That night, the tavern seemed colder than usual. Perhaps it was because Fili had never visited the place so late at night, and the owner had always kept a fire burning in the past. Tonight, however, the hearth was cold and most everyone who frequented the inn had fallen asleep. Even Bofur had disappeared some thirty minutes ago, abandoning Fili to his brooding.

Glancing up, Fili saw his uncle entering the room, and Thorin silently pulled a chair up beside his nephew. Quietly, Fili began to speak.

"So," Fili whispered. "When do we plan to do it? Should we tell the others in our company?"

"I think it should be at night as soon as possible," Thorin replied. "As for the others, I've noticed both Nori and Lesur acting very strangely. I was not going to bring it up, however I don't believe we should tell them what is happening. Have you heard them, recently?"

"Heard them?" Fili asked.

"At night, I've heard them in the hallways arguing about something. Kili name has been brought up in their arguments, though the arguments are often done in hissed whispers that are difficult to pick up. Something is unresolved between them, and it sounds like it has to do with Kili. I think it best we not tell them of our plan."

Fili almost giggled at the thought of Thorin listening to conversations through doors and walls like a dwarfling, but a single glare from his uncle made Fili shut his mouth.

"Okay," Fili nodded. "Tomorrow night?"

"Yes, alright. Tomorrow night. I hope Kili is in a well enough condition at the moment."

"You mean?"

"You heard it, same as I, Fili. There is no protecting you from the reality."

"I wish we could go tonight," Fili whispered, and Thorin nodded understandingly.

"Of course," he said. "But we are not yet prepared. Tomorrow night, hopefully."

"Should we tell Bofur or Vufur?"

"No, they are not the type of dwarf to get involved in these sorts of things. Unless something goes wrong, they need not be involved."

"Thorin," Fili stopped his uncle from standing. "There is one thing, and it has to do with Rae. You know, the selkie?"

"What?" Thorin's voice was cold.

"Thorin, I think that… Thorin, she really cares for Kili, I can tell. She is not just 'being a selkie' or whatever it is you said they do. She really loves Kili. She was so sad that he, well supposedly died. I don't think that she is as you say all selkies are. I think she might really be in love with Kili, for real. What do we do if that's the truth? We cannot disallow it, simply because of who she is!"

Thorin hesitated, his eyes flicking to Fili.

"Kili cannot still have the pelt, it isn't possible. I wonder if he ever had it. I wonder if that 'selkie pendent' isn't what attracted her to him. However, now you have that selkie pendent; has she tried to fall in love with you?"

"No, she loves Kili. She's been mourning his loss day and night."

Thorin hesitated, his eyes blinking slowly.

"You may be right," Thorin hesitated again. "You may be right, but deep down she also loves the sea. A creature such as her needs to be in the sea. It is wrong to take her from her home."

"Uncle, what if she doesn't want to go home? What if she wants to stay with Kili? You cannot simply make assumptions based on what she is!"

"I will ponder over this. Now it is time for bed."

Fili nodded, but he hesitated.

"Could we just go over there and look in and see what the night situation is?"

Thorin said nothing, but his eyes traveled to the doorway where two shapes stood arguing.

Lee couldn't sleep. No matter how he tossed and turned, sleep eluded him. It was late now, and though he knew Kili needed his sleep, Lee had a feeling that the dwarf wouldn't be sleeping. Creeping toward the storage room, Lee saw that he was right. Kili's face was drawn in a grimace, his eyes pressed tightly together.

"Kili," Lee whispered. "I wanted to ask you. In your time here, did you ever see a pelt?"

Kili shook his head, although some memory was tugging at the back of his mind.

"I feel like a long time ago I might have seen Krangon quickly storing something grey away. It was before I was captured, I believe. I can't be sure, but it might have been behind the counter at that time, maybe. Please, if I'm wrong…"

"Don't worry, I'm not like him. If you're wrong so be it," Lee sighed. "Thanks, I think I'll try checking there. If it is there, I'll help you escape. I just can't risk my pelt being hurt."

"I… I sort of understand," Kili shrugged.

"I know, it's a strange concept for anyone but a selkie. Excuse me."

Lee was just leaving, when he heard the bell above the shop door tinkle. In a panic, Lee rushed from the storage room, shutting the door and collapsing as if he'd been asleep.

"You, my boy, are in a lot of trouble," Lee heard a voice, and abruptly he felt a sinking feeling. Krangon had seen him go talk to Kili, this was very bad.

"However," Krangon continued in a hiss, "At the moment I have a customer, so I would advise you to go keep Kili quiet, unless you really want to make this bad for yourself."

Lee slowly opened his eyes, and he shrank back from Krangon's glare. Standing, he shuffled into the storage room, shutting the door behind him.

"Sorry about that," Krangon turned to the dwarf standing in front of the counter. "Good help is so hard to get. Now, what do we have here?"

"You said if I brought in something of a selkie's I'd be paid well. Well, this is certainly something of a selkies. Better than any hair or shell, or something of the like."

"Indeed," Krangon examined the pelt. "Indeed, you shall be paid greatly. Here."

"Ach, I deserve more than that! My partner said he didn't like it, and you don't know half the struggle I went through to wrestle this away from him and get it in here. He kept wanting to turn it in to its rightful owner!"

"I gave you your money, don't be greedy."

"Alright, fine."

"However, there is one thing I would pay you quite handsomely for."

"Eh?"

"A selkie pendent. I happen to know it is around the neck of one of your companions: Fili."

"The king's nephew?"

"Thorin's nephew, yes. I would give you a handsome reward for that."

"Now, that's a bit different."

"A very handsome reward. Much more money than if you brought be many pelts."

"When do you want it by?"

"Oh, soon as possible."

"Expect it by tomorrow afternoon."

"I will."

Krangon watched as the dwarf left the shop, a grin upon his face. Krangon grinned as well. Perhaps finally that thief would solve all of the problems creeping up, and then Kili could be disposed of, and everything could go back to normal. Not much could go wrong before tomorrow afternoon. Now, to deal with the nosy selkie.

"Did you see that! He had the pelt, Thorin, Lesur had the pelt!"

"I see. He must have stolen it from Kili."

"Could he be involved in…"

"I don't know, but I believe it is time to take action. Not with Kili, yet. I'm sorry Fili, but too many are awake within that shop. No, it is time to confront Nori, and then Lesur. Tonight Nori, tomorrow Lesur. Agreed?"

"Alright, I guess."

"Yes, now come on, Fili. There are problems here to take care of."

AU: Okay, so this has taken a reallllly long time, but for my credit I went camping with no technology to write this. Anywho, still took a while, sorry :( School is starting on Monday, though, so no more vacations, and maybe more writing? Review please :)