Authors note: Well hello hello all! I'm back with a second chapter! Hope you like it as much as the first. Got a Special Surprise for you, whoever can correctly guess the pairings in my lovely story first wins a prompt fill from me! You all have until chapter 5 to correctly guess. I hope to get many delightfully soul fulfilling reviews and guesses! When chapter 5 is up ill announce the winner, I look forward to hearing from you all!

Disclaimer: don't own. Sooooo wish I did.

Warnings: eh. Not a lot to warn about.

Please read and review!

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Chapter Two: A Huntsman for the Hunted.

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The sound of heavy objects hitting stone walls rebounded throughout the halls of the Bag End castle, its accompaniment being the loud shrieks of rage from its current queen; a testament to her increasing displeasure.

The head of the guard swiftly ducked as another golden goblet sailed by to crash with a metallic clang into the nearest wall. The queen was in the foulest mood that Drogo had ever seen her, and it did not bode well for the underlings who had so incurred her wrath.

"Idiots! Imbeciles! Waste of air and life they are! Your incompetent men have lost the most important prisoner of this entire castle! I will not have my authority and rule of Bag End challenged by that whelp!"

Lobelia stood in the middle of the ruin she had wrought upon the room, her fancy attire in disarray, hand tightly clenched and a royal scepter. Suddenly she gave another banshee like scream and stamped her silk slipper clad foot in her frustration. Then when a quiet cough brought her attention back to the nervous head of guard, Lobelia made an effort and slowly regained her composure. Pacing about the carpet, she began to think of a way to fix her problem quickly and without a lot of fuss. Slowly a vicious and sly smile pulled at her cheeks and she turned to Drogo, her face deceptively sweet.

"Well. If he's going to run we shall simply have our dear prisoner hunted down like an animal. Get me the best huntsman you can find. No wait on second thought…get me the best of the best Group of huntsman you can find. I want that Oakenshield group. Go and get them for me!"

Drogo scurried out of the room as fast as he could, fear for his prince burning in his heart. The Oakenshield group was renowned for their relentless and effective hunts. There was little hope for Bilbo's continued freedom now.

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Thorin Oakenshield was nursing his third pint of ale when the guards found him. The heavy trump and metal clatter of the armor they wore alerted the dwarf to their presence long before they came anywhere near his little booth in the corner. Glancing up nonchalantly when the taller human guards circled the table Thorin took a swallow from the tankard. He held the silence for a few moments before he spoke to off set the men around him.

"What can I do for you gentlemen. Your obviously not here for the liquor."

One of the guards, a tall thin man with a bristling grey moustache took a step forward, obviously trying to cow the sitting dwarf even if it wasn't a verbal declaration.

"Her majesty queen Lobelia summons you and your compatriots to her malls master Oakenshield, for an audience."

Before Thorin could respond, several of the rear guards suddenly fell over like chaff to a scythe as Dwalin, a dwarf nearly as tall as a mans shoulder and twice as muscular than any of them barreled his way into the throng to get back to his leader. He held a pint of ale in one hand and the other grasped a finely cared for but obviously used war axe named Grasper, a twin of the second called Keeper that was strapped his back. The rest of the guards scattered out of his way, giving him a clear path to where his king was still nonchalantly sitting as if waiting for him.

"You lads are terribly rude for those asking a favor. Id suggest getting some before my axe decides to teach you."

The low growl of Dwalin's voice brooked no room for argument, and the flexing grip he held on the axe's worn handle needlessly drove the point home to the now fidgeting men.

A faintly amused smile pulled at the corners of Thorin's lips as he watched the exchange, there was no one better for brute intimidation than his tattoo covered friend after all.

"Now Dwalin. These men are here to tell us of a job. I don't think their going to cause any trouble. We wait for Nori and then we will go with them."

The guards let out a quiet collective sigh of relief when the burly dwarf sullenly plunked himself into the battered wooden seat of the booth, muttering under his breath about their other absent companion and let the axe rest on the floor by his side. No one fancied getting into a brawl with the warrior, his reputation spoke for itself.

About two minuets later of tense silence, a short but notable to those who knew what to look for figure came bobbing across the bar floor. Nori could choose whether to be noticed or to go unseen, melted into the shadows of whatever haunt he decided to visit. This time he chose to be visible. His red three pointed star shaped hair easily marked him to his companions, as did the braids of the thief guild plaited into the hair that pointed him out to any potential clients who knew the language of the dwarven braids. And even those who didn't know his face and couldn't read the message in his hair knew of his work. It was one of the reasons that Thorin had him join the Oakenshield team.

When the thief saw the awkward group huddled about his team's booth, and the hidden message in his leaders eyes, he simply swigged the rest of his ale and began twirling a dagger at his leisure. A slow smile appeared on his face, and a low tune began to work its way out of his throat. This job was a big one he could tell.

Without a word both Thorin and Dwalin rose and the guards hurried to keep up with their charges as they left the bar and began to make their way up to the castle of Bag End.

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Queen Lobelia was not a particularly patient person. So when in her opinion her very late guards brought in the hunting party she wanted, the queen was not entirely pleased. She was even less pleased when the dwarves gave her the bare minimum of the required bow and did not wait for her to address them first.

"Your highness. I was told you wished to discuss a job with me and my men."

Being a king himself, Thorin didn't take well to being summoned like a common peddler, but he hid his displeasure under niceties for the moment. He needed the money for his sister and he knew that Dwalin and Nori, as well as the rest of his team could use the cash. So he would tolerate the hoity toity queen until they could leave to do the job.

Lobelia drew herself up haughtily, eager to be rid of the dwarves as soon as possible.

"yes Mr. Oakenshield. I require your services for a delicate matter. I need you to bring back an escaped prisoner of great importance. I don't care how long it takes to get them back, just that they are returned Unspoiled and in one piece. I will pay six hundred gold upon delivery. And a one hundred incentive now. Do we have a deal?"

Thorin thought over the jobs specifications for a short while, weighing the pros and cons of accepting. Finally he gave a concise nod and a bag of gold was brought out that contained their 'in advance incentive' money. Without a goodbye or a dismissal from the queen the dwarf turned and left the room, Dwalin and Nori following him resolutely.

The hunt was on.