A/N: Thanks, Wynni, for an emergency, fill-in-a-gap prompt! It's awesome!

While Thorin was surprised to see cheese delivered to his cell, Wren once again proved she shouldn't be allowed near wine.

Thorin sat in his cell, his back to the wall, his head dropped. For the first time since his journey had started, he thought that perhaps they wouldn't succeed. He heard his companions exchanging hopeless remarks from out of their cells.

"I'll wager the sun in on the rise. Must be nearly dawn." Thorin heard Bofur's voice and felt almost sick in the stomach. Bofur was always the most cheerful, hopeful out of all of them, now even he seemed like he was giving up.

Ori's voice was trembling as if from hardly controlled tears, "We're never gonna reach the mountain, are we?"

And then… "Not stuck in here you're not." Thorin couldn't believe it, the halfling!

He jumped up on his feet and rushed to the bars. He could hear locks clicking, and even before he saw her he understood that there were two people opening doors at the moment.

She was grinning from ear to ear, and his door flew open. He rushed to her and cupping her face he firmly pressed his lips to hers. He decided he'd question it later. She giggled into his mouth and lifted a bag she held in her hand.

"I have wine and cheese, my lord, we can celebrate your escape properly later," her tone was mischievous.

"Do you have my map and the key?" He asked quickly, and instead of answering she gave him a sunny smile, pushed the bag into his hands and rushed to Balin's cage.

Someone cheered, and Bilbo shushed them, "Ssh! There are guards, nearby!"

Thorin saw Balin step out of his cell and give her a low bow. She giggled and quickly kissed his cheek, to his utmost pleasure, as it could be seen on his face.

One by one Dwarves were escaping their cells, Fili stepped out and grabbed her around her middle. He swirled around, her small feet swung in the air, and she emitted a feigned frightened gasp.

"Put me down, kalilal!" Thorin clenched his fists. At least she called the boy trickster, and nothing more intimate, Thorin pretended he didn't remember all those monikers she had moaned to him in Mirkwood.

They headed for a passage that quite obviously led up, and hopefully towards the exit, but suddenly the hobbit started ushering them downstairs.

"Not that way." He was mumbling and gestured them to follow him, "Down here, follow me!" Bombur rushed after him, and then other Dwarves one by one, when suddenly she grabbed Thorin's sleeve.

"I'm not going there," her voice was firm, and he clasped his hand around her upper arm.

"It is no time for greed, Wren. The Elves are dangerous!" He couldn't believe it, she still was thinking about her loot. "Wren, be reasonable..." She smirked lopsidedly, and he growled. "Woman, in the Durin's name..."

She stepped to him and pressed her lips to his. He released her arm and grabbed her around the waist. He pulled her in, she complied willingly, their kiss passionate and short, and then she pushed him away.

"Bilbo will lead you out, and I have some unfinished business here." She gave him a sudden attentive look over, and quickly pecked his lips again. "The key and the map are in the bag, and if we never meet again," her voice wavered, but she shook off her sudden sentimentality and smiled impishly again, "Don't say I've never done anything for you, sweetpea."

She was dressed in her usual attire, the tight trousers and the doublet, top buttons missing, and an Elven cloak over it, it was too long and too wide for her, and she shook it off. Orcrist was clasped to her back, and she took it off and pushed it into his hands. He froze, not believing his eyes, and she stroked his cheek with her strong little hand.

"Farewell, my King," she sprinted away from him, into the passage they initially were planning to take, and he shook his head. It was time to admit he was no match for this woman. He followed his company, down into the cellars, and they saw the guards sleeping, their heads dropped on their arms on a table. They were snoring loudly.

"You're supposed to be leading us out not further in!" Bofur hissed at Bilbo, and the latter glared at him.

"I know what I'm doing!" He sounded irritated, and added, "And there is no need to keep your voices down. I don't believe the guards will awaken any time soon. Lady Wren assured me her herbs ensured healthy and deep sleep for many hours."

Thorin hid a small smile and lovingly ran his fingers on the hilt of his sword. What a woman!