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Chapter Two

Winking Giants

Fili tried not to stare at the giants as they walked by, but in all honesty, his self discipline was waning. Of all the years he'd been alive, only a handful of times in that eighty two had he been this close to Men. Shuffling down the stinking streets of the small town of Bree they (well, the elder dwarves, really) had decided to spend the night in, Fili found himself pressing a hand to Kili's arm, pushing his brother deeper into the middle of the Company as they passed through a throng of shifty looking men, followed by a great beast of a fellow, who lumbered past on the brothers' right. When Kili turned, shrugging Fili's hand off of him before he cast his brother an annoyed, I-can-fend-for-myself look, Fili didn't hesitate to nod in the direction of the bear-like man. Kili eyed the giant warily- his head only making it as far as the man's waist.

"This isn't right," He muttered, turning away as Thorin and Dwalin turned a corner, leading the band of dwarves down another dismal looking street. In the distance, a battered sign hung, and when Fili squinted he could just make out the metal wrought words beneath a rearing horse that read 'The Prancing Pony'. He caught his brother's doubt riddled eyes. Were they really going to stay in such a place? Surrounded by men that Durin only knew what business they were buried in?

Apparently, the answer was yes. Thorin turned round to take in the Company, gaze trailing over each familiar face before landing on Kili's, then sliding slowly over so that he met Fili's eyes. Nodding once, Thorin pushed the large door to the inn open with his arm, the old wood creaking on it's hinges as it was swung wide. Immediately, a cacophony of voices and scrapping chairs hit Fili's ears. Filing in one by one, the dwarves muttered to themselves, their nervousness reflected in one another's expressions. As Thorin spoke to the owner of the inn- who had to lean forward in an effort to see the dwarf, though Thorin was by far the tallest of the Company- Fili took in the place where they'd be spending the night. It was clearly old, and twice as dirty at that. Men, and only Men, were everywhere, filling every nook, cranny, and corner of the large room. Beer dripped from beards, and food riddled the floor as the giant folk ate and shouted and laughed. Some sat alone, brooding, and it was when Fili noticed this that he quickly glanced to his right, feeling a gaze sliding over him. A greasy looking man by the fire grunted when Fili caught him staring, glowing eyes disappearing as he took a swig from his tankard of beer before he turned away. Fili glared. It was like they'd never seen a dwarf before.

"Will you and your company be havin' anything to eat, Master Dwarf, or shall I escort you to your rooms?" The innkeeper seemed kind enough, Fili shifted, feeling uneasy. Beside him, Kili and Ori were staring around with widened eyes, something that Fili would have to tease them (especially Kili) about later.

Thorin turned, eyes sweeping the dimly lit tavern once before making eye contact with Dwalin, who simply shrugged. Turning back to the innkeeper, he grunted, "If you have room, we'd welcome some supper."

The dwarves were led by the bustling man towards the back of the room, directly across from a set of rickety looking stairs, leading up to where their rooms would no doubt be located. Fili did his best to ignore the stares of the men, but it was hard- he felt like he was on display, such as a strange insect or orc might be put, and this bothered him greatly. Once the Company had been seated, Fili allowed himself to look up at his brother, who was staring at the other dwarves, who in turn were staring at- Fili swallowed, noticing the sudden silence that filled his ears for the first time. Every single person in the tavern had ceased in their business, each staring directly at the dwarf-packed table. Most were glaring, though a few had grins on their faces and were nudging one another stupidly.

"Just ignore them, lads." Bofur muttered, mostly to the younger of the dwarves, who were clearly becoming increasingly nervous. Fili glanced at the other end of the table. Dwalin, Balin, and Bifur and Bofur were taking no heed of the constant stares, talking quietly among themselves. Bombur sat at the end of the table, head swiveling as he eye'd the other men's food. Dori and Nori had wedged themselves on either side of their youngest brother, and were attempting to get Ori to take his attention off the men. Fili frowned, turning to look at Kili. Perhaps I should do the same. However, before he could think of what to say that would sufficiently distract Kili, Gloin beat him to it, slapping the table with his hand and startling the younger dwarf out of his own staring.

"Laddie, did I ever tell ya 'bout what my son did when he saw his first Man?"

Kili swallowed. "Little Gimli has seen Men before?"

"Oh aye," Oin cut in, a twinkle in his eye. "Took him to town with us to show him the forge- he'd been beggin' for weeks!"

Fili grinned to himself, leaning forward so that he could join in listening to the brothers' story. Beside him, Kili nodded, grinning, attention stolen away from the uncomfortable stares. Catching Gloin's eye, Fili nodded to him subtly in thanks. Gloin winked.

~*What~Do~You~Wish~For~Most~*

"So then lit'le Gimli jus' stares at me an' says, "father, why are those forging tools so big?'. And I look down at him an' say 'well you know son, they are a Man's tools".

The dwarves all nodded, ignoring their food and drink (except Bombur, of course, and Thorin, who sat back in his chair, stoic, though listening), completely enraptured in Oin and Gloin's tale.

"An' then," Oin cut in, laughter causing him to have to pause for a moment. "An' then Gimli says, "is tha' why everything you forge looks so bad, father? 'Cause you use a Man's tools?'"

The entire Company roared with laughter, ignoring the glares cast their way. Thorin smiled, picking at his food as the rest of his comrades bent over themselves, sniggering and pounding their fists on the wooden table as they tried to regain composure. Fili grinned, laughing just as hard as the rest of them at the tiny dwarf's words.

Night had closed in around the inn, and though they were all plenty weary, still the dwarves had insisted on eating. Now they sat, the food hot and just waiting to be consumed. Fili felt his belly rumble, and pushed himself back in his seat, legs dangling over like they had when he was but a wee dwarfling. Ignoring the irritation that welled up inside him at this, Fili reached for a knife, glad to see that the innkeeper had had their utensils and plates switched so that they were actually a small enough size for the dwarves to use with ease.

Fili was just about to shove a large piece of meat into his mouth- famished from a days traveling- when his gaze happened to wander upwards, away from the food and his companions, as a gust of cold wind blew in from outside. Through the haze and smoke of the inn, Fili watched as two burly men shuffled in, speaking quickly with the owner. The first man shoved a few coins across the counter, an ugly sneer on his piggish features. Turning, he shook hands with the second man- handing him a pouch of what looked like money-, who winked before turning and exiting the inn. Fili frowned, his eyes narrowing.

Behind the large man stood a girl, nearly half the brute's height. She was covered in a cloak, the hood pulled firmly up over her eyes so that all Fili could see was a bit of her nose, a slender cheekbone, and her mouth, which was tugged violently downwards, in a grimace. The man violently yanked the girl after him, and Fili stood suddenly. Shoving the tiny, cloak-clad girl up the stairs, Fili followed her form until she disappeared round a corner. The man paused behind her, turned, eyes scanning the mess of tables, chairs, and rowdy patrons of the Prancing Pony. Fili looked away quickly when the brute's gaze passed over them, lingering for a moment longer on the unexpected sight of so many dwarves. After a moment, glancing upwards tentatively, Fili found the stairway empty.

"Fili?"

Fili jumped. turning to find Kili, as well as half of the others, staring at him concernedly. He cleared his throat awkwardly, looking down to find himself standing. When had he stood up again? Balin raised an eyebrow at him.

"You alright, laddie?'

"I-Yes, I am." Fili muttered, sitting down quickly, embarrassed. Kili leaned closer to him once the other dwarves had gone back to their eating and chatter.

"Fili, you sure you're okay?"

Fili turned to look at his younger brother, finding his eyes full of concern. "What happened, again?"

"You just stood up real quickly- out of nowhere. I kept calling your name... but you wouldn't respond."

Fili nodded, eyes falling to his lap. He hadn't heard Kili, hadn't noticed when he'd stood up. He blinked, his appetite lost. All he could see was that girl- still-, the grimace on her lips, the way that man had shoved her. Fili looked up suddenly. The pouch. The money pouch that had been exchanged; the way the other man had winked. Why had he winked?

Suddenly, Fili's throat became very dry, the din of the room falling away, lost to his ears. His palms began to sweat. Was it possible that-? Could that man-? Was that girl-? Fili cast a glance around at the rest of the Company, who were busy watching as Bombur raced against Nori in who could eat a drumstick faster. Had Fili, had he... just witnessed what he think he had? Fili shifted. When he'd pleaded with his mother for permission for he and his brother to accompany their uncle on this quest, he'd expected a number of horrible, ghastly encounters along the way. But not- He'd only been thinking of orcs and goblins, elves and evil men. Well, perhaps this was an evil man.

When Fili got to his feet this time, he was aware of it. Turning his gaze from Kili, who was giving him a confused look, Fili nodded his head at Thorin, who had his brow raised in question.

"The loo," Fili mouthed at Thorin, not wanting to shout over the swelling voices that filled the inn, pointing in the direction of the inn door. Thorin nodded, returning to his conversation with Balin.

Fili turned, taking a deep breath before heading in the direction of the door. At the last second, and with a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure no one from the Company was looking, he swerved, ducking around several men- who shouted something incoherent to Fili as he passed- and made for the stairs.

Fili hesitated at the bottom step- what was he doing?-, but the face of the girl flashed through his mind, coupled with the roughness of the boarish man, and the fact that he was still in the view of Thorin and the other dwarves, and Kili was often known for tattling, even if he didn't mean to at times...

Ascending the steps quickly, Fili soon found himself on the second floor landing, staring down a dusty , dimly lit hallway. He put a hand to his knives. Any one of these rooms could be the right one. Or the wrong one. Slipping quietly over to the first door on the right, Fili leaned his head against it, straining to hear even the slightest noise. Nothing. Fili sighed, the huffed breath that escaped his nose causing him to tense. When no huge man exploded from one of the doors with a sword in hand, he relaxed. But only for a moment.

Putting a hand on the knob of the door before him, Fili took a breath before turning it slowly. The door cracked open. Again the resounding thought of what am I doing? This is a bad idea, I should go back. What am I doing? flitted through his mind, but as Fili swung the door open soundlessly, knives at the ready, he pushed the doubts away.

The room was dark. Fili took a cautious steps forward, eyes and ears straining in the blackness. Suddenly, from his left, a noise sounded, a soft cry that had Fili whipping around, brandishing his knives. The cry came again, and without hesitating Fili leapt forward.

I really had fun writing this! It's so different from anything else I've ever done- I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am :) As always, please review! I love positive and negative feedback, and if you have any suggestions or ideas, don't hesitate to tell me :D The next chapter should be up within the week- schoolwork providing, of course.