MASQUERADE

Chapter 9

Thorin glared at his attacker. A human in his kingdom?! How had Nori missed that? Furthermore, a human assassin hell bent on killing him. Wonderful. He could feel Bilbo's fingers twisting into the soft fabric of his sleeves and cursed the gods that he had chosen to go without armour this night. He would not allow harm to come to Bilbo, not after he had just got him. Thorin was no fool. He knew that assassins would take care of eyewitnesses in order to prevent collateral damage. Bilbo fell under that category.

He steeled his nerves and met the dead eyes of the assassin. What cause would bring a human to Erebor?

"You are either brave or foolish to attempt to assassinate a dwarf king in his own kingdom" Thorin said, struggling to his feet and drawing Orcrist. He pulled Bilbo behind his body and stared down his opponent.

"Neither" the man replied. "I am to do my duty and claim my reward, that is all"

Thorin's heart thumped. His duty? A hired assassin? "Who sent you?" he asked. He needed more time, some way to get Bilbo out of harm's way so that he could alert the royal guards. "Who would have my head?"

"Does it matter oh King?"

"Perhaps, perhaps not. If I am to die I would prefer to know who had a hand in my demise" Thorin said easily.

"There are those who are displeased with how Dale was forgotten in the destruction of Smaug" the man said.

"A citizen of Dale" Thorin breathed.

So that was this all about. True though it was that Erebor and the line of Durin had sworn to protect the small village from invaders it was also true that Smaug had attacked too fast and too hard, the dwarves had little time to save their own lives let alone rescue the humans and dwarves who lived in Dale. Not a day went by that Thorin did not regret the needless bloodshed spilled in that village, knowing full well that it had been his own kin's greediness that had bought the monster to their door. Retribution it seemed, rode on swift wings.

Bilbo's hand closed around the free one he had, using it restrain his hobbit. The last thing Thorin wanted was Bilbo to act rashly. Assassins were famed for carrying poisoned blades, he was lucky he had only been struck with the handle. He would not lose Bilbo so soon; he'd rather die than allow that to happen. Thorin chewed on his tongue, where were the others? Surely they must have noticed their distinct absence. If he knew his nephews and he knew them well, they would be bound to get curious and seek out what was going on.

"Now Thorin Oakenshield, you die!" the man hissed, lunging with his blade.

Thorin threw up Orcrist, blocking the attack and stumbling a little. The man held quite strength behind his lean frame and as such Bilbo was knocked backwards. Thorin pushed the assassin back, parrying another cheap shot before swinging Orcrist around – only to collide once more with steel and an almighty clang! Grudgingly Thorin bared his teeth, this human was good. He had dealt with assassins before, many were only good until they were caught and they lost the element of surprise. Not so with this one. He was cool, calm and seemed to not be concerned that there was a witness.

He's going to kill Bilbo once he's done with you, a voice sang inside his head. Thorin glared. Not if I slit his throat first, he thought viciously.

The assassin attacked again, this time launching a handful of throwing knives in his direction. Thorin blocked two with his blade and saw Bilbo throw himself to the ground, narrowly avoiding the third knife. So, Thorin grimaced, he was aiming to take Bilbo out while his back was turned. Clever this one was. Thorin ran forward, swinging Orcrist towards the assassin's head, who ducked and aimed a kick designed to floor its victim. Thorin managed to leap back at the last second and stumbled, bringing up Orcrist just as the blade of the assassin came flying towards his throat. That was too close for comfort.

"You're going to have to work harder than that" Thorin said loftily. "There is no way I will die tonight, nor shall I allow you to harm a hair on the hobbit's head"

The assassin skittered backwards, straightening and tipping his head to one side. "You protect this creature, though it is not of your race?" he asked softly. He chuckled. "Oh but of course! He is your consort is he not? I should have known, no king will ever truly sacrifice themselves for the lives of those beyond their kin"

"Consort!" Bilbo sputtered.

"You would do well not to question me" Thorin hissed, shooting Bilbo a pleading look. Run, he thought hard, run and do not look back! When the hobbit just stared back at him defiantly Thorin sighed angrily. "I repeat my question, who sent you!?"

"It matters not but I suppose what I can tell you is that one should never trust a stray cat" the man said softly.

A stray cat? What in Mahal's name did that mean? Thorin deepened his frown and flexed his fingers about the handle of Orcrist. It mattered not seconds later for the assassin rushed him again and their blades were flying against each other, the sounds of clashing steel breaking the night and short gasps of breath coming from both parties. Thorin was beginning to understand just how much trouble he was in, this man was very good. Almost up to his standard.

Better than him, Thorin mentally corrected when the assassin's leg shot out and floored him. He landed on his back, hard, and he groaned loudly in pain. He ignored the small frightened whimper that came from the direction of where Bilbo lay. Suddenly the assassin was on him, a knee pushed into his chest and the blade at his throat. Thorin struggled a little, he dared not cut himself upon the steel – he still feared it was poisoned.

"I am going to enjoy killing you Thorin, son of Thrain" the man said, an almost gentle tone to his voice. Thorin opened his mouth to spit a curse but the assassin beat him to it. "It should help you know that the man who bought your demise was aided by a dwarf from inside your walls, one you would never suspect"

Thorin's eyes widened and his struggling ceased. "Impossible" he breathed.

"Now king you shall . . ."

Whatever the assassin was going to say was cut off when a body collided with his, sending the human flying through the air and his blade flying into the air and landing by the river. Bilbo stood over Thorin, Sting in his hand and a hard expression on his face. Thorin scrambled backwards and found his feet, sweeping Orcrist up into his hands.

"You even scratch his skin and I will remove yours" Bilbo hissed, looking very much like an angry, spitting cat.

"A hobbit, a creature with no fighting experience pitted against myself, a master assassin?" the man mused. He got up and drew a wicked looking dagger from his belt, serrated and deadly looking. "So protective of your alpha, he would sooner throw you off this mountain than protect you if it came to his own life!"

Thorin paled, this man had no idea how accurate his words might have been were the King still consumed by sickness. Times, luckily, had changed. Bilbo scoffed, tightening his grip on Sting and backing up slightly so he could be closer to Thorin.

"You know nothing of Thorin, what right have you to judge" Bilbo said calmly. "I trust Thorin and I know for certain that he would give his life for mine just as I would do the same for him. Yes it is true that you could very easily kill me I do not deny it but perhaps you should question why I still stand against you?"

"Fool!"

"I rather think that would be yourself" Bilbo replied. "Whilst you were busy fighting Thorin and paying attention to me you forgot to be aware of your surroundings"

"You . . ."

The human was caught off guard for the second time that night when a poleaxe came flying towards his head, wielded by a very angry looking Bifur. Thorin let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding in as the assassin was thrown back against a nearby tree and Bifur leapt upon him, shouting angrily in Khuzdul. Bilbo hurried forward, slipping through Thorin's outstretched fingers and offered Bifur a coil of rope he'd had somewhere amongst his person. When he caught sight of Thorin's glare Bilbo shrugged, completely unfazed.

"You will want him for interrogation and he should have a full trial" the hobbit explained as Thorin were slower than his nephews.

Bifur, having finished trussing the prisoner to the tree turned to Thorin and said; "A lucky scrape your majesty"

"I should like to know how you gained entrance to my castle" Thorin growled, moving forward and pulling the black face mask off the man. He was met with grey eyes, slight stubble and a defiant jaw line. "Speak!"

When the man said nothing Thorin turned to Bifur. "He had a dwarven accomplice, find Nori and get him on it" he instructed. "He also mentioned something about stray cats"

Bifur paled, his poleaxe hanging limp in his grip. "Bofur. . ." he murmured.

Bilbo frowned. "I hardly think Bofur would be an accomplice to this my friend" he said gently.

Bifur waved it off and started forward, pulling Thorin away to one side. "Bofur and Nori – together" he said.

"Yes I am aware, I am not as dense as my beloved sister thinks"

"The cat masked dwarf tried to steal Bofur. My cousin is oblivious for he has feelings for Nori. I saw cat mask heading towards cousin and Nori just before I left. Had a bad feeling about you"

"What is the name of this dwarf?" Thorin growled, tugging Bilbo to his side.

Bifur looked ill. "Huran. He is violinist" he said. "I feel a dangerous side to him"

-x-

Meanwhile . . .

Bofur had slipped away from the band once more, slinking over to be by Nori's side whilst Thorin made his speech. In the aftermath he had watched from afar as their great King caught sight of Bilbo and disappeared away into the darkening night, out the doors that would lead to the courtyard. In an unspoken alliance the members of the Company set about distracting the rest of the crowd from Thorin's sudden disappearance. It was really long overdue this courting of Thorin and Bilbo. Bofur had heard Balin say that if it had not ended soon he himself would have ridden to the Shire and dragged the hobbit back kicking and screaming.

Bofur had cheerfully offered to bring his rope.

As the party kicked back up again Bofur leaned over to Nori who beat him to speaking. "What do you want with me?" he whispered. "For us?" he corrected as an afterthought.

"To be honest my sweet, I had not thought it through" Bofur murmured, keeping his body close to that of his lover. "I'd rather like to experiment first, see how things go if that is amenable to you?"

He couldn't accurately describe the relief he had felt when Nori nodded. "I would like to be able to prove to Dori that we are serious before public courtship takes place. Mahal above, he's going to give himself a heart attack if he's not careful" he said.

Bofur chuckled. "He'd have a heart attack if he knew what I had planned for the rest of our evening" he whispered teasingly, laughing harder when Nori crossed his arms in an obvious pout.

Before Bofur had a chance to comfort his lover he noticed Huran walking quickly towards them. Bofur turned to greet his friend cheerfully and found his heart being cut from his body when Huran purposefully ignored him, lunged forward and tackled Nori to the floor. The crowd erupted into chaos, panic surging through and Bofur's hand flew to the dagger he kept at his side. He had little to time to draw it though before Huran had dragged Nori up by his hair and held the blade against his throat.

Women screamed and backed away against the wall. Huran grabbed the edge of his mask and yanked the cat mask away from his face. "If I spy any of you making movements I will slit his throat!" he bellowed. He turned to face Bombur who had been searching for Bifur. "You! Fatty! Close the doors and barricade them!" he growled. "Now!" he added when Bombur hesitated.

Bofur gave his brother a barely perceptible jerk of his head. He didn't want to push Huran, not whilst his blade still danced at Nori's throat. Once he was certain Bombur was obliging Bofur turned back to face Huran. There was a look in his eyes that Bofur recognised. Desperation and yet there was a flicker of calm hidden in those hazel eyes. Bofur raised his hands, signalling that he was unarmed and removed his mask so he could face Huran.

"Let him go" he said calmly, much more so than he felt at least. He wanted this frantic beating of heart to cease; he needed Nori back in his arms. Sooner rather than later. "You don't have to do this you know"

"Don't do anything stupid" Balin added, coming up next to Bofur. His hands were also lifted above his head.

Out of the corner of his eye Bofur could see the other members of the Company reacting, having all removed their masks. Oin and Gloin were glaring ferociously at the situation, yet the latter managed to have a firm grip on a struggling Dori who looked wild eyed and panicked, clawing the air and trying to get to his younger brother. Kili and Fili stood stock still beside their mother, none of them daring to move. Every so often Dis' eyes would flick to where Thorin had disappeared too. Nearby Dwalin was holding little Ori close to his chest, the young scribe shaking with fear and concern. The tattooed chief of guards looked ready to crack a few skulls himself. Bifur was nowhere to be seen.

"You do not understand why this has to be done then" Huran sneered. He tightened his grip on the dagger and stared at Bofur meaningfully. "You could have had me! Yet you chose to pass me over for this good for nothing thief!"

"Shut up!" Dori bellowed.

Ori whimpered and Dwalin's glare only intensified. Bofur bit down on his lip, he could not react or else Huran could slit Nori's throat. "You never offered your affections Huran" he said slowly. "I had no idea you had such feelings for me"

"He will never care for you the way I do" Huran spat bitterly.

Nori was struggling now, his mask askew and Bofur could see the fear in his lover's eyes. If anything this made the pit in his stomach widen further. "There is no need for this public spectacle" he pleaded. "Let Nori go and we can discuss this further, you and I – alone"

"It's too late for him, he is involved!" Huran snarled. "I saw you and him in the courtyard! He was feeling you up like some barely of age dwarrow!"

"If you had a pair of eyes in that thick skull of yours you would have seen that we were both involved!" Nori cried. "Ack!"

Huran had pressed the blade ever so slightly against Nori's skin, a small trickle of blood running down the pale column of skin. Bofur's hands began to sweat, what did Huran want him to do!? Renounce Nori even after he'd claimed the other dwarf in private? It would be absurd, Huran must know as much if he truly saw them. Dwarves rarely showed affection to others and when they did, it was genuine and not easily retracted. Beside him Balin seemed to be calm and yet there was confusion dancing behind those elderly eyes of his.

"Who is your accomplice and what is their plan?" the white haired dwarf asked.

"There is no accomplice!" Huran shouted.

"There is" Balin replied simply. "Else you would have challenged Nori to an honour duel; a public execution would achieve you nothing but a nice bed in the dungeons"

Huran mouthed silently and then smiled sickeningly. "Perhaps the doors are rather not to keep others out but to keep others in" he muttered.

In his peripheral vision Bofur saw Dis' face drain of colour and her eyes narrow dangerously. "What have you done?" she asked quietly. "What did you do!?" she screeched, lurching forward. Kili and Fili instantly wrapped their arms around her, the eldest tight lipped and the youngest whispering soothing words in her ear. Then Dis' eyes bulged. "Who did you hire? Traitor, traitor!" her cries were intensifying.

Bofur's heart dropped like a stone. This was an assassination attempt on Thorin? He ground back on his molars, lifting a hand to cover the hilt of his dagger. So this was it, to kill two birds with one stone. Keep them away from Thorin and Huran could exact his cruel justice unto Nori and Bofur. The realisation made the sick feeling in his gut increase tenfold; this was getting out of hand and quickly. They had no cards to play, either could get Nori or Thorin killed.

"Take me instead" Bofur said suddenly, removing his hand from the dagger on his hip.

He stepped forward tediously, hands splayed in front of him. If Huran's devotion towards him was indeed genuine and really, now he thought about the other dwarf's behaviour as of late everything did make more sense, it seemed that way then perhaps he could use to his advantage. Lure Huran away from the others and make an opening so Dis or Dwalin could get to Thorin at the rush.

"What?" Nori whispered. "Bofur, don't!"

"Don't be stupid!" Dwalin hissed.

"You would take his place?" Huran asked, ignoring the others. An innocent gleam sparkled in his eyes. "Why?"

"I want him safe and I want you safe as well Huran. No one knows this city better than I. I declare on my honour as a dwarf that I will get you out of here. Nor will I forget you once you are safe from Erebor"

It seemed to be working thus far, Huran's grip was slackening. "I thought you cared not for me" he whispered.

"You are a great friend and I am sure that I could learn to care more deeply, given time" Bofur explained. "Nori and I are close but I could be close with you, leave him behind"

"Once the job is done we can!"

"There is no need for Thorin to die" Bofur whispered. "What has he done to you to warrant such hatred?"

"He took my honour and now, I will take his life"