AU: I know, I know, I did a disappearing act and then never reappeared. Well, here I am again. School is crazy, don't let upperclassman fool you into thinking it's easier being older at your school! In any case, here's the chapter, and maybe now I'll be back for a while?

I've also been planning some other fics about the Hobbit that I will start maybe when this one is done, so that planning kept me a bit busy. I've also been helping to write a Harry Potter story with RolledUpInOne, Hard Cold Truth, check that out please if you enjoy Harry Potter.

Anyway, hope you enjoy this!

Fili's mind was wandering. One moment he would be thinking about Thorin, the next he might be thinking about home, but always his mind would drift back to his brother. Kili was alive; Thorin and Fili had been hiding outside when the commotion in the shop had occurred. At that point, Kili had been alive, but it was obvious that he was worse for wear.

In fact, it had almost stopped his breath when he had heard what went on. It had taken all of Thorin's strength to keep both his nephew and himself from rushing into the shop. Kili had been in a particularly precarious situation, with him being a captive, and so it had been in everyone's best interests to formulate a better plan. Still, it had been torturous for Kili's family to sit by and not storm into the room.

As Fili thought about this and that, a sound caught his ears. Listening, he realized it was footsteps, so Fili was quick to press his ear to the wall. He had found a cupboard next to the room that Lesur and Nori currently shared. As long as no one came by to replace cloths, he wouldn't be found in this small hideaway.

Through the wall, Fili heard as the two dwarves greeted each other wearily. There was a silence, and then Nori began to speak.

"You have been gone all night," Nori said, to which there was no verbal reply. "It has to do with that selkie pelt, does it not?"

"I thought you were done with that?"

"You know my original stance on the matter, however I was walking at night recently, and I heard something."

"Aye?"

"I also saw something."

"Well, what'd ya see? I want to go to sleep, so whatever you have to say can be spit out and I can go rest my head."

"I heard a clue that Kili may not be dead."

Silence thick as a marine fog snaked through the air.

"Where did you hear that, may I ask?" was the chilly reply.

"What does it matter? If the lad might live, then we must find him! He is the king's nephew, and the closest thing he has to a son! The lad has a brother!"

"You are always going on about brothers."

"Perhaps it is because I care for mine, and I know Fili cares for his. Lesur, do you not understand? I've heard tell that Kili didn't die!"

"Not yet anyway."

"Not yet?" Nori's voice echoed the dread that filled Fili's chest.

"Have you not figured it out? That shop keeper has Kili. This is no longer about the money, is it? This is about saving Kili's life."

"What is?" Nori's voice was slightly skeptical. "Didn't you already turn in the pelt?"

"There is more the shop keeper desires before he will release Kili. He desires a pendant that rests around the older prince's neck."

Fili's hand flew to the pendant, his mouth going dry.

"He does, does he?" Nori asked slowly.

"Yes, and before he will release Kili, I must deliver the pendant to him."

"And how do you plan to retrieve this pendant?"

Lesur was silent, so Nori continued to speak.

"It is no longer about the money?"

Silence.

"Then I will simply ask for the pendent, it will be delivered, and all will be well."

"I must deliver it. It is imperative that I do."

"And why, pray tell, is that?"

"He expects it from me."

"I'll go along."

"No, I must deliver the ransom alone."

"Ransom, now is it?"

"It was always."

"It was not when Kili was with us and well, and you wanted a reward. I am a thief myself, if you forget; don't try to trick me."

"You must understand that-"

"Oh I do understand. I just- Lesur, do you not think that treading this ground with your king is more dangerous than anything you have to do with this human shopkeeper?"

"You obviously do not understand."

"So what do you plan to do? Kidnap the other prince and rip the medallion from around his neck?"

"There are much craftier ways to retrieve things, as you well know."

"Will you tell him the story you just fed me?"

"It is not a story, it is the truth."

"Oh what a grand liar you are. To think I called you my friend."

"We aren't friends now?"

"I won't tell them, if that's what you mean. I am a thief, I've said it myself, but this is wrong, Lesur. You would do better to turn yourself in."

"That won't be necessary, I'm sure."

There was no reply, though Fili waited a long time. Perhaps they had both gone to bed?

Clasping the pendant in his hand, Fili began to slink out of the cupboard as quietly as he could, though admittedly he wasn't that quiet. He was headed back toward his uncle's room, when a strange shadow caught his eye. He began to turn and see what it was, but before he had the chance, something hit him over the head, and Fili's world went black.

All was silent in the shop, that is until a banging at the door awoke both Lee and Krangon. Glancing up, the shop keeper frowned to see the greedy dwarf half dragging, half carrying the blonde dwarf on his shoulders.

"What are you doing here? What are you doing with him?" Krangon hissed as he pulled the door open, yanking Lesur into the shop.

"I've brought you the pendent, but this dwarf overheard a conversation, and he knows too much. I heard a noise after my conversation, and I ran out of my room at the inn to see him walking away. Do with him what you will, but I'll have my reward and then I must get back before anyone notices my absence. Hurry, I don't have much time!"

Krangon stared in shock at the unconscious dwarf who was lying on the floor of his shop, and then let his eyes meet Lesur's.

"I can't take this dwarf," Krangon spat. "I have enough trouble already. It's your reputation, you do what you will."

"He knows you have his brother held captive."

Krangon hesitated, ripping the pendent from around Fili's neck and pocketing it.

"Well, my reward!" Lesur demanded.

"Will you keep quiet, I must think," Krangon hissed at the dwarf. "I cannot take this dwarf; I never wanted the first one to be my prisoner. However, if he knows about Kili… Just stay quiet, you'll wake the town! Here's your accursed reward, now be quiet and let me think!"

Lee watched the exchange nervously; it seemed that he'd been momentarily forgotten, so his eyes began searching for a good hiding place for a pelt. If he could only find it as the dwarf and human argued…

Suddenly Lee's eyes spotted something grey-blue that peeked out from behind a box, and he skittered over, snatching it and stuffing it under his coat. At last, he was free to do what he liked! However, something was wrong. This was a selkie pelt, but it didn't seem right. It didn't seem to have the magic connection that it had before… For one awful moment, Lee thought that somehow the magic had been cut off, but then with a gasp he realized what he now possessed. It was his sister's pelt! She could now go free! But he couldn't, he was still stuck without a way to go home…

"Lee!" Lee looked up quickly at Kragon, who was lifting the dwarf.

"What is it?" Lee asked softly. The other dwarf was gone; apparently he was satisfied with his reward of gold.

"We are going to deposit this dwarf in town, get the door open for me," Krangon lifted the dwarf, and as he got nearer, Lee took a better look at the dwarf. So this was the brother to Kili. He hadn't given up on his brother, but now Lee would be aiding in breaking apart Fili's plan to get his brother back!

"Get the door!" Krangon glared at Lee, who hesitantly opened the door, gulping uneasily. "You'll come with me; I won't have you releasing Kili. Come Lee."

Lee followed unhappily, sending a backwards glance at the shop, and then he slipped out the door and followed Krangon through the silent town night. Eventually they reached an alley where Krangon dumped Fili unceremoniously.

"Now he will not be connected to my shop. Come, we must now deal with the other one."

"Deal with him? How so?" Lee asked slowly, glancing nervously at the golden haired dwarf who was now laid on the ground in this dirty alleyway.

"He cannot stay at my shop," Krangon growled. "You will help me, for I still have your pelt. That has not changed. You will not be able to find it without me. Come, now."

Lee watched Krangon, distrusting.

"Where will he go?" Lee asked Krangon slowly. "If not at your shop?"

"He was pulled into the waves of the ocean, do you not remember? Come, it's time to complete my story. Perhaps they will find him washed up along the shore, they maybe they will believe my innocence. Come Lee; do not stay here any longer. After this, you'll be free to go home to your ocean. I will be back at the shop. Come."

Krangon marched away, but Lee could only stare after him in horror.

No! He would not aid this act, he couldn't! But Krangon had his pelt!

Staring after Krangon, then down at Kili's brother, Lee made his decision.

Bending down, Lee shook Kili's brother. When he didn't awake, Lee shook him harder, slapping his face lightly.

"Wake up," he called softly, glancing at the mouth of the alley way to make sure that Krangon was still gone. There was no movement. "Come on, wake up! Kili needs you!"

Abruptly, Fili began to stir with a soft moan. His hand fluttered toward his head, and Lee helped him sit up.

"I need to go now, but you've got to help your brother. He's in terrible danger!"

"Wait, who're you? What's going on?" Fili groaned, forcing his eyes open.

"Let's just say I want to help. Your brother is going to be thrown into the ocean; you've got to go stop this act if you care about your brother. Also, here, give this to Rae! It's hers, she needs it back. Now I have to go, but you understand, don't you? Someone is going to try to kill Kili!"

Fili's eyes widened and he stumbled to his feet, reaching for the building to steady himself as the blood in his head rushed about.

"Who are you again?" Fili asked quickly.

"My name is Lee. Now go, as I have to!"

Fili rubbed his head, still getting his bearings, but one thing made him run toward his inn. Kili was in terrible danger; he had to help.

AU: Cliffie! Please tell me what you think! Reviews may help me update faster next time :)