Zoor Se Dovahruth
Fourteen

-Ko Tirahk Haal-
In Safe Hands

Fili, as well as the other dwarves of the company, waited patiently in the crevices of a small mountain, hoping beyond hope that Bilbo would return to them with some good news. After descending the Carrock a few days earlier and after losing a trusted and loved companion, some of Azog's followers had caught up with their party, searching them out like starving bloodhounds. It was no surprise that Azog was nowhere to be seen. That gave Thorin and the rest of them a good feeling that their lost friend had helped them out in some way before she was taken from them.

Fili, however, was taking her absence harder than the rest. Not that everyone hadn't felt some grief for her loss. But it was Fili that had secretly cared for her in a much more romantic way. It killed him that most of the company treated her lose as if it were a passing. He knew she wasn't dead, and they knew it as well, but it was like they had given up on her. He too realized he had to give up on her. They both understood the objective of this quest and that they had to accept what came at them.

A grizzly roar had bellowed from close by in the range. Fili looked up just in time to spot Bilbo carefully making his way down the rocks as the others stood to hear his report. Dwalin, ever so eager a soldier, ask what was on everyone's mind, "How close is the pack?"

"Too close. A couple of leagues, no more, but that is not the worst of it," Bilbo admitted, trying to catch his breath while the other's only seemed to crowd him and steal the air. "Have the Wargs picked up our scent?"

"Not yet, but they will; we have another problem," Bilbo hinted once more.

"Did they see you? They saw you!" Gandalf stated with some concern. Even Fili had to admit he was a little frighten by that thought. "No, that's not it."

Gandalf turned to the dwarves and gives them a brilliant smile, "What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material."

As the dwarves around Fili begin to chuckle, he quietly thought of his stealthy little Halfling. She, out of any of them, would have made excellent burglar material. Fili quickly brushed the thought away and continued to listen to Bilbo, "Will you listen- Will you just listen? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there."

This seems to earn the attention of the dwarves, as they begin to look worried. Even the Grey Wizard seemed to lose a little color with Bilbo's statement, "What form did it take? Like a bear?"

"Ye-" Bilbo paused, looking curiously at Gandalf, "Yes. But bigger, much bigger."

Bofur turned to Gandalf, his voice wrought with worry, "You knew about this beast?"

Gandalf turns and walks a few steps away, not encouraging an good feeling about this new creature to the company. In fact, it made them worse. Bofur spoke for them all, "I say we double back."

"And be run down by a pack of Orcs," Thorin reminded them with a pointed steely gaze. His eyes had also still bared the feelings of grief. Fili had not realized how much their companion had also influenced their leader. Perhaps Fili was not alone in this.

"This is a house," Gandalf admitted slowly, "It's not far from here, where we might take refuge."

"Whose house? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin asked, he wanted to make sure he wasn't sending his friends to their deaths.

"Neither. He will help us, or he will kill us."

The dwarves look to one another with uncertainty. Even Fili could feel the thick emotions of dismay. But something in him, something deep down in the pit of his aching heart, told him they needed to find this house. "What choice do we have?"

The roar splits the night again. It is the bear Bilbo had warned them about. Gandalf looks at the dwarves grimly, "None."

The chase was becoming a familiar part of their quest, Fili reasoned. They ran through mountains, streams, plains, bogs, you name it; and yet Fili still seemed to be amazed at what else they could run through and run from. This time was no different from the others, except for the added factor of a giant bear. Gandalf was leading them to the house that they would find safe haven. And truly Fili hoped it was. He was tired of running and for once didn't want to feel like something was always lurking behind him.

When they had started the journey, he was so eager; so ignorant to what was actually out there. Now that he'd seen what there was, what was lurking behind corners and in the dark, Fili finally lost that innocence he'd once considered a good attribute. Being innocent meant you were unprepared. Being unprepared caused you to lose things, whether it was someone close to you or your own life. Fili had learned the hard way and to make up for his ignorance he would fight with a level head. He had his brother and Uncle as well as the other dwarves to look after now.

The roar of the bear was now the only sound keeping them going through the forest that was slowly dispersing and becoming a flat plain. In the distance, across a large stream, Fili spotted a small settlement. Smoke billowed from the building surrounded by a walled fortress, welcoming and warm to his heart. "This way, quickly!"

Gandalf's urge had them running much faster, the roars of the bear were getting much closer and it seemed to encourage a rather sluggish Bombur to run like a Rhosgobel Rabbit out of Radagast's little racing troupe. Fili actually had to double take when he saw the figure pass him on their sprint for the house.

Eventually, Bombur does make it to the door first, throwing himself against it but falls flat on his back when it doesn't budge. Fili and Kili caught up behind him, following in his footsteps and also find the door will not move. Every dwarf then joined in, pushing and shoving as the sight of the bear behind them forced the necessity of getting inside to become excruciatingly important. Thorin, seeming to analyze the situating from afar, pushed through the dwarves and reached for the exterior bolt, lifting it so that when the others pushed the door it swung open.

The dwarves all pilled in at the last minute, a few turning around to swiftly close the door, but the bear rammed into the door, it's snout poking through just enough to give the dwarves a scare. The rest of the company came to the rescue, helping to force the door shut and lock it from the inside. They are finally safe.

Fili turned around to take in his surroundings. Ori was quick to ask the questions, his life and nearly been gone. So they all imagined there wasn't a problem to ask, "What is that?"

"That," Gandalf started with a knowing smile, "is our host."

The dwarves and even Bilbo turned to Gandalf in bewilderment. "His name is Beorn, and he is a skin-changer. Sometimes he's a huge black bear; sometimes he's a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. However, he is not overly fond of dwarves."

Again the company looks to one another in dismay. After watching the bear retreat the company slowly took to exploring their sanctuary and eventually finding sleep.

…

Keeva had woken early a few days later after finding help from her new friend Beorn. He had kindly taken her in with the knowledge that she was not in fact a dwarf or an orc. He'd never seen her kind before so she wasn't offended at all. With that settled he'd opened his doors to her whole heartedly.

They talked some the first night, he offered her tea, bread, and other lovely foods she had not had the luxury to eat in quite some time, and even surprised her with honey comb, which she quickly made a treat out of with a few nuts he'd also spared her. She shared her home's delicacy – a Honey Nut Treat – with her knew friend as she explained to him her story and how she landed at his door for help. Beorn was a very reasonable giant. He even explained his own story to her, his shape shifting gift, and why he was now here in this beautiful little growth of an oasis.

But this morning, nearly three days later, Beorn sat her down at his huge, monstrous, and gargantuan dining table, pouring her a mug of honeyed milk, bread, cheese, and vegetables and gave her a small smile underneath that hairy beard of his, "I must leave today."

"Leave?" Keeva asked, her brows reaching up into forehead. "Whatever for?"

"I must patrol my land," he told her simply, standing from his seat and quickly removing the trousers that concealed his nakedness. Keeva's cheeks immediately turned a deep shade of rouge. Beorn was not one that had been taught the importance of social graces, or etiquette for that matter, but Keeva wasn't going to say anything. She was a guest after all and just reasoned to turning her gaze. His nakedness didn't stop her from wishing him well though, and once he'd shed his human skin for the fur, Keeva watched him leave from the front door, waving with a big smile on her face.

Keeva had chores to keep herself preoccupied. That was one thing she'd agreed upon with Beorn if she were to stay in his home. He had shown her how to clean the honey out of his hives, showed her what vegetables were ready for harvesting and even showed her what patch of forest was best for hunting if she was looking for something more substantial to eat. So Keeva set to work, finding old dust cloths to clean Beorn's kick-knacks, the pots and pans she used to cook, and even tried her hand at washing what little clothing her new friend had lying about the house. Keeva even washed her own clothes, a small luxury in the long journey she'd partaken in, finding cleaning her belongings was becoming a rarer occurrence.

While her traveling clothes, as well as Beorn's small wardrobe, were drying on the clothes line, Keeva searched through her pack to find another outfit to do her chores in for that day. Keeva's little fingers brushed against a soft fabric, almost liquid in her fingers and brought it out to take a look. She'd never seen it before.

The dress was tailored for her size, but upon further investigation Keeva recognized the designs from Rivendell, reasoning it was one of the youngling's dresses. Perhaps Lord Elrond's daughter? Keeva had met the young woman briefly and she was definitely not a little girl anymore. Keeva smiled thoughtfully, after finding a small note rolled into the dress that had fallen to the floor.

Though you may find it un-useful, you never know when the occasion will call.

Keeva's eyes left the slip of parchment and back to the dress that she held up to herself. It was a turquoise color, much the same shade as her eyes on specific days, but the sleeves billowed out at the elbows in a sheer pearl lace. Keeva could not remember the last time she'd worn a dress. It'd been so long ago, in a time were everything was so simple and her parents were still alive.

Keeva slipped into the dress quickly, the bodice was snug but loosened at the waist. She waved her arms around wildly allowing the sleeves to float about her; enjoying the small little gestures she remembered doing as a kid and she smiled softly. It was odd wearing the simple gown but for once in her life she felt normal again. It was as if she would turn around, she would find her father setting in a chair in front of the fire and her mother braiding his hair back with a smile. She didn't tempt herself though and continued on out of the house with a large basket to pick some of the vegetables before she continued the rest of her day down by the small creak to go fishing. She wondered lightly if Beorn enjoyed fish before picking away at the tomatoes

…

Later that evening Fili and Thorin found themselves taking a stroll on the grounds of the inner wall. Thorin had reasoned he couldn't avoid talking to his nephew any longer. They both needed to get things off their chest and he saw to it that the best way to do it was in the privacy of nature. The garden growing nearby the bee hives was a tempting sight to look over as they both walked over in a slow paced stroll, the silence between them growing.

"How are you doing?" Thorin finally asked, his grey eyes wandering over to his nephew with some softness in them. Fili caught his Uncle's gaze and gave a weak smile.

"I'm surprised you're asking," Fili admitted with a hint of guilt. "I thought you would be against my feelings towards the subject."

"That doesn't mean I wouldn't be concerned," Thorin countered. Fili was right though. Thorin wasn't too keen on Fili's interest but given the circumstances and who the woman in question was, Thorin couldn't deny she was the best for him.

Fili sighed, "I'm going to be alright. The pain is there. But it will dissipate."

Thorin's eyes softened, he stepped forward and took the back of Fili's neck, placing their foreheads together, "Be strong, for the blood of Durin runs through you. Keep her in your heart and fight for her memory."

When they separated after they hugged one another, Fili began to turn to follow his Uncle back into the house for dinner. But his eyes, slightly clouded from the feelings still throbbing in his heart, urged him to look up… and she was there.

Across the brush, she slowly walked, her wild flame hair billowing with the wind as her eyes focused on the ground below her. She wore a dress, of elvish design that seemed to make her even more of a dream. But the call of his name off of Thorin's lips and then a soft 'what' that followed reassured Fili that she was not a dream and that Thorin could see her just as much as Fili could.

Keeva paused - she'd dropped something - and when she straightened herself, placing the object back into the basket on her hip, her eyes met Fili's. Fili watched as a number of emotions passes over her face, the first one being confusion then passing to surprise and then a smile that could out beat the sun any day. Fili found his feet were moving before he even realized where he was going, and he ran. He sprinted to her, she set her basket down and he scooped her into his arms, hugging her so fiercely just to make sure she wouldn't disappear.

Keeva smiled into his golden hair, her arms around his neck, as she giggled lightly with the joy that was filling her, she'd found them. Fili allowed the few tears in his eyes to fall down his cheeks and Keeva pulled back after feeling them drop on her skin on her shoulder. Keeva's brows were knitted, her concern evident as their eyes locked. "Fili, what is the matter?"

"You're here," he told her, his eyes were still glossy and Keeva quickly wiped away the tears on his cheeks, "We thought the dragon took you. Mind, body and soul."

Keeva's heart dropped after she realized what had troubled her little lion's heart. She hugged him again, holding him tightly to her as she reassured him that she was there, that she wasn't going anywhere, and that everything would be alright.

When Fili finally pulled away, he quickly swept his eyes over her form, taking in the beauty he admired quietly to himself. Keeva shyly smiled, feeling a little awkward in the dress then. Her companions had only ever seen her in her traveling garments. So it was a little strange to have Fili, her secret little crush, eyeing her with a smile. "Come, Thorin had been grieving just as much as I."

Keeva smiled lightly, picking up her basket and placed it back on her hip as Fili walked her back to their leader, who sported a broad smile on his face. A smile Keeva found she missed, it reminded her of the first time she saw Thorin smile as he greeted his nephews upon entering Bilbo's home. Keeva looked to Fili, holding out her basket for him to hold and after he took it from her she ran over to Thorin, holding up the hem of her dress so she wouldn't fall.

Thorin's arms opened for her and she practically jumped into his embrace. He swung her around, she giggled lightly and then was set down so that he could place a kiss on her hairline. "I am so happy that you are not gone from us."

"I'm happy that you are not hurt," she told him, wrapping her arms around his torso once more to give him one more bear hug that she'd often given her father.

"Then we must be thankful," he said, "But I know someone else is much more thankful for your presence."

Keeva followed Thorin's gaze and found Fili smiling brightly. He was just so happy and Keeva loved to see the crow's feet at the corner of his eyes. Keeva took the basket from Fili, her hands brushing over Fili's lightly just so she had one more chance to touch him before she reunited with the rest of the company. Fili smirked, his ears turning a slight pinker tinge, but he was more surprised Thorin wasn't scolding him for his shameless flirting. "Come, the others will be happy to see you."

…

Keeva was welcomed back with warm hugs, huge smiles, and lots of dancing and singing. Even Gandalf tapped his staff to the ground with the beat of the music as Bofur, Nori, Kili, Fili and many more dwarves danced her around the hearth fire until she was dizzy and hungry.

Dwarves celebrated with all their heart. Keeva learned this well through the many little parties she had the honor in being a part of. Keeva remembered the gatherings at the Palace of Kings the Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak would hold for many notable subjects within his Hold. Those were merry and exciting, especially for a young impressionable little girl as herself. Her father had taken her, hoping to make some connections and to possibly earn his Jarl's protection for his daughter had anything happen to him or his wife that would have left is daughter abandoned.

Bombur fed her well after she handed him her basket of fish she'd caught earlier that day. He smiled up at her after eyeing the delectable creatures and hurried over to the fire to start what he was so wonderful at.

Dwalin made sure she was still a sharp witted cunning warrior after seeing her in that elvish dress, which they all complemented her on. Balin couldn't stop telling her how wonderful it was to see a lady in such a fine garment. "You really are stunning, Miss Keeva," Balin took her hands in his and patted them softly. "Hopefully we may yet to see you in one of our own people's fineries."

Keeva flushed, the tips of her ears nearly as red as an apple, and Fili chuckled agreeing whole heartedly with Balin causing his little rose to hide her face in her hands. Fili took hold of her hands and pulled them away from her face, grinning cheekily into her eyes, "Mi'lady is distressed. Come, we can go rest."

Fili brought her over to the hay piles in the barn portion of the house. Oin was already snoring away in the corner surrounded by a herd of goats. Keeva laughed softly before lying by the corner less occupied by animals. Fili lied down next to her and smiled as he brushed the locks of hair out of her face, "I still cannot believe you are here."

"I had not lost hope that I would find you," she insisted, her hands fiddling with the strings on his maroon tunic. Fili had to admit she seemed to be more at ease with their absence, but then again she never believed that they were dead.

"Had you died, where would you have gone?" he asked suddenly, his heart hoping that her afterlife was just as peaceful as he'd hoped.

Keeva's eyes lowered to the ground beneath her, the subject seemed a difficult one and Fili deemed it was due to her thoughts of her parents. But she did look him straight in the eye before she answered, "Had I died, I would have had one of two choices. My Nordic heritage would allow me entrance into Sovngarde if I prove myself to be a true and honorable warrior. I would be able to sit amongst the heroes from famous battles and wars, sharing drinks and food, stories of old and embrace my father once more.

"But my Bosmer blood would also allow me the peaceful reunion of joining the earth and seeing my mother. Just as the god Yffre died and became one with the earth, I would return to nature. I would also have the choice of being reincarnated in either afterlife if I am true and honorable. But I would never be the same person."

Fili was mesmerized by her cultural beliefs and wondered what the other beliefs of her homeland were like considering her take of death was so foreign in some aspects to him. Keeva tilted her head slightly, curious now that Fili had asked such a complex question, "Not that you plan on dying soon, but I was also curious how dwarves view death."

Fili sighed before pushing up onto his elbows, to explain the dwarvish afterlife was to explain the whole lore of their creation. He wasn't sure she was even ready for such a long and detailed story, "It's a very long tale, are you sure you want to hear it?"

"Aye, Da used to tell me long tales before he put me to bed," she told him, poking his chest with her index finger and a teasing quality to her voice. "I can stay awake for this."

Fili smirked, taking hold of her hand in his, bringing it up to his lips and kissing it lightly. Keeva felt her skin tickle from the hairs of Fili's whiskers and she quietly giggled while trying to relax next to him. "Well then, where to begin…"

Fili went into great length about the Dwarf creation, its importance would come to light at the end of his explanation on their afterlife. But he explained to her that their creator Mahal had grown impatience waiting for the Children of Illuvatar to appear. So he created dwarves and taught them all he knew. Now in death, the dwarves believe that Mahal would gather their spirits, if not to be reborn, to the Halls of Mandos with the other Children of Iluvatar. He went into length about their burying rituals, cremation was never allowed, seeing as their spirit sleeps in their own body. Keeva found this interesting and shared the many times her father took her to funeral piers to watch a deceased friend be burned, their soul being set free to return to Sovngarde.

Then he explained that a dwarf's Inner Name would be revealed at their funeral. Fili almost laughed when he watched her face contort into pure confusion, "Inner name?"

"Aye, an Inner name is given to every dwarf at their birth, one that no one knows – only the parents and inner family. And at the funeral the name is revealed, though only when the gathering is made up of dwarves."

"So I may never hear your Inner name?" she asked, slightly saddened by the thought. Fili caught her chin and forced her eyes to look up at him. He gave her a soft yet cheeky smile to ease her disappointment, "You may never hear my Inner name but I think it is about due time that you are given one yourself. You are one of us, it would only be right."

"I can have one?" she asked, her blue eyes growing wide. Fili nodded encouragingly. "Then will you help me? I imagine the meanings behind your names are vastly different from my own."

"Well, what does your name mean?" Fili found himself asking.

"My parents wanted a name that described both of my races. Kee in dragon tongue means 'Hers' while my mother chose to shorten the Ayleidoon word Varlais for Va which means 'Stars'," Keeva elaborated after she'd sat up and begun to braid little snippets of her hair. Fili watched dutifully, wishing beyond hope that he could have another chance to braid her hair, except he wouldn't shy away with the idea of giving her a braid that signified her courting. But that would have been wrong of him to do without her permission. He was honorable and he would wait.

"Your name," she began, her eyes finding his and her cheeks flushing, "in my culture means Liberty Star. Which I find is quite accurate considering your person."

Fili chuckled and nodded in agreement, "You would not be wrong about that. Kili and I have always been a little free spirited. But perhaps we can come up with a dwarvish name for you that still pertains to your name."

Keeva waited patiently as Fili mulled the words over in his mind, his braided mustache twitching ever so slightly when a small smirk would pull at his lips. Finally when Keeva couldn't imagine waiting any longer, Fili turned to her and grinned, "Ah, how about Gimlith? It means a Young Star."

Keeva grinned and launched her tiny frame into Fili to hug him tightly. Her arms wrapped perfectly around his torso and Fili couldn't help but grin as he wrapped his own arms around her tiny body. He considered right there that he should ask her how she felt about him. But she rolled back over to her spot, a smile on her face and her eyelids heavy with sleep. He didn't have the heart to ask her then after finding the exhaustion wearing her down. "Sleep, little rose. For tomorrow will be a new day."

Keeva's pink lips tugged into a smile. Fili watched as the muscles slowly relaxed and the smile disappeared, her breath becoming even and finally her little snores followed. He'd had the pleasure of hearing them the first time she slept next to him and he had to admit they were quite funny. He remembered holding his hand to his mouth to hold back his laughter. But now he found them endearing.

Fili brushed Keeva's new braid behind her ear and kissed her forehead before allowing his own eyes to rest, sleep never too far off waiting for him.

…

The mist was thick in her mind. Oblivion had rolled through her dreams and whisked away any good thoughts as the humble growl of her dragon greeted her in the dark. The mist dissipated after he'd stretched one of his wings and fanned the air around them. His features became clearer; his eyes staring her down as if to only probe her mind for answers.

"You found them," he hummed, a feeling of contentment residing in his black and cold heart. He'd been concerned that she would never find them. Now that she had he would feel a little more at ease.

"Aye, they are alive and well," she added with a soft smile, "They thought me gone though."

"Gone-" he repeated, the word striking him curiously, "Gone to me, I would imagine."

She nodded again her eyes becoming distant, as if her thoughts were focused on another. Fokeinvokul growled low, the rumble in the back of his throat reminded Keeva of a thunderstorm, "He has told me of your little dwarf."

Keeva's eyes shot up to her dragon, who motioned to the chained figure behind him. Keeva spotted the decaying corps of Bedastyr, his face was ghostly white now and parts of the skin were torn away, his eyes black and parts of his teeth showed through the missing chunks in his features. He was her Risen now. The small spell Fokeinvokul had shown her in conjuration and necromancy allowed her to take the Breton's dead corpse and use it to her advantage- in a way it was a sort of revenge for what he'd done to her. He would be of some use down the line if the quest was ever to become a little rocky. But she did not think that he was still able to talk freely.

"He has no right to speak of him, or my friends," Keeva warned, her eyes burning into the already dead flesh of the man dressed in blue. He stared back at her, emotionless, empty, and practically soulless – which was technically correct considering she possessed his spirit.

Fokeinvokul grinned menacingly, "And you forget your place. If it hadn't been for me you would not be here."

Keeva shut her mouth quickly, her eyes lowering and a trembling in her hands. She had thought they had an understanding. She understood what he'd done for her but he also understood where she was coming from when it came to the protection of her friends and a particular golden haired dwarf. Fokeinvokul hummed, bringing his large skull down to face her, hovering it just above the mist covered ground. "Dii mon, focus on the task before us. Help your friends, we'll take the dragon's soul, and then we will find a way back to Nirn. You and I are the only ones that can destroy Alduin. But we must first gain a dragon's soul. You're little lion can wait for you after Alduin is finished, that is if you choose him."

Keeva nodded, not daring to look at the dragon before her. She'd made a promise for the safety of her friends. Once her promise was complete and Alduin was dead, Fokeinvokul offered her one of two options; live and remain in Skyrim with the new power he has given her or be banished to Middle Earth, powerless and cut off from her homeland. 'You will never be able to see your parents in the afterlife if you stay here,' he told her. 'You will die alone.'

Keeva so desperately wanted to see her parents after her death but something in her was yearning to remain with the one person she found hope, life, and perhaps feelings for. Her decision did not have to be made yet but when the time came she would have to make it. She didn't like her choices, but she knew she couldn't have everything.

"Good, now be on your way, dii mon. The sun is just on the horizon," Fokeinvokul told her, nudging his head around to her back and forced her over to an open portal. The pitch blackness of the opening was never welcoming. It was always like stepping through ice water; it sucked the breath out of your lungs and stung the skin making you go numb. Keeva entered, holding her breath and let the darkness take her.

…

A/N: I am glad to be able to finally shake things up. If you thought Fokeinvokul had turned over a new leaf you're wrong. He was Alduin's right hand man for a reason. Being manipulative is exactly his cup of tea and unfortunately our little Keeva has to make a decision when the time comes. She's strong though, I think she'll make the right decision when her heart tells her.

Fili and Keeva's reunion was something I'd had dreamed before and I think I pulled it off. I hope it was as rewarding for you. If it's not, I don't know what to say. There is also a reason for touching on each of their culture's afterlife. I think death is something that will become a big part in the Battle of the Five Armies portion of the chapters, we're not there yet, but the afterlife is important and something not to be feared of.

The giving of Keeva's Inner Name will be significant as well, it's practically her initiation into the dwarvish culture. It took some time to figure out the Dwarven beliefs of death and afterlife but I did enjoy doing the research. If you're curious as well take a look at the link provided on my profile page.

Again thank you to those that reviewed. I'm always glad to hear what you think about the chapters and it also helps me to clarify ideas that maybe didn't really come through my writing as clear as they should have. That is the best help I can get from reviews.

If you are also curious about the belief systems of Keeva's culture I will also put a link on my profile page for you to read.

I'm sorry for updating this chapter again but I read through it and there were quite a few mistakes through out it.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Hobbit or Elder Scrolls. Any character that is not familiar is of my own creation.