Once again, I forgot how long it's been since I've updated. There's been some tweaking to the story line, but writing is under way and I should have this finished soon...I hope.

Thanks to all my faithful readers, reviewers, subscribers, whatevers...you know who you are :)

"Release them at once!" I heard a voice boom.

I rose feebly from my torpor. I'd grown so weak that I could do nothing more than lie down, staring at the wall. If I tried to stand, my legs would collapse under my ever-dwindling weight. I felt as if I were floating most of the time now, and sometimes prayed for death to take me, if this be the end. I'd rather starve to death than give the elves the satisfaction of executing me.

Mahal be praised. We were saved. Or at least, I was. I had not seen Kili since the night—or was it day?—the elf maid brought me to visit him. He may well have been dead. I had not thought upon it, or much else for that matter. I could barely think. The only sustenance I had been provided were a crust of stale bread, a bit of maggoty cheese, and undrinkable water, and that had been just once. I had devoured them greedily and paid dearly for it. I became ill and the consequences left me worse off than I had been before.

When the guards unlocked the door, I nearly fainted in shock to see that our savior was none other than Lord Elrond, accompanied by an entourage of warrior-elves. They were fiercely armed and carried long spears. He directed two of them to help me, since it was evident that I could not walk on my own. Two of them hefted me under the arms, holding me in their grasp. They were surprisingly strong. Either that, or I had lost a frightening amount of weight. My clothes now hung from my emaciated frame. I was so weak…and ashamed.

I came to realize, amid all this, that it must not be Aulë after all who delivered us from this cruel fate. It was the Precious—the voice that whispered to me in the darkness, promising me the greatest desires of my heart. I kept the ring—its home, for what I knew—in a pocket closer to my person for safekeeping, lest it be discovered. I knew somewhere in the back of my mind, that this was probably nothing more than a fevered delusion. But I had asked it for help, and help had come—something my unceasing prayers to the Creator had never brought.

And then I saw Kili. They brought him out of an opening in the wall across the chasm. He was being carried by two more of Elrond's guards, one at his head facing backwards the other at his feet. Two of the Mirkwood realm went ahead and behind carrying torches. His arm hung limply by his side. The other arm, still in the dirty remains of the sling from which it had been torn, was folded across his chest.

As we mounted the stairs leading to the upper floors, my legs gave way and I fell to my knees, nearly toppling over the edge into the cavernous space below. As they hauled me to my feet, black and silver spots swam before my eyes, and I knew no more.

...

When I awoke I was in a tent, laid out on a cot and covered in blankets. There was a fire aglow near the opening. Kili lay on a cot opposite me, still unconscious. A bitterly cold gust blew through the tent flap, and I caught a glimpse of the snow falling outside. It was winter. Durin's Day had long since passed. We had failed. I had failed. I had lost my only chance at redeeming myself. A crushing weight gripped my chest and throat and made it difficult to breathe

There is yet a chance, said the Precious. You will reclaim your right. You will be great.

"Is there?" I asked.

Yes, it hissed. Its voice was cunning and sinister, yet soothing.

I reached into my pocket for the ring, but almost as suddenly, I withdrew my hand. No. It was a delusion, this voice which wound its way inextricably through my thoughts. It was merely a lie I was telling myself. I would not let it control me. I would not go mad. I would bury the ring, I would cast it away. But still, I felt, it would call to me. And I would go searching for it.

The tent flap opened, and Lord Elrond walked in. He looked surprised to see me awake.

"Ah, you've wakened!" he exclaimed in a whisper. "I'll have someone get food." He retreated from the tent, but was back in a moment with a triangle of lembas bread and a cup of something. He put the plate down on the end of my bed and helped me to sit up, then handed me the cup, which contained only water. I'd hoped for something stronger to ward off the chill, but in my current condition it wouldn't be wise. I drank it down in a few gulps. Elrond then handed me the plate.

"Lembas," he explained though I already knew from my previous adventures. "A small bite is enough to sustain one for a day, but I will leave it here for you. How long has it been since you've eaten?"

I bit off a corner of the dry bread. "I don't know. I don't know how long we were down there."

"Nor do I. Thranduil would not tell me. I have never seen any of the Mirkwood realm behave so savagely. What did you do to anger them?"

"Perhaps the reason why you have never seen them hostile is because you are kin to them. We are nothing but dwarves, which to their minds merits death." I said, before I could consider the implications.

His expression changed to one of anger. "It is not in your best interest to speak ill of elves. Though we are kin, I assure you, not all of us have the same intentions."

I gazed down at my lap, embarrassed. "My apologies. You have shown us great kindness."

"It is not I you should thank, but your brother. It was he who alerted us to your presence in Mirkwood."

"What?"

"His cries for help were heard by a friend what was visiting on business. When confronted, Thranduil admitted to having two dwarves in the prisons below, one of whom was quite ill. He did not know that we had aided you. When the news was brought to us, we knew who it was he kept imprisoned."

It became clear in that moment why Kili had been locked away in that crypt-like dungeon. Thranduil had wanted him out of earshot of the upper floors, but had spared his life so that Kili might give him information. If Elrond's friend had expressed concern, he'd undoubtedly want to know why. What were two dwarves to any elf?

"How is he?" I asked. He had not yet woken, and did not appear likely to.

"In some pain. We had to re-break his bones and reset his arm. We gave him herbs to help him sleep through the process. In his state, the pain alone might have killed him."

Kili slumbered peacefully on his cot, oblivious to the cold wind that howled through the seams in the tent.

"But he'll recover?" I wondered.

"He should. But when he wakes he must eat. He's grown quite frail."

"I'll make sure he does."

"Fili…" his voice took on a warning tone. "You've protected your brother all you can, but you've put yourselves in grave danger. I know it was not your intent that Kili should follow you, but as he has…I must tell you, your situation is about to become all the more dire. I cannot say what you will find when you reach the Lonely Mountain, but you will have to protect both Kili and yourself."

"You mean…you won't be accompanying us?" I asked, a feeling of fear rising in my throat. Instinctively, I placed my hand over the pocket which held the ring. I hoped Elrond didn't notice.

"I cannot. It is not my battle to fight."

"What are we to do?" I asked, a note of worry in my voice. "Both of us have lost our strength. Kili cannot defend himself, and I'm not sure how long I would last in battle at this point."

"It is my understanding that you wished to prove yourself to your uncle," he pondered. "Is that not correct?"

"Well, yes. But now…it's too late. Durin's Day has passed. They've probably already entered the mountain.

He thought for a minute. "We will escort you as far as Esgaroth," he said, "But we cannot help you further. This is your quest. You must be the warrior you were meant to be."

"Thank you."

When he left, I went over to check on Kili. He looked tired, yet his breathing was even. I didn't want to wake him. I returned to my own cot and lay down, feeling suddenly exhausted.

As I was drifting off to sleep, the Precious began to speak.

Yes, this is good. Go to the mountain. The crown is yours. It is your birthright. Do not let your brother get in your way.

Ooh, mystery. Intrigue. The Precious. The plot thickens. I feel like I always say that at the end of a chapter.

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