(Less than an hour after posting)

OHMYGOD! SO MANY MISTAKES!

Okay,

So this chapter didn't come out at all what I thought. It's not nearly as bad as I envisioned, so sigh in relief my good readers.

And I think you all should be pleased for this was my quickest update yet. Though that's not saying much seeing as this is only chapter 6... but oh well...

I went back and changed a few things after I finished so if there is something funky please let me know..

Thank you to...

Blood White Rose: Please decide after this chapter... It's not as bad as I made it out to seem. I honestly didn't know where I was going to take this chapter...

C.G (Guest): Here ye go... Also funny story. I got your review while at a WinterGuard competition and the summer version of the sport is Color Guard and my first thought was... "They know where I am!" Sorry it's probably not as funny now that I've typed it out...

Guest: If you hate me after this chapter... I'm sorry :(

ZabuzasGirl: It wasn't immediately, but it's 2:30am Monday morning...

goldenspleen: I hate it when authors post notes as chapters... I get soooo excited and then... Thank you for trusting me!

Vault108: So much to thank you for... Thank you. As I said, I'm kind of new and just was unsure of how stingy FFN is.

Chapter 6:Ôhùfuk

Three days had passed, three whole days without a hint of anything concerning Ahvain. As the days numbered on the dwarf king grew more worried about the woman who took him in. She could be laying on the side of the road, grass hiding her dead body from his view.

Thorin would admit that he hadn't eaten in the days since shed been taken; neither had sleep been able to reach him. As a result dark circles began to form under his eyes. He wasn't the only one who wasn't eating. Pepper hadn't eaten or drank much water and was starting to show signs of colic. Whether or not it was from the stress or lack of ingestion he didn't know. The lack of her mistress was not just affecting him it seemed.

The first day without her was spent trailing what tracks he could follow. Needless to say it was unsuccessful. He returned home feeling the fear starting to build and layer up.

With a heavy sigh he fell onto a chair. Nothing but worry had driven to push himself this hard in search for her, and he couldn't think of stopping anytime soon, not without her safe (and maybe even in his arms).

Today, the people from the town over, the ones who had made commission,s stopped by the forge to collect their pieces. They were angry that they hadn't been received earlier, but when Thorin told them that Ahvain had been taken by a group of bandits they gave remorse and promised to send word of anything they might learn or hear about the men.

For once in a very long time, Thorin could see the goodness within the human race.

One put a hand on the dwarf's shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

"She is a strong girl; and if you cannot find her, she will find her way back to you, Master Dwarf."

Thorin nodded and forced one corner of his lips to twitch upwards. "Thank you."

"Treat her right when she gets back." The man's eyes narrowed as his tone turned serious. "If she gets hurt again while you're here I will come for you, do you understand?"

He gave a curt nod in response, "Yes."

"Good."

He turned to leave but was stopped by Thorin. "How well do you know Ahvain?"

He shrugged, "Old Darik and Ahvain have done smith work for us for over a hundred years. We are loyal to them in a way."

"I will send word to you when I find her."

"Thank you." He nodded and Thorin watched as he left.

Once again he was alone in an empty forge not belonging to him. Silence weighing on him like the burden of his homeless people. Heavy and full shame; of not being able to do anything…

"But you have done something for your people, you gave them a home."

"It's not enough… And I'm not doing enough for Ahvain"

"Then continue your search, ask the barmaids again."

Thorin growled at himself. The internal argument wasn't going to get him anywhere. The dwarf returned to his mind, going over a list of places he'd looked for clues about Ahvain's captors. He'd talked to everybody in town who would respond to him. Eragin and Kars had taken the news with identical reactions, both placing their hands on the area above their heart, tears brimming old wrinkled eyes in seconds.

Both of the roads led to a town over, much of the same had been done there and had received just about the same result: nothing. There wasn't anywhere else to look without just scavenging around in the brush.

Brush…

That would be the first, nay, the second thing he would when he got her back (if she accepted his intent to court her) brush out her hair, put a braid of his own in that cascade of brown hair, brown hair the color of the very earth the brush grew from. The very thing he'd been trying to follow her kidnapper's trail in.

Brush!

The men had first confronted he and Ahvain in the brush.

The brush was dry from the summer weather and would be crushed under the treading of their horses.

With any luck they would have gone back to where they meet.

If he could follow the tracks from there he might find where they have Ahvain!

With a renewed hope, Thorin rushed to saddle his pony, giving the sickening mare a thorough rub on the neck. Large brown eyes looked at him, watched him, the animalistic expression of surrender and defeat. It spoke to him through the expression. The mare was lost without her mistress, clearly the bond between horse (pony in this case) and rider was severed without Ahvain.

"Eat Pepper; Ahvain will think I've starved you." Thorin held out a handful of hay, the pony turned away.

Thorin huffed and threw down the dried grass. "I'm going to bring her home, Girl you'll see."

He wasn't sure if he was reassuring the pony or himself anymore. But talking to her was better than starting another altercation with his mind. Putting a foot in the left stirrup and pulled himself up onto his pony. Pepper watched as he and her barn mate left.

Thorin turned and shouted back at the animal, "Don't die on me while I'm gone mare!"

Thorin knew that she didn't understand a word he'd said but for whatever reason took comfort hoping she did and would follow his instructions. When he turned back, he looked ahead to the fallen sun, hopefully he would find the tracks before sundown.

Normally Thorin would gently nudge his pony on, three days had passed and he wasn't going to waste anymore time; so his nudges were more of a kick. The pony didn't seem to mind and acted on the action quickly. As if it understood the urgency for the lack of time

The field between Kars' place was vast, the glow of dusk made it feel a bit ominous to Thorin. "What if I can't find any tracks?" Thorin knew they'd been a little ways off of the path and that cut down the search time. From his height on the pony he could see spots of trodden grass, his confidence grew with those facts. He had found the area in less than an hour of searching and pushed his pony as fast as he could while still being able to read the tracks while the sky darkened.

~karak~

How many days had passed? Ahvain could not answer. They had blurred together in one big mess since she was brought here. Her night gown was shredded, hanging from her body by the areas of hem work and heavy stitching. The once bright gown, tarnished with dirt and blood. Bruises spotted her body like a disease, a reminder of things stolen from her.

A draft whispered over her and she shivered. The dress, torn above her knees, offered no shield against the cold. She opened her eyes to the only safe view she knew: black.

One eye protested against the movement and revolted, only opening a small amount due to the swelling. Ahvain had learned the hard way to not beg, to call for help, to whisper and pray for Thorin to come save her.

But why would he now? She was unclean, not worthy of even dreaming she could ever enter a relationship with him. As soon as he saw her, he would turn and leave. She was nothing but a whore now, unworthy. The men made sure that she remembered that.

A heavy breath escaped her, her mind too overrun with the realization of her doomed love to stop the noise. Ahvain tensed. Her good eye scanned the darkness, searching for any sign of one of the men. She was beaten for every sound she made, even for a sigh, at this point she didn't know how much more her body could take before it gave up on itself. It seemed that she was truly weak. What would her grandfather say to her if he saw?

"You pathetic little elf spawn, you're a disgrace to your dwarven blood!"

Ahvain shook that thought out of her head. Her grandfather was a dwarf, he may have held a dislike like for elves, but he came love his daughter-in-law! He loved Ahvain; he taught her everything he could in the forge. He raised her as his own after she lost her parents. No, he would never say something like that.

"You've the blood of Durin's Folk runin' in your blood, be strong, he'll save you."

This time the voice didn't come from her head. Instead it carried itself with the current of the draft, around her body, causing another wave of chills that goose fleshed her skin. The voice of Darik formed a new reservoir of hope to rest in her mind.

The door down the hall rattled open. Light flooded the cell for a moment before leaving. Her new courage wavered but a bite to a cut lip steadied it. Her fists clenched at her side and her stomach tied itself in a knot. Adrenaline raced through her. This man would not be allowed to have his way with her again, or if she could find means to, never and with anybody. She may have been broken by this man but by the Valar she was going to force the pieces back together if it meant she'd get out of here!

Ret had already unlaced his pants when he entered her cell. He had paused with his mouth open, ready to say something to the abused girl, in the frame of the door. In his eyes the cell was empty.

With a battled cry that would put a dwarf to shame, Ahvain threw herself at him from the obstruction of the door. The sudden weight of her on his back knocked them both to the ground. Once shock had worn off of him he struggled to gain the upper ground, yelling muffled curses at her.

Ahvain was weak, struggling against him when he forced himself on her for however long she'd been here, not being feed, sleep never gifting her. He was twice her size as well, the odds were against her from the start. But she would die before that stopped her.

"So," Ret snarled. The fall to the ground had caused him to bite his tongue. Blood ran down his chin and his voice was gargled. "Little Bird wants to play rough this time; I can play rough too you know."

She stood stance, ready for a fight, arms spread open in a mocking manor, a crazed grin on her face.

"Khelech," The word rolled off her tongue so viscously and full of enunciation that Ret, who didn't know that she'd egged him on, allowed a flicker of fear to pass in his eyes.

What Ahvain lacked in strength, she made up in speed. In a furry he'd lunged at her only to fall to the floor. She was on top of him, gripping his throat in the preceding seconds. It didn't last long. Ret's free arm was able to hit the girl. Dizziness clouded her and she lost her bearings. Ret threw a few more hits to her face, bloodying her nose with one.

"Come on Little One, you can end him!" It was a different voice this time, but she knew it to be someone close. The answer came quick. Father?

"He will find you, just a while longer sweetheart." Feminine this time.

Mother?

A balled hand flew at her face, her head turned away from it. The sound of crunching bones as it hit the hard, stony ground, made her smile. While Ret moaned in pain she crawled from under him and latched onto his back, hands on either side of his head.

"Vi oth elggin dos naust!"

She didn't much time for his argument, though he more than likely hadn't a clue what she said. With her families word still in her mind she pushed and pulled her hands until a pop sounded from his neck and the man went limp. He dropped to the floor sounding much like a sack of potatoes.

With his body on the ground, Ahvain turned to the still open door. A smile quirked up on her lips as she slipped from her imprisonment. She stopped at the other door, down the hall, and hoped that her elf like hearing wouldn't pick up anything. Nothing close could be heard. Experimentally testing the door, Ahvain held her breath. It opened without so much of a sound. The Gods were looking over her surly!

There was only one hall, lit by dim torchlight. Her bare feet slapped on the wood surface of the floor as she ran, the noise barely reached her ears so she felt that noise safe to make. Rounding a corner brought her beating heart to a stop.

The room was large and held over twenty men, each deep in slumber. For that she was thankful. It was the alert dog at a door she wasn't grateful for. It watched her, waiting for her to move. It started growling, a man close to it started to stir. Fear gripped at her.

It was in that moment she remembered something she'd known for years but had forgot in her panic. Her mother had said it while teaching her the language of the elves, "Animals tend to understand our words. It is why we can make friends with them so easily."

It wouldn't hurt to try right? It worked with Pepper… sometimes.

"Leimandril cushie, synthra" she begged, her voice but a whisper.

The dog's perked and he gave gave her a funny look cocking its head before standing up, stretching and walking to one of the three doors leading from the room, it sat down and looked back at her. With a glance around at the sleeping men, she followed, stepping over body after body, cursing at herself for not hearing the snores from the group.

She looked at the dog now that she stood next to it. It was massive, or she was just short (which was a major factor), its furry head coming up past her hip to about her chest. He looked up at her with a look of understanding. Putting unknown faith in the dog, she petted its massive head and whispered, "dontara." He licked her hand and she faced the door, taking a deep breath before pushing it open.

She wasn't as lucky this time. A loud whine from the hinges echoed through the hall. A man from outside (a guard) looked at the opened, surprised to see her. Without a thought she kicked him, hoping that it was hard enough to ensure an end to his bloodline.

Ahvain knew some of the men in the hall had awakened from the door but wasn't about to look back and confirm. She bolted; strained muscles protesting in the first strides. Yells from the men called behind her. Again she didn't look back.

Panting came from beside her, the dog was following. He didn't alert the people that owned him, he stayed silent except for his breathing.

Bare feet were bleeding in a matter of minutes but she didn't care, the fresh adrenaline, the clean air, it made her forget the pain. For now she was free.

~karak~

The moon was above her in the sky. Ahvain had been running for hours in whatever way her feet took her. Eventually she'd find people who would help her. Either that or some foul beasts that would kill her. She hoped the first.

Now she felt depleted of energy. If it wasn't hurting before she'd escaped, it did now. She stopped for a moment trying to regain her breathing. Her legs felt like water held in a water skin. Liquid held within a bag. Like the only thing holding the insides of her leg in was the skin. She bent over resting her hands on her knees. The dog, who still followed, licked her face. The spots that were now wet with dog saliva felt cold in the night air.

She petted him, wise brown eyes linked at her. Standing to her full height, she had to place a hand on the dog's back to keep her balance, she stared into the sky; the stars would help her to find the direction home. Settling on a way Ahvain half-elf and dog started walking.

Dry dead grass went on forever in a sea of gold. Even in the glow of the moon, the golden prairie shown like the sun. Her breathing was heavy now and vision glazed in a fog. It wasn't long before Ahvain held no strength to make another step. Her eyelids closed, eyes fell to the back of her head and her body fell forward, collapsing on to the ground. The dog whined and poked at her body with his nose, giving her face a few good licks before he curled up beside her, eyes darting everywhere at anything. This small being could speak to him, had let him run away with her and now he was going to look after her. The people that kept him would not be allowed to harm her again.

Ahvain, not quite unconscious, gave a weak smile and bunched some of the dog's shaggy grey fur in her hands, "Donta dos."

Translations:

Khelech - try (Khuzdul)

Vi oth elggin dos naust - I will kill you now (Elvish (not Tolkien's))

Leimandril cushie, synthra - Sleep dog, please (Elvish (not Tolkien's))

dontara - Thanks (Elvish (not Tolkien's))

Donta dos - (Elvish (not Tolkien's))

Things better now?

(well I know some of it is)

Some humor that kept me awake while typing...

When Ret first entered the scene, the word pants was typed plants...

Also, who ever can guess the type of dog that has followed Ahvain is... you'll... I don't know get a virtual hug and cookies.. Maybe you can decide who asks whom later on when somebody decides to ask about courting... I don't know... How about you can name the dog?

I feel like i'm forgetting to say something...

Anybody can feel free to send in their idea for a name for the dog... he might be sticking around for awhile...

Still feel as though I'm forgetting something..

Oh well, until next time