AU: Hello. So I realize I disappeared (leaving it with a cliffhanger too) but there is a reason. (isn't there always?) First I was just being lazy, then I wrote the chapter, them my computer broke and I lost the chapter! It is very uninspiring when that happens so by the time I got a new laptop, I felt somewhat disheartened by this. However I rewrote the chapter and I'm feeling inspired again. So expect another chapter before too too long. Enjoy!

Kili was uneasy as he sat in the storage room. Something was wrong, he knew it, but he couldn't be sure what it was. Something ached in his chest, though, and made his breath tight. He had to get out of there, now more than ever. He glanced around the room, but was not surprised when no way of escape jumped out at him. However, something else did draw his eye.

Many boxes littered the room, and one specifically made him frown. It was labeled 'selkie items'. How many selkie items did this man have? How could he so obsessed with selkies?

Desperately, Kili tugged at his bonds. If only he could get untied he might have a greater chance at an attempt of escape! He pulled desperately, and then was shocked when he felt them loosen a bit. Earlier Lee must have loosened them without tell him! With renewed vigor, Kili yanked and pulled, until he had his arms loose. His legs were loose in a matter of seconds. Leaping to his feet, he yanked on the door knob- locked.

Frowning, his eyes traveled toward the 'selkie' box. Curiosity usually got the best of him anyway, so he decided to give in right away. He wasn't sure why, but of anything in this storeroom, that was the box he wished to look into. Slipping it onto the floor, Kili opened it up and looked inside. There were a lot of vials full of hair, sea shells, and little rocks. However it was a picture frame that made Kili frown. Lifting it gently, Kili was shocked to see a hand drawn picture of a warm, happy looking couple. It took him several moments to realize that the woman was a selkie and even more moments to determine that the happy looking man was Krangon.

Kili almost dropped the picture in his shock. Krangon looked much younger in the picture, and he was smiling with warmth rather than the distant, slimy smile Kili now recognized on his face. Looking below the photo made Kili's breath catch. There was a selkie pelt. Could it be the pelt of the woman in the picture, or could he be so lucky as to have found someone else's pelt, namely Rae or Lee?

With elation, Kili stuffed the pelt under his coat and was just replacing the box when the door burst open and Krangon strode in. His eyes narrowed when he saw that Kili was free.

"How did this happen?" Krangon spat. "The selkie no doubt. No matter, we're going on a voyage, you and I. Now get over here."

Kili cowered uneasily, but Krangon leaped forward and grabbed the dwarf. For good measure, he wacked Kili on the head and the dwarf slumped to the ground. Tying him in moments, Krangon left Kili on the floor before approaching the box labeled 'selkie' and opening it. Rummaging through it, his hand first landed on the picture frame and hovered there a moment, his eyes soft, before he pushed it aside and continuing to look. Then, his heart dropped. Desperately, he searched the box some more, but came up with nothing. His chest heaved as he continued to look, but the box was void of his prize. A sound at the door made him look up quickly, and Krangon's breath caught.

"Here I am," Lee's eyes were cold as he glared at Krangon. "I help you only because of my pelt, and that reason alone."

"I, uh, yes," Krangon's hands felt clammy as he clenched them by his side. "Well, perhaps we should search the dwarf before we go."

"What else is it you wish to take from him?" Lee glowered. "No, let's get on with it. I won't put up with anymore of this greed you present. I will not!"

Krangon's eyes desperately floated to the dwarf, but Lee stepped forward threateningly.

"No," he shook his head, and Krangon heaved a deep sigh.

"Fine, let's go then, if you are so insistent," and he lifted the small dwarf easily and hurried form the shop. Dawn would appear on the horizon soon if he wasn't careful, and this had to be done this night.

Lee followed, glancing at the inn, disappointed when he saw no life. Well, hopefully Fili and his uncle were already by the ocean side.

The walk seemed far too short when they arrived on a jagged cliff, and Lee's own heart dropped when there was no sign of Fili or his uncle. If only he had delayed, but what else could this greedy man possibly wish to take from Kili? The thought made Lee's blood boil!

They stopped atop the cliff, the choppy waves beating against the rock below, and Krangon's eyes again drifted to Kili. Then his expression hardened.

"I am going to check his coat for something very important," Krangon told Lee. "You stand back."

"You will take nothing else from him!" Lee shook his head, his voice thick.

"And if he should have your pelt?" Krangon finally asked. "I do in fact plan on returning that to you. You have been a good and faithful servant, and if I know anything, I know how important one's pelt is. A selkie will do anything to have it back."

Lee's eyes traveled to Kili as well, confused.

"Why would he have it?" Lee frowned.

"It doesn't matter, but he very well may, and I must check his coat and pockets if you should ever wish to return to the sea."

Lee nodded quickly, his head lifting when a shout caught his attention. Hope filled his eyes as a blonde and dark haired dwarf appeared on the beach, running toward them. However it was the third figure that made Lee's eyes widen with joy.

"Rae," he whispered, and Krangon too looked up.

"What are they doing here?" he hissed, his voice dangerous. Then he turned to glare at Lee. "Did you bring them here? You brought them here!"

Lee said nothing, he simply glared at the man.

"You brought them here," Kragon hissed again, his eyes wide. "Then you are your own undoing."

Suddenly, to Lee's absolute shock, Krangon turned and pushed Kili from the cliff. Lee didn't even have time to reach out and grab for him when Krangon turned and fled from the spot. Torn between following Krangon, following Kili off the cliff for the pelt, and going to Kili's family, Lee simply stood in shock.

A shout brought him to life, and he glanced down off the cliff to see Fili, Rae, and the uncle standing in together on the beach, a tortured shout escaping Fili's lips. Leaping into action, Lee ran down the back of the smoother side of the cliff and reached the others in moments.

"He's gone! We're too late!" Fili cried, and the uncle placed a steady hand on his shoulder, but Lee could see tears residing in his eyes as well.

"I'm so sorry," Lee shook his head. "I tried, I just… I'm so sorry."

It was then that he noticed his sister's face, and he reached understanding within moments.

"I can save him," Rae murmured. "I have it now, I can save him."

"But then-" Lee also murmured, yet he quieted himself. The price for not saving him was far worse for the family.

"You can save him? He could be deep under choppy waves," Fili turned to Rae, but there was hope alongside the despair of his voice.

Rae held up her pelt, and Fili's eyes showed understanding, however Thorin's were dark.

"You told us perhaps you wished to stay on land now. Are you going to give this sacrifice?"

"Despite what you believe of me, I would be anything for Kili; even this."

Fili shook his head, confused, but a smile grew on his face as Rae stepped toward the waves, slipped into her pelt, and then disappeared into the choppy depths.

The moments were tense as the two dwarves and the selkie patrolled up and down the beach. Rae hadn't been gone very long, but she'd been gone long enough that it caused concern to arise.

"I'm sure she'll be back very soon," Lee promised Thorin, the uncle.

"The pull is strong once you selkies have your pelt."

"She would not let it overcome her," Lee's voice was sure, however he did send an uneasy look toward the ocean. "Fili doesn't know, does he?"

"No, he does not," Thorin shook his head.

"Shouldn't you tell him?"

"Not until his brother has returned."

The two went back to stalking back and forth across the dark sands, the sun just beginning to raise over the horizon. The three had already talked of Krangon, and determined that Kili was much more important than catching the runaway shop keeper, although Thorin said that eventually there would be justice brought to hand.

For several more minutes the three paced, and then Fili gave a shout of excitement.

"I see them! Kili!" Fili rushed toward the waves, dragging the body of his brother from the tiny, silver seal. However, Fili gasped when he saw that Kili wasn't breathing.

"He's alive," Lee promised, kneeling by the dwarf. He chanted a soft, distant song, and Kili sprang to life, chocking and coughing up dark sea water. He was just finishing when his brother threw his arms around him. There was no explanation needed, Kili simply wrapped his brother in a hug as well, and in moments Thorin too knelt on the sand, his arms around both nephews.

Lee watched the family with a bittersweet smile, then his eyes turned to the seal still sitting on the beach. He nodded at her gently.

Thorin looked up, his eyes shining. He stood and approached the seal, bowing his head for a moment before beginning to speak.

"I was proved wrong today," he told her. "I can never thank you enough for what you have done. I'm sorry that it had to be as it is, I would have welcomed you to the mountains if you had come. You are every bit fit to be a dwarf."

"I don't understand, what are you talking about?" Fili asked carefully, still supporting his brother. Throin glanced at Lee, who stepped forward dutifully.

"She has replaced her pelt. Her true place is the sea now."

"What do you mean?" Kili chocked out.

"Selkies can be on land for extended periods, but once they put on their pelt they must not return for seven years," Thorin chocked out. "She must go home. It's time for her to go home."

"You mean, she must go?" Kili asked slowly. "She has no choice?"

"No choice," Thorin shook his head. "I'm so sorry."

The selkie slithered forward, nudging Kili gently, and he swallowed his tears.

"Thank you," he spoke softly, and then his eyes widened as he reached into his coat and extracted another pelt. "This is yours, I think, Lee. I escaped my bonds and found it and I was planning to give it to you. It seems I didn't have the chance."

Lee took the pelt slowly, it felt smooth and right in his hands. It felt like home, and a suddenly the sea seemed to pull him toward it, but he resisted for a while longer.

"I'm sorry it couldn't be I who rescued you, Kili. If there were ever land creatures I would have trusted Rae to stay with, I think they would have been you. But, Rae must go home, and so I will follow. Thank you for returning her pelt. May you find happiness for as long as you can. I wish peace to go with you."

"Thank you, Lee," Kili nodded. "I am happy to call you a friend. Perhaps before we leave in a week's time I can see you again, somehow?

"Perhaps," Lee nodded, but his eyes were sad. Then he too slipped into his pelt and the two seals disappeared into the waves with a flip of their shiny silver tails.

AU: This is not the end! There will be more!

Please review and tell me what you think :)