The tower is all lit up, Thorin. It is visible from far and wide – I would guess even from Erebor, through the mists. Do you think it likely our enemy would make their stronghold so obvious, if they believed themselves to be in any danger from attack?"

Thorin scowled. "What would you have me do, Gandalf? If we are outnumbered now, we will still be outnumbered tomorrow, but then our enemy will be gifted one more day to prepare." He looked around solemnly at his friends and comrades. "They will not expect us to attack in such conditions. We shall have the upper hand if we go now, with the element of surprise."

"I'm with you, Thorin!" Balin cried. "We are more than half way there now – let's finish the job tonight and save our queen and our lands."

Bilbo saw Glóin nodding vigorously. "Let's warm our blood up with a good fight – I do not wish to go home to bed when there are orcs waiting to be killed!"

Thorin smiled, and turned to the hobbit. "Are you coming, Mr Baggins?"

Bilbo swallowed. He was afraid – and he wouldn't be ashamed to admit to it either. But he was more afraid of letting Thorin go charging off into the cold, dark tower with his nephew. The two of them were reckless and emotional at the best of times, and this was definitely not the best of times. He wasn't about to stand by and let Thorin or Kili get themselves killed in some reckless act of mindless bravery.

"I'm with you, Thorin. I'm staying by your side, remember?"

Thorin nodded appreciatively under the torchlight.

"So be it, Mr Baggins. Let's get started on this trek!"

The wizard raised his hand to the dwarves. "If you insist on leaving right now and making for the tower, Thorin Oakenshield, then I must insist on coming with you. I won't slow you down – and you might have need of me yet, before the night is out."

Bilbo glanced back towards the lonely lights of Dale, half hidden by the blanketing fog that was blowing in from the lake, and wondered how long it would be before the night was in fact out. And how long it would be before him and his friends saw safety again far away from this evil shoreline and the cursed Ravenhill tower...